comest thou to me? Some will not be baptized except it be proven that they have need of it. Their carnal Argument is, May I not go to Heaven though I be not baptized? Is it of Necessity to Salvation? Now this is selfish and unholy. Is this like your Lord and Master? Was not he a perfect Saviour? Was not the Spirit poured on him without measure? He had no sins to be washed away, and yet he was baptized; wherefore see your Example, he doth it not of need but of Obedience to his Father's will.

Fifthly, Note the excellent Terms which our Lord Jesus gives to this Ordinance of Baptism. 1. He calls it Righteousness, Matt. 3. 15. 'Tis righteous and just that I should be about my Father's business. 2. He declares it to be a comely thing, it becomes us: Oh it is a very comely thing in God's Children, to have respect to all the Commandments of God. 3. He mentions a Conjunction between himself and his people. This is implied in the word us-Thus it becometh us). He means thee and me, and all my Followers." John 12. 26. If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be. 4. He speaks of it as a Completion, it is a fulfilling. We are to aim at

this; 2. Cor. 10. 5, 6, “bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; ver. 6, having a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience shall be fulfilled." Obedience must be fulfilled. 5. He uses the universal term (all righteousness). Baptism is one part of the all. canst not walk in all the Commands, nor fulfil all righteousness, if this be omitted.

Christ reckons it so, Thou

Sixthly, Note, Concerning Christ's Baptism the form of Administration, Matt. 3. 16. And he went up straightway out of the water. (Straightway)—because Baptism is once Dipping. (Up)-had he not been down, it would not have been said that he went up. (He went) and therefore he was not carried in arms as infants are. (Out)-if he went out of the water then he must have been in it: we never say one goes out of the house when he never was in, so Christ could not be said to come out of the water, had he not been in. (He went up out)-had a little water been brought to him in a bason, he had not been said to go up out of it. (Of the water)—this water was the River of Jordan: Christ stoops to notice small things because they were mixed up with a divine Ordinance.

Seventhly, Note, Concerning

Christ's

Baptism, the Father's Acceptance, Matt. 3. 16, 17. (The heavens were opened:)- some of Christ's Followers have found glorious openings of Heaven in Baptism. (The Spirit descended)-the very same that is promised to Believers in their Baptism, Acts 2. 38. Repent, and be Baptized every one of you, and ye shall receive the Holy Ghost. [Objection. But doth every one receive the Holy Ghost that is baptized? Answer. If not, the defect lies not in Baptism, but in the want of Faith and Repentance; without which no Ordinance is effectual.] (And lo, a voice from Heaven, This is My beloved Son)-Christ, as Head of his Church, was sealed for the whole body; and in Baptism the Sonship of his Members is held forth. (In him I am well pleased)not only in all he hath done and doth do, but in this very Act of Baptism, as an Act of Obedience to my glorious Will, I am well pleased, and so is the Lord well pleased with the same Act of Obedience in all believers, wherein from the heart we obey the form of Doctrine delivered to us, Rom. 6. 17. This same Voice bore witness to the blessed Son of God in the Mount, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him, Luke, 9. 35. Hear him in his Commands and Appointments.

Hear him.

now in his Baptism. Oh, saith Christ, thus it becometh us; you that have my Father for your Father, you that have my God for your God: Thus it becometh us to be baptized and to fulfil all righteousness. He is God's beloved Son, hear him.

Eighthly, Note, How in Christ's Baptism the Trinity doth as it were meet; the Father speaks with a voice, the Son is baptized in Person, the Holy Ghost descends like a Dove: and surely it is one Reason, why Baptism in special is to be administered in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, because he who doth sincerely believe, and is baptized, hath the whole Trinity, the Father, Son, and Spirit, for his portion. The glorious Union of the Trinity, in Christ's Baptism, is in every Believer's Baptism commemorated, and therefore it deserveth to be reverently thought upon. He that despiseth an Ordinance in which that sacred Name is named should beware lest he be found guilty of taking the Name of the Lord in vain.

CHA P. I I.

Of the great Commission for Believers'

Baptism.

S you have heard something concerning your great Pattern, the Lord Jesus:

A

so now I shall show something concerning his Command, Matt. 28. 19. And I pray you note what is said of our Lord Jesus in Acts 1. 1. Christ is said both to do and to teach: 'tis good for Teachers to imitate their Lord both to do and teach. In ver. 2. we read, He was taken up, after that he through the Spirit had given Commandments to his Apostles; of which Commandments, this of Believers' Baptism is certainly one, as you see in Matt. 28. 18, 19, 20. The great God gave him to be a Commander and Leader to his People, Isa. 55. 4. Christ is a Gift as a Commander; Oh what Mercy it is to have such a wise Commander, whose Commandments to Believers are not grievous; in