A Persuasive to Full Communion with the Churches of Christ, Introduction
THE INTRODUCTION.
IT is a Truth, which no ſober Chriſtian will deny, that Omiſſions, or Neglects of commanded Duties are as truly breaches of the Law of God; as Commiſſions of Sins forbidden, and ſo as certainly deſtructive to the Souls of Men; and therefore all ſuch as would pleaſe God, and eſcape Deſtruction; ought as conſcientioſly to perform Duties, as to forbear Iniquities, and to have Reſpect to all Gods Commandments, as well as to hate every falſe Way.
Now, amongſt the many Sins of Omiſſion, of which Perſons under the Chriſtian Name are guilty in this Age, and for which God hath a Controverſie with us at this Day: The neglect of thoſe Sacred Ordinances of Chriſt, Baptiſm, and the Lord's Supper is one, and not the leaſt, it being notoriouſly evident, that many of Twenty or Thirty Years Old, and ſome more, have never been Baptized, and theſe (with Thouſands more of Adult or grown Perſons) live alſo in the neglect of the Lord's Supper: The Cauſe of which neglect, in ſome is the Ignorance, and Error of their Parents, who (if they were Quaker's) wholly reject theſe Ordinances, as uſeleſs Ceremonies, and Diſpute againſt them; or (if Anabaptiſt's) neglect to bring their Children to Baptiſm in their Infancy, and many of them being bred up in Ignorance, are careleſs of their own Souls concerns; and ſo Live, and Dye without the Participation of theſe Ordinances. Now though I dare not Judge ſuch as to their Eternal State, for to their own Maſter they ſtand or fall; I freely acknowledge, the Grace of God is not bound to external Ordinances, and God doth nothing by them, but what he can do without them, (if he pleaſe) yet I know we are bound to the Uſe of Ordinances, (when we may have them) by the expreſs Command of God, becauſe they are his Inſtitutions, by which he doth uſually work Grace in us; And to neglect known Duties, yea, or to live in Ignorance of Duties, under the means of Knowledge, are Soul-damning Sins; which I earneſtly deſire all that are thus, guilty, ſeriouſly to conſider. Upon the Obſervation of theſe ſinful Omiſſions, I cannot but conclude it to be the unqueſtionable Duty of all the Miniſters of Chriſt that would be found faithful to him, and to the precious Souls of Men, not only to obſerve, mourn over, and reprove theſe Sins, but to do their utmoſt alſo in their proper Stations, and Relations, for Reformation in this Particular: The Senſe of this Duty, hath been ſo deeply impreſſed on my Spirit, as to put me upon this well-meant (though mean) endeavour, to contribute ſomething, toward this needful and deſirable Work.
I am too Conſcious of my own weakneſs to dictate to my Reverend Brethren, acknowledging that I rather need, and therefore deſire their Light and Help herein; yet hope I may (without giveing Juſt Cauſe of Offence to any) take leave to Confeſs, that many of us, have been very defective in our Duties herein; and in this Confeſſion, I caſt the firſt Stone at my Self. The Good Lord Pardon us, that we have manifeſted no greater concern of Spirit for the Holy Inſtitutions of our Lord-Redeemer, and help us, that while we Reprehend our People, for their ſinful Omiſſions, we may be duly humbled for our own; and make it more viſible in our Practice, that we teach our Selves, as well as Others.
A PERSUASIVE TO FULL Communion, OF Baptizing Adult, or Grown Perſons.
I Shall then firſt apply my Self, to ſuch Adult or grown Perſons, who, though they go under the Chriſtian Name, yet were never Baptized. If this Paper comes to the Hands of any ſuch, I would propoſe ſome Conſiderations, to convince you of your Sin, and (if the Lord ſhall bleſs them) bring you to Repentance; and then give you ſome Councels, or Directions, for a right performance of your Duty.
In Order to your Conviction, be perſwaded ſeriouſly to conſider theſe ſeven Things.
Firſt, Conſider, That Baptiſm, is as much an Ordinance of Chriſt, as Preaching the Goſpel is; and to continue in uſe in the Chriſtian Church, as long as that, (as appears by Chriſt's own Command, Mat. 28.18, 19. (viz.) to the End of the World; and ſo it is as much the Duty of all profeſſed Chriſtians, to receive the Ordinance of Baptiſm) as to attend on the Ordinance of Preaching. For the ſame Authority that enjoyns the one, enjoyns the other, Therefore the neglect of it muſt be ſinful. And how dare you Live in any known Sin?
