Confirmation and restoration the necessary means of reformation, and reconciliation; for the healing of…

1. The Scripture gives us abundant proof that a plain Profession was made in those times by such as were baptized at Age, and so admitted (by reason of their ripeness and capacity) into the Church, and to the special Communion and Privileges of the Adult at once. To say much of the times of the old Testament, or before Christ, would be but to interrupt you with less pertinent things: Yet there it is apparent, that all the people were solemnly engaged in Covenant with God, by Moses, more then once: and that this was renewed by Joshua, and other godly Princes; and that Asa made the people not only enter into a Covenant to seek the Lord God of their fathers, with all their hearts, and with all their Soul: But that ⟨p. 23⟩whosoever would not seek him should be put to death, whether small or great, man or woman: And they sware to the Lord with a loud voice, and with shoutings, and with trumpets, and with cornets, 2 Chron. 15. 12, 13, 14. So following Princes called the people to this open Covenanting. But this is not all: To take the Lord only to be their God, (with the rest of the Law) was the very essence of an Israelite's Religion, which they did not only openly Profess, but excessively sometimes glory in. As Circumcision sealed the Covenant (and therefore supposed the Covenant) to Infants and aged whoever were circumcised; so had they many sorts of Sacrifice, and other worship, in which they all were openly to profess the same Religion and Covenant. Many Purifications also, and Sanctifyings of the people they had: and many figures of the Covenant. I am the Lord thy God, &c. Thou shalt have no other Gods before me, &c. was the tenor of the Covenant which every Israelite expressly and by frequent acts professed to consent to: The Law is called a Covenant, which all were to own, and avouch the Lord to be their God, and themselves his people. See Deut. 26. 17, 18. & chap. 29. 10, 11, 14, &c. 2 King. 23. 3. 2 Chron. 23. 3, 16. & chap. 29. 10. ⟨p. 24⟩Ezr. 10. 3. Neh. 9. 38. Psal. 50. 5. Ezek. 20. 37. Jer. 50. 5. Isa. 56. 4, 5. Exod. 34. 27. Psal. 103. 18. & 25. 10. & 18. 10, &c.

1. The Scripture gives us abundant proof that a plain Profession was made in those times by such as were baptized at Age, and so admitted (by reason of their ripeness and capacity) into the Church, and to the speciall Communion and Priviledges of the Adult at once. To say much of the times of the old Testament, or before Christ, would be but to interrupt you with less pertinent things: Yet there it is apparent, that all the people were solemnly engaged in Covenant with God, by Moses, more then once: and that this was renewed by Joshua, and other godly Princes; and that Asa made the people not only enter into a Covenant to seek the Lord God of their fathers, with all their hearts, and with all their Soul: But that ⟨p. 23⟩whosoever would not seek him should be put to death, whether smal or great, man or woman: And they sware to the Lord with a loud voice, and with shoutings, and with trumpets, and with cornets, 2 Chron. 15. 12, 13, 14. So following Princes called the people to this open Covenanting. But this is not all: To take the Lord only to be their God, (with the rest of the Law) was the very essence of an Isarelites Religion, which they did not only openly Profess, but excessively sometimes glory in. As Circumcision sealed the Covenant (and therefore supposed the Covenant) to Infants and aged whoever were circumcised; so had they many sorts of Sacrifice, and other worship, in which they all were openly to profess the same Religion and Covenant. Many Purifications also, and Sanctifyings of the people they had: and many figures of the Covenant. I am the Lord thy God, &c. Thou shalt have no other Gods before me, &c. was the tenour of the Covenant which every Israelite expressly and by frequent acts professed to consent to: The Law is called a Covenant, which all were to own, and avouch the Lord to be their God, and themselves his people. See Deut. 26. 17, 18. & chap. 29. 10, 11, 14, &c. 2 King. 23. 3. 2 Chron. 23. 3, 16. & chap. 29. 10. ⟨p. 24⟩Ezr. 10. 3. Neh. 9. 38. Psal. 50. 5.

And yet I hope no Christian would wish that we should deal no more openly and clearly with God, the Church, and our selves, in days of Gospel Light and worship, then the Jews were to do in their darker state, under obscure Types and shadows.

And yet I hope no Chhistian would wish that we should deal no more openly and clearly with God, the Church, and our selves, in daies of Gospel Light and worship, then the Jews were to do in their darker state, under obscure Types and shadows.

