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 Ipractical essay| 
 
 ON THE 
 
 j SACRAMENT | 
 
 Ibaptism;! 
 
 WHEREIN, 
 
 I The Dodtrine of that 'Divine Ordinance % 
 
 g is opened and explained ; the Contro- |* 
 
 fi veriies concerning it are ftated and de- & 
 
 % termined ; feveral Quefiions of great & 
 
 § Moment are propofecj, and anfweredj % 
 
 % Pra&ical Obfervations from each parti- || 
 
 h calar Head are noticed : The Con ft it u- *| 
 
 is tion and TraZiice of the eftablifhed « 
 
 % Church of Scotland vindicated ; and the % 
 
 g Chriftian Improvement of this valuable % 
 
 % Privilege is pointed at. g 
 
 f f 
 
 |j By Mr. Jokn-Warde n Miniiter of the % 
 
 ® Gospel at Gar^unnock. • 
 
 v- ° & 
 
 & Gal. iii. 27. For as many of you as have leenM 
 %, hafitifed into Chrift^ have put on Chrifl. 
 
 $ — • ig 
 
 m & 
 
 I EDINBURGH, I 
 
 || Printed for J. MacEuen, and are to be fold at % 
 & his Shop there. Mdccxxiv. % 
 
To the Honourable, 
 
 Sir James Campbell 
 
 of Ardkinlefs, Baronet. 
 
 AND 
 
 Henry Cunninghame 
 
 of Boquhav, Efquire. 
 
 Heritors of the Paroch of 
 
 G A RG V N N C K* 
 
 This ESSAY, as a {mall, but 
 publick Testimony of 
 Gratitude, is humbly 
 Prefented and Dedicated by 
 
 John Warden, 
 *'»« THE 
 

 
T H E-jp&m. 
 
 PREFAC 
 
 T O T H E &. \ 
 
 READER 
 
 Reader, 
 
 IT has been juftly-, and very much 
 regreted) that tho vie have many 
 valuable Books on fever al important 
 Sub/effis, abundance on the Sacrament of 
 the L O RD's Supper 5 not a few concern- 
 ing Infant Baptifm, and fome on that 
 fhieftion^ Whether this Ordinance is to 
 be adminiftred by Dipping or Sprink- 
 ling ? Tet we have none which Jo much 
 as propofe to treat of the fever al Tarts 
 of this Divine Inftitution, much lefs 
 which difconrfe of thcfe in a Practical 
 Manner • and after the mofi diligent 
 * 3 Search 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 Search I could make, both here and by 
 my Friends at London, I never did fee* 
 nor could I hear of any, except fome- 
 what done an Hundred Tears ago, by 
 me Mr. Atterfole. This, together with 
 the melancholy ' Obferv/ition, That Per- 
 sons baptifed feldom refleU on this great 
 and extraordinary Privilege conferred 
 upon them in their Infancy ; and tho 
 Parents prefent their Children to the 
 Mofi High, and in the mofl folemh Man- 
 ner engage to bring them up in the 
 Nurture (ind Admonition of the Lord y 
 yet % as foon as they make, fo foon do 
 they forget and break thefe their mofi 
 facred Vows. Thefe Thoughts, I fay, 
 gave Rife to my Inclinations towards 
 the following EJJay. 
 
 Stit tho it is not now fo veryfajhion- 
 able, yet I may be a little more par- 
 ticular, and inform thee, That fo foon 
 (Zs my fmall Effay on the Sacrament of 
 the LORD's Supper, was publijhed 
 fome Tears ago, fome of my beft Friends 
 earnejily wifoed I would do fomething 
 in a Praftical Way on Baptifm alfo. 
 And in Obedience to their < Defire, I fet 
 myfelf, fo far as my Minifterial Work 
 could allow, to read on that SuhjeU ; 
 
 but 
 
P B. -E F A e E. 
 
 hit I had fcarce beftowd feme Months 
 that Way^ when fuch a Number of 
 Difficulties fo ' prefented themf elves to 
 my \ View-, that I defpaired to make 
 t any Thing tolerable of it> and for a 
 Twelve Month, entirely laid it a- 
 fide^ and earneftly wifced it in another 
 Hand ; Sat my Friends renewing their 
 Importunity^ I again reftimed it*, and 
 after Thnee Tears made the firfi 
 Draught ; which no fooner I had 
 done^ than I pat it in the Hands of 
 federal Terfons of more than ordina- 
 ry Learning and Abilities , and of my 
 very reverend and worthy Brethren, 
 that it Jlmild be for ever buried in 
 Silence or fee the Lights as they flmild 
 judge of it. By this Method^ it came 
 to pafS) that for the Space of other 
 three Tears it was fcarce three Weeks 
 in my Cujiod'y. By . all which thou 
 may eft fee, that if it is not well done, 
 it has not been raJJjly- done* 
 
 It is here I fiould give thee and my 
 felfthe T lea fur e of publifloing the Names 
 of my kind and generous Revifers ; but 
 feeing I want their Allowance, I can- 
 not bat make this publick Acknowledg- 
 ment of their Condefcenfion, Honefty and 
 * 4 I Cbri- 
 
P R E f A C £ . 
 
 Ghrijiianity^ in their frank an$ faith* 
 fal informing me wherein they thought 
 I was wrong- or defeUive^ and iii giving 
 their friendly JJ/iJiMce to me in reUify- 
 ing the Firft> and making tip the Lafi ; 
 fo that I was led into a more clear and 
 full Understanding of fome Things ; and 
 had jttfi Occafion given me fo? a quite 
 different Tarn of Thoughts as to o- 
 thcrs. 
 
 Tct, after I have done my outmofi^ I 
 cannot expeU^ That this Effay will 
 pleafe every Reader ; for Things in 
 prtit miiji fiand or fall^ according to 
 their own Worthy or the Reader s Fan- 
 ■cy. And as I do not look to efcape Cen- 
 sure more than belter Writers whofe 
 Socks I am not worthy to hear j fo^ I 
 Jhall not l?e fo 'uncharitable^ as to fiip- 
 poje any of my Readers' to be of the 
 proud and carping T)ijpof}tion-> who 
 fqueeze every Expreflion^ and heavily 
 cenfure an unguarded Sentence^ or what 
 they think a weak^ and not jo well con- 
 neUed Argument. 
 
 I pretend not to Fuyiimenefs ofTbcug/jt, 
 nor .Elegancy of Stile > but write in my 
 owncoarfe and country Way, to Teople 
 
 of 
 
PREFACE 
 
 of my own Size, to whom, perhaps tbs 
 following Effay will not be unaccep- 
 table : Much lefs do I pre fume to pub- 
 lifh this for the Information of the Lear- 
 ned ; for* to fiich Mafters of Knowledge, 
 with the greatefi SatisfaUion, I Jhall 
 always profefs my felf a Scholar ; and 
 jhalf 1 hope, never be afhamed, pub- 
 l/ckly to retract, what, upon Conviction, 
 they (hall judge wrongs m* amifs. And 
 if the following Eflfay Jhall provoke any 
 fiich to do better upon this Subject, as 
 eafily they may, I have then one great 
 Tart offny T)efign in writing it. 
 . 
 If I have differed from others, I 
 hope it is with Mode fly and Charity ; 
 nor Jhall I grudge them the fame Li- 
 berty of differing from me, when they 
 find I have not Argument on my Side 
 ftiffcient to fupport me. 
 
 My Congregational Work of the Mi- 
 nifiry^ which I could not allow my felf 
 to iiegleU, occafioncd a difcontinued Way 
 of writing, which, together with one 
 and the fame Inference following na- 
 tively from the fever al Subjects treated 
 cf, are the true Caufes whence fome 
 %bings are repeated ; which \ it is ho- 
 
 ped > 
 
P ft E F A C E 
 
 fed, will be readily pardoned, and the 
 rather *, becaufe this will not be altoge^ 
 ther tifelefs. 
 
 I never propofed worldly Gain by 
 Printing this, nor have I wade any by 
 Ji ; for I defire to reckon, That as I 
 ^have been folemnly fet apart to the Work 
 of the Go/pel, jo any Meajhre of Gifts 
 God hath given me, and any Tains I 
 have been or can be at, are his Church's 
 due. And if it Jhall pleafe him to 
 blefs this EfTay, to the promoting of 
 true Religion in its Life and Tower, 
 the Edification of his Teople, the Ad- 
 vancement of his Kingdom, and fkew- 
 ing forth of his Glory, I have all my 
 T)efire. And feeing this my Intention 
 is fo very juft and allowable, I cannot 
 iut hope, That with good Men, it will 
 be an Excufe for the Meannefs of my 
 Performance, and in Jome Me a fur e je- 
 cure me from the Fear of rajh and tm- 
 charitable Cenfure. 
 
 Gargunnodk, Febru- 
 ary 17 th, 1724. 
 
 THE 
 

 THE 
 
 
 CONTEN 
 
 % 
 
 Page 
 
 I. r "T % H E Introdu&ion, containing fome 
 
 X brief Account of our Chriflian Doc- 
 trine, and of Sacraments in general f 
 
 II. Chap. I. Of the Nature of Eaptifm _ r$ 
 Seel, I. Of the Author and Caufes of Baptifm i? 
 Seel. IL Of the Signs in Baptifm 30 
 Seel. III. Of the Things fignified 3* 
 Seel. IV. In whofe Name Perfons are bap- 
 
 tifed 4<f 
 
 Sea. V. Of the Ends and Ufes of Baptifm 55 
 Seel. VI. Of our Engagement to be the 
 
 Lord's by Baptifm 6% 
 
 Chap. II. Of the Objecls of Baptifm 70 
 
 Seel. I. Who are not to be baptifed, and 
 
 who are 71. 
 
 Seel. II. Of Infant Baptifm, where feveral 
 
 Queftions of Moment are propofed 7y 
 
 Sea. III. Of Parents Duties no 
 
 Seel. IV Of Sponfors, God-fathers, God- 
 mothers, l$c. 125 
 Sea. V. Of the Duties of the Congregation 
 T -^n Baptifm is adminiftred 135 
 
 - _ ~I. Of the NeceJIity of Baptifm 138 
 
 Sea. h 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 Page 
 
 Seel I. That Baptifm is neceffary, and how 
 far fo 1 39 
 
 Seel. II. That Baptifm is not abfolutely ne- 
 ceffary 'Hi 
 
 Chap. IV. Of the Adminiftrators and Ad- 
 ministration of Baptifm 155 
 
 Seel. I. Of the Adminiftrators of Baptifm, 
 where fome Questions of Import are pro- 
 pofed, and Presbyterian A dm iniil rations 
 are vindicated 155 
 
 ^ Seel. II. Of the Adminiftration of Baptifm 184 
 
 Article I. Of what is previous to Baptifm ibid* 
 
 II. Of the Aclion of Adminiftration, where 
 the Practice of ^Dipping \& confidered 187 
 
 III. Of Exorcifm in Baptifm 196 
 
 IV. Of Oil, Salt and Spittle in Baptifm 201 
 
 V. Of baptifing with the Sign of the Crofs 104 
 
 VI. Of Naming the Perfon baptifed 209 
 
 VII. Of taking Engagements of Parents, &c. 21 r 
 
 VIII. Of private Baptifm 220 
 
 IX. With what Frame of Mind it is to be 
 gone about 250 
 
 X. Of Rebaptiiing *35 
 
 Chap. V. Of the Efficacy of Baptifm 2 $6 
 
 Seel. I. Of the Extent of the Efficacy of 
 Baptifm 5 where is confideyed, 2 37 
 
 I. If the Efficay of this extends to all the 
 Baptifed 238 
 
 II. How far Blemngs signified are acl u al- 
 ly beftowed on thofe to whom it is effi- 
 cacious 246 
 
 Seel. II. Whence the Efficacy of Baptifm is 253 
 
 Chap. VI. Of our Improvement of Baptifm 2CQ 
 ,Nota, 7*bat the proper ^PraBkal Infe- 
 rences are made from each particu- 
 lar Head. 
 
PRACTICAL 
 
 
 O N T H E 
 
 SACRAM 
 
 BAPTISM- 
 
 The Introduction. 
 
 S the Works of Creation 
 j declare Jehovah's eter- 
 \ nal Power and Godhead 
 (V);fo his Providences drop 
 Marrow and Fatnefs on 
 the Sons of Men (b) : But 
 efpecially, the Inftitutions 
 of his Worfhip and Ordi- 
 nances proclaim his mani- 
 fold Wifdom, his aftonifhing Condefcenfion, 
 his fovereign, rich and free Grace, his irrerHiible 
 A Power, 
 
 (*) Rom. i, 20. (b) Acls i4» i7« A<fts m 28. 
 
i r J Tragical EJJay on 
 
 Power, the unchangeable Purpofes of his Love, 
 and the unfearchable Riches of Jefus Chrifl (c). 
 And as God fully and clearly revealeth thefe by 
 his Wordy to he, in the moft confpicuous and 
 Heart engaging Manner, manifefts them by his 
 Sacraments (d)? not only by that of his Stiff er y 
 but alfo by this of Saftijm : Of which, before I 
 fay any Thing particularly, it is neceiTary that we 
 understand the following Truths, by which we 
 may have a more diftincl: Apprehendon of what 
 may be faid on this divine and awful Ordi- 
 nance. 
 "Man's Fir fly That all A dam's Pofterity, defcending 
 State by f rom him by ordinary Generation, are, by Na- 
 JNature. ture ^ j Q a g tate f Quilt, and unfpeakable Mi- 
 fery (e) : being, together with him, 'as their fe- 
 deral Head and Reprefentative, guilty of the Vi- 
 olation of the Covenant of Works (f)$ und con- 
 fequently Sinners before God, fallen from their 
 original Pinacle and Height of Happinefs, ' de- 
 prived of original Righteoufnefs and Holinefs, of 
 the Image and Favour of God, of Accefs to him, 
 and Communion with him (g)$ now corrupted 
 as to the whole Man (h)y dark and ignorant (i), 
 dead (k\ obftinate (/), alienated from God an4 
 all that is truly and fpiritually good (m\ whol- 
 ly inclined to Evil (n\ going on in a Courfe of 
 Sin (e) y and running headlong to everlafting Dam- 
 nation (p) ; poor and deftitute {q\ under the 
 Wrath and Curfe of God (r), the Dominion of 
 Sin, the Tyranny of Satan, liable to all the T^i- 
 
 fenes 
 
 (e) Mark 6. 12. Luke 9- £o« Luke 24. 4? r A<fts 17. r8. 
 Rom. 10.8. Eph. 2. 17. Eph. 3. 8* (d) r Cor. n. V. 23, 
 to 28. Gal. 3. 27- (e) £zek. 16. 6. (f) Roin. 3.23. 
 Rom. 5. 12 19. (g) G-Jn. 3.24. (/;) Geafc& $• £ph. 4. 
 22. (0 Eph. 4. ib. 1 Cor. 2. 14. (fe) Eph. 2.1. 2 Cor. 
 5. 14, (i) Jo. 5. 40. Pfalm8i. 10. (w) Zech. 7. ir. Job 
 s 2i. 24. Col, 1. 21. (») Jer. i7« 9- Eccl. 8. 11. (0) Eph. 2. 
 1, 2. Col. 3. 7. 1 pet. 4. 3. (/») Rom. 6.23. (<i) Eph* 2* 
 12, Rev. 3. 17* (r) Eph. 2. 3. Gal. 3. 9,-10. 
 
the Sacrament of Haptifm. 3 
 
 feries of this Xife, to Death itfelf, and to the 
 Pains of Hell for ever (/;. 
 
 idly y As all Men, by Nature, are thus wretch- His Ina- 
 ed, and in the moft deplorable Condition j fo j^^c- . 
 they are altogether unable to fave or help them- f e if. * " 
 felves : For, they can never fatisfy the infinite 
 Juftice that they have offended $ they cannot 
 now give that perfect Obedience, required hy the 
 Law-Covenant, which they have tranfgrefTed 5 
 they cannot recover the Image of God, nor that 
 Friendfhip and Communion with him, and Ac- 
 cefs to him, which they are now deprived of$ 
 they cannot redeem nor repair the precious Soul 
 they have ruined and loft 5 they cannot free them- 
 felves from the Tyranny of Satan, under which 
 they now are brought 5 nor from the Power and 
 Dominion that their indwelling Lulls now have 
 over them j and fo can never, in their own Per- 
 fons, have a Righteoufnefs anfwering the Law, 
 on which they might found a Title to Life. And 
 much lefs can they, or any meer Creature in 
 their Room, fo undergo the Wrath and Curfe of 
 the Great Judge, as to attone his Juftice, and 
 free themfelves from everlafting Damnation (t). 
 Tea, Men are now, by Nature, fo alienated from 
 God, and every Thing fpiritually good, fo 'fixed 
 and peremptory in a Courfe of Rebellion againft 
 Heaven, that as they want the Power to comply 
 with any Propofal made for their Relief, fo.they 
 have an utter Averfion therefrom, and are ftated 
 Enemies thereto {it). 
 
 And in a Suitablenefs to the Purpofe in View, 
 
 we may, from what hath been faid, obferve, 
 
 what great Objects of Pity and Compaffion our 
 
 poor Infants are, they being conceived in Sin r 
 
 A 2 and 
 
 (/*) Rom. 8. 7. Rom. 6. 17. Rom. 2. 25. Epli. 2. 2, 3. 
 Pvom. 5. 17, 18,21. (/) Micah 6. 6, 7. Hof. 13. 9- Rom. 
 3.20. Rom. <. 6. Rom. 8. 3. 2 Cor. 3. 5. (u) Rom. 8. 7- 
 Joh.i 1. 11. Jsr, 2. 25. Zech. 7, 11. Luke 1?. 14. k&> 1- 
 
4 A Tragical EJfay on 
 
 and brought forth in Iniquity! deftitute of every 
 Thing that is truly and fpiritually good ; ly Na- 
 ture Children of Wrath. Expofed to Thoufands 
 of Miferies in this V r orld, and in the World to 
 come, to the eternal Vengeance of a holy and juft 
 God. O then! How cught Parents and all o- 
 thers concerned in them, to be fo deeply affecled 
 and afrlicled with the miferable Condition of 
 their dear Infants, as to fhew all imaginable 
 Companion towards them, by bringing them ear- 
 ly to the "Blood of Sfr inkling, arid that Redeem- 
 er who alone can faVe them ; to that God, and 
 his well-ordered Covenant, who, as he has pro- 
 mifed us to be a God to Believers, fo alfoto their 
 Seed after them : And to that holy Spirit, who 
 alone can fanclify and cleanfe them. How quick- 
 ly fhould they prefint them before the Lord, and 
 with the greater! Chearfulnefs devote them to 
 him ! And, how fervently and frequently fhould 
 they pray for them, and, as foon as decently may 
 be, have the Seal of the Covenant of Grace ad- 
 miniftrated unto them ! 
 Plan's Re- idly, All Mankind, defcending from Adam 
 covery. ^y ordinary Generation, being now Sinners, loft 
 and .undone, incapable to help themfelves, and 
 no Eye to pity them 3 the Sovereign Jehovah 
 difplays infinite Wifdom, matchlefs Grace, and 
 boundlefs Love, by laying Help upon one that is 
 nighty, even upon his own eternally begotten Son 5 
 who from Eternity was true God, coeffential and 
 coequal witli his Father (w)» and yet became 
 true Man, and fo was, and ft ill is both God and 
 Man in one Perfon Or) 5 who, in the FuJnefs of 
 Time, as the only Saviour, Head, Surety, Re- 
 prefentative and Redeemer of Elecl Sinners, ful- 
 filled 
 / 
 
 («•) Pfcimfip. ip» Ifaiah 42. 1. to V. "21. Ifaiah 53. 6: 
 1 John 4. 9, 10. John 3. 16. John 1. 1. Acts 20. 28. John 
 10. 30. Heb: 1. 2, 3, 6. 1 1 John 3. 16. Zech. 13. 7. 1 John 
 5. 20. (*) John i» 14, Luke 24. 3?. Gal. 4. 4> 5. 
 
the Sacrament of Baptifm. 
 
 filled, in their Room and Stead, the Whole of 
 the broken Covenant of Works, by giving Obedi- 
 ence to the Precepts of it, in doing all the Father 
 commanded him $ and by fatisfying the Threat- 
 nings of it, in fuflfering that Chaftifement, Curfe 
 and Punifhment the Father laid upon him, and 
 which was due to them becaufe of their Tranf- 
 greflions (y). By which, as in their Room, he 
 gave complete Satisfaction to all, that either the 
 Law-Covenant, or Juftice of God, could require 
 of them, in Order to their Salvation: So hereby 
 he put an End to Sin, wiade Reconciliation for 
 Iniquity, and brought in everlafting Righteauf- 
 nefs (z>), purchafed to elect Sinners, and to them 
 only, a complete Deliverance from the Curfe of 
 the Law, and Wrath of God, from Sin, Satan, 
 the World, Death, and the Sting of it (a). By 
 this alfo he procured a Reiteration of every 
 Thing neceflary to the eternal and complete 
 Happinefs of his People, to the Favour and I- 
 mage of God, of Accefs unto God, and Com- 
 munion v/ith him 5 fo as that he becomes a God 
 unto the poor, but now believing Sinner, his re- 
 conciled Father, and Portion for ever (b). In 
 him the naked, deitkute, weak and difobedient 
 Sinner, but made willing in a Day of his Power, 
 has a complete and perfed Rightecufaefs j which 
 being imputed to him, in a Way of Grace> comes 
 to be juftified in the Sight of God the Judge of 
 all the Earth $ and thereby has a fure and in- 
 violable Title to the promifed Life (c'j, Our 
 glorious Redeemer hath alfo purchafec] for all his 
 A 3 Seed 
 
 J 
 
 (y) Gal. 3. 13. Rom. 5. 18, 19. Rom: 8. 3. 4. (2) Gah 
 4:4, 5, 6. Ifiiah 53, 5. D.*n: 9. 24* John 19. 30. 1 John 
 3.8. (a) Gal: 3. 13. Tic.is 2. 14. Gal. 1.4. 1 Thcif: 1. 
 10. John 3. 16. Job 33, 24. (i) Fph. 5: 25, 26. JEpii: 2: 
 iS. Rom: 5: 2. Col: 1: 20,21. 2 Cor: 5: 19. Heb: 7:22. 
 with Heb: 8: 10. (c) Ifaiah 4s: 24. Philip: 3: 7, 8, 9. Rom: 
 3: 21, 22. Rom. 4: 6. Rom: 5: 1. Rom: 5. 17, 18. Rom: 3, 
 24. Rom: 4.25. Rom. 5. 9. John 3. 16, 36. 
 
i5 r A Tragical EJfay on 
 
 Seed Adoption, or their being admitted into his 
 Father's Family, that they may be Heirs ofGod> 
 and Joint-heirs with himfelf \e) 5 that they may 
 make Progrefs in Sanflification, grow in Grace, \ 
 live to God, and finally perfevere in the Ways of 
 God (/). He hath alfo obtained for them an 
 eternal Redemption and everlafting Glory $ when 
 they fliall be brought to the full Pofleffion of the 
 purchafed Inheritance 5 have eternal Purity, Vic- 
 tory, Liberty, Joy, Pleafures and Satisfaction, 
 in the full Enjoyment of God for evermore (g). 
 And in Order to the effectual Application of this 
 Redemption, Salvation and Happinefs, he hath 
 alfo purchafed the divine Spirit, in all his Offi- 
 ces, Grace, and gracious Operations, to be com- 
 municated to his Seed, in God's own Method 
 and Time, and by Means of his Appointment 
 {¥). And all thefe Chrijl did and fuffered, pur- 
 1 chafed and procured , in- an exact Conformity to 
 the eternal Counfels of the glorious Trinity, and 
 the particular Concert or Tranfaclion betwixt 
 God the Father and himfelf his eternal Son, con- 
 cerning the Redemption and Salvation of perifh- 
 ing but elect Sinners (i). 
 Inference? From what hath been now offered, we may 
 from this' learn the unfpeakable Value of immortal Souls, 
 the high and infinite Price that was paid for thefe, 
 the matchlefs and boundlefs Love of Chrifl. And 
 feeing Chrijl hath thus purchafed and paid for 
 all, then furely thefe Blefiings, thus purchafed, 
 cannot be convey'd to Sinners, but in a Way of 
 the pureft and freeft Grace. 
 
 • As 
 
 ; (e) John 1. 12. Rom. 8. id, 17. ( f ) Eph. 2. 21. 1 Per. 
 2. 29. 2 Cor. 5. 14, 15. tial. 2. 20. John 10. 28. (g) Heb. 
 *. 9. 1 John 3. 2, 3. r ThefT. 4- 17- * Cor. 15. 54, 55, 5<J, 
 57. 1 Cor. 13. 12. (» John 16. 7, 8, 9. Eph. 4- 8. Rom. 
 8.9. 1 Cor. 2.4. 12. 2Cor.4. 13. Rom. 8. 16 26, 27. 
 Ezek. 36. 27. Zech. 12. 10. Gal. 3. 2. (i) Zech. & 13- 
 Ilaiah 53- 10, u. John 6. 37, John 10. 263 2 7> Rota, u. 
 7. Eph, 1. 3, 4, 5. 
 
the Sacrament of Baptifin* ' 7 
 
 As alfo, we may hence obferve the exact Suit- 
 ablenefs of the Remedy to the Sinners Malady, 
 and of purchafcd Mercies to his Miferies ; and 
 what great Encouragement Parents have, to 
 bring their Children to the Lord Jefus Chrifl, 
 and to his complete Obedience, perfect Satisfacti- 
 on and Righteoufnefs ; for, tho' our Babes come 
 n*iferable into the World, altogether incapable 
 to do any Thing for their own Relief or Happi- 
 nefs j yet here, in Chrifl is all that's neceffary to 
 their complete Redemption and Salvation 3 and 
 all this in a Way of free, fovereign, and rich 
 Grace. With what Joy then, may Parents bring 
 their Infants hither, feeing it is to a Saviour who 
 died for fuch 5 who in the Days of his Flefh. took 
 them in his Arms and bleffed them 5 and now 
 when he's afcended into Heaven, will not and 
 does not reject them * Seeing it is to a God in 
 Chrifl reconciling the World to hiwfelf--, who 
 hath extended his Covenant of Grace to them, 
 and fo promifes to be their God 5 and to an holy 
 and divine Spirit ? who, in his own Time and. 
 Way, effectually renews and fanctifies them, as 
 well as thofe who are come to riper Age* 
 
 \thly, Redemption and Salvation being now TIlc A V~ 
 purchafed, GOD, according to his eternal Pur- ?h ^£u- 
 pofe, and the Promife of his Covenant of Grace, ri;y o£ 
 doth apply thefe, or put his People in Pofleilion tins Sal- 
 of them, by Means of his Appomtn^ent, accor- vatlon ' 
 ding to their Capacity, and the effectual Opera- 
 tion of his Holy Spirit 3 fo as they come to be fa- 
 vingly and aclually brought into Covenant, and 
 have all the Bleffings thereof convey 'd and fecn- 
 red to them, to the # Praife of the Glory of his 
 Grace (k). And God being willing to give the 
 Heirs of Salvation the fulleft Security imagina- 
 A 4 ble, 
 
 (fc) Rom. S. 30. 1 Cor. 1, 30. John 6,37, Ephef. 1. 3, 
 to 12. Ephef. 4. n 3 i2, 13. 
 
I r A Tragical EJfay on < 
 
 ble, and to fhew the Immutability of his Coinv 
 fel, it hath pleafed him to confirm the fame, 
 Firfl y By his Oath, whereby he pledges his 
 glorious and infinite Perfections, for the Accom- 
 plishment of his Promife (I), idly* By the In- 
 dwelling of his Holy Spirit 3 working in his Peo- 
 ple, and witnefling to them their IntereftinChrift, 
 their Title to this purchafed Redemption, and 
 Right to all the Promifes of the well ordered 
 and everlafting Co e ue7iant^ and that upon Scrip- 
 ture Evidence (»;). And, $dly, God doth vifibly 
 and externally feal all the above-named Blef- 
 fings, by his Gofpel Sacraments, as inftituted vi- 
 fible Signs and Pledges thereof (0 ). 
 Inferen- From this we may be informed, of the furpri- 
 ees from fing Care that an infinitely gracious God hath, 
 this. no t only of the Salvation, but alfo of the Comfort 
 
 of his People. For, as he hath found out an 
 eternal Happinefs for them, and jn the moft im- 
 mutable Manner fecured this to them, fo he free- 
 ly gives them all thefe Things ; by which, they 
 may come to a perfonal and fubjeclive Certainty 
 of this y that fo they may have ftrong Co7tfolation y 
 who have fed for Refuge to lay Hold upon the 
 Mope fet before them. And as if this was too 
 little, how doth he alfo provide for their Com- 
 fort, as to the eternal Happinefs of their tender 
 infants j in that, as he promifes to be their God* 
 fo to be the God of their Seed after them 3 and 
 by his Oath, his Spirit, and Sacraments, graci- 
 oufly fealeth and ratifieth the fame to them 5 fo 
 that they may have good Hope through Grace, 
 as to the Salvation of their Children, yet {till, 
 in the moft fubmimve and holy Manner, adoring 
 and (looping to divine Sovereignty. 
 
 (/) Heb. 4. i£, to 18. (m) Tit-us 3. 5,6. Rom. 8. 15, 
 16'. Eph. 1. 13. Eph.4. 30. (n) Kom. 4. 11. ColofT. 2. ir* 
 Rom. 6 4. 1 Pet. 3.21. Matth. 26. 20,27. 1 Cor. 11.24, 
 to 29. 2 Cor. 5. 17. Philip. 3. 3' Match. $• ?• * John 3* 
 10,14. 1 John 5,2* 
 
the Sacrament ofHaptifm. 9 
 
 ^thly, We would know, 1*1? at a Sacrament is A Sacra- 
 l/2 Holy Ordinance inftitnted by Chrift, where- ^at. 
 /*//, by fenfible Signs, thrift, and the Benefits of 
 the new Covenant, are reprefcnted, fealed and 
 applied to Believers. As to which, thefe few 
 Things may be briefly noticed 5 
 
 Firft, That God alone is he, who doth inlli- 
 tute, or hath Power and Authority to appoint ^p^^ nIy 
 Sacraments, For, ift, He only can and does ap- $ aC ra- 
 point all Kinds, Parts and Ac~ts of his own War- ments. 
 fhip : He only is the fupream Lawgiver, and 
 none but himfelf, and thofe to whom he reveals 
 his Will, can underftand what that Service is, 
 which fhall be well pleaiing and acceptable to 
 him (o). idly, God only can give and does be- 
 flow, the rich Grace, and gracious Bleffings, fig- 
 nified by Sacraments (p). And, ^dly, Became 
 he only can and does Place fuch a Connection be- 
 twixt the Signs, and the Bleffings or Things fig- 
 nified, as that Things fignifled are really fepre- 
 fented, applied and fealed by thefe Signs. And 
 fo a fure Foundation laid, for the Faith of his 
 People, in the Ufe of them (q). 
 
 From this it is evident, That the Five Ba- ^ Wwem* 
 fiard Popi/h Sacraments, viz. Confirmation, Or- ^is m 
 dination, 'Tennance, Marriage, and Extream 
 UnElion, are really no Sacraments, feeing they 
 want the Appointment and Inftitution of God : 
 And the Boldnefs or Prefumptioo of Men cannot 
 but be juflly condemned, who dare of themfelves to 
 appoint Signs, and annex thereto Things fpiri- 
 tual, as fignified thereby ; or, who take upon 
 them to appoint Worlhip which the Great God 
 hath not commanded 5 or to alter or add to what 
 he hath inftituted : For this is more than what 
 
 Angels 
 
 (f) Jer. 19. 5. Matth. 1$. 9. Matth. 28. 19. 1 Cor. 11.23. 
 Ifaiahi.12. Eph. 5. 10. (p) Jer. 31. 33.34. Heb. 8. 10, 
 ir, 12. Ezek, 3<5. 25, 2(5, 27.28. Mark 2. 7. (5) Rom. 14. 
 23. Heb. 11. 6* Rom. 14. 5. Ifaiah 8, 20. 
 
jo A Tragical EJfay on 
 
 Angels can do, much lefs has God given fuch 
 illimited Power to the Sons of Men. But, 
 
 Secondly ', We may Notice, That the immedi- 
 ate Author of Sacraments, is, in a peculiar 
 Manner, the Lord Jefus Chrift. To whom, as 
 the Saviour of the Body, ' the alone Head and 
 K-ing of his Church, all Power in Heaven and 
 Earth is given of the Father (>). 
 Matter of ^* r ^(v, We may here obferve, That the 
 9 Sacra- Matter of Sacraments is either, ift, Sacramental 
 mem Elements and Actions, which are the Signs, and 
 what, thefe are external, fenfible, and applied to the 
 Body. Or, idly, The Things fignified, applied 
 . and fealed, and thefe are all the Bleffings of 
 the Covenant of Grace in its new Difpenfation, 
 in our Lord Jefus Chrift, and with him. Now 
 thefe are internal and fpiritual, and efpecially 
 applied to the Soul. ♦ 
 
 Defigns Fourthly, We may further take Notice, That 
 of Sacra- the Ends and fpecial Defign of Sacraments, are, 
 *"£ nts i ft, To reprefent, fet forth, and keep up the 
 Remembrance of the infinite Grace and Love of 
 God in Chrift to loft Sinners 5 and the Remem- 
 . brance of our Lord and Saviour till he come a- 
 gain. To be Memorials of his Glorious Perfon, 
 his Offices, Doing, Sufferings and Dying 3 of 
 his great and incomparable Love to poor Sinnerss 
 his compleat Purchafe of everlafting Salvation for 
 them 5 and, hfc Willingnefs that they ihould 
 Share and Partake of this (/). idly, To ratify, 
 feal %tod confirm to the Partaker, his Intereft in 
 the Lord Jefus Chrift, his Satisfaction, Merit, 
 Righteoufnefs and Mediation, and in God's Co- 
 1 venant of Grace, with all the Bleffings thereof 
 
 0). $dly, To be an external vifible Token of 
 pur being folemnly devoted to the Lord 5 and a 
 
 perpe- 
 
 (r) Matth. 28. 1 8, 19. Heb. 2. 17. Heb. 3. 2. (/) 1 Pet. 
 5.21. ColoflT. 2. 11, 12. 1 Cor. 11.24 to 28. (0 Rom, 4, 
 11. Rora.d. 3,4* 1 Cor. 11. 24, to 28. 
 
I 
 
 the Sacrament of ^Baptifm 1 1 
 
 erpetual Obligation upon us, to be hk People, 
 is only, -and wholly, and of our holy and active 
 Profeflion of his Name, his Truths and Way (ft). 
 But concerning Sacraments in general, more may 
 be feen in my Traffical Effay on the Lord's 
 Suffer, Chap. I. Sett. I. & II. Tho' it was pro- 
 per that this much fhould be repeated here. 
 
 And hence we may infer, what enriching Or- i„f eren- 
 dinances Sacraments are, feeing Chrift and all ce< from 
 the Benefits of the new Covenant are reprefented, this* 
 applied and fealed thereby. Such furely is that 
 unfpeakable Glory andHappinefs which is wrap- 
 ped up in them, that the Man whofe Eyes the 
 Lord hath opened, cannot but give them tne Pre- 
 ference to all the vain Honours and Treaiures of 
 the World, which unthinking Mortals fo much, 
 adore, and fo earneftly purfue after. But, idly. 
 We may here alfo obferve the Pity, Companion 
 andGoodnefs of God to us, in condefcending fo 
 low to our Weaknefs and Infirmity, Dulnefs and 
 Stupidity, as by viable Things, which do com- 
 monly molt. atFecl us 5 to allure us, and fo confirm 
 and itrengtben our Faith, as to our Title to, and 
 Intereft in all the faving Eleflings of his Cove- 
 nant : And, in his making Ufe of fuch vifible 
 and folemn Inftitutions, inviolably to engage and 
 bind us to himfelf, and divorce us from all other 
 Lovers, and to fet us at Liberty from all His and 
 our Enemies : Which Liberty is, by Baptifm, 
 made over and fealed to ail who are given to 
 Chrift by the Father, and fhall, in the Lord's 
 good and appointed Time, be applied to them, 
 and they put in Pofleffion thereof : And by the 
 Supper, this Grace is folemnly ratified, and 
 more and more increafedto Believers. 
 
 Fifthly ', As to the Objects of Saeraments, or Objects 
 thofe to whom they are to be administrated, thefe of s^™- 
 
 J ' merits 
 
 ar e who. 
 (u) Rom. 6, 4j 5> 6 3 7. Match. 28, 19. Gal, 3. 25. 1 Cor. 
 ii* 25. 
 
i2 JTraWcal EJJay on 
 
 are to be determined by the Divine Inftitution 5 
 the different Nature of the Sacraments 5 and, 
 the Pre-requifites in Perfons, according to their 
 different Capacities, in Order to their Participati- 
 on thereof. But of this we fhall have Occafion to 
 fpeak in the next Section, and more afterwards in 
 this Eflay- 
 Baptifm , But now > a Sixth and Lafl General Obferva- 
 and the tion I make, is this, That there are only Two 
 Lord's Gofpel and New Teftament Sacraments, inftitu- 
 howdi- tec * and appointed by Chrift, <vi%. Baptifm, and 
 fti ;ai- the Lord's Supper : Which Tw6, tho' they agree 
 fr^; in their Author, and in this, That Chrift and 
 
 the Benefits of the new Covenant are represented, 
 fealed and applied by both j yet they are di- 
 fiingqifhed, ift, In their outward Elements : In 
 Baptifm, the Element is Watery and in the 
 Lord's Slipper, the Elements are Bread and 
 Wine, idly, In their Sacramental Actions, (n 
 Baptifm, thefe are fprinkling with,, pouring on, 
 going into, or wafhing with Watery but in the 
 Lord's Supper, they are, taking Bread and Wine, 
 bleffing thefe, breaking the Bread, giving both 
 unto Communicants, their receiving both, and 
 eating the one and drinking the other. %dly, In 
 their Objects: The Infants of fuch as are Mem- 
 bers' of the vifible Church, may and are to bebap- 
 tifed; but only thofe, who being baptifed, are 
 capable to examine themfelves, and do profefs 
 their Fait'h in Chrift, having withal, a compe- 
 tent Meafure of Knowledge, are to partake of 
 the Lord's Supper. And, \thly, Thofe Two 
 New 'Teftament Sacraments are diftinguifhed, as 
 to the Frequency of their Adminiftration, to one 
 and the fame Perfon. Baptifm is to be but once 
 adminiftrated, becaufe it is a Sign and Seal of our 
 Ingrafting into Chrift, of our Regeneration and 
 new Birth, and being received within the Bond 
 of God's Covenant. But the Lord's Supper may, 
 
 aucl 
 
the Sacrament of Saptifnu 
 
 and is to be frequently administrated, becaufe it is 
 fot our fpiritual Nourishment and Growth in 
 Grace : It is Baptifm, or the firft of thefe, that 
 is the Subject of the following ESSAY. 
 
 *3 
 
 CHAR h 
 
 Of the Nature of Baptism. 
 
 ^ H E Words Baptise and Baptism The Word 
 I are Originally Greek. Banrrtfa, BaTT«r/x«, **F$* 7 
 . -*- and thefe from &***«, and both Verbs. -J 13 .^ ie 
 Lexographers tell us, fignify, wergo, immergo^ 1 es ' 
 tingo, luo y ahltiOy imbuo, lavo, fpargo, afpergo> 
 [wddefacio, to dip, dip into, towafh, wafhaway, 
 make wet, dye, fprinkle, %fa And the Learned 
 Mr. Leigh noteth, iTkat it is taken largely \ for 
 "any Kind oflVajhing, Rinfing or Cleanfing y even, 
 'where there is no ^Dipping at all. But whereas, 
 it is the Ufe and Signification of thefe Words in 
 the Holy Scriptures, which alone are to be our 
 Standard and Rule in this Etfay, that we are 
 fpecially to attend unto : For this Caule, I am 
 not here to notice the various Ufes, Senfes and 
 Significations of them in prophane Authors 5 but 
 m the Entry fhall obferve thefe few Things 5 
 Firfl \ That as thefe Words are very rarely and 
 fparingly ufed in Scripture, to fignify the Dip- 
 ping or Plunging the Body, waflied all over, into 
 Water; foit ismoft evident, That they are made 
 Ufe of to fignify fuch a Wafhing, where there 
 was no fuch Dipping or Plunging : And for Proof 
 lereof, thefe Scriptures are juflly adduced, Heb. 
 x. 10. compared with Numb, v in. 7. Numb.xix. 
 [?, i9> 20. Matth. xx. 29. Matth. xxvi. 2;. 
 Mark vii. 4. Luke xi. 38. Of all which, in their 
 • pro- 
 
14 A Tragical EJfay on 
 
 proper Place, when I come to fpeak of the Man- 
 ner of Ad miniftrating this Ordinance. 
 
 Secondly, We may obferve, That the Words 
 Baptife and Baptifm are varioufly ufed in the 
 Sacred Scriptures ; as, Firfl, To fignify the 
 ILtptifmus 2) tlrine that was preached to People, and which 
 wmaU ' they were taught -, fo fome underftand our Lord's 
 Queftion to the Pharifees^Matth. xxi. 25. 'the 
 Baptifm of John, whence was it ? From Heaven 
 or of Men* That is, fay they, The tDotlrine of 
 John, whence was it ? So it is faid of Apollos, 
 jiBs xviii. 25. That he only knew the Baptifm 
 of John-} ' that is, The 2)o5trine of John. But 
 furely, while the Learned explain thefe Scrip- I 
 tures of Johifs Doctrine, we are not to under- 
 stand this as exclufive of, but as neceflarily inclu- 
 ding his Baptifm by Water,, zdly, Thefe Words 
 are taken for great Sufferings and Afflictions. So 
 Bapifmus Luke xii. 50. / ha-ve a 'Baptifm to be baptifed 
 S*rguinis. e^ith y faith our Lord, and how am I ftraitned 
 till it be accompli floe d. That is, He had the 
 great and heavy Part of his Sufferings yet to en- 
 dure. Thus alfo he asked the Children of Zebe- 
 dee, Matth. xx. 22. Are ye able to drink of the 
 Cup that I /hall drink of* And, to be baptifed 
 with the Baptifm I am baptifed with ? That is, 
 Are ye able to fuflfer with me and for me, and as 
 I have done and ihall do ? And indeed, the 
 Scriptures frequently intend and mean Afflictions, 
 by the Expreffions of Flowing in of Waters ; 
 Waters coming into the Souls of 'People 5 and} 
 Bdttifmus their coming iitto the deep Waters. $dly, The 
 VUmittis. Words are taken for the Baptifm with the Spirit, 
 efpecially in his extraordinary Gifts and Operati- 
 ons. Thus, Matth. iii. 11. John f "ays, / indeed 
 laptife you with Water ', but he that cometh after 
 ffie, is mightier than I, whofe Shoes I am not 
 worthy to bear 5 he fhall baptife you with the 
 Holy Ghoft % and with Fire. That is, He /hall. 
 
 ^ive 
 
the Sacrament of %aptifm> i$ 
 
 give you the Holy Ghoftj and pour out his Spi- 
 rit upon you, who is of a mighty, purifying, ex- 
 citing, and clcanfing Virtue, as Fire 5 and 'who 
 was therefore given by Signs of Fire; AEts 11. 3,4. 
 In the fame Senle is the Word Saptije underftood, 
 Acts 1 . 5. To thefe fome are pleated to add, ±thlv\ **pt$m 
 Baptifm of the Cloud ; for, r Cor. x. 2 It is faid N * bli - 
 of the Children of Ifrael, That they were 'all 
 baft ifed unto Mofes in the Cloud, and in the 
 Sea: That is, fay fome, they went down into the 
 feea, as thofe who were to be haptifed, in the 
 2V*w Teflament Times, fometimes did into the 
 Water : The Cloud dropped upon them and 
 iprinkled them, as others in thefe Times were 
 baptifed. And, as by thefe extraordinary Sicns 
 and Tokens of the Divine Favour, greater and 
 higher Things were fhadowed forth, fuch as, their 
 b . em 3 f P rj r nkled wi ^ the Blood of Atonement, 
 the ianaifymg Influences of the holy Spirit, and 
 enjoying the divine Conduft and Proteftion 3 fo 
 hereby, that People were in a very peculiar Man- 
 ner,- laid under the moft folemn Obligations to 
 hearken unto the Doctrine of Mofes, and to obey 
 and follow him, as a Leader and Commander 
 ^Pointed to them of God (1). But then 5^, *,,* M - 
 The Words Safnfe and Baftifm, are ufed .**5£ 
 fignifymg wafimg or ffrinkling with Water. 
 And firft there was a fuperftitious Wafhing, fo 
 Matth. xv 2. the Vharifees wafhed before they &m 
 did eat. And Mark vii. 4. Luke xi. 58. When ;£ inds V 
 they came from the Market they wafted, or bap- ™*' 
 Ufed, and held the wafhing of Cups, or Baptifm 
 3t Cups (according to the Original; and Pots, 
 arafen V^eh, and of Tables or Beds, as Parts 
 )f their Religion and neceflary to be performed. 
 In all which, tho not divinely inftituted, thev 
 Placed no find! Meafure of their facred ServY 
 :es and Sanclification. idly, The -New Tefla- 
 
1 6 A 9 radical EJJay on 
 
 nent makes Mention of Ceremonial Warnings 
 or Baptifms, which were of divine Appointment 
 ■ under the Old Teftamenr, but are now abrogate 
 under the New. Thus Heb. ix. 10. The Apoftle 
 -informs us, That the firft Difpenfation, flood m 
 Meats, Drinks, and diverfe Warnings. But 
 then idly, Thefe Words are in the New Tefla- 
 ment, moft ordinarily underftood, as fignifying> 
 7%e filemn initiating Seal of God's Covenant 0} 
 Grace, and all tbeSleffrngs thereof 5 appointed 
 and znfhituted bv God himfelf. And fo, 
 mnMfm thirdly* It deferves our Obfervation, That as 
 uffd P a- f the GeJle Nations ufed this Rite of Wafhing 
 mong the ; n tne ir more Religious Performances 5 fo the 
 Ga f? $ewr* in later Times (0, and fome think very 
 before" early (2), admitted their inftruaed Profelytes, 
 Chrift. W ith their Children, by Sacrifice, Circumcifion, 
 and Baptifm : But that the divine Sacrament of 
 Baptifm was inftituted in Compliance with this 
 Cuilom ofthe^WJ, .or with their Ceremonial 
 Wafhings appointed by God himfelf, cannot, 
 upon good Ground, be afferted, whatever fome 
 alledge. As it is uncertain when, or by whom 
 this Cuftom of Baptifing among them took Place 3 
 \ Yet this may be faid, That Baptifm. being thus 
 in Ufe among them, as an Initiating Rite, when 
 it came to be praftifed as a Divine Ordinance, 
 neither Jews nor Gentiles were offended thereat. 
 And as to the Jews, it is noticeable, That when 
 *fobn came Bautifing, and hereby folemnly recei- 
 ved and admitted Diiciples, the Scribes and 2>£f- 
 rifees among them did not challenge him for his 
 
 Bapti* 
 
 f?S SeeTVrett.Vol.nl. Page 42S. F™fr*«* Hiftoricat 
 C^LIfon: P-II. Vol. II? ^ ; his^na«, 
 of Chriftianity, Vol. II. Page 421. (2) Sir John Hoyers 
 EfTav to reftore Dipping in Baptifm, Page 33, 1042. Gz/| 
 ^s Mi^elUny C^i^ns, Page ^'J^f^/d 
 pS TheologU cbriflUn* Jom. Laft? Page 43*. Section 22* 
 citing Gen«iis35« ^ 
 
the Sacrament of "Baptifm. 17 
 
 Baptifln'g, but asked him, By what Authority 
 he did this? So, John i. 25. And they asked 
 him, and faid unto him, Why baptifefl thou 
 then, if thou be not that Chrift, nor Elias, net- 
 ther that 'Prophet ? And from this Text, this 
 alfo feems fairly deducible, That as the Jews 
 looked for the Mejjlah particularly at this Time, 
 and for Elias % or an Eminent Prophet, thatfhould 
 be a Forerunner to the Mejfiahj fo they expected, 
 That when thefe fhould come, they would fo- 
 lemnly admit and receive their Difciples by the 
 Initiating Ordinance of Baptifm. But if this their 
 Expectation was founded upon thefe and the like 
 Scriptures, Ifaiah lii. 15. Malachy iv. 5, 6. or 
 upon fome other Tradition commonly received 
 among them, I do not determine. 
 
 Fourthly and Laftly,. we may obferve, That Baptijm, 
 SaPtifm is a Sacrament of the New T'eflament, what it il 
 ordained by Jefus Chrift, wherein he hath ap- 
 pointed the Wafhing with Water, in the Name 
 of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghojl 
 (#)$ to be unto the Party baptifed, a Sign and 
 Seal of his Intereft in the Covenant of Grace (7^, 
 of his ingrafting into Chrift (c), of Regeneration 
 by the Spirit of Chrift (d)^ of Remifiioh of Sins 
 by his Blood (e), of Adoption (f), and Refur- 
 reclion unto Eternal Life (g), and whereby the 
 Perfon or Parties baptifed, are folemnly admitted 
 into the vifible Church (h), and enter into an o- 
 pen and profeffed Engagement to be wholly, and 
 only the Lords, (i), (3). 
 
 And as to this Account of Baptifm, it will'not ■ 
 be improper that we notice in the Entry, what I 
 hope will be more fully fpoke of in the After- 
 
 B part 
 
 (*) Matth. 2%. 19. (b) Rom. 4. 11. (c) Gal. 3. 27. 
 (d) Eph. 5. 26. Titus 3. 5. (e) Mark u 4. K.CT. 1. 5. (f) 
 Gai. 3. 26, 27. (g) Rom. 6. 4, 5. (h) 1 Cor. 12. 13. (i) 
 Rom, 6. 4. (3) See the Defcription o{Sittifm 3 in our Con- 
 fcjfiin- and Lxrger C.xtecbifm, _^ 
 
1 8 A ^PraBical EJfay on 
 
 Obfervc? part of this EtTay* Firft, That the Lord $efuf 
 on the De- Chrift, as he is the Author of it j fo he hath ap- 
 ic *^n° n f P^ nte( ^ 1#t to contm " e t0 the End of the Worlds 
 %Zt{fm. Matth. xxv iii. i!% 19. idly, That by the Co- 
 <uenanc, of which this Sacrament is a Sign and 
 Seal, and the fpecial Bleifings thereof are menti- 
 oned in-the Defcriution it felf$ we are to under- 
 ftand God's everlafting, well ordered, and fure 
 Covenant of Grace 3 even that Teitament or Co- 
 venant mentioned, JJaiablv. 5. Jerem. xxxJ. 31, 
 32, 5;,^4.and Hcb.vui. 10, 11,12. Allthe Blef- 
 fings whereof are really made over and fealed, 
 and ftiall in due Time be applied to all fuch to 
 whom the Grace of the Covenant belongeth, ac- 
 cording to the fovereign Will and Eternal Coun- 
 fel of God. *>dly, We may notice, That this Or- 
 dinance of Baptifmis a Sacrament of theJVewT^- 
 ' Jlament, ox new jDiJpenfation of this Covenant 
 of Grace 5 whereby it is diftinguifhed from Cir- 
 cumcifion, which was the Initiating Sign and Seal 
 of the Old. 4-thly, That it is the Firft or Initia- 
 ting Sacrament of this New T'eftament 5 whereby 
 it is differenced from the Lord's Supper, which 
 is the Second : Saptifm being a Sign and Seal 
 of our Regeneration, and being planted in Chrift 5 
 but the Lord's Supper of our Increafe in Grace, 
 and Growing up in him. But then/ jthly, I/hall, 
 in this Chapter, more efpecially and particularly 
 enquire into thefe Things, and allow to each of 
 them a particular SeBkn. ift, Into -the Author 
 and Caufes of Saptifm. idly, The Signs in it. 
 r^dly, The Things figntfied. tfhly, In whofe 
 Name Perfons are to be baptifed. ^thly, The 
 Defigns, or Ends, and Ufes of it. And, 6thly % 
 Th^ Confluences refulting from the lyhole. 
 
 SECT. 
 
 
the Sacrament ofBaptifin. 19 
 
 S E C T. I. 
 
 Of the Author % and Caiifes of B a p t i s m. 
 
 IAm not here to Notice the various Kinds of 
 Caufes mentioned by the Learned, nor to 
 firetch Matter for the Sake of Words, but to 
 fpeak of thefe, as the Subject in Hand will al- 
 io w.- 
 
 Firft then, This Ordinance of Baptifm is not %^/mis 
 of Men 5 not of their Deviiing, nor appointed by J£| n 
 them : For, Firjl, The Goipel, the Bleflings l 
 whereof, this Sacrament applies and feals, is the 
 Gojpel of the Sle/fed God-, 1 Tini. ii. 11. and fo 
 mull; the Seal of thefe Bleffings be. idly, As we 
 have obferved, It is GOD alone, and not Men, 
 who can give and befiow thefe Bleflings, and 
 place a fure Connection betwixt the Signs and 
 Things fignified. And then, idly, Becaufe, 
 1 Cor. ii. 5. The Faith of the Church of God, 
 mud not ftand in the Wifdom of Men, but in the 
 Power of GOD. 
 
 Secondly y The Lord Jefm Chrijl is the Glo- <W* the 
 rious Author and Inftituter of this Ordinance, £^S° r °* 
 who, as the Great King, only Head, Ruler and 
 Governor of his Church, hath all Power and Au- 
 thority in Heaven and Earth given unto him, that 
 fo he may ordain and appoint fuch Ordinances, as 
 are for the Ingathering of his People, and Edify- 
 ing of his Body, Matth. xxviii. 18, 19. And 
 here thefe Three Things are to be obferved. 
 10, That when h is faid, That Jefus Cfrrift is thePer- 
 the Author of Saptifm, this is not Excluding f ons o? the 
 the Father and Holy Spirit, . but rather Including Trinity 
 ind Comprehending thefe 5 for, ijofrnv. 7. The 
 B a- Father? 
 
2 o Jl TraBicql EfPay on 
 
 Father y the Word, and Spirit, are one. John x. 
 30'. Chrift fays, I and my Father are One. Verfe 
 38. 'That ye may know and believe, that the 
 Father is in me, and I in him. And, John v. 19. 
 The Soil can do Ndtbing ofhimjelf, hit what he 
 feeth 'the Father do : For, what Things foever 
 he doth, thefe plfb doth the Son likewife. Hence, 
 Luke iii. 2, ;. Johns Commiffion to baptife, is 
 faid to be from GOD. Luke vii. 3c. upon re- 
 jecting of Johns Baptifm, the c Pharifees and 
 • Xavyets are faid to reject the Couhfel of God, 
 azainft themj elves* Matth. xxi. 25. The Bap- 
 tifm of John is faid, not to he of Men, hut from 
 Heaven, And, Matth. iii. 16, 17. All thePer 1 - 
 fons of the Glorious Trinity give Countenance 
 ai.'cTTeftimony to John's Baptifm. Chrift then, 
 being eqial to, and the fame with the Father, 
 and having Authority, as Redeemer, to appoint 
 Ordinances, fo, being truly and efTentially God, 
 he is every Way fumcient, and to the outmoft, 
 able; to give the Blefiings fignified by thefe, par- 
 ticularly by this ofBaptif •■■., to quicken and re- 
 new, Eph. ii. 2, 5. to forgive Sin, Matth. ix. 2. 
 and fo to beftow all other Covenant Blelfings 5 and 
 to Place a fure Connection betwixt the Signs, and 
 Things fignified. idly, We may obferve, That 
 tho' ChriA did appoint this Ordinance of Bap- 
 Chrift tifm, yet he himfelf did not baptife, fo it is 
 aid not faid, John iv. 2. That Jefus himfelf hap tifed 
 auuTwh not -> ?M& S Eifctyles. '.And tho' it may feem 
 5 too great Boldnefs'in us to enquire into the Rea- 
 fons of this, which no Doubt were infinitely wife 
 and gcod; yet this way be humbly and modeftly 
 offered, That as our Lord was to baptife with 
 the Holy Ghoft ; fo had he 'pcrfonally baptifed 
 with Water V This, betai^fe of the Corruption of 
 the Jvlinds of Men, might have been an Occafion, 
 to thofe baptifed by him, to have refted upon 
 the Deed done, as Tapifis do on their OpusOpe : 
 
 ratum\ 
 
the Sacrament ofHaptifm. 38 
 
 ratum'-, and now thought, That they had nothing 
 at all to do, or further to look to 5 feeing they 
 werebaptifed by Chrift himfeJf. And as hereby 
 they would have been in Hazard to have over-' 
 looked the Promife, by which the Bleffings fig- 
 nifted, are in their Application fecured, fo they 
 would >have been in no fmall Danger, to have 
 undervalued and defpifed others, and reckoned 
 themfolves" greater and more happy than they, 
 who were only bapyifed by the Lord's fent Ser- 
 vants : Whereas, the Ordinance is (till the fame, 
 as to all the Glorious Ends and Purpofes of it, 
 whether it is adminiftrated by the Matter him- 
 felf, or his Servants commiflioned by hkn. And 
 from this We may take Occafion to bewail the 
 Folly and Ignorance of fome in our own Day, 
 who fpeak, as if they boafted and laid too much 
 Strefs upon their being baptifed by Minifters of 
 more eminent Gifts and Graces than others : . 
 Whereby they give too much of the Glory to the not"!!) be 
 Servant and Minifter 5 which is only due to the depended 
 Lord and Matter, and bring themfelves into on » 
 the Snare of deceiving their own Souls, and de- 
 fpifing others. Happy fhould we be, if Mini - 
 iters were kept in their own Room, and God 
 alone looked to and depended upon, in this and 
 all other Ordinances of his Appointment. ?dh\ 
 We may here further Notice, That upon the 
 firft Divine Inftitution of this Ordinance of Bap- 
 tism, it was fpecially and more immediately de- 
 figned for the Jews: They, at that Time, being ; J^P tif, » 
 the only: Vifible Church of God, who hada Title firft for 
 and Right ro the Seals of his Covenant. HenceWieJm*. 
 our Lord fays; Matth. xv. 24. That he was nbt 
 fent. but to the loft Sheep o/Ifrael, i. e. chiefly, 
 andih the itrflr Pkce to them: So, -Afts iii. if. 
 Chritt ^vas railed- up of: God, and fent to blefs 
 them, L&nik J3r xut:z6. The Apdftles tell 
 the Jew, .-.That to .them, was the Word of this 
 B 3 saU 
 
ii r A TrcBical Effay on 
 
 Salvation fent. And fo we find, that John came 
 
 into the Land of Judea, and baptifed the Jews 
 
 only who came unto him* But wh'en the Partiti- 
 
 Baptifm on Wall betwixt Jews and Gentiles was broken 
 
 extended down, and one Gofpel Church to be made of 
 
 ' oti ?. e both, then, was the Sacrament of Baptifm ex- 
 
 ennes. ten< j e( j t0 a u Nations, Matth. xxviii. ip. Go 
 
 'leach and Baptife all Nations. 
 The Rife ^dly. The Motive engaging to appoint, or the 
 ehfal^f fountain and Rife of appointing this Ordinance 
 lapcifm. of Baptifm, to which fome give the Name of 
 Moving Canfe, is God's matchlefs Love, his rich 
 Grace and Good-will to the Sons of Men. Doubt- 
 lefs, all the Promifes of the Covenant are, by the 
 efficacious Merit and Mediation of Chrift, the 
 unchangeable Purpofe of God, and his infinite 
 Saithfulnefs, made irreverfibly fure to all the 
 Seed , yet fo boundlefs is our God's Love, fo rich 
 is his Grace, and fo wondrous is his Condefcen- 
 fion to pur Infirmity and Weaknefs, that he is 
 pleafed to confirm and ratify thefe Promifes, by 
 giving vifible Pledges of our Intereft in them, 
 and the certain Application of them to us : That 
 hereby our weak Faith may be ftrengthned, and 
 we more excited to all Duties of Gratitude and 
 Thankfuinefs. We want many Helps to our 
 Faith, and Excitements to our Religious and 
 Christian Duties, and the Lord is not wanting to 
 us in either of thefe, affording us all the Means 
 that are either neceffary or proper for thefe 
 Ends. 
 Admini- Fourthly^ The Administrators of this Ordi- 
 a™?/ 5 of nance of Baptifm, which fome are pleafed to call 
 1 m# the Inflrumental Canfes, are Gofpel Ministers, 
 fent and authorifed by him, to administrate this. 
 And thefe are either extraordinary, as to their 
 Commiifion, Qualifications, and great Work com- 
 mitted to *hem, and therefore now ceafed, f rch 
 as ApofikS) Matth, xxviii. 18. Jobuiv. i\ *• 
 
 and 
 
the Sacrament of $aptifm. 23 
 
 and Evav&liftSi Afts viii. 3$. Or ordinary, as 
 <Paftors y Teachers or 2)offors y Epb. iv. n. to 
 whom the Gommiflion, Matth. xxviii. 19. cannot 
 but extend, feeing the Adminiftration of this Or- 
 dinance was to remain to the End of the World j 
 whereas, the extraordinary Offices of Apoftles 
 and Evangelifts ceafed with themfelves, and 
 their laying the Foundation of the Gofpel 
 Church. 
 
 It is in this Place I fball obferve, That the John 
 Firft who was fent to baptife was ^}ohn y and for the **}*$ 
 this Caufe called John the Saptifl, Matth. ^ d *° 
 iii. 1. Mattb. xi. 11. 12. Mark ^'u 14, Enkevii. 
 so. And Baptifm adminiftrated by him, was 
 called the Saptifen of John, Mattb* xxi. i^.ABs 
 i. 22. Not as if he was the Author, but becaufe 
 he was the Minifter and Administrator, having 
 his Commitfion from God, and.fjnt by him to 
 baptife, L?'ke xiii. 2, 3, 4. John i. 33. for fo the 
 Apoftle calls the Gofpel, his Gofpel y Rom. u. 
 16. But fare it is, tnat the Apoftle was not the 
 Author, but a Preacher of this Gofpel. 
 
 But for our better understanding of this Bap- 
 tifm of John, we are moreover to confrdeiv that 
 tho' this, and that which was afterward more ex- 
 prefly instituted by Chrift, and committed to 
 Apoftles, as extraordinary Officers ; and to Paftors 
 ,and Teachers, as ordinary, and only Succeftbrs 
 ,t© .the Apoftles j did differ firft as to the Circum- The B^p- 
 ftence of Time, John baptifing into Cbrifl that -TO °&\ 
 was to oonie, : and then pre ferrtly and publickiy j il n differ 
 appearing in the World. But the Apoftles and ^ to foms 
 others ^fter them, into Cbrifl, who was come, Tilin o* 
 flain, buried, ri fen, and afcended into Glory. 
 zdly y As to the Degree of the Revelation of the 
 great Gofpel Myftery « When John baptifed, 
 this was indeed breaking forth in its Glory; but 
 when the Apoftles d'td y it: was full and dear. 
 3^%> They differed as to the Me&&re of the Spi- 
 B 4 jit's 
 
$4 ^ 'Practical EJJay on 
 
 rit's Influences, in his Gifts and Graces; that of 
 John being attended with lefs, this of the A- 
 poftles with a greater Degree thereof, Matth. iii. 
 ii. Mark i. 2, 3, 4. Luke i. 70V yet both thefe 
 Baptifms did agree, and Were the fame as to all 
 Subftantials and Eflentials of a Gofpel Sacra- 
 They are ment. For, Fir ft x Thev have the fame Author, 
 as to EC e '^* l ' 55> Mattk'xxviiili$ f idly. The fame 
 ientials." Signs and fignihxant Actions, viz. Water and 
 Wajhingvj\\h it, Matth. iii. 11. Col. ii. 12. ^dly, , 
 By both were the fame Bleffings reprefented, ap- 
 plied and fealed, / Luke iii. 3. A5fs ii. 38, 39. 
 ^<5?J xix.. 4. 4^^> Both were adminiftrated in 
 the Name of the Lord Jefus, AEis xix. 4, 5. 
 ABs viii. 16. $thly, In the Adult, or thofe 
 come to Age, the fame Things were required of 
 thofe who were to be baptifed ; John preached 
 Chrift, and Salvation by Faith in the Lord Je- 
 fus> John iii. itf, 36". and required of thofe who 
 came to be baptifed of him, That they IKould. 
 repent, change their Mind, and come to a bet- 
 ter and more found Judgment, as to the great 
 Things of their Salvation.' And fo did the A- 
 poftles, ABs xvk 30, 31. Mntth. iii. 8. Lvkeiiu 
 8. Mark xvi. 15. 16. ABs ii. 38. ABs xiii. 24. 
 ABs xv. 4. And then 6thly, The fame confe- 
 quential Duties were required! of thofe whom 
 John baptifed, that were demanded of them, to 
 whom the Apoftles adminiftrated this Ordinance, 
 Matth. in. 8. Luke iii. 8. ABs ii. 40. Col. ii. 
 
 €y 12. 
 
 Objections Thofe who are otherwife minded, object a- 
 anfwered. g am ft John's Baptifm . being the fame with 
 Chrift's thefe two Things 5 efpecially, Firft, 
 Becaufc JohnAid not baptife in the Name of the 
 Holy Trinity; Of this more will' be^faid in its 
 pro er Place, and at 'the Time it may fuffke to 
 fay, How do they know he did not ? Either vir- 
 tually at leaft, or. explicitely: Yea, it is very 
 
 prefume^ 
 
the Sacrament of Baptifm. 25 
 
 pre«fumcable he did fo baptife, feeing he was fo 
 well acquaint with this Myftery. He knew he 
 was fentof God, That he was the Forerunner of 
 Chrifi, and teftified of him, and that Chrift /hould 
 baptife with the Holy Ghoft. And Matth. iii. 
 16, irji He heard the Father teftify of the Son, 
 he beheld the Son teftified of, and'faw the Holy 
 Ghoft defcending from Heaven like a Dove, and 
 lighting upon him. And if it is replied, That 
 it is not exprefly faid in Scripture, that John did 
 baptife in Name of the Trinity 5 to this the Re- 
 turn is very obvious, That neither is it exprefly 
 faid, That the Apoftles, when they baptifed, 
 made Mention of their doing this in the Name 
 of the Father, Son, and Hoty Gboft; yet the 
 Objection fuppofes, aed the Objectors grant, That 
 they kept clofe to the Com million given them, 
 Matth. xxviii. 19, 2c. But the id and great Ob- 
 jection againft this, is, That 'Paul baptifed certain 
 Difciples whom he found at EpheJi'S, who had 
 before this been- baptifed with Johns Eaptifm, 
 Jiffs xix. 1, 2, 5,4, 5. which furely he would 
 not have done, had the Baptifm of John been 
 the fame with that of Chrijl. • 
 
 Anpvocr, According to the Variety of Inter- 
 pretations of this Place of Scripture, fo are the 
 Anfwers to this Objection. I fhall only obferve, 
 That it cannot be denied, but that forne, not on- 
 ly of the Fathers, but alfo of - our moft eminent 
 Proteftant Divines (4J, have thought, that thefe 
 Difciples were indeed rebaptifed by Paul. But 
 thefe alfo fay, That the Baptifm of John where- 
 with thefe were baptifed, was not rightly or duly 
 adminiftrated, there being an effential Defect in 
 it, either as to the Form of Adminiftration, or 
 the Perfons who baptifed them. But we are not 
 tied'to the Thoughts of particular Men, however 
 
 otherwife 
 
 (1 ) See ZtnMus Mifcel. Lib. 8. Pag. 571, 572. and Buctrt, 
 Pag. <i 1. ; 
 
%6 A Tragical EJfay on 
 
 , otherwife Great and Learned. And therefore, 
 idly. The Body of Proteftant Divines deny, that 
 thefe s^ere rebaptifed by Ta?/!, and underhand 
 • the 5th Verfe, where it is faid, "That they 'were 
 laptifed in the "Name of the Lord Refits ', not as 
 the Words of Liike the Hiftorian, informing us, 
 That 'Paul did fo baptife thefe: But as the 
 Words of the Apoftle himfelf, declaring, 'That 
 thofe who heard John preach Repenta?2ce y and 
 'Faith in the Lord JefuSy were, hy John, bapti- 
 fed in the flame of the Lord. And whereas 
 thefe Difciples fay, Verfe 2. That they had not 
 fo much as heard whether there was any Holy 
 Ghoft$ the Meaning is not, .That they did not 
 know the Exiftence of the Holy Spirit, of whom 
 they could not be ignorant, feeing John fo plain- 
 ly and exprefly fpoke of him, "Matth. iii. 11. 
 Nor, as if thefe had been utter Strangers to the - 
 Influences of the holy Spirit, necerTary to Salvati- 
 on j but, that they were as yet . unacquainted 
 with the extraordinary Effufions of the Holy 
 Ghoft in his extraordinary Gi£ts and Operations, 
 which in that infant and growing State of the 
 Church did very much abound. And that they 
 might fo have the Spirit, Paul laid his Hands 
 o.n theniy Verfe C. Thus, the Samaritanes whom 
 Philip baptifed, J%$s viii 12.it is faid exprefly 
 of them, That as yet the Holy Ghoft was fallen 
 yp07i none of them^ only they were haptffed in 
 the Name of the Lord jefiiSy Ver. 15, 16. which 
 cannot be underftood, as if all of them had been 
 utterly estranged from the Graces of the Spirit, 
 necerTary to Believers as fuch, for, they did he- 
 f$FDf % Ver. 12, 15. but it muft be understood of 
 hi* extraordinary Operations. And that they 
 might enjoy thefe, theApoflles laid thei^Hands 
 on them, Ver. 17. 
 fi n of De " l ft™^ now in the laft Place take Notice of 
 jupuTrii. the Ends and Deiignsof Baptifm, to which fome 
 
 are 
 ♦ 
 
the Sacrament of % apt i fin* * 7 
 
 arc pleafed to give the Name of Final Caufe 5 
 but this I referve as the Subject of a diftinft Sec- 
 tion, and fhall therefore proceed to notice fome- 
 things from what hath been faid. 
 
 And Firfl, We may learn therefrom God's Inferences, 
 great Goodnefs and rich Grace to his Church and 
 People, in his giving from this fuch vifible 
 Pledges of his Love and Mercy to them. Thefe Here the 
 he gave in the very Dawnings and infant State ofS lc a " °* 
 Christianity, and has appointed them to remain 
 with his Church unto the End of the World. 
 How aftonifhing mult his Condelcniion r ;e tb 
 our Infirmity, that he not only caufeth us to draw 
 near to himfelf, receiveth U3, and bringeth us 
 within the Bond of his Covenant-, but alfo ap- 
 points an initiating Ordinance, folemnly decla- 
 ring this our Reception, and irreverfibly fealing 
 all the Bleflings of that Covenant to us, and us 
 to the Day of Redemption ! O ! How fhould 
 our Souls be filled with a grateful Senfe of his 
 unfpeakable Goodnefs, and our Mouths with his 
 Praifes all the Day long i 
 
 Secondly, We may here obferve a fure Foun- A Foun- 
 dation laid for our Faith. For, hath Chrift who ^™J°£ 
 is God, and to whom all 'Power hi Heaven and 
 Earth is given, and he, who is the Matter of 
 his own FLoufe, appointed this Sacrament of 
 Saftifm 5 then furely Minifters may admini&er, 
 and others partake of it in Faith, being fully 
 perfwaded it is not uninftituted Worfhip they are 
 imployed in, but that which is ordained of God, 
 and warranted by him. 
 
 ^thirdly, We may hence learn the Awfulnefs The Aur- 
 and Majefty of this Ordinance, being an Inftitu- Kj-L * 
 tion of the higheft Lord, who is King of Kings ', ap:i m * 
 the Mighty God, the everlafling Father, and 
 the 'Brince of 'Peace j it hath his Authority im- 
 printed upon it 5 it contains the greateft Things, 
 it hath the moft auguft Confequence, is defigned 
 
 for 
 
* 8 A practical EJJhy on 
 
 for the greateft Purpofes, and brings us poor Sin- 
 ners under the moft folemn Obligations : So that 
 we are not to trifle* therewith, but to put an high 
 and juft Value thereupon. Hence, . 
 'Tis to 4^/y, With what Reverence and holy Fear 
 be gone.fliould this Ordinance be gone about by all con- 
 4i^ c Rc . cerned. Surely Miniflers fhould take heed, 
 yercnce. what and how they do, when they adminifter an 
 Ordinance of Heaven j thofe come to Age fhould 
 narrowly look to themfelves, feeing now they re- 
 ceive it 5 Parents fhould watch over their own 
 . Spirits, when they bring their Infants to it, and 
 Spectators fhould attend and join with Gravity, 
 while they behold it. Hence, 
 Irreve* Fifthly, From this, we may take Occaflon to 
 rence^ ofb ewa Ji an ^ lament the thoughtids, irreverent, 
 mintable. ^ n ^ regardlefs Temper of many, who t rufh into 
 this folemn Part of Divine Worfnip, not con fi- 
 dering whofe it is, who feds and obferves them, 
 and will furely avenge himfelf on thofe who 
 jrudely treat his own holy Inftitutions. Many, 
 yea, very many, reflect not what they are going 
 about, what the great Jehovah is calling them 
 to; That great Fear is due unto the Lord,' hi 
 the Meetings of his Saints, and he is to be had 
 in Reverence by all that are about him. ' How 
 deeply guilty then are many in our Generation, 
 and how much to be lamented over, who treat 
 this folemn Ordinance with the fame Irreverence 
 and Difrefpeci: that they do the folemn Bleffing 
 which Ministers, in the, Name of the Lord, at 
 the Clofe of publick Wor/hip, pronounce upon 
 the Congregation : For, as then, the moft Part 
 are on Foot, and -ft riving how to get foon out of 
 the Place of Wor/hip,. as if they were afraid to 
 be bleffed, or indifferent about it} fo here, no 
 fooner is Baptifm to be administrated, than aflfoon 
 they become cold and weary j it is a Burden to 
 them 5 and, without any prefiing Neceflity, they 
 
 hafte 
 
Ibe Sacrament of Saptifa. 29 
 
 hafte away, as if this Ordinance was not worthy 
 of their Attendance : And if at any Time they 
 ftay until the Adminiftration be over, O ! what 
 unbecoming Confufion is to be obferved in the 
 Time of Prayer, and Thankfgiving thereafter, 
 as if that was none of their Bufinefs ! O Men ! 
 O Chriftians! do you thus treat the moft folemn 
 Part of the Lord's Worfhip ? Do you thus re- 
 quite the Lord for his great Gcodnefs ? Do you 
 thus fhow what you are, and act a moft unbe- 
 coming Part to your holy Profeffion, and that holy 
 Name by which you are called ? And finally, is 
 this all the Concern you have for your own Souls, 
 and the Succefs of God's holy Ordinances ? O I 
 that Men wodld think and confider. 
 
