Argument now That all who affirm young Children have Everlasting Life which are not Baptized to the taking away of Original Sin shall be Anathemized So in the Fifth Council at Carthage Fifth Council of Carthage in the Year 416. We will That whosoever denieth that little Children by Baptism are not freed from Perdition and eternally saved that they be accursed This was first confirmed by Pope Innocentius and Augustine with Seventy Bishops Had the Pope and Council decreed that the Imputation of Christ's Righteousness unto Children took away Original Sin in the room of their Infant-Baptism it had been much sounder Doctrine MOTIVES First Sincere Obedience to the Precepts gives you a right to the Promises annexed which is Remission of Sin the Gift of the Holy Ghost and Divine Presence for ever 2dly This is Janus Sacramentorum say the Ancients By this Gate you enter into the Enjoyment of all Church-Priviledges which are very great and many Hence Holy David preferr'd one Day in God's Courts more than a thousand in an ungodly King's Palace The Communion of Saints is a blessed Thing but you cannot have this orderly Faith the Foundation-Principle of Salvation but Baptism the Foundation-Principle of Church-Constitution without first being Baptized the three thousand converted Jews were Baptized before added to the Church And in breaking Bread Christ himself was Baptized before he preached and broke Bread with his Disciples 3dly Sincere Acts of Obedience increase Peace in the Soul like a River yea One Act of sincere Obedience is more to God than if we could give him many Worlds Psal 50.8 14. the Peace of God which passeth all Vnderstanding We have heard of some which have died uncomfortably for not obeying Christ in this Ordinance according to their Light Finally By this Act you will obey a most glorious Precept follow a most glorious Precedent have a right to most glorious Promises enter into a most glorious Communion and to conclude you will put in practice an Ordinance which will be a Pledg unto you of Sins Remission your free Justification and your Soul's Salvation a Reward more than enough for our poor Obedience CHAP. VII Contains plain Scriptures for Believers-Baptism which satisfieth the Conscience better than far-fetch'd Consequences MAtth. 3.13 Then cometh Jesus to John to be Baptized Vers 15. And Jesus said Suffer it to be so now for thus it becometh us to fulfil all Righteousness Vers 16. And Jesus when he was Baptized went up straightway out of the Water Acts 2.38 Repent and be Baptized every one of you in the Name of Jesus Christ Acts 8.12 They were Baptized both Men and Women Acts 8.36 And the Eunuch said See here is Water what doth hinder me to be Baptized Vers 37. And Philip said If thou believest with all thine Heart thou mayest Acts 10.47 Can any forbid Water that these should not be Baptized which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we Vers 48. And he commanded them to be Baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus Acts 22.16 And now why tarriest thou Arise and be Baptized and wash away thy Sins Acts 9.18 And he arose and was Baptized Mat. 28.19 Go teach all Nations Baptizing them in the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost Acts 2.41 Then they that gladly received his Word were Baptized Mark 16.16 He that believeth and is Baptized shall be saved Mat. 21.25 The Baptism of John whence was it from Heaven or of Men If we say From Heaven he will say unto us Why did ye not believe him Luke 20.6 But if we say of Men all the People will stone us Acts 18.8 And Crispus the chief Ruler of the Synagogue believed on the Lord with all his House and many of the Corinthians hearing believed and were Baptized Rom. 6.4 We are buried with him by Baptism Luke 7.29 The Publicans justified God being Baptized Vers 30. But the Pharisees and Lawyers rejected the Counsel of God against themselves not being Baptized John 4.1 Jesus made and baptized more Disciples than John Gal. 3.27 As many as have been Baptized into Christ have put on Christ Eph. 4.5 One Lord one Faith one Baptism 1 Pet. 3.21 The like Figure whereunto Baptism doth save us Acts 16.33 And he took them the same Hour of the Night and washed their Stripes and was Baptized he and all his straightway Vers 34. He believing in God with all his House John 3.23 John was Baptizing in Enon near Salim because there was much Water there Heb. 6.1 2. Of the Doctrine of Baptisms called God's Oracle a Principle of the Doctrine of Christ and a Foundation-Principle Heb. 5.14 John 3.22 After these things came Jesus and his Disciples into the Land of Judea and there he tarried and Baptized Luke 3.21 Jesus being Baptized the Heavens were opened Vers 23. Jesus himself being about thirty Years of Age. 1 Cor. 12.13 By one Spirit are we all Baptized into one Body CHAP. VIII Contains an Account of the People of God called Anabaptists their great Sufferings for maintaining Believers-Baptism in opposition unto Infant-Baptism IN the 4th Lateran Council Canons were made to banish the