Chapter 28. Of Baptism

Chapter 28. Of Baptism

I. Baptism is a sacrament of the

New Testament, ordained by Jesus Christ,⁵⁴⁸ not only for the solemn admission of the party baptized into the visible Church,⁵⁴⁹ but also to be unto him a sign and seal of the covenant of grace⁵⁵⁰, of his ingrafting into Christ,⁵⁵¹ of regeneration,⁵⁵² of remission of sins,⁵⁵³ and of his giving up unto God, through Jesus Christ, to walk in newness of life:⁵⁵⁴ which sacrament is, by Christ's own appointment, to be continued in his Church until the end of the world.⁵⁵⁵

II. The outward element to be used in this sacrament is water, wherewith the party is to be baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, by a minister of the gospel lawfully called thereunto.⁵⁵⁶

III. Dipping of the person into the water is not necessary; but baptism is rightly administered by pouring or sprinkling water upon the person.⁵⁵⁷

IV. Not only those that do actually profess faith in and obedience unto Christ,⁵⁵⁸ but also the infants

of one or both believing parents are to be baptized.⁵⁵⁹

V. Although it be a great sin to contemn or neglect this ordinance,⁵⁶⁰ yet grace and salvation are not so inseparably annexed unto it, as that no person can be regenerated or saved without it,⁵⁶¹ or that all that are baptized are undoubtedly regenerated.⁵⁶²

VI. The efficacy of baptism is not tied to that moment of time wherein it is administered;⁵⁶³ yet, notwithstanding, by the right use of this ordinance the grace promised is not only offered, but really exhibited and conferred by the Holy Ghost, to such (whether of age or infants) as that grace belongeth unto, according to the counsel of God's own will, in his appointed time.⁵⁶⁴

VII. The sacrament of baptism is but once to be administered to any person.⁵⁶⁵