this is a most subtile sophistry much like to that of Satan when he beguiled Evah saying In the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt not dye but your eys shall be opened and you shall be at Gods knowing both good and evil all which was both true and a lye for they did learn to know evil by it to purpose and as for good they knew it before and now they learned to know it was good by the loss of it And after the same manner is your reasoning when you say If we have nothing but the bare words without the meaning and reason we have no proof To which I answer The truth is that if we have not the meaning of God and the reason reason why he speaks to us how can we understand as we ought but now Sir I shall make it appear that both Gods meaning and the reason of his meaning is plainly declared to the sons of men by his word of truth and so plainly that if you or an Angel from heaven shall add to it or take from it you shall be accursed and he will add to you all the plagues written and take your name out of the book of life All which if you do not knows I pray read Prov. 30.6 Gal. 1.8 9. Rev. 22.18 19. But you would make us believe that what is written is not able to inform us aright but you or such as you are must add to it or take from it at your pleasure and those your additions and substractions you call the meanings and reasons of the word of God But now I shall prove that the word of God alone is able to make us wise to salvation without your adding to or taking from and to that end see 2 Tim. 3.15 16 17. in these words And from a child thou hast known the holy Scriptures which are able to make us wise to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for Doctrine for Reproof for correction for instruction in rightcousness that the man of God may be perfect and throughly furnished unto all good works Again the Apostle Jam. 1.21 exhorteth us to lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness and to receive with meekness the ingraffed word which saith he is able to save your souls Again when Paul left the Saints in a dangerous condition because of deceivers he commits them to God and the word of his grace saying It is able to build them up and give them an inheritance amongst them that are sanctified Thus you see 1 That the Scripture is able to make us wise to salvation 1 Tins 3.15 2 That all Scripture is given by the inspiration of God and therefore profitable for Doctrine reproof correction instruction in righteonsness ver 16. 3 To make the man of God perfect and throughly furnished to all good works ver 17. 4 It s able to save our souls Jam. 1.21 5 It s able to build us up and give us an inheritance amongst them that are sanctified Act. 20.32 And now seeing the holy writings are able to do all these things I will boldly and safely conclude that we have no need of your Reasons and Sences to help them but you have need to help your Reasons and Senses by the holy writings or else you will be but one of those insensible unreasonable men that Paul prays to be delivered from because they had not faith and how can you have faith as Christ saith How can you believe when you receive honor one of another John 5.44 and do not you receive honor one of another when you prefer one anothers words above the words of God which Christ and the holy men of old spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost 2 Pet. 1.21 But whereas you say wickedly that if we have the words of God without the meaning and reason we have no proof Answer I am sure I may honestly and in the fear of God conclude that if we have your words and meanings and reasons without the word of God we have no proof that we may safely trust for Let God be true and every man a lyer and cursed be he that trusteth in man c. Rom. 3.4 Ier. 17.5 And thus your folly is manifest but because this is the very place in which and slight by which Satan doth deceive and murder so many souls the Reader must give me leave to inlarge my selfe in answering Now to your proof which is this you say The Divel used the words of God to tempt Christ I Answer doth it follow that because the Divel and wicked men do sometimes use the word of God to deceive with that therefore the Saints must not use it make them wise to salvation I trow not Againe Sir You much mistake the matter for the Divells deceit did not ly in bringing the Scriptures but in adding to and taking from as I shall make it appear by comparing the words the Divell brought Mat. 4.6 and Luke 4.10 11. with those words in Psa 91.11 12. which are these For he shall give his Angels charge over thee to keep thee in all thy wayes they shall bear thee up in their hands left thou dash thy feet against a Stone These are the words of the Prophesie Psa 91.11 12. but the words of the tempter are these Cast thy self down which is nowhere written Just as you say Baytise your Children which is no where written but the Divell would prove he might thus for saith he it is written He shall give his Angells charge concerning thee to keep thee as in Luk. 14.10 and with their hands they shall bear thee up left at any time that is added thou dash thy feet against a Stone Thus it is clear the tempter added at any time and left cut in all thy wayes Againe Luke 4.9 10 11. We read Cast thy selfe downe for it is written He shall give his Angells charge over thee to keep thee and in their hands they shall bare thee up left at any time thou dash thy feet against a stone Thus we see in both Scriptures that the tempter added Cast thy selfe downe and at any time and left out in all thy wayes So that here is both adding and diminishing which is accursed of God and yet Mr. Baxter takes the Divells part and saith the Divell used the words of the Scriptures to Christ But this is but a small fault with you Sir for you have learned to take the same leave your selfe as I now shall make it appear thus If thou be the Son of God The Divell said to Christ cast thy self downe which is nowhere written as the Lord saith but the contrary viz. Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God So do you say If you be the Children of God and in Covenant baptize your Children which is nowhere written but the contrary thus Teach all Nations batizing them c. Mat. 28.19 And Preach the Gospell to every
am sure I have Christ my Judge on my side for this Thus you may see and consider how like your forefather Doctor Story you speak and behave your self and to that end I have writ it and that the Reader may consider that even as these wicked Tyrants dealt with the poor Martyrs that suffered in Queen Maries days for that part of truth which they then saw in those times of ignorance and darkness even so would Mr. Baxter and his brethren deal with us now if they had but their liberty witness these words of Doctor Story compared with Mr. Baxters tenth Position by which it appeareth that they are children of one father whose works they do Joh. 8.44 And now whereas you say we disclaim Reason I answer It s but one of your false accusations we own all things written in the Scriptures of truth and they are better reason about heavenly matters then any you can bring for they are able to make us wise to salvation as aforesaid But now I come to the great invincible Argument of Mr. Baxter and Mr. Cook which is this saith Mr. Baxter Do you think the Lord Jesus knew a good Argument or the right way of disputing why how did he prove the Resurrection to the Sadduces from that Text I am the God of Abraham and Isaas and of Jasob would not one of these men if they had stood by have chiddeu Christ for this Argument and have said Give us a Text that says the dead shall Rise what 's this to the Resurrection that God is the God of Abraham would not these have reported abroad that Christ could not confute the Sadduces or bring any Scripture for his doctrine thus far Mr. Baxter the same saith Mr. Cook in his 24 and 25 pag. To all which I answer that the Lord Jesus knew a good Argument and the right way of disputing better then Mr. Baxter Mr. Cooke or my selfe or any man else I humbly confess to his praise and therefore I desire to make use of his words that he hath already spoken knowing that he hath reasoned and proved all things better then I can But Mr. Baxter although he confess for his own ends that the Lord Christ knew the best reasoning yet he is not content with his reason but adds to it these words in his 10 Position 1. If God be the God of Abraham then it will follow that Abraham in soul is living 2. This is not directly proved from this Text but another principle must be taken in to support it viz. That God is not the God of the dead but the living 3. If Abrahams soul be living then his body must needs be raised 4. If Abrahams body shall rise then there is a resurrection and others shall rise also To which I answer 1. Mr. Baxter in all these consequences that he hath drawn hath but darkened the councell of God spoken by the mouth of Christ 2. The resurrection is more plainly proved by the words of Christ without all his consequences as appeareth by the word of the Text Luk. 20.35 36 37. But they that shall be accounted worthy to obtaine that world and the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage neither can they dy any more for they are equall with Angells and are the Children of God being the Children of the resurrection Thus Christ himselfe in plaine terms hath proved the resurrection already speaking plainly of the happiness of those that shall obtaine the resurrection from the dead and then when he had done he concludes that the resurrection of the dead is so plain that even Moses shewed it at the Bush c. 3. Let Mr. Baxter prove if he can that Christ did draw any consequences from his owne words but left them barely as he spake them as sufficient proof without the help of any of Mr. Baxters consequences 4. If Christ had used never so many consequences to prove any thing yet his words were all Scripture and infallibly true So true that whosoever of Men or Angels should add to or take from it they were accursed But Mr. Baxters are none such therefore we weigh them not 5. Whereas Mr. Baxter is pleased to say If we had stood by we would have said to Christ Give us a Scripture that saith the dead shall rise I answer So Christ did give them two Scriptures though Mr. Baxter is so blind he cannot see them for he telleth us ver 35. of the world to come and the Resurrection from the dead in plaine tearms saying They which shall be accounted worthy to obtaine that world and the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage And in ver 37. he saith that the dead are raised And we would have Mr. Baxter and all men know that we take all the sayings of Christ to be as good Scripture and of as great authority as any part of the Bible therefore now Mr. Baxter and Mr. Cooks folly and wickedness is manifest who would insinuate into peoples mindes that Christ did not bring Scripture to prove the resurrection of the dead but they must help him by their consequences But their deceit lieth in this namely in that they did conclude that because Christ did not bring some other Scripture that was written before to prove the resurrection therefore he proved it by consequence never minding that what he said was Scripture and what he approved of is approved and ought to be approved of all without murmurings or disputings But now to make their folly manifest I will reason with them another way and if they prove as plainely that Infants ought to be baptized as Chirst did there prove that the dead should rise they shall have it and I will confess my selfe in an errour And now to the matter 1. Mark 12.25 For when they shall rise from the dead they neither marry nor are given in marriage Now do you shew a Scripture that saith And when they shall baptize little Children they shall c. 2. Ver. 26. And as touching the dead that they rise have you not read c. Now do you produce such a Scripture if you can that saith And as touching little Children that they be baptized have you not read c. bring you but Scriptures that come but thus neer the matter and we will grant you Infant-baptisme but till then you are unreasonable in your reasoniags and while you accuse others you are guilty your selves Obj. It may be some will object and say that I will tie Mr. Baxter and Mr. Cooke to plaine Scripture but yet I have written many words in this Book my selfe that are not plaine Scripture Ans It s one thing for a man to use words to express himselfe to those that will not believe the Scriptures as they are written and it s another thing to bring the holy Scriptures to shew men a Rule to walk by and what their duty is in matters of faith and obedience We will
