c. Profane, wicked.

d. By no means, not at all.

e. Impossible, that cannot be.

f. Implanted, fixed in for the purpose of growth. g. True faith, such a reception of the Lord Jesus Christ as the Gospel requires.

h. Bring forth, produce; yield.

i. Fruits, effects; results.

j. Thankfulness, gratitude for favors received.

DOCTRINES SEPARATED AND PROVED.

1. The doctrine, that Christians are justified by grace through faith, and not by works, does not make men careless and profane. Rom. iii. 31-Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea we establish the law. Rom. vi. 1 and 2-What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid.

How shall we that are dead to sin live any longer therein?

2. Christians are implanted into Christ by a true faith. Rom. xi. 19 and 20-Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in. Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith.

3. Those, who are implanted into Christ by a true faith, cannot but bring forth fruits of thankfulness. Math. vii. 18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 1 John iii. 9-Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him and he cannot sin, because he is born of God John xv. 5.

EXERCISES.

What is the sixty-fourth question? What do you mean by doctrine? (a.) What by careless? (b.) What by profane? (c.) What answer is returned to the question? What do you mean by by no means? (d.) How do you prove, that the doctrine, that Christians are justified by grace through faith and not by works, does not make men

careless and profane? (1.) What reason is assigned for the answer returned? What do you mean by implanted? (f.) What by true faith? (g.) How do you prove that Christians are implanted into Christ by a true faith? (2.) What do you mean by impossible? (e.) What by bring forth? (h.) What by fruits? (i.) What by thankfulness? (j) How do you prove, that those, who are implanted into Christ by a true faith, cannot but bring forth fruits of thankfulness? (3.)

XXV. Lord's Day.

Of the Sacraments.

Q. 65. Since then we are made partakers of Christ, and all his benefits, by faith only, whence doth this faith proceed?

A. From the Holy Ghost, who works faith in our hearts by the preaching of the gospel, and confirms it by the use of the sacraments.

EXPLANATIONS.

a. Partakers, those who have an interest in something in common with others.

b. Benefits, blessings; advantages.

c. By faith only, solely through the trust in the Lord Jesus Christ required in the gospel.

d. Whence, from what source.

e. Proceed, originate; result from.

f. Holy Ghost, the third person in the Holy Trinity.

g. Works, produces.

h. Hearts, the seat of the affections and the understand

ing.

i. Preaching, proclaiming; publishing in discourse.

j. Gospel, the good news of salvation by Christ.

k. Confirms, strengthens; ratifies.

1. Use, participation; observance.

m. Sacraments, solemn religious rites, the observance of which was enjoined by Christ upon his follow

ers.

DOCTRINES SEPARATED AND PROVED.

1. Christians are made partakers of Christ and all his benefits by faith only. Heb. x. 39-But of them that believe to the saving of the soul. John iii. 36-He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life; and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

2. The Holy Ghost works faith in the hearts of Christians. 2 Cor. iv. 13-We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed and therefore have I spoken; we also believe and therefore speak. Gal. v. 22-But the fruit of the Spirit is faith.

3. The Holy Ghost works faith in the hearts of Christians by the preaching of the Gospel. Rom. x. 17-So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. 1 Cor. i. 21-For after that, in the wisdom of God, the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

4. The Holy Ghost confirms the faith of Christians by the use of the Sacraments. Rom. iv. 11-And he received the sign of circumcision: a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had, yet being uncircumcised. Acts viii. 36-38-And the eunuch said, See here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, if thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still; and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.

EXERCISES.

What does the sixty-fifth question take for granted? What do you mean by partakers? (a.) What by benefits? (b.) What by by faith only? (c.) How do you prove,

that Christians are made partakers of Christ and all his benefits, by faith only? (1.) What does the question ask in view of the fact, that Christians are made partakers of Christ and all his benefits by faith only? What do you mean by whence? (d.) What by proceed? (e.) What answer is returned to the question? What do you mean by the Holy Ghost? (f.) What by works? (g.) What by hearts? (h.) How do you prove that the Holy Ghost works faith in the hearts of Christians? (2.) By what does the Holy Ghost work faith in the hearts of Christians? What do you mean by preaching? (i.) What by the Gospel? (j.) How do you prove, that the Holy Ghost works faith in the hearts of Christians, by the preaching of Gospel? (3.) What more does the Holy Ghost do besides working faith in the hearts of Christians? What do you mean by confirms? (k.) What by use? (1.) What by sacraments? (m.) How do you prove, that the Holy Ghost confirms the faith of Christians, by the use of the sacraments? (4.)

Q. 66. What are the sacraments?

A. The sacraments are holy visible signs and seals, appointed of God for this end, that by the use thereof, he may the more fully declare and seal to us the promise of the gospel, viz: that he grants us freely the remission of sin and life eternal, for the sake of that one sacrifice of Christ, accomplished on the cross.

EXPLANATIONS.

a. Holy, sacred; consecrated to God. b. Visible, perceivable by the eye.

c. Signs, things by which other things are represented. d. Seals, things that confirm, ratify or make stable.

e. Appointed, instituted; established.

f. End, purpose; design.

g. Use, participation or observance.

h. More fully, with greater clearness.
i. Declare, make known; set forth.
j. Seal, ratify; confirm.

k. Promise, the declaration or assurance given by God
in his word of bestowing blessings on his people.
1. Gospel, the revelation of the grace of God to fallen
man through Christ our Mediator.

m. Grants, bestows; imparts.

n. Freely, cheerfully; without reserve.

o. Remission of sin, pardon for offences committed. p. Life eternal, the blissful existence provided for the saints forever in heaven.

q. Sake, on account of; in view of.

r. One sacrifice, the offering of himself to God made once and only once by the Lord Jesus Christ.

8. Accomplished, performed; made.

t. Cross, the gibbet upon which Christ was crucified.

DOCTRINES SEPARATED AND PROVED.

1. The sacraments are signs and seals. Gen. xvii. 11And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant between me and you, Rom. iv. 11-And he received the sign of circumcision: a seal of the righteousnees of the faith which he had, yet being uncircumcised. Exod. xiii. 9-And it shall be for a sign unto thee upon thine hand, and for a memorial between thine eyes.

2. The sacraments are holy signs and seals. Exodus xxix. 33-But a stranger shall not eat thereof, because they are holy. Lev. xxii. 10-There shall no stranger eat of the holy thing; a sojourner of the priest, or a hired servant, shall not eat of the holy thing.

3. The sacraments are visible signs and seals. Rom. ii. 28-Neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh. Exod. xii. 13-And the blood shall be a token to you upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.