Q. 175. What is the duty of Christians, after they have received the sacrament of the Lord's supper?

A. The duty of Christians, after they have received the sacrament of the Lord's supper, is seriously to consider how they have behaved themselves therein, and with what success; if they find quickening and comfort, to bless God for it, beg the continuance of it, watch against relapses, fulfil their vows, and encourage themselves to a frequent attendance on that ordinances: but if they find no present benefit, more exactly to review their preparation to, and carriage at, the sacrament; in both which, if they can approve themselves to God and their own consciences, they are to wait for the fruit of it in due time but, if they see they have failed in either, they are to be ing, Come, and let us join ourselves to the Lord in a perpetual covenant that shall not be forgotten. Psal. 1. 5. Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.

a Acts ii. 42. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

175. b Psal. xxviii. 7. The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him. Psal. lxxxv. 8. I will hear what God the Lord will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints; but let them not turn again to folly. 1 Cor. xi. 17. Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse. Ver. 30. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. Ver. 31. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. c 2 Chron. xxx. 21, 22, 23, 25, 26. Ver. 21. And the children of Israel, that were present at Jerusalem, kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with great gladness: and the Levites and the priests praised the Lord day by day, singing with loud instruments unto the Lord, &c. Acts ii. 42. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. Ver. 46. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Ver. 47. Praising God, and having favour with all the people.

d Psal. xxxvi. 10. O continue thy lovingkindness unto them that know thee; and thy righteousness to the upright in heart. Cant. iii. 4. It was but a little that I passed from them, but I found him whom my soul loveth: I held him, and would not let him go, until I had brought him into my mother's house, and into the chamber of her that conceived me. 1 Chron. xxix. 18. O Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Isracl, our fathers, keep this for ever in the imagination of the thoughts of the heart of thy people, and prepare their heart unto thee.

e 1 Cor. x. 3. And did all eat the same spiritual meat; Ver. 4. And did all drink the same spiritual drink; (for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them; and that Rock was Christ:) Ver. 5. But with many of them God was not well pleased; for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Ver. 12. Wherefore, let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. Offer unto God thanksgiv thy vows unto the most

f Psal. 1. 14. ing; and pay High.

g1 Cor. xi. 25. 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. Ver. 26. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till he come. Acts ii. 42. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. Ver. 46. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart.

h Cant. v. 1. I am come into my garden, my sister, my spouse: I have gathered my myrrh with my spice; I have eaten my honey-comb with my honey; I have drunk my wine with my milk: eat, O friends; drink, yea, drink abundantly, O beloved. Ver. 2. I sleep, but my heart waketh: it is the voice of my beloved that knocketh, saying, Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled: for my head is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night. Ver. 3. I have put off my coat; how shall I put it on? I have washed my feet; how shall I defile them? Ver. 4. My beloved put in his hand by the hole of the door, and my bowels were moved for him. Ver. 5. I rose up to open to my beloved; and my hands dropped with myrrh, and my fingers with sweetsmelling myrrh, upon the handles of the lock. Ver. 6. I opened to my beloved; but my beloved had withdrawn himself, and was gone: my soul failed when he spake: I sought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer.

i Psal. cxxiii. 1. Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens.

humbled, and to attend upon it afterward with more care and diligence!

Q. 176. Wherein do the sacraments of baptism and the Lord's supper agree?

A. The sacraments of baptism and the Lord's supper agree, in that the author of both is God; the spiritual part of both is Christ and his benefits"; both are seals of the same covenant, are to be dispensed by ministers of the gospel, and by none other P; and to be continued in the church of Christ until his second coming

Q. 177. Wherein do the sacraments of baptism and the Lord's supper differ?

A. The sacraments of baptism and the Lord's supper differ, in that baptism is to be administered but once, with water, to be a sign and seal of our regeneration and ingrafting into Christ, and that even to infants; whereas the Lord's supper is to be administered often, in the elements of bread and wine, to represent and exhibit Christ as spiritual nourishment to the soul †, and to confirm our continuance and growth in him, and that only to such as are of years and ability to examine themselves ".

Q. 178. What is prayer?

4. Prayer is an offering up of our desires unto God, in the name of Christ, by the help of his Spirit"; with confession of our sins, and thankful acknowledgment of his mercies .

Q. 179. Are we to pray unto God only?

A. God only being able to search the hearts o, hear the requests",

q Mat. 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: Ver. 20. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. 1 Cor. xi. 26. For as often as ye cat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till he come.

177. Mat. iii. 11. I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire. 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. Gal. iii. 27. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

s Gen. xvii. 7. And I will establish my covenant between me and thee, and thy seed after thee, in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. Ver. 9. And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee, in their generations. Acts ii. 38. Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Ver. 39. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. 1 Cor. vii. 14. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.

t1 Cor. xi. 23. For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus, the same night in which he was betrayed, took bread: Ver. 24. 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. Ver. 25. 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. Ver. 26. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till he come.

v1 Cor. x. 16. The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? the bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?

w1 Cor. xi. 28. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. Ver. 29. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.

