Q. You fee then that Parents may covenant for their Children; that they may do this by Deputies, or Perfons fubftituted in their Stead, and that actually they do this in the Baptifm of their Children, who promife by them, their Covenant Part and Duty; even to renounce the Devil and all his Works, &c. Do you not think then that by this their Promife, they are bound to perform all the said Chriftian Du ties? A. Yes. Ecc. v. 4, 5. When thou voweft a Vow unto God, defer not to pay it. Better it is that thou fhouldft not vow, than that thou shouldft vow and not pay. Catechift. Let the Confideration of all thefe wighty Reafons; the Command of on. Applica God, our Interest and our Promises, effeEtually prevail upon us to believe and do as we have promifed. If we act contrary to all thefe Obligations, we shall incur the Guilt, not only of Difobedience against our highest Lord, but also of Cruelty against our own Souls; and both will be aggravated with Perfidy and Hypocrify. Wherefore, as we ever hope to bePartakers of God's Promises, let us diligently apply ourselves to perform the Conditions of them, efchewing those things that are contrary to our Profeffion, and following all fuch things as are agreeable to the fame, through Jefus Chrift our Lord, Sect. Sect. 5. Of the Means to perform our Baptifmal Vow and Duty. -And by God's Help fo I will: And I heartily thank our Heavenly Father, for that he hath called me to this State of Salvation, through Jefus Christ our Saviour. And I pray unto God to give me his Grace, that I may continue in the fame unto my Life's End. Catechift. You are here directed to fome Means and Helps for the Performing of thofe Duties to which you are fo obliged. And first, confidering the Obligations that lie upon you both from Intereft and Duty, to believe and do as you have promifed, you muft ftedfaftly refolve upon it. For a firm Refolution will help you much in your Endeavours. But confidering withal, how impotent and weak we are, not fufficient of ourfelves to think any thing as of ourselves, and that all our Sufficiency is of God, you muft purpose and promise nothing but by his Grace and Help. For the obtaining whereof, you must be heartily thankful to him for the Mercies that you have received; particularly for his calling you into the Chriftian Church and Covenant, wherein the Means of Grace and Salvation are afforded you. Whereas, with many others, you might have been without God, and without Hope in the World. Such diftinguishing Grace and Mercy in your Christian Vocation, fhould be always remembred by you with Love and Thankfulness to God. And you must muft humbly pray unto him for his Grace and Holy Spirit, to prevent, affift, and make you perfect in your Duty. For it is he that worketh in us, both to will and to do of his good Pleasure. By his preventing Grace he gives us the Will; By his affifting Grace he gives us Strength and Power; and by his confummating Grace, he gives the A&t or Accomplishment. The Questions and Answers. Q. By what Way or Means do you purpose to How we may perform what you promised in your Baptifm? perform our Baptifmal Do you expect to do this by your own Strength Duties. and Power? our own A. No. For we are not fufficient of our- Not by. felves to do any thing as of ourselves. 2 Cor. Strength. iii. 5. Q. Do you purpose and hope to do it by the But by Gods Affiftance and Grace of God? A. Yes. For he hath faid, My Grace is fufficient for thee. 2 Cor. xii. 9. Q. But to perform the promis'd Duty, What must be done by yourself on your Part? Muft you heartily refolve upon it? Affistance. A. Yes. Pf.cxix. 106. I have fworn, and Means to be will perform it, that I will keep thy righ- used by us. teous Judgments. Q. Muft this Refolution be made upon good 1. Refolu Grounds? A. Yes. Or else it will foon vanish like the Morning Dew. tion. Q. What 2. Thank fulness. 3. Frayer. The Help What are the Grounds or Reafons for founding fuch a Refolution? A. They are these three in general, viz. 1. The Command of God. 2. Our own Interest. 3. Our Vow or Promife. Upon all thefe Accounts we should ftedfaftly refolve upon our whole Chriftian Duty. Q. Is it not a great Mercy that you are called to be a Chriftian? A. Yes. For hereby I am translated out of the Kingdom of Darkness, into the Kingdom of God's dear Son. Col. i. 13. Q. Is not this a juft Matter and Cause of Thankfulness to God? A. Yes. Col. i. 12. Giving Thanks unto the Father, who hath made us meet to be Partakers of the Inheritance of the Saints in Light. Q. And is not this Thankfulness a Means of farther Grace and Mercy? A. Yes. For to every one that hath, (being thankful for it) more fhall be given, and he shall have Abundance, Mat. xxv.29. Q. And is not Prayer also another Special Means of Grace? A. Yes. For Christ hath faid, Ask, and it fhall be given you; Seek, and ye shall find; Knock, and it fhall be opened unto you. Luk. xi. 9. Q. What Help may we expect from God by which God fecking it in thefe Means? Do's he not afford us, affords us. 1. His preventing Grace? A. Yes. Heb.viii. 3. His perfecting and completing Grace? 1 Pet. V. 10. The God of all Grace, perfect, ftrengthen, fettle, stablish you. Catechift. Seeing then that Salvation is Applice freely offer'd us upon theGofpel-Terms,viz. in. Repentance, Faith, and Evangelical or New Obedience, with fufficient Means and Helps, whereby we may perform them, let us heartily blefs God for these inestimable Bleffings. 'Tis a peculiar Love wherewith he hath loved us, in vouchfafing us these Privileges. He hath not dealt fo with all Nations; As for the Heathens they have not known him; Praife ye the Lord. And being that earnest Prayer is one fpecial Means of Grace, let us diligently feek it of him in the Ufe of this holy Ordinance, that by his Grace preventing us, he would incline our Will, by his Grace affifting us, he would give us Strength and Power, and by his perfecting completing Grace, bring this Power into Act; and fupply us with Help continually, according to our Needs, till we arrive at the Perfection attainable in this Life. CHAP. |