Q1. What were the ordinary sacraments under the Old Testament?

A. They were two: CIRCUMCISION and the PASSOVER.

Q2. When was circumcision first instituted?

A. In the ninety-ninth year of Abraham's age, Gen. 17:24; at which time, both he, "and all the men of his house, were circumcised," verse 26, 27.

Q3. At what age were the male children afterwards to be circumcised?

A. Precisely on the eighth day after they were born, Gen. 17:12.

Q4. What was the spiritual meaning of this sacramental ceremony?

A. It signified the impurity and corruption of nature, Jer. 4:4; the necessity of regeneration, or being cut off from the first Adam, as a federal head, Rom. 2:28, 29; and of being implanted in Christ, in order to partake of the benefits of his mediation, chap. 8:1; together with a solemn virtual engagement to be the Lord's, Gen. 17:11.

Q5. What was the other sacrament of the Old Testament?

A. The passover.

Q6. When was it instituted?

A. At the departure of the children of Israel out of Egypt, Ex. chapter 12.

Q7. Why called the PASSOVER?

A. Because the destroying angel passed over the houses of the Israelites in the night when he smote the first-born with death, in every house or family of the Egyptians, Ex. 12:27.

Q8. On what account did the angel pass over the houses of the Israelites?

A. Because, according to the express command of God, the blood of the passoverlamb was stricken upon the lintels and side posts of their doors, as a signal to the destroying angel to pass over them, Ex. 12:22, 23.

Q9. What was meant by striking the blood upon their lintels and door posts?

A. It signified, that it is only in virtue of the blood or satisfaction of Christ, that the curse and sentence of the law (which is the Wrath of God) is not executed upon the sinner, Rom. 5:9.

Q10. What were the significant ceremonies of divine institution that were to be observed in this sacrament?

A. The passover lamb was to be without blemish, Ex. 12:5; it was to be slain, verse 6; it was to be roasted with fire, verse 9; and it was to be eaten, and that wholly and entirely, verse 10.

Q11. Why was it necessary that the passover-lamb should be without blemish?

A. To signify, that though our sins were imputed to Christ, yet he was in himself "holy, harmless, undefiled," Heb: 7:26; and therefore called "a Lamb without blemish and without spot," 1 Pet. 1:19.

Q12. Why must the lamb be slain, or killed by blood shedding?

A. To denote, that the death of Christ was necessary, for satisfying justice, and reconciling us to God, Luke 24:26 - "Ought not Christ to have suffered these things?"

Q13. Why was it to be roasted with fire?

A. To intimate, that Christ's sufferings, as our Surety, were exquisitely and inconceivably great, without the least abatement of any of that wrath which was due to our sins, Isaiah 53:10 - "It pleased the Lord to bruise him;" Rom. 8:32 - "God spared not his own Son."

Q14. Why was it to be eaten wholly and entirely, and none of it to be left?

A. To signify, that Christ was to be wholly applied, in a way of believing, as being, "of God, made unto us wisdom and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption," 1 Cor. 1:30.

Q15. Why were all the families of Israel to eat the passover, at one and the same time? Ex. 12:8.

A. To signify that there is enough in Christ to satisfy the need of all his people at once; "for in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily," Col. 2:9.

Q16. Why was it to be eaten the very same evening in which it was slain? ver. 6, 8.

A. To signify, that Christ ought to be applied and appropriated by faith speedily, without delay: "Behold, NOW is the accepted time," 2 Cor. 6:2.

Q17. "How many sacraments hath Christ instituted in his church under the New Testament?

A. "Under the New Testament, Christ hath instituted in his church only two sacraments; baptism and the Lord's supper."137

Q18. How do these two sacraments come in the place of those under the Old Testament?

A. Baptism comes in the place of circumcision; and the Lord's supper in the place of the passover.

Q19. Were the sacraments of the Old Testament no more than shadows of that grace, which is actually conferred by the sacraments under the New, as the Papists would have it?

A. By no means; for "the sacraments of the Old Testament, in regard of the spiritual things thereby signified and exhibited, were, for substance, the same with those of the New, 1 Cor. 10:1-5."138

Q20. In what do they differ?

A. The sacraments of the Old Testament represented Christ as yet to come; whereas those of the New hold him forth as already come, and as having finished the work of our redemption, as to the purchase of it, Eph. 5:2.

