Q1. What do you understand by the benefits of redemption?

A. All the blessings of Christ's purchase, which may be summed up in grace here, and glory hereafter, Psalm 84:11.

Q2. Who communicateth these benefits or blessings to us?

A. Christ himself, who has them wholly at his disposal, Luke 22:29 - "I appoint unto you a kingdom."

Q3. How comes Christ to have the disposal of them wholly in his hands?

A. By his Father's gift, John 3:35 - "The Father loveth the Son, and hath GIVEN all things into his hand;" and by his own purchase of them; hence called a "purchased possession," Eph. 1:14.

Q4. What is it for Christ to communicate the benefits of redemption?

A. It is not to give away the property of them from himself, but to make us "sharers with him" in them all; that is, to make us "heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ," Rom. 8:17.

Q5. Does Christ communicate them in a mediate or immediate way?

A. In a mediate way, through the intervention of ordinances, Eph. 4:11-14.

Q6. What are the ordinances by which Christ communicates to us the benefits of redemption?

A. They are "prayer and thanksgiving, in the name of Christ; the reading, preaching, and hearing of the word; the administering, and receiving the sacraments; church government and discipline; the ministry and maintenance thereof; religious fasting; swearing by the name of God, and vowing unto him."112

Q7. Why are these called His ordinances?

A. Because they are all of them instituted and prescribed by him in his word, as the alone King and Head of his church, to be observed in it to the end of the world, Matt. 28:20.

Q8. Have we any reason to expect, that the benefits of redemption will be communicated by ordinances of man's invention and appointment?

A. No; for all such ordinances, having no higher sanction than the commandments of men, are declared to be IN VAIN, Matt. 15:9; they are condemned as will-worship, Col. 2:23; and the observers of them severely threatened, Micah. 6:16.

Q9. Why is it said, especially the word, sacraments, and prayer?

A. Because, though the other ordinances above mentioned are not to be excluded, as being all of them useful in their own place; yet the word, sacraments, and prayer, are the chief or principal outward means for communicating the benefits of redemption, Acts 2:42.

Q10. What is the special usefulness of the word for communicating the benefits of redemption?

A. In the word these benefits are exhibited and offered to sinners of mankind, as the ground of their faith, that, believing they may be possessed of them all, John 20:31.

Q11. What is the special usefulness of the sacraments for communicating these benefits?

A. The sacraments represent to our senses, 1 Cor. 10:16, what the word does to our faith, and are designed for the confirmation of it, Rom. 4:11.

Q12. What is the special usefulness of prayer for the above purpose?

A. The prayer of faith fetches home to the soul all the good that is wrapped up both in the word and in the sacraments, Mark 11:24 - "What things soever ye desire when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them."

Q13. Why are the word, sacraments, and prayer, called means, by which Christ communicates to us the benefits of redemption?

A. Because he is pleased to begin and carry on the work of grace in the soul, by and under these ordinances, Acts 2:41, 42.

Q14. Why called the outward means?

A. To distinguish them from faith, repentance, and other inward means; and particularly to distinguish them from the inward and powerful influences of the Holy Spirit, which are necessary to accompany the outward means in order to salvation, Zech. 4:6.

Q15. Why called ordinary means?

A. Because they are the stated and ordinary way and method, by which Christ communicates the benefits of redemption to sinners of mankind, Rom. 10:14-18; Ezek, 37:28.

Q16. Are there any extraordinary means without the word, by which Christ communicates the benefits of redemption to adult persons?

A. No; for whatever providences God may make use of, when he is beginning or carrying on his work of grace in the soul, Acts 9:3-7; yet these dispensations are always to be considered in a subserviency to the word, chap. 16:25-33, or as occasions of the Spirit's working in concurrence with it, 2 Pet. 1:18, 19.

Q17. Are the ordinances, of themselves, effectual for communicating the benefits of redemption?

A. No; they are made effectual, Rom. 1:16.

Q18. To whom are they made effectual?

A. To the elect only, Acts 13:48.

Q19. For what end are they made effectual to the elect?

A. For salvation, Heb. 10:39

Q20. What is meant by salvation?

A. Not only a begun deliverance from all sin and misery, and a begun possession of all happiness and blessedness in this life, John 3:15; but likewise a total freedom from the one, and a full and uninterrupted enjoyment of the other, in the life to come, Rev. 21:4.

Q21. If the ordinances are made effectual to the elect only for salvation, why have others, in the visible church, the benefit of them?

A. To show the infinite intrinsic sufficiency of the satisfaction of Christ, 1 John 4:14; and, at the same time, to render those who slight such valuable privileges the more inexcusable, John 15:22.

Q22. What may we learn from Christ's instituting his Ordinances to be the outward and ordinary means of salvation?

A. We may from thence learn the difference between the church militant, which sees but through a glass darkly, and the church triumphant, which sees "face to face," 1 Cor. 13:12

Q1. What makes anything become a divine ordinance?

A. The institution or appointment of God, is that alone which makes a divine ordinance; Matthew 28:20. Teaching them to observe all things whatever I have commanded you, etc.

Q2. 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 baptism: But whatever has scripture-warrant, in the words or consequence, is of divine appointment.

Q3. May not men institute ordinances of divine worship?

