The Bonds of Baptism, Proposition 2
Propoſition, I. Thoſe under the Goſpel, ought to ſeek Baptiſm for themſelves and for their Children.
1. THEY ſhould ſeek it for themſelves. For the illuſtrating and proving of this truth, let the following particulars be conſidered, viz.
1. Since the Fall and Apoſtaſie of the Firſt Man Adam, all Mankind naturally are Sinners, the Children of the Devil, and liable to eternal Wrath and Miſery. Sin is a breach or Tranſgreſſion of God's Law. 1 Joh. 3.4. Through the deceitful Templations of the Devil, our Firſt Parents Sinned, (and ſo deſerved Death) in eating the forbidden Fruit. 2 Cor. 11.3. Gen. 3.4, 6, 13. Hence the Devil is called a murtherer from the beginning. Joh. 8.44. The Firſt Adam was conſidered as a publick Perſon, a common Covenant—head to all his Poſterity; and therefore all his Poſterity were Involved in his Sin and Guilt. By one Man (that is the firſt Adam) Sin entered into the World, and Death by Sin; and ſo Death paſſed upon all Men, for that all have Sinned—by one Man's diſobedience many were made Sinners, Rom. 5.12, 19. In Adam all die, 1 Cor. 15.22. Thus all Men Sinned in Adam; as coming from him, they are Sinful and Guilty. And ſo conſidered meerly as Sinful, they are the Children of the Devil. Ye are of your Father the Devil, and the lusts of your Father ye will do. Joh. 8. 44. In this the Children of God (by regeneration and adoption) are manifest, and the Children of the Devil; whoſoever doth not Rightcouſneſs, is not of God, &c. Natural unregenerate Men, they do not work Righteouſneſs, they cannot do the things that pleaſe God, Rom. 8.7, 8. Therefore they are the Children of the Devil, they Imitate him, obey him, follow him. He that committeth Sin is of the Devil. 1 Joh. 3.8. And Men conſidered as Sinners, are Children of Wrath by Nature. Eph. 2.3. The wages of Sin is Death, Rom. 6.23. Curſed is every one that continueth not in all things written in the Book of the Law to do them. Gal. 3.10. Sin deſerves, Everlaſting Fire—Everlaſting Puniſhment. Mat 25.41, 46. What has been thus briefly deſcribed, is the State and condition of all Men naturally ſince the Fall of Adam.
2. God has ſent his only begotten Son the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, into the World to deſtroy the works of the Devil; to Save men from Sin and Miſery, to make them holy and happy. 1 Joh. 3.8. For this cauſe the Son of God was manifeſted, that he might deſtroy the works of the Devil. Mat. 1.21.—Thou ſhalt call his Name Jeſus, for he ſhall ſave his people from their Sins. Tit. 2.14. Who gave himſelf for us, that he might redeem us from all Iniquity and purafie us to himſelf a peculiar People, zealous of good Works. 1 Theſ. 1.10.— Jeſus which delivered us from wrath to come. Gal. 3.13. Chriſt hath redeemed us from the Curſe of the Law,—being made a Curſe for us, Eph. 1.4. He hath choſen us in hint, before the foundation of the World that we ſhould be holy, and without blame before him in Love. Joh. 3.16. God ſo loved the World, that the gave his only begotten Son, that whoſoever beheveth in him, ſhould not periſh but ſhould have everlaſting Life. Chriſt came into the World, led an Holy Life. (1 Pet. 2.22.) Died an accurſed Death (Gal. 3.13.) that he might Save Sinners (1 Pet. 3.18) might deſtroy him that had the power of Death, that is the Devil, Heb. 2.14. Therefore the Scope of the Goſpel is, to open Men's Eyes, turn them from Darkneſs to light, from the power of Satan unto God; that they may receive forgivnes of Sins, and Inheritance among them that are Sanctified by Faith that is in Chriſt. Act. 26.18. Chriſt came into the World, to purchaſe Salvation for ſinfulmen, to turn rebel men from Sin and Satan unto God, that they might be reconcil'd to God, love him, live to him, and be eternally happy in his Favour.
3. The Lord Jeſus Chriſt is the only Saviour of Sinners. As he come to Save Sinners. (1 Tim. 1.15.) So, neither is there Salvation in any other, for there is none other Name given under Heaven among Men, whereby we must be Saved. Acts 4.12. There's no remiſſon of Sin) without Shedding of Blood (Heb. 9.22.) not the Blood of Bulls and Goats (Heb. 10.4.) but the Blood of Jeſus (1 Joh. 1.7.1 Pet. 1.19.) Who is that Lamb of God which takes away the Sin of the World. Joh. 1.29. Chriſt then is the only Saviour of Sinners, and he is an Allſufficient one too. Heb. 7.25.—He is able alſo to ſave them to the uttermoſt, that come unto God by him. Whoſoever believeth in him, ſhall not periſh, but ſhall have everlaſting Life. Joh. 3.16.
4. No Men can be Saved, without true Repentance of Sin and Faith in Chriſt Jeſus. I mean this, of thoſe grown to years of Underſtanding, and not of ſuch as die in Infancy. Many Children of profeſſing Parents, Children of the Covenant die in Infancy. As ſuch Infants are capable of being, ſharers in the Sin and Guilt of the firſt Adam, and ſo becoming liable to Death; ſo they are as capable of having righteouſneſs and grace from Jeſus Chriſt the ſecond Adam, and of being Saved by him. Rom. 5.14. — 19.1 Cor. 15.22.45. — 49. But as for thoſe under the Goſpel, grown to years of Underſtanding; they muſt repent of Sin, if they would be Saved by Chriſt. They muſt be convinc'd of Sin. (Joh. 16.8.) Guilt. (Rom. 3.19.) Wrath. (Mat. 3.7.) They muſt have their hearts rent and broken for Sin. (Joel. 2.13. Pſal. 51.17.) muſt mourn for it. (Zech. 12.10.) be ſorry for it (Pſal. 38.18.) Be aſhamed and confounded for their own Sinful wayes, and loath themſelves for them. (Ezek. 36.31, 32.) and with ſuch a Soul abhorrence of Sin, they muſt turn from all their Tranſgreſſions that ſo Iniquity may not be their Ruin. Ezek. 18.30. Such Repentanee there muſt be in Perſons, if they would be pardoned and Saved. Repent — for the Remiſſion of Sins — Repent — that your Sins may be blotted out. Acts 2.38. & 3.19. Chriſt is exalted, to give Repentance to Iſrael, and forgiveneſs of Sins. Acts 5.31. Except ye Repent ye ſhall likewiſe periſh. Luke 13.5. And together with this Repentance, this Soul-loathing of, and turning from Sin; there muſt be true Faith in Jeſus Chriſt; even ſuch Faith as purifies the heart. Acts 15.9. The great things Inculcated in the Goſpel, are Repentace towards God, and Faith towards … Lord Jeſus Chriſt Acts 20, 21. The one of theſe is never ſeperated from the other, they alwayes go together. Faith in Chriſt is neceſſary in order to pardon and Salvation. He that believeth not, as condemned aheady. Joh. 3.18. He that believeth not, ſhall be damned. Mark 16.16. But on the other hand, whoſoever believeth in him (that is, in Chriſt) ſhall have remiſſion of sins; and Everlaſting Life. Acts 10.43. Joh. 3.16. He therefore that with his heart, with his very Soul, mourns for his Sins, hates, loaths, turns from them; and together herewith, truſteth in the righteouſneſs of Chriſt for Juſtification before God; I ſay, he is Juſtified freely by grace through the Redemption that is in Jeſus. Rom. 3.21. — 25. Eph. 1.7. Rom. 5.1. and 8.1. The Soul which thus penitently truſteth in Chriſt, receives Chriſt. (Joh. 1.12.) receives him as Prince and Saviour (Acts 5.31.) and ſo yields up himſelf to ſerve Chriſt; to glorifie him with his Body and spirit. 1 Cor. 6.20. True faith works by love (Gal. 5.6.) puts the Soul upon obeying God. Heb. 11.8. Faith without works is dead. Jam 2.26.
