the whole body in Baptifm of either Sex, was only a compliance with thofe that were zealous of imitating the out-dated Wafhings of the Jews, and that pouring or fprinkling water on the head or face, is the best way of Baptizing all that are not infants. And then why should Infants be otherwife Baptiz'd? No objection to this can be made from Circumcifion: because that was a part of the yoak of bondage, Gal. 5. 1.

The dipping of the head or face, altho' it is true Baptism, because it is washing; yet it is an odd way of Baptizing, and without any particular ground in the Scripture for fuch a way of washing,

It is moft probable that Chrift himself was Baptiz'd by having water pour'd upon his head, to fignify the immediate defcending of the Holy Ghost upon him. It is not faid in the Original, that be went up out of the water, but åæd π v♪ar, from the water.

It was agreeable to the Liberty of his Gofpel, that in the firft publick act of it he fhould give an example that was moft Decent, and alfo moft convenient at the time he was Baptized, which was the fixth day of January. Altho' it was in a hot country, yet the winters there were cold P. 147. 17.

Prov. 20. 4.

And his great Apoftle St. Patl, was Baptiz'd the twenty eighth day of January, (which, by reafon of the change made by the course of the Sun in fo long time, anfwers to about the middle of our January) when he was in extreme weakness, not only by fafting three days, but also by the astonishing terror of his vifion, and by inexpreffible grief for his most cruel perfecuting the members of Chrift; before he was ftrengthned by receiving meat. As 9. 18, 19. The mention of his being ftrengthned implies fuch a weakness, that we may suppose, if he or his Baptizer had thought dipping neceffary, he would have been ftrengthned for it.

So all that is neceffary in Baptifm, is the applying water to the Baptized, to fignify the wafhing him from fin. For this washing from fin is, both from the fins of doing evil, and the fins of not doing duty; both the Baptized his washing himself by forfaking fin; and God's wafhing him by the Holy Spirit, (1 Cor. 6. 11) and by the Blood of Chrift, (Rev. 1. 5) in giving him grace to forfake fin, and the forgivenefs of his fins; all meant Acts 22. 16. Eph. 5. 26.

And because by any washing in Baptism is fignified God's washing us by his Holy Spirit, and by the Blood of his Son; therefore by any washing we are born again of the Spirit, (John 3. 5) we are baptized into Chrift's death, (Rom. 6. 3) and we

are

are dead and buried with him unto fin, (ver. 4, 8, 11) that is furely dead unto Sin, altho' we are not buried in the water.

And by any wafhing in Baptifm we are alfo rifen with Chrift (Coll. 2. 12) unto righteousness: because the washing from fin fignified by the outward washing, contains in it the washing from the fins of not doing duty.

IV. Q. What is the inward and fpiritual grace? A. A death unto fin, and a new birth unto righteoufnefs a. For being by nature born in fin, and the children of wrath b, we are hereby made the children of grace c.

a Rom. 6. 4. Coll. 2. 12. See 3 2. b, and the end of note d. b Pf. 51. 5. Rom. 5. 12, 18. Gal. 3. 26.

c

27.

. V. Q. What is a death unto fin, and a new birth unto Righteousness?

A. God's cleanfing us from fin, by giving us grace to forfake fin and live righteously, and by forgiving our fins *.

VI. Q. How are we by nature born in fin, and the children of wrath?

a Gen. 3. 1 to 14. Gen. 8. 21. Job. 14 4. PS. 51. 5. Gen. 3. 15 to the end. Job. 14. 1, 2. Rom. 5.

12. 18.

a Fob 14. 4. See 6 2. b. b See 6 Q. c. • Rom. 3. 23, 24 2 Cor. 5. 14. Ifai.

53. 5. 6.

A. Ever fince our first Pafruit which God commanded rents finned in eating of that them not to eat a, we bring fin with us into the world b: And therefore we are born

under God's wrath c. VII. How are we

born under God's wrath?

A. For fin we are born condemn'd to the power of fin a, and to many miferies, and death b; and to have no falvation, but by Christ'sDying for us .

VIII. Q

VIII. Q. What is meant by children of grace?
A. Partakers of God's mercy.

IX. Q. How are we made the children of grace? A. By receiving in Baptifm a death unto fin, and a new birth unto righteousness.

X. Q. How is Baptifm a pledge to affure us of a death unto fin, and a new birth unto righteousness?

A. Chrift fays, He that believeth the Gospel, and Mark 16. is baptized, lhall be faved.

16.

XI. What is required of perfons to be Baptized?

a Ats 2. 37, 38,
40. Ezek. 18. 21.
Mark 16. 16. Heb.
11. 6, 11, 33. Here
is fuppofed, that per-
fons to be Baptized of
riper years, have a reasonable knowledge and understanding of
the Catechifm, and of the Service of Baptifm; that they may
know what they undertake to believe and do, and what Bap-
tism is, and how to behave themselves therein.

XII. Q. What is

A&ts 2. 37, 38, 40.
Jam. 4. 8, 9, 10.

XIII. Q. What

a Mark 16. 16. 1 John 5. 10. b Jam.

4. 17.

A. Repentance, whereby they forfake fin a; and faith, whereby they ftedfaftly believe the promises of God made to them in that Sacrament b.

to forfake fin by repentance?
A. To repent me truly of
my former fins, ftedfaftly pur-
pofing to lead a new life.
is fin?

XIV. Q. What
tifm to them that repent?

A. Sin is to do what God
forbids; or not to believe his
Word a, or not to do what
he commands b.
promises has God made in Bap-

A. God has promis'd to forgive their fins a, and to give them grace to live righteously b; and by this forgiveness and grace

to

7. See the Benefits and vow of Baptifm, 32 f Acts 2. 38, 39. g Alts 4. 31. ch. 8. 15, 16, 17. See the Title, 62 b Matth. 26. 28. Chriff's blood bed for the remiffion of fins, is the blood of the new Te frament, and fo the Seal of all the promises of the New Teftament. See the Creed, 44 2

à Deut. 29.
10 to
14. As thofe little

ones entred by and

with their Parents into

XV. Why then are infants Baptized, when by reafon of their tender age they cannot perform repentance and faith.

a That they might not make a vain pro

mife before God. For

God's Covenant and
oath, To be a people un-

to him, and be to be a God unto them: fo now infants do by their
Parents and Sureties enter into the fame Covenant and oath.
b fee the vow of Baptifm, 21 2

XVI. What is the meaning of your promifing by your fureties? a See the A. Because I could not fpeak my felf, my SureVow of ties did speak for me. And what they promised Baptifm, for me I am bound to perform as my own pro21 2. c. mife a, not only as it is God's Commandment.

otherwife, the Sureties
not having me in their
power, their promifing

for me could not be

A. Because they promise them both by their Sureties a: which promife, when they come to age, themfelves are bound to perform b.

XVII. Q. How was your promifing by your Sureties a fufficient reafon for your being Baptiz'd?

A. Because by my promifing by my Sureties, not only they a, but chiefly my Parents b did undertake to fee me taught and brought up to perform what I promis'd c.

fufficient.

fufficient. And it was by my Parents order that they did anfwer for me. And it belongs to my Parents to fee fuch an undertaking made good.

c. As all men-children in the power of thofe, that would bring them up to the fervice of the true God, were commanded, Gen. 17. 11, 12, 13, to be Circumcifed. So when Circumcifion was taken away by Chrift's Death, (Eph. 2. 15, 16. Coll. 2. 14.) and Baptifm was commanded, Matth. 28. 19, inftead of Circumcifion; then all children of both fexes (Alts 8. 12. ch. 16. 15) were commanded to be Baptiz'd, that were in the power of those that would bring them up to be Chriftians. 1 Cor. 7. 14, the children of one Chriftian Parent are boly, and fo are to be Baptiz'd: becaufe that Parent will take care to bring them up to be Chriftians, and may fanctify, that. is, convert the other Parent.. 16. By children there are meant not only the fons and daughters of Chriftian Parents, but alfo all other children that may be in the family. Gen. 17. 12, 13.

624

Therefore the plain reafon why an infant is Baptiz'd, is becaufe the Parent, or he or the that is inftead of the Parent, does undertake to bring it up à Chriftian. This undertaking the Paá rent does exprefs, by defiring Baptifm for the infant. And the fame undertaking the Parent makes more fure, by procuring Sureties to answer for the infant.

Which fureties ought furely to be fuch, as both know how to perform what they undertake; and also have Reasonable hope both of life and opportunity to perform it. It is inexcufable prefumption for thofe to undertake for a child, who either are fo old, that they have not reafonable hope of living to perform what they undertake; or have not their dwelling fo near, as that they may have opportunity fufficient.

And as inexcufable prefumption it is for the Sureties to promife and vow folemnly in the child's name, without refolving to do what belongs to them to do for the child's performance. What belongs to them to do, they are plainly told in the Exhortation at the end of the Order of Baptifm in the CommonPrayer book. Which altho' they cannot do as the Parents, or the Mafter or Mistress of the child: yet they may honestly and carefully do what they can. And they may, and ought to call upon the Parents, and others that are concern'd, and alfo their Minifters, if they fee them neglect their duty herein.

XVIII. Q. How did you promife repentance by your Sureties?

A. All I promise by them was the promised of See 11, repentance. XIX. Q.13 2