ASSEMBLY'S SHORTER CATECHISM. 28$ 90. Q. How is theword to be read and heard, that it may becomeeffectual to salvation ? A. That the word may become effectual to salvation, we must attend there- unto with diligence, preparation, and prayer, receive it with faith, and love, lay it up in our hearts, and practise it in our lives. Preparation. Endeavouring to put the heart in a right frame. Faith. Belief. 91. How do the sacraments becomeeffectual means of salvation ? A. The sacraments become effectual means of salvation, not from any vir- tue in them, or in him that doth administer them, but only by the blessing of Christ, and the working of his spirit in them that by faith receive them. Virtue. Sufficient power. Administer. Perform ordistribute by way of office. Blessing of Christ. Christ's powerful influence for our good. 92. Q. What is a sacrament? A. A sacrament is an holy ordinance instituted by Christ, wherein by sensi- ble signs Christ and the benefits of the new covenant are represented, sealed and applied to believers. Instituted. Appointed, commanded. Sensible signs. Marks or tokens that are perceived by the senses, viz. seeing, feeling, tasting. New covenant. The covenant of grace, or the gospel. Represented. Set forth in a lively manner as in a picture or resemblance. Sealed. Confirmed and assuredto no, as the possession of a house or land is made sure to a person by a seal set to a writing, Applied. Conveyed or given. Believers. Those who trust in Christ, or have faith in him. 93. Q. What are the sacraments of the New Testament ? A. The sacraments of theNew Testament are baptism and the Lord's-supper. New Testament. Gospel, or covenant of grace. See answer 2. 94. Q. What is baptism ? A. Baptism is a sacrament, wherein the washing with water in thename ofthe Father, and ofthe Son,and of the Holy Ghost, Both signify and seal our ingraft- ing into Christ, and partaking of the benefits of the covenant of graceand our engagement to be the Lord's. Ingrafting into Christ. Our entrance into Christianity, or union to Christ. . Benefits of the covenant of grace. See answer 32. To be the Lord's. To be entirely given up to the serviceof Christ, and to his disposal. 95. Q. Towhom is baptism to be administered ? A. Baptism is not to be administered toany who are out of the visiblechureb till they profess their faith in Christ and obedience to him ; but the infants of such as are members of the visible church are to be baptized. Administer. See answer 91. Visible church. All that profess the true religion with their lips, and openly practise it in their Life, are the members which make up the visible church. It is called visible, because it is to be seen by men, whereas the invisible church is made up of those who have true religion in the heart, which God only knows and sees. 96. Q. What is the Lord's -supper ? A. The Lord's-supper is a sacrament, wherein by giving and receiving bread and wine according to Christ's appointment, his death is shewed forth, and f the worthy receivers are, not after a corporeal and carnal manner, but by faith, made partakers of his body and blood, with all his benefits, to their spiritual nourish- ment and growth ingrace. Worthy receivers. Those who are fit to receive the Lord's-supper, and do receive it in a right manner. Corporeal. Bodily. Carnal. Fleshly. Partakersof his body and blood. United to Christ, and partakers of theWee- sings procured by his death: Spiritual nourishment andgrowth in grace. The soul's increase or improvement in ko 'loess
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