 Sixthly, Has an infinitely wife and faithful „<£*£*£ 
 God appointed this Ordinance of Baptifm ? then a d4ed to. 
 hcv/ daring and bold muft thofe be, who think 
 to better and amend it, whether this be by taking 
 therefrom, or adding thereto ? This furely is an 
 Impeachment of his infinite Wifdom and Faith- 
 fulnefs, and Difhonouring to his Majefty ; and 
 furely the Ordinances of God are in more Dan- 
 ger from our Folly, left we abufe them, than in 
 Need of our Wifdom to better or amend them. 
 We. are not to be wifer than God, or think to 
 make his Inftitutions more compleat than he has 
 made them. . 
 
 Seventhly ', We may learn from what ^ atn h^"to be 
 been faid, what Place we are to give to Mini- con fidered 
 fters in this Ordinance of Baptifm, and what in Bap- 
 Apprehenfions we, are to have of them, while n * m% 
 they, and they only, adminifter the fame. We 
 are not to look upon them as Mafters, who infti- 
 tute this Ordinance, who can give' the Blellings 
 iignified thereby, and upon whom the Efficacy 
 thereof depends $ but as Servants and Minifters, 
 who only execute their Commiilion, and do what 
 their great Lord and Matter commands them. 
 
 And 
 
30 A praBical EJJhy on 
 
 And yet, becaufe they are fuch, and bear fuch 
 a Part in this great and very concerning Affair, 
 we are to efteem highly in the Lord, for their 
 Matter and their Work's^Sake. 
 
 SECT. II. 
 
 Of the Signs in Saftifm. 
 
 Tk A T the Subjea of this Seftion may be 
 more diflinclly underftood, I fhall confider 
 the general. Nature, and fo me of the particular 
 ^ c Si S n Kinds of signs, A Sign then is that, or thofe 
 Things, which being flrft prefented to the Senfes, 
 and by them conveyed to the Understanding, do 
 offer to the Judgment and Minds of Men fome- 
 thing elfe to be underftood thereby. As in the 
 Lord's Supper, Bread and Wine are Signs pre- 
 fented to our Senfes, but the Body and Blood of 
 ' Chrift are the Things Signified, and thereby re- 
 prefented to our Mind. 
 Various Signs, as to their Kindj are either natural, 
 Kinds of as the Day-breaking is a Sign of the Sun's RHing$ 
 Signs, or arbitrary, and that either by 'Divine, or Hu- 
 mane Institution : It -is of divinely inftituted 
 Signs I here fpeak. And thefe may be confide- 
 fed, Firjl, With Refpeft to the Things Signifi- 
 ed. And they are firft of Things that are paflr, 
 and are called Rememera'tive. idly, Of Things 
 prefent, and are Demonstrative, idly, Of Things 
 to come r and are Prenunciative. Or, tfhly, 
 Stich Things as are compofed of. all thefe three^ 
 fohere: For, in this Ordinance, weareremem- 
 bred of our original Guilt and Pollution, and of 
 Chrift's compleat Satisfaction j by this are poin- 
 ted out to us the Value, Virtue and Efficacy of 
 
 th® 
 
T'he Sacrament of Saptifm. 3 1 
 
 the Blood and Spirit of Chrift*, to cleanfe from 
 the Guilt of Sin,- and Pollution of our Natures ; 
 and by this we are affured of our Standing in the 
 Lord's Grace for Time to come, and being kept 
 by his Power through Faith unto Salvation. 
 zdly, Signs are again confldered as to their Ufe. 
 And, Firfty They are fuch as fpecially refpecl: 
 the Understanding $ and fo they are called, No- 
 tifying. idly> As refpecl: the Memory, and fo 
 they are Commemorating. %dly\ The ftrength- 
 ning of our Faith 5 and fo they are Sealing and 
 Confirming: Or, $tMy\ They are of Ufe as to all 
 thefe three ', and fo they are here : For, by this* 
 the Things Signified are reprefertted* that we . 
 may difcern and apprehend them: This Ordinance 
 is of fpecial Ufe to keep for ever upon the Ima- 
 gination of our Hearts, our Mifery in the Sight 
 of God, and his Grace and Mercy to us 5 and be- 
 caufe they apply and feal, hereby they Strengthen 
 our Faith, that we have a Right to all, and 
 Shall, in God's due Time, and appointed Me- 
 thod, be put in PoSTefHon of all : But how far 
 this Right is extended, fo as neceSTarjly to infer 
 Pofleflion, will, I hope, be confldered after- 
 ward. 
 
 The Signs in Baptifm that are inftituted by TheS/gf* 
 Chrift, are principally thefe two. Firfl, Water, in Bap- 
 and2^/y, Wafhing with it 5 thefe are applied to tifm * 
 the Body, while the Things Signified bear a Re- 
 fpeft to the whole Man^ efpecially to the Soul. 
 And as to thefe, four Things may be obferved. 
 
 Fir fly That here there is wafhing only with V&Z 
 Water; for fo Jolm Baptifed, Matt. iii. ii.^J. 
 John i. 53. And fothe Apoftles pra&ifed, A3s 
 viii. ;6\ AEls x. 47. Noris this Element to be 
 changed, either, Fir fly Upon Pretence of Necef- 
 fity, fuppofing a Company of Perfons in a dry 
 and barren Defart, where Infants are born, or 
 thofe come to Age, are converted to the Faith 
 
 of 
 
32 \ J practical Eflhy on 
 
 of Chrift, and yet no Water to be had, that tney 
 may be baptifed; this, I fay, will not allow a 
 be chan<^ Change °^ t ^ ls Element 3 more than Infants born 
 ed. in a rigid and ftormy Seafon, at a very great Di- 
 
 stance from thepublick Place of Wor/hip,fo that 
 they cannot carry the Infant thither, nor can the 
 Minifter repair where the Child is, will permit 
 private Perfons, whether Men or Women, to bap- 
 tife. For as under the Law, the Children of 
 Ifrael were, by the Command of God, to offer 
 in Sacrifice, only thefe Beafts that were clean j 
 fo upon no Pretence of Neceflity, or Want of 
 Beaftsthat were clean, were they to offer up fuch 
 as were unclean ; Thus it is here. 'Tis true,^ 
 this is their Lofs 5 yet when the Want of a Go* 
 fpel Ordinance is involuntary, and an invincible 
 Stop put to the Enjoyment thereof 5 in this Cafe, 
 a good and merciful God makes up by his inward 
 Grace, what is wanting as to the external Ordi- 
 , liance.- Nor, idly, Is this Element of Water to 
 be changed, becaufe of the external and worldly 
 Greatnefs of the Perfon to be baptifed : For as 
 there is but one Baptilm to the whole vifible 
 Church of God 5 fo there is no Refpefl of Per- 
 fons with' him: But whether they he Jews or 
 Greeks, Bond or Free, Male^or Female, High or 
 Low, Rich or Toor, all are one in Chrifl Jefus. 
 Eph. iv. ;. Gal. iii. 8. Yet, in Regard of the 
 Things fignified, it is highly proper that it be 
 not nafty and vile, but nure and clean Water. 
 Heb. x. 22. 
 Yet not Secondly, We may obferve, That it is not Wa- 
 Water t er limply confidered ; that is here the Sign, nor 
 fim ? I J_ yet a mere Warning with it 5 for then every wafh- 
 re d. ing with Water fhould be baptifing in a Sacra- 
 
 mental Senfe : But it is.Water, and wa/hingwith 
 it in this holy Ordinance, according to Chrift's 
 Appointment, for holy Ends, that is here to be 
 eyed. And becaufe it is fo ufed, therefore is it 
 
7'be Sacrament of Saptifin. '3 3 
 
 faid to be fanclified, confecrated, or fet apait: 
 For fo under the Law, Perfons and Things 
 were fald to be fan£tified, confecrated, or fet 
 apart j when by the Lord's Command thefe were 
 employed in hi's holy- and inftituted Worfhip and 
 Service. Here then there is no inherent nor my- 
 ftical Holinefs (may I fo call it) in the Water it- 
 {dtj but only a SanclifTcation of it in its Ufe, 
 according to the Divine Appointment. Again, 
 it is Water, and wafhing with it 5 upon which 
 the Adminiftrator prays for a fpecial Bleifing 
 from Heaven, that fo the Perfon baptized may 
 favingly obtain aft thefe Bleiiings that are repre- 
 fented thereby. And finally, it is a wajbing 
 with Water, ' in the Name of the Father, Son, 
 and holy Ghofl.. Matt. 28.19.' 
 
 thirdly, We may notice, That there is a Thei Sii 
 pleafant Likenefs and Similitude betwixt the ™ ,Iic . u dc 
 Signs, and the Thing .fignified i For, Firft, Wa- resigns 
 ter is of a cleaning Nature, and warning witrTit, & Thing* 
 makes clean what before was polluted and im- figniHed. 
 pure; fo the Blood and Spirit of Chrifl: are of a 
 purifying Vertue, and cleanfe the Sinner from 
 the Guilt and Pollution of his Iniquity, 1 John 
 i. 7. Rom. in. '15. T/>. iii. 5. idly, Water is 
 open and free to all Kinds and Degrees of Men, 
 whether Jezv or Gentile, High or Low. So are 
 the great Things hereby pointed out, Zcch. xii, 
 9, jo. John vii. 37, 38, 59. And then, ^dly\ 
 As there mull: be an ufing'of Water, and waft- 
 ing therewith, before the Advantages that refult 
 therefrom be obtained ; fo there muft be an A?- 
 m plication of the Blood of Chrift in its Value and 
 Elficacy, and the Operation of the Spirit of 
 Chrift, before the Bleffings that refult from thefe 
 r caivbe enjoyed. 
 
 Fourthly, and laftly,. it may be obferved, The R*~ 
 That tho'thereis no physical Change of the Signs Nation bg- 
 into the Thing fignirled, nor is any pretended, R*?** 
 C nyr 
 
34 ^ TraUical EJJay on ^ 
 
 nor can any be 5 yet there is fuch a Sacra" 
 mental Relation, by divine Institution, placed 
 betwixt them :. As Firjl y Thefe Signs do real- 
 ly declare and exhihite the Bleffings fignified, 
 Jiffs xxii. 16. zdly, They make over thele, and 
 apply them $ 1 Tet. iii. 21. And \dly^ Seal 
 and ratify them 5 Rom. iv. ji. Rom. vi. 4. Col. 
 ii. 12. 
 Inferences And from what hath been now fajd, we may 
 from this. be in f orme a, Firfl, Of the .Simplicity of the 
 Gofpel and New Testament Worfbip $ we an* 
 I. The now freed from that heavy Yoke, of burdenfoma 
 Simplicity Legal Ceremonies, which neither '-we nor oar 
 ?pel Wor- Fibers were, able to hear, Mis, xv. 8. Gal. v. 1. 
 fliip. Much more are we at Liberty -from the. Impofi- 
 
 tions of Men in the Things of God. For here 
 we may obferye, that our Lord ufes the moft 
 finiple, plain, and eafy Signs,; and that in a ver^ 
 folemn and awful Part of WorJKip. Nor can it 
 be accounted for, that when we are now fet free 
 from thefe Things, which were once the Command 
 of our infinitely wife Sovereign arjd Creator, we 
 ihouldbe left to be impofed uppri at the Difcre^ 
 tion of the very fallible and iinful (ireature. 
 p['fr GrCat Secondly* We may here learn, That the Lord's 
 depencP & vm Z tne g reat ^ft Bleffings, depends not upon 
 not upon the Greatnefs and Splendour of outward Means 3 
 fpkndid for nothing can be more ordinary than Water, 
 Means# and Wajloing with it j nor is there any Thing 
 more remote from all Manner of Pomp and Cere- 
 mony than this 5 and yet hereby the Great Je-. 
 1 ' hovah exhibites, applies, andSeals tlje great 
 Things of his well ordered and everlasting Cove- 
 nant. 
 The Ad.. thirdly, From this, the proud and High-min- 
 Mcrvto °' ^ ec ^ Error of thefe is juftly condemned, who are 
 the Lord's not content with the plain Signs our Lord has 
 inftitiiti- appointed, and alfo ufed himfelf 5 but makeAd- 
 
 «™«" ditions of their own thereto. For 'tis obfe^rved 
 F roY«R. ^ 
 
the Sacrament of 'Baptifm. .3$ 
 
 (6), That after the Second Century, the Pri- 
 mitive Church gradually declining from the A- 
 poftolick Simplicity, added to Water in Bap- 
 tifm, Oily Milk and Honey 5 which Things they 
 looked upon as indifferent, and fo left them to 
 be ufed or omitted, as was thought expedient 5 
 but x\xt Church of Rome have moreover added to 
 thefe, Salt and Spittle, and urge the Significancy 
 and Obfervance thereof, as neceflary to the right 
 Administration of this Ordinance : But, as fuch 
 Things were never inftituted by the Lord J ejus 
 Chrift, nor praclifed by his Apoftles, and there- . 
 fore cannot be gone about in Faith of being ac- 
 ceptable Service 5 fo they 'are againft God's moft 
 folemn Prohibition, ZDeut. xfi. 32. are condem- 
 ned by him as Vain-nxorfhip, Matth. xv. 9. And 
 by the Apoftles, Col. ii. 22. Afts xv. 10. Gal. v. 
 1. And are wholly ufelefs to the great Ends 
 and Defigns of this Sacrament, feeing none can 
 make Signs t to fignify, apply, and feal fpiritual 
 Bleffings, but he who is the Father of Spirits, 
 who can beftow thefe Bleffings, and by his Au- 
 thority place a real Connexion betwixt Signs and 
 the Bleffings Signified : This only is the Preroga- 
 tive of the Great Jehovah. Nor are Men to 
 be wifer than Chrijl y who is infinitely wife, and 
 knows beft what is moft meet to be ufed in his 
 own Ordinance 5 neither is every Thing good that 
 is old, nor is the Dignity and Decency of a Sacra- 
 ment to be determined by, orefteemed according 
 to the vain Thoughts, and luxuriant Fancies of 
 Men, which rather profane than perfecl, abufe 
 than adorn his Ordinances 5 but according to the 
 Mind and Word of the Lord and La-jo&ver him- 
 felf. And finally, Shall t-befe be allow'd? Then 
 a large Door is opened to the fruitful and reftlefs 
 Imaginations of Men, always to be making new 
 C 2 Additi- 
 
 (<Q StcMvflricbt, Page 82?, * 
 
%6 r A*P radical SJ/hy on 
 
 Additions to God's Inftitutions, and new Impo- 
 fitions.upori his Church. 
 TJ^Meet-. Fotirphfa We may further here obferve the in- 
 Sfgnsof finite P^JaW of God, in the Choice of meet*' 
 Bapcifm. and proper Signs, with Relation to the Things 
 'fignirTed and defigned thereby. This is evident . 
 in Circiimcifion and the 'Pafcbal Lamb under the 
 OldTeftament* and in the t L 0R2)'s Supper 
 and tins Ordinance of %?aptifm\ now iindet the 
 New TJifpenfatlon i For, as Water and Wnfbzng 
 therewith, do naturally lead us in to behold our 
 narural'Pollutionj fo they do very fitly reprefent 
 our^fpiritual Cleanfing. 
 The Tifthly\ and Laftly, " We may here, with 
 
 S°God fS ^"k^l Hearts, behold a furprlfinglnftance ofdi- 
 herein? ^ ine Gcodnefs and Condefcendency, in appointing 
 fuch common and ordinary Things to be ufed as 
 v Signs in this Sacrament, to which his Church and 
 
 People, in their pooreft and loweft Circumftan- 
 ces, may have AccefsV For, what is more com- 
 mon and free than Watery and what more freely 
 allowed to the rational World than Wafhing 
 therewith ? Surely, ; all the Ordinances of God, 
 « and this Sacrament in particular, proclaim his 
 
 bo.undlefs Mercy, fhow forth his infinite Good- 
 nefs, and declare the Riches and Freedom of hi* 
 wondrous Grace to the Sons of Men. 
 
 •S EC T< III. 
 
 Of 'the Things figmfied } ly Water ; andWaJJjing . 
 ivitb ir> in Baptifm. 
 
 HERE in the Entry we may obferve, That 
 it is God alone who limits the Significati- 
 on and Ufe of all thefe Signs he hath appointed 
 
 t# 
 
the Sacrament of liaptifm. 37 
 
 to be uied in his Wor/hip and Service : For, he Here the 
 alone is Lord and Matter in his own Houfe 3 -he f y S n a ™ n ' 
 only beftows the good Things fignified : And u'fc of 
 therefore, none but God can make Signs really Signs ii 
 to apply 1 and feal to his People, and to exhibit tr ° iT4God ' 
 and rcprefent to their fpiritual Difcerning and 
 Faith, the Blefiings intended and designed to be 
 by fuch Signs, fo reprefented, applied and feal- 
 cd. And for this Caufe, we are not to take out 
 of divine Ordinances what God hath put into 
 them, nor are we to put that in them which the 
 Lord hath not furnifhed them with 3 for it is da- 
 ring Arrogance in Men, ei/honouring and ofTen- 
 five to God, injurious to the Truth, leads others 
 into Error, and gives Enemies Occafion to fpeak 
 againftour holy Religion, as if it was only fuch 
 as Men are pleafed to make it. Now, in the 
 New Teftament God hath inftituted his holy Sa- 
 craments, and appointed that they fhould exhibit, 
 apply and feal to his People, the Grace which 
 he intendeth and defigneth to beftow thereby. In 
 viewing then what is i fignified by the Signs in 
 Baptifm, we are carefully and only to attend to 
 the Word of God, that by this we may know what • 
 he willeth fhould be declared and fealed there- 
 by, • 
 
 And here I /hall begin with that which is com- what is 
 mon and more general; That by Water, and fignified 
 wafhing with it in "Baptifm, is declared and fig- J" f ^ ap ~ 
 nified the Admiffion of the Perfon baptifed into i.*p u k- 
 God's Vifible Church 3 fo Chrift is faid to make lick Aci- 
 Difciples, 'john iv. 1, 2. and^j- ii. 41. the Bap- ™j^ l ° t n h 
 tifed are faid to be added nnto the Church : But viable C 
 as to th'is, there is a great Dffparity betwixt In- Church. 
 fidelSy and Infant^ of Church Members 3 the 
 Firft are received into the Church where they 
 were not before 3 but the Larl being Fcederally 
 holy, 1 Cor. vii. 14. they, antecedently to their 
 Baptifm, are real Members of th^ Church of 
 C 3 God, 
 
r g£ *A Tragical EJJay on 
 
 God t and have a Right to the Privileges thereof 
 And fa their Admiilion into this, is by Baptifm 
 folemnly declared, and publickly ratified. 
 II. U- Secondly, By Baptifm, is iignifled and fealed 
 Chrift 1 . U n * on t0 » and Communion with Cbrifl : So Rom. 
 vi. 3, 4. Perfons are expreily faid to be baptifed 
 into Chrift, and into his Death. And Gal. iii. 
 a 7. the Apoftle fays, For as ma?iy of you, as have 
 been baptifed into Chrift^ have put on Chrift 5 
 whereby, being baptifed into Chrift, we are not 
 only to underftand. a Being devoted to him, en- 
 gaged and bound over to be like Chrift, and for 
 Chrift, to makeProfeffion of and adhere to Chrift, 
 obey, love and for ever ferve him , and a Being 
 fo in Chrift as the Branch is in the Vine, where- 
 by we grow up in all Things in him, who is the 
 Jlead 5 but efpecially a being fo baptifed into 
 him, as that we are hereby fo declared One with 
 him our alone Surety, Head and Representative, 
 as that we come to have a formal Right to, and 
 in the Lord's due Time, are brought to enjoy all 
 the great and faving Bleilings that flow from the 
 Value and Merit of his Under ftking, Doing, 
 and Suffering. And fo we put on Chrift, not on- 
 ly in Point of Profeflion of Him, wearing his 
 Badge 5 nor yet only of Likenefs and Similitude 
 to him, being conform to his Image, but fpecially 
 and principally as to his complete Righteoufnefs, 
 hereby made over and fealed to us. It is by th's 
 we are cloathed and covered, that we may not 
 appear naked before the awful Bar of the Great 
 God j by this only we are abfolved and acquitted, 
 and have an everlafting Title to everlafting Life. 
 And fo, 
 ill. Par- 'Thirdly* Hereby is pointed ^out to us the Par- 
 eon, don of Sin $ a full, free, and final Abfolution 
 from the Guilt of thefe Tranfgreffions that are 
 paft, and a fure Foundation laid for the Forgive- 
 reefs of thefe Iniquities that are to come, being 
 
 by 
 
the Sacrament of Saptifm: 39 
 
 by Baptifm reprefented, made over and fealed to 
 all thofb who by the Father were given toChrift, 
 Jft&$ Yu 58. Repent and he baptifed every one of 
 ymi in the Name of JefusChriJl, for the Remif- 
 fion of Sins. 
 
 Fourthly, Hereby alfo is Signified Adoption, IV. A- 
 or the Baptifed his being received into theNum- do P tl0n ' 
 ber, and having a Right to all the Privileges of 
 the Sons of God : So that in all the After-dif- 
 penfations of God, they are considered as his pe- 
 culiar People and fpecial Heirs 5 either now r or 
 defigned in God's holy and appointed Time, to 
 be actually and formally made fo. This is evi- t 
 
 dent from that Connexion, Gal. ni. 26 , 27. Te 
 are all the Children of God y by Faith in Chrift 5 
 for as many of yon as have been baptifed into 
 Chrifi, have put on Chrift. For, 
 
 Fifthly, By this Ordinance is Signified our fpi- v. Rege- 
 ritual Birth and Regeneration; being now wafh- ncration. 
 ed from the inherent Power and Dominion of 
 Sin, being made conform to the Image of our 
 heavenly Father, having the new Nature, and fo 
 made new Creatures, as that all the Powers of the 
 Soul are fo difpofed, and the whole Man fo fra- 
 med and fafhioned, as to acl in a fpi ritual Man- 
 ner, according to the Word and Will of God; and 
 by his Grace made to go on from Strength to 
 Strength, Until at laft they appear before God in 
 Zion, which is above. So fays the Apoftle, Rom. 
 vi. 4. therefore we are buried with hivi by 
 Baptifm into- Death ^ that like as Chrift was rai- 
 fed up from the 2)ead by the Glory of the Fa- y 
 ther y even fo we alfo fhould walk in Newnefs of 
 Life. Verfe 5. For if we have been planted to- 
 gether in the Likenefs of his 2)eath, we fhaU 
 he alfo in the Likenefs of his Refurreblion* 
 Verfe 6. Knowing this, that our old Man is 
 crucified with him, that the Body of Sin might 
 Ite dejlroyed, that henceforth we fhonld not ferve 
 C 4 ' Sin, 
 
4* r J Trattical EJfay on 
 
 Sin. And feeing all the above-named Benefits 
 are fignified and fealed by Eaptifm, it necefla* 
 rily follows, by Virtue of that golden Chain, 
 Horn. viii. 3c. That hereby alfo muft be repre* 
 fented to us our Refurredtion at the laft Day to 
 Life eternal, when our Bodies fhall be made like 
 unto Chrift's glorious Body, and we, as to the 
 whole Man, arrive at the heavenly Canaan* 
 where we fhall have^he immediate, full, and un^ 
 interrupted Enjoyment of God to all Eternity. 
 VI. The Sixthly* Whereas we are Partakers of all the 
 Sp?ri?of d *orementioned Bleffings, as the Merit and Fruit 
 Chriil. of the Obedience and Blood of Chrift, and by the 
 inward effectual Operation of his holy Spirit ap- 
 plying thefe to us, and bringing us to the Poffef- 
 fion of them: Therefore, what the Signs in Bap- 
 tifm primarily and principally fignify, is, the 
 Blood and Spirit of Chrift purifying and clean- 
 ing from the Guilt and Pollution of Sin: For, as 
 it is the Value and Merit of the Blood and Death 
 of Chrift, as the finifhing Stroke of his Obedi- 
 ence, whereby our Sins are pardoned, and our 
 Perfons juftifled 5 fo it, is by. the Power and Effi- 
 cacy of the divine and irrefiftibly working Spi- 
 rit of Chrift, whereby indwelling Sin is fubdued, 
 and our Perfons fanclified. And both thefe are 
 - here fitly reprefented, Rom. vi. 3. 1 Cor. vi. 11. 
 Col. ii. 12. "Titus iii. 5, 6. 1 John i: 7..- i Tet, 
 1. 2. 
 Vii. The Seventhly* As a Confequent from the Whole, 
 D^dicati- h er eby is alfo fignified and pointed out the Dedi- 
 pVon ^ ca " on of the Perfon baptifed unto the Lord 5 and 
 baptited fo, his coming under fpecial and folemn Obliga- 
 to tRe tions to be the Lord's, and to walk worthy of 
 Lord * hrrfl unto all well Pleafing, living a Life of Faith 
 on the Son of God, rejoicing in him, cleaving 
 to and abiding in him ; and . thus performing all 
 the Parts of new and holy Obedience. This the 
 Apoftle aflerts, Rom. vi. 4, tf, 11, And the 
 
 Nature 
 
the Sacrament of Haptifm. 41 
 
 Nature of the Ordinance pleads for it: For if God 
 become our God, then furely we are his People. 
 I do not fay, .that Infants baptifed do explicitely, 
 formally, and in their own Perfcns come under 
 this Engagement, for this they are not capable 
 of 5 but that by this Ordinance, and the great 
 Things fignified thereby, they are really and as 
 ftrongly bound to be the Lord's, and his only, as 
 if they hadperfonallyandexprefly obliged them- 
 felves hereto by the moft folemn and pofitive 
 Promifes. But of this more afterward, and how 
 far Baptifm does favingly apply to the Perfons 
 baptifed, all thefe Bleflings fignified, will I hope 
 be confidered, when I come to fpeak to the Effi- 
 cacy of this Sacrament. % 
 
 And from what hath been faid, we may be in- Inferences 
 formed of our natural ^Pollution and Impunity 5 for, * rom this. 
 here is an Ordinance inftituted, for fignifying and 
 pointing out our Purification and Cleanfing 5 but f. o ur 
 it is not that which is pure, but what is contami- Natural 
 nate and defiled that needs to be wafhed. And Pollution, 
 all Mankind, by Nature, are abominable and . 
 unclean, tjecaufe of Guilt $ an^l polluted and vile, 
 becaufe of indwelling Sin 5 Jot?, xiv. 4. Ezek. f 
 xxxvi. 25, 26,27. Rom. v, 19. 
 
 Secondly, Here we may behold God's infinite Jr T , 
 Grace and Mercy: For us he hath provided a Re- LordV 
 medy molt fuitable to our Malady 5 fo he hath ricn Grace 
 appointed an Ordinance, whereby we come, by ^ nd Mer " 
 his Blefling, to have this Remedy applied, and w># 
 in the moft folemn Manner, to have the Renew- 
 ing of our Natures, Pardon of our Sins, Juftirlca- 
 tion of our Perfons, and the Sanciification and 
 Salvation of the whole Man made over and feal- 
 ed to us. 
 
 'Thirdly* Here we cannot but obferve the Ufe- IXI 
 fulnefs and Excellency of this Ordinance of Bap- The Uk. 
 tifm. The Utility and Dignity of any Thing is f ulnefsan<i 
 to he reckoned from its Author, Contents, Ufes, f y x "f^L 
 
 'Ends, tifm,' 
 
r » 
 
 4* > Tragical EJfay on 
 
 Ends, Efrefls, and Suitablenefs to the Perfbns 
 €oncerned therein. Seeing then, Baptifm con- 
 tains the greateft Things, fignifies and points 
 out the moft valuable and fure Mercies, and all 
 thefe exaftly fuited to ourMifery and Perpetuity, 
 furely we cannot btit infer, That it is an Ordi- 
 nance moft excellent in it felf, and in a mors 
 than ordinary Meafure ufeful to us : And fo, 
 TV. The Fourthly > How unfpeakably happy muft thofe 
 Happinefs be to whom this Ordinance w bleftcd, feeing they 
 whom fe il° ^ ave a11 the valuable > eternal and faving Advan- 
 isbicilcd. t^ges that are here Signified and reprefented, made 
 over, and fealed unto them. Surely, tfe Linei 
 fall into fleafant Places to ft>ch, and they have 
 , a goodly Heritage, who have Union with Chrtft, 
 Pardon, Adoption, a glorious Refurre£tion, and 
 an exceeding and eternal Weight of Glory fo fo- 
 lemnly difponed, and fo irreverfibly fecured to 
 them, as is by this Ordinance. 
 V, Ttisa Fifthly ', We. may here be informed, That 
 $ignofthe Baptifm is jufily reckoned a Sign of the whole 
 vhoJe Co- Covenant of Grace, feeing all the Blefiings of 
 that Covenant are thereby fignifled^and reprefen- 
 * tedj the procuring and applying Caufe of thefe 
 Blefiings are here pointed out j the everlafting 
 Nature of this Covenant, and the Continuance of 
 God's People in it, are hereby declared 3 and 
 then, the Duties thatly upon them as a covenan- 
 ted People, are by this Ordinance proclaimed and 
 inviolably fecured, and the Freenefs, Fulnefs 
 and Suitablenefs of this Covenant, are by this 
 publifhed and laid open to the Sons of Men. 
 VI. We Sixthly , Here we may further learn, where 
 aretolookour Eyes fhoujd be. principally fet, and our 
 Th^^ Thoughts fixed, when we think on, partake of, 
 iifcnikbB. or behold the Administration of this Sacrament $ 
 not upon die Signs only, neither upon the Bap- 
 tifed, or Perfon baptiiing, but fpecially and prin- 
 cipally upon the great and valuable Things that 
 
 are 
 
the Sacrament of Baptifin* 4? 
 
 are hereby fignified : For, as in all the Ordinances 
 of God, it is not the outward Sign, but the in- 
 ward Grace, that is to be fpecially and principal- 
 ly confidered; fo it is this only, that can anfwer 
 our neceifitous Condition, and cala'mitous Circum- 
 stances, and is chiefly intended and defigned. 
 
 Seventhly, Are fuch £reat Things fignified by VII. It k 
 <n v. t i. r i • *"• c • a a.'^ a molt ie- 
 
 jSapttfm^ then iurely it is a very ierious Action. r j ous ^j. 
 
 It is to be remarked, That all Actions of fpecialon. 
 Import to Men, are, and have been managed, 
 in good Earneft, with Concern and Gravity j and 
 here is that which is of the greateft Moment ; it 
 Kefpecls the whole Man and our Eternal State 5 
 it contains and Signifies the everlafting and fa- 
 ving Bleflings of God's Covenant, is an Ordinance 
 of God's AppointmeRtj and of the moft momen- 
 tuous Ufe : Surely then, it is not to be • overly 
 adminiftrated, by reading or faying a few Pray- 
 ers, and pronouncing a few Words in a carelefs 
 Manner 5 nor is it to be received or beheld in an 
 indifferent and unconcerned Way, but with Re- 
 verence, Faith and Holy Fear. But of this, 
 more in its proper Place. 
 
 Eighthly, Does this Ordinance Signify our U- Vin. It 
 nion to Chrift, and being ingrafted into him,then_perfwadcs 
 here we may obferve a pleafant Ground of, and to ^ nit ^ J 
 a Strong and perfwading Argument to Unity a- 
 mong baptifed and profeffing Chriflians. Not an 
 Unity in uninftituted and pretended neceflary and 
 Significant Rites and Ceremonies, nor yet an U- 
 nion in meer Words and Syllables $ for, that is 
 Will-ivorjhip, and this is Hypocrify^ but a being 
 one in Faith, Love, Hope, and Spiritual Endea- 
 vours j fuch "an Unity as engages to fympathife 
 with, aid, fupport, fupply, pray for, forbear and 
 forgive one another. And the Argument is 
 ftrong, becaufe, Eph. iv. 3, 4.. There is one Bo- 
 dy, one Spirit, one Hope of our Calling, one 
 LQrd, one Faith, and one Baptifm. And, 1 Cor. 
 
 xii. 
 
44 A *Pr(i£iical TLffay on 
 
 xii.'i?. *By one Spirit ipe are all laptifedint9 
 one Body. Should we not then, as Members of 
 that one Body into which we are baptifed, pity, 
 help, and do all kind Offices one to another. 
 Not grudging at, or bearing hard one upon ano- 
 ther, becaufe alLthe Members are not of' the fame 
 Shape, nor bear the fame Office, and fo act not 
 in the fame Things 5 but, we fhould Love as 
 Brethren , being of one Mind, pitiful, and ha- 
 ving CompaJJion one of another, 1 Pet. .iii. 8. 
 Nor is there any Thing rriQre undecent, unnatu- 
 ral, and frightful, than to behold Members of 
 the fame Body indifferent about one another, jar- 
 ring and fighting againft, and fo deftroying one 
 another. But alas ! Men confider not. 
 IX. And Ninthly, We may> from what hath been faid 
 falS aniC " on tiie Tn ings fignifled by Baptifm, be further 
 inftru&ed in the ftrongeft Obligations that ly up- 
 on baptifed Chriftians to the greateft Thankful- 
 nefs. For, feeing hereby God does fignify and 
 * reprefent the greateft Eleilings, yea, make over 
 and feal thefe to us, poor guilty, condemned, 
 unholy, and loft Sinners : . How then fhould we 
 adore his Grace, admire his Goodnefs, proclaim 
 his Mercy, with joyful Hearts, fing forth his 
 Praife, and for ever act and live to his Glory. 
 And now, Lajlly, From what hath been faid, 
 Why we may take Occafion, humbly and modeftly to 
 §*£ . enquire, why our Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrift, 
 ^'" who was holy, harmlefs and undefiled, and fe- 
 paratefl from Sinners, and fo had no Manner of 
 perfonal Need of the good Things fignifled by 
 fiaptifm, was yet pleafed to be baptifed, Matth. 
 iii. 13, 14, 15, i(5.. To this the JLearned An- 
 fwer (8), Firfl, That Chrift was baptifed, that 
 hereby he might commend Baptifin unto us, and 
 to (hew, that the Dignity of this and other Ordi- 
 nances, 
 
 ^S) Sec Shjftbeim. Dub. Evangelic*, Page 152. to 1 54* and 
 '-' *-icui, Fag£*5223 5233 &W ' • , 
 
the Sacrament ofHaptifm 45 
 
 nance*, does not at all depend upon the fuperior 
 Excellency of the Administrator, above thofe 
 to whom It is administrated j for here, the Supe- 
 rior is baptifed by 'the Inferior, and the Mailer 
 by the Servant, idly. That now when our Lord 
 was to enter upon his Publick Miniftry, * and to 
 fhew himfelf openly unto the Worlds he might 
 take Occafion, by the Divine Teftimony that at 
 his Baptifm was given Unto him, to convince the • 
 Multitude whence an^ who he was, and particu- 
 larly to confirm John in the Faith of his -divine 
 Perfon and Office. %$y 9 They fay, Tho' Chrift 
 perfonally confidered, had no Manner of Need 
 of this Ordinance, yet he, as our Fcederal Head 
 and Reprefentative, being made Sin fir ti$* 
 z Cor. v. 2i, Therefore, as {landing in our Room* 
 and as our Surety, Reprefentative and Redeem- 
 er, he received this Seal of the New Covenant 
 for us, whereby all the Bleilings of that Cove- 
 nant were fealed, ratified and fecured to us in his 
 Perfon. tfhly, They add, That it behoved him 
 in all 'Things to he made like unto his Bre- 
 thren, and fo, in being baptifed. But, iV#/y, 
 The moft fcriptural and plain Account of this, 
 feems to be, That Chrift, as our Redeemer, being 
 made of a Woman, made under the Law, Gal. . 
 iv. 4. It behoved him to fulfil all Right eon fnefs, 
 and give the molt perfect Obedience to thefe In- 
 stitutions of the Great Jehovah who fent him. 
 And this is the Reafon our Lord himfelf gives j 
 for, when John, declined the Office of baptising 
 him, and it may be, for the very Reafon that is 
 the Occafion of this Question, becaule Chrift 
 needed it not, Matth. iii. 14. our Lord, Verfe 1 5; 
 fays, Suffer it to be fo now, for thus it becometh 
 ns to fulfil all Righteoufnefs. 
 
 SECT. 
 
4* A Tragical Efiay on 
 
 .SECT. IV. 
 
 In whofi Name Terfons^are Bapifed. 
 
 THERE is fcarce any Thing that would b« 
 more grofs and abfuri, than to think, we 
 the Nam" c ^ ^ e baptifed in the Name of Angels or Men. 
 «f Angels For* as no meer Creature can appoint Ordinan- 
 •rMenj ce s of this Kind, nor give the Eleflings fignirled 
 hereby, nor preferve Men in the Pofleffion there- 
 of 5 fo, we are not to place our Faith and Trurt 
 for Salvation, in our FeMbw Creatures* nor arc 
 we by Baptifm dedicated to them, nor is the 
 Heritage of the Lord and Creator, to become the 
 Inheritance of the Servant and meer Creature, 
 whether' they be Creatures in the Heavens above* 
 or in the Earth below. 
 But in Wherefore, our Lord and Saviour,having fini- 
 the Namefhed the Work the Father gave him to do upon 
 •f the Ho, Earth, and being now to afcend to his Father $ 
 OWy. he w ho was faithful over his Houfe in all Things, 
 fees it meet, for the Edifying of his Myftical 
 Body, to appoint Handing Ordinances, and a 
 {landing Miniftry in his Church ; particularly, 
 to ordain, the Administration of Saptifm to con- 
 tinue to the End of the World: And that b'is Ser- 
 vants, who were to adminifter this Ordinance, 
 might not want Authority to do it, nor Direction 
 in it, he therefore gives them their Commiilion 
 and In^ru&ions at once, Matth. xxviii. 19. Go 
 ye therefore ■, teach all Nations i Saf fifing them 
 in the Name of the Father, ' and of the Sot;, and 
 of the Holy Gboft. For our Understanding of 
 which, thefe Things may be obferved. 
 
 jttffa 
 
the Sacrament of Eaptifm. 47 
 
 Firft, That the Defign and Ufe of a NAME NAME, 
 ©r NAMES, being given to Perfons or Things, its Ufe. 
 U y That thereby fuch Perfons and Things may 
 be known what they are, acknowledged as fuch, 
 diftinguirtied from others, and by thefe brought 
 into our Minds. And albeit Navies impofedby 
 ignorant and unskillful Men, -may come fhort of 
 thefe Defignsj yet this cannot be faid of thefe 
 NAMES which.- in Scripture are . attributed to 
 GOD, feeing he who alone is infinitely wife, and 
 hath perfect Knowledge of himfelf, hath, by his 
 deliberate Co l-nlel, aflumed thefe to himfelf. 
 
 Secondly, That NAME, as in Scripture it is NAME f 
 applied to GOD, is fometimes fb circumftant-i ?f 5^ OD 
 ated and ufed, as by it we are to underftand, JUj c t JJ^ 
 ij?, God himfelf, fo, Gen. xxiv. z6> fDeut. xxviii. under- 
 J|. Tfalm v. ii. <Pfalm vii. 17. Tfalmxx. i, 7. fto °^ 
 1 Kings v. 5. Jfaial) xii. 4. Joel ii. 32. zdly 
 The Attributes or Perfections of God, fo, Exo4. 
 xxxjv/ 5, 6, 7, 14.- $dly y As to point out the 
 Prorefiion, Confeliion, Wbrfjit and Service of 
 God, fo, Alicah iv. 5. Acts xxi. 13. And, 4^/^, 
 As to intimate to us, his Command, Will and 
 Authority, 2)ew. xviii. 19. 1 Sam. xvii. 45. 
 Hence, 
 
 thirdly; To be Baptifed in the Name $? jr& To be 
 SUai of the Father 2 and of the Son, and of &e *■*'*/«* » 
 Holy Ghofl, is, iy?, A being by Bafiifm brought *f t £ a £! 
 and prefented to the Father, Son, and i&^ rjb^, &«, 
 Ghofl, that fo the Perfons baptifed may partake and a>^ 
 ©Fihe Father's Grace and Love in Chrift, and^|> ? 
 by him be admitted into the Number of his 
 Children, and folemnly received into his Fami- 
 ly. 'That they may Share of the glorious Merit 
 and- Mediation of the Son, and have the faving 
 Bleffings and Advantages that flow therefrom 5 
 and may enjoy the gracious Influences and fancli- 
 fying Operations of the Holy Spirit. And by 
 thw Deed of Prefentation, they are divorced 
 
 frera 
 
48 'A Tracheal Efpay on 
 
 from all other Lovers, renounce all other Godsj 
 and give up with all other Methods of Salvati- 
 on, but that -which is by the Father's Grace the 
 Son's Merit, aad the Spirit's Working, idly, li 
 is, a being baptifed unto, Union to, and Commu- 
 nion with the Father, Son, and Holy Ghofl\ To 
 that they ftand in the near Relation of Children 
 • to the Father ', of Members to the Son, and of 
 Temples to the Holy Ghofl, • and fo come to par- 
 take of the ^Divine Nature, in the DHplay and 
 Manifestation of the Divine Perfections for them j 
 and this, gracioufly, feafonably, fuitably and 
 continually. $dly, It is, to be by Saptifm fo- 
 lemly devoted, wholly given tip, and for ever 
 dedicated to the Service of, and Obedience tothe 
 Father, Son, and Holy Ghoft. So that they are to 
 be wholly and for ever theLord's, to be ruled by 
 his Law, guided by his Spirit, difpofed of by his 
 Providence, and ever employed in his Service. 
 They are now to call theniftlves by his Name, 
 and not by the Name of Minivers or others, hew- 
 ever eminent as to their Station, Gifts or Graces, 
 they may be, 1 Cor. i. 12, 13. tfhly, It is, to 
 be "baptifed unto a 'ProfiJJion, CtufcJJion zndWor- 
 fljipping of Father, Son, and* Hdly Ghofl. They 
 are now to profefs and teflify before the World, 
 that they believe this Great Article of our Chri- 
 ftian Faith, 'That there are Three Terfons in 
 the Godhead, /^'Father, and r^e Son, and the 
 Holy Ghoft, ctnd that thefe, Three, tW really 
 diflinEl as td their ^FerfonUlity, yet are : one Co- 
 ejjential and Ete'r'nal God> equal in &&k$ and 
 Glory. To thefe only^ they are to direct their 
 religious Worfloip and "Adoration, invoke and call 
 upon them, and for ever fear, love, truil to, and 
 depend upon the Father, Son, iatfd Holy Ghoft. 
 And this, when called thereto, they are to mate 
 an open, iincere and conftant Confemon of. And 
 then, 5^/y, It is. to be baptifed by the WUh 
 
 C9VU 
 
the Sacrament vfSaptifin. r /y> 
 
 Command and Authority of the Father \ and of 
 the Son, and of the Holy Ghofl. So as the whole 
 Trinity do authorife and approve hereof, and, 
 from aftoni/hing Condefcenfion, become jointly 
 engaged, to make good (according to the Method 
 fettled in the Eternal Counfels of God) all the 
 great and valuable Bleflingsof the New Covenant * 
 that are iignified, reprefented and fealed by this 
 Ordinance of Baptifm. For, as to ratify, feal 
 and confirm a Perfon's Title to a worldly Eftate, 
 in the Name of a King or Prince, does declare, 
 That the Royal and Princely Authority is enga- 
 ged to hold and preferve that firm and fure, 
 which is thus done in his Name, according to 
 his Will and ftanding Law, fo it is here. 
 
 Fourthly, We are to Notice, That as it is ve- This 
 ry proper, fo it is neceflary, that Perfons be bag- Form in 
 tifed in this very Form, or thefe exprefs Words, £^"f to 
 In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and e ep * 
 of the Holy Ghofl. And that becaufe of the In- 
 stitution of our Lord Jefus Chrift, Matth. xxviii. 
 19. whichis very peremptory becaufeof the great 
 and high Import of thefe Words 5 becaufe the 
 Words that were ufed by the Lord Jefus, in In- 
 ftituting his Supper, are kept by the Apostle* 
 and obferved by him, Matth. xxvi. 16, 27, 28. 
 1 Cor. xi. 24, 25. And then, which may have 
 its own Weight, becaufe fo was Baptifni admi- 
 niftrated in the Primitive Times (0* Yet when I 
 fay, That this is neceflary, it is not to be fo un- 
 derftood, as if there was any Virtue or Efficacy in 
 the Words themfelvesj nor dare I affirm, as fome 
 do (2), That they are fo abfolutely needful, as 
 that Saptifm is null and invalid without them : Yet n °£ 
 For even thofe Perfons acknowledge, That when gSSS' 
 D Feople 
 
 (1) Kings Enquiry, &c Part II. Page 12. Sec*. IV. (2) 
 Taylor on Infant Baptifm, Pag. 17, 18. .Mucan. Pag. 61 8, 
 619. Z*neh. Tom. IV. Page 471. E; Atifall. £ib, VJJI, 
 Pag? 57c. lAtterfoe, Pag. i?6 } \$7-> 
 
50 A TraBkal EJfay on 
 
 People are baptifed in the Name of the Lord 
 Jefus Chrift y it is the fame upon the Matter, as 
 if they were baptifed in the Name of the Father^ 
 and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghoft 5 feeing, 
 fay they, here is the Father Anointing,- the Son 
 Anointed, and the Holy Spirit, which is the 
 XJnclion it felf. 
 
 Fifthly, It is to be obferved, That tho' fome, 
 of the Learned think the exprefs Naming of the 
 Perfons of the 'Triniy not abfolutely neceflary, 
 in the Adminiftration of £aj?tifm, and for Proof, 
 they adduce, Affs viii. 16. (1). where Mention 
 is made of fome being baptifed in the Name of 
 the Lord Jefm *'•; to which may be added, AQs 
 ii. 58. AcJs xix. 5.. - y and tho' it cannot be de- 
 v nied, but the Words in the Original arethefame 
 with Matth. xxviii. 19. ifs rb fay.*; nor can it be 
 refufed, bat that the Primitive Church ufed a 
 great Liberty, (as fome fay) in this Matter (2): 
 Yet Two Things are to be carefully noticed, 
 •ift, That even fen, pofitively.aflert, That by 
 no Means is the Confeffion of the Holy Trinity 
 Yet not t0 be laid afide or difpenfed with in the Admi- 
 to be laid niftration of 'Baptifm? not only becaufe of the 
 afide. Reaforts already given, but alio becaufe of the 
 many Adverfaries to this great and precious 
 Truth, Who, from the Pifufe or Neglect of this 
 very Form of Words* may T^e ready to, take Oc- 
 casion againft the Doclrine it felf($). idly. 
 Whereas it is not probable or likely, That the 
 Apoftles would take upon them to alter or de- 
 part from that Form To exprefly delivered by 
 their Glorious Mailer 5 . therefore, when any are 
 T , , faid to have been baptifed in the Name ofChrifl % 
 t'tdm the ^ is not thereby pointed out to us in what Form 
 Name of fuch were baptifed, but only, the efficient and 
 .Chrift, final 
 
 •what. 
 
 (1) Marchii Compendium, Page 2*0. Maejlricbt, Page 819. 
 (2) Clarhfon on liturgies, Page ?7 } to loo. (3) ftfWi. Comf. 
 Pag« 6tf* 
 
the Sacrament ofQaptifnu 51 
 
 final Caufe of th's Ordinance is thereby declared: 
 *That is, They were baptifed by the Authority of 
 Chrift, urito Faith in Chrift, Union to, artd Com- 
 munion with him, and unto a Profeflion and Con- 
 feflion of the Doctrine of our Lord Jefus (i). 
 
 Sixthly. As to the Frame or Form of Words No final! 
 in the Adminiftration of Saptifm, which do im- t ^ ariec y as 
 mediately preceed the Mention of the Holy 7ri- Forn ^ £ 
 nity therein $ as the Scripture feems to leave us Words in 
 at Liberty, fo there was no fmall Variety in the ^'A^ °f 
 Firft and early Ages of the Church (z). ^ Some ^^ 
 ufing the Expreffion, / baptife thee in the 
 Name, &c. Others, Be thou baptifed in the 
 Name. A Third, Let this ^Perfon, or, this 
 Servant of Chrift, be baptifed in the Name, &c. 
 Yet, in Regard the Words in the firft Perfon, 1 
 baptife thee, &c. do more evidently point out the 
 Authority of the Perfon Adminiftrating this Or- 
 dinance, the Declaration whereof is not to be o- 
 mitted y and more exprefly "declare the prefent 
 Adminiftration thereof, with the particular Ap- 
 plication of the outward Sign, and thereby the 
 Bleifings fignified to the Perfon baptifed : For 
 thefe Reafons, this Way of Expreffingis much to 
 be preferred to the other Two, which feem to 
 refpecl fomewhat future and to-come. And as to 
 that Form of Words others arefaid to have ufed, 
 viz. T'his 'Pesfon is baptifed in the Name, &c. 
 This feems to point out fomewhat which is al- 
 ready paft, and fo very improper in this prefent 
 Ac!: of Adminiftration. 
 
 From what hath been now faid, of our be- Inferences 
 ing baptifed in the Name of the Father, and of ^ rom this. 
 the Son, and of the Holy Glx>ft , we may learn, 
 id, That as there are Three Perfons in the j. there 
 Godhead, fo thefe are Three truly&iftinft Sub- are Three 
 fiftencies, each having his proper and diftinft jj\ u, j, di 
 
 D & Per 
 
 ilinct Per- 
 
 fons in the 
 
 (1) Heideger, Pag. 443* Co2. I. Se&. J$. (2) See CLrkfon Trinity, 
 •n Liturgiesj Page $4* 
 
$2 A Traffic al Effay on 
 
 Perfonality, tho' One and the fame individual 
 Eflence: For, here are Three diftincl: Perfons 
 diftin&ly named, by their Authority Inftituting 
 this Ordinance, and who, by their Grace, make 
 it effectual to all the great Ends and Purpofes 
 for which it is appointed: And as thefe Three 
 are One God, and fo, one individual Eflence j 
 fo here they agree in One, That poor Sinners be 
 baptifed in their Name, and by their Authority. 
 Por, it is not faid in the Names, but in the Name 
 of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy 
 Ghofl.. And here we may behold aitonifhing 
 Condefcenfion, wonderful Grace, and a never 
 failing Foundation for our Faith. 
 II Tl t Secondly, We may hence learn the Awfulneft 
 Baprifm is and Majefty of this Ordinance, feeing here it is 
 an awful publickly and folemnly declared in whofeName, 
 Ordinance anc j by wno fe Authority this is done, even in 
 that of the Great God, Father, Son, and. Holy 
 Ghofl. Surely this is not to be gone about in a 
 Regardlefs Manner, much lefs is it to be (ported 
 with j but all concerned, and who are capable 
 to underftand, are to be filled with the greateft 
 Reverence and Holy Fear. 
 III. The thirdly, We may, from this, be informed of 
 Validity the Validity of Saptifm, when performed by a 
 of Baptifm. lawfully called Minifler. For, tho' Men admi- 
 nistrate it> yet it is in the Name, and by the Au- 
 thority of the Father, and of the Son, and of the 
 Holy Ghofl', fo that what is thus done upon Earth, 
 is ratified in Heaven, ftands good and unfhaken 
 as to all the Ufes and glorious Defigns for which 
 it is appointed. Anions duely performed in the 
 Name, and by tke Authority of an earthly Prince, 
 are by all Men held valid and good j much more 
 are thefe which are done in the Name of the 
 Great, Infallible, Unchangeable, anc^ Omnipo- 
 tent GOD. 
 
 Fourthly^ 
 
the Sacrament ofBapttfin. JJ 
 
 Fourthly, From this we may behold the abfo- TV. Blef- 
 lute Certainty, That all the great and good <£| s £& ni ' 
 Things of the New Covenant fhall be applied, slptifm 
 given, and beftowed upon thefe to whom God ihall be 
 is pleafed to ble fs this Ordinance of Ztaptifm. applied. 
 For, we are baptifed in the Name of the Father, 
 and of the So??, and of the Holy Ghofb, which, as 
 we have heard, imports, that all the Perfons of 
 the Glorious Trinity become engaged for the ef- 
 fectual Application of all thefe Bleffings that 
 are fignified and fealedby this Ordinance. And 
 this the Lord's People have, as an unihaken 
 Foundation on which they are to reft, and confi- 
 dently to hope. 
 
 Fifthly, Here we are inftrufted in the ftrong y # The 
 and inviolable Obligations that are laid upon Per- great O- 
 fbns baptifed, to have an holy Profeifion and an ^ligations 
 holy Practice. They are hereby devoted and gi- z u ™ *]£ 
 ven up to the Father, the Son, and Holy Baptifed. 
 Ghoft. This great Article of our holy Religion 
 they are always to profefs and ftand by 5 they are 
 # to call themfelves only by the Name of this God, 
 and are conftantly to reckon, that henceforth they 
 are not their own, nor are they the Servants of 
 Men, but wholly and only the Lords, and there- 
 fore are to be like him, and for him, in Body, 
 Soul and Spirit : In every Part of their Conver- 
 fation, fo behaving themfelves, as becomes the 
 Children of their Heavenly Father, the Members 
 of Chrift, and fuch as are Temples of the Holy 
 Ghofl. 
 
 '- ■ Sixthly and Laflly, We may obferve the mon- vi. The 
 ftruous Ingratitude, Apoftafy and Perjury, the aggrava- 
 horrid Rebellion, and crying Injjftice of many ted sin * °** 
 baptifed Perfons } fuch as thofe who deny ^.™"p er ? 
 Lord th&t bought them, and impugn this great tons. 
 fundamental Truth, tfhat there are T'hree 'Per- 
 fins i# the Godhead, the Father, Son, and Holy 
 Ghoft $ and. % that thefe T^hree are one God, the 
 D 3 *' " Jjhme 
 
5<f . r A Tragical EJJay on 
 
 fafite in Suhftance, equal in Tower and Glory, 
 Thofe, who when they are come to Age, aban- 
 don the Service of their only rightful Lord and 
 Mafter, and defert the Captain of their Salva- 
 tion, under whofe Banner they were lifted in the 
 Day wherein they were baptifed 5 who will not* 
 come to Chrifl that they may have Life 5 who 
 will have none of God to rule over them 5 and 
 who by no Means can be prevailed upon to yield 
 themfelves to the Influences of the Holy Spirit: 
 What Monfters of Men and Women muft thefe 
 be, who, tho* they were baptifed unto the Fa- 
 ther, Son, and Holy Ghofl, yet refufe to worfhip 
 and ferve this God, but either formally and ex- 
 plicitely, or virtually and practically, devote 
 . themfelves to the Slavery of Satan, the Service 
 of idol gods, the Vanities of the World, the Will 
 of their raging and impure Lufts, and who fet 
 themfelves in Oppofition to thefe Truths, Infti- 
 tutions, and Perfons, who have any Thing of the 
 Image and Superfcription of the Great Jehovah 
 upon them ! Confider, O Sinners ! you were not 
 baptifed in the Name of Satan, of idol gods, of 
 the World, or the Flejfh^ but in the Name of the 
 True and Only God, Father, Son, and Holy 
 Ghoft: To thefe, and thefe alone, you were fo- 
 lemnly devoted and dedicated 5 and what do 
 tniferable and unthinking Creatures, as you are, 
 by this your Perjury, Perfidy, and Apoftafy, but 
 deprive your felves of your greateft and higheft 
 Privileges 5 renouncing that God who is your 
 Glory, that Son of God who is the only Saviour, 
 that Holy Ghoft who alone is the San&ifier and 
 Header of poor Sinners; you thereby robtheGm^ 
 Jehovah of that which he hath a ratified andun- 
 queftionable Title to 4 for ever damn your own 
 precio s Souls j and, in the moft frightful Man- 
 ner, eternally deftroy both Soul and Body! Con- 
 sider, how, at the laft Day, a holy and juftGod 
 
 may 
 
T'he Sacrament of E apt i fin. 55 
 
 may arraign you as the mqft perfidious Wretches 5 
 how Satan may plead againft you, and claim you 
 as his own, upon this very Argument, Thattho' 
 you were not baptifed in his Name, but in the 
 Name of the mod High God, yet youforfook the 
 
 9 Lord, and gave up your felves to him. O! how 
 /hall God be juftified in condemning Thoufands 
 of baptifed Perfons, whofe Lives are but one con- 
 tinued Acl: pf Perjury, Apoftafy and Rebelli- • 
 on. 
 
 I might here Notice in the Seventh Place, VII. The 
 what comfortable Improvement the Lotd's People j^mtorta- 
 are to make of this, as an Argument againft Sin, pr o Ve .' n ~ 
 and all Manner of Temptations ; as a Support ment that 
 under all Burdens and Griefs; as an Incitement cil Peo- 
 to all commanded Duties j and, as a Foundation j^^f* 
 of their Faith, Hope and Joy 5 and that upon ma i ce f 
 which, as a notable Argument, they can plead this, 
 with God in Prayer, for their obtaining fpecial 
 Covenant Bleflings, made over and fealed to them 
 by Baptifm. But. this I derlgn more particular- 
 
 . ly to difcourfe of, afterward. 
 
 SECT. V. 
 
 Of the Ends and Ufes ^/Baptism. 
 
 SOLEMN Aclions, always are for more than 
 ordinary Purpofes, and have fome fpecial and 
 peculiar Ufes. Men, when they fee any Thing 
 done with more than ordinary Solemnity, pre- 
 fently conclude, That fomething of more than or- 
 dinary Importance is intended thereby. All Na- 
 tions, and Religions whatfoever, have fome fpe- 
 cial Rites and Aclions, for fome fpecial Derlgns, 
 particularly, ,for Initiation and Confirma:io,i-: 
 D 4 And 
 
 \ f ^ 
 
 W 
 
$6 A Vrattical Effhy on 
 
 And becaufe the Church and People of God need 
 fome fuch Things as well as others, for the con- 
 firming of their Faith, ftrengthning their Hope, 
 and the Increafe of their Joy and Holinefs; there- 
 fore he, who knoweth our Infirmity, hath ap- 
 pointed this Ordinance of Saftifm for certain 
 high Ends and Ufes, becoming his infinite Wif- 
 dom,Holinefs and.Grace, and fuitable to our own 
 Circumftances. And becaufe the intended Ufe 
 of any Ordinance, is, That thereby fuch Effects 
 may be brought about, as are the Ends and De- 
 figns thereof j according as the fame is bleffed of 
 God, who appoints it. For this Reafon, I have, 
 in this SeBion, joined the Ends and Ufes of 
 jBaftzfm together: Where we may obferve, 
 I. It fig- Firft, That Saptifm is appointed forthisEnd, 
 mfies and and is of fpecial Ufe, to fignify and reprefent to 
 rcprefents. us sinners, the Stood of Chrifi, in the ^ Virtue 
 and Value of it, for the compleat Pardon of all 
 our Sins, and our Deliverance from Wrath, ancl 
 the Curfe of the Law, i John i. 7. Gal. iii. 13. 
 Rom. vi. 3, 4, Mark i. 4. And to exhibite and 
 fhew forth the purifying Virtue of the Holy Spi- 
 rit of Chrift, in his gracious Operations j clean- 
 ing us from the inherent Pollution of Sin, re- 
 newing us in the Spirit of ourlYlinds, and fancti- 
 fying us in the whole Man, 1 Cor. vi. 11. iCor. 
 xi'i. 13. T'itus iii. 5. And.thefe Things being 
 thus represented, hereby, of Confequence, Saf- 
 tifm doth fignify and fhew forth all the Bleflings 
 of the New Covenant, as proceeding and flowing 
 from thefe, Rom. iv. ir, 12. 
 IT. Ap- Secondly* As Baptifm is to fignify, fo it is ap- 
 plies and pointed to apply, make over, and difpone all the 
 difpones. Bleffings f the New Covenant to all thofe to 
 whom this Grace belongeth (rj, ' Afts xxii. \6. 
 Col. ii. 1 a. For we are baptifed unjto Union to, 
 
 and 
 
 (1) SesConfefionoffaitl) Qhaj>. 28* SecVtf. 
 
The Sacrament of jBaptifin. 57 
 
 and Communion with Chrift, Rom. vi. 3, 5. Gal, 
 ill. 27. fo as we may be folemnly admitted into 
 the Number of the Sons of God, and become 
 Heirs according to the Promife, Gal. in. 26, 29. 
 and have a Right and Title made over to the ho- 
 ly Spirit, in all his gracious Operations, .1 Cor. 
 xii. 19. But to prevent Miftakes, we may ob- 
 ferve, That the baptifed Perfon his actual Pof- 
 Teffion of thefe Bleffings thus folemnly made o- 
 ver and difponed to him, is not confined to the 
 Inftant of Adminiftration; for fome may, and 
 have in a confiderable Meaiure been poflefTed 
 of thefe before Baptifm, and others not until a 
 confiderable Time after it ; fo that when it is 
 faid, That Baptifm applies and conferreth Cove- 
 nant Bleffings, the Meaning is, That in the right 
 Ufe thereof, or when the fame is gone about ac- 
 cording to God's Appointment, all the Bleffings 
 of the well ordered and everlafting Covenant, are 
 hereby folemnly made over and difponed, as by 
 a Law-deed, or vifible external Sign and Token. 
 For, as the Heir of anEftate hath a Right there- 
 to, and fometimes enjoyeth the Profits thereof*} 
 yet the Eftate itfelf is afterward folemnly made 
 over and ratified to him, by fuch Symbols and 
 Rites as the Law of the Country where he lives 
 does ordain. And tho' he has no PofTeffion 5 yet ~ 
 having a Title by thefe Symbols, the Eftate is 
 made over and difponed to him. So it is here, 
 all the Elect Seed being given to Chrift, and, in 
 what he did and fullered, reprefented by him, 
 have a real ( I fay not a formal) Title to all the 
 Bleffings of the Covenant. And this being fup- 
 pofed, whether they are then in PofTeffion of any 
 Part of thefe Bleffings or not 5 by Baptifm thefe 
 Bleffings are made over and folemnly difponed 
 to them, Jer.'i. 5. Luke i. 15. AEis ii. 41. Atfs 
 ▼iii. 12, 13, Aftsinu 3^ 37. Afis x. 47, 48. 
 ^#J" xvi. 33, ' 
 
 tfnrdly. 
 
5 8 A Tragical EJjay on 
 
 ™r* Ifc 'thirdly > Baptifm is inftituted, that hereby, at 
 
 'aid fells. a ? ivine Pled £e, Si §« and Token, the Perfons 
 Title to, and Intereft in all thefe Bleffings, ac- 
 cording to the Tenor of the New Covenant, and 
 the Counfel of God's own Will, may be ratified, 
 confirmed and fealed. And as to this, we may 
 in the General notice, That Sealing declareth 
 the Willy and teftifieth the full Confent of the 
 Party that doth feaL And ordinarily in Law, fo 
 perfecleth the Grant or Donation, as no Adverfary 
 may have any juft Exception againft the Party's 
 Right to whom it is fealed 5 and, this folemn 
 Teftimony of. the Sealer's Confent, is reckoned 
 more ftrongly to oblige him to fee to it, that the 
 P&rfon whofe Right is thus confirmed, be put and 
 kept in his juft and lawful PofTeffion : So here, 
 thebaptifed Perfon's Right to the Bleffings of the 
 ♦ Covenant is ratified, the Author of this Ordi- 
 
 nance becomes engaged, That what is fealed Jfhall 
 be preferved to him, and he afcertain'd, that in 
 . God's due Time and Method, he /hall be pof- 
 kffed of all the Privileges of the Covenant fo con- 
 firmed in his "Perfon. And thus he hath a folid 
 Ground for his Faith, that all Things are his, 
 and of the greateft Joy and CcJmfort, Gen. xvii. 
 11. Rom. iv. 11, 12. Heb.vi. 17, 18. Afts ii. 38. 
 And altho' Wafhing with Water be a fimple and 
 ordinary A£Hon$ yet being appointed by divine 
 Authority for this high and noble End: There- 
 fore it is of fo great Ufe and Benefit. 
 * i y* D By Fourthly, Baptifm is of this Ufe, and for this 
 *ibn is fo- End > Tnat thereby the Perfon baptifed may be 
 kmnly folemnly and publickly admitted and declared a 
 < ??™ 1 l tte , a Member of the Church of God, 1 Cor. xii. 13. 
 Afts ii. 47. I do not fay, That Baptifm forms 
 a Church, or makes the Perfon a Church Mem- 
 ber that was not one before 5 for both thefe, I 
 conceive, are prefuppofed thereto : But, that by 
 Baptifm the Perfon is folemnly declared and re- 
 ceived 
 
the Sacrament of % apt If hi. 5$ 
 
 ceived as fuch. For, as Confent of People and 
 Prince do make a King, but Coronation is a pub- 
 lick inaugurating into that Ohice, and declaring 
 him to be fo 5 fo the Children of profefling Pa- 
 rents, they are born Members of the Vifible 
 Church, 1 Cor. vii. 14 And the adult Infidel, 
 when upon his being in(truc~ted, he profeffeth his 
 Faith in Chrifly by this his ProfeiTion, he is rec- 
 koned truly and really a Part of the Body of 
 Chrift (1:3 and Baptifm which fucceeds this, is 
 a folemn and publick Declaration that he is fuch. 
 TheCuftom then of feme Churches, who place 
 the Font at the ",h xch Door, if intended as a 
 myftical Sign of the Eaptifed theirEntry into the 
 Church of Chnft, where they were not before, is 
 without Ground, and an Antichriftian Ceremo- 
 ny of Mens deviling : For, Seals of the Cove- 
 nant dan never be applied to any but fuch as are 
 fupvofed to be in Covenant, nor can the Privile- 
 ges of the Chriitian Church be confirmed to any 
 that are without the Church. 
 
 Fifthly^ Baptifm is ordained of God, that by v. it h 
 itthofe who are baptif d may be folemnly bound a Bond 
 and engaged to the Performance of all thefe holy gage E °~ 
 and Chriflian D.t'es that are commanded them to Chri- 
 of God, and follow upon thefe great and high vtian Du- 
 Privileges, which are, by this Ordinance, made- ties ' 
 over and fealed to them, Rom. vi . 3, 4, 6, 11. 
 ^}obn viii. 31. 1 <Pet. iii. 2c, 21. We are fo 
 wavering and inconilant, that we need many 
 Ties, and to be in the moil folemn Manner obli* 
 ged to an holy Profeilion and^ holy Practice. And 
 Baptifm is an open and viable Badge, whereby 
 we folemnly proteft and declare, before God, An- 
 gels and Men, That we are now aflbciate with 
 the Church of God, are Members of Chrift 5 
 
 that 
 
 (1) See Sydenham on infant Baptifm, Pag. 166. to \-?z\ 
 Jbtthejorih Divine Right of PresDyteryj Pag. 212. to 220. 
 apud fir.rm Lihri, 
 
So J practical Effhy on 
 
 that we have given up our Names to him, to he 
 wholly his, and only for him : And therefore will 
 fight under his Banner, and, all our Life long, 
 profefs the Faith, and adhere to the Doctrine 
 and Worihip of one God, Father, Son, and Holy 
 ■ Ghoft. 
 ^ '}- Itis Sixthly and LafHy, God hath appointed Bap- 
 Bifference tl ^ m * H ^ Church, that by this a vifible Dirfe- 
 betwixt rence may be put betwixt his People and the reft 
 she People G f the World, "they are not of the Worlds but 
 and o- chofen out of it, and by many Things they are 
 thexs. diftinguifhed from it j particularly, that they 
 have the Oracles of God committed to them, and 
 folemn fealing Ordinances, whereof they are Par- 
 takers, fixed among them. Gen. xvii. n. Gen. 
 xxxiv. 14. Matth. xxviji. \$,Johii\v. 1. 
 Inferences And from this, of the Ends and Ufes of Bap- 
 fr'om this, tifm, we may learn, Firft,' The Lord's great Con- 
 defcenlion to ourWeaknefs and Infirmity. We, 
 I. God's while in this State of Mortality and Imperfecti- 
 5* n ^ e "" on, are much led by Senfe $ and it hath pleafed 
 him, in Condefcenfion to the Condition and 
 Frailty of human Nature, to appoint vifible Signs 
 and Pledges of that which is invifible 5 and by 
 our Senfes, to give all the Aflurance they are ca- 
 pable to convey unto our Minds, that all the 'Pro- 
 mifes of all fpiritual faving Bleffings, fhall as cer- 
 tainly he fulfilled to us, as the outward Signs are 
 applied to and duly received by us. O ! what a 
 ' grateful and Heart- warming Confideration of this 
 fiiould Gofpel Minifters, Chriftian Parents, and 
 all concerned have. 
 II The Secondly, That it is not Men, but God alone, 
 Lord a- who bellows and feals Covenant Bleffings : For 
 Artre and nere > tne Covenant and Bleffings thereof are only 
 ieals Co- his j he alone gives Authority to fuch external 
 venant Things and Actions, as conftitutes them in the 
 £blimgs. Mature of true Signs and real .Seals ; and then 
 ft is God only who appoints them for fuch great 
 
 Ends 
 
the Sacrament of % apt i fin. 6* 
 
 Ends and high Ufes, as have been already men- 
 tioned. Surely, in all Approaches we make or 
 this Kind, we are humbly to acknowledge God, 
 with Reverence to behold him, and, in an holy 
 and fincere Manner, to place our Confidence ancL 
 Hope only in him. 
 
 Thirdly, That Eaptifm is an Ordinance of HI. I: is 
 great Concern and Importance to the Sons of j^jfj^ 1 
 Men ; feeing it is of the greateft Ufe, and for cance td 
 the higheft Ends as to them ; all the Bleflings of the Sons 
 the New Covenant, and their everlafting Salva- of M€n * 
 tion and Happinefs, being by this Ordinance fig- 
 nified, applied and fealed. And for this Reafon 
 it is not to be flighted, caufelefly delayed, or 
 carelefly and with Indifference performed, Jiffs 
 ii. 38, 4.1. Jfts viii. 37, 38. AEls xvi. 33. Seal* 
 ing and confirming a Perfon's Title to an Earthly 
 Eftate has been always reckoned an Affair of 
 very great Moment, not to be trifled in, but care- 
 Fully and timeoufly gone about : How much. 
 more fhould that which is a divinely appointed 
 Sign and Seal of our everlafting Inheritance ? 
 
 Fourthly, We may hence further learn, what IVj 
 it is that Chriftian Patents fhould have in their ^J^? 
 Eye, and propofe to themfelves, when they bring propMs 
 their Children to Baptifm. They are not to ask to the«- 
 this Ordinance for their Infants, only becaufe it ielV9 *> 
 is Cuftom, andfafhionable jnor merely, that they 
 may be admitted to Vifible Church Communion 
 and Memberfhip 5 nor only to have a Name gi- 
 ven them 5 nor, as fome ignorantly fpeak, that 
 they may be made Christians 5 tho' alas ! thefe 
 are the only Defigns that many Profeflbrs, to the 
 great Scandal and Dishonour of our holy Religi- 
 on, have, in bringing their Children to this Or- 
 dinance. But hither they are to carry them, 
 that they may be prefented before the Lord as 
 now upon a Throne of Grace, and devoted to 
 him, have all the Blefftngs of the well-ordered 
 
 Covenant 
 
6i A practical EJTay on 
 
 Covenant of Grace made over and fealed to them, 
 be folemnly and publickly declared* Members or 
 the Vifible Body of Chriit, and in the moll in- 
 violable Manner, for ever bound over to his Ser- 
 vice. 
 UnkV^f 6 Fifthly* . From the Ends and Ufes of Baptifm, 
 the True we ma > be a ^° inftru&ed in the Unity of the 
 Church, true Church of God : For this is appointed, that 
 we may all be baptifed into one Body, Gal. iii. 
 27. and into one Spirit, 1 Cor. xii. 1;. and fo t 
 we all have one Lord and one Baptifm, Eph. iv. 
 5. How then (ho Id bapt'fed Perfons look up- 
 on one another as Brethren, as Children of the 
 fame Family, Heirs of the fame Inheritance, and 
 engaged in the fame Service ; fjneerely ufing 
 their united Endeavours to preferve the fame di- 
 vine Truths, keep pure the fame divine Wor- 
 ship, and promote the Interefis of their common 
 £iOrd: Not Stumbling but Edifying, not Oppref- 
 fing but Encouraging, and not falling out by the 
 Way, but forbearing and forgiving one another 
 in the Lord. 
 Itielem* 1 * Sixthly, We may learn, That there is a Ne- 
 ofou/b^-^fffry tnat we -the Sons of Adam be brought urt- 
 Sng obli- der fpecial and folemn Obligations, to the Per- 
 gedto ho- f ormance of holy, religious andChriftian Duties: 
 utics. p or ^ j iere we ma y obferve, That an infinitely 
 wife God, who in all his Inftitutions never pro- 
 poles any Defigns but what are moft juft and moft 
 neceflary, hath appointed Baptifm for this End 
 amongft others ; that thereby we may, in the 
 moft folemn Manner, be bound over and engaged 
 to the conftant," univerfal, and fincere Difcharge 
 of all the commanded Duties of a covenanted 
 People. And indeed, the Neceflity of Holinefs, 
 in Order to our future Happinefs,o.ir natural and 
 ftrong Corruptions, with our many and violent 
 Temptations, call for this* 
 
 Scuentttfr 
 
the Sacrament o/IBaptifm. 6$ 
 
 Seventhly, We may here be informed, how Vll.Howr 
 frightfully <Papifls abufe this holy and folemn b„g.'^*" 
 Ordinance 5 while they ufe this, which is ap- 
 pointed of God for holy and fpiritual Defigns, to 
 fupcrftitious and political Purpofes 5 fuch as, Hea- 
 ling of Cattle, Confecrating of Sells, and Inflru- 
 ments of War, Z$c. Of which more in its pro- 
 per Place. 
 
