Parents which ought not to be supposed First it supposes these Houses and Housholds to be said to have the Word of the Lord spoken to them without the Parents and so renders Infants incapable whereas take House and Houshold with Parents and Infants have been and so may be of them to whom the Word of the Lord hath been spoken Thus Children were of them to whom Moses made that great and solemn Exhortation Deut. 29.2 9 10 11. And Moses call'd unto all Israel and said unto them Keep therefore the word of this Covenant Ye stand all of you before the Lord your God your little Ones your Wives that ye should enter into Covenant with the Lord thy God and into his Oath which the Lord thy God maketh with thee this day And of them to whom Joshua made that famous repetition of the Law Josh 8.34 35. And afterwards he read all the words of the Law the blessings and cursings according to all that is written in the book of the Law There was not a word of all that Moses commanded which Joshuah read not before all the Congregation of Israel with the Women and little Ones And tho' it be said in Nehem. 8.2 3. Men and Women and all that could hear with understanding yet it is not said them only as if Infants were excepted neither doth it follow that they were for we know that whatsoever the Law saith it saith to them that are under the Law Rom. 3.19 And we are sure that the Command of Moses Deut. 31.11 12 13. was that the Solemnity there appointed should be with the Women and Children Also when he call'd unto all Israel Deut. 29. aforesaid and made that Exhortation They stood before him with their little Ones and their Wives Likewise when Joshua made that Rehearsal of the Law Chap. 8. It was before the whole Congregation with the Women and little Ones So 2 Chron. 20.13 And all Israel stood before the Lord with their little Ones their Wives and their Children Still Women with their little Ones and Children as if such little Ones as by reason of their Infancy did yet hang upon the tender Breast agreeable unto that Joel 2.12 Turn ye unto me with weeping and mourning 13. rent your hearts 15. Call a solemn Assembly 16. Gather the People sanctify the Congregation assemble the Elders gather the Children and those that suck the Breast c. Not that Parents ought therefore to bring their little Ones at all times to the reading and preaching of the Word but shews that it was done upon some great and solemn Occasions when they entred into Covenant with God or the like and that little Ones may be part of those to whom the Word of the Lord is spoken Act. 21.5 It is granted the Phrase and manner of speaking in Scripture is primarily accommodated to those who are adult but not exclusively of Infants for they as Israelites were of them to whom saith the Apostle appertaineth the giving of the Law Rom. 3.19 And as Jews of them to whom were committed the Oracles of God Rom. 3.1 2. Acts 7.38 Secondly this supposeth these Houses and Housholds to be said to Believe without the Parents and so though it had instead of House and Houshold been said their Children little Ones and Babes yet according to this supposal the meaning would have been made still the same that this could not be of such in Age but onely of such in quality and disposition whereas take it as it is Parents and House together and then Infants are not onely included but chiefly intended the Adult being for the most part at their own disposal whilst the Infants were always at the disposal of their Parents who themselves whether Heathens or Jews being converted to the Faith of Christ brought over theirs all if possible but be sure their Infants to be of the same Faith with themselves and it being Parent and House and not House without the Parents who are said to Believe it shews it to be in a way of Covenant which always includes the Infants And thus as the Infants of Heathens were always reputed to be Heathens and the Infants of Jews to be Jews so the Infants of Christians to be Christians tho' not declaratively so no more than the converted Adult until baptized and may as Infants of such Mat. 18.6 Gal. 6.10 Eph. 2.19 as well be said to Believe as the Infants of Circumcised Parents might be said by being Circumcised to become debtors to do the whole Law Gal. 5.2 Or by not being Circumcised to break the Covenant Gen. 17.14 Object But it is said Faith comes by hearing Rom. 10.17 How then can Infants be said to Believe Answ This goes upon the former mistake of putting Parents and Infants asunder for so it is said He that believeth not shall be damned Mark 16.16 and is condemned already John 3.18 Shall not Infants therefore be saved God forbid for tho they cannot believe in all respects as the Adult do yet they may be parties with their Parents in the covenanting part of their Parents Faith as their Parents covenant for themselves and them which is well illustrated by Parents making their Infants Parties with them in their own civil Contracts of Bonds and Leases but is grounded only upon the Nature of the Covenant of God and as this Faith comes to the Parents by hearing so to their Infants in conjunction with them When therefore it is said such and such as Namely the Jailor Crispus