Secondly, Conſider, That it is both the Duty of Chriſtian Parents, to bring their Children unto Chriſt, and the Right and Priviledge of ſuch Children, to be ſo brought, to receive his Bleſſing; Mark 10.13, 14, 15, 16. And this Seal of the Covenant of Grace, under which they are as well as their Parents, Gen. 17.7. And ſo muſt have a Goſpel-right to this Ordinance, as have been ſufficiently proved, by many Judicious Pens, (to which I muſt refer you for more Light in this Point, if you need it, becauſe of my intended Brevity.)
And if ſo, it muſt be the Sin of your Parents, that they brought you not to this Ordinance in your Infancy; and by Conſequence, your Sin and loſs to neglect it, ever ſince you came to Years of Diſcretion, and a Capacity to Covenant with God, and preſent your ſelves to Baptiſm.
Thirdly, Conſider, That your Parents ſinful neglect of their Duty, is no juſt Plea, or Excuſe for your neglect of this Ordinance, ſince you came to Years of Underſtanding; for then it became your Duty, both to acquaint your ſelves with the Covenant of Grace, and give your own Underſtanding, and Hearty Conſent to it, and to teſtifie the ſame, by receiving this Ordinance.
For Jews, or Heathens, (when inſtructed in the Chriſtian Religion) if they make a ſerious Profeſſion, of Faith in Chriſt, and Obedience to him, ought to be Baptized; much more may the Adult Children of Chriſtians, when they make the like Profeſſion, Acts 8.36, &c.
4. Conſider, That it looks as if you were aſhamed to own Chriſt, and Chriſtianity; that you do not ſo much as wear the viſible Badge of his Diſciples, and Followers, i. e. Baptiſm. For by this Ordinance, Chriſtians are diſtinguiſhed from all the reſt of Mankind, and whileſt you want this mark of Diſtinction, and yet profeſs Chriſtianity, you deſerve to be called Heathen-Chriſtians, or Chriſtian-Heathens, owning only the Name of Chriſts Followers, but ſeeming aſhamed of his Livery. And if you are indeed aſhamed to own Chriſt, or his Ordinances here before Men, he will be aſhamed to own you before his Father, and the Angels hereafter, Mat. 8.35. And how ſad will their Condition be, whom Chriſt will not own in the great Day! Are you not loath to be found amongſt ſuch at laſt?
Fifthly, Conſider, That though the neglect of Baptiſm, may ſeem a ſmall fault, (if any) to ignorant and inconſiderate Perſons, yet it is indeed a great, and hainous Sin; being down-right diſobedience to the Command of Chriſt, and a virtual ſlighting and practical refuſing of the Covenant of Grace, of which this is the viſible Sign and Seal; therefore it muſt be very provoking in the Eyes of God. We find God threatned that Parent, who did not Circumciſe his Son, to cut him off from his People; that is, either to exclude him from the Church of God, and all the Priviledges, Promiſes, and Bleſſings, belonging to it, or to cut him off, by an untimely and violent Death, for ſo the Learned underſtand that Text, Gen. 17.14. Compared with Exod. 31.14. So that Moſes himſelf, was like to have been made an Example, for this Omiſſion. as Exod. 4.24.
Here its worthy our ſerious Obſervation, leaſt any ſhould think the Puniſhment threatned, to be greater than the Sin deſerved; God was pleaſed to give the Reaſon of it, in the formentioned, Gen. 17.14. He hath broken my Covenant; God calls a Rejection and Contempt, of the Seal of the Covenant, a breach of the Covenant it ſelf.
Now if Baptiſm, come in the room of Circumciſion, (as Proteſtants generally conclude from Col. 2.11, 12.) And if God was ſo angry with his Servant Moſes, for neglecting to Circumciſe his Son, that he met him, and ſought to kill him: Judge you, whether thoſe Parents that neglect to Baptize their Children, have not cauſe to fear that God is angry with them alſo, though he doth not preſently manifeſt it in his Providence, nor can we ſuppoſe him, to be well-pleaſed with the Children of ſuch careleſs, or erronious Parents, who imitate them in Sin, when grown up, by Living in the neglect of this Ordinance.
