The New Covenant, Book 2 · Chapter 9
CHAP. IX. Of the ſecond inward part of Baptiſme.
THe ſecond inward part of baptiſmeaThe ſecond inward part of baptiſme i… the holy Spirite. is the Spirite of God, hauing relation to the word and promiſe of God. Thi… bMat. 3, 11.10.appeareth Mat. 3, 11. He bapti…eth with the Holy Ghoſt and with fire: And verſe 10. When Chriſt wa… baptized, the heauen… were opened vntounto him, and he ſaw the Spirit deſcending like a Doue, and lighting vponupon him. So the apoſtle, 1 Cor. 6. ſaith, Ye are waſhed, ye are ſan…tified, ye are iuſt…fied in the name of the Lord Ieſus, and by the Spirit of our God. And chap. 12. of the ſame Epiſtle, By one Spirite wee are all bapti…ed into one body, whether we be Iewes or Gr…e…ian…, whether we be bond or free, and hauehave beene all made to drinke into one Spirite. And Tit. 3. According to his mercy he ſaued vsus, by the waſhing of the new both, and the renewing of the Holy-Ghoſt, which he ſhed on vsus aboundantly, through Ieſus Chriſt our Sauiour. All theſe teſtimonie: teach vsus, that the holy Spirite of God i… a neceſſary inward part of this Sacrament, and that the baptiſme of the Spirite ioyned to the word, giueth force vntounto it, who worketh in our ſoule… that which water doth in our bodies, ſo that without the Spirite it is nothing.
From hence we learne, that it is not the dipping of vsus Vſe 1 into, or the ſprinkling of vsus with water by the Miniſter that maketh vsus partakers of Chriſt, but it commeth from the vertue of the Spirite, who in time performeth what is repreſented by outward ſignes, and promiſed by the word.
Againe, we learne heereby, that the Spirite is true God, Vſe 2 equall with the Father and the Sonne. For who is able to make the word and Sacraments auaileable but onelyonly God?
Seeing then this is the proper worke of the Holy-Ghoſt, to open the heart, to teach the conſcience, to ſeale vp to the day of redemption, and to helpe our infirmities in hearing, in praying, and receiuing the Sacraments: hee muſt needs be acknowledged to be true God thec1 Cor. 12, 4.5, 8, 9, 10, 11. Reuel. 1, 4. giuer of theſe graces. So we ſee, that in the forme of the adminiſtration of this Sacrament, the bleſſed Spirite is named and rehearſed,dMat. 28, 19. and hath his order together with the Father and the Sonne, This therefore is a principle of our faith, to be learned, confeſſed, and beleeued.
Vſe 3 Thirdly, we are heereby to take heede and beware, that we giuegive not to the word that which is proper to the Spirit; he ingrafteth vsus into Chriſt, he keepeth vsus that we fall not from Chriſt, he maketh the word and promiſe of the inſtitution profitable vntounto vsus, without whom it ſhould be vntounto vsus as ſounding braſſe or a tinckeling Cymball. Wherefore, as GOD the Father in mercy maketh the promiſe, ſo his Spirite muſt aſſure it to the Conſciences of all the faithfull.
Vſe 4 Laſtly, let vsus learne whenſoeuer we come to the word or Sacraments, to craue the gracious aſsiſtance of the bleſſed Spirit, to guide, direct, and regenerate vsus to eternall life, to ſanctifie vsus,e1 Ioh. 5, 7. and to aſſure vsus of Gods endleſſe fauour in Chriſt Ieſus, as 1. Ioh. 5. There be three which beare witneſſe in heauen, the Father, the Word, and the holy Sp rit: and theſe three are one. The Holy-Ghoſt by his grace and vertue worketh in vsus ſtedfaſtly to beleeue the truth of Gods word, and the gracious promiſes of ſaluation: as he is the author, beginner, and begetter of faith in vsus, ſo he increaſeth it, & maketh vsus fit to receiue Chriſt, and to apply him with all his guifts vntounto our ſoules, and ſendeth vsus into the full fruition and poſſeſsion of Chriſt. He is our comforter to certifie vsus of our reconciliation to God, and to make vsus reioyce vnderunder the Croſſe, knowing thatfRō. 5, 3, 4, 5. tribulation bringeth foorth patience, and patience experience, and experience hope, and hope maketh not aſhamed, becauſe the louelove of God is ſhedde abroad in our hearts by the Holy-Ghost which is giuen vntounto vsus. He is the earneſt and ſeale of our inheritance, by whom wee are ſealed vp to euerlaſting life.
Thus we ſee, that howſoeuer the increaſe and ſtrength of faith is aſſigned to the Sacraments: yet this grace proceedeth from the Holy-Gkoſt, who is vntounto our faith as marow vntounto the bones, as moyſture vntounto the tree, and as a cō fortable raine vntounto the fruites of the earth. If this inward maiſter and teacher be wanting, the SacramentsgThe Sacraments profit not without the Spirit. can work no more in our mindes, then if the bright Sun ſhould ſhine to the blinde eyes, or a loud voice ſound in deafe eares, or fruitefull corne fall into the barren wildernes, or a ſhower of raine fall vponupon the hard ſtones. Wherefore, leaſt the word of ſaluation ſhould ſound in our eares in vaine, and Sacraments ioyned to the word ſhould bee preſent before our eyes in vaine; the Spirit worketh in vsus whenſoeuer we come vntounto them aright, he mollifieth the hardneſſe of our hearts, he frameth vsus to new obedience, and aſſureth vsus that God offereth to vsus his owne Sonne for our iuſtification and ſaluation. For euen as the ſeede that falleth into a barren ſoile dyeth and rotteth, yet if it be ſowne in fruitfull ground wel tilled and manured, it bringeth forth good increaſe with gaine and aduantage: ſo likewiſe the word and the Sacraments, if they hit vponupon an hard necke, and fall into a barren heart, become vnprofitable and vnfruitefull: but if the effectuall worke of the Spirite accompanieth the hearing of the one, and receiuing of the other, they are profitable, auaileable, and comfortable. Thus much of the ſecond part.