also saith Baptism is a sign of present Regeneration not future Now how inconsistent is this Infant Baptismal-Covenant to the Covenant of Grace and also to the nature of that Baptismal-Covenant Believers or true justified Persons enter into when baptized according to Christ's Institution Nothing can be more clear than this viz. that Infant 's Baptismal-Covenant is of the same nature with the Covenant of Circumcision viz. a conditional legal Covenant Do this and thou shalt live perform the Obligation and thou shalt be justified but do it not and you shall be damned or be cut off So that Infant-Baptism established the old legal conditional Covenant Let such who hold the Doctrine of Free-Grace consider it and also see whether it doth not render the Covenant of Grace different in its nature in respect had to Believers themselves and to their Children For Believers themselves receive Christ as Sinners by Faith only without any previous Qualification or promissory Covenant that Christ hath obliged them to enter into But their Infants are put upon previous conditional Qualifications which must be performed by them before justified Indeed had Christ ordained Baptism to oblige us to believe to repent to die to Sin to be regenerate as the Pedo-Baptist speak of their Baptism doth do it was something to their purpose but the contrary plainly appears Were these things carefully considered I am sure Infant-Baptism would fall to the ground for the nature of their pretended Baptismal Covenant is quite repugnant to the true Baptismal Covenant Christ instituted therefore pernicious Besides how are those baptized Infants in the Covenant of Grace as Mr. Owen and others say and yet Baptism as to the main Desâ—â—n and End of it in their cloudy Conceits and Apprehensions is to oblige them to believe c. that they may actually be in the Covenant of Grace The good Lord give you Understanding in all things and bless to your Profit what I have wrote and praise God for that Readiness that was in your Brethren and Countrymen to be at the great Charge of the Publication of this Answer to Mr. Owen He saith in the Title of his Book Childrens Baptism is from Heaven Strange yet no where instituted nor any Authority for it or ever owned from Heaven certainly you will find it is of Men and sprang out of the Antichristian Apostacy Search the Scripture be like the Noble Bereans Acts 16. 11. Who with all Readiness of Mind received the Truth and searched the Scriptures daily whether those things were so Brethren I shall add no more but commit you to God and intreat you to read this Book over and over without Prejudice and if you receive any Light by it give God the Glory for I desire to be nothing yet am willing still to serve you and the Interest of Christ who shall subscribe my self your Servant for Jesus Sake Soâ—thwark London this 11th of the 11th Month 1606 Benj. Keach To all Godly Anti-pedo-baptists especially to them in South and North-Wales the Author of this Treatise wishes Grace Mercy and Peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ Beloved in our dear Redeemer AT your desire I have as the Lord hath helped me answered Mr. James Owen ' s Book in which he hath cast many false and slanderous Reflections on you and all other Anti-Pedo-Baptists but I have forborn returning Railing for Railing tho perhaps some of my Words may seem a little too sharp but his way of Writing called for it I hope the Translators of his Book first out of Welch into Engiish and again the Translation of my Answer out of English into Welch is done faithfully if it be according to the true Sense and Purport of his Words and Meaning the different placing of Words he can have no ground to cavil at but of that I am not capable to judge because I understand not the Welch Tongue He seems to reflect very severely upon some of your Conversations as if you wanted that true Piety that becomes your Holy Profession and also as if you wanted Charity but I hope it is his own uncharitable Spirit that led him out thus to write and that you are People who rest not on the Form of Godliness without the Power and that you also love all in whom you see the Image of Christ The Truth is he of all Men might have forborn such a Charge considering how short himself appears in that respect having laboured to cast you and all Anti-Pedo-Baptists out of the Universal Church and chargeth us who dipp believing Men and Women in the Name c. with Adultery and Murder O that the Lord would open his Eyes and give him true Repentance Brethren this Answer hath swelled much bigger than you expected which I am my self troubled at But pray pardon me in this case Because this Controversy was never before printed in the Welch Tongue as I am informed as it is here I was therefore willing the Godly in Wales or any of the Antient Britains that desired Information herein might see the main Arguments that other Pedo-Baptists have brought for Infant-Baptism fully answered The Substance therefore of Mr. Burkitt ' s late Book is in this also answered and divers others nay there is scarcely an Argument that hath been brought for Infant-Baptism formerly or of late but 't is here answered Also I have in following Mr. Owen in his Repetitions been forced to repeat some things often which may add to the Bulk but they being chiefly some of the main Points I did it on purpose to the end they might have the greater Influence upon the Reader Moreover I have shewed that most of Mr. Owen ' s Arguments for the baptizing of Children tend every way as forcibly to prove they ought to partake of the Lord's Supper also which I desire may be carefully weighed and considered I have often repeated that on purpose And now to conclude Let me desire you to labour to adorn the Holy Gospel you profess with a sutable and becoming Conversation 't is not an External Ordinance that signifies any thing without true Faith and a Godly Life You have Lamps but O see you have Oyl in your Vessels not that I blame you for your great Zeal for this precious tho despised Truth of Christ considering what a Glorious and Illustrious Institution or Blessed Ordinance it is as appears 1. By the Obedience of our Blessed Saviour himself unto it which puts a great Lustre and Glory upon it 2. In that it is called a fulfilling of that Righteousness which the Holy Gospel calls for and such who fail herein are imperfect touching their doing the whole Will of God 3. In that it was so gloriously owned at the Baptism of our Saviour by the Father nay by the whole Trinity By the Father by a Voice from Heaven The Son by his actual Obedience to it as our Example when we believe The Holy Ghost by descending like a Dove in a visible manner and
Whether there is any Covenant appointed by Christ for Infants to enter into unto which no promise is made of assistance to perform it nor Blessing promised if it be kept nor one threatning if cast off and disowned 13. What should be the reason that our Translators of the Holy Bible should leave the Greek word Baptism or Baptisma untranslated seeing the Dutch have not done so but contrarywise Translate for John Baptist John the Dipper and for he Baptized them he Dipped them The Athenian Society answer They are the best Judges themselves and if we can understand them 't is enough Reply No tho' the Learned in the Greek do know what the word Baptizo and Baptisma is yet the unlearned in that Tongue do not know that it is to Dip or Immersion â—…refore 't is not enough 14. Whither such who have been Sprinkled ought not to be deemed unbaptized Persons since asperson is not Immersion or Rantizing not Baptizing seeing the Greek word signifies to Dip and tho' sometimes to Wash yet such a Washing as is by Dipping as the Learned confess To this they say Those that doubt may be of the surer side 15. Whither the Ancient Church who gave the Lords Supper to Infants as well as baptism might not be allowed to do the one as the other since Faith and Holy Habits yea to believe with all the Heart is required of them that are to be Baptized as Faith Examination and to discern the Lord's Body is required of them that partake of the Lord's Supper and since also all that were baptized into the Apostolick Church were immeditely admitted to the Lord's Supper and also seeing the arguments taken from the Covenant and because Children are said to be Holy and belong to the Kingdom of Heaven are as strong for their being admitted to both the Sacraments as one and there being no Command nor example for either and Human Tradition carrying it equally for both for several Centuries 16. Whither Nadab Abihu and Uzzah's Transgressions were not as much Circumstantials and so as small Errors as it is to alter Dipping into Sprinkling and from an understanding believer to an Infant that understands not its Right Hand from its Left and whether to allow the Church a power to make such alterations be not dangerous it being an adding and diminishing from God's Word see Rev. 22. 