Of the Number of Sacraments
God's covenant with believers.
Q. 10. Who are the proper subjects of the sacraments?
A. Believers and their seed are the subjects of baptism, but adult Christians only of the Lord's supper; Acts 2:38, 39. Repent, and be baptized every one of you; for the promise is unto you, and to your children, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. 1 Cor. 11:28.
But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.
Q. 11. What is the main use and end of sacraments?
A. It is to ratify and confirm God's covenant with believers; Rom.
4:11. And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised, &c.
1 Cor. 11:26. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.
Q. 12. What is the first instruction from hence?
A. That the abuse of such holy and solemn mysteries is a sin of dreadful aggravation, and such as God will punish; 1 Cor. 11:27.
Wherefore, whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.
Q. 13. What is the second instruction?
A. Hence we learn the tender care and love of Christ over the church, in instituting such useful and comfortable ordinances for us.
Of the Number of Sacraments Quest. 93. WHICH are the sacraments of the New Testament?
A. The sacraments of the New Testament are, baptism and the Lord's supper.
Q. 1. How many sacraments hath Christ appointed in the New Testament?
A. Christ hath appointed two, and no more: these being sufficient for our initiation and confirmation.
Q. 2. How many have the Papists added to them?
A. They have added five more; viz. Confirmation, penance, ordination, marriage, and extreme unction.
Q. 3. What is their sacrament of confirmation?
A. It is the anointing of the baptised with chrism in the forehead, with this form of words; I sign thee with the sign of the cross, and confirm thee with the chrism of salvation, in the name of the Father,
Son, and Holy Ghost.
Q. 4. What is their ground for this practice?
A. The abuse of that Scripture, Heb. 6:2. Of the doctrine of baptisms, and laying on of hands, &c. which, by a figurative speech, expresseth the whole standing ministry in the church, by laying on of hands.
Q. 5. What is their sacrament of penance?
A. It is repentance manifested by outward signs, to which the word of absolution coming, makes it a sacrament misgrounded on John
20:23. Whosoever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whosoever sins ye retain, they are retained.
Q. 6. What is their sacrament of orders, or ordination?
A. It is the laying on of hands in ordination of ministers, by which they conceive spiritual grace is given; by mistake of 2 Tim. 1:6.
Wherefore I put thee in remembrance, that thou stir up the gift of God which is in thee, by the putting on of my hands.
Q. 7. What is their fourth superadded sacrament?
A. It is marriage, grounded upon those words of the apostle, Eph.
5:32. This is a great mystery; but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Which only shews a similitude of our union with Christ, not an instituted sign to that end.
Q. 8. What is their fifth superadded sacrament?
A. Extreme unction, or anointing the sick, near death, with consecrated oil, grounded on Mark 6:13. And anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them. And James 5:14. Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. Which are neither sacramental rites, nor of ordinary standing use in the church, but extraordinary and temporary for that age.
Q. 9. What learn we hence?
A. Hence we learn, how apt men are to corrupt God's ordinances, by their superstitious additions; Mat. 15:9. Teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
Q. 10. What is the second instruction hence?
A. How just and necessary our separation from Rome is, who have grossly corrupted God's ordinances, and left men no other remedy;
Rev. 13:6. And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
Q. 11. What is the third instruction?