N00254:227
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.
6. Baptism doth oblige Christians unto unity amongst themselves. It is a Seal of that spiritual union which believers have, both with Christ, and also through Christ, one with another, 1 Cor. 12.13. We are all baptised into one body. It doth declare the Subjects of it, to be servants belonging to the same Master: and that therefore they ought to be at unity amongst themselves. Hence the Apostle useth that Argument to persuade Christians to endeavour to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace, because there is one baptism, Eph. 4. 5. They are all baptised into one and the same Name, dedicated and devoted to be the Servants of one and the same Lord Jesus. Therefore bound to be and continue one amongst themselves; and to beware how they make a Schism in the body, or amongst the members of Christ.
6. B aptisme doth oblige Christians unto unity amongst themselves. It is a Seal of that spiritual union which believers have, both with Christ, and also through Christ, one with another, 1 Cor. 12.13. We are all baptised into one body. It doth declare the Subjects of it, to be servants belonging to the same Master: and that therefore they ought to be at unity amongst themselves. Hence the Apostle useth that Argument to perswade Christians to endeavour to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace, because there is one baptisme, Eph. 4. 5. They are all baptised into one and the same Name, dedicated and devoted to be the Servants of one and the same Lord Jesus. Therefore bound to be and continue one amongst themselves; and to beware how they make a Schisme in the body, or amongst the members of Christ.
7. Baptism doth oblige men unto constancy in the way of obedience. It is an everlasting bond. A mark of the Lord, which leaveth an eternal obligation unto duty upon the Souls of men. The Covenant is perpetual,