Bucanus:

1) What is Baptism?

It is the first, or initiating sacrament of the new testament, or a sacred action consisting of the washing with water, & the word, whereby, according to the appointment & institution of Christ a Christian man either of riper years professing Christ, or an infant of the faithful, is drenched, washed or sprinkled in simple clear water by the minister of the Church, calling upon the name of the father, the Son, & the holy ghost. (The body washed with clean water) as we read in Act. 8:19. was done by Philip, to represent the shedding of Christ’s blood upon the cross, & to confirm truly and effectually through all our life to the believer, righteousness, or the washing away of his sins obtained by Christ his blood: to testify to his adoption into the covenant of grace, his engrafting into the church, the regeneration & renewing of his nature, or repentance unto amendment by the grace of the holy ghost procured unto him by the same blood: his communion and fellowship with Christ in all his goodness, and heavenly inheritance: & joint free denization among citizens of the visible church, & of the kingdom of heaven, to be held of the them in the number of the children of God, & and to enjoy the same privileges which they do… William Bucanus, Institutions of Christian Religion, Framed Our of God’s Word, and the Writings of the Best Divines, Methodically Handled by Questions and Answers, Fit For All Such as Desirous to Know, or Practice the Will of God, trans., by Robert Hill (Printed in London by George Snowden, 1606), 696-697.

2) How manifold is Baptisms?

Baptism in specie or kind is one. One Lord, one faith, one baptism. But seeing in baptism not the water & external action is to be considered only, but also the inward operation of God, in this respect Baptism is twofold, External, which is also called the baptism of water, wherewith the minister of the word does baptise, and Internal, which is also of the spirit, whereby Christ only does cleanse our hearts by his blood, and gives his holy spirit, and yet the one is not to be separated from the other. For the external is a testimony of the internal, that is the Baptism of water is a pledge of spiritual baptism, and of inward washing and cleansing, which is done by the blood and spirit of Christ. And therefore Christ is said 1 John 5:6. to come in water, in the spirit & in blood. William Bucanus, Institutions of Christian Religion, Framed Our of God’s Word, and the Writings of the Best Divines, Methodically Handled by Questions and Answers, Fit For All Such as Desirous to Know, or Practice the Will of God, trans., by Robert Hill (Printed in London by George Snowden, 1606), 697-698.

3) What analogy and agreement is there in the Sign with the thing signified?

Very great: for even as the water does wash the body, and the filth thereof: so the blood of Christ by his merit does wash away our sins, and spiritual spots: for his spirit does sanctify us. And like as every generation consists of moist & watery matter…so our regeneration is by the holy Ghost in baptism, who is so often signified by the name of water: for even as water prepares the earth to bring forth fruit, and quenches thirst: So the holy Ghost, that same which sat upon the waters, makes us fit for good works, and quenches in us the thirsting after terrene [earthly?] things, and here good works are called the fruits of the spirit, and Christ says; “whoso thirsts, let him come to me and drink, for he that drinks shall never thirst; but this he spoke of the spirit which they that believe should receive.

Secondly the sprinkling with water does plainly note the sprinkling of the blood of Christ for the remission of sins, and imputation of righteousness: but the staying under the water, though but a while, sets as it were before our eyes, the death, burial, and mortification of our natural corruption, the old Adam (by virtue of the death and burial of Christ) which is the first part of our regeneration. And the being taken out, the reviving of the new man, and newness of life, yea, and proportionately, our resurrection to come. William Bucanus, Institutions of Christian Religion, Framed Our of God’s Word, and the Writings of the Best Divines, Methodically Handled by Questions and Answers, Fit For All Such as Desirous to Know, or Practice the Will of God, trans., by Robert Hill (Printed in London by George Snowden, 1606), 709.

4) Notwithstanding for the fitness, reference, and truth of the sign, and the thing signified, and also for the promise made to those that use them rightly, there is a Sacramental and Relative copulation, by reason whereof the name and the properties boh of the sign and the thing signified are changed. Hereof baptism is called the Laver of Regeneration, and the water, the blood and spirit of Christ. Tit. 3:5. that is, not only the shadow but a most certain Testimony, that the baptized truly believes are cleansed with the blood of Christ, & regenerated by the holy Ghost. William Bucanus, Institutions of Christian Religion, Framed Our of God’s Word, and the Writings of the Best Divines, Methodically Handled by Questions and Answers, Fit For All Such as Desirous to Know, or Practice the Will of God, trans., by Robert Hill (Printed in London by George Snowden, 1606), 710.

5) Is the same man always in one instant Baptized with water and the Holy Ghost?

No.

1. Because the promise of the spirit annexed to baptism is not absolute, but conditional, requiring faith and obedience.

2. Because that God deals not in Baptism by natural reason, as when a medicine is being taken, works with thee, whether thou sleeps or wakes, and fire warms whether thou thinks of it or no. But as God is a most free agent, sometimes the Baptism of water is without the baptism of the spirit, as the example of Simon Magus teaches, who although he had an historical faith, yet the was not regenerated, and the baptism of the spirit sometime goes before, sometimes accompanies, and sometimes follows the baptism of water: for men and women, when they believe by Philip’s preaching, the things belonging unto the kingdom of God and of Christ, as also the Eunuch , Cornelius and his friends were baptized by the Holy Ghost, before they were baptized with water, as appears by their faith and conversion; but in infants to whom the kingdom of Heaven belongs (if we respect God’s ordinance) both Baptism, and Justification, and Regeneration do concur out of the nature of that Covenant, I will be thy GOD and the God of thy seed. Gen. 17:7. but for the effect hereof is truly declared afterward in his time. For the seed of the word and Sacraments lies as it were in the earth, covered and hid, as long as the Lord sees good to defer grace. William Bucanus, Institutions of Christian Religion, Framed Our of God’s Word, and the Writings of the Best Divines, Methodically Handled by Questions and Answers, Fit For All Such as Desirous to Know, or Practice the Will of God, trans., by Robert Hill (Printed in London by George Snowden, 1606), 710-711.

