Abridgment of Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book 4 · Chapter 15
CHAP. XV. Of Baptiſme.
1 BAptiſme is a ſigne of our entring,What baptiſme is. whereby we are admitted into the ſocietie of the Church, that being ingrafted into Chriſt, we may be reckened among the children of God.A double end. Furthermore it is geuen vsus of God to this ende: Firſt that it might ſerue for our faith with him: Secondly for our confeſſion before men. Baptiſme bringeth three things to our faith: Firſt that it may be a ſigne of our purging, like to a certaine ſealed charter, whereby he confirmeth to vsus that all our ſinnes are blotted out.Faith.
2 In this ſenſe muſt we vnderſtand that which Paule writeth: that the Church is ſanctified by Chriſt her ſpouſe, and waſhed with the waſhing of water in the word of life*, and in another place:Eph. 5.26. Tit. 3.5. 1 Pet. 3.21 that we are ſaued according to his merciemercy, by the waſhing of regeneration*.
3 Obiect. Baptiſme is onelyonly geuen for the time paſt, ſo that we muſt ſeeke other newe remedies for our newe falles into which we fall after Baptiſme.
An. At what time ſoeuer we be baptized,We be waſhed by Baptiſme for our whole life we be once waſhed for all our life time, and alſo purged. For the puritie of Chriſt, which is offered to vsus therein, is alwayes freſh.
Obiect. Hereby men take libertie to ſinne in time to come.
An. This doctrine is deliuered to thoſe onelyonly, who after they hauehave ſinned, being weary, do groane vnderunder their ſinnes, that they may hauehave wherewith to lift vp and comfort them ſelues againe, leſt they fall into deſpaire.
Obiect. Chriſt is made to vsus a propitiation for remiſſion of ſinnes going before*.
Baptiſme is the Sacrament of Repentance.An. In that place Baptiſme is not handled but repentance. Therfore ſo often as being wounded with the ſearinge yron of conſcience I ſhall turne vntounto God, my ſinnes ſhall be forgiuen me.
Obiect. By the benefite of repentance, and the keys, we obtaine remiſſion after Baptiſme, which at our firſt regeneratiō is giuen vsus by Baptiſme alone.
An. Baptiſme is the Sacrament of repentaunce. But if this be commended to vsus during our whole life, the force of Baptiſme ought alſo to be extended vntounto the ſame endes.
5 It bringeth alſo an other frute, becauſe it ſheweth to vsus our mortification in Chriſt, and new life in him.Rom. 6.3. For as Paule ſaith, we are baptized into his death, that we may walke in newneſſe of life.
6 Our faith receaueth this third frute, becauſe it doth ſurely teſtifie to vsus that we are not onelyonly ingrafted into the death & life of Chriſt, but alſo that we are ſo vnited to Chriſt him ſelf, that we are partakers of all his good thinges. Therefore he did dedicate and ſanctifie Baptiſme in his owne bodie*.Mat. 3.13. And we are baptized in the name of the Father, & of the Sonne,The forme of Baptiſme. and of the holie Ghoſt: becauſe we obtaine the cauſe both of our purging, and alſo of our regeneration in the Father, in the Sonne the matter: in the Spirit the effect.
7 Obiect. The Baptiſme of Iohn was one, the Baptiſme of the Apoſtles another.
Of the Baptiſme of Iohn and the Apoſtles.An. Diuerſe handes do not make the Baptiſme diuerſe: but the ſame doctrine ſheweth that it is the ſame: both did baptize to repentance, & remiſſion of ſinnes.
8 Obiect. There were more plentifull graces of the Spirit ſhed forth after the reſurrection.
An. This appertaineth nothing to make the diuerſitie of Baptiſme.
Obiect. They are baptized againe by Paul which had once receaued the Baptiſme of Iohn*.Act. 19.3.5. Therefore the Baptiſme of Iohn was onelyonly a preparation.Baptiſme put for the gift of the holie ghoſt
An. Baptiſme is taken in that place for the gifts of the holie Ghoſt, which the faithfull receaued by the laying on of hands, as elſe where oftentimes.
Obiect. Iohn ſayd that he did baptize with water but Chriſt ſhould come, who ſhould baptize with the holy Ghoſt and with fire*.Mat. 3.11.
An. He did not compare Baptiſme with Baptiſme, but his perſon with the perſon of Chriſt, he was the miniſter of the water, but Chriſt the giuer of the holy Ghoſt.
9 Theſe thinges which we hauehave ſpoken both concerninge mortification, and alſo touchinge waſhing, were figured to the people of Iſraell in the ſea, and the cloude*.1 Cor. 10.2. Exod. 14 21. A figure of mortification. Num. 9.14. Mortification was ſhadowed when he deliuered them out of the cruell hand of Pharao. In the cloude there mas a token of their purging*.
10 Obiect. By Baptiſme we are looſed from originall ſinne, and we are reſtored to the ſame puritie of nature, which Adam had before his fall.
An. Therein wee muſt note two thinges: Firſt that that damnation which verie infantes bringe with them from their mothers wombe, hauing the ſeede of ſinne included in them, is taken away: whereof they hauehave a teſtimonie in their Baptiſme.
11 The other is that this peruerſnes doth neuer ceſſe in vsus, but doth cōtinually bring forth new fruts of ſinne, which are called the workes of the fleſh*.Gal 5.19. Workes of the fleſh. Thoſe make vsus guilty of the wrath of God. Therfore we are baptized into the mortification of the fleſh, which we follow dayly, but it ſhall be perfected whē we ſhall depart this life and go to the Lord.
