wee see that wee need no more but to bee born and then to have this life preserved The Sacrament of Baptisme sheweth us the first the Sacrament of the Lords Supper the second Therefore those five other Sacraments of Confirmation Penance Matrimony Orders and extreame Unction joyned by the Papists are superfluous because some of them have no warrant at all out of the Word of God and God hath not promised a blessing upon the using of them others of them though they bee agreeable to the Word yet are without the nature and number of the Sacraments What is Baptisme It is the first Sacrament of the New Testament by the washing of water Ephes. 5. 26. representing the powerfull washing of the blood and spirit of Christ 1 Cor. 6. 11. Heb. 10. 22. and so sealing our regeneration or new birth our entrance into the Covenant of Grace and our ingraffing into Christ and into the body of Christ which is his Church Joh. 3. 5. Tit. 3. 5. Act. 8. 27. The word Baptisme in generall signifieth any kinde of washing but here it is specially taken for that sacramentall washing which sealeth unto those which are within Gods Covenant their birth in Christ and enterance into Christianity How was this Sacrament ordained and brought into the Church in the place of Circumcision At the Commandement of God Joh. 1. 33. by the Ministery of John therefore called the Baptist Matth. 3. 1. after sanctified and confirmed by our Saviour Christ himself being baptized by John Mat. 3. 13. and giving commission to his Apostles and Ministers to continue the same in his Church unto the end Mat. 28. 18. Why call you it the first Sacrament Because Christ gave order to his Apostles that after they have taught and men beleeve they should baptize them that so they might bee enrolled amongst those of the houshold of God and entered into the number of the Citizens Burgesses of the heavenly Jerusalem What abuse doth this take away That which sometimes the ancient Church was infected withall namely that they baptized men at their death and let them receive the Lords Supper twice or thrice a yeer whereas this is the first Sacrament of the Covenant What are the essentiall parts of this Sacrament of Baptisme As of all other Sacraments two the outward signes and the inward things signified where also is to bee considered the proportion and union which is between those two parts which is as it were the very form and inward excellency of a Sacrament What are the outward signes in Baptisme They are the outward element of water and the outward sacramentall actions performed about it What are those Sacramentall actions First the Ministers blessing and consecrating the water And secondly the right applying it so consecrated to the party to bee baptized May none but a lawfull Minister baptize No for baptism is a part of the publique Ministery of the Church and Christ hath given warrant and authority to none to baptize but those whom hee hath called to preach the Gospel Goe Preach and Baptize Matth. 28. 29. those onely may stand in the roome of God himself and Ministerially set to the seale of the Covenant And it is monstrous presumption for Women or any other private persons who are not called to meddle with such high Mysteries nor can there bee any case of necessity to urge as will appeare afterwards Touching the first action of the Minister how is hee to blesse and consecrate the water First by opening to them that are present the Doctrine of Baptisme and the right institution and use of it what inward mysteries are signified and sealed up by those outward signes So did John when hee baptized hee preached the Doctrine of Repentance and taught the people the inward baptisme of the Spirit signified by his baptizing with vvater Matth. 3. 11. Secondly by acknowledging in the name of the congregation mans naturall pollution that vve stand in need of spirituall vvashing by giving thanks to God the Father for giving his Sonne for a propitiation for our sins and appointing his blood to bee a fountain to the house of Israel to wash in and for ordaining of this service to bee a Sacrament and seale of so great a mystery Thirdly by making profession of Faith in Gods promises in that behalf and praying that they may bee made good unto the party that is to receive the seale thereof for as every thing is sanctified by the Word of God and prayer so in especiall manner the Sacramentall water in baptisme is blessed and consecrated by the Word of institution and prayer to God for a blessing upon his own Ordinance What is the second Sacramentall action The action of washing that is of applying the Sacramentall water unto the party to be baptized diving or dipping him into it or sprinkling him with it In the name of the Father the Son and of the holy Ghost Is the action of diving or dipping materiall and essentiall to the Sacrament or is there absolute ground and warrant for sprinkling which is most commonly practised with us in these cold Countries Some there are that stand strictly for the particular action of diving or dipping the baptized under water as the onely action which the institution of this Sacrament will bear and our Church allows no other except in case of the childes weaknesse and there is exprest in our Saviours baptisme both his descending into the water and rising up so that some think our common sprinkling to bee through ease and tendernesse a stretching the liberty of the Church further then either the Church would or the symbolicalnesse of the outward sign with the thing signified can safely admit it typifying our spirituall buriall and resurrection Rom. 6. 8. Others conceive the action of sprinkling of water upon the face of the baptized very warrantable especially in young children to whom further wetting may bee dangerous and the grounds are these First it seems that neither dipping is essentiall to the Sacrament of Baptisme nor sprinkling but onely washing and applying water to the body as a cleanser of the filth thereof Secondly then as in the other Sacrament a spoonfull of wine is as significant as a whole gallon so here a handfull of water is as significant as a whole river Thirdly the action of sprinkling beares fit resemblance with the inward grace as well as dipping and hath authority in the Scriptures read 1 Pet. 1. 2. and Heb. 12. 14. there is speech of the sprinkling of the blood of Christ and the blood of sprinkling speaks better things then the blood of Abel Fourthly it is not unlikely that the Apostles baptized as well by sprinkling or powring upon as by diving and dipping into sith wee read of divers baptized in houses as well as others in rivers However the washing the body by water is essentiall Ephes. 5. 26. though whether way it bee done seem not to bee essentiall so water bee applyed to the body