and the Nobleman John 4.53 believed with all their House this relates not so much to the great success the Gospel had in those times tho' that was very great as it doth to the Covenant of God with Parents and their Children because no House is said to believe without the Parents nor any Parents having House under their charge without the House which must therefore have a respect to Infants Adult Persons sometimes believing and not their Parents and Parents and not always the Adult An Husband might believe and not the Wife the Wife and not the Husband but tho' it be said to a Husband or a Wife Believe and thou shalt be saved and thy House yet it is not said to any Husband Believe and thou shalt be saved and thy Wife or to any Wife Believe and thou shalt be saved and thy Husband but only What knowest thou O Wife whether thou shalt save thy Husband Or how knowest thou O man whether thou shalt save thy Wife 1 Cor. 7.16 Again a Master might be Converted and not the Servant a Servant might be Called and not the Master but with considerable difference in respect to the House for when the Master being a Parent Believed there Salvation came to the House not so when only the Servant was Called or did Believe which is one Reason which the Apostle gives there why a Brother or Sister being married should not depart from put away or leave their Unbelieving Yoke-fellow ver 10 11
PRIMITIVE BAPTISM And therein INFANTS AND PARENTS RIGHT MATTH 19.6 What God hath joined together let no Man put asunder LONDON Printed for Ionathan Robinson at the Golden-Lion in St. Paul's Church-Yard MDCXC TO THE READER THE Author of these Papers is one whom I have known long since to be a person of great Reputation for Knowledg Wisdom Gravity and Seriousness A Person not only skilful and diligent in his particular Calling and beautiful in his Christian Conversation but also a diligent and judicious Reader and Observer of the Sacred Scriptures and so far as I could either learn of others or my self discern by Conversation with him an impartial searcher after Truth and readily receptive of it in its discerned Evidence and consequently not tenacious of any Sentiments or Opinions through humour interest and self-conceitedness where any reasons do appear to prove them false or probably uncertain or unsafe That this small Tract is his I have great reason to believe It is small nervous and clear as to the great Design thereof of which the Title is a sufficient indication and account but let the matter speak for it self and force its way into the Readers breast by its own Strength carried home by God's blessing thereupon to such degrees as He sees fit who is the Original source and Fountain Patron and End of Truth I shall only add That when our Brethren who judg it improbable that any Infants had their solemn admission into the Church of Christ in Scripture-times by the instituted rite of Christian Baptism have tryed their Strength upon what is here offer'd and scripturally proved and have effectually Answered what is here briefly and in other Books more copiously demonstrated and improved they may probably gain more Proselytes to themselves Read carefully think deeply pray fervently design honestly judg impartially and give Christ's evident Truths Laws Institutions their just receptions and improvement and take in nothing for Truth or Duty for the sake of any Man but yield to Evidence and this will be most grateful Candid and Christian Reader To thine in and for our Blessed Lord whilst M. SYLVESTER PREFACE AS Civil Right is one of the great controverted Points in the World so is Religious Right in the Church What is here offered concerning Infants and Parents Right in the Church is a short Discourse maintained against two different Practices the One withholding Baptism from Infants of baptized Parents the Other withholding such Parents from their Infants in Baptism The Arguments brought against these Practices are those brought by Christ against a Practice of the like Nature namely that it is a putting asunder those whom God hath joined together and that from the beginning it was not so Which Arguments are not insisted upon as suspecting the strength of other Arguments but as agreeing therewith and the better to clear up the Apostolical Practice in these things All submitted to superior Judgments Primitive Baptism GOD who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in times past unto the Fathers by the Prophets hath in these last days spoken to us by his Son Who that our Religion and Manners Faith and Worship may be after the due Order hath commanded us to search the Scriptures containing Rules and Directions Precepts and Examples always evident and perfect in their kind though not always alike express The Sadduces finding no express mention of the Resurrection in the Books of Moses which they emphatically called the Scriptures not only denied the Resurrection but framed Arguments from those Scriptures against it One whereof they thought so unanswerable Deut. 25.6 that they encountred Christ himself with it Mat. 22. v. 23 24 c. Christ observing their Confidence reproves them as plainly both of Error and the Cause thereof in these Words