Anabaptists for Hereticks Theodosius and Honorius made and published the following Edict in the Year 413. viz. That the Person rebaptized as well as the Administrator should be punished with Death One Albanus a zealous Minister was put to death with others upon the said Edict At Zurick it was decreed If any presumed to Baptize any that were Baptized in Infancy they should be drowned And that at Vienna many for Baptizing such were so tied together in Chains that they drew the other after him in the River At Roplesteim the Lords of that Place decreed That such should be burned with an hot Iron and bear the base Brand of those Lords in whose Lands they had offended And that through Germany Alsatia and Sweeden many hundreds of this Sect who as they word it defiled their first Baptism with a Second were the third time Baptized in their own Blood Dr. Featly out of Gassius pag. 68 182. Heribertus Lisonius and Stephanus with eleven more Christians were burnt at Orleans in France for opposing Childrens Baptism At Goslar in the Time of Henry the Third several were put to Death for opposing Infant-Baptism Gerardus burnt for opposing the Romish Church in this Point By the Decree of Alfonsus five Men and three Women were burnt at Troys in Campagn Anno 1200. Nineteen Persons condemned and burnt in the Bishoprick of Tholouse Four Monks which were converted from the Romish Religion were by Pope John the 22d burnt for opposing Infant-Baptism At Cremor in Austria many of the Waldenses were burnt for opposing Pedobaptism A pious Woman in Flanders named Peronne was burnt in the profession of this Faith with many more The first Edict of Zurick 1525. five Years after Zwinglius began the Reformation after their own departure from Rome In Edw. 4. and Hen. 8. many of those burnt under
these Scriptures show in the Margent viz. the Church at Jerusalem Samaria Cesaria Philippi Coloss Corinth Rome Galatia Ephesus c. To conclude If the Churches of Christ were so planted and constituted in the Primitive Times they ought to be so still unless any can shew where Christ hath since that altered the Constitution of his Churches 3ly This Ordinance cannot concern Infants but Believers because it 's a testification of the Remission of Sins and Salvation to the worthy Receiver and Subject of it Acts 2.38 Mark 16.16 else why doth Peter promise remission of Sin and the Gift of the Holy Ghost to such And why did our Lord join Faith Baptism and Salvation all in one Verse Baptism is never enjoined as a Means of Remission of Sins and Eternal Life but something of Duty Choice and Sanctity is joined with it in order to the production of the End so mentioned Dr. Taylor but that the Ordinance should be a Pledg to the Believer of those great things We collect as much from Acts 22.16 where Ananias exhorted Paul to arise and be baptized and wash away his Sins that is put that Duty in practice which will be a Confirmation of thy Justification so we understand Peter The like Figure whereunto Baptism doth now save us viz. As the Ark was the instrumental way of God's saving Noah by his Grace 1 Pet. 3.20 Baptism is our Marriage-Ring Military Press-mony our ingrafting into Christ our Badg and Cognizance our Ship our Ark our Red-Sea our putting on Christ Dan. Rogers so Faith in Christ's Death and Resurrection is the way God saves our Souls this being confirmed unto us in the Figure of Baptism as well as at the Lord's Table But what have Infants to do with this who are not capable to take in the Comfort exhibited and held forth in it This is Meat for strong Men not Babes 4ly Believers only must be the Subjects of this Ordinance because it holds forth a Covenant the Subject makes actually with God Hence saith the Apostle Rom. 6.3 Know you not as many as were baptized into Christ were baptized into his Death as if he should say In that Ordinance you did covenant and promise to die unto Sin and live a new Life Therefore saith he how can you that are dead to Sin live any longer therein And this you have profess'd in your Baptism as in the words of the Institution Gossops and Sureties are no where found in Holy Scripture but in the Pope's Decree and Common-Prayer Book Which the Parliament in K. Edward the 6th's time confessed There was no other difference between that and the Mass-Book only a few things left out but that one was in Latin the other in English Fox's Acts Mon. Edit 9. Vol. 2. Book 9. p. 14 15. the whole Trinity gives it self unto the Believer So he dedicates himself voluntarily to the Service of the whole Trinity Father Son and Spirit In all Covenants of this Nature there is required the Information of the Judgment Consent of the Will it must be an Act of Choice As the Eunuch said See here is Water what hinders me to be baptized But none of these things are agreeable to an Infant and as they are not able to enter into Covenant themselves if others do it for them 't is not only Unscriptural but Antiscriptural Can Persons covenant to keep others from Sin when they find it too hard a work to keep themselves 