18. and doth not this open likewise a Door to any other like innovation 17. Whither there is any just cause for Men to vilifie and reproach the Baptists with the Name of Anabaptists for their Baptizing Believers seeing aspersion is not baptizing and in regard also that they have the direct and positive Word and Command of Christ so to do and not only the Commission Mat. 28. Mark 16. but also the constant use of the Apostles and Ministers of the Gospel all along in the New Testament who baptized none but such who made a profession of their Faith in the Gospel time observable 't is also that the Church of England also saith that Faith and Repentance are required of such who are to be baptized 18. Whither if our Translators had Translated the Greek Word Baptizo from â—â—pto they must not have Translated it Dipping or to Dip from the Native and Genuine signification of the word and whether they have done well to leave those words in the Original Tongue without giving the plain meaning in the English 19. Seeing the Greek Church uses Immersion to this Day and not aspersion or Sprinkling may not it be a great argument against Sprinkling seeing also that they disown the Baptism of the Latin Church because they do not Dip For doubtless the Greeks best know the genuine literal and proper signification of that Word that Tongue being their own Natural Language in which the New Testament was Originally written 20. What reason can be given why Nazianzen an Eminent Greek Father should Counsel the deferring the Baptism of Infants untill the third or fourth year of their Age except in danger of Death if it were in Nazianzen's time as some suppose it was the Opinion of the whole Church as also his own that Infants by an Apostolical Tradition were to be baptized as such that is as soon as born 21. Whither all the Fathers of the Third and Fourth Century both of the Greek and Latin Church who have wrote any thing about Infant Baptism do not unanimously give this as the reason why Infants should be baptized viz. for to wash away Original Sin or the putting them into a capacity of Salvation and some of them particularly St. Austin sentencing Infants to Damnation if not Baptized 22. If so whether the Fathers might not be mistaken in the Right of Infant Baptifm as well as in the Judgment of most Protestants they were touching the reason why they should be baptized 23. Whither God hath allowed or enjoyned Parents to bring their little Babes of Two or Ten days Old into a Covenant with him by Baptism since 't is not to be found in the Holy Scripture that he either hath allowed or injoyned them so to do there being neither Command nor Example nor the least intimation given for them to do it 24. If it cannot be proved he hath required any such thing at theit Hands whether that Covenant can be said to bind their Conscience when they come to Age especially since they gave no consent to do it nor were capable so to do 25. And if this pretended Covenant was not of God's appointment I Query how those Children who refuse to agree to the said Covenant when they come to Age can be guilty as Mr. Daniel Williams says 1. of rejecting Christ 2. Of renouncing the blessings of the Gospel 3. And that 't is Rebellion continued against their Parents 4. That it is Ingratitude and Perjury to their Redeemer 5. Gross injustice to their Parents 6. That it is self-killing Cruelty to their own Souls 7. The damning Sin I Query whether this is good Divinity or not or rather is it not a strange Doctrin and whether those unwarrantable Articles of Faith taken out of the Jewish Talmud or Turkish Alcoran may not be of as good Authority or whether it be fit to put such positions into a Christian Catechism as these are Pray be pleased to Answer these plain Queries when you write again or Reply to this answer of your Book CHAP. XXVI Containing Divers Arguments to disprove Pedo-Baptism and to prove the Baptism of Believers which Mr. Owen is desir'd to Answer when he writes again Arg. 1. IF none are to be Baptized by the Authority of the Great Commission of our blessed Saviour Mat. 28. but such who are first Taught or made Disciples by Teaching then Infants who are not capable to be taught ought not to be baptized But none are to be baptized by the Authority of the great Commission of our Blessed Saviour but such who are first Taught or made Disciples by Teaching Ergo Infants ought not to
Light broke forth in WALES Expelling DARKNESS OR THE Englishman's Love to the Antient Britains BEING An ANSWER to a BOOK Intituled Children's Baptism from Heaven published in the Welch Tongue by Mr. James Owen Wherein his Twelve Arguments for the baptizing of the Children of the Faithful are examined and confuted and Infant-Baptism overthrown Also proving that Baptizing is Dipping the whole Body in Water in the Name of the Father c. And that Believers are only the Subjects of Baptism In which the Anti-pedo-baptists are cleared from all those unjust Reproaches and Calumnies cast upon them by the said Mr. Owen By BENJAMIN KEACH Bernard Serm. 66. in Cantica Irrident nos quia Baptizamus infantes quod oramus pro mortuis quòd sanctorum suffragia postulamus Mat. 3. 16. Ende Jesus gedoopt zijnde is terstont opgeklomen yit hit Water Taken out of the Dutch Testament in English thus And when Jesus was dipped he came out of the Water London Printed and sold by William Marshal at the Bible in Newgate-street 1696. To all Godly Christians who are Pedobaptists in South and North-VVales Grace Mercy and Peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ You Worthy Brethren and Antient Britains I Kindly salute you in the Bowels of Christian Love and Sincere Affections I cannot but love all who have the Image of my Heavenly Father stampt upon their Souls 'T is not your Opinion of Pedo-Baptism tho an Error that shall alienate my Heart from you nor restrain that Catholick Love that should run in all the Veins of every one that is born of God tho I am an Enemy to your Opinion and Practice in that case yet a dear Lover of your Persons and precious Souls And I have so much Charity to believe that 't is through Ignorance you err in that Matter and that God hath for some wise ends hid the truth of his Holy Ordinance of Gospel-Baptism at present from you and do hope did you see otherwise you would practise otherwise Charity thinketh no evil c. 1 Cor. 13. One Reason oâ— my writing this Epistle to you is to answer what Mr. James Owen in his Epistle to his late Treatise hath wrote unto you in which there are several Positions and â—â—sound Notions laid down and asserted by him which I am persuaded I ought to detect and witness against as well as answer his Book which are not only contained in his Epistle to you but that also to the Reverend Mr. Samuel Jones To confirm Infant-Baptism upon the Covenant of Grace he asserts in his Epistle to Mr. Jones these words viz. I being desired and importuned by you to maintain this present Truth which seâ—teth forth Infants Right unto the Privileges of the New Covenant a Truth builded upon the Foundation of the Apostles and Prophets even as antient as the Covenant of Grace which was made with Adam and his Seed c. Answ Doth Mr. Owen think that we deny that any our Children have right to the Covenant of Grace God forbid the Controversy lies not there for all our Children that are elected are decretively in the Covenant of Grace also vertually by the Death and Merits of Jesus Christ and also actually they are and shall be in it when they believe or when they have Union with Christ but that the Children of the Faithful as such or as so considered are in the Covenant of Grace we do utterly deny 2. If the Covenant of Grace was made with Adam and his Natural Seed as such will it not follow that he owns Universal Salvation Can any Perish that are in the Covenant of Grace Is not that an everlasting Covenant well ordered in all things and â—â—re 2 Sam. 23. 5. and is not the Promise sure to all the seed Rom. 4. 16. it being not only confirmed to them all by the Promise but also by the Oath of God Heb. 6. 13 18. 17. But 3. Doth not the Covenant and Promise to Adam run only to Christ Jesus or referr to him who is there meant by the Seed of the Woman True we will allow that it comprehendeth also all the Elect of God in a large sense but primarily and directly to Christ personally considered But can any think this Promise is limited to the Carnal Seed of Believers or runs so My Brethren There are two Seeds the one is called The Seed of the Woman which we affirm is only Christ and all the Elect in him and to all these the Covenant of Grace doth appertain and to no more as to the Special Blessings and Privileges thereof The other are called The Seed of the Serpent who are the Ungodly which proceed some of them from the Loins of the Faithful as well as from the Loins of the Wicked for as some Unbelievers Seed are in the Election of Grace so some of the Seed of Believers are none of the Elect. But to proceed saith he if the Children of the Faithful are out of the Covenant of Grace they have no Hope and are without God in the World Answ We and all our Children by Nature were dead in Sins and Trespasses and Children of Wrath as others and so without Hope and without God in the World Eph. 2. 