Selected quad for the lemma: christian_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
christian_n	baptize_v	church_n	infant_n	1,299	5	9.4082	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A19885	A iust complaint against an uniust doer Wherein is declared the miserable slaverie & bondage that the English Church of Amsterdam is now in, by reason of the tirannicall government and corrupt doctrine, of Mr. Iohn Pagett their present minister. The which things are plainly manifested in two certein letters, the one written by Mr. Iohn Davenport to the dutch classis, the other given vp to the English consistorie by some of the brethren. With other briefe passages tending to the same effect. Published by one that much pitties them and prayes dayly for their deliverance.	Davenport, John, 1597-1670.	1634 (1634)	STC 6311; ESTC S119390	15,142	26

A IVST COMPLAINT AGAINST AN VNIVST DOER Wherein Is declared the miserable slaverie bondage that the English Church of Amsterdam is now in by reason of the Tirannicall government and corrupt doctrine of Mr. Iohn Pagett their present Minister The Which things are plainly manifested in two certein letters the one written by Mr. Iohn Davenport to the dutch Classis the other given vp to the English Consistorie by some of the brethren With other briefe passages tending to the same effect Published by one that much pitties them and prayes dayly for their deliverance Math. 23.15 Wee unto you Scribes and Pharises hypocrites for ye shutt vp the Kingdom of h●aven against men for ye neither goe in your selves neither suffer ye them that are entring to go in Son 2.15 Take vs the foxes the litle foxes that spoile the vine Gal. 5.12 I would they were even cut off which trouble you Printed Anno 1634. A COPPIE OF MY LETTER TO THE CLASSIS IT doth greive me not without cause Excellent and learned men reverend brethren that our first meeting happeneth to be in a way of dispute which that it might have ben pleasing and peaceable by the full agreement of our opinions was my cheife desire yet my full perswasion of your not humanitie only but allso brotherly affection towards me doth somwhat mittigate that sorrowing in confidence whereof I will briefly relate to your prudence reverend brethren with all due reverence the cause of the slow proceeding of my confirmation in the ministry wherunto I seemed to be called The calling it selfe I professe my selfe to accept willingly though not without trembling and am very readie to discharge that office as I am able but some thinges have happened betweene the call and my confirmation beyond my Expectation for 1. First I vnderstand that both the worthy brethren Pastors of the dutch Church and the reverend Mr. Pagett did propound and appoynt as a condition of my admittance that I should conforme to the orders and customs of the dutch Church whereas I doe not yet vnderstand what those orders and customs are for which cause I propounded to the consistory of the English Church that some convenient time might be given me rightly to informe my selfe concerning those canons and customs of the dutch Church and concerning the state of this English Church before I should by taking upon me this Pastorall office binde my selfe to either of them this the consistory not only judged equall but allso with one consent concluded that it should be so Mr. Pagett only excepted who would not agree with them in that matter without consent of the Classis whereas nevertheles the Power of every particular Church is cheife in its owne particular matters or in things which are proper to it selfe as a Synod hath the cheife power in things that are common to many Churches witnes Cham. Cont. Bell. lib. 2. With whom agree the canons of these Churches as appareth in the Harmony of the dutch Synods where it is decreed that only such things shall be brought unto the Classis which can not be ended in the consistory Chap. 7. Art 6. As that which can not conveniently be decided by the Classis shall be brought into the Provinciall Synod Chap. 8. Art 6. Secondly it was required of me that I should conforme unto a particular custom of the dutch Church for the unlimited Baptisinge of all infants which were presented in thc Church of what nation or Sect soever allthough that either of the paren●s were christians was no otherwise manifest then by their all answering yea at the reading of the leiturgy of baptisme publickly or by nodding their head or some other g●sture they seemed to be willing to answer First I neither did nor doe deny to baptize their Infants who are members of this Church which seing it is so I desier to understand by what right the Pastour of any particular Church can be bound to excercise his ministry in any act of it towards those who are not members of his Church seing the Apostle Paul required no more of the Pastors of Ephesus then to take heed to themselves and to all the flocke whereof the holy Ghoste hath made them ouerseers Act. 20.28 The same is required of Archippus to take heade to the ministry which he had received of the Lord viz. amongst the Collossians that he fullfill it Col. 4 17. as allso Peter exhorteth the Elders Obj. saying feed the flocke that is amongst you 1. Pet. and 2. If it be objected that all that are under the Classis of Amsterdam ought to conforme to the custom of the dutch Church in Amsterdam An. 1. I answer that even for that reason the English Church ought not to be bounde therunto it beinge not nessessary to require it of them seinge that the dutch Church which is in the same cittie refuseth none but baptiseth all that are brought without difference especially 2lie Seing that the Pastor of the English Church can not satisfie his conscience that it is lawfull for him so to doe yea he greately feareth least Christ will Iudge him guilty if he suffer himselfe to be in bondage under such a custom which is contrary to the canon of the Apostle let every man be perswaded in his owne minde Rom. 14.5 and whatsoever is not of faith is sinne vers 23. Secondly in regard of the communion of particular Churches amongst themselves I neither did nor doe refuse to Baptise their Infants who are not members of this Church so that I may be satisfied by some precise Examination if otherwise they be vnknowne to me that they are Christians in deed When Mr. Pagett asked me what Questions I would propound to such as are not members of this Church ●or otherwise knowne to me I answered I will inquire of what religion they are of and of what Church they are members and concerning that fayth which they seeme to professe wherin they promise to educate their Children It seemes to me that herein Mr. Pagett dealt extremely with me in that he rejected all my labour for a peaceable composing prudent accommodating and brotherly ending of matters betweene him and me privatly or by the counsell of the Elders of his owne Church nor would hearken to my advise for accommodation without consent of the Classis At laste the matter was brought to five eminent brethren Pastors of the dutch Church Who being desired as it is sayd by some of the Elders of this Church that they would indevour to inclyne Mr. Pagett to some freindly agreement herein upon Mr. Pagetts request alone did in writing declare their private Iudgment in this question yet therein they professed that they very much approved of my good zeale and care concerninge the private examination of the parents or suertyes of such infants before the child should be baptized and that the foresayd examination ought to be ordayned as farre as it might stand with the edification of the English Church

