A Light from Christ Leading Unto Christ, Classis 15
The fifteenth Claſsis, or Company of Queſtions.
1. Queſtion.
YOu have anſwered concerning the knowledge of God, and the knowledge of our ſelves, and the knowledge of Chriſt. Now what is fit for a Communicant to know concerning the Sacrament, that he or ſhe may come with more comfort and profit to the Lords Table?
Anſw. There are divers things to be known, concerning the Sacrament, both in general, and particular; and firſt, What a Sacrament is, or what is meant by a Sacrament?
Queſt. 2. I pray you tell me then, what you conceive a Sacrament to be?
Anſw. Firſt,Revel. 2.17. Matth. 26.27, 28. Matth. 28.19. A Sacrament is not a bare and naked ſubſtance ſingle, or compounded, as Water, Bread, or Wine, or the like; but ſuch a thing or ſubſtance inſtituted, appointed, and applied to a Myſtery, to hold forth Chriſt, and the Myſtery of Chriſt, and ſpiritual things in a ſpiritual manner to the ſoul, as Bread and Wine in the Sacraments do hold forth the Body and Blood of Chriſt ſpiritually to beleevers.
Queſt. 3. Is every ſecret or hidden Myſtery in nature a Sacrament?
Anſw. No; Every natural myſtery or hidden thing, as the ſecrets of nature, the vertues of herbs to heal, of the Load-ſtone to draw Iron to it, and the like; nor an artificial myſtery or ſecret of Trades or the like, is not a Sacrament. But a Sacrament is a ſpiritual myſtery, a myſtery of godlineſſe,1 Tim. 3.16. as the Apoſtle calls the Myſtery and Hiſtory of Chriſt.
Queſt. 4. Thirdly, But is every ſpiritual myſtery, or myſtery of godlineſſe, a Sacrament?
Matth. 13.11. 1 Tim. 3.9.Anſw. No; every ſpiritual myſtery is not a Sacrament: But a ſpiritual myſtery holding forth Chriſt, as the Myſteries of Gods Kingdom, or the myſteries of Faith, are myſteries holding forth Chriſt.
Queſt. 5. Are theſe, or every ſpiritual myſtery holding forth Chriſt, a Sacrament?
Levit. 16.21, 22. Numb. 21.9. Epheſ. 5.29, 30, 31, 32.Anſ. No; not properly neither, theſe nor divers others of like nature; for the Scape-Goats, and the Braſen-Serpent were Myſteries holding forth Chriſt: And marriage is a great myſtery, repreſenting the ſpiritual union between Chriſt and his Church; and yet none of theſe are properly Sacraments, although they ſignifie and reveal excellent truths of Chriſt to beleevers.
Queſt. 6. But if none of theſe be properly Sacraments, what then is a Sacrament?
Gen. 17.7, 8, &c.Anſw. A Sacrament is a ſacred action, or an outward ſymbole, or badge, ſignifying and ſealing, by way of Pledge, or Bond, or Covenant between two parties, to aſſure performance of conditions on both ſides.
Queſt. 7. Is every ſignifying or ſealing Action, by way of covenant, a Sacrament?
Anſw. No:Gen. 31.44, 45, 46. 1 Sam. 20.8. 18. &c. For that action of Jacob and Labans ſetting up ſtones as a witneſſe, was a ſignifying, and ſealing of peace between them, as was Jonathans ſhooting Arrows according to agreement between him and David, of Sauls intentions, and as divers civil actions of like nature; yet theſe are none of thoſe Sacraments which Chriſt hath left to his Church.
Queſt. 8. What kinde of ſignifying and ſealing action then is a Sacrament?
Anſw. A Sacrament is a ſacred Ordinance, or Action,Gen. 17.11, &c. Gen. 21.4. Exod. 12.48. Num. 9.13. Rom. 4.11. acted with a ſacred minde, or divinely inſtituted by a ſacred perſon; in which, by outward viſible ſignes, and ſeals, and pledges, and inſtruments, in outward elements, words and actions; the inward inviſible freegraces of God in Chriſt, is held forth, ſignified, ſealed and aſſured from God in Chriſt, to beleeving ſouls, according to the Covenant of Grace; and the mutual promiſe of love, duty, obedience, faithfulneſſe, and thankfulneſſe of beleevers is entered into, or renewed and ſealed to God again, according to the ſame Covenant.
