248 THE CHILD'S CATECHISM. " Acts iii.19. Repent andbe converted that your sins may be blotted out. Acts x. 43. Whosoever believeth, or trusteth, in himshall receive remissionof sins. Acts rm. 31. Believe on, or trust iv, the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved," 50. Q. But is not your heart itself sinful, and have you power of your- self to repent of sin, and to trust in Christ and obey him? A. Wehave sinful hearts and cannot do these duties of ourselves, but God bas promised his own Holy Spirit if we pray for it, to renew our hearts to holi- ness, and help on to do his will. " 2 Cor. iii. 5. Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves, but our sufficiency is of God. Eph. ii. 8. By grace ye are saved through faith : and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. Luke xi. 13. How much more shall your heavenly Father give the holySpirit to then, that ask him ? Ezek. xxxvi. 26. A new heart will 1 give you. Verse 27. And I will put my Spirit within you. Verse 37. I will yet for this be enquired of by the bouse of Israel, to do it for them. Rom. xii. 2. Be ye transformed by the renew- ing of your mind. Tit, iii. 5. He saved us by the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Ghost. Rom. viii. 26. The Spirit also helpeth our infirmities." 51. Q. How must you offer up your prayers no as to be accepted of God andobtain bis holy Spirit or any blessings from him ? A. Inall ourprayers and all our services we must seek for acceptanceonly from the mercy of God and for the sake of Christ ; for we have sinned and deserve no good thing. " Dan. íx. 15, 17, 18. We have sinned, we bave done wickedly-O our God, hear the prayer of thy servant-for the Lord's sake.-We do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousnesses, but for thy great mercies. Eph. i. 6. He bath made as accepted in the beloved. John xvi. 23. Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name be will give it you. Verse 24. Ask and ye shall receive." 52. Q. Hath God provided any other means for our help in the wayto heaven ? A. God bath given bis holy word both to Jews and christians, he bath sent bis ministers to help as to understand his word, and appointed some special signs and tokens of his mercy for our use. " Ps. cxlvii. 19. He'sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judg- ments unto Israel. John xvii. 14. I have given them thy word. Mal. ìi. 7. The priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth, forhe is the messengerof the Lord of hosts. Nehem. viii. 7. The levites caused the people to understand the law. Eph. iv. 1 L He, that is, Christ, gave - pastors and teachers - -for the work of the ministry, Soc. Gen. Vii. I1. It shall bea token of the covenant between me and you ; Rom. iv. 11. He received the sign of circumcision ; Mat xxviii. 20. Teaching them to observe all things what. soever I have commanded you." 53. Q. What are the special signs and tokens which God bath appointed to chew forth his mercy among christians? A. Thereare two signs or tokens which are commonly called sacraments of theNew Testament, and these are baptism and the Lord's- supper. " Mat. xxviii. 19. Go ye and teach all nations, baptizing them. 1 Cor. xi. 20. -The Lord's-supper. Verse 24. This do in remembranceme." 54. What is baptism ? A. It is a washing with water in the some of the Father, the Soo, and tiie Holy Spirit. r Mat. xxviii. 19. Baptizing them in the name of the Father, and ofthe Son, and of the Holy Ghost." 55. Q: What is meant by this washing? A. It. signifies our being cleansed from sin, and our becomingnew crea- tures, and the disciples of Christ. ., Acts xxii. I6. Arise and be baptized and wash away thy sins. Tit. iii. 5, The washingof regeneration, and the renewing of the Holy Ghost. Gal. iii. 27. Asmany of you as have been baptized into Christ, have put on Christ, that in are his disciples." 2 .56. Q. Why must we be baptized in name of the Father?
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