having thus sayd they add afterwards but if the parents or suertyes shall refuse to be ●xamined or if for the shortnes of time or for other Iust cause it can not be done or if when they doe come they shall not seeme to give satisfaction to the Iudgment of him that examineth them the infants whose parents or suertyes appeare to be christians and who doe professe the christ●an religion at the reading of the Leiturgie of baptisme publickly before the Church shall not for that cause be sent away without baptisme The day following Mr. Pagett asked me whether I would rest in the writing of the 5. Ministers To whome I answered the writers themselves doe not require this of me and for ought I can see it would give them content if an order be made in consistory to put an ende to this controversie But if any marvell why I did not rest in that writing I will tell the reasons for by what right could it be exacted or expected that I should rest in the writing when first the wryters themselues professed that it was but their owne privat judgment Secondly this their private judgment was nakedly prepounded without any proofe from the word of God whose prerogative it is to be rested in for its owne Authoritie Thirdly such a subjection is greater then may bee yeilded vnto any counsell whether of classis or Synods and where it hath been granted or suffered it hath been the cause of many mischeifs in the Church for therby the writings and decrees of men are made infallible and equall with the word of God which is intolerable Fourthly those reverend brethren take the word christian more largely then I for they account all christians which professe christian religion at the reading of the leiturgy of baptisme publickly before the Church though it be done only in one word yea or by bowing the head or body when they say nothing yea some of them goe so farre that they hould that the very offering of the child to Baptisme giveth it a right therunto though the parents be not christians because they say it may be their grandfather or great grandfather were christians and another adds if my memory fayles not that infants are holy in the roote if they be borne where the Gospell is preached But I take the name of christians in this question in the same sence wherein the multitude of beleevers in Antiochia were called christians Act. 11 21 26. So that I account them to be christians children whose parents at least one of them in externall profession is within the covenant Gen. 17 10. Faithfull Rom. 4 11. Called Act. 2 39. Ioyned to some true Church 1. Cor. 5.12 Because the seale of the covenant belongs only to those in the covenant nor can a man be judged to be in the covenant without faith nor to have faith unlesse he be called nor to be called unles he be taken off from the world and joyned to the congregation of the faithfull wherunto agree the divines of the dutch Church in their confessions and all the reformed Churches in the harmony of confessions read allso Spe. contr Pelag. Act. 28 34. Kuchl de baptism Thes 15. Dr. Ames cas Con. cap. 27. to conclude all divines agree in this As fot that which is objected concerning particular Obj. 1 cases that may happen Cas con An. that which Beza writes in his Epistle to the ministers of Neocomum or Perkins or Ames in their cases or the Professors of Leyden in their Theses makes nothing against my opinion if they be taken in a good sence and made to agree with the Patern of wholesom words The consequence which some object for the avoyding Obj. 2 wherof they would have infants thus promiscuously to be baptized doe not trouble me An. because I have learned of the Apostle that evill is not to be done that good may come therof yet in the interim consider brethren whether it be lawfull to drive the Pastor from the flock that strangers may enter into the fold or to make the Pastors calling voyd for their sakes that are uncalled or to hinder the making of a covenant betweene the Pastor and his people because he dare not give the seale of the covenant to those that are not in the covenant or to remove the Porter from the dore of the Lords house that the gentiles may be suffered to enter into rh● Temple yea to bringe a detainment upon the English Church for so smalle a matter as this seemeth to you to be and not to regard how much the conscience of your brother is indangered so your customs may be established neither is this to be sleighted that vnles we be thus difficult in this cause parents that joyne themselves vnto no Church will content themselves in that estate and live and dy libertines if they may have the Privileges of the Church as if they were members which who seeth not what an occation of error and destruction it may be both to parents and children so that I can not be perswaded but that in that cause the conscience is not at all indangered by denying baptisme but by baptizing such very much Concerning the troubles which some object may arise Obj. 3 in the English Church vpon this occasion which also one applied to me as if I should be judged to be the author o them An. I propounded to you reverend brethren to the English Church yea to the whole christian world to judge who shal be accompted the cause therof whether he that peaceably and privatly and quietly desireth to be satisfied in the things wherof he doubteth or they that imperiously deny him convenient time for that purpose and doe bind him to such orders and customs as he can not thinke to be equall Afterwards without the desire or consent of the consistory the matter was brought into the Classis they confirmed the writing of the five Ministers and decreed that conformity therunto should be required of me as a condition whervpon I should be admitted but I desired the reverend brethren earnestly not to binde me to that condition seing that first that practise is grounded upon no authoritie of Gods Word Secondly nor upon ●ny ca●●n of any Synod Thirdly nor is required of any one to be chosen to the Pastorall office as a condition of their admittance in any reformed Church 4lie This practise is not so absolute or unlimited in any Churches as it is required of me 5lie It is propounded as a greivance in many Dutch Churches from whence they would be delivered and freed if they could 6lie It is manifest that the noble and learned Polonian Ioannes Alasco Baron and Superintendent of the Church of strangers in London in the reigne of Edw. 6th Did obtaine and that under the broade seale of England liberty not to baptize any such as against whom I except which libertie your Dutch Church doe now injoy vnder our most mighty Kinge Charles and is not in any