this is a most subtile sophistry much like to that of Satan when he beguiled Evah saying In the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt not dye but your eys shall be opened and you shall be at Gods knowing both good and evil all which was both true and a lye for they did learn to know evil by it to purpose and as for good they knew it before and now they learned to know it was good by the loss of it And after the same manner is your reasoning when you say If we have nothing but the bare words without the meaning and reason we have no proof To which I answer The truth is that if we have not the meaning of God and the reason reason why he speaks to us how can we understand as we ought but now Sir I shall make it appear that both Gods meaning and the reason of his meaning is plainly declared to the sons of men by his word of truth and so plainly that if you or an Angel from heaven shall add to it or take from it you shall be accursed and he will add to you all the plagues written and take your name out of the book of life All which if you do not knows I pray read Prov. 30.6 Gal. 1.8 9. Rev. 22.18 19. But you would make us believe that what is written is not able to inform us aright but you or such as you are must add to it or take from it at your pleasure and those your additions and substractions you call the meanings and reasons of the word of God But now I shall prove that the word of God alone is able to make us wise to salvation without your adding to or taking from and to that end see 2 Tim. 3.15 16 17. in these words And from a child thou hast known the holy Scriptures which are able to make us wise to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for Doctrine for Reproof for correction for instruction in rightcousness that the man of God may be perfect and throughly furnished unto all good works Again the Apostle Jam. 1.21 exhorteth us to lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness and to receive with meekness the ingraffed word which saith he is able to save your souls Again when Paul left the Saints in a dangerous condition because of deceivers he commits them to God and the word of his grace saying It is able to build them up and give them an inheritance amongst them that are sanctified Thus you see 1 That the Scripture is able to make us wise to salvation 1 Tins 3.15 2 That all Scripture is given by the inspiration of God and therefore profitable for Doctrine reproof correction instruction in righteonsness ver 16. 3 To make the man of God perfect and throughly furnished to all good works ver 17. 4 It s able to save our souls Jam. 1.21 5 It s able to build us up and give us an inheritance amongst them that are sanctified Act. 20.32 And now seeing the holy writings are able to do all these things I will boldly and safely conclude that we have no need of your Reasons and Sences to help them but you have need to help your Reasons and Senses by the holy writings or else you will be but one of those insensible unreasonable men that Paul prays to be delivered from because they had not faith and how can you have faith as Christ saith How can you believe when you receive honor one of another John 5.44 and do not you receive honor one of another when you prefer one anothers words above the words of God which Christ and the holy men of old spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost 2 Pet. 1.21 But whereas you say wickedly that if we have the words of God without the meaning and reason we have no proof Answer I am sure I may honestly and in the fear of God conclude that if we have your words and meanings and reasons without the word of God we have no proof that we may safely trust for Let God be true and every man a lyer and cursed be he that trusteth in man c. Rom. 3.4 Ier. 17.5 And thus your folly is manifest but because this is the very place in which and slight by which Satan doth deceive and murder so many souls the Reader must give me leave to inlarge my selfe in answering Now to your proof which is this you say The Divel used the words of God to tempt Christ I Answer doth it follow that because the Divel and wicked men do sometimes use the word of God to deceive with that therefore the Saints must not use it make them wise to salvation I trow not Againe Sir You much mistake the matter for the Divells deceit did not ly in bringing the Scriptures but in adding to and taking from as I shall make it appear by comparing the words the Divell brought Mat. 4.6 and Luke 4.10 11. with those words in Psa 91.11 12. which are these For he shall give his Angels charge over thee to keep thee in all thy wayes they shall bear thee up in their hands left thou dash thy feet against a Stone These are the words of the Prophesie Psa 91.11 12. but the words of the tempter are these Cast thy self down which is nowhere written Just as you say Baytise your Children which is no where written but the Divell would prove he might thus for saith he it is written He shall give his Angells charge concerning thee to keep thee as in Luk. 14.10 and with their hands they shall bear thee up left at any time that is added thou dash thy feet against a Stone Thus it is clear the tempter added at any time and left cut in all thy wayes Againe Luke 4.9 10 11. We read Cast thy selfe downe for it is written He shall give his Angells charge over thee to keep thee and in their hands they shall bare thee up left at any time thou dash thy feet against a stone Thus we see in both Scriptures that the tempter added Cast thy selfe downe and at any time and left out in all thy wayes So that here is both adding and diminishing which is accursed of God and yet Mr. Baxter takes the Divells part and saith the Divell used the words of the Scriptures to Christ But this is but a small fault with you Sir for you have learned to take the same leave your selfe as I now shall make it appear thus If thou be the Son of God The Divell said to Christ cast thy self downe which is nowhere written as the Lord saith but the contrary viz. Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God So do you say If you be the Children of God and in Covenant baptize your Children which is nowhere written but the contrary thus Teach all Nations batizing them c. Mat. 28.19 And Preach the Gospell to every
continue in my word then are ye my disciples indeed and you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free And again cap. 15.7 If you abide in me and my words abide in you ask what you will and it shall be done unto you and the word is able to save our souls Jam. 1.21 and the Lord will have respect to them that are of contrite spirits and tremble at his word Isa 66.2 but whose despiseth the word shall be destroyed but he that regardeth the Commandment shall be rewarded Pro. 13.13 And thus its evident that if we run to the word for refuge we do wisely and are safe in so doing But as for Mr. Hall he hath never a word to run to for Infant-baptism as he himself confesses pag. 30. in his fifth Argument in these words In express terms so infants baptism is not commanded nor a thousand things more which get we are bound to observe I shall now conclude with shewing some undenyable Reasons why the word of God must beunderstood and obeyed as it is written without adding to or taking from 1 Because God did never without words make known his minde to the sons of men therefore we read that God at sundry times in divers manners spake to our fathers by the Prophets but now in these last days he hath spoken by his own son c. Heb. 1.12 2 By words the minde of God is compleatly made known so that to fear God and keep his Commandments is the whole duty of man Eccles 12.12 13. 3 Because Christ blames men for erring from the Scriptures saying You erre because you know not the Scriptures Mark 12.24 4 Because we are commanded to hear the words of Christ in all things what soever he shall say unto us Act. 3.22 5 Because they that consent not to wholsom words even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Doctrine which is according to godliness are proud or fools knowing nothing 1 Tim. 6.3 4. 