to affirm, is impious and blafphemous f. Nor doth their communion one with another, as faints, take away or infringe the title or property which each man hath in his goods and poffeffionsg. S CHAP. XXVII. Of the Sacraments. 1 ACRAMENTS are holy signs and feals of the covenant of grace a, immediately instituted by God b, to reprefent Chrift III. Col. i. 18. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the first born from the dead; that in all things he might have the pre-eminence. v. 19. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell. 1 Cor. viii. 6. But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Chrift, by whom are all things, and we by him. Ifa. xlii. 8. I am the Lord, that is my name, and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praife to graven images. 1 Tim. vi. 15, Which in his times he shall thew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords. v. 16, Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto, whom no man hath feen, nor can fee: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen, Pfal. xlv. 7. Thou lovest righteoufnefs and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. With Heb. i. 8. But unto the Son he faith, Thy throne, God, is for ever and ever; a fceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom: v. 9. Thou haft loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. g Exod. xx. 15. Thou shalt not steal. Eph. iv. 28. Let him that stole, steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. Acts v. 4. Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was fold, was it not in thine own power? why haft thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou haft not lied unto men, but unto God. I. a Rom iv. 11. And he received the sign of circumcifion, a feal of the righteousness of the faith, which he had yet being uncircumcised, that he might be the father of all them that believe, tho' they be not circuncifed; that righteoufness might be imputed unto them also, Gen. xvii. 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. 10. (See below in letter f.). ८ b Mat. xxviii. 19. Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. 1 Cor. xi. 23. For I have received of the Lord, that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus, the same night in which he he was betrayed, took bread. Chrift and his benefits; and to confirm our interest in himc; as also to put a visible difference between those that belong.. unto the church, and the rest of the world d; and folemnly to engage them to the service of God in Christ, according to his word e. II. There is in every facrament a spiritual relation, or facramental union, between the sign and the thing signified; whence it comes to pass, that the names and effects of the one are attributed to the other f. c 1 Cor. x. 16. The cup of bleffing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? the bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ ? 1 Cor. xi. 25. After the fame manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the New Testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. v. 26. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come. * Gal, iii, 27. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ, have put on Chrift. Gal. iii. 17. And this, I say, That the covenant that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law which was four hundred and thirty years after cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect, d Rom. xv. 8. Now I fay, That Jesus Chrift was a minister of the circumcifion for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers. Exod. xii. 48. And when a stranger shall fojourn with thee, and will keep the passover to the Lord, let all his males be circumcifed, and then let him comes near and keep it and he shall be as one that is born in the land: for no uncircumcifed person shall eat III. The thereof, Gen, xxxiv. 14. And thev faid unto them, We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to one that is uncircumcised: for that were a reproach unto us. e Rom. vi. 3. Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ, were baptized into his death? v. 4. Therefore we are buried with him by baptifm into death : that like as Christ was raisedupfrom the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 1 Cor. x. 16. (See in letter c.) v. 21. Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils. 11. Gen. xvii. ro. This is my covenant, which ye shall keep between me and you, and thy feed after thee; every man child among you ftrall be circumcised. Mat. xxvi. 27. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it unto them, saying, Drink ye all of it. v. 28. For this is my blood of the New Teftament, which is shed for many for the remission of fins. Tit. iii. 5. Not by works of righteousness, which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost. K 2 III.g Rom. 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 institution, which contains, together with a precept authorifing the use thereof, a promise of benefit to worthy receivers i. IV. There be only two facraments ordained by 'Chrift our Lord in the gospel, that is to say, baptifm and the fupper of the Lord; neither of which may be dispensed by any but by a minister of the word lawfully ordained k. V. The facraments of the Old Testament, in regard of the spiritual things thereby fignified and exhibited, were for fubstance, the fame with those of the New I. III. g Rom. ii. 28. For he is not a Jew, who is one outwardly; neither is that circumcifion, which is outward in the flesh: v. 29. But he is a Jew, who is one inwardly; and circumcifion is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter, whose praife is not of men, but of God. 1 Pet. iii. 21. The like figure whereunto, even baptifm, doth also now fave us, (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the anfwer of a good confcience towards God) by the refurrection of Jesus Chrift. b Matth. iii. 11. I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance; but he that cometh after me, is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear; he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire, 1 Cor. xii. 