ཅ་

Nor doth their communion one with another, as saints, take away, or infringe the title or property which each man hath in his goods and possessions.9

of

CHAPTER XXVII.

OF THE SACRAMENTS.

I. SACRAMENTS are holy signs and seals of the covenant grace,a a immediately instituted by God, to represent Christ and his benefits, and to confirm our interest in him: as also to put a visible difference between those that belong unto the Church, and the rest of the world; d

approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honor and power everlasting. Amen.

Acts v. 4. While it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.

I. Rom. iv. 11. And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also. Gen. xvii. 7, 10. And I will establish my covenant between me and thee, and thy seed after thee, in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee and to thy seed after thee.-This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised.

Matt. 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 was betrayed, took bread.

1 Cor. x. 16. The cup of blessing 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, 26. After the same 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. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till he come. Gal. iii. 27. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

dEx. xii. 48. And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will

and solemnly to engage them to the service of God in Christ, according to his Word.e

II. There is in every Sacrament a spiritual relation, or sacramental 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.

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 Sacrament depend upon the piety or intention of him that doth administer it, but upon the work of the Spirit, and the word of institution, which contains, together with a precept author

keep the passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one that is born in the land: for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof. 1 Cor. x. 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.

• Rom. vi. 3, 4. Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 1 Cor. x. 2, 16. And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea.-The cup of blessing 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?

II. Gen. xvii. 10. This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you, and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised. Matt. xxvi. 27, 28. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. 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.

III. Rom. ii. 28, 29. For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God. 1 Pet. iii. 21. The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us, (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Matt. 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

izing the use thereof, a promise of benefit to worthy receivers.i

IV. There be only two Sacraments ordained by Christ our Lord in the Gospel, that is to say, Baptism and the Supper of the Lord: neither of which may be dispensed by any, but by a minister of the Word, lawfully ordained.*

V. The Sacraments of the Old Testament, in regard of the spiritual things thereby signified and exhibited, were, for substance, the same with those of the New.

CHAPTER XXVIII.

OF BAPTISM.

I. BAPTISM is a Sacrament of the New Testament, ordained by Jesus Christ," not only for the solemn admis

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.

'Luke xxii. 19, 20. And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you. 1 Cor. xi. 26. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till he come.

IV. * Matt. 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, 23. When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper.-For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus, the same night in which he was betrayed, took bread. 1 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 honor unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.

V. 1 Cor. x. 1-4. Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; And did all eat the same spiritual meat; And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock which followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

I. a Matt. 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.

sion of the party baptized into the visible Church, but also to be unto him a sign and seal of the covenant of grace,c of his ingrafting into Christ,d of regeneration,e of remission of sins, and of his giving up unto God, through Jesus Christ, to walk in newness of life: 9 which Sacrament is, by Christ's own appointment, to be continued in his Church until the end of the world.h

II. The outward element to be used in this Sacrament 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

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. See Gal. iii. 27, 28.

Rom. iv. 11. And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also. See Col. ii. 11, 12. In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through 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 Christ have put on Christ. Rom. vi. 5. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection.

• Tit. iii. 5. He saved 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 remission of sins. Acts ii. 38. Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins. See Acts xxii. 16.

Rom. vi. 3, 4. Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Matt. xxviii. 19, 20. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.

II. Acts x. 47. Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost? Acts viii. 36, 38. And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the

III. Dipping of the person into the water is not necessary; but Baptism is rightly administered by pouring or sprinkling water upon the person.*

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

V. Although it be a great sin to contemn or neglect this ordinance," yet grace and salvation are not so inseparably

eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? -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. Matt. 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.

III. Acts ii. 41. Then they that gladly received his word, were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. Acts x. 46, 47. Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? Acts xvi. 33. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. 1 Cor. x. 2. And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea.

IV. 'Acts ix. 18. And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.

m Gen. xvii. 7, 9. And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee and to thy seed after thee.-And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in their generations. Gal. iii. 9, 14. So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.-That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Rom. iv. 11, 12. And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised; that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also: And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, 'which he had being yet uncircumcised. Acts ii. 38, 39. Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. See Acts xvi. 14, 15, 33; 1 Cor. vii. 14.

V. "Luke vii. 30. But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel