mind, what a solemn vow, promise, and profession they made by them at their baptism. 2ndly, To take care that, as soon as they be able to learn, they be taught their Catechism, and instructed in the nature and extent, as well as importance of what they promised for them; and of their obligations to fulfil it. And in order to both these, 3dly, To call upon them to go to church, to hear sermons, and to serve God diligently both in public and private; and if they find them negligent in any of these, to admonish and reprove them; and, in a word, to do what in them lies to engage them carefully to fulfil what they charitably undertook on their behalf. 8. Q. But why may not all this be as well done by every one's own parents, as by Godfathers and Godmothers? A. It is no doubt the duty of all Christian parents to do this. They are bound, as soon as conveniently they can, to bring their children to baptism. As soon as they grow up, they are bound to instruct them in their duty, and to see that they fulfil it. But yet still, as it is of great advantage to every child to have others concerned to look after him besides his natural parents, especially in matters of such high concernment, so the analogy of this sacrament seems rather to require that some other persons should answer for them. That as by baptism we are born again, and by that new birth contract a new relation, and enter upon a new state; so we should derive this new and spiritual birth from some other parents than those from whom we received our natural. But, however, it is certainly more safe for any child to be under the care and concern of four or five persons, than of two or three: who may both supply the de fects of careless and negligent parents, whilst they are alive, and be instead of them, if they should chance to die before their children are grown up, and instructed to take care of themselves. 9. Q. What then is to be thought of those, who, having been sureties for children at their baptism, do afterwards take no such care of them? A. They are certainly guilty of a very great fault: *They break their faith with the church, which upon this trust, admitted them to be sureties for them at their baptism. They become, in some measure, answerable to God for the ignorance and wickedness of those whom they ought to have instructed and corrected. *And they increase the prejudices of such as are not well affected to the use of sureties in baptism; which have little to support them besides the unhappy observation of the negligence of too many, who, having taken such a sacred trust upon themselves, do afterwards make but little conscience of fulfilling it as they ought to do. 10. Q. What are the benefits which have accrued to you by your baptism? A. They are many, and great ones; but may, in general, be reduced to these three; that thereby I was made a member of Christ, the child of God, and an inheritor of the kingdom of heaven. 11. Q. How were you hereby made a member of Christ? A. As I was made a member of his mystical body, the church; of which Christ is the 'head. 1 Cor. xii. 27. Ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. Eph. iv. 5. One Lord, one faith, one baptism. v. 23. Christ is the Head of the church. b PROOFS SUBJOINED.-Rom. xii. 5. So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Eph. i. 22, 23. He hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things, to the church, which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. 12. Q. How were you hereby made the child of God? be A. As, by this means, I was taken into covenant with him; was adopted into his family; dedicated to his service; and entitled to his promises. Gal. iii. 26, 27. Ye are all the children of God by faith in Jesus Christ. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ, have put on Christ—and if ye Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. See Gal. iv. 5, 7. But when the fulness of time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law: to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son: and if a son, then an heir of God, through Christ. Eph. i. 5. Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will. PROOFS SUBJOINED.-John, i. 12, 13. As many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. Heb. ii. 11, 12, 13. For both he that sanctifieth, and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church And again, I will put will I sing praise unto thee. my trust in him. And again, dren which God hath given me. Rom. viii. 14, 15. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 13. Q. How were you hereby made an inheritor of the kingdom of Heaven? A. As by my baptism, I became entitled to a 'right to it, and was actually put into such a state, that if I be not wanting to myself, I shall not fail of being made a partaker of it. Tit. iii. 4, &c. But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy, he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost:-that being justified by his Grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 1 Pet. i. 3, &c. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his abundant mercy, hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead; to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for us. a PROOFS SUBJOINED. Rom. viii. 15, 17. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage, again to fear; but ye have received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and jointheirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him that we may be also glorified together. 6 Gal. iv. 5, To redeem them that were under the law, that we 7. might receive the adoption of sons. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and, if a son, then an heir of God, through Christ. Eph. i. 5, 11. Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ, unto himself, according to the good pleasure of his will. In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him, who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will. 1 Pet. ii. 21. For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps. 14. Q. Are all, who are baptized, made partakers thereby of these benefits? A. They are all, at that time, either made partakers of them, or entitled to them. But those only continue to hold their right to these privileges, who take care to fulfil their part of the covenant, which was therein made between God and them. PROOFS SUBJOINED.-1 Peter, i. 3, 4, 5. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which, according to his abundant mercy, hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time. Gal. iii. 26, 27. For ye are all the children of God in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Heb ii. 3. How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him. |