6 Because the Scriptures are able to make us wise to salvation through faith in Jesus and to make the man of God perfect and throughly to furnish us to all good works 2 Tim. 3.15 16 17. 7 Because when Paul left the Church in a dangerous condition because of deceivers he committed them to God and to the word of his grace affirming it is able to build them up and to give them an inheritance amongst them that are sanctified 8 Because if men or Angels shall preach any other Gospel then what is already preached they shall be accursed Gal. 1.8.9 9 Because those that preach are commanded to preach the word in season and out of season 2 Tim. 4.12 and not their own words 10 Because Christ will judge all men by his words that he hath spoken in the last day and then they which do add to his word he will add to them all the plagues written and those that diminish from it he will take their names out of the book of life and their part out of the holy City and he will come in flaming fire to render vengeance on them that know not God and obey not his holy Gospel Joh. 12.48 Rev. 22.18 19. 2 Thef 2.7 8 9. Lastly I shall propound these following Queries with a desire to have them answered by any who will or can 1 Whether God doth require the sons of men to believe any thing in point of Justification that is not recorded in the holy Scriptures of truth 2 Whether God doth require or command us to obey any thing after believing which is not contained in the word of truth 3 Whether the Saints have any ground to believe the Resurrection from the dead and eternal life in glory but as it is recorded in Scripture 4 Whether if a man believe and obey all the known precepts and promises contained in the word of God as much as in him lyeth will God condemn and punish him at the great day because he hath believed and done no more 5 If the Scriptures be not a perfect rule of faith and obedience without the help of any mans inventions what is Or who may we trust or at whose mouth must we seek wisdom 6 If the Scriptures ought to be believed and obeyed as they are written then how dare some deny faith in and obedience to some part of them and impose things not written in the Scriptures to be obeyed in stead of the ordinances of Christ 7 Whether there be any sin or corruption incident to man that the Scriptures doth not reprove and make manifest in express terms 8 Whether there be any vertue or praise in any thing that the best of men ever did but what is expresly commanded or commended in the Scriptures of truth 9 I appeal to every mans Conscience in the sight of God whether their Consciences do not condemn them when they walk contrary to what is written in the Scripture 10 Whether every mans Conscience do not justifie him when he walks according to what is contained in the word of God Now if all these Queries be granted as they are stated to be true then it followeth that those that teach and perswade men to do any thing in matter of Justification or salvation more or less then is plainly written and expressed in the word of God are such as do add to or take from what God hath spoken to the sons of men for instruction and are guilty of those plagues pronounced Rev. 22.18 19. but infants baptism is nowhere written nor expressed in all the Scriptures as Mr. Hall Mr. Baxter and Mr. Cook do confess therefore they and all they that plead for it are guilty of the plagues aforesaid except they repent And thus have I answeâ—â—d to Mr. Baxters ten Positions which he saith pag. 3. must necessarily be well understood before we can understand the point in hand So that the Reader must take notice that if these Positions be not well understood to be true then all the rest of his book cannot be understood to be true by his own confession For saith he If people be mistaken in that which goeth before no wonder if they deny the consequents or that which followeth after c. So that if I have fully answered these Positions I need say but little to the rest of the book All which I leave to the Reader to consider of But howsoever I shall not fail by the assistance of God to speak so much to the two first parts of his book as may undermine his building and lay it in the dust As for the last part of his book from the 162 page to the end himself confesseth that they are but such vain contendings as he is like to be guilty of and Mr. Tombs also as you may see in his Epistle to the Church at Bewdley towards the latter end Likewise Mr. Cooks Arguments being the same with his the substance of both tending to prove that infants are in Covenant and that they are
Deut. 17.11 From Jeremiah 35.6 some there are contend to maintaine the law and customes we have in this Nation received from our fathers because the Rechabites stuck so close to theirs To which I answer 1. That the Rechabites were subject to the judicial law as the other Jews were 2. These traditions of theirs were not forbid nor commanded of God that the magistrate could not forbid the doing what they did 3. Nor cause c. saith In the Congregation of God confession of sins is always the first the which in times past went before before baptism for commonly children were baptized when they came to their understanding c. Idem super Mat. Christ hath nowhere commanded to Baptize infants 19 Calvinus in Institutionibus lib. 4. cap. 16. Confesseth that it is nowhere expresly mentioned by the Evangelists that any one childe was by the Apostles hands baptized 20 Dathenus in the Frankendalische Colloquium fol. 549. We believe that christian children ought to be baptized albeit it stand no where plainly with such words written That Christian children shall in the New-Testament be baptized And folio 605. Now we have plainly confessed that we have no such express commandment that you should baptize the Christians children And fol. 663. Also in Protocol Printed in Netherlandish 274. 1 He confesseth that there is no evident example that the Apostles did baptize children 21 Beza in Annotationibus super Matth. John taught those that were to be baptized and admitted none to baptism but those that gave testimony that they believed the forgiveness of their sins such Confession was also in the Primitive Church required of the Catechumens before baptism For in that the Sacraments are Seals it is requisite that Doctrine or Instruction should go before the use of those things by which the Doctrine it self is to be sealed 22 Luther in his book of the civil Magistrate The Sacraments neither can nor may be received without Faith but with great hurt Wherefore we hold our selves to the words of Christ He that believeth and is baptized so that either before or else even then present when Baptism is administred there must needs be Faith or else there is a contempt of the divine Majesty who offers his present grace when there is none to receive it Thus much out of those Teachers own writings which observe and use childrens baptism from whence the Reader may take notice of the unsoundness of their principles and what little ground 1 There is for it in the Word of God as they themselves confess 2 Therefore what great cause have we to search the Scriptures for better information let the sober-minded judge Moreover I shall further prove out of their own writings that the baptism of infants and sucklings is a Ceremony and Ordinance of man brought into the Church by Teachers after the Apostles times and Instituted and Commanded by Councels Popes and Emperours Proofs out of the Ancient and latter Teachers 1 ORigen calleth Baptism of children a ceremony and tradition of the Church In Levit. Hem. 8. In Epist ad Rom. lib. 5. 2 Augustine calleth it a common custom of the Church De baptismo contra Donat. lib. 4. cap. 23. Et de Genesi ad literam lib. 10. cap. 23. 