for the cleansing of it Thus much of the Sacramentall element and Sacramentall actions which are the outward part of baptism What now is the inward part Those spirituall things which are signified and represented and exhibited in and by the outward element and actions as the water signifies the blood of Christ the Ministers consecrating the water signifies God the Fathers setting apart his Son for the expiation of the sins of the world by his blood the Ministers applying the water to the body of the baptized to cleanse it signifieth Gods applying the blood of his Son to cleanse the soule for justification and remission of sins and not onely to signifie but to seale up unto the beleever that the inward part is effected as well as the outward How come these visible things to signifie such invisible mysteries First there is a naturall fitnesse and aptnesse in the outward things to expresse the inward as for water to bee a resemblance of the blood of Christ thus they agree First water is a necessary element the naturall life of man cannot be without it and the blood of Christ is as necessary to his spiritual life Secondly water is a comfortable element as the Hart panteth after the water brooks Psal. 42. 1. The thirst of the body cannot bee quenched but by water hence the heighth of misery is described by a barren and dry ground where no water is Psal. 63. 1. so the thirst of the soule cannot bee quenched but by the blood of Christ Joh. 4. 13. Thirdly water is a free element as it is necessary usefull and comfortable so it is cheap and easie to come by without cost so is the blood of Christ Esa. 55. 1. Hoe hee that thirsteth come and drink freely Fourthly water is a common element none are barred from it any may go to the river and drink and the blood of Christ is offered as generally to all rich and poore high and low bond and free every one may lay claim unto him come have interest in him Joh. 1. 12. Who ever receiveth him who ever beleeveth the proposall is without restraint none can say I am shut out or excepted Fifthly water is a copious and plentifull element there is no lesse in the river for thy drinking of it there is enough for all men so is the blood of Christ all-sufficient it can never bee drawn dry of his fulnesse wee may all receive and yet hee bee never the more empty hence the Scripture speaks of plenteous redemption Sixthly lastly and especially water is a cleansing and a purifying element and it resembles the blood of Christ fitly in that for 1 Joh. 1. 7. The blood of Christ cleanseth us from all sin And here we may also observe the symbolicalnesse betwen the Sacramentall action of washing and the inward grace signified First nothing is washed but that which is unclean even so the Sacramentall washing implies our naturall pollution whosoever submits to this Sacrament of Baptism doth by so doing acknowledge himself to bee defiled whoever brings a childe to bee baptized doth by so doing make confession of originall corruption and sinfulnesse as Johns hearers were baptized of him in Jordan confessing their sins Mat. 3. 6. Secondly as the applying of the water to the body washeth and cleanseth so it is with the blood of Christ it cleanseth not the soule but by being applyed to it in the merit and efficacy of it by the sanctifying Spirit of which the outward ministeriall washing is a sign and seale 1 Cor. 6. 11. What is there besides the naturall fitnesse of the outward things to expresse the inward 2. There is also considerable Gods divine institution ordaining and appointing these things to typifie to the soule Christ crucified in his cleansing quality for otherwise though there were never such aptnesse in the creature yet it hath nothing to do to meddle with a Sacrament unlesse the Lord do specially appropriate it to serve for such a purpose and then with Gods institution there goeth a blessing and a speciall vertue and power attends on a divine Ordinance that which makes the outward signs significant is Gods Word and appointment But is Christ and the cleansing power of his bloud only barely signified in the Sacrament of Baptisme Nay more the inward things are really exhibited to the beleever as well as the outward there is that sacramentall union between them that the one is conveyed and sealed up by the other hence are those phrases of being born again of water and of the holy Ghost Joh. 3. 5. of cleansing by the washing of water Eph. 5. 26. so arise and be baptized and wash away thy sins Acts 22. 16. so Rom. 6. 3. we are buried with Christ by baptisme c. the Sacraments being rightly received doe effect that which they doe represent Are all they then that are partakers of the outward washing of baptisme partakers also of the inward washing of the Spirit Doth this Sacrament seal up their spirituall ingraffing into Christ to all who externally receive it Surely no though God hath ordained these outward means for the conveyance of the inward grace to our souls yet there is no necessity that we should tie the working of Gods Spirit to the Sacraments more then to the Word the promises of salvation Christ and all his benefits are preached and offered to all in the ministery of the Word yet all hearers have not them conveyed to their souls by the Spirit but those whom God hath ordained to life so in the Sacraments the outward elements are dispensed to al who make an outward profession of the Gospel for in infants their being born in the bosome of the Church is in stead of an outward profession because man is not able to distinguish corn from chaffe but the inward grace of the Sacrament is not communicated to all but to those onely who are heirs of those promises whereof the Sacraments are seals for without a man have his name in the Covenant the seal set to it confirms nothing to him What is the advantage then or benefit of baptisme to a common Christian The same as was the benefit of Circumcision to the Jew outward Rom. 2. 28. Rom. 3. 1 2. there is a generall grace of Baptisme which all the baptized partake of as a common favour and that is their admission into the visible body of the Church their matriculation and outward incorporating into the number of the worshippers of God by externall communion and so as Circumcision was not onely a seal of the righteousnesse which is by faith but as an overplus God appointed it to be like a wall of separation between Jew and Gentile so is Baptisme a badge of an outward member of the Church a distinction from the common rout of Heathen and God thereby seals a right upon the party baptized to his ordinances that he may use them as his priviledges and wait for an inward blessing by them yet
