Of Chrift's ordinances,
TOO An Expofition of the Assembly's Catechism.
Q10. Is there a neceſſity of repentance, inorder toforgiveness ?
A. Yes, there is ; and they are therefore conjoined in ſcripture; Acts v. 31. For togive repentance to Ifrael, and forgiveneſs of ins. And deſtruction threatened to the impenitent ;
Luke xiii. 3. Except ye repent, ye ſhall all likewife periſh.
: Q. 11. What is the firſt inference hence ?
A. That it is a falſe doctrine, which teaches us that fins are actually forgiven from eternity ; and therefore no need eitherof repentance or prayer, ſave only for the manifeſtation ofpardon.
Q.12. What is the ſecond inference hence ?
A. That an hard heart is adreadful ſign of a loſt ſtate of foul ; Rom. ii . 5. But after thy hardness and impenitentheart, treaſureſt up unto thyſelf wrath against the day of wrath, and revelation of the righteous judgment ofGod.
13. What is the laſt inference hence ?
A. That there is no cauſe todeſpair of the vileſt ſinner, ſee. ing there is power enough in the Spirit ofGod to break the hardest heart ; Ezek. xxxvi. 26. I will take awaythe ſtony heart out of your Aeſh, and Iwill giveyou an heartof flesh..
Of Christ's Ordinances.
Queſt. 88. WHat 7Hat are the outward means whereby Chriſt communicateth to us the benefits of redemption?
A. The outwardandordinary means whereby Chrift communicateth to us the benefits of redemption, are his ordinances ; efpecially the word, facraments, andprayer ; allwhicharemade effectualtothe clect for falvation.
1. What makes anything become a divine ordinance?
A. The inſtitution or appointment of God, is that alone which makes adivine ordinance ; Matth. xxviii. 20. Teaching them toobſerveall things whatsoever I have commandedyou, &c.
Q. 2. Are the inſtitutions of all ordinances alike clear in ſcripture?
A. No : Some are more explicitly and clearly revealed in ſcripture than others ; as the Lord's ſupper is more clear than baptifm : Butwhatever hath ſcripture-warrant, in the words or conſequence, isofdivine appointment.
Q. 3. Maynot men inſtitute ordinances of divine worſhip ?.
A. No; this in ſcripture iscondemned as will-worship; Col. ii . 20, 22, 23. Wherefore if ye bedead with Chrift from the rudiments of the world ; why, as though living in theworld, areye ſubject to ordinances ? &c. Which things indeedhave a Gewof wisdom in will-worſhip, &c.
An Exposition ofthe Assembly's Catechism. sof ❤.4. Why cannot man inſtitute adivine ordinance?
A. He cannotdo it, becauſe it isthe prerogative belonging to Chrift's kingly office ; Matth. xxviii. 20. Teaching themtoobſerve all things whatsoever I have commandedyou.
Q. 5. For what other reaſon cannot man do it ?
A. Becauſe he cannot bleſs them, and make them effectual to their ends : but theywill be in vain ; Matth. xv. 9. But in vaindotheyworſhip me, teaching for doctrines the commandmentsof men.
Q. 6. Why are the ordinances calledmeans of falvation ?
A. Becaule by andthrough them the Spiritof the Lord conveys ſpiritual graces into mens fouls ;
1 Cor. i. 21. It pleaſed God,bythe foolishness of preaching, to ſavethem that believe,
I Cor. iii. 5. Who thenisPaul, andwho is Apollos, but minifters bywhom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man ?
Q. 7. Whence is the virtueof ordinances ?
A. It is not in and from themselves, or the gifts and abilities ofhim that adminiſters them, but from thebleſſing and Spirit of theLord ; 1Cor. iii. 7. Neither ishethatplanteth anything, neither he that watereth, butGod that giveth the increaſe.
Q. 8. Do allGod's ordinances attain their end ?
A. Yes ; there is none of them in vain, but doattain their end, intheſalvation ordamnation ofall that come under them;
Iſa. lv. 10, 11. For as the rain comethdown, andthe ſnowfrom heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh itbring forth and bud, that it maygive feed tothe fower, and bread to the eater : So ſhall my word be, that goeth forth out of my mouth: It ſhall notreturn untome void ; but it ſhall accomplish that which I pleaſe, and it ſhall profper in thethingwhereto I ſendit. 2 Cor. ii. 15, 16. For we areunto
God a ſweet ſavour of Chriſt, in them that are ſaved, and in them that periſh : To the one we arethe favour of death unto death, and to the other the ſavour of life unto life, &c.
A Q. 9. Are inſtitutedordinances the only means offalvation ?
A. They are not the only means; forGod can convert men toChriſt without them; Acts ix. 4, 5. Andhe fell totheearth, and heard a voice ſaying untohim, Saul, Saul, why perfecuteſt thou me? And he said, Who art thou Lord ? And the Lord faid, I am Jeſus, whomthou perſecuteſt: Itishard for thee to kick against the pricks. But they are the ordinary ſtanding means ; Rom. x. 14, 15. How then ſnall they call on him, in whom theyhave not believed ? Andhowſhall they believe in him, ofwhomtheyhave notheard ? Andhow ſhall they hear