in

earnest hungering and thirsting after Christ, (1) feeding on him by faith, (2) receiving of his fulness; (3) trusting in his merits, (4) rejoicing in his love, (5) giving thanks for his grace; (6) in renewing of their covenant with God, (7) and love to all the saints. (8)

Q. 175. What is the duty of Christians, after they have received the sacrament of the Lord's supper?

A. The duty of Christians, after they have received the sacrament of the Lord's supper, is seriously to consider how they have behaved

(1) Rev, xxii. 17. And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come, And whosoever will, let him

take the water of life freely.

(2) Gal. ii. 20.-And the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. John vi. 35.

(3) John i. 16. And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. Col. i. 19.

(4) Phil. iii. 9. And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.

(5) 1 Pet. i. 8. Whom having not seen, ye love: in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory. 2 Chron.

xxx. 21.

(6) Ps. xxii. 26. The meek shall eat and be satisfied; they shall praise the Lord that seek him: your heart shall live for ever.

(7) Jer. 1. 5.-Come, and let us join ourselves to the Lord in a perpetual covenant that shall not be forgotten. Ps. 1. 5.

(8) 1 Cor. x. 17. For we, being many, are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread. Acts ii. 42.

themselves therein, and with what success; (1) if they find quickening and comfort, to bless God for it, (2) beg the continuance of it, (3) watch against relapses, (4) fulfil their vows, (5) and encourage themselves to a frequent attendance on that ordinance: (6) but if they find no present benefit, more exactly to review their preparation for, and carriage at the sacra ment; (7) in both which if they can approve themselves to God and their own consciences, they are to wait for the fruit of it in due time; (8) but if they see they have failed in

(1) 1 Cor. xi. 17, 30, 31. Ps. lxxiii. 28.

(2) 2 Cor. ii. 14. Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ. Acts ii. 42, 46, 47.

(3) Rom. xv. 13. Now, the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. Ps.

xxxvi. 10.

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(4) 1 Cor. x. 12. Wherefore, let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. Rom. xi. 20.

(5) Ps. 1. 14. Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the Most High.

(6) 1 Cor. xi. 25, 26. Ps. xxvii. 4.

Acts ii. 42.

Ps. lxxvii. 6.-I commune with mine own heart; and my spirit made diligent search. Ps. cxxxix. 23, 24. Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts; and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

(8) Ps. exxiii. 1, 2. Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens. Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes wait upon the Lord our God, until that he have mercy upon us. Isa. viii. 17.

either, they are to be humbled, (1) and to attend upon it afterward with more care and diligence. (2)

Q. 176. Wherein do the sacraments of baptism and the Lord's supper agree?

A. The sacraments of baptism and the Lord's supper agree, in that the author of both is God; (3) the spiritual part of both is Christ and his benefits; (4) both are seals of the same covenant, (5) are to be dispensed by ministers

(1) Hos. xiv. 2. the Lord; say unto

Take with you words, and turn to him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously; so will we render the calves of our lips. Hosea vi. 1, 2.

(2) 2 Cor. vii. 11. For, behold, this self-same thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter. 1 Chron. xv. 12 to 14.

(3) Matt. 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 the Lord, that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus, the same night in which he was betrayed, took bread.

(4) Rom. vi. 3, 4. Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ, were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 1 Cor. x. 16. 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?

(5) Col. ii. 11, 12. In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting

of the gospel and by none other; (1) and to be continued in the church of Christ until his second coming. (2)

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 ingrafting into Christ, (3) and that even to infants; (4) whereas

off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ; 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. Compared with Rom. iv. 11. Matt. xxvi. 27, 28. And he took the cup and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; for this is my blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

(1) Matt. 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 the Lord, that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus, the same night in which he was betrayed, 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.

(2) Matt. xxviii. 20. Teaching them [all nations] to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. 1 Cor. xi. 26. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till he come.

(3) Matt. iii. 11. I indeed baptize 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 baptize you with the holy Ghost, and with fire. Gal. iii. 27. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Titus iii. 5.

(4) Acts ii. 38, 39.-Repent, and be baptized every

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, (1) and to confirm our continuance and growth in him, (2) and that only to such as are of years and ability to examine themselves. (3)

Q. 178. What is prayer?

A. Prayer is an offering up of our desires unto God, (4) in the name of Christ, (5) by the help of his Spirit; (6) with confession of our

one of you. For the promise is unto you and to your children. 1 Cor. vii. 14.-The unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy. See figure (4), page 338.

(1) 1 Cor. xi. 26. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till he come. Col. ii. 19.-Not holding the head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.

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(2) 1 Cor. x. 16. 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? Eph. iv. 15, 16.

(3) 1 Cor. xi. 28. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. (4) Ps. lxii. 8. Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge

for us.

(5) John xvi. 23, 24.-Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name; ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.

(6) Rom. viii. 26. Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities; for we know not what we should pray for as we ought; but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.