The Sum of Christianity, Part 4 – Part 5
The Two Christian Sacraments.
SAcraments are Religious Ceremonies which Christ hath Ordained, for the Sealing, and Confirming, and Renewing of the Covenant of Grace made between our Offended God, and us Sinners, through the Mediation of JESUS Christ.
We cannot now, because we are b…come very Ignorant, Weak, and Sinful by the Sin of our First Parents, keep the first Covenant of Works, or Innocence, which God made with Adam as the Father of all Mankind, for himself, and all his Race and Offspring; because in that Covenant God did assure Mankind of a blessed and happy Life for ever, only on this condition, That Man should continue in perfect and unsinning Obedience to the whole Will of God; neither gave he him any …ncouragement to hope for Pardon upon his Repentance. But now, because that Covenant is already broken by Adam's Sin, it is impossible to be kept.
Therefore it pleased God in Christ JESUS, to cancel the first Covenant of Innocence, and through his Mediation to establish with us a new Covena…t of Grace; which …t pleased Christ to have Sealed, when we solem…y profess our consenting to it, by the Sacrament of Baptism▪ That is, by washing with Water in the Name of the FATHER, and of the SON, and of the Holy GHOST.
The Covenant thus solemnly Sealed by Baptism, is this, That although we are Sinners, and so have lost all Right and Title to God's Blessing; yet God the FATHER doth give himself to be our Reconciled and Loving Father; and God the SON doth give himself to be our Saviour; and God the Holy GHOST giveth himself to be our Sanctifier. So that all our Sins shall be Pardoned, and strength of Grace given us to do God's Will, and finally eternal Life and Happiness bestowed upon us: And all upon this Condition, That we Repent of all our Sins, and Watch against and Resist all Temptations to Sin, whether they come from the Devil, the World, or our own Flesh; and that we firmly believe the Gospel of Christ; and taking the FATHER, the SON, and the Holy GHOST for the One only true God, Worship and Serve him only, sincerely and heartily, and endeavour to Obey all his Laws as long as we live.
We cannot therefore expect Salvation by Christ upon any lower terms, than these of unfeigned Repentance, and striving to prevent or master all Temptations to Sin, of a stedfast belief of the Gospel, and a constant endeavour to keep the Commandments of God to our Life's end. We must take heed then, how we continue in any one known Sin, or are through negligence ignorant of the Gospel of Christ, or wilfully neglect any one Duty that God commandeth; for so we bre…k the Covenant of Grace, and forfeit the Mercies of it, without a timely Repentance, which we cannot be sure of beforehand.
Seeing then that we cannot be saved but by keeping this our Baptismal Covenant, and this Covenant was made by others in our name, when we were Infants, and understood nothing of it; we must as soon as we are capable of Learning, submit our selves to be Catechised or Instructed in all the Branches of it; because it is certain, that we cannot keep a Covenant that we do not understand; and we cannot be excused by our Ignorance of it for not keeping it, so long as we may learn to understand it, and will not.
Again; when we are sufficiently Instructed in it, we must personally give and declare our consent unto it. For tho' the engagement of others in our name, may be interpreted ours, so long as we are not of understanding to engage for our selves; yet will it hold good no longer, nor was it ever intended to do more. Therefore understanding the Covenant made at first in our name by others, we are (if we would have the benefit of it) most stedfastly to resolve to keep it, and offering our selves …o Confirmation, so soon as we can have an opportunity openly in the presence of the Church, and to the Bishop as the chief Minister, declaring our Consent and Resolution so to do, ratify and confirm that Covenant our selves in prison; humbly receiving the Bl…ssing, and laying on of hands of the Bishop and heartily joining in the Prayers of the Church, for the Assistance of the Holy Spirit of Grace to perform our Vows.
Our Blessed Saviour did also the same Night wherein he was betray'd, Institute another holy Sacrament, or Christian Feast, to be Religiously Celebrated by all Christians who abide constant to their Baptismal Covenant, and that even till his Coming again, in remembrance of Him, through whom we have the …nefit of this New Covenant of Grace: This is called, The Lord's-Supper, or Holy-Communion.
We must therefore, in Obedience to the Command of our Lord, and with a thankful Remembrance of his Astonishing love, in giving himself to Dye for our Redemption, most Devoutly, and often Communicate in this Holy Sacrament, and therein renew our Baptismal Covenant.
