26a The Gofpel-Myflery Direa. XIII. It ; and as many ignorant people do, that truft ra- they on their baptifm, than on him ; like the Phari- fees, who placed their confidence on circumcifion, and other external privileges, Phil. iii. 4, 5. We are to know, that God is not well pleafed with ma- ny that are baptifed, I Cor. x. 2. 5. and the time will'come, when he will punifh the baptifed with the unbaptifed, as well as the circumcifed with the un- circumcifed, Jer. ix 25. Beware all() of advancing baptifm to an equal partnerfhip with faith in your falvation ; as force do, who account all baptifm null and void, befides that which is administered to per- lons grown up to years of difcretion ; and they that refufe to be rebaptifed at thofe years, are to be ac- counted aliens from the true church, from Chrift and his falvation, notwitliftanding all their faith in him. if the baptifmof infantswere null and void; yet the want of trne baptifmwould be no damning mat- ter to thofe that are otherwife perfuaded. Circum- cifion was as neceffary as baptifm in its time; and yet the lfraelites omitted it for the fpace of forty years in the wildernefs, without fearing, that any fhould fall fhort of falvation for want of it. Jofh. y. 6, 7. Many precious faints in the primitive times of perfecution, haying gone to heaven through abap- tifm of fuffering for the name of Chrift, before they had oppOrtunity to be baptifed with water. And, in thofe ancient times, when the cuftom of deferring baptifm too much prevailed, we are not to think that none were in.a Rate of falvation by faith in Chrift that deferred that ordinance, or negle6ted it. Take notice further, that it is not fufficient to avoid the pernicious errors of thofe that pervert baptifm, con- trary to its inftitution ; but you muft be alfodiligent in improving it to the enda for which it was inftitut- ed. And here let me defire you to put the cpieftion ferioufty to your fouls, What good life do you make of your baptifm? How often, orfeldom, do you think upon it ? The vulgar fort of Chriftians, yea, it may
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