Romans to fignify their military oath or that oath which their foldiers took to be true and faithful to their prince,and that they would not defert his standard.

2.2. How is it ufed by the church?

A. Not only to fignify fomething that is facred, but likewife a folemn engagement to be the Lord's.

Q3. What is the general nature of a facrament?
A. It is [an holy ordinance inflituted by Chrift].

24. Why is a facrament called [an holy ordinance] ? A. Because it is appointed not only for holy ends and ufes, but likewife for perfons foederally holy.

25. Is it neceffary that a facrament be [inftituted by Chrift?

A. Yes it is effentially neceffary that it have his express and immediate warrant and inftitution, other wife it does not deserve the name, 1 Cor. xi. 23. For I have received of the Lord, that which alfo I delivered unto you, &c.

Q. 6. Why muft facraments be exprefsly or immediately inftituted by Chrift?

A. Because he alone is the head of the church; and has fole power and authority to institute facraments and other ordinances therein, Eph. i. 22, 23.

2.7. "What are the parts of a facrament?”

A. "Two; the one, an outward and fenfible fign, used according to Chrift's own appointment; the other, an "inward and spiritual grace thereby fignified,Mat. iii. 1 1.

Pet. iii. 21.

Q. 8. What are the outward [signs] in facraments ? A. They are the facramental siements, and the facramental actions; but chiefly the elements, because it is about these that the facramental actions are exercifed. 9.9 Why called [ ferfible] figns?

A. Because they are obvious to the outward fenfes of feeing, tafting, feeling, &c.

Q. to. What kind of signs are fenfible figns in a facrament?

A. They are not natural, nor merely fpeculative, but voluntary and practical figns.

Q. Why are they not natural figns?

A. Becaufe natural figns always fignify the felf fame thing as fmoke is always, a fign of fire, and the morning

Larger Cot. Queft. 163

light a fign of the approaching fun; whereas the figus in a facrament, never fignify what they reprefent in that holy ordinance, but when facramentally used.

Q 12. Why are they practical, and not merely fpecula. tive figns?

A. Because they are defigned not only to reprefent the fpiritual grace fignified by them; but likewife to feal and apply the fame.

Q. 13. Why are the figns in a facrament called voluntary fign's?

A. Because they depend entirely upon the divine insti tution to make them figns; yet fo as there is fome analogy or refemblance betwixt the fign and the thing fignified.

2. 14. When are facramental figns used according to Chrift's own appointment?

A. When they are difpensed with the words of inftitu tion annexed unto them, Mat.xxviii. 19. 1Cor.xi 23,24,25. Q. 15. What do the words of institution imply or contain in them?

A. They contain, " together with a precept authorif❝ing the use" of them, " a promise of benefit to the wor"thy receivers, Mat. xxviii.

20.

Q. 16. What is the inward and fpiritual grace fignified by the fenfible figns in a facrament?

A. [Chrift and the benefits of the new covenant].

27. Why is the covenant of grace called [the new covenant] ?

A. Because it is always to remain in its prime and vigour,without the leaft change or alteration; for that which decayeth and waxeth old, is ready to vanifh away, Heb. viii. 13.

218. What are the [benefits] of the new covenant ?

A. They are all the bleffings contained in the promises thereof, which may be fummed up in grace here, and glory hereafter, Pfal. lxxxiv. 11.

Q. 19 Are Chrift, and the benefits of the new covenant feparable from one another?

A. No: for, he that hath the Son, hath life, 1 John v. 12.; whoever bath Chrift, hath all things along with him; all are yours, and ye are Chrift's i Cor. iii. 22, 23.

2. 2c. What is the intention and defign of fenfible figns in a facrament, with reference to Chrift and the benefits of the new covenant ?

Confeffion of Faith, chap. xxvii. sc&. 3,

A. The defign of them is, that Chrift and his benefits may be [reprefented, fealed, and applied] by them.

Q. 21. Why are Chrift and his benefits faid to be reprefented by the figns in a facrament?

A.Because, as facramental figns are of divine inftitution, fo there is a refemblance or fimilitude between the signs and the things fignified.

Q. 22. Why are Chrift and his benefits faid to be fealed by these figns?

A. Because, by the facramental figns, Chrift and his benefits are confirmed to the believer, even as a feal is a confirmation of a bond or deed, Rom. iv. 11.

2. 23. Why faid to be applied?

A. Because, by the right and lawful ufe of the facramental figns, Chrift and his benefits are really communi. cated, conveyed, and made over to the worthy receiver: 1 Cor. xi. 24.-Take, eat; this is my body, which is broken for you.