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 Spirit. i Mat. xxvi. 27, 28. See in letter f.) Mat xxviii. 19. (See in letter b.) v. 20. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever i have CHAP. commanded you; and lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. IV. k Mat. xxviii. 19. Go ye, therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. 1 Cor. xi. 20. When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper. v. 23. For 1 have received of the Lord, that which also I de livered unto you, That the Lord Jesus, the same night in which he was betrayed, took bread. I Cor. iv. 1. Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Heb. v. 4. And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron. V. / 1 Cor. x. 1. Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all pafled through the sea; v. 2. And were all baptized unto Mofes in the cloud, and in the fea; v. 3. And did all eat the same spiritual meat; v. 4. And did all drink the fame spiritual drink; (for they drank of that Chap. XXVIII. The Confeffion of Faith. CHAP. XXVIII. Of Baptifm. 149 APTISM is a facrament of the New Testament, ordained B by Jesus Christ a, not only for the folemn admission of the party baptized into the visible church b; but also to be unto him a sign and feal of the covenant of grace c, of his ingrafting into Christ d, of regeneration e, of remission of fins f, and of his giving up unto God thro' Christ Jesus, 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 world b. 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 minister of the gospel lawfully called thereunto i. that spiritual Rock that followed b1 Cor. xii. 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 Spirit. e Rom. iv. 11. And he received the sign of circumcifion, a feal of the righteousness of the faith, which he had yet being uncircuncised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcifed; that righteousness might be imputed unto them alfo. With Col. ii. 11. In whom also ye Are circumcifed with the circumcifion made without hands, in putting off the body of the fins of the fleth, by the circumcifion of Chrift. v. 12. Buried with him in baptifm, wherein also ye are risen with him, thro' the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. d Gal. iii. 27. For as many of you as have been baptized into Chrift, have put on Chrift, Rom. III. Dip vi. 5. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death: we shall be also in the likeness of his refurrection. e Tit. iii. 5. Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he faved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost. Mark i. 4. John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance, for the remiffion of fins. g Rom. vi. 3. Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ, were baptized into his death? v. 4. Therefore we are buried with him by baptifm into death; that like as Chrift was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. b Mat. xxviii, 19. (See in letter k foregoing chapter.) v. 20. Teaching them to observe all things whatfoever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you alway, even uoro the end of the world. Amen. II. Mat, iii. 11.-1 indeed bapK3 tice . III. Dipping of the person into the water is not necessary, but baptifm is rightly administred by pouring or sprinkling water upon the perfon k. IV. Not only those that do actually profess faith in and obedience unto Christ 1, but also the infants of one or both believing parents, are to be baptized m. tize you with water unto repen tance; but he that cometh after me, is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear; he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire. John i. 33. And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt fee the Spirit defcending, and remaining on him, the fame is he who baptizeth with the Holy chost. Mat. xxviii. 19. (See in letter k foregoing chap zer.) v. 20. (See in letter b.) 22. III. k Heb. ix, 10, 19, 20, 21, Acts ii. 41. Then they that gladly received his word, were baptized: and the fame day there were added unto them about three thousand fouls. Acts xvi. 33. And he took them in the fame hour of the night, and washed their stripes, and was baptized, he and all his straightway. Mark vii. 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 vessels, and of tables. IV. / Mark xvi. 15. And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach ye the gospel to every creature. v. 16. He that believeth and is baptized, shall be saved; but he that believeth not, shall be damned. Acts viii. 37. And Philip faid, if thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayeft. And he an(wered and faid, I believe that je V. Al sus Christ 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. In Gen. xvii. 7. And I will establish 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. Aud God faid unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy feed after thee, in their generations. With cal. iii. 9. So then they who be of faith, are blessed with faithful Abraham, v. 14. That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. and Col.lii. 11. In whom also ye are circumcifed with the circumcifion made without hands, in putting off the body of the fins of the flesh, by the circumcifion of Christ: v. 12. Buried with him in baptifm, wherein also ye are rifen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. And acts ii. 38. Then Peter faid unto them, Repent and be baptized, every one of you in the name of Jesus Chrift, for the remiflion of sins, and ye thall receive the gift of the Holy choft. v. 39. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord |