Confession of the Christian Religion, Confession · Chapter 15
CHAP. XV. Of Baptiſme.
BEſides that, which we hauehave ſpoken of the ſacraments in generall, we alſo eſpecially beleeue and confeſſe of Baptiſme, thus.
I. Baptiſme what it is, and vvhat are the effects of it.
Baptiſme, M…t. 28.1….firſt is a ſacrament of the new couenant: wherewith all men which either hauing profeſſed true repentance of their finnes, doe alſo profeſſe faith in Ieſus Chriſt, and ſo in God the father, Cor. 7.14the ſonne, and the holie ghoſt, or at leaſt, are beleeued to appertaine vntounto the couenant, Act. 19.5. 1. Cor. 6.19through the faith of their parents: but eſpecially they, which truely doe belong vntounto the couenant, as beeing now incorporated into Chriſt are ſealed by him; that they ſhould be no longer their owne men, but his, by whome they are called into the ſocietie of the couenant, and conſequently into one bodie with him and all the Saintes, and into participation of all ſpiritual & heauenly good things: Eph. 1.12 Eph. 5.26 Apoc. 5 Tit. 3.5 Rom. 6.4 Mar. 1.4and are cleanſed by this Baptiſme, as the water of regeneration, from al their ſinns, by vertue of Chriſts blood: and buried into the death with Chriſt: that as he roſe frō death by the fauour of the Father, ſo wee ſhould walke in newneſſe of life: whereupon it hath bin vſually called the ſacrament of repentāce for the remiſſion of ſinnes, the ſacrament of faith, the ſeale of the couenant, the water of regeneration, the waſhing away of ſinnes, the ſacrament of new life.
II. The vertue of Baptiſme takes place only in the elect, and they onelyonly are baptized vvith water, and with the holy ghoſt.
But though all theſe things are ſaid of baptiſme, and are truely attributed vntounto it, as to the holy ghoſtes inſtrument to worke theſe things, and that therefore all which are baptized, are truely ſaid to be made and to be ſuch ſacramentally: yet we beleeue, that it is not indeed and really performed, but only in the elect, which are indued with Chriſts ſpirit: ſith they onelyonly doe beleeue rightly, and do truely belong vntounto Chriſt, and to his miſticall body: And therefore, that all are baptized indeede with water, but the elect onelyonly with the ſpirit: and all doe receiue the ſigne, but not all are made partakers of the thing ſignified & offred by baptiſme, but onelyonly the elect.
III. Of what parts the whole ſacrament of Baptiſme conſiſteth.
And we beleeue, that vntounto the making of the whole ſacrament of Baptiſme, thoſe two thinges are ſufficient which Chriſt inſtituted, namely, the ſimple element of water, wherewith the parties are waſhed, either by dipping in, or by ſprinkling vponupon: and that forme of words, wherewith Chriſt taught them to baptize, that is, In the name of the father, the ſonne, and the holy ghoſt: nether did the Apoſtles as we are perſwaded, vſe any forme of words, or added any thing elſe vntounto the water.
IV. The yong infants of the faithfull, are to bee baptized.
We beleeue with the whole anciēt church, that vntounto the ſacrament of Baptiſme, are to be admitted not onelyonly they that are of diſcretion, which hauing profeſſed repentaunce of their ſinnes, doe alſo profeſſe faith in Chriſt: but alſo the yong children of ſuch, ſith they are to bee accompted to belong to the couenant, 1. Cor. 7.14(as the Apoſtle ſaieth,) The children of the faithfull are holie: eſpecially ſeing God hath no where altered that commandement which he gaue to Abraham, for the marking of all, with the figne of the couenant, euen the children of the faithfull: Mat. 19.14nay he ſaid, Suffer litle children to come vntounto me; for of ſuch is the kingdome of heauen.
