FIRST. But in world has long been divided on thefe fubour notions about the facraments: the jects; and a gracious God, it may be hoped, will pardon our errors. matters of practice we have no apology for error. The great lines of our duty are not error, but guilt. drawn fo ftrong, that a deviation here is 238 What the primary, and what the fecon- God might intend them as trials of our faith. The divine truths of the gofpel fpeak for themselves: but the performance of a pofitive duty refts only on faith. Thefe inftitutions are alfo ftrong argaments for the truth of chriftianity. We trace the obfervance of them into the very earliest times of the gofpel. We can trace no other origin than what the fcriptures give us. These rites therefore greatly tend to corroborate the fcriptures. God alfo, who knows what is in man, might condefcend fo far to his weakness, make it our principal care to purify our Let us then, to conclude from the whole, him to increase the influence of his Holy hearts in the fight of God. Let us befeech that kind "which worketh by love;" that Spirit within us, that our faith may be of all our affections, and from them our actions, may flow in a fleady courfe of obeby a fincere repentance of our mistakes in dience; that each day may correct the last life; and that we may continue gradually to approach nearer the idea of chriftian after all, any merits of our own; and not perfection. Let us do this, difclaiming, trufting in outward obfervances; but trufting in the merits of Chrift to make up acceptance with God. our deficiencies; and we need not fear our Gilpin § 171. ON CONFIRMATION. ACTS viii. 17. received the Holy Ghost. as to give him thefe external badges of re- Then laid they their hands on them, and they ligion, to keep the fpirit of it more alive. And it is indeed probable, that nothing has contributed more than these ceremonies to preferve a fenfe of religion among mankind. It is a melancholy proof of this, that no contentions in the chriftian church have been more violent, nor carried on with more acrimony, and unchriftian zeal, than the contentions about baptifm and the Lord's fupper; as if the very effence of religion confifted in this or that mode of obferving these rites. But this is the abufe of them. Let us be better taught: let us receive thefe facraments, for the gracious purposes for which our Lord injoined them, with gratitude, and with reverence. not lay a greater refs But let us Lord intended. Heaven, we doubt not, upon them than our may be gained, when there have been the means of receiving neither the one facrament nor the other. But unless our affections are right, and our lives anfwerable to them, we can never please God, though we perform the externals of religion with ever fo much exactness. We may err in * See long, is this. Philip the deacon, ordained The hiftory, to which these words beat the fame time with St. Stephen, had converted and baptized the people of Samaria; which the apostles at Jerufalem hearing, fent down to them Peter and John, two of their own body; who, by prayer, accompanied with impofition of hands, obtained for them a greater degree than they had yet received, of the facred doubtedly was done on their fignifying in influences of the Divine Spirit, which unfome manner, fo as to be understood, their adherence to the engagement into which they had entered at their baptifm. practice of the apoftles, is derived, what From this and the like inftances of the bishops, their fucceffors, though every way beyond comparison inferior to them, have practifed ever fince, and which we now call confirmation. Preaching was common to all ranks of ministers: baptizing was performed ufually by the lower rank: but, perhaps to maintain a due fubordination, Cor. xi. it was referved to the higheft, by prayer and laying on of hands to communicate further meafures of the Holy Ghoft. It was indeed peculiar to the apoftles, that on their interceffion his extraordinary and miraculous gifts were beftowed: which continued in the church no longer, than the need of them did; nor can we fuppofe, that all were partakers of them. But unquestionably by their petitions they procured, for every fincere convert, a much more valuable, though lefs remarkable bleffing, of univerfal and perpetual neceffity, his ordinary and faving graces. For thefe therefore, after their example, trufting that God will have regard, not to our unworthiness, but to the purposes of mercy which he hath appointed us to ferve, we intercede now, when perfons take upon themselves the vow of their baptifm. For this good end being now come amongst you, though I doubt not but your minifters have given you proper inftructions on the occafion; yet I am defirous of adding fomewhat further, which may not only acquaint more fully thofe, who are especially concerned, with the nature