They did Promise and Vow Three Things in my Name: First, That I could renounce the Devil and all his Wocks, the Pomps and Danity of this wicked Wozlo, and the ainful Lusts of the Fleh.

1. Baptifm being the Seal of the Covenant of Grace, Rom. iv. II. Hence it is fitting and neceffary that fuch as are Baptized do promife and engage to perform the Conditions of that Co

yenant.

2. Children are not capable of making fuch a Promife in their own Names and Perfons.

3. Hence the Church hath always thought it neceffary they should do it by their Proxies or Sureties.

4. Hence in Baptism we demand of the Godfathers and Godmothers Four Things efpecially;

I Doft thou, in the Name of this Child, renounce
the Devil and all his Works, the vain Pomp and
Glory of the World, with all covetous Defires of
the fame, and the carnal Defires of the Flesh, fo
that thou wilt not follow nor be lead by them?
2. Doft thou Believe in God the Father Almighty?
3. Wilt thou be Baptized in this Faith?
4. Wilt thou then obediently keep God's Holy Will
and Commandments, and walk in the fame all
the Days of thy Life?

Hence, Laftly, It is the Child here fays, his Godfathers and Godmothers did in his Name promise these Three Things.

1. To renounce the Devil and all his Works, &c.

Queft.

Queft. 1. What is here meant by the Devil and all bis Works?

Sin, 1 Job. iii. 8. Efpecially fuch as the Devil moftly is guilty of, and tempts to; Pride, Envy, Malice, Rebellion, Blafphemy, Lying, Job. viii. 44.

The Devil was always renounced in Baptifm. Aquam adituri ibidem, fed & aliquanto prius in Ecclefid fub Antiftitis manu, conteftamur nos renunciare Diabolo & pompa & angelis ejus. Tert.

Αποτεπεπαι της Σατανᾶ καὶ τοῖς αγγέλοις αυτό, έχει molas Bi yegoñs. Bafil.

Hence we renounce Idolatry in efpecial Manner, promising never to worfhip the Devil or his Angels.

Quomodo enim renunciavimus Diabolo & Angelis ejus, fi eos facimus? Tert. de Idolol.

Queft. 2. The Pomps and Vanities of this, wicked:

World?

Sæculo renunciaveramus cum Baptizati fumus. Cyprian.

Chriftianus etiam extra carcerem fæculo renunciavit. Tertull. ad Martyr.

By Pomps, the Ancients underftood the vain Shews in their Ludi Circenfes,Cereales, and the like made in Honour of their Gods.

But we renounce not only the Pomps, but all the Vanities of this wicked World, and finful Lufts of the fame, 1 Joh. ii. 15, 16.`

REASONS Why we then renounce the World.

1. Because, as Chriftians, we are not of this World, and therefore ought to renounce it when Baptized, Job. xvii. 14. Col. iii. г.

2. Because the Religion, which we are then initiated into, teacheth and enjoins us to renounce the World, Tit. ii. 11, 12, 14, Gal. V. 24.

1

2. That I fhould believe all the Articles of the Christian Faith.

It is upon these Terms only that we are ad, mitted into the Chriftian Religion, Act. viii. 36, 37. Matt. xxviii. 19.

3. That I should keep God's Holy Will and Commandments, and walk in the fame all the Days of my Life.

That is, To live Soberly, Righteously, and Godly.

This our Baptifm obligeth us to, Rom. vi. 4. 2 Cor. v. 17.

Otherwife,

1. You will have no Benefit by your being Chriftians.

2. But rather incur the greater Punishment, Matt. xi. 21, 22,

ECCLES.

ECCLES. V. 4.

When thou voweft a Vow to God, defer not to pay it.

Yes Herily, and by God's help, lo A

1. Whatsoever Vows or Promises we make to God, ought to be performed, Deut.xxiii.

21.

2. Our Baptifmal was the moft folemn Vow and Promise we ever made, or can make to God.

3. Hence we are all bound in an especial Manner to perform it.

Queft. 1. What Advantage have we by making this Vow?

By it we are Baptized, and so put into a State of Salvation;

That is,

1. Our former Sins are all pardoned and washed away by the Blood of Chrift, Act. ii. 38.

2. We are made capable of the Graces of the Holy Spirit, Act. ii. 38.

3. We are brought into the Pale of the Church, and fo enftated in all the Pri¬ vileges of the Gofpel: So that if we be not failing to our felves, we shall moft certainly be faved,

Hence

Hence we are faid here to be brought into a State of Salvation.

Which we are to thank God for.

Queft. 2. What Means have we whereby to perform this Vow?

1. We cannot do it by our own Strength, 2 Cor. iii. 5.

2. But we may and can by the Help of God, and the Affiftance of his Grace, 2 Cor. iii. 5. Phil. ii. 13. c. iv. 13:

3.

This God is always ready to afford us, if we fincerely pray unto him for it, Matt. vii. 7. c. 21, 22. Luk. xi. 13. 2 Cor. xii. 8, 9.

Queft. 3. What Neceffity is there of our perform ing this Vow?

1. Otherwise you renounce and forfeit all your Right to the Privileges of the Gospel.

2. Your Condition will be 'much worfe than if you had never been Baptized.

For,

1. You will Sin against greater Light,
Job. iii. 19.

2. Against greater Mercies, Ifa. i. 2, 3.
3. Against your Baptifmal Vow and Pro-
mife, and your many Reiterations of
it,

USE.