Hear the Church, Principle 3 – Principle 3
3. Of the Doctrine of Baptiſm in this Church.
The Lord Chriſt had fully taught the Guides of this Mother-Church the Doctrine of Baptiſm both by Word and Example; and thereby had informed them of a three-fold Baptiſm. The firſt delivered by Precept, himſelf making the People Diſciples, by teaching them to repent and believe the Goſpel, and then appointing his Diſciples to dip them in the River, in which reſpect it is ſaid that Jeſus made and dipped (or Baptized) more Diſciples than John, Mat. 4. 17. John 4. 1. John 3. 22. His own example being an unqueſtionable Rule for the manner of Baptizing, he being Dipped of John into Jordan, as the Greek hath it, Mark 1. 9. and then coming up out of the Water. And of this whole Church it is ſaid, their hearts were ſprinkled from an evil Conſcience, and their Bodies waſhed with pure water. For Baptiſmal Water is therefore purer, becauſe it is Sanctified for our Religious uſe, both by the Perſon of Chriſt, and by the Word of God. And of this Church, was firſt required, that every one of them ſhould repent, and then be Baptized; and of them it is alſo ſaid, that they that gladly received the Word preached by St. Peter, were baptized, Acts 2. 38, 40.
They were alſo inſtructed concerning the Baptiſm of the Holy Spirit; it being the Promiſe of the Father made to all the called of the Lord, and was particularly applied to them, and poured upon them in the way of Faith and Obedience.
To be willing to be Baptized with Afflictions for Chriſt and the Goſpels-ſake, they were alſo taught by our bleſſed Saviour in his Diſcourſe with ſome of his Diſciples, and by his own Sufferings, Luke 12. 30. of which they were alſo partakers, Heb. 10. 32. as alſo all that will live Godly in Chriſt Jeſus muſt expect the ſame. And it would be conſidered by what Rule any man can take upon him to make Baptiſm the firſt Principle, ſeeing Chriſt himſelf has made it the third Principle? and by what Rule any man can call Sprinkling Baptizing? Dare they ſpeak as they act? that is, dare they ſay, I ſprinkle thee in the Name of the Father? &c. Would not their Conſcience flie in their Face if they ſhould ſo ſpeak? and yet behold, they prevaricate in action, and lye in expreſſion in that which they call their Baptiſm; God will ſurely ſend the proudeſt prevaricators in this caſe a Quo warranto for their preſumptuous dealing herein.
Of the Laying on of Hands in this Church.
There are two great Bleſſings belong to all true Chriſtians, Remiſſion of ſin, and the Gift of the Holy Spirit; the firſt is conſigned to then in Sacred Baptiſm, the ſecond in Prayer, with the laying on of Hands, in which way this Mother-Church received this Bleſſing, as is evident from the ennumeration and order of the Principles of her Catechiſm, and alſo from this Teſtimony, that great Grace was upon them all, Acts 4. 33. as alſo in that it is expreſly ſaid, that this Church continued ſtedfaſtly in the Apoſtles Doctrine, a Principle whereof is Prayer with Laying on of Hands; and from this Church this Doctrine and Holy Practice was carried by the Apoſtles to Samaria, Acts 14. for it is not to be imagined they would there innovate, a practical principle, which had not firſt been taught in the Church at Jeruſalem. But God bearing witneſs to this ſervice of Prayer and Laying on of Hands at Samaria, with the ſame Bleſſing of the Holy Spirit, fore-received at Jeruſalem, confirms it as an acceptable and needful Service for all Churches. And accordingly it was received in the times next ſucceeding the Apoſtles days, as many witneſſes teſtifie, amongſt whom Tertullian thus, Dehinc manus imponitur, &c. After Baptiſm the Hand is impoſed by Bleſſing, calling and inviting the Holy Spirit. Tunc ille Sanctiſſimus, &c. Then that moſt Holy Spirit moſt willingly deſcends from the Father upon the Bodies which are cleanſed [meaning in Baptiſm] and bleſſed.
Of the Reſurrection of the Dead taught and believed in this Mother-Church.
In this Church it was where the Apoſtle gave witneſs with great P…wer of the Reſurrection of the Lord Jeſus, in whoſe Reſurrection aſſurance, yea very full aſſurance is given to all men, that there ſhall be a Reſurrection of the Dead, both of the Juſt and the Ʋnjuſt. It was here that our Saviour ſhewed himſelf alive after he had been dead, by infallible proofs, being ſeen of his Diſciples forty days, converſing with them of the things concerning his Church and Kingdom. It was here that many dead Bodies of the Saints did ariſe, and come out of their Graves, and went into Jeruſalem, and appeared to many, after Chriſt was riſen; which was a full proof, that the Reſurrection is of the ſame numerical Bodies which are laid in the Graves, diſrobed only of mortality and all imperfections. And this is that Reſurrection of the Dead here called a Principle of Chriſt's Doctrine, and of the Foundation of this Mother-Church.
Of the Eternal Judgment Believed by this Church.
It was to the Guides of this Church to whom our Saviour firſt made known this great priviledge, that they ſhould ſit on Thrones judging the twelve Tribes of Iſrael, at that time when he ſhould ſit upon the Throne of his Glory, Mat. 19. 28, who alſo is appointed of God to be the Judge of Quick and Dead, Act. 10. 42. which great Article is here recounted among the principles of Catechiſm, Heb. 6. 2. and called the eternal Judgment, not only for that it is the laſt Judgment, but becauſe the effects of it ſhall be perpetual, the pains to be impoſed in this ſentence of Judgment ſhall be of eternal duration to all wicked men, who have contemned the Goſpel of their Salvation, and judged themſelves unworthy of Eternal Life, even that Life which then ſhall be given to Eternity, to all ſuch as have held faſt the beginning of their Confidence, and the hope of this their rejoycing ſtedfaſt unto the end, Heb. 3. 14. As therefore the Tares are gathered and burnt in the fire; ſo ſhall it be in the end of the World. The Son of Man ſhall ſend forth his Angels, and they ſhall gather out of his Kingdom all things that offend, and them that do Iniquity: And ſhall caſt them into a Furnace of Fire; there ſhall be wailing, and gnaſhing of Teeth. Then ſhall the Righteous ſhine forth as the Sun in the Kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. Matth. 13. 40, 41, 42, 43. Lo the eternal Judgment taught by Chriſt's own Mouth, let all men be admoniſhed to prepare for this Judgment, for the coming of the Lord draws nigh.