We find that when John Baptist set up his Ministry, he caused the people to Confess their sins, Matth. 3. 6. And if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, 1 Joh. 1. 19. And whereas some say, that John Baptized them, that he calleth a Generation of Vipers; I Answer, 1. We will believe that when they prove it. It seems rather that he put them back. 2. If he did Baptize them, it was not till they Confessed their sins (before that all did,) and it seems by his charge, till they promised to bring forth fruits meet for Repentance, Matth. 3. 8.

We find that when John Baptist set up his Ministry, he caused the people to Cenfess their sinnes, Matth. 3. 6. And if we confess our sinnes, God is faithfull and just to forgive us our sinnes, 1 Joh. 1. 19. And whereas some say, that John Baptized them, that he calleth a Generation of Vipers; I Answer, 1. We will believe that when they prove it. It seems rather that he put them back. 2. If he did Baptize them, it was not till they Confessed their sinnes (before that all did,) and it seems by his charge, till they promised to bring forth fruits meet for Repentance, Matth. 3. 8.

I grant that so full a Profession was not made before Christs Resurrection as after: For many Articles of our Belief were afterward made Necessary: And the Apostles themselves were unacquainted with what the weakest Christian did afterwards believe. But still the Essentials of Faith, then Necessary in existence to mens Justification, were Necessary in Profession •• mens visible Christianity or Church-membership.

As to those Acts. 2. 37. &c. It is plain, that they made an open Profession, if you Consider 1. That they were openly told the Doctrine which they must be baptized into, if they did consent: 2. It is said, They that gladly received that word, were baptized. 3. It is certain therefore that they first testified their glad reception of the Word. 4. We may not imagine that Peter was God, or knew the hearts of all those thousands, and therefore he must know it by their Profession, that they gladly received the Word. 5. Their own mouths cry out for advice in order to ⟨p. 26⟩their Salvation. 6. It had been absurd for the Apostles to attempt to baptize men, that had not first professed their Consent. 7. The Scripture gives us not the full historical Narration of all that was said and done in such Cases, but of so much as was Necessary. 8. The Institution and Nature of the Ordinance tells us, that Baptism could not be administered without a Profession, to the Adult: For they were to be Baptized into the Name of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, and therefore were to profess that they believed in Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Yea the very receiving of Baptism was an Actual Profession. 9. The constant Practice of the Universal Church, hath given us by infallible Tradition, as full assurance of the order of Baptism, and in particular of an Express Profession and Covenant then made, as of any point that by the hands of the Church can be received by us. 10. And it was in those days a more notorious Profession to be so Baptized, and to join in the holy Assemblies then now it is. When the Profession of Christianity did hazard mens liberties, estates, and lives, to be openly then Baptized upon Covenanting with God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, and openly join with a hated, persecuted sort of men, was ⟨p. 27⟩an eminent sort of Profession. It being also usually Private in houses, as separated from the main body of the people, and not in public places like ours, where men are (justly) driven to come as learners for instruction.

As to those Acts. 2. 37. &c. It is plain, that they made an open Profession, if you Consider 1. That they were openly told the Doctrine which they must be baptized into, if they did consent: 2. It is said, They that gladly received that word, were baptized. 3. It is certain therefore that they first testified their glad reception of the Word. 4. We may not imagine that Peter was God, or knew the hearts of all those thousands, and therefore he must know it by their Profession, that they gladly received the Word. 5. Their own mouths cry out for advice in order to

Moreover, it's said of all that were Baptized (being then at Age) that they first Believed: And how could the Baptizers know that they believed, but by their Profession: Yea, it's said of Simon Magus, that he Believed and was Baptized; which (though he might really have some historical Faith, yet) implieth, that he openly Professed more then he indeed had, or else he had scarce been Baptized. Which hath caused Interpreters to judge, that by Faith is meant a Profession of Faith. And if so, then sure a Profession was still Necessary.

Moreover, it's said of all that were Baptized (being then at Age) that they first Believed: And how could the Baptizers know that they believed, but by their Profession: Yea, it's said of Simon Magus, that he Believed and was Baptized; which (though he might really have some historical Faith, yet) implyeth, that he openly Professed more then he indeed had, or else he had scarce been Baptized. Which hath caused Interpreters to judge, that by Faith is meant a Profession of Faith. And if so, then sure a Profession was still Necessary.