6) Because though Infants have not sinned actually, as Adam, did Roms. 5:15. yet they have sinned Originally, in Adam, as included in his loins, vers. 22. and are dead in him: Secondly being conceived in sin (contrary to the Pelagians’ opinion) they are by nature children of wrath, and do daily die no less than men of riper years wherefore that they may please God and may be admitted into his kingdom, where no polluted thing enters. 1 Cor 15:30. they have needs of the spark of some regeneration, in abundance whereof they may afterward enjoy, which is sealed unto them by Baptism. And therefore it is not to be denied them, for except a man be born again of water and the spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of heaven John 3:3, 5. William Bucanus, Institutions of Christian Religion, Framed Our of God’s Word, and the Writings of the Best Divines, Methodically Handled by Questions and Answers, Fit For All Such as Desirous to Know, or Practice the Will of God, trans., by Robert Hill (Printed in London by George Snowden, 1606), 717.

7) Because although hearing is an ordinary means of faith, yet because it is impossible that any should please God without faith. Hebr 11:6. Infants must needs have in the place of faith, the seed, or budding of faith, or the renewing of the spirit, although they are not yet endued with the knowledge of good or evil: for God holds them not for unclean, but adopts them for his children, and sanctifies them from the womb, as it is said. 1 Cor. 7:14. Your children are holy: that is to say, but an hidden operation, and enlightening of the spirit, which makes in them no motions, and new inclinations to God-ward, according to their capacity, as far as we can guess, without the word, which is the only seed of regeneration to them which are able to be taught. 1 Pet. 1:23. for the Lord gave a taste in John Baptist, whom he sanctified in his mother’s womb, what he is able to do in the rest. And yet must the secret works, and judgements of God be left unto himself, because the Church judges not of hidden things. William Bucanus, Institutions of Christian Religion, Framed Our of God’s Word, and the Writings of the Best Divines, Methodically Handled by Questions and Answers, Fit For All Such as Desirous to Know, or Practice the Will of God, trans., by Robert Hill (Printed in London by George Snowden, 1606), 716-717.

8) Because though by reason of their years, they understand not God’s word, nor can believe in action, and profess their faith and repentance (whereof Baptism is a Sacrament, as circumcision was in times past) and enter into mutual obligations betwixt God and them, which belongs only to them of discretion, notwithstanding it is unto them in stead of professing of faith: for that they are born within the Church of the people of God, are not only within the covenant, but also are presented by them which believe, and do promise and make answer for them. And therefore Saint Augustine says, “the sacrament of faith makes children faithful, though they have not yet that faith which consists in the will of believers to make them faithful. Even as they do not know that they have the holy Ghost, though it be in them, or a mind and life, though it cannot be denied that they have both. William Bucanus, Institutions of Christian Religion, Framed Our of God’s Word, and the Writings of the Best Divines, Methodically Handled by Questions and Answers, Fit For All Such as Desirous to Know, or Practice the Will of God, trans., by Robert Hill (Printed in London by George Snowden, 1606), 718.

9) What are the ends of Baptism?

Fourthly, it is an instrument, whereby the plentiful effusion of the holy spirit upon us is communicated, with his gifts of faith, hope and charity. And other virtues. Tit. 3:6. by the Bath and renewing of the holy spirit which he has poured upon us plentiful: as Augustine says, “we are made by Baptism members of Christ, and of his fullness we have all received. John 1:16. William Bucanus, Institutions of Christian Religion, Framed Our of God’s Word, and the Writings of the Best Divines, Methodically Handled by Questions and Answers, Fit For All Such as Desirous to Know, or Practice the Will of God, trans., by Robert Hill (Printed in London by George Snowden, 1606), 735.

For as by baptism we are born again, so (being born again) we are fed and nourished by the Supper of the Lord, and in Christ we are as it were nourished and brought up by to life in eternal. William Bucanus, Institutions of Christian Religion, Framed Our of God’s Word, and the Writings of the Best Divines, Methodically Handled by Questions and Answers, Fit For All Such as Desirous to Know, or Practice the Will of God, trans., by Robert Hill (Printed in London by George Snowden, 1606), [pagination irregular, stated page 726, actual page 744].

10) Why therefore are the Sacramental Signs called Exhibitions?

Because the Lord does so truly exhibit and give himself, being the bread celestial, and that of eternal life to those which are his like as he gave truly to his Disciples the Holy Ghost, by the sign of the breath of his mouth, or as by the touching of his hand he gave unto many of body and mind, as , sight by clay made of spittle: as by circumcision of the flesh, the circumcision of the heart, and as by baptism, Regeneration. For they which with a true faith do communicate with the signs corporally, do receive true confirmation and increase of the communion of the body and blood of the Lord Spiritually. William Bucanus, Institutions of Christian Religion, Framed Our of God’s Word, and the Writings of the Best Divines, Methodically Handled by Questions and Answers, Fit For All Such as Desirous to Know, or Practice the Will of God, trans., by Robert Hill (Printed in London by George Snowden, 1606), [pagination irregular, stated page 902-903, actual pages 812-813].