Q. 24. To whom do the facramental figns reprefent, feal, and apply Chrift and his benefits?

A. Not to all who use them, but to believers only.
Q. 25. Why to believers only?

A. Because nothing but true faith can difcern, and apply the fpiritual grace, which is represented and exhibited by fenfible figns, in the facrament, Gal. ii. 26, 27.

Q. 26. Wherein confifts the form of a facrament? A. In "a fpiritual relation, or facramental union, be"tween the fign and the thing fignified *."

Q. 27. What is the confequence of this facramental unien, between the fign and the thing fignified?

A. The confequence is, "that the names and effects "of the one are attributed to the other †." Thus Chrißt is called our paffover, 1 Cor. v. 7.; and the bread in the fupper is called Chrift's body-This is my body, 1 Cor. xi. 24. Q. 28. When are the figns, and the things fignified, united, in those who partake of the facraments?

A. When, together with the figns, (in virtue of Christ's inftitution) the bleffings fignified are received by faith, Gal. iii. 27.

Q. 29. How may this be illustrated by an example?
A. A little earth and ftone put into a man's hand at

Confeffion of Faith chop. xxvii feit. 2.

'random, fignify nothing; but when this is done in a regular manner, according to the forms of law, to give a proprietor feifin and infeftment of his lands, from whence thefe fymbols were taken, it is of great availment to corroborate his right; so bread and wine in the facrament, arè of fmall value in themselves abftractly confidered; yet when received in faith, as the inftituted memorials of the death of Chrift, whereby his teftament was ratified and fealed, the believer's right to all the bleflings of his pur chase, is thereby most comfortably confirmed, Cor.xi.14: This is my body which is broken for you.

2. 30. Are the facraments neceffary for the confirmation of the word?

A. No; the word being of divine and infallible authority, needs no confirmation without itself: but they are neceffary on our account, for helping our infirmity, and confirming and ftrengthening our faith, Rom. iv. 11.

Q. 31. What is the difference between the word and the facraments?

A. The word may be profitable to the adult, without the facraments; but the facrament cannot profit them without the word, Gal. v. 6.

Q 32. What is the end of the facraments?

A. It is to reprefent Chrift and his benefits; and to "confirm our interek in him: as alfo to put a visible dif"ference between thofe that belong unto the church, and "the reft of the world; and folemnly to engage them to "the fervice of God in Chrift, according to his word *.” 233 Who are they that have a right unto the facraments?

A. They "that are within the covenant of grace, Rom. 66 xv. 8. †"

234. Who are to be reckoned within the covenant of grace, in the fight of men?

A. They who profefs their faith in Chrift, and obe"dience to him, Acts ii. 38.;" and "infants defcending from parents, either both or but one of them, profeffing "faith in Chrift, and obedience to him, are, in that refpect, within the covenant, Rom. xi. 16. ‡

Conf. of Faith, chap. xxvii. fect. 1. ↑ Larg, Cat. 2 162:
Larger Cat. Queft, 166,
D d

PART. 11.

2. 35. What may we learn from the nature of the facraments in general?

A. The amazing love of the Lord Jefus, in giving us not only the word as the inftrument in the hand of the Spirit, for begetting faith, and all other graces, Eph. i. 13.; but likewife the facraments for ftrengthening and increasing the fame; as well as for cherithing our love and commu. nion with one another, 1 Cor. xii. i 3.

93. QUEST. What are the facraments of the New Teftament?

ANSW. The Sacraments of the New Teftament are, baptifin, and the Lord's fupper.

2. 1. What were the ordinary facraments under the Old Teftament?

4. They were two; CIRCUMCISION and the PASSOVER. Q. 2. When was circumcifion first inflituted?

A. In the ninety-ninth year of Abraham's age, Gen. xxvii. 24.; at which time, both he, and all the men of his houfe were circumcifed with him, ver. 26, 27.

23. At what age were the male children afterwards to be circumcifed?

4. Precifely on the eighth day after they were born, Gen. xvii. 12.

Q.4. What was the spiritual meaning of this facramental ceremony?

A. It fignified the impurity and corruption of nature, Jer. iv. 4; the neceffity of regeneration, or being cut off from the first Adam, as a foederal head, Rom. ii. 28, 29.; and of being implanted in Chrift, in order to partake of the benefits of his mediation, chap. viii. .; together with a folemn virtual engagement to be the Lord's, Ger.xvii.u. 25. What was the other facrament of the Old TestaA. The paffover. Q. 6. When was it instituted ? 4. At the departure of the children of Ifrael out of Egypt, Exod. chap. xii.

ment ?

2.7. Why called the PASSOVER?