The mischiefs of self-ignorance and the benefits of self-acquaintance opened in divers sermons at…

4. In Baptism you profess to renounce the world, the flesh, and the Devil: that is, as they stand for your Hearts against the Will and Love of God, and against the Happiness of the unseen world; and against your Faith in Christ your Saviour; and against the sanctifying work of the Holy Ghost. If therefore you are sincere in this part of your Covenant, you do upon deliberation perceive all the pleasures, profits and honours of this world to be so vain and worthless, that you are Habitually resolved, to prefer the Love and favour of God, and your salvation before them; and to be Ruled by Jesus Christ and his Spirit and word, rather then by the desires of the flesh, or the worlds allurements, or the will of man, or the suggestions of the devil: and to forsake all rather then forsake the Father, the Saviour, the Sanctifier to whom you are devoted, and the everlasting life which upon his promise you have taken for your Hope and Portion. This is the sense of Baptism, and all this in profession being ⟨p. 165⟩Essential to your Baptism, must be Essential to your Christianity: Your Parents Profession of it was necessary to your infant title to the outward privileges of the Church: Your own personal profession is necessary to your continuance of those privileges, and your visible Christianity and communion with the adult: And the Truth of what you profess, is necessary to your real Christianity before God, and to your title to salvation: And this is it that is to be now enquired after. You cannot hope to be admitted into Heaven, upon lower terms then the sincerity of that profession with entereth you into the Church: While we tell you of no higher matters necessary to your salvation, then the sincerity of that which is necessary to Baptism and Christianity, I hope you will not say we deal too strictly with you. Enquire now by a diligent trial of your hearts, whether you truly consent to all these articles of your Baptismal Vow or Covenant. If you do, you are Regenerate by the Spirit: If you do not, you have but the Sacrament of Regeneration: which aggravateth your guilt, as a violated profession and Covenant must needs do.

4. In Baptism you profess to renounce the world, the flesh, and the Devil: that is, as they stand for your Hearts against the Will and Love of God, and against the Happiness of the unseen world; and against your Faith in Christ your Saviour; and against the sanctifying work of the Holy Ghost. If therefore you are sincere in this part of your Covenant, you do upon deliberation perceive all the pleasures, profits and honours of this world to be so vain and worthless, that you are Habitually resolved, to prefer the Love and favour of God, and your salvation before them; and to be Ruled by Jesus Christ and his Spirit and word, rather then by the desires of the flesh, or the worlds allurements, or the will of man, or the suggestions of the devil: and to forsake all rather then forsake the Father, the Saviour, the Sanctifier to whom you are devoted, and the everlasting life which upon his promise you have taken for your Hope and Portion. This is the sense of Baptism, and all this in profession being