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CHAP. XXVII. Of the facraments.

ACRAMENTS are holy figns and feals of the cove nant of grace a, immediately inftituted by God b, to represent Chrift and his benefits; and to confirm our interest. in him e; as alfo to put a vifible difference between those that belong unto the church, and the reft of the world c; and folemnly to engage them to the fervice of God in Chrift, according to his word e. II. There

in thine heart? thou haft not lied unto men,but unto God..

I. a Rom.4.11.And he received the fign of circumcifion, a feal of the righteoufnelsof thefaith, which he had yet being uncircumcifed that he might be the Father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcifed; that righteousness might be imputed unto them alfo. Gen. 17.7. And I will eftablish my covenant between me & thee, and thy feed after thee, in their generations,foraneverlaftingcovenant; to be a God unto thee,and to thy feed after thee. v. 10. (See below in letter f.)

b Mat. 28. 19. Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Gholt. I Cor.11.23. For I have received of the Lord,that which alfo I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jefus, the famenight inwhich he was betrayed took bread.

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CI Cor, 10,16. The cup of bleffing which we blefs, is it not the communion of the blood ofChrift? the bread which we break,is it not the communion of the body of Chrift? Cor.11.25.After the fame manner alfo he took the cup,when he had fupped,faying, This cup is the new teftament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it,in remembrance of me. v. 26. For as often as yeeat this bread and drink thiscup,yedofhew the Lordsdeath till he come. Gal, 3. 27. For as

manyof you as have been baptized into Chrift, have put on Christ. Gal.3.17.And this I fay, That the covenant thatwas confirmed before of God in Chrift, the law which was four hundred and thirty years aftercannot difannul, that itfhould make the promife of none effect.

d Rom. 15.8. Now I fay, That Jefus Chrift was a minifter of the circumcifion for the truth of God, to confirm the promifesmade unto the Fathers.Exod.12.48.And when aftranger fhall fojourn with thee, and will keep the paffover to the Lord, let all his males be circumcifed, and then let him come near and keep it; and he fhall be as one that is born of the land for in un circumcifed perfon fhall eat thereof.Gen. 34. 14. And they faid unto them, We cannot do this thing, to give our fifter to one that is uncircumcifed for that were a reproach unto us.

e Rom. 6. 3. Know ye not, that fo many of us as were baptized into Jefus Chrift, were baptized into his death? v. 4. Therefore we are buried with him by baptifm unto death: that like as Chrift was raifed up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even lo we allo thould walk in newnefs of life. I Cor. 10.16. (See inletter c) v.21. Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lords table, and of the table of devils.

II.f Gen.

II. There is in every Sacrament a spiritual relation, or facramental union, between the fign and the thing fignifi d; whence it comes to pass, that the names and effects of the one are attributed to the other f.

III. The grace which is exhibited in or by the Sacraments rightly used, is not conferred by any power in them; neither doth the efficacy of a facrament depend upon the piety or intention of him that doth administer it g, but upon the work of the spirit h, and the word of inftitution, which contains, together with a precept authorizing the ufe thereof, a promise of benefit to worthy receivers i.

IV. There be only two facraments ordained by Christ our Lord in the gofpel, that is to fay, baptifm and the fupper of the Lord :Neitherof which may bedispensed by any but by a minister of the word lawfully ordained k.

II. fGen. 17.10.This is mycovenant, which ye fhall keep between me and you, and thy feed after thee; Every man-child among you fhall be circumcifed. Mat. 26. 27. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, laying, Drink ye all of it. v. 28. For this is my blood of the new teftament, which is fhed for many for theremiffion of fins. Tit. 3.5. Not by works of righteoufnefs, which we have done,but according to his mercy he faved us by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the boly Ghoft.

