The Badges of Christianity, Book 2 · Chapter 13
Chap. 13. Of the second vse of baptisme.
BEing made one with Christ, we are partakers of the … of his death, to wit, aThe 2, vse of baptism … to assure forgiuenes of sinne.of forgiuenes of sinnes, and of regeneration or new birth. So then the second vse of Baptisme is, to assure vsus of the remission and pardon of our sinnes, that we may be vnblamable and acceptable to god. This is signified by the outward ceremony of washing and sprinkling, to wit, the sprinkling of our soules with the blood of Christ for the forgiuenes of all sinnes, bAct. 2. 38, … 22, 16as appeareth, Act. 2, 38, Then Peter said vntounto them, Amend your liues and be baptized euerie one of you in the name of Iesus Christ, for remission of sins. And Act. 22, Ananias said vntounto Paul immediately after his conuersion, Arise and be baptized, and wash away thy sinnes in calling on the name of the Lorde. So the Euangelist witnesses Marke. 1, 4. that Iohn did baptize in the wildernesse, and preach the Baptisme of amendment of life for the remission of sinnes. And the Apostle maketh this vse, col. 2, 12, 13. Ye are buried with him through Baptisme, in whome ye are also raised vppe together through the faith of the operation of GOD, which raised him vp from the dead: and you which are deade in sinnes, and in the vncircumcision of your flesh, hath hee quickned together with him, forgiuing you all your trespasses. The meaning of these places is not that, baptisme cBaptisme doth not of it selfe conferre gracebestoweth or giueth forgiuenesse, but onelyonly signeth, sealeth, and assureth our pardon: euen as remistion of sins and the righte ousnesse of faith were not in the old Testament by circumcision conferred, but confirmed vntounto the faithfull. The grace of pardon and forgiuenesse of sinnes, is not attained but by faith in Christ, so that the worke of baptisme will not effect it. Moreouer we hauehave proued, that it is not lawfull to baptize such as are in yeares, vnlesse they make open profession of their faith in Christ, and repentance from the workes of the olde man: wherefore, they obtaine them not by the outward washing with water in baptisme. So then we are no lesse assuredly washed by the blood of Christ from the spots of our soules, then outwardly we are washed with water from the filth of the body. For the force of his death hath that effectuall working in clensing our soules from the corruption and filthines of sinne, which naturall water hath in washing our bodies. By the merit of his death we hauehave full forgiueneste of all our sinnes, not onelyonly originall but actuall, not onelyonly past but present and to come, whose blood is neuer drawne dry, but is euer fresh and full of efficacy.
Therefore, the wordes deliuered by the minister in baptisme at the commaundement of christ, namely, cMath, 28. 19,I baptize thee in the name, of the father, and of the sonne, and of the holy ghost, should alwaies be in our eares, euen vntill the last gasp, and by them we ought to be assured of the ful forgiuensse of our offences against God. For the blood of Christ, by which we are once washed, can neuer be drawne dry, but is euer fresh, full of force and strength, to the continuall clensing of our filthinesse and iniquities, so that they neuer come into the sight of God, neither are imputed vntounto vsus. Wherefore, it is like vntounto a sealed charter, whereby is confirmed that all our sinnes are blotted out. We are all taught by our baptisme, that none of the enemies of our saluation shall be able to lay any sinne to our charge Art thou tempted to thinke, that Christs blood was not shed for thee? That thy transgressions are not pardoned? That thou shalt be brought to iudgement for them? Doth Sathan … thy tender conscience with them? thou maist as well doubt, that thou wast not baptized and washed with Water, as doubt thy sinnes are not blotted out: thou maist as well surnize thou perishedst in the water, as suppose thou shalt perish in thy wickednesse, the floods where of howsoeuer they go ouer thy head: yet shall not be able to preuaile against thee sully, and ouercome thee sinally.
This ouer throweth the false dConcil. Trid. sess. 5doctrin of the false church of Rome, the Mother of abhominations, which teacheth that by the grace of Christ receiued in baptisme, all our sins going before it, are rased and blotted out, and leaueth nothing in the party baptized eBellar, lib. 1. de bapt. cap. 13that hath the name and nature of sinne. But albeit our sinnes be freely and fully forgiuen for Christs sake, pardoned and not imputed, coucred and remembred no more: yet the stain, blot, and remnants of sinne remaine (though not raigne) in our flesh, so long as we liue in this world, which in the end of our daies togither with the mortality and corruptions of our bodies shall be taken away and abolished. Indeede the scripture teacheth, that Christs blood clenseth, washeth, fIoh. 1, 29 Psal. 32. 1. 2and taketh away sinne, Ioh. 1. 29. Behold the Lambe of God which taketh away the sin of the world: but this is not by an actuall purging of vsus from all corruption, but in freely acquiting and truely discharing vsus from the guilt, offence, and punishment before God, as Psal. 32, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiuen, and whose sins are lightned, blessed is the man to whom the Lord imputeth not sinne. I herefore, though they be forgiuen, yet they remaine, g1 Ioh. 1, 8as appeareth, If we say … hauehave no fin, we deceiue our selues and there is no truth in vsus. And Solomon in his worthy prayer saith, If any sinne against thee, for there is no man that sinneth not. So the Apostle teacheth & toucheth this truth by his owne experience, Rom. 7, I see another lawe in my members, rebelling against the Law of my minde, and leading me captiue vntounto the Law of sinne which is in my members. We are all as a filthy cloth, the fsesh rebelleth against the spirit, and in nothing we can do the things we woulde, so that if God enter into iudgement with vsus, we … stand in his sight. And if Originall sinne were extinguished and vtrerly abolished in baptisme, then they which are baptized, shoulde sin no more: but we see they sin again after their baptism. To conclude baptisme is auailable not only for sins before, but it is a seale for confirmation of faith touching the remission of those sinnes that are committed after baptisme, as well as done before, as our … sauiour teacheth, Mark, 16, 16. He that shall beleeue and be baptized, shall be saued, but he that will not beleeue, shalbe damnd. Faith then beleeueth the forgiuenes of all sins past and to come, inasmuch as the bood of Christ clenseth from al sins. And the Apostle accordeth heereunto, Titus 3, 5, 7. According to his merciemercy hee saued vsus by the washing of the new birth and the … of the holy ghost: that we being iustified by his grace should be made heirs according to the hope of euerlasting life. Where we see that the promise of iustification … generall against all sins. Thus much of the second vse.