Selected quad for the lemma: water_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
water_n	ghost_n	holy_a	lord_n	4,282	5	3.9053	3	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A31058	A brief exposition of the Lord's prayer and the Decalogue to which is added the doctrine of the sacraments / by Isaac Barrow ...	Barrow, Isaac, 1630-1677.	1681 (1681)	Wing B928; ESTC R20292	77,455	270

of a close and occult importance of deeper meaning and design than is obvious to ordinary perception and thence are also called Sacraments for no other reason I conceive then because the ancientest translators of the Bible into Latin did usually render the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by the word Sacramentum whence every thing containing under it somewhat of abstruse meaning is by ancient Writers termed a Sacrament So Tertullian calls all Christianity the Sacrament of Christian Religion and Elisha's Ax he calls the Sacrament of Wood and S. Austin speaks of the Sacrament of Bread of Fish of Numbers of the Rock c. In short he says of all Signs That when they belong to divine things they are called Sacraments which shews to how small purpose the disputes are yea on what small grounds the decrees are concerning the number general nature and efficacy of Sacraments for where a name or form of a Sacrament is of so large ambiguous and indeterminate signification there can be nothing but confusion in the disputes about it But those which chiefly at least and in way of eminency have obtained this name are those two instituted by our Lord Baptism and the Lord's Supper of which I shall in order discourse and so of each as very briefly to consider the occasion of their institution the actions injoined in them the nature of them or wherein their mystery doth consist the ends for which they were intended and the effects they produce together with the dispositions and duties antecedent concomitant and consequent required of us in the use and practice of them And first Of Baptism THere were as the Apostle to the Hebrews telleth us in sacred use among the Jews 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 several kinds of Baptisms The learned in their Laws and Customs teach that they never did receive any person into their Covenant whether that which was more strict to which natural Jews and Proselytes of Righteousness were tyed or that which was more lax with which Strangers and Proselytes of the gate did comply without a Baptism And that Priests and Levites entring into their Office were to be sanctifyed by washing with water we see plainly prescribed in their Law likewise that all persons who had contracted any kind of defilement were purified by the like Ceremony particularly Children new-born is expressed there Moreover that it was in use for Persons who were conscious to themselves of having trangressed God's Law being in God's Name invited by some person of eminent authority a Prophet or like a Prophet one commissionated by God unto repentance and amendment of life to be washed by him in testimony of their stedfast purpose to amend and in hope to obtain pardon from God of their past offences and to be reinstated in his favour appears probable by S. John the Baptist his undertaking and the success thereof For if the manner of his proceeding had been altogether unusual and unknown so many it seems would not so readily without any stir or obstacle have complyed therewith especially among the Scribes and Pharisees those zealous adherents to traditionary practice who to maintain their credit and interest with the people were so averse from all appearance of novelty This practice then of washing in so many cases and to so many purposes customary among God's people to signify mens entring into a new state or course of life being withal most apt and proper for his design our Blessed Saviour who never favoured needless innovations was pleased to assume and impose upon the Disciples and followers of his Religion accommodating it to those holy purposes which we shall now endeavour to declare What the action it self enjoined is what the manner and form thereof is apparent by the words of our Lord's institution Going forth therefore saith he teach or disciple all Nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost teaching them to observe all things which I have commanded you The Action is baptizing or immersing in water the Object thereof those Persons of any Nation whom his Ministers can by their instruction and perswasion render Disciples that is such as do sincerely believe the truth of his Doctrine and seriously resolve to obey his Commandments It is performed in the Name that is it is ministred by the authority and bears special relation unto the Persons of the Blessed Trinity as the chief Objects of the Faith professed and the sole Objects of the obedience undertaken therein as exhibiting gracious favours unto the person baptized and as receiving special obligations from him Such is the Action it self declared to be the mystery thereof consists in its being a notable sign to represent and an authentick Seal to ratify the collation then made of certain great benefits to us and our undertaking correspondent duties toward God The Benefits which God then signifies and upon due terms engageth to confer on us are these 1. The purgation or absolution of us from the guilt of past offences by a free and full remission of them the which washing by Water cleansing from all stains doth most appositely represent and consequently God's being reconciled unto us his receiving us into a state of grace and favour his freely justifying us that is looking upon us or treating us as just and innocent Persons although before we stood guilty of heinous sins and thereupon lyable to grievous punishments that these benefits are conferred in Baptism many places of Scripture plainly shew and the Primitive Church with most firm and unanimous consent did believe And now said Ananias to S. Paul Why dost thou tarry Arise and be baptized and wash away thy sins And Repent saith S. Peter preaching to the Jews and let every one of you be baptized for the remission of sins And Christ saith S. Paul again to the Ephesians loved his Church and delivered himself for it that he might sanctify it purging it by the washing of water 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is he effectually in Baptism consigned to the members of his Church that mercy and remission of sins which he purchased and merited by his passion And again Such saith he to the Corinthians were some of you that is ye were persons guilty of heinous sins but ye have been washed ye have been sanctifyed ye have been justified in the name of our Lord and by the spirit of our God where having been washed in Christ's name doth in congruity with what is said in other places denote Baptism in his name being sanctified and justified do express the first benefits accompanying that Baptism And indeed where-ever a general remission of sins or a full sanctification or consecration and justification or consecration and justification of mens persons in God's sight are mentioned that remission of sins that separation or dedication unto God's Service that reception into Grace which are consigned

