1 a Covenant with him by Baptism, it evidently imports, that by this sacred Ordinance, every true Believer is made a Member of Christ... 2. From hence it follows, that every such Believer is also a Child of God. For if any Man be in Christ, he is a new Creature. God doth fend forth the Spirit of his Son into his Heart, whereby he cries, Abba Father. And by this (Spirit of God and Christ) he is regenerated and born again, not of Blood, nor of the Will of the Flesh, nor of the Will of Man, but of God. John i. 13. And accordingly God accepts him, and respects him as his Child. For as many as received him, (i. e. Jesus Christ) to them gave he Power, that they should become the Sons of God, even to them that believe on his Name. Johni.12. And being made the Sons of God by Adoption and Grace, 3. It hence farther follows, that they also are Inheritors of the Kingdom of Heaven. Forif Children, then Heirs, yea Heirs of God, and Joint-Heirs with Christ. Rom.viii. 17. And this Inheritance belonging to them, is such, as answers to their Relation, even an Inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in Heaven for them. And then that gracious Promise will be eminently fulfilled to them, 2 Cor.vi. 16. I will dwell in them, and walk in them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my People. And here consider what a Being this most Glorious God is, who in Heaven will be the Portion and Inheritance of all Believers. He in his Nature is universal Goodness. All All the scatter'd Excellencies that are in all the whole Creation, the Beauty of Flowers, the Fragrancy of Spices, the Light, Heat, and Influence of the Sun, Moon and Stars; the Reason, Grace and Glory of Men, Saints and Angels, are all but little Rays and Emanations of his Perfections, and are eminently contained in him. Wherefore the Heirs of Heaven, in enjoying God there, will enjoy all things in him, in their Orient Perfections. And accordingly it is said, they shall inherit all things, Rev. xx. 7. Qui habet Deum habentem omnia, habet omnia. In having him, in whom are all things, it is necessarily imply'd, that they have all things in him. And when the perishing and poor Creatures, with all their Comforts, fail them, such as Father or Mother, or Wife or Children,or Houses or Lands, &c. they shall enjoy them all in God,in an eminent and transcendent Manner, and He will be all in all to them for ever. The Questions and Answers. Q. Is there any great Benefit to be obtained Baptism Sao by Christian Baptism? A. Yes. Baptifm saveth us. I Pet. iii. 21. Q. What is that Baptism which is said to Save us? Is it the outward Sign or Ceremony, called External Baptism? veth us. A. No. Tho' Baptifm saveth us, it is not Not Exter the putting away of the Filth of the Flesh wal. that do's so. Q What then do you understand by the Bap- D But Inter- tism that saveth us? Is it not the Inward Baptism, viz. the Washing of Regeneration? nal. Tet outward A. Yes. According to his Mercy he faved us, by the Washing of Regeneration, and Renewing of the Holy Ghost. Tit.iii.5. Q. Is this then, which you call Internal Bapsism, the most necessary and principals..... A. Yes. For as it was truly said of the Jews and Circumcifion, Rom.ii.28,29. He is not a Jew which is one outwardly, neither is that Circumcifion which is outward in the Flesh; but he is a Jew which is one inwardly, and Circumcifion is that of the Heart, in the Spirit, and not in the Letter, whose Praise is not of Men, but of God: The like may be faid also concerning Christians and their Baptifm. Q. Is it not then unnecessary to receive the External Baptifm? A. No in no wife. For this is Christ's Baptism is Ordinance. And we must observe and do neceffary. whatsoever he hath commanded us. Mat. xxviii. 19, 20. Q. What then is the Advantage or Benefit of outward Baptifm? Is it not the same to us, now under the New Testament, as outward Circumcifion was to the Jews of old? A. Yes. For as they by Circumcifion were admitted into the Church and Covenant, so are we now by Baptifm. And as their Outward Circumcifion entitled them to outward Privileges; for to them pertained the Adoption, and the Glo ry, 1 • ry, and the Covenants, and the giving of the Law, and the Service of God, and the Promises. Rom. ix. 4. So by Baptifm we have Right and Freedom to the Ordinances and Means of Grace in the House of God, his Church; and are at least in the trueway for our Conversion and Salvation. Act. ii. 47. The Lord added to the Church fuch as should be saved. Q. You have heard that Christian Baptifm is both External and Internal. Are these two distinct Kinds, or only several Parts of Baptifm? A. Eph. iv. 5. There is one Lord, one Baptifm Faith, one Baptifm. But as the Body and but one. Soul of Man are not two but one Person, so the outward and inward Baptifm, both by Water and the Spirit, are not properly two Sorts, but only two Parts of Baptism, consisting of both these together; and is that which is here meant in this Part of our Catechism. Q. What are the Benefits which we receive by this Baptifm? A. In general it entitles us to all the The Benefits Blessings of the New Covenant, especially to of Baptifm. these three, namely, to be made thereby, 1. A Member of Christ. 2. A Child of God. 3. An Inheritor of the Kingdom of Heaven. Q. Can you prove from Scripture that a Believer is made, by Baptism, A. Yes. For by one 1. Member Ship with Christ. 2. Adop- 2. A Child of God? tion. A. Yes. Gal.iii.26,27. We are all the Children of God by Faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ, have put on Chrift. to Heaven. A. Yes. For if Chil- 3. Heirship 3. An Inheritor of | Christ, Ro.viii. 17. And the Kingdom of < Christ hath said, Fear Heaven? I not, little Flock, it is your Father's good Pleasure to give you the Kingdom. (xii. 32. Applica tion. ; Luke Catechist. And now, what is the Use that we should make of these Premisses? Why, having these Promises, we should cleanse ourselves from all Filthiness both of Flesh and Spirit, perfecting Holiness in the Fear of God. And this we should do, if we did thoroughly believe them. For our AffeCtions and Actions are all answerable to our Belief. If Grace but discover to us what is our true Good and Happiness, we should earnestly pursue the fame by even a natural Necessitation. Let us pray therefore, that God would increase our Faith; that believing what he hath promised, and doing what he commandeth, we may be meet to receive the Forgiveness of our Sins, and |