 N»/X *rs *»« jMg SPA S"</. X"4 JW vW/ $"/ SI"/ W V"£ N«* *>// X%pfAS% V"/, « NW «*£ 
 
 SECT. VI. 
 
 Of the Confeqnent refulting from all thefe 5 or, 
 Our Engagement to be the Lord's. 
 
 TO Difcourfe fully of this, would require 
 more Room than can be well allowed here 5 
 I fliall therefore, but very briefly point at fome 
 Things which are more efpecially to be obfer- 
 ved. 
 
 And Ftrfl, We may obferve what is included ^ at <*** 
 in our Engagement to le the L 0R2)'s, as this ^Slt 
 is here ^ircumftantiated. And \fl, This is evi- be the 
 dently implied in it, That being now baptifed, Lord's ir- 
 the Lord hath a Title to, a Covenant fealed dudc5s 
 Right and Intereft in us j That we are now in a, 
 very fpecial Manner his 5 his People, his Inheri-' 
 tance, his Subjects and Servants 5 his in all that 
 we are, Body, Soul and Spirit} and in all we en- 
 ]oy, whether thefe be Gifts, Graces, or external 
 and worldly PofTeflions, Jer. xxxi. 33. 1 Cor. vi\ 
 19, 20. idly, That we are now in the moft fo- 
 lemn Manner to be only his, and not another's* 
 Hofeah iii. 2, 3. We are no more Satans, for we 
 are bought and redeemed from him, and our Li- 
 beration publickly avouched, declared and real- 
 s' 
 
^4 A. TraEtical EJfay on 
 
 ed, A5ts-XTcr\. 18. i John in. 8. No more, the 
 World's, for we are cnofen, and to look upon our 
 felves as redeemed cut of the World, John xvii. 
 14, 16. Nor are we any more to be the Servants 
 
 f of Sin, for oar old Man is crucified with Chrifl % 
 
 dnd buried with him in Saptifm y Rom. vi. 4, tf. 
 Wherefore, as in the Primitive Times, thofe who 
 were come to Age, did at their Baptifm, pub- 
 lickly and perfonally declare their renouncing 
 the tDevil and his Slavery \ the World and its 
 Vanity >, and Sin and its Ztrudgery, fo upon the 
 Matter, and according to the Nature of this Or- 
 dinance, do every baptifed Perfoh to this Day. 
 And ^dly, This includes our coming under the 
 moft fpecial Obligations to perform, through his 
 Grace, all thefe 'Duties, that we, as his peculiar 
 People, owe to him as our w*w covenanted Lord, 
 As ift, Hereby we are engaged to be like him, 
 or holy as he is holy, Matth xi. 28, 29, 30. 
 \ c Pet. i. 14, 15, 1 6. idly, To be for him h for 
 his Interefts and Concerns in the World. Thefe 
 we are continually to own, adhere to and con- 
 tend for, Rom. xiv. 8, 2. Cor. v. 15. idly, To 
 obey him, and with the whole Heart, by Faith 
 in himfelf,to keep all his Commandments, 2)eut. 
 xxvi. 18. Rom. vi. 4. Rom. vi. ir. Gat. ii. 20. 
 <Phil. iv. 15. tfhly, To truft only in him, and 
 depend entirely and constantly upon him for all 
 Things, <PfaL lxii. 8. <Pfal. Iv. 22. Song viii. 5. 
 • 1 'Pet. v. 7. 5thly 9 To be at his 5Difjf>ofal, as to 
 our Life, our Lot, and all our Circumftances in 
 a World, 2 Sam. xv. z6. Beb. xii. 9. For we 
 are his, and there is the beft Reafon for it, that 
 he difpofe of his own as feems good unto him. 
 6thly, Hereby we become engaged, fo foon as we 
 fhall be capable, explicitly, by our own perfonal 
 and voluntary A6t, to accept of the Lord Jefas 
 Cbrifb 9 z& our compleat and only Redeemer j and, 
 mCbrifit of Jehovah's Covenant ofPromifes, 
 
 «nd 
 
the Sacrament of "Baptijnu 65 
 
 'and all the Bleilings contained therein 5 and here- 
 upon we give the Hand, folemnly declare, That ' 
 we confent and agree to all the 2)uties of a cove- 
 nanted People, Jer. iii. 4, 19. And then ytbly, 
 In all Things, at all Times, and with the whole- 
 Heart, to own and acknowledge him^.r our Lord, ' 
 and our God, o>ir Glory, and the Fountain of . 
 all our Happinefs. We are to live and die to his 
 Glory, in Heart and Practice to adore and pro- 
 claim his glorious Perfections, and to fhow forth 
 all his Praife. 
 
 Secondly, We may here obferve the Connedti- The c ° n " 
 on betwixt Baptifm, as hgnifying, applying and twixcBap ^ 
 fealing all the Bleilings of the New Covenant $ and our 
 and our Engagement to be the Lord's. And being the 
 this is evident, if Firfl, we confider, That our s * 
 
 being the Lord's is a Fruit and Effect of the 
 Death of Chrift, which is fignified, and the Be- 
 nefits whereof are applied and fealed by Bap- 
 tifm, Eph.v. 25, 16. 1 Pet. iii. 18. Titus I'u 
 14. If then we are baptifed into the Death of 
 Chrift, it cannot but follow, that we. are brought 
 unto God, and are no more our own, but his pe- 
 culiar People, idly, This is included in the 
 very Nature and Tenor of the Covenant of Grace, 
 of which Baptifm is a Seal 5 for fo it is, Jer. 
 xxx i. 3;. Heb. viii. 10. I will put my Laws in- 
 to their Mind, and write them in their Hearty 
 and will be to them a Gcd, and they fhall be to 
 me a People, idly. So to engage and folemnly 
 to bind us to be the Lord's, is one of the fpecial 
 Ends and Ufes of Baptifm, Rom.vi. 3,4. And 
 trthly, Gratitude and Thankfdnefs to the Lord, 
 for his beftowing upon us, and fealing to us the 
 great and prom i fed Bleilings of his Covenant, 
 and his Command upon o r having thefe fo be- 
 (towed and fealed, call for this, that we fhould 
 be wholly and only his, Jer. iii. 19. Hof. iii. 5. 
 
 B Rom. 
 
66 'A 'Practical EJJay on 
 
 Rom. vi. 3, 4. 1 Cor. vi. 19, 20. 2 Cor. vii. 1. <PfaI. 
 cxvi. 12, 16"; 
 Our En- thirdly, We are here to confider this En- 
 to^bTThc gagement to be the Lord's, as reft king from 
 Lord's, Baptifm, 'what it is. And as in the Nature ot* 
 what. it, this is our being given and devoted to the 
 Lord by fpecial Ties, whereby he hath a pecu- 
 liar Title to us, and we are bo-nd and obliged 
 to be his : So as to the Kind and Quality of it, 
 Its Kind Firjfy It is juft and equitable 5 for, feeing we are 
 fity. QUa " the Lord ' s b y Choi ce, Purchafe, Conqueft, Do- 
 nation, and he owns an Intereft in us, and takes 
 Pofleflion of us by this vifible Law-lDeed of Bap- 
 tifm, can any Thing be more juft, than that we 
 be engaged hereby to be his ? zdly> It is pub- 
 lick and open before God, Angels and Men. 
 $dly, It is awful and folemn, by the Invocation 
 of the Great God, and in the Name of all the 
 Adorable Trinity, \thly. It is ratified and fea- 
 led, by an Ordinance of divine Appointment 
 and Inftitution. And Vhly, This Engagement 
 to be the Lord's, is inviolable and fure, which 
 no created Power can infringe or loofe : For, tho' 
 Men may reject the Bleffings fignified by Bap- 
 tifm, and neglect the ^Duties that ly upon them, 
 as baptifed Perfons 5 yet the Engagement to em- 
 brace the Firft, and perform the Laft, remains 
 firm and fure. 
 How Bap. Fourthly* We may now obferve, how it is that 
 this! l6aIS Baptifm doth feal this our Engagement to be the 
 Lord's. And this it does the fame Way, as the 
 Seal of any Gift or Donation ratifies and confirms 
 all the efifential and necefTary Confequences that 
 flow therefrom. Seeing then, all who are brought 
 under the Bond of God's Covenant, do thereupon 
 come under a fpecial Obligation to be wholly 
 and only the Lord's, therefore this Covenant, in 
 all the Bleifings of it, being by Baptifm fealed 
 
 untt 
 
the Sacrament of JSaptifm. if 
 
 unto us, our Engagement to be the Lord's is 
 fealed, ratified, and confirmed hereby. 
 
 And from what hath been faid on this Head, In terenees 
 of our Engagement to be the LorcC^ and this ^The* 
 fealed by Baptifm, we may notice, Firfli The man> o- 
 many and great Obligations that ly upon us to be ^ligations 
 his. We are obliged hereto as Creatures to their c,lac ly 
 Creator, as Subjects to their Prince, as Profeflbrs c0 be "he 
 of an holy Religion to the Author of it ^ as a Lord's, 
 redeemed and enriched People to their generous 
 Deliverer and Benefaclor 5 as Servants to a Ma- 
 tter -, as Children to a Father 5 as a People in 
 Covenant to their God 5 and then, as a People, 
 who by an Institution of Heaven, have this Co- 
 venant fealed to them and in their Perfons, and 
 thereupon their Engagement to be only and' for 
 ever his. , . 
 
 Secondly, Is our Engagement to be the Lord's - n. Try 
 externally fealed by Baptifm, wherein the ex- ]^y hls d i ls 
 ternal Sign is applied to our Bodies $ then it is f ea led. 
 our great Duty to examine and try, if by the ho- 
 ly Spirit this be inwardly fealed upon our Souls, 
 2 Cor. i. 22. Eph. i. 15. Eph. iv. 20. And if 
 it is fo, then furely we have chearfully embraced 
 the Lord Jefus as the Lord, our only Right eouf- 
 nefs, our complete Redeemer, and all our Salva- 
 tion 5 and with Good- will, and fincerity of Heart, 
 we have given our felves to him, to be faved by 
 his Merit, fanftiiied by his Spirit, ruled by his 
 Law, and difpofed of by his Providence 5 with 
 Gladnefs of Heart we have committed all our 
 Concerns to his infinitely wife and gracious Ma- 
 nagement, and, without Refer ve, confented to 
 be wholly and only his, Ifa.. xliv. 4, 5. 2 Cor. 
 viii. 5. And fo, it is the Cry of our Souls, that 
 we may have Grace fincerely to ferve him accep- 
 tably j and if it may pieafe, God to make us for 
 his Honour and Glory, in the feveral Stations he 
 hath placed us in the World, we have all our De- 
 £ 2 fire, 
 
6% 'ATraBical EJfay on 
 
 fire, tpfal. cxix. 5. Rom. vii. 23, 24. Rom. xiv. 
 
 8. 2 Cor. v. 15. And hence it is, that they 
 whofe Engagement to be the Lord's is inwardly 
 fealed, cannot allow themfelves in Sin, nor dare 
 they rebel againft God as others do, Gen. xxxix. 
 
 9. For they have a' Law in their Mind, which 
 binds and obliges them to the Law of their Gcd, 
 Rom. vii. 25. When by Grace they ferve him in a 
 Gofpel Manner, and carry like his, this is their 
 Joy and Satisfaction 5 when they walk unfuitably 
 to their Engagement, it is their Grief 5 and then, 
 it is very obfervable> that even when Sin prevails, 
 and-Graces are low, yet they cannot endure the 
 Thought of cancelling their Bond, changing their 
 Lord, or having another Mafter $ but polluted 
 and r guilty as they are, they feel an Ardency and 
 Firmnefs of Soul, acknowledging him as their 
 Lord, and confenting, yea holding by it, that 
 they never will give the Hand to another. 
 
 Thirdly, Are they engaged to be the Lord's, 
 III. They t h en there is nothing more reafonable, than that 
 cleave to wnen tnev come to Years of Difcretion,they ratify 
 him. this, by a perfonal and exprefs Surrender of them- 
 felves to him. And feeing they are by Baptifm 
 devoted and given up to the Lord, furely th#y 
 ihould cleave to him, T>ent. x. 20. At~ls xi. 23. - 
 fo as not to fuffer themfelves to be drawn away ; 
 they are to walk with him in Friend (hip and 
 Fellow /hip, following his Steps j they are to a- 
 bide with him for many Days, to be for him, . 
 and nbt for 'another, Hof. iii. 3. And then they 
 are to abide, yea and walk in him, Col ii. £. 
 John xv. 4. Being in him, reckoned and reputed 
 in him, covered with his Righteoufnefs, living 
 on him, and from him, looking to, and trufiing in 
 him, for Light, Life, Holinefs, Pardon, Peace, 
 Influences, and for Acceptance both as to Perfons 
 and Performances. That he may do all Things 
 in them and for them, and perfect whatever con- 
 cerns 
 
the Sacrament of 'Baptifm. 69 
 
 cerns them 5 with Confidence believing, that he 
 will prepare for, and preferve them to his heaven- 
 ly Kingdom ; and, like the Servant under the 
 Law, confenting, That their Ears be bored with • 
 an Awl to the 2)oor-pofls of his Houfe, Exod. 
 xxi. 6. 
 
 Fourthly, Are we by Baptifm engaged to be IV. The 
 the Lord's, then furely we are to make a very ^£ t ro ^" 
 careful and ufeful Improvement of this,as aftrong are to 
 Argument enforcing our Stedfaftnefs in adhering make of 
 to, profefiing and confefling the Lord Jefiis*^ 11 * 
 Chrifl, and thefe"" precious Truths delivered by 
 him 5 as an Excitement to the Exercife of all 
 Graces and Performance of every commanded 
 Duty 5 as an Anfwer to all Temptations from 
 Satan, and Solicitations from the World, and 
 our own corrupt Hearts. How are we to fay to 
 thefe, that we are pre-engaged to another, and 
 therefore cannot hearken to or comply with them. 
 That we are bound to the Moft High, and there- 
 fore, as we muft, fo through Grace, we will obey 
 him. And then we are fpecially to improve this 
 as a Perfwafive to embrace and accept of the 
 Lord Jefus Chrifl, and of God, as our God in 
 him j to devote and give up ourfelves to him, to 
 ftrengthen our Faith, and fupport our finking 
 Souls, under all the Difficulties and Difcourage- 
 ments in our ChriftianRace. Well may we thus 
 Reafon with ourfelves : Was I by Baptifm en- 
 gaged to be the Lord % and devoted to him ? Have 
 I not then afealed Warrant and Allowance to go 
 in to, and accept of him 5 and am I not under the 
 . flrongejl Obligations, now when I am come to 
 Age, to make an intire and perpetual Surrender 
 of myfelf to him 5 and info believing, andfo con- 
 fenting) have J not a fare Foundation for my 
 Faith $ that feeing lam his, and this fealed ia 
 me by Saptifm, he will, according to his *Pro- 
 mife of Grace, pity me, par don me,fancJify,fave 9 
 E 3 preferve y 
 
7» A Tragical EJfay en* 
 
 freferve, and care for 7ne r :mid at lafl receive 
 Ttie into his Glory, For, did we reflect: on our 
 Eaptifiji, not only as a commemorative. , Sign of 
 , what Chrift has done, but alfo as declarative 
 what he will do for his People $ certainly we 
 could not . but have more frequent and pleafant 
 Experiences of the great Advantages of that Or- 
 dinance, tho' administrated to us in our Infant 
 State. 
 JraTateT W*!fi and Laftl Y> We may hence be infor- 
 Sinof ma- nied of the highly aggravated Sin of many bapti- 
 nv bapti- fed Perfons j who, after Baptifm, become Apo- 
 
 fons? er " fiates from the Truth ^ re 3 ea the ° ffers of Grace, 
 and difobey God's lioly Commands 5 who are 
 corrupt in their Principles, obftinate as to their 
 Wills, and profane as to their Practice. This 
 furely is a crying Iniquity, being againft the great 
 divine Goodnefs, the richeft Grace, the higheft 
 
 1 Authority, the moft folemn and fealed Engage- 
 
 ments, their own Happinefs and everlaftirtg In- 
 terest ; and fo againft the ftrongeft Ties and O- 
 bligations to the contrary. 
 
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 CHAP. II. 
 
 0/ ri&* Oldefis of Zapifm. 
 
 IT is of no fmail Moment, and hath no few 
 Difficulties attending it, Who thefe # are to ■ 
 setom rfe- Sacrament of Saftifm is to le 
 Adminifired* Wherefore, that I may, with the 
 more Diftinclnefs, fpeak of this, I fhall endea- 
 our to confide* the moft material Heads that con* 
 cern it, in particular and diftinS Sections. 
 
 SECT. 
 
the Sacrament of Baptifm* 71 
 
 SECT. I. 
 
 Who are not to be Baptifed. 
 
 IN the Firft Place then, It is a plain and obvi- I. Not 
 ous Truth, That Baptifm is to be adminiftred £ ** clk as 
 to none, but to fuch as have Warrant to receive, Warrant 
 and to whom Adminiftrators have Commillion to receive, 
 and Authority to apply it. For, where there is 
 no Warrant to receive, and no Authority to ap- 
 ply, it is the higheft Prefumption in the Bapti- 
 fer and Baptifed, and the Adminiftration itfelf 
 is null and void. 
 
 Secondly, Nor is it to be administrated to any II- Not 
 who are incapable of the Things fignified and to , fucil 
 fealed thereby 5 becaufe, the Ends and Defigns incapable 
 of Baptifm are, That the fpiritual Blemngs fig- of the 
 nified, may be made over and fealed to the Per- T^ in 5 s , 
 fon baptifed, it muft then be a vain Adminiftra- l ? iufie * 
 tion, where thefe Ends and Defigns can be in no 
 Senfe gained. Hence, 
 
 Thirdly, It is not to be adminiftred to inani- in. Not 
 mate and irrational Creatures, to whatever fpecial :o inani- 
 and folemn Ufe thefe Creatures may be defti- jJ^SiSlfii 
 nated and appointed by Men 5 for thefe neither Creatures, 
 need, nor can they receive the good Things fig- 
 nified s fealed, and applied hereby. 
 
 Fourthly, Nor is this to be adminiftred to the IV. Not 
 Dead, or any other in their Room, and for their to cn « 
 Advantage '$ becaufe, as no Man can partake of Dead * 
 the Lord's Grace, and be faved for another $ nei- 
 ther can he have Blemngs fealed and made over 
 to him in anothers Stead : And tho' the Laws of 
 Men may, yet the Institutions of Heaven do not 
 allow of Proxies, elfe a Man' might believe, re- 
 IE 4 pent, 
 
72 A Traffical EJTay on 
 
 pent, and engage. to be the Lord's for another 5 
 but fo it is, that he who believeth not for him- 
 felf /hall be damned, he that repents not /hall pe- 
 ri/h, and he that hath not Holinefs in his own 
 Perfon /hall never fee the Lord. Befides, the 
 Dead are in an unchangeable State 5 for, as the 
 Tree fall? fo muft it ly. 'Tis true, that fome 
 have built a being baptifed in Room of theDead, 
 and for their Profit, on 1 Cor- xv. 29. where the 
 BiotiOd Apoftle fays, Elfe, what Jhall they do who are 
 Dead baptifed for the Tie ad, if the "Dead rife not at 
 1 coy] xv. ally why are they then baptifed for the 'Dead 7 . 
 29. what. But as the Reafons already affigned plead againft 
 this ; fo, we can never allow ourfelves to think, 
 that the great and infpired Apoftle would build 
 the great Article of our Refurre£tion, upon fuch 
 a vain and' ridiculous Opinion j even tho' we 
 fnould fuppofe, which will not be granted, that 
 this % obtained in the Apoftles Days. And among 
 the great Variety of Interpretations of this very 
 obfeure Place, if we /hall obferve Tw* Things, 
 that which feems to be the molt probable and 
 tenable Senfe of it will appear to us. Firfl, That 
 by the Sacrament of Baptifm the Refurreclion of 
 our Bodies at the Laft Day is fignified and feal- 
 ed. idly, That the Greek Propofition v-xlp fre- 
 quently in Scripture is ufed to point out the 
 moving and impulfive Ca^fe, as Rom. xv. 9. 
 JSph. i. 16. "Phil. i. 29. 2 Ityjl i. 5. 2 Cor. xii. 
 jo. For the fDeadh then is, hecanfe of the Dead. 
 And fo the Meaning appears to be this, If the 
 Dead rife not, what /hall thefe do, who becaufe' 
 of the Dead, or beholding the Miracles, the 
 Conftancy, Patience and Piety of thofe who are 
 dead, in their holy Lives, great Hard/hips, 
 frightful Sufferings, and violent Deaths ; are fo 
 convinced of the Truth of the Chriftian Religion^ 
 as that they make an open and fincere Profeffion 
 of h 3 and thereupon are baptifed 5 by which 
 
 Ordinance 
 
the Siicr anient of Ttaptifm* 7 3 
 
 Ordinance their Refurrection at the Jaft Day is 
 iignified and fealed If the Dead rife not, then 
 thefe noble ProfefTors and Confeflorsof the Name 
 of Chrifl have been vaftly deceived, and ftrangely 
 impofed upon, in defiring and fubmitting to &ap- 
 tifm, whereby they believed the Refurrection 
 of their Bodies, at the Laft Day, was fealed to 
 them. But if any defire to fee more of this dif- 
 ficult Place of Scripture, they may confult the 
 Learned Mr. Edwards his Enquiry into Four 
 remarkable Texts of the New T'eflament, &c. 
 *Pa%e 137, to 208. 
 
 Fifthly, The Objefts of Baptifm are the Peo- It is Men, 
 pie of God, of whatever Nation, Jets x. 34, 3 5-^ c cn " otal1 
 Gal. iii. 28. of whatever Sex, Affs \i'u. 12. Acts 
 xvi. 15. 1 Cor. i. 1 6. and whatever Age, Matth. 
 iii. 6. A5ts ii. 38, 39, 41. Acls viii. 12, 37. 
 1 Cor. vii. 14. And-fo it is Mankind, or the 
 humane Race, who are the only and proper Ob- 
 jects of this Sacred Ordinance. Yet it is not all 
 Men at firft Inftance, and without any Distincti- 
 on, or due and religious Coniideration. For, 
 
 6thly, The Quefti on concerning Infidels, fuch as ^ ot lr , 
 jfafCjand Pagans, and their Children, is more efpe-jWc.<. 
 cially to be enquired into, and mode Itlyconfidered. 
 And to prevent Miftakes on this Head, it may be 
 obferved, That the Queftion is not, If Infidels are 
 to le compelled, by external Force, tofulmit zinto 
 the Ordinance of Baptifm ? For, that our Chri- 
 ftian and Holy Religion is not to be propagated 
 by outward Violence, but by rational and merci- 
 ful Methods ; not fubmitted to from Fear of Per- 
 fection, but cheerfully and fincerely embraced 
 with Underftanding from inward Conviction, and ■ V 
 Perfwaiion of the Jrdgmentj is what all who 
 truly know this R eligion are unanimoufly agreed 
 in. Nor are Perfons to be driven, but willingly 
 to come to Saptifm, even fo many as willingly 
 receive the Word 0$ the Gofpel, are to be bapti- 
 sed, 
 
74 A Tragical EJfay on 
 
 fed, Affs ii. 41. Nor, idly, Is the Queftion 
 concerning thofe who were Infidels, but now 
 profefs their Faith in the Lordjefus Chrift $ for, 
 that thofe may and ought to be baptifed, cannot 
 be doubted, Afts ii. 38, 3$, 4r. Acts viii. 36, 
 37 ? 38. Nor, idly, Is the Difficulty concerning 
 the Infants of thofe, who, of Infidels, are now 
 become profefling Chriftians ; for that thofe are to 
 be baptifed, even fuch Infants as were born be- 
 fore* this Profeffion, is not difputed by any who 
 acknowledge the Lawfulnefs of Infant Baptifm $ 
 becaufe, t.heir Parents being now Members of the 
 vifible Church, and Difciples of Chrift, fo are 
 their Seed, *'i Cor. vii f 14, But the Queftion is 
 concerning Infidels remaining in their Infidelity, 
 and their Seed, or Infants. And, that fuch are 
 not to be baptifed, there are thefe Four Things, 
 which feem very ftrongly- to plead 5 ift, Becaufe 
 the Promife, J 132 ill be thy God, and the God of 
 thy Seed, given to Abraham, Gen. xvii. 11. and 
 extended to the New Teftament Church, Rom. iv. 
 Nil, 12, 13. And, that upon which the Apoftle 
 exhorts the Jews to be baptifed, ' A5ls ii. 38, 39. 
 is what thefe are Strangers to, Efh. ii. 12. and 
 confequently cannot have the Seal thereof applied 
 to them. It is true, That the Promife, Affs ii. 
 39. is extended. to 'Pagans, in the Revelation 
 and Offer of it ; but then, the Right to this Pro- 
 mife, fo as to found a Title to Baptifm, which is 
 the Seal of it, is conveyed in a ceitain Order and 
 Method appointed by God, for, Afts 'ii. 37. they 
 3,re called to repent, and, A6ls viii. 37. to believe, 
 that they might be baptifed ; and, Affs ii. 39, 
 the Promife is actually bellowed upon as many 
 as the Lord our God ftiould call, and their Seed. 
 And from this Obfervation we may conclude, 
 That it is not the Right that a Perfons remote 
 Predeceflbrs had to the Promife, but which his 
 immediate Parents have, or he himfelf ac~hi- 
 
 ally, 
 
the Sacrament of % apt 7 fin. 7j* 
 
 ally, by his believing, hath, that founds his 
 Title to "Baptifm 5 for, no doubt, thefe Jews to 
 whom 'Peter preached, were of the Seed of A- 
 braharn, and yet, before they or their Seed could 
 be baptifed, they were called to repent, and be- 
 lieve the Gofpel. And, in the next Place, Tho* 
 a Christian's adopting the Infant of an Infidel, 
 may give him a Title to his worldly Eitate, and 
 his engaging for the Chriftian Education of that 
 Child, is, no doubt, the Infant's great Mercys 
 yet thefe Things will never conftitute him that 
 Chriftian's Seed, and fo cannot give him a Right 
 to the Promife, and to "baptifm, the Seal of it : 
 For, it is not an bifidel Child's falling into the 
 Hands of a Chriftian, being a probable Sign of 
 this or that, which founds his Title to this Sa- 
 crament - y but his Right to the Promife, which 
 fuch cannot have on the Ground alledged. And 
 I well remember, that one Reafon why many 
 eminent and learned diflenting Minifters refufed 
 to fubferi^e their Aflfent and Confent to the 
 Book of Common Prayer and Cano?is, required 
 of them, in Order to their being received into 
 the Eftablifhed Church of England, was, be- 
 caufe they alledged, That the Order for Baptifm 
 obliged them to baptife all Comers, even the 
 Children of Infidels, if fo be there were God- 
 fathers and God-mothers to prefent and engage 
 for them (r). zdly, Becaufe fuch Perfons and 
 their Children are federally Unclean, i Cor. vii. 
 14. being fuch as are not within the Bond of the 
 Covenant of Grace, as to any actual vifible Inte- 
 reft therein 5 and therefore, cannot have a Right 
 to the Seals thereof. *,dly\ They are not of the 
 Church of God, but are Aliens from the Com- 
 monwealth of Ifrael, Eph. ii. 12. And fo it is, 
 that all inftituted Ordinances, and particularly 
 
 Sacra- 
 
 (r) See Mr. CaUmfs HiHory of Baxters Life, Vol. I. 
 Page 2ii, 
 
7* A Tragical Effay on 
 
 Sacraments, are the fpecial and diftingui/ning 
 Privileges of the Church, Rom. ix. 4. 1 Cor. xii 
 28. Eph. iv 1 r, 12, 13. ( 2 ). 4^/j;, So our Ca- 
 techifms judge (3), while thefe exprefly affert, 
 Y/^r Baptifm /j «<# ^ be adminiflred unto 
 any that are out of the Vifible Church, until 
 they profefs their Faith in Chrifl, and Obedi- 
 ence to him - y but the Infants of fuch as are 
 Members of the Vifible Church, are to 'be bapti- 
 fed. And, frbly, To thefe may be added, which 
 may have Place here, That it was the conftant 
 Practice of the Primitive Church, in her early 
 and firft Times: For, the accurate Author of the 
 Enquiry into the Confutation, Qifcipline and 
 Worjhip of the Primitive Church (4), informs 
 us, That Infidels were not prefently admitted to 
 Baptifm, but forfome Time were detained there- 
 from 3 Firft, That they might be catechifed and 
 infiruBed in the Articles of the Chrifiian Faith, 
 jind, idly, That they might demonftrate the 
 Sincerity of their Intentions, by the Change of 
 their Lives. Jlnd when they were judged ca- 
 pable of Baptifm, then they publickly declared 
 their Faith in the Lord Jefus Chrift, and re- 
 nouncing the Tie-oil, the World and the Flefh, 
 became engaged to walk in all duties of new 
 Obedience. This, indeed, refpeds Infidels who * 
 were come to Age 5 but if they were not admit- 
 ted, how could their Children be ? Or, was" the 
 Church, then, a hard hearted and unmerciful 
 Step-mother, fo that there was not any to plead 
 upon the Promife belonging to them, becaufe of 
 Noah or fome of their remote Predeceflbrs ? Or, 
 were there none to ftand Sponfors for fuch In- 
 fants of Infidels, as fell into Chriftians Hands ? 
 
 Some 
 
 (2-) ConfefTion of Faith, c%. 23. Sea. 1, 2, 3. (3) See 
 fne Anfwer to that Queftion, in our Larger and Shorter 
 Catechifms, Vnto whom is B iftifm to be Adminijirei^U) Part h 
 f^ IO o ; ior, j 02. and Pare II. Page 54,, 55, 5 £. 
 
the Sacrament of Jtapfifin* 11 
 
 Some who are of another Mind, do alledge, for An Ob- 
 Proof, that the Children of Infidels are to ** j*£j an ~ 
 baptifeds Gen. xvii. ic, n. Where, fay they, 
 the Children of filth ivere circumcifed. But, 
 Firft, If this prove any Thing, it will prove too 
 much j for Abraham had Servants bought with 
 his Money, who were come to Age, and thefo . 
 were alfo circumcifed. So that it muft be faid, 
 That adult Infidels are to be baptifed, and this^ 
 without previous Inftruction, or any ProfefiVn of 
 their Faith 3 but fo did not the Apoftles, Ath \\. 
 37, 38. Atls viii. 3<5", 37,38- Nor did theirCom- 
 miifion allow fo much, Jlfatth. xxviii. 19. And, 
 idly, It is to be noticed, That all Abraham's 
 Family were inftrucled by him in the Know- 
 ledge of the True God, and Principles of true 
 Religion 5 and fo they and their Children, having 
 aTitle to this Sealing Ordinance, were to be admit- 
 ted Partakers thereof. For, God fays, Gen. xviii. 
 19. / know Abraham, that he will command his . 
 Children and his Houjhold after him, and they 
 /hall keep the Way of the Lord. And it will be 
 uncharitable to think, That Abraham the Friend 
 of God, and Father of them that believe, did 
 only (hew fo much Zeal for God, and Pity to the 
 Souls of his Servants, as to perform this Duty, 
 after his- Houfhold were circumcifed, and not be- 
 fore. - - 
 
 And from all that hath been faid in this Se5fi- Inferences 
 on y Fir ft, We may be informed of the grofs Pro- fro ,~ p ^ 
 phanation of this Ordinance of Saptifm, which grotty"^ 
 (Papifts are guilty of j while they adminifter this bxxCc %- 
 Holy Ordinance, which is appointed for holy and r J'*- 
 fpiritual Ules, to irrational and inanimate Crea- 
 tures, fuch as Ships, Forts, Ihftruments of War 
 and Death, Enfigns, and particularly to Bells. 
 This they do in Name of the Holy and adorable 
 Trinity, with more Pomp and Solemnity than 
 when they adminifter it to humane Souis. 3 Giva 
 
 Names 
 
78 A Vraftical Effay on 
 
 Karnes to them, allow only the Bifhop or his 
 Suffragan to perform it, while they permir 
 Women to baptife Children. And attribute a 
 fpecial Power thereto, to drive away Devils, pre- 
 vent Difeafes, obtain Victories, and avert Thun- 
 der andTempefts : Nor is there any Rite omit- 
 „ ted in their Baptifing of Bells, that is ufed in 
 Baptifing of reasonable Creatures. 
 IT. The Secondly, It informs us of the miferable Con- 
 ConSti- dJt ' on of Infidels : For, thefe are without the 
 onofinfi- Pale of the Vifible Church, and Strangers to the 
 deCs. Covenants of Promife, and fo have no Title to 
 
 the Seals thereof: How, from a Principle of fin- 
 cere and Chriftian Companion, fhould we ear- 
 nestly endeavour, and fervently pray, That God 
 would bring them from Darknefs to L»ight, and 
 from Satan to Himfeif. 
 III. T' ; ?e thirdly, From this we may obferve the pecu- 
 Sthe^* ^ iar P r i y ^ e g es anal gflSt Advantages of thofe 
 Church, who are born Members of .the Church of.God, 
 or in his appointed Way received thereinto : 
 For, thefe enjoy the Means of eternal Salvation 
 and everlafting Happinefs,. and have the Seals* 
 thereof adminiftred unto • them. How /hould 
 all fuch, with Thankful Hearts, blefs God, that 
 their Lines are fallen into fuch pleafant Places ? 
 How carefully fhould they improve this, and di- 
 ligently look to themfelves, left, by their Folly 
 and Impiety, they ftand in the Way of their own 
 Mercy, and fufpend the Administration of Gof- 
 pel and Sealing Ordinances unto them and their 
 Seed. 
 IV. How And,' Fourthly, From this we may further 
 Ind C *a ' Ch '^ otice > how the" Chriftian Church, and particu- 
 cuUr cbrl- ^ ar Members thereof, are to behave themfelves 
 jlLins are towards Infidels, or the Children of fuch, who 
 
 row be -!i aVC come int0 ^ icir Power - And this is, Fir ft 7 To 
 
 x 4Vj/. r n ' inftruct. the Parents, and then baptife both them 
 
 and their Children : Or, if it is the Infant only, 
 
 •f 
 
the Sacrament of % apt i frit. J9 
 
 of a known Infidel, we are firft to bring Kim to 
 the Knowledge and Profeflion of Chrift, fo foon 
 as he is capable of thefe; and then by Baptifm 
 feal him unto Chrift. This, I think, every one 
 will judge, at leaft, to be moft fafe : And lean- 
 not but be perfwaded, that all considering Chri- 
 ftians will agree, That f ch cannot be excufed 
 of the greateft Cruelty, Who have Infidels in their 
 Power, and yet are not, yea will not be at Pains 
 to have them inftrucled in the Chriftian Faith> 
 and fo be baptifed$ nor will they fufter others 
 to fhow this 'Pity and Charity to immortal and 
 perifhing Souls. Certainly thefe Men difcover, 
 That Salvation is not much at Heart with th \r\j 
 they fhow a very indifferent Concern for the 1 ro- 
 pagation of the Knowledge of Chrift 5 for the 
 Glory of God, and the eternal Happinefs of ne- 
 ver dying Souls. O! what Account will fuch 
 pretended Chriftians make at the Great 2)ay ? 
 who prefer their worldly and uncertain Intereft 
 to thefe Things that are of everlafting Concern, 
 and of the greateft Importance^ and which, above 
 ill their own Things, every Man ovght, with 
 the greateft Diligence and Eameftnefs, to pro- 
 mote. 
 
 Jftfc *!» & SF* *5* iM» 2S* S* &* Sft tit St ft Sf* f* i - * *** P* 3** ? '• ^ &*■ '■ 3S» »■**» .V* .' V 
 
 %? «r V w$m s»- "He V *4f 5# 1& © gt %xf & k: WJ & © ^ & %t ft %< >«.* & a 
 
 S E C T. II. 
 
 1*hat Infants of Chrifiian Barents are to be 
 Baftifed. 
 
 BY INFANTS, in the Title of this Se&ion, Inf 
 I underftand, what, in our ordinary and ^h" * 
 common Way of Speaking, we call fo 3 fuch as 
 are new born, fucking Children, not yet come to 
 Years of Difcretion, and who cannot difcern the 
 
 Right 
 
 o. 
 
to A Tragical EJTay on 
 
 Right Hand from the Left. Thefe, indeed, are 
 incapable to help or do for themfelves 5 and, in 
 sll Ages of the Church, there have not been 
 fome wanting, who have been very backward to 
 lend them their Affiftance, even in the great Af- 
 fair of their everlalting Happinefs, while they 
 have refufed Saptifm, the initiating Seal of God's 
 Covenant unto them. Of this Kind were the 
 verfanes " 4?™*™ of. Old, Becaufe, fay they, Infants have 
 to infant neither Original nor AttuaL Sin, and fo there 
 Btptifm. can y e n0 Occafionfor the Admin iftration ofSap- 
 tifm. With thefe, the Socinians of late, ioin ; 
 not only from the fame corrupt Principle with the 
 Arrians, but moreover, becaufe, they fay, 'That 
 Saptifm is an Ordinance not necejfary to be con- 
 tinued in the Churchy much lefs is it to remain 
 in its Adminiflration, to Infants, who are ig- 
 norant of the Nature, Ends and Ufes thereof 
 But then the Anal apt ijls, or rather the Antipe- 
 dobaptifls, agree with the firil Two, in denying 
 Saptifm to Infants, especially, becaufe they 
 think, That it has not 1)ivine Warrant and 
 In (lit ut ion -, and Knowledge, in Order to Re- 
 penting and Believing, which Infants have not y 
 are necejfary thereto. But then, the Body of all 
 Chriflians, Chriftian Churches, and Divines, have 
 been, and yet are otherwife minded. 
 T , Ar.d, that we may with fome Diftinftnefs un- 
 
 /2z"o» C ft?- f ~ deritand, where the true State of this Controverfy 
 ted. lies, it is to be obferved, That the Queftion is 
 
 not, If Saptifm, in the General, be of Divine 
 Inftitution ? This our Adverfaries do not deny, 
 but as to the Object of its Administration. Nor, 
 zdly> Is it, If Infants arc capable of the outward 
 Sign of Wafhing, or Sprinkling, or having Wa- 
 ter poured upon them? For this cannot be refu- 
 'fed. Nor, ^dly, Is the Queftion concerning the 
 Salvation and eternal Happinefs of Infants , in 
 this all are agreed. Nor, ajbly, If Baptifm, as 
 
 t® 
 
the Sacrament of Baptifm. Si 
 
 to the Nature of the outward Sign, be more ex- 
 tensive than was Circnmcifion ? This cannot be de- 
 nied : For, Circnmcifion, in the very Nature 
 thereof, was only applicable to Male Children, 
 but Saptifm is that, whereof the Females are 
 alfo capable. Nor, <ythly, Is the Queftion con- 
 cerning Infants, of whcm both Parents are Infi- 
 dels , of this enough hath been faid in the pro- 
 ceeding Section. But it is, IfSaptifm is to be 
 admini fired, as an applying and fealing Si.pt 
 of all the Bleffings of the New Covenant, to In- 
 fants, whofe c Pare?zts, one or both, are profefjing 
 Chriflians, and fo, Members of the Vzfible 
 Church? And as to this I fhall deliver what I 
 defign, in the following Four Proportions, each 
 whereof I fhall endeavour briefly to confirm, be- 
 ing upon the Affirmative Side of the Queftion, 
 in Oppofition to the Adverfaries above named. 
 
 £ Propofitio7i I. Children are not incapable of Children 
 Saptifm, nor -does it imply any Contradiction, are n °* inJ 
 or infer any Abfurdity, that they be baptifed. jwj*,. 
 For, Firfl, Under the Old 'Teflament. they were 
 circumcifed at Eight Days old, Gen. xvii. 10, 
 ii, 12. This was a Seal of the Right eotifiiefs that 
 is by Faith, Rom. iv. u. and Saptifm is come 
 in the Room of it, Colqffli'u u, 12. And if, un- 
 der the iirft Difpenfation, Infants were capable 
 of the Seal of that Righteoi/fnefs that is by 
 Faith 5 what makes them incapable thereof un- 
 der the Second ? And here we are particularly 
 to obferve, That tho* Faith was required of thofe 
 come to Age, in Order to their being baptifed, 
 yet it will not follow, That therefore the Chil- Qnef 
 dren of fuch believing Parents are alfo to believe, ciaj oi>* 
 before this Ordinance can beadminiftred to them} j;<ftion o£ 
 becaufe, Abraham indeed did believe, and fo f he % * n *' . 
 was circumcifed, yet Abraham's Seed and In- faercd.* 
 fants had that very Seal of that Right eoufncfs 
 which was by Faith 7 tho' they were not capable 
 F ef 
 
82 J Tragical EJfay on 
 
 of a&ual believing. Soj altho, when the nevr 
 Difpenfation of the Covenant of Grace took Place, 
 thofe come to A.°e were commanded to repent 
 and believe, in Order to their having the Seal 
 of this Covenant, or Baptifm, adminiftred to 
 them 5 yet there is no Caufe to think, That In- 
 fants of fuch believing Parents, are alfo to be- 
 lieve before they can be baptifed, more than there 
 was, That ^bral-aw's Infant Seed were to do fo; 
 unlefs we fay, That the New Difpenfation of 
 the Covenant has lefs of Grace in it, and is not 
 fo mercifully extended as the Old was, which, 
 ho Man, but thofe who are divefted of all fpiri- 
 t al Understanding, will affert. And this may 
 fuffice for Anfwer to onefpecial Objection of the 
 Anabaptifis. idly, The Truth of the 'Propofi- 
 tzoii further appears, if we confider, That Infants 
 are capable of the Bleffings fignified, Matth. xix. 
 I4,»i5- Luke xviii. 15, \<S. Mark x. 12, 14, 15, 
 ir. From which. Places thefe Things maybe 
 obferved 5 Firft> That thofe of whom our Lord 
 there fpeaketh, were Infants or Sucklings ; for 
 fo the Original, Word Bp*$i properly fig'niiies, as 
 appears from Liike ii. \6. 1 'Peter ii. 2. idly, 
 They were fuch as could not come »f themfelves, 
 but r were brought to him. ^dly, Our Lord, in 
 the moft kindly Manner embraces and takes them 
 into his Arms. $thly, Declares, That of fitch 
 is the Kingdom of Heaven. 5thly, Laying his 
 Hands on them, he folemjily blejjeth them. And, 
 6thly y He is offended with his 2)ifciple : s 7 who 
 would have hindered their Accefs to him. And 
 from thefe, Two Things may be juftly inferred; 
 Firfl, If infants are capable of the Bleflings 
 which are grcateil, then much more are they ca- 
 pable of the applying and fealing Signs of thefe 
 Bleflings which are lefs $ efpecially when the 
 Signs are of that Kind, as that they are appli- 
 cable to all Nations, Ages, and Scxts, zdlr, 
 
 DM 
 
The Sacrament of *Baptifm. Sj 
 
 Did our infinitely wife Lord blefs them who 
 did not actually believe, yea, nor underftand 
 what was done to them 5 then, furely, they are 
 not chargeable with any Abfurdity who give, but 
 they who refufe the Means conveying thefe Blef- 
 fings, and that for this pretended Reafon, be- 
 caufe they are not inftrucled, and do not actually 
 believe (1). But, ^dly, That Children are ca- 
 pable of Baptifm, is further evident, from 1 Cor. 
 vii. 14. where the Apoftle faith, That the un- 
 believing Husband is fanfiified by the believing 
 Wife, and the unbelieving Wife is fanttified by 
 the believing Husband 5 elfe were your Children 
 unclean, but ?iozv they are holy. In which Scrip- 
 ture, by Holinefs, we cannot underftand Legiti- 
 macy 3 for furely, the Children of Parents who 
 are both of them Infidels, are not Saftards, 
 more than thofe ofpfofelfing Chriftians. Nor, idly, 
 Are we to underftand it of inherent Holinefs, 
 for tho* Infants are certainly capable of this, yet 
 all the Children of profefling and believing Pa- 
 rents are not pofifefled of this. Wherefore, Ity 
 Holinefs, we are to underftand, a federal Holi- 
 nefs, as, Ezra ix. 2. lfaiah vi. 13. that is, their 
 believing Parent or Parents being fo, the Infants 
 are, according to the Tenor of God's, Covenant, 
 holy alfo j being now feparated from the Infidel- 
 World, externally and vifibly aflumed into Cove- 
 nant with God, dedicated to his Service, and for his 
 Glory; capable of realHolinefs; yea,fuch who are to 
 have thefe external Seals of his Covenant admini- 
 ftredtothem, and to partake of all the vifible Pri- 
 vileges of his People, and fo are in his gracious 
 Eftimation Holy. And feeing Infants of profef- 
 fing Parents are thus holy, this not only proves 
 .the Tropofition, but alfo gives a very ftrong pofi= 
 tive Argument for Infant Baftifm. And then, 
 F 2 &&$* 
 
 (1) See Sydenham on Infant Baptifnij Pag. _$3 ? 99, 
 
84 J praffiical Effhy on 
 
 Afthly.X^ The Truth of the (Prof ofition ,may 
 be evinced from this, becaufe, among Men, In- 
 fants have Charters containing their Rights to 
 Eftates, not only granted, bat alfo To fealed, as 
 that they ftand firm in Law, while in the m^an 
 Time they underftand nothing of thefe : If then, 
 they are capable of f ;ch Seals as are of an earthly 
 K-ind, why not of thofe alfo, which are of a fpiri- 
 t al Nature, feeing they need th'ofe more 5 and 
 God is infinitely more gracious, to his People, 
 than Men can be to their Fellow Creatures. But 
 now, in Regard it is not good Reafoning, to con- 
 clude from a Thing its not being abfurd, that 
 therefore it mutt be, or becaufe it is poffible, 
 therefore it is true. Wherefore, a 
 It is pro- Second ^Prop'ofition I offer, is, That it is ve- 
 babtefroni ry probable from Scripture, that Infants t vcere % 
 thac P /*l r ««^jfe are ro ^ e \ ^Prifed. And, Firft, . If we 
 wer C la^coniider, that the Privilege of Infants under the 
 are to be Old Difpenfation was never repealed by the 
 baptifed.( ^ e w, nor can the leaii In'^ance of this be given $ 
 bat, under the Old Difpenfation, Infants had 
 the Seal of the -Covenant of Grace adminiftred 
 unto them : Arid feeing this was never reverfed 
 under the New, is it not a fair and probable Ar- 
 gument, That it continues with them* idly, If 
 "we notice, That in the Apoflolick Times, whole 
 Houfes and Families were baptifed at once. So 
 was the Hou field o/Lydia, Acts xvi 15. So was 
 the Jailor's Family, Atls xvi. 33. and that of 
 Stephanus, 1 Cor. i. 16. And it is very fup- 
 pofeable, That in all or fome of thefe Families,, 
 there were Children, as well as fchofe come to 
 Age., idfo) B r ecaufe, if Infants liad hot been bap- 
 tifed in the "'Apoftles Times, when they were 
 now T propagating the 2)ocfrine of Chrijl, and 
 sonft-ituting a Gofpel Church, would it not have 
 
 occafi- 
 
 (1) See Pr. Hammond on Infant Baptifm, Page 2i». 
 
the Sacrament of "Baptifm. 8y 
 
 •ccafioned great Murmuring and Debate ? For, 
 if we obferve, what contending there was among 
 the Jews about parting with Circunicifion, would 
 they not have loudly complained, That this was 
 removed, and nothing put in its Room, and fo 
 their Children in a worfe Condition than before .$ 
 and could the Apoftles but have heard of thefe 
 Difputings, taken Notice of them, and been at 
 Pains to have quieted the Minds of Men, as to 
 this very momentuous Affair. But in all the 
 Scriptures of the New ^cftament, there is not the 
 leaft Hint of any Debate of this Nature j fo that 
 we may conclude, as highly probable, That the 
 Baptifing of Infants, was a known and unquestio- 
 ned Truth in thofe Days 5 and, that the Jews 
 and all other Church Members were in Poflfeffi- 
 on of it as to their Children 5 and very much to 
 their own Comfort and Satisfaction. And this is 
 one Reafon why there are fo few Notices of In- 
 fant Baptifm given in Scripture, becaufe it feems 
 to have been univerfally gone into, and no Diffi- 
 culty or Doubt moved about it. Nor can I, in 
 the tfh and laft Place omit this, as a probable 
 Argument for Infant Baptifm, That it was the 
 conftantand univerfal UfeoftheChriftian Church, 
 in her moft pure and primitive Times, as that 
 which they openly and constantly maintained to 
 be of Apoftolick Inftitution and Practice (1)5 
 But this 1 do not iniift on. Any who would be 
 further fatisfied as to this, may confult the 
 Laborious and Learned Mr. WaVh Hiftory of 
 Baptifm. 
 
 But now, a Third 'Propofition with. Refpect to Baptifing 
 
 the Baptifing of Infants, is, That we have good °f InfanS 
 
 and fiifficient Scripture Ground for the baptifing ^J rrd 5^ d 
 
 of fitch. And that if we confider, jj£jj* ~ r%ir 
 
 F 3 Firft, 
 
 (1) See the Enquiry into the Worlhip, &c of the Primi- 
 tive Church, Part i I. Pag. c : ',4^ an d Bl^r^bix £c- 
 Hefajiica, Vol. II. Page 572. 
 
86 A Tragical Effay on 
 
 Arg, i. • Fitfl, That Scripture, Atts ii. 58, 39. where 
 the Apoftle exhorts thefe People who were prick- 
 ed in their Hearts, and cried out, Men and Bre- 
 thren, what Jhall we do, to repent, come to a 
 better Mind, embrace the Go/pel fDotJrine, and 
 be baptifed. And the Argument he ujes, is, 
 That the <Promife was to them and to their Chil- 
 dren, and to as many as the Lord our Godfhould 
 call. Where, the Strength of the Apoftle's Rea- 
 foning appears to be this, That thofe Jews who 
 were now come to Age, fhould repent and be bap- 
 tifed, becaufe, As then, God floould become their 
 God, and the God of their Seed, the ^Promife 
 heing to them and to their Children 5 fo, by 
 Baptifm, they fhould have this Promife in the 
 gracious "Extent thereof fealed unto them 5 and 
 by the fame Ordinance adminiftred unto their 
 Children, fhould the great and up making Blef- 
 iing thereof be applied, folemnly made over, and 
 fealed unto thefe alfo •-, even as Abraham had the 
 Promife made to him, andCircumciiion the Seal 
 thereof adminiftred to him, and his Children or 
 Seed after him enjoyed both. As to all which, 
 let thefe Things be briefly obferved; Firfl f That 
 the Promife fpoken of here, is the fame made to 
 Abraham, Gen. xvii. 10. of which, he, and his 
 Infant Seed after him, received Circumcifion, as 
 a Seal, idly, That this Promife is not only to 
 the Jews, to whom the Apoftle there fpeaks $ 
 but to the Gentiles alfo: For, it is to as many as 
 the Lord our God jhall call. And this is fur- 
 ther confirmed from Rom. iii. 29. Rom. iv. n, 
 
 12, 13. Rom. xi. 17. Gal. iii. 8, 14,29. E£h. ii. 
 
 13, 19. Heb. viii. 6, 10. ^dly, That this Pro- 
 mife is not only to repenting and believing Jews 
 and Gentiles, but 3H0 to their Infant Seed or Chil- 
 dren 5 for thefe had the Old ( Teftament Seal of it, 
 Gen. xvii. 11, 12. and the Word in tlie Original 
 properly (ignifies fuch, Matth. i. 26. Luke i. 31. 
 
 * 5V 
 
the Sacrament of Baptifin. 87 
 
 57. John xvi. a 1. And indeed, it muft be, that 
 Infants of profeffing Parents have this Promife 
 belonging to them j for if they have no Intereft 
 in this, then are they excluded from having God 
 as their God ; and fo from the Benefits of the 
 Death ofChrift. From all which, theApoftle's 
 Argument enforcing Repentance, and being bap- 
 tifed in the Name of Chrift, upon thefe People 
 to whom he fpeaks, is plainly this, 'That they 
 fhould be no Lofers, by Embracing tie Goffely 
 becaufe the fame Covenant 'Promife ivhich they 
 had in Abraham, fhould defcend to their Chil- 
 dren, and as they, fo their Infants ftioi Jd have 
 the Seal of it : For, the PronvTe v as {till the 
 fame to them and their Children, only, they 
 muft firft believe and be baptifed, ere their Chil- 
 dren could be considered in Covenant, and fo have 
 Baptifm adminiitred to them. And in Regard 
 this Promife is to the Gentiles, as well as to the 
 $ews, we Gentiles conclude the Bartifing of our 
 Infants, as well as theirs. And if what [s here 
 inferred, was not the Intent of the A r oftle, in 
 this Argument, thofe he fpeaks to being JewSy 
 and who formerly enjoyed the Privilege of Cir- 
 cumciiion to their Children, would rather have 
 been Humbled than engaged, and deceived rather 
 than enlightned, by his Way of Reafoning, there 
 being no Expreflion the yews were more accufto- 
 med to and delighted in, than that of the Tro- 
 mife made to Abraham and his Infant Seedy 
 and who always had the initiating Seal of that 
 Covenant. And doubtlefs, it would not have 
 been fo upright and open Dealing with thefe Peo- 
 ple, nor fo becoming the Simplicity of the Gof- 
 pel, if, while the Apoftle urges them to repent 
 and be baptifed, upon this Consideration, becaufe 
 the Promife was to them, and to their Children, 
 the Deiigri was not to include Infants in the Pro- 
 F 4 tfiife, 
 
8 A Tragical EJJay on 
 
 mife, and Baptifm, but to exclude them from 
 both 5 
 An Ex- ^ or * s tne Exception againft this Argument of 
 ption any Weight, which the Adverfaries to Infant 
 lfwered. Baptifm bring from Verfe 41. where it is faid, 
 'That then they 'who gladly received the Wordy 
 'Were baptifed : Becaufe, tho' it is faid fo, it will 
 not, by a ju ft and neceffary Confequence, follow, 
 That therefore they who were not capable fo to 
 receive the Wordy were not baptifed) either then 
 or fome fhort Time after, more than from Mark 
 xvi. 16". Thefe Men will allow to infer, That 
 becaufe it is there faid, That thofe 'who believe 
 and are baptifed y foali be faved j therefore, thofe 
 who are not capable to believe, and are not bapti-* 
 fed, fhall not be faved. 
 
 This Exception being removed, I return to the 
 Argument 5 and for further underftanding of it, 
 I fhall obferve" thefe Two Things 5 Firft, That 
 tho* this Covenant Promife is conveyed, by pro- 
 filing Parents to their Seed) yet it is not fo be- 
 caufe of the Parents Faith, as if this was taken 
 for the Faith of the Child. For, the Foundati- 
 of Infant Baptifm is not the Faith of the Pa- 
 rent imputed to the Infant, or acted in the Place 
 of, and for the Child 5 much lefs is it the Faith 
 of God-fathers and God-mothers (1). Nothing 
 can be more unaccountable: For, Firft, This 
 gives great Advantage to the Enemies to Infant 
 Baptifm ', feeing it fuppofes, That the Infant to 
 be baptifed muft have Faith $ either in himfelf, 
 which he has not, or in another, idly y Becaufe 
 every one is faved, and lives by his own Faith, 
 and not by that of another. ^dly> If the Faith 
 of the Parent be hypocritical, in this Cafe, the 
 Child can reap no faving Advantage. -\thly\ Be- 
 caufe, as is very obferveable, the Children of 
 
 believing 
 
 (1) See the Order for Baptifm in the Common Tracer Bxkj 
 and the Cttecbifm chere 3 anenc Baptifm, 
 
the Sacrament of *B apt/ fin. S9 
 
 believing Parents are fometimes real Strangers to 
 the Covenant and faving Bleffings of it, while 
 thofe of unbelieving Parents are favingly brought 
 into Covenant, and partake of all the Bleffings 
 thereof. Wherefore, idly, This Conveyance of 
 the Right to the Promife, from the profelling Pa- 
 rent unto the Child, is by the divine Conftiturion 
 of the Covenant and the Promife thereof, which 
 a fovereign and gracious God is pleafed to extend 
 not only to profeiling Parents, Members of his 
 vifible Church, but alfo to their Infant Seed. It 
 is upon this Gro nd, that fo often in Scripture 
 the Lord calls himfelf, the Gcd> even of a back- 
 bidden and back (li ding Church, and them his 
 People; and claims a Right and Title to their 
 Infants and Children as his, Gen. xvii. 10. Ezek. 
 xvi. 20. For, that all the Members of the ©*• 
 fible Church have an external Title to the Pro- 
 mifes of the Covenant, and Bleffings thereof, in 
 fo far as God aflumeth them to be his People 5 
 by many Things he feparateth them from the reft 
 of the World to himfelf, they are reputed and 
 reckoned the Lord's, and fo come to enjoy all the 
 common and outward Privileges of a covenanted 
 People, cannot be denied 5 becaufe, if they have 
 no Title they can have no Seal : Albeit the fa- 
 ving Right to the Proniifes of the Covenant, and 
 faving Poffeffion of thefe, be no further extended 
 than to the Election of Grace, for whom, and 
 whom only, Chrift died, and purchafed thefe 
 Bleffings. But who are thus chofen of God, is 
 what neither Minifters who adminiftrate Bap- 
 tifm, nor any other Perfon, can or may pry into, 
 or determine ■ Yet from this of Infants, their 
 Right to the Covenant Promife, it cannot be in- 
 ferred, that therefore they may partake of the 
 Table of the Lord, which is a Seal of this Pro- 
 mife as well as Baptifm; becaufe fuch pofitive 
 Qualifications are required in thofe who partake 
 
 of 
 
go A *Prattical ' EJTay on 
 
 the Lord's Supper, as Children are not capable 
 of, fuch as, Self-Examination, discerning the 
 Lord's Body, Shewing forth his 2)eath hereby, 
 and ^Doing this in Remembrance of him. 
 Arg. 2. A Second Scripture Warrant for the Baptifm 
 of Infants, we have, Acts x. 47, 4.8. where the 
 Apoftle Teter fays, Can any forbid Water that 
 thefe fhoidd not be baptifed, who have received 
 the Holy Ghoft as well as we, and he commanded 
 them to be baptifed in the Name of the Lord. 
 From which Place of Scripture, we thus Reafon 
 for Infant Baptifm 5 They who have received the 
 holy Spirit are commanded to be baptifed 5 but 
 Infants receive the holy Spirit ; For, Firft, Some 
 have been filled with the Holy Ghofl, from their 
 Mothers Womb, Luke i. 15 5 Hence, idly, They 
 have theBleffings which are the Effects of the ho- 
 ly Spirit, fuch as Regeneration, or inward Ho- 
 linefs j And fo, %dly, They are at laft brought 
 to Heaven and Glory : Which is the Confequent 
 following upon thefe Bleffings and Operations of 
 the divine Spirit, who works in Infants in a Way 
 becoming his infinite Power and Wifdom, tho' 
 unknown to us. And if Infants have the inward 
 Seal from God, how injurioufly are they barred 
 from the outward by Man ? 
 The At- To deny Infants the Benefit of inward Regene- 
 gameot ra tion and fanctifying Grace, becaufe, as feme 
 r -A. ( fay, they can do no natural Acts of Underrtan- 
 ding, is a making too bold with the Secrets of 
 God ; a fpeaking contrary to his Revelation in 
 his Word, and an affuming too much to them- 
 felves and their own Underftanding, denying a 
 Thing to be, becaufe they cannot tell how it is 
 done, and faying, That Grace is not in the Soul, 
 becaufe they fee no external Signs thereof by the 
 Powers of the Body. For, Firfl, How can they 
 prove, that Infants do no natural A els of Under- 
 standing ? And is it not an hard Saying, That 
 , tho' 
 
the Sacrament of jBapt/fm. 5? i 
 
 tho' Infants are endowed with an inward, a&ive, 
 and fpiritual Principle ; yet this Principle is 
 wholly and entirely una&ive in them, idly. Is 
 it not evident from the Scripture adduced, l*hat 
 Infants have the Holy Ghojl ? And can the holy 
 Spirit of God be given unto any, but upon fome 
 fpecial Deiign ? And if fa, can he be inactive, 
 and without effectual Influence in the Soul ? No, 
 but quite otherwife, fo as the End of his being 
 given may be obtained. %dly, Are not Infants 
 fuch as are fpiritually unclean, and by Nature cor- 
 rupt as well as others ? And if fo, why are we 
 not to fay, that by the Grace of God, and effec- 
 tual Operation of the holy Spirit, they are made 
 pure and holy ? For, if in Adam they died as 
 well as others, why will we deny that they live in 
 ChriCt as others do ? And \thly, Are not In- 
 fants eternally faved and admitted into Glory, 
 as well as thofe come to Age ? And, can any, un- 
 lefs he is regenerate, enter into the Kingdom of 
 God, and without Holinefs fee the Lord ? And 
 Finally, This is to limit the Creator of Spirits, 
 the omnipotent Spirit of God, and he who works 
 in all Things far above our Comprehenfion, in his 
 a&ive Influence upon the Souls of Elecl: Infants, 
 •and that becaufe there appear none, or very {len- 
 der A&s of Underftanding, to the Judgment and 
 Senfe of Man. 
 
 Nor is the Argument weakned by this, That 
 all Infants have not the Spirit and are not rege- 
 nerate, more than if any fhould deny, that Faith 
 comes by hearing the Word, becaufe nil Men who 
 hear have not Faith 5 and fo fay, that Preaching 
 the Word is not an Ordinance of God, and to be 
 difpenfed to all the World, becaufe many who 
 hear the Word do not believe, and are not laved 5 
 for they receive not the Spirit by the Hearing 
 thereof. Medicine is not to be neglected becaufe 
 the Diftemper is incurable in fome j we are to 
 
 preach 
 
$2 A Tracheal TLJfay on 
 
 preach, hut it is God who giveth the Spirit as it 
 pleafeth him : And we are to baptife, tho' he 
 alone gives the Grace fisnified as he (ecs meet. 
 Infants under the Old 7efla7ne?it had Circwnci- 
 Jion a Seal of the Covenant Promifes adminiftred 
 to them j but It would be bad Reafoning to in- 
 fer, That becaufe all circumcifed Infants had not 
 thefe Promifes applied, or the good Things pro- 
 mifed -given to them : Therefore all were not to be 
 circumcifed. 
 An Ex- , But the fpecial Exception againft the Argu- 
 »S* C,<>1 ' d ment * s > That the Perfons in the Text were fuch 
 " as had received the Spirit in his extraordinary 
 and miraculous Operations. To this it may be 
 replied, Firfl, Suppofing this was fo, then much 
 more are thole to be baptifed, who receive the 
 Spirit in his fmftifying and faving Influences 5 
 ieeing thefe are of more immediate Concern to 
 the Souls of Men, and what are fpecially con- 
 tained in the Covenant Promife, of which Bap- 
 tifm is a Seal, idly, That by the Receiving of 
 the Spirit we are to understand, a receiving him 
 in his extraordinary Operations. The 4.6th Verfi 
 does indeed determine us, but then, as thefe ex- 
 traordinary Operations are not in thefe People to 
 be fuppofed deititute of fpecial, fanclifying and 
 faving Influences 5 fo it may be reafonably de- 
 manded, Was their receiving the Spirit in his 
 extraordinary Operations, or only in his faving 
 Influences, (common to all Believers) or both, the 
 Ground upon which they were commanded to be 
 baptifed ? If the firfl: and laft, or either of them 
 be faid, then the extraordinary Operations of the 
 Spirit are the Foundation upon which Baptifm is 
 to be adminiftred, and without thefe none can be 
 baptifed: But this would exclude the Body of 
 ail Believers fince the Apoftles Days $ and there- 
 fore we mult fix upon the Second, and fo the 
 Argument {lands good. See alfo Gal. iii. .2. 
 
 where 
 
the Sacrament of "Baptifm. gi 
 
 where thefe Gentiles are faid to receive the Spi- 
 rit j but we are not to think, that all of them re- 
 ceived him in his extraordinary Operations, and 
 yet are not to doubt but all were baptifed. 
 
 A Third Scripture Warrant for [nfant Baptifm, A.rg. 3. 
 may be taken from Rom. xi. 17. The Words are, 
 And if fome of the Branches he broken off ] and 
 thot< y being a -zvild Olive Free, rxert graffed in 
 amongjl them, and with them partakefl of the 
 ■ Root and Fat nefs of the Olive \tree^ where, by 
 breaking off of the jjFfettT, cannot be underftood a 
 final breaking off from all faving Union to, and 
 Communion withC£r//?, or the invillble Church 5 
 againft this the Apoftle fpeaks in the 2d and 
 29th Verfes of this Chapter ; but a breaking off 
 from the vifible Church : Whence we may thus 
 plead for Infant Baptifm, Firjt, That we Gen- 
 tiles are fo graffed in, as that we partake of the 
 Root, and the Bledings of Abraham are come 
 upon us, Gal. iii. 14, 26", 27, 29. But thefe Blef- 
 ' {ings included the afTuming the Infant Family in- 
 to Covenant with thofe who were come to riper 
 ' Age ; fo that Infants had the Seal of ths Cove- 
 nant adminiftred to them, idly, Or Grafting in 
 muftbear a Proportion to the je^> their being 
 'broken off j but they and their Children were 
 broken off from vifible Church Member/hip, and 
 th-e Privileges thereof 5 therefore, we and our In- 
 fants were fo graffed in : For we now partake of 
 the Fatnefs of the Olive Tree; and confequently 
 enjoy all the Privileges they had. ' And it is un- 
 deniable, that one fpecial Favour they fo very 
 highly valued, was, That their Infants were 
 taken into Covenant with themfelves, and had 
 Circumcifion as a Seal of that Covenant admini- 
 ftred to them : But if Infants under the New 
 Teftament are cut off from an Intereft in this 
 Covenant, and an initiating Seal thereof, how 
 great Ihould the Difpropomon be betwixt the 
 * Jews 
 
24 -A pr apical Efay on 
 
 Jews their Privileges and ours^ their breaking 
 off, and our grafting in. 
 
 Ar g- 4. A Fourth and laft Scripture Ground I offer for 
 Infant Baptifm is, Col. ii. u, 12. The Words 
 are, In whom alfo ye are circumcifed, with the , 
 Circumcifion made without Hands, in putting 
 off the Body of Sins of the Flejh, by the Circum- 
 cifion of Chrift, buried with him in Baptifm, 
 wherein alfo ye are rifen with him, &c. And 
 here it may be obferved, That as there is an A- 
 greement betwixt Baptifm and Circumcifion, 
 Rom. vi. 3, 4, 5, 6. fo from this Scripture may 
 be juflly inferred, That Baptifm is come in Room 
 of Circumcifion, as an initiating Seal of God's > 
 Covenant 5 not only to thofe of Age, but alfo to 
 Infants : For, the Intent of the Apoftle, is to 
 bring the Coloffians off from the Ceremonial Law, 
 and particularly from Circmncifion, which was 
 that to which the Jews did moft tenacionfly ad- 
 here, and now endeavoured to urge the Obfer- 
 vance of upon the Gentile Churches j and for this 
 End he fhows them, that they were cowplcat in 
 Chrift, Verfe 10. All Bleflings . being in him, 
 and all Ordinances appointed by him that were 
 neceffary, or they could wifh, in Order to their 
 Happinefs and Comfort ; for in him they had the 
 / Thing iignified by Circumcifion, being fantlified 
 in him, and fo having put off the Body of the 
 Shis of the Fle/h, Verfe 1 1 » And whereas they 
 might have objected, That the Sign fhould al- 
 ways accompany the Thing fignified, and that 
 they were not now fo compleat in Chrift,&$ Abra- 
 ham and his Seed were 3 for, befides the inward 
 Grcce, they and their Infant Seed had an out- 
 ward Sign and Seal to confirm and ratify this 
 Grace to them. And indeed, if their Infants 
 had not been taken into Covenant with God, and 
 
 / been denied an initiating Seal thereof, this would 
 
 have been a very ftrong Argument, that they were 
 
 not 
 
T'he Sacrament of Haptifin* g% 
 
 not now fo compleat, as thofe under the firth 
 tDifpenfation were. But any Thought of this 
 Kind the Apoftle obviates, by fh<rwing them, 
 That now they had Baptifm, which was every 
 Way as ufeful as Circvmcifion was, with this 
 Addition, That Baptifm did take in the Refpr- 
 re£tionof Chrift, which could not be fo clearly 
 and diftin£tly reprefented by Circumcifion : So 
 that now they were no Lofers, but Gainers by 
 Cbrifl and theJNfcw Tefl.ament 2)ifpenfatio?zj for 
 it was only a Change of the Sign, but ftill they 
 had the fame Bleilings and Grace confirmed and 
 fealed thereby. But if their Infants had been 
 denied an Intereft in the Covenant, and refufed 
 an initiating Seal thereof, how would the Objec- 
 tions of Judaifing Chriflians been fatisfyingly 
 anlwered, or their Clamours filenced ? For they 
 had it flill to object, That their Privileges were 
 not now fo extenfive as before, in Regard, that 
 then their Infants had the Promife belonging to 
 them, and Circumciiion, a Seal thereof, admini- 
 ftred to them ; but now they were deprived of 
 both. Wherefore, the Apoftle's Reafoning here 
 cannot but take in Baptifm, extending as to the 
 Objects of it, equally with Circumciiion : So 
 that all Cavils upon this Ground were for ever 
 removed, with this peculiar Advantage on the 
 Side of Eaptifm, That whereas Circumcifion, in 
 the Nature of the Sign, was only applicable to 
 Male Children 5 Baptifm, which was come in the 
 Room thereof, was' fuch whereof the Females 
 were capable alfo. 
 
 To all that hath been faid for Infant Baptifm, Arg. 5. 
 may be added, Fifthly, The juft but very harfh, 
 cruel and unfufTerableConfequencesthat follow up- 
 on the Denial of this, and among many fuch, I 
 only name thefe few, Firfl, That then the Con- 
 dition of the Lord's People under the Nezv Tefta- 
 ment 2)ifpenfatio?2) and fince Cbrifi came, is 
 
 worfe 
 
^6 A Practical EJJay on 
 
 worfe than that of the Old, and before his Ap- 
 pearance to the World- For, by the Old, Chil- 
 dren of profefling Parents were, according to the 
 divine ConftiVition of the Covenant, affumed 
 with their Parents into Covenant, and had the 
 Seal thereof adminiftred unto them j but now, 
 according to the Do£trine of our Adverfaries, 
 they muft be denied both 3 in Contradiction to, 
 and entirely inconfiflent with thefe Scriptures, 
 2)eut. iv. 37. SDeut. xxx. 6. *Pfalm lxix.- 2,5. If. 
 lix. 20, 2i. Rom. v. 14, 15, 20. Heb. vii. 19. Heb. 
 vii. 22. Heb. viii. 6. Heb. xi. 40. Heb. xii.' 22, 
 22, 24. zdly, From this very cruel Dodtrine to 
 poor Infants, it will follow, That now, under the 
 New tfffifanent, the Lord hath revoked a very 
 great Privilege and Mercy they had under the 
 Old : For then they were circumcifed, and had 
 this as a Seal of the Covenant of Grace, Gen. xvii. 
 ic. Rom. iv. 11. But now, Circumcifion has no 
 more Place in the Church of God ; nor will our 
 Adverfaries allow another initiating Seal whereof 
 Children are capable, to be come in its Room. 
 And then, %dly, By denying Infant Baptifm, and 
 their Intereft in the Covenant as the Foundation 
 thereof, they fhut the Infants of fuch Parents as 
 are of the Houfhold of Faith, out of their Fa- 
 ther's Houfe 5 leave them in the fame Conditi- 
 on with the Children of Infidels 5 contrary to 
 thofe Scriptures juft now adduced, they make the 
 Times of the Law incomparably more full of 
 Grace, than thofe of the Gofpel 5 exceedingly 
 confine the rich Grace of the new Covenant, 
 which God has fo gracioufly extended, by exclu- 
 ding our Infants from the Covenant, they leave 
 thefe hopelefs, and us comfortlefs 5 and then, 
 they make the Jews exceeding Lofers by the 
 Coming of Chrift, even thofe Jews who believe 
 in him ; and lay a very great Hinderance in the 
 Way of the Converfion of other* 5 who may thus 
 
 plead 
 
the Sacrament of JZaptifm. * £7 
 
 plead, That while they remain in the Jeivifh 
 Religion, not only themlelves, but alfo their In- * 
 fant Seed are in Covenant, and have an initiating 
 Seal thereof 5 but by embracing Chriflianity their. 
 Children muft be excluded from both: And there- 
 fore, they will think it better to remain where 
 they are. 
 
