BAPTISM is a Gospel-Ordinance, ordained by Christ Himself, when All Power was given him, both in Heaven and in Earth, Mat. 28.18, 19.
And it is one of the great Witnesses Christ left to bear Record in Earth; as in 1 John. 5.8. There are three that bear Witness in Earth, the Spirit, the Water, and the Bloud; and these Three agree in One.
And so it is one of the great Sacraments of the New Testament, which signifieth the Death, Burial, Resurrection and Ascension of our Lord Jesus; shewing clearly, that as Christ died for our Sins, was buried, rose again from the dead, ascended up on high; even so we being dead to Sin, should be buried with him in Baptism into death; that like as Christ was raised from the dead; by the Glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life, Rom. 6.13, 4, 5.
What Baptism is.
BAptism is a Sacrament,
Which to us signifie,
That God the Father Jesus sent,
And he for us did die;
And that he in the Grave was laid,
And also buried,
When he our dreadful Debt had paid,
For which his Bloud was shed:
And that he did arise again,
Ascended up on high,
When he the Enmity had slain:
All this it signifie.
And thus we plainly may perceive
What was the Lord's intent,
When he was pleas'd with us to leave
This Holy Sacrament.
HE that believeth, and is baptized, shall be saved, Mark 16.16,
But when they believed Philip preaching the Things concerning the Kingdom of God, and the Name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized both Men and Women, Acts 8.12.
And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain Water, and the Enuch said, See, here is Water, what doth hinder me to be baptised?
And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou may'st. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
And he commanded the Chariot to stand still, and they went both down into the Water, both Philip and the Enuch, and he baplised him. Acts 8.37, 38, 39.
Then they that gladly received his Word, were baptized, Acts 2.41.
And without Faith it is impossible to please God, Heb. 11.6.
For whatsoever is not of Faith is Sin, Rom. 14.23.
Who may be Baptized.
HE that believes, and is baptiz'd,
'Tis he shall saved be;
For thus our Saviour dear advis'd,
In Scripture you may see.
Faith is that Grace which makes Souls fit
Their Saviour to obey;
Let,s labour then that Grace to get,
To help us it the way.
If thou with all thy heart believe,
Phillip the Enuch told,
Then Baptism thou may'st receive;
And thus it was of old.
But where that Grace cannot be found,
We clearly understand,
Such to baptize there is no ground,
They build upon the sand.
And when the stormy Winds do blow,
And Rain it doth descend,
Then great will be their Overthrow,
And Woe will be their end.
Then beg of God to give thee Faith
To follow Christ herein;
For as the holy Scripture saith,
What's not of Faith, is sin.
III. The good old Way of Baptizing.
JOhn did baptize in the Wilderness, and preached the Baptism of Repentance for the remission of Sins. And there went out to him all the Land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the River Jordan, confessing their Sins, Mark 1.4.5. Matth. 3.1, 2, 5, 7.
And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John (IN Jordan) (mark that.) And streightway coming up out of the Water, he saw the Heavens opened, and the Spririt like a Dove descending upon him.
And there came a Voice from Heaven saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, Mark 1.9, 10, 11.
After these things came Jesus and his Disciples into the Land of Judea, and there he tarried with them, and baptised:
John also was baptizing in Enon near to Salim, because there was much Water there: And they Came (mark that) and were baptized, John 3.23.
Acts 19.4, 5. said Paul, John verily baptized with the Baptism of Repentance, saying unto the People, That they should believe on him that should come after him, that is, on Christ. When they heard this, they were baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus.
And in Acts 8.36, 37, 38. And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou may'st: And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the Chariot to stand still; and they went down both into the Water, both Philip and the Eunuch, and he baptized him.
The Good Old Way of Baptizing.
BAptizing is not Sprinkling,
As fondly some surmize;
But it is quite another thing,
To Dip is to Baptize.
We find our Blessed Saviour went
Down into
Jordan's Flood,
Mark 1.9.
As in his Holy Testament
Is clearly understood:
For coming up from thence, we read
The Heavens opened were,
And the Trinity indeed,
This Truth confirmed there:
The Son down into Jordan went
And coming up again,
The Holy Ghost made a descent,
And on him did remain;
And lo a Voice from Heaven fell,
'Tis my Beloved Son,
And he indeed hath pleas'd me well,
In that which he hath done.
But Men are now too lofty grown
Their Saviour dear to follow;
In vain Inventions of their own
They'd rather lie and wallow.
What, dipt as Christ was? that's too low
For most in this our Age;
Naaman-like they angry grow,
2 King. 5.11, 12.
And fall into a Rage;
As I my self have heard some say,
As now I tell to thee,
Before they would be sav'd that way,
They'd never saved be.
[Page 10]But the true, humble, gracious Soul,
Their Saviour dear will eye,
And follow him without controul,
There is great reason why.
Christ's way it is the clearest case,
Though Men do it gainsay;
Be thou baptiz'd as Jesus was,
For that's the only way.
IV. Some Objections answered.
And now why tarriest thou? arise and be baptized,
Acts 22.16.
I Pray mark well, my Christian Friend,
And be thou well advis'd;
This Counsel Christ to
Paul did send,
Acts. 9.6
Arise and be baptiz'd.
Pray what Objections can'st thou make,
Or wherefore dost thou tarry?
God's Counsel now I pray thee take,
Lest that thy Soul miscarry.
The First Objection.
It from the Pulpit hath been told,
As now I tell to thee,
Our English Climate is so cold,
Too cold it is for me.
If I this thing should undertake,
And harm should catch thereby,
The Truth may suffer for my sake,
If I fall sick and die.
Answer to the First Objection.
Pray hearken now, my Friend to me;
If God thy Life should take,
And thou shouldst not baptized be,
What answer couldst thou make?
If thou God's Council do'st reject,
Then he will be thy Foe;
If thou thy Duty do'st neglect,
Then that will cause thy woe.
Come, come, my Friend, and don't distrust
The help of Christ thy Lord,
For he did never prove unjust,
Nor falsifie his Word:
His Grace it will sufficient be,
His Power he'll make known,
And he will surely stand by thee,
If thou his Truth do'st own.
O then, I pray, God's Counsel take,
And let thy Soul be pris'd;
O beg the Lord for the Lord's sake.
Arise and be baptiz'd.
The Second Objection.
It is a mean despised way,
A way that Men do scorn,
And is so much despis'd this day,
It hardly can be born:
If I this thing should undertake,
And should baptized be,
My Friends I fear would me forsake,
And look aloof on me.
Answer.
Callest thou that mean which Christ commands
which he hath authoriz'd?
And we in Scripture understand
He was himself baptiz'd.
[Page 12]And what, are Men now grown so proud,
That Truth cannot be born?
Do they against it cry aloud,
And hold it in great scorn?
How will they answer it at last,
When Christ to Judgment call,
When he on them Contempt shall cast,
What woe will them befall?
Then follow thou God's holy way,
Although it be despis'd.
Wouldst thou be blest another day?
Arise and be baptiz'd.
The Third Objection.
But I have in my Infancy
Baptiz'd already been:
And what, should I now that deny,
And be baptiz'd again?
Godfathers and Godmothers too,
For me to God did vow,
And that I hope for me will do;
I pray what say'st thou now.
Answer.
In Infancy thou wast too young,
(Mark well what here I say,)
Thou shouldst confess Christ with thy Tongue,
And then his Truth obey.
Thy Godfathers and Mothers which
Of them thou seem'st to boast,
In Scripture we can find none such,
Therefore thy Strength is lost.
These are but things ordain'd by Men,
By Men they were devis'd.
O be not thou deceived then,
Arise and be baptiz'd.
The Fourth Objection.
But I a true Believer am,
And truly fear the Lord,
And reverence his holy Name,
According to his Word:
The Lord his holy Spirit he
Now unto me hath given;
And must I yet baptiz'd be,
Who am baptiz'd from Heaven?
This is enough without controul,
I pray make no reply;
This is enough to save my Soul,
No Man can this deny.
Answer.
This is indeed a bless'd estate.
With thee I will agree;
And 'tis as plain without debate,
Thou may'st baptized be.
Cornelius was as good a Man,
Acts. 10, 1,-48.
As most that we can find,
As by the Scripture prove I can,
He few Men came behind:
Devout he was, and fear'd the Lord,
And pray'd most fervently,
His Alms they were so spread abroad,
They reach'd above the Sky.
Yea, and the holy Spirit too,
God unto him had given;
And yet we find he'd work to do,
Although baptiz'd from Heav'n;
Baptiz'd he must with Water be,
It stood him so in hand,
As in the Scripture you may see,
Peter did so command.
The better that Men be,
That they thereby the sitter are
Baptized for to be.
Therefore no longer stout it out,
But be thou advertis'd;
It is thy Duty, make no doubt,
Arise and be baptiz'd.
The Fifth Objection.
Pray hear me yet this one thing more,
It was so in its day;
But now Baptizing's out of door,
And vanish'd quite away.
Answer.
Alas, poor Soul! who told thee so?
Is't not Preaching's Companion?
Matt. 28.19.20.
It is of God the Scriptures show,
And can't be null'd by Man.
This is a subtile thing indeed,
By crafty Men surmiz'd,
Therefore I pray repent with speed,
Arise and be baptiz'd.
COme, Friend, what linger yet like Lot?
What, loth for to obey
That Blessed Lamb that had no Spot,
Arise and come away.
The Lamb of God let's follow now,
Where-ever he doth go;
He was baptiz'd, and so must thou,
He hath commanded so.
Tho' thou wast born of Parents good,
And hast by them been train'd,
By Natural Parts attain'd;
If Abraham had thy Father been,
And thou hadst been Rantiz'd,
'Twill not suffice; I say again,
Arise and be Baptiz'd.
SHall the Son of God Baptized be,
By his Great Forerunner John?
The Almighty Father and Eternal Spirit
With pleasure too look on:
Luke. 3.21.22, 23.
And shall not I, poor called Soul,
Most gladly submit thereto!
For it's a favour He will bid me do.
Shall the Potent Prince Emanuel
Send o'er the Ʋniverse
His Ambassadors, for to proclaim
His Greatness, and Baptize?
And shall not Grace prevail with me
To bow my self, give Christ the Crown,
And be Baptized as he doth enjoin!
Shall th' Eternal Spirit, Father and Son
Work wonderfully for ever,
Conquering stubborn rebellious, Wills,
That Salvation may be secure?
And shall not I that conquer'd am,
By his Goodness and his Pow'r,
Be Baptiz'd as his Subject evermore.
FINIS.