the force of the strongest Arguments and of the most convincing Reasons in the World Nothing but This could possibly have prevailed with so many members even of our own Communion to persevere so obstinately in Baptizing their Children in Private houses without any just Necessity and with the Publick Form a Custom confessedly Indecent and undeniably Vnlawful That it is so is the design of this following Treatise to evince and I hope to do it Vnanswerably by insisting on these several Arguments 1. That the Baptizing Children in Private houses is contrary to the nature and design of Christian Baptism 2. 'T is contrary to the constant and universal Practice of the Catholick Christian Church in all ages 3. 'T is contrary to the express Laws and Rubrick of our own established National Church of England 4. 'T is contrary to every Ministers solemn Promises and Subscriptions And 5. 'T is Absurd and Irrational If I can prove beyond denial these several Assertions I hope it will be granted that I have sufficiently performed my promised Undertaking and that I had good reason for refusing to comply with this Illegal Custom But to prevent all mistakes it must be remembred that Exception and Allowance is still to be made for the Case of invincible Necessity of extreme Sickness and danger of Death at which time the Church admits of Private Baptism and has composed a particular Form for that purpose of which I shall say more in its proper place This being premised I assert First That the Administration of Baptism in Private houses is contrary to the Nature and Designs of Baptism for Baptism is a great and most solemn part of Gods Publick Worship 'T is that Divine Sacrament by which we are entred and admitted into the Christian Church and Covenant by which we are made members of that Holy Catholick Church and united to that Communion of Saints and common Society of Christians which makes one fundamental Article of our Creed Baptism is also an open and solemn profession of our belief in the Sacred Trinity Father Son and Holy Ghost in whose names we are Baptized but especially 't is a Publick declaration of our Faith in Jesus the Mediator an open acknowledgment to all the Woald that we heartily embrace that Gospel and Religion which Christ reveal'd from his Father to mankind and which distinguishes us from Jews and Mahometans and all other Religions in the World For this reason 't was that the Font was always placed near the door or entrance into the Church Vid. Dr. Patricks Aqua Genitalis to signifie to us that 't is by Baptism we are first entred into the Christian Faith into the Religion and Church of Christ Now all this evidently proves that Baptism is not of a Private but of a Publick Nature and that its ends and designs are Publick And from hence it as evidently follows that it ought to be administred according to its Nature See Dr. Sherlocks Rel. Assemb p. 291. that is not Privately but in the Publick Assembly and Congregation of Christians The force and reason of this Argument is plainly founded upon that Apostolical precept 1 Cor. 14.40 Let all things be done decently 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and in order If this be Scripture and the word of God it certainly obliges us to perform all the Sacred and Publick offices of our Religion with all that Decency and Solemnity that the Nature of the things and the Majesty of God requires In this sense the most learned Commentators understand the words Nor can any other interpretation be put upon them without offering a manifest violence to the design of the Apostle throughout that whole Chapter which was to correct abuses and indecencies in the service of God and to give such standing rules and general directions as he thought necessary to be observed in Gods Publick worship by all Christian Congregations This being granted I now appeal to the sense and reason of all the world whether it be not more for the Decency and Solemnity of Christian Baptism to be administred in the Church and House of God than in a Private room of common and ordinary use The Sacraments of our Religion are certainly the most solemn parts of it We admit but two of these and Baptism is one And does it not best agree with the solemn Nature of this Sacrament that it should be Administred in the solemn place of Gods worship Since Baptism is an open profession of our Faith in Christ how can this be duly performed in Private or any where out of the Publick Assemblies of Christians And since Baptism is designed to enter and admit us into the Church what place can be so decent for its Administration as the Church To this purpose we have Dr. Burnet telling us Hist Reform Abridged Lib. 2. p. 63. That Baptism being the Admission of a New Member to the Church 't is most suitable to the design of Baptism to do it before the whole Congregation and withal adds that the Liberty of baptizing in Private which was at first indulged by the Church only as a provision for Weakness is since become a Mark of Vanity and a piece of affected State If Baptism be designed to make us members of the Christian Church I would willingly be satisfied how this can be decently performed out of the Church and out of the presence of the Church or can any other place be so fit and convenient for so sacred a thing as the