The benefits of daily prayer, of learning the Scriptures, and of other means of grace; the benefits of the works of my calling, and of other means of worldly bleffings. I receive the affurance of these benefits, by receiving the continuance of God's favour, as I continue in my duty. But we may not hope for any of thefe benefits without ufing the means; nor for any Good from God, without doing our best endeavour's in our duty.

XVI. Q. How is the Lord's Supper a pledge to affure us of receiving the Body and Blood of Chrift? A. Chrift's own Signs of his Body broken, and his Blood fhed for us, do affure us that we fhall receive what his Body was broken, and his Blood shed for *. often ought you to come to the

*Both what is then

to be receiv'd, and

what is to be receiv'd at other times, and by other means: as 15 2

XVII. Q. How Lord's Supper?

A. I must do all I can to abound in all the Duties of a Chriftiana, And then I ought to endeavour to come to the Lord's Supper every Lord's Day, and other folemn feast Day b.

a Cor. 15. 58. 1 Thef. 4. 1, 9, 10. b Acts 2. 42, 46. See 11 2. b. ch. 20. 7. 1 Cor. 11. 20. So often partaking of this Holy Sacrament is intimated by our Lord's confecrating the cup of wine after Supper, which was the Gracecup us'd in all the Jews feafts. For Chrift's taking the bread, as they were eating, and the cup immediately after, (Matth. 26. 26, 27. Mark 14. 22, 23) and his taking the cup after fupper (Luke 22. 20. 1 Cor. 11. 25.) do fhew that he then gave. no other thanks after fupper, than that which he gave when he took the bread and the cup. Therefore the cup was the gracecup after fupper.

The manner of this grace-cup was thus: The Master of the houfe, or fome gueft of better note, took a cup full of wine, and gave thanks; and then he drank a little of it, and fo the cup paffed round the table.

With fuch a cup they both began and ended their feasts; as our Saviour feems to have done Luke 22. 17. But it was the cup after Supper, which he confecrated for the Sacrament of his Blood. ver. 20. See Godwin's Mofes and Aaron, lib. 3. ch. z. XVIII. Q. What is required of them who come to the Lord's Supper?

A. To

out a lively faith in the Promises of the fame new Teftament Seal'd with his Deaths and a moft hearty thankfulness for the Infinite Mercy of his Dying for us; nor without following his Great Example of Love to all men. And here is fuppofed that we have a reasonable knowledge and understanding of the New Teftament briefly contain'd in the Catechifm, and of the Communion Service. And for a Minister to admit any one to the Holy Table, without a reasonable fatisfaction that he has this knowledge and preparation, it is the greatest unkindness to the Souls of them both.

+%

a Fam. 5. 14, 15,

16. Nice obfervati

ons are made of these verfes. But if we con

fider them altogether,

XIX. Q. Are these things requir'd only of them that come to the Lord's Supper?

Luke 13. 3 5: A. They are requir'd of all 2 Cor. 5. 17: Mark that come to any fervice of 16. 16. Eph. 5. 20. Col. 1. God, or pray to him for mercy.

any

12, 13, 14.

Mark II. 25. 26. 1 Cor. 13. 1, 2, 3.

XX. Q. What is to repent you truly of your for mer fins, ftedfastly purpofing to lead a new life?

A. I muft carefully examine my felf, &c. See the Commandments, 27, 29, 30, 31 2

:

XXI. Q. What must you do, if by your own endeavours to repent truly, you cannot, fatisfy your

felf?.

A. I must go to God's Minifter for his advice. And if thereby I cannot be fatisfied, I must confefs my fins to him, that with the help of his pray

ers

ers I may be healed a: And
that if he fees me fit for it, he
may give me that pardon
which Christ has
which Chrift has given him
power to give me b.

and the ufe of the
words in other places;
they will appear to fig-
nify what they are
here cited to prove,
&c. The Elder, the
Righteous man,as Elias
the Prophet, is to pray for those that confefs their fins to him.
The words in the original for fins and faults, do Rom. 5, often and
always fignify the fame. And one to another, fignifies as well
the finner to the Elder; as Eph. 5. 21. and 1 Pet. 5. 5, it
fignifies the inferior to the fuperior. 1 John 5. 16. 2 Chr.
30. 18, 19, 20. b Matth. 9. 6, 8. John 20. 23.
XXII. Q. What pardon has Chrift given to his
Minifters power to give?

A. He has given to his Minifters power to affure them of pardon who truly repent a; and to pray effectually for the pardon of those that truly repent, and confefs their fins to them, and defire them to pray for them b; and alfo to forgive the fins of those that shew great and undoubted proofs of a most earnest repentance, and a very lively faith c*.

The Abfolution of

the Excomunicate is

not here fpoken of.
a Luke 24. 47. b Jam.
5. 14, 15, 16. 1 John
5. 16. Numb. 6. 27.
Matth. 9. 6, 8. John

* Such a
20. 23.
truft in God's mercy,
as makes them abound
in feeking it, (Mark 2.
3, 4, 5) and in fhew-
ing their love of a most
Merciful God. Luke
7. 37 to the end.

