Exposition of the Shorter Catechism, Question 94
What is Baptism?
Quest. 94. WHat is Baptism?
A. Baptism is a Sacrament, wherein the washing of Water, in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, doth signifie and seal our ingrafting into Christ, and partaking of the benefits of the Covenant of Grace, and our engagement to be the Lords.
Q. 1. What is the external part of Baptism?
A. It is pure unmixed Water, Heb. 10.22. —And our bodies washed with pure water. And therefore it's a vile practice of Papists to add Oyl, Salt and Spittle to Water in Baptism.
Q. 2. What doth Water in Baptism signifie?
A. It signifies the Blood of Christ, Rev. 1.5. —VntoUnto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood.
Q. 3. What's the first resemblance it hath to Christs Blood?
A. In the freeness of it to all, it represents the unpurchased Blood of Christ, Isa. 55.1. Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters; and he that hath no money, come ye, buy and eat, yea, come, buy wine and milk without money, and without price.
Q. 4. What's the second resemblance to Christs Blood?
A. It resembles it in its refreshing quality; Water refresheth the thirsty; so doth Christs Blood, Iohn 6.35. —He that believeth on me, shall never thirst.
Q. What's the third resemblance it hath to Christs Blood?
A. The cleansing property of Water shews the purifying vertue of Christs Blood, Heb. ….14. How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal spirit, offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works, to serve the living God.
Q 6. What's the fourth resemblance it hath to Christs Blood?
A. It resembles it in the necessity of it; for as the Body cannot live without Water, so neither can the Soul without Christs Blood, Heb. 9.23. It was therefore necessary, that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these, but the heavenly things themselves with bitter sacrifices than these.
Q. 7. What's the fifth resemblance of Water to the Blood of Christ?
A. As Water neither refreshes, nor purifies the Body without application; so neither doth Christs Blood refresh or purifie the Soul till applyed, 1 Cor. 1.30. But of him are ye in Christ Iesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom and righteousness, and sanctification and redemption.
Q. 8. Is it necessary to plunge the whole body under water in Baptizing every person?
A. The word [Baptize] signifying as well to wash, as to plunge: A person may be truly Baptized that is not plunged▪ And we cannot think by the circumstances of time and place, that the Iaylor in the night was carryed to a River out of the City, Acts 16.33. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes, and was baptized, he, and all his, straightway.
Q. 9. But is it not said, John 3.23. That John was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there; and they came and were baptized?
A. The word signifies many waters (that is) springs of waters there, which are known by Travellers to be small, not capable of plunging into.
Q. 10. What are the benefits accruing to us by Baptism?
A. The benefits are twofold; some external, called the fatness of the Olive-tree, (i. e.) Ordinances and visible Membership, Rom. 11.17. —And thou being a wild olive-tree, were grafted in amongst them, and with them, partakest of the root and fatness of the olive-tree. And some spiritual and saving, 1 Pet. 3.21. The like figure whereunto, even baptism, doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience towards God) by the resurrection of Iesus Christ.
Q. 11. What engagements are said on the Baptized?
A. They are engaged to be the Lords people and walk suitable to that engagement, Rom. 6.4. Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death, that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Q. 12. Is Baptism to be reiterated as the Lords Supper?
A. No; for the Lords Supper is a Sacrament for nourishing, but this for implantation ▪ Rom 6.4, 5. Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death, that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection.
Q. 13. Doth Baptism regenerate men, and confer saving Grace?
A. No, it doth not in its own vertue convey Grace, no more than the Lords Supper; but the Spirit of God is the Author of Grace, and works it as he pleases before, or after Baptism.