FRom the whole we may rationally conclude, That the Administration of this great Ordinance by Sprinkling, (which comports not with the Literal nor Meta∣phorical Signification of the Word, nor those great Mysteries represented by it, viz. the Death, Burial, and Resurrection of Christ) is disorderly, and should be rectified.
2. It is a Motive to excite us to admire and reverence the great Grace and Good∣ness of Christ, who hath given us such a visible Symbol of his Death, Burial, and Resurrection; not only to confirm our Faith, but also to prevent our being deceived by any seducing Spirits.
3. It is not to be wondred at, that such as deny the Man Christ Jesus, but preach up the Light within to be a Saviour, should reject these two great Ordinances stated in the Scripture, (viz. Baptism, and the Lord's Supper) because such as deny the Substance, are necessitated to deny the Sign. Persons of this Judgment may be easi∣ly confuted: For when ever the Term Baptism is mentioned, and God or Christ re∣presented as the Agent, it must be understood of the Baptism of the Spirit, in the Sence before spoken of. When ever Baptism is mentioned as the Act of any Apostle or Minister of the Gospel, it denotes Water-Baptism, because these have neither Power nor Commission to baptize with the Spirit, and with Fire. And when ever the Baptism of Blood and Suffering is mentioned, it must be understood of Persecutors, or ungodly Men, who murther, destroy, or afflict the Godly; for neither God (with∣out Blasphemy) nor good Men) without a wrong application of the Term) may be said to baptize that way. So that when we meet with the Act of Baptism, as the Act of a good Man, we must of necessity understand it of Water-Baptism, in the same Method and Mode of Administration, as was practised by the Apostles and Primitive Christians; and that being a positive Institution, (with respect to the Sub∣ject and Manner of Administration) is not to be deviated from, upon any pretence whatsoever, unless we will suppose the Laws of the Almighty to be in the Power of Man, so as that he may dispense at pleasure with them; which is not to be done without sufficient Authority from God himself, which is no where to be found.
4. If the Laws of the great unerring Sovereign of all things are to be observed without variation, unless it be by his express Direction; then we are to conform ex∣actly to his Order, in this part of the Evangelical Law, and to practise it no other∣wise than he has prescribed, because it was once so delivered to the Saints.
5. We would caution all that would approach to this sacred Evangelical Ordinance, unless they be dead to Sin, that is, such as truly and really hate Wickedness, and the empty Vanities of the World; and unless they have a prospect of, and long to have an Interest in that never-fading Inheritance, promised by our dear Lord Jesus to his Children; not to prophane this blessed Institution: Because, if they want the due Qualifications of serious and converted Souls, viz. Faith, Repentance, and good Lives, they are hereby entitled, not real Members of Christ, but Hypocrites, and incur as great a Hazard, as such do who eat and drink unworthily of the Lord's Supper.