This forgiveness is a Seal of the forgiveness of those, of whom the Minifter is fure they are forgiven in heaven: as Chrift (Luke 7. 48) forgave the fins of the woman, of whom he had faid that fhe loved much, because her fins, which were many, were forgiven; as he lov'd his creditor moft, who had 500 pence forgiven him.

Of this Abfolution or forgivenefs there are but two examples in the New Teftament; the one of the woman, and the other of the fick of the palfy. And by thofe examples we may know to whom it is to be given; and that it is to be given, not only to comfort them in their forrow; but also that their joy may be full. For the fick of the palfy his coming before Chrift, fhew'd that he came with a joyful hope. And the womans tears were

I

tears

tears of love and joy (Gen. 46. 29) for having her many fins forgiven: as the debtor who had nothing to pay, both lov'd his creditor, and was glad for having, 500 pence forgiven him.

It is certain it is not the Prieft, but God that gives the pardon. God gave it to the Priest to give it to the penitent duly qualified for it. Matth. 9. 6, 8. John 20. 23. And God gives it to the penitent by directing the heart and mouth of the Prieft. John 20. 22, 23. God prepares the Prieft's heart, and his ear hearkeneth thereto, to let the penitent have the pardon. And fo this Abfolution is a comfortable fure praying for the forgiveness of him who gives fure proofs of his lively repentance and faith. Chrift's words John 20. 23. whosoever fins ye remit, they are remitted unto them, do imply, that the Prieft's remitting, is a fure asking of God to remit: as 1 John 5. 16, giving life is asking life.

XXIII. Q. What is a lively faith in God's mercy through Chrift?

A. When I truly repent I muft believe and be fure, &c. See the Commandments 28 2.

XXIV. Q. Tell me more fully, what is a lively faith in God's mercy through Chrift?

A. 1. When I truly repent, I must ftedfastly believe a that God will furely forgive me all my fins, for the fake of Chrift's Dying for our pardon b.

2. I muft likewise stedfastly believe that God will furely give me the grace of his Holy Spirit, while I earneftly Pray for it c, and diligently ufe the means of grace d.

a Heb. II. 6. b Mark 16. 15, 16, compar'd with Luke 24. 46, 47. See the Commandments, 282. 1 John 1. 7. 9. c Luke 11. 2 to 14 We must continue praying earnestly, altho' God feem to deny,

.

a, b.

us, ver. 7, 8. d Learn

ing God's Word, (P.

1. 2.) Confirmation, the Lord's Supper, the inftructions and exhortations of Ministers. Mal. 2. 7. Heb. 13. 17. As we must ask, that it may be given us: So we must by using the means feek, that we may find; and knock that it may be opened to us.

e Matth. 13. 12. John 15. 2. 2 Pet. 1. 5. to 12.

3. I muft likewife believe that God will give me more and more grace, while I di

ligently

ligently do my duty, as he has enabled me e.

4. That he will give me all other things thatf Matth 6. are good for me, while I carefully make it my 33. ch. 7. firft and greatest care to know and to please God f, and am diligent in my calling g:

II.

g 1 Thef.

4. 11, 12.

5. That he will faithfully defend me, while Ib Matth. faithfully obey him without fear of man b, and 10. 28 to live peaceably i.

34. i 1Pet.

3.9 to 16.

k Gal. 6.

6. And that if I continue never weary of well doing, I fhall in due time reap everlating life k. 7. I must believe that God 7, 8, 9. will give me all these mercies, not for any good that I can do 1, or deferve ms but becaufe he has promifed them n for the fake of Chrift's Dying for the forgiveness of our fins o. XXV. Q. How must you have a thankful remembrance of Christ's Death?

A. I must always in my Prayers, truly give most humble, and most hearty thanks for the Infinite mercy of Christ's Dying for our Redemption a*. And I muft' fhew my thankfulnefs to God and Chrift in diligently keeping all their Commandments to the utmoft of my power b.

XXVI. Q. How must you be in charity with all

men?

I Tit. 3. 5. m Rom. 3. 23. ch. 6. 23. n Rom. 4.3,20. o See the Creed 44. 2

a Coll. 1. 12 to 15. The forgiveness of our fins, (Coll. 1. 14.) and all other mercies, as the benefits of forgiveness. See the Creed, 53 2.61 John 3. 16. Chr. 4. 10, 19. ch. 5. 3. Mar.

12. 30.

a 1 Tim. 2. 1. Gal. 6. 10. Matth. 5. 44 Luke 23. 34. Acts 7. 60. 6 Without feverity in requiring fa

A. I must heartily pray for, and endeavour the good of all men, as well enemies as friendsa. I muft forgive charitably b all that have done me I 2 wrong