Metaphor. | Parallel.
When one is buried, it imports him to be dead, for none but such ought to be buried. | When one is baptized, he ought to be dead to Sin, that is, converted by the Power of God's Word to Gospel-Truth, which always makes the Soul loath and detest Sin, and then that Soul may be said indeed to be dead to Sin. This may be evidenced by this Consideration, That Baptism is an illustrious Symbol of the Death of Christ our Saviour, who died for us. I am he that was dead, and am alive; behold, I live for evermore. The true Administration of this Sacrament visibly figures it to us; and to that end it was instituted, viz. to confirm that great and glorious Truth of his being really a Man, and so capable of suffering or passing through the Death of the Cross, 1into which Death we are baptized; and then being dead to Sin, and to this World, we are to live in newness of Life amongst the Saints in the Kingdom of God.
II. When one is buried, he ought to be covered all over with Earth, else 'tis no Burial. |
II. When one is baptized, he ought to be covered all over with Water, or else 'tis no Baptism. Which fully appears, 1. From the Nature of Burial. 2. From the proper and Metaphorical Significations of the Word, (as is largely opened). 3. From Scripture-Practice, which always was by Dipping, as all the Learned that are impartial acknowledge. 4. From the constant Practice of Antiquity, who retained the right Form until Clinical Baptism, (viz. such who deferred their Baptism till their sick Bed) came to be used about Cyprian's time, in the third Century. These Clinici (so called, because [Greek or Hebrew] baptized in their Bed,) were such as delayed their Baptism until their Death-Beds, because they believed it would take away all Sin, and that there was no Pardon if they sinned after receiving it; yet not daring to go out of the World without this great Badge of Christianity, deferred it till they thought they were in danger of Death: And since they could not without peril of Life be dipped, Sprinkling was invented to serve the turn. For a like Reason (as was said before) they changed the Mode of Administration with respect to Infants, when their Baptism was introduced, out of regard to their tender Constitutions, especially in cold Countries & Seasons.
Metaphor. | Parallel.
WHen one is buried, it imports him to be dead, for none but such ought to be buried. | WHen one is baptized, he ought to be dead to Sin, that is, converted by the Power of God's Word to Gospel-Truth, which always makes the Soul loath and detest Sin, and then that Soul may be said indeed to be dead to Sin. This may be evidenced by this Consideration, That Baptism is an illustrious Symbol of the Death of Christ our Saviour, who died for us. I am he that was dead, and am alive; behold, I live for evermore. The true Administration of this Sacrament visibly figures it to us; and to that end it was instituted, viz. to confirm that great and glorious Truth of his being really a Man, and so cabable of suffering or passing through the Death of the Cross, 1into which Death we are baptized; and then being dead to Sin, and to this World, we are to live in newness of Life amongst the Saints in the Kingdom of God.
II. When one is buried, he ought to be covered all over with Earth, else 'tis no Burial. |
II. When one is baptized, he ought to be covered all over with Water, or else 'tis no Baptism. Which fully appears, 1. From the Nature of Burial. 2. From the proper and Metaphorical Significations of the Word, (as is largely opened). 3. From Scripture-Practice, which always was by Dipping, as all the Learned that are impartial acknowledg. 4. From the constant Practice of Antiquity, who retained the right Form until Clinical Baptism, (viz. such who deferred their Baptism till their sick Bed) came to be used about Cyprian's time, in the third Century. These Clinici (so called, because 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 baptized in their Bed,) were such as delayed their Baptism until their Death-Beds, because they believed it would take away all Sin, and that there was no Pardon if they sinned after receiving it; yet not daring to go out of the World without this great Badge of Christianity, deferr'd it till they thought they were in danger of Death: And since they could not without peril of Life be dipp'd, Sprinkling was invented to serve the turn. For a like Reason (as was said before) they changed the Mode of Administration with respect to Infants, when their Baptism was introduced, out of regard to their tender Constitutions, especially in cold Countries & Seasons.
- 1Rom. 6.3, 4, 5.