5. It's the will God, that thoſe who turn from Sin and Satan to Chriſt to live to him and be ſaved by him; ſhould be known and diſtinguiſhed among Men, by ſome outward Inſtituted marks, ſigns, or badges of their belonging to Chriſt. Chriſt was promiſed as the Saviour of Sinners, long before he came into the World. Gen. 3.15. As it is nothing but Chriſt's blood, that can Cleanſe from Sin, and purge the Conſcience from dead Works. (1 Joh. 1.7. Heb. 9.14.) So God very early after Adam's Apoſtaſie, Inſtituted Sacrifices to be Types, ſhadows, prefigurations of Chriſt, who as a ſacrificed Lamb was to take away the Sin of the World. Job. 1.29. Eph. 5.2.1 Pet. 3.18, 19. Hence Chriſt is called, the Lamb … from the foundation of the World. Rev. 13.8. He was in types and prefigurations, ſlain from the foundation of the World. The Sins of Old Teſtament believers, were pardoned by vertue of Chriſts Blood that was to be ſhed, and that was typified by Sacrifices; the Prophets preached Remiſſion of sins, through Faith in him. Acts 10.43. God Inſtituted Sacrifices as types of Chriſt; elſe Abel could not have offered his excellent Sacrifice by Faith. Heb. 21.4. Therefore of old ſacrificing was Inſtituted by God, as an outward ſign, badge, token, or action; whereby thoſe who renounced the Devil and his works, and gave up themſelves to be the Lord's Covenant Servants, truſting in his mercy through the promiſed Meſſiah (or Chriſt) for Salvation, were known and diſtinguiſhed from the rest of Mankind. Hence that in Pſal. 50.5. Gather my Saints together unto me, thoſe that have made a Covenant with me by ſacrifice. After a while. God appointed another viſible ſign and ſeal of the Covenant, between Him and Abraham, and his ſeed, even Circumciſion God himſelf calls this a token of the Covenant. Gen. 17.11. And it was the Covenant of Grace, the Covenant which Juſtified a Perſon through Faith in Chriſt, who was then to come, that Circumciſion was a token of. Rom. 4.11. He received the ſign of Circumciſion, a ſeal of the Righteouſneſs of Faith. About four hundred Years after this, God appointed yet another ſign and ſeal of the Covenant, between him and his peculiar People; and that was the Paſsover, to be celebrated once every Year, Exod. chap. 12. The Iſraelites who had their Door-poſts ſprinkled with the Blood of the Paſchal Lamb, were preſerved; while the Plague deſtroyed the firſt born of the Aegyptians. And this Paſsover was a Type of Chriſt, who afterwards was Sacrificed for us. 1 Cor. 5.7. Thus in all paſt ages of the World it has been, and ſtill is, the will of God, that thoſe of the Apoſtate race of Adam, who renounce the Devil and his works, and give up themſelves to Chriſt the Son of God, to be his Covenant People and Servants, and to truſt in him for Salvation; I ſay, it has been (and ſtill is) the will of God, that ſuch ſhould be known and diſtinguiſh'd from the reſt of Mankind, by ſome divinely Inſtituted badge, ſign or token of the Covenant between him and them. Chriſt's Subjects ſhould not be aſhamed of him before men, but ſhould wear his Livery; and by the Inſtituted ſigns, tokens or badges of the Covenant, openly profeſs and declare their renouncing the Devil and his works, and their conſecrating themſelves to the Lord, to ſerve him as their Prince and Saviour, and to truſt in his favour for their compleat happineſs.
6. Under the New Teſtament, Baptiſm and the Lord's Supper are ſigns and ſeals of the Covenant of Grace. The latter of theſe, viz. the Lord's supper, I ſhall not diſcourſe of at preſent; but the former, viz. Baptiſm, is what the Propoſition I undertook to prove, obliges me to bring under further conſideration.
