The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-04-07

are within it. But who believes this
Are the baptized and the elect co-exten-
sive? Do all who receive the sign OF
baptism partake of the saving benefits of
the covenant of grace? And if the elect
only are parties to the covenant of grace,
and baptism is the sign of that covenant,
then by what authority is the sign applied
Unfortunately to The children Of be-
levers, when it is impossible to say
whether they are elect or non-elect?
2 1t is admitted that circumcision and
so baptism is the sign of the Abrahamic
hamic covenant and the covenant of grace
the same? We say no. The parties are
different. To the covenant of grace the
elect and none others are parties But
to the Abrahamic covenant all the de-
scendants of Abraham, through Isaac and
Jacob, together with "such as should
choose their God, their faith, and their
society" were parties. The covenant
with Abraham contemplated them, mot
primarily or Immediately as of the cleo
ton of grace, but as an aggregate which
it severed from the bulk of mankind.
We may add that the specification and
promises of the two covenants, following
the design of each, were different.
3. 1t is plain that when Abraham en-
tered into this covenant he was, and had
been for long time, interested in the
covenant of grace, for Paul tells us faith
was reckoned to Abraham for righteous
ness, not In circumcision but in uncircum-
cision." So that the covenant with him
was new covenant.
4. The Abrahamic covenant was sub
ordinate and subservient covenant in
tended tc carry out the covenant of grace.
1t was a dispensation-a special and adj
ministrative covenant So says our stand
ards.-Con. of Faith, chap I, Sec 5, and
Lar. Cat, O. SO.
5. The Abrahamic covenant was en-
tered into with Abraham as the father of
many nations, and is the great charter of
the visible Church, consisting of all such
as do profess the true religion and their
children. 1t is an ecclesiastical covenant,
and the effect of it was to bring Abra-
ham and his family and all who should
join. them in kindred profession into a
Church estate" And this is the doctrine
asserted indirectly in our standards
Baptism is not to be administered to
any out of the visiJle Ctawch, and so stran-
gers from the covenants of promise; but
infants descending from parents profess
ing faith in Christ are in this respect with-
IN the cOUena1at, and so to be baptized"
Baptism then, is sign of the Abra-
hamic church covenant, and when admin
lstered to either infants or adults, signi-
ties the same. Its main import is this:
1t attests the existence of this church
covenant and pledges to the recipient the
veriication of all that is promised in that
covenant, and entities him to the "pray-
ers, inspection, training, guardianship,
and control of the visible Church to which
Christ has given the ministry oracles,
and ordinances of God, and which has the
privilege of being under the special care
and government of God These are great
practical blessings and not to be despised,
and are the answer to be given now, as
authorized by Paul, to the question, What
profit is there in circumcision? Indeed
as DIR. Mason says, all the difficulty in
respect to the design of baptism is created
by erroneous notions of the nature of
Gods Church; by confounding visible
members with the elect, and his covenant
to the Church, with the covenant of grace
in Christ Jesus"
We have said that this is the main i'm
port Of baptism. 1t is not all, however,
whichis signifed by this ordinance. IT.
seals, that is. attests nothing as to the
spiritual condition of the subject, whether
adult or infant. But it does signify the
necessity of regeneration and migrating
into Christ-just as the Lords Supper,
while mainly commemorative of the death
of Christ also symbolzes the truth of
salvation by faith in his vicarious suffer
ing-but attests nothing as to the spiritual
condition of the receiyer. And here we
will say that the phrase Sealing ordi
nances' has no warrant in Scripture, and
is full of error
What is the value and nature of the
covenant entered into by parents, when
their children are baptized? This cove
nant has nothing to do with the ordinance
the rite is complete without it, and in
fact the covenant is sometimes not ex
acted of parents by the administrator.
This covenant Is nothing more than
private, personal covenant between God
and the parents, in behalf of the child, in
which God is pleased to engage for the
salvation Of the child, proUided the pa
rents are faithful This covenant might