continue in my word then are ye my disciples indeed and you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free And again cap. 15.7 If you abide in me and my words abide in you ask what you will and it shall be done unto you and the word is able to save our souls Jam. 1.21 and the Lord will have respect to them that are of contrite spirits and tremble at his word Isa 66.2 but whose despiseth the word shall be destroyed but he that regardeth the Commandment shall be rewarded Pro. 13.13 And thus its evident that if we run to the word for refuge we do wisely and are safe in so doing But as for Mr. Hall he hath never a word to run to for Infant-baptism as he himself confesses pag. 30. in his fifth Argument in these words In express terms so infants baptism is not commanded nor a thousand things more which get we are bound to observe I shall now conclude with shewing some undenyable Reasons why the word of God must beunderstood and obeyed as it is written without adding to or taking from 1 Because God did never without words make known his minde to the sons of men therefore we read that God at sundry times in divers manners spake to our fathers by the Prophets but now in these last days he hath spoken by his own son c. Heb. 1.12 2 By words the minde of God is compleatly made known so that to fear God and keep his Commandments is the whole duty of man Eccles 12.12 13. 3 Because Christ blames men for erring from the Scriptures saying You erre because you know not the Scriptures Mark 12.24 4 Because we are commanded to hear the words of Christ in all things what soever he shall say unto us Act. 3.22 5 Because they that consent not to wholsom words even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Doctrine which is according to godliness are proud or fools knowing nothing 1 Tim. 6.3 4. 6 Because the Scriptures are able to make us wise to salvation through faith in Jesus and to make the man of God perfect and throughly to furnish us to all good works 2 Tim. 3.15 16 17. 7 Because when Paul left the Church in a dangerous condition because of deceivers he committed them to God and to the word of his grace affirming it is able to build them up and to give them an inheritance amongst them that are sanctified 8 Because if men or Angels shall preach any other Gospel then what is already preached they shall be accursed Gal. 1.8.9 9 Because those that preach are commanded to preach the word in season and out of season 2 Tim. 4.12 and not their own words 10 Because Christ will judge all men by his words that he hath spoken in the last day and then they which do add to his word he will add to them all the plagues written and those that diminish from it he will take their names out of the book of life and their part out of the holy City and he will come in flaming fire to render vengeance on them that know not God and obey not his holy Gospel Joh. 12.48 Rev. 22.18 19. 2 Thef 2.7 8 9. Lastly I shall propound these following Queries with a desire to have them answered by any who will or can 1 Whether God doth require the sons of men to believe any thing in point of Justification that is not recorded in the holy Scriptures of truth 2 Whether God doth require or command us to obey any thing after believing which is not contained in the word of truth 3 Whether the Saints have any ground to believe the Resurrection from the dead and eternal life in glory but as it is recorded in Scripture 4 Whether if a man believe and obey all the known precepts and promises contained in the word of God as much as in him lyeth will God condemn and punish him at the great day because he hath believed and done no more 5 If the Scriptures be not a perfect rule of faith and obedience without the help of any mans inventions what is Or who may we trust or at whose mouth must we seek wisdom 6 If the Scriptures ought to be believed and obeyed as they are written then how dare some deny faith in and obedience to some part of them and impose things not written in the Scriptures to be obeyed in stead of the ordinances of Christ 7 Whether there be any sin or corruption incident to man that the Scriptures doth not reprove and make manifest in express terms 8 Whether there be any vertue or praise in any thing that the best of men ever did but what is expresly commanded or commended in the Scriptures of truth 9 I appeal to every mans Conscience in the sight of God whether their Consciences do not condemn them when they walk contrary to what is written in the Scripture 10 Whether every mans Conscience do not justifie him when he walks according to what is contained in the word of God Now if all these Queries be granted as they are stated to be true then it followeth that those that teach and perswade men to do any thing in matter of Justification or salvation more or less then is plainly written and expressed in the word of God are such as do add to or take from what God hath spoken to the sons of men for instruction and are guilty of those plagues pronounced Rev. 22.18 19. but infants baptism is nowhere written nor expressed in all the Scriptures as Mr. Hall Mr. Baxter and Mr. Cook do confess therefore they and all they that plead for it are guilty of the plagues aforesaid except they repent And thus have I answeâ—â—d to Mr. Baxters ten Positions which he saith pag. 3. must necessarily be well understood before we can understand the point in hand So that the Reader must take notice that if these Positions be not well understood to be true then all the rest of his book cannot be understood to be true by his own confession For saith he If people be mistaken in that which goeth before no wonder if they deny the consequents or that which followeth after c. So that if I have fully answered these Positions I need say but little to the rest of the book All which I leave to the Reader to consider of But howsoever I shall not fail by the assistance of God to speak so much to the two first parts of his book as may undermine his building and lay it in the dust As for the last part of his book from the 162 page to the end himself confesseth that they are but such vain contendings as he is like to be guilty of and Mr. Tombs also as you may see in his Epistle to the Church at Bewdley towards the latter end Likewise Mr. Cooks Arguments being the same with his the substance of both tending to prove that infants are in Covenant and that they are
