A76157:231
Confirmation and restoration the necessary means of reformation, and reconciliation; for the healing of…Confirmation and restauration the necessary means of reformation, and reconciliation; for the healing of…
Confirmation and restoration the necessary means of reformation, and reconciliation; for the healing of the corruptions and divisions of the churches: submissively, but earnestly tendered to the consideration of the sovereign powers, magistrates, ministers, and people, that they may awake, and be up and doing in the execution of so much, as appeareth to be necessary as they are true to Christ, his Church and Gospel, and to their own and others souls, and to the peace and welfare of the nations; and as they will answer the neglect to Christ, at their peril. / By Richard Baxter, an unworthy minister of Christ, that longeth to see the healing of the churches.Confirmation and restauration the necessary means of reformation, and reconciliation; for the healing of the corruptions and divisions of the churches: submissively, but earnestly tendered to the consideration of the soveraigne powers, magistrates, ministers, and people, that they may awake, and be up and doing in the execution of so much, as appeareth to be necessary as they are true to Christ, his Church and Gospel, and to their own and others souls, and to the peace and wellfare of the nations; and as they will answer the neglect to Christ, at their peril. / By Richard Baxter, an unworthy minister of Christ, that longeth to see the healing of the churches.
London: printed by A.M. for Nevil Simmons book-seller, 1658
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.
2. But hath not Baptism done all this already, seeing we are Baptized into the Name of the Holy Ghost? This is our second Point to be resolved. I Answer, It is a great error, to think that Adult Persons that have nothing of the Holy Ghost, may demand Baptism, and that Baptism doth not give the Holy Ghost: But yet it's one thing to give the Holy Ghost in Relation, and Fundamental Right, and another thing to give the Graces of the Spirit; and it's one thing to seal and increase the Initial, Special Grace of the Spirit, and another thing to Invest in a stablishing degree: And so it is evident that Baptism, as such is appointed but for the two first: That is, 1. As we must have some Faith and Repentance, before a person at age may come to Baptism, and so must have Fundamental Right by promise, to Christ, and pardon, and life, so this is sealed in Baptism, and we are solemnly Invested in it, and our Grace excited for increase: But it is not requisite that a man have a further degree of Grace before he come. 2. In Baptism, it is our very Relation to God, as our Father and God, to Christ as our Saviour, and to the Holy Ghost as our Sanctifier, that is sealed to us, and we are Invested with: which is the Foundation of all that afterward ⟨p. 114⟩from the Spirit is given us. As in Marriage, the persons in Relation, are given to each other for Marriage ends; So in Baptism, God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, one God in three persons, are solemnly given to us in Relation to themselves, for Christian, Baptismal Ends. But as after Marriage, the man takes home his wife, and delivereth her a possession of his house first, and after admits her to bed and board, according to his Covenant, so Christ doth after Baptism, take home the Christian into his Church, and admit him to the several Privileges of it, in the season, and manner as he seeth meet. So that as all the good that we do after Baptism, is but the fulfilling of our Baptismal Covenant, and yet we did not the good when we Covenanted to do it: So all the after-Mercies, that God giveth us by promise (at least) on his part, are but the fulfilling, or fruits of his Baptismal Covenant; and that he did not give them in our Baptism. So that Confirmation is no full, and proper Gospel Sacrament as Baptism is, but a particular subsequent Investiture, in some of the fruits of Baptism it self, in the season of them.
2. But hath not Baptism done all this already, seeing we are Baptized into the Name of the Holy Ghost? This is our second Point to be resolved. I Answer, It is a great errour, to think that Adult Persons that have nothing of the Holy Ghost, may demand Baptism, and that Baptism doth not give the Holy Ghost: But yet it's one thing to give the Holy Ghost in Relation, and Fundamental Right, and another thing to give the Graces of the Spirit; and it's one thing to seale and increase the Initial, Special Grace of the Spirit, and another thing to Invest in a stablishing degree: And so it is evident that Baptism, as such is appointed but for the two first: That is, 1. As we must have some Faith and Repentance, before a person at age may come to Baptism, and so must have Fundamental Right by promise, to Christ, and pardon, and life, so this is sealed in Baptism, and we are solemnly Invested in it, and our Grace excited for increase: But it is not requisite that a man have a further degree of Grace before he come. 2. In Baptism, it is our very Relation to God, as our Father and God, to Christ as our Saviour, and to the Holy Ghost as our Sanctifier, that is sealed to us, and we are Invested with: which is the Foundation of all that afterward