Matthew Henry on “What is a Sacrament?”
You might know I’ve recently begun to get interested in Matthew Henry’s thought on baptism. Assuming this is the same Henry, I am more and more intrigued. Commenting on Answer #92 of the Westminster Shorter Catechism, he writes
Is a sacrament a seal?Yes: Circumcision was a seal of the righteousness which is by faith, Rom. 4:11. A seal of the covenant? Yes: He gave him the covenant of circumcision, Acts 7:8.
Is a sacrament an oath? Yes: They entered into an oath to walk in God’s law, Neh. 10:29.
Is it an encouragement to our faith? Yes: Reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side, and be not faithless, but believing, John 20:27.
Is it an engagement to obedience? Yes: That henceforth we should not serve sin Rom. 6:6.
Is Christ applied to us in sacraments? Yes: As many of you as have been baptized into Christ, have put on Christ, Gal. 3:27.
Are the benefits of the new covenant applied to us? Yes: To be a God to thee, and to thy seed after thee, Gen. 17:7.
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