the unity of the Godhead But doe you not beleeve the Godhead is to be divided whilst you beleeve that in one God are three persons No not divided into divers essences but distinguished unto divers persons for God cannot be divided into severall natures nor into severall parts and therefore must the persons which subsist in that one essence be onely distinct and not separate one from another as in the example of the Sun the beames and the heat What be those resemblances that are commonly brought to shadow out unto us the mystery of the Trinity First the Sun begetteth his own beams and from thence proceeds light and heat and yet is none of them before another otherwise then in consideration of order and relation that is to say that the beams are begotten of the body of the Sun and the light and heat proceed from both Secondly from one flame of fire proceed both light and heat and yet but one fire Thirdly in waters there is the well-head and the spring boyling out of it and the stream flowing from them both and all these are but one water and so there are there persons in one Godhead yet but one God Fourthly in man the understanding cometh from the soul and the will from both May it be collected by naturall reason that there is a Trinity of Persons in the Vnity of the God-head No for it is the highest mystery of Divinity and the knowledge thereof is most proper to Christians for the Turkes and Jewes doe confesse one God-head but no distinction of persons in the same How come we then by the knowledge of this mystery God hath revealed it in the holy Scriptures unto the faithfull What have we to learn of this That those are deceived who think this mystery is not sufficiently delivered in the Scripture but dependeth upon the tradition of the Church That sith this is a wonderfull mystery which the Angels doe adore we should not dare to speak any thing in it farther then we have warrant out of the word of God yea we must tye our selves almost to the very words of the Scripture lest in searching we exceed and goe too farre and so be overwhelmed with the glory How doth it appear in the holy Scripture that the three Persons are of that divine nature By the divine names that it giveth to them as Jehovah c. By ascribing divine attributes unto them as Eternity Almightinesse c. By attributing divine works unto them as creation sustentation and governing of all things By appointing divine worship to be given unto them What speciall proofes of the Trinity have you out of the old Testament First the Father is said by his word to have made the world the Holy Ghost working and maintaining them as it were sitting upon them as the hen doth on the egges she hatcheth Gen. 1. 2 3. Gen. 1. 26. The Trinity speaketh in the plurall number Let us make man in our Image after our likenesse Gen. 19. 24. Jehovah is said to rain upon Sodom from Jehovah out of heaven that is the Sonne from the Father or the Holy Ghost from both 2 Sam. 23. 2. The Spirit of Jehovah or the Lord spake by me and his Word by my tongue there is Jehovah the Father with his Word or Sonne and Spirit Prov. 30. 4. What is his name and what is his Sonnes name if thou canst tell Isa. 6. 3. The Angels in respect of the three Persons doe cry three times Holy Holy Holy Isa. 42. 1. Behold my servant whom I uphold mine elect in whom my soule delighteth I have put my Spirit up on him Hag. 2. 5. The Father with the Word and his Spirit make a Covenant What are the proofes out of the new Testament As all other doctrines so this is there more cleare as Matth. 3. 16. 17. at the Baptisme of Christ the Father from heaven witnesseth of the Sonne the Holy Ghost appearing in the likenesse of a Dove John Baptist saw the Sonne in his assumed nature going out of the water there is one Person he saw the Holy Ghost descending like a Dove upon him there is another Person and he heard a voyce from heaven saying This is my beloved Son there is a third Person Matth. 17. 5. At the transfiguration the Father in like manner speaketh of his Son Matth. 28. 19. We are baptized into the name of the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost John 14. 16. 26. 15. 26. 16. 13 14 15. The Father and Son promise to send the Holy Ghost Luke 1. 35. The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee and the power of the Highest shall over-shadow thee therefore that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God Acts 2. 33. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost he hath shed forth this which you now see and heare 2 Cor. 13 14. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the communion of the Holy Ghost be with you all Gal. 4. 6. God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts Tit. 3. 4 5 6. God saved us by the washing of the new birth and renewing of the Holy Ghost which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour What clear proof have you that these three are but one God and so that there is a Trinity in Vnity 1 Joh. 5. 7. It is expresly said there are three that bear Record in heaven the Father the Word and the Holy Ghost and these three are one What learn you of that the Apostle saith they are three Wee learne that the word Trinity although it bee not expresly set down in the word yet it hath certaine ground from thence What learn you of that that they are said to be three witnesses The singular fruit that is in the Trinity of persons in one unity of the Godhead whereby great assurance is brought unto us of all things that God speaketh in promise or threat seeing it is all confirmed by three witnesses against whom no exception lyeth What are they said here to witnesse That God hath given eternall life unto us and that this life is in that his Sonne 1 John 5. 11. How are these being three said to be but one They are one in substance beeing or essence but three persons distinct in subsistence Acts 20. 28. 1 Cor. 12. 4 5. Deut. 6. 4. Mark 12. 32. 1 Cor. 8. 4 5 6. Joh. 14. 16. 15. 26. 17. 1. If three persons among men be propounded whereof every one is a man can it be said that these three are but one man No but we must not measure Gods matters by the measure of reason much lesse this which of all others is a mystery of mysteries For the better understanding of this mystery declare unto me what a person is in generall and then what a person in the Trinity is