London and among the Gentlewomen that have been tenderly brought up and ancient People and weak People and Shopkeepers especially women that take but little of the cold ayr the dipping them in cold water in the course of nature would kill hundreds and thousands either suddenly or by casting them into some Chronical disease Answ Observe all Mr. Baxters proof is nothing but he dare say so let the Reader observe that but was there ever such a piece of Divinity seen as this Surely Mr. Baxter is much afraid of losing of Gentlewomen that are tenderly brought up and such as take but little of the cold ayr and Shopkeepers he knoweth well that such usually have the heaviest purses and if he lose them he loseth a great part of his Religion as it s well known to most men that they will preach no longer then they are paid for it nay they will be sure of it beforehand and therefore now he speaks things that he ought not for filthy lucres sake Titus 1.11 saying in effect that if they obey the Ordinance of Christ it will kill hundreds and thousands of them if not suddenly yet afterwards He could not nor dare not positively say suddenly because there are hundreds and thousands now alive not onely baptized people but also others yea of his owne judgement that can prove him a false speaker by what they have seen and known But it seems it will cast them into diseases that will kill them afterward Answ But he did not tell us how long after it may be they might have dyed as soon if they had never been dipped for all must dye afterward or else never therefore every fool may see his folly in this But he desperately proceeds like a man resolved not to take heed to his tongue which as James saith chap. 3.6 is set on fire of hell and wherein is a world of iniquity I know not saith he what trick a covetous Landlord can find out to get his Tenants to dye apace that he might have new fines and heriots likelier then to encourage such preachers that he may get them all to turne Anabaptists and covetous Physitinas methinks should no be much against them Catarrhes and Obstructions which are the two great fountains of most mortal diseases in mans body could scarce have a more notable means to produce where they are not or to increase them where they are Appolexies Lethargies Palsies and all Comatious diseases would be promoted by it So would Cephalalgies Hemicranies Phthises debelity of the Stomack Crudities and almost all Feavers Dissenteries Diarrhaeas Collick Iliack Passions Convulsions Spasmes Tremors c. all Hepatick Splenetick Pulmoniack Persons Hypocondriachs will soon have enough of it in a word its good for nothing but to dispatch men out of the world that are burdensome and to rank Church-yards And all this is proved by Mr. Baxters dare say so Sound Divinity and plain Scripture-proof even such as Mr. Baxter hath made use of all over his book But was there ever such doctrine as this preach'd by Christ or any of his Disciples would not any Rational indifferent man take Mr. Baxter for a Mountebanck rather then a Divine and that he hath more skill in curing bodies then souls And may not any man that hath read and beleived the Scriptures and desires to walk according to that blessed rule prescribed in them and to contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the Saints by them may not such say of Mr. Baxter as Paul said to Elymas the Sorcerer when he would have turned away the deputy from the faith O full of all subtility and all mischiefe thou Child of the Devil thou enemy of all righteousness wilt thou not cease to pervert the right wayes of the Lord And though I cannot say as Paul said Thou shalt be blinde for a season yet I can truly and with a good Conscience say he is spiritually blind already and to prove it to his face for Peter exhorts the Saints that have the eyes of their understanding opened to give all diligence to add to their faith vertue and to vertue knowledg and to knowledge temperance and to temperance patience and to patience godliness and to godliness brotherly kindness and to brotherly kindness charity but he that lacketh these things is blind and cannot see afar off and hath forgotten that himself was purged from his old sins 2 Pet. 1.5 6 7 8 9 c but whether he hath shewed any of these forenamed vertues in all this Argument I leave it to the wise to judge But I leave him to stand or fall to his master and proceed to Answer a fool according to his foolishness as I am commanded Prov. 26.5 lest he be wise in his own conceit And first if it be the only way for covetous Landlords and Physations as he saith then if the Devil had not put it in their heads before yet Mr. Baxter like a diligent Servant hath done it now Secondly as concerning his new-found diseases he talks of I shall ask him two questions First Whether he can say in his conscience that he ever did know of his owne knowledge any baptized person dye of it or fell into any of these diseases afterwards I question not if he had known any such he would have put downe their names in his book although all rational people know that they may fall into some disease after they are dipped in water and yet that not be in the cause of it no more then it is to them that never were dipped Againe we have through mercy plenty of faithful witnesses both old and young Gentlewomen and Ladies wise and honourable with many other people both of strong and weak constitutions that can prove Mr. Baxter a false accuser and an inventer of evil things in this particular And as for my owne part I can boldly say with a good conscience in the presence of God to his glory that I have known many weak and sickly before that have recovered health and strength afterwards and some immediately in a few dayes yea and that when they have been so ill that all Doctors have given them over but I never knew any miscarry in my life so mightily hath God gone along with us owning his owne Ordinance If any shall be so foolish as to say that people become Ranters afterwards and that 's a sign of judgement and not of Gods owning it as his owne ordinance I answer that is after they are again gone away from the faith and deny the Ordinance of Christ which once they owned then as Peter saith It had been better for them that they had never known the way of truth then after they have known it to turn from the holy Commandment once delivered to them But more of this in answer to his last Argument My second Question is to Mr. Baxter Whether he be not convinced in his conscience that some or all of these diseases that he speaks of do not frequently