3 Pope Gregory the 4. calleth it a Tradition of the Fathers In decretis distinct de consecrat 4 Erasmus lib. 4. de ration concio saith that they are not to be condemned that doubt whether Infant-baptism was or was denyed by the Apostles and think that the same is to be received as the placita Scholasticorum theologicorum which cannot be proved by sacred Scripture 5 Eckins calleth it a commandment and ordinance of man In Enchiridion 6 Luther in his book of Anabaptism acknowledgeth that it cannot be proved by sacred Scripture that childrens baptism was instituted by Christ or begun by the first Christians after the Apostles For many yeers since it came to be in use in the Church and was established by Pope Innoceneius 7 Cassander in his book de infantium Baptismo saith That it came to be used by the Fathers which lived three hundred yeers after the Apostles 8 Cyprianus lib. 3. Epistolarum 8. Epistle 9 Augustinus Epist 28. ad Hieroni. 10 Cassander de infantium baptismo 11 Bullinger in his House-book 12 Justus Menius of the Spirit of the Anab. 13 Melancthon in his Answer to the Anab. Articles About the yeer of our Lord 248 and after the departure of John the oldest Apostle 158 yeers lived a Priest called Fidus the same would that men should according to the manner of Circumcision baptize young children upon the eighth day Against whom Cyprianus with sixty six Bishops and Elders more gathered together opposed themselves ordaining that every one without delay should receive Baptism and that the young children should timely be brought thereto Thus have you the time when and the persons by whom it was brought in viz. The time when in the yeer of our Lord 248. the persons by which it was brought in namely Fidus by name who was a Priest who then lived Thirdly the opposition that he then had by Cyprianus and 66 other Bishops and Elders so that by their own Confessions it is an Ordinance and Tradition of man which will and must perish with the using And that it is Will-worship and Idolatry appeareth by their own Confessions as followeth 14 Bullingerus in ex Augustino contra Julianum lib. 1. cap. 2. saith The Carthaginian Councel concludeth thus to Innocentium Forasmuch as we believe that Christ the Son of God was holy born of the pure Virgin Mary to fulfil and ratifie the promise of God which excludeth not children from salvation but much rather comprehends the same within the Covenant We will therefore that they be baptized Thus we see it is We will therefore Will-worship 15 In Tomis Conciliorum Synodorum ex Concilio Carthag 5. cap. 6. saith Concerning Infants we will that they be baptized if there be no certain witness to testifie that they are baptized c. 16 Item Gregorius quartus Bonifacio Those young children whose parents are absent or unknown whether they be baptized or not let them according to the Tradition of the Fathers be baptized Here the Reader may take notice that it is a Tradition of the Fathers according to their own confession 17 Ex Concilio Miletano cui interfuit Augustinus Anselmus Romae Ecclesiae legatus It is also our will that all those that will not that children which are new born from their mothers womb should be baptized to the washing away of Original sin let them be excommunicated 18 Ex Tomis Conciliorum Franck. in Chronologia In the second Bracharense Councel holden 610. Baptism of children was adjudged and holden to be needful 19 Tuicensi Divinis officiis lib. 4. cap. 18. In times past the children in the Church were throughout the whole yeer instructed in the word And at the feast of Easter to rehearse the Faith which
her treasure who beleeved and was baptized by Philip Act. 8.27.37 38. and what say you to Erastus the Chamberlaine of the City Rom. 16.2 3. and likewise of those Saints of Caesars houshold Philip. 4.22 And for an Oath did you never read in the New-Testament Heb. 6.16 that an oath for confirmation is an end of all strife And for War did you never read Luke 3.14 that the souldiers came to John and asked what they should do and he did not bid them lay down their arms but be content with their wages and do violence to no man And did you never read of Cornelius a Censurion of the Italian band Act. 10. and doth not the Apostle Peter put us in mind to subject Magistrates 1 Pet. 2.13 14 15. Likewise Paul to Tit. ch 3.1 and 1 Tim. 2.1.2 and Rom. 13. Is not the Scripture full of these things and yet do you call for Scripture Surely you read so many other books that you forget to read the Scripture For I well remember in your third position you say that some 8 years agoe you had read some hundreds more then most of them you call Godly Christians and thought yourself as wise as most of them and some thought you wiser you say but it seems you are not yet wise enough to lay aside those hundreds of books and give your self wholly to read and study the Scriptures which are able to make you wise to Salvation if you were you would be better acquainted with the matter contained in them And thus I proceed to your second position finding your first so frothy and full of superfluous words In your second you say that The great difficulty of a point is no proof that it is not truth and a thing is not therefore to be rejected as not of God because it is not easie to understand You affirm also that multitudes of silly ignorants do the same In all which I shall not oppose you But your next considerable is this you say If a subtill Pagan should come amongst the people and dispute that the Scripture is not the word of God and that Christ Jesus is not the Son of God he would silence them more then the Anabaptist con do Answ Here Mr. Baxter makes himself very suspicious and his words very unsavory in that he rather sideth with Pagans and Atheists that deny both God and Christ and the holy Scriptures then with those which are falsely called Anabaptists though we honestly own God and Christ and the Scriptures and desire to plead nothing else for our practise for which cause he crieth out against us in his 10. position calling us brute beasts and nothing but because we call to him for Scripture for to prove his practice and yet now he makes as if the Atheists and Pagans had more to say for themselves then we all which I leave to God and the impartial Reader to judge Again Mr. Bextar speaks a great swelling word of vanity saying he will hazard all the reputation of his understanding on it that there is ten times more to be said for free-wil then can be said against Infants baptism yea it is twenty times more difficult and yet you offer to dispute it with any man and must it therefore be true say you Answ 1. Sir as for the reputation of your understanding I will not say what I judge its worth 2. If you had said there is ten times more to be said for free-will then is to be said for Infants baptism you had hit it right Lastly whereas you say free-will is such a difficult point I am not of your judgement in that for I beleive its easie to them that will understand to know that no man in himself or of himself without God hath any free-will or power to think or do that which is good for In him we live move and have our being Act. 17.28 in and through God that gives all men life and breath and all things to the end they may seek him Act. 17.25 26 27. Even the wickedest and Hypocrites the worst of men have a will and power to do more good then they do and that 's one cause of their just condemnation Moreover its evident that wicked Balaam had a will and desire to dy the death of the righteous and that his latter end might be like unto theirs Numb 23.10 And Paul saith plainly To will is present with me but how to performe that which is good I know not Rom. 7.18 by all which it is evident that free-will is not such a difficult point as you would make it but it s an easie matter with you to call Light darkness and darkness light Isa 5.20 But I leave this at present and proceed to your fourth position wherein you say That if never so clear evidence of truth be produced yet it will still be dark to them that are uncapable of discerning it for its Gods work to make people understand And then you instance in the Author to the Heb. cap. 5.11 12 13 14. who had many things to say to them concerning Melchisedec which were hard to be uttered because their ears were dull of hearing Answ We