Chapter 334
X. 1 6. The cup of blessing which we
bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ ? the bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ .'
° Rom. iv. W. And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised ; that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed imto them also. Com/iared ivith Col. iL 12. Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. Mat. xxvi. 27. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it : Ver. 28. For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
P John i. 33. And I knew him not ; but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me. Upon wh(»m thou shalt see the Spi- rit descending, and remaining oa him, the same is he which bap* uzeth with the Holy Ghost. 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 Ghost. 1 Cor. xi. 23. For I have received of thq Lord that which also 1 delivered un-
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and to be continued in the church of Christ until his second coming ''.
Q. 177. Wherein do the sacraments of baptism and the Lord's supper differ ?
A. The sacraments of baptism and the Lord's supper differ, in that baptism is to be administered but once, with water, to be a sign and seal of our regeneration and in- grafting into Christ % and that even to infants ' ; whereas the Lord's supper is to be administered often, in the elements of bread and wine, to represent and exhibit Christ as spiritual nourishment to the soul % and to confirm our
continuance
to you, That the Lord Jesus, the same night in which he was be- trayed, took bread. 1 Cor. iv. 1. Let a man so account of us as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Heb. v. 4. And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.
*JMat. xxviii. 19. Go ye there- fore, and teach all nations, bap- tizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Ver. 20. Teaching them to observe all things what- soever 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. 11. I indeed bap- tize 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 bap- tize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire. Tit. iii. 5. Not by works of righteousness which we have done, 1)ut according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.
Gal. iii. 27. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
^ Gen. xvii. 7. And I will esta- blish my covenant between me and thee, and thy seed after thee, in their generations, for an everlasting cove- nant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. Ver. 9. And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee, in their ge- nerations. Acts ii. 38. Then Petef said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ, for the re- mission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Ver. 39. For the promise 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 sanc- tified by the wife, and the unbe- lieving wife is sanctified by the husband ; else v.'ere your children unclean ; but now are they holy.
t 1 Cor. xi. 23. For I have re- ceived of the Lord that v/hich alsa I delivered unto you. That the Lord Jesus, the same night in which he was betrayed, took bread :
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continuance and growth in him", and that only to such as nre of years and ability to examine themselves "*.
Q. 178. What is prayer f
A. Prayer is an offering up of our desires unto God % in the name of Christ ', by the help of his Spint ' ; with confession of our sins *, and thankful acknowledgmertt of his mercies^.
Q. 179. Are we to pray unto God onh/?
A. God only being able to search the hearts % hear the
requests.
bread : Ver. 21. 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. Ver. 25. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink if, in remembrance of me. Ver. 26. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew ■ Lord's death till he come. ^ 1 Cor. X. 1 6. The cup of bless- ing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ .? the bread which we break, is it cot the communion of the body of '" rist .?
'^ 1 Cor. xi. 28. But let a man V .,amine himself, and so 1ft him eat
of that bread, and drink of that cup. Ver. 29. For he that eateth and
drinketh unworthily, eateth and
drinketh damnation to himself, Dot -:eming the Lord^s body. 1 78. ^ Psal. Ixii. 8. Trust. In him
at all times, ye people ; pour out
your heart before him : God i» a
refuge for us, Selah.
y John xvi. 2:1. And in that day ye
shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily.
I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall
ask the Father in my name, he will
give it you.
^ Rom. viil. 20'. Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought : but the Spirit itself raaketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
^ Psal. xxxii. 5. I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid : I said, I will con- fess my transgressions unto the I.,ord; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah. Ver. 6. For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found. — Dan. ix, 4. And I prayed unto the Lord my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, —
b Phil. iv. 6. Be careful for no* thing : but in every thing by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God.
r7t). ^ I Kings viil. 39. Then heaf thou in heaven thy dwellmg-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. Act» L 24. And they prayed, and said. Thou, Lord, which knowe-t the hearts of all men, shew whether of these
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requests ^, pardon the sins *, and fulfil the desires of all ^ ; and only to be believed in^, and worshipped with religious worship'*; prayer, which is a special part thereof', is to be made by all to him alone \ and to none other'.
Q. 180. What is it to pray in tlie name of Christ ?
A. To pray in the name of Christ is, in obedience to his command, and in confidence on his promises, to ask mercy for his sake "" ; not by bare mentioning of his name ", but by drawing our encouragement to pray, and our boldness, strength, and hope of acceptance in prayer, from Christ and his mediation **.
Q. 181. IP%
these two thou hast chosen. Rom. vUi, 27. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh inter- cession for the saints according to the will of God.
d Psal. Ixv. 2. O thou that hear- est prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come,
^Micah VH. 18. Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth ini- quity, and passeth by the trans- gression of the remnant of his heri- tage ? he retainetlb not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.
f Psal. cxlv. 18. The Lord is nigh xmto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth. Ver. 19. He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him : he also will hear their cry, and will save them.
8 Rom. X. 1 4. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed ?—
JiMat. iv. 10. Then saith Jesus unto him. Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
i 1 Cor. i. 2. Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, failed to be saints, with all that in
every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours.
k Psal. 1. 15. And call upon me in the day of trouble ; I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.
1 Rom. X. 14. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed }
180. "^John xiv. 13. And what- soever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. Ver. 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 servant, and his sup- plications, and cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord's sake.
"Mat. vii. 21. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven ; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
^ 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
professipa.
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Q. IRl. Why are we to pray in the name of Christ f
A. The sinfulness of man, and his distance from God by reason thereof, being so great, as that we can have no access into his presence without a mediator p; and there being none in heaven or earth appointed to, or fit lor, that glorious work but Christ alone "J, we are to pray in no other name but his only^
Q. 182. How doth the Spirit help us to pray ?
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 (although not in all persons, nor at all times, in the s^me measure)
those
profession. Ver. 15. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our in- firmities ; but was in all points tempted like ns we are, yet without sin. Ver. 1 6. 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
