Selected quad for the lemma: church_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
church_n	earth_n	heaven_n	militant_a	4,766	5	11.7120	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A34433	The font uncover'd for infant-baptisme, or, An answer to the challenges of the Anabaptists of Stafford, never yet reply'd unto, though long since promised wherein the baptisme of all church-members infants is by plain Scripture-proof maintained to be the will of Jesus Christ, and many points about churches and their constitutions are occasionally handled / by William Cook, late minister of the Gospel at Ashby-Delazouch.	Cook, William, Minister of the gospel at Ashby-Delazouch.	1651 (1651)	Wing C6042; ESTC R1614	62,529	56

interest in Christ or the Covenant of grace constitutes a Christian for the joint and orderly profession of faith and interest in that Covenant or Gods owning a people to be his in Covenant is that which constitutes them a Church 2. Baptism is not essential to the constituting of a Church being but adventitious or additional as a sign or pledge of peoples admission into the Church The penitent thief on the Cross was a true Beleever though unbaptized and a multitude of such penitent ones jointly professing Christ should be a true Church Act. 7.38 though they wanted opportunity to be Baptized as that Penitent did The Israelites in the wilderness were a true Church Iosh 5.5 6. though they wanted Circumcision for fourty years 3. This Church or these Churches of England received its or their constitution in or anon after the Primitive times when by the Ministry of the word some were converted from heathenism to Christianity at which time we grant persons of years were Baptized upon their profession of faith or repentance Gen. 12.4 Gen. 15.6 Gen. ●7 1● 3 4 c. 7. and for they and their children received into Covenant As Abraham at the first setting up of a Church with a seal of admittance thereinto in his family was Circumcised when he had professed or declared his repentance faith and obedience and then his children and posterity were Circumcised whiles Infants by vertue of the Covenant into which they were taken with their fathers Now that being the first constitution of a Church in this Land which never yet was overthrown though many waies depraved through Antichrists usurpations of whom it was foretold that he should sit in the Temple of God for a time 2 Thes ● 4 but being after through the rich mercy of God repaired it hath continued still the same Church having been never rased to the foundation and so we need not a new constitution and therefore we deny that our Church was constituted by Infant-baptism any more then the Church of Israel was constituted by Infant-circumcision 2. Whereas you say that National-Churches are constituted by Infant-baptism or sprinkling Ans Ans 1. I know none that you oppose to plead for the constitution of National-Churches by Infant-baptism 2. Though we boast not of National-Churches nor is there any necessity that the mention of National-Churches should come into this dispute yet are we not ashamed of the name of a National-Church But seeing you urge it upon us as odious we desire you with us to consider these things 1. Gen. 22.18 Did not God promise to Abraham that all the Nations of the earth should be blessed in his seed Gen. 12.2 viz. Jesus Christ And how can Nations be blessed but by being made Churches as that one Nation which descended from Abraham was blessed by being a Church and people of God Psal 2.8 Hath not God promised to give to Christ the Nations for his inheritance and utmost parts of the earth for his possession Psa 22.27 28. and that all the ends of the earth and kindreds of the Nations shall turn to the Lord and worship before him Isa 49.23 That Kings shall be nursing fathers Queens nursing mothers to the Church And that Christ Jesus whose visage and form was marred with his bloud trickling down the same Isa 52.14 15. when crowned with thorns nailed to the Crosse and pierced into the heart shall sprinkle many Nations Mat. 28.19 Did not Christ bid his Apostles go into all Nations make Disciples and Baptize Rev. 11.15 Was it not foretold that the Kingdoms of the world should become the Kingdoms of God and his Christ and that the saved Nations should walk in the light of the New-Jerusalem Rev. 21.24 26. and that the Kings of the earth should bring their light to it and should bring the glory and honour of the Nations to it Why then should the name of national-National-Church be so odious 2. And surely if 1. A company of Beleevers in one house have been justly called a Church domestical Rom. 16.15 1 Cor. 16.19 Col. 4.15 Phil. 2.2 And if the number of Beleevers in a smal Village or Town may be called a Church Congregational Rom. 16.1 3. And the multitude of Beleevers in one City imbracing the truth in so great number that no one room or place could contain them all at once for the ordinary orderly edifying administration of Gods Ordinances may be called the Church of a City or Classicall 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as the Church of Jerusalem which increased into many thousand yea many ten thousand and yet was but one Church Act. 2.44.47 Act. 5.14 15. 