Comfort, that when the Body is in Pain, his Sins are forgiven, the Soul is well. Let him be caft into Prifon, here is that, which will turn a Prifon into a Paradife, Acts v. 4. Let him be pinched with outward Want, this will fupply all, as having nothing, and yet poffeffing all Things, 2 Cor. vi. Yea, these Affurances fupport and encourage him in the Hour of Death, when all other Comforts fail, Heb. xi. 13. He knows that his Redeemer liveth, Job xix. And therefore he taketh Death chearfully by the cold Hand, welcomes it's grim Meffengers, and longs to be gone and be with Chrift.

Q. By what Means doth the Holy Ghost confirm our Faith?

A. Externally, by his Word, by which he hath wrought it in us in the Beginning, 1 Pet. ii. 2. As new born Babes defire the fincere Milk of the Word, that ye may grow thereby; and by the Ordinances thereof, particularly our receiving the Sacraments.

The 66th Question of the HEIDELBERG
CATECHISM.
Q. WHAT are thofe Sacraments?

"A. They are holy, vifible Signs and "Seals, inftituted by God, that by their frequent "Ufe he might make us better understand, and feal "to us the Promises made in his Gospel; that is to

fay, That in Confideration of the Sacrifice alone " of Jefus Chrift, once offered upon the Crofs, he grants us Remiffion of our Cins, and freely gives "us Life everlasting."

Q. What is the first proper Senfe of this Word, Sacrament?

A. It primarily fignifies a folemn Oath, taken by Soldiers, when they lift themselves under a Prince or General; and this Oath was mutual.

Q: Why do we use it, fecing it's not used in Scripture?

4. Though

A. Though the Word be not found in Scripture, yet the Things intended by it is, and that brings the Word in Ufe; for in the Sacraments God obliges him elf to us, by confirming his Covenant by it, Rom. iv. 11. And he received the Sign of Circumciffion, a Seal of the Righteoufnefs of the Faith, &c. And we bind ourfelves to God, Rom. vi. 3, 4. Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptizer into Chrift, were baptized into his Death; therefore we are buried with him in Baptifm into Death, that like as Chrift was raised up from the Dead by the Glory of the Father, even fo we alfo walk in newness of Life.

Q. Why do you call them holy Signs?

A. Not from any Holinefs in them, or in him that doth adminifter them, but by Reafon of their being feparated to a holy Ufe, even as in the Old Teftament the Ceremonies and Veffels, &c. were called Holy.

QWho is the Author of the Sacraments?

A. The Lord Jefus Chrift, the King of the Church; by whofe fole Authority they were or could be inftituted, Matt. xxviii, 19, 20. And I Cor. xi. 23, 24. Q. What do they fignify and feal?

*

A. They fignify and feal to all Believers, the Promises made in the Gofpel that is to fay, that in Confideration of the Sacrifice alone of Jefus Chrift, once offered upon the Crofs, he grants them Remiffion of their Sins, and freely gives them Life everlafting, Rom. iv. 11. Gal. iii. 27. And As xxii. 16, &c.

The 67th Question of the HEIDELBERG CATECHISM.

Q. WERE then both the Word and Sacraments inftituted and defigned for that End, to conduct our Faith to the Sacrifice of Chrift on the Cross, as the only Ground of our Salvation?

A. Yes,

"A. Yes, certainly; for the Holy Ghoft teacheth "us in the Gospel, and affureth us by the Sacraments, "that our entire Salvation is founded upon the one "and only Sacrifice of Jefus Chrift, offered for us 66 on the Crofs."

The 68th Question of the HEIDELBERG CATECHISM.

Q. How many Sacraments has Chrift inftituted

in the new Covenant?

"A. Two; namely, Baptism, and the Lord's Supper."

Q. Hath not Chrift appointed more than these?

4. No. Whence we may conclude, he judged thefe fufficient for our Practife and Confirmation. St. Paul fpeaks only of these two, 1 Cor. xii. 13. Q. Are these two Sacraments intended to confirm God's Covenant to Believers?

