The Light of Faith, Part 2 · Section 10
§ X. The third: Baptiſme, where rules for the vſe thereof.
BAptiſme is the waſhing of regeneration. Of Baptiſme.Tit. 3. 5. the Sacramēt of our new-birth which is not to be reiterated, or oft receiued as that other, but once only: as it ſufficeth to life, to be often fed, but once borne Yet the vertue and vſe of Baptiſme is of force to our liues and: ſpeaking therefore to men already initiated by Baptiſme, the rules of direction reſpect
| ours | and | our owne | Baptiſme. |
Ours, For our children are not vncleane, 1. Cor. 7. 14. To whom alſo the promiſe is made to a thouſand generations: heere our duety is to preſent them to the Font:
In due time, teſtifying thereby our high eſteeme of Gods mercy to our ſeed, and our earneſt deſire to hauehave his couenant ſcaled to them, leſt the Lord ſhould ſtrike vsus as he did Moſes for a like neglect, Exod. 4. 24. 25. 26.
With fayth in Gods couenant, which is, that hee will be our God, and the God of our ſeed, with thankefulneſſe, accounting the benefit of this admiſſion greater, then if a king had adopted our childe heyre apparant.
Our owne Baptiſme; which we are to make vſe of, all our life long, both as Gods ſe…le, as our vow.
1. As i… is g…n of God▪ by the ou… … waſhing of the Miniſter, in the name of the Father, Sonne, and holy Ghoſt, to ſignifie as by ſigne; to aſſure, as by ſeale, to conuey, as by inſtrument, Chriſt Ieſus and all benefits ſpirituall with him: ſuch as are
1 Receiuing into Couenant with the Father, Sonne and holy Ghoſt, and adoption, as ſon and daughter into his houſhold and family, Gal. 3. 27.
2 Ingrafting into Chriſt and communion with him, as a member of his body, Rom. 6. 5.
3 Deliuerance from the ſeas of Gods wrath, 1 Pet 3. 17. 18. Mat. 3. 7.
4 The imputation of Chriſts righteouſneſſe, and remiſſion of ſinnes, Epheſ. 5. 26. 1. Ioh. 1. 7. Gal. 3. 27.
5 Regeneration Tit. 3. 5. which hath two parts,
| mortification | Rom. 6. 3. 4. | vi…ification | Rom. 6. 4. 5. | of both Col. 2. 13. |
6 Communion with all Saints, 1 Cor. 12. 15.
7 The reſurrection of our bodies, 1 Cor. 15. 29. Rom. 6. 8.
Now thus we muſt make vſe of it in diuers caſes, as in caſe,
1 Of doubting of forgiuenes of ſinnes and of ſaluation, behold, baptiſme ſaueth, that is, effectually aſſures ſaluation, it ſaueth as a figure: now wee offend not in truſting to Gods promiſes made in his word and figured and ſealed in baptiſme, 1 Pet. 3. 18. Reaſon then, hath not God prouided the Arke of baptiſme to preſerue mee from the ſeas of his wrath? Againe, hath hee not cleanſed away my ſinnes by his ſonnes bloud, and preſented this vntounto mee in baptiſme? The very for me of baptiſme ſheweth, that therein the Lord giueth the Chriſtian right and title to himſelfe: heere alſo remember, that the Father, Son, and holy Ghoſt are one in couenant making, and in working thy ſaluation.
2 Of doubting of perſeuerance and of our reſurrection. For if Chriſt be rayſed in vsus, he can die no more in himſelfe or in vsus, Rom. 6. 9. 10. Gal. 3. 27. 28. Mark. 16. 16. 1. Cor. 15. 29. Yea, all the holineſſe and happineſſe of a Chriſtian is ſealed by three, 1 Ioh. 5 7.
3 Of oppoſitions: for in baptiſme thou haſt put on Chriſt who is a couert from the ſtorm, Eſa. 4. 5.
4 Of temptation to ſin: for debate it thus,
I hauehave the name of the Father, Sonne, and holy Ghoſt, named on me, ſhall not I walke worthy and anſwerable to this dignitie?
