Baptism was first invented, 1and sanctified of GOD John being the first that baptised Christ with water, in the river of Jordan. Afterward this office was committed to the Apostles, who Baptised also with water: The Lord in plain words, commanded them to preach the Gospel 2and to Baptise, In the name of the father, ⟨image 118⟩and of the Son, and of the holy ghost. Peter also answered in the Acts to the Jews, demanding of him, 3what they should do: Let every one of you be baptised, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of your since, and ye shall receive the gift of the holy ghost. Wherefore Baptism is called of many, the first sign of gods people, because by it his elect begin, to retain to the living Lord. There is but one Baptism in the Church of God, wherewith it is sufficient once to be Christened: For Baptism once 4received, doeth endure all our life long, being a perpetual sealing of our adoption. For to be Baptised in the name of Christ, is to be written, to be entered, 5and received into the covenant and family, yea and into the inheritance of God his children, yea even now to be named, by the name of God: that is, to be called the child of God, to be purged also from the dregs of our since, and to have freely sundry graces of God, to lead a new and innocent life. Baptism doeth keep in memory, ⟨p. 73⟩and renew God his benefits, bestowed on mankind. For we all are borne in the filthiness of sin, and are the children of wrath, but God who is rich in mercy, doeth cleanse us from our sins freely, by the blood of his soon, in whom he maketh us by adoption his sons, knitteth us to him with an holy covenant, & enricheth us with sundry gifts, that we may be able to live a new life. Al these benefits are sealed with Baptism: for inwardly our souls and minds are regenerate, purified, and made new of GOD by the holy ghost, but outwardly we receive, the seal of his large gifts in water, by the which those great benefits are represented, and as it were, laid before our eyes to behold. Therefore we are Baptised, that is, we are washed, and sprinkled with visible water: For as water maketh clean our filth, doeth refresh 6and cool our faint and burning bodies, so the grace of God doeth purge our souls, from stinking sin, after an invisible sort, or spiritually.
BAptisme was firste inuented, 1and sanctified of GOD Ihon beeyng the firste that baptised Christe with water, in the riuer of Iordane. Afterward this office was committed to the Apostles, who Baptised also with water: The Lorde in plaine woordes, commaunded them to preache the Gospell 2and to Baptise, In the name of the father, ⟨image 118⟩and of the sonne, and of the holy ghost. Peter also answered in the Actes to the Iewes, demaundyng of him, 3what thei should doe: Let euery one of you bée baptised, in the name of Iesus Christe, for the remission of your synnes, and ye shall receiue the gift of the holie ghoste. Wherefore Baptisme is called of many, the firste signe of gods people, because by it his electe begin, to retaine to the liuyng Lorde. There is but one Baptisme in the Churche of God, wherewith it is sufficient once to be Christened: For Baptisme once 4receiued, doeth indure all our life lōg, beyng a perpetuall sealyng of our adoptiō. For to be Baptised in the name of Christ, is to be written, to be entred, 5and receiued into the couenaunte and familie, yea and into the inheritaunce of God his children, yea euen now to be named, by the name of God: that is, to be called the child of God, to be purged also from the dregges of our synnes, and to haue frely sundrie graces of God, to leade a newe and innocente life. Baptisme dooeth kéepe in memorie, ⟨p. 73⟩and renewe God his benefites, bestowed on mankinde. For wee all are borne in the filthines of sinne, and are the children of wrathe, but God who is riche in mercie, dooeth clense vs from oure sinnes frelie, by the bloud of his soonne, in whom he maketh vs by adopcion his soonnes, knitteth vs to him with an holie couenaunte, & enricheth vs with sundrie giftes, that wee maie be able to liue a newe life. Al these benefites are sealed with Baptisme: for inwardlie our soules and myndes are regenerate, purified, and made newe of GOD by the holie ghoste, but outwardlie wee receiue, the seale of his large giftes in water, by the whiche those greate benefites are represented, and as it were, laied before our yies to beholde. Therefore wée are Baptised, that is, we are wasshed, and sprinckeled with visible water: For as water maketh cleane our filthe, doeth refresh
- 1Christ ordained baptism.Christ ordained baptisme.
- 2Math. 28. Acts. ii.Math. 28. Actes. ii.
- 3Act. ii.
- 4One baptism.One baptisme.
- 5what it is to be baptised.
- 6we are baptised with water.
