patience the Race that is set before us Looking unto Jesus the Author and finisher of our faith Now none can first run and then look but running in looking yea looking is the way of running for in beholding his glory that is seen which allures drawes saves and so makes to run Isa 45.22 and 55.5 As the Beleevers shining is by holding forth the word of life in word and conversation Phill. 2.15 16 So here discipling is by baptizing when it s said disciple baptizing Secondly That when he saith Go ye Disciple all Nations baptizing them It being our Saviour that spake the Disciples that were spoken too and the Nations that were spoken of whom Jesus wils his Disciples to disciple baptizing them we are to note that the word them is referred to the Nations fore-mentioned And can be referred to no other supposed persons as for that is replyed by some that the word them in the Greek is of the Masculine Gender whereas the word Nations is of the Newter Gender and so them cannot be referred to Nations They may cheat us that know not the Greek Tongue if we will be weaned from the scope of the words but they that know the Greek Tongue know that the word Nations or Gentiles in the Newter Gender hath frequently a word of the Masculine as this word them comming after it and to be referred to it and often so used in the writings of the Apostles as Rev. 2.26 27. He that overcommeth and keepeth my words unto the end to him will I give power over the Nations and he shall rule them with a rod of Iron And here them is and can be no other but the Nations so Acts 28.28 The salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles and that they will hear it where they can mean no other but the Gentiles so Acts 13.48 and 26.17 18. And so its evident that in the Commission to disciple all Nations baptizing them That this them is the Nations they are to disciple and so comprehends as many as refuse not to be discipled by them Nations Families them and their children and thus it fully appears in the Commission children also are encluded And yet that this may appeare according to the scope of the Gospel I will add more 5. That this also hath been the way of God from the beginning of the Gospel preaching to number children with their parents under whose tuition they were untill the children fall to cast off that tuition And so in the first Ages of the world those under the tuition of such as professed the name of God were called the Sonnes of God when it could be neither for their good disposition nor their good conversation but only for the name of those under whose tuition they were and when the tuition was cast off that name was lost Gen. 6.1 2 3 4 5 6. And in after Ages when God revealed the Gospel more fully to Abraham and made his covenant with him to be tanght in his Family and gave him an ordinance for admission into that Family he willed him to take in the children also by circumcising all his Males from eight daies old and upward Gen. 17.11 12 13. And after this when he ordained the Passover and brought his people out of Egypt and directed them about the receiving in any one of the Gentiles to become one Nation with them He willed that the children of such a Gentile should be received also by circumcising all his Males Exod. 12 48 49. And our saviour gives us to understand it still to be according to the mind of God that the discipling of the Father is a discipling of the children when he saith of Zacheus Luk. 19.9 This day as salvation come to this house forasmuch as he also is become a son of Abraham And like to this Doctrine did Paul preach to the Gaoler Acts 16.31 Beleeve in the Lord Jesus and thou shalt be saved and thy House Which can be no lesse then in their comming into Christ a bringing the meanes of salvation to their Families yea so far as by baptizng them they may be admitted and have interest in the means all which sounds like the Commission Mat. 28.19 6. That the children of the Jewes or circumcision were a part of the Jewish-state yea Church-state and fellowship having interest in the ordinances and promises to that people and so by our Saviour it was said of such are the Kingdome of Heaven Mat. 19.14 And this Church-state given to the Gentiles shall not the children of the Gentiles that receive it be of the same Church state as the Jewish children were Mat. 21.43 Acts 28.27 28. and 13.46.47 7. The children of the Jewes while Baptisme could not be administred to children because Circumcision was still in force till the Resurrection of Christ yet they had Imposition of hands an ordinance that seems to require more in those to whom administred then outword Baptisme doth yet our Saviour received the little children to this ordinance and blessed them and reproved his Disciples for rebuking them that brought them and counted their being brought their comming and said Suffer little children and forbid them not to come unto me for of such is the Kingdome of Heaven Mat. 19.13.14 8. The types that went before and are set before us for usefulnesse about Baptisme doe comprehend children and those under the tuition of Beleevers 1 Cor. 10.1 2. 