Moreover, I have been advised to prefix the explanation of that part of the church catechifm, which relates to the facrament of the Lord's fupper, by fome who believe it to bethe shortest, plaineft, and most comprehenfive of any extant; and for the fatisfaction of those, who are defirous to fearch the fcriptures, and to see and examine the authorities upon which this explanation is founded, I have cited the texts at the bottom of each page, and this without any wilful misapplication.

By the KING's Authority, This day is published,
(Neatly printed in one Volume Octavo, Price 4s. 6d.)
A SYSTEM of

PRACTICAL

DUTIES,

MORAL and EVANGELICAL,
Confifting of the following Heads:

Our Duty towards God.
Of the internal Duties we owe to
God; a
and first of Love..
Of Delight in God,
Of Fearing God.
Of Trufting in God,
Of Submiflion to God.
Of inward Purity.
Of Heavenly-Mindedness.

Of external Duties to God; and
first of Prayer.

Of public and private Prayer.
Of Praise and Thanksgiving.
Our Duty towards our Neighbour;
and first of univerfal Love and
Charity.

Of loving Enemies.
Of Juftice in general.
Of relative Juftice.
Between Prince and Subject.
Between Paftor and People,
Between Hufband and Wife.
Between Mafter and Servant.
Between Friend and Friend.

ance.

Of the Defire of Righteousness. By the Reverend THOMAS STACKHOUSE, A. M. Late Vicar of Beenham in Berkshire.

Printed for J. HINTON, at the King's-Arms, in Pater-Nofter-Row.

A Familiar and Comprehenfive

EXPLANATION

·37

Of that PART of the

Church Catechifm

WHICH

Relates to the Sacraments,

Especially that of the Lord's Supper; as warranted and fupported by Scripture.

7

b

HE church tells us, that Chrift has ordainTHE ed only two Sacraments, as generally necefSary to falvation; that is to fay, baptifm and the Supper of the Lord. Now, baptifm was inftituted by Christ, to be the rite of admiffion into his church, and is anfwerable to circumcifion among the Jews. The Lord's Supper was or dained for the exercife and confirmation of our faith in Christ, and appointed by him instead of the Jewish paffover; and thefe are thus necessary to falvation, viz. baptism is necessary therete

d

с

C

a 1 Cor. xii. 13.-1 Cor. x. 2, 3, 4-John xix. 34 -1 John v. 6, 8. Acts ii. 41.-Acts viii. 12.- -Acts x. 48.-Matt. xxviii. 19.-Heb. vi. 1, 2. x Col. ii, 11, 12.-Gen. xvii. I Cor. xi. 23, 24, 25.-Luke 9, 12, 23, 27.--Phil. iii. 3. xxii. 19, 20. 1 Cor. v. 7, 8,-Exod. xii. 3, 21, 22, 23, 27-John i. 29.1. Pet. i. 18, 19

d

"

thereto, as being the appointed instrument of our regeneration or new birth; and the Lord's Supper, as being that fpiritual food by which we are nourished up to everlafting life, the former to be only once, the latter often received.

h

Thefe ordinances miniftring to fuch great ends, we fay are only generally and not abfolutely neceffary to falvation; because we dare not take upon us to exclude all hope of GOD's mercy in fuch extraordinary cafes, as the want of opportunity or capacity of receiving them reduces mankind often unto. But as the Jews were obliged under the feverest penalty to be circumcifed, 'and keep the paffover;

*

A

fo our guilt and danger will be proportionably. great, in not observing, when it is in our power, these two more eafy inftitutions," which are not only of a higher Authority, but also the distinguished badges of a more excellent profeffion.

P

By

h

i

wwde

f John iii. John i. 12, 13.-Tit. iii. 5. Pet. ii. 2. John vi. 53.-Eph. v. 29.-Col. ii. 19.-Jude 21.-1 Cor. xi. 33, 34. Eph. iv. 5.-John iii. 4.-Rom. vi, 10. Acts i. 42. 1 Cor. xi. 25, 26. - Luke xiv. 15. John vi. 34. * Matt. xii. 7-Jof. v. 5, 6, 7.-Luke xxiii. 43.1 Cor. v. 12, 13. Gen. xvii. 14.-Exod. iv. 24, 25, 26. Numb. ix. 13, &c.-Exod. xii.-Matt. xxvi. 18. 1 John v. 3. 2 Kings v. 13.-John iv. 40. Heb. xii. 25-Heb. ii. 2, 3. Heb. x. 28, 29.-1 John ii. 4.-John xiii. 8.-Pfalm ii. 12. P 1 Cor. xi. 26.-2 Tim. ä. 19. 9 John i 17.2 Cor. iii. 7,

n

m

0

By the word SACRAMENT the church tells us, is meant an outward and visible fign of an inward and fpiritual grace given unto us, ordained by Chrift himself, as a means whereby we receive the fame, and a pledge to affure us thereof. Now for the clearer understanding this account which the church gives us of a facrament, it is neceffary that the feveral parts of which it confifts, fhould be diftinguished: and therefore you are to observe, that we are therein taught, that to constitute a facrament, there must be, firft, fomething difcernible and apparent to our fenfes; which, fecondly, muft represent fome fpiritual grace and favour vouchsafed us by God; thirdly, that outward fign must be of Chrift's own inftitution; and, fourthly, appointed by him as a means of conveying to us this inward grace, and as a feal and token of affurance, that he will bestow the one upon those who do worthily receive the other; and as these properties are only to be found in baptifm and the fupper of our Lord, no other religious rite can be truly called or ought to be efteemed a facrament.

Now the parts of which a facrament confifts are two, viz. The outward vifible fign, and the inward Spiritual grace. Thus, outward fenfible things can be a means of conveying, PART II. B and

b

с

d

and pledges of affuring us of divine grace and favour. For altho' these facramental figns were ordained by GOD in gracious condefcenfion to our infirmities, thereby to inform our understandings, to refresh our memories, and to excite our affections; yet their farther efficacy is not owing to any power in themselves, but to the bleffing of Christ upon his own institutions and appointments; and we are not to doubt, but that, in the right use of the outward means, he will, by the power of his fpirit, tho' in a manner unknown to us convey, * and confirm," in baptifm; and convey, and confirm, in the Lord's Supper, to the worthy receivers thereof, the divine grace fignified thereby, according to his own most true promife.

a

The church teaches us that the outward vifible fign [or form]in baptifm is water, wherein the perfon is baptized in the name of the father, and of the fon, and of the holy ghoft. Now water is peculiarly fitted for the purpofe for which it is

here

c

a 1 Cor. xiii. 12.-1 Ĉor. iii. 1, 2 —Rom. vi. 19. b Rom. vi. 4.-Gal. iii. 1. Exod. xii. 27.-Heb. x. 3.-Luke xxii. 19. d Zech. xii. 10.-John i. 29.-Rev. i. 7. e 1 Cor. iii. 7.-2 Cor. i. 22. f John iii. 8. & Tit. iii. 5.-Mark xvi. 61.-Gen. xvii. 11. h Acts xxii. 16. -Acts ii. 38.Rom. iv. 11. Eph. i. 13, 14. i John vi. -1 Cor. x. 16. 57Matt. xxvi. 28. 1 Heb. x. 23.-1 Theff. v. 24.