grant you all this I That though there be never so cleer truth for a thing yet it will still be dark to some But however let us see some cleer evidence of truth first and shew where it s written that babes must be baptized and then if we do not believe it be it upon us We know it is Gods work to perswade the heart but its mans work to declare the truth by which the heart is perswaded The Apostle often preacht very plainly that men should Repent and be baptized but there were many that heard them which rejected their words though very plain as they are still upon record but you bring us no Scripture for what you affirm about Infant-baptism but call us unreasonable men and bruit beasts for requiring Scripture of you for your practice and yet you would bear the world in hand in this your Position that you have proved cleer evidence of truth for it but we will not believe it but I say once more shew us but where it s written in the word of God which alone is able to make us wise to salvation 2 Tim. 3.15 16 17. and then if we will not nor cannot believe it our blood be upon our selves but till you shew us something written we have nothing to believe As for your saying we had need study the controversie at least seven yeers I answer What Rule have you for that Did the three thousand in Act. 2.41 42. study this controversie seven yeers or seven days either Consider it again and those men and women Act. 8.12 that believed Philips preaching and were baptized and the Eunuch in the latter part of the chapter and Lydia and the Goaler Act. 16. and Crispus the chief Ruler of the Synagogue with his houshold and many of the Corinthians who did not
stand reading other books seven yeers but hearing and believing were baptized Act. 18.8 You say further that men think they can understand plain Scripture if they hear it but they cannot and then you cry O that pride would let men know that they cannot understand the plainest Lecture of Geometry or Arithmetick that a man can read unto them and read the Grammer to a boy in the Primer and be understandeth not a word you say Answ Is it possible you would make men believe they cannot understand plain Scripture if they hear it but I pray try us with some first and see I confess we cannot understand this book of yours to be Plain Scripture-proof for Infants Church-membership and baptism because you have packt it so full of such whimsies as these Geometry Arithmetick Grammer c. But Sir we would have you to know that the word of God is of another nature for it giveth light to the blinde and understanding to the simple Psal 19.7 8. Yea it makes men wiser then their enemies and gives them more understanding then all their teachers yea more then the Antients Psal 119.98 99 100. All which I believe you will finde to be true before we have done You say Pos 4. When the cause is so difficult we must follow the most probable way So then it seems its very difficult for you to prove that Infants ought to be baptized by your own confession and indeed so I believe for that must needs be very difficult to prove that there is not one word of God in all the Bible for I cannot blame you for saying its difficult to prove But you say we must follow the most probable way come on then that we will Now whether is it most probable that that practice which is nowhere commanded nor written in Scripture should be of God or of Satan Judge ye Now that Infant-baptism is such a practise as is not written in Scripture both Mr. Hall and your self confess and therefore in your 10 Position you do abuse us and call us bruit-beasts for demanding a plain Scripture for it therefore it s not of God and it s most plain that if that which is written in the word of God be the way of God then that which is not written in it and yet practised as an ordinance of God must needs be of Satan In your 5 Position in short you tell people that if any have taken up this opinion and have not Read and studyed Mr. Cobbet and Mr. Church and other chief books and been able to confute them they have but discovered a seared Conscience which either dare venter on sin without fear or else do count error no sin To all which I answer How now Mr. Baxter Are you grown to this height what must not men obey what they finde written in the holy Scripture till they have asked Mr. Cobbet and Mr. Churches counsel I pray where learned you this divinity at Rome I thought all this time the holy Scriptures had been able to make us wise unto salvation through faith in Christ Jesus but it seems they are not if you say true but we must be beholding to Mr. Cobbet and Mr. Church But I pray how did men before Mr Cobbet and Churches books were written and how do those now that cannot come by their books or never heard of them if it be as you say you may do well to send some men up and down the Country to sell them But I believe this is but one of your scare crows with which you use to affright silly souls that set their faith in your wisdom and not in the power of God but your folly is a making manifest and light and freedom is breaking forth to them which you have kept in darkness and bondage Now to your 6 Position wherein you say That you will discover a most frequent cause of mens falling into errors which you say is this All men in the beginning do receive many truths upon weak or false grounds and so hold them a while till they are beaten out of their old Arguments and then presently they suspect the cause it self and you are perswaded this is Mr. Tombs his own case Ans As for Mr. Tombs he is of age and able to answer for himself I question not and as for your saying that men receive Infant-baptism and other Truths upon weak grounds at first I answer I never knew any receive Infant-baptism upon any ground at all weak nor strong neither can they for they are not capable of what they do because they want understanding when they receive it therefore you may well say they are or may be quickly beaten off it again when they come to reason with themselves or others about it But you say Alas there is far better grounds which they are not aware of Answ That is it may be because you baptize them so soon if you would let them alone till they are men and women before you baptize them as you have example in Scripture they might receive baptism upon better grounds In your 7 Position you confess some Divines have reasoned very weakly for Infant-baptism and used unfit phrases and misapplyed Scriptures and to these some have wrote three or four books and easily answered and seem to triumph and yet the truth is not shaken but it may be all the best Arguments and Plain Scriptures have never been answered say you Answ I desire to answer the Plain Scriptures no way but by faith and obedience by believing and doing of them therefore if you know of any that speaks of Infants-baptism bring them forth and I will be silent The first I see but as for your best Arguments you talk of I look upon them but as so many cunning devised fables wherewith you lye in wait to deceive simple souls by speaking things you ought not for filthy lucre sake Tit. 1.14 You say Pos 8. one sound Argument is enough to prove any thing true Answ Then either the great number of yours in the book of plain Scripture are not sound or else you need not to have brought so many by your own grant But you say What if all the Texts were put by save one Were not that enough Answ Yes it s enough if you can shew us but one but I pray where is that one I cannot finde it in all your book but it seems you are afraid that all should be put by save one therefore you make this apologie but I suppose all will do you little good In your 9 Position you say The former and present customs of the holy Saints and Churches should be of great weight with humble Christians Answ If the present customs of Churches now be according to the Primitive pattern I grant it else not But I am sure the customs of the Churches in the Apostles days was to baptize men and women when they believed with all their hearts and gladly received the word Act. 2.41 c. 8.12 v.