1 Pet. 3.19 9. Whole housholds are affirmed in the writings of the Apostles to have been baptized Acts 16.15 33. 1 Cor. 1.16 And no warning given us to except children in understanding thereof and we were before directed when a seal of admission was given to a houshold to understand the children also Gen. 17.12 13. Ezod 12 48 10. As the Nation and Church of the Jewes had their children admitted with themselves to an interest and right in all the ordinances of God to use as they were sitted by instruction being at first Circumcised and also had the promises and hope of spirit set before them Râ—m 3.2 9.4 Acts 2.39 3.25 So now it s affirmed as that which was fore-prophefied though not so clearly revealed before the ascension of Jesus Christ That the Gentiles should be follow-heires and of the some Body and partakers of his promise in Christ by the Gospel Eph. 3.6 sutable to that Acts 2.39 And if the children of Christians were cut off the priviledges were streightned which I beleeve none understanding Gospel rightly will affirm 11. Yea to say in a word children are mentioned in the Apostles writings as part of the Christian Churches to whom he wrote Eph. 6.4 Col. 3.21 And Fathers willed to bring them up in the nurture of the Lord And they affirmed to be thildren of Abraham that walk in the steps of the faith of Abraham Gal. 3.8 And did not Abraham begin to teach his children to keep Gods commands by engaging them thereto by Circumcision and shall not we begin to teach our
to be discipled They had a massage of good newes of Peace and Salvation to declare and tender to men To all People To all Nations every Family To every man in the whole Creation Luke 2.10 Acts 13.37.48 Luke 24.45 46 47. Mat. 10.11 12. Luke 10.5 6. Mark 16.15 And this that they might be discipled that is wonne in to accept mercy to repent and beleeve whether they doe so accept or no John 3.17 5.34 Psal 78.5 to 10. Ezek. 2. to the end And for declaring this they adventure their peace safety and life among men Mat. 10. But if any Country Family or man refused this Gospel and would none of it they were not to force it with violence but to depart and wait if God at another time would give them repentance c. Mat. 10.13 14. Luke 10.5 6.10 11. 2 Tim. 2.24 Mark 5.17 18. But what Nation Country Family or man soever did accept the Message and were willing to be further instructed those and all under the tuition of those being presented by them are they to goe on discipling them by baptizing with word and water baptizing them with water in the name of the Lord and farther instructing them with the word And thus to all Nations now as John did before to the Jewes Mark 1.3.4 So as they are to goe to disciple all Nations in this manner so proclaiming and tendering Gospel to them that none that reject the Gospel be constrained to be baptized and farther taught So likewise none that refuse not the Gospel are to be refused or put by but to be baptized and further taught whether they be such as in whom it yet appeares not that they have in heart truly repented or doe beleeve with the heart or such as it appeares they doe with the heart beleeve or such as have also in their beleeving received the Holy Ghost all and every of these So John affirmes himselfe to baptize indeed those whom he called Generation of vipers a name never put on any that did truly repent and beleeve and reproves them of their vain confidence and boasting and intimates as if some of them were chaffe notwithstanding his flooring of them Mat. 3.6.11 12. And so of Christs owne Disciples which were baptized and all others called the multitude John 4.2 6.61 And it is expressely said of some of them That from the beginning they beleeved not And after that sore judgment on dissemblers Acts 5. its said And of others durst no man joyne himselfe unto them which intimates strongly that before they did Acts 5.11 to 13. Besides he that weighes what is said to divers Churches and what the Apostles minds them of from those that went through the Sea with Moses may easily perceive such to have been baptized 1 Cor. 10.1 to 11. And for those that in hearing the Gospel have beleeved before baptizing some unfeignedly and some feignedly they were also baptized Acts 8.12 13.36 37. 18.8 Yea even such as in beleeving the Gospel did also receive the Holy Ghost before they were baptized with water in the name of the Lord they also were so baptized Acts 10.47 48. So that no one of these can be set forth to limit the ordinance of baptisme to any one or two sorts of them it being to be administred to them all and all the children by gracious providence put in their tuition and charge to bring up for the Lord being a part of themselves and presented by them to be baptized And this appears evidently in the Gospel and by the commission given to be the plain and expresse command of Jesus Christ Mat. 28.19 20. 