THE TWELFTH PROPOSITION.
Concerning Baptism.
As there is one Lord and one faith, so there is 'one baptism; which is not the putting away the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience before God, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.' And this baptism is a pure and spiritual thing, to wit, the baptism of the Spirit and Fire, by which we are buried with him, that, being washed and purged from our sins, we may 'walk in newness of life;' of which the baptism of John was a figure, which was commanded for a time, and not to continue forever. [2226]
As to the baptism of infants, it is a mere human tradition, for which neither precept nor practice is to be found in all the Scripture.
THE THIRTEENTH PROPOSITION.
Concerning the Communion, or Participation of the Body and Blood of Christ.
The communion of the body and blood of Christ is inward and spiritual, which is the participation of his flesh and blood, by which the inward man is daily nourished in the hearts of those in whom Christ dwells; [2227] of which things the breaking of bread by Christ with his disciples was a figure, which they even used in the Church for a time, who had received the substance, for the cause of the weak; even as 'abstaining from things strangled, and from blood;' the washing one another's feet, and the anointing of the sick with oil; [2228] all which are commanded with no less authority and solemnity than the former; yet seeing they are but the shadows of better things, they cease in such as have obtained the substance.
THE FOURTEENTH PROPOSITION.
Concerning the Power of the Civil Magistrate, in matters purely religious, and pertaining to the conscience.
Since God hath assumed to himself the power and dominion of the conscience, who alone can rightly instruct and govern it, therefore it is not lawful for any whatsoever, by virtue of any authority or principality they bear in the government of this world, to force the consciences of others; and therefore all killing, banishing, fining, imprisoning, and other such things, which men are afflicted with, for the alone exercise of their conscience, or difference in worship or opinion, proceedeth from the spirit of Cain, the murderer, and is contrary to the truth; provided always that no man, under the pretense of conscience, prejudice his neighbor in his life or estate, or do any thing destructive to, or inconsistent with, human society; in which case the law is for the transgressor, and justice to be administered upon all, without respect of persons. [2229]
THE FIFTEENTH PROPOSITION.
Concerning Salutations and Recreations, etc.
Seeing the chief end of all religion is to redeem man from the spirit and vain conversation of this world, and to lead into inward communion with God, before whom, if we fear always, we are accounted happy, therefore all the vain customs and habits thereof, both in word and deed, are to be rejected and forsaken by those who come to this fear; such as the taking off the hat to a man, the bowings and cringings of the body, and such other salutations of that kind, with all the foolish and superstitious formalities attending them; all which man has invented in his degenerate state, to feed his pride in the vain pomp and glory of this world; as also the unprofitable plays, frivolous recreations, sportings, and gamings which are invented to pass away the precious time, and divert the mind from the witness of God in the heart, and from the living sense of his fear, and from that evangelical Spirit wherewith Christians ought to be leavened, and which leads into sobriety, gravity, and godly fear; in which, as we abide, the blessing of the Lord is felt to attend us in those actions in which we are necessarily engaged, in order to the taking care for the sustenance of the outward man. [2230]
[2211] John xvii. 3.
[2212] Matt. xi. 27.
[2213] John xvi. 13; Rom. viii. 14.
[2214] Rom. v. 12, 15; Eph. ii. 1.
[2215] Ezek. xviii. 23; Isa. xlxix. 6; John iii. 16; i. 9; Titus ii. 11; Eph. v. 13; Heb. ii. 9.
[2216] Pro tempore: for a time.
[2217] 1 Cor. xv. 22.
[2218] 1 Cor. xii. 7.
[2219] Heb. ii. 9.
[2220] 1 Cor. vi. 11.
[2221] Titus iii. 5.
[2222] Rom. vi. 14; viii. 13; 1 John iii. 6.
[2223] 1 Tim. i. 6; Heb. vi. 4-6.
[2224] Matt. x. 8.
[2225] Ezek. xiii.; Matt. x. 20; Acts ii. 4; xviii. 5; John iii. 6; iv. 21; Jude 19; Acts xvii. 23.
[2226] Eph. iv. 5; 1 Pet. iii. 21; Rom. vi. 4; Gal. iii. 27; Col. ii. 12; John iii. 30; 1 Cor. i. 17.
[2227] 1 Cor. x. 16, 17; John vi. 32, 33, 35; 1 Cor. v. 8.
[2228] Acts xv. 20; John xiii. 14; James v. 14.
[2229] Luke ix. 55, 56; Matt. vii. 12, 29; Titus iii. 10.
[2230] Eph. v. 11; 1 Pet. i. 14; John v. 44; Jer. x. 3; Acts x. 26; Matt. xv. 13; Col. ii. 8.