III. For the accomplishment of this covenant of redemp-

tion, and making the elect partakers of the benefits thereof in the covenant of grace, Christ Jesus was clad with the threefold office of Prophet, Priest, and King : made a Pro- phet, to reveal all saving knowledge to his people, and to persuade them to believe and obey the same ; made a Priest, to offer up himself a sacrifice once for them all, and to in- tercede continually with the Father, for making their persons and services acceptable to him ; and made a King, to subdue them to himself, to feed and rule them by his own appoint-
' ed ordinances^ and to defend them from theii' enemies.
HEAD
448 The Sum of Saving Knowledge.
HEAD III.
The outward means appointed to make the elect partakers oj this covenant^ and all the ', ',si that are called to be inexcus^ able. Mat. xxii. 14. Many are called.
1. npHE outward means and ordinances, for making men •*- partakers of the covenant of grace, are so wisely dis- pensed, as the elect shall be infallibly converted and saved by them ; and the reprobate, among whom they are, not to be justly stumbled. The means are especially these four. 1. The word of God. 2. The sacraments. 3. Kirk-go- vernment. 4. Prayer. In the word of God preached by sent messengers, the Lord makes offer of grace to all sinners, upon condition of faith in Jesus Christ ; and whosoever do confess their sin, accept of Christ offered, and submit them- selves to his ordinances, he will have both them- and their children received into the honour and privileges of the cove- nant of grace. By the sacraments, God w^U have the cove- nant sealed for confirming the bargain on the foresaid condi- tion. By kirk-government, he will have them hedged in, and helped forward unto the keeping of the covenant. And by prayer, he will have his own glorious grace, promised in the covenant, to be daily drawn forth, acknowledged, and employed. All which means are followed either really, gr in profession only, according to the quality of the cove- nanters, as they are true or counterfeit believers.