To be carefull in the keeping of our Vow made in Baptism. [ 1771]
THe Romans in times past,* 1.1 when they prest any Souldiers, ministred an Oath of Fidelity unto them which they called, Sacramentum militare the Oath of their military service, without which Oath they made a scruple to bear arms; And we, when we take up Souldiers, do not alwaies swear them, but they receive Prest-money which binds them sufficiently; What then is to be thought of a Souldier, that after he is admitted into pay, and enrolled in the Muster-book, shall forsake the Camp without leave of his General, or perhaps revolt and run to the Enemy, or staying in the Camp entertain private confe∣rence with the Enemy, and as opportunity serves betray the trust committed to his charge, as divers in our times perfidiously and basely have done? Or if he do none of these,* 1.2 yet either out of cowardise or contempt, never fights blow, nor performs any duty commanded. Do not such Souldiers deserve punishment, greater then if they had refused to serve notwithstanding their Allegiance doth bind them? So is it in the matter of Baptism, We receive Gods Prest-mony, then we begin to be his Souldiers,* 1.3 and by that mystery do bind-our selves as fast as any Vow or Oath can tye us; And being thus bound, if we be desertores Militiae forsakers of our Christian profession, and become Apostata's or disobedient Souldiers, whose standing is in Gods camp, but fight the Devills battels, or such as carry Gods mark in their foreheads, but are the Devills servants in their acti∣ons, or such as under pretence of fighting Gods battels, betray the whole Army to the Enemy, then we are more guilty then if we had never contracted with God to serve him.