13. before we Believed this was our Condition and are not our Children naturally in this state But what tho yet when God calls them renews them and translates them out of the First-Adam and grafts them into the Second-Adam they have the same Hope and the same God to be their God as we have Again He saith Doubtless the First Covenant doth condemn them because of Original Sin and if without interest in the Covenant of Grace the Wrath of God abideth on them but God forbid that we should think there 's more Vertue in the First-Adam to Condemnation than there is in the Second Adam to Save Answ The case is plain the First-Adam and all his as so considered were lost being Children of Wrath and of Condemnation And the Second-Adam and all his are or shall be saved being Children of the Promise and of Eternal Salvation But doth Mr. Owen think that all the Children of the Faithful as such are the Seed or Children of the Second-Adam I say again Are all our Children in the Election of Grace or doth Election run only in that Line If the First-Adam had stood we and our Children would have stood Doth Faith in the Second-Adam make the Condition of our Children worser than it should be through the Obedience of the First Adam Answ Must God save all the Children of the First-Adam by the Obedience of the Second because if Adam had stood none of his Children had fallen What Doctrine is this You out do all the Arminians I have yet met with but O! the Riches of God's Sovereign Grace to any of the lost Seed of Rebellious Mankind If this you intend not yet is every Believer a like common or publick Head to his natural Off-spring as Adam was to his Christ
Covenant you bring your poor Babes under being wholly without Divine Authority it is therefore voluntary and so forbid and sinful Secondly It is also directly repugnant to those Precepts Add not to his Word lest he reprove thee c. Thirdly Consider that Infants Baptismal Covenant is also directly repugnant to the nature of the Covenant of Grace rendring the Covenant of Grace to be of the same nature of the Covenant of Peculiarity God made with Abraham and his Natural Seed as such and so sutes only with the Baxterian Errors and Mr. William's New Scheme which renders the Covenant of Grace conditional according to the Covenant of Works Take Mr. Baxter's words viz. The Condition of the Covenant of Grace by which we have right to the Benefits of it is our Faith mark it or Christianity as it is meant by Christ in the Baptismal Covenant viz. to give up our selves in Covenant believing in God the Father Son and Holy Ghost renouncing the Contraries and that through this consent to the Christian Covenant called Faith alone is the full condition of our first right to the Benefits of that Covenant of which Justification is one Baxter's Fourth Proposit in his Preface to Dr. Tully 1. From hence note as Mr. Troughton observes Mr. Baxter doth not say that Christ's Righteousness apprehended by Faith doth justify us but Faith in a comprehensive Sense as it includeth Obedience to God according to this Covenant It appears that the Belief and Practice of the Christian Religion upon performance of their Infant Baptismal-Covenant is that Righteousness by which they are justified as the purport of Mr. Baxter's Sense 2. From hence also it appears that the Spring or Rise of this grand Baxterian Error is from Infants-Baptismal Covenant therefore Brethren 't is time to consider the danger of this unwarrantable Practice and evil Innovation D. Williams confirms Mr. Baxter's Notion Take his words What doth the Covenant bind thee to speaking of Infants Baptismal-Covenant His Answer is To be the Lord's in sincere Care to know love believe obey worship and serve him all my days and to depend on God thro Christ for all Happiness Rom. 6. 4. Quest What if a Child thro the love of Sin or vanity of Mind will not agree to this Covenant I answer saith he He then rejecteth Christ our Saviour and renounceth the Blessings of the Gospel Quest Is it a great Sin to refuse to agree to the Covenant to which thy Baptism engaged thee He answers It is the damning Sin and the Heart of all Sin Mr. Williams's Book called The Vanity of Youth pag. 131. 1 Reply From hence it appears that Mr. Baxter and Mr. Williams plainly declare that the terms and condition of the Covenant of Grace which must be performed by such that would be justified is to perform this Infant Baptismal-Covenant viz. sincerely to love believe obey worship and serve the Lord not Faith only whereby we receive Christ rely on Christ but the whole of that Obedience to which they were obliged by their Infant-Baptism 2. Observe also that it appears according to these Men that Unbelief is not the condemning Sin but the non-performance of this Baptismal-Covenant 3. How are these Men left of God to darkness of their own Minds not only to affirm the Conditionality of the Covenant of Grace rendering it no better than a new Covenant of Works but also to make this devised and voluntary Infant Baptismal-Covenant to be the only Condition of it and of our Justification in the sight of God 4. Moreover They bring their poor Babes without any Authority from Christ under a Covenant and charge them with Perjury if they break it when grown up it they perform it they shall be pardoned justified and saved but they must be damn'd if they answer not the Rule of the Promise or Baptismal-Covenant which is to repent to be regenerated and so answer their new Law of Faith and sincere Obedience So that in this Covenant lies the Conditionality of their Covenant of Grace For no other formal Covenant is proposed by them to the People unless they are for Mr. Joseph Allen's voluntary Covenant contrived out of his own Head and proposed to all devout Adult Persons to enter into which no doubt is forbid by our Saviour as sinful he was a well-meaning Man And the Truth is his devised Covenant seems more plausible and reasonable than Infants Baptismal-Covenant because he would have none but such enter into his Covenant who are Adult Persons besides it must be with their own free Consent whereas Children are brought into theirs without their knowledg or consent and are obliged to do those things which they have no power to perform And as it is not required by the Lord so God hath made no Promise to them of Grace and Assistance to discharge the Obligation thereof Fourthly To conclude It is easy to gather from whence their Mistake doth arise about this Baptismal-Covenant which evidently appears to be from their applying it to false Subjects and so to bind such to perform those things which Christ never ordained Baptism to do viz. such that are in their Natural State or who when baptized believed not nor were capable so to do for your Brethren the Pedo-Baptists tell you that Baptism obligeth such as are baptized to believe and to become new Creatures not that they were such that then did believe c. And from hence it followeth that it is one of those Works or Acts of Obedience that go before Faith and therefore a dead Work and pleaseth not God as well as not required of him for all Works before Faith or Union with Christ are dead Works they not proceeding from a Spiritual Vital Principle It therefore appears from hence that Infant 's Baptismal-Covenant is directly also repugnant to Christ's true Baptismal-Covenant For evident it is that Christ's Baptism only belongs to Believers who are renewed regenerated and have Union with Christ and so in a justified State before baptized Our Baptism doth not oblige us to believe and to be regenerated or to die to Sin as such that were not dead before but it is a sign of that Faith and Death unto Sin we had when we were baptized or to shew that we were then dead to Sin c. How shall we that are dead to Sin live any longer therein Know ye not that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his Death Or as being dead with him Therefore we are buried with him into Death Rom. 6. 2 3 4. Not buried alive or whilst dead in Sin No but as being dead to Sin Not to oblige us to be regenerated but as Persons who are regenerated before buried in Baptism And the Covenant of Baptism is to walk in newness of Life as being before quickned That like as Christ was raised from the dead by the Glory of the Father so we should walk in newness of Life I find Mr. Richard Baxter