1. By the ground of the Commission namely That all Power is given to Jesus Christ in Heaven and Earth vers 18. And this by vertue of his death resurrection and sacrifice offered to God in which children are also concerned Rom. 14.8 9. Phil. 2.7 to 11. 1 Tim. 2.5 6. 2. By the businesse he set them about which is to Disciple or make Disciples or bring them into the House of God the Family of Abraham And so as before they made Disciples or received into the Family of Abraham one Nation and proselited into that Nation of any Nation and then in Discipling the Fathers Discipled the Children also by circumcision even so now in Discipling by baptizing the Parents they are to Disciple the Children now by Baptisme as then by Circumcision that did precede this ordinance of Baptisme As for Johns Baptisme That was to floor into the acknowledgement of Christ come in the flesh but not to bring into the Family of Abraham for he was to baptize none but those of that Family before And Circumcision was in force untill the Resurrection of Jesus Christ and now Baptisme supplyeth that also Col. 2.11 12. So that as Circumcision was an ordinance of the Gospel as then revealed so Baptisme is now an ordinance of the same Gospel as now more fully revealed and as Circumcision was for Discipling or making of the Family of Abraham then so Baptisme now and as the work of grace had its name from Circumcision then so from Baptisme now as is foreshewn only Baptisme now is more free and of larger extent Col. 3.10 11. So that the businesse of Discipling leads us to understand children now as formerly 3. By the command To Disciple all Nations baptizing them before the priviledges of ordinances belonged but to one Nation and yet to all that Nation and so it was called one Nation c. Gen. 12.2 and 18.8 and 35.11 and 46 3. Deut. 4.6 7 8. Psal 147 19 20. Yet of these such as walked in Gods statutes were a holy nation Exod 19.5 6. But the whole Nation was circumcised and all but those by circumcision made of that Nation were strangers to their priviledges Ephes 2 12. And so neither John Baptist nor the Disciples of Christ till the resurrection of Christ might go to minister to any other Nations Mat. 10.5 But now being risen he commands them to go and make Disciples all Nations now as the children were a part of that one Nation so are they of all Nations and are Discipled in Discipling Nations or Families though still such as are prevailed within the heavenly call and chosen are the holy Nation 1 Pet. 2.9 4. By the manner of the expressions and words in the Commission Go ye therefore and teach or Disciple all Nations baptizing them c. He saith not teach or make Disciples first and then baptize nor so much as Teach or Disciple and Baptize much lesse saith he baptize them taught All these are Additions and Glosses put by some to the Text to make it serve their private ends but the words are plain in which are two things observable in this businesse whoever scoff at it First That he propounds baptizing as the medium or way of teaching or discipling Go disciple all Nations baptizing them A like speech in another businesse Heb. 12.1 2. Let us run with
children to keep Christs commands by engaging them thereto by Baptisme So that as the Gentiles come to be fellow-heires with the Jewes and as children have formerly been a part of the Jewish Nation and Church and are now a part of the Nations according to the scope of the Gospel and the words of the Commission given by Christ there is an expresse command for the baptizing of them 12. But yet as the Gospel is rightly understood beleeved and in the heart of any there is yet more to be said for little children as namely 1. That though they be conceived and borne sinners yet while they are not come to the use of understanding so as they have chosen no Idol nor are yet capable of the meanes that should bring them to beleeve he that is the father of the helplesse hath them in his protection and he that will not gather where he hath not sown will not charge them with unbeliefe and so not with their other sinnes And so in a sense of Christs account they may be said to beleeve Mat. 18.2.6 with 19.13.14 And though beyond our understanding how yet it s as beleivable as that there should be an carnest expectation of the creature Rom. 8.19 But if God will accept it as so who are we to fault him and if he will account our bringing our children to him their comming let us accept of it 2. That it flowes from the word of grace in the heart of a beleever and the Law of God and commands of Christ written therein to disciple their children for the faith they have in beleeving the love of God to them and the Redemption wrought for them leads them to take them as the price of bloud