same Right as their Males besides by vertue of the Institution such were to receive Circumcision as you will have much ado to believe were interested in the Covenant to instance only in Ishmael and Esau and the words of the Apostle that saith All are not Israel that are of Israel Abraham's whole Male natural Seed must needs be circumcised yet who will imagine that the numerous Issue proceeding from him were so interested in the Covenant as Abraham and the Faithful were neither was any thing of Duty required as a necessary Prerequisite to qualifie Abraham's Seed for Circumcision more than a descending lineally from him a being his Children according to the Flesh qualified them for and interested them in the Blessing of the Covenant of Circumcision which are inferior to the Blessings of the new Covenant and Gospel Ministration So that it 's evident the carnal Seed of Believers can obtain no greater Priviledge than the Seed of Abraham did by the Covenant of Circumcision whose Priviledge reached not to an Interest in Gospel-Blessings or the New Covenant unless they had obtained that Right for themselves by believing otherwise as one saith well they had no more Right to them by their natural descent from Abraham than Ishmael had in their Covenant of Peculiarity And as of old Circumcision was not to be administred to any but those appointed by the express Will and positive Law of God neither ought Baptism now nor can any man conclude from a good ground for Infant-Baptism till as good Authority be produced for it as they had of old for circumcising the Males of Israel You add further Doubtless if it had not been so the believing Jews would have debated with the Apostles about it c. Ans I confess had they not learned better Manners and been of much a better Temper than many in our days they would not only have debated but quarreled with them as some do thrusting away Truth as a Troubler of their Coasts as the Gadarenes did Christ but the Believers of old learned Christ to better ends than to maintain unnecessary Debates with the Apostles being satisfied from the nature of the Gospel Ministration that there was no room for Controversies in Christ's changing the Subject as well as the Ceremony and you may see that Point as fully decided and resolved as they did would you rid your mind of Prejudice and with a single Eye look into the Commission where Christ bids them to make Disciples and baptize them and into the general Practice of the Apostles which did perfectly correspond with the Command which Command was made the Rule of their Proceedings and not the demolish'd form of the Jewish Church And Christ in faithfulness to his Church and in mercy to little Infants hath as evidently changed the Subject as the Sign Mark 16.15 16. which in conjunction with the general Practice of the Apostles in that they never baptized one Infant puts the thing out of doubt Thus I hope your three topping Arguments are fully answered which you say are equivolent to an express Command an Assertion so impudent that I pray God it may not be laid to your Charge for there is not any thing said in all of them but what may bespeak you to need that some one teach you which be the first Principles of the Oracles of God Hebr. 5.12 And now Brethren I hope as wise men you will judge and seriously consider what is said and the Lord give you understanding in all things 2 Tim. 2.7 I now come to your Argument of lesser magnitude Fourth ARGUMENT Little Children belong to the Kingdom of Heaven therefore are of the Church and ought not to be excluded but admitted by Baptism Matth. 19.14 They how little soever have an interest in the Priviledges of the Gospel Dispensation as well as they had under the Law formerly and accordingly are as capable of Eternal Blessedness in Heaven and the same Objections lye against their being saved as against their being baptized viz. That they cannot actually believe Mark 16.16 If any object Christ means Children in Humility not in Age as he doth Matth. 18.2 3. Answer That cannot be so understood here because he here speaks of such as were brought unto him and he took into his Arms. Besides it would not then be a sufficient ground for the check he gives his Disciples Objection But he did not baptize them Answer We do not know that he baptized any He did that which was greater and that which makes them qualified Subjects for Baptism for grant to them a Church Relation and Baptism will follow upon it if one stands good the other will and that is what we plead for from this Text. Fourth ANSWER That little Children as such belong unto the Kingdom of Heaven we discent not from you one jot in this Truth for since Christ hath said that of such is the Kingdom of Heaven we joyfully and stedfastly believe the certainty of it and that little Children are of the Church of God i e. the Universal and Invisible Church which contains all the Elect of God known and unknown known unto us and that to the most remote Corners of the Earth in which blessed state they abide though their Parents may suffer a change of state by sin yet that alters not the state of Children nor nothing can till by their voluntary departure from God in choosing sinful ways they destroy themselves To prove Infants as such in a visible state of Salvation we conceive not difficult the words of Christ strongly concluding it But if by Church you mean the visible Church of Christ and do say That because little Children are of the Kingdom of Heaven that therefore they are of the visible Church as that most be intended because of your pleading for admission for them then I conceive your Conclusion to be most untrue 1. Because to say the Fleshly Seed of Believers are born within the Pale and Members of the Church of Christ is a Doctrine Forreign to that of the Gospel 2. Because such a Doctrine in a great measure destroys the right end of Baptism which is to make them Members of it that are not Acts 2.41 and 47. and not to bring them into the Church that are in it already 3. Because Infants as such are not capable and fit matter to make right Members of the Church of Christ under the Gospel For says the Apostle writing to Church Members Ye also as lively Stones are built up a Spiritual House an holy Priesthood to offer up Spiritual Sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 2.5 which Infants can neither be nor do 4. To say Infants are Members of the visible Church is incongruous to all Definitions that ever I met with of a Gospel Church as I might shew by some of your own I forbear to name ours as that which may not pass with you for currant therefore shall assign only that of the Church of England as an
