SHORT QVESTIONS AND ANswers, plainely opening and explaining both the nature and also the vse of the Sacraments of Baptisme and the Lords Supper.
Very profitable for all those who desire to know the nature and vse of the said Sacraments.
By Richard Preston, Preacher of the Word of God at Rushden in Northhampton shiere.
LONDON, Printed by N. O. for Iohn Bellamine, and are to be sold at the South entrance of the Royall Exchange. 1621.
To his louing and carefull Mother, M. B.
COnsidering with my selfe (most deare and louing mother) the great care that is committed vnto the Gouernours of Families (namely) not onely to prouide things necessary for the wel-being of the 1. Tim. 5.8. bodies of their Families, both children and seruants, Deut. 11.19. but also to teach and instruct them in the knowledge of God his will, and the right communication with him, in the particular parts of his worship and seruice: the performance of which [Page]thing maketh the [...] bee both Pro. 31.15.30. commended of the people of God, and also approoued of God himselfe. Ester 4.16. Gen. 18.19 And also considering, that in regard of the great imployments of my Father, by which he is necessarily with-held from a constant abiding with his Family: In which respect, the greater both care and paines lieth vpon your selfe. I haue therefore (as a helpe to you in the weightiest of those your charges) here sent vnto you certaine Questions and Answers, opening and explaining both the nature and also the vse of both the Sacraments of Christ his Institution, entreating you in the absence of my Father 1. Cor. 14.35. (for in his presence you remaine as a learner, not an instructer) you would make it your practise to instruct your Family in the knowledge of them. I hope I shal not need [Page]to alleadge [...] to perswade you to the performance of this duty, for that which resteth as a reason in all our actions, taketh place in this also (namely) the will of him, whose will ought to be a law to vs in all things. Deut. 11.19. Secondly, if any soule perish for want of the discharge of your duty, God will require their blood at your hands. Ez. 33.8 Gal. 6.10. Thirdly, that generall rule taketh place in this thing: Doe good to all; If good, what greater then to helpe them to the knowledge of the meanes of saluation? if to all, then especially to those whose soules in a speciall manner you haue the charge of. For the Author of them, hee is a neighbour Minister in your countrey, in whose praise I spare to speake, his workes sufficiently testifie of him.
Thus loath too long to keepe you [Page]from the perusall and practise of this ensuing Catechisme, I earnestly craue both your blessing, and prayers vnto the Lord for me, and the rest of vs whom the Lord hath made you a meanes of our being: that he also would giue vs heere an assurance, and hereafter a possession of an eternall blissefull and glorious wel-being: vnto whose gracious protection I commit you, and in whom I euer rest
Questions very profitable to all them that vvould know, and learne the nature, and vse of the Sacraments.
Question. WHat is a Sacrament?
Ans. It is a visible signe of an inuisible grace, or an outward Element appoynted of God to confirme our faith of his promises.
Quest. Of how many parts doth a Sacrament consist?
Ans. Of two parts, that is to say, of the Element, and the Word.
Quest. How many Sacraments are there?
Ans. Two: Baptisme and the Lords Supper.
Quest. Why sayest' thou there be but two Sacraments, when wee haue beene, formerly taught, that there are seuen?
Ans. Because Christ in the New Testament left no more to bee vsed in his Church: as for Matrimony, Order, Confirmation, Pennance, and extreame Vnction; they are no Sacraments, but the Lords Ordinances for their seuerall ends.
Quest. What is Baptisme?
Ans. It is the dipping in, or sprinckling, or washing of an Infant in water.
Quest. What is the outward Element in Baptisme?
Ans. Water.
Quest. What doth water signifie?
Ans. The bloud of Christ, and reacheth vs that as water washeth away the spots, and filthines of the body: So the blood of Christ doth purge, and cleanse our soules from all filthy, and deadly sinnes. 1. Ioh. 107.
Quest. To whom doth Baptisme appertaine?
Ans. To the Sonnes of the Couenant, and to all beleeuers. Act. 8.36.37. Mat. 16.16.
Quest. Why should Infants bee baptized, who by reason of the imperfection of their age cannot beleeue?
Ans. Though Infants haue no power to beleeue, or to confesse their beleefe, yet they haue faith imputed vnto them for the promise sake, because they bee the seede of the faithfull. Gen. 17.6.7.