6.1 Act. 21.20 4. And multitudes of Beleevers scattered in many and several countries are still the flock and Church of God and an holy Nation 1 Pet. 2.1 with chap. 2.11 and chap. 5.2 1 Cor. 15.9 5. And if the whole company of the faithfull on earth consisting for the most part of many particular visible Churches may be called the Church Oecumenical Mat. 16.18 1 Cor. 12.28 6. Lastly If all the Beleevers in heaven and earth comprehending the militant and triumphant Church may yet in a more comprehensive sense be called the Church Catholick Heb. 12.23 I think no good reason can be given why men should make it so shy without scorn or reproach to call the faithfull in a whole Nation especially when the whole Nation doth generally profess the truth a National-Church 3. The National-Church was not constituted by Infant-baptisme but by the preaching of the Gospel God was pleased to call some in the Primitive times in this land and they became a Church Mat. 13 3● 3● 33. which was the first constitution of this Church Afterward the leaven of the Gospel seasoning the whole lump and that little grain of mustard seed growing up into a great tree and the Primitive Beleevers of this Land increasing into a Nation Ezek. 16.13 as Abrahams family did the Church did grow up into a Nation as was said before National Oecumenical Domestical or Congregational being accidental not essential to a Churches constitution or continuance Thirdly Whereas you say The National Churches of Spain England France and Rome were constituted by sprinkling of Infants I answer 1. This is a poisonous insinuation whereby the Church of England is put by you into the same condition with the Churches of Rome Spain France c. wherein you do not only wrong Gods holy people which have striven and continue striving for Reformation against Antichrist in matching them with the popish rabble and slander those Ministers and Ordinances of Christ amongst us by whose means if you have any knowledge of Christ and his truth you have received the same by equalling them with popish Ministers and superstitions but also blaspheme God himself at whose call and through whose grace we have come out of Babylon have attained some and breath after more Reformation How

that you call for plain and positive Scripture without syllogism or consequence to prove that children or infants by name should be baptized or sprinkled why may not we require of you plain and positive Scripture without syllogism or consequence that H.H. and J. Br should dip men and women When you shew us expresse Scripture for the one we will for the other 2. But it may be you will say It will follow by good consequence from these Scriptures that your Baptism is the Baptism of Christ Ans 1. It is well if you be not afraid of syllogisms consequences and argumentation 2. Yet you have drawn no syllogisms nor arguments hence and untill we see them we cannot answer them 3. If you take liberty to use reasonings and consequences you cannot rationally deny to us the like liberty 4. If you will have these Scriptures brought home by any just consequence for the proving of your Baptism to be the Baptism of Christ you must undertake an hard task for beside your skill in Logick c. you must either prove your selves Apostles or Evangelists for to such were these commands given and of such were these histories Mat. 2● 19 20. and that you have power and authority to preach to the whole world power to speak with strange tongues to any Nation whatsoever and to work miracles and that you ought to preach to none Mat. 16.15 16 17. Act. 2. 8. Rom. 16 15● but or at lest principally to Jews and infidels not building on others foundations for these things belonged to those first founders of Churches Or else at least you must prove that you are Pastors or Teachers whom God hath appointed to succeed those extraordinary primitive Ministers who were imployed in founding and constituting Churches Ephes 4 11 12 13 14. which are to build on the Apostles foundation for perfecting of the Saints set apart for the work of the Ministry and for edification of the mysticall body of Christ And if so you must make it appear that upon due trial and examination of your gifts Act 14 23. 1 Tim. ● ● 2 3 4 5. 〈◊〉 1 Tim. 4.14 5 22. Tit. 1.7 8 9. Act. ●0 28 1 Tim. ●●3 14 15. and fitness in point of knowledge and holiness you have been set apart to that Office by the approbation or imposition of hands of the Presbytery for that is the Gospel-order You must make it appear also that you have a Flock to oversee and watch over and that you give your selves wholly to reading meditation and study and that you fully discharge your Ministry in the Flock of Christ if you will with any comfort to your selves and satisfaction to others that are godly and judicious apply the Scriptures which you have cited to your selves Besides if you be Apostles why do you build on others foundations If Pastours what talk you of constituting Churches as if that were your work 3. The reason is not in all things the same of a Church to be constituted and of a Church constituted already as I have shewed before in the example of Abraham when his family was to be made a Church under the dispensation of the Covenant sealed by Circumcision upon his professed faith and repentance he was circumcised with his whole family and after this his Domesticall Church grew up into a National his posterity being acknowledged members of the Church by Circumcision in Infancy were not to stay for Circumcision untill they actually beleeved after Abrahams example The same course was taken with Proselytes Exod. 12.48 49. they at first were to professe faith and afterwards their children to be circumcised in Infancy In like manner in the New Testament when Governours of families were baptized Act. 16.14 15. 