Of baptism,
An Exposition of the Aſſembly's Catechism.
v.14. Is any fick among you ? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let themprayover him, anointing him with oil in thename of the Lord.
Which are neither facramental rites, nor of ordinaryſtanding uſe in the church, but extraordinary, andtemporaryforthat age.
Q. 9. What learn we hence ?
A. Hencewe learn,how aptmen are tocorruptGod's ordinances, by their ſuperſtitious additions ; Matth. xv. 9. Teaching for doctrines the commandments ofmen.
Q. 10. What is the ſecond inſtruction hence ?
A.Howjuſt and neceffary our ſeparationfromRome is,who havegroſsly corruptedGod's ordinances,and leftmenno other remedy ; Rev. xiii.6. Andhe opened his mouth inblafphemy againftGod, to blafpheme hisname,andhis tabernacle, and them thatdwell in heaven.
Q. 11. What is the third inſtruction ?
A. Thatthe reformation ofreligion is an invaluable mercy, agreat deliverance from ſpiritual bondage ; Rev. xi. 19. And the temple ofGod was opened inheaven, andthere was ſeen in histemple the ark of his testament : and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and anearthquake, and great hail.
Q. 12. What is the fourth inſtruction ?
A. ThatRome ſhall certainly fall, and all her adherents, for thehorridinjurydonebythemto Chriſt, and the souls ofmen ;
Rev. xviii. 20, 21. Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets ; forGod hath avenged you on her.
And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great milftone, and caſt it into the ſea, ſaying, Thus with violence ſhall that great citý Babylon be thrown down, and ſhall be found no more at all.
OfBaptifm.
Hat is baptifm?
Queſt. 94.W A. Baptism is afacrament, wherein the washing with water, in the name of the Father, and ofthe Son,
and of the holy Ghost, dothfignify andfealour ingrafting into Chrift, and partaking ofthe benefits ofthe covenant ofgrace, and ourengagement to be the Lord's.
Q. 1.What is the external part ofbaptifm ?
A. It is pure unmixedwater; Heb. x. 22. And our bodies washedwithpure water. Andtherefore it is a vile practice of Papifts, toadd oil, falt, and ſpittle, to water, in baptifm.
An Exposition ofthe Affembly's Catechism.
Q. 2. What doth water in baptifm ſignify ?
A. Itfignifiestheblood ofChrift; Rev. i. 5. Untohim that lovedus,andwaſhedus fromour fins in his own blood.
Q.3. What is the firſt reſemblance ithath to Chriſt's blood?
A. In the freeneſs ofit to all, it repreſents the unpurchaſed blood of Chrift ; Ifa. lv. 1. Ho, every one that thirſteth, come yeto the waters ; and he that hath no money, come ye, buy andeat; yea, come, buy wine and milk, without money, and without price.
Q. 4. What is the ſecond reſemblance to Chriſt's blood ?
A. It reſembles it in its refreſhing quality; water refreſheth the thirsty, ſo doth Chriſt's blood ; John vi. 35. He thatbe. lieveth on me, ſhall never thirſt.
Q.5 . What isthethird reſemblance it hath to Chriſt'sblood?
A. The cleanfing property of water, ſhews the purifying virtue ofChriſt'sblood ; Heb. ix. 14. How much more thall thebloodofChrift, who through the eternal Spirit,offeredhimfelfwithout fpot to God, purge your confcience from deadworks, to ſervethe livingGod?
Q. 6. What is the fourth reſemblance it hath to Chriſt's blood?
A. It reſembles it in the neceſſity of it : For as the body caunot live without water, ſo neither can the foul without Chrift's blood; Heb. ix. 23. It was therefore neceſſary that thepatterns of things in the heavens ſhould be purified with theſe, but the heavenly things themſelves with better facrifices thantheſe.
Q. 7. What is the fifth reſemblance ofwater to thebloodof Chrift?
A. As waterneither refreſheth nor purifies thebody without application ; ſo neither doth Chrift's blood refreshor or purify the foul till applied; 1 Cor. i. 30. But ofhim areye in Chrift
Jeſus,who ofGod is made unto us wisdom, and righteouſneſs, and ſanctification, and redemption.
Q.8. Is it neceffary to plunge the wholebody under water, inbaptizing everyperfon?
A. The word [baptize] ſignifying as well to wash, as to plunge; aperſon maybe trulybaptized,that is not plunged.
Andwecannotthink,by the circumstances oftimeandplace, that the jailor, in the night, was carried to a riverout ofthe city; Acts xvi. 33. And he took them the fame hour ofthe night, andwaſhed their ſtripes, and was baptized, he and all his ſtraightway.
A Q. 9. But is it not faid, John iii. 23. That John alſowas !