Quest. What if Infants die before they be baptized?
Ans. Gods promise is not in vaine vnto them for default of the Sacrament; for the Spirit of God is not so bound to the water, that it cannot worke where the water wanteth, or that it must bee alwayes there where the water is sprinkled: True beleeuers, old or young, are not saued, because they are outwardly washed with water, but because they be Gods childrē by electiō through grace: Ep. 2.5.8. Ro. 11.5.6.
Q. May not Baptisme be neglected?
Ans. No, but with all reuerence it ought to be embraced: he that neglecteth it, neglecteth the Author of it.
Quest. What is the vse of it?
Ans. First, it is an euident testimony that God the Father [Page 5]in his Sonne Christ hath freely for giuen vs all our sinnes. Secondly, it putteth vs in minde, that forasmuch as wee are become the Souldiers of Christ, we ought, 1. To fight against all the enemies of saluation. 2. To mortifie all vncleane lusts. 3. To die vnto sinne: and 4. To arise new men, bearing the image of Christ, and fashioning our selues after his example. Rom. 6.3.4.5. Gal. 3.27. Col. 2.12. & 3.1.
Quest. How is the other Sacrament called?
Ans. The Lords Supper.
Quest. Why is it called a Supper?
Ans. Because it was instituted, and eaten at night.
Quest. Hath it no other name?
Ans. Yes, it is called the Lords Table, a Communion, [Page 6]the Eucharist, or thanksgiuing, &c. 1. Cor. 10.16.21.
Quest. Is it not called the Sacrament of the Altar?
Ans. No, I finde no such name giuen to it in the whole booke of God: The Papists vse that name, that their daily sacrifice of the Masse might find credit.
Quest. But tell me, what is the Lords Supper?
Ans. It is an heauenly banquet, wherein all the faithfull do spiritually through faith, both eate the body of Christ, and drinke his blood, vnto the confirmation of their faith, the comfort of their conscience, and the saluation of their soules.
Quest. Who is the Author of this Sacrament?
Ans. Iesus Christ: Mat. 26.26.27.28. [Page 7]1. Cor. 11.23.24. &c.
Quest. When did hee institute this Supper?
Ans. Presently after the eating of the Passeouer, and a little before his death.
Quest. What are the outward elements in this Supper?
Ans. Bread, and wine.
Quest. How do they differ from ordinary bread and wine?
Ans. They differ not in substance, but in vse and quality: Common bread, and common wine are appointed of the Lord for the alone nourishment of the body: but this holy bread, and wine are appointed to bee signes of the body and blood of Christ, whereby our soules are nourished.
Quest. What is the Analogie betweene the signes, and the things [Page 8]signified?
Ans. It standeth in feeding, nourishing, comforting, refreshing, in vnion, and communion.
Quest. Shew it more plainely.
Ans. As the bread and wine do feede, nourish, comfort, and refresh our bodies: So the body, and blood of Christ (with the merits of his passion,) doe spiritually feede, nourish comfort, and refresh our hungry soules. Ioh. 6.32.33.35.
Quest. Shew me our vnion with Christ in this Sacrament.
Ans. As that which we eate and drinke, is turned to flesh & blood, and incorporate into vs: So our eating, and drinking this banquet by faith, doeth transforme vs (as it were) into Christ, and maketh vs flesh of his flesh, [Page 9]and bone of his bone. Ioh. 6.56. Eph. 5.30.
Quest. Shew me our Communion with our brethren.
Ans. As many cornes, and grapes are vnited into one loafe, and one wine, euen so wee as many members, are vnited into one mysticall body, whereof Christ is the head.
Quest. Tell mee, why are there two Elements in the Lords Supper, and but one in Baptisme?
Ans. Because Christ in Baptisme is set before vs as a lauer, and water is sufficient to wash away filthinesse from our bodies: But in the Lords Supper he is set before vs as heauenly foode: wherein bread without wine is not sufficient. For as meate alone doth not nourish the body, but there is required [Page 10]drinke. So to the nourishment of our soules it is not enough spiritually by faith to eate the bread, but we must also drinke the wine.
Quest. Is wine as necessary as bread to this Supper?
