N00254:213
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.
2. Baptism is an holy Privilege. That which only some have a right unto; viz. Those that are amongst the number of the Lords visible people. Baptism doth of right belong unto all and only such. To Christs Disciples, Joh. 4. 1. To Believers, or such as do visibly belong unto Jesus Christ, as his sheep, or as his lambs, Mark 16. 16. It is the mark and livery whereby Christs Servants are distinguished from those that worship other Gods. We know that amongst men, the Servants belonging […] great personages, use to wear such a Livery, […] they are known to be the Servants […] a Master. And the Lord Christ hath commanded that Baptism shall be the Livery, whereby his Servants shall be distinguished from others in the world. Now privileges are always attended with obligations unto duty. Inasmuch then, as Baptism is an holy privilege, it leaveth a drop Obligation upon the souls of those who are made the Subjects of it, that they approve themselves in all respects as becometh the Lords Servants to do.
2. Baptisme is an holy Priviledge. That which only some have a right unto; viz. Those that are amongst the number of the Lords visible people. Baptisme doth of right belong unto all and only such. To Christs Disciples, Joh. 4. 1. To Believers, or such as do visibly belong unto Jesus Christ, as his sheep, or as his lambs, Mark 16. 16. It is the mark and livery whereby Christs Servants are distinguished from those that worship other Gods. We know that amongst men, the Servants belonging 〈…〉 great personages, use to wear such a Livery, 〈…〉 they are known to be the Servants 〈…〉 a Master. And the Lord Christ hath commanded that Baptisme shall be the Livery, whereby his Servants shall be distinguished from others in the world. Now priviledges are alwayes attended with obligations unto duty. Inasmuch then, as Baptism is an holy priviledge, it leaveth a drop Obligation upon the souls of those who are made the Subjects of it, that they approve themselves in all respects as becometh the Lords Servants to do.