Julian Pe 8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest Jerusalem. riod, 4740. the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and Vulgar Era, 27. The first In the Catechism it is affirmed, that we "are made members Passover. of Christ, children of God, and inheritors of the kingdom of heaven in baptism:" that a sacrament is " an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace given unto us," and that this sign or sacrament is "ordained by Christ himself as a means," that is an instrumental cause, or instrument of conveyance, "whereby we receive the same" inward grace, "and a pledge to assure us" of its collation: and that the inward and spiritual grace of baptism is "a death unto sin and a new birth unto righteousness;" the forgiveness of sin, implying the promise of power to resist and overcome it, and the gift of the Holy Ghost as the principle of a new life of righteousness. In proof of this, we are reminded that "being by nature born in sin, and children of wrath, we are made children of grace,' children of God, and partakers of his grace, by baptism. For if we are born in sin and children of wrath, we cannot become children of grace by baptism, unless we receive the forgiveness of sin and a new principle of righteousness, in the right use of that sacrament. In the office of confirmation, the regeneration of the parties before the Bishop, and the forgiveness of their sins in baptism, are directly and unequivocally asserted. "Almighty God, who hast vouchsafed to regenerate these thy servants by water and the Holy Ghost, and hast given them forgiveness of all their sins; strengthen them, we beseech thee, with the Holy Ghost the Comforter." And precisely in the same manner, we intrcat God in the Collect for Christmas Day, that "we being regenerate," that is, having been born again, " and made his children by adoption and grace, may be daily renewed by his Holy Spirit." For since the Liturgy every where teaches and assumes our adoption and regeneration in baptism, and never uses the word except in reference to baptism, the supposition that in this prayer the congregation is contemplated as unregenerate, and that we are praying for some other regeneration and adoption, is totally inconsistent with sound and just principles of interpretation. From a review then of the Articles and Liturgy we may derive the following conclusions. 1. They maintain the doctrine of regeneration in baptism in the most decided and unrestricted manner, grounding it on the same texts of Scripture, from which the ancient Christians had deduced it including under it the forgiveness of sin, the gift of the Holy Ghost, and the inheritance of the kingdom of heaven and never introducing the word itself except in conjunction with baptism. 2. They teach, in common with the writings of the ancient Christians, the necessity of faith and repentance as qualifications for the salutary effects of baptism. But they never contemplate any person, however qualified, as regenerate, till he is actually baptized. 3. They suppose that infants, who are necessarily free from actual sin, are duly qualified for baptism, and are looked on by God precisely in the same light as penitents and believers: and they unequivocally assert that every baptized infant without exception is born again. 4. They suppose that all baptized persons, whether infants or adults, contract a solemn engagement to holiness and newness of life; and that their continuance in the state of salvation to which they are called depends on their future conduet. Julian Pe- whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Jerusalem. riod, 4740. Spirit. Vulgar Era, 27. The first 5. They lay down a very plain and broad distinction between Passover. this grace of regeneration, and conversion, repentance, renovation, and such Christian virtues and changes of the inward frame, as require the concurrence of man's will and endeavours, imply degrees, and are capable of increase. The Reformers of the Church of England, and foreign divines, afford the same testimony as is here given from Dean Bethell's admirable and conclusive treatise. If it be said that this doctrine of baptismal regeneration is inconsistent with reason, and that it is impossible that the mere sprinkling of the human body with water, can be attended with a change so important, we may observe, that the characteristic or peculiar doctrines of Christianity are addressed exclusively to our faith. Christ's hearers were required to believe upon the strength of those evidences that were before them, and in direct opposition to their popular prejudices and prepossessions, that he was the Messiah, or he that should come into the world. In the same manner the doctrines which relate to his person and the purposes of his mission; his Godhead and incarnation, redemption, atonement, sanctification by his spirit, the resurrection of the body, and the circumstances of the last judgement; are proposed to our faith; and the benefit which we are to derive from them depends in a great measure upon the steadfastness of our belief in their certainty. What is the exact nature of the union between God and man in our Saviour's person; how the death of Christ atones for our sins, and purges our consciences from dead works; by what physical process the Holy Ghost acts upon the human soul; are questions with which we have no concern. If the truths themselves are plainly revealed in Scripture, and Scripture contains the word of God, we must receive them with the same assurance as if we could analyze and expound them with the most minute accuracy, and penetrate into the secret parts of the divine economy. But the doctrine of regeneration in baptism stands