the particular resemblance of it with the rule of Christianity Baptism the like figure c. In them 1. The end of Baptism 2. The proper vertue or efficacy of it for that end A resemblance in both these to Noah's preservation in the flood Save us This is the great common end of all the Ordinances of God that one high mark they all aim at And the great and common mistake of them is that they are not so understood and used We come and fit a while and if we can keep awake give the Word the hearing but how few of us receiâ—e it as the ingraâ—ted Word that is able to save our Souls were it thus taken what sweetness would be found in it that most as hear and read it are strangers to How precious would these lines be if we lookâ—â— on them thus saw them meeting and concentring in Salvation as their end Thus likewise the Sacraments considered indeed as Seals of this Inheritance annexed to the great Charter of it Seals of Salvation this would powerfully beget a sit appetite for the Lord's Supper when we are invited to it and would beget a due esteem of Baptism would teach you more frequent and fruitful thoughts of your own and more pious considerations of it when you require it for your Children A natural eye looks upon Bread and Wine and Water and the outward difference of their use there that they are set apart and differenced as is evident by external circumstances from their common use but the main of the difference where their excellency lies it sees not as the eye of faith above that espies Salvation under them and Oh! what another thing are they to it than to a formal user of them We aspire to know the hidden rich things of God that are wrapt up in his Ordinances We stick in the shell and superfice of them and seek no further that makes them unbeautiful and unsavoury to us and that use of them turns into an empty custome Be more earnest with him that hath appointed them and made this their end to save us that he would clear up the eye of our Souls to see them thus under this relation and see how they â—uit to this their end and tend to it and seriously 〈◊〉 Salvation in them from his own hand and we shall find it Save us So that this Salvation of Noah and his Family from the Deluge and all outward deliverances and Salvations but dark shadows of this let them not be spoke of these reprivalls and prolongings of this present liâ—e to the deliverance of the Soul from death the Second death the stretching of a moment to the concernment of Eternity How would any of you welcome a full and sure protection from common dangers if such were to be had that you should be ascertained of safety from Sword and Pestilence that what ever others suffered about you you and your Family should be free And they that have escaped a near danger of this kind resting there as if no more were to be feared whereas this common favour may be shew'd to these that are far off from God and what though you be not only thus far safe but I say if you were secured for afterwards which none of you absolutely are yet when you are put out of danger of Sword and plague still death remains and sin and wrath may be remaining with it and shall it not be all one to dye under these in a time of publick peace and welfare as if it were now Yeâ— something more unhappy by the increase of the heap of sin and wrath guiltiness augmented by life prolong'd and more grievous to be pulled away from the World in the middle of peacable enjoyment and Everlasting darkness to succeed to that short Sun-shine of thy day of ease happiness of a short date and misery for ever What availed it wicked Cham to outlive the flood to Inherit a Curse after it to be kept undrown'd in the waters to see himself and his posterity blasted with his Fathers Curse Think seriously what will be the end of all thy temporary safety and preservation if thou share not in this Salvation and find not thy self sealed and marked for it to flatter thy self with a dream of happiness and walk in the light of a few sparkles that will soon dye out and then lie down in sorrow a sad bed that the most have to go to after they have wearied themselves all the day all their life being in a chase of Vanity The next thing is the power and vertue of this means for its end That it hath a Power is clear in that it is so expresly said it doth save us which kind of power is as clear in the way of it here exprest not by a natural force of the Element though adapted and sacramentally used it only can wash away the silth of the Body its Physical Efficacy or power reaches no further but it is in the hand of the Spirit of God as other Sacraments and as the Word it self is to purifie the Conscience and convey Grace and Salvation to the Soul by the reference it hath to and union with that which it represents It saves by answer of a good Conscience unto God and it affords that by the Resurrection of Iesus from the dead Thus then we have a true Accompt of the Power of this and so of other Sacraments and a discovery of the error of two extreams 1. Of those that ascribe too much to them as if they wrought by a Natural inherent Vertue and carried Grace in them inseparably 2. Of those that ascribe too little to them making them only signs and badges of our Profession signs they are but more than signs meerly representing they are means exhibiting and seals confirming Grace to the Faithful But the working of Faith and the conveying of Christ into the Soul to be received by Faith is not a thing put into them to do of themselves but still in the Supream hand that appointed them and he indeed both causes the Souls of his own to receive these his Seals with faith and makes them effectually to confirm that Faith which receives them so They are then in a word neither empty signs to them that believe nor effectual Causes of Grace to them that believe not The mistake on both sides arises from the inconsideration of the relative Nature of these Seals and that kind of Union that is betwixt them and the Grace they represent which is real though not Natural or Physical as they speak So that though they do not save all that partake of them yet they do really and effectually save Believers for whose Salvation they are means as the other external Ordinances of God do Though they have not that Power which is peculiar to the Author of them yet a Power they have such as befits their Nature and by reason of which they are truely said to Sanctifie and Justifie and so to
