II.

SERM. these Demands are not made in Scripture. And though they may think they are, yet both Parties pay a Deference to the Book of God. But it's quite otherwife, when there's no pretence of fetching the Practice from this Rule, but are going willingly after the Traditions of Men, the Rudiments of the World, and not after Christ.

In one Controverfy the Scripture is magnified, though not fully understood, in the other 'tis depreciated. Keep the Ordinances as they are delivered to you, and the Commandment pure and unrebukable unto the coming of Jefus Chrift, or otherwise, instead of a Blefling we bring upon ourfelves a Curfe. The fecond Commandment relates to the Worship of the true God in a right Manner, and the only Standard of that, must be the Rule that he has given us : He there fhews us what a different Intail there is on your Children, as Parents keep close to the Direction, or as they wander from it. He is a jealous God, vifiting the Iniquity of the Fathers upon their Children, unto the third and fourth Generation of them that hate him: He confiders Superftition as no better than a Hatred of God, and therefore this is fo far from being the Way to hereditary Mercies, that it is an Iniquity to be vifited upon the Generations that come after them; but he fhews Mercy unto Thousands of them that love him, and declare their Love to him by keeping bis Commandments. You fee then the way that you have for any Hope of obtaining Mercy, either for yourselves or for your Infants, in this Ordi

nance.

2dly, It is very defirable that this Solemnity of Baptifm fhould be administered in a publick Affembly. John's was fo: He did it in the Face of Multitudes, and I think the Nature of the Ordinance requires it. 'Tis not so properly

my

my clofing with God's Covenant either for my- SERM. self or my Child: If it is with my Soul as it II. ought to be, that must be done very often in private, with a greater Freedom than I can use before any Witneffes: But when I do this in Baptifm, it is my Declaration to the World, or at least to the People of God, that I will be the Lord's. This was plainly the Cafe with that great Shoal of Converts which were brought in by the Draught of one Sermon. Peter bids them repent and be baptized. This Repentance was a fecret Thing, a godly Sorrow that lay within themselves, but they gladly received the Word, and were baptized, about three Thousand of them, and fo were Witneffes to one another.

The Examples of the Eunuch and the Jailor, are far from concluding against this Rule. As to the former Philip was alone with him, and fo preached the Gospel to him, and he was never like to see him more; but however, his Baptism was as publick as the Sermon by which he was converted. The Jailor's Cafe does plainly turn the Argument the other Way, for he was baptized with his Houfhold, before all those that made up the Auditory.

The Benefits of a publick Administration ought to turn the Scale. I believe both Minifters and People find a great deal of Difference in the Frame of their Spirit, when they are pulled at once out of the Noife of the World, and can hardly fhake off the Cares that hang about them, and when on God's own Day they have given a folemn Discharge to every Incumbrance of that Nature. It is certainly defirable in this Ordinance, as well as in others, to attend on the Lord without Diftraction. Befides, as all Things are to be done to the Ufe of edifying, fo whatever does most answer that End, will be

chofen

SERM. chofen by a Man who would keep a Confcience II. void of Offence towards God. Now, as the

Affembly has an Opportunity of being inftructed about the Nature and Improvement of the Duty, fo the Party baptized, is received under a larger Confluence of Prayer. However, I leave you to judge of this Rule by your Confent to the next, and that is,

3dly, Let it be done with the greatest Measure of Seriousness, Abraham fell on his Face when God talked with him, and gave him the Covenant. 'Tis indeed an awful Transaction, when you call Angels and Men, as Witneffes to the Surrender that you make either of yourselves or your Children. When Joshua had engaged the Promife of the Ifraelites, that they would not forfake the Lord God of their Fathers, he fet up a Stone, and tells them, this Stone had heard all the Words that he had spoken. The Meaning is not according to the Sound of the Expreffion, but it fignifies thus much, that when they faw that Stone, it might put them in Mind of what they had faid.

But, in this Cafe, we have living Witnesses. We can appeal to the People of God: They have heard you profefs your Confent to the Covenant, and they who are like to fee how you bring up your Children, know what you have promised for them, and would you have your Wickedness fhown before the whole Congregation? Angels are in our Affemblies, and would it not grieve you to know they make this Remark. "There's a Wretch who compaffed God about "with Lies, who engaged himself to do the "Parent's Part in a Chriftian way, and yet

brings up his Children to the Destroyer." Nay, every one of the Affembly have their Eyes upon you, and therefore they will be looking

after

after you; and if your Care is but a Counter- SERM. Part to your Promife, You pay your Vows in the II. Courts of the Lord, and among all bis People. I have often wondered at fome Profeffors who fhew fo much Serioufnefs at the Lord's Supper, fhould make any Abatement of it in Baptifm. They are but two Seals to the fame Covenant, and ought to be attended to with equal Reverence. Nay, if there is to be any Diftinction, it's on the Side of Baptifm, because that's only once done for ourfelves, or for that particular Infant: Whereas we are often called to eat this Bread, and drink this Cup, and fhew forth our Lord's Death until he come.

It must ftrike you with an Awe to confider what you are doing; you have conveyed to your Children a Nature, that without the Grace of that Covenant that you own in Baptifm, will make them unhappy for ever; and therefore you owe that Infant, who, by yourselves, is made a polluted Creature, the utmoft Care that he may have a fecond Birth. In the Dedication of him to God, you confefs a lineal Stain that's derived from one to another, and how deep ought the Senfe of this to go into your Souls?

And then again, reflect upon the Hope that is fet before you; the Ordinance of Baptism is a Memorial that God has confecrated for us a new and living Way: That when we lie in our Blood, he paffes by with a Look and Voice of Love, and fays unto us, live. What an Honour is it upon now? And what an Earneft of the Satisfaction above, if you are Parents to a Child of God? If what he has graciously given to you, he has more graciously owned to be his?

you

They are dear to you, your Lives are bound up in theirs, but what if both you and they are in the Bundle of Life with the Lord your God?

A

II.

SERM. A Perfon who has devoted himself to fuch Meditations, who feels the Horrors of a polluted Nature, and breathes out his Defires after a renewed one, will have his whole Soul engaged.

And when I am recommending to you a ferious Performance of this Duty, fuffer me to tell you that there is one Practice, which, if it is not inconfiftent with it, looks very unsuitable to it, and that is any fenfual Joys upon these Occafions. We are told, that the Ark was an Emblem or Figure of our Baptism, and when Noah entered into it, we read of Abundance of Eating and Drinking, but he was not among that Number. What we call a Chriftening Dinner, is but a poor Attendant on our putting on the Lord Jefus Christ, and rather looks like making a Provifion for the Flefb to fulfil the Lufts thereof. We read

that Abraham made a great Feaft the fame Day that Ifaac was weaned, and that feems to be the Season of Life that Nature itself has directed us to rejoice in When God has preferved a Child through the Weaknefs and Dangers of Infancy : But to follow Baptism with an excess of Riot, is turning the Grace of God into Wantonness. I fhould think, that if I had been owning the Covenant for myself or for my Child, my Soul would be fo full of it for one Day, that I should not have Leisure for Revellings, Banquetting, and abominable Idolatries.

3dly, I am to give you fome Directions which concern your Practice after the Solemnity is over. You may be pleased with the Ordinance, and yet never the better for it: As in preaching the Word, Herod heard John gladly: Many with Joy received the Gofpel; and fo it may be during the Administration of Baptifm, your Affections may be touched; but if it goes no deeper, that Water had as good been spilt on the Ground;

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