ver 29. Ye do err not knowing the Scriptures nor the Power of God and from the Scriptures proves the Resurrection Which Words of Christ Ye do err not knowing the Scriptures nor the Power of God may have a double Aspect one unto the Scripture from whence they framed their Argument against the Resurrection and another unto the Scripture which he brings to prove the Resurrection by That the Sadduces did not know the Scriptures literally or the Power of God historically cannot be the meaning of Christ but take the Words as having an Eye to that Scripture brought by them ver 24. from whence they raised their Argument against the Resurrection and the Sense may be such as this Ye Sadduces say that there is no Resurrection and you seem very big of your Opinion as if you were in the right and had Scripture on your side and could from the Scripture prove it impossible but I tell you Ye err not knowing the Scriptures nor the Power of God for though that be Scripture which ye have quoted yet ye not comparing it with other Passages of the same Sacred Writings nor Spiritual Things with Spiritual do not hold the Analogy of Faith contained in the Scriptures but speak evil of those things which ye know not whilst what you know naturally as brute Beasts in those things you corrupt your selves For that the Dead are raised even Moses shewed at the Bush when he calleth the Lord the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob for he is not the God of the Dead but of the Living for all live unto him And though you pretend to know God yet you glorify him not as God nor consider that Power belongs unto him else why should it be thought a thing incredible with you that God should raise the Dead Neither are your Notions of the future State to which the Dead are raised by his Infinite and Almighty power suitable to those high and excellent Apprehensions which you ought to have of it for in the Resurrection they neither marry nor are given in Marriage neither do they die any more but are as the Angels of God in Heaven Ye therefore do greatly err But taking the Words of Christ as having a respect to the Scripture which he brings to prove the Resurrection by ver 32. and then the meaning may be this or such like Ye deny that there is any Resurrection and conclude that you must be in the right because you find no express mention of it in the Scriptures and as if the Incapacity of the Dead made it impossible with God but do you not therefore err because you know not the Scriptures nor the Power of God For though it be not expresly said that the Dead are raised yet know that there is sufficient Proof for it in Scripture by good and warrantable Inference from Scripture For as touching the Resurrection of the Dead have you not read that which was spoken to you by God saying I am the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac Mat. 22.31 and the God of Jacob from whence you might have attained unto the knowledg of the Resurrection as satisfyingly as
Children in Baptism because this would be to serve God for them It follows not For when Parents answer promise vow and covenant in their Childrens Name they do not perform their Childrens Duty for them but thereby engage them to it and perform their own And so far as the Parents Act of giving up and dedicating their Children unto God in a way of Covenant and therein answering for them is a Work of Necessity and Mercy it is no more a performing of their Childrens Duty or a serving of God for them than praying to God for them or being their Mouth to God in Praise is To conclude Since Suretiship and making Vows for others is no light and easy matter that this for Children being in things of the greatest moment and unto God who will not be mocked is none of the meanest and that it is not in our Power to substitute one for another or others in our stead to serve God for us nor safe to trifle with sacred things how well would it be if that Suretiship which is founded upon Covenant-Right accommodated with the greatest Advantages most expedient in it self most competent for all the good Ends of Suretiship most unquestionable and which was from the beginning to wit the Parental was always required unto the discharge of which if such whose Ministerial Calling and Emploiment it is would superadd their Endeavours by a frequent assisting of the Parents upon all convenient Occasions remembring them always that he is not a Christian which is one outwardly Rom. 2.28 29. neither is that Baptism which is outward in the Flesh but he is a Christian which is one inwardly and Baptism is that of the Heart in the Spirit and not in the Letter whose Praise is not of Men but of God How useful might this be and more religious than for them waving the Parents to bind heavy Burdens and grievous to be born and lay them on other Mens Shoulders and they themselves not move them with one of their Fingers Now the God of Patience and Consolation grant us to be like-minded one towards another according to Christ Jesus that we may with one Mind and one Mouth glorify God even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ Rom. 15.5 6. Amen FINIS An Appendix AS to Christ his being baptized when 30 