Baptiſm is a ſign and ſeal of the Covenant of Grace, of Perſons being conſecreated to Jeſus Chriſt, and Intereſted in his ſaving benefits. It ſignifies, their Communion with Chriſt in the benefits of his Death and Reſurrection, in their dying to Sin and living to Righteouſneſs. Rom. 6.4—6. Col. 2.11—13. Chriſt's Blood is the purchaſing, procuring, meritorious cauſe of Pardon or Remiſſion of Sins. 1 Job. 1.7. Eph. 1.7. on our part, true Repentance of Sin and Faith in Chriſt Jeſus (as was hinted before) are neceſſary in order to our being Pardoned. Acts 3.19. Job. 3.18. Acts 10.43. Now this Pardoning vertue of the Blood of Chriſt, is Signified, Repreſented, Sealed in the holy Ordinance of Baptiſm. Acts 2.38. Be Baptized every one of you in the Name of Jeſus Chriſt for the Remiſſion of Sins, Acts 22.16. Ariſe and be Baptized, and waſh away thy Sins. Baptiſm then is a ſign and ſeal of the Covenant of Grace, when a grown Perſon receives Baptiſm, the Covenant is ſealed between God and him. He profeſſeth Repentance of Sin, truſting in Chriſt for Salvation, and that he will live to Chriſt and obey him as long as he lives. By receiving Baptiſm, he doth devote and conſecrate, bind, ingage and oblige himſelf; to live unto, and obey God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghoſt, as long as he lives. And if he is ſincere in this profeſſion, if he doth heartily Repent of his Sins, and truſt in Chriſt as offer'd in the Goſpel for Salvation; then Baptiſm is a ſeal on God's part, that God doth and will Pardon his Sins, and Save him for ever. Even Baptiſm doth alſo now ſave us. 1 Pet. 3.21. Baptiſm obliges the Perſon that receives it, to die unto Sin and live unto Righteouſneſs; to anſwer a good Conſcience towards God. 1 Pet. 3.21. It ſignifies a Sanctifying and Cleanſing. Eph. 5.26. As many of you as have been Baptized into Chriſt, have put on Chriſt. Baptiſm is a ſign, token or badge of the Chriſtian Religion; thoſe who receive it, are thereby and therefore obliged to live as becomes Chriſtians; inaſmuch as their names are given up to Chriſt, they ſhould depart from all Iniquity, 2 Tim. 2.19.
I think theſe things ſhow, that thoſe who live under the Goſpel, who Injoy the Revelations of God's will in his written Word, the Holy Bible, ſhould ſeek after Baptiſm for themſelves. God in his holy Word, moſt plainly commands them to Repent and turn from their Sins. Acts 17.30. Ezek. 18.30. He commands them to believe in the Name of his Son Jeſus Christ. 1 Joh. 3.23. This is the Work God requires of them. Joh. 6.29. It's moſt abſolutely Indiſpenſibly neceſſary for Perſons thus to Believe and Repent; for if they neglect it, they muſt certainly periſh for ever. Luke 13.5. Mark 16.16. And thoſe who do penitently believe in Chriſt, ſhould be Baptized, as a ſign and ſeal of their conſecration to him, and of their being Pardoned and Saved by him.
It is Chriſt's Command, that thoſe who are his Diſciples, Subjects, Servants ſhould be Baptized, He ſaid to his Apoſtles, Mat. 28 19, 20. Teach all Nations, Baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son, and of Holy Ghoſt; teaching them to obſerve all things whatſoever I have Commanded you; and to, I am with you alwayes to the End of the World. Teach them, the word ſigniſies to Diſciple, or make Diſciples; 'tis as if he had ſaid, Diſciple all Nations Baptising them. Here's a plain command of Chriſt, that thoſe who become his Diſciples Subjects, Servants, who penitently turn to him, truſt in him, give themſelves to him, ſhould be Baptized. And Baptiſm was to be adminiſtred not only by the Apoſtles, but alſo by ordinary Miniſters of the Goſpel ſucceſſively; becauſe this work is to be done even to the end of the World.
And as this was the Command of Chriſt, ſo it was obeyed. The New Teſtament Hiſtory Informs us, that upon Perſons believing in Jeſus Chriſt, they were Baptized. Thus three Thouſand were Baptized in one Day, Acts 2.41. Thoſe at Samaria that believed, were Baptized both Men and Women; and afterward the Eunuch alſo, (Acts 8.12.36—38.) and Paul, (Acts 9.18.) and Cornelius and thoſe with him, (Acts 10.48.) Lydia and her Houſhold; the Jaylor and all …, (Acts 16. 14, 15.31, 33.) the Corinthians alſo, and thoſe at Epheſus, (Acts 18.8. & 19. 1.5.) the Romans, (Rom. 6.3.) and Galatians, Gal. 3.27. This Indeed was the practice, to Baptize the Diſciples of Chriſt, and thus it ought to be to the end of the World.
