positions, and capacities of souls; becoming new creatures and new men, as it 66 were, Irenewed after the likeness of God in righteousness and true holiness ";" a; our being sanctified in our hearts and lives, being mortified to fleshly lusts and wordly affections, being quickened to a spiritual life and heavenly conversation: in short, becoming, in relation and in disposition of mind, the children of God. This the matter and the action of baptism do set out: for as children new born (for cleansing them from impurities adherent from the womb), both among the Jews and other people, were wont to be washed, so are we in baptism, signifying our purification from natural and wordly defilements; the mersion also in water, and the emersion thence, doth figure our death to the former and receiving to a new life. Whence baptism is by St. Paul called “the laver of regeneratione;" and our Lord saith, that " if a man be not born again of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God";" that is, every one becoming a Christian is by baptism regenerated, or put into a new state of life, getteth new dispositions of soul, and new relations to God. "Ye are all," saith St. Paul," the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus;" that is, by embracing his doctrine, and submitting to his law professedly in baptism. And, "We," saith St. Paul again, "are buried with Christ through baptism unto death; that as Christ was raised from the a Eph. ii. 22, 23, 24. Col. iii. 10. 2 Cor. v. 17. Tit. iii. 5. d John, iii. 5. 66 dead by the glory of the Father, so also we should walk in newness of life." a 4. With these benefits is conjoined that of being inserted into God's Church, his family, the number of his chosen people, the mystical body of Christ, whereby we become entitled to the privileges and immunities of that heavenly corporation. "We," saith St. Paul, "have been all baptized in one Spirit into one body"," the mystical body of Christ: and, "So of you," many saith he again," as have been baptized into Christ," into Christ mystical, or the Church, "have put on Christ; and ye are,” adds he, "all one in Christ Jesus." As proselytes among the Jews by baptism were admitted unto the communion and privileges of the Jewish, so thereby are we received into the like communion and privileges of the Christian, far more excellent society. 5. In consequence of these things, there is with baptism conferred a capacity of, a title unto, an assurance (under condition of persevering in faith and obedience to our Lord) of, eternal life and salvation. We are therein, in St. Peter's words, "regenerated unto a lively hope of an incorruptible inheritance, by that resurrection of Christ "," which is represented to us in this action; and so therein applied, as to beget in us a title and a hope to rise again in like manner to a blissful life: whence we are said therein to rise with him; Being," saith St. Paul, "buried with him in baptism, wherein also we were raised again":" whence by the two 66 b 1 Cor. xii. 13. d 1 Pet. i. 2. e Col. ii. 12. a Rom. vi. 4. Col. ii. 12. great Apostles baptism is said to save us. Baptism," saith St. Peter, the antitype of the delivery in the flood," doth save usa;" that is, admitteth us into the ark, putteth us into the sure way of salvation. And, "God," saith St. Paul," according to his mercy saved us, by the laver of regeneration":" and, "He that shall believe, and shall be baptized, shall be saved," is our Saviour's own word and promise. Shall be saved; that is, shall be put into a state and way of salvation; continuing in which state, proceeding in which way, assuredly shall be saved; for faith there denoteth perseverance in faith, and baptism implieth performance of the conditions therein undertaken: which next is to be considered. he For as this holy rite signifieth and sealeth God's collation of so many great benefits on us, so it also implieth, and, on our part, ratifieth our obligation, then in an especial manner commencing, to several most imimportant duties toward him. It implieth that we are in mind fully persuaded concerning the truth of that doctrine which God the Father revealed by his blessed Son, and confirmed by the miraculous operation of the Holy Ghost; we therein profess our humble and thankful embracing the overtures of mercy and grace, purchased for us by our Saviour's meritorious undertaking and performances, the which are then exhibited and tendered to us; we therein declare our hearty resolution to forsake all wicked courses of life, repugnant to the doctrine and law of Christ; fully to conform our lives to his will, living thereafter in all piety, righteousness, Mark, xvi, 16. a 1 Pet. iii. 21. b Tit. iii. 5. and sobriety, as loyal subjects, faithful servants, and dutiful children to God: in brief, we therein are bound, renouncing all erroneous principles, all vicious inclinations, and all other engagements whatever, entirely to devote ourselves to the faith and obedience of God the Father, our glorious and good Maker; of God the Son, our gracious Redeemer; of God the Holy Ghost, our blessed Guide, Assistant, Advocate, and Comforter: these are the duties antecedent unto, and concomitant of, our baptism (immediately and formally required of those who are capable of performing them, mediately and virtually of them who are not), the which are signified by our being baptized in the name of the Holy Trinity. These duties the Scripture commonly expresseth by the word faith and repentance; sometimes singly, sometimes conjunctly. "If,” said Philip to the eunuch®, "thou believest with thy heart, it is lawful" (for thee to be baptized). Faith was an indispensable condition prerequisite thereto. And, "Repent," saith St. Peter', " and let every one of you be baptized." Repentance also was necessary to precede it. Indeed, both these (as they are meant in this case) do, in effect, signify the same each importeth a being renewed in mind, in judgment, in will, in affection; a serious embracing of Christ's doctrine, and a stedfast resolution to adhere thereto in practice. Hence are those effects or consequences attributed to faith: justifying us, reconciling and bringing us near to God, saving us; because it is the necessary condition required by God, and by him a Acts, viii. 37. b Acts, ii, 38, accepted, that we may be capable of those benefits conferred in baptism; the same being also referred to that repentance, or change of mind, which must accompany our entrance into Christianity; that good conscience with which we stipulate a perpetual devotion and obedience to God; the which therefore doth, as St. Peter telleth us, "save us;" it contributing to our salvation as a duty necessarily required in order thereto. This is that death to sin and resurrection to righteousness, that being buried with Christ and rising again with him, so as to walk in newness of life, which the baptismal action signifies, and which we then really undertake to perform.a 66 And as such are the duties preceding or accompanying baptism, so making good the engagements they contain, constantly persisting in them, maintaining and improving them, are duties necessarily consequent thereupon. Having," saith the Apostle, "had our bodies washed with pure water, let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering." We should, indeed, continually remember, frequently and seriously consider, what in so solemn a manner we (upon so valuable considerations) did then undertake, promise, and vow to God, diligently striving to perform it; for violating our part of the covenant and stipulation then made, by apostasy in profession or practice from God and goodness, we certainly must forfeit those ines Rom. a Acts, xxvi. 14. ; v. 31. ; xx. 21.; xxvi. 20. ; iii. 19. ; xvii. 30. v. 1, 2.; iii. 25. ; ii. 4. Gal. ii. 16.; iii. 8. Heb. x. 39. Eph. ii. 8.; iii. 12. 2 Thess. ii. 13. 2 Tim. ii. 25. 2 Pet. iii. 9. Matt. ix. 13. Luke, xxiv. 47. b Heb. x. 23. Mark, ii. 17. 1 Pet. iii. 21. Rom. vi. 3, 4, &c. |