external Privileges of the Covenant of Grace who only partake of Baptism and not of the Lord's-Supper Is not Faith required of all such that ought to be baptized as well as it iâ— required in all that partake of the Lord's Supper to examine themselves neither of which Infants are capable to do It iâ— manifest that the Children of the Faithful as such are not in the Covenant of Grace God made with Abraham but that there was a twofold Covenant made with him and that the Covenant of Grace only appertains to the Elect of God whether they be Children of Believers or Children of Unbelieverâ— which is not known to us until they are grown up and are brought by the Spirit of God under special Vocation and Regeneration and that they are the Adult only viz. such as believe that have right to Baptism but that not by virtue of the Covenant of Grace but by virtue of the positive Command of Christ in the New Testament Sir you mistake again it was not by virtue of the Covenant of Grace that Persons had right to Circumcision for if so then Lot and Melchisedec and Abraham's Males as soon as they were born had a right to it as also his Females nothing gave right to Abraham's Male-Infanâ—s to Circumcision but the meer positive Command of God to him which extended only to those Males in his own House or bought with his Money and not till the eighth day for such that died before the eighth day tho Males had no right to be circumcised nor had his Females any right thereto so none but Believers when they can give an account of their Faith by virtue of Christ's express and positive Command ought to be baptized Pray remember the Covenant of Grace as such gives no right to Baptism for if it did all Believers or Elect Persons had right to it from the first Introduction or Declaration of it to Adam upon the Fall No no it is a pure Gospel-Ordinance and meerly positive and only depends upon the Will and Pleasure of the Law-giver Jesus Christ Honoured Britains who inhabit North and South Wales let me intreat you to consider how false the Conclusion is that Mr. Owen draws concerning the Right the Infants of the Faithful have to Baptism namely that if they are in the Covenant of Grace then they ought to be baptized For as he nor no Man else can prove the Infants of Believers as such are in the Covenant of Grace so it would not follow were that granted that they ought to be baptized it being not the Covenant of Grace but the express and positive Command of Christ that gives Persons just Right thereunto Suppose Christ had not commanded Believers to be baptized would any Man have adventured to baptize them or conclude it was their Duty because they were in Covenant with God Or would Abraham have been circumcised himself because in the Covenant of Grace had he not received a positive Command so to be Certainly he was long in the Covenant of Grace before he was circumcised and did not sin thereby because God had not given that Precept to him until he was old Moreover it was the express Command of God that gave right to his Male-Infants to be circumcised and not only those of his Seed that were in the Covenant of Grace but Ishmael and others who were not Children of the Promise or in the Covenant of Grace were circumcised and also it was not Lot's Duty tho in the Covenant of Grace to be circumcised because not one that dwelt in Abraham's Family or his Natural Seed nor commanded by the Lord to be circumcised or to circumcise his Infants CHAP. VII Proving Infant-Baptism is not lawful because Circumcision under the Law belonged unto the Male-Infants of the Jews containing an Answer to Mr. James Owen's first Chapter IF say you Circumcision under the Law belonged unto Infants then Baptism under the Gospel belongeth unto them for even as Circumcision was so Baptism is the Seal of the same Covenant of Grace and signifieth the same things Answ 1. I answer If Circumcision did not belong to Infants under the Law any otherwise than by express and positive Command of God which gave them right thereto then if God hath not commanded Believers to baptize their Infants it is not their Duty to baptize them but their Sin if they do it But I have proved it was the express Command of God only that gave Male-Infants proceeding from Abraham's Loâ—â—s Authority to be circumcised and God hath given no such Command to Believers to baptize their Infants therefore Baptism doth not belong to the Infants of Believers as such under the Gospel as Circumcision did belong to Male-Infants under the Law 2. I have proved Circumcision was not the Seal of the Covenant of Grace tho it was a Seal to Abraham of the Righteousness of his own Faith yea of that Faith he had being not circumcised A Seal I have shewed gives an undoubted Right of all those Blessings and Privileges to those Persons to whom the said Covenant is sealed and so it did to Abraham but it was no Seal of the Blessings of the Covenant of Grace to Ishmael Esau and many thousands more who were commanded to be circumcised Were this therefore true that Mr. Owen asserts That Circumcision was a Seal of the Covenant of Grace to all that were circumcised in Infancy then they were all saved even all the Males that proceeded from Abraham's Loins many of which proved as vile and wicked Men as most that ever lived in the World Nor Reader is Baptism a Seal of the Covenant of Grace under the Gospel for if so it would seal all Gospel-Blessings to all Persons that are baptized who then were it so but would be baptized and baptize his Children Brethren the holy Spirit only is the Seal of the Covenant of Grace or Gospel-Covenant vid. Ephes 1 13 14. cap. 4. 10. You proceed to shew in several respects that Circumcision and Baptism signify the same things 1. You say because Original Corruption cometh by Natural Generation 2. Because we are born in Uncleanness we must be washed in our Infancy Answ 1. Supposing that Circumcision did and Baptism doth signify the Corruption or Filthiness of Original Sin or Uncleanness must we therefore baptize our Infants without any Authority Command or Example in God's Word 2. Doth Baptism wash away Original Corruption I know the Papists assert it doth do this but how do they or you prove it Baptism St. Peter saith doth not wash away the Filthiness of the Flesh or Corruption of Natural Pollution 1 Pet. 3. 21. 3. Your Reverend Brother Mr. Stephen Charnock fully proves that Baptism is not Regeneration that can't cleanse from Sin Answer his Arguments in his Book of Regeneration What tho those Baptists in Germany you speak of understood that the antient erring Fathers that introduced Infant-Baptism did bring it in to wash away Original Sin Cannot Christ cleanse Elect
others that believed not or made not a Confession of their Faith Children you say are part of the Nations for if the Apostles were to baptize all Nations then they were to baptize Infants also for Children are a great part of the Nations near one half Answ 1. 'T is evident that our Saviour in his great Commission enjoineth no more to be baptized but such who are first taught or made Disciples and this agrees with his own Practice John 4. 1. He made and baptized more Disciples than John he first made them Disciples and then baptized them nor were there any in the New Testament baptized but such who first made a Profession of Faith in Christ Do you read that those Jews Acts 2. that believed and were baptized were commanded to baptize their Infants or that any other baptized Believers among either Jews or Gentiles were commanded so to do or have we no perfect Rule left us in the Gospel for so it will follow if the Infants of Believers ought to be baptized 2. If the Commission be so extensive as you affirm then all the Heathens and Pagans in all Nations that believe not are to be baptized and all their Children too and all Unbelievers Children in Christian Nations Sir are not these part of the Nations Noble Britains see the nature of the Pedo-baptists Consequences and Inferences for baptizing Infants This Inference proves that all People and Nations in the whole World ought to be baptized from the Commission But I will as I once did to another Minister appeal to Mr. Owen's Conscience as he will answer it at Christ's Tribunal Whether he believes the Commission authorizeth Christ's Disciples to baptize any but such who are first taught and made Disciples whom St. Mark calls Believers repeating the words of the same Commission Mark 1â— 16. 3. Sir are the Infants of Believers near one half part of the Nations I am afraid you are mistaken this is the way to make Christ's Flock a great Flock but the truth is you have as much Reason to assert all the Infants of Heathens Pagans and Unbelievers are to be baptized from the Commissions as the Infants of Believers and then it may be as you say viz. they may be near one half of all Nations But to proceed Sir you say When God threatens to cut off the Nations from before the Israelites the Children were included for the Children were not spared any more than the Fathers On the other side say you when Christ commandeth to baptize the Nations for their Salvation he meaneth the Children as well as their Parents If a Man would command a Shepherd to shear all his Sheep and to set on them an Ear-mark to know them from other Sheep altho the Shepherd had sheared the Sheep and marked them if he leaves out the Lambs without marking of them he performeth not his Duty If he says to the Master the Lambs were too young for shearing true saith the Master but they were not too young for marking you ought to mark them for they are a great part of my Flock If little Children say you cannot receive Instruction they can receive Christ's Mark even Baptism by which Christ's Sheep are divided from the Goats of the Devil The Church of Christ is his Flock is there no Lambs in this Flock Christ is the good and faithful Shepherd who giveth his Life for his Flock John 10. 