You therefore that are come to Years of Underſtanding, and have been acquainted with the Goſpel; if you ſeriouſly conſider theſe things, you can't but know that you are Indiſpenſably obliged to Repent of Sin, and Believe in Chriſt Jeſus, to receive him, truſt in him, ſubmit to him as Prince and Saviour. God's Authority, and your own welfare and Salvation, oblige you thus to do. As coming from ſallen Apoſtate Adam, you are naturally Sinful and Guilty, Children of the Devil, Children of Wrath, liable to eternal burnings in Hell; and there's no getting out of this State, but by penitently believing in Jeſus Chriſt. All are under the power and guilt of Sin, and tyranny of Satan, till Ingrafted into Chriſt. Every Individual Perſon, is a Child of God or of the Devil, (1 Joh. 3.10.) Either with Chriſt, or againſt him, (Luke 11.23.) Either ſerving the Devil and going to Hell, or ſubmitting to Chriſt and going to Heaven. And which of theſe States are you in? Who is on the Lord's Side? Exod. 32.26. How long halt ye between two Opinions? If the Lord be God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him, 1 Kings 18.21. What ſay ye? whoſe Side are you of? will you take the narrow way to Life, or the broad one to Deſtruction? will you continue ſerving the Devil, rebelling againſt God, and throw your ſelves into the Lake that burns with Fire and Brimſtone; or will you dutifully and wiſely turn from Sin to God, penitently truſt in Chriſt, and give up your ſelves to be Governed and Saved by him? … and Death … before you, therefore chuſe Life, Deut. 30.19. You are Indiſpenſibly obliged therefore, to Renounce the Devil and his works, penitently to truſt in Chriſt, and moſt heartily to give up your ſelves to him in an everlaſting Covenant, to be for him and for none elſo, (Iſai. 55.3. Pſal. 103.17, 18.) And to receive Baptiſm (if you have not yet had it) as the ſeal of this Covenant, as a badge and token of your conſecration to the Lord. There's one Lord, one Faith, one Baptiſm, Eph. 4.5. You ſhould believe in your heart unto Righteouſneſs, and confeſs with your mouth unto Salvation, (Rom. 10. 10.) and as you ſhould believe in Chriſt, ſo you ſhould be Baptized into him. Put on Chriſt, (Gal. 3.27.) Liſt your ſelves Souldiers under this Captian of Salvation, (Heb. 2.10.) wear his Livery, own him (and don't be aſhamed of him) before Men (Mark 8.38.) but let the World know, that you are Followers of the Lamb. Chriſt the only Saviour of Sinners, King in the Church, and Judge of the World, has ſaid, Mark 16.16. He that believeth and is Baptized, ſhall be Saved. Heb 12.25. See that ye refuſe not him that speaketh; for if they eſeaped not who refuſed him that ſpake on Earth, much more ſhall not we eſcape, if we turn away from him that ſpeaketh from Heaven. Thoſe who call themſelves Chriſtians, and yet neglect Baptiſm, when they have an Opportunity to receive it as the Bible directs; they Sin greatly. By this neglect, they ſo far trample on Chriſt's Authority, diſobey his plain command: They neglect, ſuitably to profeſs their Subjection to Chriſt. They are not blameleſs, becauſe they don't walk in all the Ordinances and Commandments of the Lord. Luke 1.6. If they would ſuitably ſhow their Friendſhip to Chriſt, they ſhould do whatſoever he commands, (Joh. 15.14.) Poſſibly ſome will,
Object. I don't know that I am a true Convert, a ſincere Servant of Chriſt, and that I ſhall faithfully perſevere in his Holy-Covenant, how dare I then to engage in that Covenant, and Seal, it by being Baptized.