Years Old at the beginning of his Ministry mentioned here pag. 26. and also about the Differences and Agreements of Christ his Baptism and John's let the inquisitive Reader peruse and pause upon those brief but excellent touches hereupon which that diligent Reader of the Sacred Scriptures Mr. Samuel Clark hath lately given us in his Notes on Matth. III. 6 16. Tho I confess that Christ's Plea for his being baptized by John Thus it becomes us to fulfil all Righteousness I cannot yet say that I understand it in its utmost reach and force to my full satisfaction That Christ was bound to and so must fulfil the Law of Moses and John's Prophetic Mission and the whole Law of Mediation which his Father laid him under and he so voluntarily obliged himself unto admits no Doubt and needs no Proof But what particular Law Christ here respected as to this Instance I cannot say I yet fully know As to Sponsors God-fathers and God-mothers 1. Let them be serious and devoted Persons unto God and Christ themselves 2. Capable of Receiving and likely and willing to fulfil this Trust And 3. then appear and stand as the Substitutes and Representatives of Absent Parents through Necessity or Pro-parents where Parents are dead or manifestly give their Children wholly to them or as in Conjunction and Concurrence with the Parents for the more effectual Christian Education of the baptized Children And then less may be said against them and more for them than otherwise And then their Testimony will be more credible that Persons offering their Seed to God are such as very probably have a right thereto That the Persons offered are baptized and that in case the Parents die or deny the Faith or prove grosly negligent as to the performance of their Trust care will yet be taken about the fit Christian Education of their baptized Seed But why Parents where they can should not Solemnly and Personally offer their own natural Seed to God and personally profess and promise I know not Seeing this renews their Christian Profession reinforces their Christian Obligations and Advantages upon themselves hands down the Essentials of Christianity from Age to Age calls other Parents to reflect upon themselves as to their Christian Advantages Performances and Concerns and quickens all the Baptized to their Work and Hope I will not vouch for every Word and Thing in this or any meer humane Book but I think it no lost time or labour to read this small Tract M. S. Mr. Joseph Whiston hath published these Treatises about this Subject viz. 1. INfant Baptism from Heaven and not of Men or a moderate Discourse concerning the Baptism of the Infant-Seed of Believers 2. Infant-Baptism from Heaven and not of Men the 2d Part Or an Answer to Mr. Danvers's Treatise of Baptism Wherein Infants Right to Baptism is further confirmed 3. An Essay to revive the Primitive Doctrine and Practice of Infant-Baptism in the Resolution of Four Questions 1. What are the Reasons of God's appointing the Token of his Covenant to be applied to the Infant-Seed of his People 2. What is the Good or Benefit they receive thereby 3. What is the Duty of Parents towards their Children as bearing the Token of the Covenant 4. What is 〈◊〉 Improvement that Children as grown up to Years of Mâ—…rity may and ought to make of the Token as applied to them in their Infancy 4. Infant-Baptism plainly proved A Discourse wherein certain Select Arguments for Infant-Baptism formerly syllogistically handled are now abbreviated and reduced to a plain Method for the Benefit of the Unlearned With a large Epistle to the Pious and Learned among the Antipaedobaptists especially the Authors of the late Confession of their Faith 5. A brief Discourse concerning Man's natural proneness to and tenaciousness of Errors Whereunto are added some Arguments to prove That that Covenant entred with Abraham Gen. 2.7 is the Covenant of Grace 6. The Right Method for the proving of Infant-Baptism With some Reflections on some late Tracts against Infant-Baptism All sold by Jonathan Robinson at the Golden-Lion in St. Paul's Church-Tard Together with several other Treatises in Defence of Infant-Baptism by Mr. Baxter Mr. Wills Mr. Barret c. An ADVERTISEMENT Decemb. 2. 1689. THere is newly Published A Large Folio Bible of a fair new Roman Letter with Annotations and Parallel Scriptures or References some Thousands more than are in the Cambridg Oxford or any London Bibles yet extant To which is annexed The Harmony of the Gospels As also a Reduction of the Jewish Weights Coins and Measures tâ— our English Standard And a Table of the Promises in Scripture By Mr. SAMUEL CLARK In â—…e entire Volume containing Three hundred twenty five Sheets in Good Demy Paper Proposed By thâ— Booksellers undermentioned on these Terms viz. I. He that Buys only one Book to pay Twenty five Shillings Unbound II. He that Buys Six Books shall have a Seventh Gratis which reduces the Price to a Guinea Unbound Which Terms are to continue until the First of May next But after that no Seventh Book will be allowed nor a single Book Sold under Twenty seven Shillings Unbound By Richard Chiswel and Jonathan Robinson in St. Paul's Church-yard And by Brabazon Aylmer in Cornhill