Sixthly, Conſider, That ſuch as ſlight and neglect the outward Baptiſm of Water, may juſtly fear, they were never yet Partakers of the inward Baptiſm of the Holy-Ghoſt, which is ſignified thereby, and that they are ſtill unſanctified, or unholy Souls; for where the Spirit of God comes with Power, he convinceth of Sin; John 16.8. and the neglect of any Ordinance of Chriſt, is one Sin of which the Spirit, will certainly Convince ſuch as are guilty, whenever he Works ſavingly on them, and if you have not had the Convincing-work of the Spirit upon you; ſurely you know nothing of its Converting, Renewing, and Sanctifying-work; and if ſo, ſhould you Dye in this Condition; you have no Ground (that I know) to hope, for the Witneſſing and Comforting-work of the Spirit in Death, nor for Eternal Life after it; for none but Holy Souls, have a Promiſe of theſe Bleſſings.
It's true, God can ſanctifie the Soul by his Spirit, though the Body be not waſhed with Water; therefore, I do not ſay, that none are ſanctified by the Spirit, that are not Baptized with Water for (doubtleſs) there are many Inſtances of the contrary, as Elect Infants that Dye before Baptiſm, and others.
But this I do affirm, that ſeeing God hath been pleaſed to ſet up Ordinances in his Church, to be the Means of Grace, made it our Duty to uſe them, and doth uſually Work Grace in and by them; it is a Sin to neglect theſe Ordinances, where they may be had, and ſuch as do ſo, have Cauſe enough to fear they never yet received any ſaving Benefit by them: For that would make them to prize Ordinances highly, and continue in the diligent uſe of them. Now conſider, Can you be Content, to Live without ſanctifying Grace, and Dye without Comfort, and well-grounded Hope of Heaven at laſt?
Seventhly, Conſider, That the ſinful neglect of one Ordinance, provokes God to withhold his Bleſſing from other Ordinances, as a juſt and ſuitable Puniſhment of that Sin; and I fear, this is one Reaſon, why ſo many unbaptized Perſons profit little by Reading and Hearing the Word. God ſometimes Threatens a People, that though they hear the Word, they ſhall not underſtand; and though they ſee, they ſhall not perceive, that their Hearts ſhall be made Fat, their Ears heavy, and their Eyes ſhut; leaſt they ſhould ſee with their Eyes, and hear with their Ears, and underſtand with their Hearts, and Convert and be Healed, as Iſa. 6.9, 10. Should God ſay thus concerning ſuch as you, how miſerable would your Condition be? You have Cauſe to fear it, for your Sin provokes him to it.
Suppoſing now, that theſe Conſiderations duly weighed, may be ſufficient to convince you of the ſinfulneſs, of your neglecting Baptiſm, (and they will be ſo, if the Holy Spirit of God ſets in with them, for which I Pray. (In the next Place, let me give you ſome plain Councels and Directions, for the performance of your Duty.
Firſt, Be deeply humbled before the Lord, for your ſinful neglect of this Ordinance hitherto; acknowledge it to God, with Shame and Sorrow of Heart; beg Pardon of it, in the Name of Chriſt, and reſolve to uſe all good endeavour, duly to prepare for the Participation of it, and ſet preſently upon the Work, as remembring Time is ſhort, Life uncertain, and delays in Soul-matters moſt dangerous.
Secondly, Get a Competent Knowledge of the Principal or Foundation-Truths, of the Chriſtian-Religion, which the Aſſemblies Catechiſms, both Shorter and Larger, well Read and Conſidered will help you to, (if you have not already attained it) eſpecially acquaint your ſelves well, with the Nature of the Covenant of Grace, and the Goſpel-ſeals of it, Baptiſm, and the Lords-Supper, which the Sacramental Catechiſm opens to you.
Thirdly, For your better Help in this great Concern, apply your ſelves to ſome able, and faithful Miniſter of Chriſt, (eſpecially to ſuch, under whoſe Miniſtry you do ordinarily ſit,) and open your Souls Caſe to him, propound your Doubts or Scruples, (if you have any) ask his ſpiritual Counſel, or Inſtruction and deſire his Prayers to God in your behalf.
Fourthly, Beg earneſtly of God, that you may have compleat Baptiſm, or be baptized not only outward with Water, but inwardly by the Holy Ghoſt, as John 3.5. And have not only the waſhing of Regeneration, but the Renewing of the Holy Ghoſt; as Tit. 3.5. Pray, that you may be meritoriouſly waſhed, from the guilt of Sin, by the Blood of Chriſt, and efficaciouſly waſhed from the filth and Power of Sin, by the Spirit of Chriſt, 1 John 1.7. Rev. 1.5. 1 Cor. 6.11.