put in their hands to bring up for God as Jacob took his children And the love that hath sprung up from Gods love in them leads them to love and accept whom God accepts and to reckon according to his judgement and so to receive them by Baptisme into his Family to bring up for him having his allowance And thus much about this medium of baptizing As for objections against baptizing children I have purposed to avoyd contention and so shall meddle little farther then what is already done As for the demand of an example of children mentioned to be baptized they are enclusively mentioned in the word Nations the word Housholds in types mentioned But it s enough it is commanded and was fore-mentioned and there was reason of small mentioning them because the writings were at the first calling of the Churches And it would have broke the Jewes in peices to have seen their Circumcision at first to thrown downe which they yet so esteemed and even the Apostles saw not the largenesse of the extent of their Commission at first Acts 10. and 11. As for that is said Children understand it not It s answered As much as they did curcumcision and though they doe not understand it when baptized yet as Christ said to Peter they may afterward John 13.7 The pervertings of the Text abuse of single examples to limit with c. I will omit nor will I presse any to more speedy baptizing their children then according as by the light they have in the Gospel they see cause As for such as beleeve not the report of the Gospel in the extent of it I pitty them because I see not how they can go upon any certaine grounds to baptize any children at all seeing they are not certain whether Christ dyed and rose for them or not but though I see not I hope some of them do or else they would not do it But I will proceed no farther in this beleeving it already proved that all of as that were baptized in our infancy in the name of the Father and of the Sin and of the Holy Ghost professedly we have been baptized and had there been some more errors then were of mens mixtures in the administration thereof though they were evill and to be repented yet they made not the Lords Baptisme null as is shewn pages 9 10 11 16 17 18. So that I looke at my selfe and all so baptized as engaged in the very acceptance of this Baptisme as in the greatest and most solemne row To beleeve and yeeld to the sayings of Christ to wait for and yeeld to his spirit for conforming to the Douth of Christ that we might not live to our selves but unto Christ So that other baptizing with elementary water we need not but such a remembrance of Gods mercy and our engagement in that Baptisme that we yeeld to all the operations of his grace in his sayings in afflictions and motions of his that the Baptisme into onenesse with and conformity to Christ may be more effected in us But for men that have been baptized in the name of the Lord in their infancy after they come to beleeve to be pressed again to be baptized with water I cannot but look at as evill and sinfull because there is nothing in Christs Commission for it no precept or example for it nor promise to it in all the Scripture nor yet have I ever met with any place aledged for a baptizing again with water any that were once professedly baptized so in the name of the Lord Jesus before but only that one place Acts 19 4 5. Where if that were true as they conceive and granted as they would have it namely That those twelve were fore-baptized with water to Johns Baptisme and then baptized again by Paul in the name of the Lord Jesus Yet makes it nothing for their purpose for then it would follow That those who formerly baptized them did not themselves understand what Johns Baptisme was though they named it and baptized unto it and so they were not before in words or professedly baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus or in the Name of the Father of the Son and Holy Ghost And then it was not baptisme that is the ordinance of the Lord and so it Paul did baptize them in the Name of the Lord Jesus It was because they were not so baptized before at all as we in our infancy were and so it makes nothing for baptizing again any that were professedly baptized in that name But indeed there is no such saying as that either Paul baptized those Twelve or that they were baptized again the contrary rather appears For Luke in his story telling of Pauls journey to Ephesus And that he found certain Disciples there In the second verse tells us of Pauls Question and their Answer And in the third verse of Pauls Reply to or Demand on their Answer Vnto what then were ye baptized and their returne of Answer unto Johns Baptisme And then Luke tess us again of Pauls returne of Answer and instruction therein to them verse 4 and 5. And then of his Action towards them in verse 6 In verse 4 Paul first justifieth Johns Baptisme as our Saviour Acts 1.5 John verily baptized with the