Institutions of Christian religion framed out of Gods word, and the writings of the best diuines, methodically handled by questions and answers, fit for all such as desire to know, or practise the will of God. Written in Latin by William Bucanus Professor of Diuinitie in the Vniuersitie of Lausanna. And published in English by Robert Hill, Bachelor in Diuinitie, and Fellow of Saint Iohns Colledge in Cambridge, for the benefit of our English nation, to which is added in the end the practise of papists against Protestant princes.

What is the matter of Baptisme?

It is twofold, externall and internall; or sensible, and intelli∣gible: externall or sensible, is first of all, as well a signe, which is of water, true, pure, cleane, and naturall, and without difference, simple, vsuall, and common, not first consecrated with peculiar exorcismes, not mixt, mingled, nor made or distilled, nor any sim∣ple or vulgar liquor, not oyle, nor bloud, nor fire, nor grauell, or any other element. For by the word of Institution in the verie ac∣tion comming to the Element of Water, Baptisme is consecrated, and sanctified, to be the lauer of regeneration of the holy Ghosta 1.1, As also the ceremonie or action it selfe, namely the externall wa∣shing performed by the minister of the Church with water, which consisteth of dipping, abiding vnder the water, and as it were swimming of the bodie out of the water, or sprinckling at least, and especially of the head, and each of them either Trinall, to sig∣nifie that Baptisme is made in the name of the three singular per∣sons of the Trinitie, or in one, to note the vnitie of the essence in three persons.* 1.2 For it is all one, whether hee that is to be baptized, be dipped all ouer in the water, (as the ancient manner of old was in riuers, and fountaines; whereof came the lauer or fountaine, that is a great vessel ful of water vsed in the Churches of the Chri∣stians) and the Apostle alludeth,* 1.3 to the rite of Baptizing, in the ancient Church, which was not a bare aspersion, but, as I may say, an immersion of the naked bodie, which after was cloathed with new garments, to put such in minde of newenesse of life, in these phrases. Gal. 3.27. All yee that haue beene baptized into Christ haue put on Christ. And Col. 5, 6.9. Ye haue put off the old man with his

workes; or whether he be dipped or sprinkled with water, as ap∣peareth. Act. 2.41. as now the manner is: for, to baptize, signifieth not only to drench, but properly to dippe and moysten.

So that the manner of wetting, Christ hath leaft free to the Church, notwithstanding the sprinkling of water is most agree∣able and correspondent to the true signification. For Peter saith we are elected vnto sāctification by 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that is the sprinkling of the bloud of Christ. 1. Pet. 1.2. which is signified by externall baptisme Heb. 9.29. and was figured and shadowed forth by the sprinkling of bloud in the Lawe: neither doth the vertue and force of baptisme depend vpon the quantitie of water vsed therein.

2. The cleere, and intelligible rehearsall of the words of Insti∣tution, and the promise: but especially inuocation on the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Therefore these three, name∣ly, water, sprinkling, & the word, are the externall essential parts of baptisme, although sprinkling and inuocation in the lawfull vse may be called also the formal cause, but the external, or outwards of Baptime.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Mat. 3.11 Eph. 5.26 Heb 10, 13
• * 1.2

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.3

  Ioh. 3.13 Act. 1.31.19