Place that is dedicated and devoted to the service of God These are plain Questions I know but I believe they are unanswerable and I leave them to the Conscience of all Unprejudiced Readers with this serious and earnest Exhortation viz. That they would not look on Baptism to be a trifling or inconsiderable thing as if it were only the giving a Name to the Child and no more but that they would consider it as a most solemn part of Gods Worship as that Divine Sacrament by which their Children are dedicated to God and to the Religon of Christ The want of which Consideration I am convinced is the cause why so many otherwise good and well meaning Persons are so regardless provided it be done at all how or where in what place or after what manner this sacred duty is performed I do not say that there is any Positive Holiness in one place above another or that the place alone can sanctify the worship performed in it without other due Qualifications but this I do affirm and all the sober part of Mankind did ever yet grant that as there is a Relative Holiness in the Lords day above other days of the Week so there is at least a Relative Holiness in the Church above other places both as 't is set apart and consecrated to the service and worship of God and as Almighty God is more especially and immediately present in it Upon this account it was that the pious and Primitive Christians
THE Indecency and Unlawfulness OF Baptizing Children IN PRIVATE Without Necessity and with the Publick Form Seriously recommended to the Consideration of both the Clergy and Laity of the Church of England By Martin Strong M. A. and Vicar of Yeovill in Somersetshire To which is added A brief Exhortation to the constant Receiving of the Lords Supper Let all things be done decently and in Order 1 Cor. 14.40 Administrari debent Sacramenta Coelu Ecclesiae non alibi quando scilicet congregata est tota Ecclesia vel illius pars magna non Extra Coelum Ecclesiae Gul. Bucani Instit Theol. p. 607. LONDON Printed for Tho. Bennet at the Half-Moon in St. Paul's Church-yard 1692. TO MY Honoured Friend and Patron Sir EDWARD PHELIPPS Of MONTACVTE Honoured Sir I need not make Apologies for devoting the ensuing Papers to your Patronage The triste I confess is too mean to be presented to so great a Name but yet not to have done it would have been both Vngrateful and Vnjust For 't was composed for the benefit of a place in which I am now happily fixed by your generous and uncorrupted Charity and in bestowing of which you made no other demands beside a promise under my hand of living on the place and taking care of the People So far were you from making Merchandise of Souls that you esteem'd your right of Patronage only as a sacred trust for which you must give account to Almighty God And may this pious Example never want its followers I desire that this Dedication may remain as a lasting Monument of my Gratitude tho I am very sensible it does not lessen but add to my obligations for the prefixing of your Name to this little Treatise will I doubt not supply the want of a Character in its Author and make it the more acceptable to the World May all the Blessings of Heaven attend your Person your Vertuous Lady and every member of your Family May your Vnwearied Assiduity in serving your Country never want encouragment May you continually enjoy the Advantages of doing good here on Earth and receive a glorious reward for all in a better World These Sir shall be the constant Prayers of Your most Obliged Humble Servant M. Strong To my Beloved Parishioners THE Inhabitants of YEOVILL My Dear Neighbours THE design of this little Book is purely to reform if possible a Bad Custom which has too long prevailed among you I mean The Baptizing of your Children in Private without Necessity and with the Publick Form You all know I have already from the Pulpit told you both of the Indecency and Unlawfulness of this Practice and solemnly protested to you that these were the only reasons that prevailed with me not to comply with it After all which I could not but hope that you would have granted the request I then made to you and not have pressed me any more to do a thing which I had so evidently proved to be against both your duty and my own But to my great concern I have found it otherwise In my own Vindication therefore as well as for your Satisfaction I have now committed what I formerly Preached to the Press with such additions and alterations as I thought necessary to make it fit for a Publick view And that I might not be wanting in any part of my duty to you I have printed these Papers to attend you at your houses hoping by this means to remove those mistakes and prejudices which some of you may have entertained in this matter and to convince you fully that the thing I here argue against is really an Errour Nor should any thing less than this unhappy necessity have ever tempted me to appear in Print In the management of this Argument I have endeavoured to be both as Brief and Plain as possible to set every thing in a clear and convincing light and to come down to the meanest Vnderstanding which I desire the Reader in general to remember and then I need not make Apologies for the Style which might easily have been of another nature but I was to consult chiefly the capacities of my own