quently every exertion should be made to prevent its violation.

CHAPTER XXVIII.

Church.

Q. 1. How is the Church of God to be regarded in its distinctive character?

A. It is to be regarded as catholic or particular, visible or invisible, militant or triumphant. Q. 2. What is meant by the catholic Church? A. It has a two-fold sense. It means, either all the professed friends of Christ, who dwell on the earth, that have publicly entered into covenant with God and His people; or all those who shall finally be sanctified and saved. (a)

Q. 3.

What is meant by a particular Church? A. A suitable number of professed Christians, who, embracing the great and essential truths of Christianity, and living in some good measure agreeably to them, covenant to walk together according to the laws, institutions, and ordinances of Christ. Such were the Churches at Rome, Corinth, Ephesus, Philippi, Colosse, and Thessalonica. (b)

Q. 4. What is intended by the Church visible? A. All those who have, openly and freely, professed the religion of the Bible, and entered into covenant with God and His people, according to Divine prescriptions. (c)

Q. 5. What is meant by the Church invisible?

(a) Eph. i. 10. 22, 23. That in the dispensation of the fulness of times, he might gather together in one all things in Christ. both which are in heaven, and which are on earth, even in him. And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

(b) Rev. ii. 7. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

(c) 1 Cor. i. 2. Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours.

A. All those who have really experienced religion, or who love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity and truth, whether they belong to the visible Church or not. (d)

Q. 6. What is to be understood by the Church militant?

A. All true Christians upon the earth who, while here in probation, are conflicting with self, sin, Satan, and the world. (e)

Q. 7. What is meant by the Church triumphant? Å. All true Christians, who are in a glorified state, or are confirmed in holiness and happiness in heaven. (f)

Q. 8. What particular act constitutes, or embodies, a particular Church?

A. The act of covenanting. Every body of persons must have some bond of union, some covenant, some associating act.

Q. 9. When did the Church have its origin? A. Soon after the apostasy of man. It is generally supposed that Adam and Eve repented and believed in the promised Seed. Abel, it is certain, was a believer. (g)

(d) 2 Tim. ii. 19. Nevertheless, the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, the Lord knoweth them that are his.— 1 Cor. xii. 12, 13. For as the body is one, "and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. (e) 1 Tim. vi. 12. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.-Rev. xxi. 7. He that overcometh shall inherit all things, and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.-Eph. vi. 12. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

(f) Rev. v. 9. And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof, for thou wast slain; and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation.

(g) Gen. iii. 31. Unto Adam also, and to his wife, did the Lord God make coats of skins, and clothed them.-It is supposed by some, that these were skins of beasts slain and offered

A.

10. What qualifies for Church membership? Experimental piety, or vital godliness-repentance, and faith. (h)

Q. 11. Are all who profess religion possessed of this qualification?

A. They are not. Some are hypocritical professors. No Church on earth, probably, is entirely pure. (i)

Q. 12. What is the design of the institution of the Church on earth?

A. The maintenance and diffusion of the truths of religion, the support of Gospel ordinances, the promotion of holiness and happiness among mankind, and the edification of the people of God. (j)

Q. 13. What are the special ordinances of the Church?

in sacrifice, and that this circumstance is indicative of the faith of our first parents in the great atoning sacrifice, which is Christ, of whom these were a type.-Heb. xi. 4.-By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

(h) Acts viii. 47. And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest.-Acts ii. 41. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized; and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

(i) Matt. xiii. 47. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind.Matt. viii. 21, 22, 23. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, Have we not prophesied in thy name? And in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you; depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

(j) Eph. iv. 11-13. And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ; till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.-Eph. v. 27. That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

A. Baptism and the Lord's Supper. (k) Q. 14. militant?

What is the destination of the Church

A. Its destination is to increase until it shall fill the earth, and to continue to the end of the world. ()

CHAPTER XXIX.

Baptism.

Q. 1. What is Christian baptism?

A. It is a special or positive ordinance of Christ, and consists in the application of water to a person in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. (a)

Q. 2. When was this sacrament instituted?

A. After Christ's resurrection from the dead, and just before his ascension into heaven. And it is a public and formal abrogation of the Mosaic economy, and an authoritative establishment of the Christian dispensation. It marks a new era in the history of the Church. (b)

Q. 3. What is signified by baptism?

A. It represents the necessity of the sprinkling or washing of the soul from sin and pollution by the

(k) Matt. xxviii. 19. Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.-1 Cor. xi. 21. 25. And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat; this is my body, which is broken for you; this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood; this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.

(1) Isaiah ii. 2. And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.-Matt. xvi. 18. And I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

(a) Matt. xxviii. 19. Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

(b) See reference (a).

Holy Spirit, in his purifying and cleansing influences. It is an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace. It is not regeneration, but the symbol of it. It is also a seal of the covenant of grace, both on the part of God, and of him who is baptized. It is an initiatory ordinance, an appointed requisite of admission into the visible Church. And it is a solemn dedication to God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. (c)

Q. 4. By whom should baptism be administered? A. By a minister of the Gospel-one who has been properly baptized, and inducted into the Ministerial office. He administers the ordinance in his

official capacity.

Q. 5. Who are the proper subjects of baptism? A. All who profess their faith in Christ, and obedience to Him, and the children of such as are members of the visible Church, if in a state of minority.

Q. 6. What is the evidence that believers are proper subjects of baptism?

A. The fact that the Scriptures require of adults, or those who can believe, faith in order to baptism, and that such as did believe were baptized. This was the case with the three thousand converted on the day of Pentecost, with the Eunuch, the Jailer, Lydia, and the people of Samaria. This argument, which proves that adults must believe in order that they may be baptized, does not prove that infants are not proper subjects of baptism. If it does, then the same mode of reasoning will prove that all infants are lost. For it is expressly said in Scripture, that he that believeth not shall be damned. But infants cannot believe; therefore, according to this reason

(c) Tit. iii. 5. Not by works of righteousness, which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost.Acts i. 5. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.-1 Pet. i. 2. Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit unto obedience, and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ.