Anonymous on Article XXVII: Of Baptism

Lord has appointed this Ceremony to be apply’d to all that give up their Names to him, and submit to his Laws: And the voluntary O- mission of it, where it may be had, is a manifest Transgression of his Commandment. I know it is pretended, that Christians are to be baptized with the Holy Ghost, and with Fire; and that the Spirit baptizes the Inner Man fo effectually, that there is no need of the outward Washing of Water. But this is no more than a Re- ligious Dream, which separates the Spirit from the Application of Water. For, according to our Saviour’s Institution, the Spirit does baptize the Soul, when the Body is washed with Water. They are not to be divided ; neither is the one to be esteemed sufficient with- out the other. When the Holy Ghost had fallen upon Cornelius, and his Companions, and baptized them with his miraculous Pre- sence, and Gifts; St. Peter did not think this sufficient, without the Concurrence of Water ; and would not let it pass for Baptism ; -but

Article XXVII.

rather thought it a most certain Indication, that Cornelius, and his

Friends, were duly dispos d to receive Water-Baptism. Can any man forbid Water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we ? Es And whereas it 1s pretended, that Water-Baptism belongs not to Christ, but was instituted by John the Baptist, who was to decrease, as Christ increased ; or whose Institution was to drop, and be dis- us d, as the Spiritual Baptism of Christ was to come into Practice: It is manifest, that when St. Paul found some Disciples of John at Ephesus, who were only baptiz’d with John’s Baptism ; he caus’d them to be baptiz d with Water, in the Name of J7esus. For after they had been baptiz’d with Water, and when Paul thought fit to hay his Hands on them, they were vilibly baptized with the Holy Ghost, © Have ye received the Holy Ghost ? They answer- * ed, We have not so much as heard, whether there be any Holy _ « Ghost. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye bap- « tiz de? And they said, unto 2 Baptism “. St. Paul replies, that John baptiz d with Water, that they should believe in Christ. «© When they heard this, they were baptized in the Name of the „ Lord Jesus” ; and that with Water: For after they were bap- tized in the Name of the Lord Jesus, © when Paul had laid his Hands on them, the Holy Ghost came on them, (not before) © and they spake with Tongues, and prophesied ”. If therefore Water-Baptism, by the Appointment of our Lord, is attended in- wardly with the Spirit, and separates Men for Christianity, accord- ing to the ordinary Methods of God’s Grace ; it must follow, that where there is no Baptism by Water, there is no Christian ; or he is no Christian, that is not baptized.

II. Water-Baptis is also a Sign of Regeneration, or New Birth; whereby, as by a Visible Instrument, they that receive it rightly, are _ grafted into the Church, have the Promises sign’d and seal’d, their Faith confirm’d, and Grace increas’d by Prayer. But this is not done by the Efficacy of bare Water, but by the Operation of the Holy

Ghost. .

AR. 10. 47.

Act. 19. 3.

n

An EXPOSITION of the

Article XXVII.

1. By Water-Baptism, Men are grafted into the Church : They were Branches of the wild Olive before, and they are thus inserted, or grafted into the true Olive; and being by Nature the Children of Wrath, they are hereby made the Children of Grace. For it is that Outward and Visible Sign, which our Saviour has chosen, and set apart, to remove those, that were in a Natural Fallen State, into a Hopeful State of Recovery; to receive them, upon their Good Behaviour, into the Society of Christians, and to entitle them to

the Benefits of his Passion, That as it is usual to use some Cere-

1 Cor. 12. 13.

Acts 2 38.

Tit. 3. 3, *

mony, to be admitted a Member of some Fraternity, or Corporati- on ; this of Baptism was appointed by our Saviour, to admit Men into his Church; his Spirit concurring with it: For by one Spirit, we are all baptized with Water , and received into Christ’s Family. By one Spirit, -we’ are all baptized into one Body; whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether wwe ba bond or free. 2. By Baptism, the Promises of Forgiveness and Adoption, are sign d and seal’d visibly by the Holy Ghost. For our Forgiveness

and Adoption, are as much made over to us when we are bapriz’d,

as an Estate can be convey’d to us, by the Name and Seal of him that gives it. Tho’ God is a Spirit, and invisible, yet we are made of Flesh and Blood, and stand in need of External Signs and Seals, to. satisfy one another: And God is willing to deal with us in our

own way, to humour our Infirmities, and to allow us an External

Pledge, Seal or Assurance, of his intended Kindness, in Pardoning

and Adopting of us; that whenever any Doubts or Scruples ati concerning his __— and

Compassion, we may remember, how firmly they were made over to us by Baptism, and may remove our

Fears, silence our Complaints, and rest satisfy’d’ in his Truth. That Forgiveness of Sins is then seal’d to us, and Adopti- on ensur’d, appears plain from Scripture. St. Peter told the Fews, that Remission, or Pardon of Sins, was annexed unto it. Repent,

and be 7 every one of you, in the Name of Jesus Chriff for

| the Remission of Sins; and ye sball receive the Gift of the Holy _ Ghost, n

And for Adoption, that also is sealed by it: For by Adoption we are made the Children of God; and if Children, then Heirs. If

then we are made Heirs by Baptism, we are adopted by it, and assu- red, that we are the Children of God. He saved us, by the Wash-

ing of Regeneration, and Renewing of the Holy Ghost ;, that we

should be made Heirs, according to the Hope of Eternal Life.

3. By Baptism, Faith is confirm’d, and Grace increas’d. For such as come with Faith in Christ, and true Repentance, are, by the Application of Water, and the Operation of the Spirit, assured of the Love of God in Christ, strengthen’d for Duty, and received into the immediate Care and Prote&ion of Heaven. That like as when we receive the Hand and Seal for an Estate , we are thereby assur d, that the Right and Title to it is made over to us; so when

the Water is applied, those that are baptized, have all possible Asu-

rance given them, on this Side Heaven, that they shall not believe

in vain, or trust to God in vain. They may rest fatisfy’d, that their

2 Faith

Thirty Nine AR TIC L Es.

Faith is accepted, and that they shall have those Assistances of Grace, that are needful for them. This is confirm’d by the Case of St. Paul; for after he was baptiz d by Ananias, he grew bold in Faith, and found the Grace of God sufficient for him; he was so strength- ened and confirm’d, that he snun d no Labour, which might testify

his Love to his Lord, and met Dangers with a Resolution worthy of an Apostle ; which proves that the greatest Saints, and most emi-

nent Christians found, that at Baptism, > Prayer they received Strength from above, and obtained those Assistances, by which they were made able and willing to remain faithful; and the fame to this

ye is continued to the Church in an ordinary Manner. For thou A. 22. 15, shalt be bis Witness unto all Men, of what thou hast seen and heard, s.

And now why tarriest thou ? Arise, and be baptiz’d, and wash away thy Sins, calling on the Name of the Lord.

III. Infant Baptism is to be retain’d, as most agreeable to the In-

stitution, and most consonant to the Practice of the best Times.

For though it be granted, that it is no where express’d, that Infants or Children should be baptiz’d ; yet there are such weighty Consi- derat ions to represent it most likely, and most agreeable to the Apo- stolical Practice, that I presume no sensible Man, that can lay aside Prejudice, calmly think and consider, and attend to fair Reasoning, can gainsay or oppose it, much less refuse to communicate with a Church, that hath a particular Office for adult Persons, and allows, when there is no apparent Danger, that the Persons baptiz’d be dip- ped or plunged into Water. It is in the first Place undeniable, that our Saviour did say, Suffer little Children to come unto me, and ’« forbid them not, for of such is the Kingdom of Heaven“. It is evident in the next Place, and beyond Dispute,that he did command his Disciples, © to baptize all Nations” : And without doubt the Children must be reputed the growing Part of a Nation, and may be baptiz’d with their Parents. It is also very clear, and matter of

Fact, that the Apostles baptiz’d whole Housholds and Families, or

all that were in the House. . And it must be counted probable at

Jeast, that there were some Children as well as Servants ; and amongst the Children it is very likely there might be some Infants,

and not capable of believing for themselves. And if Servants were

baptiz’d when the Master believ’d, as belonging to him, and receiv’d

under the same Hope; there is more Reason that Children, being

their Parents Possession and Care, should partake of the same Ad-

vantage, and should as well as the Servants, be received into Christ’s Family. it is undoubted also, as St. Peter told the Fews, that the

Promise of Forgiveness is made to Children, as well as others: The

“ Promise is made to you, and your Children, and to as many as

« arc afar off”, And if Children have a Right to the Promise of

Mercy, it 1s reasonable that they should have the same Sign and

Seal applied to them, which is appointed to make over the fame Pro-

mise. Thus as the Children of the Fews were circumcised and re-

ceived into Covenant, according to the Promise made to their Fa-

thers ; the Children of Christians should be baptiz’d , and 1

eirs

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184 An EXPOSITION T the

Article XXVII. ae 4

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Heirs of the same heavenly Promises, which their Parents enjoy: It is moreover very remarkable, that the Children of Christian Parents are commanded, as soon as they can understand what a Command is, to obey their Parents in the Lord. But how can they be obliged to obey their Parents in the Lord, unless they had put on Christ by Baptism, and were so taken into his Family 2 Or how can they-be bound to observe the Lord’s Commands, if they were not in Cove- nant with him ? lt is also fit that the Children of ’ Christians should enjoy the Privileges which the Children of other Men enjoy : And as the Children of Jews, Turks, and Heathens possess the same Rights and Advantages, so called, of their Parents Religion, whether

true or false : It is more fit and reasonable, that the Children of

Christians should possess the Rights and Advantages of Christianity, 5 and enjoy the Privileges of that Covenant,which is made in the Blood of Jesus. And this St. Paul owns, who says, that they are holy, and if holy, have a Right to the holy Covenant, and ought to be

baptiz’d, that they may be holy unto the Lord : And agreeable to this, it is most certain, that in the Primitive ‘Times, just after the Martyrdom of the Apostles, within less than Two Hundred Years after our Saviour, the Children of Christians were baptiz’d, and Sponsors, or Godfathers and Godmothers engag’d to the Church, to fee that they were instructed in Piety betimes , and Christianly and

Virtuously brought up. And because this Practice was so consistent

with our Lord’s Command, and agreeable to the Sentiments of the

| best Times, it hath been continued through all Ages to this Day,

Natt. 19. 14.

and in all likelihood will remain to the End of the World. Let all these Reasons be set together, and view’d as they ought, allow them their proper Light and just Weight, and I think it must be granted, that our Church is to de commended for retaining Infant Baptism, as most agreeable to the Institution of our Lord, conformable to the Apostolical Practice, and saving to their Souls; and that we do well to bring little Children to our Lord, that they may be blessed ; for

they belong to the Kingdom of Heaven, were redeemed by the Blood

of Jesus, and ought to be presented in his Sanctuary, and conse- crated to him. But Fesus said, Suffer little Children, and forbid them not to come unto me, for of such is the Kingdom of Heaven.

From this Sense of the Article it may be proper to exhort you to vindicate Water-Baptism, to request you to bring your Children to it, and to advise you to walk worthy of it. ;

1. I may be allowed to exhort you to vindicate Water-Baptism in

an Age, in which it is called useless by some, and neglected by others.

know some will say, what signifies a little Water fo applied to In- fants? And I may as well say, what signifies a little Breath in their Nostrils ? for he that gave them Life, and continues their Breath

in them, hath ordain’d Baptism, and made it as necessary for a Chri-

stian, as their Breath for the Preservation of Life. Such Things depend upon the Will of our Lord, and what he hath ordained, must be proper for the End he hath appointed them. And since he hath set apart Water to be a Sign of our Regeneration, and seals the Pro-

miles

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_ Thirty Nine AnTictEs = 185

mises of Pardon and Adoption by it, it is as efficacious that way, as Article

Air can be for Breath, or Earth for Bread. It is not for Man to XXVII. dispute against, or despise what God ordains; we may not fo much wW— as slight Water, when it is instituted by him as a Means to fave our

Souls. Some of the Corinthians were ill Men before they were ba tiz’d ; but consider what Water thro’ Grace had made them. And such Ry were some of you, but ye are washed, but ye are sanfified, but ye are ju- . flified in the Name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. 5

2. I must request you to bring your Children to Baptism, and let

there not be so much Occasion of Complaint given, as hath been offered concerning your Neglect. Why should not your Children be as happy in your Saviour’s Love, as your selves 2 Does he invite you to bring them, and will not ye hasten them into his Arms? Does he declare, that of such is the Linglow of God; and will ye not do what lies in you to make them Heirs of that Kingdom? Ye can do your best in their Behalf to set them out in the World, and will ye not present them to the Lord, that they may be prepar’d for a bet- ter World? Be persuaded to lay to Heart their Happiness and Safety, and to do your best to bring them to God. Ye may consider that the first Converts were baptiz d, and all their Family; And will ye let one, or two, or more remain of your’s in their natural State?

And was baptized, be (the Jailor) and all his siraightway. AR. 16. 33. 3. I must advise you to walk worthy of your Baptism ; that as ye have received the Sign of your Christianity, ye may act for the

Credit of it ; and as ye are thereby regenerated, ye may live as re- generate Men; that as the Promise of Forgiveness is sealed to you ,

‘ye may fin no more, lest that which is worse should befal you. And as your Adoption is sealed to you, ye may live as Children, and may, through the Spirit, acquit your selves as the Sons of God. As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the Sons of God. | 17817

Rom. 8. 14

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186 An EXPOSITION of the

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