Queſt. 9. What in brief is the ſubſtance of this Covenant of Grace, thus ſealed in the Sacraments?
Exod. 19.4, 5, &c. Iere. 32.37, 38. and 30.21, 22. 2 Cor 6.17, 18.Anſ. We have ſet forth the Covenant of Grace before; But in brief, the Sacrament Seals the Promiſe of God to take his Church to be his people, his ſons, and daughters in Jeſus Chriſt, and of the Church, to receive the Lord for their God, and Father in the ſame Chriſt, and to glorifie him accordingly.
Queſt. 10. How many ſuch Sacraments hath Chriſt inſtituted and ordained, to, and for the benefit of his Church?
Matth. 28.19. Gal. 3.27. 1 Cor. 11.26, 27. and 10.16.Anſ. OnelyOnly two properly, ſo called, and no more ordinarily.
The firſt, a Sacrament of our initiation, enterance, inrolling, conſecrating unto or ingrafting into Chriſt and his Church, as viſible Members thereof, and of the Covenant to that end.
The ſecond, a Sacrament of confirmation and renewing of the ſame Covenant with God, in, and by Chriſt, from God to his people; and from Gods people to God again.
Queſt. 11. What, was the firſt of theſe Sacraments ordained by God in Chriſt, for this initiation, enrolement, entrance, and ingrafting into Chriſt, for the benefit of Chriſts Church and Children?
Anſ. In the Old Teſtament, the firſt was the ordinary Sacrament of Circumciſion, the Seal of the Covenant of Grace, and of the Righteouſneſſe of Faith in Chriſt, the Meſſiah then to come into the world to be born for us.Rom. 4.11. Gal. 5.1, 2, 3. But in the New Teſtament, the Sacrament of Baptiſm, inſtituted by Chriſt inſtead of Circumciſion, as a Seal of the Covenant of Grace and Righteouſneſſe of Faith in Chriſt, the Meſſiah that is come already.
Queſt. 12. What, was the ſecond Sacrament appointed as a pledge of Chriſts love for comfort of Gods people, as a Seal for confirmation, and continuance of his Covenant, and of Gods Grace with his Church?
Anſ. In the Old Teſtament the Sacrament of the Paſſeover, or Paſchall Lamb,Exod. 12.43, &c. hold forth Chriſt and his benefits to the Saints, waiting for Chriſt, the conſolation of Iſrael, 1 Cor. 11.26, &c.in his firſt coming. But in the New Teſtament, the Sacrament of the Lords Supper; that Love-token of Chriſt to be celebrated by ſuch as are rightly prepared, in remembrance of Chriſt, who hath perfected the Work of Redemption, to be communicated to all thoſe, who by Faith waite for his ſecond coming at the laſt day.
Queſt. 13. Are not Sacraments of the Old Teſtament, contrary to the Sacraments of the New, and ſo different, that there may rather be ſaid to be four Sacraments then onelyonly two?
Rom. 4.11. Col. 2.16, 17. 1 Cor. 10.3, 4. Heb. 13.18. Rev. 13.8. 1 Cor. 10.2, 3, 4.Anſ. The Sacraments of the Old and New Teſtament, they are both Sacraments of the Covenant of Grace; not contrary one to another, but agreeing in the matter and ſubſtance of them; and although they differ in outward ſignes, and circumſtances, yet the internal Grace held forth ſigned, and ſealed in both, is Chriſt and his Benefits, who is yeſterday and to day, and the ſame for ever; and ſo, though there were divers figures and types, yet here are not four properly in ſubſtance, but two Sacraments in the Church ordinarily; for the Baptizing in the Red Sea was extraordinary.
Queſt. 14. Who hath authority as the spiritual Efficient, and Author to inſtitute and ordain ſuch a holy Sacrament?