stand reading other books seven yeers but hearing and believing were baptized Act. 18.8 You say further that men think they can understand plain Scripture if they hear it but they cannot and then you cry O that pride would let men know that they cannot understand the plainest Lecture of Geometry or Arithmetick that a man can read unto them and read the Grammer to a boy in the Primer and be understandeth not a word you say Answ Is it possible you would make men believe they cannot understand plain Scripture if they hear it but I pray try us with some first and see I confess we cannot understand this book of yours to be Plain Scripture-proof for Infants Church-membership and baptism because you have packt it so full of such whimsies as these Geometry Arithmetick Grammer c. But Sir we would have you to know that the word of God is of another nature for it giveth light to the blinde and understanding to the simple Psal 19.7 8. Yea it makes men wiser then their enemies and gives them more understanding then all their teachers yea more then the Antients Psal 119.98 99 100. All which I believe you will finde to be true before we have done You say Pos 4. When the cause is so difficult we must follow the most probable way So then it seems its very difficult for you to prove that Infants ought to be baptized by your own confession and indeed so I believe for that must needs be very difficult to prove that there is not one word of God in all the Bible for I cannot blame you for saying its difficult to prove But you say we must follow the most probable way come on then that we will Now whether is it most probable that that practice which is nowhere commanded nor written in Scripture should be of God or of Satan Judge ye Now that Infant-baptism is such a practise as is not written in Scripture both Mr. Hall and your self confess and therefore in your 10 Position you do abuse us and call us bruit-beasts for demanding a plain Scripture for it therefore it s not of God and it s most plain that if that which is written in the word of God be the way of God then that which is not written in it and yet practised as an ordinance of God must needs be of Satan In your 5 Position in short you tell people that if any have taken up this opinion and have not Read and studyed Mr. Cobbet and Mr. Church and other chief books and been able to confute them they have but discovered a seared Conscience which either dare venter on sin without fear or else do count error no sin To all which I answer How now Mr. Baxter Are you grown to this height what must not men obey what they finde written in the holy Scripture till they have asked Mr. Cobbet and Mr. Churches counsel I pray where learned you this divinity at Rome I thought all this time the holy Scriptures had been able to make us wise unto salvation through faith in Christ Jesus but it seems they are not if you say true but we must be beholding to Mr. Cobbet and Mr. Church But I pray how did men before Mr Cobbet and Churches books were written and how do those now that cannot come by their books or never heard of them if it be as you say you may do well to send some men up and down the Country to sell them But I believe this is but one of your scare crows with which you use to affright silly souls that set their faith in your wisdom and not in the power of God but your folly is a making manifest and light and freedom is breaking forth to them which you have kept in darkness and bondage Now to your 6 Position wherein you say That you will discover a most frequent cause of mens falling into errors which you say is this All men in the beginning do receive many truths upon weak or false grounds and so hold them a while till they are beaten out of their old Arguments and then presently they suspect the cause it self and you are perswaded this is Mr. Tombs his own case Ans As for Mr. Tombs he is of age and able to answer for himself I question not and as for your saying that men receive Infant-baptism and other Truths upon weak grounds at first I answer I never knew any receive Infant-baptism upon any ground at all weak nor strong neither can they for they are not capable of what they do because they want understanding when they receive it therefore you may well say they are or may be quickly beaten off it again when they come to reason with themselves or others about it But you say Alas there is far better grounds which they are not aware of Answ That is it may be because you baptize them so soon if you would let them alone till they are men and women before you baptize them as you have example in Scripture they might receive baptism upon better grounds In your 7 Position you confess some Divines have reasoned very weakly for Infant-baptism and used unfit phrases and misapplyed Scriptures and to these some have wrote three or four books and easily answered and seem to triumph and yet the truth is not shaken but it may be all the best Arguments and Plain Scriptures have never been answered say you Answ I desire to answer the Plain Scriptures no way but by faith and obedience by believing and doing of them therefore if you know of any that speaks of Infants-baptism bring them forth and I will be silent The first I see but as for your best Arguments you talk of I look upon them but as so many cunning devised fables wherewith you lye in wait to deceive simple souls by speaking things you ought not for filthy lucre sake Tit. 1.14 You say Pos 8. one sound Argument is enough to prove any thing true Answ Then either the great number of yours in the book of plain Scripture are not sound or else you need not to have brought so many by your own grant But you say What if all the Texts were put by save one Were not that enough Answ Yes it s enough if you can shew us but one but I pray where is that one I cannot finde it in all your book but it seems you are afraid that all should be put by save one therefore you make this apologie but I suppose all will do you little good In your 9 Position you say The former and present customs of the holy Saints and Churches should be of great weight with humble Christians Answ If the present customs of Churches now be according to the Primitive pattern I grant it else not But I am sure the customs of the Churches in the Apostles days was to baptize men and women when they believed with all their hearts and gladly received the word Act. 2.41 c. 8.12 v.
