Milk for Babes, Questions · Question 31
31. Q. What benefit haſt thou by baptiſme?
A. A new eſtate in Christ, and ſo the forgiveneſſe of my ſins, if I, repenting, do beleeve according to the Covenant in baptiſme.
This is an excellent benefit indeed, The benefit of Baptiſm.if thou rightly underſtand it, and do make uſe of it accordingly. Thou haſt a new eſtate in Chriſt: Gal. 2… 7. Rom. 6.3, 4, 5.for in baptiſme thou doeſt put on Chriſt, and art planted into his death, and reſurrection. Thou haſt the forgiveneſſe of thy ſins: for Peter ſaith, be baptized for the remiſsion of ſinnes: Act. 2.38. Act. 22.16.and Ananias ſaid to Paul, ariſe and be baptized, and waſh away thy ſinnes: yet know that thy baptiſme doth not this as the bloud of Chriſt, by way of expiation and attonement: not as the Holy Ghoſt by an infinite power: How in baptiſme is the forgiveneſs of ſins.but onelyonly as a Sacrament; and that three wayes. Firſt by ſignification; for as the water doth waſh thy body, Heb. 10.22ſo Chriſt's bloud being ſprinkled upon thy conſcience by faith, doth waſh thee from thy ſins. Secondly, by the receit of Beleevers. As if a Prince made a Proclamation, that he that can bring in the head of a traytour ſhall have a thouſand pounds; ſo ſoon as he hath this head, he ſees his thouſand pound, and is confident upon the word of the Prince: ſo a beleever, when he heares this proclamation of God, Repent and be baptized in the name of Jeſus Chriſt, Act. 2.38.for the forgiveneſſe of ſinnes: when he ſees and feels his repentance, and hath notice of his baptiſme, he is confident for the forgiveneſs of his ſins upon the word of God. Thirdly, by the Covenant of God. God ſtrikes a Covenant with his people upon this condition, that if they beleeve they ſhall have their ſinnes forgiven. He gives his ſeal for it, that certainly he will be as good as his word. When the Chriſtian ſees his faith he builds upon this covenant; and ſayes, ſurely, God hath forgiven my ſins. Indeed, it is the bloud of Chriſt that deſerves thy forgiveneſſe, the Father that pronounceth it, and the Holy Ghoſt that effectually applies; but Baptiſme by Gods covenant doth ſignifie and ſeal it unto thee.
Uſe. This may be either comfortable, or terrible to thee to conſider. It is terrible if thou keep not the condition of the covenant, that is, if thou repenting beleeve not. Mat. 3.11.Thou muſt make thy Baptiſme a baptiſme of repentance to amendment of life, Mar. 1.4. Mar. 16.16and God will make it to be a baptiſme for remiſsion of ſinnes. Thou muſt beleeve and be baptized; and then thou ſhalt be ſaved. Thou ſhalt not be made partaker of theſe benefits without obſerving the condition. Act. 2.Indeed God accounts thee a federall beleever when thou waſt an infant, and waſt baptized, as he accompted the Jewiſh children, when they received the ſigne of circumciſion as a ſeal of the righteouſneſſe of faith. Rom. 4.11.But as it was accounted uncircumciſion to them if they kept it not when they came to years of diſcretion (becauſe he is not a Jew which is one outwardly, Rom. 2.neither is that circumciſion which is litteral; but he is a Jew which is one inwardly, and circumciſion is not of the letter but of the ſpirit) ſo thy baptiſme ſhall be accounted nothing, if, with a penitent heart, thou doeſt not, when thou comeſt to years of diſcretion, beleeve according to the covenant. But if thou doeſt, out of conſcience, bethink thy ſelf of thy covenant, get into this new eſtate, wherein thou maiſt be baptized into Chriſts death and reſurrection; then what a ſweet comfort to thee is it, to ſee thy aſſurance of the forgiveneſſe of thy ſins. Be ſure therefore that thou have faith working by charity to the author of faith by obedience; to the word of faith by hearing, and the houſhold of faith by love, and then thou maiſt look back with joy to thy baptiſme, and ſay, ſurely my good God hath given me forgiveneſſe of ſins. For it is not laying on of water that doth forgive thy ſins, nor doing of it in the name of the Father, Son, and holy Ghoſt: but it is God that doth it for the merits of Chriſt, and by the aſſiſtance of the holy Ghoſt, and ſealeth it to thee in the covenant of Baptiſme, if thou keep it according to the meaſure of grace given.