Anſ. None but God,Gen. 17.10, 11. Exod. 12.1, 29. Matth. 28.19. Mark 14.22, 23. the whole Trinity in common, and Chriſt, God and man in particular, who is the Angel of the Covenant, and of whoſe laſt Will and Teſtament, a Sacrament is a Seal, to, and for the good of the Church.
Queſt. 15. Who hath authority and power as an instrument to administer ſuch a Sacrament?
Anſw. None but the Miniſters of Chriſt lawfully,Matth. 28.19, 20. Heb. 5.4. Epheſ. 4.7, 8, &c. and rightly called and authoriſed thereto by Chriſt and his Church.
Queſt. 16. what is the external matter, or material cauſe, and outward ſigne in the firſt of theſe Sacraments, the Sacrament of Baptiſm?
Anſ. The external ſigne,Matth. 3.6. Acts 8.38. Mark 7.4. 1 Cor. 10.4. and ſeal of Baptiſm is the Element of Water, wherewith men of ripe yeers, converted to the Faith of Chriſt, and children of beleeving Parents, within the Covenant of Grace have been, are, and may be Baptized, or waſhed by diving under dipping or ſprinkling,Heb. 12.24. and waſhing with water, ſacramentally, and according to the Ordinance of Chriſt.
Queſt. 17. What is the internal material thing ſignified in this Sacrament of Baptiſm?
Iohn 3.3, 5. Heb. 12.24. 1 Cor. 12.13. Rom. 6.4, 5, 6. Gal. 3.27. 1 Ioh 1.7 Rev. 1.5. Acts 22.16. 2 Cor. 5.17. Titus 3.5, 6, 7. Matth. 28.19. Acts 14.3, 4, 5.Anſ. Chriſt himſelf and his ſpirit, and the vertue of Chriſt his blood, the blood of ſprinkling applyed by the Spirit, waſhing, and clearſing us from our ſins, makeing the baptized partakers of the vertue of Chriſts death, and Reſurrection; and of the Grace of Regeneration, and new Creation, of union, and engrafting (whom God the Father pleaſeth) into Chriſt, in this Sacrament of Baptiſm.
Queſt. 18. What is the outward form of this Sacrament of Baptiſm?
Anſ. The outward form of Baptiſm, on Gods part and ours, is the word of Promiſe in the inſtitution of the Sacrament, and action, and profeſſion of Faith, and manner of baptizing; by dipping or ſprinkling, or baptizing, in, or into the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghoſt.
Queſt. 19. What is the inward form of this Sacrament of Baptiſm?
Anſw. That myſtical and ſacramental union that is between the outward ſignes of the Sacrament,Gen. 17.10. Rom. 2.29. Col. 2.11, 12. Tit. 3 5. Acts 2.38, 39. and 10. 47, 48. and 22.16. and inward Graces of the Covenant ſet forth, and ſealed in the Sacrament, by vertue of which union as the ſignes are attributed to the things ſignified, and theſe agree with the ſignes; ſo the things ſignified, and ſealed, are really communicated not by vertue of the work done, and to every perſon baptized (as the Papiſts dream) but when God ſeeth good to thoſe perſons that are Gods elect children, and have right unto, and rightly partake of this Sacrament, it ſealeth their Iuſtification, Regeneration, and Salvation in Chriſt.
Queſt. 20. What kinde of union is this between the outward ſigne, and the thing ſignified in the Sacrament?
Anſ. Not a Corporall, Phyſical, or Local, nor yet an imaginary union onelyonly, but a true and real union; yet ſo as the inward Grace is not communicated to all, by vertue of the work done, but to Saints in Covenant by vertue of the Covenant, to whom, and when God pleaſeth. Simon Magus he wanted,Acts 8.13, 20. and 8.36, 39. and the Eunuch enjoyed ſpiritual Grace, and joy in beleeving when he received Baptiſm, as the outward ſigne and ſeal of inward Regeneration of the heart; ſo that the outward ſigne and inward grace, are not always united together; but when and to whom God pleaſe, he giveth grace, and ſealeth it to the joy of the ſoul.