Chap. XXIII. — Of Baptism.

Q. 1. Which are these sacraments?

A. Baptism and the Lord’s supper.

Q. 2. What is baptism?

A. An ^aholy action, appointed⁹⁵⁹⁵   Not the want, but the contempt of this sacrament, is damnable. ⁹⁶⁹⁶   It is hard to say whether the error of the Papists, requiring baptism of absolute, indispensable necessity to the salvation of every infant, or that of the Anabaptists, debarring them from it altogether, be the most uncharitable. of Christ, whereby being the sprinkled with water in name of the whole Trinity, by a lawful minister of the church, ^bwe are admitted into the family of God, ^cand have the benefits of the blood of Christ confirmed unto us.
^aMatt. xxviii. 19; Mark xvi. 15, 16. ^bActs ii. 41, viii. 37. ^cActs ii. 38, 39; John iii. 5; Rom. vi. 3–5; 1 Cor. xii. 13.

Q. 3. To whom doth this sacrament belong?

A. Unto all to whom the promise of the covenant is made; that is, to believers, and to their seed.
Acts ii. 39; Gen. xvii. 11, 12; Acts xvi. 15; Rom. iv. 10, 11; 1 Cor. vii. 14.

Q. 4. How can baptism seal the pardon of all sins to us, all our personal sins following it?

A. Inasmuch as it is a seal of that promise which gives pardon of all to believers.
Acts ii. 39; Rom. iv. 11, 12.