Question 94

What is the outward sign or element in Baptism?

The outward sign or Element in Baptisme is Water, and that pure Water; so that the addition hereunto of Oyl, Salt, and Spittle, by the Papists in Baptisme, is an abominable profanation of the Ordinance. Can any man forbid water that these should not be Baptised?^a Our bodies washed with pure water.^b

What is the thing signified by Water in Baptism?

The thing signified by Water in Baptisme is the bloud of our Lord Jesus

What is the outward action in Baptism?

The outward action in Baptism is washing of the body with Water, which is all that the word Baptizing doth signifie, and which may be fitly done by pouring water upon the face to represent Christs bloud poured out for us; or by sprinkling water upon the face to represent the blood of sprinkling, with which the heart is sprinkled. Having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.^c

Is it not necessary to dip or plung the body into the water in Baptism, when the Scripture telleth us of several that went down into the water when they were baptized; and we are to be buried with Christ in baptism, and therefore plung’d and covered with Water in Baptism as Christ was covered with earth in the grave?

It is not necessary that the body should be dip’d or plung’d all over in Baptism, for 1. When we read of some that went down into the water when they were Baptised, we do not read that they were dip’d or plung’d over head and ears, they might be baptised by pouring or sprinkling the water upon their faces: yea in some places which the Scripture telleth us persons were Baptized. Travellers tell us they are but ankle deep, in which it was impossible they could be plung’d all over; and Aenon, where it is said there was much water, the original words do not signifie deep waters but many streams which are known to be shallow and not fit to plunge the body into. 2. Though some went down into the water when they were baptised, yet the Scripture doth not say that all did so, but most probably water was brought into the house when the Jaylor and all his houshold were baptised in the night, and not that he suffered the Apostles (then prisoners) to go forth, and that he with them should go out with all his houshold, and leave all the other prisoners alone, to seek some River to be baptised and plunged into. 3. The Burying with Christ by Baptism doth signifie the burying of sin in the soul by the baptism of the spirit, and not the burying of the body and covering it all over in the baptism of water. 4. There is a baptising or washing, as was said in pouring or sprinkling water on the body; and as our Saviour told Peter when he would have been washed all over by him, that the washing of the feet was sufficient: so the washing of the face is sufficient, especially for Infants, who in our colder Climates cannot be plung’d in a River without manifest hazard of their lives, which none can prove by Scripture to be necessary.

What doth the washing of the body with water represent and signifie?

The washing of the body with water in Baptism doth represent & signifie the washing of the soul from sin by the bloud of Jesus Christ, That loved us and washed us from our sins in his own bloud.^d

In whose name are persons to be Baptised?

Persons are to be Baptised in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, Go therefore and teach all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.^e

What is to be understood by the Baptising in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost?

By Baptising in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, is to be understood, not only a naming of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, but a Baptising in the Authority, and into the Faith, Profession and Obedience of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost.

What is signified, sealed and engaged on Gods part by our being Baptised in his Name?

There is signified, and sealed, and engaged on Gods part by our being baptised in his Name. 1. His ingrafting us into Christ. 2. His making us partakers of the benefits of the new Covenant, Know ye not that so many of us as were baptised into Jesus Christ, were baptised into his death?^f

What is meant by our ingrafting into Christ?

By our ingrafting into Christ, is meant our being cut off from our old stock of nature and being joyned unto Jesus Christ, whereby we come to draw virtue from him as from our root, that we may grow up in him and bring forth fruit unto him, I am the Vine, ye are the Branches.^g Thou being a wild Olive Tree, wert grafted in amongst them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the Olive Tree.^h

What are the benefits of the Covenant of grace which by Baptism we are made partakers of?

The Benefits of the Covenant of Grace which by Baptism we are made partakers of are: 1. Admission into the visible Church, Go teach all Nations baptizing them, &c.ⁱ 2. Remission of sins by Christs blood, Be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the Remission of sins.^j 3. Regeneration and Sanctification by Christs Spirit, According to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost.^k 4. Adoption, together with our union unto Christ, For ye are the Children of God by faith in Jesus Christ; For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ, have put on Christ.^l 5. Resurrection to everlasting life, If the dead rise not at all, why are they baptized for the dead?^m We are buried with him by baptism into death, &c. If we planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection.ⁿ

What is sealed and engaged on our part by being baptized in the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost?

By our being baptized in the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, is sealed and engaged on our part, that we will be the Lords, and that 1. wholly, Soul and Body, with all our powers, faculties, members, are to be employed by him as instruments of righteousness and new obedience; and 2. only the Lords, and therefore we engage to renounce the service of the Devil and the Flesh and World, and to fight under Christs Banner against these enemies of the Lord and of our Souls, We are buried with him by baptism into death, that as like Christ was raised from the dead by the Glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. Reckon ye your selves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God. Let not sin therefore reign that you should obey it in the lusts thereof; neither yield your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin; but yield your selves unto God as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.^o