Creature he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved Mark 16.15 16. And repent and be baptized c. Act. 2.38 But you know well that little Babes know not what repentance is And ver 41. They that gladly received the word were baptized but you know well or else you have lost your sences that such Children as you baptize cannot gladly receive the word Again If thou believest with all thine heart thou maist Act. 8.37 And when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the Kingdome of God and the name of the Lord Jesus Christ they were baptized both men and women Act. 8.11 37. But you know that there is no Children in the Text and you know also if you be not wilfully blinde that they cannot believe with all their hearts but yet notwithstanding all this you are so impudent as to do the works of Satan and as he tempted Christ and would have had him cast himselfe downe before Gods time was come to send his Angells to take him downe and to that end would have applied a promise falsly saying It is written He shall give his Angells charge over thee to keep thee leaving out in all thy waies even so do ye tempt men and women to baptize their Children before Gods time is come of his own will to beget them by his word of truth James 1.18 That they might be born againe not only of Water but also of the Spirit Joh. 3.5 And to that end you tell them it is written they are Disciples and Church-members and they were circumcised under the Law and therefore they must be baptized under the Gospell and thus you misâ—pply and wrest the Scriptures putting in and leaving out what you please and then when poor Souls aske you for plaine Scripture for Infants baptisme and would gladly see where it is written then you tell them the Divell brought the words of Scripture to Christ and if they will have the words without the reasons and consequences they have no proof and thus you labour with your consequences and reasons and words without knowledge to darken the Counsell of God Job 38.2 But I hope by this time your folly is made more manifest But you proceed and tell us that if we have the meaning and reason we have enough for evidence for words are but to express sence To which I answer Then it seems the meanings and reasons you talke of without the word are without sence by your own confession for you say If we have the meanings and reasons we have enough c. As for the words they are but to express sence therefore it seems if we be without the words of Scripture we are without sence And thus you see or may see that God by weak instruments can take you wise ones in your own craftiness But good Sir consider once againe are not the words of the Scriptures which were given by the inspiration of the Spirit as good and better sence and reason then any words and reasons you can speake or give if you deny this upon your second thoughts I must needs conclude that you are far gone and very high flowne But you are pleased to say further Would it not make a man pitty such senceless ignorant wretches that will call for express words of Scripture when they have evident consequences Is Scripture-reason no reason Answer Sir methinks you are very pitifull but yet you are a miserable comforter for when you have done you fall a railing on us calling us senceless ignorant wretches that will call for express words of Scripture when we have your consequence But Sir I have told you already why we dare not trust your consequences But you say Is Scripture-reason no reason I answer Yes its goodreason and it s that we would have from you but you call us ignorant senceless wretches for so doing But there may be a mistake betwixt us for we call Scripture reason written reason now if you would but shew us where your reason is written in the book of God the holy writings the controversie were at an end but till then you have done nothing But you might inform the ignorant wretches that the holy Scriptures in English are holy writings for Scriptures are writings and holy Scriptures are holy writings and thus the people might learn to know what you mean by Scripture-reasons which are in plain English written reasons Further You are pleased to say that we disclaim Reason and therefore not to be reasoned with and if we once renounce Reason we are brute beasts and who will go to plead with a beast its Reason that differeth a man from a beast c. Answ Sir truly you do put me in minde how like one of your forefathers you are for to my best remembrance you speak his very words and I question not but if you had an opportunity you would do his deeds The man I speak of was Doctor Story to Mr. Philpot the Martyr who suffered for what he saw in that dark age The place where you may finde it is in Fox his book of Martyrs pag. 1972. in these following words Philpot After this Doctor Story came in to whom I said Mr. Doctor you have done me great wrong and without Law have straightly imprisoned me more like a dog then a man and besides this you have broke promise with me for you promised I should be judged the next day after Story I am now come to keep promise with you Was there ever such a fantastical man as this is Nay he is no man he is a beast yea these Hereticks be worse then brute beasts for they will upon vain singularity take upon them to be wiser then all men being indeed very fools and Asse-heads not able to maintain that which of an arrogant obstinacie they stand in Philpot. I am content to abide your railing judgement now say what you will yet I am no heretick neither shall you or any other be able to prove that I hold any jot against the word of God but as a Christian man ought Story The word of God forsooth the word of God! it s but a folly to reason with these hereticks for they are incurable and desperate but as I may reason with thee not that I have any hope to win thee But whom wilt thou appoint to be Judge of the word whereunto thou standest Philpot. Verily the word it self Story Do you not see the ignorance of this beastly heretick he will have the word to be judged of the word can the word speak Philpot. If I cannot prove what I have said by good authority I will be content to be counted an heretick or ignorant person or what you please Story Let 's hear what wise authority you can bring for it Philpot. It s the saying of Christ Joh. 12.48 The word that I have spoken the same shall judge you in the last day and if in the last day much more now our doings ought to be judged by it I