My baptiſme is the baptiſme of repentance, and do I yet liue in ſinne? Act. 13. 14. Matt. 3. 11.
I was baptized into Chriſtes death and reſurrection, and therein aſſured of the vertue of both to kill ſin in me and quicken me to holineſſe, ſhall I not beleeue the operation of God in that Sacrament, Col. 2. 12. If I be dead to ſinne, can I liue any longer therein: if aliue to God, how is it I want life in the work of God? Are my corruptions preuayling, and ſhall I not ſeeke the ſtrength and life of Chriſt? Rom. 6. 1. 3. In thy ſecurity thou couldſt ſay with the Church in the Canticles, ch. 5. v. 3. I hauehave put off my coat, how ſhall I put it on? I hauehave waſhed my feete, how ſhall I defile them? Now much more take vp this ſaying, I hauehave put on the Lord Chriſt, how ſhould I put him off. I am waſhed in his moſt precious bloud, and ſhall I now defile my ſelfe? I hauehave put on the robe of his righteouſneſſe, it is now no time to vncouer my nakedneſſe and to take to the rotten ragges of the old man, Rom. 13. 14. I will neuer more make prouiſion to fulfill the luſtes of the fleſh.
5 Of temptation to preſumption and ſecurity, in reſt…g vponupon the outward waſhing: ſay with thy ſelfe, am I not taught that baptiſm… which ſaueth, is not the waſhing away of the filth of the fleſh, but the anſwer of a good conſcience, 1 Pet. 3. 21. It is the bapti…me of repentance, the waſhing of the new-birth, which new-birth is by water, and the ſanctifying of the holy Ghoſt through the word, Ioh. 3. 3. Epheſ. 5. 26. And if we bring not forth fruits worthy amendment, God will rather take of theſe ſtones and rayſe vp children vntounto Abraham, then owne a viperous generation, Matt. 3. 8. The baptiſme of the Miniſter is little auayleable where Chriſts baptiſme is not receyued, who baptizeth with the holy Ghoſt and with fire. Trueth, hee that beleeueth and is baptized, ſhall be ſaued, but hee that beleeueth not, though hee be baptized, as was Simon Magus alſo, ſhall bee damned, Marc. 16. 16.
2 Againe, we are to make vſe of our baptiſme as it is a vow and promiſe on our parts, and a dedication of our ſoules and bodies there to the worſhip and ſeruice of that one God, who is the Father, the Sonne, and the holy Ghoſt, renouncing all others, now let this vow and profeſſion of thine teach thee,
1 To abandon all impenitency and vnbeliefe, leſt thou become a Couenant-breaker with God, one that makeſt void the death of Chriſt, one that crucifieſt him afreſh, one that ſinneſt againſt the ſpirit of grace, that grieueſt that holy ſpirit, diſgraceſt the family, Goſpel, and name of God, and depriueſt thy ſelfe of that ſaluation ſet forth by the Father, wrought by the Sonne, applyed by the holy Ghoſt, aſſured by all three to thee in thy baptiſme, haddeſt thou looked to the condition, and not put a barre to ſuch ſurpaſſing mercy.
2 To fight againſt the fleſh, the diuel, and the world thereby remembring whoſe thou art, and vnderunder whom thou warreſt.
3 To acknowledge the communion of Saints, and know that thou art by baptiſme bound to preſerue brotherly louelove with them, as with the members of the body, as with ſonnes of the ſame father, and ſeruants of the ſame lord, 1 Cor. 12. 13. Epheſ. 4. 3 4. 5. No diuiſions ſhould ar…ſe, 1 Cor. 1. 13. All names of ſectes ſhould be aboliſhed; wee ſhould deuote our ſelues to no mans rule, were we baptized into the name of Paul. Whoſe ſeruants ſoeuer wee are, wee are Chriſtes freemen, and whoſe freemen ſoeuer, we are Chriſts ſeruants.
4 To worſhip him in vnity, and vnity in Trinity, drawing neere to the Father, in the Son, by the holy Ghoſt, giuing the diſtinct glory to each perſon; the Father that elected and loued, the Sonne that redeemed, the holy Ghoſt that ſanctified vsus. The forme of baptiſme requireth this.