5ly Baptism is a lively representation of Regeneration therefore can only affect Believers The Apostle alludes unto Baptism when he speaks of the washing of Regeneration Titus 3.5 His meaning is that the Ordinance is a lively Badg Symbol and Sign of Regeneration and the New Birth The Apostle to the Colossians Ch. 2.12 tells them That their Baptism did exhibit and shew forth their being dead and risen with Christ through that Faith which was of that Omnipotent Operation which raised Christ from the Dead but no Signs of Regeneration appear in Infants at Baptism that is untruly said Saith the Papist to the Prelat You prove that Sacraments convey Grace in the very Act as we assert for just before Baptism the Child was an Heir of Hell and Child of Wrath but being baptized it is Regenerated and born again as your Common-Prayer Book saith in the Common-Prayer Book after the Child is sprinkled Forasmuch as this Child is regenerated and born again which just before was acknowledged to be a Child of Wrath and an Heir of Hell We say tho God hath promised his Presence in all his Appointments yet we also say Persons are not to be Baptized that they may be Regenerated but to hold forth and signify Regeneration therefore Baptism can no ways affect little Infants CHAP. V. Contains the Answer of Objections Objection 1. FEW Learned Men own this way of Baptizing only a few mechanick poor illiterate Persons I Answer The Apostle saith Not many wise Men after the Flesh are called 1 Cor. 1.24 29. Christ did not ordinarily make use of the learned Rabbies among the Jews to preach the Gospel but rather those who were counted illiterate and ignorant that no Flesh might glory in his Presence God gets the more praise by making use of Babes and Sucklings Christ thanks the Father Psal 8.2 that Divine Things were hid from the Wise and Prudent such as the World so accounted Mat. 11.27 and revealed unto Babes because they would render the Glory unto God while the worldly wise Men would take it to themselves 2. Those who have the most humane Literature are no Rule but God's Word we must follow Paul no further than he follows Christ 3. The Holy Scriptures account no Man truly Wise and Learned but those taught of God and that keep his Commands Psal 111.10 The Learned Pharisees and Expounders of the Law rejected the Counsel of God against themselves in not being Baptized 4. Are there no Learned of this Practice What think you of St. Augustine See Danvers on Baptism p. 60 61 62 63. Many of those born of Christian Parents Basil Gregory Nazianzen Jerom Ambrose Chrysostom Constantine Theodosius Paul and as the Crown of all our Lord Jesus were all these Illiterate and Ignorant Object 2. The Children of Believers are in the Covenant They say the Foederati were to be the Signati therefore ought to have the Seal of the Covenant Baptism I Answer There is but two ways of being in the Covenant Absolutely or Conditionally Let it first be proved the Infant-Seed of Believers are in Covenant then 2ly if so that they ought to be baptized Female Children under the Law had a legal or federal Holiness yet not to be Circumcised No Believer dare say all his Infant-Seed are in the Covenant of Grace absolutely for then they must all be saved but we see Abraham had an Ishmael Isaac an Esau David an Absalom Samuel Sons of Belial c. so that they cannot
were first taught 'T is as if a King should give a Commission to an Herauld to proclaim throughout his Dominions whoever in the Nation Male or Female would go to School and learn the Greek Tongue should have a Wedg of Gold Doth this follow that every one in the Nation should have a Wedg of Gold because a part of the Nation No not unless they do learn the Greek Tongue So in like manner A dreadful piece of Infant-Baptism appeared when the Heads of 6000 Infants were found murdered and buried in a Warren near a Monastry no more in the Nations are to be baptized than what are first taught and learn Christ Christ did no more intend that every one in the Nation should be baptized than the Prophet Haggai did So superstitiously zealous were some in the 7th Century for Infant-Baptism that a dead Child was taken from the Grave and Christened its Father's Name given unto it that every individual in the Nations of the World would desire our Lord's coming because he saith the Desire of all Nations should come Hag. 2.7 which is only the Believers in all Nations God did not intend Infants had robbed him when he said Ye have robbed me even this whole Nation they being not capable of it No more are Infants of Baptism tho a part of the Nation being not first taught and made Disciples according to the Commission Object 17. Men of Years were first Circumcised afterwards Infants So in the Gospel Baptism was first administred unto Men and Women but afterwards Infants were Baptized I Answer You say well Men and Women were baptized first Infants were never baptized by virtue of a Commission from Christ tho Believers were and it was about three hundred Years after Christ before any Infant