Q21. Is there any difference between them as to clearness and perspicuity?

A. The words annexed to the outward signs in the sacraments of the New Testament, make the things signified appear vastly more plain and perspicuous, than in the sacraments of the Old.

Q22. What other sacraments do the Papists add to baptism and the Lord's supper?

A. They boldly venture to add other five; namely, confirmation, penance, orders, marriage, and extreme unction.

Q23. How may it appear, in a word, that all these are false and spurious sacraments?

A. In regard that none of them have sacramental signs of divine institution, signifying any inward and spiritual grace; and, consequently, none of them can be appointed seals of God's covenant.

Q24. Who may lawfully dispense the sacraments of the New Testament?

A. "Neither of them may be dispensed by any, but a minister of the word, lawfully ordained, 1 Cor. 4:1"139

Q1. How many sacraments has Christ appointed in the New Testament?

A. Christ has appointed two, and no more: these being sufficient for our initiation and confirmation.

Q2. How many have the Papists added to them?

A. They have added five more; namely, Confirmation, penance, ordination, marriage, and extreme unction.

Q3. What is their sacrament of confirmation?

A. It is the anointing of the baptized with chrism in the forehead, with this form of words; I sign you with the sign of the cross, and confirm you with the chrism of salvation, in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Q4. What is their ground for this practice?

A. The abuse of that Scripture, Hebrews 6:2. Of the doctrine of baptisms, and laying on of hands, etc. which, by a figurative speech, expresses the whole standing ministry in the church, by laying on of hands.

Q5. What is their sacrament of penance?

A. It is repentance manifested by outward signs, to which the word of absolution coming, makes it a sacrament misgrounded on John 20:23. Whoever sins you remit, they are remitted unto them; and whoever sins you retain, they are retained.

Q6. What is their sacrament of orders, or ordination?

A. It is the laying on of hands in ordination of ministers, by which they conceive spiritual grace is given; by mistake of 2 Timothy 1:6. Wherefore I put you in remembrance, that you stir up the gift of God which is in you, by the putting on of my hands.

Q7. What is their fourth superadded sacrament?

A. It is marriage, grounded upon those words of the apostle, Ephesians 5:32. This is a great mystery; but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Which only shows a similitude of our union with Christ, not an instituted sign to that end.

Q8. What is their fifth superadded sacrament?

A. Extreme unction, or anointing the sick, near death, with consecrated oil, grounded on Mark 6:13. And anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them. And James 5:14. Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. Which are neither sacramental rites, nor of ordinary standing use in the church, but extraordinary and temporary for that age.

Q9. What learn we hence?

A. Hence we learn, how apt men are to corrupt God's ordinances, by their superstitious additions; Matthew 15:9. Teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

Q10. What is the second instruction hence?

A. How just and necessary our separation from Rome is, who have grossly corrupted God's ordinances, and left men no other remedy; Revelation 13:6. And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in Heaven.

Q11. What is the third instruction?

A. That the reformation of religion is an invaluable mercy, a great deliverance from spiritual bondage; Revelation 11:19. And the temple of God was opened in Heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.

Q12. What is the fourth instruction?

A. That Rome shall certainly fall, and all her adherents, for the horrid injury done by them to Christ, and the souls of men; Revelation 18:20, 21. Rejoice over her you Heaven, and you holy apostles and prophets; for God has avenged you on her. And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great milstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all. Of Baptism

Q1. Were there sacraments in innocency?

A. Yes: The tree of life in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, Gen. 2:9.

Q2. Were there sacraments under the law?

A. Yes: For the law had a shadow of good things to come, Heb. 10:1.

Q3. Was circumcision a sacrament?

A. Yes: He received the sign of circumcision, Rom. 4:11.

Q4. Was the passover a sacrament?

A. Yes: Christ our passover is sacrificed for us, 1 Cor. 5:7.

Q5. Have we sacraments now under the gospel?

A. Yes: For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them, Heb. 4:2.

Q6. Are baptism and the Lord's supper our two sacraments?

A. Yes: For we are baptized into one body, and all drink into one Spirit, 1 Cor. 12:13.

Q7. May men add any more sacraments?

A. No: Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, Prov. 30:6.