Fifthly, Give your Underſtanding, and hearty Conſent to the Covenant of Grace, and humbly, and thankfully accept and chuſe JEHOVAH, the only Living and True God, to be your God; and give up your ſelves to him as his Covenant Servants, as Iſa. 44.5. and Iſa. 56.4, 5. When this is done, you may humbly Claim the Ordinance of Baptiſm, as your Right and Priviledge, being a Seal to confirm the Covenant, between God and your Souls.
Now, as for the Manner of Adminiſtration, that is to be left to the Prudence of the Miniſters of Chriſt, who are to be the Diſpenſers of this, and all other Goſpel-Ordinances; I pretend not to preſcribe to any: But hope I ſhall offend none by giving an account of my own Practice, which I ſubmit to the Cenſure, of more mature Judgments.
When by Conference with, and Inſtruction of the Perſon ſeeking Baptiſm, I apprehend Him, or Her to have a Goſpel-right to, and fitneſs for it: At the Time of Adminiſtration, I firſt ſpeak ſomething touching the Nature, Uſe, and Ends of this Ordinance, and the Covenant of Grace, to which it doth belong: And then ſeek the Lord by Prayer, for his Bleſſing on it.
Then I propoſe theſe following Queſtions to the Adult Perſon that is to be Baptized, and receive his Anſwers.
Q. Were You never yet Baptized, as far as you do underſtand?
A. No.
Q. Are you willing, and deſirous to be Baptized?
A. Yes, it is my earneſt, and hearty Deſire.
Q. Why do you deſire to be Baptized?
A. I deſire for theſe two Reaſons.
Firſt, Becauſe by receiving this Ordinance, I would profeſs and teſtifie my Conſent to the Covenant of Grace, with God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghoſt, Baptiſm being one of the Signs, and Seals thereof.
Secondly, Becauſe I would hereby be ingrafted, into the Myſtical Body, of Chriſt his Church, and be owned as a Member thereof, this being the Ordinance of Admiſſion.
Q. Seeing none have a Goſpel-right to Baptiſm, but profeſſed Believers, and their Seed, do you profeſs Faith, in the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and Obedience to him, according to the Goſpel?
A. I do ſolemnly, and ſincerely profeſs the ſame.
Q. What be the Chief Articles of the Chriſtian Faith, which you profeſs to Believe?
A. Thoſe which are contained in the Creed, commonly Called the Apoſtles Creed, I Believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth, &c.
Q. Do you know what Eſtate you were Born in?
A. Yes, I have Learned by the Word of God, that I, and all Mankind, are Born in a State of Sin, and Miſery.
Q. How came Mankind into this ſinful and miſerable Eſtate?
A. Mankind fell into this Eſtate, by the firſt Sin of our firſt Parents, Adam, and Eve, or by their Eating the forbidden Fruit.
Q. Did all Mankind then fall in Adam's firſt Tranſgreſſion?
A. Yes, The Covenant of Works being made with Adam, not only for himſelf but for his Poſterity, all Mankind deſcending from him by ordinary Generation, ſinned in him, and fell with him in his firſt Tranſgreſſion.
Q. What is the ſinfulneſs of that Eſtate whereinto Man fell?
A. The ſinfulneſs of that Eſtate whereinto Man fell, conſiſts in the guilt of Adam's firſt Sin, the want of Original Righteouſneſs, and the Corruption of his whole Nature, (which is commonly called Original Sin) together with all actual Tranſgreſſions which proceed from …t.
Q. What is the Miſery of that Eſtate whereinto Man fell?
A. All Mankind by their Fall, loſt Communion with God; are under his Wrath, and Curſe, and ſo made liable to all Miſeries in this Life, to Death it ſelf, and to the Pains of Hell for ever.
Q. Did God leave all Mankind to peiſh in the Eſtate of Sin and Miſery?
A. No, God having out of his meer …ood Pleaſure from all Eternity, elected …ome to Everlaſting Life, did enter into a Covenant of Grace, to deliver them out of the State of Sin, and Miſery, and to bring them into a State of Salvation by a Redeemer.