of what they are about to do, but remind you all of the. obligations which chriftianity lays upon you. And I cannot perform it better, than by explaining to you the office of confirmation, to which you may turn in your prayer books, where it ftands immediately after the catechism. There you will fee, in the first place, a preface, directed to be read; in which notice is given, that for the more edifying of fuch as receive confirmation, it fhall be ad ministered to none but thofe, who can anfiver to the questions of the catechifm preceding: that to children may come to years of fome difcretion, and learn what the promife made for them in baptifm was, before they are called upon to ratify and confirm at before the church with their own confent, and to engage that they will evermore obferve it. Prayers may be offered up for infants with very good effect. Promifes may be made in their name by fuch as are authorifed to act for them; efpecially when the things promifed are for their intereft, and will be their duty; which is the cafe of thofe in baptifm. But no perfons ought to make promises for themfelves, till they reasonably well understand the nature of them, and are capable of forming ferious purposes. Therefore, in the prefent cafe, being able to fay the words of the catechifm, is by no means enough, without a competent general knowledge of their meaning, and intention of behaving as it requires them; which doubtless they are fuppofed to have at the fame time. And if they have not, making a profeffion of it, is declaring with their mouths what they feel not in their hearts at the inftant, and will much lefs reflect upon afterwards: it is hoping to please God by the empty outward performance of a religious rite, from which if they had been withheld till they were duly qualified, their fouls might have been affected, and their conduct influenced by it, as long as they lived. Therefore I hope and beg, that neither minifters nor parents will be too eager for bringing children very early to confirmation: but firft teach them carefully to know their duty fufficiently, and refolve upon the practice of it heartily; then introduce them to this ordinance: which they fhall not fail to have opportunities of attending in their neighbourhood, from time to time, fo long as God continues my life and ftrength. But as there are fome too young for confirmation, fome alfo may be thought too old; efpecially, if they have received the holy facrament without it. Now there are not indeed all the fame reafons for the confirmation of fuch, as of others: nor hath the church, I believe, determined any thing about their cafe, as it might be thought unlikely to happen. But ftill, fince it doth happen too frequently, that perfons were not able, or have neglected, to apply for this purpofe: fo whenever they apply, as by doing it they exprefs a defire to fulfil all righteousness; and may certainly receive benefit, both from the profeflion and the prayers, appointed in the office; my judgment is, that they should not be rejected, but encouraged. Only I must intreat you to observe, that when you take thus on yourfelves the engagement of leading a chriftian life, you are to take it once for all; and no more to think of ever being confirmed a fecond time, than of being baptized a fecond time. After directing, Who are to be confirmed, Matth. iii. 15. the the office goes on to direct, How they are Now the things promifed in our name, were, to renounce whatever God hath forbidden, to believe what He hath taught, and to practise what He hath commanded. Nobody can promife for infants abfolutely, that they fhall do these things; but only, that they fhall be inftructed and admonished to do them: and, it is hoped, not in vain. This inftruction and admonition, parents are obliged by nature to give; and if they do it effectually, god-fathers and god-mothers have no further concern, than to be heartily glad of it. But if the former fail, the latter muft fupply the failure, as far as they have opportunity of doing it with any reafonable profpect of fuccefs. For they were intended, not to release the parents from the care of their children, which nothing can; but for a double fecurity, in a cafe of fuch importance. If nothing at all had been promifed in our names, we had ftill been bound, as foon as we were capable of it, to believe in God, and obey him. But we are more early and more firmly bound, as not only this hath been promifed for us, but care hath been taken to make us fenfible of our obligation to perform it: which obligation therefore, perfons are called upon, in the question under confideration, to ratify and confirm. And great caufe have they to answer that they do. For doing it is a duty, on which their eternal felicity peculiarly depends: as a little attention to what I am about to fay will clearly fhew you. Our first parents, even while they were innocent, had no title to happiness, or to existence, but from God's notification of his good pleasure: which being conditional, when they fell, they loft it; and derived to us a corrupt and mortal nature, intitled to nothing; as both the diseases and the poverty of ancestors often defcend to their diftant pofterity. This bad condition we fail not, from our first use of reafon, to make worse, in a greater or less degree, by actual tranfgreffions: and fo perfonally deferve the difpleasure, inftead of favour, of him who made us. that, as he is good, he will, on our reYet we may hope, pentance, forgive us. alfo juft and wife, and the ruler of the world; But then, as he is we could never know with certainty, of the honour of his government, might reourselves, what his juftice and wifdom, and ther he would pardon greater offences at quire of him with refpect to finners: wheall; and whether he would reward those, whom he might be pleafed not to punish. But most happily the revelation of his holy word hath cleared up all thefe doubts of unaffifted reason: and offered to the worst of finners, on the condition of faith in Chrift, added to repentance, and produc tive of good works (for all which he is ready to enable us) a covenant of pardon for fins paft, affiftance against fin for the future, and eternal life in return for a finferving obedience. cere, though imperfect, and totally unde nant is, being baptized in the name of the The method of entering into this coveis, into the acknowledgment of the myfteFather, the Son, and the Holy Ghost: that three; and of the diftinct offices, which rious union and joint authority of thefe together with a faithful engagement of they have undertaken for our salvation: paying fuitable regard to each of them. In this appointment of baptifm, the wathing with water aptly fignifies, both our promife to preserve ourselves, with the best fin, and God's promife to confider us as care we can, pure from the defilement of free from the guilt of it. Baptifm then, through his mercy fecures infants from greffion, giving them a new title to the the bad confequences of Adam's tranfimmortality which he loft. It also fecures, to perfons grown up, the intire forgiveness juft mentioned. But then, in order to reof their own tranfgreffions, on the terms ceive thefe benefits, we must lay our claim must ratify, as foon as we are able, what to the covenant, which conveys them: we was promifed in our name by others before we were able; and done for us then, only on prefumption that we would make it our own deed afterwards. neglect, and appear to renounce our part For if we of the covenant, we have plainly not the least right to God's performing his: but we we remain in our fins, and Christ shall profit us nothing." You fee then of what unfpeakable importance it is, that we take on ourselves the vow of our baptifm. And it is very fit and useful, that we fhould take it in fuch form and manner as the office prefcribes. It is fit, that when perfons have been properly inftructed, by the care of their parents, friends, and minifters, they should with joyful gratitude acknowledge them to have faithfully performed that kindest duty. It is fit, that before they are admitted by the church of Chrift to the holy communion, they fhould give public affurance to the church of their christian belief and chriftian purposes. This may also be extremely useful to themfelves For confider: young perfons are juft entering into a world of temptations, with no experience, and little knowledge to guard them; and much youthful rafhnefs to expofe them. The authority of others over them is begianing to leffen, their own paffions to increafe, evil communication to have great opportunities of corrupting good manners † : and ftrong impreffions, of one kind or another, will be made on them very soon. What can then be more neceffary, or more likely to preferve their innocence, than to form the moft deliberate refolutions of acting right; and to declare them in a manner, thus adapted to move them at the time, and be remembered by them afterwards: in the prefence of God, of a number of his minifters, and of a large congregation of his people, affembled with more than ordinary folemnity for that very purpose ? But then you, that are to be confirmed, muft either do your own part, or the whole of this preparation will be utterly thrown away upon you. If you make the anfwer, which is directed, without fincerity, it is lying to God: if you make it without attention, it is trifling with him. Watch over your hearts therefore, and let them go along with your lips. The two fhort words, I do, are foon faid: but they comprehend much in them. Whoever ufes them on this occafion, faith in effect as follows: "I do heartily renounce all the "temptations of the devil; all the unlaw"ful pleasures, profits, and honours of the "world; all the immoral gratifications of "the flesh. I do fincerely believe, and "will conftantly profefs, all the articles of #Gal. v. 2. 