in Baptism are I conceive understood there being no other season or occasion wherein ordinarily and visibly God doth exhibit those Benefits It may be demanded How Children by reason of their innocent age are capable of these Benefits how they can be pardoned who never had offended how they can be justified who never were capable of being unjust I briefly answer That because they come from that race which by sin had forfeited God's favour and had alienated it self from him because also they have in them those seeds of pravity from which afterward certainly life continuing without God's restraining Grace will sprout forth innumerable evil actions therefore that God overlooking all the defects of their nature both relative and absolute or personal doth assume them into his special favour is no small benefit to them answerable to the remission of actual sin and restitution from the state consequent thereon in others 2. In Baptism the Gift of God's Holy Spirit is conferred qualifying us for the state into which we then come and enabling us to perform the duties we then undertake which otherwise we should be unable to perform for purification of our hearts from vitious inclinations and desires for begetting holy dispositions and affections in our Souls for to guide and instruct us to sustain and strengthen us to encourage and comfort us in all the course of Christian piety The which effects are well also figured by water which purifieth things both from inherent and adherent filth That this benefit is annexed to Baptism the Scripture also teacheth us Be baptized saith S. Peter in the Name of Christ to the remission of sins and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 We being baptized in one body are made to drink of one spirit saith S. Paul And with the Laver of Regeneration S. Paul again joineth the renovation of the Holy Ghost And it is represented as an advantage of our Saviour's Baptism above that of John that our Lord not only baptized with water to repentance but with the Holy Ghost and Fire Some preventing operations of the Holy Ghost whereby God freely draweth Men to Christianity persuading their minds to assent thereto inspiring their hearts with resolutions to comply with it do precede Baptism but a more full communication thereof due by compact assured by promise for the confirming and maintaining us in the firm belief and constant practice of Christianity is consequent thereon After ye had believed ye were sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise saith S. Paul To signify which benefit then conferr'd the ancient Christians did to Baptism annex the Chrism or holy Unction signifying the collation of that healing and chearing Spirit to the baptized person that which S. Paul may seem to respect when he saith He that establisheth or confirmeth us with you into Christ and who hath anointed us is God who also hath sealed us and hath given us the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts 3. With those gifts is connected the benefit of Regeneration implying our entrance into a new state and course of life being endowed with new faculties dispositions and capacities of Souls becoming new Creatures and new Men as it were renewed after the likeness of God in righteousness and true holiness our being sanctified in our hearts and lives being mortified to fleshly lusts and worldly affections being quickned to a spiritual life and heavenly conversation in short becoming in relation and in disposition of mind the children of God This the matter and the action of Baptism doth set out for as children new born for cleansing them from impurities adherent from the Womb both among the Jews and other people were wont to be washed so are we in Baptism signifying our purification from natural and worldly defilements The mersion also in Water and the emersion thence doth figure our death to the former and receiving to a new life Whence Baptism is by S. Paul called the laver of Regeneration and our Lord saith that If a man be not born again of Water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God that is every one becoming a Christian is by Baptism regenerated or put into a new state of Life getteth new dispositions of Soul and new relations to God Ye are all saith S. Paul the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus that is by embracing his Doctrine and submitting to his Law professedly in Baptism And We saith S. Paul again are buried with Christ through Baptism unto death that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father so also we should walk in newness of life 4. With these Benefits is conjoined that of being inserted into God's Church his family the number of his chosen people the mystical body of Christ whereby we become entitled to the privileges and immunities of that heavenly Corporation We saith S. Paul have been all baptized in one spirit into one body the mystical body of Christ And so many of you saith he again as have been baptized into Christ into Christ mystical or the Church have put on Christ and ye are adds he all one in Christ Jesus As Proselytes among the Jews by Baptism were admitted unto the Communion and privileges of the Jewish so thereby are we received into the like Communion and privileges of the Christian far more excellent Society 5. In consequence of these things there is with Baptism conferred a capacity of a title unto an assurance under condition of persevering in faith and obedience to our Lord of eternal life and salvation We are therein in S. Peter's words regenerated unto a lively hope of an incorruptible inheritance by that resurrection of Christ which is represented to us in this action and so therein applied as to beget in us a title and a hope to rise again in like manner to a blissful life whence we are said therein to rise with him Being saith S. Paul buried with him in Baptism wherein also we were raised again whence by the two great Apostles Baptism is said to save us Baptism saith S. Peter the antitype of the delivery in the flood doth save us that is admitteth us into the Ark putteth us into the sure way of Salvation and God saith S. Paul according to his mercy saved us by the laver of regeneration and He that shall believe and shall be baptized shall be saved is our Saviour's own word and promise shall be saved that is shall be put into a state and way of salvation continuing in which state proceeding in which way he assuredly shall be saved for Faith there denoteth perseverance in Faith and Baptism implyeth performance of the conditions therein undertaken which next is to be considered For as this Holy Rite signifieth and sealeth God's collation of so many great benefits on us so it also implyeth and