People and in a matter of Universal concern I was willing All might understand me As for other imperfectians they may justly be imputed to my multiplicity of business diversions and avocations in a large and populous Town I am conscious enough how many they are but yet I have this satisfaction that these papers had at least as was protested the Undissembled approbation of a worthy and judicious Friend a person of a considerable Character and Authority in the Church for whose particular favours I cannot but take this occasion of making a publick and grateful acknowledgment And now Neighbours I have only one thing to desire of you that in reading this discourse you would consider every thing calmly and impartially without passion humour or prejudice Read it with that simplicity and indifferency of mind that becomes humble teachable and Charitable Christians Do not Nickname or misconstrue what is by me well intended Almighty God the searcher of hearts knows that I aim at nothing but your benefit and Conviction I have worded every thing after the mildest and most inoffensive manner I was able If any thing seem closely or severely spoken 't is no more than what I thought absolutely necessary for the exposing of the weakness of those objections which are usually urged in justification of what I here oppose And after all if you find that the Arguments here insisted on are such as cannot be answered then as you love your own Souls let me beseech you not wilfully to resist the truth but be glad and thankful rather that you are freed from your mistakes I have added at the end a Brief Exhortation to the constant receiving of the Lord's Supper which is a duty too much neglected amongst you as well as in other places In return for all which I desire nothing but your Prayers as you ever have mine And God Almighty follow you all with his Blessings and give you hearts willing both to learn and obey the truth Your Sincere Friend and Servant M. Srong The Indecency and Vnlawfulness of Baptizing Children in Private without Necessity and with the Publick Form c. 'T IS a strange prevailing power that Custom has upon the minds of all mankind The very Custom and Commonness of dying seems to have taken off the thoughts of death from the World Manna itself was slighted when 't was rained down every day And that most sacred and venerable rite of Christianity the blessed Sacrament itself by being daily administred in the Primitive Church in a little time began to be despis'd And be the thing never so apparently vicious or evidently unlawful yet such is the bewitching force of an habitual Customary Practice that it hinders men from perceiving it and begets such inveterate prejudices in their minds as darken the Reason and corrupt the Judgment and bear down
from the 5th to the 16th page will find it undeniably proved that St. John and the Apostles themselves baptized in Public That both the Greek and Latin Churches do the same at this day and that several of the Antient Fathers Justini Martyr Tertullian St. Athanasius Greg. Nazianzen St. Ambrose and Chrysostom St. Cyril and most learned Writers of the Primitive Church whose Names are in the Margin do all contend for Baptism in Public He will find it proved that the Baptizing in Private houses Concilium Constans Meldense Vernense Cassander Hospinian Chamier Vasquez c. Rel. Assemblys p. 294. has been often condemned and prohibited by whole Councils of Bishops And all this abundantly strengthned by the Testimonies of several other learned Writers Men of great esteem in their times After all which I presume we may very justly conclude with the learned Dr. Sherlock That the Primitive Christians always administred Baptism in Public places and in the presence of the Congregation and never that the Custom thus continued in all the following Ages Now the force of this Argument amounts to this That in all cases not positively determined by the Scripture The Practice of the Primitive Church is the surest way for us to understand the Mind of Christ and his Apostles For we cannot but think that those who convers'd with the Apostles and with the Apostolical men of the next ages are the safest guides for us to be directed by who live so remote from those times The Authority of Antient and Vniversal Tradition has always been esteemed sacred and venerable and whatever men may think now yet to contradict the concurring Testimony and Practice of the Universal Church was heretofore always thought one of the greatest Sins and Follies that a Man could be guilty of The Fathers themselves do often confute Heretics of their times from prescription or the constant Traditionary Faith and Practice of the Church For tho we do not make Tradition to be a Primary and Infallible Rule as the Holy Oracles are Yet where the thing is doubtful or disputable where the Scripture is silent there certainly the received Practice of the ancient Vniversal Church is the surest guide for us to follow There is an Obligation upon us of the present times to conform as much as may be to the Practice of the Universal Church and to avoid Novelty and Singularity in all things relating to the Worship of God And therefore when we have so many plain Testimonies of Antiquity for baptizing in Public and can find no one Church in the Christian World