178. Psal. lxii. 8. Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.

y John xvi. 23. And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it

you.

z Rom. viii. 26. Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought; but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

a Psal. xxxii. 5. I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.. Ver. 6. For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found.

Dan. ix. 4. And I prayed unto the Lord my God, and made my confession, and said. Lord, the great and dreadful God,

b Phil. iv. 6. Be careful for nothing: but in every thing by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God.

179. c 1 Kings viii. 39. Then hear thou in heaven thy dwelling-place, and forgive,

pardon the sins, and fulfil the desires of all '; and only to be believed in, and worshipped with religious worship; prayer, which is a special part thereof, is to be made by all to him alone, and tɔ none other 1.

Q. 180. What is it to pray in the name of Christ?

A. To pray in the name of Christ is, in obedience to his command, and in confidence on his promises, to ask mercy for his sake m; not by bare mentioning of his name ", but by drawing our encouragement to pray, and our boldness, strength, and hope of acceptance in prayer, from Christ and his mediation.

Q. 181. Why are we to pray in the name of Christ?

A. The sinfulness of man, and his distance from God by reason thereof, being so great, as that we can have no access into his presence without a mediator P; and there being none in heaven or earth appointed to, or fit for, that glorious work but Christ alone, we are to pray in no other name but his only ".

and do, and give to every man according to his ways, whose heart, thou knowest; (for thou, even thou only, knowest the hearts of all the children of men.) Acts i. 24. And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, show whether of these two thou hast chosen. Rom. viii. 27. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

d Psal. Ixv. 2. 0 thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come.

e Micah vii. 18. Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.

full. Dan. ix. 17. Now therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of thy servant, and his supplications, and cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord's sake.

n Mat. vii. 21. 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.

o Heb. iv. 14. Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. Ver. 15. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Ver. 16. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to f Psal. cxlv. 18. The Lord is nigh unto help in time of need. 1 John v. 13. These all them that call upon him, to all that things have I written unto you that believe call upon him in truth. Ver. 19. He will on the name of the Son of God, that ye fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he may know that ye have eternal life, and also will hear their cry, and will save them. that ye may believe on the name of the g Rom. x. 14. How then shall they call Son of God. Ver. 14. And this is the conon him in whom they have not believed?-fidence that we have in him, that, if we h Mat. iv. 10. Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

i1 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.

k Psal. 1. 15. And call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.

1 Rom. x. 14. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? 180. m John xiv. 13. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. Ver. 14. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. John xvi. 24. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be

ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us. Ver. 15. And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

181. p John xiv. 6. Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. Isa. lix. 2. But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. Eph. iii. 12. În whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.

q John vi. 27. Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed." IIeb. vii. 25. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make inter

Q. 182. How doth the Spirit help us to pray?

A. We not knowing what to pray for as we ought, the Spirit helpeth our infirmities, by enabling us to understand both for whom, and what, and how prayer is to be made; and by working and quickening in our hearts (although not in all persons, nor at all times, in the same measure) those apprehensions, affections, and graces which are equisite for the right performance of that duty".

Q. 183. For whom are we to pray?

A. We are to pray for the whole church of Christ upon earth; for magistrates', and ministers; for ourselves, our brethren, yea, our enemies; and for all sorts of men living a, or that shall live Iereafter; but not for the dead, nor for those that are known to have sinned the sin unto death".

Q. 184. For what things are we to pray?

A. We are to pray for all things tending to the glory of God, the

cession for them. Ver. 26. For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; Ver. 27. Who needeth not daily, as those high riests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his wn sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself. 1 Tim. ii. 5. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.

r Col. iii. 17. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. Heb. xiii. 15. By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to his name.

182. s Rom. viii. 26. Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought; but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Ver. 27. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. Psal. x. 17. Lord, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear. Zech. xii. 10. And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications; and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn.

183. t Eph. vi. 18. Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints. Psal. xxviii. 9. Save thy people, and bless thine inheritance: feed them also, and lift them up for ever.

v 1 Tim. ii. 1. I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; Ver. 2. For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

w Col. iv. 3. Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds.

x Gen. xxxii. 11. Deliver me, I pray thee, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau: for I fear him, lest he will come and smite me, and the mother with the children.

y James v. 16. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. z Mat. v. 44. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.

a 1 Tim. ii. 1, 2. [See above in v.]

b John xvii. 20. Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word. 2 Sam. vii. 29. Therefore now let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may continue for ever before thee: for thou, Ŏ Lord God, hast spoken it: and with thy blessing let the house of thy servant be blessed for ever.

c 2 Sam. xii. 21. Then said his servants unto him, What thing is this that thou hast done? Thou didst fast and weep for the child, while it was alive; but when the child was dead, thou didst rise and eat bread. Ver. 22. And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether God will be gracious to me, that the child may live? Ver. 23. But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.

d 1 John v. 16. If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.

184. e Mat. vi. 9. After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father, which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.