III.g Rom. 2. 28: For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcifion,which is outward in the flesh: v. 29. But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcifion is that of the heart, in the fpirit, and not in the letter, whofe praife is not of men but of God. 1 Pet. 3. 21. The like figure whereunto, even baptifm, doth allo nowfaveus,(notthe putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the anfwer of a good confcicnce towards God) by the refurrection of Jefus Chrift.

h Mat.3.11. I indeed baptiz eyou

V. The

with water unto repentance; but he that comethafterme:is mightier than I, whofe fhoes I am not worthy to bear: he fhill baptize you with the holy Ghost, and withfire. 1Cor. 12. 13. For by one spirit are we allbaptizedinto one body, whe ther we be ews or Gentiles, whether we be boundor free. and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

i Mat. 26, 27, 28.(See in letter f) Mat. 28, 19. (See in letter b.)v.«ɑ Teachingthemtoobferveall things whatfoever Ihavecommanded you: and lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

IV. k Mat. 28. 19. Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the fa ther, and of the Son, and of the holy Ghost.1 Cor.11.20. When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lords fupper. v.23. For I have received of the Lord,that which alfo I delivered unto you, That the Lord (efus,the fame night inwhich hewas betrayed, took bread. 1 Cor. 4. 1. Let a man fo account of us, as of theminifters of Chrift,andftewards of the myfteries of God. Heb.5.4.

And

V. The facraments of the Old Teftament, in regard of the fpiritual things thereby fignified and exhibited, were for fubftance, the fame with thofe of the New 1.

Chap. XXVIII. Of Baptifm.

APTISM is a facrament of the New Teftament, ordained by Jefus Chrift a, not only for the folemn admiffion of the party baptized into the vifible church b; but also to be unto him a fign and feal of the covenant of grace e, of his ingrafting into Chrift d, of regeneration e, of remiffion of fins f, and of his giving up unto God thro' Jefus Chrift, to walk in newness of life g. Which facrament is by Christ's own appointment to be continued in his church until the end of the worldh. II. The

And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron,

V.li Cor.10. 1.Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye fhould be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud,and all paffed through the fea; v. 2. And wereall baptized unto Moses in the cloud, and in the fea; v. 3. And did all eat the fame fpiritual meat; 2. 4. And did all drink the fame fpiritual drink (for they drank of that fpiritual rock that followed them and that rock was Chrift. I. a Mat. 28. 19.(See letter k of the foregoing chapter.)

b 1 Cor.12.13, For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one fpirit.

c Rom.4.11.Andhe received the fign of circumcifion, a feal of the righteousness of the faith, which he had yet being uncircumcifed that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be notcircumcifed;that righteoufnefs might be imputed unto them alfo. With Col.2.1.Inwhomalfo ye are circumciled with the circumcifion made without hands,in putting off

the body of the fins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Chrift.v.12. Buried with him in baptism, whereinalfoyearerifen with him,through the faith of the operation of God. who hath raifed him from the dead.

d Gal.3.27.For as many of you as have been baptized into Chrift, have put on Chrift. Rom.6. 5. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death: we fhall be alfo in the likeness of his refurrection.

e Tit.3.5.Not by works of righteoufnefs which we have done, but according to his mercy he faved us by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the holy Gholt.

f Mark 1.4. John did baptize in the wilderness,and preach the baptifm of repentance, for the remif fion of fins.

g Rom. 6. 3. Know ye not, that fo many of us as were baptized into Jefus Chrift, were baptized into his death? . 4. Therefore we are buried with him by baptifm into death: that like as Chrift was. raifed up from the death by the glory of the Father even fo we also: fhould walk in newness of life.

h Mat. 18. 19. (See in letter k foregoingchapter.).20.Teaching

them

II. The outward element to be used in this facrament is water, wherewith the party is to be baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, by a minifter of the golpel lawfully called thereunto i.

III. Dipping of the perfon into the water is not neceffary, but baptifm is rightly adminiftred by pouring or fprinkling water upon the perfon k.

IV. Not only thofe that do actually profess faith in and obedience unto Chrift 1, but also the infants of one or both believing parents, are to be baptized' m.

them to obferve all things what foever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

II. Mat.3. 1. I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance; but he that cometh after me, is mightier than I, whole fhoes I am not worthy to bear he fhall bap tize you with the holy Ghost,and with fire John 1. 33. And I knew him not; but he that fent me to baptize with water, the fame faid unto me, Upon whom thou shalt fee the fpirit defcending, and remaining on him, the fame is he which baptizeth withtheholy Ghoft Mat.28.19.(See in letter k forego ingchapter.) v.20 (See in letter h.) III. k Heb. 9.10,19, 20, 21, 22. Acts 2. 41. Then they that gladly received his word,were baptized and the fame day there were added unto them about three thoufand fouls. Acts 16.33. And he took them the fame hour of the night, and washed their ftripes, and was baptized, he and all his, ftraightway. Mark 7. 4. And when they come from the market,except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups and pots, brazen vellels, and of tables.