precisely on the same footing with these weighty truths, and harmonizes with the whole scheme of revealed religion. It is proposed to our belief, and is intended to be a test and exercise of it: it demands of us the same kind of assent, which we owe to the other peculiar doctrines of Christianity, and it is our business to believe it in the simplicity with which it is taught us, without attempting to unravel God's mysterious operations on the soul, and without being offended at the meanness of the instruments, through which pardon and grace are made over to us. But farther. Regeneration in baptism, implying this close connection between the grace bestowed and the sign which denotes it, is an act of tenderness and mercy, not less worthy of God's infinite benevolence, than analogous to the whole course of his dealings with man. Goodness indeed, I am persuaded, is the leading feature of his government, and the key to his mysterious dispensations: and those theological systems, which straiten his goodness, and depend principally on abstract views of his sovereignty and glory, will be found on investigation to have no foundation in his word, nor in the history and experience of mankind. But if man, considered as an alien from God and a child of wrath, had been left to collect the assurance of adoption into his family, and restoration to his favour, in Jalian Pe 9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can Jerusalem. riod, 4740. these things be? Vulgar Era, 27. The first Passover. the best way that he was able, without any specific form or po sitive consignation of these privileges and blessings; he would economy. What is contended then is, that regeneration, according to the language and doctrine of Scripture, and our own Church, is a mystical change of spiritual condition, and relationship to God, implying in capable subjects a moral, or practical change, already begun, and requiring from all baptized persons a moral change and improvement: and that it is not a mystical renewal of the inward frame, a mystical or miraculous change of man's moral nature, qualities, and habits (p). (a) Verba Jesu non accurate cohærere cum Nicodemi alloquio, atque hunc plura protulisse, a Johanne omissa, mihi quidem cum aliis interpretibus persuasissimum est. Neque enim facile perspicitur, quà de causâ Jesus statim delatus sit in commemorationem eorum, quæ v. 3. continet, nisi Nicodemus alia quædam dixisset, et interrogasset, quæ Jesum, eo deduxissent. Attamen Langius in loc: contendit omnia bene cohærere, nihilque esse omissum; Jesum nimirum-cum videret Nicodemum, ne in collegarum invidiam et odium incurreret, noctu ad se venire, hâc timiditate offensum nullâ morâ ei respondisse, qui non publice, suscipiendo baptismo, atque andiendâ meà doctrina, profitetur, se esse meum sectatorem, eum non curo, non in numerum regni mei civium recipiam.-Kuinoel, comm. in lib. Hist. N. T. vol. iii. p. 196-7. (b) Nicodemus was convinced that Christ was a divine teacher, but he did not dare to confess him openly. On this account our Lord reproved him by his apparently abrupt address: he tells him that all such compliance with the opinions of men must be done away. From this commencement our Lord proceeds to declare in what manner his disciples were to be admitted into his Church. With this key we may easily pass through the several parts of this conversation, which, properly considered, will be found to have a just and regular dependance upon one another. Dr. Owen, ap. Bowyer's Conjectures, p. 264. (c) Brescith Rabba, sect. 39. fol. 38. 2. Bammidbar Rabba, sect. 2. fol. 211. 2. et Tanchuma, fol. 5. 2. Dixit R. Berachia: Deus Genes. xii. 2. noo K Julian Pe- The first 10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a Jerusalem. master of Israel, and knowest not these things? 11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. 12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? 13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: ,ואעשך ponam aut constituam te, sed אתנך ואשימך dicit ad Abrahamum namque ego te facio creaturam משאני ערשי אותך בריה חדשה et faciam te novam. (d) Dixit R. Eliezer, fil. Simra ad verba Gen. xii. 5. cur hoc per oleum unctionis Sacerdos factus est creatura nova. (f) Sohar Levit. על ידי שמן המשחה נעשה הכהן ברייה חדשה .1 .105 .e) Jalkut Rubeni, fol) בר נש דאתיליד לא אתמנא עליה רוחא דלעילא ער ריתגזר כיון .154 .fol.39. col c. Homo recens natus non& ותגזר אתער עליה רוחא אתערותא דלעילא statim accipit Spiritum supernum, donec circumcidatur. Cum vero Julian Pe 15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, Jerusalem. riod, 4740. but have eternal life. Vulgar Æra, 27. The first 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not Passover. perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. Soon after the first Passover SECTION VII. John's last testimony to Christ. JOHN iii. 22. to the end. 22 After these things came Jesus and his disciples into Judæ. the land of Judæa; and there he tarried with them, and baptized. 23 And John also was baptizing in Enon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized. 24 For John was not yet cast into prison. 25 Then there arose a question between some of John's disciples and the Jews about purifying. 26 And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him. 27 John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven. 28 Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him. 29 He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice 16: this my joy therefore is fulfilled". 16 This final address of the Baptist cannot be understood, unless we keep in view a peculiar custom which prevailed among the Jews. At every wedding two persons were selected, |