66 66 "the chriftian faith. I do firmly refolve "to keep all God's commandments all the days of my life; to love and honour him; "to pray to him and praise him daily in "private; to attend confcientiously on the public worship and inftruction, which he "hath appointed; to approach his holy "table, as foon as I can qualify myself for doing it worthily; to fubmit to his "bleffed will meekly and patiently in all things; to fet him ever before my eyes, and acknowledge him in all my ways. "I do further refolve, in the whole courfe "of my behaviour amongst my fellow"creatures, to do justly, love mercy 1, fpeak t, "truth, be diligent and ufeful in my sta"tion, dutiful to my fuperiors, condefcending to thofe beneath me, friendly to my equals; careful, through all the rela"tions of life, to act as the nature of them requires, and cor duct myself fo to all men as I fhould think it reasonable that "they should do to me in the like cafe. "Further yet: I do refolve, in the go vernment of myself, to be modeft, fober, "temperate, mild, humble, contented; to "reftrain every paffion and appetite with"in due bounds; and to fet my heart name of his bleffed Son, to beg the pro"mifed affiftance of his Holy Spirit; and "in that strength, not my own, to strive against my faults, and watch over my " fteps with redoubled care." Obferve then it is not gloominefs and melancholy, that religion calls you to: it is not ufelefs aufterity, and abstinence from things lawful and fafe: it is not extravagant flights and raptures: it is not unmeaning or unedifying forms and ceremonies: much lefs is it bitterness against thofe who differ from you. But the forementioned unquestionable fubftantial duties are the things to which you bind yourfelves, when you pronounce the awful words, I do. Utter them then with the trueft ferioufnefs: and fay to yourfelves, each of you, afterwards, as Mofes did to the Jews, Thou hast avouched the Lord this day to be thy God, to walk in his ways and keep his fatutes, and to hearken to his voice : and the Lord hath avouched thee this day to be his; that thou shouldft keep all his commandments, and be holy unto the Lord thy God, as he hath Spoken *. It is a certain truth, call it therefore often to mind, and fix it in your fouls, that if breaking a folemn promife to men be a fin; breaking that which you make thus deliberately to God, would be unfpeakably a greater fin. But let us now proceed to the next part of the office: in which, after perfons have confirmed and ratified the vow of their baptifm, prayers are offered up, that God would confirm and strengthen them in their good purpose: on both which accounts this appointment is called confirmation. Scripture teaches, and fad experience proves, that of ourselves we can do nothing; are not fufficient for the difcharge of our duty, without God's continual aid: by which he can certainly influence our minds, without hurting our natural freedom of will, and even without our perceiving it: for we can influence our fellow-creatures fo. Nor is it any injuftice in him to require of us what exceeds our ability, fince he is ready to fupply the want of it. deed, on the contrary, as this method of Intreating us is excellently fitted both to keep us humble, and yet to give us courage, ufing it is evidently worthy of God. But then, as none can have reaion to expect his help, but thofe who earnestly defire it, fo he hath promifed to give the holy fpirit only to them that afk him ‡. And to unite chriftians more in love to each other, and incline them more to affemble for public worship, our bleffed Redeemer hath efpecially promifed, that abere tavo or three of them are gathered together in his name, he will be in the midst of them §. And further till, to promote a due regard in his people to their teachers and rulers, the facred writings afcribe a peculiar efficacy to their praying over thofe who are committed to their charge. Even under the Jewish difpenfation, the family of Aaron were told, that them the Lord had feparated to minifter unto him, and to bles in the name of the Lord and they full put my name, faith God, upon the children of Ifrael, and I will bless them. No wonder then, if under the chriftian difpenfation we read, but juft before the text, that the apostles, when they Deut. xxvi. 17, 18, 19. Matth. xviii. 20. it Jer. x. 23. new-baptized converts, that they might re thorities, here is, on the prefent occafion, a be effectual. knowledging, and in fcripture words, that henceforth world without end, for his readi After these preparatory ejaculations, + John xv. 5. XXI. S. Deut. x. 8. 2 Cor. iii. 5. 1 Luke xi. 13. Píal. cxxiv. 8. mifunderfland |
