A Complete Body of Divinity, Sermons · 232 (Question 94 cont.)
SERMON CCXXXII.
3. NOW follows the manner of the Adminiſtration of the Element in Baptiſm; viz. It is applied in the Name of the Father &c. This preſcription we have laid down in Mat. 28.19. where the expreſs words are, into the Name. But nothing is more frequent than to uſe theſe two Prepoſitions, into and in promiſcuouſly; and which way ſoever we read theſe words, there ſeem to be theſe Three Things imported in them,
1. THE Authority by which Baptiſm it to be Ad…ſtred. To do a thing in another's Name, is to … by his Appo…ntment; and there … two things contained in it,
(1.) THAT God, Father, Son, & Holy Spirit, … the Authors of the Ordinance. That it' is any … …av…ntion of Men, but an Inſtitution of God, and is therefore a …ve Sacrament, …ing Divine Original; which is one Characteriſtical Note. It ſaith, that this Ordinance is not of Huma…e Authority, it came … from Men, but from God alone. Peal ſ…tore makes that C…allenge. 1 Cor. 1.1…. Were ye hapti…d in the name of Peal? Baptiſm is … a Precept given in the Law of Nature, or Moral Law; but is a Poſitive Precept entirely depending on the will of the …giver: Though it hath a reference to the Moral Law, as it requires of all Men Obedience, to w…atſoever God ſhall ſee meet to …he ſcribe to Men, by his Sovereign Authority, by the Second Comma…d: ſo that though the Deny is Poſitive, yet the Obligation is Moral, and Natural; and proceeds from this, that if is required of us by him, who hath Authority to preſcribe. Now, tho' Chriſt appointed it by vertue of his Kingly Office, yet it is by a Divine Authority which is rooted in the Divine Nature, which is the ſame in all the Price Perſons. And hence it is not ſaid, in the Names, in the …ral, but in the Name, in the Singular.
(2.) THAT the …penſers of this Ordinance … to do it by Authority derived from him. To do a thing in another's Name, ſuppoſeth him ſport doth it, to be Authorized ſo to do, by him it whoſe Name he doth it. There muſt be a Power devolved on him for it, which alone … juſtify him in what he doth. Every Man may not take upon him to execute the King's …icts, but it belongs to ſuch as are Commiſſi…ed. Baptiſm is therefore joyned with the Commiſſion of teaching or Diſcipling, Math. 28.19. intimating, that he who is not called us do the one, hath no warrant to do the other. Na… it is certain, that there is a privace as well as a publick teaching, and that it of Charity, and Chriſtians are bound to ex…t one another daily; but the other is of Authority, and he that doth it, muſt have his Charter for it, elſe God will charge them for going before he ſent them. But Baptiſm is a Royal Seal ſet to the Covenant; and who ſhall dare to do that, but one appointed to do it by the Prince? They muſt needs therefore be in an error, who make it lawful for private Chriſtians, and for Mid wives, to apply this Ordinance … caſe of Neceſſity; for indeed this Neceſſity is a feigned thing, and grounded on a miſtake, ſuppoſing it abſolutely neceſſary to Salvation; which may be conſidered afterwards.
2. IT farther intends, that by this Ordinance, we are Conſecrated to all theſe Perſons. To be Baptized into their Name, is to have their Name called upon us, and that implies that we are ſet apart, and ſolemnly devoted to their Service. It is as it were, the Note that is ſet upon them, whereby they are declared to be for God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghoſt, and for no …. It is to be a Witneſs that theſe are eatred into Covenant will. One God in Three Perſons; a…d therefore it … mates that we are Chriſtia…s by our Profeſſion. There are others that profeſs a belieſ of O…e God; but this is an Article of the Chri…tſ… Faith, that we believe in G…d, Father, S…n, …nd Spirit.
3. IT alſo intimates, that all the Three Perſ…ns, a… concerned in the N…w Covenant, and perſonally engaged for the Salvation of God's Elect. That Baptiſm is a Seal of the New Covenant, hath already been obſerved; and it belongs to the eſſence of a Sacrament of the New Teſtament. Now it is certain, that in this C…venant, every of the Divine Perſons is concerted, and each of them hath his manner of working aſcribed to him. God the Father hath Choſen us to Salvation. God the Son hath Redeemed us, and purchaſed Salvation for us, and God the Spirit Sanctifies …, by applying to us the purchaſe of the …on, according to the Father's purpoſe. Hence we have that of the Apoſtle, 2 Cor. 13.14. The grace of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and the love of God, and the communion of the holy Ghost, be with you all, Amen. We therefore are to exerciſe our Faith on them all, and acknowledge each of them in our Salvation. And it is certain, all God's Works out of himſelf, ſuch as is the Salvation of ſinful Men, are common to the whole Trinity, becauſe they flow from his Eſſential Properties, whatſoever difference is aſſigned to the manner of their working.
BEFORE we paſs from the Conſideration of the outward Sign, and the application of it, it may not be amiſs, in a few words, to confider of the Neceſſity of this Ordinance, of the Adminiſtration of the outward part of it; and the rather, becauſe there are differing thoughts, among profeſſed Chriſtians about it. Beſides, that there are ſome who deny any thing but a Spiritual Baptiſm, under the New Teſtament Diſpenſation, contrary to the expreſs mind of the Goſpel; there are others that place abſolute Neceſſity upon it, and will not allow that there can be any Salvation without it; and for that reaſon they allow any Perſon to adminiſter it, in caſe of Neceſſity, which Neceſſity they argue from hence. On the other hand, there are too many who ſlight it ſo far, as to neglect it, as a thing at leaſt indifferent, and ſo ſeek it not either for themſelves or for theirs. Some alſo would perſwade us, that Baptiſm was only a temporary Ordinance, in the beginning of the Plantation of the Goſpel Church, to diſtinguiſh Believers from Infidels, which afterwards ceaſed; as the S…cinians. We may then take the matter into Conſideration, and ſet it in a true light. And here let us obſerve,
1. THAT Baptiſ… was appointed by Chriſt to be a Sacrament of the New Covenant during the State of the Goſpel Church …n Birth. That Chriſt himſelf was the Author of this Ordinance is evident, for tho' it was promul…red by John the … tiſt, as his Forerunner, yet it was by his Authority; and who: he appeared on his publick Miniſtry, he practiſed it by his Apoſtles, by whom we are told, that he baptized m…re than john did, Joh. 4.1. And that he confirmed it to be a …anding Ordinane, and not tranſient, appears by the Commi…on he gave to his Apoſtles upon his Aſcenſion, Mat. 23.19, 20. Go ye therefore and teach all nations bapti…ing them in the name of the Father, and of the S…n, and of the …ly Gi…ſt: Teaching them to …ſerve all things whatſoever I have commended you: and …. I am with you a…way even unto the end of the world. A…n. And it was on this account that the Apoſtles wherever they came, and brought any ever to embrace the Profeſſion of Chriſt, whether of Jews or Gentiles, perſwaded them to be Baptized, as is every where obvious. B…ſides, the End and Uſe of this Ordinance will ſtand to confirm this: For they that deny its perpetuity, ground it on an error, as it the only uſe of it was to be an outward badge to diſtingu…ſh Chriſtians from Jews or Pagans… and to among People, who are all profeſſed Chriſtians, its no more needful: Whereas we have obſerved, that that was not only a ſecondary end of it, but that primarily it is to be a ſacred Seal of the New Covenant, and an external confirmation of that Covenant to all that are the Viſible People of God. And by it, as …ey are bound to all the Daties of the true Religion (as by Circumciſion the Jews were …bliged to all the Duties of the Moſaical Pa…lagogy,) ſo it is to be a help to confirm our Faith in the Promiſes of the New Covenant, and eſtabliſh us in our hope of Glory: It is to be a token of our Communion with Chriſt, and of our Union to him, Gal. 3.27. R…m. 6.3, 4. This is pledge of our being pardo…ed our Sins, Act. 22.16. And of our Regeneration, Tit. 3.5. And theſe are things which belong to all true Chriſtians.
2. HENCE we may conſider, of what Neceſſity it is to the Profeſſ…rs of the Christian Religion. And here we may obſerve, that Neceſſity may come under a double Conſideration, viz. Abſolute, or Hypothetical. A thing may be ſaid to be abſolutely n…ſſ…ry, when it muſt needs be, and cannot be otherwiſe; it bel…gs to the very Nature of the thing: and to deny it, denies the thing itſelf; ſo that every thing that is eſſential to a thing, and cannot be ſeparated from it, is thus neceſſary; ſo it is neceſſary that a Man have a reaſonable Soul. A thing is then ſaid to be Hypothetically neceſſary, when, not from the Nature of the thing, but from ſome Acc…dental reaſon, it is made ſo. Thus ſometimes there is a diſjunctive neceſſity; either this or that muſt be, though it may be not neceſſary, whether this or that. And to this Head may be annumerated a moral neceſſity, which ariſeth not from the Nature of the thing it ſelf, but from the Connection between the Precept and the Promiſe. And here comes in the diſtinction obſerved by Divines, between a thing's being neceſſary at a Me…; and neceſſary by Verta… of … …ept. And … …en …a…d to be a … Medium, … without it the end cannot the obtained, it …aving an inſeperable Connection with it, in the Nature of the thing: and neceſſary preceptively, when God hath by a Poſitive L…w, made it the Duty of all that are capa…le, to conform to it. Now it is only in this latter leaſe tha… Baptiſm may be ſaid to be neceſſary. It is indeed app…ed by God to be a Medium or help to out Salvation, and is made by his Grace to be not a little helpful herein to forward the Salvation of ſuch as do rightly improve it. And thoſe that may enjoy it and neglect it, do bring Guilt upon themſelves, and ca… contempt on the Divine Authority. But it in not ſuch a Medium, as that without it Men cannot …e …a…ed. Salvation is not inſeparably connected with it. There are many who have been ſaved without it. Some dye before they are capable of it orderly; ſome are prevented of it by living in Places where they cannot regularly obtain it. Faith is a neceſſary Medium, for without it no Salvation, but not ſo Baptiſm. He…ce the diverſity o… expreſſion, Mar 16.16 He that …veth and is baptized … be ſaved; but he that believeth not ſath be damned. Some dye unbaptized thro' their Parents fault: Yea a Man may be a God… Man, and yet be daub…ful about Infant Baptiſm. Now God's Grace is not reſtrained to the ignorance or error of Men, as though thro' their neglect, God's Electing Grace ſhould be made void; and though the Precept preſcribes this as an External Medium, yet, as it hath no Ve…e of its own, ſo God who arbitrarily appoints, can work without: and tho' Poſitive Precepts oblige us to Duty, and we cannot neglect them without Sin, yet they do not lye God's hands. It is not therefore the w…nt of the Ordinance, which God Providentially deprives Men of, but the contempt, that expoſeth Men to his Wrath.
II. WE are now to paſs over to the Spiritual part; or the thing Signified, and Sealed by the other. And that is laid before us in Three Particulars,
1. OUR Ingraf…ing into Chriſt. And here for our better Underſtanding of the things which are under Conſideration, let me in general call to mind, that Baptiſm is a Seal of the Covenant of Grace: Now it is the Nature of a Covenant, that it is a Mutual Obligation between two Parties upon terms; and that which is the Obligation of ſuch a Covenant confirms the Obligation on both Parties: And hence whatſoever God engageth on his part, and the Believer on his, are herein ſignified and ratified after a Covenant manner Now both of theſe are pointed at in this firſt, and each of them ſeverally, in the two that follow. In this therefore the main thing intended, is our Union with Chriſt, which, as it is ſet forth in the Word of God by diverſes Similitudes, ſo one of theſe is ingreſſion … him: W…k is let forth by our being … our of the wild O… … gi…ed into the … 11. Now this U… is m…e i… … C…g, in watch the S… being pe…ed to accept of the … prop…ed, Chriſt is embraced by Faith, and by his So … takes p…ſſeſſion of the Believe…; and ſo they c…tertain each other in the …reſt Relation: and this Relation is made inte…. Hence that Iſai. 35.3. I … make ex…c…; with you. Hoſ. 2.15, 19. I will betroth thee unto … for ever, yea, I … thee unto me in …, in living kindneſs, …nd in meters. Now … as it is a Seal of the Covenant, to it to a Sig…er Taken of this Covenant as well as a Seal of it: And herein it anſwers …com…ſive which is expreſſy ſaid to be a Taken or the Covenant, Gen. 17.11. Heart that, Gal. 2.27. …s many, of … have put …. Now your being thus i… graſſed into him, we are made to pa… i… his S…p and Verter, and thereby receive Grace from him. … to live to S…, but to God.
