SEEMON II.
Know ye not, that so many of us as loere baptized into Jesus Christy ivere baptized into his death f — Rom. VI. 3.
In the former verse the apostle confuteth the preposterous inference, which some drew, or might draw, from free justification, or God's mercy to sinners in Christ, by this argument — It cannot be so, that men should continue in sin because grace aboundeth, for all christians are dead to sin ; at their first entrance upon the profession of Chris- tianity they take upon themselves a vow or solemn obligation to die unto sin. Now what he had asserted there, he proveth it in this verse, that such is the tenor of the baptismal engagement : ' Know ye not that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death ?'
In the words there is —
1. A truth supposed, that those who are baptized are baptized into Christ.
2. A truth inferred, that they that are baptized into Christ are baptized into his death.
3. The notoriety of both these truths, ' Know ye not ? '
[1.] For the first, the phrase of being baptized into Christ is again repeated, Gal. iii. 27, 'As many of you as are baptized into Christ,
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have put on Christ ;' it noteth our union with him, or ingrafting into his mystical body. We are not only baptized in his name,"but baptized into him, made members of that mystical body whereof he is the head.
[2.] For the second, are ' baptized into his death ;' the meaning is, baptism principally referreth to his death, that we may have communion with it, expect the benefit of it, express the likeness of it.
[3.] For the third, ' Know ye not ? ' It is that which every chris- tian knoweth, if he be but a little instructed in the principles of his religion ; those bred in the church neither are nor can be ignorant of this truth : therefore the doctrine of grace opens no way to licen- tiousness.
Doct. Sacraments are a solemn means of our communion with the death of Christ. Where is to be shov/n —
1. What is communion with Christ's death.
2. That sacraments are a solemn means thereof.
First, What is communion with Christ's death. It signifieth two things —
1. Something by way of privilege, a participation of the benefits and efficacy of Christ's death.
2. Something by way of duty and obligation, namely, a spiritual conformity and likeness thereunto, by a mortification of our lusts and passions.
1. We are partakers of the benefits of his death when we receive pardon and life, begun by the Spirit, and perfected in heaven. Pardon : Eph. i. 7, ' In whom we have redemption by his blood, even the remission of sins.' The same death of Christ which is the meritorious cause of our justification is the cause of our sanctification also, Titus iii. 5, 6 ; Eph. v. 26 ; as it took away the impediment which hindered God from communicating his grace to us, and opened a way for the Spirit of grace to come at us, and seal our adoption : Gal. iii. 13, 14, ' Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us ; for it is written. Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree : that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles, through Jesus Christ, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith ; ' Gal. iv. 5, 6, ' To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, cryino;, Abba, Father.'
2. Christ's death bindeth us to renounce sin, and by submitting to baptism we profess to take the obligation upon us to die unto sin and unto the world more and more, to show ourselves to be true disciples of the crucified Saviour, as we are when we express the likeness of his death, ver. 5 ; and elsewhere the apostle telleth us. Gal. ii. 20, ' I am crucified with Christ.' He is a christian indeed that not only believeth that Christ is crucified, but is crucified with him ; that is, doth feel the virtue, and bear the likeness of his death ; for Christ's death is the pattern of our duty. This likeness is seen in two things : —
[1.] In weakening and subduing sin ; so it is said, Gal. v. 24, ' They that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts ;' they have in their baptism renounced these things, and they fulfil their vow sincerely and faithfully : there we bind ourselves to die unto sin,
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and Christ biadeth himself to communicate the virtue of his death unto us, that we may fulfil our vow, and * by his Spirit mortify the deeds of the body,' Kom. viii. 13.
[2.] In sufferings for righteousness' sake, and obeying God at the dearest rate, as Christ's undergoing the death of the cross was the highest act of his obedience to God. This is also called ' conformity to his death ;' and ' the fellowship of his suffering,' Phil. iii. 10. This is participation of or communion with his death. Christ intended to wean his people from the interests of the animal life ; therefore, as soon as they enter into his family, or are listed in his warfare, they must resolve to renounce all that is dear to them in the world, rather than be unfaithful to him. Christ puts this question to the two brothers that would fain have an honourable place in his kingdom : Mat. xx. 22, ' Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of ? and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with ? ' They thought of dignities, of being nearer to Christ than others in honour, and Christ puts them in mind of sufferings that should befall them, wherein they might rejoice that they were partakers with him. But mark, here is a plain allusion to the two sacraments, which are signs and tokens of grace on God's side, and we on ours bind ourselves to imitate Christ in his patient and self-denying obedience. This is communion with his death.