11. and will he not care for his Lambs and Weaklings of his Flock yea certainly he shall gather the Lambs with his Arms and carry them in his Bosom c. Answ 1. I answer 't is a bold Assertion from your Inference and absurd Consequence drawn from the Commission as I have shewed to affirm when Christ commandeth to baptize the Nations that he meaneth Children viz. because they are part of the Nations but I have answered that already when Children do believe they ought from the Commission to be baptized but not till then 2. As to your Similitude 't is much the same with that Mr. Burkit a Pedo-baptist hath in his Book which I lately answered I will recite my Answer to him which fully answers you both and all others who talk after this raâ—e he argues from the Commission as you do Take his Words and my Answer in order viz. The true Reason saith he why Christ bid his Disciples first teach and then baptize was because he was sending his Apostles forth among the Heathens to convert them to Christianity in which work we all know that preaching of the Word must go before the Administration of the Sacraments Should saith he the King of England send his Ministers into Foreign Plantations to convert the Indians to Christianity they ought not to be baptized before they are taught and instructed but when the Parents are proselyted and make a visible Profession of their Faith their Children may be baptized and afterwards instructed as the Children of the Jewish Proselytes were first circumcised and then taught For tho Abraham was first taught and then circumcised yet Isaac was first circumcised and then taught so that the sense of our Saviour is this Teach such as are capable of teaching and baptize such as are capable of Baptism Answ 1. I answer first how inconsistent is this with the words of the Commission By virtue of the Commission none ought to be baptized but such that are first taught or do believe and therefore some Pedo-baptists pretend that Infants have Habitual Faith Faith in semine c. but you plead they may be capable of Baptism without Faith and also contradict the Order of Words in the Commission Do you not confess by the Order of the Words in the Commission Teaching ought to go before Baptizing Sirs 't is a sign of a very bad Cause that puts you thus to try your Wits and after all confound your selves 2. I ask you how Abraham whom God commanded to be circumcised as a Seal of the Righteousness of that Faith HE had before circumcised could know he ought to circumcise his Son Isaac c. who had no such Faith had not God given him an express Command to do it Besure if he had he had sinned in doing that which God commanded him not So and in like manner since our Lord Jesus expresly in his Commission commanded none to be baptized but such who are first taught unless he had added as in Abraham's case viz. when an Heathen is converted to the Christian Faith and baptized you may baptize his Infants also How dare you make such Additions to Christ's Commission without his Authority and so make the World believe if you could our blessed Saviour gave forth an imperfect Commission to his Disciples which all Men must confess is the only Warrant and Rule of all Ministers to act by in the case of baptizing to the End of the World And doth he not say Add thou not to his Word lest he reprove thee and thou art sound to be a Liar by
words of the Commission not to add to it nor diminish from it on paâ— of being cast out of his Favour and incuring his Wrath and Curse durst you do otherwise in any thing under pretence it was his meaning whereas he plainly and fully in his Commission expressed in the Affirmative how and what you should do in all Matters and Things and forbad you to add thereto Read Rev. 22. 18. For I testify unto every Man that heareth the words of the Prophecy of this Book If any Man shall add unto these things God shall add unto him all the Plagues that are written in this Book Who told you what you say is the sense of our Saviour Can any Man once think since the Commission of Christ is a pure Gospel-Commission and contains meer positive Laws and Rules no ways referring to nor depending on the Law or Command God gave to Abraham that what you say can be true and the Conclusion safe certain and warrantable May not another say with as good Authority that our Saviour commands his Disciples to baptize all Nations both Parents and Children too whether they will or not whether they believe or not whether Jews or Gentiles Turks or Pagans I wonder you are not afraid who take liberty after this sort to sport as it were and play with invert alter and add unto the sacred Commission of the jealous God and great King of Heaven and Earth 1. You confess Christ's Sheep came up from the washing whereof every one bear Twins and there is none barren among them Cant. 6. 6. Let therefore the Lambs say you be washed as they are a great part of the Flock I answer Infants as such by your own words cannot be Christ's Sheep nor Lambs for all his Sheep and Lambs that are washed are fruitful and none are barren among them Are Infants fruitful to Christ Can they bring forth Twins Sir Metaphors go not on all four as we used to say the Lambs of Christ viz. weak and young Christians may be as fruitful in Holiness as Sheep viz. old experienced Christians But how can you prove Baptism washes your Infants from Sin actual Sin they have none Doth it wash away Original Sin dare you say that The antient erring Fathers that brought it in affirmed that Baptism did wash away Original Sin in Infants but do you believe that they spoke Truth in so saying Christ's Lambs you say are capable to be fed by the Word and Sacrament Are Infants capable to hear the Word and partake of the Sacraments If of one of both Sir Christ's Lambs are new born Babes not new born by Natural Generation but by Regeneration as I have shewed You say that the Gentile Church should not come short of the Privileges of the old Jerusalem or Jewish Church and that the desolate hath more Children than she that hath an Husband Gal. 4. 27. and hence affirm if Children of the Christian Church enjoy not the Privilege of their Fathers she hath many less Children than the old Jerusalem-Church had Answ I answer the Gentile Church according to God's gracious Promise may be more than the Jewish was when the Fulness of the Gentiles are come in and yet no Infants Members of it Nay there is ground to believe in the Primitive Times there were more converted among the Gentiles than were amongst the Jews but still I find you harp on the old String i. e. that if the Gospel-Church be not National and enjoy as many outward and external Privileges as the Jewish did her Privileges are less but you consider not the Nature Quality and Glory of the Gospel-Church and wherein her Privileges excel the Legal Church of old Jerusalem You say when Christ commandeth to teach all Nations before baptized and after that their baptizing his meaning is teach and baptize to plant the Church and baptize and teach to continue the Church planted among the Gentiles Answ 1. I am grieved to think how bold you are in asserting that to be Christ's meaning which you affirm which can no ways be gathered from his Commission but 't is directly contrary to the express words thereof and also to the Nature of the Gospel-Church's Constitution But you affirm what you please and prove nothing 2. It appears by your words the Gospel-Church in its first Constitution or first planting was by Regeneration consisting only of believing Men and Women baptized on the Profession of their Faith or after they were made Disciples but after its first Constitution or first Plantation it was to consist of the Fleshly or Carnal Seed and so made National yea and to be made up of whole Nations Pray Sir since the great Commission Mat. 28. 19 20. proves nothing of this nor hath the Lord Jesus given out another Commission to nullify his first What ground have you to affirm so presumptuously any such thing Dare you add and diminish to God's Word nay alter Christ's last Will and Testament in his grand Commission Tremble at the thoughts of what you endeavour to do Sir the New Testament about Church-Constitution c. is a perfect Rule to the End of the World and as the first Gospel-Church after Christ's Ascension at Jerusalem was constituted so ought all Churches to be constituted and so to continue unto the second coming of Christ The Ordinances are to be kept as to the Subject and Mode of Administration as they were first delivered to the Saints See 1 Cor. 11. 2. Now I praise you Brethren that you remember me in all things and keep the Ordinances as I delivered them to you Therefore in direct Opposition to what you say in the close of your sixth Chapter I affirm from the Authority of Christ's Commission and from the nature of the Constitution of the Gospel-Church that as Teaching went before Baptizing for the planting of the Church in the Primitive Time so Teaching is to go before Baptizing in planting and continuing of the Church unto the End of the World and that the Teaching that is mentioned in order of Words in the Commission after Baptizing doth not refer to Infants of Believers or any other Infants but as Mr Baxter observes to such baptized Believers who after they were baptized ought to be taught all other things in the School of Christ which he commanded his Disciples to observe and to which if they thus act he subjoined his gracious Promise Lo I am with you always to the End of the World Mat. 28. 20. CHAP. IX In Answer to Mr. James Owen's seventh Chapter proving that the Children of the Faithful ought not to be baptized because they are said to be holy wherein 1 Cor. 7. 14. is examined and clearly explained with the sense of many learned Men both Pedo-baptists and others on the said Text. MR. James Owen thus begins in his seventh Chapter viz. If the Children of the Faithful are holy then Baptism appertaineth unto them for all confess that Holiness gives Right to Baptism if they allow
