Of Baptism
I. Baptism is a sacrament of the new testament, ordained
by Jesus Christ,a not only for the solemn admission of the party baptized into
the visible Church;b but also to be unto him a sign and seal of the covenant of
grace,c of his ingrafting into Christ,d of regeneration,e
of remission of sins,f and of his giving up unto God, through Jesus Christ, to
walk in the newness of life.g Which sacrament is, by Christ's own appointment,
to be continued in His Church until the end of the world.h
a. Matt. 28:19. b. I Cor. 12:13.
c. Rom. 4:11; Col. 2:11-12. d. Gal. 3:27; Rom. 6:5.
e. Tit. 3:5. f. Mark 1:4.
g. Rom. 6:3-4.
h. Matt. 28:19-20.
II. The outward element to be used in this sacrament is
water, wherewith the party is to be baptized, in the name of the Father, and of the Son,
and of the Holy Ghost, by a minister of the Gospel, lawfully called thereunto.a
a. Matt. 3:11; John 1:33; Matt. 28:19-20.
III. Dipping of the person into the water is not
necessary; but Baptism is rightly administered by pouring, or sprinkling water upon the
person.a
a. Heb. 9:10, 19-22; Acts 2:41; 16:33; Mark 7:4.
IV. Not only those that do actually profess faith in and
obedience unto Christ,a but also the infants of one, or both, believing parents, are to be
baptized.b
a. Mark 16:15-16; Acts 8:37-38.
b. Gen. 17:7, 9; Gal. 3:9, 14; Col. 2:11-12; Acts
2:38-39; Rom. 4:11-12; I Cor. 7:14; Matt. 28:19; Mark 10:13-16; Luke 18:15.
V. Although it be a great sin to contemn or neglect this
ordinance,a yet grace and salvation are not so inseparably annexed unto it, as
that no person can be regenerated, or saved, without it:b or, that all that are
baptized are undoubtedly regenerated.c
a. Luke 7:30; Exod. 4:24-26.
b. Rom. 4:11; Acts 10:2, 4, 22, 31, 45, 47.
c. Acts 8:13, 23.
VI. The efficacy of Baptism is not tied to that moment
of time wherein it is administered;a yet, notwithstanding, by the right use of
this ordinance, the grace promised is not only offered, but really exhibited, and
conferred, by the Holy Ghost, to such (whether of age or infants) as that grace belongs
unto, according to the counsel of God's own will, in His appointed time.b
a. John 3:5, 8.
b. Gal. 3:27; Tit. 3:5; Eph. 5:25-26; Acts 2:38, 41.
VII. The sacrament of Baptism is but once to be
administered unto any person.a
a. Tit. 3:5.
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