save as the Apostle here avers of Baptism Now that which is intended for our help our carnal minds are ready to turn into a hinderance and disadvantage The Lord representing invisible things to the eye and confirming his Promises even by visible seals we are apt by the grossness of our unspiritual hearts instead of steping up by that which is earthly to the Divine Spiritual things represented to stay on the outward Element and go no further therefore the Apostle to lead us into the inside of this Seal of Baptism is very clear in designing the effect and fruit of it Not says he putting away the silth of the flesh and water if you look no further can do no more There is an invisible impurity upon our Nature chiefly on our invisible Part our Soul this washing means the taking away of thatâ— and where it reaches its true effect it doth so purifie the Conscience and makes it good truly so in the sight of God who is the â—udge of it Consi 1. â—s a pitiful thing to see the Ignorance of the most professing Christianity and partaking of the outward Seals of it and yet knowing not what they mean know not the spiritual dignity and vertue of them blind in the Mysteries of the Kingdom and not so much as sensible of that blindness And being ignorant of the Nature of these holy things cannot have a due esteem of them which arises out of the view of their inward worth and efficacy A confused fancy of some good in them and this rising to the other extream to a superstitious confidence in the simple performance and participance of them as if that carried some inseparable Vertue with it which none could miss of that are sprinkled with the Waters of Baptism and share in the Elements of Bread and Wine in the Lord's Supper And what is the utmost Plea of the most for their Title to Heaven but in these relative and external things they are Christians are Baptized hear the Word and are admitted to the Lord's Table not considering how many through all these have gone and daily are going on in the ways of death never coming near Jesus Christ who is the Way and Truth and the Life whom the Word and the Seals of it hold forth to Believers and they are washt in his Blood and quickened with his Life and made like him and Coheirs of Glory with him 2. Even thâ—y that have some clearer Notion of the Nature and 〈◊〉 of the Seals of Grace yet are in a practiâ—â— Error that they look not with due diligence into themselves enquiring after the efficiency of them in their hearts do not study the Life of Christ to know more what it is and then to search into themselves for the Truth and the growth of that Life within them Is it not an unbelieving thing for a Christian when he is about to appear before the Lord's Table and so looks something more narrowly within to find as little Faith as little Divine Affection a Heart as unmortified to the World as cold towards Christ as before his last Address to the same Table after the intervening possibly of many Months in which time had he been careful often to reflect inwards on his Heart and look back upon that new sealing in his last Participation he might likely have been more suitable And truly as there is much guiltiness cleaves to us in this so readily much more in reference to this other Sacrament that is here the Apostles Subject Baptism because but once administred and that in Infancy very seldom and slightly considered by many even real Christians And so we are at a loss in that Profit and Comfort that increase of both Holiness and Faith that the frequent recollecting of it after a Spiritual manner would no doubt advance us to And not only neglect to put our selves upon the thoughts of it in private but in the frequent opportunities of such thoughts in publick let it pass unregarded are idle inconsiderate and so truly guilty beholders and the more frequent we have them are the less toucht with them they become common and work not and the â—lighting of them grows so common with us as the thing Yea when the Engagement is more special and personal when Parents are to present their Infants to this Ordinance and then might and certainly ought to have a more particular and fixed eye upon it and themselves as being sealed with it to ask within after the Fruit and Power of it and to stir up themselves anew to the Actings of Faith and Ambition after newness of Life and with earnest prayer for their Children to be Suâ—ters for themselves for further evidence of their interest in Christ yet possibly many are not much in these things at such times but are more busied to prepare their House for entertaining their Friends than to prepare their hearts for offering up their Infant unto God to be sealed and withal to make a new offer of their own hearts to him to have renewed on them the inward Seal of the Covenant of Grace the outward Seal whereof they did receive as it is now to be conferr'd upon their Infant Did we often look upon the Face of our Souls the seeing of the many spots we have defil'd them with after our washing it might work us to shame and grief and would drive us by renewed Application to wash often in that blood which that water figures which alone can â—etch out the stain of sin and then it would set us upon renewed Purposes of Purity to walk more carefully to avoid the pollutions of the World we walk in and to purge out the pollutions of the Hearts that we carry about with us that deâ—ile us more than all the World besides It would work an holy disdain oâ— sin often to contemplate our selves as washed in so precious a â—aver shall I would the Christian say considering that I am now cleansed in the precious blood of my Lord Jesus run again into that puddle where he so graciously took me out and made me clean Let the Swine wallow in it he hath made me of his Sheâ—pâ—old he hath made me of that excellent order for which all are consecrated by that washing that partake of it washt us in his Blood and made us Kings and Pâ—â—ests unto God the Father Am I of these and shall I debase my self to the 〈◊〉 pleasures of sin No I will think my self too good to serve any sinful lust seeing he hath lookt on me and taken me up and washt and dignified me I am wholly his all my study and business shall be to honour and magnifie him The Answer of a Good Conscience c. The taking away of Spiritual 〈◊〉 as the true and saving effect of Baptism the Apostle here expresses by that which is the further result and effect of it The answer of a good Conscience unto God For its the washing of that filthiness which makes both the Conscience
