(1.) It is dearly purchased, by the death of Christ ; that was the price paid for our ransom, which both commendeth his love — Kom. v. 8, ' But God commendeth his love to us, in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us' — and assureth our confidence : Rom. viii. 32, ' He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things ?'
(2.) It is freely ofi'ered : Isa. Iv. 1, ' Ho every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money, come ye, buy and eat, yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price;'
VeR. 4.] SERMONS UPON ROMANS VI. 171
Eev. xxii. 17, * And the Spirit and the bride say, Come, and let him that heareth say, Come, and let him that is athirst come ; and whoso- ever will, let him take the water of life freely.' These blessings come freely to you, though they cost Christ dear.
(3.) It is surely sealed and conveyed to every penitent believer ; for God l)y deed and instrument reacheth out to every believer the body and blood of our crucified Saviour, or the benefits of Christ's death. To others it is a nullity ; the whole duty is lost to them who regard iniquity in their hearts. Therefore resolve without any reservation to devote yourselves to God, always to watch and strive against sin.
SERMON III.
TJierefore tve are buried with him hy baptism into death ; that like oji Christ luas raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so ive also shozdd loalh in neiuness of life. — Rom. VI. 4.
The words are a proof that we are baptized into Christ's death. The apostle proveth it by explaining the rites of baptism. The ancient manner of baptism was to dip the parties baptized, and as it were to bury them under water for a while ; and if baptism hath the figure of a burial, but with a hope to rise again, then it signifieth two things — Christ's death and resurrection, the one directly and formally, the otiier by consequence ; and our communion with him in both : ' Therefore we are buried with him in baptism,' &c. In the words the apostle speaketh —
1. Of something directly and primarily signified in baptism, ' We are buried with him,' <fec.
2. Of something by just consequence and inference thence, ' That like as,' &c.
1. That which is primarily and directly signified in baptism, ' We are buried with him in baptism into his death.' The like expression you have, Col. ii. 12, * Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him.' The putting the baptized person into the water denoteth and proclaimeth the burial of Christ, and we by submitting to it are baptized with him, or profess to be dead to sin ; for none but the dead are buried. So that it signifieth Christ's death for sin, and our dying unto sin. You will say, If the rite hath this signification and use, why is it not retained? I answer — Christianity lieth not in cere- monies ; the principal thing in baptism is the washing away of sin : Acts xxii. 16, * Arise and be baptized, and wash away thy sins ;' that may be done by pouring on of water as well as dipping. Other things were used about baptism then, as the stripping themselves of their clothes, even to stark nakedness; whence came the notions of putting off and putting on so frequently used : Eph. iv. 22, 24, ' That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man ;' and Col. iii. 9, 10, * Seeing ye iiave put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man,' &c. ;' Gal. iii. 27, 'As many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ' Now none rigorously urge
172 SERMONS UPON KOMANS VI. [SeR. III.
the continuance of these ceremonies ; as long as the substance is retained, we may not quarrel about the manner.
2. That which was signified with just consequence and inference is ' our conforming to Christ's resurrection.' Baptism referreth to this also as a significant emblem, for the going out of the water is a kind of resurrection, so it signifieth Christ's resurrection and ours. Now, our resurrection is double — to the life of grace spoken of here, and called the first resurrection, or to the life of glory ; baptism relatethto that also, 1 Cor. xv. 29, ' Else what shall they do who are baptized for the dead ? ' Baptism is a putting in and taking out of the water, or a being buried with a hope to rise. The former is intended here, our rising to the life of grace. All this abundantly proveth that those which are dead to sin cannot live any longer therein.
In the latter clause the pattern of Christ's resurrection is first pro- pounded, then applied, the 'protasis, the apodosis.
1. The 'protasis, or the proposal of the pattern, ' Like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father.'