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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A45181	Infants faith, and right to baptism, proved from Scripture with the chief objections against it answered. By John Hunt, pastor of a particular congregation in Northampton.	Hunt, John, fl. 1704.	1682 (1682)	Wing H3739A; ESTC R221348	61,988	172

Infants Faith AND RIGHT TO BAPTISM Proved from Scripture WITH THE Chief Objections against it Answered By John Hunt Pastor of a Particular Congregation in Northampton Isa 8.20 To the Law and to the Testimony if they speak not according to this Word it is because there is no Light in them Joh. 5.34 I receive not Testimony from Man 2 Tim. 4.3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound Doctrine Joh. 12.48 The word that I have spoken the same shall Judge him in the last Day LONDON Printed by R. Janeway and Sold by the Author THE EPISTLE TO THE READER Christian READER THou mayest well wonder that in this Day when the World can scarce contain the Books already Written that this Little Piece should croud in among the rest under my Hand And more especially on such a Subject as hath been so Frequently and Learnedly insisted on by so many Worthy Servants of Christ who have been daily bringing out of their Treasury concerning this Matter contained in this Book things New and Old and what can the Man say that cometh after the King But though it may seem strange on this Account yet I hope some Satisfactory Reasons may be produced why I have engaged in this Work For since the Providence of God hath cast my Lot at Northampton it hath no little concerned me to see how Generally the County is Infected not only with Anabaptism but also with those many and gross Errors which commonly that Doctrine is an inlet into and especially with that Soul-damning Error of Free-Will And not only so but even some among my own Flock over which the Holy Ghost hath made me Overseer though Blessed be God far enough from the Doctrine of Free-Will are dissatisfied about Infants Right to Baptism And for the sake of those I have Printed this not designing it if possible to be exposed beyond the extent of my Church and if it goes further I would have the Reader look upon it as having strayed beyond its designed Bounds And could no other Reason be given but this I think it may excuse me for since God hath set me a Watchman over this Flock I think my self bound as ever I hope to give up my Account with Joy to take all the Care of them I can and to do my utmost to reduce such as are wandering and to establish such as are wavering and to keep the Plague out of their Head as well as their Hands from being Defiled Judging a Blind Eye worse than a Lame Foot Errors in Judgment are like to be an inlet into continual Errors in Practice And as some of my People stand in need of information in this Point so there are some that desire to be informed which is no small Motive to me to Write And because I love not to spend my time in my Pulpit in Controverted Points I have therefore exposed my Sentiments to the meanest Capacity that can but Read But besides all this I have been importunately urged by several Friends whom I highly esteemed to Print this having seen the Copy who hope it may be Serviceable to the Church of God in the Neighbouring Parts and though I love to live an obscure Life and never could entertain one thought of appearing at so publick a Post tho' frequently in other Cases urged thereunto Yet for these Reasons I have been prevailed upon and while I find my Mind so strangely changed in this respect I would hope I have the Mind of God in it READER Though I have not studied to please this wanton Age having never affected Novelties in Matters of Religion but rather to stand and enquire for the Good Old Way and to Contend earnestly for the Faith once delivered to the Saints Yet I doubt not but much of what is contained herein will seem new to most Vulgar Capacities But as I judge it not safe to embrace any thing because new as is the Custom with many in our Day for thus we may be ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the Truth So on the other Hand I judge it dangerous to reject any Truth proved to be so from Scripture because it seems new or above our reach But however strange it may appear I could have cited several worthy Authors of my Judgment but I receive not my Testimony from Men. If therefore I have not proved what I have laid down from Scripture then reject it but if I have you are bound to receive it and not to look upon it as mine and must own 't is through your ignorance if it seems strange unto you I have not studied Eloquence in Composing of this nay rather I have studied to shun and avoid it and to speak in the Demonstration of the Spirit of God comparing Spiritual things with Spiritual that so the ensuing Discourse might the better suite with those for whom I designed it I hope Reader thou wilt find that I have managed this Discourse with all Mildness and Moderation and have only put a Genuine Construction on those many Texts I have cited and yet I cannot but fear this will enrage some Men who are lovers of a Party more than lovers of Truth who can easier cry up their own Opinions than solidly confute other Arguments As I did not intend in Writing this to Enter the List with any in a Publick Debate or to provoke any to make a Reply so if contrary to my expectation any of the common Disputants of our Age shall think good to Answer it I design to take no further notice of it than to Read it not doubting but they will be found to oppose God as well as me in the Judgment of any who esteem the Scripture as the Word of God or prefer it above their own Fancies and that while they open their Mouths to oppose the Truth so clearly proved they will but belch out their Arminian Tenets and as Raging Waves foam out their own shame and be as unsuccessful in their Attempts as those who never would cease endeavouring to set up Dagon in opposition to the Ark till only the Stump remained But however this may inrage others who know not what manner of Spirit they are of yet if it may but profit my own Flock I have gained my chief Design Which that it may shall be the Earnest and Continual Prayer of him who bears a dear Love and Affection to their Souls and who is willing to serve the advancing the Interest of Christ in the meanest Place in his House John Hunt Infants FAITH AND RIGHT TO BAPTISM Proved from Scripture c. THE Consideration of the unhappy Differences which are this Day among the People of God about the Doctrine of Infant Baptism whereby God is much dishonoured and the Adversaries Mouths opened to reproach the Ways and People of God whereby much time is spent in Controversies which might be better improved in giving diligence To make our Calling and Election sure and in helping