And herein we must remember, That we do not only Receive, Eat, and Drink Bread and Wine bless…d, broken, poured out and given, as signs to put us in mind, That Christ was Consecrated of God to be both our High Pr…est and Sacrifice of Atonement for our Sins; and that his Body was Bruised and Wounded to Death▪ and his Blood shed on the Cross for our Redemption; but we also are by a Living Faith to receive spiritually, but yet very truly and really, our whole Crucified JESUS, as the Food or Life of our Souls, for the nourishment of our Graces, the Confi…ming of our Faith, the Enflaming of our Love, the Strengthening of our Hope, the Communica…ing from him the Head to us the M…mbers all things needful for growth in him, and spiritual union with him, and assurance of Eternal Life by him.
We must join together in the Celebration of this holy Feast, as Members of one Body whereof he is the Head; testifying thereby that we have but one Spirit, one Hope, one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism, one God and Father of all; and are, tho' many Members, yet but one Body, all partakers therefore of one Bread, and bound to live in Love and Peace, as well as in Holiness all our Days.
He that Communicateth of this Sacrament unworthily, is accounted guilty of Prophaning and Vilifying the Body and Blood of Christ: We must therefore, to avoid this guilt, prepare for this great Duty, by examining and trying our selves, whether or no we discern aright the Lord's Body, and have that esteem of it, and come with that holy Reverence and Affection of heart to receive it, as becomes us. Whether we be constant to our Baptismal Vow of Repentance, Faith, and new Obedience; thankful to God in Christ for the Blessing of Redemption, and for the Benefits Commemorated, Sealed, and Conferred on us in this Sacrament, and in perfect Charity with all Men.
If we find upon Examination that we are sincere Christians, tho' very weak and imperfect; and if we continue resolved to keep Covenant with God, and desire nothing more earnestly, than strength of Grace from the Spirit of Christ to make good our Resolution; we are there to Renew our Covenant most seriously▪ praising God for this inestimable privilege, and taking heed that we return not with the Dog to his Vomit, nor with the Sow that was washed to her wallowing in the Mire, rejoice in hope of Eternal Life, which by this holy Sacrament is Sealed anew unto us as often as we worthily p…rtake of it.
A Form of owning and taking upon our selves our Baptismal Covenant or Engagement.
BEing well Instructed in the Nature of the New Covenant of Grace, and finding our selves fully resolved to keep it; before we can have an opportunity to be Confirmed by the Bishop, it is very fit that we privately renew our Promise and Vow made in Baptism, with all sincerity of heart unto God: Which may be done in this, or some other such like form of words.
O Most Glorious God, the FATHER, the SON, and the Holy GHOST, One GOD blessed for ever; In all Humility of Soul and Body I cast my self down at thy Footstool, beseeching thee for JESUS Christ his sake, to accept of my most hearty thanks for the great privilege of being born in a Christian Church, and of Christian Parents, and of being by them Dedicated to thy Worship and Service, according to our Blessed Saviour's Institution in the Holy Sacrament of Baptism; wherewith that most gracious Co…enant, which thou hast most wonderfully condescended to make with the sinful Sons of Men through JESUS Christ, was in a most solemn manner Sealed unto me, and by me; the Promise and Vow which was then made to thee, O God, in my Name, I do now, I hope, by such helps as thou of thy goodness hast afforded me, competently understand; and unfeignedly I acknowledge my self bound to believe, and to do all that was then promised for me; and by thy help, which I most earnestly beseech thee to grant me, so I will. Good Lord pardon my Negligence hi…herto in learning my Duty, and all the Sins whereof I have been gui…ty since I was Baptized, to this very moment: And graciously accept of me, thus in mine own person renewing that Promise and Vow which was then made by others in my behalf.
I do here, O Lord, in thy Pres…nce, who art the great Searcher of Hearts, and from whom … secret Thought can be hid▪ most freely fully, and …olv…dly, from henc…forward for evermore repent of and …nounce all Sin, and will to the utmost of the power which thou givest me, resist all the Temptations of the Devil, the World, …nd the Fl…sh, so that I will not willingly follow, nor be led by them. I do stedfastly believe, and will by thy help continue in the belief of all the Articles of the Christian Faith; and I am resolved, through the help of thy Grace, without which I can do no good thing, to keep thy holy Will and Commandments in all sincerity, and godl… simplicity of Heart, and to persevere walking in the same all the Days of my Life. I will diligently use all the means of Grace; and I do humbly bes…ech thee, gr…cious God, to inlighten and strengthen me by thy Holy Spirit to perform this my Vow and Covenant unto the end. Preserve me a living and sound Member of Christ, a dutiful and dear Child of God, and an Heir through Faith in Christ of the Kingdom of Heaven; that through thy Mercy, O God the Father; and thy Merits and Intercession, O God the Son; and thy Guidance and Sanctification, O God the Holy Ghost; I may in thy good time obtain the end of my Faith, even the Salvation of my Soul, to the Glory of thy Grace. Amen. Good Lord, so let it be, I most humbly beseech thee.