The Westminster Confession of Faith
CHAPTER 27
Of the Sacraments.
I. Sacraments are holy signs and seals of the covenant of grace,a
immediately instituted by God,b to represent
Christ and his benefits, and to confirm our interest in him;c
as also, to put a visible difference between those that belong unto the
church and the rest of the world;d and solemnly
to engage them to the service of God in Christ, according to his word.e
a Rom. 4:11; Gen. 17:7,10.
b Matt. 28:19; 1 Cor. 11:23.
c 1 Cor. 10:16; 1 Cor. 11:25,26;
Gal. 3:17.
d Rom. 15:8; Exod. 12:48; Gen. 34:14.
e Rom. 6:3,4; 1 Cor.
10:16,21.
II. There is in every sacrament a spiritual
relation, or sacramental union, between the sign and the thing
signified; whence it comes to pass, that the names and effects of the
one are attributed to the other.f
f Gen. 17:10; Matt.
26:27,28; Tit. 3:5.
III. The grace which is exhibited in or by the
sacraments, rightly used, is not conferred by any power in them;
neither doth the efficacy of a sacrament depend upon the piety or
intention of him that doth administer it,g but
upon the work of the Spirit,h and the word of
institution; which contains, together with a precept authorizing the
use thereof, a promise of benefit to worthy receivers.i
g Rom. 2:28,29; 1
Pet. 3:21.
h Matt. 3:11; 1 Cor. 12:13.
i Matt. 26:27,28; Matt. 28:19,20.
IV. There be only two sacraments ordained by
Christ our Lord in the gospel, that is to say, Baptism, and the Supper
of the Lord; neither of which may be dispensed by any but by a minister
of the word, lawfully ordained.k
k Matt. 28:19; 1 Cor.
11:20,23; 1 Cor. 4:1; Heb. 5:4.
V. The sacraments of the Old Testament, in regard
of the spiritual things thereby signified and exhibited, were, for
substance, the same with those of the New.l
l 1 Cor. 10:1-4.
|