doth this and then 2. what external priviledges of the Church do your Infants as such receive that are as you say baptized you will not own them for Brethren and Sisters until they are Converted you will not give them the Lords Supper until they are converted they are not by the Lord's appointment brought under any Obligation by being baptized and then as few of your Children 't is plain become godly as of ours pray shew us when you write again what blessings or priviledges your Infants do receive by their Rantism or Baptism as you call it What uncharitableness is it then in us to deny our Infants that thing which you cannot prove if they had it would do them any manner of good Nay Sir I shall prove before I have done with you that it may do them much hurt 5. Those that are against Infant Baptism and for renewing of it you say are guilty of a great ingratitude towards God we know that ingratitude is a great Sin against the Lord Unthankfulness for Temporal blessings provokes him to Anger Rom. 1. 21. Luke 17. 17 18. how much more for Spiritual blessings and priviledges Is it not great ingratitude in us to despise our birth-right The Scripture puts a reproachful Character upon Esau c. Answ All this is to no purpose 't is but begging the Question viz. That Infant Baptism is God's Ordinance and a birthright priviledge which we utterly deny for tho' Baptism be a priviledge by Christs positive Command it only belonging to the Second Birth not to the First Thou art guilty of a great Sin say you by making a division in the Body of Jesus Christ there is one Body and one Baptism Eph. 4. 4 〈◊〉 And they cannot be divided whereas by denying of the first Baptism thou breakest the Unity of that Body to the which Christ is Head thou breakest thy self off from the Vine and witherest as an unfruitful Branch which will not be better although it be Watered again thou breakest thy self off not from this Congregation or another only but from the Universal Catholick Church in every Age and Countrey upon the Face of the Earth which is cleansed with the washing of Water through the Word Eph. 5. 26. and continuing in the Union of Baptism Canst thou think this to be a small sin for thee to rent thy self from the Body of Christ though stolen Water be sweet at this time and Bread eaten in secret be pleasant Know and see that it will be evil and bitter in the end for thee to cast thy self out of the Church of the Living God the Pillar and ground of Truth 1. Answ I answer untill I came hither in your Book I did not fully perceive your bitter Spirit O that God would appear and give you a better temper of Heart Who is uncharitable now if Charity be the Bond of perfectness How imperfect is my Brother Owen Must we all who deny Infant Baptism be Condemned as utter cast aways and not be lookt upon so much as Members of the Universal Church 'T is well it is not in your power to reprobate us and our Children 2. But stay a little are all that own Infant Baptism or have been baptized in every Age and Nation of the Earth the Body of Christ and Church of the living God Do you indeed own the Popish Church or is not the Church of Rome in your Judgment however part of the Body of Christ And are not you in Union with that Church and all Churches that own Infant Baptism in the World it followeth it must be so I think 't is time for you most Worthy Britains to have a Jealous Eye towards this Man for if he be not in actual Communion with the Church of Rome yet his principles lead him out so to be for he seems to own all the Churches to be the Body of Christ who were and are baptized in Infancy nay and that those Churches and none but them to make up the whole Mystical Universal Church of God He seems to reprobate all those Christians that deny Infant Baptism or are disjoyned from his Universal Catholick Church of baptized Infants I know his Reverend Brethren in London are Men of more Charity and abhor such positions as he now lays down I cannot think that his principles allow Salvation to any that are not in Union with the visible Universal Church that own Infant baptism 't is time to thrâ—w this Idol away 3. Is it a sin to divide from the Church of Rome or from the Church of England or not to continue of their Communion Are not you one that have separated your self from both and more immediately from the last But I suppose you own them both to be true Churches tho you have separated your self but if so how can you clear your self of abominable Schism for you have made a division in that Body which you declare is the Body of Christ and Church of the living God Can those things for which you have made this division justifie your Selâ—â—m Sir tho we believe there are many Holy and Gracious Christians of the Communion of the Church of England and that they are Members of the Invisible Universal Church yet we do not believe the Church of England nor any National Church is an orderly true Constituted Visible Church of Jesus Christ and therefore we separated from them but this it appears is not your belief 4. Your Judgment is it appears that no Person can be a Member of the Universal Catholick Church that was not baptized and so United to her in Infancy or Sprinkled when an Adult Person i. e. he must own Infant Baptism Sir I never met with a Man like your self as I can remember of less Charity and yet you cry our against us for want of Charity 5. I do affirm that that one Baptism that Unites to the Visible Church not to the Universal Church is the Baptism of Believers and not that of Infants And to prove it take this argument If that Baptism the Apostles administred and on which they received all Persons into the Visible Church was the Baptism of the Adult or that of Believers only then the baptism of the Adult or that of Believers only is that one and first Baptism but the baptism which the Apostles administred and on which they received all Persons into the Visible Church was the baptism of the Adult or that of Believers only Ergo The Baptism of the Adult or that of Believers is that one or only Baptism of Christs Visible Church for those Members of the visible Church in the Primitive times that were washed in Baptismal Water professed themselves washed also in Christs Blood and they that were sincere had the thing signified as well as the Sign when they were baptized but Infants never made any such profession therefore Infant Baptism was not the first and one Baptism that Christ left in his Church 6. It is true that those that deny
behind who is it you cast this reproach upon Is it upon us Or is it not upon Christ himself Did not our Lord Jesus Institute this Ordinance of Baptizing i. e. of dipping the Bodies of Men and Women in water Sir were not those Men and Women that were Baptized in the Apostolical times Dipped Do you descent from all the Ancient and Modern Divines I have Quoted a multitude of them in this Treatise who positively assert this matter to which Chapter I refer my Reader Ambrose saith water is that wherein the Body is plunged Chrysostom saith That the Body baptized is burried in the Water Basil the Great and Dr. du Veil saythe same Bernard saith Immersion is a representation of Death and Burial The Assembly in their Annotations say That the Ancient manner of Baptizing was to Dip the Party baptized and as it were bury them under the Water See Pools Annotat. On Mat. 3. 6. and were baptized of him in Jordan that is saith he Dipped in Jordan and on Rom. 6. 