Ans. Yes, altogether as necessary; and therefore much do the Papists wrong Christians, that with-hold the cup from them.
Quest. What be the Sacramentall rites?
Ans. They bee either such things, as concerne the Minister, namely to blesse, breake, powre, giue; or the people, as to take, cate, drinke.
Quest. What do these rites signifie?
Ans. They signifie spirituall things. To blesse, signifieth the [Page 11]duty of the Minister, whereby he calleth vpon God by prayer, that these outward Elements might be consecrated, and set apart to an holy vse. The breaking of the bread, and powring of the wine, signifieth the breaking of the body, and the shedding of the blood of Christ. The giuing of the signes doth signifie the voluntary gift of Christ, that he made himselfe a free-wil Offering to take away the sins of his people. To take, signifieth our apprehension of Christ by faith: and to cate and drinke, our vnion with him, and fellowship with our brethren.
Quest. What do you gather from hence?
Ans. First, that wee are most vile sinners, Pro. 20.9. 1. Ioh. 1.10. Secondly, that wee deserue the [Page 12]intollerable torments of hel fire euerlastingly, Rom. 6.23. Ep. 2.2.3 Thirdly, the great loue of God in sending his Sonne to take vppon him our nature, and to dye for vs, to our redemption. Ioh. 3.16. 1. Ioh. 4.10.
Lastly, the great loue of Christ and his humility to humble himselfe vnto the cursed death of the Crosse, and torments of hell for our saluation. Phil. 2.5.6.7.
Quest. Hauing gone thus with you, I pray you tell me whether we doe really eate and drinke the body and blood of Christ in this Supper?
Ans. No: for first, that is against the nature of a Sacrament, it cannot bee both the signe, and the thing signified.
Secondly, it were to deny the Ascension, and intercession of [Page 13]Christ, and to affirme that the Resurrection is past.
Thirdly, it were to make the body of Christ but a phantasie, and the forme of a body.
Fourthly, it were to make Christs body a monstrous body, and to be in many places at one time.
Fiftly, this Sacrament would be a Sacrifice.
Sixtly, then the damned reprobates should eate Christs flesh, and be saued, Ioh. 6.54.
Seuenthly, it were to deny that Christ tooke flesh of the Virgin, if bread and wine do become his flesh; or else to say, he had a mixed body; either of which is blasphemy, Mat. 1.23. Rom. 1.3.
Eightly, it were to affirme, that Christs body is dead, which is [Page 14]abhominable; and how could it be eaten vnlesse it be dead? &c.
Quest. But Christ said, This is my body, therefore the bread is his body.
Not so: Our Sauiour calleth himselfe a Vine, a Dore, a Rock; hee is also compared to a theefe, to a day-starre. Is Christ therefore a Vine, a Dore, a Rocke, a theefe, and a Day-starre? No, it is an absurde conclusion. So hee calleth bread his body, not that it is his body, but a Sacrament and figure of his body.
Quest. How is Christ present in the Sacrament?
A. Not bodily, but spiritually by grace, Mat. 18.20. Ioh. 14.16.
Quest. To whom must this Sacrament be administred?
Ans. To such as can examine thēselues, 1. Cor. 11.28. 2. Cor. 13.5.
Quest. What say you of children, fooles, madmen, &c. may not they be admitted to this Sacrament?
Ans. In no sort: First, because they cannot examine thē selues. Secondly, lest they heape vpon themselues, the iudgements of the Lord, & be guilty of the body and blood of Christ.
Quest. What doe you thinke of open sinners, may they be made partakers of this holy Communion?
Ans. No: not till they haue repented of their sinnes, and laboured earnestly to be reconciled vnto God & their brethren.
Quest. It seemes that this holy Supper belongs to none but to the faith full and penitent persons.
Ans. The fruite and benefit of Christs Passion belongs onely to them, but yet many other besides them partake of this Sacrament.
Quest. Doe not all that eate the externall signes, receiue the bene fit of Christs death?
Ans. No: for first, all haue not faith, Tit. 1.1.2. 1. Thes. 3.2. Secondly, they haue not the spirit of Christ, which things shold make them worthy receiuers of the benefits of Christs death.
Quest. Can the wicked get any harme by eating the Sacramentall signes?