Q. Who is the Redeemer of Gods Elect?
A. The only Redeemer of Gods Elect is the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, who being the Eternal Son of God, became Man, and ſo was, and continueth to be God and Man, in two diſtinct Natures and one Perſon for ever.
Q. How may we be made Partakers of the Redemption purchaſed by Chriſt?
A. We may be made Partakers of the Redemption purchaſed by Chriſt, by the Effectual Application of it to us by his Holy Spirit.
Q. How doth the Spirit apply to us the Redemption purchaſed by Christ?
A. The Spirit applies to us the Redemption purchaſed by Chriſt, by working Faith in us, and thereby uniting us to Chriſt in our Effectual Calling.
Q. What is Effectual Calling?
A. Effectual Calling is the Work o… God's Spirit, whereby convincing us of our Sin and Miſery, inlightening our Minds in the Knowledge of Chriſt, and renewing our Wills, he doth perſwade and enable us to embrace Jeſus Chriſt as he is freely offered to us in the Goſpel.
Q. What doth every Sin deſerve?
A. Every Sin deſerves God's Wrath and Curſe, both in this Life, and that which is to come.
Q. What doth God require of us to eſcape his Wrath and Curſe, due to us for Sin?
A. To eſcape the Wrath and Curſe of God due to us for Sin, God requireth of us Faith in Jeſus Chriſt, Repentance unto Life, with a diligent uſe of all outward means, whereby Chriſt communicates to us the Benefits of Redemption.
Q. What is Faith in Jeſus Christ?
A. Faith in Jeſus Chriſt is a ſaving Grace, whereby we receive, and reſt upon him alone for Salvation, as he is offered to us in the Goſpel.
Q. What is Repentance unto Life?
A. Repentance unto Life is a ſaving Grace, whereby a Sinner out of a true Senſe of his Sin, and Apprehenſion of the Mercy of God in Chriſt, doth, with grief and hatred of his Sin, turn from it unto God, with Purpoſe of, and endeavours after new Obedience.
Q. What are the Outward, and Ordinary means whereby Chriſt communicateth to us the Benefits of Redemption?
A. The Outward, and Ordinary Means whereby Chriſt communicateth to us the Benefits of Redemption, are his Ordinances; eſpecially the Word, Sacraments, and Prayers, all which are made Effectual to the Elect for Salvation.
Q. Which be the Sacraments of the New Teſtament?
A. The Sacraments of the New Teſtament are Baptiſm, and the Lords Supper.
Q. What is Baptiſm?
A. Baptiſm is an Holy Ordinance, inſtituted by Chriſt, wherein the waſhing with Water, in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy-Ghoſt, doth Signifie and Seal our ingrafting into Chriſt, our Partaking of the Benefits of the New Covenant, and our Engagement to be the Lords.
Q. What is the New-Covenant, of which Baptiſm is a Sign and Seal?
A. The New-Covenant, or Covenant of Grace, is an Holy Contract, or Agreement between God, and his Elect in Chriſt; wherein, for the ſake of Chriſt, he promiſeth them Pardon and Life upon their Repenting of Sin, and believing in Chriſt the Saviour.
Q. Do you heartily Conſent to this Covenant of Grace with the Living and True God?
A. I Hope through Grace I do, and therefore I do here (as in the Preſence of God, and before this Congregation) ſeriouſly profeſs to Repent of my Sins againſt God, to renounce the World, the Fleſh, and the Devil; and to take the only Living and True God, Father, Son, and Spirit, for my only God and chief Good, my Father, Redeemer, and Sanctifier; and do give up my whole Self, Soul, and Body to be Gods Covenant Servant for ever.
When theſe Queſtions are thus ANſwered, I apply my Self to the Anſwerer in theſe or the like Words.
Upon this credible Profeſſion of the Chriſtian Faith, which you have now made, and your ſolemn entering into Covenant with God; I as a Miniſter of Chriſt, do receive you in his Name, and ſhall adminiſter this Holy Ordinance of Baptiſm to you; Exhorting, and Commanding you to hold faſt this Chriſtian Faith, and be faithful and ſtedfaſt in keeping Covenant with God, yielding him chearful Obedience all your Days; that the Bleſſings promiſed in the Covenant may be your Portion in Time and Eternity.
Then I adminiſter the Ordinance, by Dipping the Face of the Perſon in the Water, and ſo cloſe the Action with Prayer, and the Bleſſing.