onely to the faithfull for the strengthening of their faith in the eternall Covenant and the bringing them more effectually to the practice of Gods Commandements Exod. 12. 16. Luke 1. 59. 3. 3. 16. 1 Cor. 11. 23. Mat. 26. 26. Rom. 4. 19. 6. 4. 1 Pet. 3. 21. Why call you it Action Because it is not a bare signe alone but a worke 1 Cor. 11. 24 25. Why call you it an action of the whole Church Because it is a publick action and appertaineth to the whole Church and therefore ought to be done in the presence of the Congregation by the example of John Matth. 3. 11 12. and commanded of Paul 1 Cor. 11. 18 20 22. it being a greater indignity for the Sacraments to be administered privately then for the civill judgement which is open and publike That we say nothing of the sacrifices under the Law which were not so excellent as these and yet it was not lawful to offer them in private which reproveth the disorder of the Papists who turne the Communion into a private Masse and minister the Lords Supper to one alone without the presence of the Congregation But may not the Sacraments be so administered upon necessity as namely to a sick man ready to depart out of this life There is no such necessity for a man believing wanting that opportunity of comming to the Lords Supper wanteth not the effect thereof seeing the Lord promised by Ezekiel that hee would be a Tabernacle to his people being banished from it Ezek. 37. 27. And therefore the want of the Sacraments doth not hurt when with conveniency a man cannot enjoy them but the contempt or neglect of them when they may conveniently be come unto What theâ— is the fittest time and place for the administration of the Sacraments The fittest time is the Lords or some other day of publike meeting The most convenient place is the Church and usuall place of the assembly of the Congregation Did not Abraham minister the Sacrament of Circumcision in his private house His house was at that time the Church of God and therefore not private and so in the time of persecution the godly did oft-times meet in Barnes and such obscure places which were indeed publick because when the Church of God were there the house or place availed nothing to make it publick or private even as wheresoever the Prince is there is the Court also said to be though it were in a poore Cottage What difference is there between a Sacrament and a Sacrifice In a Sacrifice there is an offering made to God in a Sacrament there is an offer made by God to us In the Sacrifices Christ was signified as given for us in the Sacraments as given to us the Sacrifices onely signes the Sacraments seales also Who is the Author of a Sacrament God alone because he onely can bestow those graces which are sealed in a Sacrament How doth God ordaine a Sacrament By his Word How many parts of Gods Word are there whereby he doth institute and and ordaine a Sacrament Two First a Commandement to doe it Secondly a promise of a blessing upon the right using of it Was not the Rain-bow a Sacrament being a signe ordained by God No for though it were a signe yet it was no signe of salvation by Christ. What is the matter and substance of every Sacrament One and the same Iesus Christ although diversly communicated in divers Sacraments and in some more forcible then in others because of some elements communicating with or taking hold of or reaching to more of our senses What things then are required in a Sacrament Three First the outward signes and Sacramentall actions concerning the same Secondly the inward thing signified thereby viz. Christ Iesus with his saving graces and spirituall actions concerning the same Thirdly a similitude betwixt them both As in Baptisme for example that as water doth wash the body so doth the bloud of Christ wash away the spots of the soule What signes are used in Sacraments Some onely representing as water bread and wine some applying as washing eating drinking and such like What are the things signified First Christ Iesus and his merrits and secondly the applying of the same unto us in particular Wherein doth the signes of the things signified differ 1. In Nature 2. In the manner of receiving 3. In the parties which doe receive them 4. In the necessity of the receiving of them Wherein doe they agree In this that the signe doth so fitly represent the things signified thereby that the minde of a Christian is drawne by the signe to consider of the things signified What is then the Sacramentall union betwixt the signes and the things signified Such as betwixt a sealed will and the things conveighed in the same From whence it is that the names effects and properties of the one are given to the other What is the cause that moved the Lord to grace the outward signes in the Sacraments with the names of the things signified The outward elements have the names of the spirituall things they set forth 1. Because of their fit proportion and agreement in regard of the resemblance and similitude of the elements and the things signified in which respect they are called signes 2. To shew the inseparable conjunction of the things signified with the signe in the worthy receiver in which regard they are called Seales as in the person of Christ his two natures are so inseparably united that often times the properties and effects of the one are attributed to the other What is the ground of this Sacramentall union In generall the institution of Christ whereby fit things are appointed so to be used with a promise annexed In speciall the applying of that word unto certain speciall signes with prayer in particular and unto me the ground is my reverent and worthy receiving What is the use of Sacraments God hath ordained them to the end that by comparing and conferring the outward things with the inward they might help 1. Our understanding in which regard they are as it were images and glasses Gal. 3. 1. 2. Our remembrance in which respect they are Monuments Luk. 22. 19. 1 Cor. 11. 24. 3. And especially the perswasion of our hearts by reason whereof they are seals and pledges Rom. 4. 11. for they are appointed by God to strengthen us in the promises of salvation which God hath not onely made to us in word but also confirmed the same by writ and lest that we should any wayes doubt as naturally we are inclined he hath set to his seales according to the manner of men that nothing might be lacking which should increase our strength What Doctrine is here to be gathered 1. What root of blindnesse of forgetfulnesse and especially hardnesse of heart to beleeve is in us that the Word and Oath of God is not sufficient to pluckup but that we must have such aides 2. The mercy of God that applieth himself
