upon us to Unchristian or Unchurch them all that we do is in discharge of our Duty to God and Faithfulness in our places to labour to keep the Lords Ordinances in that Purity and Order the Sacred Records testifie they were left in and in a Spirit of Love and Meekness to contend earnestly for the Faith once delivered to the Saints 1 Cor. 11.2 Jude 3. which we conceive to be a Duty enjoyned upon all Christians c. Obj. 10. It hath been Objected from Eph. 4.4,5,6 Where under the several Heads there is in the fourth Head one Baptism Now saith the Objector if we believe the other six things there mentioned viz. One Body one Spirit even as ye are called in one Hope of your Calling one Lord one Faith one Baptism one God and Father of all c. and are not found in the Practise of the fourth Head viz. one Baptism what Reason is there that we should be deprived of Communion in the Lords Supper for either the neglect of it and not seeing we are bound to Practise it c. Answ It doth appear from the Text that this is a Golden Chain linked together by the Spirit of God himself the taking of one of which Links away may weaken the whole and if the Wisdom of the Spirit hath linked or joyned them together it seems to be great presumption in any to put them a sunder Therefore let it be noted that the Apostle verse 3. Exhorts the Church to keep the Vnity of the Spirit in the bond of Peace In the 4 5 6. verses he shews wherein the Unity of the Spirit which is to be kept consists by giving a Character of the True Apostolick Religion epitomized under seven Heads 1. One God and Father of all who is above all and in us all 2. One Lord the second Adam the man Christ Jesus by whom and for whom are all things the great Mediator betwixt God and Man 3. One Faith Believing in this one God and this one Lord Jesus the one Mediator 4. One Baptism which in all the three Editions thereof hath signified a Profession and Ingagement to this one God and one Mediator by the Profession of the one Faith 5. One Spirit proceeding from the Father and the Son the great Teacher and Instructor of this one Body into a further Communion with the Father and the Son 6. One Body whereof all the Baptised are professed Members and whereto they are compleatly United by that one Spirit 7. One hope of their Calling in believing the Resurrection of the Body and Eternal Life which God hath promised to all those that obey him From this we may with much Assurance infer that we are under an indispensable Obligation to be found in the Practice of this one Baptism which holds forth our Interest in and Profession of this one God and Father one Lord Jesus Christ and one Spirit into whose Name we are Commanded to be Baptised Matth. 28.19 c. The Objector supposes the bare Belief without the visible Profession of Baptism is enough which indeed is not so because the Nature and Constitution of this Ordinance is purely Practical by vertue of a positive Precept and no pretence of a speculative Belief will excuse the neglect of it any more than the neglect of an Exercise of Faith respecting any other of the six points which the Holy Spirit has joyned with it The Antients tell us the Form of Baptism when they Expound Eph. 4.5 One Law Quest Whereas it may be further Queryed Whether one Ordinance gives a Right to the enjoyment of another Answ It is answered no For we have before proved that all Ordinances are to be observed in that Order which the Appointer of them hath prescribed from which we ought not to vary For as Circumcision was the first Ordinance to be Administred before they might be partakers of the Passeover although it gave not a Right to the Passeover yet might not any partake of it before they were Circumcised without sin So also in the New Testament Baptism is the first Ordinance to be Administred by the direction and appointment of God without which the Supper of the Lord may not be received without Sin All that is pleaded for by this is the Orderly observation of the New Testament Ordinances Quest But why should any be debar'd the enjoyment of those Ordinances they have light into because they want light in others Answ It deserves to be seriously considered whether the neglect of the Ordinance of Baptism doth not more arise from the want of a heart to obey God therein by reason of the contempt put upon it then for want of Light Is any Ordinance of Jesus Christ in the New Testament more plain and clear than this Are there not many more instances in the New Testament for the Practise of this then the Lords Supper For besides the Institution of it by Jesus Christ instanced by the several Evangelists it is but four times mentioned viz. Act. 2.42 20.7 1 Cor. 10.16 11.23 Whereas we find besides the Commission given by Jesus Christ Matth. 