Creature he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved Mark 16.15 16. And repent and be baptized c. Act. 2.38 But you know well that little Babes know not what repentance is And ver 41. They that gladly received the word were baptized but you know well or else you have lost your sences that such Children as you baptize cannot gladly receive the word Again If thou believest with all thine heart thou maist Act. 8.37 And when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the Kingdome of God and the name of the Lord Jesus Christ they were baptized both men and women Act. 8.11 37. But you know that there is no Children in the Text and you know also if you be not wilfully blinde that they cannot believe with all their hearts but yet notwithstanding all this you are so impudent as to do the works of Satan and as he tempted Christ and would have had him cast himselfe downe before Gods time was come to send his Angells to take him downe and to that end would have applied a promise falsly saying It is written He shall give his Angells charge over thee to keep thee leaving out in all thy waies even so do ye tempt men and women to baptize their Children before Gods time is come of his own will to beget them by his word of truth James 1.18 That they might be born againe not only of Water but also of the Spirit Joh. 3.5 And to that end you tell them it is written they are Disciples and Church-members and they were circumcised under the Law and therefore they must be baptized under the Gospell and thus you misâ—pply and wrest the Scriptures putting in and leaving out what you please and then when poor Souls aske you for plaine Scripture for Infants baptisme and would gladly see where it is written then you tell them the Divell brought the words of Scripture to Christ and if they will have the words without the reasons and consequences they have no proof and thus you labour with your consequences and reasons and words without knowledge to darken the Counsell of God Job 38.2 But I hope by this time your folly is made more manifest But you proceed and tell us that if we have the meaning and reason we have enough for evidence for words are but to express sence To which I answer Then it seems the meanings and reasons you talke of without the word are without sence by your own confession for you say If we have the meanings and reasons we have enough c. As for the words they are but to express sence therefore it seems if we be without the words of Scripture we are without sence And thus you see or may see that God by weak instruments can take you wise ones in your own craftiness But good Sir consider once againe are not the words of the Scriptures which were given by the inspiration of the Spirit as good and better sence and reason then any words and reasons you can speake or give if you deny this upon your second thoughts I must needs conclude that you are far gone and very high flowne But you are pleased to say further Would it not make a man pitty such senceless ignorant wretches that will call for express words of Scripture when they have evident consequences Is Scripture-reason no reason Answer Sir methinks you are very pitifull but yet you are a miserable comforter for when you have done you fall a railing on us calling us senceless ignorant wretches that will call for express words of Scripture when we have your consequence But Sir I have told you already why we dare not trust your consequences But you say Is Scripture-reason no reason I answer Yes its goodreason and it s that we would have from you but you call us ignorant senceless wretches for so doing But there may be a mistake betwixt us for we call Scripture reason written reason now if you would but shew us where your reason is written in the book of God the holy writings the controversie were at an end but till then you have done nothing But you might inform the ignorant wretches that the holy Scriptures in English are holy writings for Scriptures are writings and holy Scriptures are holy writings and thus the people might learn to know what you mean by Scripture-reasons which are in plain English written reasons Further You are pleased to say that we disclaim Reason and therefore not to be reasoned with and if we once renounce Reason we are brute beasts and who will go to plead with a beast its Reason that differeth a man from a beast c. Answ Sir truly you do put me in minde how like one of your forefathers you are for to my best remembrance you speak his very words and I question not but if you had an opportunity you would do his deeds The man I speak of was Doctor Story to Mr. Philpot the Martyr who suffered for what he saw in that dark age The place where you may finde it is in Fox his book of Martyrs pag. 1972. in these following words Philpot After this Doctor Story came in to whom I said Mr. Doctor you have done me great wrong and without Law have straightly imprisoned me more like a dog then a man and besides this you have broke promise with me for you promised I should be judged the next day after Story I am now come to keep promise with you Was there ever such a fantastical man as this is Nay he is no man he is a beast yea these Hereticks be worse then brute beasts for they will upon vain singularity take upon them to be wiser then all men being indeed very fools and Asse-heads not able to maintain that which of an arrogant obstinacie they stand in Philpot. I am content to abide your railing judgement now say what you will yet I am no heretick neither shall you or any other be able to prove that I hold any jot against the word of God but as a Christian man ought Story The word of God forsooth the word of God! it s but a folly to reason with these hereticks for they are incurable and desperate but as I may reason with thee not that I have any hope to win thee But whom wilt thou appoint to be Judge of the word whereunto thou standest Philpot. Verily the word it self Story Do you not see the ignorance of this beastly heretick he will have the word to be judged of the word can the word speak Philpot. If I cannot prove what I have said by good authority I will be content to be counted an heretick or ignorant person or what you please Story Let 's hear what wise authority you can bring for it Philpot. It s the saying of Christ Joh. 12.48 The word that I have spoken the same shall judge you in the last day and if in the last day much more now our doings ought to be judged by it I
am sure I have Christ my Judge on my side for this Thus you may see and consider how like your forefather Doctor Story you speak and behave your self and to that end I have writ it and that the Reader may consider that even as these wicked Tyrants dealt with the poor Martyrs that suffered in Queen Maries days for that part of truth which they then saw in those times of ignorance and darkness even so would Mr. Baxter and his brethren deal with us now if they had but their liberty witness these words of Doctor Story compared with Mr. Baxters tenth Position by which it appeareth that they are children of one father whose works they do Joh. 8.44 And now whereas you say we disclaim Reason I answer It s but one of your false accusations we own all things written in the Scriptures of truth and they are better reason about heavenly matters then any you can bring for they are able to make us wise to salvation as aforesaid But now I come to the great invincible Argument of Mr. Baxter and Mr. Cook which is this saith Mr. Baxter Do you think the Lord Jesus knew a good Argument or the right way of disputing why how did he prove the Resurrection to the Sadduces from that Text I am the God of Abraham and Isaas and of Jasob would not one of these men if they had stood by have chiddeu Christ for this Argument and have said Give us a Text that says the dead shall Rise what 's this to the Resurrection that God is the God of Abraham would not these have reported abroad that Christ could not confute the Sadduces or bring any Scripture for his doctrine thus far Mr. Baxter the same saith Mr. Cook in his 24 and 25 pag. To