Chap. xxviii. Of Baptism S
1
BAPTISM is a sacrament of the New Testament ordained by Jesus Christ not only for the solemn admission of the party baptized into the visible church but also to be unto him a sign and seal of the Covenant of Grace of his ingrafting into Christ of regeneration of remission of sins and of his giving up unto God through Jesus Christ to walk in newness of life which sacrament is by Christs own appointment to be continued in his Church untill the end of the world
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THE outward element to be used in this sacrament is water wherewith the party is to be baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost by a minister of the Gospell lawfully called thereunto
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DIPPING of the person in the water is not necessary but baptism is rightly administred by pouring or sprinkling water upon the person
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NOT only those that do actually profess faith in and obedience unto Christ but also the infants of one or both believing parents are to be baptized
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ALTHOUGH it is a great sin to contemn or neglect this ordinance yet grace and salvation are not so inseparably annexed unto it as that no person can be regenerated or saved without it or that all that are baptized are undoubtedly regenerated
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THE efficacy of baptism is not tied to that moment of time wherein it is administred yet notwithstanding by the right use of this ordinance the grace promised is not only offered but really exhibited and conferred by the Holy Ghost to such (whether of age or infants) as that grace belongeth unto according to the counsell of Gods own will in his appointed time
7
THE sacrament of baptism is but once to be administred unto any person