A09383:827
A commentary or exposition, upon the five first chapters of the Epistle to the…A commentarie or exposition, vpon the fiue first chapters of the Epistle to the…
A commentary or exposition, upon the five first chapters of the Epistle to the Galatians: penned by the godly, learned, and judicial divine, Mr. W. Perkins. Now published for the benefit of the Church, and continued with a supplement upon the sixth chapter, by Rafe Cudworth Bachelor of DivinityA commentarie or exposition, vpon the fiue first chapters of the Epistle to the Galatians: penned by the godly, learned, and iudiciall diuine, Mr. W. Perkins. Now published for the benefit of the Church, and continued with a supplement vpon the sixt chapter, by Rafe Cudworth Bachelour of Diuinitie
Cambridge: printed by John Legat, 1604Cambridge: printed by Iohn Legat, 1604
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
The third point is, how baptism confers grace? Ans. It confers grace: because it is a means to give and exhibit to the believing mind Christ with his benefits; and this it doth by his signification. For it serves as a particular and infallible §20certificate to assure the party baptised, of the forgiveness of his sins, and of his eternal salvation. And whereas the Minister, in the name of God, applies the promise of mercy to him that is baptised, it is indeed as much as if God should have made a particular promise to him. In this regard, baptism may well be §25said to confer grace, as the Kings letters are said to save the life of the malefactor, when they do but signify to him and others, that the kings pleasure is to show favour. Again, baptism may be said to confer grace, because the outward washing of the body is a token or Pledge of the grace of God: §30and by this pledge faith is confirmed, which is an instrument to apprehend or receive the grace of God. And this confirmation is made by a kind of reasoning in the mind, on this manner: He that useth the sign aright, shall receive the thing signified: I (saith the party baptised, being of years) use the sign §35aright in faith and repentance: therefore I shall receive the thing signified, remission of sins, and life everlasting. A king saith to his subject, He that brings the head of such a traitor, shall have a thousand pounds. Well: the head of the foresaid traitor is cut off: and he that hath the head may say, Here is a ⟨p. 254⟩thousand pounds, or, this will bring me a thousand pounds, because it is unto him as a pledge upon the kings word of the reward of a thousand pounds. And so is the washing in baptism an infallible pledge to him that believes, of the pardon of his sins. Thus do the sacraments confer grace, and no otherwise. One reason for many may be this. The word of God §5confers grace (for it is the power of God to salvation to them that believe) and this it doth by signifying the will of God, by the ear to the mind: now every sacrament is the word of God made visible to the eye: the sacrament therefore confers grace §10