2. O…R …king in the … of the …ve…er of Grace. This, and that which follows, do gen…y ſl…w from the former: For Union is the gre…d and …o…dation of Commention, and was … to make way for it; we are therefore put into Ceri…, and made Branches of this Vine, that … may p…icip…e in the ver…e of it, and … up i… i…, and he… … 15. … N…w this Comman… contains under it. both what God …ds …g…ged to us in the Cove…ant, and what we are engaged in to him. And under the former of theſe, are contained, all thoſe Benefits which Chriſt hath purchaſed for us, and are ra…i…ed to us in the Covenant, and Sealed in Baptiſm: Now theſe are mari…old, and my be ſummarily gathered … under theſe Bene…i…s which we …rm…ly obſerved, which fl…w f…m effectual …alling. Whatſoever Chriſt pa…ch…ſed for his Elect, is exhibited in the Goſpel Covenant, and co…tained in the Promiſe therein made to all ſuch as receive him by Faith; and are therefore given together with him, to all ſuch as accept of him on the te…ns propoſed, Rom. 8.32. and …erefore the Par… of our Sins, and removing from us the ſeatence of Condemnation under which we were held by the Curſe that was upon us; we are therefore t…ld. Rom. 8.1. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Chriſt J…ſus, who walk not a…ter the fleſh, but after the Spirit. And this is ratified to us in Baptiſm, according to Act 2 38 Be baptized every one of you in the name of Jeſus Chriſt, for the re…ion of ſins. Not that the External Ordinance doth it, but is Seal of it to them that are in Chriſt. And with this the Juſtification of our Perſons, under which is contained our title to Eternal Life, which flows from the Vi…erio…s Satiſfaction, which he as our S…to…y made for us, and this flows from the former, becauſe there can be no remi…s beſtowed upon as, but what comes to us in the way of a Juſtification. There is alſo our …ption, by which we are advanced to the … and Pr…ledge of the Children of God; and … made Co…bei… with Chriſt in the Gl… … Rom. 8.17. This Title alſo, is comprehended in Baptiſm, & is expreſſ in God. 2 26, 27. and i… … in there to prove our being the Children of God. Ye are the children &c. For as many, &c. Our Regener… alſo or San… is … of theſe Benefits, by … whereof we are furniſhed with the Sanctifying Principles, which furni… us for Ne… Obedience. And this is implied in that, …it. 2.5. lie…. … us by the … of regeneration, and … of the body Ghoſt. And to this …el…geth … Promiſe of wiſhing, Ezek. 36.25. Then … I ſ…r…ckle clean water …p…n …, and ye … from all your …, and from all your …s will I cleanſe you. To which we are to refer both the … in us; which is implied in that, Rom 5.7. and the Q… ning of us to a uſe of Grace; which is planel… intimated, ver. 4, 5. Therefore we are …ar…d … by …ep…iſm into his death, that … as Chriſt was …ſed … from the lead by the glory of the …rber: even ſo we alſo ſ…ould …a…k in … neſs of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeneſs of his death: we ſhall be alſo in the likeneſs of his reſurrection. And to this may be referred our … which is continued by the maintaining the new Principle of Spiritual Life … us, that it may dye no more, ver. 6 K…ing this, that our all man … crucified with him, that the body of ſin might be deſtroyed, that henceforth we ſhould not ſer… ſin. Hitherto alſo is referred our Glorification, and that both in the Inch…tions of it here, both in the Peace of Conſcience and the Aſſurance of God's love, and in the Conſummation of it in the end, in a Glorious Reſurrection, and the enjoyment of Eternal Life. And this ſeems to be implied in that, 1 Cor. 15.29. Eſe what ſhall they do, which are baptized for the dead if the d…a… riſe not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead? And may well be included in that, Rom 6.5. For if we have been planted together in the likeneſs of his death: we ſhall be alſo in the likeneſs of his reſurrection. All theſe things are comprehended in the Promiſe of the New Covenant, which Covenant is Sealed in Baptiſm, and belong to the Promiſe on God's part, and that Communion which we are admitted to with him, upon our being united to him.
