tho' not effectual in the time it is administered, may afterwards be effectual, through the working of the Spirit, John iii. 5. 8.

VI. As to the neceffity of baptifm, two things are to be obferved.

1. It is not of abfolute neceffity to falvation, as if the fimple want thereof could hinder falvation; for God has not made baptifm and faith equally neceffary, Mark xvi. 16. And circumcifion was not to be administered before the eighth day, Gen. xvii. 12 *. though there is no reason to doubt but fome Jewish infants died before that time.

2. It is neceffary by divine precept, as an instituted means of falvation. So that the contempt of it is a fin, and a great one, that will damn men, unless it be pardoned thro' the blood of Chrift, Luke vii. 30. But this contempt cannot be afcribed to the child, before he comes to the years

*The words are, And he that is eight days old fhall be circumcifed among you, every man child in your generations. The author, in his manufcript on Genefis, renders the words thus: "And one going on eight days; he fhall be circumcifed for you; [even] every male; throughout your generations. That is, fhould one once be going on eight days, then he is bound by this law. Before he is of that age, he is not obliged to be circumcifed: but on the eighth day he falls under the obligation to it, which, ftill abides on him thereafter, during his uncircumcifion. Compare ver. 14. And every male was to be circumcifed for the family of Abraham, or in their name; fee the note above, p. 283.; and this throughout their generations fucceffively, during the whole time of the being of circumcifion as a divine ordinance. By this conftitution there would be almost a continual renewing of the seal of the covenant among them; and that refpecting not only the party circumcifed at the time, but the whole body of the people, men and women. Whence it appears, what ground there is for Chriftians improving the administration of baptism to infants, time after time for the confirming of their own faith of the covenant. Compare with this phrafe, circumcifed for you, 1 Cor. xv. 29. baptifed for the dead. Baptifm, as often as it is administered according to Chrift's inftitution, doth by his appointment feal the whole benefits of the covenant of grace, not only to the party receiver, but the whole of the body, within the covenant: the refurrection of the dead faints is a special benefit of the covenant, in virtue of it secured to them, even as remiffion of fin to the living, Mat. xxii. 31, 32.; and the church militant and triumphant are but one body, all of them together being embodied in one covenant, Eph. iv. 4. 1 Cor. xii. 13.; therefore baptifm being administered to the faithful for this end, is vain, if there is no refurrection of the dead.”

of discretion, and so cannot involve him in guilt; but unto the parents. So that Gen. xvii. 14. is to be understood of the child come to years *.

A few inferences fhall conclude this fubject.

Inf. 1. Baptifm is not to be administered to any perfon oftener than one. This is plain from the nature of the ordinance, Tit. iii. 5. we being but once ingrafted and regenerated.

2. Improve your baptifm agreeable to the nature of it, and the ends of its inftitution. It is a grofs neglect, that we are not often putting the queftion to ourselves, Into what was I baptifed? Alas! many make no more use of their baptism rightly, than if they had never been baptifed. Though ye were but once baptifed, ye fhould be improving it all your life long, and particularly when you fee others baptifed.

(1.) Improve it for raifing your hearts in thankfulness to

*The words are, And the uncircumcifed man-child, whofe flefb of his foreskin is not circumcifed, that foul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant. The author, in the aforementioned work, thus tranflates and comments on the words: "And as for an uncircumcifed one a male; who shall not crop, even the flesh of his foreskin; i. e. a male, whether of Abraham's own feed, or born in the house, or acquired by money; who being come to the years of difcretion (the Jews fay the thirteenth year of his age), his circumcifion having been neglected by his parents or master, fhall not then fee to his own circumcifion effectually, he fhall be liable as follows.-Then in that cafe that perfon, even that, fhall be cut off from his people whatsoever : i. e. Such a one is guilty, and of whatfoever people he be, he fhall be cut off from his people, by death; which he shall be put to, for his contempt, whether by the hand of the magiftrate, or otherwise.-Even my covenant he bath made void i. e. He hath thrown it away, or trampled it under foot, as refufe. The punishment to be inflicted is not more fevere than the crime is atrocious. The criminal had free access to the covenant of grace, with the righteousness of faith, and all the other benefits of it; whether he was of Abraham's feed or not; being incorporated with Abraham's family: he was under the obligation of a law to receive the covenant, perfonally to enter into it; and in token thereof, to receive the feal of it, ver. 11. 12. 13. he is come to years, and capable of judging for himfelf; and the hazard of refufing is told him. But he contemns the feal; he will not circumcife himself. Thus he makes void the covenant; making the device of heaven for falvation useless and of none effect to himself by his obitinacy he contemptuously throws it away from him as empty buks, dregs, and refufe, in which there is no force nor energy, no fup, no favour; and treads it under foot. Comp. Heb. x. 28. 29.

