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§52

Baptism is the Sacrament of Initiation.It has pleas’d God to adorn our Entrance into this Covenant with the solemn Rite or Sacrament of Baptism; which Rite our Saviour did, as it were, borrow from the Jews; who also plung’d into Water, and wash’d those whom they made Proselites from among the Gentiles, or those whom they admitted to the Fellowship and Advantages of the Israelitish People, and receiv’d as Members of their Church and Commonwealth. By which Performance these were thought to be regenerated, and to become morally new Men, or new Persons. See Selden de Jure Nat. & Gent. Sec. Discip. Hebr. L. 2. C. 4.38 Which Rite John the Baptist first, and after him our Saviour, advanced to a much more noble Nature and Use. Here we may observe concerning the Baptism of John what is said, Acts 19:4, 5. understanding the 4th and 5th Verses to be connected, and that the 5th Verse does not contain the Words of the Evangelist Luke, as continuing the Historical Relation of the Matter he speaks of, but the Words of the Apostle Paul, expounding what was the Nature of the Baptism of John, and with what Effect and Fruit he preach’d. But in the 6th Verse Luke goes on to relate what was done about those Disciples whom he speaks of. The solemn and immutable Form of this Sacrament is that it be done in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Because in this Article of Three Persons in One Divine Essence lyes the Foundation of Genuine Christian Religion; which being taken away, this falls to the Ground, and nothing will remain, but somewhat of an exact, moral, Philosophy. For if there is not more than One Person in the Divine Essence, there is no Saviour, there is no Redemption, there is no Faith nor Justification. Nor does it contradict this, that in Acts 2:38. 10:48. some Believers are said to have been baptized in the Name of Jesus: For it is not there said that this solemn Form was not used, but either the Authority and Command of Christ is express’d, or the Scope of Baptism, namely, the engrafting them into the Mystical Body of Christ, and their Entrance into the Divine Covenant, which is constituted by the Saviour. The following Expressions speak of the Fruit and Efficacy of Baptism. Christ sanctifies his Church, it being cleansed with the washing of Water by the Word, Eph. 5:26. Baptism saves us; not the putting away the Filth of the Flesh, but the Answer of a good Conscience towards God by the Resurrection of Christ, 1. Pet. 3:4. Ye are all the Sons of God by Faith in Jesus Christ. For as many of you as are baptized into Christ have put on Christ, Gal. 3:26, 27. He that believes, and is baptized, shall be sav’d, Mark 16:16. Unless a Man be born again of Water, and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God, Joh. 1:3, 5. According to his Mercy he hath sav’d us by the washing of Regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost, Tit. 3:5. Be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling upon the Name of the Lord. Acts 22:16. By one Spirit we are all baptized into one Body, 1 Cor. 12:13. As many of us as are baptized into Christ Jesus, as are baptized into his Death, we are buried therefore together with him by Baptism into Death, that live as Christ rose again from the Dead by the Glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in Newness of Life. Rom. 6:3, 4. By whom also ye are circumcised with the Circumcision made without Hands, in putting off the Body of the Sins of the Flesh by the Circumcision of Christ: Being buried with him by Baptism, in which also ye have risen with him by the Faith of the Operation of God, who raised him from the Dead, Col. 2:11, 12. Which is as much as to say, As Christ being buried, did bid adieu to this mortal Life, or put off altogether his Mortality, and rose from his Sepulchre, to live a new Life, and such as was not obnoxious to any Infirmity or Corruption: So he who is baptized renounces all Carnal Lusts and Inclination to Wickedness, and coming from his Baptism, he rises again from the Death under which he was dead in Sin, to a new Life, which he now lives to God by the Benefit and Guidance of the Holy Spirit, and free from Sin. All which Things it seems to me may be comprehended in these few Words. As on the Part of God there is Conferr’d by Baptism the Right of Christian Citizenship, or that a Man may partake of the Benefits procur’d by Christ: So he who receives this Sacrament, does therein profess that he expects his Salvation from the Merit of Christ, the Complement of which was his Resurrection; and also promises that he will lead his Life conformably to the Doctrine of the Saviour, renouncing the former Filthiness of Life, and cutting off those evil Fruits which are wont to be produced by the Corruption of his Nature. But altho’ it is requir’d of those who receive Baptism, when they are come to the Use of their Reason, that they make Profession of their Faith; and so that they be actually prosses’d of Faith; Teach ye first all Nations, and after that, Baptizing them, Mat. 28:19. He that believes, and is baptized, shall be saved, Mat. 16:16. They that gladly receiv’d the Word of Peter were baptized, Acts 2:41. When they believed Philip preaching the Things concerning the Kingdom of God, and the Name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both Men and Women, Acts 8:37. 9:11, 19. Yet as in these their Faith is confirm’d by Baptism, so by the same it is generated in Infants who also put on Christ, which we cannot understand can be done without Faith. But that Baptism is to be bestow’d on Infants is to be concluded from Gen. 17:7, 10. compar’d with Col. 2:11, 12. John 3:5, 6, 7. 1 Cor. 1:16.

[38.]John Selden, De Jure Naturali et Gentium Juxta Disciplinam Ebraeorum Libri Septem (On the Law of Nature and of Nations according to the Doctrine of the Hebrews), 1665, book 2, chap. 4.