Wesley Corpus

The Jews were admitted into the Church by circumcision, so are the Chris tians by baptism. For “as many as are baptized into Christ,” in his name, “have” thereby “put on Christ;” (Gal. iii. 27;) that is, are mystically united to Christ, and made one with him. For “by one Spirit we are all baptized into one body,” (1 Cor. xii. 13) namely, the Church, “the body of Christ.” (Eph. iv. 12.) From which spiritual, vital union with him, proceeds the influence of his grace on those that are baptized; as from our union with the Church, a share in all its privi leges, and in all the promises Christ has made to it. 4. By baptism, we who were “by nature children of wrath” are made the children of God. And this regeneration which our Church in so many places ascribes to baptism is more than barèly being admitted into the Church, though commonly connected therewith; being “grafted into the body of Christ’s Church, we are made the children of God by adoption and grace.” This is grounded on the plain words of our Lord: “Except a man be born again of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” (John iii. 5.) By water then, as a means, the water of baptism, we are rege nerated or born again; whence it is also called by the Apostle, “the washing of regeneration.” Our Church there fore ascribes no greater virtue to baptism than Christ himself has done. Nor does she ascribe it to the outward washing, but to the inward grace, which, added thereto, makes it a sacrament. Herein a principle of grace is infused, which will not be wholly taken away, unless we quench the Holy Spirit of God by long-continued wickedness. 5. In consequence of our being made children of God, we are heirs of the kingdom of heaven. “If children,” (as the Apostle observes) “then heirs, heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ.” Herein we receive a title to, and an earnest of, “a kingdom which cannot be moved.” Baptism doth now save us, if we live answerable thereto; if we repent, believe, and obey the gospel: Supposing this, as it admits us into the Church here, so into glory hereafter. III. 1.