was Sprinkled Danvers on Baptism p. 204. Christ's Commission was to baptize Believers now unless any can show where this was abrogated and a new Commission for Baptizing Infants given this remains and will to the end of the World Indeed Abraham was Circumcised when he was old as a Seal of the Righteousness of his Faith to assure him he should be a Father of many Nations a Spiritual Father unto Believers Jews and Gentiles And after this God commanded him to Circumcise his natural Seed and when any can shew us as plain a Command for Believers to Baptize their Infant-Seed as Abraham had to Circumcise his the Controversy shall end Object 18. Infant-Baptism is an Apostolical Tradition Tho this Tradition be not written in any Apostolical Book yet it is of no less Authority with us than the Scripture Bellarmine and though the Scripture be silent in the Case the uninterrupted Tradition and Vsage of the Church makes up that Defect I Answer Tradition ought to be proved by more than one Evidence viz. Origen whom all other Ages have condemned of Errors Dr. Taylor And whose Works are so spurious that he that reads them knows not whether he reads Origen or Ruffinus Erasm With Dr. Taylor Tradition saith he must by all means supply the place of Scripture and there is pretended a Tradition Apostolical that Infants were Baptized But at this saith he we are not much moved for we who rely upon the written Word of God as sufficient to establish all true Religion do not value the Allegation of Tradition The pretended Proof for Infant-Baptism being an Apostolical Tradition from Dionysius the Areopagite Justin Martyr's Responses Origen's Homilies Cyprian in an Epistle to one Fidas a Priest have been examined refuted and found fabulous and forged Danvers on Baptism pag. 133 to 150. It is very improbable that Infant-Baptism should be an Apostolical Tradition when decreed by several Councils in the 4th Century the Council of Carthage of Neocesarea and Laodicea c. they did hold forth the necessity of Confession and Profession before Baptism In short It is against the Reason of a Man to conclude this an Apostolical Tradition because this were to make the Apostles act beyond their Commission which were to Baptize only Believers Object 19. Infants were once Church-Members and that Law was never abrogated neither do we find they were cut off I Answer John the Baptist abrogated this sufficiently when he told the Pharisees and Sadduces it was a vain Plea to say Abraham was their Father that was a good Argument for Infant-Church-membership under the Law by Circumcision but signified nothing to Church-membership under the Gospel by Baptism now the Dispensation is alter'd If any bring not forth good Fruit in his own Person the Ax being laid to the Root of the Tree it is to be hewn down and cast into Eternal Fire The Apostle Paul in Rom. 11.20 ends this Controversy plain enough where he asserts the natural Branches were broken off by Unbelief and if they come to believe they may be grafted in again Who can shew any Instance where Infants were accounted Members of the Church under the Gospel but until then they remain broken off and that Law of Infant-Church-membership is as plainly abrogated under the Gospel as the Passover and Circumcision c. which all grant is void tho not so formally done as once commanded there being no need the Substance being come necessarily Shadows cease Object 20. In Mat. 3.11 John Baptist said I Baptize you with Water unto Repentance And in the 6th Verse Were Baptized of John in Jordan confessing their Sins Here say some is Baptism before Confession or Repentance in the order of words therefore we being Baptized in our Infancy if we repent and confess our Sins afterward 't is sufficient and we need not be Baptized again I Answer 1. If you were only sprinkled in Infancy you were never yet Baptized 2. 'T is said they were Baptized in Jordan confessing their Sins but I never heard of an Infant confess Sin in the Act of Baptism as these did I will gladly Baptize any Souls that shall truly confess themselves Sinners in the very Act and Administration of that Ordinance to the Glory of the Messiah who came to save Sinners 3. Tho the Text says I Baptize you unto Repentance none dare say that John Baptized them before they did manifest Repentance because when many of the Pharisees and Sadduces came unto John's Baptism he said O Generation of Vipers John's Baptism is called The Baptism of Repentance for Remission of Sins because Christ preached Remission of Sins to the Penitent Believer Piscator on Mark 1.4 bring forth Fruit meet for Repentance and think not to say you have Abraham to your Father 4. John's Baptism is called the Baptism of Repentance Mark 1.4 Can any other be the meaning than this that John was appointed of God to demand Repentance from dead Works of all that were Baptized and Faith also in him that was to come Acts 19. and upon this John did preach unto them the Remission of Sin I think it never did enter into any Man's Heart that John did first Baptize
