But are there no other Neglects that will be SERM. called your denying the Faith? That your Sur- II. render of them to God, and the rest of your Behaviour be all of a Piece? That when your Child is capable of asking you, why you are at so much Pains to inftruct him, fo afraid of his doing ill, fo importunate for him on your Knees, you'll be able to fay, this is no more than following the Baptifmal Vow. 4thly, There must be always a looking to Jefus. This may be called a general Direction that comes into every Duty: But here it stands under a particular Mark, for the Apostle fays that Baptifm faves us by the Refurrection of Jefus Chrift, who is gone into Heaven, and is on the right Hand of God, Angels and Principalities and Powers being made fubject to him. A Regard to him is that which animates our Practice, as well as maintains our Hope. The Apostle argues in the beginning of the next Chapter, forafmuch as Chrift has fuffered for us in the Flefb,we should arm ourselves with the fame Mind; for be that bath fuffered in the Flesh, bath ceafed from Sin, that he fhould no longer live the rest of his Time in the Flesh, to the Lufts of Men, but to the Will of God. And the fame Plea is drawn from that Article of his Story that is mentioned in my Text, His Refurrection: That as we are buried with him in Baptifin, fo in that we are alfo rifen with him through Col. ii. the Faith that is of the Operation of God, who 12. raifed him from the Dead: And you being dead in your Sins and the Uncircumcifion of your Flesh, be has quickened together, having forgiven you all Trefpaffes. This will keep you to the Purity of Worship, for if you be dead with Chrift, as you ought to be in Baptifm, to the Rudiments of the World, why, as though living in the World, are you fubjest to Ordinances after the Commandments of Men? This IL SERM. This will give a heavenlinefs to our Conversation: If ye be rifen with Chrift fet your Affections on Things above, where Chrift fits at the Right Hand Col. iii. 1. of God. And this will make you dare to die, knowing what Confignments you have made, for ye are dead, and your Life is bid with Christ in God, that when he who is our Life shall appear, we alfo fball appear with him in Glory. 2 Pet. iii. 17. Let thefe be the Heads of Nurture and Admonition that you give your Children, that they may have the Knowledge of the Truth as it is in Jefus Defire that they may learn Christ, and be found in him. We have a mighty Run now against revealed Religion, by those that do not much exceed their Brethren in what's called natural. But remember that you are baptized not only in the Name of the Father, but of the Son and the Holy Ghoft: And fhall your Children be brought up as without Chrift? Or ever fay to you as fome Difciples at Ephesus did to Paul, We have not fo much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghoft? We may well anfwer to fuch a Profeffion, as he did, unto what then were ye baptized? We find the Danger of thofe Impreffions made upon those that never had any Education, or through a great deal of Sloth have loft it. You therefore, beloved, feeing that you know thefe Things, beware left you being led away by the Error of the Wicked, fall from your Stedfaftnefs: But grow in Grace, and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Savicur Jefus Chrift. In this, you'll fee your Perfons accepted, your Iniquities pardoned, your Debates with one another reconciled. He has united you in Principle. You have obtained the like precious Faith through the Rightecufnefs of God and our Saviour. He has united you in Character, for as many of you as have been baptized into Chrift, have put on Christ, II. Chrift, there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is SERM. neither Bond, nor free, Male or Female, Sprinkling or Dipping, but ye are all one in Chrift. And he will unite you in Habitation: You are no longer to be scattered or feparate Affemblies by Conscience or Prejudice. Our various Opinions about this Ordinance, fhall hinder none of us from that common Salvation that we have in him, who has baptized us with the Holy Ghoft, And to him that has loved us, and washed us from our Sins in his own Blood, to him be Glory and Dominion for ever and ever, Amen. SER |