God, that ever ye were fealed with the seal of God's covenant, and had his name called on you, while many in the world are utter strangers to the covenants of promife.

(2.) Improve it for your ftrengthening againft temptation, confidering that you are the Lord's, not your own, and are under the moft folemn and awful engagement to God, to refift the devil, the world, and the flesh; and alfo drawing strength from the death and refurrection of Christ, into whom ye were baptifed, Rom. vi. 4.

of

(3.) Improve it for your humiliation under your fins and mifcarriages, confidering them as fins against the grace baptifm, and your engagements to God therein; remembering that fins after folemn engagements to the contrary, are highly offenfive to God, and attended with more aggravating circumftances, than if you had never been baptifed, and fuch folemn engagements entered into by you. The vows of God are upon you; break them not, and go not about after vows to make inquiry.

(4.) Improve your baptifm to the ftrengthening of your faith and confidence in Jefus Christ, especially in downcast. ings under a fenfe of guilt; for it is a fign and seal of remiffion, adoption, &c. and fo may anfwer the question to an exercised foul, How can I be put among the children?

(5.) Improve it to the vigorous exercite of, and growth in holiness, fince thereby ye are engaged to newness of life, as ye are raised from the dead, Rom. vi. 4. Were ye

dedicated unto God, does not that fay ye fhould be holy in heart, lip, and life? As God is holy, fo be ye holy in all manner of life and converfation; remembering that without holinefs no man fhall fee the Lord.

(6.) Laftly, Improve it to the increase of brotherly love, even love to all the faints, who are all baptifed into one body, 1 Cor. xii. 13. It is as unnatural for faints not to love one another, or to quarrel with one another, as it is for the members of the natural body to be at war with each other. Then love one another, as Chrift hath loved you*.

* See more of this fubject in the author's fermons on church-communion, first printed in 1737.

1 COR. xi. 23, 24, 25.-I have received of the Lord that which aljo I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jefus, the fame night in which he was betrayed, took bread and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and faid, Take, eat: this is my body broken for you: this do in remembrance of me After the **fame manner also he took the cup, when he had fupped, faying, This cup is the new teftament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.

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THESE words affcrament of the Lord's fupper?" and HESE words afford us the answer to that question,

declare to us the nature of that holy ordinance which we are now in expectation of, and now falls to be explained ? For which we fhall confider, io woal drekk dis

All these particulars are contained in the text and de

ferve a special confideration.

I. The author of this ordinance is the Lord Jefus Christ himself. It is not founded on man's authority, but 3 Dut on his own authority, who is the only King and Head of his church, ver. 23. I have received of the Lord Jefus, &c. which points out a twofold excellency in it. (1.) A character of divine authority upon it. The elements and actions, though they be mean in themselves, yet have a majesty in them to a fpiritual eye, as bearing Chrift's stamp on them, and being Heaven's broad feal to the covenant (2.) A holiness in it; it is a holy ordinance, as appointed VOL. III. No. 28. Rr

by the holy Jesus. The elements, though in themselves common things, are relatively holy, as appointed to reprefent, feal, and apply Chrift and his benefits.

Here I fhall fhew,

1. When Chrift inftituted this facrament. 2. For what time it is to continue.

3. What the words of inftitution contain.

First, When did Chrift inftitute this facrament? The fame night in which he was betrayed, ver. 23. Yet this does not bind us to that time rather than to another, because that was an accidental circumftance, arifing from fomething peculiar to the first inftitution and administration. For it could not be fooner, in regard it behoved to be after the paffover, (which was to be killed in the evening, Exod. xii. 6. and eaten that night, ver. 8. which was to be abrogated by this new inftitution. It could not be later, because quickly after he fell into his enemies hands. The time of its inftitution teaches us four things.

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1. The most tender care and concern our Lord had and has for his people's welfare and comfort, providing for thefe juft while he was to launch forth into the fea of wrath. Admirable love and tenderness indeed!

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2. That it is Chrift's dying love-token to his friends, and therefore to be highly prized, and duly improved.

3. That it is of special use to fit the Lord's people for a time of trouble and trial. Now, the difciples were to meet with a storm which they had never feen the like of; and he referves therefore the beft wine till now.

4. That it is of special use to fit his people for grapling with death; the which we may learn from his example.

Secondly, For what time is this facrament to continue? I anfwer, Till he come again, and fo it is to laft to the end of the world. While he is abfent, we must make ufe of it, as a memorial, ver. 25, 26.

Thirdly, What do the words of inftitution contain? They contain Chrift's bleffing; which comprehends two things. (1.) A command for the use of this facrament. (2.) A promise of spiritual benefit by it to the worthy receivers, viz. that they fhall partake of Christ's body and blood in