 I have hitherto endeavoured to obviate the 
 Objections, which Antipedolaptifts bring againft 
 the baptifing of Infants, fo far as the Matter trea- 
 ted of gave Occafion 5 fo that now I fhall only 
 notice thefe Two, which are. the main Strength 
 of all that thefe People fay againft it. 
 
 The Firfl great Objection they bring againft Objedion* 
 this is, That fuch Difpofitions are required of 4j> ain ft*"- 
 thofe who are to be baptifed, whereof Children t ^ *^~ 
 are not at all capable, as Matth. xxviii. 19. They fwered. 
 are firft to be Taught. Acis ii. 37. They are to 
 Repent. And Atfs viii. 12, 37. They aie to 
 hear the Wordy and to believe. 
 
 For Anfwer to this, Firfl, If without Reftric- 
 tion our Adverfaries Reafon from the Order of 
 the Words, that is, becaufe Teaching is name*! 
 before Baptifing, and fo are Repenting and Be- 
 lieving j therefore all Perfons whofoeyer muft be 
 firft Taught, Repent and Believe, ere they can 
 be Baptifed : This they will obferve to be a bad 
 Way cf Arguing. For, Rom. x. 9. Confefiing 
 with the Mouth is placed before Believing with 
 the Heart, Mark i. 4. John is faid to have bap- 
 tifed in the Wildernefs, and preached the Bap- 
 tifm of Repentance. And £//?. v. 26. Wafbing 
 with Water is named before the Word. So Heb. 
 viii. ic. God promifes to bea God unto his People, 
 which, in the Order of the Words, is placed be- 
 fore the Promife of their knowing the Lord, Ver. 
 1 1. But will it from thefe Scriptures follow, that 
 Confejfion goes before Believing, "Baptifing thole 
 come to Age before 'Preaching to them, and 
 G telling 
 
$% r A Tragical EJJciy on 
 
 telling them what Saftifm is, Sanftification be- 
 fore the Word in thofe come to Age $ or, that a 
 People are favingly brought into Covenant with 
 God, before they have the Knowledge of God. 
 2.dly\ ToReafon from what is required of Perfons 
 come to Age, unto Infants that are of Nonage, 
 is a very fallacious Way of Difputing. For, as 
 , Schoolmen ufe to fay, It is Reafoning, A ditlo 
 fecundum quid ad diftum fimpliciter. The Con- 
 fequence of fuch a Way of Arguing will be very 
 grofs, I fhall but inftance this in a few Things. 
 Abraham believed, and had the Knowledge of 
 God's Covenant, and then obtained Circuancifion y 
 as a Seal thereof: But was Ifaac alfo to believe 
 and know, when at Eight Days Old he had the 
 fame Seal adminiftred to him. John iii. 3*. It 
 is faid, He that believeth not flsall not fee Life y 
 hut the Wrath of God abideth on him. And 
 Mark xvi. itf. He that believeth not fhall be 
 damned. But muft all our Infants dying in In- 
 fancy eternally perifti, becaufe they are not ca- 
 pable to believe? And 1 I'he/f.m. 10. it is faid, 
 *they who will not work, neither fhall they eat : 
 But muft our Infants ftarve, becaufe they cannot 
 labour with their Hands ? But then 3^/y, and 
 more directly we would obferve, That the Church 
 of God being formerly confined to the Jews 5 now 
 our Lord extends it to all Nations* and gives his 
 Difciples Commifiion, That in Order to the con- 
 ftituting of this New jTeftame72t Church* thefe 
 fhould be firft taught and made Difciples, and 
 then be baptifed In Obedience whereunto, the 
 ZDiJciples preach the Gofpel to every Creature* 
 command them to repent and believe the Gofpel, 
 preach Chrift, and Salvation by him $ and upon 
 their coming to a better Mind, and embracing 
 the Lord Jefus, they were afTumed into the Co- 
 venant, and fo baptifed. But then we fubfume, 
 
 That 
 
the Sacrament ofBaptifin* '$$ 
 
 That according to the Tenor of the Covenant of 
 Grace, the Promife is not only to the Seliever % 
 but alfo to his Seed, Atts ii. 37, 38. If the Root 
 he holy, fo alfo are the Branches 5 God claims 
 an Intereft in them, Rom. xi. 16. 1 Cor. vii. 14. 
 Ezek. xvi. 20. And therefore, feeing they are 
 in Covenant with God, juftly have they Baptifm 
 adminiftred to them as a Seal thereof ;even as Abra- 
 ham had the Seal of the Covenant following his 
 Faith, but his Son enjoyed this before any aclual 
 Exercife of Judgment or Underftanding. For,. 
 tho* it is meet, that he who is of full grown Age, 
 and a Stranger to the Covenant, understand the 
 Nature of it, and God's appointed Method of 
 bringing Sinners thereinto, and fo profefs his 
 Faith in Chrift, and his Compliance with the 
 whole Device of Salvation, before he can have 
 the Seal of the Covenant adminiftred unto him $ 
 yet an Infant begotten by him needeth not fo - 9 
 who, by Right of Inheritance, and according to 
 the Form of the Promife, is, even from his Mo- 
 ther's Womb, contained in the Covenant (6). 
 But then $thly, There is a Twofold Difpofition 
 of Perfons that are to be baptifed, according to 
 their different Circumftances and Condition 5 
 Firft, That which I may call ahfolnte and intrin- 
 fick, whereby the Subject comes to have a Capa- 
 city of doing and receiving fomething, which be- 
 fore it had not 5 albeit this Difpofkion proceeds 
 from fome extrinfkk Caufe, and /hows itfelf in 
 fome outward Ails, to Men who are concerned 
 to know this : This, as it includes Knowledge, 
 Repentance and Faith, and is expreffed by De- 
 clarations, Defires and Purpofes, made known to 
 others 5 fo it was necefifary in thofe who were A- 
 liens from the Commonwealth of Ifrael, were 
 G 2 come 
 
 (0 Sec UWm\ Inftitutions, Lib. 4' Chap. 16. Se^ 
 24. 
 
ioo A Tragical Effay on 
 
 come to Years, and defired Eaptifm. But idly. 
 There is a Difpofition, which in the Nature of 
 it is relative and extrinfick, which arifes from 
 the Relation to fome other Perfon, or fome Act 
 of theirs 5 while in the mean Time there is no 
 inward Change made upon the Mind. And thus, 
 fome Titles of Honour defcend from Parents to 
 Children, and Rights to Inheritances are fettled^ 
 on them and fealed to them, tho' there is no* 
 Change of Mind, neither do they know nor un- 
 derstand the Privilege fecured to them 5 and this, 
 according to the Nature of God's Covenant, is 
 fufficient, that the Infant be capable or difpofed to 
 receive Baptifnij for, as under the Law, if a Pro- 
 felyte deli red Circuwicifion tire Seal of the Cove- 
 nant, he was flrft to be difpofed and prepared 
 for this, by Knowledge, Repentance and Faith, 
 at kail, by a Profeffion of thefe : But in the In- 
 fants of fuch, there was no other previous Difpofi- 
 tions requiiite than their paternal Privileges, as 
 being n&w in their Father and with him, in Co- 
 venant with God, and having an external and vi- 
 sible Right to the Privileges thereof. And thus 
 it is here as to Baptifm. 
 
 A Second Objection they have againft bapti- 
 fing of Infants is, Becaufe, fay they, in Scripture 
 there is neither Precept nor Example for it. 
 
 For Anfwer to this, which feems to be the 
 great Argument that Antipedolaptifls molil) in- 
 £ft on 5 we may obferve, Firfl, That when Truths 
 are fairly deduced from Principles that are in an 
 exprefs and pofitive Manner laid down in Scrip- 
 ture, no Man does queftion the Verity of the 
 Confequence inferred, more than he does the 
 Truth of the Principle from which it is dedu- 
 ced. Thus, feeing the Scripture -fays, T*hat w& 
 /hall all appear he fore the Judgment Scat of 
 Chrifl 5 and that he who lelieveth floall he faved 5 
 can any Man doubt the Truth of the following 
 
 Propo- 
 
the Sacrament of Baptifm. i o i 
 
 Propositions, That then this, or that particular 
 < Perfo?i mufl appear before the Judgment Seat of 
 Chrift j and if they believe, they jhall be fayed : 
 Altho' there is no exprefs Mention of fuch Per- 
 fons in Scripture their Appearing, or Salvation. 
 For, fo in another Cafe our Saviour Reafons, 
 Matth. xxii. ;j, 32. idly, Where have thefe 
 Men exprefs Precept or Command to baptife Fe- 
 males, or exprefs Example to adminifter the 
 Lord's Sapper to them ? And yet they fcruple 
 neither of thefe. Where, again, have they ei- 
 ther Precept or Example for the Baptifm of 
 Kings, Emperors, or Nobles ? But is this de- 
 nied, or can it be refufed, unlefs we give the o- 
 pen Affront to the Reafon of Mankind. But 
 idly. Have we not an exprefs^Command, That 
 Abrahams Infant Seed fhould be circumcifed ? 
 Gen. xvii. 7. And do not Believers now under 
 the New Teflament fucceed to the Privileges of 
 Abraham, as being his Children ? Gal. iii. 7. Did 
 not our Lord command his 2)ifciples to baptif? 
 all Nations who were made his itifciples ? And 
 are not the Children of believing Parents the 
 'Difciples of our Lord, as being taken into Co- 
 venant with their Parents ? And was not the 
 Command of Baptifm, Atts ii. 38, 39. founded 
 upon this, becaufe the Tromife was to them and 
 to their Seed ? And finally, Do we not fre- 
 quently read, of whole Families being baptife d 
 av once , wherein it is more than probable, there 
 were Infants, as well as thofe come to Age. And 
 fhall we not be contented with a general Pre 
 cept including Childrens Baptifm, when the 
 great Lawgiver made no Exception to the con- 
 trary, but in the Days of his Flefh manifested 
 the Riches of his Grace toward them, and blef- 
 fed them. But then Laftly, We may juftly fay, 
 That there was no Neceility that our Lord 
 ihould give his 2)ifciples any exprefs or pecu- 
 G 3 liar 
 
ica r A TraBical Efay on 
 
 liar Command concerning baptifing Infants, but 
 included them in the General ; becaufe the A- 
 poftles were fo well acquainted with Childrens 
 iolemn Reception into Church Privileges, and 
 having thefe fealed to them, (Children being 
 circumcifed under the Law, and there being a 
 general Command to laptife all Nations) that 
 they could not reafonably make any Queftion a- 
 bout it j knowing moreover, that the Grace of 
 God and his Covenant were not more reftric"ted 
 under the New Teftament than under the Qldj 
 but contrariwife, were more diffufed and exten- 
 ded : And therefore, a more difficult Queftion 
 might have been concerning the baptifing of Wo- 
 men, there being neither any Analogy from Cir- 
 cumciJion> nor particular Precept to induce them 
 thereto 5 but that they knew the general Precept 
 was Authority fufficierit, without fpecifying Par- 
 ticulars. 
 
 irom'this 5 From al1 . that hath b( : en faia . on the Head of 
 I. The * Infant 'Baftifm^ we may infer, Fir ft. The Error 
 Error of of Jlnabaptifls, or rather of Antifedohaftifts^ 
 xAnabap. wno are f ucn E nem ies to their own Comfort, 
 and contrary to the Word of God, deal fo un- 
 charitably with Children, as that they deny to 
 Infants of Chrijiian profeffing Parents the Privi- 
 lege of Saptifhi j for fuch deny the Privilege to 
 Children which Chrifl hath allow'd them 5 keep 
 thofe from Chrift he invites to come unto him 5 
 refufe them the Mean of applying and fealing 
 thefe Bieflings which Chrift beftows on them 5 ex- 
 clude thofe out of the Covenant and the Kingdom 
 of Chrift, whom he declares to be of it 5 rejecl: 
 them whom Chrift embraces 5 take away a very 
 ftrong Argument obliging to Holinefs, which he 
 hath given $,ftiut that Door againft Infants which 
 Chrift hath left open $ deprive Parents of the 
 Comfort Chrift hath vouchfafed them 5 rob the 
 Church of Chrift of the Privileges jfhe pofTefTes $ 
 
 and 
 
the Sacrament of TZaptifrn. i of 
 
 •and endeavour to overturn the Gofpel Foundati- 
 on of Saptifm, that they may lay one of their 
 own 5 yea plead their and our Infants into a State 
 of Alienation and Eftrangement from God. 
 
 Secondly ', We may hence learn a Difference be- H- A Dif- 
 twixt the Children of Infidels and thofe of Chri- ;££ t cc t |£ 
 ftian Parents $ or of thofe who are without the children 
 Church, and Aliens from the Commonwealth of of infidels 
 Ifrael, and fuch as are Members of it. The laft ^chri? 
 are to be bapnfed, as having a Right and Title ftj an Pa _ 
 thereto 5 but the Firft are not, feeing they are renti. 
 Strangers to the Covenant of *Promifes, of which 
 Saptif?n is a Seal, Eph. H. 12. It is true, that 
 fome particular Confideration is to be had of the 
 Jews, whe becaufe of God's once affuming them 
 to be a peculiar People to himfelf above all other 
 'People, becaufe of the* Covenant he fo folemnly 
 and frequently entred into with them, and fpeci- 
 ally becaufe of his Defigns of Grace towards 
 them founded on that Covenant, Rom. xi. 1, 2, 
 11, i6 y 25, 26", 3r. They may be therefore faid 
 to have a remote or fundamental Title to the Co- 
 venant or Bleilings thereof ; yet as to fuch an im- 
 mediate and formal Right to Covenant Bleilings 
 as lays a Foundation for the Adminiftration of 
 the Seal of it, they have none 3 for they are now 
 broken off, Rom. xi. 17. No more his Church, 
 and People, fo as to plead the Advantages that 
 belong to fuch, until they profefs their Faith ht 
 Chri fly and Obedience to hi?n 9 Acls ii. 383 
 S°- . 
 
 Tfjirdl}\ From this we may obferve the Con- in. The 
 dition that Infants, even of Chriftian Parents, are Condition 
 in by Nature 5 That they are Sinners, guilty, im-^ ^^f 
 pure and unholy. It is for this Caufe that they cure. *~ ? 
 are wafhed, and have the Value, Virtue, and Ef- 
 ficacy of the Blood of Chritt, with the gracious 
 Operations of the Spirit of Chrift by Baptifm, 
 made over and fealed unto them ? that fo their 
 Q 4 Sins 
 
io4 'A 'Practical Effay on 
 
 Sins may be pardoned, their Perfons accepted, 
 their ^Natures fan&ified, and the whole Man 
 faved, <Pfal. li. 5. Rom. v. 19. Rom. vi. 5. AHs 
 ii. 58, $9. Co/, ii. 11, 12. Was this but d, ly 
 considered, with what holy Thoughtfulnefs, and 
 ferious Concern, would Parents bring their Chil- 
 dren to Baptifm, and Minifters administer it to 
 them. 
 IV. The Fourthly, Here we may behold the unfearch- 
 \ l ^ QS , ,^ahle Riches of God's Grace, and the merciful 
 Grace. " Extent of his Covenant j for the Promife is not 
 only to Believers, but alfo to their Seed'', nor 
 does God receive Believers themfelves only, and 
 bleflfeth them with faithful Abraham, but their 
 Infants alfo. And fuch is the exceeding Riches 
 of his Grace, that immediately upon their Entry 
 into the World, he grants, that all the fare Afer- 
 ciesof~Dw\&, or Bleffings of his everlafting Co- 
 venant, be fealed and confirmed to them, by this 
 Ordinance of his own Institution. O! How ought 
 we' to admire his Condefcenfion, to adore his 
 Mercy, to proclaim the Riches of his Grace v 
 and for ever to fliow forth his Praife \ 
 V. Tt Fifthly, Hence thofe who are come to Age 
 fhouM en- ma y f ce a {i r0 ng Argument and Motive, to de- 
 f£fouM&: termine their Souls to a Compliance with the 
 rh'ii'.- '" Gofpel Method of Salvation, and an Engage- 
 corm to rnent of themfelves to all the Duties of Holinefs, 
 se * with a great Encouragement to both : For no 
 
 fooner do we come to Years of Difcretion, but 
 we may with the greateft Pleafure reflect, how it 
 plcafed God, in our Infancy, to make us Parta- 
 kers of an Ordinance of his Appointment, where- 
 by all the Bleffings of his Covenant were made 
 over and fealed unto us : How, then, we were 
 devoted and given up to him in Jefus Chrilt,and 
 how fblemnly we were brought to Jefas the Me- 
 diator 'of the New Covenant, and to the Blood 
 of Sprinkling 5 and therefore, may now, with 
 ? holy. 
 
the Sacrament of Baptifen. ioj^ 
 
 holy and humble Confidence, take hold of Chrift. 
 and this Covenant in him, with particular Ap- 
 plication to our felves; and /hould now ftir up 
 our own Souls to an Accepting of the Lord Je- 
 fus, and of God as our God in him '-, to yield our 
 felves to the Lord, fo as we may henceforth be 
 only his, and for him, and lo to lay Obligations 
 on our felves, to behave in the World as it be- 
 comes the Children of the rooft High, walking 
 worthy of him, unto all well pleaiing. But our 
 little reviewing of our Infant Baptifm, is one 
 fpecial Reafon why our Faith is fo weak, our 
 Obligations to Holinefs fo ineffectual, our Pro- 
 grefs therein fo fmall, and our Comfort fo lamen- 
 tably low. 
 
 Sixthly ', This alfo gives great Comfort to Chri- VI. It 
 fti an Parents, and is a" fpecial Ground of Comfort, gives Comk 
 in the Cafe of their Children dying in Infancy or^J° P *~ 
 Nonage. 'Tis now, that with a great Deal of 
 Tranquility of Mind, they may behold the Co- 
 venant ^Promife, made not only to them, but 
 alfo to their Seed: How may they, with Glad- 
 nefs of Heart, reflect, that their now iick and 
 dying Child had God's own Seal of this Promife 
 adminiftred to him 5 with inward Joy review the 
 Confcientious and Chriftian Part they acled, when 
 they prefented fuch a Child to Baptifm j and 
 with great Satisfaction plead the Tenor of the 
 Covenant of Grace, and Seal thereof, in Favour 
 of their Infant 5 importunately, and with holy 
 Confidence wreftle with God for them, and with 
 Serenity of Mind hope the beft of them} leaving 
 fecret Things to him to whom alone they be- ' 
 long. 
 
 Seventhly, Here we have a fpecial Foundation VII> Pa- 
 laid, whereupon the Duties of Chriftian Parents rents Bu- 
 toward their Children, are neceffarily built. But ties. 
 this is of fuch Moment and Extent, that I fhall 
 give it a Seftion by it felf, when once I have no- 
 
 ticed 
 
mgi 
 
 1 06 A Traciical Effay on 
 
 ticcd the Anfwers that may be given to a few 
 
 ^iieftions. 
 S&teft. 1. 'Jfyieflion 1. Are Expofed Children, or Foun- 
 
 Conccr- dlings, to be baptifed ? 
 
 l^ ounci ' Anfiver, Whereas the Right to Eaptifm is 
 founded upon the Infant's Title to the Promifes 
 of the Covenant, and their Intereft in it (for 
 where there is no Intereft in the Covenant, there 
 can be no Sealing of it) Therefore, the Confide- 
 ration how far fuch Infants are in the Covenant of 
 . Grace, fo as to have a Right to the folemn Inve- 
 ftiture in the Bleffings of it, is of fpecial Ufe to 
 determine us in the Solution of this and other 
 Queftions. on this Head. But becaufe it is not 
 eafily decided, how far Infants expofed, or the 
 Children of prophane, idolatrous or excommuni- 
 cate Parents, have a Right to the Covenant of 
 Grace, 1 fhall therefore ie3ve the particular En- 
 quiry of this, to fuch as are of greater Abilities, 
 have more Time, and better Opportunities, for 
 Matters of this Kind, than I have. And as to 
 the J^neftion juft now propofed, that which 
 makes it more difficult, is, when Children are 
 expofed in a Country where profefTed Infidels, 
 yews, Pagans and Mahometans live together 
 with profeiling Chriftiansj imAvhich Cafe, the 
 Parents of the Child fo expofed are to be fought 
 for ; if they are found, the Difficulty will be 
 over; but if they cannot be found, and the Num- 
 ber of f ich Infidels be greater, or equal to that 
 of Chriftians, in this Cafe, it may be better to 
 forbear, than adminifter Baptifm to fuch a Child, 
 left an holy Ordinance of God be prophaned : 
 But where the Body of a People are profefTed 
 Chriftians, in this Cafe, Judgment is to pafs up- 
 on the moft favourable and charitable Side, and 
 fo the Foundling to be reckoned a Member of 
 the Vifible Ghurch, and come of Chriftian Pa- 
 rents, and therefore, fay the Generality, it is to 
 
 be 
 
the Sacrament of "Baptifm* 1 07 
 
 be baptifed. Tho' fome are of Opinion, That 
 'tis as good, in fuch a Cafe, to delay Baptifm, 
 till the Child arrive at the Years of Difcretion, 
 and make folemn Profeffion of its own Faith. 
 
 Queit. 2. Are the Children of the Prophane 
 and Ignorant, and Infants begotten 171 Fornicati- q^' I* 
 on or Adultery, to he baptifed ? mD g t }, 6 
 
 Anf. So far as I know, all agree, that they are; Infants ^g 
 becaufe fuch Infants were, under the Old Telia- j? T e S™ *& 
 
 <-r» •/*./» • T J UllClean- 
 
 mcnt %)?fpenfation, circumciied 5 nor are we to nefs# 
 think, that every Defecr, and unfuitable Beha- 
 viour to our holy Profeffion, as Chriftians, does 
 Place the viiible Members of the Church, in the 
 Condition of Strangers to the Covenants of <Pro~ 
 mife y and Aliens from the Commonwealth of 
 Ifrael; yet becaufe the Church of Chrift is holy, 
 and the Communion of Saints of a quite different 
 Nature from the Society of the Prophane, there- ' 
 fore, fay fome, in well conftituted Churches, the 
 Baptifm of fuch Infants is to be delayed, until 
 the Parents be, by their Repentance, reconciled 
 to the Church (0- 
 
 Queft. 3. Is Baptifm to be admini (Irate d to 
 the Children c/Hereticks and Papifts? Concert* 
 
 Anf As to Hereticks who deny the fundamen-nmg the 
 tal Truths of our holy Religion, maintain fuch Children 
 Principles as are everiive of the Foundation, and °J n ^ff ' 
 deftroy the Nature of God's Co-Tenant of Grace, pip, 
 how fuch have fo much as a vifible, external Inte- 
 reft in this Covenant, and Right to the Seals of 
 it, is hard to be underftood 5 and where the Pa- 
 rent's Title is null, how the Right of the Infant 
 can {land, I do not comprehend : And furely, 
 where there is no Title, there can be no appen- 
 ding of a Seal. I know, that againft this, and 
 other Affertions of this Kind (where Baptifm is 
 
 denied 
 
 (1) Sec CaUm-fs Hiilory, Vol. I. Page 247. Heidegger 1 Co,- 
 pusTutolcgix; Vol. II. Page 452. Sect. 56. KurberfoidPs Due 
 Right Ot Presbyteries^ mibi Page i$u apud finem Lihri, 
 
08 J Traciical Effhy on 
 
 denied to the Infant, becaufe of the Parents their 
 Sin) it is commonly objected, that, in fuch Cafes, 
 the Children are made to fuffer for the 'Parents 
 Fault, But to this, the Anfwer fcems plain, 
 That there is no Abfurdity in faying fo, as to vi- 
 able, external Church Privileges. For, did not 
 the Children of Korah furrer for the Crime of 
 ^ their Parents? In civil Cafes, when Parents for- 
 
 • feit their Title to an Eilate, or otherwife denude 
 
 themfelves thereof, no Charter can pafs in Fa- 
 vours of their Children, as fuch : And do we 
 not fee, that the Infants of Jews and Pagans do 
 fo faffer, while Baptifm is denied to them, until, 
 when they come to Age, they profefs their Faith 
 in Chrilt, and Obedience to him. And this Con- 
 federation /hould be a powerful Argument to re- 
 train Parents from every Thing that has the lead 
 Tendency to cut them off from the Comnuinioti 
 , of Saints y feeing hereby they not only deitroy 
 themfelves, but their Children alfo. But to re- 
 turn ; as to the Children of Papijls, Proteftant 
 Divines feem to be agreed, That Baptifm is not 
 to be denied them 5 and that, Firft t Becaufe 
 their Parents had this Ordinance, in all the Ef- 
 fentials thereof, adminiftred to them, tho' mife- 
 rably corrupted with the Additions of Men. 
 zdly\. Becaufe the Children of immediate Parents 
 who were Idolaters, were, under the Old Tefta- 
 ;?:ent y circumcifed, and God calls them his Chil- 
 \\rtn y E<-ek. xvi. 20. Yea, fuch idolatrous Perfons, 
 his People, and exhorts them to return unto him> 
 the Lord their God; importing, that as yet, they 
 were- not intirely cut off from all Title to God, 
 and from all external Right to the external Pri- 
 vileges of his People. 
 
 But a Fourth and lad Queftion that is com- 
 monly propofed on this Head of the qualified 
 
 infai^s of Subjects of Baptifm, is, Concerning the Children 
 
 !22!r5?V excommunicate Parents. 
 
 rents. Jirl ^ 
 
the Sacrament of Bapt/Jm. 109 
 
 Anf. Firfi, If only one of the Parents be ex- 
 communicate, in this Cafe there is no Difficulty $ 
 for, no Doubt, the Children of fuch are to bebap- 
 tifed, according to r Cor. vii. 14. But, zdiy 7 
 There are fome very Great 2) i 'vines, who fay, 
 That even upon Supposition, that both Parents 
 are laid under this dreadful Sentence, yet the 
 Children of fuch are to be baptifed (1). Firft, j 
 
 Becaufe, fay they, excommunicate Perfons are 
 not wholly cut otffrorn the Church of God, nor 
 altogether excluded the Covenant Prom ife 5 nei- 
 ther are they in all P_efpe£ts to be unto us as Hea- 
 thens and 'Publicans; elfe, upon their Relaxation 
 and ReadmifTion into the Church, why are they 
 not rebaptifed. idly, Becaufe the Seed of Gcd 
 may remain in fuch, ^dly\ They are excommu- 
 nicate, not for their utter Undoing, but for the 
 fDeflrv.ction of the Fle/h, that the Spirit may he 
 faz'ed in the 2)ay of the Lord, 1 Cor. v 5. And, 
 ' Arthly, They are ftill to be reckoned Members 
 of the Church, fay thefe ; tho', for the prefent, 
 rotten ones, and fo are not to he counted as E:ic- 
 raies, but admonifloed as Brethren, But then, 
 idly, Other very Learned Perfons (2), are not fo 
 pofitive as to this j but much doubt, if fuch In- 
 fants are to be baptifed : Nor are there very good 
 Reafons wanting for fuch Hefiration, when it is 
 confidered, That excommunicate Perfons are ex- 
 cluded the Society of the Faithful, denied the 
 Privilege offealing Ordinances, and, in fome Re- 
 fpeJh at leait, dealt with as Heathen -Men and 
 c Puhlicans 5 and tho' their fundamental Title to 
 the Covenant Promifes may ftand, yet their vi~ 
 fible Right to thefe, is now fufpended : Upea 
 all which, it is more than ditHcult to explain, 
 
 how 
 
 (i)Scs Heidegger jj "Vol. II. Pag. 452. Secft. 56. Zanch. 7,m. 
 IV . Paga 4.39. and Ep'jlJaru/n Lib. 1> Page 41 1« xAuerft 
 on the Sdcram2nts. Page 222. Rutherford's Due Right. mii>i 
 Page 121, 122, 25S, to 257. (2) EJen. Cump. Page iff, 
 Maejtricb*, Page 320. Sect. 13. 
 
no A TraUical EJffay on 
 
 how Parents are excluded the Church, and yet 
 their Infant Seed be formally and properly in it 5 
 how Parents are denied the Seals of the Cove- 
 nant, and yet their Infants have thefeadminiftred 
 to them '-, - how they are dealt with as Heathens 
 and Publicans, when Baptifm is adrniniftred to 
 their Children, equally, with thofe of the moft 
 found and faithful Members 5 and how, when the 
 Parents Right is, by fuch a Sentence, fufpended, 
 yet that of their Infants fhall ftand good, foas they 
 fhall have the Seal thereof. 
 
 Upon the Whole, this may be juftly faid, 
 That furely all that come in a Minifter's Way, 
 or are brought to them by others, are not to be 
 baptifed, without a due Consideration of their 
 Right to this Ordinance : For, as has been once 
 and again faid, where there is no Right to the 
 Covenant, there can be no warrantable Admini- 
 itration of the Seals of it ; and certainly a very 
 remarkable Diftin&ion is to be made betwixt 
 Children of Infidels, and thofe of Believers. Nor 
 are any who take upon them the Office of the 
 Miniftry, to acT: fo contrary to the Nature and 
 fDoftrine of Saptifm y as violently to force the 
 Infants of Infidel Parents from them, that they 
 may be baptifed (3). 
 
 y/. yte y/.y/, y v W/ y/x y/A N v/, y/4 y*> y/£ y«j y// y i/, y/v y// y« vw y 1/ v»« y /' 
 
 SECT. III. 
 
 Of the duties of Chriftian 'Parents. 
 
 THE tPromifes of the Covenant of Grace, 
 not only belonging to Cbriflian Barents, 
 Parents butalfoto their Seed; a.nd thefe being, according 
 ucie> * to the Tenor of that Covenant, conveyed by Parents 
 
 f 
 (3) Sec Heidegger, Vol. II. Page 452. Se#. 5*» 
 
the Sacrament of "Baptifm. 1 1 1 
 
 te Children, whereof Baptifm is a Seal 3 the In- 
 tereft that God claims in fuch Children, by Vir- 
 tue of his Covenant 3 the -near Relation that is 
 betwixt Parents and Children, with that natural 
 and ftrong AfFeclion which Parents are. to have 
 for them, together with the exprefs Command 
 of the GREAT JEHOVAH * all thefe lay 
 fpecial Obligations upon Chriftian Parents, to 
 folemn and fpecial Duties, with Refpect to this 
 Ordinance of Saptifm, as it is adminiftrated to 
 their Infant Seed. Which may be confidered, \ft % 
 Either as previous to Saftifm - y or, zdly> When 
 they are prefenting their Children to it, and are 
 to have this adminiftred to them 5 or, ?d!y, Such 
 as natively follow thereupon. 
 
 Previous to the Administration of Baptifm to r p r - w - 
 Children, Firft t It is the tDuty of CbfiftLa&iws to 
 'Parents, ferioufly and thankfully to reflect on Baptifm* 
 the Goodnefs of God to them, in giving them a 
 Child, 'Pfalm cxxvii. 5. which is fometimes at- 
 tended with fuch peculiar Circumftances, as 
 makes it a very great and double Mercy. They 
 are alfo to confider the Loving Kindnefs of God 
 to their Infant, not only in preferving the Babe in 
 the Mother's Belly, and bringing it fafely forth 
 into the World, but efpecially in this, that the 
 Lord promifes to he a God unto their Child, as 
 well as to themfelves, Gen. xvii. 10. He com- 
 mands their little Ones to he brottght to hiv? 7 
 that he may blefs them--, and appoints an Ordi- 
 nance for the folemn Application, and for Seal- 
 ing of all the Sleffings of the Covenant unto 
 them, Lukexvni. 16. Markx.it> 17. Gen. xvii. 
 11. And then, they are ferioufly to bethink 
 themfelves, what it is that God requires of them $ 
 and, what they are now to do, when their Child 
 or Children are to have this Seal of the Covenan( 
 adminiftred to them, idly, They are to examine 
 themfelves of their Knowledge of the Principles 
 
 of 
 
ii2 J VraBical EJfay on 
 
 of our Holy and Chriftian Religion 5 of the ^Du- 
 ties of Parents to Children 5 what fpecial Obli- 
 gations they are now to come under j and what 
 awful Vows of God they are to take upon them. 
 In a particular Manner, they are to enquire into 
 their own Intereft in Chrift 5 their Relation to 
 God, as their God j and Right to the Bleffings 
 of his Covenant : This they and others are to be 
 taken up abo-it, at all Times, but especially on 
 this Occasion: For, as this is a very proper Mean 
 to compofe their own Minds, and bring them to a 
 Frame fuitable to their prefent Work - y and, as 
 a Chriftian Parent's Senfe and Hope, upon Scrip- 
 ture Evidence, that he himfelf is in a Gracious 
 State, does notably encourage him to bring bis 
 Infant, and that with holy Confidence, to receive 
 the Seal of God's Covenant, Gen, xvii. ic, 11. 
 fo it is now, and at this Time, that Parents are 
 to make a folemn Profeffion of their own Faith, 
 and come uncler awful Obligations, to perform 
 all Parental, Chriftian Duties to their Children: 
 But where Sloath is indulged, where Thought- 
 fulnefs is laid afide, and Ignorance prevails, how 
 can Parents make this Profeffion, and come under 
 thefe Obligations, in Faith, with ZDijlintfnefs 
 of Judgment, and a good Confcience ? Hence it 
 is very expedient, that Parents attend their Mi- 
 nifter, before they bring their Children to this 
 Ordinance, that thefe and the like ^Duties may 
 be inculcated upon them , and when Parents are 
 found weak in Knowledge, they fhould be rirft 
 engaged to give all Diligence for attaining the 
 Knowledge of divine Truths, and their own Duty 3 
 and, to lay Obligations upon them to ac~i in a 
 Suitableness with RefpecT: to their Children : For 
 igncr -.nt Engagements, and a fuperficial Nod 
 given to a Minifter, make but very comfortlefs 
 Work. $dly, When Parents are to bring their 
 Children to Baptifm, they are to renew their fo- 
 lemn 
 
the Sacrament of 'Baptifm. 113 
 
 lemn and fincere Acceptance of the Gofpel Offer, 
 and their Engagement to be the Lord's. God 
 renewed Covenant with Abraham, when he infti- 
 tuted the initiating Seal of Circumcifion, Gen. 
 xvii. 10, 11. and fo mould every Chriftian Pa- 
 rent do with his God 5 for now a fpecial Oppor- 
 tunity is put in his Hand for this End. Now he 
 has a 1)vty to perform that requires it : And 
 this, if duly managed, hath a peculiar Tenden- 
 cy, to remove 2)oitbttngs y and Strengthen Faith, 
 as to their own fpecial Intereft in the Co-venant} 
 fo as now they may have more holy Confidence to 
 bring their new born Babes to the fame God, 
 the fime Covenant, and the appointed Seal of it. 
 4fZ?/y, Previous unto Parents having Baptifm ad- 
 miniftred unto their Children, they are, with 
 Joy and Satisfaction of Soul, in a folemn 
 and particular Manner, to dedicate and give them 
 up to Chrift and all the glorious Trinity - y that 
 they may be only, compleatly, and for ever re- 
 deemed by the Merits of our Lord Jefiis 3 faved 
 by the Grace of the Great God, and fanctified 
 by the Influences of the Holy Spirit j that they 
 may be governed by his Law, difpofed of in the 
 World by his wife and merciful Providence, and 
 ever employ'd in his Service, and to his Glory, 
 Gen xvii. 18. 1 Sam. i. 28. And upon this Oc- 
 casion, Parents are to extend this their religious 
 Concern to their Wives in Child-bed, and their 
 other Children whom God has given them 5 and. 
 to look upon all thefe as devoted Things, not to 
 be alienated to other gods, but facred to the Ser- 
 vice and Honour of the true God. 5thly\ They 
 are to excite their own Souls, to a fpiritual and 
 fuitable Frame, anfvverable to the folemn Ap- 
 proach they are now making to God, and the 
 weighty Affair they have now in Hand. Here 
 they are to endeavour after Soul affecting Impref- 
 fions of the natural Mifery of their dear Infants 
 H and 
 
U4 'J TrafHcal EJfyy on 
 
 and the Riches of God's Grace in Chrifttothem* 
 to know that they have no lefs than the eternal 
 State of their Children, to be taken up about j 
 that in this they have not to do w'th Men only, 
 but with the Great God 3 that it is not outward 
 Profeffion, but inward ftifpofition of Heart and 
 Soul, that is fpecially to be attended to $ that 
 much of their After-comfort depends upon their ' 
 prefent Management $ and, that one Day they 
 muft make a iolemn Account how they behave 
 on this Occafion. Upon all which Accounts, 
 How fhould Parents endeavour to have them felves 
 fuitably prepared for fo great a Work $ not only 
 by trying themfelves as to their State, and re- 
 newing their Acceptance of God and Chrift, but 
 by looking to the Lord, and reafoning with their 
 own Souls, prefs after a compofed, gracious and 
 lively Temper of Mind? What great Preparati- 
 ons do fome Parents make, in attiring their own 
 and their Childrens Bodies $ for the Entertaining 
 of their Friends 5 and making a Show before the 
 World; and fhall they not be at Pains, that they 
 may have the Soul adorned $ that they may, in a 
 becoming Manner, draw nigh to God, have them- 
 felves and their Chi dren accepted of him, and 
 blefTed by him, and fo have his Teftimony and 
 Approbation, which is infinitely greater than 
 that of Men. 6thly y When Parents are to bring 
 their Children to Baptifm, they ought to be much 
 engaged in fervent Prayer to God, for themfelves, 
 their Wives, their Children 5 and particularly, for 
 fuch as are now to be baptifed, that God would, 
 in Chrift, accept of them 5 admit them into his 
 Family 5 beftow the fure Mercies of his Covenant 
 on them 5 and fignally blefs the Ordinance of 
 Baptifm to them j fo as it may gain all itsgraciouf 
 Ends, and have all the merciful ErTecls on them, 
 for which he hath appointed it. It is God alone 
 that gives Efficacy to his own Jnftitutions, 1 Cor. 
 
 iii. 
 
The Sacrament of TSaf>tifm. 1 1 5 
 
 iii. 6", 7. and to him only fhould we pray for a 
 Blefling on them. ftMy y and Laflly, All thefe 
 above-mentioned Duties, are to be gone about, not 
 in a fuperficial Manner, but that Parents may 
 confcientioufly endeavour after thefe, they are to 
 feparate themfelves from the World, and Things 
 of it, and in a folemn and dated Way to let 
 fome confiderable Time apart for thefe Duties, 
 and that in fecret ; that fo they may commune 
 with their God, and their own Hearts, as now 
 they ought. And well would it be with many 
 Parents, if that Time was thus employed as it be- 
 comes Chriftians, which too many, on thefe Oc- 
 calions, trime away and mifpend, to other, if not 
 to quite contrary Purpofes. And would Men 
 make Confcience of thefe, they would not be {o 
 fudden and hafty in pufhing on the Baptifm of 
 their Children, as the unthinking Cuftom of fome 
 is. 
 
 Secondly * There are fome fpecial Duties re- u. when 
 quired of Parents, when they are prefenting their this Ordi^ 
 Children to Baptifm, as the Seal of God's Cove-™ nc ? « 
 nant. And, Firft, They are to endeavour to^* 1 ™' 
 have their Souls folemnly impreflTed, that in 
 this Ordinance they have to do with the Eternal 
 and Great GO 2), and are now about a moft 
 weighty and important Bufinefs : Here they are 
 to be deeply affected with the Grace and Love of 
 an holy and Covenant keeping God 5 that they 
 are now engaged in an Affair that concerns the 
 everlafting Happinefs of their dear Infants 5 and, 
 that herein they are to acl a moft folemn and re- 
 ligious Part : And therefore, are to take fpecial 
 Heed to themfelves, how they behave, tyalm 
 v. 7, Tfalm lxxxix 7. Eccl.v. r. idly, Where- 
 as Parents are now making a folemn Profeflion 
 before the World, That they themfelves are the 
 Lord's; and are now prefenting their Ghildren 
 to the Lord, that he may blef« them, and they 
 H a may 
 
i 16 A TraWcal Efay on 
 
 may have the Seal of his Covenant adminiftred to 
 them : And whereas they are now puhlickly de- 
 voting their Tnfants to him, that they may be fa- 
 - ved by Chrifl^ Righteoufnefs, Jehovah's rich 
 Grace, fanclified by his Spirit, ruled by his La<vc\ 
 difpofed of by his 'Providence, ever employed in 
 his Service, and to his Glory, and at Jaft be 
 brought to his Heavenly Kingdom. Seeing, I 
 fay, Parents are making fuch a Profeifion as this, 
 as they would not di /honour God, and prejudge 
 themfelves, Pfalm xi. 4, 5. Jfa. xxix. 13. they 
 are, with an holy Temper of Mind, to aft, as in 
 the Sight of God, and as having to do with him 
 in what they thus fo folemnly profefs before 
 Men 5 with Joy and Sincerity dedicating their 
 Children, avouching the Lord to be their God, 
 and taking his Vows upon them. It is in this, 
 that the great, tho' alas I much neglected Duty 
 of Parents lies, when they bring their Children 
 to Baptifm. idly, Parents are to join with the 
 *. . Adminiftrator, in Prayer to God, both before an^ 
 
 after the Admin iftration of this Ordinance; know- 
 ing, that the Efficacy of it is only from him 5 
 and, that it is the Blcffing of the Lord which 
 alone maketh rich. 
 III. Pa* But now, 'Thirdly, There are fome fpecial 
 ties' tha"" D ut * es required of Chriftian Parents, as natively 
 follow up- following upon Baptifm being adminiftred to 
 on Baptifm their Children. And here I am not to acl the 
 mintfl ad Thyfcian, in advifing them as to their Bodies 5 
 ted to " which, no doubt, are to be, in a peculiar Man- 
 their Chil- ner, cared for by Parents (1). Nor am I to take 
 dren. upon me the Province of an Inftrucler, with Re- 
 /peel: to their civil Behaviour, humane Literature, 
 and, in due Time, putting them to Employ- 
 ments, fuitable to their Capacities, Inclinations 
 and Stations; for, there is no Queftion, but thefe 
 are Duties, which do, in a fpecial Manner, ly 
 
 upon 
 (1) See Mr. Iccfe on Education. ■ t • 
 
the Sacrament of jBaptifw. 
 
 upon all Parents whatfoever, as they are Men, 
 as they are Members of a civil Society, and as 
 they are Chriftians (i) j tkere being fcarce any 
 Thing which more expofes our Children to 
 Temptations and abominable Vices, to Contempt, 
 Poverty, and Mifery in the World, to become a 
 Difhonourto Religion, Ufelefs in, and a Burden 
 to Society, and a Grief to Parents, than Ignorance 
 and Idlenefs. Thefe, I fay, I am not fo much 
 to notice, but f^ecially to confider the Duties of 
 Chriftian Parents toward their Chriftian and bap- 
 tifed Infants, with Refpeft to their better Part, 
 and their eternal Happinefs. And, i/?, Parents 
 are now to look upon their Children as the Lord's, 
 as folemnly devoted to him, arid his Heritage 5 
 in which he hath a fpecial Intereft, of whom he 
 may difpofe as feems good to him, and by whom 
 he is to ferve and glorify himfelf, c Pjalm cxxyii. 
 3. Ezek. xvi. 21. This one Coniideration, if 
 duly attended to, could not but be a ftrong Ar- 
 gument with Parents, engaging them to nurfe 
 them for God, to commit them intirely to God, 
 and fubmit to his Difpofal of them in the World. 
 zdly % Parents are to rejoice in this Mercy, that 
 now their Children are affumed into God's Fa- 
 mily, have the Seal of his Covenant of Grace 
 adminiftred unto them ? and are now, in the moft 
 folemn Way, given up to the Condvtl and 2)if 
 fofal of an infinitely gracious, faithf 1/ omnipo- 
 tent, wife and unchangeable GOD. O! "with 
 what Qjiet and Satisfaction of Soul may the be- 
 lieving Parents reft here, when their Children are 
 at a iDi fiance from them; or they comebyjDeatb 
 to be taken away from their Children i,dly> 
 They are, with Care and 1)iligence, to teach 
 them the Truths and Ways of God, Gen* xviii. 
 iq. jDeut. vi. tf, 7, rr. 'Proy. xxii. 6. to have 
 H 3 right 
 
 <2) The Lady's Library, Vol. II. And, the Supplement 
 to the -Morning iixsrcifesj Serrnoa 17. 
 
J Tragical Effay on 
 
 right and gracious Principles early planted i* 
 their Souls 5 to bring them up in the Nurture 
 and Admonition of the Lord, Eph. vi. 4. and 
 always to have it as their great Aim, that their 
 Children may, in Heart and Practice, be confor- 
 mable to God's holy Will 5 be to his Glory ; 
 and employed in his Service 5 and at laft brought 
 to the full Enjoyment of him in Heaven, where 
 they /hall be ever with the Lord. Hence, 4fhty % 
 When their Children are come to* Years of tDif- 
 cretion> Parents are to inform them of the Na- 
 ture of Baptifm, of the great and valuable Privi- 
 leges they had thereby, of the folemn Obligati- 
 ons laid upon them, and that refult therefrom ; 
 to lay before them, their Sin and Mifery by 
 Nature j their actual Tranfgreflions with the fDe- 
 fert thereof 5 the peremptory and abfolute Need 
 they have of the Lord Jefus Chrift, as the only 
 Saviour of loft. Sinners $ and of God's rich and 
 free Grace in Chrift, to fuch guilty and miferable 
 Creatures. They are to fhow them what Chrift 
 hath done, fuffered and purchafed for fuch as 
 they are $ to lay before them the Method of co- 
 ming to the aclual Pofleflion of thefe Bleifings 
 and Privileges; the Accefs they have to them 5 
 their Mifery, if they neglect; and, their Happi- 
 nefs upon their embracing of this great Salvation. 
 And thus, with an Eye to God, for his Spi- 
 rit of Power, Parents are to endeavour to gain the 
 perfonal, exprefs and fincere Confent of their 
 Children, to the Gofpel Method of Salvation 
 by Chrift 5 to prevail with them to embrace a 
 compleat Saviour, and lay hold upon a Covenant 
 ef<Promifes in him $ to engage them to a perfonal 
 ^Dedication of themfelves to God, and fb to come 
 under folemn Ties to walk worthy of the Lord % 
 as dear Children, Gen. xviii. 19. And for thefe 
 Ends, the Chriftian Parent is to prepare and 
 difpofe his own Mind, to fet fome convenient 
 
 Time 
 
the Sacrament of Haptifm. 
 
 Time apart, to carry his Child into fecret, and, 
 as before the Lord, to be diftinct, ferious with 
 him in this Matter, and to do this in the moft 
 engaging Manner, and continue at this 5Duty 
 from one Seafon to another, until it (hall pleafe 
 God to blefs his Endeavours. Nor is this necef- 
 fary and comfortable Duty to be laid afide, when 
 once the Parent has, as he thinks, gained of his 
 Child the juft now mentioned Confent y but is to 
 be repeated as often as Occafion offers. As, when 
 our Children are to make their firft Approach to 
 the Table of the Lord j when they are to go from 
 us, whether it be in Order to their Education, 
 or Settlement in fome Employment 5 when they 
 are to change their State of Life in the World, 
 and leave our Families 5 when we obferve them 
 to be either diftrefled in their own Mind, or like 
 to turn flothful, and under a Decay as to the Per- 
 formance of 2)uttes> Exercife of Graces, and 
 Holinefs of Practice : And Finally, as Chriftian 
 Obfervation cannot fail to fuggeft to the religious 
 Parent, what are the proper Occafions for this 
 Work j (o y the more frequently it is done, our 
 dear (Children fhall have the greater Benefit \ 
 and we the more Comfort, 5thly, Parents are to 
 giyegood and religious Example to their Chil- 
 dren, of Diligence and Sincerity, Holinefs and 
 Purity, Righteoufnefs and Sobriety, at all Times, 
 in all Duties, anpl in all Points of their Behavi- 
 our, 2 7*1771. i. 5. & ili, 1 5. : "For it is a true, as 
 well as an old Saying, 'that Children ivalfc more 
 hy Example than Precept. ^thly % ' They are to 
 correct and chaflife their Children, Pro v." $xii. 
 15. and xxiii. 13. and xxix. 15. Eph. vi. 4. and 
 here much holy Fortitude and Wifdom is requi- 
 red 5 that it be not for every childifti Weaknefs 
 and Imperfection 5 that Parents correct not in 
 Pafflon, but wait till their Spirits are calm and 
 compofed; that they be notprovduog to their Chit 
 HV dren^ 
 
,i 2o A Tragical EfTay on 
 
 dren, exceffive and cruel in their Corrections; that 
 they never fail to join Counfel and Admonition, 
 Conviction and Warning with the Rod 5 and, that 
 they ever look and pray to God, that he may blefs it. 
 And then, ~\thly, Parents are often to pray with, 
 to pray for, comfort and encourage their Children 
 in God's Way, and in every Thing that is good, 
 1 < Tim. v. 8".' iCor.x'ii. 14. for this has a natural 
 Tendency to give Freedom and Sweetnefs to the 
 young and budding Spirit j to make their Obedi- 
 ence cheerful, give Eife to their Endeavours, and 
 Progrefs in their Studies, whatever thefe be : 
 Whereas, a narrow, fower, referved and churlifh 
 Behaviour towards our Children, feldom ever fail 
 to produce the contrary Eflfecls. Ar.d becaufe 
 Children, in their tender Years, and thofeofthe 
 Female Kind, even after they are come to Age, 
 are commonly more about the Hand of the Mo- 
 ther, while the Father is neceflarily called a- 
 - broad 3 for this Reafon, very much of what has 
 been faid, does, in a fpecial Manner, ly to the 
 Mother's Share : And the Experience of every 
 Day, fhows, how m: ch is owing to their religi- 
 ous and virtuous Care of their Children, their 
 holy Example, fervent and frequent Prayers, 
 their prudent and wile Admonitions, their early 
 and feafonable Inilructions, and the fober, yet 
 engaging, Expreiiions of their Affeclions to 
 them. 
 Inferences From what hath been now faid on Parents Du- 
 from tRis ties we may learn, Tirfl, That Parents bringing 
 I. Bapti- t { ic ; r Children to Eaptifm, is not Lchan indifFe- 
 cSldre* rent Aftuir as many, and alas! too many take it 
 isa weigh, to be': For the Ordinance itfclf is divine, fo- 
 ry Affair, lemn, and awful 5. and the Duties to be perfor- 
 med by Parents, are fpiritual, weighty and necei- 
 fv ;. ; 'tis here that Parents r.ake a moft folemn 
 a;. A njar Approach to God j they now prefent 
 tnur Children to his Grace, and bring them to 
 
 -th© 
 
T'he Sacrament of Baptifm. 121 
 
 the Lord Jefus, that they may fhare of his Merit 
 and P -<rchafe$ they publickly profefs their own 
 Faith, openly devote and dedicate their Children 
 to him, they bring their Children, that they 
 may have all thefe val able Mercies fealed to 
 them $ and they are now themfelves to come 
 under the mofl foleo.n Otligations and Vows to 
 God, and that in the Prefence of all his People, 
 calling them to Witnefs againft them, if they 
 /hall prove treacherous or perfidious. And are 
 not all thefe the molt folemn Tranfaclions that 
 Perfons can be concerned in ? How unaccountable 
 then, unfuitable, and {tumbling, is the Behaviour 
 of many Parents on f ch Occafions, whofe only 
 Care is to have the Thing done, or the outward 
 Action of Itaftifm performed 5 to adorn the cut- 
 ward Man, to invite, provide for, and entertain 
 their Neighbours or Goifips, while they have no 
 fuch Thing in View as God requires, and the 
 Nature of the Ordinance calls for. 
 
 Secondly, Hence we may obferve, the grofs Tg- II. The 
 norance and Error of many Parents, who think Erf ° r j* 
 they have done what is fufHcient if they are care- rents. 
 ful of their Wives in Child-bed, and allow what 
 is proper for them j if they perform the more 
 common Things necefTary to the baptifing of 
 their Children, if they provide for their Infants, 
 or lay up fome worldly Portion for them, and e- 
 fpecially, if they learn them to Read, and when 
 they come to Age put them to Employments , 
 while in the mean Time they are not at all con- 
 cerned about their Children's Souls, never make 
 it their Endeavour to commend Chrzft and Sal- 
 vation to them j never make it their Care to 
 feafon their tender Minds with holy Principles; 
 to pray with them, for them, and give an Ex- 
 ample of true Piety to them. Surely, fuch Pa- 
 rents who neglect thefe, tho' they perform what 
 
 is 
 
12 2 J Traffic al EJJay on 
 
 ii more ordinary, they are but taken up about 
 the Shadow, while they neglefl the Subftance. 
 tit. Pa ^thirdly, From what hath been faid it muft be 
 ™s" r< P u " evident, that the Duties incumbent on Parent* 
 many and toward their Chriflian Infants, are both many 
 great, and great ; being of the higheft Confequence and 
 greater! Neceflity 5 fuch as Refpecl immortal and 
 never dying Souls, and a continuing and never 
 ending Eternity. Duties that are commanded 
 by the great and fovereign Lord 5 fuch, as 
 Parents Concern for the Glory of God, and Cre- 
 dit of Religion, their Intereft in their Children, 
 and Relation to them, with that tender AfTetti- 
 on and Love they bear them, and their own 
 Comfort and future Peace, do jointly call and 
 plead for. And then they are of that Kind, 
 that if confcientio fly performed, cannot fail to 
 be of the greateft Advantage both to Church 
 and State: For if Parents acled their Parr, what 
 pleafant Plants fhould we fee grow up in all the 
 Corners of or Land ? What dutiful Subjecls 
 fhould we obferve ? What defireable, juft and edi- 
 fying Neighbours fliould we behold ? And what 
 holy Members of the Church fliould every Day 
 be prefented to our View ? For it is obferved 
 by lome (3), that moft commonly Perfons do re- 
 ceive the Beginnings of Religion in their Youth, 
 and that by the Pains, Care, and Example of 
 Parents, yea whole Societies have given this as 
 their Experience. 
 IV. The Fourthly, It is from this we may be informed, 
 a^rava- f tne highly aggravated and God-provoking Sin 
 *nanv Fa- °^ manv Parents, who have no Thought, and leis 
 rents. Care about the Salvation of their baptifed Chil- 
 dren ; Look to it, O Parents, if you only feed 
 your Children, what lefs do you to your Ox or 
 your jffs ? If you only cloath and give Employ- 
 ments 
 
 (3) See Mr. Baxter on Infant BJptifm, Pag. 133. 
 
the Sacrament of Saptifiiu 123 
 
 ments to them, what do you more than Turks 
 and Infidels ? And if you only lay up Riches 
 for them in your Coffers, but endeavour not to 
 have fpiritual Knowledge and faving Grace in 
 their Hearts, what do you hereby, but make 
 them prepared Subjects for Vice, Infrruments for 
 Satan, Scandals to Religion, Burdens to Society, 
 a Difgrace to your Families, an Occafion of 
 Shame and Sorrow to your felves, and Heirs of 
 Hell and Wrath ? And Laftly, Where will you, 
 who are negligent Parents, appear, and what will 
 you anfwer 3 who by your Examples that are un- 
 holy, your Allowances that are unbecoming, and 
 your Commands that are finful, ruin your Chil- 
 dren 5 and, by difcouraging them in the Ways of 
 God, are fearfully cruel to the Fruit of your own 
 Body ? O ! How Speechlefs will you fiand be- 
 fore the Ear of the Great God, and how doubly 
 will you be puni/hed by the juft Judge ! Yea, 
 how may you expeel to be eternally accufed and 
 railed upon by your tormented Infants, whom 
 you have deftroyed by your finful Neglecl, unjuft 
 Commands, and unholy Examples ! Hence one 
 fays (4-), How many Thovfand Children hereaf- 
 ter, will throw the very Coals of Hell at their 
 'Parents, and fay, Ah ! hloody Fathers, Moody 
 Mothers have yen Veen to us, bceaitfe of our $ap~ 
 tifml Tou dedicated us to God when we were 
 Children, we lived with you T*en, Twenty Tears* 
 hut you never told us of it, but let us run into 
 thofe Sins which have brought us into thefe 
 Flames : Tou brought us under a folemn Vow 
 and Covenant to God in our Saftijm, but never 
 told us wbat you vowed and engaged for us ; we 
 never heard a Word from you of our Baptifinal 
 Vows -, if we had, we fhould probably not have 
 
 violated 
 
 (4) Sec Dr. Collinges his Improveablencfs of WW Baftifm^ 
 **ge 37. 
 
j 24 <A Tragical EJJay on 
 
 violated them t as we have done : Bloody dam- 
 ning Barents have you leen to us. Hence, 
 V. The Fifthly , How great is the Mercy of fuch Chi]- 
 grcarM.'r- J ren as are blefl^d with truly religious and con- 
 fc'irntiou" f c i ent io !S Parents, and bow unfpeakably great 
 P-irerjts. are the Obligations that ly upon Children to fuch ! 
 How (hoi Id thefe Children with joyful Hearts 
 blefs the Lord, that ever they were born of fuch 
 Parents, who had it at Heart to have them horn 
 again \ that ever they were planted in fuch Fa- 
 milies, whofe Bufinefs it was to have them plan- 
 ted in Chrift $ and that they were under fuch 
 Management and Conduct, as had a Tendency to 
 make them meet for, and lead them in the Way. 
 to Glory ! Believe it, O Children, who have fuch 
 Advantages, that if they fhall be neglected or 
 defpifed by you, of all Men you will be moft in- 
 excufeable; your Condemnation will be jufl, and 
 your Torments more intolerable than thefe who 
 have not had fuch merciful Opportunities. Hare 
 it therefore as your firit and greateft Care, to im- 
 prove this GoodneiV of God to you $ honour, o- 
 bey, be thankful to, blefs and pray for fuch Pa- 
 rents j receive their Inftructions, embrace their 
 Propofals, obey their Commands, comply with 
 the religious Admonitions, follow their holy Ex- 
 ample, highly efieem and value their Pertons $ 
 and when they come to be laid in their Graves, 
 let their Memory be favoury, and their very Dull 
 dear to you. 
 VI. Mi- And now, Sixthly, From what hath been faid 
 ■w&jw of Parents Duties, we may notice how very much 
 l>»ir * r concerns Miniftcrs, upon all Occafions, efpe- 
 cially before and at the Administration of Baptifm, 
 to inllrucT: Parents in their Duty to Children 5 to 
 imprefs them with the abfolute Neceflity of thefe, 
 and by tke ftrongeft Motives to engage them to 
 an exact and faithful Difcharge thereof; For, be- 
 tide the Advantages already named, if this was 
 
 obtained, 
 
the Sacrament of "Baptifm. 1 2 j 
 
 obtained, Mmifters would have a far more eafy 
 and comfortable Work of it, than commonly 
 they have. 
 
 SECT. IV. 
 
 Of Sponfors, Sureties, Godfathers and God- 
 mothers, in Baptifm. 
 
 THE intelligent Reader cannot but obferve, 
 That the Title of this Section gives Occa- 
 sion to difcourfe of feveral Things, which the 
 Nature of this E£fay, and the wiQied for Brevity, 
 cannot admit of. <What then I defign to offer en 
 this Head, /hall be in the following Proporti- 
 ons. 
 
 Firfl, That no Sponfors or Sureties whatfome- Sporf^ 
 ver are abfolutely neceffary and eflfential to Bap- rmucfo- 
 tifm ; as if without thefe it was not to be admi- lu if;'>* °-~ 
 niftred to . Infants of Chrijiian 'Parents; be- ry * 
 ca fe, luch Children are already and really m 
 Covenant with God, fo as to have an external, and 
 vifible Title to the Promifes thereof : And upon 
 this Fo ; ndation have a Right to the Seal of it, 
 which they cannot be debarred fron, for want of 
 thofe whom God hath not made neceffary there- 
 to. For, antecedent to Baptifm, fuch Infants are 
 under both a natural and fcederal Obligation to 
 all thefe Duties that refult from Baptifm j and 
 by the Nature of this Ordinance itfclf, they come 
 nder a fuperadded Tie to thefe ; for, if now 
 od is their God, and all the other Promifes and 
 rivileges of the New Covenant befealed to them, 
 hen of Confequence, and by the very Nature of 
 he Thing, they become obliged to all the Du- 
 ties of a covenanted People. 
 
 Secondly, 
 
n6 A Tragical EJfay on 
 
 Sureties Secondly , We may obferve, That Sureties in * 
 
 fid^d "" tlie Ca *" e in Hand > may be confi<lere<1 « a Three- 
 fold Refpeft 5, Either, Firfi, As Sureties for 
 
 the Cbildy which, in the proper Notion of the 
 Word, is their coming under a fpecial Obligati- 
 on, That in cafe the Child fhould fail in the 
 Performance of thefe Duties that ly upon him, 
 he fhall perform thefe for him. This certainly 
 cannot take Place here, becaufe no Creature can 1 
 believe, repent, or give new Obedience for ano- 
 ther, or become the Lord's in another's Room. 
 zdly 9 They may be confidered as Sureties for the 
 Parent $ and this again is, when Perfons do en- 
 gage to fee to the Chriftian Education of the 
 Child, in cafe of the Parents their Abfence, 
 Death, or Negleft of this fo necefTary Duty. And 
 as to this, there needs not any Quefh'on to be 
 made j yea, was it in Ufe and Practice even when 
 Parents are alive and prefent, it might be recko- 
 ned of no fmall Advantage to the Chvrch $ pro- 
 viding always, that the primary Obligation be 
 laid upon the Parent 5 and that fuch Sureties be 
 only admitted who are not incapable by Reafon 
 of Infancy or Ignorance, nor unworthy becaufe of 
 Scandal and Prophanenefs $ but fuch who know 
 their Duty, and, in Charity, may be prefumed 
 will make Confcience of it. But then, $dly, 
 Sureties may be confidered in an improper and a- 
 bufive Senfe, and they are thofe who take Obli- 
 gations upon themfelves, for the Good and Ad- 
 vantage, Means of Inftruclion and Chriftian E- 
 ducation of the Child. In this Cafe, the Word 
 Surety is taken in a very improper Senfe : For 
 here, the Perfon contracting takes the Obligation 
 intirely upon himfelf, and fo becomes rather the 
 principal Creditor than Surety: And as to this, 
 thefe Three Things may be further confidered d 
 tirfty That God in his Word has laid Obligati- 
 ons of this Kind, fpecially and primarily upon 
 
 the 
 
the Sacrament ofBapttfm. i*7 
 
 the Infant's immediate Parents. Thefe are they 
 whom God hath commanded to teach, inftruft 
 and admonifh. them, to bring them up in the 
 Nurture and Admonition of the Lord \ fo that 
 it muft be no lefs than an inverting the Order 
 which God hath inftituted, when Parents are, by 
 * Law and without Exception, laid afide, but 
 others, and thofe mere Strangers too, put in their 
 Room. But idly, In cafe of the Death, Sick- 
 nefs, or Abfence of the immediate Parents, the 
 next in Kin are to do this Work, and take upon 
 them thefe Obligations $ and that becaife of the 
 near and natural Relation they ftand in to them, 
 which necefTarily lays an antecedent Obligation 
 upon them to fuch Chriflian Performances. And 
 if it fo falls out, that none fuch can be had, then 
 thofe are to be made Choice of, who are Perfons 
 of known Integrity, Knowledge, and Sobriety , 
 and of whom there is Ground to hope, that they 
 will make Confcience to perform thefe Vows they 
 come under, and willingly offer themfelves here- 
 to. Nor need we contend whether this be con- 
 firmed from Ifaiah viii. «. and Luke vii. 58, 59. 
 or not. But ^dly, If Parents are not, and others 
 who may be received cannot be found, in this 
 Cafe, the Church becomes a common Parent to 
 fuch an Infant $ and that becaufe of her Intereft 
 in all the Members of that Chriflian Society^ 
 and Concern fhe ought to have for God's Glory, 
 the Prefervation and Advancement of true Reli- 
 gion. And this is what does, in a more fpecial 
 Manner, ly upon the Governours of the Society 
 and Congregation where fuch an Infant is brought 
 forth (1;. 
 
 thirdly. It is here to be noticed, That if by Ge3&^ 
 Godfathers *Xi&GodmQthers> Sponfors and «fer*-? hei \ -*•* 
 
 ***** Scnfe not 
 to be ap- 
 
 (1) See Bucxni L9ci Com. Pag. ($40. %4tttrfol on Baptifin, P r °Ywa. 
 Pag. 244>245> 24$. 
 
28 A Tragical E[fay on 
 
 ties, we underhand fuch as do, in the Room and 
 Stead of the Child, profefs their Belief of the 
 Gofpel Doctrine, and Faith in the Lord Jefus 
 Chrift, renounce the 2)evil, the World, and the 
 Flefh, and engage to all the Duties of Holinefs 5 
 fo that hereupon the Child is baptifed (2). This 
 cannot be approven of 5 and that, Firft, Becaufe 
 there. is neither Scripture Command, nor Ex- 
 ample for it, and therefore it cannot be done in 
 Faith, idly, Becaufe it is Parents only, by 
 whom Children have a Right to Baptifm convey- 
 ed unto them j it is by the profeffed Faith of 
 one or both Parents, that Children are reputed 
 fanclified and holy 5 the Promife of the Covenant, 
 of which "Baptifm is a Seal, is not to Strangers, 
 or any whom they /hall prefent and engage for, 
 but to the Parent and his Seed : Parents only, 
 by the Laws of God and Nature, have a Power 
 to difpofe of their Children, to prefent and de- 
 vote them to God ; and, by the Word of God, 
 the Obligation is Jaid upon them to educate their 
 Children, and bring them up in the Nurture 
 and Admonition of the Lord, Eph. vi. 4. So 
 that to fubftitute others in their Room, is to o- 
 verturn that comely Order which God has laid 
 down in his Word. It is to lay afide thofe whom 
 God hath appointed, and place others in their 
 Stesd. +>dly, Becaufe it fuppofes actual Faith 
 and Repentance, as neccflary, in Order to the 
 Baptifm of Infants born of Chriftian Parents j 
 which, becaufe the Infant can neither perform nor 
 profefs, therefore the Profeflion of thofe by ano- 
 ther, and a Stranger too, is taken for his ; but as 
 this gives great Advantage to the Enemies of 
 Infant Baptifm, and as it is contrary to the Doc- 
 
 trine 
 
 (2) S:e the Order for Baptifm in the Service Book. See 
 alfo in the Catechifm there, the Anfwer to that Queftion, 
 what is r quired of Pcrtons to be baptifed, and to the Que- 
 ftion following. 
 
the Sacrament of Saptifm. 1 i§ 
 
 trine of Proteftant Divines on this Headj fo, Can 
 the Faith of another unite to Chrift ? Can the . 
 Feet of another lead to Chrift ? Or, can the 
 Tongue of another fo promife for us to the great 
 God, and the Righteoufnefs of a mere and finful 
 Creature be fo imputed to another, as that there- 
 upon the Bleflings of God's Covenant may be con- 
 veyed and fealed to him ? And is there the 
 leaft Ground, either from Scripture or Reafon, 
 for fuch a Thought ? 'Tis true indeed, that 
 Tutors and Guardians may fo tranfacl for their 
 Pupils, as thereby to obtain for them a fealed 
 Title to a temporal Eftate : But then, as thefe 
 Pupils or Minors may, according to Law, after- 
 ward revoke what their Tutors have done, which 
 cannot take Place here, and of which by and by 5 
 fo, it cannot be faid, that the Great God hath 
 fo bound himfelf, that the Myfteriesof the Chri- 
 ftian Religion /hall be tranfacled in Compliance 
 with, and in Proportion to civil Laws among 
 Men 5 and that the Blelfings of his Covenant are 
 derived upon others after the fame Manner that 
 Men have feen meet to convey the temporal and 
 perifhing Things of this World. But then, %thly\ 
 This profeffed Faith of Godfathers and God- 
 mothers does either bring the Infant into Co- 
 venant with God, or not 5 if it does not, how 
 then can it bring them to the Seal of the Cove- 
 nant ? And if it does, feeing that Covenant is ■ 
 everlafting, how comes the learned Dr. Ham- 
 mond (1) to fay, That if Infants when they are 
 come to full Age, think not fit to perform what 
 was ftipulated by their Proxies, they /hall reap 
 no Benefit by that Covenant. If it is faid, as the 
 fame learned Perfon fays (2), 'That the Child is 
 baptifed, not bebaiife of the' Faith of the Proxies 
 being imputed to him, but upon Trefumption, 
 I that 
 
 Xi) See his Difcourfe on Infant Baptifm, Pag. 28,9, 290, 
 mini i2ino. (2) Ibid. 29$. 
 
*3 
 
 A TrcMical EJJay on 
 
 that be will in 'Time to come, by the JJJiftancc. 
 of his Sureties, believe. Then, Firft y Why is 
 it, that Godfathers do fo. exprefly fay, in the 
 Name of the Child, and that too in the prefent 
 Time, and not that to come, i" do believe, ££c« 
 zdly, What becomes of the Anfwers to the al- 
 ready cited Qr.efHons in the Service-book, in 
 the firft whereof, Faith and Repentance are re- 
 quired of Perfons to be baptifed, and not after 
 they are baptifed? and in the Second, where tfeefe 
 are faid to have been promife d, by the Sureties, 
 at Baptifm. And we are told, that in the Co- 
 techifm, which was in Ufe in King James VI. 
 Time, they are faid to have been Performed by 
 the Sureties (i). ^dly, What Scripture- Ground 
 can be advanced, for administrating Seals of the 
 Covenant to Perfons, only upon Prefumption, 
 that in Time to come they fhall have the Quali- 
 fications neceflary to the Participation of thefe : 
 Yea, Reafon it felf, at firft View, contradicts 
 this. And 4-thly, If Infants are baptifed upon 
 this Prefumption, That they themfelves will af- 
 terwards believe, muft we not alfo prefume, that 
 they fhall live? Or, If they die, is Baptifm of 
 no Ufe to them ? And then, why does this Au- 
 thor and others fay, That Children come to Bap- 
 tifm with borrowed Feet and borrowed Tongues* 
 Again, it is faid, as another learned Writer does 
 (2), That the Sureties in the Church of Eng- 
 land do not promife the Things required them- 
 felves, fieithi r :j>> J ~ed do they promife that the 
 (fhild fh 11 do them\ but if is the Child that 
 p; hefe Things by them. And fo they 
 
 niakc the Sureties, the Godfather and Godmo- 
 ther, but Mini fir i obligationis contrahendi, or 
 thofe by whom fuch Obligations are derived up- 
 
 on 
 
 (fi) See the Dialogue betwixt the Countryman and the 
 Gurate, from Page 2o>, to 26. (2) See* Biiiiop H^nins on 
 BapciQn, 8vj.Pa2e24, 
 
the Sacrament of Hiaptijm. 13 i 
 
 on the Child. But as the Places cited fn the 
 Service-book do plainly contradict this, and as 
 whathathheenfaid doth ftrongly plead againil itj 
 fo, Firfty May it not be juftly enquired quo 
 jure, by what Law or Warrant do mere Stran- 
 gers take upon them fuch an Office with Refpecl: 
 to the Child ? Surely it cannot be by the Laws 
 ©r Conftitutions of Men, for thofe cannot eftablifh 
 valid Conveyances in the Things of God ; and as 
 fure it is, that it is not by the Law of God, by 
 which alone it fhould be, feeing it is concerning 
 the Covenant of God. But zdly\ Reprefenta- 
 tives who convey Oner a y or Obligations on ano- 
 ther, are. fuch as mu.it have Right to do fo, and 
 alfo convey Commoda, or Privileges upon them. 
 But, as has been obferve^h.Jt is Parents only, and 
 not Strangers, who have -a Power to difpofe of 
 their Children ;, who, by the Tenor of the Cove- 
 nant and Command of God, can bring them un- 
 der fuch fpeciai Obligations -$ and by whom. their 
 Title to the Covenant Sleffings is derived. And 
 it is furely Prefumption for others to intermeddle, 
 when it is the peculiar Privilege of Parents to 
 prefcnt and dedicate their Children to God £ 
 much more is it fo, to fet them alide and make 
 them ftand by. A sth Reafon that may be ad- 
 vanced againil the Ufe of Godfathers and God- 
 mothers, in the Senfe mentioned, is, becaufe it 
 obliges thofe to Impossibilities} for it makes them 
 promife that for another which they cannot do 
 for themfelves, and which no mere Creature^can 
 make, or caufe another to do 3 while thefe Sure- 
 ties are made to promife, T'hat the Child fhall 
 renounce the 2) evil, believe, a?zd be holy (1). 
 And thus it brings fuch Proxies into a Snare, 
 gives melancholly Occaiions for Difquiet of Con- 
 fcience, Humbles, offends and grieves others c For 
 I 2 which 
 
 (1) See the Anfwer to the third Queftion in the Gate* 
 chifm in the Service-book, 
 
*3 3 
 
 A Tragical EJfay on 
 
 which Caufe, fome thinking and learned Perfons 
 fay, That this of Godfathers and Godmothers 
 being a mere Ceremony and Circumftance, is 
 rather to belaid afide than continued, becaufe of . 
 the Hazard of Perjury $ it being a very unprofi- 
 table Cuftom, of promifing by others, who never 
 can probably take Care of any fuch folemn Pro- 
 mife, nor do praclife the Things they profefs 
 
 M. 
 