before he examined them of Repentance and Faith in the Messiah to come 5. To Baptize unto Repentance the sense can be nothing else than my Baptism being the Baptism of Repentance I Baptize them for my Baptism is the Baptism of Repentance I must see something of that else I have no Commission to Baptize 6. Penitent Souls may well be said to be Baptized unto Repentance Should I say Sir Walter Rawleigh was beheaded in Palace-Yard and made an excellent Speech none would understand that he spoke after he was dead because Beheaded is first and Speech after c. So tho John say I baptized to Repentance it could not be he baptized first because he required Repentance and Faith according to Christ's Commission as necessary to Baptism because 't is an every day's Work after his Baptism to amend and reform However John's words may be placed the scope of the Place sheweth they must repent before they were baptized because when the Pharisees and Sadduces came to his Baptism that is to be baptized said he O Generation of Vipers bring forth first Fruits meet for Repentance or unto or according to the nature of true Repentance and then I will baptize you and not without it Object 21. Water-Baptism is John's Baptism Paul was not sent to Baptize We have the Substance we need not the Shadow we are baptized with the Spirit we need not that of Water I Answer Cornelius and his Houshold were baptized with the Holy Ghost to that degree as they spake with Tongues Acts 10. yet thought it not beneath them to submit to Christ's blessed Ordinance of Water-Baptism I know not but this Scripture may be an everlasting Testimony against some which pretend to the Spirit who have it in that degree as now Cornelius and his Houshold Where the Spirit is Acts 10.44 to 48. there is Obedience to the Command I marvel any who pretend to great degrees of the Spirit should call God's Ordinances Shadows and Shells Is it a Command of Christ and a Shadow did Christ ever call it so Thou may'st as well say all other Ordinances are Shadows as Prayer Preaching c. And where wilt thou run is it a Command hath it a Divine Stamp if so dispute not Christ's Authority Are you wiser than he who subjected himself to it or can you think you have more of the Spirit than him who had it without measure and yet was was baptized in Water Whereas it is Objected Christ sent not * Bullinger in his House-book saith of 1 Cor. 1.17 'T is not slightly to be understood as if Paul was not sent to baptize at all but that Teaching should go before Baptism for the Lord commanded both Teaching and Administring Sacraments Paul to Baptize but to Preach Paul did baptize several either he did it by Commission or Presumption surely not by the latter therefore the former His meaning is that Baptism was not his first and principal Work he was sent to preach and Baptism fell in as a part of his Preaching-Office None are fit for Gospel-Ordinances until they have the Spirit of God Doth Cornelius and his House submit to Water-Baptism after Baptized eminently with the Spirit then that can be no Argument we are Baptized with the Spirit and need no Water This is cleared by our Lord's Word who said I am not sent but to the lost Sheep of the House of Israel not but he came also to be a Light to the Gentiles he was first to preach to them hence called the Minister of the Circumcision And whereas Water-Baptism is called John's Baptism I query the Baptism of John Was it from Heaven or of Men If from Heaven as it was for God sent him to Baptize then let all keep silent I know no difference between John's Baptism and that Christ gave his Apostles but that the former Baptized in the Name of Christ to come the latter in his Name being come Whereas some urge John said He must decrease Christ increase This hath no reference to the ceasing of Gospel-Ordinances but unto the Splendor and Glory of Christ in the World above what John's was in Holiness and Miracles for John did no Miracle John 10.41 Object 22. There are no fit Administrators therefore for the present Sacraments and Church-Ordinances cease I Answer When Christ gave Commission to Preach he gave Power in the same to Baptize Mat. 28. How comes this to pass that those very Persons which thus object do Preach which requires as great Ability and Sanctity to the due performance of the one as of the other I know some object that Commission Mat. 28. lasted no longer than to the end of that Age. To which I Answer Then Preaching ended too Christ commands his Disciples to teach all Nations all things which he commanded them Now Christ's Commands were Holiness Repentance and Faith was this to be no longer than to the end of that Age was Christ's Promise of his Presence but to the end of that Age this would be uncomfortable Doctrine The Promise is I will be with you to the end of the World the Learned know it 's the same original Word as in Matth. 