28.19 c. that 't is again enjoyned Act. 2.38 8.38 Act. 10.48 16.15.33 Act. 9.18 Act. 18.8 c. Neither do we find any one Ordinance of the Gospel so much made use of by the Apostles to incite Christians to die to sin and live to Cod as is largely demonstrated in the foregoing sheets to which we refer c. Obj. 11. And whereas it may be Objected that 't is Love and not Baptism that discovers us to be Christs Disciples It is answered Answ We do readily confess that we are commanded to put on love Coll. 3.14 which is a great Character of a Disciple of Christ and it is much to be Lamented that there is so little seen among Saints Yet that cannot be called Love which is exercised in opposition to the Order prescribed in the Word by which Ordinances ought to be Administred For as Love is a grace of the Spirit of Christ so Ordinances are the appointments of the same Spirit which works Grace in the Hearts of Christians All true Gospel Love being Regulated by Gospel-Rule and as all men may know the Disciples of Christ by their Love one to another so also it is a Character given by the same Lord of being a Disciple when this Love is manifest in keeping his Commandements John 14.15 If ye Love me keep my Commandments ver 21. He that hath my Commandements and keepeth them he it is that loveth me and he that loveth me shall be beloved of my Father and I will love him and will manifest my self to him ver 23. Jesus answered and said If any man Love me he will keep my Words and my Father will love him and we will come unto him and make our aboad with him ver 24. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings and the Word which you hear is not mine but the Fathers which sent me Now of these Commandments this Ordinance of Baptism is not the least and it seems to savour of little Love in them that would have Men believe it is advanced in them above their Brethren to charge them with want of Love as the only Reason why they cannot admit persons to the Supper of the Lord that never yet Received the Baptism of Christ Therefore Here we can Appeal to the Searcher of Hearts That the true Reason is because we dare not break that Rule and Order by which we find the Primitive Saints walkt and not want of Love to them And the Sence we have of the great Severity God hath shewed against those that have made the least Breach upon that Order which he himself hath prescribed These things I leave to the serious Consideration of those to whom this brief Essay may come desiring they may try all thing and hold fast that which is Good FINIS
doth not only Seal Pardon and Sanctification on Gods part but there is a promise and answer on our part an answer to what To the demands of the Covenant In the Covenant of Grace God saith I will be your God Baptism Seals that and we promise to be his People Now our Answer to this Demand of God and to this Interrogatory he puts to us in the Covenant it is Sealed by us in Baptism and it is Renewed in the Lords Supper c. Mr. Burroughs on Hos 8.12 Gives us this observation ' That whatever is urged to us or Practised by us in matter of Worship must have warrant out of the written Word of God it was sin and why Because I have written to them saith he the great things of my Law and they counted it a strange thing though that which they did had a great deal of seeming Devotion in it yet it was otherwise than that which was written in the Law ' This Question should be put to any that tender to us any way of Worship or Doctrine of Religion under any specious shew whatsoever where is it written Isa 8.20 If they speak not according to the word 't is because they have no light in them Oh they seem to be very judicious and wise But if they speak not according to the word it s because there is no light in them to the written Law and Testimony that must be the standard at which all Doctrine and ways of Worship must be tried many may put fair colours upon the Way that it is for Common Peace and a great deal of Good may be done by it and the like But is it written Did I ever command it saith God Policy may say 't is fit Reason may say 't is comely and Experience may say 't is useful but what doth the written Word say it should be Nay it is not enough to say that we cannot say 't is forbidden but where is it written in matters of Worship This is a certain Rule saith Tertullian If it be said 't is Lawful because the Scripture doth not forbid it it may equally be retorted it is therefore not