all which I answer that the Lord Jesus knew a good Argument and the right way of disputing better then Mr. Baxter Mr. Cooke or my selfe or any man else I humbly confess to his praise and therefore I desire to make use of his words that he hath already spoken knowing that he hath reasoned and proved all things better then I can But Mr. Baxter although he confess for his own ends that the Lord Christ knew the best reasoning yet he is not content with his reason but adds to it these words in his 10 Position 1. If God be the God of Abraham then it will follow that Abraham in soul is living 2. This is not directly proved from this Text but another principle must be taken in to support it viz. That God is not the God of the dead but the living 3. If Abrahams soul be living then his body must needs be raised 4. If Abrahams body shall rise then there is a resurrection and others shall rise also To which I answer 1. Mr. Baxter in all these consequences that he hath drawn hath but darkened the councell of God spoken by the mouth of Christ 2. The resurrection is more plainly proved by the words of Christ without all his consequences as appeareth by the word of the Text Luk. 20.35 36 37. But they that shall be accounted worthy to obtaine that world and the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage neither can they dy any more for they are equall with Angells and are the Children of God being the Children of the resurrection Thus Christ himselfe in plaine terms hath proved the resurrection already speaking plainly of the happiness of those that shall obtaine the resurrection from the dead and then when he had done he concludes that the resurrection of the dead is so plain that even Moses shewed it at the Bush c. 3. Let Mr. Baxter prove if he can that Christ did draw any consequences from his owne words but left them barely as he spake them as sufficient proof without the help of any of Mr. Baxters consequences 4. If Christ had used never so many consequences to prove any thing yet his words were all Scripture and infallibly true So true that whosoever of Men or Angels should add to or take from it they were accursed But Mr. Baxters are none such therefore we weigh them not 5. Whereas Mr. Baxter is pleased to say If we had stood by we would have said to Christ Give us a Scripture that saith the dead shall rise I answer So Christ did give them two Scriptures though Mr. Baxter is so blind he cannot see them for he telleth us ver 35. of the world to come and the Resurrection from the dead in plaine tearms saying They which shall be accounted worthy to obtaine that world and the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage And in ver 37. he saith that the dead are raised And we would have Mr. Baxter and all men know that we take all the sayings of Christ to be as good Scripture and of as great authority as any part of the Bible therefore now Mr. Baxter and Mr. Cooks folly and wickedness is manifest who would insinuate into peoples mindes that Christ did not bring Scripture to prove the resurrection of the dead but they must help him by their consequences But their deceit lieth in this namely in that they did conclude that because Christ did not bring some other Scripture that was written before to prove the resurrection therefore he proved it by consequence never minding that what he said was Scripture and what he approved of is approved and ought to be approved of all without murmurings or disputings But now to make their folly manifest I will reason with them another way and if they prove as plainely that Infants ought to be baptized as Chirst did there prove that the dead should rise they shall have it and I will confess my selfe in an errour And now to the matter 1. Mark 12.25 For when they shall rise from the dead they neither marry nor are given in marriage Now do you shew a Scripture that saith And when they shall baptize little Children they shall c. 2. Ver. 26. And as touching the dead that they rise have you not read c. Now do you produce such a Scripture if you can that saith And as touching little Children that they be baptized have you not read c. bring you but Scriptures that come but thus neer the matter and we will grant you Infant-baptisme but till then you are unreasonable in your reasoniags and while you accuse others you are guilty your selves Obj. It may be some will object and say that I will tie Mr. Baxter and Mr. Cooke to plaine Scripture but yet I have written many words in this Book my selfe that are not plaine Scripture Ans It s one thing for a man to use words to express himselfe to those that will not believe the Scriptures as they are written and it s another thing to bring the holy Scriptures to shew men a Rule to walk by and what their duty is in matters of faith and obedience We will
generall in them but also such words as speak to every Saint in Christ and member in particular as the word all the Saints every Saint in Christ and every one of you and every branch in me c. But for example I shall give you one probable Argument from Mat. 18.15 16 17. in these words If thy Brother sin against thee go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone if he shall hear thee thou hast gained thy Brother if not then take with thee one or two more that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established and if he shall neglect to hear them tell it to the Church and if he neglect to hear the Church let him be to thee an Heathen man and a Publican From all which I argue thus First If it be the duty of Church-members to watch over one another and proceed in order according to this rule then they must be such as understand this rule But little babes of 8 daies weeks or months old cannot understand this rule Therefore they cannot be visible Church-members Secondly If it be the duty of Church-members to tell one another of their fault then they must be such as can both speak and judge what a fault is or else how can they tell one another of their faults But little Babes can neither speak nor judge in such cases Therefore they cannot be Church-members Thirdly If the faults of particular members in such cases may and must be brought before the whole Church for them to hear and judge then the whole Church ought to be such as can judge and likewise declare their minds But little Infants are not such Therefore no visible Church-members But it may be the objection against all this will be That this rule doth not reach or concern all Church-members because the word all or every one or whole Church is not found in the text But I shall leave it to the judgement of the wise that fear God and are worshipers of him in spirit and truth Many more such Arguments as this might be brought of which the time would fail to relate therefore I shall omit them and proceed to prove in opposition to Mr. Baxters and Mr. Cooks other Arguments that little Children that cannot speak words nor understand the Gospell if they hear it are not nor cannot be Christs Disciples Arguments I. My first Argument is from Mat 28.19 in these words Go ye therefore and teach all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy Spirit The plain English of which Mr. Baxter himself confesseth to be Go make Disciciples baptizing them c. From whence I argue thus If those Disciples which Christ commanded the Apostles to baptize must be first made so then they were not so born if they had they should not have need to be made so Again the word saith Teach all Nations or make Disciples saith Mr Baxter Whence I argue thus If make Disciples all Nations and teach all Nations be all one as Mr. Baxter affirms then it s clear that Disciples are made by preaching the word But Infants that cannot speak words nor understand earthly things if we tell them can much less understand the things of the Kingdom of Heaven declared by the preaching of the Gospell Therefore Here Mr. Baxter and I must have some discourse before we part a for he telleth us of divers waies to make Disciples besides teaching of them which in plain terms is to say There is divers