13.39 40. where it is said The Harvest is the end of the World As the Tares are gathered together and burnt in the Fire so shall it be in the end of the World All conclude I think or ought that this hath respect to the final end of all things 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 this being the same word in Mat. 28. We conclude teaching the Gospel baptizing them which are taught and the gracious Presence of Christ If Baptism ended in the Apostles Age then preaching of Repentance Faith and Holiness ceased also because all in the same Commission Yea the promise of Christ's Presence must cease also in the end of that Age a more uncomfortable Doctrine cannot be is to remain in his Church till the World's end that is till the final end of all things Moreover Paul asserts Ephes 3.21 that Christ will have a Church and glory in the Churches throughout all Ages World without end From whence I argue if God have a Church in all Ages he must have Ordinances there because no Church of Christ can be constituted without them If there be Ordinances in the Church in all Ages there must be some to administer them or else they would be insignificant But that he hath fit Administrators in the Church and will have Paul asserts in Ephes 4.12 13. He gave some Apostles some Prophets some Evangelists some Pastors and Teachers For what end for the perfecting of the Saints for the Work of the Ministry for the edifying the Body of Christ How long till we all come to the Vnity of the Faith and of the Knowledg of the Son of God unto a perfect Man unto the measure of the Fulness of Christ Let Men take heed how they put a slight upon the Ordinances of God in crying up the Spirit with
the Name of Lollards Hence we read in Mr. Fox of Lollards Tower commands all sorts to Baptize their Children and to forbear Rebaptization upon the penalty of Pecuniary Mulcts and Imprisonments The second Edict extended to Banishment Confiscation and Death this was five Years after in 1530. Many starved and died in Prison The Duke of Newburgh Anno 1653. banished all the Anabaptists out of his Country who thereupon disperse themselves into the Dukedom of Cleave and Brandenburgh An Abstract of the bloody Edict of the Emperor Charles the 5th of Spain made June 1535. against the Anabaptists or Waldensian Christians and the execution thereof in the Seventeen Provinces viz. COmmanding all Persons to renounce those Perswasions and Practices and refrain the publishing the same by Preaching or otherwise upon penalty of forfeiture of Life and Goods without Mercy The Men to be burnt the Women to be drowned And all that Conceal Harbour and do not in their Places prosecute the Law against them to suffer the same Penalty And that those that discover them to have the third part of their Estates forbidding all Mediation or Intercession upon severe Punishment Many hundreds suffered Death upon this Edict and what his Son Philip made in 1556. Thus you see Christ's Words made good His People shall suffer for Righteousness sake See this Chapteâ— much enlarged in Danvers on Bâ—ptism CHAP. IX Contains an Epitome of this Book in a Comparison of Believers-Baptism and Infant-Baptism together Believers-Baptism GOd hath promised in the Text That all who believe and are Baptized shall be saved Mark 16.16 There is a lively Similitude between Christ's Death Burial Resurrection and Believers being buried in Baptism Rom. 6.4 Believers Baptized are converted and shall never come into Condemnation John 5.24 Believers Baptized love God and keep his Commandments John 14.15 It 's Christ's Command that Teaching Repenting and Believing should precede and go before Baptism Matth. 28.18 19. Those who baptize Believers baptize Christians In Believers Baptism there are no Contradictions attend the practice of it Believers Baptized come lawfully and immediately to the Lord's Supper Acts 2.41 42. Believers Baptism is a sign of Regeneration unto them Tit. 3.5 Believers Baptism hath a Command Mat. 28.18 19. Believers Baptism confirms unto them Justification Remission and Salvation Acts 2. Chap. 22.16 Mark 16.16 We have many Examples for Believers Baptism Acts 8. Chap. 10. Ch. 16.18 Christ was faithful in all his House and St. Paul delivered the whole Counsel of God and so Believers Baptism is a part of God's Counsel Luke 7. Believers Baptism hath been gloriously sealed in the Holy Ghost's coming upon Christ in the likeness of a Dove when he was coming up out of the Water Mat. 3.16 In Believers Baptism the Person baptized acts Faith Acts 8.37 In Believers Baptism the Subject baptized hath the Answer of a good Conscience 1 Pet. 3.16 A Man might comfortably die as many have done in Mentz Holland Germany and the Palatinate for asserting Believers Baptism because it hath God's Word for its Foundation The Publicans glorified God in being baptized with John's Baptism because it was the Counsel of God Luke 7. The Pharisees and Lawyers rejected the Counsel of God against themselves in not being baptized with the Baptism of John Luke 3. In Believers Baptism there is a glorious Harmony with the Commission Mar. 16.16 Believers Baptism requireth much Water as according to God's Word John 3. It 's without