day they go to Christs Schools to learn the first principles of the Doctrine of Christ Heb. 6. may be also called the Scholars or Disciples of Christ Again as men commonly call all the Turks old and young that are born of the flesh into Mahomets Kingdome which is of this world Mahometans even so we call all converts old and young which are born again of the Spirit into the Kingdome of Christ which is not of this world Christians By old and young converts I do not mean beleivers born of the Spirit and their Children as they are born of the flesh but I mean such as are spoken of 1 John 2.13 13. in these words I write to you little Children because your sins are forgiven you for his names sake I write 〈…〉 â—â—â—hes because you have known him that is from the beginning I wrâ—â—e to you young men because you have overcome thâ—â—â—â—ked 〈◊〉 And chap. 5.21 Little Children keep your selves from Idols Amen By all which we see that the least Children that were in the Church that John wrote unto were such as had known the Father chap 2.13 and such as could understand exhortations to keep themselves from Idols Now as for Mr. Baxter's man that hired the Philosopher to teach his children he neither telleth us what man it was nor how old his children were nor what the Philosophers name was and therefore I shall pass that over as a cunning devised fable not worth the answering and proceed to the next which is That mothers can teach their children partly by action and gesture and partly by voice to take off from vices and infom in vertue And methinks saith he ye should not make an Infant less teachable then some brutes But saith he nurses witell you more in this then I can O excellent Divinity and plain Scripture proof from where we learn these two things First that if it be a piece of good Divinity to prove that litle children that can neither speak nor understand are the Disciples of Christ then Nurses are better Divines then Mr. Baxter for saith he they can tell you more is this then I can pag. 23. Secondly he saith What will you make an Infant les teachable then some bruits from whence Mr. Baxter seems to imply that some bruits are capable of being Christs Disciples or else why should he say Will you have infants less teachable then some bruits As if he should say Some brutes are teachable enough to be made his disciples and what will you deny infants to be his disciples methinks saith he we should not make an infantiess decible then some brutes I remember he crieth out against Mr. Tombs in pag. 19. for arguing ridiculously when he proveth plainly out of Psal 119.89 90. that the heavens and earth are Gods servans in his answer to his proving infants Lev. 25.41 41. and if servints then disciples saith Mr. Baxter In answer to which Mr. Tombs saith The heavens and the earth are his servants are they therefore his disciples to which Mr. B. for want of a better answer saith O what cause have we all to look to the tenderness of our Consciences in time before engagement in a sinful cause hath benâ—â—med and made the word of God to be of none effect tous But I leave it to the impartial Reader to judge whether the same sayings may not more fitly be applyed to Mr. Baxter in this place I hope Mr. Baxter is not so void of judgement as to think brutes teachable enough to be made Christs disciples but I am sure his words imply no less Indeed I remember Mr. Baxter doth say in the beginning of his book that he will not meddle with such Arguments as other men have wrote of before but new ones that never yet were handled and I must confess these are such new ones as I never heard but how much to the purpose I leave it to the Reader wisely to consider and then judge Again he hath another Argument from Act. 15.10 the which Mr. Baxter saith doth prove Infants disciples to all that will not grosly overlook the Text and pervent it Ans An heavy charge against us I confess to be perverters of the Scripture but how true it will prove you shall see by and by The whole substance of Mr. Baxters Argument in the 15 and 16 pag. of his book is this from Act. 15.10 Why put ye yokes upon the neeks of the disciples c. But that yoke was to be circumcised according to the Law of Moses and according to the Law of Moses children as well as parents were circumcised therefore children as well as parents are disciples But I wonder what Mr. Baxter would do with this Argument if we should give it him and answer nothing to it I confess amongst ignorant and sottish people that do pin their faith upon Mr. B. words it may be taking out amongst those that are of noble spirits to search the Scriptures before they believe as the noble Bereans Act. 17.11 12. it can have no influence nor take no impression because it s but half an Argument and so he hath done his work that he hath taken in hand but to halves If we grant him all he says that it is but half an Argument is evident thus The yoke that they would have put upon the neck of the disciples was to be circumcised according to the Law of Moses but according to the Law of Moses none were circumcised but men-children therefore none else are disciples and therefore none but men-children are to be baptized by his own grant And so he hath done but half his work as I told you Secondly if Mr. Baxter please I will lead him step by step into the right understanding of this Scripture by Gods assistance thus What was the yoke Answ To be circumcised according to the Law of Moses and who was it laid upon then under the Law Answ Upon the Jews and their children And who would they have laid it upon Act. 15.10 Answ Upon the disciples as is plain in these words Why put ye a yeke upon the neck of the diseiples c. Who are disciples Here sticks the question still and it remains still for Mr. Baxter or Mr. Cook to prove infants disciples and then we grant they are those upon whom the false teachers would have put the yoke of Circumcision but the disciples of Christ are such as could deny themselves and take up his cross and follow him Luke 14. but little infants that can neither speak nor understand cannot so do therefore no disciples of Christ Lastly I shall cleer it by the words of the Text that the Apostle speaks of no children there thus Act. 15.7 we read that when there had been much disputing Peter rose up and said unto them Men and brethren you know that a good while ago God made choice among us that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the Gospel and believe and ver 8. God
