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HIS second Argument is, If Baptism gives the form to visible Membership, then whiles that remains valid, the party is a visible Member.
But there is true Baptism resting in the party, who hath no vi∣sible Membership; Ergo.
He proves his Minor from short Instances; in an Excommuni∣cate man, in him who renounceth the Fellowship of the Church, or when the Church is absolutely destroyed, then all Church Mem∣bership ceaseth.
To understand the force of this Argument I must deviate a little, and discourse of what it is to be a Member of the Church, of the force of Baptism in this work. Know then that the Church is a body, and an org••nical body, which hath many mem∣bers which have diverse Offices, an eye, a foot, &c. and as St. Paul philosophyes 1 Cor. 12. and all this body is animated and informed by the same soul, the holy Spirit, the head of this bo∣dy is Christ, all this needs no proof I think; but then, that men are made Members of this body by Baptism, that I shall apply my self to. Consider therefore the 13. verse of that 12 Chap. of 1 Cor. By one Spirit we are baptized into one body, whether we be Jewes or Gentiles, &c. Having in the preceding verse shewed that there are many members, he shews here which way we are made members of it, that is, Christs body; to wit, being bapti∣zed by the same Spirit into Christ; the Spirit which enlivens us makes Baptism effectual to the incorporating a man into the bo∣dy of Christ; For what else can that phrase be, into the body, as a work of Baptism but into the body of Christ, his Church? Well then, Baptism is the Act, the relict of Baptism, as before, is the Thing which makes us members and parts of this body. Consi∣der then next, Gal. 3. 26, 27. Ye 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 Christ. Here you see phrases wonderfully expressing the same thing. As God is considered in Oecono∣micks so he is a father, so by Baptism we are adopted the chil∣dren of God; as Christ is the head of the body, so we are bapti∣zed into him and engrassed (as the Spirit speaks elsewhere) into the body. Suppose Christ to be an holy Garment, with which the Crimes and Sins of his Servants are hid, by Baptism you cloath your selves with his righteousnesse, and you put on Christ, under whom your unrighteousnesse shall be hid, and your sins co∣vered; or else, as others expresse it, Matters put on a form, &c. But then if you will adde the last verse, If ye be Christ, ye are Abrahams seed, & heirs of the promise, you may see these 3. things, Children, Members, Heirs, most heavenly united in the second Answer of our Catechism, In my Baptism, wherein I was made a Member of Christ, a Child of God, and an Inheritor of the king∣dom of Heaven; which three in expresse Terms are put down ••y St. Paul: and what necessary Thing and Essential (as he calls
it) of another Covenant can adde to a further union than this, matters not much; Well then, it is proved that Baptism doth constitute a Member. Now I will examine how this may be ju∣stified against his Objection, which consists only of Instances against this, and no proof of them; An Excommunicate man (saith he) hath no Membership, He that renounceth the fellow∣ship of the Church, or when a Church is utterly dissolved, there is no Church-Membership.