deliuered me from all euill, blesse the children, and let my name be named vpon them, and the name of my fathers, Abraham and Izhak, that they may grow as fish into multitude, in the middest of the earth. Esai 4. 1. In that day shall seuen women take hold of one man, saying, We will eate our owne bread, and we will weare our owne garments: onely let vs be called by thy name, and take away our reproch.
By this it is manifest, that in this washing of Baptisme, there is sealed and propounded a marueilous solemne couenant and contract: first, of God with the baptized, in that God the Father vouchsafed to receiue him into fauour, the Sonne to redeeme him, the holy Ghost to purifie and regenerate him: se∣condly, of the baptized with God, who promiseth to acknowledge, inuocate, and worship none other God, but the true Iehouah, which is the Father, Sonne, and holy Ghost.
The externall and visible matter of baptisme, is water: for the minister may not baptize with any other liquor, but onely with naturall water.
This was the iudgement of the Primitiue Church. For when as a certaine minister, for want of water, tooke sande, and baptized one with that: the partie thus besanded, was further baptized, the former beeing esteemed of none effect. Niceph. histor. 3. booke. 33. chapter.
The externall forme of baptisme, is the ministers washing of the baptized, according to the prescript rule of Gods word. Rom. 10. 4.
The ancient custome of baptizing, was to dippe, and, as it were, to diue, all the bodie of the baptized in the water, as may appeare in Paul, Rom. 6. and the Councels of Laodicea, and Neocaesarea: but now especially in cold countries, the Church vseth onely to sprinkle the baptized, by reason of childrens weak∣nesse: for very few of ripe yeares are now a daies baptized. We need not much to marueile at this alteration, seeing charitie and necessitie may dispense with ceremonies, and mitigate in equitie the sharpnes of them.
The Sacramentall vnion of the parts of baptisme, is on this sort.
The element of water whereby the vncleannesse of the body is purified by a most conuenient proportion shadoweth out the blood of Christ, and by the figure Synecdoche, taking the part for the whole, whole Christ. 1. Ioh. 1.7. And the blood of Iesus Christ clenseth vs from all sinne.
The action of the Minister, is his washing of the partie baptized with the element of water. This sealeth and confirmeth a double action of God. I. The engrafting or incorporating of the baptized into Christ. Gal. 3.27. As many as are baptized into Christ, haue put on Christ. 1. Cor. 12.13. By one spirit we are all baptized into one bodie. II. Our spirituall regeneration. Tit. 3.5. Not by the workes of righteousnes which we had done, but according to his mercie he saued vs by the washing of the new birth, and the renewing of the holy Ghost.
Of washing there be three parts. The putting into the water: the continu∣ance in the water: and the comming out of the water.
The putting into, or the sprinkling of water, doth ratifie I. the shedding of the blood of Christ for the remission of all our sinnes, and the imputation of his righteousnesse. Act. 22.16. Arise and be baptized, and wash away thy si••nes in calling on the name of the Lord. 1. Cor. 6. 11. And such were some of you, but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are iustified in the name of the Lord Iesus,