this is is but the porch the shell and outside all that are outwardly received into the visible Church are not spiritually ingraffed into the mysticall body of Christ. Baptisme always is attended upon by that generall grace but not always with this speciall To whom then is Baptisme effectuall to the sealing up this inward and speciall grace We must here distinguish of persons baptized the Church doth not onely baptize those that are grown and of years if any such being bred Pagans be brought within the pale of the Church and testifie their competent understanding of Christianity and professe their faith in the Lord Jesus and in Gods precious promises of remission of sins by his bloud and their earnest desire to be sealed with Baptisme for the strengthening of their souls in this faith but the Church also baptizeth her infants such as being born within her bosome of beleeving parents are within the Covenant so have right unto the seal thereof Doth the inward grace always accompany the outward sign in those of years baptized No but onely then when the profession of their faith is not outward onely and counterfeit but sincere and hearty they laying hold on Christ offered in the Sacrament by a lively faith which is the hand to receive the mercies offered Acts 8. 37. If thou beleevest with all thy heart thou maist be baptized saith Philip to the Eunuch for it were absurd to extend the benefit of the seal beyond the Covenant now the Covenant is made only to the faithfull Joh. 1. 10. Mark 16. 16. He that beleeveth and is baptized shall be saved but he that beleeveth not whether he be baptized or no shall be condemned Simon Magus Act. 8. 13. and Julian and thousands of Hypocrites and Formalists shall find no help in the day of the Lord by the holy water of their baptisme without it be to encrease their Judgement But what say you of infants baptized that are born in the Church doth the inward grace in their baptism always attend upon the outward sign Surely no the Sacrament of baptisme is effectuall in infants onely to those and to all those who belong unto the election of grace which thing though we in the judgement of charity doe judge of every particular infant yet we have no ground to judge so of all in generall or if we should judge so yet it is not any judgement of certainty we may be mistaken Is every elect infant then actually sanctified and united unto Christ in and by baptisme We must here also distinguish of elect infants baptized whereof some die in their infancy and never come to the use of reason others God hath appointed to live enjoy the ordinary means of faith salvation What is to be thought of elect infants that die in their infancy have no other outward means of salvation but their baptisme Doubtlesse in all those the inward grace is united to the outward signs and the holy Ghost doth as truly and really and actually apply the merits and bloud of Christ in the justifying and sanctifying vertue unto the soul of the elect infant as the minister doth the water to its body and the invisible grace of the Sacrament is conveyed to the outward means But how can an infant be capable of the grace of the Sacrament Very well though infants be not capable of the grace of the Sacrament by that way whereby the growne are by hearing conceiving beleeving yet it followeth not that infants are not capable in and by another way It is easie to distinguish between the gift conveyed and the manner of conveying it faith is not of absolute necessity to all Gods elect but only to those to whom God affords means of beleeving It is the application of Christs righteousnesse that justifieth us not our apprehending it God can supply the defect of faith by his sanctifying Spirit which can doe all things on our part in the room of faith which faith should doe Doe we not know that the sin of Adam is imputed to children and they defiled by it though they be not capable to understand it even so the righteousnesse of Christ may be and is by Gods secret and unknown way to elect infants and so to those that are born deaf and fools not capable of understanding for though God tieth us to means yet not himself he that hath said of infants to the belongs the kingdome of God knows how to settle upon them the title of the Kingdome and we have no reason to think but that even before or in at or by the act of Baptisme the Spirit of Christ doth unite the soul of the elect infant to Christ and cloath it with his righteousnesse and impute unto it the title of a son or daughter by Adoption and the image of God by sanctification and so fit it for the state of glory But what is to be thought of the effect of Baptisme in those elect infants whom God hath appointed to live to years of discretion In them we have no warrant to promise constantly an extraordinary work to whom God intends to afford ordinary meanes for though God doe sometimes sanctifie from the wombe as in Jeremy and John Baptist sometime in Baptisme as he pleaseth yet it is hard to affirm as some doe that every elect infant doth ordinarily before or in Baptisme receive initiall regeneration and the seed of faith and grace For if there were such a habit of grace then infused it could not be so utterly lost or secreted as never to shew it self but by being attained by new instruction But we may rather deem and judge that Baptisme is not actually effectuall to justifie and sanctifie untill the party doe beleeve and embrace the promises Is not Baptisme then for the most part a vain empty shew consisting of shadowes without the substance and a signe without the thing signified No it is always an effectuall seal to all those that are heirs of the Covenant of grace the promises of God touching Justification Remission Adoption are made and sealed in Baptisme to every elect child of God then to be actually enjoyed when the party baptized shall actually lay hold upon them by faith Thus Baptisme to every elect infant is a seal of the righteousnesse of Christ to be extraordinarily applyed by the holy Ghost if it die in its infancy to be apprehended by faith if it live to yeares of discretion So that as Baptisme administred to those of years is not effectuall unlesse they beleeve so we can make no comfortable use of our Baptisme administred in our infancy untill we beleeve The righteousnesse of Christ and all the promises of grace were in my Baptisme estated upon me and sealed up unto me on Gods part but then I come to have the profit and benefit of them when I come to understand what grant God in Baptisme hath sealed unto me and actually to lay hold upon it by faith Explain this
more clearly We know that an estate may be made unto an infant and in his infancy he hath right unto it though not actuall possession of it untill such years now the time of the childs incapability the use and comfort of this estate is lost indeed but the right and title is not vain and empty but true and reall and stands firmely secured unto the child to be claimed what time soever he is capable of it Even so infants elect have Christ and all his benefits sealed up unto them in the Sacrament of Baptisme yet through their uncapablenesse they have not actuall fruition of them untill God give them actuall faith to apprehend them Is Baptisme lost then which is administred in our infancy was it a vain and an empty Ceremony no it was a compleat and an effectuall Sacrament and Gods invisible graces were truly sealed up under visible signs And though the use and the comfort of Baptisme be not for the present enjoyed by the infant yet by the parent it is who beleeves Gods promises for himselfe and for his seed and so by the whole Congregation and the things then done shall be actually effectuall to the infant when ever it shall be capable to make use of them But are there not some who utterly deny the baptizing of infants to be warrantable Yes but not to insist upon answering their peevish arguments sufficient and clear ground for the practise of our Church in this behalf may both be pickt out of that which hath been spoken before and further evidenced by these following arguments 1. The first we draw from the use of Circumcision in the old Testament which answereth to Baptisme yet that was applied to the infant the eight day there can be no reason given to deprive infants of Baptisme but that which may be given against Circumcision the main whereof is their incapablenesse of the grace of the Sacrament 2. To them to whom the Covenant belongs to them belongs the seal of the Covenant that confirms the right unto them but to the infants of faithfull parents the Covenant belongs To you and to your children are the promises made saith Peter Act. 2. 39. and to them belongs the Kingdome of God if the thing it self then the sign and seal of it And the Apostle saith Your children are holy 1 Cor. 7. 14. there is a foederall sanctity or externall and visible holinesse at least in children of beleeving parents and they are to be judged of the true flock of Christ untill they shew the contrary Yea but it is objected that they doe not beleeve which is in the Scripture required of those that are to be baptized that they make profession of their faith 3. The Scripture requiring faith in the party to be baptized speaks of grown men when the Apostle gives a rule that none should eat but those that labour it were monstrous from thence to deny meat to children or impotent persons besides it is not simply an improper speech to call the infant of beleeving parents a Beleever our Saviour reckoneth them among Beleevers Mat. 18. 6. he took a child and said Whosoever offendeth one of these little ones that beleeve in me what doe we deem of Christian infants is there no difference between them and Pagans Certainly as it were hard to call them Infidels so it were not harsh to cal thē Beleevers And further it is the received judgment of our Church that the faith of the parents or of those that in stead of parents present the child in the Congregation is so far the infants as to give him right unto the Covenant And lastly as we have said before the Spirit of God in elect infants supplies the room of faith and however it be Adams corruption cannot be more effectuall to pollute the infant then Christs bloud and innocency is to sanctifie them and Gods wisdome wants not means to apply it though wee cannot attain unto the manner But the Anabaptists urge we have no rule in Scripture for baptizing infants nor example 4. But doe we read any thing in Scripture that may infringe the liberty of the Church therein nay doe not the Scriptures afford many friendly proofs by consequence of it we read of such an one baptized and all his houshold the house of Lydia of the Jaylor of Crispus of Stephanus c. why should we imagine that there were no infants there or that they were left out And if the Scriptures not expressing directly the baptizing of infants were sufficient reason why that Sacrament should be denyed them then by the same reason the Sacrament of the Lords Supper should be denyed to women for to my remembrance it is not expressed in all the new Testament that any woman did partake of it which thing yet were senslesse to doubt of Thus much of the lawfulnesse of infants baptisme But is baptisme of absolute necessity to salvation Baptisme as we have seen is a high Ordinance of God and a means whereby he hath appointed to communicate Christ and his benefits to our souls and therefore not to be neglected or sleightly esteemed but used with all reverence and thankfull devotion when it may be had yet where God denieth it either in regard of the shortnesse of the infants life or by any other unavoidable necessity there comes no danger from the want of the Sacraments but only from the contempt of them Who are here to be confuted First the Papists who have contrived in their own wicked brains a room near hell which they call Limbus infantum a receptacle for the souls of infants which die without Baptisme and whereas they fain they are deprived of Gods presence and never partake of joy and happinesse a dream not worthy the confuting being not onely uncharitable but impious Secondly many ignorant people amongst us who for want of better teaching harbour in their minds such Popish conceipts especially that Baptisme doth conferre grace upon all by the work done for they commonly look no higher and they conceive a kind of inherent vertue and Christendome as they call it necessarily infused into children by having the water cast upon their faces hence the minister is oft posted for to baptize in a private chamber to the dishonour of that Ordinance and which is more intolerable in case of the want of a Minister women will undertake to be Baptizers which is a monstrous prophanation of so high a service How may these errors of opinion and practise be avoided They proceed from grosse ignorance and therefore the means to cure them is to be informed in the right nature and use of the Sacraments and in the extent and limitation of the necessity of them How may that be done Wee must know that Sacraments properly doe not give us any right unto God and his Christ but onely seale up and confirm that right and interest which already wee have in Gods Covenant and promise God promised to Adam life and then
he gave him the Tree of life to be a pledge of his promise It was not the Tree of life that gave Adam life but the promise Adam might have lived by the promise without the Tree but the Tree could doe him no good without the promise Thus God promiseth Christ and his benefits to the faithfull and to their seed and then he gives us Baptisme to seale these promises it is not Baptisme that saves us but the promises it is not water that purgeth our sins but the bloud of the Covenant why then was the Sacrament added for our weaknesse to be a strengthening to our faith not to give any strength or efficacy to the Covenant made in the bloud of Christ Gods Word is as sure as his bond his promise is as effectuall as his seal and shall as surely be accomplished the Sacraments onely give strength to our faith in apprehending it What infer you from this That where God is pleased to dispense his seals and Sacraments they are great comforts and pledges of his love and to despise or sleight them were a horrible sleighting even of the Covenant it selfe But where he denieth means and opportunity of enjoying the signes the things signified are never the farther off or lesse effectuall It is said Gen. 17. 14. that the uncircumcised should be cut off from Gods people because he had broke the Covenant but it is meant onely of voluntary and wilfull refusing of Circumcision for the people of God in the wildernesse were forty years without the outward sign of Circumcision they were not without the inward grace Davids child died the seventh day a day before the time appointed for Circumcision and yet both his words and his cariage expresse that he doubted not of the salvation of it so the theef upon the Crosse beleeving in Christ was received with Christ into Paradise though he were never baptized hee had the inward grace of Baptisme the washing of the bloud of Christ though not the outward signe when God affordeth means wee must wait upon him for a blessing in them and by them when he doth not afford means we must not tie the working of his grace to them God who sanctifieth some in the womb knows how to sanctifie all his elect infants and by his Spirit apply the merits of Christ unto them without the outward water Some have the outward signe and not the inward grace some have the outward sign and the inward grace some have the inward grace and not the outward sign we must not commit Idolatry by deifying the outward element the rule will hold It is not the want of the Sacraments but the contempt or wilfull neglect of them that is dangerous What other errors of opinion and practise doe you observe about Baptisme As some through ignorance and superstition have too high a conceipt of the outward signs so others through ignorance and prophanenesse have too mean and base an opinion of them some there are who esteem of Baptisme as of a meer Ecclesiasticall ceremony and Church complement as if there were no serious vertue or efficacy in it or profit to be expected by it or had no other use but to give the childe a name and there is an end they look no further How doth it appear that some have so sleight an opinion of this Ordinance By their answerable practises such as these and the like 1. Often Baptism is deferred and that upon every trifling occasion as if it were a businesse of no great weight and moment but might attend every ones leisure and many times through delay the child dieth without it which though it doth nothing prejudice the childes salvation yet it will lie heavy upon the parents conscience for neglecting Gods Ordinance when he afforded opportunity 2. Often the Minister is sent for home to perform that service with few in a private chamber when no eminent necessity urgeth to the dishonour of so sacred a businesse which ought to bee a most solemne and publike action of the whole Congregation 3. Though the child be brought to Church yet often some by-day is chosen and not the Lords Sabbath and it is then done as if it were only womens worke to be present at Baptisme who have most leisure to spend time about matters of smaller consequence 4. If it be on the Sabbath then the maine care and preparation is about matters of outward pomp and state every thing is fitted and prepared for the purpose but onely that which should chiefely be viz. the hearts and mindes of those that goe about a businesse of that nature 5. While the Sacrament is in performing the demeanor of many shew that they have a slight opinion of that service some turning their backs upon it going out of the Church so soon as sermon is done as if the word was worth the minding but not the Sacrament others prating and talking all the while as if there were nothing for them to learne by but no duty for them to performe in that action 6. Lastly infants are brought to the Sacrament of Baptisme in their infancy but are never by their parents taught the doctrine of Baptisme when they come to years of understanding Baptisme is not made use of as it ought in the whole course of mens lives these things shew that men commonly have a meane conceit of this Ordinance What is the best way to reforme these irreligious practises A serious pondering considering of the high dignity of this divine ordinance that wil cause a devout reverent demeanor in that holy busines 1. Every one should consider that it is no customary formallity but an honourable ordinance instituted by the lawful authority of God himselfe who never imposed any service upon his Church in vain It was honoured by our Saviour Christ himself who sanctified it unto us by submitting unto it in his owne sacred person confirmed by his practise by his precept c. 2. Every one should consider that there are infinite mercies sealed up by it to the faithful and to their seed It is a visible admittance of thy child if thou beest a Parent into the Congregation of Christs flock signifying its interest in the heavenly Ierusalem which is above Is this a busines to be mumbled over in a corner Christ came from Galile to Jordan to be baptized is the receiving of thy child into the bosome of the Church in a full Congregation no comfort unto thee is it not mercy to see the bloud of Christ ministerially sealed up unto thy Infant to purge it from that pollution which it hath brought into the world with it which also thou makest confession of by presenting it to this mysteriall washing Is it not joy to thy heart to heare the whole Congregation of Gods Saints pray for thy childe and that God hath honoured thee so much as to count thy very childe holy and within his Covenant thinke on these things 3. Every one that