their oftences every Assizes and Sessions we will now come to the teachers and leaders of them and see what they do and and how they behave themselves for examples and now I shall not trouble you with outlandish news from Germany and other places beyond the Seas neither will I foolishly and maliciously invent things against you but I will refer you to a book that is printed by the order and authority of Parliament intituled The first Century of scandalous and malignant Priests c. printed by George Miller dwelling in Black-Friers wherein you shall find the Persons names the places where they had their benefices and the reasons why they were sequestred And that you may the better understand what manner of creatures these Ministers and Teachers were I shall briefly put down the names and causes of some few of them word for word as it is in the book which was printed by the authority of Parliament to which I refer the reader for further information where you shall find no less then a whole hundred of these vile and abominable wretches called Ministers of Christ by some and so lookt upon as if the Parliament had done them wrong All these were found in eight or nine Counties at most about London therefore we may judge how many of these Locusts are in England Scotland amongst the Covenanters and in Wales of which persons and their practices I now come to speak particularly Page 1. The Benefice John Wilson Vicar of Arlington in the County of Sussex is sequestred for that he in most beastly manner divers times attempted to commit buggery with Nathaniel Brown Samuel Andrews and Robert Williams his Parishoners and by perswasions and violence laboured to draw them to that abominable sinne that as he shamed not to profess they might make up his number 18. and hath professed that he made choice to commit that act with mankind rather then with women to avoid the shame and danger that oft ensueth in begetting of Bastards and hath also attempted to commit buggery with a Mare and at the baptizing of a Bastard-Child blasphemously said openly in the Congregation that our Saviour as he was in the flesh was a Bastard and hath in his Sermon much commended Images in their meeting-houses as good for edification that baptism takes away original sin c. and hath openly said that the Parliament were Rebels and endeavoured to starve the King and that whatsoever the King commands we are to obey whether it be good or bad and hath openly affirmed that buggery is no sin and is a great drinker 2. The Benefice of Robert Hiliard Vicar of the Parish-Church of Ewell in the County of Surry is sequestred for that he said the Parliament is a Parliament for the Devil and the Divels Court and that the Petitions of the Parliament to the King are like the Petitions of Jeroboam to Rehoboam viz. commands and not Petitions and that he had rather live under the government of a Heathen then of the Parliament and is a common frequenter of Taverns and Ale-houses sitting tipling and quarrelling there is often drunk is a common curser and swearer and hath jeered the holy Spirit of grace saying We have Ministers now for sooth will preach and pray by the Spirit and hath threatned to kill those that have exhibited articles against him and went about with the Cavaliers at Kingstone directing them to plunder honest men Mr. Baxter saith the Anabaptssts are traytors to the State but I wonder who are traytors now 3. The Benefice of John Peckham Rector of the Parish-Church of Hosteedparva in the County of Sussex who giveth out that he is the Kings Chapline is sequestred for that he hath been very negligent of his cure absenting himself from his Parishioners sometimes a whole moneth together without leaving any to officiate for him and hath resufed to adminster the Lords Supper to his Parishioners that would not come up to the railes and is a common drunkard and a notorious adulterer and unclean person having drawn divers women to commit uncleanness with him and hath bragged that he could lie with divers women and never get them with Child and hath used sordid and beastly carriages towards women to entice them to satisfie his lust not to be named amongst the Heathen and hath expressed great Malignity against the Parliament and proceedings thereof and hath affirmed publickly that a man might live in murther adultery and other gross sins from day to day and yet be a true penitent person 4. The Benefice of Richard Hart Rector of the Parish-Church of Hargrave in the County of Suffolk is sequestred for that he is a common Ale-house-haunter an upholder of private Ale-houses and commonnly sitteth drinking in them divers daies together as from Tuesday to Sunday-morning and then being come home durst not come to Church his face was so battered and beaten and forced his Parishioners to go to other places by reason of his inabilities either to preach or read service to them and used on the Lords day on the afternoones to draw his Parishioners with him to his house forceing them there to drink untill they be drunk causing every one to to cast a Die in their course and to drink so many cups as fell to their chance perswading them that if they would take their cups he could forgive them their sins And when he hath preached on Fast-daies he hath told his Parishioners that he knew not wherefore the Fast was And on Whit-Sunday last though he had administred the Communion in the fore-noon yet in the after-noon he drew a Man and his Wife to a private Ale-house and there kept them drinking till night and then led them to his own house and there made the man so drunk as he fell asleep and then enticed the mans Wife up into his Chamber where they were all night together drinking and taking Tobacco and hath expressed great Malignity against the Parliament professing he would rather curse them then pray for them 5. The Benefice of Nicholas King Vicar of Priston and Snape in the County of Suffolk is sequestered for that he is a common Ale-house-haunter and a companion of scandalous persons and men of evill fame and oft drunk and attempted the chastity of Elizabeth Scotchmer who going to his house to pay him some monies he inticed her to lie with him and did strive a long time to abuse her by force and would have corrupted her thereunto with monies but she protesting unto him that she would not sell her soule to the Devil for mony he replied to her she was a fool for God did forgive the greatest of sinners and he hath expressed great Malignancy against the Parliament 6. The benefice of John Wells Parson of the parish Church of Shimplin in the County of Suffolk is sequestred for that he is a common Ale-house-haunter and common drunkard and in his drunkenness hath lain abroad in the fields lost his Hat fallen into the Ditches