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1. THey haue defined, that a man, by Baptisme, is not onely debitor fidei, [error 109] sed etiam vniuersae legis Christi implendae, not onely a debter of the faith, but is made a debter to performe the whole law of Christ, Concil. Trident. sess. 8. can. 7. that is, Baptisme is not onely a signe of free iustification by faith, neither
doth he which is baptized professe himselfe onely by faith to bee iustified,* 1.1 but partly also by his workes, and the keeping of the commandements of Christ.
Ans. IN Baptisme wee make profession of our obedience, to die vnto sinne, and rise vp to newnes of life, Rom. 6.2. yet not thereby to bee iustified: but in being baptized wee shew our faith and hope, onely to looke for remis∣sion of sinnes and saluation of our soules by the death of Christ.
Argum. 1. Circumcision, in place whereof Baptisme is giuen to vs, is called by the Apostle a seale of the righteousnes of faith, Rom. 4 11. not of the righ∣teousnes of workes: much more then is Baptisme, which is a Sacrament of the Gospell, a pledge vnto vs of the iustice of faith.
Argum. 2. By Baptisme we are freed from the curse of the lawe: for it is a Sacrament of the death of Christ, and of all the benefites thereof: and Christ by his death hath borne for vs the curse of the lawe, Galath. 3.13. But if by Baptisme we binde our selues to the obseruance of the lawe, to bee iustified and finde life thereby, we must needes fall into the curse, because we are not able to keepe the commandements. Wherefore seeing Baptisme deliuereth vs from the curse, it also exempteth vs from the workes of the lawe.
[error 110] 2. ALthough Christians are bound by solemne vow in Baptisme to walke in obedience before God, and to keepe his commandements: yet are they not therefore freed and exempted from the obseruance of the lawes and ordinances of men, the which they are bound in conscience to keepe, and vnder paine of damnation, Bellarm. cap. 16.
BAptisme onely bindeth vs to keepe the commandements of God: and so far forth also to obey men, as they commaund things lawfull: but wee must not be brought in bondage to mens traditions and obseruations, seeing we are the Lords free men, and by Baptisme consecrate to his seruice.
Argum. Math. 28.19. Goe and teach, baptizing them, &c. and teaching them to obserue all that I haue commanded you. Ergo, Baptisme bindeth vs onely to the obseruation of Gods precepts. 1. Corinth. 7.23. Yee are bought with a price, be not the seruants of men: Baptisme is a signe of the death of Christ, the price of our redemption. Ergo, wee are freed from all meere hu∣mane seruice, in receiuing of Baptisme. For this cause is it called the Baptisme of Christ:* 1.2 Augustine saith, Paulus dixisse legitur euangelium meum: baptis∣mum autem Christi nemo Apostolorum ita vnquam ministrauit, vt auderet di∣cere
suum. Paul is read to haue said, My Gospell: but neuer any of the Apo∣stles durst call the Baptisme of Christ their Baptisme. Ergo, seeing it is the Bap∣tisme of Christ, and we are onely baptized in his name, not in our owne name, or the name of men: wee must onely hope to bee saued by faith in him, and become his seruants wholly.
Bellar. lib. 1 de baptis. cap. 15.
Cont. Petili. lib. 3.55.