Of the fubjects of baptism,
An Exposition of the Affembly's Catechism.
haptizing inEnon, nearto Salim,becauſetherewas muchwater there: and theycame and were baptized ?
A. Theword fignifies manywaters, that is, ſprings ofwaters there; which are knownbytravellers tobeſmall, notcapableofplunging into.
Q. 10. Whatare the benefits accruing tousby baptifm ?
A. The benefits are twofold: ſome external, called the fatneſs ofthe olive-tree ; i.e. ordinances, and viſible memberthip; Rom. xi. 17. And thou being awild olive-tree, wert graffed in amongst them, and with them partakeſt ofthe root andfatneſs oftheolive-tree. And ſome ſpiritual and ſaving ;
1Pet. iii. 21. The like figure whereunto, evenbaptifm, doth alfonow ſave us (not the putting awaythe filth of the flesh, buttheanſwer ofagood confcience towardsGod)bythe reſurrection of Jeſus Chrift.
Q. 11. What engagements are laid onthe baptized ?
A. They are engaged to be the Lord's people, and to walk ſuitably to that engagement; Rom. vi. 4. Therefore we are buriedwithhimbybaptifm intodeath: that like as Chriſt was raiſedup from the deadby the glory of the Father, even fo we alſo ſhould walk in newneſs of life.
Q. 12. Is baptifm tobe reiterated, as the Lord's ſupper ?
A. No; for the Lord'sſupper is afacrament for nourishing, butthis for implantation ; Rom. vi. 4, 5. Therefore we are buriedwith himbybaptifm into death : that like as Chriſt was raiſedup from the deadby theglory of the Father, even ſo we alſo ſhould walk in newneſs oflife. For ifwe havebeenplanted together in the likeness ofhisdeath,we shallbe alſo inthe likeneſs of his refurrection .
Q. 13. Doth baptifm regenerate men, and confer ſaving grace?
A. No, itdoth not, in itsownvirtue, conveygrace, no morethan the Lord's ſupper ; but the Spirit ofGod is the authorofgrace, and works itas hepleaſes, beforeor after baptifm.
Ofthe Subjects ofBaptifm.
O whom is baptifm tobe adminiſtered ?
TOA. Baptism is not to be administered toany that are out of the visible church, till they profess their faith in Quest. 95 .
Christ, and obedience to him ; but the infants ofsuch as are members of the viſible church are tobe baptized.
Q. 1. Who are tobe baptized ?
: A. Believers, and their infant-offspring ; Actsii.39. Fotthe
An Exposition of the Assembly's Catechism. promiſe is to you, and your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our Godshall call.
Q.2. How doth it appear, thatthe infant-ſeedof believers ought tobe baptized ?
A. Itappears by this, that theybeingAbraham's ſeed,were takeninto covenantwith God, and ordered to have the ſign of thecovenant applied to them; andthatgrantwas never reverſed; Gen. xvii. 7, 10. And I will eſtabliſh my covenant betweenme and thee, and thy feed after thee, in theirgenerations, for an everlasting covenant ; to beaGoduntothee, andto thy feed after thee.
This is my covenant, whichye ſhall keep between me and you, and thy feed after thee; everymanchildamong you shall be circumcifed.
Q. 3. But was not that the covenantofworks ; and ſowill nothold, to infer their privilege under the covenant ofgrace ?
A. No, it was not; for God never did, nor will become a Godby way of ſpecial intereft to any people, by virtue of the covenant ofworks, fince the breach of itbythe fall.
* Q. 4. But if it were the covenant ofgrace, howdoth it appearthe right of believers infants is ſtillthe fame it was before in Abraham's time ?
A. It appears plainly from the apoſtle's own words, andarguments ; Acts ii. 39. For the promiſe is toyou, and to your children, &c.
Q. 5. But though infants then were members ofGod's viſible church among the Jews, how doth it appear they are ſo now, whenGod hath caft them off ?
A. It appears, the membership and privileges are as free and completetothem now, that are the children ofGentile believ ers,aseverthey were totheJewish infants ; Rom. xi . 17. And ifſomeof thebranches be broken off, and thoubeing awild olive-treewertgraffedinamongst them, and with them partakeſt ofthe root and fatneſs ofthe olive-tree.
Q.6. How elſe doth it appearthey arewithinthe covenant ?
A. It appearsbythis, that theyarepronouncedholy ; 1 Cor. vii. 14. Elſe were your children unclean, but now are they holy. Which is a foederal holiness, and none out ofcovenant canbeholyby covenant.
Q.7. Butmay not thatplacemean only their legitimacy ?
A. No, it cannot; for then the apostle muſt pronounce all the infants inthe world bastards, that defcend not at least from onebelieving parent.
8. But infants are not capable to covenantwithGod, or
An Exposition of the Affembly's Catechifm.
to perform covenant-duties ; and therefore why should they be admitted to covenant-privileges ?
A. Achildnow of eight days old, is as capableofbeing admitted into covenant with God, as children of the fame age were in Abraham'sdays ; andthen it is manifeſttheywere admitted.
Q. 9. Though theywere admitted by circumcifion then, willit follow, theymaybe ſo by baptifm now,feeingthat ordinance is abolished ?
A. Yes, it will : For though circumcifion ceaſe,yet baptifm iscome in itsplace; Col. ii. 10, 11, 12. Andye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power.
In whomalſoye are circumcised withthe circumcifion madewithout hands, in putting offthe body ofthe fins ofthe fleſh, by the circumcifion of Chrift, buriedwith him inbaptifm, &c.
Q. 10.Butcircumcifionwas a fealofthe covenantofworks; and the argument will not hold, from a feal of the covenant ofworks, to a ſeal ofthe covenant ofgrace ?
A. Circumcifion never was, nor was intended to be a feal of the covenant of works, but of the righteouſneſs of faith ;
Rom. iv. 11. Andhe received the ſignof circumcifion, a feal oftherighteouſneſs ofthe faith which he hadyetbeing uncircumcifed, &c.
Q. 11. But havewe no expreſscommandinthe New Teſtament to baptize infants ?
A. There needed no new command; their privilege had been fettled many ages before uponthem, and never reverfed by Chriſt, or his apoftles, but their former right declared to continue ſtill tothem ; Acts ii. 39. For the promiſe is toyou and your children, &c.
Q. 12. But if they have a right, we might expect to find fome examples oftheir baptizing ?
A. It is manifeſt that believers houſholds werebaptizedwith them ; Acts xvi. 15, 33. Andwhen shewas baptized, and her houſhold, &c.
Ver. 33. And he tookthem the fame hour of the night, andwashedtheir ſtripes, andwas baptized, he and all his ſtraightway. Andifinfants are not named, ſo neither are any of age, born ofChriftian parents.
Q. 13. But manytruſt to their infant-baptifm, as to their regeneration, and ſo much miſchief isdone ?
A. Theydo fo ; yetthe duty isnot therefore tobe neglected.
The preaching of Chrift is to ſome a ſtumbling-block; yet Chriſt must be preached for all that.
Q. 14. But manybaptized infants prove naught ?