A supplement to The Morning-exercise at Cripple-Gate, or, Several more cases of conscience practically…

3. You must always live in the hope of the coming of Christ, and everlasting glory, Tit. 2.3. looking for the blessed hope; and Jude v. 21. looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus unto eternal life. As we did at first thankfully accept of our recovery by Christ, and at first consent to renounce the Devil, the World, and the Flesh, and resolve to follow God's counsel and direction; we must still persevere in this mind, and use his appointed means in order to our final happiness. The sum then of our Christianity is, that we should by true Repentance and Faith, forsake the World, the Flesh, and the Devil, and give up our selves to God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, that he may take us for his reconciled Children, and for Christ's sake forgive all our sins; and by his Spirit give us grace to persevere in those Resolutions, till our full and final happiness come in hand.

Seventhly, This Covenant, consisting of such Duties and Privileges, God hath confirmed by certain visible Ordinances, commonly called Sacraments, as Baptism and the Lord's Supper; both which, but in a different manner, respect the whole tenor of the Covenant: For as the Covenant bindeth mutually on God's part and ours, so these Duties have a mutual Aspect or Respect to what God does, and what we must do: on God's part they are a Sign and a Seal: on our part they are a Badge and a ⟨p. 196⟩Bond. 1. On God's part they are sealing or confirming Signs; as Circumcision is called a sign or seal of the righteousness which is by faith, Rom. 4.11. that is, of the grace offered to us in Christ; so is Baptism, which came in the Room of Circumcision, Col. 2.11, 12. In whom ye are circumcised, buried with him in Baptism. Surely the Gospel-Ordinances signify as much grace as the Ordinances of the legal Covenant; if Circumcision was a Sign and Seal of the Righteousness which is by Faith, a or pledge of God's good will to us in Christ, so is Baptism, so is the Lord's Supper; they are a Sign to signify, and a Seal to confirm; to represent the Grace, and assure the grant of Pardon and Life. As for instance, Baptism signifies Pardon and Life, so does the Lord's Supper,