waies to make Scholars besides or without teaching of them which to me is a Paradox Again Mr. Baxter being very willing to prove Infants Disciples saith page 22. line 1 2 3. that its enough to make them Disciples that they are devoted to learning if they live and that they are consecrated to Christ as their Master who can teach them hereafter So that he would prove them Disciples or Scholars first and have them taught afterwards strange doctrine and unheard-of Divinity the which lest any should object against he stoutly backs with a learned Argument as he would have it thus Is it not a common thing to call the whole Nation of Turks Mahometans old and young why then may we not call our selves and our Children Disciples of Christ And then he tells us another story of a man that hired a Philosopher to teach him and all his Children and were they not all then Disciples of that Philosopher Answ But is this Mr. Baxters plain Scripture-proof that he telleth us of in the title of his book I do much admire that a man prosessing so much seriousness in his matters and soundness in his judgement tenderness of conscience and zeal for truth as Mr. Baxter doth in his first chap. page 2 should so turn aside his ears from the truth of the word of God unto such fables as these as if he were resolved to make the Apostles words true upon himself 2 Tim. 4.3.4 which are these The time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers having itching ears and they shall turn aside their ears from the truth and be turned unto fables c. But let me a little speak to Mr. Baxter in his own language lest he be wise in his own conceit and think I cannot answer such learned Questions Suppose I should grant that little Children as soon as they go to Schoole and begin to learn their letters are Scholars doth it therefore follow that they are then fit to learn the things of God and be immediately nay long before that the Disciples of Christ I think not for the Lord Christ saith John 2.12 If I have told you earthly things and you beleive them not how shall you beleive if I tell you Heavenly But such Children that go newly to Schoole to learn their letters you may tell them of many earthly things that they cannot understand nor beleive at all Againe What if we grant Mr. Baxter that little Children are Scholars the first day they are sent to Schoole and having learned but the first letters This would make nothing for his purpose for do we ever know any man so idle and foolish and void of understanding as to send his Child to Schoole to learn its letters befor it could speak or understand would not Mr. Baxter himself say such a man were void of reason but Mr. Baxter doth affirn such to be Disciples of Christ and would have them sent to Chrits Schoole but if this be equity or godly wisdome let the godly wife consider and judge But Mr. Baxter would teach men by parallels and lay aside the word of God he might have made the comparison thus As little children the first day they go to Schoole to learn their letters are commonly called the Scholars and Disciples of Men even so those little Children or babes in Christ 1 John 5.21 the first
rather then to ages and instanceth in Evah who when Cain was born she said I have gotten a man from the Lord. But what is this to our purpose for she doth not say that this man believed the things concerning the kingdom of Jesus Christ but those men and women Act. 8.12 were such as believed all these things therefore your Argument is false and your self deceitful and wise to do evil as appeareth by this your cunning craftinesse wherewith you lye in wait to deceive Eph. 4.14 Now the last Text is in Act. 18.8 that Crispus the chief Ruler believed in the Lord with all his house and many of the Corinthians hearing believed and were baptized Thus we have seen the command of Christ and the practice of the Apostles agreeing together by which the foundation of the Saints is discovered upon which they ought to build which is the words and sayings of Chirst and the practice and example of his holy Apostles but not a word that I can finde in all the holy Scriptures or sayings of Christ the Prophets or Apostles about the Baptizing in a Font nor baptizing little infants that can neither speak nor understand my not so much as the name of that abominable Idol the Font is once mentioned in all the holy Scriptures much less that the people of God should sacrifice their children to it as the children of Israel once sacrificed their Babes to Molech See Jer. 32.35 Therefore we may most safely conclude that it is none of the Councel of God for Paul saith Act. 20.27 I declare unto you the whole Counsel of God but in all Pauls writings it is nowhere declared therefore it is none of Gods Counsels nor for us to follow And now seeing there is no foundation nor footing for the Font nor Infant-baptism in all the word of God we must if we will discover it seek for it somewhere else the which I confess is not worth the doing were it not to discover and make manifest the folly of them that uncover it and guard it for infants baptism and to that end I shall do it Look into a book intituled A view of the Civill and Ecclesiastical Law written by Sir Thomas Ridley Knight and Doctor of the Civill Law printed by William Turner Printer to the University of Oxford 1634. Cum privilegio In that book pag. 176. he although an enemy to us yet confesseth that the Rites of baptisme in the primitive times were performed in Rivers and Fountaines where the persons baptized received that Sacrament and this manner of baptizing saith he the ancient Church entertained from the example of Christ who was baptized of John in the river of Jordan and some say that this was very tolerable in the of Eastern parts but saith he most certaine it is that it was most convenient for that time because their Converts were many and men of years a reason also may be saith he for that those ages were otherwise unprovided of Fonts and such conveniences as are now in use Thus he confesseth that Fonts were not then in use Againe saith he And this hath been the cause why this manner of baptizing was resumed in after-times and other places for saith he our venerable Bede telleth us of some that were baptized here in England in the river Swale which runneth through part of York-shire in the North-riding and he giveth the same reason Nondum enim Oratoria vel Baptisteria in ipso exordio nascententes ibi Ecclesiae poterant aedificari Ecclesiast hist lib. 2. cap. 14. And then he saith The days we now live in have no other remainder of this rite of baptizing in rivers and fountaines then the very name and hence it is saith he that we call our vessels that containe the water of baptisme Fonts or Fountaines From all which let the Reader consider 1. That he confesseth that baptism in the ancient times was administred in Rivers and Fountaines 2. That nothing of that is remaining but only the name 3. That from thence it is that they call those vessels they baptize in Fonts And thus we have begun to discover the foundation of the Font. But he proceedeth further and confesseth saying This custome of baptizing in Rivers and Fountaines being discontinued or left off Fonts were erected in private houses Hence let the Reader observe 1. He saith the primitive practise was to baptize is in Rivers and Fountaines which the ancient Churches received from the example of our Saviour who was baptized of John in the River of Jordan Mat. 3.13 14 15 16. 