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SECT. 3. The doctrine and instructions of the Apostles relating to this institution.

Brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud, and in the sea; and did all eat the same spiritual meat; and did all drink the same spiritual drink; for they drank of that spiritual rock that followed them; and that rock was Christ. The like figure whereunto, even baptism, doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience towards God) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ". In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ; buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him, through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. Christ loved the church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word; that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy, and without blemish. Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost".

Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ, were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death; that, like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life'. For, if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and

§ 3. 1 Cor. x. 1—4.

d Eph. v. 25, 26, 27.
* Rom. vi. 5.

b 1 Pet. iii. 21.

c Col. ii. 11, 12.

• Tit. iii. 5.

f Rom. vi. 3, 4.

Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ, have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female; for ye are all one in Christ Jesus'. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free*.

The practice in dispensing this holy ordinance in the apostolic age.

"Before we leave this article relating to baptism, it may be proper to take notice of what the Scripture has recorded concerning the practice of the Apostles and Evangelists in dispensing this holy ordinance: and it appears that whoever professed their belief of this one article of faith, viz. That Jesus was the Christ, and the Son of God, were immediately received by baptism into full communion with the Apostles and saints. This seems to have been the uniform practice in the apostolic age. Thus we read, that, on the preaching of Peter, his hearers" were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter, and to the rest of the Apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and ye shall receive the Holy Ghost. Then they that gladly received his word, were baptized'.

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"When the Ethiopian eunuch was instructed by Philip, and had desired to be baptized, Philip states the terms of admission in these words: If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still; and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him". "In like manner, when

h Eph. iv. 4, 5, 6.
1 Acts, ii. 37, 38, 41.

m

Gal. iii. 26, 27, 28. * 1 Cor. xii. 13.
Acts, viii, 37, 38.

Ananias had restored Saul to his sight, and had informed him of the great purposes of God in calling him, he adds," And now, why tarriest thou? Arise, and be baptized; and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord". "While Peter taught in the house of Cornelius," the Holy Ghost fell on all them who heard the word. Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost, as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord'. "Thus also we read of Lydia (the seller of purple) being baptized, and her household; of the jailor in that same city of Philippi being baptized, he and all his1; and Crispus the chief ruler of the synagogue at Corinth who" believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing, believed, and were baptized". "To the same purpose is the interview of Paul with the disciples at Ephesus:" He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there

be any Holy Ghost. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus'.

ARTICLE IV.

OF THE LORD'S SUPPER.

SECT. 1. The institution of this holy ordinance.2. The abuse of this sacred institution among the Corinthians corrected by the Apostle Paul.-A note concerning the frequent celebration of this divine ordinance.

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SECT. 1. The institution of this holy ordinance.

LABOUR not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you. I am the bread of life; he that cometh to me, shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me, shall never thirst".

Now the first day of the feast of unleavened bread, the disciples caine to Jesus, saying unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the passover? And he said, Go into the city, to such a man, and say unto him, The master saith, My time is at hand, I will keep the passover at thy house, with my disciples. And the disciples did as Jesus had appointed them; and they made ready the passover. And when the hour was come, he sat down and the twelve Apostles with him. And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer. For I say unto you, I will not eat any more thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God. And as they were eating, Jesus took bread and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; for this is my blood of the New Testament which is shed for many, for the remission of sins. But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom. And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the New Testament in my blood, which is shed for you. And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them and they all drank of it. And he said unto them, This is my blood of the New Testament, which is

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shed for many. Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God.

SECT. 2. The abuse of this sacred institution among the Corinthians corrected by the Apostle Paul. Now in this, that I declare unto yon, I praise you not, that you come together not for the better, but for the worse. When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper. For in eating, every one taketh before another his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken. What, have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not. For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus, the same night in which he was betrayed, took bread; and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat; this is my body broken for you; this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also, he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the New Testament in my blood; this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For, as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till he come. The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we being many, are one bread, and one body; for we are all partakers of that one bread. I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils. Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils. Ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils. Wherefore, whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord unworthily; shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him

Mark, xiv. 22-25. §2.1 Cor. xi. 17.

d

1 Cor. x. 20, 21.

b 1 Cor. xi. 20-26. · 1 Cor. x. 16, 17.

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