Ans. Yes verily: For first, they eate and drinke their own damnation. Secondly, they are guilty of the body and blood of Christ. 1. Cor. 11.27.29.
Quest. When is this Supper to be receiued?
A. Then, when occasion therof is offered; and necessary it is, that it should be eaten often, 1. Cor. [Page 17]11.26.
Quest. Where should it bee eaten?
Ans. In the publicke congregation: where many are met together for that end, 1. Cor. 11.20.
Quest. What say you to them that are lame and sicke, that cannot come to the house of God; ought they to receiue this supper in their priuate families?
Ans. I doe not deny but that they may, so bee it there be others gathered to them to make vp a congregation, who may partake with them.
Quest. To whom doth the administration of this Supper belong?
Ans. To them who are fit Ministers of the Word.
Quest. What say you then to a [Page 18]dumbe dogge? Hee is no fit Minister, and therefore his sacrament is no sacrament?
Ans. Not so: For first, though he be no fit Minister of God, yet because he is come in the roome of a Minister, by the election of the Church, we must not refuse him, nor his Sacrament. 2. Beeing enabled by the Church to giue what he can, though hee come neuer so inordinately to administer this Sacrament, yet he must not be reiected, but wee must receiue what hee can giue. Thirdly, we must distinguish betweene a calling, and the execution of it; for it proues not, he hath no calling, because he executeth it not: as a Magistrate ceaseth not to be a Magistrate, or to want office, because he doth not duely execute it.
Quest. How may I communicate with a wicked Minister?
Ans. The wickednesse of a Minister doth not pollute the Sacrament to a worthy receiuer.
Quest. Why?
Ans. First, a good Minister doth not make it the better to a bad man, therefore not a bad Minister the worse to a good man. Secondly, the efficacy of the Sacrament depends onely vpon Gods promise, and the faith of the beleeuer, not on mans goodnesse or badnesse. A message may bee as truely deliuered by a bad man as a good, and good waxe will receiue an impression as well by a brazen seale, as a golden one.
Quest. But hee is a gracelesse man, and how can hee then bee a [Page 20]meanes of conueying grace to mee?
Ans. Grace is compared to water; now may not water that passeth through a stony channell, which it selfe is so vndisposed, that it cannot haue any benefit of it, make a whole garden fruitfull? Thus stands the case with a gracelesse Minister.
Quest. But by communicating with him, shall I not communicate in his sinne?
Ans. No, if you made him not minister, nor allow of his insufficiency, but communicate onely in the Lords ordinance so farre as he is able to administer it.
Quest. With whom may I rightly communicate?
Ans. With such as are of a godly life and conuersation. First, because we professe our [Page 21]selues members, and fellow Christians with them. Secondly, because we desire to be confirmed in that Communion. Thirdly, because our loue and zeale may bee better stirred vp by the prayers, and examples of such.
Quest. How may I partake where open sinners are tollerated to receiue the Sacrament?
Ans. No mans sinne can defile another, or make Gods promise, or the seale of it, in vaine to him, that is no way accessary to it; neither hath it power to hinder him from the Sacrament. Ezek. 18.20, Gal. 6.5. Secondly, Christ entred into the same Tē ple with wicked persons, and eat the same Passeouer with Iudas, and was vndefiled. Luk. 2.22.
Lastly, we are not so bound [Page 22]to examine the vnworthines of others, as of our selues: which maketh the Apostle say, Let a man examine himselfe, and not another man, 1. Cor. 11, 28. By these reasons wee see that the wickednesse of another communicant, doth not preiudice him that is rightly prepared.
Quest. To conlude, seeing that I haue learned of you the nature of this Sacrament, and where, when, of whom, and with whom to receiue the same; now I would gladly know of you, to what end & vse the Lord Iesus instituted this Sacrament?
Answere. First, to put vs in remembrance of that loue, and fellowship which should be among vs, being all members of one mysticall body. Rom. 12.4.5. 1. Cor. 10.17.12.12.
Secondly, to stirre vs vp vnto [Page 23]continuall thankfulnesse vnto God the Father, for the great benefits wee haue receiued of him by the death of his Sonne. Act. 2.46.47.
Lastly, to put vs in remembrance that his body was broken, and his bloud shed for our redemption. 1. Cor. 11.26. Mat. 26.28. Luke 22.19.