The
Larger Catechism – Questions 171-180
Q.
171. How are they that receive the sacrament of the Lord's supper to prepare
themselves before they come?
A.
They that receive the sacrament of the Lord's supper are, before they come, to
prepare themselves thereunto, by examining themselvesa of their
being in Christb, of their sins and wantsc; of the truth
and measure of their knowledged, faithe, repentancef,
love to God and the brethreng, charity to all menh,
forgiving those that have done them wrongi; of their desires after
Christk, and of their new obediencel; and by renewing
the exercise of these gracesm, by serious meditationn,
and fervent prayero.
a
1 Cor.11:28 b 2 Cor.13:5 c 1 Cor.5:7 compared with Exod.12:15 d
1 Cor.11:29 e 1 Cor.13:5; Matt.26:28 f Zech.12:10; 1 Cor.11:31 g
1 Cor.10:16,17; Acts 2:46,47 h 1 Cor.5:8; 1 Cor 11:18,20 i
Matt.5:23,24 k Isa.55:1; John 7:37 l 1 Cor.5:7,8 m 1
Cor.11:25,26,28; Heb.10:21,22,24; Ps.26:6 n 1 Cor.11:24,25 o 2
Chron.30:18,19; Matt.26:26
Q.
172. May one who doubteth of his being in Christ, or of his due preparation,
come to the Lord's supper?
A.
One who doubteth of his being in Christ, or of his due preparation to the
sacrament of the Lord's supper, may have true interest in Christ, though he be
not yet assured thereofa; and in God's account hath it, if he be
duly affected with the apprehension of the want of itb, and
unfeignedly desires to be found in Christc, and to depart from
iniquityd: in which case (because promises are made, and this
sacrament is appointed, for the relief even of weak and doubting Christianse)
he is to bewail his unbelieff, and labour to have his doubts
resolvedg; and, so doing, he may and ought to come to the Lord's
supper, that he may be further strengthenedh.
a
Isa.50:10; 1 John 5:13; Ps.88; Ps.77:1-12; Jonah 2:4,7 b Isa.54:7-10;
Matt.5:3,4; Ps.31:22; Ps.73:13,22,23 c Phil.3:8,9; Ps.10:17;
Ps.42:1,2,5,11 d 2 Tim.2:19; Isa.50:10; Ps.66:18-20 e
Isa.40:11,29,31; Matt.11:28; Matt.12:20; Matt.26:28 f Mark 9:24 g
Acts 16:30 h Rom.4:11; 1 Cor.11:28
Q.
173. May any who profess the faith, and desire to come to the Lord's supper,
be kept from it?
A. Such as are found to be ignorant or scandalous, notwithstanding their
profession of the faith, and desire to come to the Lord's supper, may and
ought to be kept from that sacrament, by the power which Christ hath left in
his churcha, until they receive instruction, and manifest their
reformationb.
a
1 Cor.11:27-34 compared with Matt.7:6 and with 1 Cor.5 and with Jude 23 and
with 1 Tim.5:22 b 2 Cor.2:7
Q.
174. What is required of them that receive the sacrament of the Lord's supper
in the time of the administration of it?
A.
It is required of them that receive the sacrament of the Lord's supper, that,
during the time of the administration of it, with all holy reverence and
attention they wait upon God in that ordinancea, diligently observe
the sacramental elements and actionsb, heedfully discern the Lord's
bodyc, and affectionately meditate on his death and sufferingsd,
and thereby stir up themselves to a vigorous exercise of their gracese;
in judging themselvesf, and sorrowing for sing; in
earnest hungering and thirsting after Christh, feeding on him by
faithi, receiving of his fulnessk, trusting in his
meritsl, rejoicing in his lovem, giving thanks for his
gracen; in renewing of their covenant with Godo, and
love to all the saintsp.
a
Lev.10:3; Heb.12:28; Ps.5:7; 1 Cor.11:17,26,27 b Exod.24:8 compared
with Matt.26:28 c 1 Cor.11:29 d Luke 22:19 e 1 Cor.11:26;
1 Cor.10:3-5,11,14 f 1 Cor.11:31 g Zech.12:10 h Rev.22:17
i John 6:35 k John 1:16 l Phil.1:16 m Ps.63:4,5; 2
Chron.30:21 n Ps.22:26 o Jer.50:5; Ps.50:5 p Acts 2:42
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 successa; if they find quickening and
comfort, to bless God for itb, beg the continuance of itc,
watch against relapsesd, fulfil their vowse, and
encourage themselves to a frequent attendance on that ordinancef:
but if they find no present benefit, more exactly to review their preparation
to, and carriage at, the sacramentg; 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 timeh: but, if they see they have failed in
either, they are to be humbledi, and to attend upon it afterwards
with more care and diligencek.
a
Ps.28:7; Ps.85:8; 1 Cor.11:17,30,31 b 2 Chron.30:21-23,25,26; Acts
2:42,46,47 c Ps.36:10; Cant.3:4; 1 Chron.29:18 d 1 Cor.10:3-5,12
e Ps.50:14 f 1 Cor.11:25,26; Acts 2:42,46 g Cant.5:1-6;
Eccl.5:1-6 h Ps.123:1,2; Ps.42:5,8; Ps.43:3-5 i 2
Chron.30:18,19; Isa.1:16,18 k 2 Cor.7:11; 1 Chron.15:12-14
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 Goda; the spiritual part of both is Christ and his benefitsb;
both are seals of the same covenantc, are to be dispensed by
ministers of the gospel, and by none otherd; and to be continued in
the church of Christ until his second cominge.
a
Matt.28:19; 1 Cor.11:23 b Rom.6:3,4; 1 Cor.10:16 c Rom.4:11;
Col.2:12; Matt.26:27,28 d John 1:33; Matt.28:19; 1 Cor.11:23; 1
Cor.4:1; Heb.5:4 e Matt.28:19,20; 1 Cor.11:26
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 Christa, and that even to infantsb;
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 soulc, and to confirm our continuance and growth in himd,
and that only to such as are of years and ability to examine themselvese.
a
Matt.3:11; Tit.3:5; Gal.3:27 b Gen.17:7,9; Acts 2:38,39; 1 Cor.7:14 c
1 Cor.11:23-26 d 1 Cor.10:16 e 1 Cor.11:28,29
Q.
178. What is prayer?
A.
Prayer is an offering up of our desires unto Goda, in the name of
Christb, by the help of his Spiritc; with confession of
our sinsd, and thankful acknowledgment of his merciese.
a
Ps.62:8 b John 16:23 c Rom.8:26 d Ps.32:5,6; Dan.9:4 e
Phil.4:6
Q.
179. Are we to pray unto God only?
A.
God only being able to search the heartsa, hear the requestsb,
pardon the sinsc, and fulfil the desires of alld; and
only to be believed ine, and worshipped with religious worshipf;
prayer, which is a special part thereofg, is to be made by all to
him aloneh, and to none otheri.
a
1 Kings 8:39; Acts 1:24; Rom.8:27 b Ps.65:2 c Micah 7:18 d
Ps.145:18,19 e Rom.10:14 f Matt.4:10 g 1 Cor.1:2 h
Ps.50:15 i Rom.10:14
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 sakea; not by bare
mentioning of his nameb, but by drawing our encouragement to pray,
and our boldness, strength, and hope of acceptance in prayer, from Christ and
his mediationc.
a
John 14:13,14; John 16:24; Dan.9:17 b Matt.7:21 c Heb.4:14-16; 1
John 5:13-15
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