The New Covenant, Book 2 · Chapter 8
CHAP. VIII. Of the firſt inward part of baptiſme.
HItherto we hauehave handled al the outward parts of baptiſme, now wee are orderly to proceed to the inward parts. The inward parts of baptiſme are ſuch as are repreſented by the outward. Thoſe areaMat. 2…, 19.20 Mark. 16, 16. foure in number: firſt, God the Father: ſecondly, the Spirit: thirdly, Chriſt: fourthly, the ſoule clenſed, as we ſee Mat. 28. Teach all Nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Sonne, and of the Holy-Ghoſt: he that beleeueth and is baptized, ſhall be ſaued. Heere we ſee theſe foure inward partsbFoure inward parts of bapti…me. are named and expreſſed. This is alſo euidently prouedcMat 3, 11. in the baptiſme of Chriſt, where the Trinity of perſons was manifeſted.
Theſe inward parts do directly and fitly anſwere to the outward. The Father is repreſented by the Miniſter: the Spirit worketh by the word: Chriſt is ſealed by the water: & the ſoule clenſed is ſignified by the body that is waſhed. Now,dThe agreement betweene the outward and inward parts. there is a notable agreement, a ſingular vnion, and fit proportion betweene theſe parts, where the Miniſter hath relation and reference to the Father, the word to the Spirite, the water to Chriſt, and the body dipped to the faithfull clenſed. For euen as the Miniſter by the word of inſtitution, taketh and applyeth the water to the waſhing of the body: ſo God the Father through the working of the Spirite offereth and applyeth the blood of Chriſt, to the clenſing of the faithfull.
Hauing ſeene the proportion of the parts betweene thē ſelues, let vsus conſider of them particularly & in order. TheeThe firſt inward part of baptiſme is God the Father. firſt inward part is God the Father, repreſented by the Miniſter. The Miniſter calling vponupon the name of God, vſeth the water to waſh & waſheth the party baptized with the element of water, which ſealeth vp Gods incorporating & ingraftingfGal. 3, 27. of the baptized into Chriſt, and our ſpirituall regeneration. Hence it is, that when Iohn baptized, the Father was preſent, as preſident of the worke, when loe, his voice came from heauen, ſaying, This is my beloued Sonne in whom I am well pleaſed. Now let vsus come to the vſes.
This ſerueth firſt of all, to ſtrengthen our faith in the remiſsion Vſe 1 of our ſins, in imputation of Chriſts righteouſnes in mortification of ſinne by the force of Chriſts death, and in ſanctification through Chriſts reſurrection. Wherefore although the Miniſter doth nothing, touching or toward the cleanſing of the ſoule: yet in regard of Gods ordinance and our benefit, the miniſtry of man is ſomewhat, which whoſoeuer deſpiſeth, doth deſpiſe GOD the the author of it. For whenſoeuer the eye of the body ſeeth the Miniſter powring on the water, and waſhing the body: we muſt behold by faith God the Father, offering the blood of his owne Son to be water of life to our ſoules. And let vsus all make this vſe of the Churches baptiſme to the comfort of our owne hearts, ſo often as we ſee it adminiſtred: let vsus not reſt in it, as in a worke done to another, and nothing concerning our ſelues, but euermore helpe our inward affection by the outward action: and alwayes as the eye of the body beholdeth the Miniſter, let the eye of our faith be faſtened …i…mely vponupon the Father, who maketh the Sacramentall rites auaileable, which are openly done before vsus for our edification.
Vſe 2 Againe, it teacheth, that we muſt not reſt in the outward waſhing, not in the externall actions of the Miniſter: but euer conſider what is offered to our conſiderations therin: and when the Father offereth to vsus his Sonne, let vsus not refuſe him. For he that ſatisfieth himſelfe with the outward worke, is as he that catcheth after the ſhaddow, and regardeth not the ſubſtance; or as one that maketh much of the garmēts, but reſpecteth little the body it ſelfe, which ought to be had in greateſt price and eſtimation.
The Miniſter taketh the water and waſheth the bodye, which is a pledge of a farther thing; for then doth the Father apply the promiſe of remiſsion of ſinnes and life euerlaſting to the perſon baptized, as if he ſhould ſpeake with a loud voice and call the party by his name, while the outward ſigne is powred on the body: I freely waſh away thy ſinnes, and giuegive vntounto thee the pardon of them, and beſtow vponupon thee eternall life, ſo that thou turne vntounto me and beleeue in Chriſt thy Sauiour. Let vsus then as true beleeuers by a ſpe…iall faith re…eiue and apprehend his mercifull promiſes, and reſt in them. Let this cauſe vsus to turne vntounto him by vnfained repentance, and to walke with all obedience in his waies. Seeing therefore he doth ſo gra…iouſly aſſure vsus of his great mercies with his owne hand & ſeale, woe vntounto vsus if we be not mu…h moued and affected with it.
Vſe 3 Laſtly, is God the Father an inward part of baptiſme? Then we muſt take heed wee giuegive not that to the Miniſter which is proper to God the Father, whereby he i… …obbed of the honour and glory due to his great name. The Miniſter may waſh the body and cleanſe the fleſh, but can goe no further: he medleth not with ſanctification of the conſcience from dead workes, which is not in the power of mortall man to do: ſo that God giueth the thing, and men giuegive the ſigne; yea while the Miniſter of…eth the one, God the Father giueth the other.