34. he says The Ancient manner of baptizing in those warm Countreys was to Dip or plunge the party baptized Cajetan Daille On the Fathers Tilenus Luther Calvin Perkins Zanchy Paraeus Dr. Cave Dr. Sharp Dr. Fowler Dr. Sherlock the Three last are yet living and many more I have Quoted do all say Baptizing is Dipping Dr. Tillotson late Bishop of Canterbury saith That anciently those who were baptized put off their Cloaths and were immersed and buryed in the Water Now Sir if to baptize by Dipping be Murther do not you charge the occasion of this Murther upon Christ who Ordained baptism or dipping Men and Women in Water what work have you made for Repentance Obj. May be you will object and sâ—y that you own that baptism was dipping in those warm Climates 1. Answ Did not our Saviour send his Disciples into all the World or to Teach all Nations baptizing them that is Dipping them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost 2. Did he send them with this Commission only into warm Climates or Countreys and not into cold Countreys God forbid for there is no other Commission given by Christ to make Disciples by Teaching them and then to baptize them but this only doth not this Commission reach England were all cold Countreys excluded 3. Did Christ give out two Commissions one for warm Climates and to Dip them c. and another for cold Countreys to Teach and Sprinkle them or rather Sprinkle them and then Teach them for so your practice inverts the Order of Christ's great Commission did Christ say go into Hot Countreys and Teach and Baptize Disciples and go into Cold Countreys and Teach and Rantize them What an imperfect Commission doth your practice render the Commission of Christ to be 4. Who gave Men power to change his Commission Baptizing into Rantizing or Sprinkling What an account can you give to him of this at the great Day Or hath the Church or Ministers power to alter Christ's great Commission and so alter or add too and diminish from the words of his Book Sir tremble at the thoughts of these things See Rev. 22. 18. As to Mr. Cradock it seems if he hath wrote as you intimate that he was under great temptation but 't is no marvel we can tell you of some Men and of as great a Name as he that would have the Anabaptists and Independants too to have no liberty to meet together to Preach nor write Books and would have the chief Magistrate to Imprison and Banish them c. Obj. Where as you bring in this as your Objection they may tarry until Summer 1. We answer there is no need of that because what you speak of the danger of baptizing in Winter is absolutely false 2. I know not but there may be as many or more baptized in the Winter than in the Summer You say as soon as they are made Disciples they are commanded to be baptized Acts 24. 41. and ch 8. 38. Answ This is our practice but why do not you stay till then i. e. untill your Children are Disciples it is evil to stay longer then the time and no evil to do it sooner then the time Christ hath appointed 9. This form of Baptizing by Dipping of the People naked or near naked you say is a breach of the Seventh Commandment Thou shalt not commit adultery Mat. 5. 28. This Commandment prohibiteth not only the Act of Adultery but every occasion and provocation thereto every immodest and unreverend Action is a degree of Adultery the Heart of Man is deceitful and desperately wicked Jer. 17. 9. therefore we ought to take heed of every occasion of Sin David fell into Adultery by beholding Bathsheba washing c. 2 Sam. 11. 2. Thus we see that God would not have his People be naked in the Congregation or half naked for there is but little difference between both Exod 20. 26. and ch 28. 42. but they that rebaptize by Dipping the People in publick put off the greatest part of their Cloaths the re-baptizer and He or She that is baptized is near naked which might be a temptation to him that is the Baptizer and to the Spectators if the temptation will not take hold on the Minister who is but Flesh and Blood as others are such a behaviour before a mixt Congregation brings him under a reproach and maketh the worship of God contemptible 1. Answ I answer I am grieved that a Minister and I hope a godly Man should be thus left to himself or be under no better conduct about this matter but thus to add sin to sin whilst he writes about divine things 2. Pray Mr. Owen what is the purport of your Charge now in recriminating and vilifying the Sacred Ordinance of Dipping or Baptizing of Believers this Odium must fall as well on the Primitive Churches and Holy Apostles as upon us you see all your Brethren generally as one Man nay the whole assembly of Divines affirm that in the Primitive times the manner of baptizing was by dipping of the Body all over in Water tho' they would restrain it to those Hot Countreys Will you charge the Holy Apostles and all the Ministers of the Primitive Churches with Adultery Or do you think we in these Cold Climates have not convenient Cloaths to put on People that are to be baptized as they had in those Warm Countreys 3. But if this was all it were not so sad altogether for it was our Lord Jesus worthy Britains who Ordained and appointed Men and Women who are Believers to be Dipped in the Water in his Name and 't is a hard case there is no way to answer this holy Command and Ordinance but the People that do it must be guilty of Adultery must we go into the water naked or half naked Is their a necessity for it Are there no Cloaths to be had or no modest Garments for Men and Women to be provided
to cover all their nakedness even Hands and Feet also if it be needful sure Sir you must suppose somewhat of this kind or there is no room left for you to cast contempt and reproach upon the Ordinance it self but to blame the people they do not provide convenient Garments on purpose that so they may not commit Adultery when they come to be Baptized 4. Sir had you seen our People baptized you had not been guilty of bearing false witness the Second time Reader pray take notice that we provide comely Cloaths for the Administer both from Head to Foot and our Men also that are baptized have Cloaths provided for them and for the Women Gowns and Petty-coats are made on purpose and they go into the water drest more decently perhaps then many Women come into Christian assemblies therefore this is a most unworthy Charge Mr. Owen casts upon us tho' he doth but follow the steps of Dr. Featly and Mr. B. but 't is worse in him at this time of the Day then in them then because our use and practice here is now more generally known And these things being so how can we in Dipping or Baptizing of Women be guilty of Adultery or any of the Spectators Can't you take a Woman dressed in modest and decent Cloaths by the Hand without having an unclean thought in your Heart you may as well charge some Tradesmen in the Exercise of their Trades with Adultery indeed did we as Mr. B. once falsly said baptize Women naked or as you say near or half naked which are both notorious untruths there might have been some colour for what you say but if there be need to Dip the whole Body say you as they say there is what rule have they in the Scripture to baptize the Cloaths with the Body the few Cloaths they have about them are dipped before the Body is dipped 1. Answ All Men may perceive of what a contentious contradicting quarelsome Spirit you are of one while you strive to expose Christ's Sacred Ordinance to reproach and us with it as if we baptized Persons naked and then presently seem to allow that we do not so but that they whom we baptize have Cloaths on but now the Cloaths are baptized and then ask what Scripture we have for this 2. 'T is enough Christ Commanded Dipping in his Name and we are required to do all things decently 'T is no matter so that the Body is buried in the Water 't is not the Cloaths that we say we baptize but the Person Christs Ordinance of Baptism in one essential part lies in the words of Administration Do you never Sprinkle some drops of Water on the Child 's Fine dresses if you should what doth that signifie you have wrote hard words and Christ is coming to convince all of their ungodly deeds and of all their hard Speeches spoken against him Jude 15. I pray God this Sin be not laid to your Charge Thus I have been helped to take off that reproach and vile slanders cast upon the baptizing Believers and have proved it is not re-baptization therefore let Mr. Owen cast of his slanderous clamarous Pen and Infants Rhantism and repent and return to the Baptism which Christ Instituted and left in his Church to the end of the World and now to make appear the evil and sinfulness of Infant Baptism take what follows which I have transcribed out of my answer to Mr. Burkitt's Book that he wrote for the Baptizing of Children two or three years since CHAP. XXI Shewing that there is no Blessing to be expected in Baptizing Infants but rather the displeasure of the Jealous God demonstrating contrarywise to what Mr. James Owen hath said also Mr. Burkit and Mr. Daniel Williams and all other pedobaptists that it is avery sinful and an unlawful practice AS Mr. Owen hath laboured in vain to shew the usefulness of Infant Baptism so Mr. Burkit a Learned Minister of the Church of England who in his late Treatise for Infant Baptism also did see page 35 36 37 38. of his Book 1. Mr. Burkitt saith Children are hereby Interested in all the prayers of the Church 1. Answ If you pray for them as Members of the visible Church what ground have you so to do from Gods word since God in the Gospel times had not made them Members thereof 2. Can't we pray for our Children tho' as yet they are not Members that they may become Members thereof 2. He saith by vertue of this admission they have interest in the special providence of God Answ No doubt but God doth exercise his special Care and Providence over all Elect Infants but not the more for your baptizing them without his authority or Command much less Infants of Believers as such 3. He says Hereby the Church stands nearer to them then to the rest of mankind c. mentioning that Text Ifa 54. 