Page:Tracts for the Times Vol 2.djvu/239

Rh Paul calls the old man, and which is to be 'put off with its deeds,' (Eph. iv. Coloss. iii.) that out of sons of Adam we may be made sons of. This is not done by any change of vestment, not by any laws or works, but by the new birth and renewal which takes place at Baptism; as St. Paul says, 'whoever of you are baptized have put on ;' 'according to His mercy He saved us by the washing of regeneration,' &c. For there is kindled in the baptized a new life and flame, there arise new and holy feelings, fear, trust in God, hope, &c.; there ariseth a new will. This, then, is properly, truly, and Evangelically to 'put on .' Therefore in Baptism there is not given us a clothing of legal righteousness or our own works, but is our raiment. But He is not law, nor legislator, nor work, but a Divine and unspeakable gift, which the gave us, to be our Justifier, Life-giver, and Redeemer. Wherefore Evangelically to put on is not to put on a law or works, but an inestimable gift, viz. remission of sins, righteousness, peace, consolation, joy in the Holy Ghost, salvation, life, and Himself. This place is to be carefully noted against Fanatic spirits, who depreciate the majesty of Baptism, and speak wickedly thereof. St. Paul on the contrary sets it forth with magnificent titles, calling it the 'washing of regeneration and of the renewal by the Holy Ghost;' and here he says, that all baptized persons have put on ; speaking, as I said, of a "putting-on," which should be not by imitating, but by being born. He says not—Ye have received in Baptism a token, whereby ye are enrolled among Christians, as the sectaries dream, who make of Baptism a mere token, i.e. a trivial and empty sign; but he says, 'As many as have been baptized, have put on ,' i.e. have been borne away out of the law into a new birth, which took place in baptism. Therefore ye are no longer under the law, but are clothed with a new garment, the righteousness of. St. Paul then teaches that Baptism is not a sign, but the putting on of —yea, that himself is our clothing. Wherefore Baptism is a thing most powerful and efficacious. But when we are clothed with, the clothing of our righteousness and salvation, then