3. OUR Engagement to be the Lord's. This Obligation is laid o… us by God, in the Covenant into which …e admits us; and is accepted, and ſubmitted to by us, upon our Believing: For it belongs to our embracing of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt by Faith, in which we accept of him as his Father hath offered him to us in the terms of the Covenant: it belongs to his eſpouſed of us to himſelf, according to what he ſays, Hoſ. 2.19. And I … the… unto … for ever, yea, I will … thee unto we in righteouſneſs, and in judgment, and in loving kindneſs, and in mercies. And this alſo is implied in Rom. 6.4. There is firm engagement in it, that we will no more ſerve ſin, nor fulfil the luſts of the fleſh, but will devote ourſelves to Holineſs and Righteouſneſs all our Days. Every Believer hath done as he d…d, Pſal. 11… 106. I have ſworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous judgments. And this he hath ratified and confirmed in his Baptiſm. This Inference the Apoſtle therefore draws from our Baptiſm, Rom. 6.11. Likewiſe reckon ye alſo your … to … unto ſin: but alive unto God, … J…ſ… ….
2. We may …bſ…e, the Analogy which there is between the External and Spiritual p…rts of this Element: in thoſe words, they do ſignify and ſeal this. We obſerved, that this Sacrament is both a Sign… and Soul, as well as an Inſtrument of Conveyance and in every of theſe there is ſome repreſentation of the latter in the former: Now as it is a Sign, it muſt carry ſome ſignification in it; elſe it would not anſwer the …omination: and tho' it is enough for an arbitrary Sign, that it is appointed to ſignify ſuch a thing; yet God hath pleaſed to make choice of ſuch an Element, and ſuch a Ceremonial Application, as do carry in them, that which may ſignify and expreſs and Analogy. Thus the uſefulneſs of Ware for the cleanſing of the Body from the filthineſs of the Fleſh which cleaves to it, doth very aptly repreſent the vertue of the Blood of Chriſt when applied to us by his Spirit, to cleanſe the Soul from its ſpiritual Uncleanneſs: Hence that, 1 Pet. 3.21. Baptiſm d…th now ſave us, not the putting away of the filth of the fleſh. We are therefore told, 1 Joh 17. The blood of Jeſus Chriſt his S…n, cleanſeth us from all ſin. And as it is by the application of Water to our Bodies by which we are made to partake in this Vertue, and made Clean, To it is by the Spirit's applying the Vertue and Efficacy of the Blood of Chriſt to us, that we are purged from our Sins: Hence we read of his waſhing us in his Blood, Rev. 1.5. And this is the Fountain that we are told was opened for this purpoſe, Zech. 13.1. And if we conſider this Ordinance as a Seal of the Covenant wherein is anſwers Circumciſion of Old; ſo as by the Sacramental application of the Element to our Bodies, we are dedicated ſolemnly to Chriſt to be his, which is a declared witneſs of it; ſo the Spirit of God, by applying to us the regenerating Vertue of Chriſt's Blood, ratifies to us the New and Everlaſting Covenant: and tho' the application of Water, doth not of its own. Nature convey to us any ſaving Grace, yet by vertue of the Promiſe, and the Operation of the Spirit with it, it becomes an Inſtrument of Conveyance to the Believer: Hence the Apoſtle gives us an Account of the way in which it comes to be effectual for this Deſign, 1 Pet. 3.21. Baptiſm doth now ſave us, (not the putting away the filth of the fleſh, but the anſwer of a good Conſcience towards God) by the Reſurrection … Jeſus Chriſt. And here we may very briefly conſider, what is the true and proper Efficacy of this Ordinance of Baptiſm, about which there are ſuch not Diſputes between us and the Church of Rome, who aſſert, that not only the Guilt or Sin is removed by Baptiſm, and the Dominion of it taken