Anſw. The brevity I deſign, wont allow me to ſay much to Objections; however I reply, how canſt thou know thy ſelf to be a ſincere Servant of Chriſt, if thou didſt never Ingage to ſerve him? How canſt thou know thyſelf to be a faithful Souldier under the Captain of Salvation, if thou didſt never Liſt thy ſelf under his banner? It ſeems an Inconſiſtency and ſelf contradiction, that thou ſhouldſt know thou art faithful to Holy Covenant Engagements, if thou didſt never make ſuch Engagements. Covenant Engagements bind for the future, they muſt be made before they can be performed. I readily grant, 'tis God alone can give an heart of Fieſh, (Ezek. 36.26, 27.) put his fear in the heart (Jer. 32.39, 40.) beget Perſons to Chriſt, (Jam. 1.18.) Draw them to him, (Joh. 6.44.) Convert the Soul, Pſal. 19.7. Endeavour therefore to be throughly ſenſible of thy great Guiltineſs, unworthyneſs to receive any good, wretched Impotency to do any good; Importunately and earneſtly Pray, (Luke 18.1.) for the Divine Grace, for for a new heart and right Spirit, Pſal. 51. 10. Ezek. 36.26.37. Pray, Draw me, we will run after thee, (Cant. 1.4.) Turn thou us unto thee, O Lord, and we ſhall be turned, (Lam. 5.21.) Take away all Iniquity, and receive us graciouſly, Hof. 14.2. Thus Importunately praying for the Renewing, Sanctifying, Aſſiſting Grace of God, (and pardon of Sin) moſt heartily, ſeriouſly, ſolemnly give up thy ſelf to him in an Everlaſting Covenant never to be forgotten; reſolving by the help and Grace of Chriſt (Job. 15.5. Phil. 4.13.2 Tim. 2.1.) that thou wilt ſerve him and him only, as long as thou haſt a being. Swear, that thou wilt keep his Righteous Judgements—alway unto the End, Pſal. 119.106.112. When Iſrael engaged by Covenant, to do all that the Lord had ſaid, and be Obedient, Exod. 24.7. God reply'd, they have well ſaid, all that they have ſpoken, Deut. 5.28.
I think what has been hitherto ſaid, may ſuffice to prove, that grown up (or Adult) Perſons under the Goſpel, ſpould ſeek after Baptiſm (if they have not receiv'd it already) for themſelves. The ſecond thing in the Aſſertion or Propoſition which I am demonſtrating, is, that they ſhould ſeek Baptiſm for their Children alſo. By their Children, I mean ſuch as are in Minority, not capable of acting deliberately and underſtandingly, in ſuch an Important affair. I ſhall not here engage, in any large or direct proof of Infant Baptiſm; (the brevity I deſign won't allow it, and it has been ſtrongly done by others) but reckon it ſufficient to my preſent purpoſe, to offer theſe things which follow, viz.
1. God's Covenant with Abraham, did extend to his ſeed as well as to himſelf. God ſaid to him, Gen. 17.7. I will establiſh my Covenant between me and thee, and thy ſeed after thee, in their Generations, for an Everlaſting Covenant; to be a God unto thee, and to thy ſeed after thee. And ſo Abraham's Infant ſeed (that were capable of it, viz. the Males) were to receive Circumciſion the token (or ſeal, Rom. 4.11.) of the Covenant when they were eight Dayes Old. ver. 10, 11, 12.
2. Believing Gentiles under the New Teſtament, are in the ſame Covenant with God as Abraham was; I ſay, the ſame Covenant as to the ſubſtance of it, as to Spiritual ſaving Bleſſings, and Covenant duties. Abraham—received the ſign of Circumciſion, a ſeal of the righteouſneſs of Faith, which he bad being yet uncircumciſed, that be might be the Father of all them that believe, 'tho they be not circumciſed— to the end the promiſe might be ſine to all the ſeed, not to that only which is of the Law; but to that alſo which is of the Faith of Abraham, who is the Father of us all; as it is written I have made thee a Father of many Nations. Rom. 4.9.11.16, 17. They which are of Faith; the ſame are the Children of Abraham. And the Scripture foreſeeing that God would Juſtify the heathen through Faith; Preached before the Goſpel unto Abraham, ſaying, in thee ſhall all Nations be Bleſſed. So then, they which be of Faith, are Bleſſed with Faithful Abraham— that the Bleſſing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jeſus Chriſt—And if ye be Chriſt's, then are ye Abraham's ſeed, and heirs according to the promiſe, Gal. 3. 7, 8, 9.14.29. Theſe things plainly prove, that believing Gentiles are in the ſame Covenant with Abraham, as to Spiritual Bleſſings, and are therefore ſaid to be his Children, bleſſed with him; nay the laſt verſe mentioned Intimates, that we are not Chriſt's, not united to him, nor Intereſted in him, unleſs we are Abraham's ſeed, that is his Spiritual ſeed. And ſince believing Gentiles are in the ſame Covenant with Abraham, it follows.