2. He saith that was left off observe They left off the example of Christ 3. They erected Fonts in their own private houses observe here is the words of the Prophet Jeremiah fulfilled Jer. 2.12 13. Be astonished O ye Heavens at this and be ye horribly afraid be ye very desolate saith the Lord for my people have committed two evils they have forsaken 2. There is a being without the law that is all the true knowledge of the law as infants ignorants Atheists of which Paul himself said of himself that he was without the law and this is from the sence and understanding of it Rom. 7.9 3. There is a being under the law in the external government of it in a Commonweal and in the condition of the soul as it is in unbelief Gal. 3.23 before faith came we even Jews and Gentiles were shut up under the law 1. Those under the law internally are to be under the external form of the law to be guided and instructed thereby as by a Schoolmaster to bring them to Christ 2. Those without the law are not freed from the law though they are judged by another law Gal. 3.22 The Scripture hath shut up all men under sin that is the law even all those which are without law and those under law also 3. All which prove the law of God to be the rule to judge by that it is indeed the Magna Charta Suprema Lex and Salus Populi and now only is judgement the Lords The second General to clear that that followeth is Deut. 6.1 These are the Commandments the Statutes and the Judgements 1. By the Commandments I understand the 10 words given in two Tables by God to Moses on Sinai Exod. 20. which was the ground of Statutes 2. The Statutes are the several cases depending on each Command and arising out of them and set down to direct the Judges how to Judge according unto God in the matters of God laid down in the first Tables and in matter of men in the second they being the absolute decrees of God Judges and Judged must rest in from whence is no appeal and is the ground of Judgement 3. The Judgement contains the sentence added to the breach of every law for punishment or to obedience of the law for couragement therein the promises of good and mercy and is only proper to Gods law and curses added to his law not mans which is
an empty law Third General I. That though in the 4 last books of Moses is an oft repetition of the Statutes and Judgements yet usually there is inserted in each of them some weighty distinction and not without great reason repeated which because of my necessity and brevity of time of writing with my other imployments I have omitted to observe leaving it to your selves to do as being the sole object of your study and rule of life to live by II. That as in the beginning God divided government committing some to Moses in the judicials and other to Aaron in the ceremonials 1. Moses government in the law is not destroyed Mat. 5.17 and cap. 23.2 2. Aarons Priesthood and with that his government ceaseth and in the place thereof Jesus Christ by the Fathers appointment is set up Heb. 7.11 12 15 16. 3. So that now as first there was Moses and Aaron so now there is to be to the end of the World Moses and Christ to rule and govern the World by 1. Moses in the World or State under the covenant of works also the servant of Jesus Christ ruling for him because he is not of the World 2. Christ in the Church among the Saints or believers under the new covenant of grace among whom the Lord himself is being one of them III. Those words Exod. 20.2 I am the Lord thy God cannot be said of nor applyed to any in that way as the words are delivered but to those 1. That have covenanted with God in the way of the law as the Israelites did 2. That are under the rule and goverment of the commands the Statutes and Judgements contained in that law Object That was spoken only of those God brought out of Egypt and concerns not us Resp As the Jews were under the bondage of Egypt and were restrained from Gods service and were then not in covenant with him nor had not his law to judge by so we have been under Antichrist in Babel and have been restrained from Gods service and were then not in covenant with the Lord as they were not nor is his law set up as a rule to judge by among us so that when God shall have brought us out of Babel and set up his laws and brought us into covenant with himself according to Moses it shall then be as binding to us that God brought us out of Babel as to them that he brought them out of Egypt Jer. 16.14.15 They shall no more say The Lord Liveth that brought them out of Egypt but out of the north countryes Jer. 23.7 8 9. Note Under the first covenant God was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 under the second 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hos 2.16 In the one God is as Abram to Hagar whose son she had by him was to be cast out under the Gospel-estate which was fulfilled in the casting out of unbelievers from the society of Saints they being not to inherit the promise that is Jesus Christ Gal. 4.30 which work was then done and shall be most certainly done againe in this age of ours In the other God is as Abraham to Sarah whose son Isaac being born of the free-woman signifieth the state of the Church under the Gospel under the name of Jerusalem from above which are a society of believers joyned to the Lord Jesus in the fellowship of the Gospel in whom the better promises are conferred and made over to the Saints born after the Spirit Gal. 4.30 Conclusion The covenant of works was after the covenant made with Abraham of grace but being renewed in Christ it is called new and the new old Gal. 3.17 The now first covenant though it hath not the best yet it hath many excellent promises necessary for the life annexed to it which we wanting bodily are reduced to great necessities and the breaking thereof brought ruine and desolation suddainly to the Jews And though at this time it be not in esteem among men yet the prophesie of Isaiah 42.19 21. incourageth me that after Gods servant comes who the blind world accounts blind though God saith he is his servant and perfect and which the Scripture before clearly shews was to come after the grand Apostacy of Antichrist I say after he comes the Lord will magnifie the law make it great though all the world have endeavoured to make nothing of it or of no use at all a long time when they shall againe judge by it and punish by it and rule by it c. yea and more the Lord will make it honourable also they shall never set up traditions in the place thereof again O Parliament This God will do but whether God will do this by you or not and honour you herein or not I do not know you see it is my desire if it be his will ye are witnesses and God also that the work may be yours who have dore much of the work of the Lord in the Nation that the Honour here and reward thereof hereafter may be yours and let me speak freely to you thus that if you will not do it God in few yeers will not want them that will do it upon whom and whose posterity the blessigs of God and the Nation will fall in great abundance who did that in their generation for them was never done it being then and never untill then fulfilled that of Paul Rom. 10.19 I will provoke you to jealousie by them that are not a people that is some heathens which none never yet did do should as the Jews nationally covenant with God in the covenant of Moses with which the Jews as awaked begin to thinke that people Jacob-like steal away or God gives away his birthright from him the not doing whereof delayes their call Now what Nation in all the world is like to do this as England O that it might be offered them who would not refuse it The fourth General That to the Elders Heads and Judges were other inferior subordinate officers to serve in the same rule who have their authority from the Scriptures and from God as the rest Josh 23.2 Deut. 16.18 Command the First Exod. 20.3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me Statutes DEut. 6.5 Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart c. Chap. 10.20 Fear the Lord thy God him shalt thou serve and to him shalt thou cleave Exod. 34.12 Take heed to thy self that thou make no covenant with the inhabitants Verse 15. Lest thou and they go awhoring after their gods and one call thee and thou eat of their sacrifice Deut. 11.6 Take beed to your selves that your hearts be not deceived to turn aside to serve other Gods and worship them Deut. 8.19 If thou forget the Lord thy God and walk after other Gods and serve and worship them c. Deut. Thou shalt not go after other gods the gods of the people round about you Exod. 23.24 Thou shalt not bow down to their gods nor serve them nor do after their