THE RULES AND DIRECTIONS of the LORDS and COMMONS Assembled in PARLIAMENT: Concerning the Examination of all such as shall be admitted to the Sacrament of the LORDS SUPPER, Within the Kingdom of England, and Dominion of Wales: Contained In an Ordinance of the twentieth of October, 1645. with Questions and Answers concerning the same.  
Printed at London for M. Wright, at the King's Head in the Old Bayley. 1659.   

Rules and Directions concerning suspension from the Sacrament of the Lords Supper, in case of Ignorance.  

1. ALl such persons who shall be admitted to the Sacrament of the Lords Supper, aught to know that there is a God, that there is but one ever living and true God, maker of Heaven and Earth, and Governor of all things; That this only true God, is the God whom we worship; that this God is but one, yet three distinct Persons, the Father, Son, and holy Ghost, all equal God.  
2. That God created man ofter his own Image, in knowledge, righteousness, and true holiness; That by one man unn entied into the world, and death by sin, and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned; That thereby they are all dead in trespasses and sins, and are by nature the Children of wrath, and so liable to eternal death, the wages of every sin.  
3. That there is but one Mediator between God and man, the man Christ jesus, who is also overall, God blessed for ever, neither is there salvation in any other; That he was conceived by the holy Ghost, and born of the Virgin Mary; that he died upon the cross to save his people from their sins; That he role again the third day from the dead, ascended into Heaven, sits at the right hand of God, and makes continual intercession for us, of whose fullness we receive all grace necessary to salvation.  
4. That Christ and his benefits are applied only by faith; That faith is the gift of God, and that we have it not of ourselves, but it is wrought in us by the Word and Spirit of God.   
That faith is that grace, whereby we believe and trust in Christ for remission of sins, and life everlasting according to the promise of the Gospel, that whosoever believes not on the Son of God shall not see life, but shall perish eternally.  
That they who truly repent of their sins, do see them, forrow for them, and turn from them to the Lord, and that except men repent they shall surely perish.  
That a godly life is conscionably ordered according to the Word of God, in Holiness and Righteousness, without which no man shall see God.  
That the Sacraments are Seals of the Covenant of Grace in the Blood of Christ: That the Sacraments of the new Testament, are Baptism and the Lords Supper; that the outward Elements in the Lord's Supper are Bread & Wine, and do signify the Body and Blood of Christ Crucified, which the worthy Receiver by faith doth partake of in this Sacrament, which Christ hath like wise ordained for the remembrance of this death; that whosoever eats and drinks unworthily, is guilty of the Body and Blood of the Lord; and therefore that every one is to examine himself, left he eat and drink judgement to himself, not discerning the Lords Body.  
That the souls of the faithful after death, do immediately live with Christ in blessedness; and that the souls of the wicked, do immediately go into Hell torments.  
That there shall be a Resurrection of the Bodies, both of the just and unjust at the last Day, at which time all shall appear before the judgement Seat of Christ, to receive according to what they have done in the body, whether it be good or evil: And that the righteous shall go into life eternal, and the wicked into everlasting punishment.  
And it is further ordained by the Lords and Commons, that those who have a competent measure of understanding concerning the matters contained in these Articles shall not be kept bacl from the Sacrament of the Lords Supper for Ignorance. And that the Examination and judgement of such persons as shall for their ignorance of the aforesaid points of Religion not be admitted to the Sacrament of the Lods Supper, is to be in the power of the Eldership of every congregation.   

SHORT Questions and Answers.  
Q WHat is God?  
A. A most holy Spirit, Infinite in all perfections, joh. 4.24. 1 Tim. 6.16.  
Q. How many Gods are there?  
A. One only, 1 Cor. 8.  
Q. Into how many Persons is this one God distinguished?  
A. Into three, The Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, Mat. 28.19. 1 Joh. 5.7.  
Q. In what estate was man made by God at first?  
A. In a very happy estate, being made after the Image of God, Gen. 1.27.  
Q. In what respect is man said to be made after the Image of God?  
A. In that he was endued with perfect knowledge, and with true holiness and righteousness, Col. 3.10. Eph. 4.24.  
Q. Did man always continue in that happy estate wherein he was at first made?  
A. No, he became miserable by sin, Gen. 3.17.  
Q. What was the sin which Adam did commit?  
A. Disobedience against God, in eating the forbidden fruit, Gen. 3.3, 6.  
Q. Did all Mankind sin in Adam?  
A. Yes: Adam was a public person, and we were all in his loins, Rom. 5.19.  
Q. What is sin in general?  
A. A transgression of God's Commandments, 1 John 3.4.  
Q. What be the kinds of sin:  
A. 

1. Original, which is the corruption of nature, wherein we are conceived and born, Gal. 5.19.  
2. Actual, which is the fruit of that corruption in evil thoughts, words and deeds, Psal. 51.5.    
Q. What is the punishment due to sin?  
A. All curses and plagues in this life, at the end death, and after that eternal torment in Hell, Deut. 28.16, 17. Rom. 9.23 2 Thes. 1.8, 9  
Q. Seeing we are all sinners, by what means may we escape those miseries which we have deserved, and recover happiness?  
A. Only by Jesus Christ, Acts 41.2.  
Q. What is Jesus Christ?  
A. Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God, who also became man for our salvation, Luke 1.35. John 1.14.  
Q What hath Christ done and suffered for our redemption?  
A. 

