People are baptifed in the Name of the Lord Fefus Chrift, it is the fame upon the Matter, as if they were baptifed in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; seeing, fay they, here is the Father Anointing, the Sozz Anointed, and the Holy Spirit, which is the Unction it felf.

Fifthly, It is to be obferved, That tho' fome of the Learned think the exprefs Naming of the Perfons of the Trinity not abfolutely neceffary, in the Administration of Baptifm, and for Proof, they adduce, Acts viii, 16. (1). where Mention is made of fome being baptifed in the Name of the Lord Jesus; to which may be added, Acts ii. 38. Acts xix. 5.; and tho' it cannot be denied, but the Words in the Original are the fame. with Matth. xxviii. 19. els to ovoa; nor can it be refufed, but that the Primitive Church ufed a great Liberty, (as fome fay) in this Matter (2): Yet Two Things are to be carefully noticed, ift, That even fuch, pofitively affert, That by no Means is the Confeffion of the Holy Trinity Yet not to be laid afide or difpenfed with in the Admito be laid niftration of Baptifm; not only because of the

afide.

Reafons already given, but also because of the many Adverfaries to this great and precious Truth, who, from the Difufe or Neglect of this very Form of Words, may be ready to take Occafion against the Doctrine it felf (3). 2dly, Whereas it is not probable or likely, That the Apoftles would take upon them to alter or depart from that Form fo exprefly delivered by their Glorious Mafter; therefore, when any are faid to have been baptifed in the Name of Christ, To be bap tifed in the it is not thereby pointed out to us in what Form Name of fuch were baptifed, but only, the efficient and Chrift,

what.

final

(1) Marckii Compendium, Page 260. Maestricht, Page 819. (2) Clarkson on Liturgies, Page 97, to 100. (3) Eifen. Comp. Page 656.

final Cause of this Ordinance is thereby declared: That is, They were baptifed by the Authority of Chrift, unto Faith in Chrift, Union to, and Com munion with him, and unto a Profeffion and Cont feffion of the Doctrine of our Lord Jefus (1).

7

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to the

Adminis

Sixthly, As to the Frame or Form of Words No fmall in the Administration of Baptism, which do im- Variety as mediately preceed the Mention of the Holy Tri Form of nity therein; as the Scripture feems to leave us Words in at Liberty, fo there was no fmall Variety in the the Act of First and early Ages of the Church (2). Some tration. ufing the Expreffion, I baptife thee in the Name, &c. Others, Be thou baptised in the Name. A Third, Let this Perfon, or, this Servant of Christ, be baptised in the Name, &c. Yet, in Regard the Words in the first Perfon, I baptife thee, &c do more evidently point out the Authority of the Perfon Administrating this Ordinance, the Declaration whereof is not to be o mitted; and more exprefly declare the present Adminiftration thereof, with the particular Ap plication of the outward Sign, and thereby the Bleffings fignified to the Perfon baptifed: For thefe Reafons, this Way of Expreffing is much to be preferred to the other Two, which feem to refpect fomewhat future and to come. And as to that Form of Words others are said to have used, viz. This Perfon is baptifed in the Name, &c. This feems to point out fomewhat which is al ready paft, and fo very improper in this prefent Act of Adminiftration.

.

From what hath been now faid, of our be- Inferences ing baptifed in the Name of the Father, and of from this. the Son, and of the Holy Ghoft; we may learn, Ift, That as there are Three Perfons in the I. There Godhead, fo these are Three truly distinct Sub are Three fiftencies, each having his proper and diftinct truly di

D 2

Per

ftinct Per fons in the

(1) Heideger, Pag. 443. Col. 1. Sect. 36. (2) See Clarkson Trinity.

on Liturgies, Page 94.

II. That

Perfonality, tho' One and the fame individual Effence For, here are Three diftinct Perfons diftinctly named, by their Authority Inftituting this Ordinance, and who, by their Grace, make it effectual to all the great Ends and Purposes for which it is appointed: And as thefe Three are One God, and fo, one individual Effence; fo here they agree in One, That poor Sinners be baptifed in their Name, and by their Authority. For, it is not faid in the Names, but in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. And here we may behold astonishing Condefcenfion, wonderful Grace, and a never failing Foundation for our Faith.