Yea, Christ in his Commission directeth his Apostles to make Disciples, and then Baptize them; promising, that he that believeth and is Baptized shall be saved. And who can tell whether a man be a Disciple, a Believer, or an Infidel, but by his Profession.

How was it known but by their Profession, that the Samaritans Believed Philip, preaching the things concerning the Kingdom of God, and the Name of Jesus Christ, before they were Baptized both men and women? Act. 8. 12.

Philip caused the Eunuch to profess before he would Baptise him, that he believed that Jesus Christ is the Son of God; which upon his teaching the rest, did import the rest, if it were not more fully (as is likest) Professed, Act. 8 37, 38.

Philip caused the Eunuch to profess before he would Baptise him, that he believed that Jesus Christ is the Sonne of God; which upon his teaching the rest, did import the rest, if it were not more fully (as is likest) Professed, Act. 8 37, 38.

Saul had more then a bare Profession before Baptism, Acts 9. 5, 15, 17.

Cornelius and his company had a Profession and more, for they had the Holy Ghost poured on them, speaking with tongues, and magnifying God: (that use of the gift of tongues imparting more then the gift it self,) Acts 10. 46. Yea, the Spirit bid Peter, Go and not doubt, Acts 11. 12 And it was such a gift of the Spirit, as caused the Apostles to conclude, that God had granted the Gentiles Repentance unto life, Acts 11. 18.

Cornelius and his company had a Profession and more, for they had the Holy Ghost powred on them, speaking with tongues, and magnifying God: (that use of the gift of tongues imparting more then the gift it self,) Acts 10. 46. Yea, the Spirit bid Peter, Go and not doubt, Acts 11. 12 And it was such a gift of the Spirit, as caused the Apostles to conclude, that God had granted the Gentiles Repentance unto life, Acts 11. 18.

How was it known but by their Profession? Acts 11. 21. That that great number Believed and turned to the Lord, And the Grace of God was such as Barnabas saw, vers. 23.

And when Saul after his Baptism assayed to join himself to the Disciples at Jerusalem, they so suspected him, that they would not receive him, till Barnabas took him and brought him to the Apostles, and declared to them, how God had dealt with him, and how boldly at Damascus he had preached in ⟨p. 29⟩the Name of Jesus; which shows that they admitted not men to their Communion, till their Profession seemed Credible to them. For no doubt but Saul told them himself that he was a Believer, before he was put to make use of the testimony of Barnabas.

And when Saul after his Baptism assayed to joyn himself to the Disciples at Jerusalem, they so suspected him, that they would not receive him, till Barnabas took him and brought him to the Apostles, and declared to them, how God had dealt with him, and how boldly at Damascus he had preached in ⟨p. 29⟩the Name of Jesus; which shews that they admitted not men to their Communion, till their Profession seemed Credible to them. For no doubt but Saul told them himself that he was a Believer, before he was put to make use of the testimony of Barnabas.

The Converted Gentiles, Acts 13. 48. showed their Belief and gladness, and openly glorified the Word of the Lord. How but by a Profession did it come to pass, that the great multitude at Iconium, both Jews and Greeks, were known to be Believers, Acts 14. 1. The same I may say of the Jailer, Acts 16. Who by works as well as words declared his Conversion. And the Bereans, Acts 17. 12. And the Athenians, Acts 17. 34. And Crispus with the Corinthians, Acts 18. 8.

The Converted Gentiles, Acts 13. 48. shewed their Belief and gladness, and openly glorified the Word of the Lord. How but by a Profession did it come to pass, that the great multitude at Iconium, both Jews and Greeks, were known to be Believers, Acts 14. 1. The same I may say of the Jaylour, Acts 16. Who by works as well as words declared his Conversion. And the Bereans, Acts 17. 12. And the Athenians, Acts 17. 34. And Crispus with the Corinthians, Acts 18. 8.

Acts 19. 18. The believing Ephesians, Confessed and showed their deeds, and many of them burnt as many of their Books of ill Arts as came to fifty thousand pieces of silver.

Acts 19. 18. The believing Ephesians, Confessed and shewed their deeds, and many of them burnt as many of their Books of ill Arts as came to fifty thousand pieces of silver.