[3.] By these sealing signs we are solemnly invested into a right to the things promised, put in possession ; as when we are put in posses- sion of a bargain by formalities of law ; so, ' This is my body.' It is our solemn investiture. A believer receiveth Christ in the word : John i. 12, ' To as many as received him.' And is he not received in the Lord's supper ? his right is solemnly owned and confirmed in the way which God hath appointed. As soon as a man consents to a bargain, he hath an interest in the thing bargained for ; but that right is made more explicit when it is delivered to him by some formality of law ; as an house by a key, or a field by a^turf or twig, when put in posses- sion of what he hath bargained for. Every penitent believing sinner hath a right to Christ and pardon, but his solemn enfeoffment is by the sacraments : ' Kepent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Christ for the remission of sins ; ' ' Arise and be baptized for the wash- ing away of thy sins,' Acts xxii. 16. God gave Abraham the land of promise by word of mouth. Gen. xiii. ; but he biddeth him go through the land, and build an altar, and offer sacrifice there ; then he was actually invested. God gave Israel a grant of Canaan, but the clusters of Eshcol were as it were the livery and seisin of it. Though the gift be sufficiently made over by the promise, yet it is further rectified, and more solemnly conveyed and delivered, by the sacraments.
VeR. 38.] SERMONS UPON ACTS II. 37, .38. 287
[4.] This is one advantage more, tliat the mysteries of godliness are laid before our eyes in some visible rites, and so have a greater force to excite the mind to serious consideration. When God will conde- scend to give us helps against our infirmities, it must needs be by the senses, by which all knowledge cometh into the soul. Now feeling, smelling, tasting, seemeth not so fit for this, as being more gross, and conducing to the welfare of the body ; but sight and hearing convey objects to the understanding, and therefore are called the senses of dis- cipline and learning. Now the covenant is made by words which strike the ear, but the seals by visible things before our eyes: Gal. iii. 1, ' Before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth crucified among you.'
Use 1. Is caution to us, that we be not slight in the use of baptism and the Lord's supper, for they imply a solemn covenanting with God, that we may obtain remission of sins and eternal life, if we accept the covenant for ourselves or others. For ourselves in the Lord's supper, for others in offering our children to baptism. We must come ' with a true heart, in full assurance of faith,' Heb. x. 22 ; with a true heart, purposing the duties ; in full assurance of faith, depending upon the promises of Christ for the privileges thereof.
As to children, we must resolve to instruct them in the duties of the covenant, repentance, faith, and new obedience : Eph. vi. 4, 'And ye fathers, provoke not your childien to wrath, but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.' This is to make way for the blessing, and to remove the obstructions : Gen. xviii. 19, ' For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, and do justice and judgment, that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.'
As to the privileges, to admire the grace of them : Gen. xvii. 3, 'Abraham fell on his face when God talked with him;' and David, 2 Sam. vii. 19, ' And this was yet a small thing in thy sight, 0 Lord God ; but thou hast spoken also of thy servant's house for a great while to come : and is this the manner of man, 0 Lord God ? ' Wait- ing for the accomplishment of them in God's way, as considerinj: how loath God is to let go his covenant children : Acts iii. 2.5, 26, ' Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed : unto you first, God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you in turning every one of you from his iniquities.*
Use 2. Is to put us upon self-reflection. We are all baptized in the name of Christ, but what are we the better ? have we the more confi- dence of pardon of our sins for his sake ? Voluterranus reports of Lucian, that scoffing atheist, that when he revolted from the profession of Christianity, he scofTed at his baptism, saying, Se nihil ex eo conse- cutum, qicam quod nomen ipsi esset corruptum, ex Lucio Lucianum /actum — That he got nothing by his baptism but a syllable to his name. What do the most get but a name ? It should not be so with you ; you should improve your baptism.