Wherefore good children when a man is baptised, it is as much to say, as he doth there confess, that he is a sinner, and that he is under the rule and governance of ⟨p. ccxvi⟩sin, so that of himself he can not be good or righteous. And therefore he cometh to baptism, and there seeketh for help and remedy, and desireth God, first to forgive him his since, & at length to deliver him clearly from all sin, and perfectly to heal his soul from the sickness of sin, as the physician doth perfectly heal his patient from bodily diseases. And for his part he promiseth to God again, and solemnly voweth, that he will fight against sin with all his strength and power, & that he will gladly bear the cross, and all such afflictions, as it shall please God to lay upon him, and that also he will be content to dye, that he may be perfectly healed and delivered from sin. For God doth forgive us our since by faith, but by afflictions and death, he doth take ⟨image 239⟩them clean away, as saint Peter witnesseth,1 saying. He that suffereth or is afflicted in the flesh, doth cease from sin. And saint Paul sayeth, he that is dead, is justified or delivered from sin. These be the promises, which we make, when we are baptised. And of this mind must all they be, which shall have any fruit by baptism. Wherefore seeing all you that be here are already baptised, continue I pray you in this good mind and purpose, knowledge in your hearts before God, that you be sinners, be sorry for the same, and pray to God, to heal and deliver you from your sin. Beware you fall not to sin again, have no delight in sin, nor sin not willingly. But be godly and holy, and suffer gladly such afflictions, as God shall lay upon your backs. And if you do thus, ⟨p. ccxvii⟩then your baptism shall be avail able unto you, & God shall work in you by his holy spirit, and shall finish in you all those things which by baptism he hath begun. Hitherto you have heard, what we promise to God, when we are baptised, now learn also I pray you, what God worketh in us by baptism, & what benefits he giveth us in the same. For baptism is not water alone, and nothing else besides, but it is the water of god, and hath his strength by the word of God, and is a seal of gods promise. Wherefore it doth work in us, all those things, where unto God hath ordained it. For our Lord Jesus Christ sayeth.
Wherefore good children whē a man is baptysed, it is as muche to saye, as he dothe there confesse, that he is a synner, and that he is vnder the rule and gouernaūce of ⟨p. ccxvi⟩sinne, so that of himselfe he can not be good or ryghtuous. And therefore he commeth to baptisme, and there seketh for helpe and remedy, and desyreth God, first to forgyue him his synnes, & at length to deliuer him clerely from all synne, and perfectely to heale his soule from the sykenes of synne, as the physitian doth perfectely heale his patient from bodely diseases. And for his parte he promyseth to God againe, and solemply voweth, that he wyl fyght againste synne with all his strength and power, & that he wyll gladly beare the crosse, and al suche afflictiōs, as it shal please God to lay vpon him, and that also he wil be contēt to dye, yt he may be perfectly healed and delyuered from synne. For God doth forgiue vs our synnes by faith, but by afflyctions and death, he dothe take ⟨image 239⟩theim cleane away, as saint Peter witnesseth,1 sainge. He yt suffereth or is afflycted in ye fleshe, doth cesse from synne. And sainct Paule sayeth, he that is deade, is iustified or delyuered from synne. These be the promyses, which we make, whē we are baptised. And of this mind must all they be, whiche shall haue any fruite by baptisme. Wherfore seyng all you that be here are alredy baptysed, continewe I praye you in this good mynde and purpose, knowlege in your hartes before God, that you be synners, be sory for ye same, and praye to God, to heale and delyuer you frō youre sinne. Beware you fal not to sinne againe, haue no delite in sinne, nor synne not wyllyngly. But be godly and holy, and suffer gladly suche afflictions, as God shall lay vpon your backes. And yf you do thus, ⟨p. ccxvii⟩then your baptisme shal be auaile able vnto you, & God shall worke in you by his holy spirit, and shall fynyshe in you all those thinges which by baptisme he hath begon. Hitherto you haue herde, what we promyse to God, when we are baptised, now learne also I pray you, what God worketh in vs by baptisme, & what benefites he gyueth vs in the same. For baptysme is not water alone, and nothinge els besides, but it is the water of god, and hath his strength by ye worde of God, and is a seale of gods promyse. Wherefore it doth worke in vs, all those thinges, where vnto God hath ordeyned it. For oure Lord Iesus Christ saieth.
- 1i. Pet. iiii.