Secondly, We may hence learn the Awfulness Baptifm is and Majefty of this Ordinance, seeing here it is an awful publickly and folemnly declared in whofe Name, Ordinance and by whofe Authority this is done, even in

that of the Great God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghoft. Surely this is not to be gone about in a Regardless Manner, much lefs is it to be fported with but all concerned, and who are capable to understand, are to be filled with the greatest Reverence and Holy Fear.

III. The Thirdly, We may, from this, be informed of Validity the Validity of Baptifm, when performed by a of Baptifm. lawfully called Minifter. For, tho' Men admi

niftrate it, yet it is in the Name, and by the Authority of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghoft; fo that what is thus done upon Earth, is ratified in Heaven, ftands good and unfhaken as to all the Ufes and glorious Designs for which it is appointed. Actions duely performed in the Name, and by the Authority of an earthly Prince, are by all Men held valid and good; much more are thefe which are done in the Name of the Great, Infallible, Unchangeable, and Omnipo tent GOD.

Fourthly,

Fourthly, From this we niay behold the abfo- IV. Blef lute Certainty, That all the great and good fings fignir fied by Things of the New Covenant fhall be applied, Baptifm given, and beftowed upon thefe to whom God fhall be is pleafed to blefs this Ordinance of Baptifm. applied. For, we are baptifed in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghoft, which, as we have heard, imports, that all the Perfons of the Glorious Trinity become engaged for the effectual Application of all thefe Bleffings that are fignified and fealed by this Ordinance. And this the Lord's People have, as an unfhaken Foundation on which they are to reft, and confidently to hope..

this lays

Fifthly, Here we are inftructed in the ftrong V. The and inviolable Obligations that are laid upon Per- great Ofons baptifed, to have an holy Profeffion and an bligations holy Practice. They are hereby devoted and gi- upon the ven up to the Father, the Son, and Holy Baptifed. Gboft. This great Article of our holy Religion they are always to profefs and ftand by; they are to call themselves only by the Name of this God, and are conftantly to reckon, that henceforth they áre not their own, nor are they the Servants of Men, but wholly and only the Lords, and therefore are to be like him, and for him, in Body, Soul and Spirit: In every Part of their Converfation, fo behaving themselves, as becomes the Children of their Heavenly Father, the Members of Chrift, and fuch as are Temples of the Holy Ghost. 0. W

ted Sins of

Sixthly and Laftly, We may obferve the mon- VI. The ftruous Ingratitude, Apoftafy and Perjury, the aggravaHorrid Rebellion, and crying Injustice of many many bagbaptifed Perfons; fuch as thofe who deny the sifed PetLord that bought them, and impugn this great fons. fundamental Truth, That there are Three Perfons in the Godhead, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghoft; and, that these Three are one God, the

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fame in Substance, equal in Power and Glorg. Thofe, who when they are come to Age, abandon the Service of their only rightful Lord and Matter, and defert the Captain of their Salvation, under whofe Banner they were lifted in the Day wherein they were baptifed, who will not come to Chrift that they may have Life; who norhin will have none of God, to rule; over them; and who by no Means can be prevailed upon to yield themfelves to the Influences of the Holy Spirit: Monsters of Men and Women must these be, who, tho' they were baptifed unto the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, yet refufe to worship and ferve this God, but either formally and explicitely, or virtually and practically, devote themfelves to the Slavery of Satan, the Service of idol gods, the Vanities of the World, the Will of their raging and impure, Lufts, and who fet themselves in Oppofition to thefe Truths, Infti, tutions, and Perfons, who have any Thing of the Image and Superfcription of the Great Jehovah upon them! Confider, O Sinners! you were not baptifed in the Name of Satan, of idol gods, of the World, or the Flefh; but in the Name of the True and Only God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost To thefe and thefe alone, you were folemnly devoted and dedicated; and what do miferable and unthinking Creatures, as you are, by this your Perjury, Perfidy, and Apoftafy, but deprive your felves of your greatest and higheft Privileges; renouncing that God who is your Glory, that Son of God who is the only Saviour, that is the Sanctifier and wfholt, who a Leader of poor Sinners; you thereby rob the Great Jehovah of that which he hath a ratified and unquestionable Title to for ever damn your own precious Souls; and, in the moft frightful Manboth Soul and Body. Confider, how, at the laft Day, a holy and just God.

ner, eternally defroy the r

may