3. That their Children with them are alſo in Covenant with God. For thus it was with Abraham, (Gen. 17.7.) and therefore thus it muſt be with thoſe, who are in the ſame Covenant with him. The Infant ſeed of believing Gentiles, are now as really and truly the ſeed of the Covenant, as the ſeed of Abraham were of old; for the Bleſſing of Abraham is come on the Gentiles. Therefore their Childien are called Holy, I Cor. 7.14. And Inaſmuch as the Children of believing Gentiles are in God's Covenant. Therefore
4. They ought to have the Initiating or firſt Seal of God's Covenant, viz. Baptiſm applyed to them. Infants of Profeſſors, are now as capable of being in God's Covenant, and of receiving the Initiating Seal of it, as they were in Abraham's time. Now under the New Teſtament, as to Spiritual Covenant Duties and Bleſſings; there's no difference between believing Jews, and Greeks, bond and free, Male and Female, Gal. 3.28. And yet when the Apoſtle urg'd the Jews to Repent and be Baptized; he added, for the promiſe is to you and to your Children, Act 2. 38, 39. If they repented and believed in Chirſt, as thereby the Covenant promiſe (that God would be a God to them) would belong to them, ſo it would alſo to their Children; and therefore Baptiſm the Seal of the Covenant, ought to be applyed to them and their Children too. Baptiſm is now the firſt or Initiating Seal of the Covenant, as Circumciſion of old was; therefore as Abraham of Old was to apply Circumciſion to his Infant ſeed that were capable of it; ſo believing Gentiles are obliged to get Baptiſm applyed to their Infant ſeed that are capable of it, even their Male and Female Children. It ſeems Moſes had like to have loſt his Life, for neglecting to apply the ſeal of God's Covenant to his Child, Exod. 4.24. —26. It's a thing provoking to God, and very dangerous (whatever any may think of it) to neglect Inſtituted Worſhip, even to neglect the ſeals of God's covenant, Exod. 5.3.… Chron. 29.7, 8. Gen. 17.14 Num. 9.13. You that are Parents, are you Penitents? are you Believers? are you Christ's? If ſo, you are Abraham's ſeed, (Gal. 3.29.) Why then don't you act like Abraham? Why don't you moſt Solemnly give up your Children in Covenant to God, and get the ſeal of his holy Covenant, even Baptiſm applyed to them? While you neglect this, you don't act like believing Abraham; his Faith put him upon obeying God, (Heb. 11. 8.) and ſo ſhould your's alſo. Did not Chriſt ſay, Joh. 8.39. If ye were Abraham's Children, ye would do the works of Abraham. Chriſt ſaid, Suffer little Children, and forbid them not to come unto me: for of ſuch is the Kingdom of Heaven, Mat. 19.14. When ſome brought little Children, Infants to Chriſt, his Diſciples rebuked them for doing ſo; but when Jeſus ſaw it he was much Diſpleaſed, and ſaid unto them, ſuffer little Children to come to me and forbid them not, for of ſuch is the Kingdom of God—And he took them up in his Arms, put his hands upon them, and Bleſſed them, Mark 10.13—16. Luke 18.15. 16. It's evident, 1. That Chriſt receiv'd the little Children of his People. 2. He would have none forbid their being brought to him. 3. He Bleſſed them. 4. Of ſuch is the Kingdom of God, of Heaven. God has taken ſuch, as well as their profeſſing Parents, into Covenant with himſelf; he has engag'd to be a God to them (Gen. 17. 7.) which comprehends in it, His preparing for them an Heavenly City, (Heb. 11.16.) and granting to them a glorious Reſurrection hereafter, Mat. 22.31, 32.1 Cor. 15.23. 42, 43, 44. Was Chriſt real and hearty in Bleſſing thefe little Children? To ſay he was not, would be Blaſphemy, If he was, when did he change his mind? God declar'd the taking into Covenant with himſelf, the Children of his profeſſing Servants, required that the Initiating Seal of his Covenant ſhould be applyed to them; and none can ſhow when, where, how-God has revok'd this Act of his Grace: Indeed he has not done it, therefore it abides firm, and therefore the Infants of profeſſing Believers ſhould be Baptized. Chriſtian Parents therefore, ſhould hold themſelves oblig'd, bound in Duty and Conſcience to Dedicate, Conſecrate, give up their Children in Covenant to be the Lord's; and to endeavour that Baptiſm the Seal of God's Covenant may be applyed to them.
Another Propoſition I was deſired to ſay ſomething to, is to this purpoſe.