 Inferences And from what has been laid of Sureties* 
 *™ m J^ is * Sponfors, Godfathers, and Godmothers, we ma^ 
 f om * e are at learn, Firfl, That the Orthodoxy, Orderlinefs, 
 nor fo and Charity of a certain Set of People in the 
 charkakle World, is not fo great as is pretended : For by 
 give out t ^ eir ^°^ rme concerning Godfathers and God- 
 mothers, the true Foundation of Infant Baptifm 
 is overturned, and a very inefficient one put in 
 its Room. For Infants, being the Children of 
 profeffing and vifible Members of the Church of 
 God, have a Right to Baptifm ; but being pre- 
 fented by Godfathers and Godmothers, as if a 
 Profeflion of their Faith could profit the Child, 
 in whom they have no Intereft $ fo hereby the 
 Parents Right to prefent their Children to God, 
 to have the Seal of his Covena?zt adminiftred to 
 them, and their Right to devote them to the 
 moft High is juftled out, and others put in their 
 Stead. By this alfo infurBcient Sureties muft be 
 received, who cannot be fuppofed capable of per- 
 forming fuch Engagements, and who probably 
 will never think on theChriftian Education of the 
 Infant $ becaufe in many Cafes it is impracticable. 
 The Infants of Atheifts, Pagans, and the worft of 
 Infidels, are to have the Seal of the Covenant 
 adminiftred to them, tho' they have no fuch Title 
 to the Covenant : s warrants fuch an Adminiftra- 
 
 tion, 
 
 (i) Nathaniel f.ylor nis Vindication of Infant Baptifm, 
 Page 94- And Sir John flcjer his £ffay to reftore Dipping 
 inBaptifnij Page 55. 
 
the Sacrament of %aptifin. 133 
 
 tlon, if fo be they are brought to the Font by 
 Godfathers and Godmothers : And then, tho* 
 this is but an Institution of Men, not neceflary or 
 eflential to this Ordinance, yet the Children of 
 believing and holy Parents muft be denied their 
 Privilege, if it is wanting ; they muft, upon this 
 very Score, according to the Doctrine of the moft 
 of thefe People, be left to uncovenanted Mercy, 
 be in their Burial ranked with the Excommuni- 
 cate: And tho' Chrift faid of them, Forbid 
 them not, yet they will hinder, unlefs there is a 
 Compliance with their own Impositions} for, by 
 the Canon of the Church of England, the Mini- 
 sters are obliged, in exprefs Words, to baptife in 
 the Form -prefer i bed, and no other j and the Ru- 
 hr ick declares, That there Jh all be for e-jery Male 
 Child to be baptifed t-zvo Godfathers and one 
 Godmother -, and for every Female, two Godmo- 
 ther's and 07ie Godfather. So that all who would 
 officiate, according to the Canons and Rules of 
 that Church, they rnuft deny Baptifm to the Chil- 
 dren of the moft eminently Religious, that have 
 not Godfathers and Godmothers, even tho' the 
 Parent be ready to do his own Part, profeffing his 
 Faith, dedicating his Child to the Lord, and 
 promifing a religious Education $ yet the Child 
 muft be deprived of his Privilege, robbed of a 
 very great Good and Advantage, which by the 
 Law of the Great God he hath a Right to, and 
 by no Means muft be baptifed whether he fhall 
 be faved or damned j and that for the Want of a 
 human, unnecefifary, if not corrupt Invention. 
 
 Secondly, From this, Occaflon may be taken to I r War- 
 give Warning to all fuch, who in Cafe of Parens ^ 
 Abfence, Sicknefs or Death, do engage for the 
 Chriflian Education of Infants at their Baptii'i, 
 that fuch would take heed to themfeives wmc 
 they do, and be neither formal, indifiterent, nor 
 :-;ih } in'taking the Oath and Vow of God >: 501 
 1 3- 
 
 >..$. 
 
134 4 "PraB/cal Effay. on 
 
 them 5 but know, that they fwear to the Moft 
 High % that he will call them to an Account how 
 they fulfil fuch Promifes, and will by no Means 
 hold the Perjured or Perfidious guiltlefs : And 
 therefore, all fuch are in the rnoft confcientious 
 Manner to remember, that the Vows v/God are 
 upon tbthi, to perform them to the Lord, *ever 
 to pray for fuch a Child f and, fo far as they 
 have Accefs, to fee to his Chriitian Education $ 
 to reprove, a.d'moni/h, and exhort him as there 
 fhall be Occafion : For thus fhall fuch a Spovfor 
 honour the Lord, advance Religion, do Good to 
 the precious and never-dying Soul of the Infant, 
 yea, to the whole Man 5 and according to God's 
 Promife, he fhall hereby entail Eleilings upon 
 his own Seed after him, and have the,Teftimo- 
 ny of a good Confcience, and Peace in his own 
 IViind. 
 III. Ad- thirdly, This alfo fpeaks to the Minifters of 
 vice to the Gofpel, that feeing Hypocrify and meer out- 
 Mmiilen. ward Ceremony in the^Thmgs and Oath of God 
 is rnoft frightful 5 and Perjury is a Sin of the 
 mod crying and dangerous Nature: Therefore, 
 when Need fo requires, that others than Parents 
 ihall take fuch Engagements upon them," the out- 
 moft Care be ha&, that fuch only be admitted 
 and allowed as are knowing, fober, and profef- 
 firig Chriftians, of whom they have good Ground 
 to hope that they will make Confcience of fuch 
 "Vows, and, by tae Grace of God, will perform 
 them : For, rather than God be mocked, poor 
 Sinners openly perjured, and the Infant defraud- 
 ed, 'tis more eligible that the Child be iimply 
 prefented by any who are not fcandalous, and fo 
 baptifed without taking any fuch Engagements : 
 For in this Cafe, as was above hinted, the Edu- 
 cation of fuch a Child is devolved upon the 
 Church 5 and the Rulers thereof, efpecially, are, 
 as it becomes thofe who are fet for the Salvation 
 
 of 
 
the Sacrament of c Bapttfm. 
 
 of Souls,, to fee thereto. But when fiich Sureties 
 can be had as has been juft now named, and have 
 engaged for the Chriftian Education of the Child, 
 in this Event it is not to be queftioned but Mi- 
 niiters ought, and will remind thofe of their 
 Vipws, enquire into their Managements and Per- 
 formance j and, as Occafion ihall require, warn, 
 rebuke, admonifh, exhort and encourage them. 
 
 SECT. V. 
 
 Of the jD uties of the Congregation, r xhen Eap- 
 tifm is Admin? ftr at ed. 
 
 IF we confider with what an indifferent Eye, 
 and with how little Concern, the Generality 
 of Profeffors look upon this Ordinance, there is 
 greater 3SecelIity for offering fome Thoughts up- 
 on this, than at iirft is apprehended : For, do 
 not many, in great Hafte, and with the moil un- 
 becoming Irreverence, yea Irr^iginn too, get out 
 from the Pubjick Place of Worihip, when this 
 Ordinance is to be adminiftred 5 and of thofe 
 who flay, have we not too good Caufc to fear, 
 that the moft Part are more taken up to know 
 whofe the Child is, to, notice Externals as to 
 Perfons and Admini.^ration, and obferve how the 
 Child is named, than they are to attend unto the 
 Life and Sub&ance of this Ordinance, or what 
 Duties it direclly calls them to, and gives them 
 fpecial Occafion for. I (hall therefore, upon 
 thefe, offer and propofe what follows, as fpecial 
 jDntieSy if fo be, we will act the Part of fincere 
 and lively Chriflians. 
 
 I 4 They 
 
A Traciical EJJay on 
 
 They are not then to be idle Spectators t But, 
 Firfl, They are to contemplate the rich Grace 
 and Mercy of God in Chrift Jefus unto poor 
 loft and undone Sinners, in his providing a fuit- 
 able Relief for guilty and unholy Creatures 5 ex- 
 tending this Remedy,not only unto thofe who are 
 come to Age, but alfo to Infants in their Nonage ; 
 and, by an Ordinance of his own Appointment, 
 folemnly making over and fealing thefe great and 
 faving Bleffings to the Baptifed j and hereupon 
 alTuming them, in a publick Manner, into his 
 Family y and bringing them under early and in- 
 violable Obligations to be wholly, only, and for 
 ever his (6). idly> Spectators are, hereupon, to 
 reflect on their own great and valuable Privilege, 
 that thus they were mercifully dealt with, fig- 
 nally bleffed, publickly devoted to the Lord, 
 and folemnly bound to be the Lord's, for him 
 alone, and not for another. ^dly y Hence there is 
 here Occafion given them, to review the great, 
 early, and awful Obligations, that by the Good- 
 nefs and Mercy, the Prerogative and Authority 
 of God, were laid upon them 5 to believe in the 
 Lord Jefus Chrift j to lay hold upon God's Cove- 
 nant? to dedicate themfelves to him, and ferve 
 him acceptably all the Days of their Lives, with 
 Reverence and Holy Fear, ^thly. Here they 
 have an Argument offered them, to repent and be 
 afflicted for their own unfuitable Behaviour, un- 
 der fuch great Mercies, and notwithstanding of 
 fuch great Obligations. It is now that their Ob- 
 ftinacy and Unbelief in refilling the Gofpel Of- 
 fer, their Neglects of, a.nd ( Defecfs in commanded 
 tDatieSy and their Sins and Iniquities, notwith- 
 ftanding of the molt folemn and divine Prohibi- 
 tions, fhould b!l the Soul with deep Humility, 
 Gofpel-ccnvriuon and Soul-concern, how to be re- 
 covered. 
 
 (6) Set ' Birt&oiY for JBaptifm, annexed to the Con* 
 
the Sacrament of % apt i fin* 137 
 
 covered. Hence, )tbly, They are to take this 
 Occafion, fincerely to repeat their Acceptance of 
 Chrift, their Confent to God's Covenant, and to 
 renew their Engagements to be the Lord's : For 
 this Ordinance they are now beholding /rong 
 
 Motive to this, and their Duty ind ^rmer 
 Eackflidings loudly call for it. So, it is reported 
 of a certain Chrtftiaf/, that for many Years he 
 never faw Baptifm adminiitred to others, but he 
 endeavoured thus, in particular, to act and be 
 employed for himfelf. 6thly, It is the fpecial 
 and direct Duty of the Congregation, u itt Joy 
 and Thankfulnefs to receive, and confer: , that, 
 according to the Tenor of the Covenant of Grace y 
 the Perfon to be baptifed be now received into 
 their Chriflian and Holy Society 5 that he or /he 
 may partake of the fame Privileges, fhare of the 
 fame Blefiings with them, and be the Object of 
 their common and religious Care, Love and Sym- 
 pathy, as it becometh Saints, and Members of 
 theMyftical Body of Chrift. And hence, -jthly y 
 It is the Chriflian Duty of all Beholders, fin- 
 cerely to join in Prayer with the Minifter, both 
 before and after the Administration of this Ordi- 
 nance 5 that it may be fo bleffed of God to the 
 Party baptifed, as to anfwer all the valuable 
 Ufes, and glorious Ends thereof. It is for this 
 Reafon, amongft others, that Baptifm is publick- 
 ly adminiftred 5 for the joint and fervent Prayer 
 of God's People availeth much : Befides that, 
 our Defires to fee the Glory of God advanced, 
 the Body of Chrift edified, precious and immor- 
 tal Souls faved, with that Love and Good-will 
 which we owe to the Chriflian Infant, and the 
 engaging Party or Parent, do 111 the ftrongeft 
 Manner urge this upon us. Sthly and Zaflly, In 
 the whole of this, Spectators and all concerned 
 are to have the outward Behaviour compofedand 
 grave 3 and the Mind fpiritual, engaged, and at- 
 tentive 5 
 
i38 
 
 A Reflec- 
 tion on 
 
 the whole 
 
 A TraUical Effhy on 
 
 tentivcj for the Work we now go about is an 
 awful Ordinance of Heaven, it is of the greateft 
 Confequence, and now it is, that the holy and 
 all-feeing Eye of a Great God is fpecially upon 
 us. With what Reverence then fhould the Con- 
 gregation look on and behold this! 
 
 And if Profeifors of our Holy Religion were 
 confcientiouily endeavouring the Performance of 
 .thefe Duties, what a bleffed Mean would this be 
 in God's Hand,, to increafe true Religion and 
 Piety, Love and Chriftian Unity, inward Peace 
 and Joy, with the greateft Happinefs and Profpe- 
 rity ! How fhould the Lord be hereby glorified, 
 our felves ftrengthned and comforted, the Body 
 of Chrift edified, and the Face of our decayed 
 Church look frefh and beautiful ! But alas i In- 
 to what a degenerate Age and Dregs of Time 
 are we fallen ! Wherein, with the moft Part, 
 Qhriftianity is but an empty Name and Show 5 
 Frequency occaiions Formality, whereas, it fhould 
 engage to the moft devout and thankful Piety 3 
 yea, reafonable Men do not Reafon, and Godli- 
 nefs in the Extent, Power and Life of it, is un> 
 der a vifible and lamentable Decay. May the 
 Lord haftcn the Day when his Spirit fliall be 
 poured out upon all Ranks. 
 
 C H A R III. 
 
 * 
 
 Of .the NeceJJity ^Baptism. 
 
 O fooner does GOD fow the good Seed 
 
 in his Field, than Satan cafteth in his 
 
 Tares. Nor has the Enemy of Truth 
 
 to. as to arh j our Salvation ceafed, in all Ages of the 
 
 ■ £ *£ Church 3 to trouble her, ever, now and then, car- 
 
 •, *7 in S 
 
the Sacrament of Baptifm. ijf 
 
 rying Perfons to moft unwarrantable Extreams. 
 Thus, in the Matter before us, the Socinians 
 and Quakers deny, that Baptifm is at all necef- 
 fary, no, not fo much as by Precept, but that the 
 Ufe of it may be, yea, fay fome of chefe, ought 
 to be laid afide. And we are told, that fome 
 Hcrcticks, of Old, condemned it with a Curfe? 
 with whom the Anabaptifl.s go no fmall Length. 
 On the other Hand, the 'Papifis, and with them 
 fome rigid Lutherans, do afTert the abfolute Ne- 
 c'elfity of this Ordinance* fo as no Salvation can 
 warrantably be expected without it 5 and with 
 them, fome Protectants do too far agree, .while 
 they fay, That the Unbaptifed are, in their Bu- 
 rial, to be treated as the Excommunicate 3 and, 
 as to their Eternal State, left to unenvenanted 
 Mercy. In Oppofition to thefe, I fhall tirft en- 
 deavour to fhow, That Baptifm is neceffary, and 
 how far it is fo. idly y That it is not abfolutely 
 needful, as if no Salvation can be had, or is to 
 be looked for without it. 
 
 r.'4 >"'$ :"'•< ?'/<. 2"4 > v,/ < yc- >"'■$ w. v"< n v « >"<i v", y"/ <!"' n"4 y/, s"c a"&i?'4 >$"< s^ 
 
 SEC T. I. 
 
 'That Baptifm is neceffary, and hozv far it 
 is fo. 
 
 Tirfl, THEN we fay, That Baptifm is fo 
 X neceffary, as that it is to be conti- 
 nued a ftanding Ordinance in the Church of 
 God. This is evident, if we confider Divine 
 Authority, or our Lord's poiitive and peremp- 
 tory Command to all his Minifters, to adminifter 
 this Ordinance, and confequently, to all his 
 People, to partake of it. This was his folemn 
 
 Charge 
 
i4° A Tragical EJJay on 
 
 Charge, when he was about to leave the World, 
 and go to his Father, Mat. xxviii. 19. Go, teach 
 all nations, laptifing them in the Name of the 
 Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Ghofl. 
 Nor. is this to be limited to newly taught and 
 converted Infidels, tut to be extended to all Na- 
 tions $ neither was it a temporary Command, 
 only to continue until a Church was formed 5 
 but ft is to continue while, there is a Church, 
 and {landing Miniftry in the World : And fo 
 much is plainly intimated in the Promife, yer. 
 20. And to, I am with you akvay, even ?mto 
 the End of the World, idly. It is fo neceffary, 
 that Mini fters of Chrift are diligently and care- 
 fully to adminifter this. So was John the Sap- 
 tift very much imployed, and the Apoftles and 
 others, who were ordained t6 the Work of the 
 Minrftry ; Tho' they had not this as their princi- 
 pal or main Work, 1 Cor: i. 17. yet they were 
 always taken up in k, as their conftant and ne- 
 cetfary Bufinefs, as we may obferve from Acts 
 ii. AEis viii. Acts x. Acls xxii 16. Acts xvi. 
 - ? Cor. i. 14, 1 6. idly, If we confider the Ends 
 and Ufes of Baptifm, as thefe refpecl us, it is fo 
 neceflary, that by God's Bleffing therewith, the 
 Perfon baptifed reaps very great and peculiar Ad- 
 vantage thereby. We are guilty, unholy^ weak, 
 poor, naked and expofed Sinners j and Baptifm 
 is that, whereby our Union to Chrift, and par- 
 taking of the Virtue of his Death and Refur- 
 , region, . for JufUfication, San&iiication, Perfeve- 
 rance and Glory, are fignified, made over, and 
 fealed to us. Seeing then, that our Lord hath ? 
 in £0 great Mercy and Grace, appointed this Orr 
 dinance, to ratify and confirm our Right to Co- 
 venant Blefiings, which we ftand fo much in 
 need of, furely it is neteffary that we ufe it $ 
 nor can we think that infinite Wifdom fhoulcj 
 appoint fuch a faered and folemn Inftitution, 
 Jz ■ - and 
 
the Sacrament of ^Baptifm. 14* 
 
 and yet leave it to thePleafure of Men to ufe or 
 difufe as they lift. $thly, It is fo neceffary, as 
 that it is not to be caufelefly delayed. And for 
 this, the Nature of the Ordinance, the Com- 
 mand of our Lord Jefus, and the Practice of 
 thofe recorded in the Word of God, do all ftrong- 
 ly plead j and if we look into Affs ii. 38, 39. 
 Acls viii. 12, 13, 14, 3<5", 37, 38. Atts ix. 18. 
 Affs x. 47, 48. Affs xvi. 15, 33. Afts xviii. 8. 
 Afts xxii. 17. We will find, that the Perfons 
 there mentioned, were all quickly baptifed upon 
 their profefling themfelves Difciples, tho' fome 
 would think, that fometimes the Numbers wer® 
 fo great, and the profefTed Converfion of others 
 fo fudden, that thejr Baptifm might have been 
 delayed for a Seafon : Eut this was not the Way 
 of God, altho' to Men it may feem to point at 
 the Purity of a Church. 5thly, Baptifm is fo 
 neceflUry, as that the rejecting of it is a very 
 great and aggravated Sin : It is faid, Li'ke vii. 
 30. That the Lawyers and *P bar i fees y they re- 
 setted the Counfel of God agahift themjeli'es, be- 
 ing not baptifed of John. Where we may ob- 
 ferve, that it was their great Duty to have heark- 
 ned to John's Doctrine, and fo to have been 
 baptifed of him, and that hereby they were ren- 
 dred molt inexcufeable, becauie they rejected 
 both. Yea, 6thly, So neceffary is Baptifm, as 
 that the Contempt of it is no lefs than Damning j 
 becaufe, to flight and undervalue it, is to trample 
 upon the Divine Authority appointing it ; to de- 
 fpife the Obedience, Death and Jtefurrection of 
 our Lord and. Saviour, which are reprefented by 
 it j to fet Light by the Perfons of the Glorious 
 Trinity, in whofe Name it is adminiftred5 and 
 to difregard all the great and faving Bleffings of 
 the Covenant of C-ace, which are hereby fealed, 
 and folemnly ratified : So, Gen, xvii. 14. the De- 
 
 fpifer 
 
,142 A Tragical EJfay on 
 
 fpifer of Circumcifion is faid to have Iroken the 
 
 £drd's Covenant. 
 Inferences From what has been faid of the Neceflity of 
 from this. Bapt if mj we may i earn> ftrfo Thc Error of 
 
 roTotTom© ^ at P rac ^ c ?> which not a little prevailed in the 
 in the pri- primitive Times, when fome delayed their be- 
 mitive ing baptifed, till they were upon their Death- 
 Times. k e< j s . becaufe they reckoned, That as they were 
 to be baptifed but once 5 fo they could not have 
 the Pardon of Sin made over and fealed to them, 
 by any other instituted Ordinance : And being 
 tin&ured (as fome fay) with the Novatian Er- . 
 Clinick ror > which was > %*&** no 'Place for Repentance 
 Baptifm, was to he allowed to the baptifed, if, after Bap- 
 the precen- tjfjn they fhould fall away : Therefore, they 
 ton f Re - would not be baptifed too foon, left they fhould 
 ' fin after Baptifm, and confequently be damned. 
 But as this Delay cannot be approven, and the 
 pretended Reafons of it are weak and ground- 
 lefs$ fo the fame may be faid of a Cuftoni which 
 prevailed fome Centuries after Chrift, when they 
 did hot baptife their Catechumens (or fuch as 
 were to be inftru£ted and prepared for Baptifm) 
 but at fome fpecial Seafons of the Year, particu- 
 larly Eafter and Tentecofl. They did indeed 
 by this openly declare their Faith, ^that Bap- 
 tifm was not abfolutcly 7ieceffary to Salvation $ 
 elfe thofe who were to be "baptijed, would not 
 havefo long put off the Participation, and the 
 Church Guides the Adminiflration, thereof 
 Yet, fo to confine an Ordinance of God at their 
 Pleafure, to delay Favours to immortal Souls, 
 when God prefently allows them, and to make 
 Diftinclicns of Days, Months and 'Years, which 
 God has not made, and to put Holinefs upon 
 Seafons, which he hath not hallowed, favour 
 much more of the Cunning and Cruelty of the 
 Serpent, than the Simplicity and Innocence of 
 the Dove» 
 
 Secondly, 
 
the Sacrament of "Baptifm. i.43 
 
 Secondly, From what hath been faid of the ^ 2 y* ,_ 
 Neceflity of Baptifm, we may obferve the Faulty m ^ n y 
 of fome Parents, who delay the Baptifm of their parent*. 
 Children, upon no other Account, but because 
 they Have not Time to prepare fur entertaining 
 and feafting their Friends, or for worldly Pomp 
 and Show j by which they give their Pride and Va- 
 nity the Preference to their Childrens Intereil, 
 and their own Duty : And this is not a little ag- 
 gravated by their fixing on the Lord's Day, to 
 difplay their Magnificence, and make publick 
 Entertainments, which are commonly attended 
 with bad Confluences, Diversions from necena- 
 ry and fpiritual»Bxercifes being inevitable, Excefs 
 in eating and drinking, Mirth and Jolity too or- 
 dinary, and a ferious Chriflian Temper but rare- 
 ly kept on fuch Occafions. 
 
 ^thirdly, from this we may fee the Duty of Du „ v 
 the unbaptifed, and who are come to Age, to f Parent! 
 ~ have this Ordinance of Baptifm, which is fo necef- and others 
 fary, administrated to themfelves 5 of Parents to 
 ask it for their Children 5 and of Mini iters to 
 adminifter it to the proper Objects thereof, fo 
 foon as lawfully and decently it may be done : 
 For it is an Ordinance of the God of Heaven 5 
 the Author of it, who is infinitely wife, has ap- 
 pointed it for very great and noble Purpofcs ; he 
 is gracious, ready to receive all that either come, 
 or are brought to him. The Apoftles, and others 
 mentioned in the new Teftament, never cut oft 
 'this Ordinance when there wasjuft Occafion for 
 it 5 in which Circumitances, the Contempt and 
 Neglect: of it is highly dangerous : Yet fpecial 
 Care is to be taken, that Pretence of Neceility 
 and Duty, give not an Occafion to Precipitancy 
 and Formality 5 that this be not improven to dif- 
 pence with Parents their preparatory Duty ; grce 
 not an Handle to Papifts for their ab'folute Necef- 
 fity of this Ordinance j nor an Allowance to fome 
 
 t© 
 
1 44 A V raclical EJJay on 
 
 to adminifter it, to whom God, who is abfolute 
 Matter of his own Houfe, infinitely gracious to 
 his own People, and, beyond Expreffion, careful 
 of every Thing that is for their Advantage or 
 Comfort, never granted fuch Power and Autho- 
 rity. 
 
 SECT. II. 
 
 That 22aj>tifm is not abfolntely neceffary. 
 
 Abfolute"|3Y abfolute Neceflity, in the Title of thiV 
 vh"^ 7 '' Seaion, is underftood, Baptifm its being Jo 
 
 neceffary ^ as that there is vo Salvationwithout it y 
 but thoje who die unbaptifed y are excluded the 
 Kingdom of Heaven. So fay the Council of 
 Trent, Sejf. 7. Can. 4 and 5. Or, Itisfo neceffa- 
 ry, that none are Javed without it^ upon the or- 
 dinary covenanted Gofpel Terms of Salvation. 
 So fay fome c ProteJla?zts (1). In Oppofition to 
 this, the Body ot^ProfeJlant Divines and Church- 
 es do, with ourConfelfion of Faith, aflert, That 
 thtf it be a great Sin to contemn or negletl this 
 Ordinance, (of which we have heard in the pre- 
 ceeding Section) yet Grace and Salvation are 
 not Jo infeperably annexed unto it, as no 'Perfon 
 ca?z be regenerate or faved without it. Confeffi- 
 Argu- on o£ Faith, Chap. 28., Se6t. 5. And this will 
 mchts a- appear evident, if we fhall confider, Firjl, That 
 gamft it. previous to, and without Baptifm, Perfons may 
 have all Things neceiTary to Salvation $ and if 
 fo, then certainly they muft be faved 5 they have 
 the Spirit of Grace, Acts x. 45, 47. they have 
 
 the 
 
 (1) See the Pra£ice and Bctf rine of PresbjterU*: ab'e»€ 
 Mttptifm Examined^ f. 7, 
 
the Sicrament of baptifm. 145 
 
 the Righteoufnefs of Chrifl reckoned and impu- 
 ted to them, Rom. iv. n. compared with Col. 
 ii. 11, 12. And before Baptifm they have both 
 their Perfons and Performances accepted in th© 
 Sight of God, Jtfs x. 2, 4, 22, 31. And as 
 to Infants, God declares his Love to them, Rom, 
 ix. ir. Cbrifl died for them, Heb. ii. 14. They 
 are filled with the Holy Ghoft, Luke \. 15. and 
 blefled by the Lord Jefus, Mark x. 16. But 
 will any venture to affirm, That Perfons may have 
 Cbrifl dying for them, the Spirit of Chrijl 
 dwelling in them, the Righteoufnefs of Cbrift 
 imputed to them, their Natures fandtified, their 
 Perfons bleflfed, both thefe and their Performan- 
 ces accepted, and yet eternally perifh, if they 
 are not baptifed ? When he who is Truth itfelf 
 has folemnly declared, jTbat offucbisthe King- 
 dom of 'Heaven ,has promifed to them eternal Life, 
 John Hi. 16, 35. yea fworn by himfelf that they 
 fhall be favingly and eternally blefTed, Heb. vi. 
 17, 18. idly, Baptifm is not abfolutely necef- 
 fary, if we obferve, thatfome have been actually 
 faved without it $ fo was the Thief upon the 
 Crofs, Luke xxiii. 43. idly, From our Lord's 
 own exprefs Words, Mark xvi. 16. He that be- 
 lievetb and is baptifed (hall be faved, but he 
 that belie veth not (hall be damned. Where we 
 are to notice, That tho' our Lord fays, He that 
 believetb and is baptifed (Joall be faved h yet he 
 fays not, He that is not baptifed foall be damn- 
 ed, but only he that believeth not 5 tho' the Op- 
 pofition required he fhould have faid fo, had 
 Baptifm been of abfolute Neceffity to Salvation. 
 c^thly, The Nature, Ufes and Ends of Sacraments 
 evidently plead againft the abfolute Neceffity of 
 them, and confequently of Baptifm : For, Sa- 
 craments are not Caufes, nor what give the Right 
 to Covenant Bleffings, but declarative Signs and 
 Seals thereof; neceflarily fuppoling the Perfon's 
 K Title 
 
*46 A c PraBical EJfay on 
 
 Title to thefe and Intereft in them, and thisai 
 flowing from, and founded upon the Covenant Pro- 
 mife. If then Perfons have a Right to, and In- 
 tereft in Covenant Privileges previous to Baptifm, 
 fhall we fay, that all this is null and void, if 
 they want the externalSign and Seal of it, which 
 is not appointed to make Covenant Promifes, or 
 the Perfons Right thereto furer, (for the Merit 
 and Mediation of Ckrift, the Promife, Oath, 
 Faithfulnefs^ and Unchangeablenefs of God, do 
 for ever fecure thefe to all the Seed) but is a fu- 
 peradded Inftance and Aft of God's Grace and 
 Mercy to us, who, bea ufe of our Weaknefs and 
 Infirmity, was pleafed to ordain this and the o- 
 ther Seal of his Covenant, to ftrengthen and con- 
 firm our Faith, or to make it ftronger, (and not 
 his Covenant furer) that all the Covenant Privi- 
 leges are ours, and (hall certainly be made good 
 to us. So that we may conclude, that becaufe 
 Baptifm is a declarative Sign, and an appointed 
 Seal of Covenant Bleifings, for the confirming of 
 our Faith, therefore it is neceffary; yet becaufe 
 it is only fuch, for this P^eafon, it is not abfo- 
 lutely needful, ^hly. The Truth of the Pro- 
 portion we now plead for, will further appear, 
 if we notice, that under the Law, by Divine Ap- 
 pointment, Circumcision was not to be admini- 
 ftred until the Eighth Day from the Infant's 
 Birth s, And did all the Children perifh who 
 died before that Time ? Or, were all thofe who 
 died in the Wildernefs, being uncircumcifed, 
 when it was then fo long omitted, Jifo. v. 5. 
 for ever excluded the Kingdom of God ? If they 
 were not, how then can we think, that under the 
 Itew) T'eftament and Gofpel Difpenfation, the 
 Circumftances of thofe who have not Accefs to 
 Baptifm, (which is now come in Room of Cir- 
 cumcifion) or of Infants, whofe Blame it is not 
 that they want it, are worfe than of thofe who 
 
 lived 
 
the Sacrament of Saptifm. 147. 
 
 lived under the old and ^^/c&Adminiftration? 
 Is the Grace, Mercy, Pity, and Companion of 
 God, more narrowed and confined fince Christ 
 came, and good Tidings are every where preach- 
 ed, than it was before he did appear, and when 
 the News of Salvation were neither fo far exten- 
 ded, nor fo clearly revealed? And, is this the 
 Accompli fhment of the glorious Promifes and 
 high Encomiums given to NewTeftamentTimes^ 
 that whereas, under the Old Teftament, God 
 fhewed Mercy to the Infant who died uncircum- 
 cifed, yet now under the New, he muft be cer- 
 tainly damned, or left to uncovenanted Mercy, 
 if he die unbaptifed ? While in the mean Time, 
 the Crime of neglecting or contemning this, can- 
 not be imputed to the innocent Babe, nor to the 
 Chriftian rarent. 6tbly i If Baptifm is abfolutely 
 neceffary to Salvation, then it is in the Power of 
 Men to deftroy Souls, contrary to Matth. x. 28. 
 and to throw thofe out of God's Covenant, and 
 leave them to uncertain, becaufe uncovenanted, 
 Mercy, whom yet God himfelf has folemnly de- 
 clared to be in it. For in this Cafe, an unbe- 
 lieving and wicked Parent, if he /hall not bring 
 his Child to Baptifm, might for ever deftroy it; 
 an unfaithful and negligent Minifter might eter- 
 nally ruin it, and an unskilful and impious Mid- 
 wife may feclude the poor Infant from the Kingr. 
 dom of God. And fo the Salvation that is o( 
 God /hall be at the Difpofal of Men, the Cove- 
 nant of God made void by them, and the Keys 
 of Hell and the fecond Death put into their 
 Hands. Ithly and laftly, If this Doctrine of the 
 abfolute Neceflity of Baptifm take Place, how 
 many Ten Thoufands of Children who die in 
 their Mothers Belly, or in the Birth, and leave 
 the World as foon as they come into it, /hall be 
 for ever loft ; and that, tho' no Crime or Neglect ■ 
 as to this Ordinance of Baptifm can be imputed 
 K a t# 
 
148 J$ 'Prafflcal EJfhy en 
 
 to them, or any other concerned in them * And 
 how can this but fill the Souls of Parents with 
 the moft perplexing Doubts and Fears, torturing 
 Grief and Sorrow, yea with Defpair itfelf 5 and 
 poflefs the, Brearfs of Chriftian Relations, 
 Friends and Neighbours, with Amazement and 
 Dread? So that thefe (Proteflants who make a 
 great Outcry for Charity, and very unjuftly ac- 
 cufe fome ot their Proteftant Brethren for want 
 of it, do, by joining with Tapifts in this Doc- 
 trine of the abfolute Neceflity of Baptifm, preach 
 the moft uncharitable and comfortlefs Doctrine 
 that can be 5 for, feeing by this, unbaptifed Chil- 
 dren are left to uncovenanted Mercy, and ano- 
 ther Method and Way of Salvation than what is 
 contained in the Gofpel j and feeing the gracious 
 Tenor of the Covenant, and the revealed Will of 
 God in his Word, are the only Grounds that 
 Chriftiam have for their Faith and Hope, what 
 imaginable Foundation of Hope or Comfort can 
 Parents or others have, as to the future well-being 
 of decealed unbaptifed Infants ? Can they hope 
 where there is no Promife ? And feeing, Eph. 
 ii. 12. thofe who are S ravgers to the Covenant 
 of c Pron?ife, are alfo without C h rif y >and without 
 God in the Worlds they muft be hopeleis and 
 comfortlefs, and in the outmoft Defpair. And it 
 would be the Advantage of the Promoters of this 
 Do&rine to confider, how, in this, they contra- 
 dicl: the Judgment of 'Proteftant Churches, and 
 the Body of Orthodox Divines (r) j yea, even 
 the molt famous of the Church ef England (z). 
 
 Thofe who are for the abfolute Neceffity of 
 Baptifm, adduce Gen, xvii. 14. where it is laid, 
 
 That 
 
 (1) See the Doctrine and Practice of the Church of 
 Scotland anent Baptifm vindicated, from Page 26 : to 36, 
 where we have a large Catalogue of fuch. (2) Se. Dr. 
 tAtttrfol on Baptifm, Pag. 203, 2o4« Dr. Hammond on In- 
 fant Baptifm drc ximo. Pag, 231, 232 5 300. Dr. Vcatlj his 
 D'ipf:rdipt } Pag. 40, 41. 
 
the Sacrament ofBaptifm. 149 
 
 tfbat the uncircumcifed Manchild, *&hofe Flefh 0/Objecftions 
 his Foreskin is not circumcifed, that Soul {hall anlVercd - 
 he cut off from his People \ he hath broken my 
 Covenant. But this cannot be underftood of In- 
 fants, whofe Fault it could not be that they were 
 deprived of Circumcifion, and who could not be 
 circumcifed before the Eighth Day $ neither 
 were they, in an active Senfe, capable of keeping 
 God's Covenant, and fo could not be faid, for 
 want of Circumcifion, to break it 5 nor was it the 
 Infant, but Mofes, whom the Lord fought to flay 
 in the Inn for Neglect of Circumcifion, Exod. 
 iv. 2.4, 25, 26. We muft therefore understand 
 this of fuch as were come to Age, and who either 
 neglected or contemned this Ordinance, and are 
 therefore faid to break the Lord's Covenant. But 
 the main Arguments for theabfolute-Neceflity of 
 this Ordinance are thefe Two. 
 
 Firji, They plead from John iii. 5. where 
 our Lord fays to Nicodemus, That except a Man 
 be bom of the Water and the Spirit ', he cannot 
 enter into the Kingdom of God. But Firfl, It 
 may be fafely and upon good Ground anfwered, 
 That Baptifm is not at all understood here, but 
 that by Water and the Spirit, we are to under- 
 hand one and the fame Thing with Regenerati- 
 on and the new Birth, the lail being the Caufe, 
 and the firfl: the Similitude and Example j that 
 is, That a Alan muft be born again by the Spi- 
 rit, who cleanfes and purifies the Soul as Water 
 does' the Body. For, Firft, In Scripture, the 
 Efficacy of the Spirit isdefignedby/^r^r,and that 
 at the fame Time when the holy Spirit is exprefly 
 mentioned, fo If a. xliv. 5. Ezek. xxxvi. 25, 2$, 27. 
 Nor is it unufualin Scripture to exprefsoneand the 
 fame Thing by two Words, the one refpefting the 
 Caufei and the other the Manner how that Caufe 
 produces theErfect, fo Matth. iii. ir. it is faid 
 of our Saviour, That he ftoul4 baptife with the 
 K 3 ■ Holy 
 
1 5 a A Tragical EJfay on 
 
 Holy Ghoft and with Fire $ but will any be fo 
 unreafonable as to infer from this, Baptifm with 
 Fire, as we are told fome ancient Hereticks did 
 Y0- idly, If we obferve the following 6th, 7th, 
 and 8th Verfes, where our Lord fully explains 
 himfelf on this Head, we will find, That he has 
 not the leaft Hint of Baptifm 5 which furely he 
 would not have omitted, had this been intended 
 and defigned by him. And then $dly, Becaufe, 
 Verfe 10. our Lord reproves Nicodemus for his 
 Ignorance of this , now, it could not be for his 
 Ignorance of Regeneration by Baptifm, (for, even 
 according to thofe who plead for the abfo lute Ne- 
 ceffity of it, Baptitm was not yet given by our 
 Lord to his Apoflles, as one of his great and laft 
 Commands) but for' his Ignorance of the Nature 
 and Neceffity of Regeneration itfelf, which as a 
 Ruler he ihould, and as a Member of the Church 
 of God he might have known, from 'Pfal. xv. 
 tPfal. li. 10. Ifal. xliv. 3. Ezeh xxxvi. 25, i6 y 
 a 7. and many other Places, 4-thly, Tapifts, we 
 muft obferve, fay two Things, Firft, That only 
 then Baptifm became abfolutely neceflary, when 
 our Lord had given his laft Command to hisDif- 
 ciples to Teach and Saptife, Matth. xxviii. 19. 
 But if fo, then there can be no Pleading from 
 this Scripture, which was delivered a confide^ 
 rable Time before that. And Secondly, They 
 fay, That the Vow of Baptifm, Contrition, and 
 Martyrdom make up the Defect of it, arid if it 
 is thus, then furely they cannot alledge the ab- 
 folute and indifpenfible Neceffity of this Admi- 
 nistration, in order to everlafting Happinefs and 
 eternal Salvation. But idly, Suppofing, that, by 
 Water, we are to underftand Baptifm, will it 
 therefore follow, that it is of the fame abfolute 
 and univerfal Neceffity with the Holy Spirit, in. 
 Order to Regeneration and Salvation ? For* 
 a Theffl iii. 10. it is with equal Pofitivenefs ther© 
 
 faid, 
 (1) S« BucA.11 ltd, C#wi» Pag, 648* 
 
the Sacrament of Baptifm: I jY 
 
 faid, That if any would not work neither fhould 
 he eat ■, but will any hence conclude, that Infants 
 and many others who do not work, muft therefore 
 not be allowed to eat ? Hence it is, that a very 
 learned Divine of our Neighbouring Church, tho' 
 he pleads for the Neceffity ofEaptifm from this 
 Text, yet denies, that the abfolute Neceffity 
 thereofwill follow herefrom $ but declares, that 
 * Infants who die unbaptifed are faved, as being 
 comprifed in the Covenant, Gen. xvii. 7. Atls ii. 
 35J and being holy, 1 Cor. vii. 14.(1). 
 
 A Second Argument which fome of late make 
 ufe of, and lay great Strefs upon (i), for the ab- 
 folute Neceffity of Baptifm, is, That Men muft 
 have the Spirit and Remiffion of Sins in Order 
 to Salvation, but Baptifm it the only inftituted 
 Gofpel Mean in Order to thefe, and therefore 
 Baptifm is abfolutely neceflary to Salvation. But 
 if it is made evident, that Perfons'have the Spi- 
 rit and Remiffion of Sins, previous to, and with- 
 out Baptifm, then the Subfumption or fecond Pro- 
 pofition is positively falfe, and fo their Argument 
 falls. Thus we find, that Cornelius and his Fa- 
 mily or Company, had the Spirit before they 
 were baptifed, Atls x. 47. and many had f&> 
 ving Faith before Baptifm, thefe, Acts ii. they 
 gladly received the Word, Verfe 41. and were 
 hereupon baptifed. The Sam ar it anes, Atlsvi'ri* 
 1 2. they believed, and then were baptifed ; fo did 
 the Eunuch^ Affs viii. 37. the Jay lor, Acts xvi. 
 31, &c. the Ruler of the Synagogue, and many 
 of the Corinthians, Atls xviii. 8. and Atls xvi, 
 14. Lydiah'j Heart was opened, and then fhe 
 was baptifed. Upon all which Inftances we may 
 obferve, Fir ft, That Faith always fuppofes the 
 fa ving and regenerating Operation of the Divine 
 K 4 Spirit 
 
 (1) See Dr. fatly, his Differ dipt. Page 10. (2) See the 
 Doctrine and Practice of ;hc irresbYteriani about -Bapciiiu 
 , examined, Page 7, 
 
152; jf Traflical EJfay on 
 
 Spirit, for it is reckoned amongft his Fruit*, 
 Gal. v. 22. and it muft be fo, feeing, Rom. viii. 
 7. the Carnal' Mind is Enmity againftGod. idly, 
 That where-ever this Faith is, that Perfon, accor- 
 ding to the Lord's faithful Promife, obtains Re- 
 in iffion of Sins, and a Title to eternal Life, Acts 
 v x. 42. Aclsxiii. 59. Rom. iii. 28. John iii. 15, 
 1(5", 18, $6. And %dly, We are to notice, that 
 this divine Spirit and laving Faith, are obtained 
 by other inftituted Means than Eaptifm ; for, 
 the Spirit he is received £y the hearing of Taith, 
 or the Gofpel, Gal. iii. 2. A& s x. 44.' fo Faith 
 alfo comes by hearing this, Rom.x. 17. And 
 from thefe three Obfervations, this Argument 
 naturally and with unanfwerable Force proceeds, 
 That if by Hearing the Gofpel People receive 
 the Spirit, have faving Faith, and thereupon 
 have Rem iffion of Sins, and all thefe previous to 
 Baptifm; then furely Eaptifm is not the only in- 
 ftituted Mean in Order to thefe 5 but the firft is 
 true from the juft now mentioned Proofs: And fo 
 * ' mult the laft be. Thaj Eaptifm does declare 
 and feal, ratify and confirm the Remiffion of Sin, 
 none of us deny ; but that it is the only inftitu- 
 ted Mean in Order to this, is moft groundlefly 
 afferted. For even as to Infants, the Doing and 
 Dying, the Blood and Suffering, the Righteouf- 
 nefs and Merit of our Lord Jefus Cbrift, is the 
 only procuring Caufe of their Salvation, their 
 Remiffion, Regeneration, and being brought to 
 Glory. And the Nature and Tenor of God's 
 Covenant comprehending not only the believing 
 Parent, but alfo his Seed, is that whereby they 
 come to have a Right to thefe Eleilings, and fo 
 to poifefs them $ and then, as was already ob- 
 ferved, the Ufes and Ends of Sacraments are not 
 that Perfons may obtain, or have a Title to, and 
 Intereft in Covenant Mercies $ for this, they and 
 all Seals of that Kind, do fuppp/e 5 but they 
 
 are 
 
the Sacrament of Saptifm* 1 5 3 
 
 are, openly to declare this Right, feal, ratify, 
 and confirm it, and the Perfon's juft PofTeflion of 
 it accordingly. 
 
 From what hath been offered againfl the ab- Inference* 
 fokte Neceflity of Baptifm, we may obferve, from tnis - 
 Firfty That there is no juft Occafion for railing r . \ church 
 any Clamour, or making Complaint againft a may make 
 Church's making Regulations, as to Time and R«S«l4H- 
 Place, for the more orderly and decent Admi- 
 niftration of this Ordinance j providing always, 
 that fuch Constitutions be confident with our 
 tDuty to God, lay not a Stumbling block nor Oc- 
 cafion of Offence before others ; be fui table, and 
 not contrary to the Ends and Ufes of this Sacra- 
 ment, and agreeable to that Charity we owe to 
 Perfons who are to be baptifed, and others con- 
 cerned in them j and be not urged, under Pre- 
 tence of Neceflity, and neceflary Terms of Com- 
 munion 5 nor loaded with fuch Penalties as the 
 Nature of the Thing will not allow of. For 
 this is a Power, which all Societies, asfuch,have, 
 as to thefe Adminiftrations proper thereto. But 
 if Baptifm was of abfolute Neceflity, there could 
 be' no Place for thefe : And feeing it is not fo, 
 there is no Caufe to complain of them, if fo be 
 they are duely limited. 
 
 Secondly, It is from this we may notice the n. The 
 Error of fuch, who, upon Pretence of the abfo-£ rr ° r °* 
 lute Neceflity of this Ordinance, give Power to 
 fuch to adminillrate it, whom our Lord does not 
 allow fo much as to fpeak in his Church. But 
 of this more in the next Chapter. 
 
 'Thirdly, They who maintain, that 'Baptifm is III. Hew 
 the only inftitute Mean of Regeneration and ™ con hA- 
 Remiflion of Sins, may take Occafion from this, are wit k 
 to confider how inconfiftently they fpeak with their ow» 
 their own profeffed Principles : For, in the Ca- Principles. 
 techifm contained in the Service Book, Faith and 
 Repentance are exprefly required of thofe who 
 
 arc 
 
1 54 A Tragical EJJay on 
 
 are to be baptifed (8). But as thefe neceflarily 
 fuppofe the regenerating Spirit 5 fo they certainly 
 infer the R em iifion of Sins: And confequently,rhat 
 Baptifm is not what they pretend it to be, but, 
 that previous thereto, the Perfon may be regene- 
 rated and pardoned. 
 
 IV. The Fourthly \ That thofe are furely guilty of great 
 Cruelty Cruelty to unbaptifed Infants, and treat them 
 2 n j,a^tj t0 nioft unjuflly, who not only deny th^m what they 
 fed In- reckon Christian Burial, but place them with the 
 fants.- Excommunicate and Self-murderers 5 and this by 
 
 publick Order and Command (9). Is not this a 
 puni/hing the Innocent in the moft fevere Man- 
 ner 5 a writing thofe down in the blackeft Cata- 
 logue whom yet God writes in his Sock of Life ; 
 a reckoning them vile and abominable whom 
 the Scripture accounts holy, and the Lord does 
 regenerate and fan£tify $ and fo, a cafting them 
 out of the Church and Covenant of God, when 
 he declares they are in it ; and excluding them 
 from the Kingdom of Heaven, while a Gracious 
 God declares it belongs to them, and receives 
 them into it ? And from this it is, that the fu- 
 perftitious Cuftom, which in too many Places 
 prevails, hath its Rife; which will not allow the 
 Bodies of unbaptifed Infants to be interred, but 
 at the Foot of Church walls, orfo; as if they 
 were unhallowed Things, whom yet the Spirit of 
 the Lord declares to be holy, 1 Cor. vii. 14. and 
 gives Occafion to that fuperftitious and ridiculous 
 Fancy, as if it was unlucky or dangerous to our 
 Bodies, if at any Time we fhould ftep over the 
 Graves of fuch. . 
 
 V. Tt h Fifthly, If Baptifm is not of abfolute Necef- 
 not 'to beiity to Salvation, why then is it that fomemake 
 done all o"f m0J ^ Halle than is warrantable, and will, all of 
 a fudden. - 
 
 ■' 
 
 (S) Szt the Anfwer to the Queftion, WW is required •/ 
 ferjcns to be baptifed * (9) See the firft Kubrick in the Ser- 
 v<q Book, and the Order for Burial of the Dc*d. 
 
the Sacrament of "Baptifm. i jy 
 
 a fudden, have their Children baptifed ? Not al- 
 lowing Time either to themfelves or others, for 
 that Chriftian Preparation, which the Nature and 
 Solemnity of fuch an awful Ordinance and Ad- 
 ministration calls for: That it is not to be caufe- 
 lefly delayed, was before afTerted ; but, that it 
 fhould be with Precipitance, and without Thought 
 and holy Preparation adminiftred, can never b* 
 juftified. 
 
 &w8 8**8 Bm$ &«S IMI &*S 
 
 C H A P.' IV. 
 
 Of Adminifirators> and Adminiflration of Bap- 
 tifm. 
 
 THE Matter of this Chapter is of very 
 great Import ; concerning thefe there have 
 been many 2)ifputes> both of old and of 
 late : And it cannot but be of fpecial Concern to 
 us, that we be particularly informed who are the 
 Perfons that, by 2)ivine Authority ^ may admi- 
 nistrate Baptifm, and how it is to be gone about. 
 Wherefore, that I may offer fomewhat thereupon, 
 I fhall endeavour, Firft, To conflder who are 
 the Administrators of this Ordinance. And, idly* 
 The Adminifiration. 
 
 SECT, 
 
1 5* A Tragical Effhy on 
 
 SECT. I. 
 
 Of the Jldminiftrators of *B apt? fin. 
 
 A 
 
 LL Administrations neceflarily fujppofe an 
 
 . Admihiftrator; but the Queftion is, Who 
 
 it is that may lawfully perform this holy and 
 
 folemn Tart of the Service of God ? In Anfwcr 
 
 to which, I offer the following Conclufions. 
 
 Conclufion I. That it cannot be done by Infi- 
 
 J* " nn 5 >t dels, Idiots, Mad-men, nor Children. For, the 
 
 Infidek, laft Three are intire] y incapable of fuch an Of- 
 Idiots, ' fice, and altogether unmeet for fuch a Perfor- 
 Mad men, mance $ tho' we are told, That of old fome fu- 
 dren? hil " ftained Baptifm as valid, tho' adminiftrate by 
 Children ( 1 ). And as to Infidels, whether they 
 be Jews, Mahometans, or c Paga7is, feeing they 
 are without the Church, and open Enemies-to 
 our Chriflian tDotJrine, furely they can never 
 validly adminifter an. initiating Seal of the great 
 Things which this our holy Religion contains. 
 Not by Conclufion II. Neither is this Ordinance to be 
 Laicks.j^ adminiftrate by fuch as have no Call to the Of- 
 fice of the Miniftry, whether thefe be Men or 
 Women, Magistrates or more private Perfons s 
 This Conclufion is in Oppofition to Tapifts, So- 
 finians and Anahaptifls, who admit Baptifm by 
 private Hands (2), as we are informed many- of 
 old did (3). And of late fome plead, That 
 Baptifm by Laymen was ordinarily fuftained and 
 admitted by the Church of ' England* yea, when 
 it was performed by the Midwife (4)3 but in no 
 
 Cafe 
 
 (1) See Bucani Lac. Com. Page 616. Queft. 177* (2) See 
 GilUfaft Miicellan. Page $6. (3) Calvin Inftit. Lib. 4. Chap. 
 1 5. Se<ft. 2b. (4) The Judgment of the Church of England, 
 in the Cafe of L<iy- baptifm, Part ift and 2d. Calamfi Hi- 
 ftory of Baxter's Life, Vol. I. Page i?8. 
 
the Sacrament of Baptifm* 157 
 
 Cafe is this to be allowed. For, Firft, The c ^f u t ' 
 Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven are not given ^ r o" e S t h>s. 
 to any who lift, but to Perfons fpecially appoin- 
 ted, and for that Purpofe feparate and fet apart 
 from others, Matth. xvi. 18, 19. idly, God hath 
 inflicted moft fevere Punifhments upon Perfons 
 not appointed to the Office of the Miniftry, be- 
 caufe of their ufurping it, and prefuming to do 
 the Work proper -thereto, Numb. xvi. 51. 
 2 Chron. xxvi. 21. %dly, Women are forbid 
 publickly to teach, or fo much as to fpeakinthe 
 Church, 1 Cor. xiv. 54, 55. 1 Tim. ii. 12. 
 lthly\ This Allowance of Lay-perfons to bap- 
 tife, is built upon a very unfound Foundation, 
 viz. The abfolute Necefiity of Baptifm, in Order 
 to Salvation j and indeed it is natural for one 
 Error to beget and make Way for another. And, 
 $thly, Should this be allowed, it will bring 
 Anarchy and Confufion into the Chr.rch of God 5 
 take away the T)iflin&ion betwixt the Shepherd 
 and the Flock 5 betwixt Minifters and thofe mi- ' >• 
 
 niftred unto, contrary to 1 Cor. xii. 29, 30. It will 
 deprive the Ordinance of its Solemnity, expofe it 
 to the Contempt and Ridicule of the Prophane, 
 and to the Fancy and Difcretionof the Ignorant 5 
 and fo open a Door for the Administration of it 
 to fuch as have no Title to it, and in fucha Man- 
 ner as it fhould not be. Finally, There is not 
 the leaft Inftance of this in all the New Tefta- 
 menty either of God's allowing it, or the Saints 
 of God, who were not Minifters, their pra&ifing 
 it. And the Learned inform us, That it was 
 firft brought in by Marcion the Heretick (5), 
 and that upon very bad and unallowable 
 Grounds. 
 
 Nor will the Grounds fome offer for this, bear Obp&ions 
 the Weight of the Concluiion they build upon*nfwcr»i. 
 
 them. 
 
 (5) See Bueanl Loci Com. Pag. 6i2 } ^13. Spnbsmii Difei 
 M;/ciMI?fo/. Fan [famay Page 350. 
 
jf j8 A "Practical EJfay on 
 
 them. For, Fir ft, The rafh and lingular Prac- 
 tice of an enraged Woman, Exod iv. from Verfe 
 24. as it will not juftify the Fa£t, fo neither can 
 it be made an Example. And tho' the Angel 
 was pleafed, when Mofes Son was circumcifed by 
 Zipporah his Wife, yet this will. not infer, That 
 he approved of her doing it, nor of the Manner 
 wherein fhe did it. For, as thefe People, 2 Kings 
 xvii. were delivered from the deftroying Lyons, 
 upon their adding fomewhat of the Worfhip of 
 the True God to their own idolatrous Practices - y 
 yet it will not hence follow, that God approved 
 ©f fuch an unbecoming and unhallowed Mixture: 
 And fo it is here. But, idly, Suppofing that the 
 2)eed, when done, was fuftained, yet we are to 
 obferve, That at this Time, the Adminiftration 
 of this initiating Ordinance was not confine*! and 
 appropriate to peculiar Perfcns and Offices, as af- 
 terwards it was,' and Baptifm now is. And then, 
 ^dly y If this Argument prove any Thing, it will 
 be too much, for Zippor ah did this before the 
 Face of Mofes the. Great Prophet fent of GOD 5 
 but thofe who contend for Laicks, their baptifing, 
 will by no Means allow it, if fo be a lawful Mi- 
 nifter is prefent. Neither is the Inflance of Phi- 
 lip of any more Weight*: For as he did baptifc, 
 Afis viii. 38. fo he was not only a Deacon, but 
 alfo an Evangelift, ABs xxL 8. And as to that 
 of Ananias, Affs ix. his baptifing <Paid> there 
 is no perfwading Argument that he was only a 
 private Perfon, but very probable Ground to 
 judge, that he was a Teacher and Preacher, and 
 it may be, at this Time, Paftor to the Church in 
 fDamafcus. And tho' we fhould fuppofe with 
 our Adverfaries, that he was only a Laick, yet 
 it is to be noticed, that what he now did, he 
 had the Divine, tho 5 extraordinary, Call thereto, 
 Verfe 10. which in the Cafe before u«> is not, and 
 cannot be pretended. And fo, 
 
 A' 
 
the Sacrament ofBaptifm. 1 59 
 
 A Third Cojiclnfwn I offer, is, That this Sa-^J^T 
 crament of Baptifm may only be difpenfed by a by a j avv- 
 Minifter of the Gofpel, lawfully called and or- ful Mini- 
 dained unto the Work of the Miniftry ((). As fter - 
 to which, wc are carefully to diftinguifh betwixt 
 a real and true, tho' incomfleat Call to the Mi- 
 niftry, whereby Ordinances adminiftred by fuch 
 are valid $ and a real, true, and compleat Call, 
 according to the Word of God : For, the firft Qbferves 
 may not only be, but frequently is, where the upon this, 
 laft is not : Seeing, to this it is requifite (7)3 
 that the Perfon be tried and approven by the pro- 
 per Judges, as to his Life and fuitable Qualifi- 
 cations for the Work of the Gofpel $ that he be 
 nominate and chofen by the Church, thofe parti- 
 cularly to whom he is to be ordained a Paftor 
 and Overfeer, ABs vi. 3, 5. A6is ' xiv. 22. Affs 
 i. 23, 24, 26. And, that he be folemnly fet a- 
 part to this great Work, by Fading and Prayer, 
 with the laying on of the" Hands of the Presby- 
 tery, Afts xiii. 5. A&s xiv. 23. 1 T'im. iv, 14. 
 1 Thn. v. 22. Which Things, when had, cannot 
 but give great Peace to the Minifter, and fpeci- 
 al Encouragement to the People, to receive Or- 
 dinances from his Hands : Yet all o.f them are 
 not to be reckoned fo abfolutely neceflary to the 
 Behig of a Minifter, as that, if any of them be 
 wanting, Ordinances difpenfed by iuch are null 
 and void : For, fo far as I know, the Learned 
 are agreed, That Impofition of Hands is not ef- 
 fential, abfolutely requifite, and indifpenfibly 
 neceflary to the very Being of the Ministerial 
 Office (8). And that there may be fome fpecial, 
 and fometimes invincible Defects in a Perfon's 
 
 Call 
 
 (6) See Conftffiin of V*it% Chap. 27. Setft. 4. and Chap. 
 28* Sec*. 2. (7) See the Alfembly's Direftory fw Qrdimation. 
 (3) Seethe Anfwer to fome Prelatical Pamphlecs, by ths 
 late Laborious, Learned and Eminent Mr. Forre/ier, Page 
 J $?, 251, to 273. GjUcfrfi MifceUan. Pag. io8 ; $2, 63, £4. 
 
r 
 
 i6o J Tragical EJfay on 
 
 Call to the Miniftry, and unwarrantable Addi- 
 tions to his Ordination thereto, where yet the 
 Effentials remain. And on this Head I cannot 
 but give a particular Room to the Words of the 
 learned, pious, and famous Mr. Rutherford* 
 who fays fo), For, that the Calling of a Mini- 
 Jler^ be valid, and his Minifterial ABs not null* 
 it is fufficient, that the Governing Church give 
 him a Calling, either by themfelves, their ex- 
 prefs Call, their Silence or tacit e Confe?it, or 
 their Approbation, communicating with him in 
 his Miniftry, or by thefe to whom the Church 
 hath refigned her Tower, or by thefe who ftand 
 in the *Place of the Churchy &c. 'The Members 
 ef the Church, in the mean Time, not oppofing % 
 hut confenting to this. The judicious Reader* 
 will very foon know how to make Application of 
 thefe Words, and I only add, That it cannot be 
 refufed, but that the Church of God, or fome 
 Part thereof, may at fome Times be in fuch Cir- 
 cumftances, as that the ordinary Way of Calling 
 and Ordination to the Work of the Miniftry can- 
 not be obferved, in which Cafe, to deny them a 
 Gofpel Miniftry and Gofpel Ordinances, will go 
 very near wholly to Unchurch them. 
 Argu- But I return to the Propofition laid down, which 
 ments to was, That this Gofpel Ordinance may be difpen- 
 preve ir . ^ ^ nQne ^ a rea j .^d true Gofpel Minifter : 
 For, Firft, To thefe only, Chrift the Great 
 Mafter of Affemblies, Head and only King of 
 his Church, hath given Commilfion, Matth iii. 
 ii. with jolm i. 35. Matth. xxviii. 19. zdly, 
 Thofe to whom Chrift hath given Authority to 
 preach the Word, to thefe only he hath given 
 rower to administrate the Sacraments ? but the 
 firft is only given to Minifters of the Gofpel, 
 Matth. xxviii. 10. Nor are we, upon any Pre- 
 
 tenc* 
 
 (9) See Rutherford's Divine Right of Presbyteries, mlkl 
 Page 237. 
 
the Sacrament of jBaptifm, rfri 
 
 tencc of Neceffity, to depart from ChritYs Infti- 
 tution* by feparating what he hath joined toge- 
 ther. S^/y, Thofe only who are* called accor- 
 ding to ChritYs Appointment, and, by his Al- 
 lowance, are Aiini iters of Chrift, and Stewards 
 of the Myfteries of God, 2 Cor. iv. 1. who only 
 can difpenfe Gofpel Ordinances ; the Steward 
 muft be appointed to his Work by the Matter* 
 Lnke xii. 42. Nor may every Member of a Fa- 
 mily take this Office upon him, Jer. xiv. 14. 
 1 l^im. iv. 14. Hcb. v. 4. dfthly, Appending of 
 Seals by private and uncommiihonated Perfons, 
 is not allowed in worldly Things j the Judge will 
 not fuftain it 5 and the Ufurper will be punifhed 
 for his Prefumption : How much lefs can this 
 be fuftained in the Things of God, and fuch as 
 concern our greater! Interest, to wi( 9 our eternal 
 and everlarling Happinefs. And fhall an earthly 
 Prince take Care to prevent the Confuiions that 
 may arife from the firft 5 and will not an infinite- 
 ly wife Lord, who is the Saviour of the Body of 
 the Church, and by his own Blood purchafed and 
 redeemed it, give fuch Laws as fhall hinder 
 thefe Diforders which cannot but flow from the 
 laft? And, jtbly, In all the New T'efta?nenr > 
 there is neither Precept nor Example of any ad- 
 ministrating this Ordinance, but a Minifter of 
 the Gofpel, lawfully called to the Work thereof. 
 And to ac"t, in the folemn Parts of God's Wor- 
 ihip while we have neither of thefe, is to a£t in 
 a faith lefs, bold, presuming, unwarranted and un~ 
 acceptable Manner. 
 
 I fhould now proceed to make fome Inferen- 
 ces from this, and would, for feveral Reafons* 
 omit the following ^iieflions, and Jltjfwers to 
 them, was it not, that it would add very much 
 to the Lamenefs and Imperfection of this Effay, 
 and the Reader's Difappointment, fhould nothing 
 be faid thereto. And any Thing, that by the 
 
t h J Tratticnl Efcyon 
 
 Affiftance I have from others, I am to oifer, I 
 
 hope, ihall be delivered with that Modefty and 
 
 Sober-mindednefs, which are very becoming m 
 
 difcourfing of Points fo nice, and of fo great Dif- 
 
 , ficulty. 
 
 liing j^pj Qneftion i. Concerning Baptifm admin/fired 
 
 tifm by " ty Heretical Miniflcrs ? 
 
 Heretical As to this, the Difpute was very hot in the 
 •Mimihrs. p r i m i t i ve Times, betwixt Cyprian in Carthaze, 
 and Stephen in Rome, with their feve^al Follow- 
 ers, wherein, both Sides feem to have gone to 
 Extreams 5 the firfl: positively denying the Vali- 
 dity of Baptifm, if administrated by Heretickf, 
 without Distinction of one from another : And 
 the laft as peremptorily averting the Validity of 
 it, whoever the Heretick was, and whatever He- 
 refy he maintained. But what is commonly offe- 
 red upon this, is, That there are feme fecret, 
 others open and profefTed Heretich. The rlrft 
 profefs the true Faith, keep the Effentials of 
 Administration, baptifing in the Name of the 
 Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghoft, One 
 true God, the fame in Subfhmce, equal in Pow- 
 er and Glory, tho' truly diftincT: as to their Per- 
 fonality. When Miniirers io profefs and fo acl, 
 albeit they fecretly harbour and nourifh Herefy 
 in their Ereafh, yet the Validity of Baptifm ad- 
 miniftred by them, is not denied 5 becaufe, the 
 Validity of an Ordinance is not to-be taken from 
 the fecret Thoughts and referved Judgments of 
 Men, but from the Institution .of Chriir, accor- 
 ding to which Baptifm is now fuppofed to be ad- 
 mini fired. Again, as to profefTed and open He- 
 rcticks, there are fome who maintain Errors 
 which are fundamental and everfive of the Go- 
 fpel of Chrift, fuch as Arrians y Samofatcnians> 
 Sabellians, and Socinians y who deny the Ever- 
 bleffed and Glorious Trinity of Perfons, in Unity 
 of Divine Effence> as- alio the Lord our Saviour^ 
 ^ in 
 
the Sacrament of Ztaptifik. 163 
 
 in bis Perfon, Natures, Undertaking, and the 
 whole of our Redemption purchafed by him . 
 But then there are other erroneous Minifters, 
 who holding the Foundation, retain all the Ef- 
 fentials in the Adminiftration of Baptifm, tho* 
 they build Hay and Stubble thereupon. As to 
 the laft, their Adminiftration is fuftained valid, 
 becaufe it has the Eflentials ; But as to the firft, 
 it is judged null and void, as if it had never 
 been, be'eaufe it wants thefe s And io thefe 
 Perfons pretended to be baptifed by them, are to 
 be re baptifed, or rather baptifed according to 
 the Inftitution ofChrift; in regard that hitherto 
 they have not been baptifed at all (i). 
 
 Queftion i. Concerning ^opijh Baptifm, and CoaccrA 
 that which is administrated by others 'who have iiing fo/riJ8 
 various Corruptions in their Ordination, and^ Ziim ^ 
 Additions of Men in their Adminiflration ? 
 
 Jlnfwer, Protectant Divines hold Baptifm ad- 
 miniflrated by fuch to be true and valid Bap- 
 tifm, tho' miferably corrupted and adulterated. 
 And that fqr thefe two Reafons efpeciallyj 
 Firft, Becaufe there may be a true, tho' Very 
 corrupt Miniftry j for, we are carefully to di- 
 fh'nguiftv betwixt that which is Divine and Chri- 
 stian in their Ordination, and effential thereto$ 
 and that which is Human, Antichriftian, and ac- 
 cidental therein. In the RomiJJj, and other 
 Churches, the Lord hath had, and it may be 
 charitably prefuwied, yet hath his hidden ones. 
 There the Adminiftrators, according to the Na- 
 ture of the divine Inftitution, are called to preach 
 the Word of God and thefe pure Doctrines con- 
 tained therein, and to adminiftef Sacraments ac- 
 cording to his Command j fo that from the Na- 
 ture of the Office there can be no necefTary Siib- 
 miifion to the corrupt lnftruments by whom it i? 
 L 2 con- 
 
 * (1) SeeTowcrfon on Baptifm, Page 27} ; to 23£. Tvret. YcL 
 Iliw Page 44^ 443 • 
 
164 A Tracheal Effay cm 
 
 conveyed, rioi* yet to the Additions, the bad De- 
 signs and unhallowed Ends that thefe may have 
 therein 5 but to the necefTary and fcriptural Du- 
 ties flowing from the divine Institution of the Of- 
 fice, and proper thereto. Many of our Refor- 
 mers had their Baptifm and Ordination from 
 them, and both were true j yet from the Nature 
 of thefe, they were under no Manner of Obliga- 
 tion to approve ©f, or comply with the vain Addi- 
 tions and unholy Defigns the Adminiftrators had 
 in either of them ; but, according to the divine 
 Conftitution, they had it as their Care to aft up to 
 the divine and inttituted Defigns of both. But 
 more of this afterward, idly y Becaufe even a- 
 mongft Papifts, the Eflentials of Baptifm are 
 kept, tho', as was faid, miferably corrupted by 
 their own unwarrantable Inventions 5 for here are 
 both Form and Matter which are of divine Ap- 
 pointment : And fo it is, that the Validity of 
 Baptifm depends upon the divine Inftitution, 
 which the corrupt Defigns and unfcriptural Ad- 
 ditions of Men cannot make void or null. Nor 
 where theEfTentials of Baptifm are retained, are 
 Perfons baptifed unto Men, or the vain Opinions 
 of Admin iftrators, bur unto the Father^ Son> 
 and Holy Gbojf, and the Lord Jefus Cbrift, the 
 only Saviopr of the World, and that according 
 to his own Appointment (1). 
 Are we Queftion $; j4re we then y eitheffor eurfelveS 
 to feck or others, to feek Bafitjfin from fucb corrupt Adr 
 
 £ora im r ' l ^' l fl ratorS ? 
 
 rap? Ad-' jf'ipvccr, We are not to ask Baptifm of thofe, 
 ainiftra- who, tho' they retain the EfTentials of Baptifm, 
 tx5rs - and fo the Ordinance is valid j yet either grofly 
 
 err in Matters of Doctrine and WoHhip, or re- 
 quire our SubmilTion to their unwritten Additi- 
 ons. 
 
 (\) See, amongfl others, Calvin Tnftk. Fol- 2^9. Sect. 16. ( 
 ZuTKhius^ Tom. 4t us. page 441. Rutherford's Divine Right, 
 &c page 237, to 2401 Jus^ Diyinum Minift* £vtv{, pag. 
 
 122; 123. 
 
the Sacrament of Haptifen. 165 
 
 ons ta Baptifm, as a neceflary Condition of our 
 having it adminiitred, either to ourfelvcs, or o- 
 thers we ask it for : Becaufe this would be a 
 keepirtg Communion with them we are called to 
 keep at the outmoft Diltance from ^ it is a tacite 
 approving of their Errors, an endangering of our 
 own Souls, an encouraging of fuch to continue 
 their Corruptions, and remain in their Perverie- 
 nefs and Obftinacy, and a mod uncharitable 
 Stumbling of others, Gal. i. 8. 2 Cor. vi. 14, 15, 
 16. 1 'John v. 23. Ro?n. xiv. ic, 15, 21. 1 Cor, 
 viii. ir, 13. (1) And doubtlefs, thofe are a 
 great deal more to be excufed, who lived under 
 grofs Popim and fuperftitious Darknefs, than we 
 can be, upon whom fuch clear Gofpel- light is 
 now rifen 5 nor is it the Want, but Contempt or 
 iinful Neglect of Baptifm, that condemneth : 
 Neither of which can take Place where this Ad- 
 ministration cannot be obtained, unlefs we be- 
 come the Servants of Men, defile our own Con- 
 science, and by our Sin do what in us lies to de- 
 ftroy thofe for whom Cbrift died. 
 
 Quettion 4. Concerning "Baptifm admzniftrcd Concer- 
 ly thofe ivho are depofed fwm the Office of the ni "§ , Ba P- 
 Mimftry ? . , . d£& 
 
 Anpwer, If fuch a Sentence be given againfi: Minifies, 
 thofe clave crrante^ i. e. either by Perfons not 
 having Authority, or for Caufes that are not 
 juft Ground for fuch a Cenfure, or in an unjuft 
 and palpably injurious Method, contrary to the 
 Xord's Word, and the Rules of common Equity j 
 in this Cafe, fuch Sentences are from the very 
 Beginning null and void, and the Miniitry of 
 fuch ftands firm in all its Parts, and to all Purpo- 
 iesj for, Cenfures of this Kind are not valid, 
 purely becaufe they are inflicted by Churchmen, 
 but in Regard they are pronounced upon Scrip- 
 L 3 ture, 
 
 ti) Turett Vol, 3. pag, 4-57. Busuni Loc. com. pat,. 6: 
 1*5. 
 