undiscovered unbelief even in that point Therefore the Lord so often makes mention of it in the Prophets Isa. 50. 3. c. And in this point the Apostle particulary expresses I am perswaded that he is able to keep c. So this Apostle chap. 1. 5. Kept by the power of God through faith unto Salvation ready to be revealed in the last time This very needful to be considered in regard of the many and great oppositions and dangers the powerful enemies that seek after our Souls He is able to keep them for he is stronger than all and none can pluck them out of his hand says our Saviour This the Apostle here hath in that word Creator if he was able to give them being sure he is able to keep them from perishing This relation of a Creator implies likewise a benign propension and good will to the works of his hands if he gave them us at first when once they were not forming them of nothing will he not give us them again being put into his hand for safety And as he is powerful he is no less faithful a faithful Creator Truth it self They that believe on him he never deceives nor disappoints Well might St. Paul say I know whom◠I have trusted Oh! the advantage of faith It engages the truth and power of God his royal Word and honour lies upon it to preserve the Soul that faith gives him in keeping if he remain able and faithful to perform his Word that Soul shall not perish There be in the words other two grounds of quietness of Spirit in sufferings 1. It is according to the will of God The believing Soul subjected and levelled to that complying with his good pleasure in all cannot have a more powerful perswasive than this that all is ordered by his will This settled in the heart would settle it much and make it even in all things not only to know but wisely and deeply to consider that it is thus That all is measured in Heaven every dram of thy troubles weighed by that skilful hand that doth all in weight number and measure And then consider him as thy God and father who hath taken special charge of thee and thy Soul thou hast given it to him and he hath received it And upon this consideration study to follow his will in all to have no will but his This is thy duty and thy wisdom nothing gained by spurning and struggling but to hurt and vex thy self but by complying all is gained sweet peace it is the very secret the mystery of solid peace within to resign to his will to be disposed of at his pleasure without the least contrary thought And thus as two faced pictures those sufferings and troubles and whatsoever else to look to it on the one side as painful to the flesh hath an unpleasant visage yet go about a little and look upon it as thy fathers will and then it is smiling and beautiful and lovely This I would recommend to you not only for temporals as easier there but in spiritual things your comforts and sensible enlargements to love all he does it s the sum of Christianity thy will crucify'd and the will of thy Lord thy alone desire joy or sorrow sickness or health life or death in all in all thy will be done The other ground is in the first word reflecting on the foregoing discourse Wherefore what seeing your reproaches and sufferings are not endless yea they are short they shall end and quickly end and end in glory be not troubled about them overlook them the eye of faith will do it a moment what are they this is the great cause of our disquietness in present troubles and griefs we forget their end we are affected withour condition of this present life as if it were all and it is nothing Oh! how quickly shall all the enjoyments and all the sufferings of this life pass away and be as if they had not been Tbe End of the Fourth Chapter 1 Ep. St. Peter Chap. V. Ver. 1. The elders which are among you I exhort who am also an elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed THE Church of Christ being one body is interessed in the condition and carriage of each particular Christian as a part of it but more eminently in those that are more eminent and organick parts of it Therefore the Apostle after many Excellent directions given to all his Christian Brethren to whom he writes doth most reasonably and fitly add this express Exhortation to these that had oversight and charge of the rest The Elders that are amongst you c. The words have 1. A particular definement of the Persons exhorted and exhorting 2. The Tenour of the Exhortation it self The former in the 1 verse the Persons exhorted The Elders among you First Elders This here as often is a name not of Age but of Office yet named by that Age that is or ought to be most suitably qualified to such an office and imports that men though not aged yet if called to that office should be noted with that Wisdom and 〈◊〉 of mind and carriage which may give that authority and command that respect that is requisite for their calling not Novices as St. Paul speaks not as a light bladder being easily blown up as young unstable minds are but such as young Timothy was in humility and diligence as the Apostle testifies of him Phil. 2. 20. and further exhorts him to be 1 Tim. 4. 12. Let no man despise thy youth but be an example of believers in word in conversation in charity in faith in purity The name of Elders indifferently signifies either their age or their calling and of ruling sometimes civil Rulers sometimes Pastors of the Church as amongst the Jews both Here it appears that Pastors are meant as the Exhortation of feeding the flock evidences which though it sometimes signifie ruling and here may comprise it yet is chiefly by Doctrine and then the stile given to Christ in the encouragement added the chief Shepherd A due frame of spirit and carriage in the Elders particularly the Apostles of the Church is a thing of prime concern for the good of it It is one of the heaviest threatnings when the Lord declares that he will give a rebellious People such Teachers and Prophets as they deserved and indeed desired If there be a man to prophecy of wine and strong drink such a one shall be a prophet says he to that People And on the other side amongst the sweetest promises of mercy this is not the least to be furnisht with plenty of faithful Teachers Though prophane men make no reckoning of it yet were it in the hardest times they that know the Lord will account of it as he doth a sweet allay of all sufferings and hardship though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction yet shall not