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70*The*Anglican*Doctrine*of*Baptism**receive* them* “worthily.”* Those* who* do* not,* “purchase* to* themselves*damnation.”*Their*spiritual*efficacy*is*conditional.*This*takes*up*the*language*Paul* used* in* 1* Cor* 11:27:32* of* the* Supper:* “Whoever* eats* the* bread* or*drinks*the*cup*of*the*Lord*in*an*unworthy*manner*will*be*guilty*concerning*the* body* and* blood* of* the* Lord...* anyone* who* eats* and* drinks* without*discerning*the*body*eats*and*drinks*judgment*on*himself.*That*is*why*many*of*you*are*weak*and*ill,*and*some*have*died.”*It*is*noteworthy*that*the*Article*does*not*restrict*this*negative*effect*to*the*Supper*alone*but*speaks*of*“they”*and*“them”,*that*is,*both*the*Supper*and*baptism. 15 *Those*who*do*not*receive*the*Supper*rightly,*eat*and*drink*judgment*upon*themselves;*those*who*do*not* receive* baptism* rightly* purchase* to* themselves* damnation* (employing*the* more* general* language* of* “purchasing”,* rather* than* Paul’s* language* of*eating* and* drinking* judgment,* makes* this* warning* applicable* across* both*sacraments).*As*Gilbert*Burnet*says*in*his*1699*commentary*on*the*Articles,*the* one* who* receives* baptism* without* adding* an* inward* profession* of* the*outward*faith,*can*only*“aggravate*his*Damnation.” 16 *The*more*puritan*and*Reformed*Anglican,*Richard*Sibbes*(1577–1635),*also*used*this*language*of*“aggravation.” 17 *Or* to* quote* a* more* recent* commentary* on* the* Articles* by*Gerald*Bray,*“If*a*sacrament*is*administered*to*someone*who*is*not*one*of*the*elect,*its*effects*will*be*the*opposite*of*those*intended.” 18 *This*is*entirely*in*accordance*with*Reformed*thinking*elsewhere.*Calvin,*for*example,*says*in*his*sermon*on*Eph*2:11:13*of*those*who*stray*from*the*gospel,*“the*baptism*we*received*in*our*childhood*served*no*other*purpose*than*to*make*us*doubly*guilty*before*God.”*Those*who*were*plunged*into*the*superstitions*of*Roman*Catholicism,*he*says,*“had*as*good*as*renounced*their*baptism.” 19 *He*adds*that,**we*receive*a*singular*benefit*at*God’s*hand*when*we*have*the*use*of*the*sacraments,*which*are*like*guarantees*that*he*takes*and*owns*us*to*be*as*his*household*and*church.*It*is*true*that*if*we*abuse*them,*we*shall*pay*dearly*for*it,*but*be*that*as*it*may,*when*the*sacraments*are*used*for*********************************************************************15*Contra*Bicknell,*A#Theological#Introduction,*460*who*thinks*the*plural*must*refer*to*the*two*elements*of*bread*and*wine*in*one*sacrament*only.*16*Gilbert*Burnet,*An#Exposition#of#the#ThirtyDnine#Articles#of#the#Church#of#England*(London,*1699),*303.*17*He*argued*that*without*faith*in*later*years,*“all*is*frustrate”,*our*baptism*does*us*no*good,*but*was*in*vain.*To*sin*after*being*baptised,*for*him,*was*“a*great*aggravation*of*sinne”*because*it*is*disloyal*to*the*God*to*whom*one*is*covenanted,*just*as*adultery*is*worse*than*fornication.*See* his* Evangelical# Sacrifices# in# XIX# Sermons:# Volume# 3* (London,* 1640),* II.162:164* (in* “The*Faithful*Covenanter”)*and*II.190:196*(in*“The*Demand*of*a*Good*Conscience”).*18*Gerald* L.* Bray,* The# Faith# we# Confess:# An# Exposition# of# the# ThirtyDnine# Articles* (London:*Latimer*Trust,*2009),*139.*It*is*worth*noting,*however,*as*Bicknell,#A#Theological#Introduction,*460*does,*that*damnation*here*does*not*necessarily*mean*eternal*punishment*but*more*likely*a*temporal*chastisement.*19*John#Calvin’s#Sermons#on#Ephesians*(Edinburgh:*Banner*of*Truth,*1973),*171.*

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