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Chap. XXII. — Of the Sacraments of the New Covenant in particular, — a holy right whereunto is the Fourth Privilege of Believers.
Q. 1. What are the seals of the New Testament?
A. Sacraments instituted of Christ to be visible seals and
pledges, whereby God in him confirmeth the promises of the covenant to all
believers, re-stipulating of them growth in faith and obedience.
Mark xvi. 16; John iii.
5; Acts ii. 38, xxii. 16;
Rom. iv. 11; 1
Cor. x. 2–4, xi. 26–29.
Q. 2. How doth God by these sacraments bestow grace upon us?
A. Not by any9494 This is one of the greatest mysteries of the Roman magic
and juggling that corporeal elements should have a power to forgive sins,
and confer spiritual grace. real essential conveying of
spiritual grace by corporeal means, but by the way of promise, obsignation,
and covenant, confirming the grace wrought in us by the Word and
Spirit.
Heb. iv. 2; 1 Cor. x.;
Rom. iv. 11, i.
17; Mark xvi. 16; Eph. v.
26.
Q. 3. How do our sacraments differ from the sacraments of the Jews?
A. Accidentally only, in things concerning the outward matter
and form, as their number, quality, clearness of signification, and the
like, not essentially, in the things signified, or grace confirmed.
1 Cor. x. 1, 2, 3, &c.; John vi. 35; 1 Cor. v.
7; Phil. iii. 3; Col. ii.
11.
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