V. How farre forth Baptiſme is neceſſarie in the Church, and how needfull to eueryevery one to ſaluation.
Wee beleeue that Baptiſme is altogether neceſſarie in the church, as a ſacrament inſtituted of Chriſt: and which the church cannot be without, ſo that where it is not vſed, if it may bee vſed, there wee acknowledge no church. And we thinke it ſo neceſſarie vntounto euerie one to ſaluation: that, yet notwithſtanding if one dye not waſhed with the water, for defect or want of a miniſter, and not vponupon contempt; we beleeue, he is not therefore cō demned, or wrapped in eternall deſtruction. For the children of the faithfull are therefore ſaued, becauſe they are holy and vnderunder the couenant of God: and men growen are ſaued, becauſe they beleeue in Chriſt with a true faith, which indeed can ſuffer no contempt of the commaundements of Chriſt.
VI. Baptiſme once rightly receiued, ought not to be taken againe.
Furthermore we beleeue, that as circumciſion was done onelyonly once in the fleſh: ſo the Baptiſme of water, which ſucceeded circumciſion, Col. 2.being once rightlie and lawfully receiued, ought not againe to be repeated. VVee ſay that it is rightly and lawfully adminiſtred when firſt the doctrine of the goſpell, concerning the true God, Chriſt and his office, goeth before according to Chriſts inſtitution: and then the parties are baptized with water, and that of a lawfull miniſter, in the name of the father, the ſonne, & the holie ghoſt. Rom. 6.4For Chriſt alſo once died, and was buried; and wee are baptized into his death, and are buried with him by Baptiſme: Act. 19.5.neither doe wee reade that the Apoſtles euer did rebaptize anie: except thoſe which Paule did baptize, who had not bin rightlie baptized.
VII. The vertue of Baptiſme is perpetuall.
Now although wee come but once to the ſacrament of baptiſme: yet wee hold, that the matter of this ſacrament and the vertue thereof is perpetuall: which vertue is nothing elſe but the verie planting into Chriſt, and ſo the participation of his benefites, the waſhing away of ſinnes, and regeneration, which dailie more and more is made perfect by the holie ghoſt. For the Apoſtle ſaith, Eph. 5.26.27that he cleanſeth the church by waſhing of vvater through the worde, that he might make it vntounto himſelfe a glorious church, without ſpott or wrinkle. 1. Ioh. 1.7And his blood clēſeth daily frō all ſinne. And therfore we thinke & beleeue that the faithful being content with once receiuing of the ſacrament, ought daily to bee occupied in remembrance of it, and to waigh in their minds, to what ende they were baptized, or what they hauehave obtained of God by baptiſme, & what alſo they promiſed to God therein: whereby they may the more be confirmed in faith, and grow vp into the communion with Chriſt, and bee made more carefull of performing their dueties. For baptiſme is not beſtowed on vsus, for remiſſion of originall ſinne onelyonly, or our ſinnes paſt: but of all the offences of our whole life: euē as the pulling out of the waters is a ſigne of a newe life, not for one day, but for al our time: as the Apoſtle ſaith, Rom. 6.4VVe are buried with him (euer) into his death by baptiſme: that as Chriſt roſe from death by the glory of his father, ſo we ſhould (alwaies) walke in newneſſe of life. Wee were once waſhed with outward water: but the blood of Chriſt is a continuall ſtreame, waſhing and cleanſing vsus daily from our ſinnes.
VIII. By whome baptiſme ought to bee adminiſtred.
Wee beleeue alſo, that holie baptiſme is to bee adminiſtred by thoſe: by whome alſo the goſpell is preached: For to whom Chriſt ſaid, Goe into the whole worlde, and preach the goſpell, to them he alſo ſaid, Baptizing them, in the name of the father, and the ſonne, and the holy ghoſt: teaching them to obſerue, whatſoeuer is commaunded you.
IX. Errors.
Therefore we condemne all, aſwell auncient as late heriſies, which hauehave at anie time beene ſcattered againſt the ſound doctrine of baptiſme: Seleucus and Hermias, who baptized with fire: The Cerdonians and Marcionites, who vſed another forme of words, then that which was preſcribed by Chriſt, & baptized in the name of another God, then of the father, ſonne and holy ghoſt: thoſe alſo which baptized in the name of Iohn, or any other man: the Cataphriges, who baptized dead mē: with all Donatiſts and Anabaptiſts, who rebaptize them which come vntounto them: & which denie that infants ought to be baptized: and thoſe alſo that denie baptiſme to be true, vnleſſe there bee added, exorciſmes, ſpittle, ſalt, and other cerimonies deuiſed by men.