A. No; this in scripture is condemned as will-worship; Colossians 2:20, 22, 23. Wherefore if you be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world; why, as though living in the world, are you subject to ordinances? etc. Which things indeed have a show of wisdom in will-worship, etc.

Q4. Why cannot man institute a divine ordinance?

A. He cannot do it, because it is the prerogative belonging to Christ's kingly office; Matthew 28:20. Teaching them to observe all things whatever I have commanded you.

Q5. For what other reason cannot man do it?

A. Because he cannot bless them, and make them effectual to their ends: but they will be in vain; Matthew 15:9. But in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

Q6. Why are the ordinances called means of salvation?

A. Because by and through them the Spirit of the Lord conveys spiritual graces into men's souls; 1 Corinthians 1:21. It pleased God, by the foolishness of preaching, to save them that believe. 1 Corinthians 3:5. Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom you believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?

Q7. Whence is the virtue of ordinances?

A. It is not in and from themselves, or the gifts and abilities of him that administers them, but from the blessing and Spirit of the Lord; 1 Corinthians 3:7. Neither is he who plants anything, neither he who waters, but God that gives the increase.

Q8. Do all God's ordinances attain their end?

A. Yes; there is none of them in vain, but do attain their end, in the salvation or damnation of all that come under them; Isaiah 55:10, 11. For as the rain comes down, and the snow from Heaven, and returns not thither, but waters the earth, and makes it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be, that goes forth out of my mouth: It shall not return unto me void; but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I send it. 2 Corinthians 2:15, 16. For we are unto God a sweet savor of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: To the one we are the savor of death unto death, and to the other the savor of life unto life, etc.

Q9. Are instituted ordinances the only means of salvation?

A. They are not the only means; for God can convert men to Christ without them; Acts 9:4, 5. And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecute you me? And he said, Who are you Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus, whom you persecute: It is hard for you to kick against the pricks. But they are the ordinary standing means; Romans 10:14, 15. How then shall they call on him, in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him, of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? etc.

Q10. To whom are the ordinances made effectual to salvation?

A. To all God's elect they are effectual to salvation, and to them only; Acts 13:48. As many as were ordained to eternal life, believed. John 10:26. But you believe not, because you are not of my sheep, etc.

Q11. What is the first instruction from hence?

A. That great preparation is due to all the ordinances, before we engage in them; Job 11:13, 14. If you prepare your heart, and stretch out your hands towards him. If iniquity be in your hand, put it far away, and let not wickedness dwell in your tabernacles. 1 Chron 29:18. And prepare their heart unto you.

Q12. What is the second inference from hence?

A. That great reverence is due to God's ordinances, when we are actually engaged in the use of them; Psalm 89:7. God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints; and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him.

Q13. What is the third inference from hence?

A. That those people that want ordinances, are in a sad and deplorable condition; Ephesians 2:11, 12. Wherefore remember that you being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called uncircumcision by that which is called the circumcision in the flesh made by hands; that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world.

Q14. What is the last instruction hence?

A. That those that perish in the midst of ordinances, and means of salvation, will perish with aggravated perdition; Matthew 11:23. And you Capernaum, which are exalted unto Heaven, shall be brought down to Hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in you, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. Of the Word read and heard

Q1. Does Christ communicate the benefits of redemption?

A. Yes: For of his fulness have all we received, John 1:16.

Q2. Does he ordinarily communicate them by means?

A. Yes: I will for this be inquired of, Ezek. 36:37.

Q3. Is he tied to those means?

A. No: For the Spirit, as the wind, bloweth where he listeth, John 3:8.

Q4. But are we tied to the use of them?

A. Yes: Where I record my name, I will come to thee, and will bless thee, Exod. 20:24.

Q5. Are the ordinances the outward and ordinary means of grace?

A. Yes: I the Lord do sanctify Israel, when my sanctuary shall be in the midst of them, Ezek. 37:28.

Q6. Are the word, sacraments, and prayer, the great gospel ordinances?

A. Yes: Then they that gladly received his Word were baptized, and they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking bread, and in prayers, Acts 2:41,42.

Q7. Is singing of psalms also a gospel ordinance?

A. Yes: Speaking to yourselves in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs, Eph. 5:19.

Q8. Is it appointed for our own consolation?

A. Yes: Is any merry, let him sing psalms, Jam. 5:13.

Q9. And for mutual instruction?

A. Yes: Teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, Col. 3:16.

Q10. And for God's glory?

A. Yes: Singing with grace in your heart to the Lord, Col. 3:16.

Q11. Has Christ appointed ministers of the gospel?

A. Yes: He hath given pastors and teachers for the edifying of the body of Christ, Eph. 4:11, 12.

Q12. Is the administration of ordinances committed to them?

A. Yes: For they are the stewards of the mysteries of God, 1 Cor. 4:1.

Q13. And must they attend that service?

A. Yes: We will give ourselves to prayer, and to the ministry of the word, Acts 6:4.

Q14. Are gospel ordinances made effectual to all for salvation?

A. No: For with many of them God was not well pleased, 1 Cor. 10:5.

Q15. But are they made effectual to the elect?

A. Yes: As many as were ordained to eternal life believed, Acts 13:48.