166 A Tracheal Effay on 
 
 ture Grounds, and arc proceeded in,- in a Scrips 
 ture Manner, and by Divine Warrant and Au- 
 thority. And if this .Proportion now laid down 
 U not allowed, then /hall it be in the Power of 
 corrupt Churchmen to deprive the Flock of God 
 of faithful Shepherds, and the fincerer Part of the 
 Miniftry, and that becaufe of their Integrity and 
 Soundnefs in the Faith of the Gofpel : And 
 were not fome of our rnoft eminent Reformers 
 not only depofed, butalfo excommunicate by the 
 Popifh Party ; notwithstanding whereof, and o* 
 ther Sentences pad againft them, they went on 
 in their Miniftry, and were fignally and extra- 
 ordinarily countenanced of God therein. Yet, 
 may not r this be propofed, That even when a 
 Sentence does fo pafs* if fo be the Church, who 
 gives it out, are otherwife found both in Doc- 
 trine, Administrations and Government j fhould 
 not a Spirit of Humility and Self denial, with' a 
 Regard to the publick Peace and Quiet of that 
 Church,, fo far prevail, as to oblige the Perfon 
 fo censured to forbear, at leaft for fome Time, 
 the Exercife of his Miniftry ; and in an orderly 
 Way addrefs the proper Judicatories, and with 
 JVleeknefs and brotherly Love defire a Commu- 
 ning with them, as it becomes the Servants of 
 one Lord and Matter. And if he fhould not 
 forbear the Exercife of hisMiniftry, it will be a 
 very hard Saying, if any fhould affirm, That his 
 Adminiftrations are invalid. But if Inch aCen- 
 fure is inflicted cfave non errante, L e by Per- 
 fons having juft Aurhority, upon juft Grounds, 
 and in an equitable Method 5 in this Cafe the 
 Qiieftion is more difficult : For on the one Hand, 
 fome of very great Learning fay (1), That the 
 Minifter finneth /hould he exercife his Office, 
 becaufe he acls diforderly, and contemns that 
 Authority he ought to obey 5 yet Ordinances 
 
 admi- 
 (1) See Kutberfsrd his Ecamcn *Ar mini unt fmi } pag. 55> 5«»'» 
 
the Siicrameut of %< Baptipm. 167 
 
 -'niitrated by him are valid, in Regard, that 
 by Dcpofition the Miniiler is only deprived of, 
 and forbid the Exefcffe of his Miniftry, while 
 the habitual Power and Authority remains with 
 him , and therefore, 'upon his Repentance, and 
 the taking off" of that Sentence, he is not re-or- 
 dained, but reponed to the Exercife of his Mini- 
 ftry, which by fuch a Sentence he was deprived 
 of, and forbid. And tho', fay they, it was by 
 the Church he had Authority from the Lord 
 *}efns to difpenfe Go(r>cl Ordinances, yet the 
 Church cannot again take it away ; only, may 
 warrantably put a Stop to the Exercife of it : 
 Even as fry a Minifter of the Gofpel PeiTons arc 
 baptifed in the Name of the Lord ; and yet m the 
 Cafe of Excommunication their Bapti fm is not 
 reckoned null, nor are they judged urfbaptifed, 
 3 but (till accounted Members of the Church, tho* 
 rotten ones, and, for the Time, fufpended from 
 the Privileges thereof: And therefore, upon 
 their Relaxation from that Sentence, they are 
 not rebaptifed, but only the Sentence and Re- 
 straint taken off. And fo here, on the other 
 Hand, may it not be faid, That if the Church 
 hath Power to deprive a Perfon of the Exercife* 
 of the Miniftry, and feeing his difpenfing of Go- 
 fpel Ordinances is exercifing this Office, how can 
 fuch an one lawfully exercife the fame, or how 
 can luch Administrations be valid? For, if a 
 Perfon whofe Office it is to ^append Seals to 
 worldly Rights, fhould, after juft Sufpenfion 01? 
 Depofition from that Office, prefumc to exercifo 
 the fame, furely no Judge would fuftain it valid 
 in Law 3 cfpecially,when it was made known to 
 the Perfon whofe Deeds were thus fealed, that' 
 the Sealer was depofed or fufpended from his 
 Office. And may not fome think, that fo i -y 
 the Church determine here ? But this Point I 
 kave to better Hands, and more learned Pleads, 
 L 4 and 
 
2 68 J Tragical EJJay on 
 
 and wifk to fee it clearly and diftinc~tly determi- 
 ned $ and ihall only add, That Church Judica- 
 tories are to be very cautious, unbyafTed and de- 
 liberate in palling fuch Sentences j thofe on 
 whom they are inflicted fhould not ra/hly, far 
 lefs in Pride and Contempt, refufe Submiffion to 
 them j and all the Members of that Church 
 ought, with the outmoft Care and Impartiality, 
 narrowly to examine and inform themfelves, as 
 to the Juftice or Injuftice of fuch a Cenfure, ere 
 they receive any Gofpel Ordinances from fuchj 
 and where there is fo much as a Probability of 
 the Equity of that Sentence, furely Forbearance 
 is by very far the fafeft Choice, and Tendernefs 
 ori all Hands is rnoft becoming the Gofpel. But 
 whereas, every Man's Ways feem right in his 
 own Eyes, and Contempt of Sentences of this 
 'Kind, tho' duly inflicted, is too common, there 
 feems no Remedy in this Cafe left to theChurch, 
 but Patience, a tteadv looking to the Lord, a di- 
 ligent inftructing and faithful Warning of thofe 
 under her Charge, and an Endeavouring, fo far 
 as they have Acccfs and is proper for them, to 
 convince and recover fuch as fo go aftray, and 
 lead others into Bypaths with them. 
 Inferences And now, from what hath been faid of the 
 from this. Adminiftrators of Baptifm, we may learn, Firfl, 
 ' *• Th c The, Error of thofe who allow private Perfons, 
 La\?Bap- or Men who are no,t inveftedwith theMinifterial 
 Kfra. Office, yea, in Cafes of Neceflity, Women alio, 
 to ad mini It rate this folemn and awful Ordinance: 
 For fuch are doubly guilty, while they act not 
 only without Scripture Warrant, but contrary to 
 the rnoft exprefs Prohibitions thereof, confine 
 eternal Salvation to the external Administration, 
 invert the Order that God has fettled in his own 
 Houfe, and bring thefe Confufions thereinto, 
 which he hath folemnly diicharged. How well 
 ihould it be with Churches, did the Word of 
 
 God 
 
the Sacrament of Baptitm. x 6f 
 
 God in all Adminiftrations determine them 5 
 were the Inftitutions of Heaven punctually ob- 
 ferved by them j did the Fear, Aw, and Dread 
 of being found unfaithful or prefumptuous poflefs 
 them j and did an holy Zeal for all God's Ordi- 
 nances, fweetly influence the whole of their De- 
 cifions. 
 
 Secondly, We cannot but juflly infer the Vali- II. Prei- 
 djty of Presbyterian Ordination and Adrniniftra-^ y " nan . 
 tions, particularly this of Baptifm 5 for, Mini- on and 1- 
 fters of this Perfwafion have all that is neceffary Baptifm 
 to a true and complete Call to the Work of the vi ™*ica- 
 Miniftry $ they are orderly elected, duly tried te 
 and approven, as to their Qualifications 5 and by 
 an Arfembly of fenior Pallors, are folemnly or- 
 dain'd and let apart to the Work of the Miniftry, 
 with Fafting, Prayer, arid Impolition of Hands. 
 And yet a Set of High flying Tvlen, of flaming 
 Spirits, who but of late lears had their Hands 
 tied up from perfecuting their diffenting Bre- 
 thren, and had nothing wherewith to charge them 
 but Calumny and Clamour, now of late ere& 
 their Batteries on another Fort, and doom to e- 
 ternal Silence the Adminiftrations of thefe (fomo 
 of whom have for many Years had the Blefling 
 of Heaven attending them) and that for want of 
 Diocefan Epifcopal Ordination : The loud and 
 common Cry, net only in cur neighbouring 
 Church, but of many of the Prelatical Party in 
 this Northern Part of the WorJd, is, That dif- 
 fenting and Presbyterian Minifters are no Mini- 
 fiers at all, but meer Laymen and Ufurpers ^ 
 That all their Adminiftrations are void and. 
 null j they have no Power and Authority to 
 preach, or exercifeDifcipline in the Church, and 
 no Com million to adminifter Saptijm or the 
 Lord's Supper j and ail this, becaufe they are 
 not ordained by the Impofition of the Hands of 
 a Diocefan Bilhop. It is furpriilng, with what^ 
 
 f n • 
 
17° 4 Tragical E(J?.y en 
 
 an Air of Aflurance, the Vulgarare told in pubUck 
 Difcourfes and private Converfations, T'hat they 
 who have no other Saptifm hit from the Hands 
 of a 'Presbyterian Mhufter, are ft ill tmbaftifedj 
 That they are no Chriflians, but a Sort of 'Pa- 
 gans and Heathens y to be left to uixovenantcd 
 Mercy. And when fdcn Notions arefo frequent- 
 ly and confidently buzz'd into their Ears, we 
 need not wonder, if fon.c poor, weak, ignorant 
 and credulous People take the Alarm, and tur- 
 ning bigotted, like their new Teachers, have 
 been filled with Fears, and Scruples about their 
 Chriftianity^ and, as the fureit Way to difpel 
 and remove them, have befought certain Curates 
 to baptife them into the only right Way : And 
 thefe Curates pretending Companion, have, upon 
 an Opportunity offered, rebaptifcd them, and 
 thereby conjured down the rcftlefs Spirit of Fear, 
 Terror and Confternation, which they themfelvcs 
 bad induftrioufly raifed. The wi/h'd for Brevi- 
 ty of this EfTay does not allow much to be faid 
 on this Head, or to thefe Men : 1 fhall there- 
 fore here, only briefly and in fome few Hints, 
 fhow, That to deny the Validity of Presbyte- 
 rian Ordination and Administrations, is unrea- 
 fonable, inconfiftent and uncharitable. 
 T. To JF»y?, I fay this is very unreafonable ; for, 
 ddiy.Pref. Firft % Is it reafonable to make the State of Chri- 
 
 Ordi r rurV. ftIanit y the Bein 3 ofaChriflian Church, and 
 tm,&c. iiPerfons Intereft in the Covenant of Grace to de- 
 unrc.^i'on- pend upon an Office, I mean rhat of a Diocefan 
 *l • . Bi/hop; which Firji, not many Years ago, was 
 tiki are " declared to depend upon the Will of Men : For 
 cota- then, all know, that the Frame of the Prelatical 
 8 r .f ed , Church in this Land was declared, and that by 
 pfficV C tke moft publick Law constituting it, to fiow from 
 of a Bi- the King's Will and Pleafure, and it's Govern- 
 &°P is. vtent to be ambulatory and alterable as he fazv 
 fit. zdly, And more particularly, upon an Office 
 
 which 
 
the Sacrament of 'Raptifw. 171 
 
 which the Maintained and Promoters of, tire not 
 agreed what it is j fome making it a meer Pre- 
 iidencyj fome p'acing it in a Negative, fo that 
 without the Bi/hop no A 61 of Jurifdiction is to 
 be performed j and others in this, That he hath 
 fole Power of Jurifd i6t ion and Ordination. And 
 this lair, thofc Men whom we have here to deal 
 with do aflert. But then, are they agreed as to 
 his Original? While fome fay it is only Jure 
 Ecclefiaflico, or by the Conititution of the Church, 
 and her conftant primitive Practice 5 and others, 
 that it is Jure 2)/vino, or founded upon the 
 Word of God. And finally, They are not yet 
 one as to the Object of this Office ; for it is ei- 
 ther, Firft, All the Souls in the Diocefs, io that 
 the Bi/hop is the prime Pa/lor 3 and if thus., 
 How does he engage to Impoflibilities, to feed 
 the Flock, and watch for Hundreds of Thoii- 
 fands of Souls, as one that muft efae an Account. 
 Nor does this Work allow of a Subixitute, un- 
 lefs they can alfo find one who can, and will an- 
 fwer for them at the Bar of the Great God. Or, 
 zdty, The Paftors who do teach and administrate 
 Gofpel Ordinances are the Object of Epifcopal 
 Government 5 and if fo, then, Flrjf^ A Bi/hop, 
 as fuch, can never pretend to be Succeflor to 
 the Apoftles, whole principal Commiffion was to 
 Teach and Baptife, Afatth. xxviii. ry. and 
 whole great Eu fine is was, to give themfetves con- 
 tinnaUy to JPrayerf and the Mfnifiry of the ' 
 Word, Afts vi. 4. And idly, In thi^Cafe, he 
 that labours in Word and 'Loci rive, is by the 
 Spirit of God preferred to him whole Office it 
 is to Rule, even tho' he rule Well* 1 Tim.'r. 17. 
 And can we reafonably think, that a Church's 
 being Chriitian fhall depend upon an Office* 
 which the Maintainors of are fo uncertain about, 
 and who, in difputing about it, do fo rend and 
 tear it in Pieces ? Or, is it fuppofeable, that our 
 
 glorious 
 
tji 
 
 If. Be- 
 caufe Pref- 
 byters on- 
 ly were 
 Ordain'd 
 as the A- 
 poftles 
 continu- 
 ing Suc- 
 cefTbr$. 
 
 A 'Practical EJJay on 
 
 glorious Redeemer, who purchafed his Church 
 with his own Stood, and his Apoftles, whofe 
 peculiar Office it was to lay the Foundation of a 
 Gofpel Church, fliould not have given a diftinct 
 Account of, or Directions about an Office eflential 
 to the very Being of Chriftianity ? But no fuch 
 Thing is to be found in the whole 3^ew Tefta- 
 ment Revelation. 
 
 Secondly, It is unreafonsble to deny Presbyte- 
 rian Ordination, if we confider, that the Apoftles 
 ordain'd preaching Presbyters, and thefe only as 
 their SuccefTors, to remain and continue to the 
 End of the World. The Confequent is Self- 
 evident, becaufe, if Presbyters were the only 
 SuccefTors of the Apoftles to remain to the End 
 of the World, then furely they were to ordain 
 others j elfe a (landing Miniftry was to expire 
 with them : So that the Antecedent only is to 
 be confirmed, which the following Inftances do, 
 Afis xiv. 23. "They ordained Elders, not Dio- 
 cefan Prelates, in every City. Atls xvi. 12. They 
 come to Thilippi, and there they ordain preach- 
 ing Elders or Si/hops, "Phil. i. 1. Thus i. ft 
 The great Apoftle of the Gentiles puts Titus in 
 Mind, That for this Caafe he left him at Crete, 
 that he fhould ordain Elders in every City, Acls 
 xvii. from Verfe 1. to 15. They come to Thef- 
 falonica^where there is a Church planted by their 
 Miniftry 5 but there, preaching Presbyters only 
 arc ordain'd and fettled, 1 The/f v. 12, 13. Acls 
 xviii. from Verfe 1. to 5. They come to Corinth ', 
 but there alfo, you fhall find the Rulers of that 
 Church acting in Parity of Power, and that in 
 the moft folemn and awful Part of Eeclefiaftick 
 Difcipline, 1 Cor. v. 4, 5, 11,12,13. And, Fi- 
 nally, at Ephefus, there, Elders only are ordain- 
 ed j to whom alone the Overfight of that Church 
 and Fleck of God is committed, Acts xx. 17, 
 20, 25, 27, 28. where it is moft obfervable, that 
 
 the 
 
the Sacrament of Haptifm. 17 3 
 
 the Apoftle now taking his Farewell of them, 
 and to fee their Face no more, tells them, He 
 had not (hunned to declare unto them the wJ.'ole 
 Connfel of God. Can it then be fuppofed, that 
 had there been a Prelate fet over them, or had 
 'Timothy (as fome fay) been to return, that, as 
 their Sijhop, he might prefide among them, that 
 the Apoftle would have committed the intirs 
 Overiight of that Church to (Presbyters, and that 
 in Timothys Prefence 5 and that he who kept 
 hack nothing from them, hut had declared to 
 them the whole Cowifel of God, fhould now, at 
 his final parting with them, not have mentioned 
 their Bifhop, on whofe Being* according to the 
 Opinion of thefe Men, the Exiftence ofaGofpel 
 Church depended ? And as to fuch, who fay, 
 that all thefe 'Presbyters were Biflzops in the 
 Prelatick Senfe 5 there needs no other Return be 
 made to them, but feeing there were Elders in 
 every City, and that in the Infancy of Chriftiani- 
 ty, when Profeflbrs were not many, then there is 
 . for ever an End put to 2)iocefan 'Prelacy 5 for 
 here, in the Scriptures p6inted at, there are more 
 Bi/hops than one, in one City, and fome of thefe 
 Cities none of the biggeft. 
 
 Thirdly, If, in Scripture, the Power of Jurif- m. p w- 
 di£Hon and Ordination belong to 'Presbyters, cr °{ J»- 
 tkenit muft be unreafonable to deny Presbyterian T] ^'f ) l j? 
 Ordination : But the Truth of this is moft evi- n i t icm in- 
 dent, if we confider, Fir ft, What was commit- longs tou- 
 ted to them. And, zdly, What was practiced * r ***y ters i 
 by them. For the Fir ft, can any Thing be more 
 plain, than that the Overftght of the Church is 
 committed to them, and they are Overfeers x 
 Acts xx. 17, 28. They are to rule and watch 
 over them, as thofe who muft give an Account , 
 Heb. xiii. 7. & xvii. 24. and 1 'Pet. v. 1, 2. 
 They are to feed the Flock of God. Now, can 
 any, in Reafon, think, That it would have been 
 
'i 74* A "Practical EJfay en 
 
 a' watchful Overfight over them, a careful Feed- 
 ing of them, and a fo Ruling them, as Men who 
 were to give an Account, had they, after their 
 Deceafe, J eft them neglected, and a Prey to grie- 
 vous Wolves, whom the Apoftle foretells them 
 were to enter in, fo as they might have flarved 
 for Want of the Nourifhment of their Souls, and 
 become a meer Anarchy », having none to rule 
 over them, had they not ordained a landing 
 Gofpel Miniftry to fucceed to themfelves? And 
 yet this they could not have dene, if they were 
 denied Power and Authority to ordain. But, 
 idly, That Presbyters have Power of Jurifdiction 
 and Ordination, does appear, if we obferve what 
 wasj practifed by them : Their folemn and awful 
 Commiffion being by the fpecial Intimation and 
 Direction of the Holy Ghqft, Atls xx. 28. doubt- 
 lefs, they practifed accordingly. I fhall. but in- 
 ftance in fome few, which I think are plain and 
 undeniable. The firft is, Acts xv. 4. where El- 
 ders or Presbyters are with the Apoftles receiv- 
 ing the Report of the Gofpel Succefs among the 
 Gentiles. Verfe 6. They meet with them to de- 
 cide in a very momentuous Affair 5 which necef- 
 tarily implies, that they had a Power of Juris- 
 diction. Verfe 22. They join in the Decifion. 
 And' Verfe 1$. Letters are written in their Name. 
 And, A5is xiii. 1, 2, 3. certain Prophets and 
 Teachers, not Prelates, do feparate and fend 
 forth Paul and Barnabas for the Work thereun- 
 to the "Holy Ghojl had called them : And this 
 they do by the Impofition of. Hands, Fading, 
 and Prayer. And if this Was not an Act of Ju- 
 risdiction, what can be one ? And then, 1 T'im. 
 iv. -14. Timothy is thus exhorted, Neglect not the 
 Gift that is in thee, which --was given thee by 
 Prophecy, with the Laying on of the Hands-of 
 the 'Presbytery. Where it will be Sufficient to 
 ebferve, Firfi, That here is a Gift or Office to 
 
 which 
 
the Sacrament of Saptifim f *75~ 
 
 which Timothy is ordained, Eph. i«:. $• ldlfi 
 Here is a Presbytery or College of ^presbyters 
 
 ' {fee Luke xxii. tftf. ^5?J xxii. 5.) conveeneci to 
 ordain him, which they do hi a moft folemn 
 Manner, by hnpodtion of Hands j which they 
 would not have done, nor ought to have done, 
 had there not been an inherent Power in 'Presby- 
 ters, as fuch, to ordain. Can we imagine that 
 they performed this Work without Direction, 
 j without Conimilfion, or were guilty of Ufurpati- 
 
 I on ? And then, $d%\ The great Apoitle of the 
 
 . Gentiles testifies that this Gift was given, and. 
 this Office conferred, by Laying on of the Hands 
 of the Presbytery 5 and can we have a more au- 
 thenrick Voucher ? Nor is it of any Weight 
 what is faid againft this. Say they, What do 
 
 * you know but the Apoftle was with them at this 
 Work? AnfitieTi Fir ft, Where the Scripture is 
 filent,. fo muft we be, elfe we mail mak'e fad 
 Work in 'Dccirine and Worfhip, as well as Go- 
 vernment j and make the Scriptures themfelve^ 
 but a very uncertain and indifferent Rule. But, 
 zdly, Let us fuppofe the Apoftle was there, and 
 
 ■ which fome alledge, from iT'im. i. 6. this will 
 not at all weaken, but more confirm our Argu- 
 ment, feeing this was done in the Prefence, and 
 in a joint Manner with the Apoitle, who, no 
 Doubt, would not have allowed it, but rather 
 have reproved them, had there been any Thing, 
 prefumptive or irregular in it, and had they wan- 
 ted an inherent Power to perform fuch a very fo- 
 lemn Aclion. 
 
 Fourthly, It is unreafonable to deny Presbyte- \y. j n 
 rian Ordination, and their Adm migrations j b,e- Script ure. 
 
 *caufe, if Ordination by Bifhops be valid, and the v ' l ' :h .P * n * - 
 Adminiftrations by thofe fo ordained be good, arc ^ JV:i 
 
 then, according to Scripture, fo muft that of Pref- 
 
 rbyters be. But the Firft is what our Adverfa- 
 ries affert 5 and the Second is fyidc-nt from this 
 
 Cen- 
 
ij6 A TraUical EJJhy on 
 
 Confiderariori, That, in Scripture, Si/hop and 
 ^Presbyters are one and. the fame, both as to 
 Name and Office, as is undeniable from Afts xx. 
 17, and 28. "Titus i. 5, 7. But this Argument 
 has been fo convincingly proven by many accurate 
 and- able Hands, that I- mall not infift on it, but 
 proceed, when once I have taken Notice of one- 
 Objection. And it is, 
 An Ob- How can Presbyters have Power to ordain, 
 )edion an- who can have no more Power than the Ordainers 
 fwered. g ave t k em 2 B ut> f av they, Bi/hops who ordain- 
 ed them, never gave them Power of JurifdicYion 
 and Ordination 5 and therefore, feeing they have 
 it not themfelves, they can never confer it upon 
 others. 
 
 Anfwcr. This is the very Objection which 
 IPapifts adduce againft the Ordination of (Pro- 
 teflants, and the Validity of their Adminiftrati- 
 ons. How, fay they, can you He re ticks have 
 more (Power than was given you $ which was 
 inly to uphold the (Papal Hierarchy ; to extir- 
 pate the Northern Herefy, or (Proteftant Reli- 
 gion 5 to obferve the Trental Articles ; to pray 
 Souls out of ^Purgatory $ and to fay Mafs in Or- 
 der to this, &c. Thefe were the Things that 
 were intended by the Ordainer, and not that 
 you fcould preach down thefe, pretend to reform 
 the World, and fet up Sclnfm at ical Meetings of 
 your own* Now, -Firfi, How will the (Prelati- 
 cal Party anfwer this Objection of the c PapiJis i 
 if their own Argument againft us, (Presbyterians, 
 be good ? But, idly, We fay, " with all Prote- 
 ctants, That the Nature and Extent of an Office 
 is not to be meafured by the Intention of the 
 Conveyer, but the Will of the Lawgiver appoin- 
 
 ting it. And if the corrupt Mean or Inftrument 
 by whom it is conveyed does confine, limit or ap- 
 point it to quite contrary Ends than thofe for 
 
 fvhkh it was at firft inftituted, in fo far, he is 
 
the Sacrament o/Baptifm. 17? 
 
 prefumptive and doubly guilty, a&s without 
 Law, without' Warrant, and with a bad Confci- 
 ence. For which Reafons, the Perfon ordained 
 is not to take his Rules from the corrupt Inten- 
 tion and unhallowed Limitation of the Initru- 
 ment conveying it, but from the Lord Jcfus 
 Chrift, the glorious Fountain of all Church Pow- 
 er, the only Head and King of his Church, and 
 from his Law revealed in his Words declaring 
 the Nature of the Office of a preaching. Presby- 
 ter, (hewing its Extent, and pointing out the 
 Holy Ends and Defigns which all are to have in 
 the Exercife thereof. Nor is it in the Name of 
 the Conveyers that they aft, but in the Name of 
 Cbrifly nor to them are they to make their Ac- 
 count, but to the Lord Jefus, and to him alone* 
 And, for this Caife, they are fo to exercife their 
 Office, not as the prefuming Conveyer requires, 
 but as he the great Judge and Lawgiver com- 
 mands. 
 
 But, Secondly, This denying the Validity of -p <j , nv 
 Presbyterian Ordination and Adminiftrations is the Vali- 
 inconfifrent, both with the other Principles and^ c >, °f. 
 Practices of thefe Men. For, in their known Or^i^JtYo^ 
 Judgment, no Man can be lawfully confecrated is income 
 a SiJ&op, unlefs he is -firft lawfully ordain'd a ftent » 
 Presbyter 5 and much lcfs can any Man be or- 
 dain'd to the Office of a Presbyter or Deacon, 
 who never was lawfully baptifed. Now, upori 
 thefe, I fhall but propofe a few Queftions to 
 them, If fo be Ordination by Presbyters be null 
 and void, is it not known to all Men, that 
 when Mr. Spot/woody Mr. Lamhe, and Mr. Ha- 
 milton, were confecrated (as they call it) to the 
 F.pifcopal Office, by fome Bifhops at London, 
 -that their Office as Presbyters was fultained valid, 
 nor were they, nor would they be re-ordairfcd 
 thereto (8) 3 But fo it fsj that their Ordination 
 M as 
 
 (8) Sec SpotfxooiPs Hi£©ry, P*ge 514. Cdderwoa?* Hi- • 
 &ory ; Page 747. 
 
ijS J Tragical Ejfcy on 
 
 as Presbyters was by Presbyters 5.' and if this was 
 as null as if it had never been," how then could 
 they be made Bifhops ? And, how could they 
 ordain other Presbyters, or give to others what 
 they never had themfelves ? And th -s, the Or- 
 dination of a goodly Number of Prelatick Preach- 
 ers, and all their Administrations, fhould be 
 void: and null. . But again, Have not many been 
 confirmed, who had no other Baptifm but that by 
 Presbyterians ? And,' can any be confirmed, who 
 are not fuppofed to have been regenerate by Wa- 
 ter and the Holy Ghofl (9) ? Have they not ha,d 
 Chriftian Burial (as they call it) but fhall Bap- 
 tifm be good at one's Death, and yet be null aJl 
 the Days of a Man's L-ife ? Eut to come nearer 
 Home, Was Presbyterian Ordination, and Gofpel 
 Ordinances administrated by Presbyters, null and 
 void, betwixt the Years 1638 and 1660 ? If fo, 
 let them give an open and plain Anfwer. How 
 many fuch were*, and yet are admitted to the 
 Lord's Supper by them ? How many fuch were 
 Epifcopally ordained to the TVorkoi theMiniflry? 
 And, how near Six hundred Ministers who had 
 Presbyterian Ordination only, were affumed into 
 Epifcopal Communion,; without Re-ordination ? 
 lVJ:at ! flbell Men be admitted to the Table of 
 the Lord, and ordained to the Work of the Mi- 
 niftry, who were never lawfully baptifed, but are 
 as Heathens and ^Pagans > not in Covenant with 
 Cod, nor reckoned ib, but to be left to uncove- 
 nanted Mercy? One Quell ion more, Was. King 
 Charles I. a Jfartyr, or not ? I am very fure, 
 that if thefe Mens Way of talking hold, he was 
 not 5 for, .if he was no Chriflian, but an uncove- 
 named Perfcn, then a Martyr he could not be j. 
 B^t, according to them, a Chriflian he was not, 
 becaufe he was baptifed in Scotland by a Presby- 
 terian 
 
 (9) See the Prayer at Confirmation; with the Queftions 
 propof#d 
 
the Sacrament of Baptifm. *19 
 
 terian Miniver: And if he was no > Martyr , and 
 no Cbriflian, what Abundance of brave Labour, 
 and how many curious, eloquent, elaborate Ha- 
 rangues have /he Epifcopal Clergy loft for thefe 
 many Years, on 'the ~,o. ot Jamtary And , ft. 
 nallv, What will they fay of the Learned and 
 Sus Unherfity of Oxfo^, who in their 
 Letter to the Presbyterian Chuck of Onm 
 >rfn^ jit, «W, call their Mimfters ,^r ^ 
 5>4fforj, and Bear Brethren in Chrift ; and 
 exnrefs their very high Efteem of them and Af- 
 fection to them. Will our fiery Zealots rank 
 that Univerfity, as they have done fome very 
 Learned, Reverend and Renowned Prelates, a- 
 mong the Number of falfe Brethren. 
 
 I can apprehend no Return that can be made 
 to thefe few Queries, but either they muft ^al- 
 low Lay Baftffm to be valid, or elfe grant, that 
 Baptifm adminiftredby Presbyterian Miniflers is 
 good. If they fay the laft, which according to 
 plain Scripture and found Reafon they fhould 
 fw, then we have what we ask, and the Dilpute 
 is at an End. But if the firft be gone in with, 
 then what becomes of the lawful Paftor, which 
 according to them and us both, is eflential to Ad- 
 miniftrations of that Kind ? But then, feeing 
 they will have Presbyterian Miniflers, and o- 
 ther Z)iffenters from the Epifcopal Church, to 
 be no other than Lay-men, why is not Baptifm 
 adminiftrate by them valid alfo. But, 
 
 •Thirdly, This fDo&rine of denying the Vah-i t is rao £ 
 ditv of Presbyterian Ordination and Admimftra- wncharJ- 
 tions, is moft uncharitable: For, Firft, Here-'f ^ 
 by they call out from the Society of the Faith- church( , $ 
 •ful, from the Church of Chrift, and from alia gr«c 
 Chriftian People, the moft Part of all the Prote- £" £ 
 ftant Churches in the World; fuch as the eftabli- ftanr 
 (bed Church of Scotland, Biffenters in England World, 
 and Ireland; as alfo the Churches of God, who 
 
1 8 o J TraBical EJJay on 
 
 are not Epifcopal, _ in New England, Holland* 
 Geneva, the 'Palatinate, and Bremen, with the 
 Protectant Churches in Germany and Hungary* 
 tSc And is it not a ftrange 2)ot~lrine, that re- 
 j>refents the <Pureft and left Reformed Churches 
 in the World, to be no better, yea, and no other 
 than Unbaptifed "Pagans or Heathens ? What 
 is this, but to cut off from the Body of Chrift, 
 vaft Numbers, nay, the greateft Number of its 
 moft eminent Members j many of whom have 
 done and fuffered exceedingly more for Chrift, 
 Chriftianity, Religion, and the Reformation, 
 than ever thefe were or ihall be capable of, who 
 fo uncharitably treat them, and fo heavily cen- 
 fure them. And indeed, the Way to Christiani- 
 ty muft be very narrow, if it is confined to the 
 Communion of any one particular Church 5 but 
 more narrow, yea, and lefs fafe too, if it is only 
 to be found in thefe of the Prelatick Perfaa- 
 fion. 
 j j Secondly, Whereas Charity obligeth us to be 
 
 Without kind one to another, comforting the Minds 2 and 
 Ground ftrengthning the Bonds of one another in the 
 
 Kc R Re£ w *y of chrIftianit y 5 ) et » how <*° tnefe Men 
 
 gious. " /how the greateft Difafte£tion by their fiery and 
 mifguided Zeal j difcourage the Hearts, and wea- 
 ken the Hands of their Fellow-Chriftians, by 
 buzzing into their Ears their unfound and unchri- 
 ftian Principles 5 telling them, that notwithstan- 
 ding of all they have profeiTed, of all that, by 
 Grace they have been helped to acl, and of all 
 they have felt ar.d attained to, according to the 
 glorious Gofpel, yet they are (till unbaptifed 5 
 no Chriftians, not in Covenant 5 and have nor- 
 thing upon Scripture Ground to hope for, but are 
 left to uncovenanted Mercy} labouring thereby to 
 611 the Minds of true Believers with groundlefs 
 Scruples, Fears and Jealoufies. Is this Charity? Or, 
 is it not rather to ail like an j4ccufer of the Bre- 
 thren* 
 t . 1 
 
the Sacrament of Baptifm. 18 1 
 
 •thren ? May God pity Men of fuch unchriftian 
 Principles, and throughly convince them, that 
 they know not what Manner of Spirits they 
 are of. 
 
 Thirdly, Hereby the Hands of Proteft ants are 
 weakned, and thofe of the Papifts are ftrength- * n * Ea ' 
 ned : For, what do they fay lefs than Papifts Vupm^nt 
 do, both of Proteftant Minifters and People, difcou* 
 while they deny their Minifters to be truly fo, TA Z e$ P/C ' 
 and declare, that People who own them as Mi . ej unti ' 
 nifters, and fubmit to them in the Lord, are no 
 Chriflians. Can thefe Men do more to revive 
 and propagate the Intereft of Anricbrift, than by 
 Unchurching many 'Proteftant Churches at once, 
 and ranking them with the Excommunicate. 
 Hence, it has been obferved by fome, That the 
 Romifh, and fome of our Britiflj Priefts of tho 
 new Stamp, are like Two Mill-ftones fet a going 
 by a Spirit of Fury and Cruelty, which grfnd to 
 Powder, not only our Reformers, but Multi- 
 tudes of our reformed Churches, For, theFirft 
 reprefents them to the World as Hereticks, and 
 the lad as unbaptifed Pagans and Heathens. Is 
 this the Catholick Charity that fome value them- 
 felves fo much upon, and boaft fo much of ? But 
 it may be we miftake them j for it is not 
 Chrift's Holy Catholick Church, that is, The 
 whole Congregation of Chriftian People through- 
 out the whole World, and especially the Churches 
 of England, Scotland and Ireland, that their 
 Charity is to be extended unto, and tor whom 
 they are to pray, as the Fifty fifth Canon of the 
 Church of 'England directs, but the Catholick 
 Church of Rome, and others, only, who are of the 
 fame Epifcopal Mould : For, thefe have true 
 Minifters, and true Adminiltration of Sacra^ 
 ments, whilft all other Proteftant Churches have 
 neither of thefe j and fo, according t© them, can 
 be do Chriftian People. 
 
 M 3 I know, 
 
1 8 2 A Tragical Effay on 
 
 Their I know, That the common Return they give 
 plyanfVe^ to Arguments of this Kind, is, "That they are 
 red. not At all concerned what the Confequentes le y 
 
 if their ^ropofition is good : But as we are to 
 judge of the Goodnefs or Badnefs of their Por- 
 tion from what has been faid $ fo they may plea fe 
 confider, That tho' from a true Propofitidn fuch 
 Confequences may follow, as we cannot explain, 
 nor, to the Satisfaction of others, account for; 
 yet no Confequence can be truly deduced from 
 a true Pofition, which is evidently abfurd, and 
 manifeftly overthrows the Pofition it (elf y as 
 thefe above-mentioned plainly do. This only I 
 fhall further notice, That whereas thefe Men 
 we now reafon with make a common Outcry, . 
 That, of all Men, Presbyterians are the moft 
 uncharitable 5 we mull: now leave it to. all the 
 Chrifiian World to judge , J which of the Two, 
 they or we, are fo. We do acknowledge all 
 Proteftant Churches to l>e true Churches, and 
 reckon our felves obliged to pray for them, tho' 
 in feveral Things they differ from us, which 
 Things we cannot comply with, but muft difap- 
 prove of and lament as Corruptions. But thefe 
 will acknowledge- none to be- true, yea, not to be 
 Chri/tian Churches, but' the Church 'of Rome^ 
 and fome few others that are of a Prelatical 
 Stamp with themfelves. ■ Nor can Presbyterians 
 underftand why thefe People make Cbriftianity 
 depend upon Baptifmf for we think, That Eap- 
 tifm fuppofeth Men Chrittians, elfe they have 
 no Right to Eaptifm the Seal of Christianity 5 
 all Seals, in their Nature, fuppofing the Thing 
 that is fealcd. And if our Children are born in 
 Covenant, and are holy, and if thofe come to 
 Age, we read of in Scripture, who before they - 
 were baptifed, were renewed, repented, and be- 
 lieved, were not Chriflians, we do not under- 
 hand what will make any fo. \ Eaptifm folemrily 
 
 declares 
 
the Sacrament . of ]} iptifm. 1 8 3 
 
 declares and leafs them up to Chriftianity, but 
 was never intended to make them fo. But it is 
 Time that I now proceed to a 
 
 Third Inference from what hath been faid on reference 
 the Head of Admmiftrators of Baptifm : And ir III. 
 is, That hence we may learn to whom Parents of " whom 
 aYe to carry their Children, that they may be *£. P B r ap I° 
 baptifed, and of whom thofe come to Age, who :um . 
 yet want this Privilege, are to ask it : And this 
 is to a Miniiter of the Gofpel, and of him, who 
 is lawfully called and authorifed to adminiiler 
 this. When Men want to have.a Seal appended 
 to their Rights of temporal and 'peri/liing Poffef- 
 fijns, they addrefs themfelves .to fqch as, by Law, 
 are impowered" to do this ;■ much/ more fho Id 
 they do fo in tbi$ Affair of, Baptifm, which^ 
 being of everlalting Concern, is furely of infinite- 
 ly greater Moment. And it is 'without Doubt, 
 that the nearer a Minifter comes to the Scripture 
 Pattern and Rule, as to his Ordination to the 
 Office of the Mini (try, and Adminiftration' of 
 this Ordinance, the greater Freedom and Com- 
 fort may Perfons have to defire it for other?, and 
 receive it for themfelves. Nor are we to be in- 
 different and -unconcerned aboil* this, as too ma- 
 ny be. But then, 
 
 Fourthly, Ave. Minifters of the Gofpel the i\\ >n.. 
 only allowable Perfons to difpenfe this Ordi- niftcrs 
 nance of Baptifm ? Surely they ought to be both Dut >'* 
 willing and ready to do this, in a Suitablenefs 
 to the Solemnity of the Action, and the Rules 
 of Decency and Order. He that hath an Office 
 committed to him, is not to grudge the punctual 
 and faithful Difcharge thereof,' left he be ar- 
 raigned, by the great Matter, as a flothful and 
 faithlefs Servant, and punifhed accordingly : And 
 of all Men, none ought to be more active in 
 their Work, than Gofpel Minifters. Ordinances 
 to be difpenfed by them are of Divine Inilituti- 
 M 4 1 on 5 
 
184 J Tracheal Effhy on 
 
 «n -, the Souls of People committed. to their Gire. 
 are of greater Value than a whole World h and 
 therefore their Charge cannot but be great and 
 awful ^ To that a more than ordinary Diligence 
 cannot but be required at their Hands, And 
 Thrice happy is that Servant, whom his JLord % 
 when be covietl\ (hall find fo doing. 
 
 SECT, II. 
 
 Of the Adminifiration of ftafjifm, , 
 
 HAVING fpoke of the Adminiftrators of 
 Saptifm, it is meet that we next fpeak of 
 the Adminiftration it felf. And here Jeveral 
 Things .offer themfelves to our Confiderauon $ 
 fuch a.% what is preview fly neceffary thereto, the 
 Action it felf* the Manner of performing this, 
 with the Circumftances of this folcmn and reli- 
 gious Performance. Of all which I /hall difcourfe 
 feparately, and with as much Brevity as the Na- 
 ture of Things will allow. 
 
 I. Of what is prei'ious to Haftifm. 
 
 Here I perfwade myfelf that it will be gran* 
 All mould te ^ D y *H Chriftian.% That it is highly expedi- 
 frepare. ept and becoming, that Parents prepare them- 
 felves for fuch a foiemn religious Duty 5 That 
 Mi niiters compofe their own Spirits in order to 
 the due Adminiftration of fuch ap awful Ordi- 
 nance $" and that Spectators fludy a Frame of 
 Spirit finable thereunto: For, as. has been al- 
 ready obferved, all have their feveral Parts to 
 a& in this great and concerning Affair. And 
 for this Caufe, it appears very reafonable, that 
 
 fomp 
 
 I. 
 
the Sacrament of "Baptifm. 185 
 
 fome brief Narration of the Author, Inftitution, 
 Nature, Ends and Ufes of Baptifm, fhould pr£- 
 ceed the Adminiftration itfeJf j this being of 
 fpecial Ufe to inftrucl, convince, confirm, excite 
 and engage the Minds of all ; by which alfo the 
 Foundation is declared upon which Parents pre- 
 fent their Children that they may be baptifed, 
 others came to it, and Minifters go about the 
 Work of Administration, in Faith and full Af- 
 furance, that as they acl in divine Things, fo 
 by divine Warrant and Appointment : And may 
 therefore look for the divine Blefiing to this holy 
 and divine Inftimtion. But what I more efpe- Tl.A Blef- 
 cially have in View, as previous to Baptifm, is' y J* n g is to 
 the Minifter's praying to God, in the Name f^ r prayed 
 Cbrift, for his Bleftng upon it j_ Thar all the 
 faving . Defigns and EfTecls thereof may take 
 Place, to the eternal Advantage of the Perfon or 
 Perfons to be baptifed. This was reckoned fo 
 neceiTary in the primitive Times, that it was 
 looked upon as an eflential Part of the Admini- 
 ftration(i). And tho' I cannot plead exprefs 
 Scripture Command or Example for fo doing", yet 
 that it is moft juft and reaionable will appear, 
 Fir/}, If we confider that our common Food, 
 Meat and Drink, which we ufe for the Nouri/h- 
 ment of our Bodies, are faid, i Tim. iv. 5. to be 
 fan&ified by the Word and Grayer \ i. e. not only 
 are they lawful as to their Ufe, but ordain'd for 
 the Support and Prefervation of our frail Bodies, 
 as to their Effect^ and thus, by the Word ap- 
 pointing our Food for that End, and Prayer as 
 the Mean whereby the Deiign is obtain'd. And 
 if we are to pray to God for his Eleiting on 
 common Things, which are only for the Body, 
 how much more fhould we plead for this on a 
 divine Ordinance, which is appointed for the 
 
 eternal 
 
 (1) See King's Enquiry into the Conftitution of the 
 primitive Church, Part II. pag. 71, 72. 
 
iU J Tragical Ejffhy on . 
 
 j^tqra^l Advantage of the Soul, 2^,-Becaufe 
 p^r bleflfed Redeemer, and his A.poftles after hjs 
 ^|xample y did pray for the heavenly Blefling and 
 Influence to attend the Mini ft rat ion of- the :Sup- 
 ^fi"^ and if fo, then by a Parity of Reafqn we,afe 
 ta pjead this to accompany the . Ad m migration 
 tfilBaptifm : For if f/^tf be for our growipg up 
 hfiJCbrifty this does fignify our ingrafting into 
 QJPi[ u l4^i Eecaufe the Efficacy of 111 Ordi- 
 mnce^ qepends only upon God, and flows from 
 mm, I Cor, , \ii. 6. Should he not therefore be 
 fi^r^lylpoted to for this | ; . A$/|, And fpeci- 
 . ., k\ly % Becaufe^he has promi fed his gracious and 
 ejjftcacious _Jfreleqcp to be wnJitHs JVImi iters- in 
 ttefr .Ad mini Ration of this .Ordinance, Afaub. 
 xxyiii. iy. And mould it not, in the mofl: ear- 
 ned, humble and .believing ^av be fought; $ .as 
 wp Tee, 2ktf£. xxxvi. 2 5 , 2 6", .2 7 ; '.' compared with 
 
 Obferves ,, But tor our further undent adding this, we may 
 for b « ter oMerve, *FirJi, That it'may be modeftly con- 
 ^ ingof je&urcd, that the Reafon why we have no ex- 
 this. prefs Command for this, nor Jnftance of it in the 
 
 New I'e flame nt y is, becaufe this of acknowledg- 
 ing God by Prayer, when his People were about 
 the Administration of a folemn and divine Ordi- 
 nance, was an Action fo plainly neceflary and 
 obvious, that it was not fuppofeable that any Di- 
 lute would be moved about it. idly. That as 
 this is the peculiar Work .of the Adminiftrator, 
 fo it is the fpccial Duty of the Congregation, in 
 the moft folemn, iincere and fervent Manner, to 
 jpin with him therein: For Zeal to the Glory of 
 (Jjod, edifying the Body of Chrijt, and the eter : 
 nalHappinefs and Salvation of others, do all ne- 
 fje'tfarily oblige hereto. But alas! the Aflionr 
 being frequent, it is to be fear'd, that this Chri- 
 stian tDuty is performed feldom and very flighf- 
 Iy. idly* It is to be obferved, That by Grayer 
 
 at 
 
the SdcrtUtitnt 'of Btrptifm. 1S7 
 
 at Saftifm there is no peculiar Sanctity or Holi- 
 nefs put into the Water, f^r lefs any Virtue, or 
 Energy given to the Remains of, to uork JVqn- 
 ders, or heal Difeafes. That it is relatively 
 holy, in regard it i^ how ufed in an holy Ordi- 
 nance, and for: holy Ends, is certain 5 but when 
 theiUfe ceafes, and the. Relation is diiTolved, 
 this Wolinefs is at an End too ? and any other or 
 greater Degree of Hoi i nefs than, this cannot be 
 apprehended, nor was it. ever designed. Hence, 
 the Practice of fome, in pouring o t the Water 
 on the Church-floor, (holy> Ground, as'they;rec- 
 konj after the AdmimJk^tjpn is over, cannot be 
 well vindicated from; a coniiderable Meatoe, of 
 Ignorance and Superftitipn. 
 
 Andfroni what hath been faid, we may leartv Inferences 
 Firfty How unbecomingly, they -a 6t, who . ru/h on ™4^ ? ' 
 this folemn Ordinance, not duly confidering Error of 
 whofe and what it is 5 nor confeientioufly encjea-.the Preci- 
 vouring to : have their, own Souls prepared there- P icant « 
 fore. :Tbefe People, whoever they be, few no 
 fmall Difrefpecl to the Author, and Di&egard of 
 the Matter, and proclaim to the World their In- 
 dififerency asjto the Effect, of this Ordinance. But II. Of the 
 of this more afterward. zd!/\\ It informs us -of [rreI, Si* 
 the Err or /'of. fo me, who prejume upon the Ad- us ' 
 miniftration of this Sacrament, not looking to 
 God, and addreffing the Throne of Grace for his 
 Blelfing; for if we are in all our Ways to acknow- 
 ledge him, how much more in thefe of fuch an 
 awful Nature and vait Concern to us. .And when 
 this Acknowledgment is deliberately neglected, 
 how may the. Religion of fuch. be very, juftly fu- 
 fpecled? 
 
 II. Of the Aclion of Adminijlration. 
 
 There are feveral Things which come under 
 frhis Title, but I* ihall begin with that which is 
 
 ©f 
 
*8S A PraBical Efay on 
 
 of more fpecial Confederation, and difcour/e o£ 
 others as they come jn Order. 
 Anent We have above endeavoured to vindicate the 
 bIKL 10 Vanity of "Presbyterian Ordination sn^Admi- 
 niftratims, againft the vain and unchurching 
 Principles of the rigid <Prelatifts ; anoVnow we 
 are obliged, as are alfo Prelatifts and others &ish 
 us, to defend the Lawfulnefs and Validity M Our 
 performing this Ordinance, by fprinkling or pou- 
 ring a little Water upon the Perfon to be bapti- 
 fed, againft the Anabaptijis, who maintain the 
 Th O a b*o'lute Neceflity of dipping or immerging the 
 (Hon iVa-~ w k°J e Bo ^y int0 the Water. And as to this, it 
 ted. may be obferved, Firft, That it is not to be 
 
 . queftioned, but that the Word Saptife, in Greek 
 B4tt^, does fometimes, yea commonly in pro- 
 phane Authors, fignify, to dip, immcrgei plunge, 
 or put the whole Body under Water. But if this 
 be the real and true Signification of this Word, 
 as ufed in this Sacrament, is what will not be 
 fo eafily gone into. Nor, idly, Are we to dif- 
 pute the Lawfulnefs of baptifing by Immerfion ', 
 this is univerfally granted : But the Queftion is, 
 If it be fo abfolutely neceflary, as that thefe are 
 not to be reckoned bapti fed who were not dipt ? 
 1 Nor idly, Is the Queftion, Whether lmnerfwn 
 was praclifed by the Ancients ? Yea, it may be 
 handed down by them to very late Times (i). 
 For it is unanimoufly agreed, That a Trine Im- 
 merfion, or dipping the Perfon into the Water^ 
 was a very ancient Practice. This they did once 
 at naming the Father ', a fecond Time at naming 
 the Son, and a third at mentioning the Holy 
 Ghofl, to denote their Belief of, and being bap- 
 tifed into the Faith of the Holy 'Trinity (i). 
 But this was afterward juftly laid afide, as void 
 
 of 
 
 (1) Se: Mr. WWfcPs Hiftory of Baptifm, Vol. II. pag. ?59, 
 45>5» (2) Hjftory «t /«^*} pag. 3^0, Z&ncbius 3 Tom. 4.* 
 
the Sacrament of Saptifm. 1 8* 
 
 of Scripture Foundation, and giving too muck 
 Liberty to human Inventions in the Things of 
 God, by appointing fignificant Ceremonies in r his 
 Worfoip and Service. The Proportion then is 
 this, That dipping of the Terfon into the Water 
 is not neccffary 5 but Baptifm is rightly admi- x Th £ r 
 mflredy by pouring or Sprinkling Water upon IZT 
 the <PerSon (ij. And for Proof of this Propor- 
 tion, I cannot indeed ufe fome Arguments that 
 are commonly adduced ; fuch as, That Immer- 
 fion endangers the Life of the Infant 5 and that 
 it is not fo becoming that Modefty that fhould 
 be among Chriflia?is : For, if we' confider the 
 Practice of the Greek Churchy which extends it- 
 felf to Nations whofe Climate is colder than our 
 own, and the Adminiftration of the Sacrament of 
 Circumcifion, there will appear to be little Weight 
 in thefe Arguments. And as to the laft, fome 
 tell us (ij, That among the Ancients, when a 
 Woman was to be baptifed, the 'Priejls kept at 
 a Diftance, until Women had undrefiedher, and 
 put her in the Water to the Head ; then the 
 <Prieft came, and putting her Head under the 
 Water, ufed the Form of Baptifm, and then left 
 her to be covered by the Women with a white 
 Garment. But I /hall, for .Proof of the above 
 Proportion, offer thefe two Arguments. 
 
 Firjl, If the Scripture has left us at Liberty Arg. I. 
 as to this, and there be neither exprefs Trecept 
 nor Example for Dipping, then it is not abfo- 
 Jutely neceflary : But the Firft is true. As to 
 <Precept, nothing can be alledged but the origi- 
 nal In (li tut ion , Matth, xxviii. 19. Go teach 
 and 'BaptiSe, which laft Word, fay Anabaptifls, 
 always fignifies to immerge or dip the whole Per- 
 fon into the Water. But if it can be Ihown, that 
 this Word Saptife has other Significations m the 
 
 Nemo 
 
 (O Sec Confefliion of Faith, Chap. 28. Szci. 3. (2) Mr; 
 WdJi Hiftory of Baptifm, Vol. II, pag. 380. 
 
jpo A TraUical EJJay on 
 
 NewTeflamcnt, particularly Wafhing in the Ge- 
 neral, fpr inkling or pouring on of Water, then 
 no fuch Confequence can be inferred from the 
 Signification of the Word, as will conclude the 
 Invalidity of thefe Administrations which are 
 r ' not by Immerfion 5 But To it is, as we fee from 
 Matfh. xx. 29. where our Lord menticneth his 
 Baptifm, which all underhand his pouring out 
 vrfhedding his Blood for the Sins of the Worlds 
 and not that he was dipt into it, but Sprinkled 
 with it. So Mark vii. 4. it is faid of the <Pha- 
 rifees, That when they co?ne from the Market ; 
 except they wafh they eat not, where Washing 
 (or Baptifing, as the Greek has it) is not to be 
 underflood of dipping their whole Bodies into 
 ■Water, but as may be inferred from the 
 Context, of warning their Hands ^ at lealt, it 
 is very much controverted by Historians if this 
 was the Practice of the Jews (i^j fo Luke vii. 
 3*3. the 'Pharifees wondred that our Lord had 
 not firft. wafhed before Dinner, or laptifed 5 
 which we can fcarce underftand of dipping his 
 whole Body into the Water, But then, Mark 
 vii. 4. we have Mention of their wajhing of Beds, 
 at the fame Time that their washing when they 
 come from Market, is exprefTed 3 but whatever 
 Senfe we take the Greek Word in, whether what 
 .they fat on when frhey did eat, or fet their Meat 
 upon, it is not to be fuppofed that they dipt 
 them wholly into Water,- but fprinkled them, as 
 their ordinary Way of Luttration was : For, 
 ^Dipping would very foon have made them both 
 lunfavoury and ufelefs. Again, 1 Cor. x. 2. the 
 Jfraelites are faid t© be laptifed in the Cloud 
 'and in the, Sea , but fure they were not dipt in- 
 to either, or fb immerfed therein, as to be whol- 
 ly wetted therewith. So likewife, Hel. ix. 10. 
 we have Mention made of divers Wafhihgs or 
 
 Baptifms, 
 
 (1) See Mr. jfcifft Hiftory of Baptifm," Vol, II. pag. 300. 
 
the Sacrament of % apt i fin . 191 
 
 j8aj>ttfms, but no Man ever underftood thefe of 
 fe putting all thefe Things into Water ; or whate- 
 ver elfe,' as that they were wholly, immerfed. 
 therein. See Nrtml: xix. 20. ' Zc-v- iv., 1,7. Lev. 
 >:iv. i& Lev. xvi. 14, 15. Nuwb, viii, 7. Numb. 
 xix. 18, 19. JEro^. xxiv. 8. Thus we maybe 
 convinced, that there is no Precept for 2)ip- 
 
 ping- 
 
 And there is as little clear Example as pre- 
 cept in Scripture for this Practice, tho' it is here 
 that the great Strefs by many is laid j, and they 
 urge, Tlrft, 'Johns baptiiing in Jordan? Mutth. 
 iii. 6, 1 6. but from this it cannot be certainly m ^ U r 
 inferred, that therefore he dipt them over Head^/^an- 
 and Ears in it j for might he not have baptifed fwered. 
 them in Jordan, and yet neither they nor he 
 gone into the Water, further than to their Ancles 
 or Knees. And we muft confider, that in the 
 Infancy of the Gofpel they had not thefe Acco- 
 modations for baptiftng as in a fettled Church 5 
 and therefore, they baptifed where they had Con- 
 veniency of Water, which in that dry Region 
 was not every where to be had. .The fameAn-_ 
 fwer is given unto his baptiiing in JEnon near 
 Salim } becaufe there was much or many. Waters 
 there 5 for if we confider *he Multitudes that 
 came unto him, the Difad vantage they were 
 under as to Places of Conveniency for. putting or 
 preferving Water, with the Drynefs of the Coun- 
 try, it needs be no Manner of Surprife that he 
 baptifed where Water. m\ght be eafiiy had. And 
 tho' there were many Waters there, yet will any 
 fay, that it neceifarily follows, that all that were 
 baptifed there were dipt ? Of no greater Weight- 
 is what they urge from ^Philips baptiiing the 
 Eunuch, j4tls viii. 38. where it is laid, -That 
 they went both down htto the Water. For, not 
 to infift, Firft, on what fome Travellers and o- 
 thers tell us, that as -JEnon* fo tbi* Place where 
 
 the 
 
192 A Tracheal EJJay dn 
 
 the Etinoch was baptifed, was only a Fountain 
 fpringing forth at the Foot of the Mountain. Nor 
 zdly, Upon the Greek Word Keri^aa^ which may 
 well refer unto their defcendingfrom^the Chariot. 
 •Nor ^dty, That the Word Defcend does common 
 ly in the New T'cflament denote only going from 
 one Place to another, zsAtls x. 2c. Atls xiv. 25. 
 j45isxvii. 15. Nor \thly, That the Greek Proporti- 
 on «'<? here rendered into, does frequently figni- 
 fy no more than W, or to, of which many In- 
 fiances may be given. Nor <>thly, That It is 
 •faid that 'Philip defcended into the Water as 
 well as the Eunuch di-d : Sj that if any Thing 
 be inferred from this, it muft be, that Philip 
 was wholly dipt under Water too. I fay, not to 
 infift on any of thefe, the Anfwer is, 'Tis true 
 they went both down to, or into the Watery but 
 will it therefore follow, that Philip immerfed 
 the Eunuch when he baptifed him ? For cer- 
 tainly both might have gone into the Water, and 
 nothing like what is alledged be performed. Nor 
 does the Place cited inform us what was done 
 more than this, That the Eunuch was baptifed. 
 But the great Argument they ufe, is from Rom. 
 vi. 4, 5 r and Col. ii. 12. where we are faid to be 
 huried with Chrifl by Saptifm into tDeath, and 
 Verfe 5 . to be planted together, in the Likenefi 
 of his 2)eath. Now, fay they, and others with 
 them, this is an Aliufion unto the Manner of 
 Baptifm in thefe Times, which was by 2) ipping^ 
 and as it were burying the Perfon under Water. 
 But if we will allow ourfelves coolly to confider 
 that Scripture, it can never be interpreted to the 
 Purpofe for which it is adduced, j for, being bu- 
 ried with Chrifl in "Baptifm does not point out 
 die Manner of its Adminiftration, but the blef- 
 fed Conferences and Effects of it. And for 
 evincing of this let us briefly obferve, That in 
 the Beginning of the Chapter the Apoflle antici- 
 pates 
 
the Sacrament of jBaptifm. 195 
 
 pates anObje&ion againft our Juftification by the 
 Righteoufnefs of Chrifl alone, gracioufly impu- 
 ted to them who believe. The Objection is, 
 Shall Men then fin that Grace may abound ? 
 This the Apoftle with Abhorrence rejects, and 
 withal fhows, that it was impoffible this could 
 ever take Place in a juftified Perfon, becaufe, 
 Verfe 2. they were dead to Sin 5 and this he 
 proves, Verfe 5. feeing fo many as were baptifed 
 into Jefus Chrjfl, were baptifed into his jDeath 5 
 /. e. Chrifr, as the federal Head and Reprefen- 
 tative of his People, having died to deliver them 
 from the direful Confequences of the violated 
 Covenant of Works, all that were baptifed into 
 him, or into Union to him and Communion with 
 him, were baptifed fo into his Death, fo as to 
 partake of all the great and glorious Effects 
 thereof 5 not only for the Juftification of their 
 Perfons, but alfo for the Sanctification of their 
 Natures, fignifled, made over, and fealed to them 
 thereby. And in Regard that Baptifm was the 
 vifible Sign of our Union to Chrifl, and Com- 
 munion with him, therefore, by Baptifm they 
 are faid not only to be dead Men to Sin, but alio 
 to be buried with him 5 and therefore, as Chrifl 
 was raifed by the Glory of the Father, eye?z fo 
 we fhoidd. N. B. Not come out of the Water in 
 Conformity to his Refurreclion, but walk in 
 Newnefs of Life. And from this he reafons, 
 Verfe 5. That if we have been planted together 
 in the Likenefs of Chrifl's 2)eath, or by Virtue 
 of our Union to Chrifl: fealed by Baptifm, made 
 dead to Sin as Chrift died for Sin$ then we fhalt 
 alfo be in the Likenefs of his Refiirreffion, or 
 live a new, holy, and fpiritual Life. And this he 
 goes on to confirm in the following Verfes. And if it 
 is {till alledged, That the Sign fhould bear 
 fome Proportion to the Thing fignifled, then, 
 Firfl, We mud not only be buried with Chrifl, 
 
 N but 
 
ip4 A ^Practical EJfay on 
 
 but indeed fo. And Rom. vl. 7, 8. We mujl be 
 dead indeed with Cbrift. Gal. h. 20. Crucified 
 ivitb him } and Col. ii. 11. Circumcifed in him. 
 And that becaufe Baptifm fignifies and feals up 
 to us the glorious Fruits of the Crofs, Death and 
 Burial of our Lord Jefns. And idfyj This Way 
 of Reafoning pleads more ftrongly for Baptifm, 
 by fprmklirig and pouring on of Water j for, in 
 fuch Metaphorical Terms the Blefiings, Fruits 
 and Effects of Baptrfrn are exprefTed, as Jfa. lii. 
 15. Ezek. xxxvi. 24. Zech. xii. 10. Heb. x. 22. 
 Heb. xii. 24. 1 Tet. i. 2. And now, the Jail 
 Refuge is, That Baptifm by lmraerfion was the 
 Practice of the primitive Church. But Firft\ It 
 is very unfafe to reafon from this, if we confider 
 what grofs and dreadful Errors thofe fell into, 
 and that in the Space of ico Years after Chrift 
 (1). And idly, Tho' 'tis true, yet the primi- 
 tive Times never urged this, nor averted it to 
 be of abfolute Neceility to the : Validity and Be- 
 ing of the Administration and Ordinance, but 
 allowed it by Sprinkling; efpecially in the Cafes 
 of the Want of Water, Hafte, Sicknefs of the 
 Perfon to be bapti fed, or Weaknefs. Which de- 
 frroys what it is brought for, I mean the abfo- 
 lute Neceility of Immerfion (2). 
 Ar*. II. g ut a Second Argument againft the Neceility 
 Oi Immerfion is, becaufe it is very probable, that 
 this Ordinance was administrate in the Apoftles 
 Times by ffir inkling or fouring on of Water. 
 For it is not fuppofeable, that thofe mentioned, 
 Jtffs ii. 41. and who were to the Number of 
 'Three tboufand, did go with the Apoftles unto 
 the Pool of Setbefda, Siloam, or the Brook Ce~ 
 dron, and were all dipt over Head and Ears in 
 Water 5 but rather, that they were fprinkled : 
 
 Nor 
 
 <i) See Mr. Wall's Hiftory of Baptifm, Vol. I. pag. 
 404. and onward. (2) See that Hiftory, Vol. II. pag. 
 3515 552, 3*0. King's Enquiry, 6-e. pag. 73, to 80. Sir 
 %jhn Flojer his EfTay co reftore Doping, pag. y 3 and .48. 
 
the Sacrament ofjkaptifm. 19$ 
 
 Nor that the Apoftle Taid, who immediately 
 uDon his receiving Sight was baptifed, was im* 
 merged^ ABs ix. iS. nor that thole mentioned* 
 Aclsx. 47. had this Ordinance fo administrate 
 to them, Nor is it probable, that the e Jaylor t 
 Acts xvi. 33. had fuch Store of Water in the 
 Night Seafon, as was fufficient for him and his 
 whole Family to be dipt into, or that then they 
 went out to fome River for this Purpofe j but 
 more reafonable to think this was done by Sprink- 
 ling. And as to what fome think, that the Jews had 
 their bathing Places at all Times in their Hou- 
 fes. It is no hard Task to iribw, that this is 
 doubtful and uncertain. But I have been too 
 long upon this, and /hall only add, That feeing 
 the Scripture leaves us at Liberty in this Matter, 
 there fhouid be no Difpute about it j feeing the 
 Validity and Efficacy of the Sacrament depends 
 not upon the Quantity of the Element, for a little 
 Eit of Earth is as fufficient in Law to complete 
 a Man's Title to an Eftate, as great Heaps of it. 
 And to the whole of this, I fubjoin the Reafon 
 fome give why Water is poured upon the Face, 
 and not on any other Part of the Body 5 Becaufe, 
 fay they, it is the principal Tart of the Body 
 wherein the Image of God mofl appears, and the 
 Soul floines forth mofl eminently ', in which and 
 near to it our Senfes are feated j on which all 
 The Workings of Mens Rumours and Afecfions 
 leave the mofl <vifible Symptoms and /Imprejfions 7 
 and it is obfer-vable, that the fame 'Word in the 
 Greek (n^rov) fignifies both the Face and the 
 c Perfon, becaufe the whole \Perfon is reprefented 
 by the Face, which we can look on, and wajh 
 naked x and not be afoamed CO- 
 
 And from this we may briefly infer thefe inferences 
 Things, Firfl, How companionate and gracious from this, 
 is our God, who hath left us at Liberty, as to the T ; le 
 Quantity of the external Element made Ufe ofcompafli- 
 
 . N 2 in on and 
 
 (0 ffigftqg ©A Infant B*ptifm ; pag. 147, Picy to us. 
 
196 A Tracheal EJJay on 
 
 inthisfolemn and facred Ordinance of Baptifm. 
 He knows our Frame, that we are but Duft, and 
 tho' in fome Circumftances dipping the whole 
 Body into Water is abundantly fafe, and msy be 
 done, yet in other Cafes it cannot be fo perfor- 
 med, without a vifible endangering the Life he 
 has given $ and being willing, that all his cove- 
 nanted People fhould not by any fuch Circum- 
 ftance be deprived of the Seal of his Covenant 5 
 therefore he has left this Matter fo free, that all 
 of them may at all Times enjoy it. His Mercy 
 is high, and infinitely above the greateft Com- 
 panions of the Sons of Men. 
 J \ T r hc Secondly, We may take Occafion from this to 
 Men? obferve, how great is that Pride that lodges in 
 the Breafts of the Sons of Men : For, if once 
 they come to lay down any Thing as a Principle, 
 tho' it have no Foundation in the Word of God, 
 but only built on their own Imaginations, how 
 do they value and cry it up 5 infomuch, that 
 there fhall be nothing but unchurching, con- 
 demning, and invalidating Sentences, pronoun- 
 ced againft all thefe and all their Adminiftra- 
 tions, who differ from them. It is a true as well 
 as an old Saying, 'That every Man has a <Pope 
 in his Sreafiy and would fet up for Infallibi- 
 lity and a fupreme Judge to others 5 but Glory 
 to God, that it is with him, and not our Fellow- 
 creatures, yea nor our Fellow-chriftians, that we 
 have to do. 'Prelatifls are for unchurching all 
 that are not of their Communion $ Jlnabaptifls 
 for declaring Adminiftrations of Baptifm null, 
 that are not by 'Dipping $ but we hope, fome o- 
 thers have not fo learned Chrift. 
 
 III. Of Exorcifm in Baptifm. 
 
 It is a plain and undeniable Evidence of the 
 
 Corruption of human Nature, That Men will 
 
 ' not 
 
the Sacrament of Saptifm. 197 
 
 not f ;bmit to the Laws of God, by obeying them 5 
 and yet they are not fatisfied with thefe as fuffi- 
 cient to regulate their Practice, but muft be ad- 
 ding to them j appointing Ceremonies of their 
 own Invention 5 adding thefe to the Inflitutions 
 of Heaven, and {tamping them with a fpecial c ^ t gn ^ ca ~ 
 Signirlcancy, as if thereby fome fpiritual Blefling numes, 
 Was to be conferred. This is the Height of Ar- Regions 
 rogance, feeing, Jam. iv. 12. "There is but 07te a S ain & 
 Lawgiver ^ and God only is that Judge, who is 
 able to fave and to deftroy. And is it not the 
 higheft Prefumption in the Sons of J7dam y to • 
 
 prefcribe Laws to the Church and Servants of the 
 mod High God ? idly y God is angry, th'at his 
 profemng People fhould offer him Services not* 
 of his commanding, but their own inventing^ 
 Ifa. xxix. 13. Jer. xix. 5. Jer.xxxii. ^^.Matth. 
 xv. 9. %dly<t Thefe can never be performed in 
 Faith> of being acceptable Services to God : For, 
 how fhall we know what is well-pleafing in his 
 Sight, unlefs he -reveal it 5 and will poor Mor- 
 tals pretend to be on his Secrets ? Nor ^thly, 
 Can we go about fuch human Institutions in Hope 
 of the Mercy pretended to be fignified thereby : 
 For, as he only can annex a Benefit to an exter- 
 nal Sign, who has Power to confer that Benefit, 
 which none of the Children of Men can do ; fo 
 our Hope and Expectation of fpiritual Bleflings 
 can be founded upon nothing lefs than the "Divine 
 'Promife 5 which, in the Cafe before us, is not, 
 and cannot be alledged. Notwithstanding of all 
 which, and more that might be added, proud 
 and afpiring Man will ftill .be doing, thinking 
 to better God's Ordinances by his own Inventi- 
 ons 5 and rather than part with the laft, they will 
 refufe the firft, even where God has allowed it : 
 Now, among the many Additions of Men to the 
 Commandments of God, this of Exorcifm is 
 one. 
 
 N 3 And 
 
ip8 r j Tragical Efay on 
 
 £die iT And we ma ? obferve > That a le a™ e <* Perfon 
 ftitiuion" °^ t ^ ie Church of England fays (i), 7"W /zj to 
 ot Bap- the Manner of adminiflratingSaptifvj, it was 
 o}?\ th f ] v doubtlefsin the Age of the Apo files, with great 
 ngnui. simplicity j probably without any other Forma- 
 lity than Grayer, and pronouncing ' the Words 
 of Inflitution. 'But about the Beginning of the 
 ^third Century, {and no jboubt much fooner) 
 Men being dJfgufled at the Simplicity .of the Ad- 
 mini fir at ion, began to add divers Rites, which, 
 , they thought, .would more fignificantly Jhadow 
 
 forth the Grace therein befiow'd: One of the mofl 
 ancient whereof was, the folemn Interrogation, 
 Jf they abjured the Devil, the World, and the 
 Flefh. ? And, If they believed all the Articles 
 of the Christian Faith? But hence alfo arofe 
 the Ceremonies of Unciion, Signing with the 
 Crofs, and Impofition of Hands, as Additaments 
 to this Sacrament, together with giving the Bap- 
 tifed Milk and Honey. The Flejh is anointed, 
 faid they, that the Soul may be confecrated; the 
 Flefh is figned, that the Soul may be fortified; 
 the Flejh is oyerjhadowed with Impofition of 
 Hands, that the Soul may be enlightned with 
 the Holy Spirit; and,- Milk and Honey are given, 
 to fignify, that they were to be as new born 
 Babes. The Ancients were alfo wont to put a 
 v white Garment upon the Perfon baptifed, to de- 
 note his having put off the Lufts of the Flefh, 
 and his being cleanfed from former Sins ; That 
 he had now obliged himielf to maintain a Life 
 of unfpotted Innocency. And accordingly they 
 were called (^r^oixeva^ Enlightned, becaufe they 
 profefled to be the Children of Light, and enga- 
 ged themfelyes never to return again to the Works 
 cf ZDarknefs. This white Garment, fays our 
 Author, ufed to be delivered with this folemn 
 Charge, Receive the while a?td unde filed Gar- 
 
 ment % 
 
 (i) $ce BiograplpU Ecclcfiajtica, pag. $$4; 6oo 3 tp 603. 
 
the Sacrament of Sapt/fm. 199 
 
 went, and produce it without Spot before tie 
 c f,ibinial cf the Lord Jefiis Chrift, that you may 
 obtain eternal Life. Amen. They were wont 
 to vyear thefe Garments for the Space of a Week 
 after they were baptifed, and having then put 
 them offj to lay them up in the Church, that 
 they might be kept as Witneffes againft them, if 
 they /houUi violate the baptifnial Covenant. 
 Hence the Sunday after Eafter was called jDo- 
 niinica Ik albis, the Sunday in White, it be- 
 ing then, that rhofe who were baptifed on Ea- 
 fter put ofT their white Garments $ as the Day 
 of tPentecoft was alfo called Whitfiinday, be^ 
 caufe then at their Baptifm they put them on: 
 For Eafter and l Pentecoft were their folemn Sta- 
 ted Seafons for the Adminiftration of this Ordi- 
 nance. And we' are alio told, That in Tertul- 
 li/zn sDays this uninftituted Ceremony of Exor- 
 cij'm was added to the divine Inftitution of Bap- 
 tifm (1), of which we are to fay fomething. 
 
 In the Firft ^Place then, we may obferve,That e xoyc ;c 
 to adjure, is folemnly, as it were upon Oath, and whac. ^ 
 and in the Name of God, : to charge and require j 
 as we may learn from Matth. xxvi. 23. Atts xix. 
 15. idly, That this Adjuring or Exorcifmg 0bfem? 
 fuppofes, that the Perfon to be baptifed is pof-on it. 
 feffed by the Devil 5 and therefore this Ceremony 
 is ufed to caft him out, or drive him away, idly. 
 That tho' this Ceremony was ancient, yet the 
 Inftances giveji of it, by a great and accurate 
 Searcher into thefe Times and the Cultoms'of 
 them, feem to think, that it was only ufed in the 
 Cale of baptiiing Hereticks (2), and upon their 
 renouncing Herefy j tho' ,others obierve, that it 
 was more extenfive. And then fome notice, that 
 this of Exorcifmg was performed by the Perfon 
 to be baptifed, who putting his Hands betwixt 
 N 4.3 thofe 
 
 (1) See Kir^s Enquiry, Gy. £art II, pag. 63. (2) Sec 
 ibid, page 69. 
 
A Practical EJfay on 
 
 thofe of the <PreJident or Adminiftrator, re- 
 nounced Satan and all his Works, with his Au- 
 thority, Kingdom and Service (\). But \thly, 
 We may notice. That as it is ufed among the 
 (Pajfifls, the Prieft performs it after he hath 
 figned thePerfon or Infant to be baptifed with 
 the Sign of the Crofs on the Breaft and Fore- 
 head, he then adjures Satan to leave the Perfon j 
 and this he does in the Name of the Father, Son, 
 and Holy Ghofl, making the Sign of the Crofs, 
 and blowing in the Face of the Infant ai naming 
 each Perfon of the Trinity. 
 
 But Fir ft, This Practice proceeds upon a 
 wrong Suppofition, viz. That the Infants of fuch 
 as are Members of the Vifible Church are pof- 
 fefled by the Devil, while God declares himfelf 
 to be their God, and that the Covenant ^romife 
 belongs to them, Acts ii. 39. As alfo, that they 
 are federally holy, 1 Cor. vii. 14. Yea, we may 
 fafely reckon fome of them fan&ified before the 
 Ordinance of Baptifm is administrated. If then* 
 they are not fo poflfefTed, as is alledged, to what 
 Pvrpofe is this folemn and pretendedly facred 
 Action ? idly, Chrift never appointed this, nor 
 did the Apoftles pra&ife it. idly, Tho' it be 
 true that all the Pofterity of Adam are, by Na- 
 ture, under the fpiritual Power of Satan, and 
 Curfe of the Law, yet Exorcifm was never ap- 
 pointed by God to deliver from thefe 5 for this 
 flows from the Virtue and Value of the Death 
 of Chrift, and the efficacious Operation of his 
 holy Spirit : Both which are fignified and fealed 
 by Baptifm, 1 "John iii. 8. Heb. ii. 14. ftitus iii. 
 5. Ro?n. vi. 3, 4. Col.il, 12. tfhly, It isfeifer- 
 ftitions, feeing, tho' it wants divine Appointment, 
 yet there is *o much Virtue and fpiritual Efficacy 
 attributed thereto : Yea, it too much refembles 
 a Magical Incantation, while -they give fuch a 
 
 Force 
 
 (1) See Bucfini Loci Com, page 640+ 
 
the Sacrament of "Baptifm. io\ 
 
 Force and Power to certain Words and Signs, as 
 if, at the pronouncing the one, and performing 
 the other, the Devil was to be drove away. It 
 is true, that Power to caft out Devils was given 
 to the ApofUes j but this was extraordinary, and 
 for the Confirmation of the Truth of Chriftianity, 
 until it fhould be fufficiently attefted, and large- 
 ly propagated. Nor /hall I deny that it hath 
 pleafed God in his Mercy and Grace, to regard 
 the Fafts and Prayers of his People, fo as to caft 
 out and chain up the wicked one, yea, that his 
 Servants may, and have, in the Name and Au- 
 thority of their glorious Mafter, charged or ad- 
 jured the Enemy of our Salvation to Silence : 
 But to make Signs of our own devifing, and at- 
 tribute a fpiritual Virtue to them, and fo add 
 them to the divine Inftitutions, and impofe them 
 upon his Church and Heritage, is certainly an 
 unfcriptural, and a moft unwarrantable Proce- 
 dure. 
 
 IV. Of Oil, Salt, and Spittle, in Baptifm. 
 
 The intended Brevity of this Effay will not 
 allow Place for every Thing that may be juftly 
 faid on each Head : Here then, it muft luffice 
 to fay. That as the 'Papifts added Exorcifm to 
 Saptifm, fo have they Oil, and anointing with 
 it 5 and not contented herewith, they have alfo 
 appointed, That Salt be put in the Mouths of 
 the Baptifed 5 and that their Ears and Noftrils 
 be, moreover, anointed with Spittle j in all thefe 
 pretending no fmall Significancy and Efficacy f 
 as if thereby was pointed out, That the Hearts of 
 the Baptifed were feafoned with Grace, and 
 their Ears opened to attend to the Doctrine of it. 
 But Firfl, As our Lord Jefus did not command R "£°. n s 
 thefe, nor did his Apoftles praclife them, in the a & ainft 1C ' 
 Adminiftration of this Ordinance 5 fo divine and 
 
 holy 
 
202 
 
 J Tragical EJJay on 
 
 holy Things are not to -be managed by the vain 
 Imaginations and Inventions of Men, but accor- 
 ding to the Command of the Great God, and 
 Scripture Example of. his Apoftles, who were 
 feht forth to constitute and propagate his Gofpel 
 Church : For, How can Men perform that in 
 Faith, or, believing that what they do is accep- 
 table to God, when they have not his W ill and 
 Pleafure made known to them ? How can they 
 expect the Bleflmg of God thereon, while they 
 have not his Promife ? And, how can thefe free, 
 themfelves from the Charge of vain and Will- 
 "joorjhip^ while they teach for 2)ocJrines the 
 Commandments of Men, Matth. xv. 9. Col. ii. 12. 
 idly, The appointed Action of Adminiftrationof 
 this Ordinance of Baptifm pleads againft this : 
 For, it is a wafhing with Water, and not a putting. 
 Salt in their Mouths, nor anointing with Oyl or 
 Spittle, impofing Hands. on their Heads, nor a 
 putting Wax Tapers in their Hands. 3 i/?.'' This, 
 is contrary to the Simplicity of the Gofpel Wor- 
 fhip, which is not incumbred with fplendid or- 
 pompous Ceremonies, but is moft plain andiim- 
 ple j that the Efficacy of thefe may; not {land in 
 the Wifdo m of Men, but in the Power of God, 
 By Impositions of this Kind, the Gofpel Church 
 is deprived of the Freedom and Liberty granted 
 to her, Gal. v. 1. And the Condition of the New 
 Teftament Church will very foon be worfe than 
 that of the Old, 'fliould all thefe Things be ad- 
 mitted in the Worflnp of God, which Men, when 
 they have invented, give fome Significancy to, 
 and pretend fome Decency for. The Old Tefta- 
 ment had Ordinances of God's Appointment, but 
 by thefe Means, the New mujft have the endlefs 
 and intolerable Yoke of Mens Inventions impo- 
 fed upon her Neck, contrary to Afts xv. iq. 
 And, ±thly\ We may reafon from the Baptifm 
 Chrift hirjafelf received, and which the Apoftles x 
 
 or 
 
the Sacrament of Jiaptifm. 20s 
 
 or others fent by him administrated, which were 
 intirely free from any fuch Rites. Neither are. 
 Men to be wifer than God, or think to better 
 what he hath inftitutedj nor to value themfelves 
 fo very highly, as that they will have this Ordi- 
 nance adminiftrated to them in a more pompous 
 Manner than our Redeemer had. Surely, the 
 greater! are not above him, nor are the civil Di- 
 stinctions amongft Men to have any Room in the 
 Ordinances of God. , 
 
 It is true, fome of thefe Things reafoned againft Objedion* 
 were ancient, but all is not good that is fo. A.nd ov * ite ^" 
 . if in thefe and other Things we make the Prac- , 
 tice of Antiquity our Rule, fcarce /hall we agree 
 in any Thing, but we nvuft have a va.'r Deal more 
 of vain Additions to Heaven's Inlit tions than 
 we yet mentioned (6'), 'fo i a\; arid fo various 
 were thefe. And tho' there i liiori of Oil 
 
 and Spittle in Scripture, yer rj6 ere are thefe 
 fpoke of a$ ufed in Baptifm. In or does ft any 
 Way help this Caufe, while fome fay, That we 
 Proteitants have many Things belonging to Bap- 
 tifm, for which there is neither Scripture Precepr, 
 nor Example j fuch as, T 'he Child's he ingbr ought 
 to Church on a Sermon 2) ay \ our inftrubJing 
 And taking Engagement of 'Parents and Sure- 
 ties j and giving Names to Children : For, as 
 thofe are not, yea cannot be reckoned external 
 Signs, Signifying, applying and fealing any inward 
 and faving Grace, fo neither are they pretended 
 to be Parts of this Administration, nor ahfolutely 
 neceflPary thereto. 
 
 i^ndfrom what hath been faid, we may learn, rnferenc?* 
 what good Caufe the Church of Chrift hath to from this. 
 ft an df aft in the Liberty wherewith Chrift bath 
 made them free, and not to be again entangled 
 with a Toke of Bondage: For, when once Men 
 depart from that Simplicity that is in Chrift 
 
 Jefus, 
 (0 See Mr. WjdPt Hiftory of BaptiOn, 
 
 H 
 
204 A Tragical EJfay on 
 
 JefiiS, and give Scope to their own luxuriant In- 
 ventions, there fhall be no End of the Additions 
 of Men to the Ordinances of God. Yea, fo very 
 faft fhall thefe grow, that the Inftitutions of the 
 Great and infinitely wife God will very quickly 
 become obfcured, and wholly corrupted thereby. 
 Happy fhould Churches be, were they not pre- 
 fuming to be wife above what is written, but, 
 with becoming Submilfion, ever believing that, 
 and that only, to be beft, which their Lord and 
 Mafter hath appointed, and his Apoftles after 
 him praclifed. Scarce is there any Thing more 
 true, or more to be lamented, than Mens extra- 
 vagantFondnefs of the Births of their ownBrainsj 
 for when once thefe are brought forth, God's He- 
 ritage muft be lorded, yea, tyrannifed oner ,that 
 thefe may be complied with 5 and the Children 
 denied their Father's Allowance, unlefs the Ad- 
 ditions of prefumptuous Servants be received 
 therewith. But there is yet more of this 5 fothat 
 we are obliged further to confider them. 
 
 V. Of 22a£tijing with the Sign of the Crofs. 
 
 As Papifts ufe this Sign, fo fome Protectant 
 Churches retain it in the Adminiftration of Bap- 
 tifm. And as to this we may obferve, i/?,That 
 they appoint it to be done by the Administrator. 
 The Words in the Common-Grayer Book, are, 
 ^the Triefl Jhall make & Crofs upon the Child's 
 Forehead^ viz. an airy Crofs (1). idly, Even 
 Proteftants who retain it, feeni to make it repre- 
 fent the Merits of Chrift, with all the precious 
 Fruits and Effects thereof. The 30th Canon of 
 the Church of England thus exprefTes it, I'he 
 Holy Ghoft y hy the Mouth pf the Apoftle, did 
 
 honour 
 
 (1) See the Order for Baptifm in the Common*Prayer 
 Book. 
 
the Sacrament of 3} apt i fin. 20 j 
 
 honour the Name of the Crofs fo far, that under 
 it he comprehended, not only Chrifl crucified* 
 but the Force, E feels and Merits of his Death 
 and <Paffio7i, with all the Comforts, Fruits and 
 <Promifes which we receive or expetl thereby. 
 'The Churchy of England hath retained flill the 
 Sign of it in Baptifm, following therein the 
 Primitive and Jpoftolick Churches, and ac- 
 counting it a lawful outward Ceremony, and ho- 
 nourable Badge, whereby the Infant is dedicated 
 to the Service of him that died on the Crofs, as 
 by the Words of the Common-Prayer Book may 
 appear. Which Words are theie, We receive 
 this Child into the Congregation of Chrifl" s 
 Flock, and do Jign him with the Sign of the 
 Crofs, in Token that he fhall not be afhamed to 
 confefs the Faith of Chrifl crucified, and man- 
 fully to fight under his Banner againfl Sin, the 
 World and the Devil 5 and to continue Chrifl's 
 faithful Servant and Soldier to his Life's End. 
 Amen (1). This being the Intent and Significa- 
 tion of this Rite, it cannot be approven of, in 
 the Adminiftration of Baptifm : And that* for 
 thefe Reafons, 
 
 Firfl, Beeaufe it is uninflitutedWorfhip : That - - 
 it is Worjhip cannot juftly be refufed, for this De- a JSfc£ 
 dication is directed to God, and fo terminates in 
 him. Hereby is owned God's Soveraignty over 
 us, and Propriety in us 5 and in doing of this, we 
 immediately addrefs our felves to the raoft High, 
 and prefent our Infants to him, that they may re- 
 ceive his Bleffing, and be devoted to his Service. 
 And then, it is Worjhip not appointed of God. 
 Our Redeemer did not inftitute the Sign of the 
 Crofs to be ufed in Baptifm, nor did his Apoftles 
 either enjoin nor praclife it. For which Caufe 
 
 ir 
 
 (1) See Cdumfs Hiftory of Baxters Life, Vol. I Paee 
 l\X &7.* Vindic * tio " of inters, Pages 434, 435, 
 
206 r J Tragical EJJhy on 
 
 it can be nothing but Will-worjhip, owing its O 
 riginal intirely to Mens Invention $ and which 
 the Great Lawgiver reckons vain, condemns and 
 threatens, Ifa. viii. 20. Jer. vii. 31. Jer. xix. 5. 
 Matth. xv. 9. Lev. x. r. And feeing it is fo, 
 it can never be gone about in Faith, as well- 
 pleafing to God $ nor have we fufficient Ground 
 to look for his gracious Concurrence thereto 5 for 
 it is only when his Servants do what he hath com- 
 manded them, that he hath promifed to be with 
 them to the End of the World, Matth. xxviii. 
 19, 20. Nor hath God, any where, faid, That 
 whatever Rite or Ceremony Men fhall appoint 
 in his Worjhip, he will gracioufly countenance it. 
 This, furely, was too much to be granted to falli- 
 ble and vain Man. 
 
 Secondly, To make Signs, Signifying fpiritual 
 Grace, and conveying fpiritual Blelfings, is to 
 place a Connection betwixt the Signs and Things 
 Signified. But this is the fole Prerogative of God $ 
 for it is he only who can confer the Grace, and 
 beftow the Benefit. How then can Men, at their 
 Pleafure, invent a Sign, and tell us, that here- 
 by this and the other fpiritual Blefling is repre- 
 fented, when they cannot Rx this Connection, nor 
 give the Blefling? 
 
 'Thirdly, Whence is it, that the Sign of the 
 Crofs does reprefent and fignify fuch gracious and 
 great Things? For, ift r It cannot be from the 
 Sign it felfj it being abfurd to imagine this. 
 zdly, It is not from the Administrator or Prieft 
 making this Sign 5 for he cannot convey nor give 
 the Grace iignified. Nor, ^dly, Is this from 
 God 5 for he commands no fuch Sign, nor hath 
 he made any Promife hereto. And it is certain- 
 ly but vain Prefumption, and a difappointing 
 Hope, that hath not the Word and Promife of 
 God for its Foundation. 
 
 Fourthly, Baptifm it felf, as an Ordinance of 
 God, is fufficient to anfwer all thefe Purpofes for 
 
 which 
 
the Siicr anient of 'Baptifnu 207 
 
 which this Sign of the Crofs is invented $ particu- 
 larly, that the Perfon baptifed may be folemnly 
 and inviolably devoted to the Lord. And, if it 
 is, why will Men add another Sign to the very 
 fame Purpofe, and to be ufed in the Action of 
 Adminiftration. But if any prefume to fay it is 
 not futficient ( which no Protectant will aflfert ) 
 then they muft accufe a divine Ordinance of Im- 
 perfection j and maintain, that the Institutions of 
 God may be bettered and perfected by the In- 
 ventions or Additions of Men. It is true, that 
 one of no mean Note (2) tells us, 'That the Sign 
 of the Crop is ufed in Saptifm, the more effec- 
 tually to declare the Intention of the Sacrament^ 
 and that it feems neccjjary, becaufe of the Grofs- 
 nefs of the Vulgar $ and is of life to procure Re- 
 fpetl unto that Institution ^hereunto it is a?mex- 
 ed. But, were not the Vulgar equally grofs when 
 our Lord appointed this Ordinance, with what 
 they have been ever fince ? Yea, were they not 
 more ufed with Symbolical Rites ? And, was 
 not he infinitely more concerned and careful to 
 appoint fuch Signs as might Sufficiently declare 
 the Intent and Defign of this Ordinance than Men 
 can be ? And yet this never came into his Mind. 
 Befides, does not Baptifm, as being the Institu- 
 tion of the Great God, and calculated for fuch 
 high Purpofes as he hath appointed it, challenge 
 from all his reafonable Creatures the greatefl Re- 
 fpect and deepeft Reverence? And ifthefe pre- 
 vail not, the Inventions of Men never will. 
 
 Fifthly, To all that hath been faid, I might 
 add, That whereas in the Primitive Times, 'Pro- 
 feffors of Chriftianity figned themfelves with the 
 Sign of the Crofs, to diftinguifh themfelves from 
 *Pagans, who fcorned it, with every Thing rela- 
 tive to it} fo now we Should forbear fo doing, to 
 diftinguifh our felves from idolatrous ^Papiffs, 
 
 who 
 (2) See Dr. Twtrfon on Baptifm, Pag* 71, 72, 7;, 
 
' ■ 
 
 208 A Practical EJTay on 
 
 who fuperftitioufly adore it (3). And indeed it 
 is in no fmall Meafure hardning to IPapifts, when 
 they obferve us Troteftants not only retaining, but 
 fo tenacioufly pleading for this 5 as it cannot but 
 ftumble and grieve our Brethren who fee noCaufe 
 for obferving it. And Finally ', The Ufe of this 
 being impofed as that without which Saptifin is 
 not and cannot be obtained, tho' the Perfons to 
 be baptifed have all that is necefTary to make 
 them the Difciples of Chrift, is a manifeft En- 
 croachment upon the Kingly Power of our Savi- 
 our, in making new Terms of Communion which 
 he never ordained 5 and turning the Keys of the 
 Kingdom upon them whom he has commanded 
 to be received into it. 
 
 As to the pretended Antiquity of this, we may 
 confider what is above faid or Exorcifm, and 
 baptifing with Oil, Salt, and Spittle. And as 
 to Significancy, a very ordinary Meafure of Quick- 
 nefs, Fancy and Invention, will make thofe to 
 fay and iignify as many fpiritual Things as that 
 of the Crofs can do. Nor are there fome wan- 
 ting, who will tell them, That it is not fo anci- 
 ent as is alledged 5 many of thefe Quotations 
 that are brought from the Fathers making no Men- 
 tion of it in the Adminiftration of Baptifm (4). 
 A Reflec- All the Reflection I fhall make upon what 
 tion upon na th been now faid, is to lament the Vanity and 
 Pride of the Sons of Men. Their Vanity in in- 
 venting iignificant Ceremonies in the Things of 
 God$ and their Pride, in adhering to and defen- 
 ding them : What great Harm have thefe done in 
 all Ages? How much precious Time have they 
 confumed, that might have been fpent to far bet- 
 ter Purpofes ? What Difcords and Contentions 
 have they occafioned ? What unchriftian and un- 
 accountable Perfecutions have they raifed ? And, 
 
 what 
 
 (3) See Calamy^s Hiflory, utfupra, Page 218. (4) See Dr. 
 fierce^ Vindication of Dilfenters. from Page 43/. 
 
the Sacrament of "Baptifm. |'p$ 
 
 whit great Hindrances have they been to the 
 promoting the Doctrine, and advancing the Prac- 
 tice of our Holy Religion? May all the Church- 
 es of Chrift ferioufly confider this, and watch a- 
 gainft being wife above what is written. 
 
 VI. Of naming ths Pcrfon laptifedi 
 
 Of what Ufe this may be in civil Cafes, efpe- 
 cially when the Baptifm of this and the other 
 Perfon is publickly regiftred, is not the proper 
 Subjecl of this Effay. And a very few Thoughts 
 may fufficeto explain all that is proper to befaid 
 on this Head. 
 
 Firfty Then we may know, That naming or j # Jt j $ not 
 giving NpmeS to our Children at Baptifm, or necefTary* 
 publifhing the fame at that Seafon, is not at all 
 neceffary to the Adminiftration of this Ordinance: 
 It being neither a neceflary Adjunct thereto, nor 
 Circumftance thereof, Baptifm being ccmpleat, 
 rightly gone about, and valid, tho' the Perfcn 
 baptifed is not at all named. 
 
 Secondly ) Nor is it pretended, That this hath n. Hath 
 any myftical or fpiritual Signification: Tho' in- no Myftj- 
 deed, the Cuftom that is crept in amongft us of £ al Sl -•"*• 
 keeping the Name of the Child a Secret until the 
 Time of his Baptifm, and then whifpering it in 
 theMinifter's Ear, would almoft tempt one, who 
 is not more considering and judicious than fome 
 others, to think, that Parents Jiad fome fond 
 Conceir, Myftery or Super^ition under it. 
 
 'Thirdly* It is no Part of the Defign and End in. \ t \% 
 of Baptifm, That Children may thereby have not the 
 Names given unto them 5 as.alas! too ma.ny, not- JJl?? ^ 
 withftanding of the clear Light of th^Gofpel, ' m * 
 grofly and ignorantly think. How ,ffjL r jgpfo is it 
 to obferve, that when fome defire'Bajj^ijftc their 
 Child, they tell the Minifter, they tgtJk have a 
 Nanie to him, as if that was all. And, with 
 O Sub- 
 
2 1 o r A Tragical EJJay on 
 
 Submiffion, it may be propofed, That as Mini- 
 iters, are, by teaching, to endeavour the convincing 
 of People of this too common Error, fo fometimes 
 ty their Practice, in forbearing to make mention 
 of the Child's Name, they may bring them into 
 another Way of thinking. 
 TV. It is Fourthly, It would feem very likely from 
 ordinary. Lukei. 59. That it was ordinary with the Jewiflj 
 Parents to give Names to their Children at Cir- 
 cumcifionj tho', how old this was with them, 
 and how ancient this Cuftom is among. Chriftians, 
 when their Children are baptifed, I cannot tell : 
 Yet nothing is more ordinary in all the Churches 
 of Chrift. 
 V. Expe- Fifthly, Naming the Perfon baptifed ("except 
 ient> when Edification in fome Cafes and at fome 
 Times may require the Forbearance of it) wants 
 not its Expedience : For, as hereby the Congre- 
 gation comes to know who is the Perfon that is 
 baptifed, and now publickly or declaratively re- 
 ceived into the Society of Chriftian ProfeiTors, fo 
 from this the Perfon baptifed may take Occafion, 
 at every Reflection upon his Name, ferioufly to 
 remember his Baptifm, and call to Mind God's 
 great and Angular Mercies to him, with his own 
 Obligation to be wholly, only, and continually 
 God's : And may be improven as an Argument 
 to convince baptifed Perfons of their Perfidy, 
 fhould they at any Time become Apofktes 5 
 excite them to their Duty, when they are negli- 
 gent or flow 5 and determine the Controverfy, 
 ihould any fuch be, if this and the other Perfon 
 was baptifed. This /hows the Expediency of Re- 
 giftrating^the Baptifm of particular Perfons, with 
 their difbiWui filing Defignations, 
 J 1, Sixth% ocAs it is not the Mini fter, but Parents, 
 
 that are who givelefAmes to their Children, and tho' this 
 vain, &c or that iN'ame be, in it felf, very indifferent, 
 not to b* f ee i n g Jt contributes nothing to our Happinefs 
 them. here, 
 
the Sacrament of fBaptifw* ail 
 
 here, or our Salvation hereafter 5 yet Chriftian 
 Prudence fhould. direct 'Chriftian Parents to give 
 fuch Names to their Children as are not vain and 
 offensive, prophane and impure 5 or fuch by which 
 the Idols of the Heathens were called : Seeing 
 the very Names of fuch are what fhould not be 
 fo far honoured, but rather forgotten by us Chri- 
 ftians. 
 
 VII. Of taking Engagements of Parents, or Sure- 
 ties, at the Adminiftration of Baftifm, for, 
 the Chriftiau Education of the Infant or Child 
 to be then baptifed. 
 
 Having already faid fomewhat of the Duties 
 of Chriftian Parents toward their Children j what 
 I defign here fhall be comprehended in the fol- 
 lowing Propofitions. 
 
 Fir ft y That in the Title of this Article, it is I, This; 
 Infants or Children, for whofe Chriftian Educa-^Je&s. 
 tion Engagements are taken of others : For, as w&tiK* 
 to Perfons come to Years of Difcretion, before 
 Baptifm is adminiftred unto them, there is no 
 Doubt but they are perfonally to profefs their 
 Faith in Chrift, and, for themfelves, to engage 
 unto Obedience and Subjection to him in all 
 Things, A&s viii. 37. Not only declaring their 
 Belief of the Gofpel Doctrine, contained in the 
 Scriptures, and their Faith in the Lord yefuS 
 Chrift for all their Salvation, but alfo refolving 
 and promifing, in the Strength of the Lord, to 
 walk as becomes the Children of God, the Mem- 
 bers of Chrift, and the. Expectants of Glory, 
 Hence, in the Primitive Times, Queftions as to" 
 thefe Things were put to Perfons who were to be 
 baptifed, and fuitable Anfwers made thereunto 5 
 fuch as,. fDoft thou believe in J efus Chrift the 
 Son of God 1 Anf. I do believe. tDoft thou re- 
 nounce the 2)evilj the World) and the Bejh t 
 Q t fiffi 
 
212 A TraViical Effliy on 
 
 Anf. J do renounce. Which Questions, fome 
 obferve (5), were -fometimes moe, and fometimes 
 fewer, and larger and fhorter, even as their Sym- 
 bols and Creeds had their Variery and Alterati- 
 ons. But whether the Apoftle c Peter\iaA an Eye 
 to any fuch Cuftom, while in his rlrft Epiflle, 
 Chap. iii. Verfe 21. he fays of Baptifm^ as fa- 
 ving us, That it is not the putting away of the 
 Filth of the Flejh> but the Anfmer of a good Con- 
 ference towards God> I fhall not determine. It is 
 plain, That the Apoftle there fhews, That it is 
 not the external Administration or outward Pro- 
 feffion that will fave, but when Confcience fin- 
 cerely fpeaks, as the Tongue or outward Behavi- 
 our exprefles. Yet, hence it will not follow, 
 That he points at the above named Cuftom. 
 Eneaee- Secondly, That taking Engagements either of 
 merits tot Parents or Sureties, when Children are to be bap- 
 efTential to tifed, is no Part of the Administration of this. 
 Baptilnw Ordinance, tho' commonly annexed thereto. Nor 
 can it be faid to be fo efTential and abfolutely ne- 
 ceflary to this, as if without it there can be no 
 Difpenfation of this Sacrament : For, if there is 
 a fit Subject of Baptifm, I mean, an Infant of 
 fuch as is a Member of the Vifible Church, and 
 Baptifm administrated by a true or lawful Mini- 
 fter, and according as God, in his Word, hath 
 appointed it, the A£tion of Administration is 
 to all Intents and Purpofes valid, tho' no fuch 
 Engagement be. This I mention, that we may 
 not confound theEflentials of the Administration 
 with thefe Engagements } and to prevent grov.nd- 
 lefs Jealoufies (fhould ever fuch a Cafe happen, 
 where there were none to engage) as if for Want 
 of this they were not truly baptifed. 
 
 'Thirdly* 
 
 (5) See cUrkfon on Liturgies, Page 105. Enquiry into 
 . the Constitution of the Primitive Church, Part II. Page 
 54, to 64. 
 
the Sacrament of Baptifm. 213 
 
 ^thirdly. That there are fpecial and indifperi- VX ?*- 
 iible Obligations lying upon Parents to fee to the obiieecWo 
 Chriftian Education of their Infants, is a plain educate 
 and indifputable Truth ; yea, fuch Obligations, their Chi!* 
 as that no Ignorance, Carelefnefs, yea, nor Irre- ^ 
 ligion or Prophannefs of Parents can abfolve them 
 from. The Unrighteoufnefs of Men can never 
 make the pofitive and peremptory Law of God 
 of none Effe.61 : The near Relation of Parents to ; 
 their Children j the natural Dependency their 
 Children have on them 5 the great Intereft and 
 Concern Parents have in them, with the repeated 
 Commands of the Soveraign Lord, do all lay 
 the moil: inviolable Ties upon Parents,- ever to 
 purfue after their Infants greatelt Good; which 
 can be no other, than to have them blelTed here, 
 and happy through all Eternity : And, for thefe 
 Ends, to have them brought u£ in the Nurture- 
 and Admonition of the Lord. 
 
 Fourthly., Seeing Parents are thus obliged to ' IV. Bap. 
 educate their Children, there needs be no Dif- t ^ m a P? ' 
 pute, but that when they are bringing or prefer!- f r t hjj, l ° n 
 ting their Infants to Baptifm, it is then a,' very- 
 proper Seafon, That they, in an explicite and 
 folemn Manner, acknowledge tHefe Obligations, 
 engage and promife to perform them accordingly; 
 For, it is then, that they are, offering up their 
 Children to the Lord, that they may have the 
 initiating Seal of his Covenant administrated to 
 them y and fo be openly, wholly, and for ever 
 devoted to his Service. It is alio by Virtue of 
 the Parent's being reckoned in Covenant with 
 God, that- the Child is reputed fo, and therefore 
 has a Right to the Seal of it. What then can be 
 more reasonable and jutt, than that fuch Parents 
 do come under folemn and publick Engagements, 
 That his Care fhall be to have his Child know 
 the Covenant of his-God, underftand the Nature, 
 Ends and Deiigns of Baptifm, as a Seal of it; 
 O 3 and 
 
? *4 ^ 'Practical Effay on 
 
 *nd be brought up in Acquaintance with religi- 
 ous Duties, Suitable to their baptifmal Privileges 
 and Dedication. 
 V. Enga, Fifthly, Whereas there can be no walking an- 
 gedtopaivfwerably to Baptifmal Engagements, uhlefs there 
 Truths. ] ? * Knowled ge of the Doftrine of the Gofpel, of 
 Sacraments, of Baptifm in particular, and of 
 thefe Duties that God requires of his covenanted 
 People 5 and feeing Children cannot know thefe, 
 unlefs they are inftrucled : It therefore, by juft 
 and natural Confequence, follows, That Parents, 
 or whoever are Sureties, be engaged to have 
 thefe Children taught the Truths and Ways of 
 Qod, as contained in his Word. Yet, in regard 
 that great Pretences have been made of Refpecl 
 to the Scriptures or Word of God, while in the 
 mean Time fuch grofs Errors have been main- 
 tain'd as were everfive of the great and funda- 
 mental Truths therein-contained, and deftruclive 
 to thefe Chriftian Puties that neceffarily follow 
 thereupon : Therefore it is requisite, That the 
 Church, whofe Bufmefs it is to preferve the 
 Truths of God pure, and fee to the Salvation of 
 all in her Communion, take Care, that they who 
 engage for the Education of the baftifed, be found 
 in the Faith. But, how /hall the Church know 
 this, uplefs there is propofed to them fome fum- 
 mary Account of the necefTary and fundamental 
 Truths of our holy Religion, the Belief where- 
 of the Surety fhall profefs, and engage to bring 
 up tl>e Child in the Knowledge of? And where 
 there is juft Caufe to fufpeel: the Orthodoxy of 
 fome Sponfors; the Diligence and Prudence of 
 £he Church, and efpecially her Guides, are to be 
 fcxercifed, that fuch may be brought to a better 
 Mind : And in cafe of ojbftinate Continuance in 
 Error, to be denied the Privilege of engaging 
 (feeing the precious Soul of the Infant cannot be 
 
 trufted 
 
the Sacrament of Sapti/nu * * 5 
 
 trufted with fuch) and a Sponfor found in the 
 Faith to be fought for. Hence, Qi r ftr or V I. Dx- 
 
 Shthly* If a Church, whereof the Sponfor or JL . D t 
 Parentis a Member, have a Confefjionojbaith,^^ o/ 
 containing Principles of Doctrine ^^ u h r ^^ 
 profefs and are agreed in, where can that Church 
 more reafonably go, than to it, as a Teft ot Ur- 
 rhodoxy or Soundnefs in F«th ? And can any 
 Thing be more proper, than that Parents, or ra- 
 ther Iponfors, be direBed thereto? Providing 
 alwaysf that fuch a ConfeJJwn be, as to the Mat- 
 ter contained therein, according to the Word oj 
 God But if that Confejfion contain other Porti- 
 ons, which upon all Sides are acknowledged not 
 abfolutely neceffary to the Being of Chriftianity , 
 in this Cafe, it will be very hard to oblige the 
 Parent or Sponfor' sProfefling every particular Ar- 
 ticle thereof, a neceflary Condition of having 
 Baptifm adminiftrated to the Child : For^ as this 
 looks too like taftifing into a Vartyi fo it is do- 
 ing what in them lies, to unchurch all others who 
 in thefe leffer Matters differ from them. Hence, 
 the Afperfion in a certain Pamphlet agamit our 
 Church, as if we Presbyterians would not baptiie 
 the Child of any but of thofe who engage to eve- 
 ry individual Article of our Confejfion (5), iseafi- 
 ly wiped of ; by telling them, and the florid with 
 them, That we have no fuch Canon, Statute>xiox 
 JB of Jj/embly in our Church. Yet, 
 
 Seventhly, If any Parent or Sponfor willingly 
 offer, or, of Choice, yield to it, or defire that 
 he may give this Teftimony of his Faith, and ot 
 the Principles he believes, fo as to come under 
 an Obligation to educate his Child according to 
 fuch a Confejfion as was laft fpoke of, where can 
 
 O 4 the f 
 
 (6) See the Docftrine' of Presbyterians *ncnt laptifm, 
 examined, Pag. 16, 17. and the Anfwer thereto, Part :ift. 
 with the Dirwftory for Baptifm annexed to ourfc*/^* 
 ef f*ith t 
 
2 1 6 A Tragical EJfay on 
 
 the Hardfhip ly of taking him fo engaged? 
 Efpecially when fuch a Confeffion of Faith ^con- 
 tains onlyfuch Truths as are more fully expreffed 
 in Scripture : In which Cafe, As it is his Duty 
 to profefs and believe thefe Truths antecedently 
 to fuch an Engagement 5 fo it is but plain Duty 
 to come under Obligations thereto. For furely, 
 Men not only may, but fhou Id prom ife whatever 
 God commands, and He requires all his People to 
 profefs and believe, and to teach their Children 
 after them the Whole of his revealed Truths. 
 This is fo plain and evident, that I cannot but 
 have a ftrong Regard to what is laid down in 
 this Pofitibn, and long for the Day, when, by the 
 Bleffing of God upon the Endeavours of his Mi- 
 nifters, our People may be brought up thereto, 
 fo as that they may do it with Understanding and 
 agood.Confcience. And I the more carneftly wifh 
 this, ifor becaufe of the Nonfitbfcribing Times we 
 are fallen into, when fome Minifters in our 
 neighbouring Church refufe this Teft of their 
 Orthodoxy, I mean, fubfcribing a Confeffion of 
 Faith-, and yet either cannot or wilJ not fhow 
 where the Error or Fault in our Confeffion lies ; 
 which they fhould openly and fairly do, elfenot 
 blame otEers, if they think that there is a Snake 
 in the Grafs. - But I rnuft go on. 
 •VlTi. -Eighthly^ As to Sureties who are not Parents, 
 ■r What t h e Church are efpecially to consider the Wil- 
 bechofen. lirignefs .of thefe to come under fuch Engage- 
 ments j for, Force is inconfiftent with thisj as 
 alfo, .their Integrity and Chriflian Behaviour, if 
 they are fuch, as in the Judgment of Charity 
 may be prefumed, will make Confcience of thofe 
 folemn and facred Vows : For, it muft be regra- 
 tcd, that many fuch, as they ra/hly and inconfi- 
 derately engage, fo they fearfully, and with Se- 
 curity, forget thefe Engagements: And there- 
 fore, if the Cafe Ihould fo be, that a fit Sponfor 
 
 does 
 
the Sacrament of jBaptifm. 217 
 
 does not offer himfelf, then the Church, SeJJion, 
 or Confiftory, are to feek out and provide one j 
 and let that Sponfor know, who chearfully under- 
 takes, and faithfully performs thofe facred En- 
 gagements, that he does an Acl of the greateft 
 Charity, faves a Soul from Death, honours God, 
 and entails Bleilings not only upon himfelf, but 
 on his Pofterity after him. But if it fhould hap- 
 pen, that Parents are wanting, and no fit Sponfor 
 can be had, which yet is a Cafe but fcarcely to 
 be fuppofed in a conftitute Church, in this E- 
 vent, As it is not to be doubted but the Infant is 
 to be baptifed $ for it were Cruelty to make him 
 fuffer for what he cannot help, or deny him the 
 Privilege God has allow'd him, for want of that 
 which h\ cannot provide 5 fo the Church and 
 Congregation to which he belongs have the Care 
 of his Chriftian Education devolved upon them 5 ' 
 ana efpecially the Church Guides and Reprefen- 
 tatives of that People, are with the greateft Ex- 
 aclnefs and Care to fee to it. This feems to be 
 founded upon the Nature of Society in general, 
 whofe Bufinefs it is, as a Society, to look after 
 the Safety and Advantage of every Member of 
 it 5 and more efpecially, that near Union that is 
 among the Members of Chrifl's myfiicdl Body. 
 The Communion of Saints, Zeal for the Ad- 
 vancement of the Kingdom of Chr/ft, and the 
 Glory of the Great God, with that hearty and 
 particular Concern that every one is to have for 
 the Salvation of precious and immortal Souls, 
 do all loudly cry and plead* for this : And there 
 is fcarce one Duty of greater Moment, and more 
 efpecially incumbent upon Christians % Riders 
 or Elders of a Christian Church, than this of 
 the careful and Chriftian Education of poor Or- 
 phans. But 
 
 9thly\ Becaufe the Ignorance of many Parents 
 is very great, and the Danger of ignorant Swea- 
 ring is very dreadful 5 great Care and Tender- 
 
 nefs x 
 
* 1 8 A Tragical TLjfay on 
 
 IX. What ne fs is here required, left the Name of God be 
 when d pa- P r °ph aned > and the Iniquity of fuch Parents in- 
 rents are creafed and aggravated : Therefore, as the Child 
 ignorant:." is to fce baptifed, and not made to fuffer for the 
 Carelefnefs, Ignorance and Stupidity of Parents 5 
 fo it is very proper that the Church provide a fit 
 Sponfor for the Chriftian Education of fuch Chil- 
 dren j and in the mean Time, that the Parent be 
 folemnly informed of the indifpenfible Obligati- 
 ons that ly upon him , and be taken engaged to 
 learn the Knowledge of the Gofpel of Chrift, and 
 to call for the Help of others capable to affift 
 him : And that Minifters have a careful Eye, 
 both oyer the Parent, and the baptifed Infant $ 
 and that this be frequently enquired into by Mi- 
 nifter and Elders, at their more folemn Meet- 
 ings, concerning the State of the Congregation, 
 and the Increafe of Knowledge and true Religi- 
 on among them. 
 Inferences But now, from what hath been faid on this 
 j^^'Head, of engaging for the Chriftian Education of 
 crying sin baptifed Infants, we may learn, Firft, The great 
 of many, and crying Sin of many Parents and Sponfors, 
 who make ib little .Conference of performing 
 their Vows to God. What can thefe think when 
 they reflect upon their fearful Perjury ? How may 
 Confcience accufe and condemn them, when they 
 confider, that they were careful about their Chil- 
 drens Bodies and worldly Eftates, and yet were 
 carelefs about their never-dying Souls $ diligent 
 to have them learned this and the other Science^ 
 but negligent as to their being taught the good 
 Ways of the Lord, and the Gofpel Method of Sal- 
 vation, even tho' they had lifted up their Hands to 
 the moft High God, that they would teach them 
 thefe ? How may they be filled with melancholy 
 Convictions, when they obferve their Children 
 ignorant, obftinate, difobedient, prophane, vici- 
 ous apd profligate, and their Confciences telling 
 
 them, 
 
the Sacrament of Baptifin* 219 
 
 them, that the Fault and 'Caufe of this lies at 
 their own Door ? Where then will fuch Parents 
 andSponfors appear, and how will they one Day 
 anfwer the Judge of the whole Earth, when they 
 come to be arraigned becaufe of their Perjury 
 and Perfidy, and horrible Cruelty to poor Infants? 
 O! that many would confider this, and be 
 afraid. 
 
 'Secondly, From this, Parents and other Sure- TI - T £ c 
 ties or Sponfors, would be excited to call up p"*J nt ° 
 their own Souls to a holy Diligence and Activity, and Surc- 
 in training up thefe baptifed Infants, for whole c i«« 
 Chriftian Education they have engaged, in the 
 Knowledge of God, and Jefiis Chrifl whom he 
 hath fent 5 of the Nature of Baptifm, of the 
 whole of thefe great Truths and Duties of our 
 Chriftian and holy Religion 5 looking to God* 
 and depending upon him for Succefs to their 
 Chriflian Endeavours 5 ufing all appointed Means, 
 whereby their young and tender Minds may be 
 brought to a fincere Compliance with the Lord's 
 holy and righteous Ways : For fuch have fworn 
 to God, and that in the moft folemn Manner $ and 
 therefore fhould fincerely and faithfully perform: 
 Thus fhall they in all Events have Peace, and at 
 laft make their Account with Joy, and not with 
 Grief. And if Parents duly considered the Va- 
 lue of the immortal Souls of their dear Chil- 
 dren, the vaft Import of Eternity, the near Re- 
 lation they have to thefe, and the great Truft 
 they have committed to them, the awful and 
 impartial Account they are one Day to make ^ 
 how they have performed their Duty, with thefe 
 momentuous Confequences that follow upon their 
 faithful or faithlefs Performance of this moft ne- 
 ceffary Work, would they think it enough, as 
 alas too many do, to turn them wholly over to 
 a Governor to teach and inftrucl them, as they 
 sail him, or fomc indifferent Perfon 5 and fome 
 
 Times 
 
A TraUical EJTay on 
 
 Times to fhut them up in their Clofet to talk 
 with them about their worldly Settlements, but 
 never difcourfe them about the Truths and Things 
 of God, or Salvation of their Souls? Would they 
 not rather, upon thefe Conn* derations, be excited 
 to a£t a more careful and confcientious Part, in 
 the performing of their Vows, and the Chriftian 
 Education of their Children 5 and never to think-, 
 that when their Children are come to Age, and 
 they, by the Blelfing of God upon their Endea- 
 vours, have obtained their Confent to the Propo- 
 fal of the Gofpel 5 that then they are freed from 
 any further Obligation as to them, but reckon, 
 that their Children are to be the Objects of their 
 Chriftian Care and Circumfpedtion all the Days 
 of their Lives ?"It is thus, O Chriftian Parents and 
 Sponfors, that you become a iignal Bleffing to 
 poor Infants, and they a fpecial Comfort to you, 
 when. you obferve them knowing, and walking in 
 the good Ways o'f the Lord; and as while you 
 are here upon Earth, God* is pleafed with you, 
 arid commends you in fo doing, as he did Abra- 
 ham^ Gen.win. 19. So what great Quiet and 
 Peace of Confcience fhall you have at a dying 
 Hour, and with what holy Confidence may you 
 leave them on God's rich Grace, and fure Word 
 ofTromife^ in the pleafant Hope, That m_a few 
 Days you and they fhall meet together in Heaven, 
 where you Jhall le ever with the Lord ? 
 
 VIII. Of private Saptifm. 
 
 That what I nave to ^* er u P on tn * s H eaG ", 
 may be delivered with as much Diftin&nefs aa 
 I am capable of, I fhall, as a Foundation there- 
 to,- give the Words of our General JJ/femhly 1690, 
 JlEi 10. fo far as it relates to the Matter now be- 
 fore us. In the Afl now cited, after it is nar- 
 rated, "That the Tarties receiving Sacraments* 
 
 1 are 
 
the Sacrament of "Daptifm. 221 
 
 are Solemnly devoted to God, hefore Angels and 
 Men ; are Solemnly received as Members of the 
 Churchy and do entertain Communion with her$ 
 and that by allowing the private life of them in 
 pretended Cafes of Neceffity, the fuper (lit ions 
 Opinion is nourifhed, That they arc neceffary to 
 Salvation, not only as commanded duties, but 
 as Means without which Salvation cannot be 
 attained. Then follows, as to Saptifm, thefe 
 Words, Therefore the Affembly hereby discharge 
 the Adminiftration of Saptifmin private ; that 
 is, in any^ Place, or at any Time, when the 
 Congregation is not orderly called together, to 
 wait on the difpenfing of the Word: And ap- 
 points, that this be carefully obferved, when and 
 wherever the Lord giveth his 'People Peace> 
 Liberty and Opportunity for their publick Af- 
 femblies. And now I may obferve, 
 
 Firfl, That as to thofe People who maintain !• Thofc 
 the abfolute Neceffity of Baptifm, and that In.- wh< ? . 
 fants who die unbaptifed are not in a falvable - lti a bfo_ 
 Condition, according to covenanted Terms, but lute Necef- 
 muft be left to uncovenanted Mercy. Thefe ^p ™£ ft 
 Men rauft for ever give up all Administration p ri \ ate ° 
 of this Ordinance in Publick, and plead for the Admini- 
 conftant Ufe of it in Private, or in that very fixation 
 Place, and at that very Time when the Child is lt% 
 brought forth $ becaufe, to ufe their own Words, 
 there is a Periculum in Mora, a great, yea a 
 very great 2) ] anger in delaying it 5 feeing the 
 Infant may die very foon after he is born, or in 
 bringing him to Church, when no lefs than Sal- 
 vation is at Stake, fhould any Circumftance or 
 Church Condi tution ftand in the Way of that, 
 which, according to them, fecures it. But the 
 Church of Scotland, and all other Proteftant 
 Churches with her, knows no fuch Doctrine, as 
 the abfolute NeceJ/ity of Baptifm 5 and therefore, 
 
 does 
 
22i A Trafiical EJJay on 
 
 does not allow the rafli and diforderly Admini- 
 stration thereof. 
 What Secondly* We may, from the Act mentioned, 
 Bapafm 0D f erve > wnat lt 1S » ^ at > m tne Judgment of this 
 what not. Church, is to be reckoned friy ate % aptifm ; and 
 and this is, when it is adminiftred in any Place, 
 or at any Time, when the Congregation is not 
 orderly called to wait upon the difpenfing of the 
 Word: So that they do not limit the orderly 
 Adminiftration of this Ordinance to the publick 
 Place where the Congregation commonly meet 
 for publick Worfhip 5 but if the Congregation 
 are orderly called together to wait on the dif- 
 penfing of the Wordy whether this is by 'Preach- 
 ing or Catechifing, (for by the laft as well as the 
 firft is the Word dtffenfed) then may it be gone 
 about, and is not to be accounted frigate* in 
 whatever Place this is. 
 Rcafons thirdly, Administrating Baptifm when and! 
 lick? and wnere ^ e Word, is difpenfed is moft decent, moft; 
 againft orderly, yea juft, and highly reafonable : And 
 private that, if we confider, Firft, This Ordinance, in 
 Bapufm, ifs Mature, Ends and Ufes 5 for hereby the Per- 
 fon is, in the moft folemn Manner, devoted to 
 God, before Angels and Men 5 received and de- 
 clared a Member of the Vifible Church $ to have 
 Communion with her in all her great and valu- 
 able Privileges: Should it not therefore be done 
 in the Prefenceof the Church* that they may be- 
 hold the regular Adminiftration of a new Mem- 
 ber, the Engagements made to the Laws of their 
 Chriftian Society, and that all may confent to,' 
 and rejoice in the Addition that is made to their" 
 Kumber: And in regard, that Sacraments are 
 Seals of thefe Bleilings contairi'd in the Wordi 
 for this Caufe it is very proper, that it be annex- 
 ed to the difpenfing of the Word, idly, Becaufe 
 thus to baptife when the Congregation is met to- 
 getherj is moft for Edification, and the Advan- 
 
the Sacrament of Baptifm. 225 
 
 tage of all concerned. It is moil for the Advan- 
 tage of the Perfons baptifed, becaufe, in this 
 Cafe, they have the joint Prayers of the whole 
 Congregation, who with one Heart and Voice call 
 upon the Name of the Lord, and pray to him, 
 That he may blefs his own Ordinance to the 
 baptifed, and give Grace to walk anfwerably to 
 fuch high Privileges and folemn Obligations ; 
 and, when it is fo, furely we have the greater 
 Hope of "a gracious Return. It is, in the next 
 Place, of fpecial Advantage to the Parent or 
 Party engaging for the Chriftian Education of the 
 Child $ for befides, that thefe have the united 
 Prayers of the Congregation for them, hereby al- 
 fo their Vow becomes more iblemn, being more 
 publick, and fo cannot but make the deeper Im* 
 prelfion upon a confidering Mind : And hereby 
 he is furnifhed with a very ftrong Argument cal- 
 ling for the exact Performance of his Vow, when 
 he reflects, how that publickly before Angels 
 and Men, he lifted up his Hand to the moft 
 High God. And then it is of particular Ufe to 
 the Congregation 5 for now all come to be put in 
 Mind of God's Mercies and Goodnefs to them,, 
 of the early and great Obligations that ly upon 
 them to believe in the Lord Jefiis Chrift, and 
 walk worthy of him 5 Parents alfo are remembred 
 of the Obligations they came under, when they 
 prefented their Infants to Baptifm ; and fo, all 
 have the Means of being convinced of their Ne- 
 glects, and excited to a more exact and diligent 
 Performance of their feveral Duties. But again, 
 ?dly\ Many Inconveniencies are hereby preven- 
 ted, which may fall out in that of private Bap- 
 tifm ; fuch as, the corrupt Administration of this 
 facred Inftitution, being performed by Perfons 
 who want Commimon, or fome efTential Defect 
 in the Performance j befides its being gone about 
 in a very fuperficial and overly Manner, yea in 
 
 an 
 
I 
 
 224 A Tragical Effay on 
 
 an erroneous and irreligious Way : All which, as 
 the Church is fpecially obliged to ufe all Means 
 to prevent, fo they may take Place in private 
 Baptifm, but cannot do fo in Publick, where a 
 Church is otherwife pure. And then tfhly, I 
 might add, That the conftant Doctrine of the 
 moft of <Proteftant 2)ivines and Troteftajzt 
 Churches is againft the private Adminiftration of 
 Sacraments $ which may be eafily proven. 
 Chriftian Fourthly, The above-named Acl: difcovers as 
 dLf c arlty \ 8 reat a Meafure °f Chriftian Charity and Conde- 
 in the Ai^ cen ^ on > as can reafonably or juftly be deiired ; 
 fembly For befides, that it plainly excepts the Cafes of 
 A<ft. %>erfecntion, Confinement, and Want of Opportu- 
 nity, fo hereby a Remedy is provided againft 
 thefe Things, that fome Men have been, and yet 
 are ready to complain of, viz. What fay they 
 ihall become of Infants, who, becaufe of their 
 Diftance from the Place where the Congregation 
 meets, a rigorous and fevere Seafon, Sicknefs, and 
 feveral other remarkable Inconveniencies, cannot 
 be brought where the Word is difpenfed, and the 
 Congregation meets? The Remedy is, Let the 
 Congregation be orderly called to, and the Word 
 difpenfed in any other Place where fuch Inconve- 
 niencies may be prevented, and fo let the Child 
 be decently and orderly baptifed. Here, I am 
 fure, there is no Manner of Hardfhip, unlefs it 
 is, that fome Men are fo irreligioufly great, as to 
 difdain to have a Church in their Houfe, and 
 frown upon God's People who may come there 
 to attend upon his Word and Sacrament. But 
 withal we are here to obferve,that tho' this feems 
 to be a tacit Allowance, yet if is not to be 
 drawn into Praclice, where no fich Inconveniency 
 can be pretended. And of this more afterwards. 
 Prirate Fifthly, We may further notice, That our 
 nir'init Church does not, and never did "aflert, That pri- 
 felf finful.vate Baptifm was in itfelf finful, nor that all fuch 
 
 Admi- 
 
the Sacrament of "Baptifm. 225 
 
 Adm migrations arc null and void : No, fuch a 
 great and reverend Aflembly knew better Things, 
 and that from the Scripture Instances of the Bap- 
 tifm of the Eunuch, Acts viii. 3. and of the 
 Jailor's Family, Jiffs xvi. 3;. Nor is this the 
 Queftion, but, whether Baptifm in publick be 
 more decent, orderly, and for Edification,- and 
 preventing of many Inconveniencies, than that of 
 Private. The former they could not but affert, 
 and I have already ofifer'd fome Reafons for it 5 
 and more remain. 
 
 Sixthly, Whereas no human Order, Conftitu- what is 
 tion or Law, can provide againft all Inconveriien- Du:y in 
 cies, nor be fuch as may take Place in all Caf&s \ Cafe of a 
 nor is it needful it fhould : Therefore fome fay f*™f n ~ 
 (1), That in cafe of an Infant dying, and the Pa- 
 rent defiring Baptifm to this his Child, not from 
 any Opinion of the abfolute Necellity of it. nor 
 yet from any Contempt of the Order of the Church, 
 but from a Reverence to the jDivinc Inflitutzon> 
 Refpect to the divine Command, and Regard to 
 thefe Bleflings, whereof Baptifm is a Sign and 
 Seal, Baptifm heing a divine Inftitution, and 
 Saptifing a commanded 2)uty $ hut the Circum- 
 ftance of 'Time and 'Place deter minalle by the 
 Church, it may feem hard, that a 2)uty enjoin- 
 ed by divine Authority fcould be omitted and, ne- 
 gle&ed, when it may be performed 5 and that- 
 only becaufe a Circwnflance {however other wife 
 expedient, and to be obferved for very good Kea- 
 fons) through i?zvincible Necejfity can?iot be ob- 
 ferved. Yet here it is to be carefully noticed, 
 that even in this Cafe, for ordinary, there may 
 be fo much /Time as that a competent Congrega^ 
 tion may be called together, and the Word di- 
 fpenfed, . But tho' this fhould not be found pract- 
 icable, yet the Minifter is carefully to watch over 
 
 p v <m 
 
 (1) See the Doctrine and Pra&ice of the ^Chqrrcfr.rf 
 SmUni Yindi«ttd 3 Part II- pag, 13, 14, 
 
226 J Traffic al EJJay on 
 
 his own Spirit, and the Parent over his, that this 
 awful Ordinance may not be gone about with too 
 much Hafte and unbecoming Hurry, as it may 
 be juftly feared the Manner of fomc is. And 
 then, feeing the Anfwer now returned goes upon 
 fome Suppofitions, not very common or ordinary, 
 I, with all Submiflion, think, that the Queftion 
 may be turned another Way, and that is, tho' a 
 Parent cannot fail to be forry if his Child fhould 
 die before Baptifm, yet he cannot accufe himfelf 
 of an unneceflary Delay of this, while he only 
 waited for an Opportunity of owning publickly 
 his own Belief of the Gofpel, of devoting his 
 Child folemnly to God, and having him orderly 
 received a Member of his Church. Here furely 
 is no Contempt of Chrift's Inttitution, and it is 
 riot the Want of Baptifm that is damning, but 
 the contemning of it. And if the Parent himfelf 
 fhould be lick, and in hazard of Death* and fo 
 not in a Capacity to bring his Child to the pub- 
 lick ^Congregation, yet in this Cafe he is to de- 
 vote his Infant to God, in the mean Time re- 
 commending to, and obtaining it of fome Chri- 
 stian Friend, to have his Child baptifed in a re- 
 gular and orderly Way, and to become engaged 
 for his Chriftian Education, fhould God call up- 
 on himfelf. 
 An Ob- Seventhly, and in the laft Place, I can forefee 
 jcaion ob- but one material Objection, which can be made 
 viated. a g a j n ft what has been now faid 5 and it is, See- 
 ing the Scripture has left us free as to Time and 
 Place of Baptifm, why then fhould Men tye us 
 down ? And feeing, in Scripture we have In- 
 stances of this being done in Private, as well as 
 in more publick AfTemblies, why fhould Men 
 1 limit us ? To this I prefume it may be anfwe- 
 red, That if Men, in an arbitrary and magiste- 
 rial Way, appointed this, and that too as a ne- 
 ceffary Term of Communion with that Church* 
 
 here 
 
the Sacrament of c Baptifm. 1 2 7 
 
 here indeed fhould be very juft Ground of Com- 
 plaint y but while they do this upon very good 
 Reafons, and for the Edification and Advantage 
 of all concerned, as Parents, Infants, or others, 
 laying no Strefs upon this, as if it had any fpiri- 
 tual Signification, and not rigidly impofing this, 
 as that without which they refufe Communion 
 with others 3 in this Cafe there is no Ground of 
 Clamour. But idly, How will fome Men take 
 it> if they are told, That by folemn Oath, or 
 National Covenant, whereby the Articles of 
 'Perth AfTembly are abjured, they have linked 
 And tied down themfelves ; and tho' an Anfwer 
 of this Kind may be fcornfully negle&ed, yet let 
 all know, that Oaths are moft folemn Pieces of 
 Worfhipj That the perpetual Obligation of thefe 
 upon Pofterity we mall never be able tc free or 
 felves from; Perjury is dreadful, and God will 
 not be mocked. 
 
 And now from what hath been faid, Firft of r„f? rcneeg 
 all, Minifters of the Gofpel may take Warning, from this* 
 how they open a Door to the Vanity and Pride ^reWar* 
 of thofe they are concerned in ; for, there are no 5J5f|S 
 Orders of a Church, however reafonable and juft J 
 thefe be, that in Procefs of Time come to be 
 more grofly and univerfally abufed, than thole 
 which at firft are difpenfed with, for the State 
 and Character of Perfons concerned in them.Thi$ 
 was firft granted as a Privilege to Kings Sour, 
 as appears by the Decretals of the Council of 
 Cologn, and thefe of Clement V. where it Is 
 ordained, 'That none hut they jhov.ld he hapifed 
 at home. Afterward, we may fuppofe, it came 
 to be allowed to Noblemen, and from them to 
 other rich Men 5 and now, as every Body who 
 affe&s the Name and State of Gentility, they 
 think themfelves hardly dealt with, if they be 
 accounted in this Matter inferior to fiich and fuch 
 •f their Neighbours : And it may be, fuch Li- 
 P a berty 
 
228 J Tragical Effay on 
 
 berty hath of fate been granted this Way, that 
 we cannot but juftly blufh and condemn ourfelves, 
 when we confider, how thofe who occupied our 
 Places before the Year 16510, were more ftrict 
 arid exaft 5 and when we confider, thst if Stran- 
 gers were to come to fome Places of o r Land, (I 
 wifh I could hot fay the mod p Mick) and oh- 
 ferved who they are in our Congregations that 
 only prefent their Children toBaptifm, they could 
 fcarce fail to conclude, that only the Children 
 of the Pooreft were baptifed 5 or elfe, that the' 
 Great and Rich were afhamed publickly to own 
 themfelves Chriftians. And here. I only add^ 
 That if any will give himfelf the Troubled 
 reading the learned Mr. Wall's Hiftory of Baip- 
 tifm, efpecially the fecond Part, they cannot er 
 fcape to notice, That tho* Augvftine and others 
 went high upon the pofitive Neceffity of it, yet 
 never would they allow Baptifm in private Hou* 
 fes, except in Cafes very extraordinary 5 wifely 
 forefeeing, That if once a Breach was made, 
 few could tell what Confufion it woidd iffue im 
 And it may be feared, that fo far has this moft 
 unwarrantable Practice fpread it felf, that no J 
 thing lefs than, fome folernn and public k Refolve 
 will be a fufficient Remedy." And this may be 
 the more expedient, if we obferve* how fome on 
 the other Side, are fpreading. the; Docirine of 
 tjie aololute Neceility . of Baptifiia in order to 
 Salvation. 
 II. Mini- Secondly, How very much are .Ministers to be 
 frequency pitied, for they can fcarce be j unified 5 if we ob- 
 to be pi- ferve on the one Hand, their iincere and ftrong^ 
 ticd ' Inclination to walk: exactly by the Laws of our " 
 
 Cburcb -, yet on the other Hand, how freq -.lently ! 
 do they meet with proud, and hiimrti rfome 
 People ? Who, if thei/ Children are not bapti- 
 fed in their own Houfes, immediately a Difcord 
 with the Minifter happens, his Quiet in the Con- 
 gregation 
 
the Sacrament of Vaptifip. 229 
 
 gregation is broken, he is roundly told, That if 
 he will not, they know Who will. And then, if 
 the Lady in Childbed fhould be as high upon 
 this Point as the Husband, and any Inconveniency 
 befall her, the Cry is every where made againft 
 the poor Miniiter, he muft then confider, that 
 there are Instances of this in Scripture, where 
 Perfons have been baptifed in private 5 he looks 
 over all the Inconvrnicncies that may follow up- 
 on a Refufal, and is obliged to comply, tho' I 
 fear it is fo, it times done with no good Grace, 
 and many Times with a Struggle in his own 
 Mind. O! what great Need have the Houfe of 
 Levi, as we'l as the Inhabitants of Jert/fale?n, of 
 God's Pity and Pardon j and may he, for Chrift's 
 Sake, according to the Multitude of his Mer- 
 cies, grant both to us. 
 
 Thirdly^ May I not, from what has been faid, J*- 1 - An 
 humbly and yet plainly addrefs my felf to all t0 p " jL 
 Ranks, High and Low, in this National Churchy 
 and fay, My Brethren, it it right that the Faith 
 of our Lord Jefils Chrift Jhould he had 'with 
 RefpeEl of 'Perfons ? Is there either High or 
 Low, Rich or Poor, but all one in Chrift Jefus* 
 Are Gofpel Mercies beftow'd according to 
 worldly Conditions ? Will not all ftand upon e- 
 qual Ground before the Bar of Chrift ? Why 
 then in the Matters of his Worfhip and Service 
 will you defire to be lifted above others ? Are 
 we, my dear andChriftian Friends, fallen into 
 fuch Dregs of Time, that we are afhamed to 
 make an open Profeflion of Chriftianity ? Pub- 
 lickly to acknowledge that we and our Seed are 
 God's, and will ferve him ? Or, do we think it 
 not fufificiently great and fafhionable, to acknow- 
 ledge the Congregation of God's People as Mem- 
 bers of the fame Body, and fo to make an open 
 Profeflion of our Communion with them before 
 the World ? Let us fear that Word % left it take 
 P 2 Place 
 
230 ^A TraTtical EJfay on 
 
 Place as to us, Mark viii. 58. and that we be 
 found Defpifers of the Church of God> and the 
 Authority ofthofe, whom God, in his Goodnefs, 
 has fet over us. Again, what reafonable or juft 
 Pretence can thefe of you have, who dwell in 
 Towns and larger Cities ? There you have fre- 
 quent Occafion of the publick and orderly Ad- 
 ministration of Baptifm to your Children 5 no 
 Seafon needs hinder you from carrying them 
 to the publick Congregation, and your Chriftian 
 Friends are at Hand : So that of all People in the 
 World, you are certainly moft inexcufeable and 
 Blame-worthy. But that I may not infift, let me 
 in the laft Place entreat you to confider, that you 
 are to learn of Chrift, who is meek and lowly. 
 He, in the Days of his Flefh, tho' the*Prince of 
 the Kings of the Earthy as he will for ever con« 
 tinue to be, yet, Mark i. 9. he came a very 
 confiderable Way, from Nazareth of Galilee , to* 
 be baptifed of John in Jordan 5 he fought no 
 Pre-eminence above others, nor difdained, in this 
 facred Ordinance, to aflbciate himfelf with the 
 Vulgar, and to be baptifed in the fame Place, 
 in the fame Manner, and as publickly as they 
 were. And fhall we pretend to be higher than 
 He. 
 
 IX. With what Frame and T'empr of Mind 
 2?aJ>tifm is to he gone about. 
 
 It is certain, that every religious Duty requires 
 a Frame fuitable to the Kature of it : and Bap- 
 tifm being fo folemn, and of fo great Moment 
 and Import, this furely calls for a Temper of 
 Soul bearing fome Proportion thereunto. And 
 among many Things thac might be offered on 
 this Head, I name thefe that follow. 
 I. Wich Fzrjl, This is to be done in Faith y being fully 
 Faith, .* ferfwaded, that this is an Ordinance of God, 
 
 Rom* 
 
the Sacrament of Sapti/m. 2 J « 
 
 Rom xiv. 29. and Minifters, Parents, Behol- 
 ders,' and thebaptifed himfelf, (if come to Age,) 
 are to go about this with an Eye to God Depen- 
 dence on God, and with an holy and humble 
 Truft in him 3 that he may gracioufly concur 
 herewith, and give his Blemng hereto, 1 Cor 
 Hi 6 7 And hereunto they have the greateit 
 Encouragement, confidering God's own gracious 
 and faithful Promife, Matth. xxym 19. And 
 the Nature of the Ordinance, which is a Sign 
 and Seal of all the Sure Mercies of David. 
 
 Secondly, It is to be gone about with an holy T[ . W i# 
 reverential Fear and Aw of God upon our own Fear. 
 Souls, and with that deep Concern that the Im- 
 port of the Duty requires ; for the Ordinance is 
 of God, it is appointed for the higheft Ends, 
 and refpeas the everlaftingHappmefs ot immor- 
 tal Souls. The Eye of God is then, in a fpecial 
 Manner, upon us, and with him we have to doj 
 and in all the Meetings of his People and 
 Services they perform, great Fear is always due 
 to fo great a God, Tfal.lxxxix. 7- Heb.xn. 28. 
 Nor can any Thing be more unbecoming than 
 Levity, IndirTerency, Confufion and Rafhneis ot 
 Mind in this Affair. When the Sacrament of 
 the Lord's Supper is adminiftred, Minifters treat 
 it with the greateft Reverence, and juftly endea- 
 vour to imprefs People with an holy Aw and 
 Dread, and here we ftiall behold a Solemnity (as 
 it were) appearing in the Countenances of all ; 
 why then /hould we be fo carelefs and overly in 
 this other Sign of the Stood of our Redeemer ? 
 Is this, O Cbrifiians! to be managed only as 
 fomething by the by ? Is it what does not con- 
 cern us, and wherein we are not to be equally 
 cautious as in that of the Supper ? Is the Ad- 
 miniftration of it only perfunftonous, and a mere 
 Complement? Are we to fpend no grave and 
 ferious Thoughts before we approach it? Ars 
 u + we 
 
 P 4 wc 
 
ni r A Practical EJfay on 
 
 we not to tremble, when in the Management of 
 it ? And are we only to be employ 'd in feaft- 
 ing and entertaining our Friends when it is over* 
 without one Word of that awful Solemnity we 
 bave been about ? Is the Adminiftration of it 
 to be hurried over? Shall we frown and reckon it 
 ungenteel if it is otherwife ? And have we, in 
 all this, nothing to do with God, nothing to re- 
 ceive from God, and nothing to fpeak for God ? 
 May the Lord pity us, and for ChrifFs Sake par- 
 don our fearlefs Approaches of this Kind. 
 
 ThanYf'! 1 rfrirdty, Jt ls t0 be done with Tkanliulvefs, 
 nefs.. with the molt grateful and Soul-engaging Senfe 
 of God's great, unfearchable, and undeferved 
 Grace to us poor Sinners, in the high/eft Praifes 
 to him for Chrifl the Saviour 5 for his Love, his 
 Mercy, his Pity, and that Goodwill which he 
 ihews to us in thrift 5 for his well ordered Co- 
 venant of Grace, and the Extent of it, not only 
 to profeffing Believers themfelves, but alfo to 
 their Seed.^ And then, how fhould our Hearts 
 be filled with the moft dutiful Acknowledgments 
 / of his Condefcenfion to our Infirmity, that he 
 bath appointed this Ordinance, whereby all thefe 
 Bleflings are made over and fealed to us, Efh. 
 i. !j. Here we may jufily wonder, and wonder- 
 ing break forth into the higheft Notes of Thankk 
 giving. 
 IV. With Fourthly, It is to be managed with ChearfuU 
 1°y> nefii Joy, and Gladnefs of Heart. Minifters 
 
 fhould administrate it with a willing Mind\ 
 1 <Pet. v 2. For, if the Matter is fo rich in his* 
 Grace, as to appoint an Ordinance, whereby the 
 Bleliings of his well ordered Covenant, and the 
 Fruits of his Purchafe, are reprefented, applied 
 and fealed to us Sinners 3 how chearful fhould 
 the Servant be in the Miniitration of it. Pa- 
 rents fhould be glad when they think they are 
 going up to the Houfe of the Lord, there to 
 
 pre fen t 
 
the Sacrament of c Baptifm. 233 
 
 prefent their Infants to him, now upon a Throne 
 of Grace, there to have faving Bleffings fealed to 
 them, and there to give an open Teftimony of 
 tlv.MrChriftian Faiib, and that they and their Seed 
 are Gods • For fcarce had they ever a moreglad- 
 ning Occaiion than this. And, how fhould the 
 CK/iitian Members of the Congregation be filled 
 w»i; an holy andhunible Joy, when they reflect on 
 God's Goodnefs tothemfclves in their Infancy 5 as 
 al To to their Seed, contemplating the Riches of his 
 Grace ro thofe now to be bapti r ed, and beholding 
 this Addition now made to the vifible Body of 
 Chrift. And was there a due Senfe of the great 
 Worth of humane and immortal Souls, and an 
 holy and earned prying into the Nature, Ufeful- 
 nefs and Excellency of this Ordinance, with an 
 heavenly and elevated Temper of Mind, furely 
 we to ..Id not but take the greateft Pleafure ima- 
 ginable in this Ordinance ? 
 
 F'f'bly. It is to be gone about with Sincerity V.With 
 ofLirention. Kot that the Intention of the Mi- Sl f n " m y. 
 nifter is necefTary to the Being of the Sacra- 0n4 
 ment 5 for this flows from, and intirely depends 
 upon divine Appointment : But feeing the De- 
 fign of this Ordinance is, that covenanted Blef- 
 fings may be fealed, and the Perfon baptifed, fo- 
 lemnly devoted to God, furely the Adminiflrar 
 tors fhould iincerely eye this, and Parents or 
 other Sponfors fhould have it fingly in their View, 
 2 Cor. ii. 17. for nothing can be more agreeable, 
 than our acting up to the Delign of this Inftituti- 
 on 5 nor is there any Thing more unfuitable, than 
 doing, and we know not for what End, or perfor- 
 ming religious Duties, when yet we either un- 
 derhand or reflect not, to what Purpofe. 'Tis 
 now, that Parents would confider wherefore it is 
 they are to bring their Infants to Baptifm 5 and 
 would have the great Things of this Ordinance 
 in their Eye and View, when they do bring them; 
 
 as 
 

 *34 A TraUical EJJay on 
 
 as it is to be hoped Minifters have,' when they ad- 
 
 miniftrate it to them. 
 Com W - th Sixthly* This is to be managed with Compo- 
 furTof ^ ure °f Mind, and Diftin&nefs of Thought. 
 Mind,'and Here the Minifter is to .know his Work, to or- 
 
 aSf^f" ^ er ^ IS ^^ r > to ^ e exa ^ in his Anions, and 
 Thought. *^ thefe attended with outward Gravity, inward 
 Concern and Spirituality, 'Titus ii. 7. Beholders 
 are to have their Minds compofed,. and their Be- 
 haviour becoming the Greatnefs of the Admini- 
 ffration ; Now they fhould reflect on their not 
 walking up to their Privilege of Baptifm$ renew 
 their Acceptance of the Crofpel Offer, and their 
 Engagement to be the Lord's. And we in the 
 Miniftry fhould take Occafion, at the Admini- 
 ilration of this Ordinance, in the moft lively 
 Manner, to prefs upon our Hearers their feveral 
 Neglects and Omiflions 5 their prefent Duties and 
 Obligations 5 with their Privileges and Encou- 
 ragements : It is thus, or in fo doing, that Ad- 
 miniitrations of this Kind, by the Bleffing of 
 God, /hould become more univerfally edifying. 
 But then, as every Thing in this Ordinance 
 challenges this Compofure of Mind, and that 
 from all Hands, fo in a particular Manner from 
 'Parents^ or others that do prefent Infants and en- 
 gage for them ; How ferious and grave fhould 
 they be in profefling their Faith, prefenting their 
 Child, and taking upon them Chriftian and fui- 
 table Engagements : Thefe Things are of the 
 greateft Moment, and require the outmoft At- 
 tention } and nothing can be more difagreeable 
 than that Confufion, T hough tlefnefs, Vanity 
 and Lightnefs of Mind, in any Degree, fhould 
 take Place when we are fo engaged. 
 VII. Id Seventhly and Laftly, This is to be gone a- 
 *» holy bout in a holy Manner. I am far from the Opi- 
 Manner. nion> tj^ the Validity of the Adminiftration 
 depends upon the Holinefs of the Adminiftrator : 
 
 But 
 
the Sacrament of "Baptifm. 235 
 
 But this is certain, That feeing the Author, Na- 
 ture, Ends and Ufesofthis Ordinance are all 
 pure and holy, the Adminiftrator fhould not be 
 prophane, nor the Adminiftration unholy, Exod. 
 xxix. 37. Tfal. xciii. 5. Jfa. Iii. 11. but as his 
 Office is holy, fo fhould his Frame be, and his 
 Miniftring before the Lord. And how fhould 
 Parents, when they bring their Children to this, 
 put aixay Iniquity far from their ^Dwellings, 
 and not only cleanfe their Hands, but their 
 Hearts, when now they are making fo near an 
 Approach to God's Altar. Is it becoming Chri- 
 stianity, that they fhould be wholly employed in 
 entertaining their Friends, or about their worldly 
 Affairs, when they are to have Communion in 
 fuch a folemn Manner with the Great and Infi- 
 nitely Holy God : For, Holinefs not only hecor 
 meth his Houfe, but his Houfhold and Servants, 
 for evermore. 
 
 X. Of Relapiifing* 
 
 There was no fmall Controverfy concerning 
 this, in Cyprian's Time, when he and thofe who. 
 join'd him were for rebaptifing fuch as had been, 
 ba.ptifed by Hereticks : And thofe on the other 
 Side maintained that Baptifm valid, which was 
 adminiftred in the Name of the Holy Trinity, 
 Father, Son and Holy Ghofl : And indeed, if 
 Baptifm is duly adminiftrated, there can be but 
 one Adminiftration of it, becaufe it is a Sign and 
 Seal of our Regeneration', Titus iii. 5. and it is 
 only once that we are born again, 1 John iii. 9, 
 of our Union to Chrift, Gal. iii. 27. Rom. vi. 3, 
 4. Colo/T* i. 12. But if we are once joined to the 
 Lord, we, for ever, remain in him, John vii. 37. 
 John x. 28. 1 'Pet. i. 5. Baptifm is alfo that 
 Ordinance wherein we are folemnly admitted in- 
 to Covenant with God 5 but this Covenant isever- 
 
 lafting, 
 
2j6 A Tracheal EJfay on 
 
 lifting, Ifa. lv. iii. 2 Sam. xxiii. 5. Rom.vlii. 
 32, 33. We are baptifed ipto the Similitude of 
 the Death and Refurreftion of Chrift, ROm vi. 
 3, 4, 5, 9, 10. But Chrift died and rofe again, 
 once only : And there is neither Command nor 
 Example in Scripture for rehaptifing. Neither 
 was Circi mcfflon, but once administrated. And as 
 to what fome object from Jltls xix. vi. it has 
 b6en already considered on the S^ueftion concer- 
 ning the Baptifm of $ohi, and that of Chrifi 9 
 whether they were the fame or not? But here, 
 we are fpecially to notice, That it U.Anabap- 
 tijls we have to do with, who rebaptife fuch as 
 were baptifed in their Infancy, alledging, *That 
 as Infants are not the proper Subjects of feaptifmj 
 fo this was not performed in a right Manner, feer 
 ing it was not by dipping : But if ft has. been al- 
 ready proven, That Infants may and fhc Id be 
 baptifed, and that Baptifm admiriiftred by 
 fprinkl'ng or pouring Water upon the Perfonis 
 valid and fufficientj then the Foundation of this 
 Practice is removed. And of this, the Reader, 
 mull be left to judge. 
 
