The first Duty of Parents for the Souls of their Children, is, to consecrate them to God in Baptism.

First, They ought to consecrate their Children to God in Baptism, so soon as conveniently they can: They cannot better express their gratitude to God for blessing them with Children, than by presenting them to him again in this holy Ordinance; that he may Page  5 set his Seal upon them, and admit them into his House and Family; that he may bestow upon them the priviledges of his Children, and give them a Right and Title to the Blessedness, the Grace and Glory purchased by Jesus Christ. It is for this End that Baptism is in∣stituted; not only to be a Ceremony of Admission into the Church, but to seal unto us the pardon of our Sins, to assure us of the Divine Favour, to make us Members of Christ, Heirs of God, and Inheritours of the Kingdom of Heaven, if we by wilful impeuitency and unbe∣lief, do not afterwards hinder and fru∣strate the Virtue thereof. It is not ne∣cessary for Parents to enquire how such things are done by Baptism; it is enough for them to know, That Baptism is ap∣pointed for those Ends, and we are sure that God appoints nothing in vain: Our Saviour is said, Eph. 5.26. To sanctify and cleanse his Church with the washing of water by the Word. And, Tit. 3.5. he is said to save us by the washing of Regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost. And in the 22d. of the Acts and 16. it is said by Ananias unto Paul, A∣rise and be baptized, and wash away thy Sins: And says St. Peter, 1 Epist. 3.21. Page  6 The like Figure whereunto, even Baptism doth now also save us (not the putting away of the filth of the Flesh, but the answer of a good Conscience towards God,) by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. And St. Paul tells us, Gal. 3.27. As many of you as have been baptized into Christ, have put on Christ: Which words import not only our owning and acknowledging him as the Saviour of the World, who alone is able to wash and cleanse us with his Blood, but also our professing our resolution to live holy lives, to walk in newness of life according to his Example; in token of which in the an∣cient Church, they who were baptized, were presently cloathed with White Rayment, to testify their resolution to live in holiness, and to put off the Old Man, that is, all their former wicked Deeds and Customs, and filthy Practi∣ces. Likewise, Rom. 6.3, and 4. it is thus written, Know ye not that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ, were baptized into his Death? There∣fore we are buried with him by Bap∣tism into Death, that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father; even so we also should walk in newness of Life. These Page  7 words import not only our belief of a crucified Saviour, who dyed and was buried for sin, to save us from it; but al∣so our Repentance, whereby we re∣nounce sin, as dead and buried to it for the time to come. The general Design of this Sacrament, being suffi∣ciently plain and clear from these and other Scriptures; it is to little pur∣pose, (and oftentimes it proves to very ill purpose) to enquire any further as to particulars; for by so doing, a great many persons judging of divine things by their own weak and foolish appre∣hensions, have reasoned themselves (if I may so speak) both out of their Rea∣son and Religion.