31 32 33 34 their whole families were baptized with them of which hereafter When men are infidels they and their seed are aliens from the Common-wealth of Israel and therefore must actually repent and beleeve before they and their children be admitted to the Covenant But having by faith laid hold on the Covenant for themselves and theirs their children are interested therein at least externally so far as to have right to the seal of entrance There is not the same reason of the foundation and superstruction in all things nor of planting trees and their growing up and nourishing Indeed at the first planting of a Park Vineyard or Orchyard there must be a rooting or fastning of the first stock stemme or branch immediatly in that ground or grafting stock but afterward it is not necessary or fit that every sprig that sprouts forth thence should be cut off and immediatly rooted in the earth this course would hinder growth and fruitfulnesse So the first receivers of the Gospel being planted into Christ his Covenant and Church by faith do successively convey according to the tenour of the Covenant of grace the blessing to their children whiles succeeding parents the offspring of those first Beleevers continue in the faith so far forth as that their Infants have right to the Covenant and seal of entrance which runs thus Gen. 17 7. I will be thy God and the God of thy seed after thee Thus it was unquestionably from Abrahams unto Christs time the Apostle using the like similitude tels us that some of the Jews were broken off from the Olive tree by unbelief for a time Rum 11.17 else they might with their seed still have partaked of the root and fatnesse of the Olive tree as before which priviledge doubtlesse those that were not broken off by unbelief did retain and these unbeleevers when they shall return to Christ by faith shall recover and the beleeving Gentiles being for the present planted in in their room must enjoy Ephes 3 5. The same Apostle saith that the beleeving Gentiles are fellow-heirs and of the same body with beleeving Jews and so partakers of the same priviledges It is true some things are common to the constituting and founding of a Church with its continuance and superstruction these must be alike observed in both cases some things are proper to each and here heed must be taken of confounding these Heb. 6.1 2 left if we be alwaies laying the foundation we never come to perfection 4. Whereas your practice is to perswade beleeving parents to forbear baptizing of their children untill they can actually repent and beleeve Where do you prove that Christ commanded or his Apostles practised this I am sure those Scriptures which you set down mention no such thing The Apostles according to Christs command preached to Jews and infidels and having converted them baptized them with their families but no where bid them keep their children untill they professe their repentance and faith and then baptize them this you practise without any Scripture-warrant 5. Neither do any or all these Scriptures prove that it is according to Christs institution to baptize or dip those which have been already baptized Into

his love to little children which is doubtlesse to shew what is his affection to the Infants of the faithfull at all times otherwise what profit or comfort were it for Christians to know that Christ was indeed so loving to those Infants at that time but would never shew afterwards when in glory any more respect to Infants of Christians whiles such then to the Infants of Infidels 2. But the reason given by Christ puts the matter out of question that this expression of his affection to Infants is not to be restrained to those particular Infants that manner of coming and that time of his visible abode on the earth For of such saith he is the Kingdom of God or of heaven implying that so long as God hath a Kingdom of grace on earth in the administration of the Gospel and affords ordinary means of bringing people to the Kingdom of glory so long the children of the faithfull are to come or be brought to Christ in such a way as they may be acknowledged subjects of this Kingdom which is by admission to the sign or seal of entrance thereinto 5. That it is the will and pleasure of Christ that little children in the time of the Gospel should be brought to him appears in the text in three particulars worthy to be distinctly observed 1. In that he was much displeased and moved with high indignation against his disciples which rebuked and discouraged the bringers of the children Mat. 11.29 Ma● 12.29 Now Christ which was so admirably meek and gentle would