13. Thy Children shall be all taught of God 1. Answ Neither you nor Mr. Burkitt nor any pedobaptists in the World can bring Infants nearer to God nor his Church by any act done by you without any rule left by Christ 2. Does that Text Isa 54. 13. refer to Infants of Believers as such or to those godly and new re-born Children who being born in sin are indeed her Spiritual Children 4. He saith Irfant Baptism is an act of Dedication c. Answ Who commanded you this way to Dedicate your Children to the Lord Will you Teach the Almighty or are you wiser than he Doth he in his word require you so to do 2. May not the Papists say as well that those Persons they bring under their voluntary Vows are thereby Dedicated unto God 5. Mr. Burkitt saith 'T is great advantage to Infants as 't is an Act of restipulation that is saith he a Child at baptism enters into Covenant with God Answ I answer Poor Babes 't is without their knowledge and consent or God's appointment which is worst of all or they being able to perform it then nor many of them ever after God never giving them his Grace so to do But wo to them if they do not perform this Covenant if Mr. Burkitt and Mr. Daniel Williams say true he says in his Catechism as followeth That those Children who perform not their Baptismal Covenant do 1. They reject Christ 2d They renounce the Blessings of the Gospel 3dly that 't is Rebellion against their Maker 4thly That 't is ingratitude and perjury against their Redeemer 5thly Gross injustice to their Parents 6thly That 't is self-killing Cruelty to their own Souls 7thly 'T is he saith a damning Sin nay it s the heart of all Sin Is this indeed the love you Pedo-baptists have to your poor Infants What bring them into such a Covenant without their knowledge and consent or God's appointment and then threaten them if they break it with Hell and Damnation and what not Do you know they are all Elect Persons and so such that God will
at all and so cast off and renounce their Infants Rautism that they hereby become guilty of Perjury and must be Damned for he speaks not of those sins forbidden in God's Word but the violation of this baptismal Covenant which he saith is Perjury and the Damning Sin and Root of all Sin O! what want of Charity is here in these Men and what New and strange Doctrine do they Teach 2. Train up your Children in the fear of God and set them a good example and pray for them and over them and give them good Instruction godly Counsel and Admonition And see that you neglect not to Catechise them daily that so they may understand early the main Grounds and Principles of Religion but dread to Baptize them in Infancy or before they believe and have the inward and Spiritual Grace signified in true Baptism You have had it proved from God's Word that there is no Ground nor Authority from thence to baptize Infants and know 't is not in the power of Man by external Rite to bring Children into the Covenant of Grace nor to make them Members of his Visible Church neither Baptism nor the Lords Supper are Bread for Infants but for Christ's New Born Babes 1 Pet. 2. 1 2 3 5. not for your Children as such but such only that are the true Children of God who are born of the Spirit 3. Do not go about directly nor indirectly to deceive your Children by making them believe they are in a good condition by reason they are the Seed of believing Parents and Baptized as these Men call Sprinkling and so that way made Christians and so from hence perhaps look for no further or other work of Grace or regeneration but think they by this pretended baptism are the Children of God Members of Christ and Inheritors of the Kingdom of Heaven when 't is in Truth no such thing nor have you any cause to doubt but that your Infants who die tho' not baptized are happy as appears from what we have said neither be you so ignorant to believe that baptism can save your Infants or the Adult either nor let poor Children cry out against their ungodly Parents as some of these pedo-baptists intimate they may do Pray see what Mr. Burkitt saith in his Book page 62. Before your Children are born make sure as much as in you lieth that they may be born within the Covenant and under the promise by your being in Covenant with God Your selves see that the Lord be your God in Covenant with you and then you may comfortably hope he will be the God of your Seed Answ This Doctrine implys that 't is in the power of Men and Women to bring their Children into the Covenant of Grace and as also it denotes that the Children of believers are not Born Children of Wrath by Nature for are those that are born in the Covenant of Grace born Children of Wrath O ye Parents know that you may be in Covenant and your Children never in it whilst they live nay die out of Covenant as doubtless many Children of the Faithful do Nor hath God made any such Covenant with any believer and their Natural Seed as such as he made with Abraham who was the Father of all that believe but so are not you nor I tho' we are believers and in Covenant with God and walk in Abrahams Steps Those that are in the Electiof Grace of your Seed never fear but God will in due time bring into the Covenant of Grace and give all the Covenant Blessings and Priviledges but if any of them are not comprehended in the Election of Grace their being born of your Loyns will not cannot bring them into the Covenant of Grace nor give them a right to the Seal thereof viz. the holy Spirit nor can baptism bring any into it which is only an outward Sign of our being in that Covenant or of that divine and spiritual Grace we received before we were baptized as I have proved Your business and your Childrens also is to make your own Election sure by special and effectual calling 'T is not the first birth but the second that brings either you or your Children into the Covenant of Grace so that we and they may have God to be our God by way of special Interest But mark Mr. Burkitts next words page 62. O! were but Infants capable of knowledge how much would they dread being born of wicked Parents make it your endeavour before your Children are born to sanctifie your poor Children this is done by prayer c. 1. Answ This is enough to set the Children against their ungodly Parents nay to hate them in their Hearts Alas the Children of wicked Parents I see not but they may be in as good a Condition as many Children of believers tho' I doubt not but God doth let out his infinite Grace generally more to the seed of the Faithful when grown up then to others but God will not certainly destroy poor Children for the fault and unbelief of their Parents Therefore as your begetting them in the first birth tho' gracious cannot save them so your begetting them tho' wicked cannot damn or destroy them There is no reason saith Mr. Perkins that the wickedness of the Parents should prejudice the Children in things pertaining to eternal Life Perkins on Gal. 3. p. 264. 2. However if it be as Mr. Burkitt and Mr. Owen say that when believers are in Covenant their Children are in Covenant also Doubtless they are in a safe condition whether baptized or not that doth not bring them into Covenant 3. But may not this Doctrine of theirs put a just rebuke upon unbelievers or ungoly persons for once attempting to Marry and beget Childre that are in such a sad condition by reason their Parents were not in Covenant with God ought they nay may they lawfully Marry this being consider'd and such dreadful effects following upon their poor Babes besides how far doth this Covenant blessing and priviledge extend If my Grand Father was in Covenant tho' my Father and I too are wicked and ungodly Persons are not we still in Covenant with God The Covenant of Peculiarity God made with Abraham viz. that of Circumcision extended not only to his immediate Seed or Off-Spring but to all his Natural Seed successively in their Generations untill Christ came and put an end to that external Covenant and Covenant Right CHAP. XXV Containing several Queries for Mr. Owen to answer since the Athenian Society have not done it who some time since did attempt it Sir I Having wrote a few Queries lately about Infant Baptism for the Athenian Society to answer upon their bold Challenge and since they are too hard for them to do it having said nothing at all to the purpose I shall expect to see them answered by you when you answer this reply to your Book I shall not trouble you with all but only with a few of them Query 1. Whether the