! preſently. So it 1s plain, that the Apoſtles bn. Ivy ir Commitſion from Ag. 1, 8. & 3. 26. & 13. 45. & 18 pi G:l. 2.7. They were firſt to Preach, and to Baptize amonoſt the Jews, and then thus to Diſciple all Nations. Puftors and 7. —_ who ſucceeded the Apoſtles, were not under this Obligation but were to be fixed in Churches gathered, as we learn hom ah &s of the ApoStles, and the Epiſtles of the Apoftles. They * this Commithon, have Authority in any place to Preach, arg K Baptize, bur are not under an Obligarion co fix any where, hyt+ g0 up and down Preaching 1n all Nations, | Baptiging them in th Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghot,) Bn. tizing chem, is no more than waſhing them with Water. We _—_ of the Bapti/m of Pots and Cups, Mark 7. 8. ( we tranſle = W.jhing) which we know may be, by dipping chem in Water, by pouring or ſprinkling of Water upon them. Ir is true the firſt Baptiſms of which we read in Holy Wrir, were hy Dippin:; of the Perſons Baprized. Ir was in an Hor Country, «here | might be at any time, withour the danger of Perſons Live. where, it may be, we judge it reaſonable, and moſt refeml)jns our Burial with Chriſt by Baptiſm into Death; but we cannct hink 1t neceſſary, for God loveth Mercy rather than Sacrifice, andthe Thing ſignified by Baptiſm, viz. The waſhing away of the $:ul's Sin; with the Blood of Chri$, is in Scripture exprefled ro us by Pouring and Sprinkling , Ezek. 36. 25. Heb. 12. 24. 1Pet. 1, 2, [ In the Name of the Father, &c.] In the Greek it 15 63s T3 ovoue, int ths Name. In the Name, doth not only import the naming of te Names of the Father, Son, and Holy Gho$, upon them; bur, 1; Authority, or (which is indeed the chict) intro the Profeffion cf che Trinity of the Perſons in the one Divine Being z dedicating the Perſons Baprized to God the Father, S-m, and Holy Gho8, and there- by obliging them to worſhip and ſerve God the Father, Sim, and Holy Ghoſt ;, tor in Baptiſm there is both a ſolemn Dedication of the Perſon to God, and a ſolemn Stipulation. The Perſon Baptized, either covenanting for himſelf, that he will be the Lord's, or his Parents Covenanring for him,that he ſhall be theLord's, which Co- venant doth both oblige the Parents ro do what in them licth in order to that End, and alſo the Child ; the Parents Covenaning for no more than the Child was under a Natural and Relizious Obligation to perform,if ſuch Covenant had never been nate by 1ts Parents on 1ts behalf, | Teaching them to obſerve all things wit- ſoever T have commanded you.) There is a Teaching muſt go betcre Baptiſm of Perſons grown up 3 and this was the conſtant Fraffice
they 1c Clif. cy under
X 2.% ever have commanded you : and lo, I am with you alwiy. even to the end of the world. Amen.
Mark faith, chap. 16.15. And he ſaid unto them, Gs ye into all thellorid, and preach the Goſpel to every Creature, He that believeth, and is baptized, ſhall be ſaved; but he that believeth not, ſhall be dam- ned, And theſe figns (hall follow them that believe ; In my Name they ſpall caſt out Devils, they ſhall ſpeak with new Tongues, they ſhall the up Serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it ſhall not burt then; they ſhall lay hands on the Sick, and they ſhall recover, Our Blefſed Lord, in theſe three laſt Verſes, 1. Aſſerteth his Power and Authority. 2. He delegates a Power. 3. He ſubjoineth a Promiſe, The Power and Authority which he atlerteth to Himſelf, is, 411 Power bt in Heaven and Earth, A&s 10. 36, 42. Eph. 1. 20, 21,
Teaching and Governing hs Church ;, a Power to give Eternal Life to whomloever he ple.:/2d, This was inherent in him, as God Blef- fed tor ever; given to him, as our Mediator and Redeemer; gi- ven him when he came into the World ; but more eſpecially confirmed to him, and manifeſted to be given him at his Reſur- redtion and Aſcenſion, Phil. 2. 9, 10. Having declared his Power, he delegates it: | Go ye therefore and teach all Nations a The Greek is, veFrrvoa7t make Diſciples all Nations; bur that muſt be firſt by Preaching, and inſtrufting them in the Principles of the Ciriſtian Faich. And ark expounds it, telling us our Saviour faid, Go ge into allthe World, and preach the Goſpel to every Creature, that is, to every rexſoable Creature capable of hearing and receiy- ing ir. I cannot be of their mind, who think thar Perſons may be Baptized before they be Tavght; we wanct Preſidents of any ſuch Baptiſm in Scripture, though indeed we find Preſidents of Perſons Baptized, who had bur a ſmall degree of the Knowledge of the Golpcl, bur ir ſhould ſeem thar they were all firſt raughr, that Feng Coridt was the Son of God, and were not Baptized, ill they protefied ſuch Belict, As 8. 37. And 7ohn Baptized them in fordan, confeiſing their Sins, Mat. 3. 6. But it doth not therefore {ollow, mac Children of fuch Profefiorsare not co be Baptized, for
2. Power of Remiſſim of Sins, Luke 24. 47. of Congregating, |
te Apotics were commanded to Baptize all Nations. Children