that ever practised otherwise when we have so many Ancient Fathers Councils and learned Writers condemning Private Baptism and pleading for that which is Public and not any one single Author produced of a contrary persuasion There is certainly so much respect due to this Vnanimous Consent of all our Pious Ancestors as proves it to be very rude indecent and immodest for us of the present age to contradict the general sense of Christianity to affront and condemn the Holy Catholic Church of Christ by our contrary Practices and to think our selves wiser than all the Christians that went before us who for 1600 years together have always Baptized in Public and no doubt for good reasons Thirdly The Administration of Baptism in Private houses without just Necessity and with the Public Form is contrary to the Express Laws and Rubrick of our own National established Church of England This is so plain and undeniable a Truth that a modest man would think it needless to go about to prove it to any man who has got a Common-prayer book and is but able to read the Rubrick without coloured Spectacles which is as plain and express in this particular as words can make it For 1st The very appointing of two distinct Offices and the calling one of them by the Name of Public and the other by the Name of Private Baptism is a plain demonstration of the mind of the Church in this respect For to what purpose has the Church composed a distinct Form of Baptism for cases of sickness and extreme Necessity if she had ever thought that the Public Form might have been then used as well But let us examine the several Titles of those two Offices And the first we find is called The Public Baptism of Infants to be used in the Church Now the very word Public proves that 't was never intended to be used Privately And the addition of that Clause To be used in the Church is an unanswerable Argument that it ought not to be used in Private houses But let us proceed from the Title to the Rubrick for Public Baptism And the first thing we meet with is This. The People are to be admonished that 't is most convenient that Baptism should not be administred but upon Sundays and other Holy-days when the most number of People come together And this our Church requires for two very good reasons which immediately follow both which reasons conclude strongly for Public and against Private Baptism The first is That the Congregation there present may testify the receiving of them that be newly baptized into the number of Christs Church The second is That by the Baptism of the Infant in the Church every Person present may be put in mind of his own solemn vow and profession made to God in his own Baptism To this purpose the learned Dr. Comber tells us That Infants ougut to be brought to the Church Discourse upon the whole Common Prayer p. 338. that there may be many Witnesses of this solemn act and that others may be put in mind of their Vow as also because they may be admitted Members of our Religious Assemblies in the proper place And he that has a mind to see farther how much Public Baptism tends to the Edification of the Church Let him read Dr. Sherlocks Rel. Assemblies p. 293. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and consider withal how the Custom of Baptizing in Private can be reconciled with that Precept of St. Paul 1 Cor. 14.26 Let all things be done to Edifying that is in all acts of Public Worship let every thing be so performed as may tend most to the benefit and advantage of others Dr. Hammond in locum and Dr. Beveridge his Sermons on this Text. which is the Paraphrase of a very learned man on the words In the third Section or Paragraph of the Rubrick before Public Baptism The Godfathers and Godmothers and the People with the Children are required to be ready at the Font Now I hope this may pass for a plain Command for the bringing of Children to the Church for where else is the Font Are there any in Private houses Or how can Children be brought to the Font if they are not first brought to the Church where alone the Font is placed But this is not all the time is also specified as well as the Place The Children are to be
the way to others without which 't will hardly be effected the fault of which will one day lye at their doors Thirdly I do not well know what to call it but another thing I have heard pretended to put off this Duty is to this Effect All our Children hitherto have been baptized at home we never had one baptized at Church Let it be remembred that I have already proved this to be a Duty and then the force of this mighty Objection amounts to this We have hitherto done amiss all our Lives and therefore we are resolved to do so still We have never yet done our Duty and therefore we never will I will not expose the Folly of this pretence it is enough to expose it self My Discourse has hitherto been in General But now I must apply myself more particularly to you of my own Charge You see what the plain Laws of the Church are in this respect and what strong Obligations we all lye under to obey them You see upon what great Strength of Reason and Antiquity those Laws of the Church are founded Fathers and Councils Abundance of the most eminent Divines both Ancient and Modern giving their Testimonies to them After all which I cannot but