It is therefore a token, that we be delivered from the devil, and a sign of our translation from the kingdom of Satan, in to the king- of Christ, that we be reconciled unto god, it is a token which beareth witness of the good will of god towards us. Therefore remember, that thou art baptised, ⟨image 80⟩that is, that thou hast received remission of since: that thou haste made a covenant with god, that thou art delivered from the devil, death, and sin, reconciled to god. This is a great comfort against death, the devil, and sin. So the promise made to Abraham, of the seed to come, had ben sufficient: yet god did put thereto circumcision, that Abraham might have a sure token of God's goodness towards him, that he was accepted of god. So baptism is a token of God's favour and good will towards us, through the word of promise, whereunto is knit an earnest bargain of a good conscience with god. For first god maketh promise with us, that he will forgive us that fault and blemish, which we have drawn by ⟨image 81⟩original sin, from our forefathers, that he will receive us into his favour, and that he will not only forgive us our since, but also not lay or input them to our charge. We again do bind our selves to god by like reason, that we shall mortify our flesh all our life time, and purge out our old leaven, our concupiscence, desires, and dispositions to do sin, and utterly to cast out all the dregs: and to wrestle against and utterly forsake the world, the devil, and all their pomps: Therefore if thy conscience be troubled and vexed with the burden of sin, thou mayst pray on this manner. O lord god, remember thy promise, that thou haste made to us: thou haste promised to us in baptism, remission of since and eternal life, ⟨image 81⟩when thou diddest say:1 He that believeth and is baptised, shall be saved: nor do not make void thy covenant, nor let not thy words be in vain, which have passed thy mouth.2 Thou shalt perform that thou hast promised, thou canst not deny thy self, neither our infirmity, or infidelity, or any other thing can make void thy faithful promise.
It is therfore a token, that we be delyuered from the dyuel, and a sygne of our translation from the kyngdome of Satan, in to the kynge- of Christe, that we be reconsyled vnto god, it is a token whiche beareth wytnesse of the good wyll of god towardes vs. Therfore remember, that thou arte baptysed, ⟨image 80⟩that is, that thou hast receyued remission of synnes: that thou haste made a couenaunt with god, that thou arte delyuered frome the dyuell, deathe, and synne, reconsiled to god. This is a great comforte agaynste deathe, the dyuell, and synne. So the promyse made to Abrahā, of the sede to come, had ben sufficiente: yet god dyd put therto circumcisiō, that Abraham might haue a sure token of goddes goodnes towardes him, that he was accepted of god. So baptime is a token of goddes fauour and good wyll towardes vs, throughe the worde of promyse, wherevnto is knyt an ernest bargaine of a good conscience with god. For fyrst god maketh promyse with vs, that he wyl forgyue vs that faute and blemyshe, whiche we haue drawen by ⟨image 81⟩originall synne, from our forefathers, that he wyl receyue vs into his fauour, and that he wyll not onely forgyue vs our synnes, but also not ley or inpute them to our charge. We agayne do bynde our selues to god by lyke reason, that we shall mortifie our fleshe all our lyfe tyme, and purge out our olde leuen, our concupiscence, desyres, and dispositions to do synne, and vtterly to cast out all the dregges: and to wrestel agaynste and vtterlye forsake the worlde, the dyuell, and al theyr pompes: Therfore if thy conscience be troubled and vexed with the borden of synne, thou mayst pray on this maner. O lord god, remembre thy promyse, that thou haste made to vs: thou haste promysed to vs in baptime, remissyon of synnes and eternall lyfe, ⟨image 81⟩when thou dyddeste saye:1 He that beleueth and is baptysed, shall be saued: nor do not make voyde thy couenaunt, nor let not thy wordes be in vayne, whiche haue passed thy mouthe.2 Thou shalt performe that thou hast promysed, thou cāst not deny thy selfe, neyther our infirmitie, or infidelitfe, or any other thynge can make voyde thy feythfull promyse.
- 1Marc. 16.
- 2Psal. 89.
