Q35-41. Prayer, Scripture, and Gospel Ordinances

Qu. 35. From where do you reckon prayer, which is a part of moral and natural worship, among the institutions of Christ in his Church?

An. On many accounts; as (1) because the Lord Christ has commanded his Church to attend to the worship of God therein. (2) because he bestows on the ministers of the Church, gifts and ability of prayer for the benefit and edification thereof. (3) he has appointed that all his other ordinances should be administered with prayer, whereby it becomes a part of them. (4) because himself ministers in the holy place, as the great High Priest of his Church to present their prayers to God at the throne of grace. (5) because in all the prayers of the Church, there is an especial regard had to himself, and the whole work of his mediation. (1) Luke 18:1; Chap. 21:36; Romans 12:5; 1 Timothy 2:1, 2. (2) Ephesians 4:8, 12, 13; Romans 8:15, 16; Galatians 4:6. (3) Acts 2:42; 1 Timothy 4:5. (4) Revelation 8:3, 4; Hebrews 4:14, 15, 16; Chap. 6:20; Chap. 10:20, 21, 22. (5) John 14:13; Chap. 15:16, 22, 26; Ephesians 3:14, 15.

Qu. 36. May not the Church in the solemn worship of God, and celebration of the ordinances of the Gospel, make use of, and content itself in the use of forms of prayer in an unknown tongue composed by others and prescribed to them.

An. So to do would be; (1) contrary to one principal end of prayer itself, which is that believers may therein apply themselves to the throne of grace for spiritual supplies according to the present condition, wants, and exigencies of their souls. (2) to the main end that the Lord Jesus Christ aimed at in supplying men with gifts for the discharge of the work of the ministry, tending to render the promise of sending the Holy Ghost, which is the immediate cause of the Church's preservation and continuance, needless, and useless. Moreover (3) it will render the discharge of the duty of ministers to several precepts and exhortations of the Gospel, for the use, stirring up and exercise of their gifts impossible, and (4) thereby hinder the edification of the Church, the great end of all ordinances and institutions. (1) Romans 8:26; Philippians 4:6; Hebrews 4:16; 1 Peter 4:7. (2) Ephesians 4:8, 12, 13. (3) 1 Timothy 4:14; 2 Timothy 1:6, 7; Colossians 4:17; Matthew 25:14, 15, 16. (4) 1 Corinthians 12:7.

Quest. 37. Is the constant work of preaching the Gospel by the elders of the Church, necessary?

Answ. It is so, both on the part of the elders or ministers themselves, of whom that duty is strictly required, and who principally therein labor and watch for the good of the flock; and on the part of the Church, for the furtherance of their faith, and obedience, by instruction, reproof, exhortation, and consolation. Matthew 24:45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51; Romans 12:7, 8; 1 Corinthians 9:17, 18; Ephesians 4:12, 13; 1 Timothy 4:15, 16; Chap. 5:17; 2 Timothy 2:24, 25; Chap. 3:14, 15, 16, 17; Chapter 4:2.

Quest. 38. Who are the proper subjects of Baptism?

Answ. Professing believers, if not baptized in their infancy, and their infant seed. Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:38, 39; Acts 16:33; 1 Corinthians 1:16; 1 Corinthians 7:14; Colossians 2:12, 13; with Genesis 17:10, 11, 12.

Quest. 39. Where, and to whom, is the ordinance of the Lord's Supper to be administered?

Answ. In the Church, or assembly of the congregation, to all the members of it, rightly prepared, and duly assembled, or to such of them as are so assembled. 1 Corinthians 11:20, 21, 22, 28, 29, 33; Acts 2:46.

Quest. 40. How often is that ordinance to be administered?

Answ. Every first day of the week, or at least as often as opportunity, and conveniency may be obtained. 1 Corinthians 11:26; Acts 20:7.

Quest. 41. What is the discipline of the Church?

Answ. It consists in the due exercise of that authority and power which the Lord Christ in and by his Word has granted to the Church, for its continuance, increase, and preservation, in purity, order, and holiness, according to his appointment, Matthew 16:19; Romans 12:8; 2 Corinthians 10:4, 5, 6; Revelation 2:2, 20.

Explication.

Sundry things are to be considered about this discipline of the Church; as

First, The foundation of it, which is a grant of power and authority made to it by Jesus Christ, as Mediator, Head, King, and Law-giver of his Church. For all discipline being an act of power, and this being exercised in and about things internal, and spiritual, no men can of themselves, or by grant of any others, have any right or authority to, or in the exercise thereof. Whoever has any interest herein, or right hereunto, it must be granted to him from above, by Jesus Christ, and that as Mediator and head of his Church. For as all Church power, is in an especial manner by the authority and grant of the Father vested in him alone (Matthew 28:18; Ephesians 1:20, 21, 22, 23), so the nature of it which is spiritual, the object of it which are the consciences and Gospel privileges of believers, with the ends of it, namely the glory of God in Christ, with the spiritual and eternal good of the souls of men, do all manifest that it can have no other right nor foundation. This in the first place is to be fixed, that no authority can be exercised in the Church, but what is derived from Jesus Christ, as was spoken before.

Secondly, The means whereby the Lord Christ does communicate this power and authority to his Church, is his word or his law and constitution concerning it in the Gospel; so that it is exactly limited and bounded thereby. And no power or authority can be exercised in the Church, but what is granted and conveyed to it by the word; seeing that Christ communicates no power or authority any other ways. Whatever of that nature is beside it, or beyond it, is mere usurpation, and null in its exercise. Herein is the commission of the guides and rulers of the Church expressed, which they are not to exceed in any thing. Herein are bounds and limits fixed to the actings of the whole Church, and of every part and member of it.

Thirdly, This power or authority, thus granted, and conveyed by Jesus Christ, is to be exercised as to the manner of the administration of discipline, with skill and diligence (Romans 12:6; 1 Corinthians 12), and the skill required hereunto, is a gift, or an ability of mind bestowed by the Holy Ghost upon men to put in execution the laws of Christ, for the government of the Church, in the way and order by him appointed; or a spiritual wisdom whereby men know how to behave themselves in the house of God, in their several places, for its due edification in faith and love (1 Timothy 3:15). And this ability of mind to make a due application of the laws of the Gospel to persons, times, and actions with their circumstances, is such a gift of the Holy Ghost, as whereof there are several degrees answering to the distinct duties that are incumbent on the rulers of the Church on the one hand, and members on the other. And where this skill and wisdom is wanting, there it is impossible that the discipline of the Church, should be preserved or carried on. Hereunto also diligence and watchfulness are to be added, without which ability and power will never obtain their proper end in a due manner (Romans 12:6, 7, 8).

Fourthly, The end of this discipline is continuance, increase, and preservation of the Church, according to the rule of its first institution (1 Corinthians 5:7). This power, has Christ given his Church for its conservation, without which it must necessarily decay, and come to nothing. Nor is it to be imagined that where any Church is called and gathered according to the mind of Christ, that he has left it destitute of power and authority to preserve itself, in that state and order which he has appointed to it. And that which was one principal cause of the decays of the Asian Churches, was the neglect of this discipline, the power and privilege whereof, the Lord had left to them and intrusted them withal, for their own preservation in order, purity and holiness. And therefore for the neglect thereof they were greatly blamed by him (Revelation 2:14, 15, 20; Chap. 3:2), as is also the Church of Corinth by the Apostle (1 Corinthians 5:2), as they are commended, who attended to the diligent exercise of it (Revelation 2:2; Chap. 3:9). The disuse also of it, has been the occasion of all the defilements, abominations and confusions, that have spread themselves over many Churches in the world.