but only VVater supposing that if there was but Water be it more or less there could be no Hindrance why he should not be Baptized on that Account as to the Element Had an Anabaptist been there no doubt but he should have had a sharp Rebuke for his Ignorance thus VVhat hinders VVhy 't is not deep enough but Philip never in the least opposes him but seems rather to answer by way of Concession If thou believest thou may'st as if he had said True indeed if there is but VVater there can be no Hindrance on that Account But some may say This was a deep VVater of which he spake Answer I desire the Anabaptists to prove that But suppose it was so yet here is no mention made of that as not at all material to his present Purpose Now the Eunuch no doubt being inform'd by Philip as well touching the Manner of the Ordinance as the Necessity of it would in all Probability had Dipping been the only way have said See here is VVater enough to be Baptized in but since he only mentions VVater and Philip seems to consent to him I frame an Argument thus If nothing can hinder a Person being Baptized as to the Element where there is Water then Dipping is not absolutely necessary but nothing can hinder where there is Water therefore Dipping is not absolutely necessary the major is most evident for there may be Water where there is not enough to Dip any one in The minor is clear from express Scripture See here is Water what hinders c. Clearly holding forth that the not being deep enough to Dip in could not hinder for tho' it is by way of Interrogation yet it carries in it the Force of an Affirmation So that tho' we see from hence some Water is necessary yet this Scripture gives us not the least Countenance to believe or think that much Water is necessary but doth in Words next to most express Terms prove the contrary unto us Thus I hope I have not only proved from Scripture that some Infants have a Right to Baptism but also have given good Proof that our Way of Baptizing by throwing or pouring Water upon the Face is according to the Mind of God or at least have given as good Proof for that as can be given for Dipping and better and since the Scripture doth as well approve to say no more of our Way of Baptizing as of Dipping doth not the Law of God and Nature direct and excite us to use that Way which may be least hurtful to our Bodies For if God give us but equal Liberty to Baptize by Dipping or some other more safe Way we ought to avoid Dipping especially in our cold Climate since we cannot Dip in the Winter Season especially without endangering our Lives so that of Necessity the Ordinance must sometimes be long deferred and I am sure we have no President for that Lydia and her Houshold the Jaylor and all his were immediately Baptized when those two believed but now if we were to imitate them and should Baptize by Dipping we must extreamly hazard the Lives even of Adult in the Winter and whether of these three we should chuse to Baptize by throwing Water on the Face since the Word of God approves that Way as well as any other or Dip them in the Winter Season when we have no express Precept or President in Scripture so to do and so endanger the Life or sinfully to deferr the Ordinance I leave it to you to judge by long deferring the Ordinance we certainly Sin by Dipping or Plunging the Party under Water may under some Circumstances be in Danger to commit Sin to say no more but to Baptize by pouring on of Water carries no Appearance of Evil in it I have heretofore for some time preached occasionally in Burnham in the Hundreds of Essex where there were many Anabaptists tho' at great Variance among themselves one Party most vehemently accusing another because one Party Baptized any that were Adult if they desired it whether they were Believers or not by reason of which they in a small Village set up Meeting against Meeting whereby I see they are fallible in some things and so may be in others and there I was informed by one that well knew it that some Women being perswaded to be Dipped soon after Childbearing were immediately taken ill and never recovered I hope I have said enough as to the manner how this Ordinance may and ought under our Circumstances to be administred and now desire my Christian Friends the Anabaptists to prove that the Word is never used to any other End than to signifie Dipping or Plunging the whole Body under Water or because they went down into the Water or were where much VVater was that therefore of Necessity they must be dipped but if none of these can be proved as I am most certain they cannot I hope they will no more contend about this Point but will see it their Duty to comply with us in our way of Baptizing since they cannot thus hazard their Lives by Dipping without tempting of God since we may as lawfully use some other way less dangerous to the Body But if I cannot prevail in this yet since we have so much to say in Vindication of our Practice I hope they will suspend their Uncharitable Censures which I find them so prone unto may I judge of some Mens Spirits by their Writings the Poyson of Asps seems to be under their Tongue 'T is not long since I saw a Book put out by one of the most eminent of the Anabaptists who writing against one of ours who for Piety Gravity and Ministerial Ability deserved to be more Honourably treated by him however in that Point differing from him and in that he charges his Antagonist with Railery and Unbecoming Language telling him how unlike such a Spirit is to do good in Controverted Points and Promises by the Grace of God to discover no such Spirit in his Writing against him But this Gentleman had either a Bad Head or a Malicious Revengeful Heart for within a few Pages instead of Confusing him which he hath discovered himself in the Judgment of most to be unable to do he falls into such Scurrilous Filthy Abominable Language as for modesty sake I omit rendring much more of that Nature than ever he had received From whence I have cause to fear that Gentleman was not much influenced by the Grace of God while he no sooner scarce resolves by God's Grace against a known Sin which he pretends to abhor but commits it again and again deliberately and seemingly with the greatest delight and rather than conceal his Wit in making a Jest will commit a Sin to the Dishonour of God and Wrong of his own Soul It would have been well for that Gentleman if he had never Promised by God's Grace unless he had had more Grace to perform his Promise while he like that Disobedient Son said I go but