A Complete Body of Divinity, Sermons · 233 (Question 95)
SERMON CCXXXIII.
QUESTION XCV.
TO whom is Baptiſm to be Admiſtred?
ANSWER.
BAPTISM is not to be Adiminiſtred to any that are out of the viſible Church, till they profeſs their Faith in Chriſt, and Obedience to him; but the Infants of ſuch as are Members of the viſible Church, are to be Baptized.
WE have taken an Account of the Nature of Baptiſm; and are now to enquite after the true and g…nuin… Subjects of it; about which there hath been and ſtill is, a great deal of Diſpute among Men, that bear the common Name of Chriſtians; and hath among ſome amounted to a ſeparation one from another: And it is great pity, that that which is by Chriſt's appointment, a Sacrament of Union with him as our Head, and one with another, as Members of the ſame Head, ſhould be a ball of Contention, and an occaſion of ſo great Diviſions among thoſe who pretend to one Faith, and ought to acknowledge one Baptiſm. Some exclude all Infants from it, of what Denomination ſoever, reputing them Subjects incapable: Others reſtrain it to ſuch as have given an account of their living Converſion, and upon it are joyned in Communion with a particular Church, together with their Immediate Seed: Others extend it to Chriſtianity in the largeſt ſenſe: Nay ſome will have it applied to inſenſible things, as Bells, and other Utenſils ſet apart by them for Religious Services. It is therefore needful that we be will informed and ſatisfied in this matter; and the Anſwer before us will be helpful our more diſtinct taking of it up: and to facilitate this to our Conſideration, let me premiſe four things;
1. THAT the matter under our preſent Conſideration, is about the external Adminiſtration of the Element to the Subject. We obſerved, that there are two parts in a Sacrament, the Sign, which is ſome outward thing; and that which is ſignified, which is the ſpiritual Grace, that is connected with it. Now it is certain, that the application of the former is Miniſterial, and is committed to ſuch as are Commiſſioned to diſpenſe the Goſpel and Ordinances of of it; whereas the latter properly belongs to the Spirit of God, who is the Author of all ſaving Grace in the hearts of Men: Hence that of John, Joh. 1.33. He that ſent me, &c. And it is unqueſtionable, that there may be one of theſe, where the other is not.
2. HENCE the proper enquity here, is, Who are to be looked on as the Subjects of this outward Ordinance? This is the only thing incumbent on a Goſpel Miniſter in this regard, to know whom they are to whom he is authorized and enjoyned to apply Water Baptiſm; and if he be groundedly ſatisfied in this, he thereby comes to know the limits of the Subject, and ſo the extent of his Duty. If he Baptiſeth ſuch, and no other but ſuch, as Chriſt hath deſigned it for, his Conſcience ſtands clear, and he muſt leave the Succeſs of it to Chriſt, who only can afford it to any. And as he knows not to whom Chriſt will ſavingly Bleſs it, ſo he may be ſatisfied that in the faithful diſcharge of this Duty, he ſhall be a ſweet ſavour to God, 2 Cor. 2.13, 16. And Chriſt himſelf could comfort himſelf in this, when he made that complaint of his unſucceſsfulneſs Iſa. 49.4. Then I ſaid, I have laboured in vain, I have ſpent my ſtrength for nought, and in vain, yet ſurely my judgment is with the Lord, and my work with my God.
3. IT is …f no little weight, that the Adminiſtrators of it be well ſatisfied who theſe are. God puts no ſmall ſtreſs on his own Ordinances: Nor is it a thing indifferent whether they neglect this Duty to thoſe to whom it is due, or apply the Ordinance to ſuch as have no right of Claim to it God gave in charge to the Miniſters of the Sanctuary, that they ſhould put difference between the Clean and the Unclean; and that they ſhould not receive the Canaan…te inot the houſe of God: And Chriſt himſelf warns us, that we caſt not his holy things to Digs: and hath willed that we ſhould Feed his Lambs; and hath threat…ed theſe who neglect their Duty a this regard; act is a Miniſter true to his truſt, it he be not careful in this regard.
4. HENCE there muſt be ſome Rule given is the Goſpel to determine this. We are told Dent 19.29. Something: belong … the Lord our God: but theſe … reverſed, belong … us, and to our …en for ever. It is not for us to be ever cur…ous in inquiring, who belongs to the Election of God's Grace; And it that were the Rule in this caſe, the Servants of Chriſt muſt be ever at a loſs and their Conſciences muſt be entangled; but there is no ſuch thing. The G…' is therefore our directory. So the Charge given the Apoſtles runs, Mat. 28.20. Teaching them truth, … all things whatſoever I … commanded yea. We are bound … and is the Te…. and to go to farther, not to come be…d here. What Paul ſaith of the other Sa…me…t, is true here, 1 Cor. 11.2…. I have received of the Lord, that which alſo I delivered …spain…. Not had Chriſt been faithful in his … Moſes was, had he leſt us at a loſs on this account Here then: we may proceed to conſider, what Light the Word of God will afford us to th… account. And we ſhall …d that our Catechiſm reduceth this to Three Heads, the Conſideration whereof will afford us help in the reſolution of this Caſe.
1. THAT … …eing and abiding …at… of the Viſible Church, are to be Baptized. The diſtinction of Viſible and Inviſible with reſpect to the Church in this World, is known & approved: and the ſame Perſon may belong to each in a diverſe conſideration, and we have the foundation of this difference, Rom. 9.6. For they are not all Iſrael which are of Iſrael. And by the viſible Church, we are to underſtand all them who ſtand related to the Goſpel Adminiſtration as ſubjects of it: and theſe may be numbred under two ſorts. I. Such as upon the report and eſter of the Goſpel made to them, do by an open and free Profeſſion, entertain the terms of it, and put themſelves under the Rules and Ordinances of it. By this way therefore we find that Perſons were added to the Church, in the Hiſtory of the New Teſtament. 2. The Children of ſuch at theſe, who are involved with them in the ſame relation, according to the appointment of God. But the conſideration of this laſt, will come under the …d particular, to which I refer it, and we may here conſider it with regard to the former. Thoſe that are here excluded, are all thoſe that are out of the Viſible Church; for a Man may be out of the Inviſible Church; and yet have a Goſpel claim to it, Rom. 9.6. Now there and different thoughts about this Queſtion, Who are not of the Viſible Church? and many there are who ſtraiten it without Scripture Warrant: But I think that the Apoſtle deſignedly gives us a Deſcription of them, Eph. 2 12 That at that time ye were without C…riſt, being aliens from the common wealth of Iſrael, and ſtrangers from the covenants of promiſe, having, and …, and without God in the world. But I ſhall …ot tarry here to expound every Article of it, but only draw fore Inferences from it
1. THAT all ſuch as never heard of the Goſpel. … bod the …ers of Chriſt, and Salvation …, make to them, are … of the Viſible Church. It was …ocketed as a diſtinguiſhing Priviledge belonging to Iſrael, that they had God's Statutes our Judgments. Dent. 4 7.8. And this is mentioned as their main Prerogative, Rom. 3.1, 2. And we before obſerved, that there muſt be a Profeſſion of the true Religion to the Conſtitution of Viſible Church Memberſhip. Now where there is no knowledge of this Religion, there can be no profeſſion of it. And it is equally certain, that where the Goſpel cames not, there is no knowledge of this; for the light of Nature makes no diſcovery of it, but it was revealed by the Goſpel, … Tim. 1.10.
2 THAT ſuch as have bod the Goſpel ſo… to them, and they rejected it, are alſo out of this Church. We find that when the Apoſtles we … ſeat forth to Preach the Goſpel to all Nations, they did not and a like Succeſs every where, not from all Perſons: if ſome entertained them, others withſtood them, blaſphemed the Name of Chriſt, and perſecuted thoſe that were ſent to them. Now it is evident that ſuch as theſe abode ſtrangers, for it is not the offer, but the entertainer out of the Goſpel, that will give them this denomination. And Chriſt's Meſſengers were appointed to ſhake off the duſt of their ſeat againſt ſuch as ſo treated them. And we …d how they dealt with the Jews on this account, Act. …3.45, 46.
3. THOSE that have totally abandoned the Chriſtian Religion, and turned to another, cauſe to be of the Viſible Church. This follows from the Conſideration that a Profeſſion of the true Religion, is that by which Men, who formerly were out of it, come to be ann…merated to it; and it is a Note by which they are known to be ſuch. It is true, there may be many groſs Apoſtacies which Men may be guilty of, both in Doctrine and Manners, and yet be Chriſtians in the main of their Profeſſion: But when they turn on a falſe Religion, and put off the true one, in all the diſtinguiſhing Articles of it, they thereby ceaſe to be Chriſtians, and have not ſo much as the face of Chriſtianity upon them. And from the Premiſes it appears, that Pagan; who Worſhip a falſe God or Gods; Ma…inmetans that reject the Goſpel, and have ſet up a falſe Religion; and Jews that maintain the Moſaical Paedagogy againſt the Goſpel, are not to be acknowledged of the Viſible Church: and all ſuch as once made a Profeſſion, but are now gone over to any of theſe, and Abjured Chriſt muſt be of the ſame number. Nor can thoſe whom we call Deiſts excuſe themſelves from this, inaſmuch as they abandon all Revealed Religion, which is utterly inconſiſtent with Chriſtianity. Now that Baptiſm is not to be Adminiſtred to any ſuch as theſe during their continuance in this ſtate, will be very evident to ſuch as conſider the nature, deſign, and uſe of the Ordinance. And … obſerve,
1 THAT … is a …riment of the New …. This hath been already made to appear, when we conſidered the Deſcription of a Sacrament, and alſo of Baptiſm: But … of uſe to be here again conſidered, for … better …ting up of the Truth in hand: For if it … Sacrament the uſe of it muſt be Soul mental, and if it belongs to the New-C…rca…, it muſt needs be accommodated to the Deſign of that C…ant.
2. THAT … belongs to the Deſign and Uſe of this Or…n…nce, that it is a Seal of this Covenant. I do not ſay that this is all the Deſign and Uſe of it; for we before obſerved, that it is alſo a Sign and an I…tument of the Conveyance of Grace; but this conſideration of it as a Seal, hath a peculiar ſerviceableneſs to the Demonſtration of the Aſſertion under conſideration, is …ll appear from the right Conception of the Uſe of a Seal, for the confirmation of ſuch Inſtruments, to which it is annexed. Hence.
3. IT …e…ſſ…rdy preſumes, that there is ſuch a Covenant, in under to the ſetting of a Seal to it. Seals are not wont to be ſet to Blanks; they are not the Matter of the Covenant, but only uſed for the Ratification of it: If therefore there be not a Cove…nt drawn, and the Articles of it ſtated, it cannot be in any readineſs to be ſealed. Baptiſm indeed is a Poſitive Ordinance, and ſo the force of it's Obligation depends on the pleaſure of the Inſtituter: But becauſe Chriſt hath annexed it to the Covenant for this end, it always points us to the Covenant in order to our …ight underſtanding the force of it: Heace it is ſaid of Circumciſion, Rom. 4 11. It was a ſeal of the Rig…e…mſneſs by Faith.
4. IT is to be an evidence of the Reſtipulation of the Party ſo Covenanting. We formerly obſerved, that one deſign of a Sacrament, is to be a token of the Covenant, as Circumciſtion is called, Gen. 17.11. And this not only to evidence it to the Perſon himſelf, to put him in mind of his Covenant Obligation, but alſo … others, it being one diſtinguiſhing Note between thoſe that are viſible Chriſtians and others: Hence the People of God and others are frequently notified by that diſtinction, Cir…iſed and Uncircumciſed.
5. HENCE becauſe theſe are out of the Church Viſible, and ſo not within the Covenant, the applying of this Ordinance to ſuch would be inſignificant; yea, would indeed be a falſe Witneſs: It would be a Seal without an Inſtrument, and render it a vain Ordinance, in the very Uſe which is made of it: And we are ſure, that God never appointed any of his Inſtitutions in vain, but to be ſome way ſerviceable to the End of them.
II. THAT when ſuch as theſe ſhell make a Profeſſion of Faith in Chriſt and Obedience to him, they …ay and …ght to be …. And the ground or reaſon of this is very evident from what hath been … before: But are may here take a more diſtinct Account of it, in the following … …tions;
1. THE … the C…vi…int of Grace, is …y … …t's … to all Nations. It was once … up to the Nation of Iſrael, and all others were ſtrangers to it. excepting … as wer: Prof ly…d to that N…tion. But … Chriſt's R…ſa… … he did, upon his Aſcenſion. enlarge it, … ſeat it to the whole World illimited…y, Mat. 28.19. Mark … 15, 16. Hence that, Gal. 3 2…. For of th… … …e of the law, it is … of pr…miſe: but God give it to A…raham by promiſe. And, …ph. 2.13, 14. But now in Chriſt Jeſus, ye who ſ…etimes were …ſar … mai…l nigh by the blood of Chriſt. For he is cur pe…ce… who hath made both …, and hath broken do… the middle wall of partitive between us. And this was the Kindneſs of God which was reſerved for Goſpel times.
2 IN the Preaching of this Covenant, Chriſt and Salvation by …, were to be effered to all, upon Terms. It is true, that God Providentially governed this Affair; and the Goſpel did not actually come to all at once, Acts 16.6, 7. but it was illimited as to the Commiſſion … and the Subject of it was Chriſt and Salvation thro' him; which was to be made a tender of, to all that came within the ſound of it, Acts 17.30. But it being in a Covenant way, the Terms of this Covenant were to be opended to Men; they were not only to be told, that there was Salvation to be had, but alſo in what Way; and we have the Subſtance of it expreſt, Mark 16.16. He that believeth and is hap…ized ſhall be ſav…l, but he that believeth not; ſhall be demned. And that it muſt be in this way, appears from the very Nature of a Covenant, which always preſuppoſeth Terms.
3. IN the opening of theſe Terms, there it a Promiſe to be made to ſuch as will accept of theſe Terms. Without this it could not be propoſed in the form of a Covenant, in which there are to be mutual ſtipulations, each Party obliging himſelf accordingly: Thoſe therefore that carry the Goſpel into the World, being to treat with Men as reaſonable Creatures, are to encourage Men to receive their Invitation. by telling what is the Advantage they ſhall gain by their Compliance, and this is to draw them with the Cords of a M…; and ſo Chriſt himſelf treated Men, Marth. 11.28.
4. HENCE Men, by their cloſing in with theſe Terms, do thus enter into the Covenant. Chriſt doth on his part ſay to Men by his Ambaſſadors, that if they thus accept of him, he is theirs; and ſo the Covenant is plighted: For it is certain, that the Conſtitution of a Covenant conſiſts in a mutual Conſent; and whatſoever follows, is not the Covenant it ſell, but only the Ratification of it: When therefore Circumciſion is called the Covenant, it is a tropical Expreſſion.
5. THAT Men outwardly thus do by a Profeſſion of Faith in Chriſt, and Obedience to him. That theſe two are the Terms of the Covenant, is abundantly manifeſt in the Goſpel it ſelf: To theſe is the Promiſe made; and therefore on their ſubmiſſion to it, the Covenant paſ…eth into being. And there are two things required, viz. Confeſſion with the mouth, and Believing in the heart, Rom. 10.10 The former of theſe is the outward pa…, and that which is diſcovered to Men; and tho without the latter Men cannot approve themſelves to God, who requires Truth in the inward part: yet by the former they recommend themſelves to Men, and do make their Chriſtianity V…ſible.
6. THAT Chriſt h…th ordained Pap…ſ… to be a Se…l of this Coven…nt, to all ſuch as do is profeſſ. That this is one of the Goſpel Inſtitutions, ha… … been of ſerved; and Chriſt hath ther… … us who they are, ſo whom he will have …, that ſo… is Servants need not … about it… Not is it a bare liberty that is granted to … and they may demand this Ordinance, of thoſe to whom Chriſt hath c…a…nitted the Dane … tion of it, and they cannot juſtly refuſe it; but he hath made it the Dury, as of his Meſſengers in his Name to affix this Seal to ſuch, ſo of all ſuch as ask it, and ſubmit to it; it being a Seal of the Covenant, and a Teſtification of their being under the Obligation of it. Hence Teaching and Baptiſm, are to go together, (Math. 28.19.) as a Seal is applied to a Covenant to confirm it. And this we find to have been the practice of the Apoſtles whereſoever they Preached the Goſpel; upon Mens profeſſing their Acceptance of and Subjection to the Offers made, to apply Baptiſm to them Many inſtances there are for this. Thus it was with the three thouſand Converts, Act. 23.7, &c. Thus with the honourable Eunuch; Act. 8.36, 37. Thus with Simen Magus, ver. 13. Thus with Corne…ius and his Friends. Chap. 10.37. With the Jaylor, Chap. 16. And doubtleſs this pract…ce of the Apoſtles was in Obedience to the Command of Chriſt laid on them.
7. THIS Profeſſion is to be judged of by Men who cannot know the Heart, but muſt judge according to Appearance. God hath reſerved the other as his own P…erog…, and therefore we are told, I Sam. 16.7. Men tooketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart. God hath put it into the hands of Men to diſpenſe the Goſpel Ordinances, and hath told them who are the Subjects, and by what Rule they are to determine them, and that is by their Profeſſion, or outward demeanure of themſelves; and that this may be Hypocrital, the Experience of the moſt diſcerning Men, hath ſufficiently proved.
BUT it may be here Enquired, What is requiſite to ſuch a Profeſſion as will give Men a title to this Ordinance? And becauſe there are diverſe thoughts about this, we may take ſome brief account of it. It then contains theſe things in it,
1. AN Underſtanding of the things which they Profeſs. God in the Covenant treats with Men as rational. The Covenant demonds muſt be underſt…ed, and the Art…es of the … imbraced, and known what they are, as to the literal meaning of them. N… Man can believe in Chriſt, except he know who be is, and how he came a Saviour to ſinful Men. Hence that, Pſal. 9.10. They that know thy name will put their truſt in thee. There muſt be alſo an Underſtanding of the Rules of Goſpel Obedience, elſe there cannot be ſo much as a V…ſible Conformity thereto. The want therefore of this knowledge is deſtructive, H…ſ 4 6 And th… Men may know and … do, yet knowledge is always preſuppoſed Job. 13 17.
2. A profeſſed Aſſent to the trath of the thing: thus under…od. It is one thing to know the Grammar and …egi…k of a Propoſition, and another to believe and acknowledge it to be a Truth. The …mer therefore without this will not amount to a Profeſſion. And if a Man do not believe the things themſelves to be true, he cannot believe in the Object therein recommended to his Affiance; ſo that when the …nu…h asked Baptiſm of Philip, he made that Propoſal to him, and received his Profeſſion about it, in Act. 8.37. And Philip ſaid, If then believeſt with all thine heart, thou …ayeſt. And he anſwered and ſaid, I believe that Jeſus Chriſt is the Son of God.
3. A Confeſſion of their former ſinful Courſes. Theſe are ſuppoſed to have been before ſtrangers to the true Religion, and to have lived in an alienation from God, and under the power of their luſts: There is therefore expected of them that they do give Glory to God, by a free Confeſſion of this. Thus therefore we are told how John diſpe…ſed this Ordinance, Mat. 3.6. And were bapti…ed of him in Jordan, confeſſing their ſins. And the Prophet fore…ells the manner of the Gentiles coming over to the imbracing of the Goſpel, Jer. 16.19. The Gentiles ſhall come unto thee from the ends of the earth, and ſhall ſay, Surely our fathers have inherited lies, vanity, and things wherein there is no profit. And without this Confeſſion there cannot be ſo much as a Viſible Repentance expreſſed by Men.
4. A declared Renouncing of their former falſe Principles and lewd Practices. Though a Confeſſion be neceſſary, yet it is not alone ſufficient, but it muſt be followed with a forſaking. Hence that, Prov. 28.13. He that covereth his ſins ſhall not proſper; but whoſe confeſſeth and forſaketh them ſhall have mercy. Let Men confeſs never ſo plumply, yet if they continue in the Sins which they ſo confeſs, they contradict themſelves. And of ſuch we are told, Tit. 1.16. They profeſs that they know God: but in works they deny him. A Viſible Profeſſion is not only Verbal, but it muſt be Practical, and is to be judged of by Men accordingly. A good Creed will not do, without a Life anſwerable to it. And this alſo muſt come within the Cog…zance of Men, for of ſecret things, God only can judge.
5. THERE muſt alſo be a ſolemn Promiſe of Submiſſion & Obedience to the Rules of the G…ſp…l Covenant. By this they put themſelves under the Covenant, who were before ſtrangers to it. As to thoſe that were before under the Covenant, we ſhall have occaſion to conſider afterwards. And now only conſider of thoſe that are to be introduced into the Covenant; which is to be do… upon their regular Profeſſion of the Chriſtian Religion, of which before they made none, but were Aliens from it. Now, we obſerved before, that Baptiſm is not the Covenant itſelf, but a Seal or Ratification of it, and is therefore to be Adminiſ…ed only to ſuch as are preſumed to be in it. Now in this Covenant they become the Subjects of the Kingdom of Chriſt, and in this Kingdom there are the Laws to which all that enter into it are to be ſubjected: and till they do profeſs themſelves ſo to be, by taking of his Yoke, and binding themſelves to live accordingly, they cannot be ſaid any way to be in the Covenant, and therefore cannot orderly have the Seal of i… affixed to them; but when once they come to his, who ſhall de…y Water to be Sacramentally applied to them? For, whether they are accepted by God in the Everlaſting Covenant, yet they are ſuch as Chriſt would have to be entertained in the Viſible Covenant, and have the outward Seal of it applied to them.
USE. WE may here obſerve; that it is a dangerous thing to w…thold Ba…inſis from them to whom it belongs. God hath appointed a ſtate of a Viſible Church here; and Chriſt hath Inſtituted a Sacrament to be a Seal of that Covenant which is opened to them, and a badge of the Members of it: and doubtleſs, to prohibit this Ordinance to be applied to ſuch, is a practical baniſhing them from the Viſible Church of God, and bidding them go and ſerve other Gods, Joſh. 22.24 25. And let ſuch alſo as call themſelves Chriſtians, and live without this Ordinance, conſider what Contempt they caſt upon the Covenant.