not have been so much moved if it had not been a great fault in his disciples to hinder Infants from coming to him It is doubtless a wrong to poor Infants that cannot plead for themselves and to pious parents to be checked in so good a work and to the Church of God to have these young members cut therefrom and especially to God and Christ and the Gospel to seek to cast out Infants from the priviledge of the Covenant of grace wherein they had been interested in the time of the Law Though in the disciples it was more excusable by ignorance because likely before this time they had heard nothing expressely from Christs mouth to hold forth the priviledges of Infants in the time of the Gospel howbeit they might have gathered enough out of the Old Testament if they would have heeded it to have prevented this miscarriage else Christ would not have been so angry with them if it had been out of invincible ignorance Now if Christ was so offended with this first failing of his disciples through ignorance what may they expect that after this warning continue clamouring against and reproaching the bringing of Infants to Christ 2. Christ gives an express command to suffer little children to come to him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 let not any that professe obedience to Christ and acknowledge his soveraignty over them dare to violate this command in not suffering children to come to Christ 3. Christ adds Forbid them not which charge by way of addition doth not only shew our Lord Christs earnestnesse in this point and confirm the former precept But also sufficiently warns all under pain of his displeasure that neither by word nor action policy nor power they dare to do any thing to hinder the Infants of Beleevers from Christ My third argument I will draw from the same Scripture which is this Arg. 3. Arg. 3 To whom the Kingdom of God or heaven belongs now in the time of the Gospel to them also Baptism which is the seal of entrance thereinto belongs But to the children of beleeving parents the Kingdom of God or heaven belongs now in the time of the G●spel Mat. 19.14 Mar. 10 14. Luk. 18.16 Therefore Baptism which now in the times of the Gospel is the seal of entrance into this Kingdom belongs to the children of beleeving parents For the clearing and confirming of the proposition let these things be noted 1. That whether by the Kingdom of God or heaven be meant a state of grace and professed subjection to Christ the King of the Church in this life and the state of the Church Militant under Christ already exhibited in the flesh as the word is very frequently a Mat. 3.2 Mat 14.17 Mat 1● 24 32 24 47. Mat. 21.41 Mat. 25. ● 14. used or the Kingdom of glory and state of the Church Triumphant as it is sometime b 2 Tim. 4.18 used It is all one for our purpose and that argument holds most clearly in the former and most strongly in the later sense 2. That Baptism is the sign pledge or seal of entrance into a Gospel state or Christian Church is I think out of question on all sides and if need were might easily be proved by these and such like Scriptures Mat. 3.2.6 Mat. 28.18 19. Act. 2.38.40 Act. 8. 9. c. 3. Though some may have right to this Kingdom and yet want Baptism as the penitent thief and some may have Baptism that have no internal right to the Kingdom of God and spiritual blessing signified yet those that have right to the Kingdom of God holden forth in the Gospel have right to Baptism and those that are acknowledged according to the rules of Gods word to have right to this Kingdom must also be acknowledged to have right to the seal of entrance thereinto 4. Though only internal right to Gods Kingdom and the priviledges thereof argue right to or possession of the inward seal of the spirit yet external professed or known right to this Kingdom and the outward priviledges thereof so as that persons are according to the Scriptures acknowledged members and subjects thereof is sufficient to give Ecclesiastical and external right to the seal of entrance thereinto as the Jews whiles they were not actually discovenanted were the children of the Kingdom though so wicked as that they were shortly cut off Therefore let none object If all the children of Beleevers have right to the Kingdom of God they shall be all saved But they are not all saved Therefore all have not right This is answered by distinction of external right which gives interest to the external priviledges of the visible Kingdom and internal right which gives interest in or implies possession of internal spiritual and eternal priviledges The former right all Infants of Beleevers have and of this we speak now the later only some peculiar sanctified ones according to the election of grace as it is in the case of visible professours and sincere Beleevers 5. That to whom the Kingdom belongs to them the seal or sign of entrance belongs right reason will yield from the nature of correlatives there being a clear relation between the thing signified or sealed and the sign or seal and the whole current of Scripture speaking of Baptism historically or doctrinally sheweth that so soon as any were acknowledged to have right to the benefit signified or sealed they had right to the