away, that it reigns not: but that it ceaſeth to be. As to the two former we readily acknowledge it, but this latter not only do we deny, but it is contradictory both to the Word of God, to the Experience of all the Godly, and to the Papiſts themſelves, as will appear in the next: for tho' juſtification is entire at once, with reſpect to the Perſon, yet Sanctification is a progreſſive work; and tho' there is a foundation of it laid in Regeneration, yet it is not perfected till we come to Glory. It is of ſuch as are Baptized, and ſuppoſed to be Godly, that the Apoſtle hath that, 1 Joh 1.8. If we ſay we have n… ſin, we deceive our ſelves, and the … is no in us. And all the Godly do bear witneſs to it in their Confeſſions and Addreſſes unto God. We Sin every Day, and in many things we offend all. How many Sins of holy Men do ſtand upon Record to be a witneſs for this? And this is an undeniable evidence of Original Sin abiding in us, which is the fountain from which all Actual Sins do derive, which otherwiſe would not be. David therefore runs up his Sin hither, Pſal. 51.5. And how fearfully doth Paul complain of it, and yet he was a Baptized Perſon, Rom. 7. And ſure…y if carnal Concupiſcence remain in ſuch, it is a contradiction to ſay, that Sin is aboliſhed in them. And it is certain, that Baptiſm removes Sin only Sacramentally, as it is a Seal of the Covenant, and therefore only confirms the Covenant Promiſe, which doth not engage to take Sin away, as to it's being in us, at once: And tho' Sanctification is ſealed hereby as well as Juſtification; and therefore Sin cannot reign in the Regenerate, yet not that it ſhall not remain; for Paul ſaith, Rom. 7.21. I find then a late, that when I would d… good, evil is preſent with me. Another thing which they aſſert is, That the efficacy of Baptiſm reacheth only to Sins paſt before it, but not to ſuch as are committed after it; on which they have introduced their ſurreptitious Sacrament of Pennance: But not to inſiſt on the contradiction which hereby they do involve themſelves in; ſince if all Sin be taken away in Baptiſm, how then ſhould they Sin at all afterwards? But as to the thing it ſelf, we know that the Sacraments, one whereof is Baptiſm, they are Seals of the Covenant, and do accordingly ſtand to ratify the whole Covenant, whereto it is annexed as a Seal; and muſt therefore be coextenſive with it. Now it is certain, that in the Covenant, there is Juſtification of the Perſon, whereby all Condemnation paſſeth away from the Juſtified Perſon; Rom. 8.1. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Chriſt Jeſus, who walk not after the fl…ſh, but after the Spirit. And Juſtification is applied upon Relieving, Faith being the Instrument which receives, R…m. 5.1. So that tho' upon the Commiſſion of new Sins, there is Repentance to be exerciſed, and forgiveneſs to be a …d of God and waited for: yet concerning cauſe that belong to the true Iſrael of God, Chriſt is excited to give Repentance … forgiveneſs of ſins, A…s 5.31. And a right to this is given in the Covenant, and ſecured to every Believer. And this is the encouragement given to all ſuch, that God will chaſten and humble them for their Sins, give them Grace to repent and turn, and renew their Faith in Chriſt; and that he will never caſt them on for them but reſtore them again by Repentance: So that tho' here be no on couragement to Sin, yet great encouragement to Repent, if we Sin.
USE. BE we then all adviſed, not only to ſeek the outward ordinance; but ſee to it that we have the ſpiritual Grace that is ſignified and ſealed in it: And take care, as to have the true Conſolation of it, ſo to improve it to quicken and engage us to Holineſs of Life; and ſo ſhall it be abundantly helpful to the promoving of our Salvation.