Three Practical Essays, Essay 2 · Chapter 6
CHAP. VI. What is to be done at Confirmation: Of solemnly renewing the Baptismal Vow.
1. WHen a Person is thus arrived to a firm Belief of the great Truths of Religion; When he Understands distinctly the Extent and Obligation of his Duty; and is come to a settled Resolution of conducting the whole course of his Life, according to that Knowledge; then is it that he becomes truly meet for the Kingdom of God, and is rightly prepared to make a solemn Profession of his being a Disciple of Christ. Which the Church has wisely ordained should be done publickly at Confirmation: where by Ratifying with our own Mouth the Vow made in our Name by our Sureties, we solemnly take upon our selves to perform all the Duties, which the Condition of our Baptismal Covenant obliges us to observe; and by Imposition of Hands, (according to the constant practice of the Church since the times of the Apostle) we have sealed and Confirmed to us all the Privileges, which the condition of the same Baptismal Covenant intitles us to receive.
2. First therefore, at receiving Confirmation, Consider that you now Solemnly undertake for your self to perform all the Duties, which the Condition of your Baptismal Covenant obliges you to observe. Consider that you now confirm & ratifie, all that your Sureties promised and vowed for you at your Baptism. Consider that you now ingage in your own Person, To renounce the Devil and all his Works, the Pomps and Vanities of this Wicked World, and all the sinful Lusts of the Flesh; that you now ingage to stand firm in the Belief of the Christian Doctrine, and never to be ashamed to confess the Faith of Christ crucified, or afraid to own your self his Disciple; and that you now ingage to obey from henceforward all the Commandments of God, that is, to live (with all the Strictness and Purity of the Gospel) in the constant Practice of every one of those Duties, of which I have briefly set down the Heads in the former Chapter.
3. And consider, that you promise all this most solemnly, in the Presence of God and before the whole Congregation. Consider, that you enter into this Promise with such solemnity, as lays upon you the strongest possible Obligations to Virtue: Consider that you so enter into this Promise with Knowledge and Deliberation, that if you shall afterwards fall into any Course of sin, in contempt of such repeated Obligations to the contrary, the Guilt thereof will be extreamly increased; and that therefore you ought now, to affect your Mind deeply with a sence of the heinousness of sin, and to strengthen mightily your good Resolutions. Antiently, every one that was baptized, was taught to look upon himself as entring into so solemn an Obligation of Religion, that if after that Great and Sacred Vow he should fall into any wilful and known sin, it could not be forgiven him but upon a proportionably great and long Repentance: And the same Reason there is now, why every one that by Confirmation dedicates himself to the Service of God, and makes publick Profession of his being a Disciple of Christ, should look upon himself as entring into such a solemn Obligation, as should make him exceeding fearful of falling for the future into any great sin, the Guilt of which will be extreamly increased by being committed after such repeated Vows and Promises to the contrary.
4. Yet is this no Reason why any one should defer being Confirmed, as if by omitting to bind himself by this New and Solemn Promise, he might continue to sin with less guilt and less danger. For though the guilt of sin be indeed mightily increased, by being committed after repeated Obligations to the contrary; yet if any one omits to renew his Obligations, only for that reason, that he may continue in sin; his sin is then equally heinous and against Knowledge, as if he had renewed his Obligation. Baptism is a solemn Obligation to be Religious; and many of the Antients, because they thought sin would be more heinous after so solemn an Obligation, did therefore defer to be Baptized till the end of their Lives. The Lord's Supper is also a solemn Obligation to be Religious; and many in our days, because they think sin will be more heinous after so solemn an Obligation, do therefore defer receiving the Communion all their Lives. But 'tis plain these men run into a very great Errour. For the reason why sin after repeated Obligations to the contrary, becomes more heinous, is because it is committed with greater Deliberation & against clearer Convictions: When therefore a man who Believes Religion, and Understands its Obligations, omits these Duties for no other reason, but that he may sin (as he thinks) with less danger; his sins are then equally deliberate, and against equally clear Knowledge; and he moreover adds to them a contemptuous neglect, of the means of becoming more Religious.