But besides, suppose that none of these things were found in Infants, yet it is a profane and blasphemous speech, to say, that the Baptism of Infants maketh the holy Ordinance a lying sign, because none of those things are found in Infants, which the Ordinance holdeth forth, and signifieth, unless you were able to make it good, that Baptism holdeth forth and signifieth nothing, but what is already found in the Infants. But you cannot be ignorant, that Baptism signifieth and sealeth up not only good thing• found already in the baptized, but also good things promised, and as yet to come, as Resurrection from the dead, 1 Cor. 15.29. Saving out of afflictions and persecutions, which were then ready to overwhelm all the Churches in the Roman Empire, as ⟨p. 166⟩Noah's flood did the whol• world, which is the meaning of Peters words in the place which you quote, 1 Pet. 3.21. To say nothing, that baptism signifieth and sealeth up the growth of all spiritual gifts, and blessings, as well as the gift of them. And growth is a blessing future to the baptized, as well as the gift may be future to some Infants baptized. Yea, it is an holy truth of God, that Baptism is as well the sign and seal of the promise of God, as the sign and seal of any gift of God already bestowed. Now Promises are of blessings to come. Circumcision was a sign and seal of the Land of Promise, to be given, as well as of the righteousness of Faith to Abraham, which he had already received. Yea, the same Circumcision which was to Abraham a sign and a seal of the righteousness of the Faith, which he had already received, wa• to Isaac a sign and seal of the righteousness of Faith promised, but not received. Yea, that gracious Promise of God, that he would circumcise the hearts of his people Israel, and of their seed, (Deut. 30.6.) what was it else but an exposition and declaration of the meaning of their Circumcision, that as they had received the outward sign in the flesh, so they should receive (they and their seed) the thing signified in their heart and spirit? It is no lying sign that holdeth forth and sealeth, that which is done, or which is promised to be done in due time, as much as i• meet for him to do that promiseth.
But besides, suppose that none of these things were found in Infants, yet it is a profane and blasphemous speech, to say, that the Baptisme of Infants maketh the holy Ordinance a lying sign, because none of those things are found in Infants, which the Ordinance holdeth forth, and signify•th, unlesse you were able to make it good, that Baptisme holdeth forth and signifieth nothing, but what is already found in the Infants. But you cannot bee ignorant, that Baptisme signifieth and sealeth up not onely good thing• found already in the baptized, but also good things promised, and as yet to come, as Resurrection from the dead, 1 Cor. 15.29. Saving out of afflictions and persecutions, which were then ready to overwhelme all the Churches in the Romane Empire, as ⟨p. 166⟩Noahs flood did the whol• world, which is the meaning of Peters words in the place which you quote, 1 Pet. 3.21. To say nothing, that •aptisme signifieth and sealeth up the growth of all spirituall gifts, and blessings, as well as the gift of them. And growth is a blessing future to the baptized, as well as the gift may bee future to some Infants baptized. Yea, it is an holy truth of God, that Baptisme is as well the signe and seale of the promise of God, as the signe and seale of any gift of God already bestowed. Now Promises are of blessings to come. Circumcision was a signe and seale of the Land of Promise, to bee given, as well as of the righteousnesse of Faith to Abraham, which hee had already received. Yea, the same Circumcision which was to Abraham a signe and a seale of the righteousnesse of the Faith, which hee had already received, wa• to Isaac a sign and seale of the righteousnesse of Faith promised, but not received. Yea, that gracious Promise of God, that hee would circumcise the hearts of his people Israel, and of their seed, (Deut. 30.6.) what was it else but an exposition and declaration of the meaning of their Circumcision, that as they had received the outward signe in the flesh, so they should receive (they and their seed) the thing signified in their heart and spirit? It is no lying signe that holdeth forth and sealeth, that which is done, or which is promised to bee done in due time, as much as i• meet for him to doe that promiseth.
