The Spirit of Bondage and Adoption, Treatise 2 · Chapter 16
CHAP. XVI. Concerning ſeeking Aſſurance in Sacraments. Where a practicall Queſtion, whether and how Baptiſme adminiſtred in Infancy, can be helpfull hereunto.
THis aſſurance is promoted by Sacraments.
Theſe we call by the warrant of St. Paul the Apoſtle, ſeals, Rom. 4. 11. Now the Spirit that is the perſonal ſeal, may make uſe of the Sacraments as the inſtrumental ſeals of this aſſurance.
1. Baptiſme. I mean not the repetition of it, which is a courſe ſome vain people are ſeduced unto, in hope to get comfort by it; but many have found it hath been an occaſion of many ſad and fearfull Apoſtacies from the ſtanding Ordinances of Jeſus Chriſt, and ſo hath eaten out the heart of their love to, and zeal in following God in them, whiles their prejudices to their former baptiſme, have cauſed prejudices againſt the Miniſters that diſpenſed it, and the Churches wherein they received it, and ſo they have proceeded by degrees, (as finding no perſons or adminiſtrations free from exception) to throw off all ways of worſhip and duty altogether, which when they have been made to ſee the evil of their way (as it may by Gods goodneſſe come to paſſe, though ſeldome it do) they find all the peace they got in thoſe ways was but meer impoſture.
But I mean, the renewed meditation of the ſpiritual ſignification, and end of that ſeal of the Covenant, which (having been applied to thee in thy infancy) becomes of force to thee as ſoon as thou comeſt to know and to accept of the Covenant in the ſerious choyce and intention of thy heart.
One main intent of Baptiſme is, to work an aſſurance of the pardon of ſinne, by the ſprinkling of the bloud of Chriſt: And herein it anſwers to Circumciſion. Col. 2. 11, 12. compared with Rom. 4. 11. Which Circumciſion was a ſeal of the Righteouſneſs, which is by faith, i. e. of the righteouſneſſe of Chriſt made ours by faith for juſtification.
'Tis called the baptiſme of repentance, for remiſſion of ſinnes; that is, ſignifying and ſealing forgiveneſſe of ſinnes to the conſcience of a penitent ſinner. Now if a man Mark 1. 3.have not only a great Landlords word, but his ſeal. to aſſure him of ſuch an eſtate, he is confident thereupon, to abide a trial at law before a juſt Judge: ſo if thou make a right uſe of this ſeal, thou mayſt plead it whenever Conſcience ſhall ſit upon thee, and call into queſtion thy Spiritual or eternal condition.
Think now and then upon thy baptiſme and the end of it, and labour from thence to riſe to a belief of the performance of that to thee in truth, which was ſacramentally exhibited to thee in the ſigne. And know this, That laying hold of the graces promiſed, and ſealed in Baptiſme, upon the terms convenanted, gives thee a juſt and legal claim to them.
Object. But this Sacrament was adminiſtred to me in my infancy, and therefore I want the lively, and ſenſible application of the element to me, which might poſſibly (if it were now to be done) prove effectual to give me this aſſurance. What uſe can I make of ſuch a paſt Sacrament? Were it not beter to re-new it?
Anſw Thou mayſt make the ſame uſe of it as the Jews did of circumciſion, although many years after. The Jews children no more ſaw their own circumciſion underſtandingly, then thou didſt thy Baptiſme.
Object. Yea: but the mark of Circumciſion (ſaythe Anabaptiſts) was viſible afterwards, and ſo though they were circumciſed in infancy, yet they might know that they were ſo, otherwiſe then by bare relation. But I know that I am baptized merely by the relation of friends or the Regiſter.
Anſw. The Jewes, when men, might ſee that their foreskin had been cut off: but that it was done in a ſacramental way, they knew onelyonly by relation, as we have our Baptiſme. For how did a Jew know that he was borne of Jewiſh Parents, and not of Iſhmaels poſterity, or Eſaus, among whom circumciſion continued, when the Covenant was removed from them, but by tradition? But I will rell thee how thou ſhalt improve even thy Infant Baptiſme. Whenever then thou ſeeſt that ſacrament adminiſtred upon others, reflect upon thy ſelf, and draw an Argument of Aſſurance from it thus. Loe here (my ſoul) the bloud of Chriſt (in the element of water) not only powred out, but applyed to yonder little one. And hath not God done as much for me? And hath he thus ſealed to me the promiſe of pardon, and ſhall I not believe it? Have not I performed (by his grace) my 1 Pet. 3. 21. Anima non lavatione, ſed reſponſione ſancitur. Tert. l. de reſurrectione carnis.part of the Covenant, in the anſwer of a good conſcience, ſeriouſly deſiring and reſolving to take him for my God, and do my duty to him to the utmoſt, in the ſtrength of Chriſt? And ſhall I doubt his performance on his part? Did not God ſhew his willingneſs to receive mee into his favour, and pardon my ſins, when he was ſo gracious as to ſeal his Covenant to me in my very infancy? Sure, that was a great mercy to me, that God afforded me that ſeal then, whereas if I had lived unbaptiſed to theſe years, poſſibly my ſcrupulous ſpirit would have kept me from it altogether, as being unfit to receive it (as now it See more of this in another Treatiſe of the ſame Authour concerning the practical uſe of Infant Baptiſm, lately publiſhed.doth from the other Sacrament.) Now, ſeeing the Lord hath prevented me with this mercy, and claimed me before I could claim him, let me not think he will not hold his claim to me now I do claim and lay hold upon him; and let me not doubt but if I follow after him, I ſhall in time apprehend that for which I am apprehended (in this viſible way of claim) by Chriſt.
2. The Lords Supper. This is an Ordinance in which (rightly received) Aſſurance comes on horſe-back to the ſoul, if I may ſo ſpeak. ſo many ſpeaking actions, and ſo many ſpeciall applications, in the name of Chriſt, by a Miniſter ſtanding in the ſtead, and repreſenting the perſon of Chriſt, may probably be the means to conveigh this bleſſed meſſage to thy ſoul from Jeſus Chriſt. Sonne or Daughter, be of good cheer, thy ſinnes are forgiven thee.