all doubt Believers were Baptized To baptize Believers is to keep the Ordinances as they were delivered 1 Cor. 11.2 To baptize Belielievers is no change of God's Ordinance Such as are baptized on their own Faith shall never perish John 10.28 Believers are baptized as an Act of their Judgment Choice Will and Affection so worship God in Spirit and Truth John 4.24 All those who baptize Infants do confess Believers were baptized Believers know and remember when they were baptized All Believers baptized are in the Covenant of Grace Believers Baptism is from Heaven and the Counsel of God Mat. 21.25 Believers baptized are not the Children of Wrath John 3.36 To baptize Believers is to act according to the Pattern and Command of Christ All Believers baptized receive Remission of Sins Acts 2. In Believers Baptism the Person subjects in Acts of Obedience Believers Baptism hath no Absurdities attending it Believers rejoice and shew their full Consent when they are baptized Acts 8. Believers Baptism hath the plain Word of God All the World may affirm Believers were baptized by the Apostles All Believers baptized are spiritual believing Stones fit to be laid in God's House 1 Pet. 2.5 Believers baptized may repel Satan as Christ did saying It is written Luke 4. God will not say unto Believers baptized Who hath required these things at your Hands because it is his own Command Believers Baptism must stand as long as God's Word doth stand Mat. 5.18 To baptize Believers is to have respect unto God's Command the only way not to be ashamed Psal 119.6 The most Holy the most Wise the most Learned Person that ever was in the World submitted unto Believers-Baptism Mat. 3.13 14 15 16 17. Persons baptized believe repent examine themselves make Judgment of things love one another take up Christ's Cross Watch and Pray and have the same care of each others Souls these are fit Members of a Gospel-Church Believers Baptism hath Antiquity to plead being as old as John Baptist Christ and his Apostles Believers ought to be baptized who have an inherent Holiness wrought by the Holy Spirit Believers Baptism hath many glorious Promises annexed unto it Acts 2.38 39. In Believers Baptism all the holy Ends of it are preserved as to be a sign of present Regeneration dying to Sin burying rising with Christ Answer of a good Conscience a mutual Stipulation and Contract between God and the Party In Believers Baptism by Dipping the Manner and true Administration is preserved the Usage of the Primitive Times retained and the Ends of it manifest Believers Baptism introduceth no Error nor false Doctrine into the World Believers baptized are taught of God and made his Disciples Matth. 28.18 Acts 15.10 If none ought to forbid the Baptism of Water unto those who had been baptized with the Holy Ghost Acts 10.44 45 46 47 48. Christ submitted unto Water-Baptism and ate the Supper with his Disciples who had the Holy Spirit without measure Water-Baptism is to continue unto the End of the World and the Sacrament of the Supper unto the second coming of Christ 1 Cor. 11.26 Mat. 28.19 20. If Christ will have Glory in the Churches throughout all Ages World without end then he must have a Church and Ordinances administred which is the Essence of a Church-Constitution and so cannot want Administrators because Christ hath given Apostles Prophets Evangelists Pastors Teachers for the perfecting of the Saints for the Work of the Ministry edifying of the Body of Christ How long till we all come to
the Parties Reputation but their Principle also And one thing which caused this People called Anabaptists to be misrepresented was their Community of Goods which they alway had at Munster which was no other than the old Waldenses did and their Disciples do to this day in Poland Hungary Transylvania and many parts of Germany living in Colledges casting all into one Common Stock done by them both from Conveniency and having respect unto the Example of the Apostles and Primitive Christians as it is written in Acts 4.32 34 35. And though we do not believe Christians are now under that Obligation yet I cannot have a hard thought of any that should so do acting from the same Primitive Spirit And it would be very unchristian to conclude that such allow a Community of Women because they had their Stock and Goods in common as I fear some have uncharitably asserted from this innocent Apostolical Primitive Practice To conclude Suppose it should be granted there were some foolish Virgins in Germany under this Denomination of Anabaptists it is no more than what Christ hath told us will be Have not the Churches in all Ages had their Achan's Corah's Dathan's Abiram's their Diotrephaes But is it good Logick to say Judas had a Devil therefore all the Apostles had Devils Hath there not been always some bad in the most pure Churches of Christ For any to say there are no good Men nor good Principles in the Communion of the Church of England because some of that Communion are Executed almost every Sessions as they confess themselves to be at Tiburn