hope that you will readily comply with what is here so plainly proved to be your Duty I am very sensible of the great Tenderness both of Infants and of Parents and therefore tho I never yet heard of one Child that was injured by being brought to the Font yet if your Children be at any time really weak and in danger of Death if by any accident whatever it so fall out that they cannot safely be brought to Church do not by any means suffer them to dye unbaptized The Church in those cases of Sickness and extreme Necessity has provided a Form of Private Baptism and this you may be assured I will always be ready to administer tho it were at Midnight In this Office of Private Baptism all that is Essential to the Sacrament is contained and enough to secure the Salvation of the Child tho it should die before the other Solemnities and Circumstances be performed in the Church And therefore when Persons pretend a tender regard to the Weakness of the Child to excuse the bringing of it to the Church and yet will not be contented to have it baptized at home by the Form which is composed for that purpose and sufficient for the Childs Salvation 'T is evident that something else is at the Bottom and that 't is not so much their regard to the Safety and Welfare of the Infant as the indulging of their own Humor that is the cause of this Obstinacy for as for the Child that is secured by the Private as well as by the Public Form But if it live and recover then the * See Dr. Combers Disc upon the whole Com. Prayer p. 338. and the Rubrick for Private Baptism Rubrick advises that as soon as it is fit to be carried abroad it be brought to the Church not to be Baptized again for that is done already but that the Congregation may be certified of the Truth of the Baptism before privately used and that the Covenant may be solemnly entred into for it by the Sureties And do not think that this shall put you to any double Charge or Trouble for if in case of Necessity I come to your Houses to baptize any sick Child I expect no manner of Company nor the least Provision nor any Reward from you If you are Poor I had rather you should have something from me My readiness to serve you in all other respects and particularly to come to the meanest of your Houses in case of Sickness My despising present Interest and dealing impartially with all Persons alike in this affair cannot but convince you if any thing will that I am acted in it by pure Conviction and Principles of solid Reason Nor should any thing else in the world have ever prevailed with me to refuse any of your Requests in this matter I desire you to excuse me only from this Vnlawful Custom and in any thing else the Poorest of you may command my Attendance If Liberty of Conscience that is a Discharge from complying with Laws be thought reasonable for others all I desire is a Liberty of Obedience a Liberty to observe and obey those Laws to which I have subscribed and which stand unrepealed and 't will be very unreasonable to deny me this Whatever the Event be I have now this satisfaction that I have done all that in me lies to reform a bad Custom which I thought to be my Duty You see I have not refused it morosely without giving you any reason for so doing but I have ventured that which is dearest to me of any thing in the World I mean my Reputation to satisfy you that this Practice ought to be amended I believe I have studied this business more than you and may modestly be allowed to understand it better which is no more than I will readily grant to you in your proper Callings and Imployments I confess I shall never look upon my self to be answered by an angry Reflection or a disdainful Smile Scurrilous Railing and Reviling are things which I have both Charity enough to forgive and Magnanimity enough to despise But if you can procure any one in the world to make a solid Answer to my Reasons and Arguments I promise you I will readily retract my mistakes and shall be glad by that means to be put into a capacity of obliging you in this as well as in other things For I am so far from thinking it any real dishonour that I know 't is a manly Generosity and a Christian Vertue to change my opinion upon the Evidence of better Reason and that to persist in an Error out of pure Obstinacy and Stubbornness does neither become the Ingenuity of a Man nor the Religion of a Christian And therefore if you find the Arguments of this Discourse are such as cannot be fairly answered Let me beg and beseech you then as you love your own Souls not wilfully and stubbornly to resist the Truth Remember that to him that knoweth to do good in any instance of Duty and yet doth it not to him 't is a Sin in the highest Degree Ja. 4.17 I have now done with what I have to say of Baptism But before I conclude I cannot but take this Opportunity of leaving with you a brief Exhortation to the constant receiving of the Sacrament of the Lords Supper a duty too much neglected amongst you Confider then I beseech you the Plainness and the Positiveness of the Command Do this in remembrance of me And withal remember that the Only way to enter into Life is to keep the Commandments in general this as well as the rest and that Christ will one day execute his Vengeance on all that obey not the Laws of his Gospel 2 Thes 1.8 of which this is one