Q. 62. What is the visible church?

A. The visible church is a society made up of all such as in all ages and places of the world do profess the true religion, (1 Cor 1:2;12:13 Rom15:9-12 Rev 7:9 Ps 2:8;22:27-31;45:17 Matt 28:19-20 Isa 59:21) and of their children. (1 Cor 7:14 Acts 2:39 Rom 11:16 Gen 17:7)

Q. 63. What are the special privileges of the visible church?

A. The visible church hath the privilege of being under God's special care and government;(Isa 9:5-6; 1 Tim 4:10) of being protected and preserved inall ages, notwithstanding the opposition of all enemies; (Ps 115:1-2,9 Isa31:4-5 Zech 12:2-4, 8-9) and of enjoying the communion of saints, the ordinary means of salvation, (Acts 2:39, 42) and offers of grace by Christ to all the members of it in the ministry of the gospel, testifying, that whosoever believes in him shall be saved, (Ps 147:19-20 Rom 9:4 Eph 4:11-12Mk 16:15-16) and excluding none that will come unto him.(John 6:37)

Q. 64. What is the invisible church?

A. The invisible church is the whole number of the elect, that have been, are, or shall be gathered into one under Christ the head. (Eph 1:10; 1:22-23 Jn 10:16;11:52)

Q. 65. What special benefits do the members of the invisible church enjoy by Christ?

A. The members of the invisible church by Christ enjoy union and communion with him in grace and glory. (Jn 17:21, 24 Eph 2:5-6)

Q. 66. What is that union which the elect have with Christ?

A. The union which the elect have with Christ is the work of God's grace, (Eph 1:22;2:6-7) whereby they are spiritually and mystically, yet really and inseparably, joined to Christ as their head and husband; which is done in their effectual calling.(1 Cor 6:17 Eph 5:23, 30)

Q. 91. How do the sacraments become effectual means of salvation?

A. The sacraments become effectual means of salvation, not from any virtue 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.

Q. 92. What is a sacrament?

A. A sacrament is a holy ordinance instituted by Christ; wherein, by sensible signs, Christ, and the benefits of the new covenant, are represented, sealed, and applied to believers.

Q. 93. Which are the sacraments of the New Testament?

A. The sacraments of the New Testament are, baptism, and the Lord’s Supper.

Q. 94. What is baptism?

A. Baptism is a sacrament, wherein the washing with water in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, doth signify and seal our ingrafting into Christ, and partaking of the benefits of the covenant of grace, and our engagement to be the Lord’s.

Q. 95. To whom is Baptism to be administered?

A. Baptism is not to be administered to any that are out of the visible church, 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.

Q. 96. 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 showed forth; and the worthy receivers are, not after a corporal and carnal manner, but by faith, made partakers of his body and blood, with all his benefits, to their spiritual nourishment, and growth in grace.