this would be unjust and uncharitable And it argueth weakness for any to run upon Extreams because of others Errors As some of the Ministers in Holland the Followers of Meno Symonis and Theodoricus upon the Munster Report have refused the bearing Arms Offensive or Defensive or taking any Oaths or bearing any Rule Office or Government in the Common-Wealth lest they should seem to abet such Principles It is good to keep the golden Mean between both Extreams Now let us all labour to put on Charity the Bond of Perfection think no Evil nor speak Evil of no Man Judg not that ye be not judged Why dost thou judg thy Brother or set at naught thy Brother We shall all stand before the Judgment-Seat of Christ Let that great Instance of Despair in John Child never be forgotten that which lay with the most weight upon his Conscience before he hang'd himself was the Sin for his Writing and Speaking against this very People as may be seen in that Book of his Despair And those Scriptures were of great weight upon his Soul He that offends one of these little Ones which believe in me it were better a Mill-stone were hanged about his Neck and he cast into the midst of the Sea O said he I have touched the Apple of God's Eye and says he this deserves a tearing in pieces to sit and speak against thy Brother and slander thy own Mother's Son Psal 50. Let all the People of God have such Thoughts speak such Words use such Carriages one toward another and one of another as we may have no occasion to repent of when every secret Thing shall be brought into Judgment CHAP. XI Containing a brief but sufficient Answer to John Wall 's Book called Baptism Anatomized that he may never more boast as formerly that none have answered him I Query 1. Whether this Man doth not act against the Light of Conscience Experience and Holy Scripture when he asserts indefinitely The Infants of Believers have by the free Gift of God in the Covenant of Grace a right to Remission of Sins and so a right to Baptism Come and stand before the Bar of God's Word and make answer Had Cain Ishmael Esau Absolom Samuel's Sons of Belial all Children of Believers a right to Remission of Sins Query 2. Whether there is not good ground given unto Persons to believe in reading a great part of this Book from pag. 25 to 41 168. that he is of Origen's Opinion The whole World may be saved at last and then why not the Devils too For saith he pag. 168. if all Infants sinned in Adam 's Loins when Adam was restored they were restored in his Loins and when born they were born in a Gospel-Covenant In Pag. 26. God freely forgave Adam and his Posterity in him their Sin Now we know the whole World is Adam 's Children then the whole World is in the Covenant of Grace and so the whole must be baptized and if in the Covenant of Grace for any thing I see the whole World may be saved Abundance of these Assertions he hath in his Book But behold it is a Babel a Book of Confusion for though he tells us when the Parents believe pag. 27 28. their Baptism is a sign of the Remission of Sin to their Infants as to themselves and that their Infants are in the Covenant of Grace with them it being made to Adam and his Posterity Yet Cain Ishmael Esau he asserts were cast out of this Covenant of Grace when grown up and have no Remission of Sins What have Believers Infants Remission sealed unto them yet no Remission Will Men tell a Lie in the Name of the Lord to tell us that Baptism is a sign of Remission of Sin and yet to tell us this very Person may be damned Are not these Self-contradictions and holy Scripture-contradictions which saith Whom God justifieth and pardoneth them he glorifieth Rom. 8.30 In my Book this is more fully answered pag. 29. Query 3. Whether his Language favours not more of Ashdod than Canaan and whether it be not full of hard Speeches against those which John Child paid dearly for and of whom Christ saith It were better a Mill-stone were tied about his Neck and he cast into the midst of the Sea For in his Preface he accounts the Ministers of Christ Ministers of Satan transform'd to deceive the Souls of the Simple And in pag. 3. falsly saith if not maliciously The Anabaptists deny Infants to be redeemed with Christ's Blood p. 31. And p. 55. he saith The Anabaptists hold Christ hath no Lambs in his Fold but all Sheep because we will not own Pedobaptism And pag. 65. What a wicked Principle are those Men of that deny Infants the sign of Remission of Sins and that we make an Idol of Baptism is his Assertion And because we assert Christ was baptized about thirty Years of Age as our Example Behold saith he what windings and turnings by any cover of vain deceit Men lie in wait to deceive by turning away from the Truth and turning unto Fables And further saith pag. 10. We hypocritically plead for that we practise not Whether this Man's Discourse favours as being under the Power of a divine or diabolical Spirit is left to the Godly to judg and whether any heed ought to be taken of such a Person 's Writing In pag. 139. he asserts We damn