He fulfilled the Law for us, Mat. 3.15.  
2. He hath endured the curse of the Law due to our sins, Esay 53.5.    
Q. How are men made partakers of the benefits of those things which Christ did and suffered?  
A. By Faith, John 1.12.  
Q. What is Faith?  
A. A grace whereby we receive Christ as our perfect Saviour, and rest upon him alone for salvation, Joh. 1.12. Acts 16.31.  
Q. How is Faith wrought in us?  
A. 

1. Inwardly by the Spirit of God, Acts 16.14.  
2. Outwardly, by the preaching of the Word, Rom. 10.14.    
Q. What means hath God appointed to strengthen our faith?  
A. All his holy Ordinances, especially his Sacraments, Act. 2.38.  
Q. What is chief to be considered in a Sacrament?  
A. 

1. The outward signs and rites.  
2. The inward things signified thereby    
Q. How many Sacraments are there?  
A. Two, Baptisine and the Lords Supper, Mat. 28.19. Mat. 26.26. etc.  
Q. What is the special use of Baptism?  
To engraft us into Christ, Mat. 28.19. Gal. 4.27.  
Q. What is the outward sign in Baptism?  
A. Water, Act. 10 47.  
Q. What doth that set forth?  
A. Christ's Blood, Rev. 1.5.  
Q. What doth the sprinkling of it upon the party baptised set out.  
A. Our spiritual cleansing from sin by the blood of Christ, 1 Pet. 1.2.  
Q. What is the special use of the Lords Supper?  
A. 

1 To make us remember Christ's death, 1 Cor. 11.25.  
2 To make us grow in grace.    
Q. What are the outward signs thereof?  
A. Bread and Wine, Mat. 26.26, 27.  
Q. What doth the Bread set forth?  
A. The Body of Christ, Mat. 26.26.  
Q. What doth the Wine set forth?  
A. The Blood of Christ, Mat. 26.27.  
Q. In whose room stands the Minister?  
A. In the room of God himself, 2 Cor. 5.20.  
Q. What is set forth by the Minister's blessing Bread and Wine?  
A. God's setting of his Son apart for our Redemption, joh. 10.36.  
Q. What is signified by breaking the bread?  
A. The sufferings which Christ endured in his body, 1 Cor. 11.24.  
What is signified by pouring out of wine?  
A. Shedding Christ's blood, Luk. 22.20.  
Q. What is signified by the Ministers giving Bread and Wine to the Communicants?  
A. God's giving of his Son unto them, Mat. 26.26.  
Q. What doth people's taking Bread and Wine set out?  
A. Their applying Christ's body and blood unto themselves by faith, joh. 6.35.  
Q. What is required of every one before he comes to the Lords Table?  
A. He must examine himself, 1 Cor. 11.28.  
Q. Of what must he examine himself?  
A. 

1. Of his sins.  
2. Of his graces.    
Q. Of what graces must a man, before his coming to the Lords Table, examine himself?  
Ans. 

1. Of his Knowledge.  
2. Of his Faith.  
3. Of his Repentance.  
4. Of his Love.    
Q. How ought every one to behave himself at the Lord's Table?  
A. With all holy reverence, thankfully remembering Christ's death, and seriously considering the things that are signified by the outward signs and rites, Eccles. 5.11. Cor. 11.25.  
Q. What is the danger of unworthy receiving?  
A. Unworthy receivers are guilty or the body and blood of Christ, and so do eat and drink their own damnation, 1 Cor. 11.27.29.  
Quest. What is to be done after our receiving?  
A. 

We must give hearty thanks unto God, as for all his benefits, so especially for giving unto us Christ, to perfect the work of our salvation.  
2. We must examine how we have profited by our receiving.  
3. We must carefully perform our vows and promises made unto God, of leading a new life, & bringing forth fruits meet for repentance.    
Q. What is repentance?  
A. It is a sighing and sorrowing for sins, and turning from them to God, Acts 3.9.  
Q. Is this repentance necessary to salvation?  
A. Yes, for except men repent, they shall surely perish, Luk. 13.3.  
Q. What is a godly life?  
A. A life conscionably ordered according to the Word of God, in holiness and righteousness, Psal. 119.19. Luk. 1.75.  
Q. Is a godly life also necessary to salvation?  
A. Yes, for without holiness and righteousness no man shall see the Lord, Heb. 12.14.  
Q. Seeing the soul of man is immortal and cannot die, what shall become there ●f when it shall be separated from the body?  
A. The souls of the faithful shall immediately live with Christ in blessedness, and the souls of the wicked shall immediately go into hell torments, Luk. 16.22, 23. and Chap. 23. ver. 43. Phil. 1.23.  
Q. But shall not the body also be quickened and raised again?  
A. Yes, there shall be a Resurrection of the bodies both of the just and unjust at the last day, at which time the soul and body shall be united, and shall all appear before the Judgement Seat of Christ, to receive according to what they have done in their life times, whether good or evil; then shall the righteous inherit life eternal, but the wicked shall go into everlasting torment, John. 5.28, 29. Matth. 25.32. 2 Cor. 5.10. Matth. 25.46.  
FINIS.