An account of Mr. Lock's religion, out of his own writings, and in his own words together with some observations upon it, and a twofold appendix : I. a specimen of Mr. Lock's way of answering authors ..., II. a brief enquiry whether Socinianism be justly charged upon Mr. Lock.

CHAP. XXIV. Of Repentance, Baptism, and Remission of Sins.

REpentance is as absolute a Condition of the Co∣venant of Grace as Faith, and as necessary to be perform'd as that. This was not only the Be∣ginning of our Saviour's preaching, but the Summ of all that he did preach, viz. That Men should repent and believe the good Tidings which he brought them. Believing Jesus to be the Messiah, and repenting, were so necessary and fundamental Parts of the Co∣venant of Grace, that one of them alone is often put for both. Repentance is not only a Sorrow for Sins past, but (what is a natural Consequence of that Sor∣row, if it be real,) a turning from them into a new and contrary Life. It is an hearty Sorrow for our past Misdeeds, and a sincere Resolution and Endea∣vour, to the utmost of our Power, to conform all our Actions to the Law of God. It does not consist in one single Act of Sorrow, (tho' that being the first and leading Act, gives Denomination to the whole,) but in doing Works meet for Repentance, in a sincere Obedience to the Law of Christ, the remainder of our Lives. It is in other Words well express'd by new∣ness of Life: And sometimes turning about is put alone to signifie Repentance. Mr. Lock, Reasonab. of Christian. p. 197, 198, 200, 201. To be bapti∣zed into his Name is to enroll our selves into the Kingdom of Jesus the Messiah, and profess our selves his Subjects. By Baptism we are made Denizons, and solemnly incorporated into that Kingdom, Ibid.

p. 212, 213. Baptism was made use of by our Savi∣our to be that solemn visible Act whereby those who believ'd him to be the Messiah receiv'd him as their King, and profess'd Obedience to him, were ad∣mitted as Subjects into his Kingdom. So Peter began, Acts 2. 38. Repent, and be baptiz'd; these two things were required for the Remission of Sins, Ibid. p. 199, 200. God propos'd to the Children of Men, that as many of them as would believe Jesus his Son to be the Messiah, the promised Deliverer, and would receive him for their King and Ruler, should have all their past Sins, Disobedience, and Rebellion forgiven them; and if, for the future, they liv'd in a sincere Obedience to his Law, to the utmost of their Power, the Sins of Humane Frailty, for the time to come, as well as all those of their past Lives, should for his Son's sake, because they gave themselves up to him to be his Subjects, be forgiven them: Tho' in consideration of Mens becoming Christ's Subjects by Faith in him, whereby they believe and take him to be the Messiah, their former Sins shall be forgiven, yet he will own none to be his, nor receive them as true Denizons of the New Jerusalem, into the Inheritance of Eternal Life, but leave them to the Condemnation of the Un∣righteous, who renounce not their former Miscarri∣ages, and live in a sincere Obedience to his Com∣mands. Ibid. p. 211, 212, 241. Thus Mr. Lock.

OBSERVATIONS.

Believing Jesus to be the Messiah, and Repenting, are so necessary and fundamental Parts of the Cove∣nant of Grace, that one of them alone is often put for both; so Mr. Lock, Reasonab. of Christian. p. 198. But I would know why they are the more necessary and fundamental Parts of the Convenant of Grace, on this account, that one of them alone is oft put for both; or how this, that one of them alone is oft

put for both, doth prove that they are necessary and fundamental Parts of it. Withal, how appears it, that one of them alone is oft put for both? All the Proof that he tenders for it is in the Words imme∣diately following: For (says he) St. Mark, chap. 6. 12. mentions nothing but their preaching Repentance, as St. Luke in the parallel Place, chap. 9. 6. men∣tions nothing but their evangelizing or preaching the good News of the Kingdom of the Messiah. Thus Mr. Lock. But how will he hence make good this Inference, Therefore, of these two, Believing and Repenting, one alone is oft put for both? There is no mention of believing in either Place: St. Luke says, that the Apostles preach'd the Gospel; St. Mark says, that they preach'd, that Men should repent; of believing here is not a Word. But from both Texts we may gather that this, That Jesus is the Messiah, was not the only Article which the Apostles preach'd: For in St. Mark 6. 12. they preach'd, that Men should repent, or that they should have their Sins remitted upon their Repentance, as St. Pe∣ter afterward preach'd, Repent, and be baptiz'd for the Remission of Sins, Acts 2. 38. and, as our Savi∣our says, St. Luke 24. 47. that Repentance and Re∣mission of Sins should be preach'd; so that it is clear, that the Apostles preach'd this Article of Remission of Sins upon our repenting. And then, in St. Luke 9. 6. they preach'd the Gospel, which comprehends more than that one Article, That Jesus is the Mes∣siah, as the good News, that a Saviour was born in∣to the World, &c.

Mr. Lock, in Reasonab. of Christianity, p. 201. having said, that sometimes turning about is put alone to signifie Repentance, cites St. Matth. 13. 15. and St. Luke 22. 32. where the Word is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and why that should be rendred to turn about, rather than to convert or turn, I am to be taught.

Ibid. p. 212. he says, That to be baptiz'd into the Name of Christ, is to enroll our selves in the King∣dom of Jesus the Messiah. But as we are said to be baptiz'd in or into the Name of the Lord Jesus, so we are also said to be baptiz'd in or into the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, St. Matth. 28. 19. Now to be baptiz'd in the Name of the Holy Ghost, cannot signifie the enrolling our selves in the Kingdom of the Holy Ghost; for we do not read in Holy Writ of the Kingdom of the Holy Ghost, as we do of the Kingdom of the dear Son of God: And why then should we make In or into the Name to signifie one thing when it is spo∣ken of the Son, and another when it is spoken of the Holy Ghost, or of the whole blessed and glori∣ous Trinity? As then to baptize in or into the Name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, is to baptize, 1. by Authority and Commis∣sion from them; 2. into the Worship and faithful Service of them all the Days of our Life: So I conceive we are to interpret the being baptiz'd in or into the Name of the Lord Jesus.

Ibid. p. 241. Mr. Lock says, In consideration of Mens becoming Christ's Subjects by Faith in him, where∣by they believe and take him to be the Messiah, their former Sins shall be forgiven. But other where he makes Men become the Subjects of Christ by Bap∣tism as well as by Faith, and both Repentance and Baptism to be required for the Remission of Sins, (alledging Acts 2. 38.) and not Faith only. And therefore he might have express'd the Gospel-Terms, or the Conditions of Forgiveness, more fully, by saying, that if Men repent, and believe the Gospel, and be baptized, they shall, through the Merits and Death of their blessed Saviour, have their for∣mer Sins forgiven.