N00254:211
Practical truths tending to promote the power of godliness
Practical truths tending to promote the power of godliness: wherein several important duties, are urged, and the evil of divers common sins, is evinced; delivered in sundry sermons. / By Increase Mather, teacher of a church at Boston in New-England. ; [Ten lines of Scripture texts]
printed by Samuel Green upon assignment of Samuel Sewall, 1682
Baptised Persons are under Sacred and Awful Obligation to the Lord.
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.
Ans. 1. The truth of this Doctrine is evident, in that Baptism is a sign and seal of that Covenant which God hath through Jesus Christ, graciously established with the children of men.
Ans. 1. The truth of this Doctrine is evident, in that Baptisme is a sign and seal of that Covenant which God hath through Jesus Christ, graciously established with the children of men.
It hath seemed good to the wisdom of God, to appoint some visible signs, to be for tokens and intimations of the Covenant which is between himself and his people. When he made a Covenant with Abraham, he did institute that ordinance of Circumcision, to be for a sign of the Covenant? Gen. 17. 11. Hence we read of the Covenant of Circumcision, Act. 7.8. because the Subjects of that Ordinance, did by their submission thereunto; declare and testify that they became the words Covenant servants. The New Testament hath only two Seals or Sacraments annexed to it; the first of which is Baptism. Hence the Apostle in 1 Pot. 3, 21. speaking of Baptism, he speaketh also of the Answer of a good Conscience, which expression alludeth unto Stipulation or Covenanting with God, implying that in Baptism, men do come under a sacred Obligation to be the Lords. When it is propounded ⟨p. 98⟩to a man, wilt thou promise to be the servant of God, and of Jesus Christ? if he answers again▪ I will be so and doth make this promise in sincerity, that's the answer of a good Conscience, and then his Baptism doth (as a sign and seal of the Covenant) save him. The Covenant alone binds unto duty: but when sealed, that addeth to the Obligation. The bond is made the stronger thereby.
It hath seemed good to the wisdome of God, to appoint some visible signs, to be for tokens and intimations of the Covenant which is between himself and his people. When he made a Covenant with Abraham, he did institute that ordinance of Circumcision, to be for a sign of the Covenant?