IV.JMark 16.15. And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach ye the goipel to every creature. . 16. He that believeth and is baptized,fhall be faved; but

V. Al

he that believeth not,fhall be damned, Acts 8. 37. And Philip faid, If thou believeft with all thine heart, thou mayeft. And he anfwered and faid, I believe that Jefus Chrift is the Son of God. v. 38. And he commanded the chariot to stand still; and they went down both into the water,both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.

m Gen.17.7. And I will eftablish my covenant between me and thee, and thy feed after thee, in their generations, for an everlasting covenant; to be a God unto thee, and to thy feed after thee. v. 9. And Cod faid untoAbraham, Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy feed after thee, in their generations. WithGal.3.9.So then they which be of faith, are blessed with faithful Abraham.. 14. That the blefling of Abrahammightcome ontheGentilesthrough Jefus Chrift; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. And Col.2.11. In whom alfo ye are circumcifed with the circumcifion made without hands,in putting off the body of the fins of the flesh, by the circumcifion ofChrist.v.12. Buried with him inbaptifm,wherein alfo ye are rifen with hin through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raifed him from the dead. And Acts 2.38.Then Peter faid unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you, in the name of Jefus Chrift, for the remission of fins,and ye shall receive the gift of

the

V. Although it be a great fin to contemn or neglect this or dinance n, yet grace and falvation are not fo infeparably annexed unto it as that no perfon can be regenerated or laved without it, or that all that are baptized are undoubtedly regenerated P,

VI. The efficacy of baptifm is not tied to that moment of time wherein it is adminiftred 4. yet notwithstanding, by the right use of this ordinance, the grace promifed is not only offered, but realy exhibited and conferred by the holy Ghost, to fuch (whether of age or infants) as that grace belongeth

the holy Ghostv.39. For the promife is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God fhall call. And Rom. 4. 11. And he received the fign of circumcifion, a feal of the righteoufnefs of the faith,whichhehathyet being uncircumcifed: that he might be the father of all themthat believe,though they be not circumcifed; that righteousness might be imputed unto them alfo: v. 2. And the father of circumcifion to them, who are not of the circumcifion only, but alfo walk in the ftepsof that faith of our father Abraham,whichhe had being yet uncircumcifed 1 Cor.7.14. For the unbelieving husbandis fanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is fanctified by the hufband: elfe were yourchildrenunclean: but now are they holy. Mat.28. 19 Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the father, and of the Son, and of the holy ghoft, Mark 10. 13. And they brought young childrentohim that he fhould touch them; and his difciples rebuked thofe that brought them. v. 14. But when jefus faw it, he was much difpleased, and faid untothem,fuffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of fuch is the kingdom of God. v. 15. Verily I fay unto you, Whofoever fhall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he fhall not enter therein. v. 16.And he took them up in his arms,puthis

unto

hands upon them,andbleffed them Luke 18.15.Andthey brought unto him alfo infants, that he would touch them:but when his difciples faw it, they rebuked them.

V.nLuke7. 30. But the Pharifees and lawyer srejected the council of God against themfelves, being not baptized of him. With Ex. 4. 24. And it came to pass bythe way in the inn, that the Lord met him, and fought to kill him..25.Then Zipporah took a fharp ftone, and cut off the forefkin of his son, and caft it at his feet,and faid, furely a bloody hufband art thou to me. v. 26. So he let him go: then the faid, A bloody husband thou art, because of the circumcifion.

o Rom. 4. 11. (See in letter m.). Acts 10. 2, 4, 22, 31, 45, 47:

p Acts 8. 13. Then Simon himfelf believed alfo: and when he was baptized,hecontinued with Philip, and wondred, beholding the miracles and figns which were done. v. 23. For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.

VI g John 3. 5. Jesusanswered, Verily,verily,I fay unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. v. 8. The wind bloweth where it lifteth, and thou heareft the found thereof, but can't nottell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: fo is every one that is born of the Spirit. K * Gal,

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