A. Yes. As Baptifm is a Sacrament fignifying and fealing our being ingrafted into the Communion of the Church; and the Lord's Supper is a Sacrament of nourishment, properly fitted to affure and confirm our Faith, which is all we want for our fpiritual Nourishment.

Q. How many Sacraments bave the Papifts added to them?

A. Five, viz. Confirmation, Penance, Ordination, Marriage, and extreme Unction; all against God's Ordinances, being fuperftitious Additions, Matt. xv. 9. Teaching for Doctrine the Commandments of Men; and never were inftituted by God's Command; befides the Unconformity and Impropriety of them with a Sacrament.

Of

།

Of BAPTISM.

The 69th Question of the HEIDELBERG
CATECHISM.

Q. HOW art thou admonished and affured in
Baptifm, that the Sacrifice alone of Christ,

made upon the Cross, turns to your Benefit?

"A. Becaufe Chrift has eftablifhed this outward "washing, by adding to it this Promise, that as cer"tainly as I am washed outwardly with Water, which "is proper to cleanfe the Filth of the Body, I am "washed with his Blood and Spirit from the Un"cleanness of my Soul, that is, from all my Sins." Q. What is the external Part of Baptifm?

A. It is pure, unmixed Water, Heb. x. 22. And our Bodies wafhed with pure Water. And therefore it is a vile Practice of the Papifts, to add Oil, Salt and Spittle to Water in Baptifm, or figning the Children with the Sign of the Crofs, and other fuperftitious Ceremonies.

Q. Why is it Water that must be used?

A. As Water is the only Means used in cleansing or washing, therefore it doth the more properly reprefent the cleanfing of the Soul, 1 Pet. iii. 21. The like Figure whereunto even Baptifm doth alfo now fave us, not the putting away the Filth of the Flesh, but the Anfwer of a good Confcience towards God, by the Refurrection of Jefus Chrift.

Who may adminifter Baptifm?

...A.. Minifters alone, or who have a right to preach and inftruct the Congregation, Matt. xxviii. 19. and must be done by dipping in, or fprinkling with Water, in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghoft.

Q. What doth Baptism fignify and seal?

A. The

A. The cleanfing from the Impurities of the Soul, by the Blood and Spirit of Jefus Christ. Acts xxii. 16. And now why tarrieft thou? Arife, and be baptized, and wash away thy Sins, calling on the Name of the Lord. And Mark i. 4.

The 70th Queftion of the HEIDELBERG CATECHISM.

Q. WHAT do you mean by it, to be washed with the Blood and Spirit of Chrift?

"A. It is, graciously to receive from God, Re"miffion of our Sins, by the Blood which Chrift "has fhed for us in the Sacrifice on the Crofs. It means alfo to be renewed and fanctified by the holy Spirit, in order to become Members of "Chrift; to die more and more to Sin, and to walk "before God in a Way unblameable."

66

Q. How many fold is this cleanfing?

A. Two-fold. Ift, Juftification, whereby we are cleared from our Guilt and Punishment. 2dly, Sanc-tification, whereby we are fanctified or wafhed from the Impurity and Power of Sin. I Cor. vi. 11. And fuch were fome of you; but ye are washed, but ye are fanctified, but ye are justified, in the Name of the Lord Jefus, and by the Spirit of our God.

Q. Doth the Baptifm fignify and feal these two Kinds of washing?

A. Yes. Acts ii. 38. Then Peter faid unto them, Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the Name of Fefus Chrift, for the Remiffion of Sins, and ye shall receive the Gift of the Holy Ghaft?

Q. Can the external Water wash us from Sin?

A. No; it is but a Sign and Seal of it. Chrift alone can purify the Soul from Sin, by Virtue of his Blood, Heb. i. 3. He hath by himself purged our Sins. 1 John i. 7. The Blood of Jefus Chrift his Son, cleanfeth us from all Sin.

M

The