 £«!',> &s£i S^r^sS &fe>«^§ Ssfaf^S S^^ S^fe^sS 
 ^?93 W; ™p mf^m W^W> W*% P^*3 
 
 CHAP. V. 
 
 Of tie Efficacy of 'Baptifm. > 
 
 THAT Baptifm hath great and precious 
 Effects, and is an Ordinance of God for 
 carrying on the Salvation of Sinners, is 
 not to be doubted : For as Sacraments are not 
 empty Signs, fo this not only fignifies, but alfo 
 applies aj*cl Teals our Intereft in Chrift, and in 
 Gpd's well ordered Covenants and fo it is a Sign 
 
 and 
 
the Sacrament of ^Baptifm. 237 
 
 and Seal of our Regeneration, Union to Chrift, 
 Juititicanon unto Life, Title to God as our God, 
 Perfevtrrance in the Way of the Lord, and eternal 
 Happinefs in the End, Mark i. 4. Rom. vi. 5,4. 
 Rom. iv. 11. ititus iii. 5. 1 'Pet. iii. 21. But 
 whit we are here to enquire into, is, How far 
 this Efficacy extends? And, idly y Whence it 
 is? 
 
 S E C T. t 
 
 Of the Extern of the Efficacy of Baprifin. 
 
 1 : - ■ . 
 
 AS to. this, therd are two Things that natively 
 offer themfelves to our Confederation ; ift y 
 The Extent of this, as to thofewho are baptifed,if 
 it is to all y or to fome only ? And, idly> How far 
 the Bleilings fignified and fealed, are applied to, 
 and actually beftowed \>pon thofe, at the Time 
 of Administration, to whom it is really and fa- 
 vingly- efficacious 5 and io, what the Efficacy of 
 this Ordinance is? 
 
 - For the Ftrflof -thefe, the Q^.eftion is not, The Ex- 
 If all that are -baptffed have peculiar Benefits by T - *} oft ^. 
 Baptifm? For, doubtlefs, they are admitted ^££f 
 publickly, and received into the vifible Church 5 
 fo that they come to have a Title to thefe out- 
 ward Privileges that are peculiar to the vifible 
 Members thereof. They are hereby externally 
 received into Covenant with God 5 fo that they To 2 jj ^ 
 are hereby diftinguifhed from fhe reft of the laptifed, 
 World, and cannot be denied the other Seal of what, 
 the Covenant, viz. the Lord's Sapper, if fo be, 
 they have fuch other external Qualifications as 
 Scripture requires. By this alfo they are dedi- 
 cated to God, and are, by Baptifm, under folemn 
 
 Obli- 
 
z$S A Practical EJfay tin 
 
 Obligations to all the Duties of a covenanted 
 People : And whatever other Benefits or Blef- 
 fings are common to the whole vifible Church, 
 thefe they are Sharers of, Rom. ix. 4. Gen.xvii. 
 io. All which Advantages* are great,^ and be- 
 long to every one duly baptifed. But the Que- 
 stion is, concerning internal, faving and fpiritual 
 Bleflings, if thefe are fealed to all and every one 
 that is baptifed ? And here it is not to be ex- 
 peeled, That I fhould recount the many diffe- 
 rent Opinions of Proteftant Writers on this 
 Head (2). It will be fufficient to name fome 
 few, which yet I would have inclined intirely to 
 have omitted, was it not for the Sake of the more 
 inquifitive and curious Reader, who would be 
 ready to accufe this imperfect Performance of 
 greater Imperfection, fhould I wholly omit it. 
 Different & ere tnen > befides Papifts, fome go a very great 
 Opinions. tengthC;), one fajfs, That by it, all Infants art 
 faved, if they die before aftual Sin : And with 
 them the Church of England feem to agree (4). 
 A Second tells us (5), That by it the Confequen. 
 ces of Original Sin are removed $ and* that all 
 the Baptifed are made the Members of Chrifl % 
 the Children of God, and Heirs of Glory, if they 
 do not afterward forfeit thefe. A Third ( 6) fays, 
 That all the Blejfings of the Covenant are fealed 
 to thofe that are baptifed 5 and, If they keep 
 themfelves pure, they Jhall be faved. A Fourth 
 (7) aflerts, That God hath given his Son to die 
 
 for 
 
 (2) See Witxii MifceUaneorum Tom. alter, Pag. £i8, to 623, 
 *53, 654. (3) See cluiterback his Explication of the Eag- 
 lijk Liturgy, Pag. 35. 3$. (4.) See the Rubrick at the 
 End of the Publick Office for Baptifm ; the Thankfgiving 
 thereafter; and the Office for Confirmation. (5) See Dr. 
 Hammond's Difcourfe of Infant Baptifm, mihi, Pag. 233. 235, 
 301, 302. (6) See Mr. Samuel Clark his ElTay On Infant 
 Baptifm, Pag. 5, 6, 7. (7) See Dr. Tomer fon on tfaptifm, 
 Pag. 167, 355, 357. And Mr, Cajamfi Hifory of Mr. Bax- 
 ter's JLife, Pag. 2o<$ ; to 210. 
 
the Sacrament of "Baptifm. 239 
 
 for all Mankind^ and appointed Baptifm to con- 
 vey the Sejiefit of if, and, That all Infants 
 have Regeneration by Baptifm ; which, in their 
 Infant Jlge is fvfficicnt for Salvation , yet, thro* 
 Want of Education to excite it, it may he after- 
 wards /mothered. And a Fifth (g) lays it down 
 as a Truth, That baptifed Infants, who die in 
 their Infancy, ar e undoubtedly faved •? and, That 
 it cannot be doubted, but that, to thefe Baptifm 
 is an authentick and publick ^Declaration, That 
 God hath pardo?ted their Original Sin, and 
 granted them a Right to eternal Life. But our 
 Confeffion of Faith (9) reftri&s the Efficacy of 
 Baptifm to thofe to whom Grace belongs 5 and 
 thefe only are the Elect and Chofen of God 5 and 
 fo, with the Body of Proteftant Divines, we af- 
 fert and maintain, That it is to the Eletf of God Th* 
 only, that Baptifm doth apply and feal the fa-J/ T ™£ * 
 ling Benefits of the Obedience and Tie ath of our .. 
 Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrift, and all the Blef- 
 Jings of the Covenant of Grace : So that they 
 ihall, in God's appointed Time, certainly have 
 the Promifes made good to them, and the Blef- 
 fings of the Covenant beftowed upon them, and 
 fo, in the End, be eternally faved. And for 
 confirming and better understanding this, and 
 what may be faid of the former Opinions, I of- 
 fer what follows. 
 
 Firfl, That that effectual Vocation, wfch in- 1. 
 eludes Regeneration $ and Juftification, which The Ele£ 
 implies the Imputation of the Righteoufnefs of only " are 
 Chrift, Remiflion of Sin, and fo a Right to eter- rlfeT^ 
 rial Life, are of no larger Extent than Eleclion, 
 as the Apoftle aflerts, Rom. viii. 29, 50. Hence 
 it necefTarily follows, That the Elecl only are 
 regenerate, juftified and faved j and to them alone 
 is Baptifm efficacious as to thefe Ends. It is true 
 
 indeed, 
 
 (8) Pictet, 7W, CbrijlUn*, Part 2. Page ?45' (?) Chap, 
 
2'4o J Tratficat EJTay on 
 
 indeed, That BaptiTm is not a Seal of the Decree, 
 but of the Covenant i B^r then, it is aJfo tr e, 
 That the Application of fpecial and faving ( o- 
 venant Bleffings, is the Exec ition of the eternal 
 , Purpofe. Nor will it be a juft Confeqi ence from 
 this, That therefore Ministers (hoidd baptife 
 none but the Eletf 9 becaufe.th Height and 
 Depth of the 2)ecre ^^redc^inatiou forbid our 
 curious Enquiry into the Secrets thereof, ft '/li- 
 fters know not whether this or that Infant is 
 JEleB y nor is Ele&ion the Foundation of Infant 
 Baptifm, but their external - ifible Title to the 
 Covenant of our God. 
 II. Rege- Secondly, All that' are regenerate, they have 
 mufTbe Communion with the Lord Jefus Chrift - y they 
 faved. are one Spirit with him j and have his Ri^hteouf- 
 nefs imputed to them : And if it is fo, then they 
 muft certainly be fayed, according to "John vL 
 37. Rom. viii. 1. and many other Script res. So 
 that, to fpeak of the Regeneration of all infants, 
 without Diftinc~r.ion, unlefs we alfo maintain, 
 That all have Communioji with Chrifl,. and fo, 
 That all baptifed Infants are faved, whether they 
 die or live, is to fpeak not only without, but alfb 
 againft Scripture, 
 in 1? ^thirdly, Regeneration, being the Fruit of 
 
 neratiorP" thrift's Death and Obedience, which cannot be 
 cannot be in vain x but muft have their Effect} and being 
 foiothe- the Gift: of God, and Work of hrs Spirit, is fuch 
 as muft remain and continue : For, Rom, xi. 29. 
 ^the Gifts and Calling of God are without Re- 
 pentance : T'he Seed of God remain in fach> 
 1 John iii. 9. And he ''that hath begun a good- 
 Work hi -the Souls of hzs tRftpple, will carry it 
 on to the T>ay of Chrift, Philip, i. 6. Hence 
 therefore, to affert, That Regener at wz, which 
 is fufficient to Infant Saljation, > ;3y afterwards 
 fee fmothered or whoily extinguifhed, is to deny, 
 contrary to plain Scripture, and the Scheme of 
 
 Orrho- 
 
the Sacrament of jBaptt'fm. 241 
 
 Orthodox Divinity, the 'Perfeverance of tl.ie 
 Saints. So that they who maintain, That all 
 Infants are by Baptifm regenerate, muft alfo 
 hold, That they are fa-jed, and that, tho' they 
 live and come to Mens Age 5 and confequently, 
 That none of the Vifible Chirch can peri/h : 
 Seeing, according to thefe Men we now reafon 
 with, they were by Baprifm regenerate. Bat to 
 aflTert the Salvation of all, and to maintain, That 
 laving Grace may be loft, are equally antifcrip- 
 tural and unfound. 
 
 Fourthly, (Pelagians fay, That fufficient Grace iv. Nor 
 is given to all Men, if fo be they would ufe it loft for 
 aright. But, according to the Opinion of fome ^ d ant ?*" 
 already mentioned, the Strefs is here laid upon G1 , 4 l 
 another, even upon Parents, or others, their exci- 
 ting it by Chriftian Education: i\ndfo, the Weight 
 ofChildrens Salvation is laid, not upon the Pur- 
 pofe of God, the Efficacy of the Obedience and 
 Suffering of Chrift, and the Unchangeablenefs of 
 the Covenant of Grace, but upon Parents and o- 
 thers 5 and it is put into their Power, whether to 
 fave or deftroy. Who fees not this inconliftent 
 with Scripture, aud the infinite Wifdoni, Grace 
 and Mercy of the Great God ? And, Is it not 
 obvious to daily Obfervation, that many religi- 
 ous Parents have been at all polftble Pains in edu- 
 cating their Children, who, notwithstanding of 
 fuch Education, have remained wicked, grace- 
 lefs and prophane ? Was it Want of due Edu- 
 cation that Jaooh enjoyed, and Efau came fhort 
 of the Blefling, or that God loved the Firft, but 
 hated the Lafl ? 
 
 Fifthly, It is certain from Scripture, That as V. Chrift 
 to all thofe for whom Chrift died, he not only diedfor 
 fuffered for fome of their Iniquities, but for &#ti?p£Z 
 of them. And to maintain, That by Baprifm pie. 
 Original Sin is pardoned, while in the mean 
 Time thefe very Perfons* may be damned, be- 
 CL caufe 
 
M* A Tragical Effay on 
 
 caufe of affual Tranfgrejfions 5 is to afTerr, That 
 not all, but fome Sins only were laid upon 
 Chriftj that he died for their Original Sin, which 
 he knew would be to no Purpofe, feeing, not- 
 withstanding of this, their affinal Tranfgrejfions 
 might for ever ruin them j and, that the Effects 
 of ChrirVs Death are divided, one Part applied 
 in the Removal of Original Sin, and the othe* 
 kept back in retaining their actual Tranfgreflions. 
 Where is there Scripture for fuch a Way of 
 thinking; nay, how contrary is it to thefe Places 
 of Holy Writ? Jfa. liii. 10, ri. John vi. 37. 
 Rom, viii. 29, 50. 1 John i. 7. Rom. viii. 1. 
 VI. Pi Sixthly, While I am writing this Effay, a 
 particular p r i vate Chriftian was pleafed to write me his 
 confide- Thoughts as to the Extent of the Efficacy of 
 red, Baptifm 5 which, if I have not miftaken them, 
 
 are, Firft, 'The Covenant is entailed upon the 
 Believer's Seed, Gen. xvii. 8. Acts ii. 39. 2dly, 
 The Promifes confequently are entailed alfo, 
 Deut. xxx. f>. Jfa. xliv. 3, 4. 3dly, Nothing 
 "but prefumptuous Sin, and this continued in 
 till 'Death, can nullify the Bond of that Cove- 
 nant, Pfal. xviii. 21. Jer. iii. 14. but of this 
 Children are not capable. 4thly, As to the Adult 
 there is a Limitation of the Entail, to fuch as 
 keep the Covenant, Pfal. ciii. 18. 5thly, There 
 is Grace in the Covenant to fecure Believers, 
 and Grace in it relating to their Seed', and if 
 Barents at! their Tart, and difcharge their 
 tDuty, it will take EffeEl. tfthly, That the 
 Reafon 'why the Children of godly Parents are 
 fometimes gracelefs, is, That Parents do not 
 under flan d of believe the Entail of the Covenant,, 
 are not diligent in the Ufe of Means, nor have 
 a te7ideK Regard to the ^Duties of the Covenant} 
 and marry unbelieving Wives, or match \heir 
 Children to fuch: Thus far he. And the Judi- 
 *rcu£ Reader will foon obferve, that there is no 
 
 need 
 
the Sacrament of Baptifin* 243 
 
 need that much be faidto this : Yet for fome very 
 goodReafbns, I offer thefe two Things, i/?, That 
 the Extent or Entail of the Covenant fromdhrd- 
 ham to his Seed, upon the Account whereof they 
 were feparated from all other Nations, enjoyed 
 many fpecial Privileges, and God is frequently 
 called their God, even in Times of their greateft 
 Ignorance, and deeped Apoftafy, is by no Di- 
 vine, fo far as I know, under ft ood of a faving 
 Title to Covenant BleffingSj elfe all Ifrael, not 
 only after the Spirit, but alfo after the Fle/h, 
 behoved to be faved, And if the - Entail is not 
 faving, what can we conclude from it, as to ihe 
 certain and undoubted Salvation of Infants. iJ J y\ 
 The Author of this Plan has not duly confidered, 
 lfl, That by it, he makes the Covenant not ever- 
 lafting, but changeable. zdly, Kor Well Ordered} 
 feeing, according to hftn, the continuing in Co- 
 venant depends upon the Parents Faith, their Di- 
 ligence, and difpofing of them in Marriage 5 
 yea, upon the Fancies and Inclinations of Chil- 
 dren, in chooiing Wives to themfelves. But can 
 the Covenant of God, of which Chtift is the 
 Surety, be eftablifhed upon fuch flippery Foun- 
 dations, and yet be well ordered in all things ? 
 Nor, $d£y> Has he noticed, That the Covenant 
 of Grace has that in it felf which declares its Per- 
 petuity, and fecures all in Covenant, fo as they 
 fhall be faved. Let us but obferve that fhort 
 Tranfcript of this Covenant, Jer. xxxi. 33, 34. 
 where God promifes, That all his covenanted 
 People fhall know him, from the leaji even unto 
 the greatefl: 'That he will put his Laws into 
 their Minds, and write them in their Hearts : 
 And, That he will he merciful unto their Un- 
 righteoufnefs, and their Shis and Iniquities he 
 will remember no more; And feeing it is thus. 
 How can it be fuppofed, that the Infants who are 
 fb in Covenant with God as to be faved, as he fays 
 QU * ail 
 
"244 <A 'Practical EJJdy on 
 
 all thofe of Believers are, can ever after be guil- 
 ty of prefumptuous Sins, and continue therein un- 
 til the?r Lives End ? Can unbecoming Marriages 
 difanul this Covenant ? And when the Lord has 
 promifed no more to remember the Sins of his 
 covenanted People, that fo Iniquity may not caft 
 them out of his Coyenantj /hall the Sins and 
 Neglects of Parents make their Intereft in it, 
 which he fuppofes in their Infancy to be faving, 
 afterward to be of no Effect ? Nor is the Coze- 
 "nant £ Pro?nife made to the Infant Seed of Belie- 
 vers, but to thofe alfo who are come to Age. 
 VII. As Seventhly ', As to Infants who are baptifed, and 
 to Infants die in their Infancy : It becomes us to think 
 dying in with Sobriety concerning the Efficacy of Baptifm to 
 ntancy. f uc { 1 . ^ r are we to be poiitive where the Scrip- 
 ture is fo fparing. As for my own Thoughts, thefe 
 few following Things I think I know, and further 
 1 will rfot pretend : Firft, That the Affirmative 
 Side of this Queftion is no fingular Opinion (i), 
 for befides thofe cited below, Mr. Wall (2), in 
 bis Hifiory of Bap t if m, names Clement, Terti* 
 lian, Cyprian, Amhrofe, Auguftine, and Chry- 
 fojiome, all maintaining,- "That Infants baptifed, 
 and dying in Infancy, are certainly fayed. 
 idly, That the Guilt of Ada?ns firffc Sin is cer- 
 tainly imputed to Infant s j for even thofe who 
 have not finned after the Similitude of Adam* 
 and who cannot be reckoned to have committed 
 anv actual Tranfgr'e&on, have Pains, Sicknefs, 
 and at laft Death inflicted on them 5 and feeing 
 it is juil with God to inflict the temporal Part 
 of the Puni/hment of Original Sin, fhall we im- 
 peach his Holinefs or Juflice, if he fhall fee meet 
 to bring Infants under the eternal and everlafting 
 Part thereof? ^dly, That if the Guilt of the firft 
 
 Adam 
 
 (1) See Witxlus de Effaci* V.iptifmi, Ss£i. 3,4, 5. Mr. VJl 
 MsHiftory of Baptism, Vol.!!. Page 192* (2) Wall, lib. 
 Crt* Pag. 455. 
 
the Sacrament of Tlaptijm. 345 
 
 Adam be thus imputed to Infants, where is there 
 any imaginable Inconveniency to afTert, That the 
 Righteoufnefs of the fecond Adam y with all the 
 great and glorious Confequences thereof, is alfo 
 imputed to them? ^thl\\ That in Scripture there 
 is mention of the Election of fomc, and Pretenti- 
 on of others ; and this is declared concerning 
 Jacob and Efan while they were Infants, ^thly^ 
 I know, That God. is merciful and gracious, yet 
 dare not pre fume upon the Limits and Extent of 
 this. And then, 6t/jly, That Chtift comn^anded 
 little Children to be brought to him, that he laid 
 his Hands on them, and blefled them, declaring, 
 That of fuch was the Kingdom of Heaven. And 
 then, ithly, That Charity thinketh no Evil, and 
 that it feems moft agreeable to the Gofpel Doc- 
 trine, and the Gofpel Spirit, to judge the beft of 
 the eternal State of all Members of the villble 
 Church, unlefs fomewhat that is juft and reafo- 
 nable determine us to the contrary. Upon the 
 Whole , fecret Things belong to God 5 nor are 
 Men curioufly to pry thereinto ; Duty is ours, 
 and in the confeientious Difcharge of it we are, 
 in an holy and fubmiinve Manner, and yet wirh 
 a due Meafure of Chriftian Hope, to leave our 
 Infants to the Diipofal of a JJgod and gracious 
 God. Withal, bringing them to a gracious Re- 
 deemer, and there leaving them with a Calmnefs 
 and Tranquility of Mind. To judge hard, or to 
 be anxious above Meafure, as to the Salvation 
 of this or that particular Infant, is not at all our 
 Province j yea, is moft unbecoming, for where the 
 Scripture has not determined, good Reafon that 
 we fhould be filent. Parents are, at all Times, 
 to be concerned about the Salvation of their In- 
 fants, and more efpecially when they are dying 5 
 and fometimes it may pleafe a fovereign, good, 
 and gracious God, to give Intimations to truly 
 rejigious Parents, of his accepting their Gift, re- 
 Q.3 garding 
 
*4<? 'J <Pr aclical EJfay on 
 
 garbing their Tears, hearing their Prayers, and 
 fo of the eternal Happinefsof their expiring Chil- 
 dren. But Intimations and Impreffions of that 
 Kind are to be entertained with holy Fear and 
 Caution, and not to be looked for and prefled af- 
 ter, as common and ordinary Attainments. 
 
 The fecond Thing I propofed, to be here a lit- 
 tle difcourfed of, was, How far, at the Admini- 
 stration of Baptifm, the Bleffings fignified and 
 fealed thereby, are actually applied to and be- 
 ftowed upon thofe to whom this Sacrament is in 
 a faving Manner efficacious 5 and fo, what the 
 Efficacy of Baptifm is. 
 
 As upon the fir ft Part of this SeBion it was 
 noticed, That there were not a few, and it may 
 be too many, various Opinions even of 'Prore- 
 flant 2)i-vines, fo upon this the Number is fully 
 as great (3)$ but becaufe fome may think, That 
 it is more than Time I fhould come to an End of 
 this Ejjay> I fhall not here mention them,' refer- 
 ring the Currbus Reader to the Quotations below* 
 for which Reafon, what 1 think Truth, I fhall 
 humbly, and with Submiffion, propofe in the fol- 
 lowing Proportions. 
 I. Sealing Fir ft y That Baptifm being a Seal of the Cove- 
 fuppofes nant,it therefore neceffarily fuppofes a Title and 
 Right. Right to the Bleffings of the Covenant : For it is 
 a Seal, and where no Right is, there furely can be 
 nojuft and valid Sealing. And this Title the 
 Children of profeffing Parents have, by the Tenor 
 of the Covenant, Gen. xvii. 10. iCor. vii. 14. 
 and thofe without the Church, by profeffing their 
 Faith in Chrift, and Obedience to him, Jiffs ii. 
 
 Salvation Secondly * That without Holinefs and Regene- 
 vithout ration, Pardon and Remiffion, there can be no 
 rioT and" eternal Salvation. The Reafon is evident, be- 
 Pardon. caufe our Lord has faid, and that without diftin- 
 
 + guifhing 
 
 (3) See gitzius de BftcucU Ba^frni, 
 
• the Sacrament of Saptifia. 2 47 
 
 guiflxin* the old from the young, That except 
 ETSfcta agahu he cannot ^^ntojU 
 Kingdom of God, John m J, 5- »* *%£% 
 
 where all Things a. perf^ hog. gjg 
 
 £? ^^liftSd l« ^Nature™ 
 
 areChildnn of M, even asothen : Tins 
 puts it beyond Contradia.on, 1 ha g D = 
 pardoned before we can be fared. If io then > °" 
 Infants are faved, furely there is from Scripturea 
 manifeft Neceffity that they be renewed «J par 
 doned. Hence I cannot but notice how ^very 
 wide a late Learned Divine (4) A>£& *?$ 
 he fays, That extern* Safufin K&fifZL 
 the Salvation of Children; hecaufe, fe:">**3 
 
 He denies any real Hates of Grace m> .tog- 
 
 tifm tvas not appointed to make "% real A Cba 'tf 
 [La them. Bat this muft be confidered in that 
 S ho as a Shad, to fet of his otherwife heauti- 
 M Performances, as to the Doctrines of the 
 
 putable Truth, That Infants are capable of Re- Ttofaj 
 feneration and Pardon of Sin : For, if fo be they paMe rf 
 have ^««'s firftSin imputed to tnem, and na- Regenera 
 S Corruption inherent in them gfc*?*V g-fig 
 not in equal Capacity <o have this Guilt em.t 
 ted, and their Natures fandined ? And thiiis 
 evident from Luke i. & compared with Luke u 
 Ti. Luke iv. 1. and Ml it- 4- Nor are we to 
 think it ftrangethat Infants are regenerate, tho 
 they cannot give external Evidences of th.s.more 
 than of thefi being reafonable Creatures. And 
 Q_4 to 
 
 (4) SCS Bifliop HofWnJ on Baptifm, Pigej 47> 4S. 
 
A TraBical Effay on 
 
 to deny evident Truths, becanfe we cannot com- 
 prehend them, or account for every Thing con- 
 cerning them, is moft abfurd $ for thenwefhould 
 fcarcely confent to any one Truth in the World : 
 For, what one Thing is there that finite Man 
 does fully comprehend ? And, how far a reafo- 
 nable, fpiritual, and immortal Being, fuch asthe 
 Soul is, may, even in Infancy of the Body, by 
 the Influences of the holy Spirit, act in fpiritual 
 Matters, and in a pure and fpiritual Manner 
 exert its Powers, that have not a neceffary De- 
 pendence on the Body (if any fuch Powers there 
 be) is worthy of the Learned to confider. And 
 her :, for the Sake of the curious Reader, I (hall 
 give the Words of a very exa£t Divine (5), I 
 e Doo*:ld very fain learn (lays he) how it can he 
 true, That Children have no internal Means of 
 Salvation ; or, that Gold's Spirit bath no Influ- 
 ence upon their Faculties ? 2)oth the reafonable 
 Soii of the Infant exprefs an admirable Influ- 
 ence on the bodily 1 7 acuities ', by a natural In- 
 Jlincl for its 'Prefer vat ion y and fh all not the Cre- 
 ator \ the Spirit of Almighty God, have much 
 wore Influence on the Soul of the Eletl to fave it y 
 tW there appear none, or very fender Acts of 
 Under [landing, to the Judgment and Senfe of 
 Mttn ? And then, a very late and celebrated 
 Author (o) thus fpeaks, For as none of all the 
 Irregularities and Indijpofitions a Syftem of 
 Matter can be obnoxious to, ^or even in its 
 crumbling into 2)u/l and Atoms, can ever have 
 any direct' and proper Influence upon a Sub fiance 
 of Jo very different a Nature and Properties, as 
 a Thinking one is, fo as either to deprive it of 
 its Powers of Thinking and Willing, or to ren- 
 der it uncap able of an actual Exercife of thefe 
 
 Powers: 
 
 (.5) Mr. Reading in his Anabaptifm routed, Page 7. — . 
 (<0 Mr. Diuon oa the iUfurrec^ion ofChrift; Page 474» See 
 $9, Page 487. 
 
the Sacrament of "Baptifm. 249 
 
 (Powers: So there is not the leafl Shadow or 
 Appearance of Reafon to fujpetl, That th£ Au- 
 thor of Nature has any Way tied the Being or 
 Activity of a thinking Subftance, to the Being 
 or regular State and Condition of Matter; fa 
 that the former fJiGuld depend upon the latter % 
 and without it Jhould intirely ceafe. But I do 
 not prefume to inflft upon thefe Things, tho' I 
 have always thought, that the due Distinction 
 betwixt Matter and Spirit naturally lead us to 
 this Way of Thinking; tho' very true it is, that 
 others have been, and yet are of another Opi- 
 nion. 
 
 A Fourth Proportion I offer is, That Rege iv. Thit 
 neratiou is a neceflary Companion of RemiJJio?z? **&*erat*- 
 that is, if the Perfon is pardoned his iniquity, nn alwa >'s 
 furely in that Man is the Power and Dominion n j es r^7 
 of Sin fubdued, and a contrary Habit of Grace, fo*. 
 or the Image of God implanted : For, as there 
 can be no Pardon of Sin unlefs there is an Union 
 to the Lord Jefus Chrift $ fo there can be no fa - * 
 ving Union, unlefs ther,e is alfo a having the fame 
 renewing Spirit with the Lord Jefus. Hence I 
 may juftly infer, That if Infants have the Guilt 
 of their Sin removed, (which they muft have, if 
 they are faved) they cannot but alfo have the 
 Power of their Sin fubdued. And to fuppofe Sin 
 in its Guilt pardoned, and yet Sin in its Power 
 to remain, is a Suppofition wholly inconfiftent 
 with any tolerable Notion we can have of the 
 Gofpel. 
 
 Fifthly ', As to the Efficacy of Baptifm, it is V. EfKca- 
 properly and efpecially Moral 5 not confifiing fo c > f °^ Ba P' 
 much in this, That the Bleffings fignified are im- w j la p 
 mediately beflow'd and conferred thereby, or, as 
 if it was then only efficacious, when attended 
 with the inward Operation of the hojy Spirit ? 
 But when thi-s divine Ordinance, by the BlefTing 
 pf God, not only fignifies Covenant Bleifings, 
 
 but 
 
2 5° A 'Practical EJfay on 
 
 but fo makes over, feals and ratifies the Performs 
 s Title to thefe, as that infallibly they are fecured 
 
 to him : And he /hall certainly be brought to 
 the PofTeflion of them, when thofe Bleflings, 
 which fome may have previous to, or in Time of 
 his Baptifm beftowed on him, are hereby confir- 
 med to him y and thofe which he yet hath not, 
 are inviolably made fo fure, as that he cannot fail, 
 in God's due Time, to be poflfefled of them. For, 
 as among Men, Seals are then reckoned efficaci- 
 ous, when they fo confirm a Title to what is fea- 
 led, as that the Perfons concerned are infallibly 
 brought to the Poffeffion thereof ; fo it is here. 
 And hence it is evident, that Baptifm, when ef- 
 ficacious, is not a meer Sign of great and eternal 
 Things, but alfo fo applies, ratifies and fecures 
 the Perfon's Title to thofe, as they cannot poffi- 
 bly fail to be put in Pofleflion of them. 
 VI. Its Sixthly, That Baptifm is fo efficacious to all 
 Efficacy the Elect, as that thereby a fpecial Right to all 
 Ele£ l the tne Bleffings of the Covenant, fuch as Regenera- 
 tion, Juflification, complete Sanffification and 
 Glory, is fo infallibly fealed, as that they /hall 
 certainly be put in Poffefiion of thefe. This is 
 the Defign of the Ordinance, Rom. vi. 4. and 
 no doubt, when fuch elect baptifed Veflels are 
 called from the World while Infants, but thefe 
 Eleffings are actually beftow'd upon them in 
 their Infancy, and that at fuch a Time, and in 
 fuch Ways as infinite Wifdom fees meet. And 
 when they are fpared to Age, thefe Bleffings are 
 fometimes, yea ordinarily actually conferred in 
 the Ufe of co-ordinate Means with Baptifm 5 by 
 the Word, as the outward Mean 5 by taith, as 
 the Inftrument 5 and Repentance, as necefTary 
 thereto and demonftrative thereof. And as to 
 fuch who are not among the bleffed Number of 
 the Elect, no more can be fealed to them than 
 an external vifible Title, to external, viiible, 
 
 and 
 
the Sacrament of "Baptifm. ^ * 5 * 
 
 and common Privileges. Of which, fome Hint 
 was given in the Entry of this Section. vn 
 
 ' Seventhly, Tho' byBaptifm, when efticacious, ^ 
 the Perfon's Title to all Covenant SleJ/mgs is in- led Blef- 
 violably fecured, and he fhall certainly be poiiei- fines are 
 fed of them ; yet as to the Time when thefe are befiowcd. 
 aftually conferred, God is Sovereign, and we are 
 to be very modeft. Sometimes he is pleafed to 
 beftow thefe before Baptifm, as was very common 
 in thofe, who were not baptifed but upon their 
 Profeffion of Faith in Cbrifi, and Obedience to 
 him, as Jcis ii. 37, 3$> 39- Ms vm. %**\b 
 Atis xvi. 31, 32, 33- Sometimes he grants thefe 
 at Baptifm, and fometimes after it : tor, iome 
 there are who fo foon as they begin to exerciie 
 their Reafon, difcover Principles of Religion in 
 Aas oY Faith, Love and Holinefs, and no C^ue- 
 .ftion but they are regenerate previous to theie 
 Aaings. But whether this Grace was given 
 them before, at, or after Baptifm, 1 humbly 
 think none can be certain $ yet, that this was 
 confirmed and made over to them by Eaptiim, 
 cannot but be fure. But then, there are lome 
 who give no Evidence of Religion, until they 
 are fome Twenty, fome Thirty, and fome Forty 
 Years 5 and as to thefe we may fafely fay, That 
 by Baptifm fuch BleiTmgs were fealed and made 
 fure to them, tho' actually beftow'd many^ Years 
 after : For, we cannot allow ourfelves to iuppoie 
 a Soul renewed by the Spirit of Grace in Infan- 
 cy, and for many Years exerting all its Powers, 
 and yet give no Evidence of this Renovation j 
 feeing, as the Tree is, fo is its Fruit 5 and ac- 
 cording to the Difpofition of the Soul, fo mult 
 its Agings be, tho' {till under the Influences of 
 the divine Spirit, and according as he is pleated 
 to breath upon his own Work in the Soul. And 
 now, to prevent Miftakes, tho' BleiTmgs fignified 
 are fometimes aftually beftow'd at Baptifm, yet 
 
252 r A Practical EJfay on 
 
 we mull not, contrary to plain Scripture, I Kings 
 viii. 46". Rom. vii. from Verfe 15. James iii. 2. 
 1 John i. 8. conclude, That all the Remains of, 
 or inherent original Sin are then removed, and a 
 perfect Sanctiflcation wrought in the Soul. As 
 we are not to think, that if Bleffings are not then 
 aflually given, that Baptifm is only a Seal appen- 
 ded to a blank Paper, or that Minifters, Pa- 
 rents and others are not to pray, That the bap- 
 tifed may be actually, and even then pofTefled of 
 Covenant Mercies : For, as Baptifm ftho' Blef- 
 fings are not then actually given,) is God's Seal 
 N ratifying the Perfon's Title to the Covenant of 
 Grace ', and fecuring his after-poffeffing the Bene- 
 fits thereof 5 fo Duty is {till ours, tho' it becomes 
 ' us to leave the Seafon of beftowing Bleffings un- 
 to the- infinite Wifdom of a faithful and gracious 
 God (1). 
 VIII.The And now Eighthly^ and in the laft Place, 
 del? We*" 'Water in Baptifm does not imprint any inde- 
 Charac- lible Character on the Soul, fo as the Souls of 
 ter * the Baptifed are thereby diftinguifhed from thofe 
 
 of others : For, befides that (Papifis themfelves 
 cannot tell what this is, whether it is in the Ef- 
 fence of the Soul, or refpects only the Actings 
 thereof 5 fo this indelible Character is what 
 Scripture teaches not, Reafon perfwades not, nor 
 can any Evidence be given of it. What indelible 
 Character had Simon the Sorcerer, Julian the 
 ^poftate, and ether hypocritical Mifcreants, tho' 
 baptifed ? So that we mutt leave this, amongft 
 other 'Popi/h Delufions and vain Imaginations. 
 
 SECT. 
 
 (1) See Cunffanol faith, Chap. 28. £e#. tf. 
 
the Sacrament of Haptifm. 253 
 
 S E C T. . 1 1. 
 
 Whence the Efficacy of Baptifm is. 
 
 THAT the Anfwer to this may be plain 
 and distinct, thefe Three following Propo- 
 rtions are to be confidered. 
 
 Firft, It is not from the jDeed done, or Action ^ I. Not 
 of Administration -itfelf 5 even as this is an Ac-^ 01 ^ ciie 
 tion of an instituted Nature, or Administration j one , 
 in holy Matters. For, Firfl y No fuch Power, 
 Virtue or Efficacy hath God put into it, nor hath 
 he made any Ordinance to work by any inherent 
 Energy, far lefs as if it was more like a Charm, 
 than any Thing that could rationally be accoun- 
 ted for. Nothing, I am fully perfwaded, is more 
 Sure, than that any natural Virtue or Power that 
 anynatural Caufe has put in it, in order to its 
 producing fuch and fuch Effects, muSt yet in its 
 Agency depend upon the Influence and Concur- 
 rence of the Great God. And if a natural Caufe, 
 even when it has a Suitable Object to work upon, 
 cannot of itfelf produce an Effect, unlefs the 
 firft and independent Caufe concur, how then can 
 an external and corporeal Action, as V/afoing 
 with Water, produce of itfelf, fuch great Effects 
 as thefe of Baptifm are j and which being Spiri- 
 tual, are fo far removed from the Influence of 
 what is Matter or material zdly r Scripture ex- 
 prefly denies, that the Efficacy of Baptifm pro- 
 ceeds from the Action or Administration itfelf 
 even tho' administrated by a lawful and holy Mi- 
 nister, in the moSt orderly and holy Manner, 
 Marth. ill. 11. 1 c Pct. iii. 21. And ^dly, If it 
 was fo, then certainly it would be the greatefl: 
 Charity and plameSt Duty in the World, for Mi- 
 nisters of the Gofpel to travel Night and Day, 
 
 and 
 
254 ^ Tragical EJJay on 
 
 and, without asking Queftions, to fcaptife every * 
 Man and Woman, 'Pagan as well as Chriftian^ 
 old as well as youngs yea to force and compel all 
 to fubmit to this Ordinance 5 but this is contrary 
 to Scripture, Atls ii. 37, 38. Abls viii. 3^, 37* 
 And whether the Popifh Practice in Pagan Parts 
 . of the World, which is fuch as I have juft now 
 mentioned, had its Rife from this their Dodlrinej 
 or if this Doctrine was advanced to vindicate 
 their Practice, we need not fpend Time to en- 
 quire ? And then $thly, If the Efficacy of Bap- 
 tifm proceeded from the Administration itfelf, all 
 and every one would have Covenant Bleffings ef- 
 fectually, favingly, and irreverfibly fealed to 
 them 5 but this is contrary to Scripture, Atls 
 viii. 21. and to conftant Experience in all Ages. 
 And as to what fome fay, 'That all, do receive 
 the faying Grace of Baptifm, but afterward 
 may, and fometimes do totally fall away, this 
 is to deny the Efficacy of Chrift's Death, the un- 
 changeablenefs of God's Purpofe, the Faithful- 
 nefs of his Promifes, and the everlasting Nature 
 of his Covenant 
 AnObjec- 'Tistrue indeed, that Baptifm is called, The 
 tion an- Layer of Regeneration) Tims iii. 5. and the 
 Baptifed are faid to be baptifed into the Tieath 
 ef thrift, Rom. vi.4. and to put on Chrift, Gal. 
 iii. 27. and by all thefe Expreffions is declared 
 what the glorious Confequences of Baptifm aref 
 but neither thefe, nor any other Scripture fay, 
 That all the Baptifed have fuch Blemngs; nor, 
 That the having of them, flows from the Action 
 and Adminiflration itfelf: For, Rom. i. 16. The 
 Gofpel is faid to be the 'Power of God unto SaU 
 vatiwl 5 but that it is fo, flows not from the Ac- 
 tion eifher of Preaching or Reading it 5 nor is it 
 fo to all, i Cor. iii. 6> 7. John v. 40. Ifaiah 
 liii. 1* v 
 
 Secondly* 
 
 fwered, 
 
the Sacrament ofHaptifin. 255 
 
 Secondly, As the Efficacy of Baptlfm flows not W- Not 
 from the Adminiftration itfelf 5 fo neither does T ™Tntk>n 
 it proceed from the Dignity nor Intention of the of the Mi. 
 Administrator 5 as if then only it were effectual nifter. 
 when the Minifter defigns it fhould be fo, or in 
 fuch an Action to adminifter a divine Ordinance 
 or Institution. For, Fir ft y The Efficacy of the 
 Word proceeds not from the Minifter, 1 Cor, iii. 
 5, 6 y 7. How then can that of the Sacrament 
 do ? idtyy The greateft Minifters have only- at* 
 tributed'to themfelves the Application of the 
 outward Sign, while, as it became them, they 
 gave the Glory of the Efficacy thereof to God 
 only, Jolm i. 16. $dly y How melancholy fhall 
 the Cafe of fuch Chriftians be, who have been 
 baptifed by prophane, unholy and unthinking 
 Minifters, fuch as 'Judas Ifiarzot, (if from 
 Matth. x. 5. we may conclude he did baptife) 
 and many others fince his Day ? qthly. If it was 
 fo, then no Man fhould be fure he was duly bap- 
 tifed, becaufe he can never be afcertain'd of the 
 fecret and inward Intention of the Minifter : And 
 how abfurd is it to think, that an infinitely wife 
 and gracious God fhould appoint fuch a folemn 
 Ordinance, for wife and the higheft Ends to the 
 Souls of Men 5 and in the mean Time, lay its 
 Efficacy, or fuffer it to depend upon fuch Perfons, 
 fome of whom are gracelefs and prophane, and 
 the beft of them foon diverted 5 being Men of 
 like Pallions with others, and who too often may 
 not have God's Defign in this Ordinance expli- 
 citely in their Eye. 
 
 ^thirdly. The Efficacy of Baptifm is wholly ni. It ia 
 and only from God's bleffing it, and the Opera- from God 
 tion of his holy Spirit. And here, that I may alone * 
 not be thought to ufe Words without any plain 
 determinate Meaning; by God's hleffing Baptifm, 
 I underftand his fo concurring with this his own 
 inftituted Ordinance, as that hereby the Bleflings 
 
256 A Tragical EJfhy on 
 
 of the Covenant are not only fignified anil repre- 
 fented, but alfo fo effectually applied, made over 
 and fealed to the Perfon baptifed, as that certain- 
 ly and infallibly he /hall be bro v.ght to the Pof- 
 feflion of thefe Bleilings 5 thofe (as was above 
 hinted) he may already have, are by Baptifm 
 confirmed to him, and thofe he hath not, are fo 
 fecured, as undoubtedly he fhall, in God's good 
 Time, be brought to the Enjoyment thereof. 
 And by the Operation of the Holy Spirit, is un- 
 derftood his inward, efficacious and irrefiftible 
 Working upon the Soul of the Baptifed ; fo that 
 the Perfon now comes to enjoy and poffefs thefe 
 Bleilings, and fo to have the inward, as he has 
 the outward Seal. And tho', to fpeak precifely 
 of Actions and Administrations, whereby any Be- 
 nefit is difponed or fealed to another, the true 
 Notion of the Efficacy of fuch Actions and Ad- 
 ministrations, feems to confift in fuch Benefits be- 
 ing fb made over and confirmed to another by 
 thefe, as that he not only lawfully may, but (as 
 in the Cafe before us) undoubtedly fhall be 
 brought to the Poffeffion thereof : Yet if any 
 think, that to the compleating the Efficacy of 
 Baptifm, the Operation of the holy Spirit, and 
 actual Enjoyment of Bleilings fealed, is neceffa- 
 ry$ here I fee no Caufe to contend. And that 
 both thefe are only and wholly from God, as I 
 have afferted (1), will appear, if we coniider, 
 Firfly That God alone gives the Bleilings figni- 
 fied and fealed, Ez>ek. xxxvi. 25, 26, 27. Jer. 
 xxxii. 58, 39. Heb. viii. 10, 11,12. Luke v. 21. 
 And that as thefe are the Purchafe of Chrifl 9 
 Rom. iii. 25. Eph i. 3. 1 Cor. i. 30. fo it is 
 from him only that all his other Ordinances have 
 their gracious Effects, Rom. i. 16. 1 Cor. iii. 6. 
 zdly, God alone hath inftituted this Ordinance, 
 and therefore it is he only that hath promifed to 
 
 be 
 (1) See Conffjfion offaitb) Chap. 27* Se&» 3. 
 
the Sacrament of ^Baptifm. 257 
 
 be with his Minifters in the Administration of 
 It, Afatth. xxviii. 19. and make it fo to difpone 
 and fe*l, as thereby to fecure the actual beilow- 
 ing and pofleffing of the Bleilings Signified there- 
 by. $dly, The Scripture aflerts it, 1 Cor. xii. 
 1$. And \thly, From whom elfe can it be; for 
 (as we have already obferved,) it is neither from 
 the Administrator, nor Aclion of Adminiitration : 
 It remains then, that it muft be from God only. 
 And if we obferve, that we are in all Things de- 
 pending Creatures, and that the Scripture every 
 where proclaims the Succcfs of all our lawful 
 Undertakings, even of thofe who are of a far in- 
 ferior Kind, and are very much within the Com- 
 pafs of our own Power, to be from God j fhall 
 we not judge and be convinced, that the Succefs 
 and Efficacy of fuch a folemn and fpiritual Or- 
 dinance as Baptifm is, muft be only from him, 
 of whom, through whom, and to whop* are all 
 Things, and who is God over all, lie/fed for 
 evermore ? 
 
 And now, from all that hath been laid of the ] n ^ences 
 Efficacy of Baptifm, we nray learn thefe Things j- j"^ 
 Firfl, That Baptifm is not to be contemned, tifm not. 
 lightly gone abont, nor indifferently admini- so becorv 
 ftrated : For tho' the Frequency of the Admini- ceauiecU 
 itration, and the Plainnefs and Simplicity of the 
 Elements and Actions, nfay make it feem mean, 
 as having nothing fplendid in it to outward Ap- 
 pearance 5 yet it is an Ordinance of the Great 
 God, for glorious Ends and Purpofes, and thai; 
 which hath high, faving, and eternally up ma- 
 king Effects. A reverent Temper then, with an , 
 heavenly and fpiritual Difpolirion of Soul, is 
 mod: neceffary and moft becoming in all concer- 
 
 ne ^* II The 
 
 Secondly, We may from this be informed, external 
 That we- are not to idolize Baptifm, by trufting ^<ftion 
 to it, and putting it, as it were, in the Room of ,,0 i *° hc 
 
2 j 8 A 'Prdttical Effciy on 
 
 God 5 as if it of itfelf did fave us, and we had 
 no more to ask for the Salvation of our own, or 
 ourChildrens Souls, but as we, fo they, were 
 baptifed. Baptifm indeed is a fpecial Mean, 
 and a Sign of the great and moft faving Bleffingsj 
 but as Means are not always effectual, fo Signs 
 are never the Things fignirled. It is not then to 
 the outward Action we are only to look, nor are 
 we to depend upon it, but earneftly to prefs and 
 purfue after the inward Grace. 
 IH.Wherc 'thirdly, Hence alfo we may be inftrucled, 
 vre are to w h ere we are t0 have our Eye, that this Ordi- 
 Efficacy nance of Baptifm may be effectual to the great 
 to Bap Ends, and faving Purpofes for which it is ap- 
 tlfin - pointed : It is not to Men, no not to the greateft 
 of Minifters ; for thefe only can apply the out- 
 ward Sign. Nor are we to depend upon the Ac- 
 tion of Adminiftration itfelf; for, without God, 
 this can do nothing : But it is to God alone we 
 are to look, and in him only we are to truft 5 
 who, as he hath promifed, fo he only gives the 
 Blefling, Succefs, and Efficacy to all his own 
 Inftitutions. How reafonable is it, that Mini- 
 fters fhould call upon the Name of the Lord be- 
 fore they adminiftrate this \ and that Parents and 
 the whole Congregation fhould, with Singlenefs 
 and Fervency of Spirit, join with the Minifter 
 in this Addrefs to the Moft High, for his ipeci- 
 al and efc&ual Blefling to his own Ordinance. 
 IV. This Fourthly, From this Do&rine of the Efficacy 
 givesCom- f Baptifm, thofe who were baptifed, and now 
 £ rc a j d are regenerate and believe in the Lord JefiiS 9 
 of Thank, may take great Comfort, and behold the itrongcft 
 fulncfs. Obligations laid upon them to the highett Gra- 
 titude : For, what good Reafon have they now 
 to rejoice, when from their believing, and being 
 now in Chriit, they may by a fure Conneaion in- 
 fer, That by Baptifm were made over, confir- 
 med and fealed unto them, the faving Operations 
 
 of 
 
the Sacrament of Saptifm* 2 59 
 
 of the holy Spirit, an Intereft in the Lord Jefiis 
 Chrift, and the Love and Favour of God, a Re- 
 storation to his Image, with all the other great 
 and faving Ble/Iings ©f the Covenant of Grace i 
 And that now, to their unipeakable Satisfaction 
 and Joy, they feel, that many of thefe Bleifings 
 are beftow'd upon them, and a fure Foundation 
 laid for their firm Hope, that they fhall be pof- 
 fefled of what remains, until they come to the 
 heavenly Inheritance. How fhould the Souls of 
 fuch be filled with Thankfulnefs, and their 
 Mouths with hisPraifes all the Day long ? How 
 fiiould they, with the greateft Warmnefs, com- 
 mend him and his Grace to others ; and them- 
 felves be his, for him, and to his Glory, and the 
 Honour of his Name, chearfully fpending, and 
 being fpent for the Advancement of his lnrereft 
 and Kingdom j at all Times walking worthy of 
 that Lord-, unto all Well-fleafmg % whofe exceed- 
 ing rich Grace was fo abundant toward them, 
 that, in their Infancy, and when they knew not! 
 what was done unto them, he, by his facred In- 
 stitution, made over and fealed unto them this 
 great and everlafting Salvation. 
 
 And now, Fifthly \ By this we may be taught, v . Bap- 
 that Baptifm is not to be carelefly laid afide, tifra to be 
 but carefully improven, by all that have been improves 
 made Partakers of it. And this leads me to the 
 Sixth and kft Chapter of this Ejjay. 
 
 
 & a C H A P 
 
2 6o A 'Practical EJJay on 
 
 C H A P. VI. 
 
 Of our Improvement of Baptifm. 
 
 ihoul7in> A -k-k ^ e Ordinances of God are appointed 
 prove it. r\ for the greateft Defigns, and have the 
 ■*- -*- higheft and moft nobje Ufes, and parti- 
 cularly this oiSaptifm j for which Caufe, as they, 
 fo this is not to be forgotten and neglected, but, 
 in the moft religious Manner, to be carefully im- 
 proven and uled. It is hereby we Should glorify 
 Cod, honour that holy Name of Chrifl by which 
 we are called, adorn our holy Profeffion, advance 
 the Interefl: of our Lord Jefus^ and promote true 
 Religion, grow in Grace, abound more and more 
 in Comfort, have the fatisfying Teftimony of our 
 own Confciences, a Peace thatpafleth all Under- 
 standing in our Minds 5 be truly ufeful in our 
 Generations, walk with God's Way 5 and when 
 we come to furrender up thefe Spirits he hath 
 given us, have the folid Hope of that Glory 
 which fadeth not away. But alas! we too com- 
 monly forget and put our Baptifm afide, as fome 
 Thing that was long fince done, and is now out 
 of Date; weconflder not the Privileges we then 
 enjoy'd, nor the Obligations we then came un- 
 der. Parents do not put their Children, when 
 they are come to Years, ia Mind of thefe, and 
 the Baptifed the-mielves too feldom reflect on 
 them : Tho' 'tis hoped, that thofe who watch 
 for the Souls of People, do frequently, not only 
 in Publick, but in Private alfo, as they have Op- 
 portunity, endeavour to remind all under their 
 Charge, efpecially the younger Sort, of their 
 baptifmal Privileges and early Obligations 3 that 
 io, by the Bleffing of God, they may be brought 
 unto a fincere, and Heart-afte&ing Senfe thereof. 
 
 Surely 
 
the Sacrament of Baptifm. 2 6 \ 
 
 Surely, it is our commanded, neceflfary and pro- 
 fitably Duty, to improve this Ordinance of God, 
 whereof we all have been made Partakers, fin- 
 cerely,and with the whole Soul$ deliberately, and 
 with Calmnefs of Mind -, dependently, and truft- 
 ing in the Lord 3 diligently, and in the Ufe of o- How, 
 ther appointed Means j and con(tantly,all the Days 
 of our Lives. And among many Improvements j^; w1 ™* 
 of this Ordinance that might be named, I but no- E n j s , 
 rice thefe that follow. 
 
 Firft, As a?i Excitement to Faith ; to our be- •« I. As an 
 lieving the glorious Truths contained in the Word txc ^c- 
 of God, and oar fteady adhering thereto. It is pjutb. 
 faid of thofe whom 1?eter baptifed, ^That they 
 continued fledfaflly in the Ape flies 2)o&rine y 
 Ails ii. 41, 42. So we being baptifed into Chrifl 
 and his Death, are not to be afhamed of our 
 crucified Lord 5 not to deny our Chriftian Name, 
 nor renounce the glorious Truths of the Gofpel 
 of Chrifl, upon which Truths, Mercies that are 
 fealed by Baptifm are founded : But we are o- 
 penly to profefs, own and teftify our Belief of 
 thefe, and our cleaving unto them, whatever 
 outward Danger this our witneffing a good Con- 
 feilion before many WitnefTes may expofe us to. 
 But this is not all, for, we are to improve our 
 Baptifm as a ftrcng Motive to receive our Lord 
 Jefus Chrift as our only Redeemer, and to take 
 Hold of God's Covenant of Promifes for ail our 
 Salvation, Rom. iv. ir, 12. Gal. iii. i6 y 27. We 
 fhould reckon with ourfelves, that being baptifecj 
 into Chrifl) in fo far we put on Chriit, and tnat 
 we had the Seal of God's Covenant adminiftre4 
 unto us, whereby he becomes our God, and we 
 in a folemn Manner arc devoted to him, and be- 
 come his People, and hereby come under the 
 moft folemn Ties 5 and now when come to Age, 
 are under the ftrongert Obligations, by our peria- 
 nal and explicite Acl and Deed, to embrace this 
 R 3 Chnfl 
 
*6p J Tragical EJfhy on 
 
 Cbrifl as t7ie Lord our Saviour, and only Righ- 
 teoufnefs; to take hold of this Covenant of Grace, 
 and in the moft fincere and unreferved Manner, 
 to give ourfelves to the Lord : For thus we /hall 
 have good Caufe to fay, T'bon art my God from 
 my Mother's Belly. Our being fo exercifed in 
 an upright, felf denied, and confeient ions Manner, 
 wiil be an Evidence, that by Baptifm All was 
 fealed unto us : And to do otherwife, is no lefs 
 than Apoftafy and Perjury at once ; for it is as 
 much as if we /hould fay, Tho' I was in my In- 
 fancy haptifed into Chrift, yet now I will not 
 come to Him, that I may have Life 5 I was then 
 fo happy, as to have the external vifible Seal of 
 God's becoming my God, yet now I will have 
 none of God 5 and albeit 1 was then devoted to 
 the moft High, yet now I chufe to ferve other 
 Matters 5 and having loved Idols, after them I 
 will go. Confider, all you who call your felves 
 Chriftians, that the Lord hath an early Intereft 
 in you ? and Title to you ; and what a fearful and 
 defperate Thing is it, that you ihould now deny 
 or renounce both ? How will you ftand before 
 the Bar of God, and what will your eternal State 
 be ? It is from this alio, that Parents, Minifters 
 of the Gofpel, and thofe to whom the Education 
 of Youth is committed, may behold what is the 
 great, yea the one and main Thing, they fhould 
 endeavour to bring a young Generation to 5 and 
 this h, as foon as can be to engage them, by 
 their own perfonal Content, and with the whole 
 Soul, to comply and fall in with God's Offer and 
 Call in the Gofpel. Here we are to begin, at 
 this above all Things we are to aim, and this 
 we are earneftly, by our Warnings, Reproofs, 
 Advices, pretfing Entreaties and Solicitations, 
 our Prayers and Tears, to feek after. And then 
 it is, that all other Things wi\\ pleafantly fol- 
 low. 
 
 Secondly* 
 
tht Sacrament (fSaptiJm. ^ 
 
 feWv BaPtifm is to be improver i as an Ax- Ar g ument 
 ',- !nff Sin and for Duty. Here it is a ,, ainft 
 
 we ftiould calmly '-*%?? *V*^ wi ,$ «« for Duty. 
 
 ,Jf<W, *&«** 7<f« »«*«*r gr* And 
 
 f , »»,uraufe we <jre«of « allow Sin to tetgn 
 
 ssssstssss 
 
 as Inftruments of R.ghteoufnefs unto Holmes 
 Shall I then, now when I am come to Age, be 
 
%H r J Tracheal Effay on . 
 
 rent and devout in all A£ts of commanded Wbr- 
 fhipy to be holy as God is holy 5 to bejuft, cha- 
 ritable, and kind toward others 5 to have the rnofr. 
 tender Refpect to the Lord's Day ; a conftant 
 Fear that I take not his holy Name in Vain j to 
 reverence my Parents in the Lord 5 obey lawful 
 Superiors 5 to live fiber ly, righteoiifly and godly y 
 to be fpiritual, above all other Things feeking 
 thofe that are above, and in a Word, keeping my 
 felf pure and unfpotted in the World, and being on 
 all Occasions fincerely employed in God's Ser-r 
 yice, for the promoting of his Intereft, and {hew- 
 ing forth his Glory? j4£ls ii. 41, 42. 1 Cor. v'u 
 jq, 20. jjtas iii. 12. Col. ii. 2, 3, 6 y 7,-11, 12. 
 It is thus O Chriftian thou fhouldft acl, and be- 
 have thy felf as one that was baptifed, honour 
 God, fave thy own Soul, and edify others. Haft 
 thou never read or heard how the Primitive Chri- 
 ftians behaved themfelves, after they had been 
 baptifed ? How bold they were in their Chriftian 
 Profeffion, and how circumfpect in their Gofpel 
 Converfation ! Yea, fo tender were they in their 
 after-walk, and fo fenfible of the ftrongeft Obli- 
 gations Baptifm laid on them againft Sin, ahd'to 
 Duty, that, by a Miftake of that Scripture (it is> 
 faid) Heb. vi. .4, 5, 6. They fell into, the Error, 
 That Sins committed after Baptifm were unpar- 
 donable : And therefore, fome put off or delay- 
 ed being baptifed until their laft Hours, when 
 they reckoned themfelves dying, and fo to be out 
 af the Hazard of finning. Confider with thy 
 felf, what doft. thou by thine unholy Practice, 
 hut fay, That Satan is the Matter thou preferreft 
 to God ; the World is what thou valueft above 
 Heaven, makeft Sin talse* Place ofHolinefs, and 
 choofeft rather to deftroy thy precious and im- 
 mortal Soul, than to reform thy unchriftian and * 
 vicious Practice. I remember to have fomewhere 
 read, That One of the Fathers brings in Satan 
 
 thus 
 
the Sacrament of "Baptifm. . 265 
 
 thus pleading his Claim to a prophane Worlds 
 Thefe were never baptifed into my Name, but 
 thine 't they were devoted early, not to my Ser- 
 vice, but thine 1 I never promifed them Heaven 
 and Eternal Glory as thou didft j yet they rejec- 
 ted thee and thy Service, and voluntarily made 
 Choice of me and my Drudgery : And therefore 
 1 now claim them as 7ny own. Sift thy felf, 
 O baptifed Man and Woman, before the Tribu- 
 nal of the Great God, and think, what Tremb- 
 ling, Dread, Confufion and Defpair Should then 
 fill thy Soul ! And from this Consideration be 
 prevailed with, while it is Time, now to hear 
 God's Voice and live. Hence. 
 
 'Thirdly, Baptifm is to be improven as an 
 Anfwer wherewith to repel all Temptations : We 
 fhall but flatter our felves, if we do not reckon 
 that the great Enemy of our Salvation will fet 
 upon us, to allure and engage, and then kill and 
 deftroy us. But we are to anfwer all Solicitati- 
 ons from Satan, the World, and the Flejh, That 
 we are already engaged to the Service of God, 
 and fa cannot comply with his Temptations 5 
 That we are not our own, but are bought with 
 a Trices and therefore mufi glorify God in our 
 Bodies and Souls that are his, 1 Cor. vi. 20. 
 That the Lord alone is our God, and therefore 
 him only muft we ferve, Matth, iii. 17. We 
 are to fay with Augufiine and others, when Satan 
 throws his fiery Darts at us, or more cunningly # 
 insinuates his impure Suggestions} when Sin, 
 that remains in us, begins to beat its Parley, or 
 found its Alarm againft us $ or when the World 
 feeks to-intice us by its Flatteries, or fright us 
 by its Threats 5 Baptifatus fam, & credo in 
 Chriflum crucifixum, I am baptifed, and believe 
 in a crucified Chrift; and therefore cannot and 
 will not hear nor yield. Know, O baptifed Chri- 
 ftian, that, by thy Baptifm, thou haft renounced 
 
 all 
 
266 A Tragical Ejay on 
 
 all Alledganee to Satan, Friendftiip wkh Sin, 
 and Slavery or Servitude to the World j yea, 
 haft come under the ftrongeft Obligations to re- 
 £& and oppofe thefe : Be not then perfidious to 
 the Great God, but keep thy felf pure. It Is 
 Death to the Soldier, if he delert to the Enemy. 
 Watch then and ftand faft 5 quit thy felf like a 
 Alan, and be ftrong. In a little Time your War- 
 fare fhall be at an End, and your Lord (hall 
 ftand as the Glorious Conqueror on the Earth : 
 Be faithful then unto the Death, and you fhall 
 have the Crown of Life. Chrift is the Captain 
 of your Salvation, you are come under his Ban- 
 ner, and fhould fuch Men as you fly. 
 Comfort f Fourthly, Improve Baptifm as a fweet Topick 
 or common Place whence thou draweft thy Comfort. 
 Art thou difquieted becaufe of thy Guilt and 
 Unworthinefs, and ready to think that thou dar- 
 eft not. come to Chrift ? Confider, that when thou 
 waft wallowing in thy Bloody and no Eye to pity 
 thee, that then thou waft haptifed into Chrift j 
 and by this had a Title to him, that the 'Pagan 
 World have not. Art thou caft down becaufe of 
 thy departing fo far from God, as that thou art 
 afraid he will not accept of thee upon thy Re- 
 turn ? Yet remember thy Baptifm, that it has 
 equal Effect with that of Circumcifion : And, 
 that as under the Law the Lord owned a parti- 
 cular Relation to the circuwcifed Jews, even 
 • when they had gone far from him, and upon this 
 urged their Return, with a Promife alfo that he 
 would receive them j fo now, under the Gofpel, 
 upon the fame Foundation, he calls you to return 
 to him in lis Chrift, with Weeping, Mourning, 
 and Supplication, parting with thy Sin, embra- 
 cing his Offer, and reftingupon that Foundation 
 he hath laid in Zion. And in hearing his Voice, 
 thy Relation to God, which formerly was but 
 vifible and common, /hall now become {piritual 
 
 and 
 
the Sacrament of c Baptipm. a $7 
 
 and faviojj. Again, haft thou believed in an 
 unfeen Chrift, and yet not afraid left God hath 
 not juflified thee, and left thou fall by the Way 
 and come Ihort of the Prize * Yet comfort thy 
 felf, that feeing thou now believeft, furely, by 
 Baptifm, the Remiffion of thy Sin, the Conduct 
 and Influence of the Holy Spirit, Through-bearing 
 in this World, and eternal Glory in that to 
 come, were made over and fealed unto thee: 
 And therefore it fhall furely be well with thee s 
 Gen. xvii. 10. Mark i. 4. ABs xxii. 16.. 
 
 Fifthly, Baptifm fhould be improven as a v. As a 
 Bond of Peace and Unity among Fellow Chrifti- Bond of 
 ans, and as a ftrong Motive to perfwade all to u* i c t y* pd 
 feek after and preferve it. Not that we are to 
 fay and do in every Thing as others ; nor that we 
 are hereby obliged to an Unity in Modes, Cere- 
 monies, uninftituted Worfhip, and unfcriptural 
 Government, as fome Reafon, from the Scripture 
 I /hall prefently mention : But that we are to 
 maintain a Goipel Temper of Mind toward our 
 Fellow Chriftians, notwithftanding of Differen- 
 ces that may be in Matters of lefler Moment. 
 And this the Apoftle urgeth by the Argument, 
 T'hat ly one Spirit we are all haptifed into one 
 Body, 1 Cor. xii. 13. and that there is oneFaith, 
 one Lord, one Baptifm, Eph. iv. 5. And tho' 
 we cannot approve, yea, nor comply with many 
 Things that others may think juft and proper, yet 
 if they are found in the Foundation of our holy 
 Religion, and as it becomes Chriftians, fincerc 
 and holy in Practice, let us consider, That they 
 are Members of the fame Body of Chrift with 
 us, Children of the fame Father, Heirs of the 
 fame Inheritance, and Expectants of the fame 
 Glory. Should we not then forbear and forgive 
 them, in Love ; warn, and endeavour to reclaim 
 and reform them 5 pity and pray for them 5 fym- 
 pathife with and communicate to them 5 and per- 
 form 
 
i68 r J Tracheal EJfay on 
 
 form all Acts of Chriftian Love, Duty and Kind- 
 nefs toward them. A few Days will put an End 
 to' all our Difputes, and here we but know in 
 part, but when we who believe in the Lord Je- 
 fus, and who abide in him, confeientioufly endea- 
 vouring to walk as he walked, fhall come to 
 Heaven and Glory, then we fhall be perfectly of 
 . one Mind, and to all Eternity exercifed in the 
 fame ravifhingand glorious Employment: Where- 
 fore, feeing we are baptifed Brethren, let us 
 not fall out by the Way, but dwell together in 
 Unity, and fo far as we are agreed, and walk ac- 
 cording to the fame Rule. 
 VI. As a Sixthly >, Baptifm is to be made Ufe of as a 
 llemem -Remembrancer of our Obligations to believe, to 
 Oblteati^ ^ e tnan kful> h°ly> living for God, and to his 
 •hs. Glory. The Chriftian has not, at all Timcs^ 
 
 the fame lively Frame $ nor does he move with 
 the fame quick Pace to Emmanuel's Land $ but 
 too often, and too commonly, he becomes dull 
 and lifelefs, cold and indifferent, and fo turns 
 away from his only and chief Good, from his 
 God and his Glory 5 becomes degenerate, yea, 
 fometimes may make alarming Steps of Defecti- 
 on from God's Way. In which melancholy Cafe, 
 every baptifed Chriftian fhould thus reflect with 
 himfelf, Was I not engaged in Baptifm, and by it 
 to be God's, and his alone ? To be fervent in Spi- 
 1 rit, lively in the Exercife of all Graces, and 
 Performance of every Part of religious Worfhip 5 
 to frefs toward the M ark > for the <Prize of my 
 high Calling in Chrifl Jefus j to cleave to God 
 as my God, and to walk with him, and walk 
 like him 5 and in all thefe to be ftedfaft and im- 
 moveable ? Oh ! what now have I done ? Have 
 I not forfaken God who is the Fountain of my 
 Happinefs, turned out of his Way, been cold 
 and carelefs in his Service, and fo forfaken my 
 Duty, my Happinefs and Glory at once ? And 
 
 yet, 
 
the Sacrament ofBaptifm. 269 
 
 yet, notwithstanding of all the Evils I have done, 
 is he not calling, commanding, and by the ftrong- 
 eft Arguments prefTing me to return to him j to 
 embrace the glorious and exalted Redeemer as 
 my Saviour 5 to come and lay hold on him as my 
 God 5 and fo to walk in his Way, abandoning 
 thefe unhallowed Paths, and deftroying JVlea- 
 fures I have too long taken ? Awake then, O 
 my Soul! why tarrieft thou ? Exert thy felf,and 
 difcharge thy baptifmal Obligations. And this 
 is the Duty of every baptifed Chriftian, when he 
 beholds this Sacrament adminiftrated to others. 
 But having hinted at this already, I do not now 
 infift on it. 
 
 Seventhly and Laftly, We fhould improve vn w 
 our Eaptifm, by taking Occafion therefrom, mould 
 whether by reading of it, reflecting on it, or be-take Occa- 
 holding it ad.miniftra.ted toothers, to examine £ on £r f om 
 our felves, if indeed we enjoy the great and glo- to P «™' 
 nous Blelfings reprefented and iigniiied by that mine our 
 Sacrament. Our own eternal Intereft, our Com- fdyes ' 
 fort in Time, with the Thoughts how many ruin 
 thcmfelves by refting upon the 2)eed done, do * 
 
 all cry aloud to us to be thus exercifed. And 
 when the Chriftian is enquiring, If he is born a- 
 gain, planted in Chrift, has an Intereft in him, 
 is juftified and brought to a faving Title to God 
 as his God, and fo hath a Right to all the Pro- 
 mifes of the Covenant, and Glory at the Clofe. 
 Here let him ask himfelf, Can I now fay, That 
 I have with the, whole Soul embraced the Lord 
 Jefus Chrift as my alone compleat Redeemer $ 
 that I have been fincerely confenting to have the 
 Lord as my God in Chrift ; and fo have I taken 
 hold on his Covenant of Promifes, to all which I 
 was carried in my Infancy ? And as a Proof of 
 my Sincerity in thefe Things, can I fay, That I 
 fut no Confidence in the Fle/h, rejoice in the 
 Lord Jefus Chrift> and ixorfaty God in the Spi- 
 rit* 
 
ayo A Tratfical EJfay m 
 
 tit ? Do I look upon Satan as my Enemy 5 Sir 
 as my Burden j the World as no Part of my eter 
 iial Happinefs, but only as the Place of my Pil 
 grimage ? Are the Commandments of the Lore 
 iny Choice j the People of God in whom I delight 
 Conformity to God my Soul's Deilre 3 and To do i 
 endeavour after Holinefs with the fame Concert 
 when I am moil retired, as when the Eyes of al 
 fcbe World are on me ? And finally, Do I de 
 fire to live, that 1 may be alive to God, be em 
 fcloyed in his Service, and made an Inftrumen 
 in his Hand for the Advancement of his Glory 
 And if upon Trial, you cannot with fome Mea 
 fure of Integrity afTert thefe Things, let me, ir 
 the Lord, obteft every one who cafts his Eye 
 upon thefe Lines, to bethink himfelfof his cry 
 ing Sin, and dangerous State 5 and while the) 
 have yet Time, while God is upon a Throne 6\ 
 Grace calling them, and the Door of Grace re 
 mains open, to hearken to the Lord's Voice 
 • comply with his Propofal, and embrace his infi 
 nitely gracious Offer : That they would, wit! 
 Self-condemrtation, parting with Sin without De 
 lay, and with the deepeft Concern, fly to th< 
 City of Refuge, embrace a Redeemer, fay unh 
 the Lord, 7%0u art my God, devote and givt 
 themfelves to him, and fo to make Bafte am 
 keep his Commandments, But then, if any wh< 
 fhall read this, can humbly yet fincerely' afTert 
 That he feels the Evidences given, in his ow 
 Soul, then I cannot more agreeably put an En< i 
 to this Eflay, than befeeching fuch, by the Mei 
 cies of God, that they would blefs the Lord wh 
 hath given them Comfel, with Purpofe of Hear 
 cleave to the Lord Jefus Chrifty and to God a 
 their Godj walk worthy of him unto all welt 
 f leafing', adorn their Profeflion by the Holinei 
 of their Practice 5 have their Comerfation i 
 Heaven} grew in Grace, and increafe in ever 
 
 . goo 
 
the Sacrament of Haptifm. 271 
 
 *ood Gift 5 commending the Lord's Grace and 
 Way to others, aiming in all Things at his Glo- 
 ry, being zealous for his Truths and Intereft, af- 
 fectionate to his Saints and People, believing his 
 Promifes, leaning upon the Lord Jefus Cbrift, 
 and trulting in the Moft High for ever. We 
 live in a declining Age of the World 5 but O 
 Baptifed ! tho' unholy and unbelieving Chrifti- 
 ans, tho' your Parents have never put you in 
 Mind of your Baptifm, yet remember I have now 
 endeavour'd it, and you muft account at the 
 Great Day how you receive : And you who 
 have by Grace arrived at what was above pointed 
 at, let me in the moft affectionate Manner ex- 
 hort you fo to walk, and thus to behave your 
 felves, until the 2)ay break, and the Shadows 
 fiy away h when, in Heavenly Glory, you fhall 
 come to the full and everlafting Enjoyment of 
 all thefe Bleiungs that were made over sqpd 
 fealed to you by Bajftifm. • 
 
 FINIS. 
 
ERRATA. 
 
 PAge 24. Line penult, for fay read ask. p. 27. 1. 7. 
 dele from this. p. 27. 1. laft, for Qonfequence read 
 Qonfequence s. p. 2S. 1. 19. after is read ww. p. 38. 
 1. 10. for whereby read where, by. p. 54. after Goaf add 
 a Comma, and then the Words nor him. p. 57. 1. 28, 
 after Title add a Comma, and after Symbols dele Com- 
 ma, p. 65. after Hand add and. p. 99. 1. 10. after 
 aHual add tfw^ appearing, p. 112. 1. ^ dele to lay 9 
 and after Obligations add laid. p. 114. 1. 15. for y4»rf 
 read /w. p. 127. 1. 7. for But read And. p. 167. 1. 2;. 
 after eff, add a Comma, and after here add a Pun&um. 
 p. 180. 1. 22. for Bcw^/ read Hands, p. 187. 1. 3. after 
 of add rt. p. 192. 1. 1. for Eunoch read Eunuch, p. 192. 
 1. 3. for KfTc3vs2v read KzreZ-^uv. p. 193. 1. 16. dele 
 fo at the End of- the Line. p. 119. 1. 32. for think 
 read intimate, p. 112. 1. 2. a fine for s^re read are. 
 p. 249. 1. 21. after, fame add a Comma, and 1. 22. af- 
 ter renewing add a Comma, p. 260. 1. 1 5. for with read 
 iw. p. 26*8. 1. 12. */>^ finem dele <tw^. p. 268. 1. 30. for 
 my read the.