until his fecond coming q. Q177. Wherein do the Sacraments of baptism and the Lord's Supper differ? A. The facrament of baptifm and the Lord's supper differ, in that baptifm is to be administred but once, with water, to be a fign and feal of our regeneration and ingrafting into Christ r, and that even to infants /; whereas the Lord's supper is to be administred often, in the elements of bread and wine, to reprefent and exhibit Christ as spiritual nourishment to the foult, and Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Heb. v. 4. And no man taketh this honour unto himfelf, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron q Mat. xxviii. 19. Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghoft: v. 20. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. 1 Cor. xi. 26 For as often as ye eat this bread and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come. 177. Mat. iii. II. I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance; but he that cometh after me, is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire. Tit. iii 5. Not by works of righteousness, which we have done, but according to his mercy he faved us by the wathing of regemeration, and renewing of the Ho ly Ghost. Gal. iii, 27. For as ma. ny of you as have been baptized into Chrift, have put on Christ. Gen. xvii. 6. And I will establish my covenant between me and thee, and thy feed after thee, in their generations, for an everlasting covenant; to be à God unto thee, and to to thy feed after thee. v. 9. And God faid unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy feed after thee, in their generations. Acts ii. 58. Then Peter faid unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Chrift, for the remiflion of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. v. 39. For the promife is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. 1 Cor. vii. 14. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is fanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy. 1 1 Cor. xi. 23. For I have received of the Lord, that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus, the same night in which he was betrayed, took bread: v. 24. And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat; this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. v. 25. After the same manner alfo he took the cup, when he had fupped, saying, This cup is the new Tellament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. v. 26. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come, to confirm our continuance and growth in him v, and that only to such as are of years and ability to examine themselves w. Q. 178. What is prayer? A. Prayer is an offering up of our defires unto God x in the name of Christ y, by the help of his Spirit z; with confeffion of our fins a, and thankful acknowledgment of his mercies b. Q. 179. Are we to pray unto God only? A. God only being able to fearch the hearts c, hear the request d, pardon the fins e, and fulfil the desires of all f; and only come. be found-Dan, ix. 4. And I prayed unto the Lord my God, and made my confeflion, and faid, O Lord, the great and dreadful God. v1 Cor. x. 16. The cup of bleffing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? the bread which we break, is it not b Phil. iv. 6. Be careful for nothe communion of the body of Christ? thing: but in every thing by pray1 Cor. xi. 28. But let a man er and fupplication with thankfgivexamine himself and so let him eating, let your requests be made of that bread, and drink of that known unto God. cup. v. 29. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not difcerning the Lord's body. 178. x Pfal. xlii. 8. Trust in him at all times; ye people pour out your hearts before him: God is a refuge for us Selah. John xvi. 23. And in that day ye shall ask me nothing: verily, verily, I fay unto you, Whatsoever ye shall afk the Father in my name, he will give it you. z Rom. viii. 26. Likewise the Spirit alfo helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh interceffion for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. a Pfal. xxxii. 5. I acknowledged my fin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid: I faid, I will confess my tranfgreffions unto the Lord: and thou forgavest the iniquity of my fin. Selah. v. 6. For this shall every one that is godly, pray unto thee, in a time when thou mayek 179. 1 Kings viii. 39. Then hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place, and forgive, and do, and give to every man according to his ways, whose heart thou knowest; for thou, even thou only knowest the hearts of all the children of men. Acts i. 25. And they prayed, and said, Thou Lord, who knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two men thou hast chosen. Rom. viii. 27. And he that searcheth the hearts, knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the faints according to the will of God. d Pfal. lxv. 2. O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come. e Micah vii. 18. Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the tranfgreffion of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy. f Pfal. cxlv. 18. The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth. v. 19. He will fulfil the defire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will fave them. only to be believed in g, and worshipped with religious worship h: praver, which is a special part thereof i, is to be made by all to him alone k, and to none other 1. Q 180. What is it to pray in the name of Christ? A. To pray in the name of Chrift, is, in obedience to his command, and in confidence on his promises, to ask mercy for his fake m: not by bare mentioning of his name n; but by drawing our encouragement to pray, and our boldness, strength, and hope of acceptance in prayer, from Christ and his mediation .. Q. 181. Why are we to pray in the name of Christ? A. The finfulness of man, and his distance from God by reafon thereof, be so great, as that we can have no access into his his prefence without a mediator p; and there being none in heaven or earth appointed to, or fit for, that glorious work,but Christ alone g; we are to pray in no other name but his only r. Q. 182. How doth the Spirit help us to pray? g Rom. x. 14. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed. b Mat. iv. 10. Then faith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. iCor. i. 2. Unto the church of God, which is at Corinth, to them that are fanctified in Christ Jesus called to be faints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jefus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours. k Pfal. 1. 15. And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me. / Rom. x. 14. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? 180. m John xiv. 13. And whatfoever ye shall afk in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. v. 14. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. John xvi. 24. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name : ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. Dan. ix. 17. Now therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of thy fervant, and his fupplications, and cause thy face to Thine upon thy fanctuary that is defolate, for the Lord's fake. " Mat, vii. 21. Not every one that faith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the Kingdom of heaven: but he that doth the will of my Father who is in heaven. o Heb. iv. 14. Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profeffion. v. 15. For we have not a high priest who cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, ye without fin, v. 16. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. 1 John v. 13. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God: that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. v. 14. And this is the confidence A. We not knowing what to pray for as we ought, the Spirit helpeth our infirmities, by enabling us to understand both for whom, and what, and how prayer is to be made; and by working and quickening in our hearts (altho' not in all perfons nor at all times in the fame measure (those apprehenfions, affections, and graces, which are requisite for the right performance of that duty f. Q. 183. For whom are we pray? fidence that we have in him, that if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us. v. 15. And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we defired of him. 181. John xiv. 6. Jesus faith unto him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me. Ifa. lix. 2. But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. Eph iii. 12. In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him. 9 John vi. 27. Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlafting life, which the son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed. Heb. vii. 25. wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermoft, that come unto God by him, feeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. v 26. For fuch an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from finners, and made higher than the heavens; v. 27. Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up facrifice, A. We first for his own fins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself I Tim. ii. 5. For tifere is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Chrift Jefus. Col. iii. 17. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. Heb. xiii. 15. By him therefore let us of fer the facrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks in his name. 182. Rom. viii. 26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh interceffion for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. v. 27. And he that search. eth the hearts, knoweth what is the mind of the spirit, because he maketh interceffion for the faints according to the will of God. Pfal. x. 17. Lord, thou hast heard the defire of the humble; thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear. Zech. xii. 10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerufalem, the spirit of grace and of fupplications, and they shall look upon me whom they 1 Z4 A. We are to pray for the whole church of Christ upon earth t, for magistrates v, and ministers w, for ourselves x, our brethren y, yea our enemies z; and for all forts of men living a, or that shall live hereafter b: but not for the dead c, nor for those that are known to have finned the fin unto death d. Q. 184. For what things are we to pray? 11. We are to pray for all things tending to the glory of God e, the welfare of the church f, our they have pierced and they shall mourn. 183. 1 Eph. vi. 18. Praying always with all prayer and fupplication in the fpirit, and watching thereunto with all perfeverance, and supplication for all faints. Pfal. xxviii. 9. Save thy people, and bless thine inheritance; feed them also. and lift them up for ever. 1 Tim. ii. t. I exhort therefore, that first of all, fupplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men: v. 2. For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. w Col. iv. 3. Withal, praying also for us that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Chrift, for which I am alfo in bonds. x Gen xxxii. 11. Deliver me, I pray thee, from the hand of my brothet, from the hand of Esau: for I fear him, left he will come and smite me, and the mother with the children. y Jam. v. 16. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed: the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. z Mat. v. 44. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that despite fully use you, and perfecute you. own a 1 Tim. ii. 1, 2. See above in v.) b John xvii 20. Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also who shall believe on me through their word. 2 Sam, vii. 29. Therefore now let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may continue for ever before thee: for thou, O Lord God, hast spoken it, and with thy blessing let the house of thy servant be blessed for ever. c 2 Sam. xii. 21. Then said his servants unto him, What thing is this that thou haft done? thou didst faft and weep for the child while it was alive, but when the child was dead, thou didst rise and eat bread, v. 22. And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept, for I faid, Who can tell whether God will be gracious to me, that the child may live? v. 23. But now he is dead, wherefore should I talt? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return Pfal. li. 18. Do good in thy good pleasure unto Sion: build thou the walls |