The Badges of Christianity, Book 2 · Chapter 9
Chap. 9 Of the second inward part of Baptisme.
THe second inwarde part of baptisme aThe second inward part of baptisme is the holy spirit.is the spirit of God, hauing relation to the word and promise of God. This bMath, 3, 11 16appeareth Math, 3 11, He baptizeth with the holy-ghost and with fire: And verse 16, When Christ was baptized, the heauens were opened vntounto him, and he saw the spirit discending like a doue, and lighting vponupon him. So the apostle, 1 Cor, 6 saith, ye are washed, ye are sanctified, ye are iustified in the name of the Lord Iesus, and by the spirit of our God. And chap. 12, of the same Epistle, By oke spirit we are all baptized into one body, whether we be Iewes or Graecians, whether we be bonde or free, and hauehave beene all made to drinke into one spirit. And Tit, 3. According to his mercy he saued vsus, by washing of the new-birth, and the renewing of the holy-ghost, which he shedde on vsus aboundantly, through Iesus Christ our sauiour. All these testimonies teach vsus, that the Holy spirit of God is a necessary inward part of this sacrament, and that the baptisme of the spirit ioyned to the word, giueth force vntounto it, who worketh in our soules that which water doth in our bodies, so that without the spirit it is nothing.
From hence we learne, that it is not the dipping of vsus into, Vse. 1or the sprinkling of vsus with water, by the Minister that maketh vsus partakers of Christ, but it commeth from the vertue of the spirit, who in time performeth what is represented by outwarde signes, and promised by the worde.
Againe we learne heereby, that the spirit is true God, vse. 2equall with the father and the sonne. For who is able to make the worde and Sacramentes auaileable, but onelyonly God?
Seeing then this is the proper worke of the Holyghost, to open the heart, to teach the conscience, to seale vppe to the daye of redemption, and to helpe our infirmities in heating, in praying, and receiuing the Sacraments: he must needs be acknowledged to bee true God the cIcot. 12. 4 5, 8. 9, x, xi Reuel. 1, 4giuer of these graces. So we see, that in the forme of the administration of this sacrament, the blessed spirit is named and rehearsed, dMat 28, xixand hath his order togither with the father and the sonne. This therefore is a principle of our faith, to be learned, confessed, and beleeued.
Thirdly, we are heerby to take heed and beware, that we vse. 3.giuegive not to the word that which is proper to the spirit, he ingrafteth vsus into Christ, he keepeth vsus that we fal not from Christ, he maketh the word and promise of the institution profitable vntounto vsus, without whome it shoulde 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.
Lastly, let vsus learne whensoeuer we come to the Worde or sacramentes, to craue the gracious assistance of the blessed vse. 4.spirit, to guide direct, and regenerate vsus to eternal life, to sanctifie vsus, e1 Iohn. v, 7and to assure vsus of gods endlesse fauour in Christs Iesus, as 1 Ioh 5. There be three which beare witnesse in heauen, the father, the word, and the holy spirit: and these three are one. The Holy-ghost by his grace and vertue worketh in vsus steadfastly to beleeue the truth of Gods worde, and the gratious promises of saluation: as he is the author, beginner, and begetter of faith in vsus, so he increaseth it, and maketh vsus fit to receiue Christ, and to apply him with all his gifts vntounto our selues, 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 that fRom, 5, 3, 4tribulation bringeth foorth patience, and patience experience, and experience hope, and hope maketh not ashamed, because the louelove of god is shed abroade in our harts by the holy-ghost which is giuen vntounto vsus. He is the earnest and seale of our inheritance, by whom we are sealed vp to euerlasting life.
Thus we see, that howsoeuer the increase and … of faith is assigned to the sacramentes: yet this grace proceedeth from the holy-ghost, who is vntounto our faith as marow vntounto the bones, as moysture vntounto the tree, and as a comfortable raine vntounto the fruites of the earth. If this inward maister and teacher be wanting, the sacraments gThe sacraments profit not without the spirit.can worke no more in our mindes, then if the bright Sunne should shine to the blind eies, or a loud voice sound in deafe eares, or fruitefull corne fall into the barren wildernesse. Wherefore, least the word of saluation should sound in our eares in vaine, and Sacraments ioyned to the word should be present before our eies in vaine; the spirit worketh in vsus whensoeuer we come vntounto them aright, he mollifieth the hardnesse of our heartes, 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 so wen in fruiteful grownd wel tilled & manured, it bringeth … good increase with gain & aduantage: so likewise the word and the sacramentes, if they hit vponupon an heard neck, and fall into a barren heart, bcome vnprofitable and vnfruiteful: but if the effectual work of the spirit accompanieth the hearing of the one, and receiuing of the other, they are profitable, auaileable, and comfortable. Thus much of the second part.