lawful because the Scripture doth not Command it And further that Reverend Author p 86. Notes from Exod. 39. at least ten times in that Chapter ' They did according to what the Lord commanded Moses and in verse 43. Moses blessed the people The people are blessed when in the matters of Worship they keep unto what is Commanded This was the Judgment of that Famous Servant of God although no man in his time as those that knew him in his life can testifie was of a more tender and bearing spirit to heal Differences then he yet how Zealous and Careful was he to advise and inculcate into the minds of Christians that they should exactly keep to the written Word in matters of Gods Instituted Worship By what is said Christian Reader it evidently appears what a value all Christians in all Ages yea at this day have had for this great Ordinance of Baptism and how Vniversally Concurrent their Testimonies are that it is not only the Sacrament of Initiation but also to be continued in the Church unto the end of the World And because it would swell this small piece beyond its intended Bulk to use so great a Cloud of Witnesses we shall add a few General and Comprehending Testimonies 1. In the Articles of Religion Published by His Majesties special Command 1642. Baptism is thus Defined ' Baptism is not only a Sign of Profession and Mark of difference whereby Christian men are discerned from others that be not Christned but it is also a sign of Regeneration or New Birth whereby as by an Instrument they that receive Baptism rightly are Grafted into the Church the promises of the forgiveness of sin and of our Adoption to be the Sons of God by the Holy Ghost and visibly Signed and Sealed Faith is confirm'd and Grace increased by vertue of Prayer unto God c. This is the Judgmen of the Church of England ' The Assembly of Divines in their Confession of Faith Printed One thousand six hundred fifty eight pag. 94. Define Baptism a Sacrament of the New Testament Ordained by Jesus Christ Matt. 28.19 not only for the solemn admission of the Party baptized into the Visible Church 1 Cor. 12,13 But also to be unto him a Sign and Seal of the Covenant of Grace Col. 2.12 Of his Ingrafting into Christ Gall. 3.17 Of Regeneration Tit. 3.5 Of Remission of Sins Mark 1.4 And of his giving up unto God through Jesus Christ to walk in Newness of Life Rom. 6.3,4 Which Sacrament is by Christs own Appointment to continue in his Church until the end of the World Matt. 28.19,20 This is the Judgment of the Presbyterians suitable to which they Express themselves in their Larger Catechism pag. 128. and in the Shorter Catechism page 157. ' The Congregational commonly called Independent Churches in their Confession of Faith at the Savoy where were many of their Elders Oct. 1658. Printed 1659. Thus say of Baptism Baptism is a Sacrament of the New Testament Ordained by Jesus Christ to be unto the Party baptized a Sign and Seal of the Covenant of Grace of his Ingrafting into Christ of Regeneration of Remission of Sins and of his giving up unto God through Jesus Christ to walk in Newness of Life which Ordinance is by Christs own appointment to be continued in his Church until the end of the World The Churches of hrist comly though unjustly called Anabaptists in their Confession of Faith Fourth Impression Printed 1652 ' Define Baptism an Ordinance of the New Testament given by Christ to be dispensed upon Persons Professing Faith or that are made Disciples who upon Profession of Faith and desiring of it ought to be Baptized and after to partake of the Lords Supper Objection If it should be Objected To what purpose serve all these Quotations since the Parties you dispute against do believe and hold That Baptisme is an Ordinance of Christ and keep up the Practice of it Answer 1. Although they hold and practise it themselves yet in the Effect and Conseâ—uence of this their Opinion they deny it For whilst they alleage That it is not requisite to Church-Communion it must of necessity be understood that they judge it not a requisite Duty for a Christian and consequently 't is needless and therefore may be laid aside without danger which is in effect a total casting of it away which is not only contradictory to Scripture but disagreeable to all other Christians in the World as hath been fully made out 2. If they hold Baptism to be a Christian Duty I would ask Whether it be the duty of all Christians or only some If of All how can it be dispensed with in any if only of some viz. such as are convinced of it it will equally follow by the same Reason that no Ordinance at all is a Duty to a person