Rom. 6.14.12 Hereupon Paule exhorteth the faithfull that they ſuffer not ſinne to raigne in their members*. Therfore he is enforced to crie out with mourning, O wretch that I am, who ſhall deliuer me from this bodie that is ſubiect to death?The 2 end
13 The ſecond end of Baptiſme conſiſteth therin, that it may ſerue for our confeſſion before men. For it is a marke wherby we do openly profeſſe that we would be reckened among the people of God: whereby we teſtifie that we agree in one religion with all Chriſtians: and whereby finally we do make publike profeſſion of our faith: that not onelyonly our heartes may breath out the praiſe of God, but our tongs alſo and all members of our bodie may ſound out the ſame with ſuch ſignifications as they can.
Faith an inſtrument.14 And the meanes to receaue thoſe thinges which the Lord promiſeth vsus in Baptiſme, is faith: that we may beleeue that it is God that ſpeaketh by the ſigne, which purgeth vsus, waſheth vsus, maketh vsus partakers of the death of Chriſt:What thinges are giuen in Baptiſme. which taketh away the kingdome of Sathan: weakeneth the ſtrength of concupiſcence, and cauſeth that hauing put on Chriſt, we are counted the children of God.
Queſt. If ſinnes be not waſhed away by the force of Baptiſme, why did Ananias ſay to Paule, that he ſhould waſh away his ſinne by Baptiſme*?Act. 9 17.
An. Namely that by the ſigne of Baptiſme Paule might be certified, that his ſinnes were forgeuen.
16 Furthermore if we receaue the Sacrament as from the hande of God, from which it came, we may thereby gather, that there is nothing added thereto, or taken therefro by his worthineſſe, by whoſe hand it is deliuered. Yea when circumciſion was corrupt with manie ſuperſtitions, yet it ceaſed not to be counted a ſigne of grace. Neither was circumciſion iterated vnderunder Ioſias and Ezekias.
17 Obiect. That faith of ours which hath followed baptiſme certain yeares, doth ſufficientlie ſhew that baptiſme was void.
An. The promiſe was alwaies true, but our vnbeliefe did let that it had not then the effect:Rom. 3.3. becauſe though men be liars, & vnfaithfull, yet God ceaſeth not to be true.
18 Obiect. Paul baptiſed againe thoſe whō Iohn had baptized*.Act. 19.3.5.
An. We hauehave alreadie ſaide that the baptiſme is taken in that place for the viſible graces of the ſpirit which were giuen by laying on of hands*.Act. 15. & 11 16.
19 As touching the outward ſigne, let vsus followe the naturall inſtitution of Chriſt,Popiſh additions. caſting far from vsus thoſe Popiſh additions, bleſſing, breathing, ſalt, tapers, chriſme, and ſuch like deceites of Satan. Therfore let him that is to be baptiſed be repreſented in the companie of the faithfull,The forme of Baptiſme. the whole church being witneſſe beholding him, and praying for him: let him bee offered to God: let the confeſſion of faith be recited: let the promiſes bee repeated which are contained in Baptiſme:How one that is to be inſtructed ought to be baptized. let the inſtructed bee baptiſed in the name of the father, of the ſonne, & of the holie ghoſte: at length let him bee diſmiſſed with praiers and thankſgiuing.
20 It is alſo appertinent to the matter to knowe this, that it was doone amiſſe,Let not priuate men baptize. if priuate men doe vſurpe the adminiſtration of Baptiſme. For as wel the diſtribution of this, as of the ſupper, is a part of the Eccleſiaſticall miniſterie.
Obiect. If he which is ſicke diſceaſe without baptiſme, he is in danger to be depriued of the grace of regeneration:Auguſt. lib. contra. Epiſt Parm. 2. cap. 13. therfore if neceſſitie conſtraine, and if a lay man or a womā baptize, it is either no fault, or a fault veniall*.
An. God pronounceth that hee doth adopt our infants to be his, before they be borne, when as hee promiſeth that he will be our god,Gen. 17.7. & the God of our ſeed after vsus*. Therefore ſaluation conſiſteth in the promiſe, which may bee fulfilled without Baptiſme: as in the people of Iſrael, which died before circumciſion.
21 Obiect. It was an ancient cuſtome.
An. It was not therefore to be praiſed. Epiphanius doth vpbraid Marcion, for graunting licence to women to baptize*: and in an other place hee teacheth that the holie mother of Chriſt was not ſuffered to doe it.
22 Obiect. The Angell of God was pacified after that Sephora hauing taken a ſtone,Lib. contr. Her. 1. Note. Exod. 4.25. Sephora circumciſed. did circumciſe her ſonne*.
An. God did not therefore approue her fact: Otherwiſe we might ſay that the worſhipping which the Gentiles which were brought from Aſſyria raiſed vp, did pleaſe God, becauſe the beaſtes ceaſed to afflict the people. Secondlie, that which is particular, ought not to be made an example. Therefore let vsus conclude that the Sacrament like to a ſeale, doth not make the promiſe more effectuall, as being of it ſelfe weake, but doth onlie confirme the ſame to vsus.Contempt of the ſacraments muſt bee fled Therefore if in omitting the ſigne there bee neither ſluggiſhneſſe, nor contempt, nor negligence we are ſafe from all danger.