What is the outward visible sign or form in Baptism?

Water; wherein the person is baptized, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

What is the inward and spiritual grace?

A death unto sin, and a new birth unto righteousness; for being by nature born in sin, and the children of wrath, we are hereby made the children of grace.

What is required of persons to be baptized? Repentance; whereby they forsake sin; and faith, whereby they stedfastly believe the promises of God made to them in that sacrament,

Why then are infants baptized, when by reason of their tender age they cannot perform them?

Because they promise them both by their sureties; which promise, when they come to age, themselves are bound to perform.

Why was the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper ordained?

For the continual remembrance of the sacrifice of the death of Christ, and of the benefits which we receive thereby.

What is that outward and visible sign, which is made use of in Baptism?

The outward sign of Baptism is water, with which persons are baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.

What is the inward spiritual grace which is given in Baptism?

A death unto sin, or a renunciation of sinful appetites; a more lively and ardent desire to pursue the dictates of virtue and religion; for, as the descendants of Adam and Eve, all men were objects of God's displeasure, and under penalty of death, pronounced against the human race, we are by this sacrament considered to be restored to the divine favour.*

What qualifications are essential in persons who are to be baptized?

Two: first, repentance; by which is to be understood aversion from sin, and deep sorrow for past offences, with a firm resolution to lead a more holy life; secondly, faith, or a steadfast belief in the promises of God, as delivered to us in the sacrament of Baptism.

Why then are persons baptized in their infancy, when they are not only incapable of performing these conditions, but even of understanding them?

The godfathers and godmothers of infants, aware of the importance of this sacrament, do promise in the child's name that when of age to understand what they have promised for him, he will himself ratify this covenant: which he does in a most solemn manner at his confirmation.

To what purpose was the sacrament of the Lord's Supper ordained?

First, for a perpetual remembrance of the death of Christ, which is called a sacrifice;† and secondly,

* See note to the Gospel for Passion Week.

See the note to the Epistle for the Fifth Sunday in Lent,

What is the outward part or sign of the Lord's Supper?

Bread and wine, which the Lord hath commanded to be received.

What is the inward part or thing signified?

The body and blood of Christ, which are verily and indeed taken and received by the faithful in the Lord's Supper.

What are the benefits whereof we are partakers thereby?

The strengthening and refreshing of our souls by the body and blood of Christ, as our bodies are by the bread and wine.

What is required of them who come to the Lord's Supper?

To examine themselves, whether they repent them truly of their former sins, steadfastly purposing to lead a new life; have a lively faith in God's mercy through Christ, with a thankful remembrance of his death; and be in charity with all men.

to awaken in us a lively sense of gratitude for the benefits which we derive from this sacrifice.

What is the external sign or symbol of the Lord's Supper?

Bread and wine are the symbols which our Saviour commanded to be used on this occasion.

What is the spiritual meaning attached to the symbols of bread and wine?

They are used as the representation of the body and blood of Christ, and are received by devout persons, as emblems of the invisible Saviour who was sacrificed for their redemption.

What advantages do we derive from partaking of this Holy Sacrament?

If worthily received, we feel assured that our virtuous emotions and desires are strengthened and refreshed by the grace of God operating on our souls; as the human body is strengthened and refreshed by the nourishing powers of bread and wine.* What peculiar qualifications are necessary to those who desire to partake of the Lord's Supper?

First, we should examine ourselves whether we sincerely repent of our past transgressions; 2dly, whether we seriously determine to forsake sin and reform our lives; 3dly, we should have a lively faith in the mercy of God through Jesus Christ, and a grateful remembrance of his death and atonement. Lastly, we should be in perfect charity with all men, that is, free from malice, hatred, or resentment, forgiving all injuries against us, as we hope for forgiveness from our Almighty Judge; and we should be ready to do good to all men to the utmost of our power, from the pure motive of love to God.

See note to the preface to the Gospel for Good Friday.

PARAPHRASE

ON THE

EPISTLES AND GOSPELS.

ADVENT SUNDAY.

The Collect.

This collect, for conversion from sin, was composed at the Reformation;† and introduced into the Liturgy, in the first prayer-book of Edward the Sixth.

Almighty God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, and put upon us the whole armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life, in which thy son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the quick and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him, who liveth and reigneth, with thee and the Holy Ghost, now and ever : Amen.

* The word advent means coming, and is applied to the four Sundays that precede Christmas-day, and which make part of the time appointed by the church to prepare our minds by meditation and prayer, for the commemoration of Christ's appearance upon earth.-Vide Buck's Theological Dictionary.

+ For an account of the Reformation, see The Symbolical Illustrations of the History of England, p. 153-263, and 293.