Church to meet in the day for feare of persecution Wherefore herein the laudable custome of the Church of administring it in the Morning when our wits and capacities are best is to be followed In which respect also there is some difference between this Sacrament and the Sacrament of Baptisme which may without any inconvenience be administred in the afternoone What is the fittest day for the Administration of this Sacrament The Lords day is the fitttest day for the administration of the Sacrament For although our Saviour Christ did administer it on another day for the reasons before declared yet he did not bid us so to doe But the Apostles example and religious practise herein is to be followed which did celebrate the Supper of the Lord on the Lords day So much of the time Now for the nature of this Sacrament how may it be knowne First by the matter and secondly by the forme of it What is the matter of the Supper of the Lord Partly outward as the elements of bread and wine partly inward as the body and bloud of Christ. For as many graines make but one loafe and many grapes but one cup of wine so I beleeve that those outward elements signifie Christ and him crucified with all the benefits of his death and passion even whole Christ with all the fruits of his mediation Mat. 26. 26 27. 1 Cor. 11. 24 25. Wherefore did the Lord make choice of Bread and Wine for the outward Elements of this Sacrament Because meaning to set forth our spirituall nourishment by them they are of all the meanes of our corporall nourishment the chiefest Psal. 104. Why did he not content himselfe with one of these only He tooke both that he might hereby shew how plentifull and assured redemption we have in Christ whom these doe represent Wherefore it is no marvell that the Papists in the prohibiting of the cup doe answerably teach our salvation to be neither wholly in Christ nor assuredly What Argument doe you observe in the institution of the Sacrament against this Robbery The foreseeing Spirit of Christ knowing the sacriledge that Popery would bring in for the robbing of the people of the use of the Cup hath prepared a preservative against it speaking here more fully of the cup which he did not of the bread Drinke ye all of this Mat. 26. 27. What Bread used our Saviour Christ Ordinary bread such as was used at the common Table at that time it was indeed unleavened bread but it was so because no other was then lawfull at the feast of the Passeover Are not the Bread and VVine changed into the body and bloud of Christ in the Sacrament No they are not changed in nature but in use 1 Cor. 10. 16. For the words of eating and drinking doe properly belong to the outward elements of bread and wine and by a borrowed speech doe improperly belong to the body and bloud of Christ to note unto us the communion we have with our Saviour Christ of whom we are as verily partakers by a lively faith as of the bread and wine by eating and drinking them And thus we say that these elements are changed in use because being seperated from a common use they are consecrate to signe and seale to us our spirituall nourishment and growth by the body and bloud of Christ Iesus Luke 22. 19. 1 Cor. 10 3 4. For as the Sacrament of Baptisme doth seale to us a spirituall regeneration so the Lords Supper a spirituall feeding and even as well the body and bloud of Christ is in Baptisme given us for cloathing as they are given in the Lords Supper for nourishment Therefore the bread and wine are not the true body and bloud of Christ but the signes and tokens of them as in Baptisme the water was onely a signe of Christs bloud not the bloud What further reason have you to overthrow the carnall presence of Christ in the Sacrament 1. If the bread were turned into Christ then there should bee two Christs one that giveth another that is given for our Saviour Christ gave the bread c. 2. If the bread be the very body of Christ there should then bee no signe of the thing signified and so no Sacrament Rom. 4. 11. Where their miserable shift that the whitenesse is the seale and signe is not worthy the answer 3. The wicked receiver might then eate and drinke Christs body and bloud as well as any true beleever Iohn 13. 2. 30. 4. The Minister cannot give the inward grace but the outward Element in the administration of the Sacrament Luke 3. 16. What reason was there to move our Saviour Christ to use such a borrowed speech in this so great a mysterie Because it is ordinary and usuall in the Scripture to give the name of the thing signed and signified to the signe as it is called the tree of life which was but a signe of life Gen. 2. 9. So in the Sacraments of the old Testament Circumcision is called the Covenant Gen. 17 10. that is the token of Covenant verse 11. Or the Lambe or Kid the Passeover whereof it was a signe onely Exo. 12. The selfe same manner of speech is also used in the new Testament of Baptisme called the new Birth taking away of sinnes whereof it is onely a seale So that unlesse the Lord would in this Sacrament have departed from the wisdome of the Spirit of God accustomably received he must needs here also tread in the same steps of a borrowed and figurative speech Howbeit it may seem that to have used a more proper speech would have been more meet for him being neare unto his death and more convenient for their understanding He did after his last Supper use as figurative speeches as this in the 14 15 16. of John and that without all danger of darknesse of speech there being often times more light in a borrowed then in a proper speech And a Trope of force must be yeelded when he saith that the cup is the new Testament It maketh further for the corporall presence that our Saviour Christ saith in his supper that his body was then broken and not that it should be broken after That is also usuall to the Scripture for further certainty to speak of things to come as of them that are present But there is nothing impossible unto God 1. The question is here not of the power but of the will of God what he will have done 2. God cannot doe those things in doing whereof he should contradict himselfe and therefore the Scripture feareth not without dis-honour to God to say that he cannot lye nor cannot deny himselfe Tit. 1. 2. 2 Tim. 2. 13. Why is the cup called the cup of the New Testament Because it is a seale of the promise of God touching our salvation in Christ which being in old time under the Law shadowed by the shedding of bloud of beasts is now after a new manner accomplished in