Evidence against you which speaks in the Nineteenth Article as follows The visible Church of Christ is a Congregation of faithful Men in the which the pure Word of God is preached and the Sacraments be duly administred according to Christ's Ordinance in all those things that of necessity are requisite to the same which strongly bespeaks the Church of Christ to be exclusive of Infants Further your grant that Children before Baptism belong to the Kingdom of Heaven doth call into question that part of the Church Catechism which teacheth her Catticuminies to say That in their Baptism they were made Members of Christ Children of God and Inheritors or Heirs of the Kingdom of Heaven and if they are Members of the Church as you confess they belong to the Kingdom of Heaven is not your own practice as forreign when as in your baptizing any do tell the People that thereby that Child becomes a Member of the Church of God a goodly favour you do 'em indeed by Baptism you make them what it seems they were before and no more by your own Grant Again That your Conclusion is not true that saith Because little Children are of the Kingdom of Heaven therefore they are of the Church and ought to be admitted by Baptism is further evident in that there are many that shall be saved as have not the least shew of Right to a Place in and to the Priviledges of the Church of Christ of which Infants are some who have not fin'd actually against the Law of Nature and the rest are those Heathens who do live and walk up to that Light and Law of Nature which God hath placed in them who are not blest with the Gospel Light nor any Divine Revelation over and above the Light of Natural Conscience and surely some such there may be of whom the Apostle speaks Rom. 2.14 who do by Nature the things contain'd in the Law and with reference to such in all probability Christ spake saying Many shall come from the East and from the West meaning the most remote parts of the Earth and shall sit down with Abraham Isaac and Jacob in the Kingdom of Heaven but the Children of the Kingdom shall be cast out Matth. 8.11 12. If it be granted that there may be any such it 's evident the Kingdom of Heaven will be a Receptacle for them but who in the least can imagine that they have any right to Gospel Priviledges so that your Conclusion must needs fall A right to Heaven from this Text is granted them but it yields them not the least Evidence of a Right to a Church Relation and Priviledge So that I conceive all your pains in pleading from this Text vain and in all that you have said to be but like one that beateth the Air. A gallant Vapour brandishing a Sword that hath no Enemy to strike at 1 Cor. 9.26 You say the same Objections lye against their being saved as against their being baptized if they cannot actually believe Mark 16.16 Answer That Faith in Jesus Christ is made the Condition on which all Men must be saved to whom the Gospel either was is or ever shall be preached is certain yet as the Gospel never was appointed to be preached to Infants as such neither is it by you nor any Man in this day so it is not required any where of them to believe in order to their bring saved If it be who required it and where And since their natural Capacities is such as renders the work of Believing impossible to them without a Miracle whose Faith shall save them their immediate Parents nay rather the Faith of our remote Father to wit Adam as his Unbelief at first destroyed them so in likelyhood his Faith should interess them in the Grace of Eternal Life but we say the Faith of neither for the Faith and Righteousness of all believing Parents in the World considered in one will not be of Merit sufficient to save one Victim Ezek. 14.14 No this Benefit flows purely from the Fountain of all Grace and is conveyed to them by another Stream to wit God's free and full imputing the Righteousness of Christ the second Adam by whose Righteousness Life and Meritorious Death they are inverted with a Justification unto Life Eternal Rom. 5.18 As by the offence of one Judgment came upon all Men to Condemnation even so by the Righteousness of one the free Gift came upon all Men unto Justification of Life Were it so that the Faith of Parents did intitle their Children to Salvation how unworthily would it reflect upon our Lord Jesus as if he could not save Innocent Babes without their Parents believing and strongly conclude God to be more prone to Severity then Mercy in saving a very few i. e. the Children of believing Parents and Eternally damns all the rest from their Mothers Womb for what they could not help viz. a remote Fathers sinning and an immediate Fathers not believing but how contrary is this to that God whose Mercies are over all his Works Psalm 145.8 9. So that it 's evident the Salvation of dying Infants is sure though they believe not in the sence of that Text Mark 16.16 or with that Faith which alone qualifies a Person for Baptism So I come to your Fifth ARGUMENT The Children of Believers are said to be holy this is plainly set down in the Text which cannot be meant are Legitimate not Bastards for that could not be accounted if both the Parents had been Unbelievers neither was that the Question which the Apostle here handles Neither can it be understood absolutely of real holiness for then Parents could convey Grace to their Children and a gracious Man could not have graceless Children but it must be meant of foederal Holiness as they who were born of the Jews were Jews not common and unclean as Heathen but accounted as in the Church and within the Covenant so that you that are born of Christians are to be accounted Christians therefore have a right to the Priviledges of Christians 2. Scripture doth explain and confirm this Acts 10.15 28. and Rom. 11.16 if the Root be holy so are the Branches And it 's very observable that of the little that 's spoke of the case of Children in the New Testament all is for it and not one word against it Fifth ANSWER That the Children of Believers are holy we believe and that their Holiness is founded upon a better Basis than the Faith of their immediate Parents and also that it is different from that of their Parents and such a Holiness as is so far from inrighting them to Baptism as that till they come to sin it doth much rather exempt them For if Baptism be a Sign that signifies to all that submit to it the Remission of Sins as Scripture sufficiently shews Acts 2.38 and Mark 1.4 c. then I pray of what use can Baptism be to those who are under no actual Commission of Sin and as such
A Modest Reply Humbly Offer'd As an Answer to and Confutation of Seven ARGUMENTS Collected and Deliver'd by Mr. Samuel Lawrence in a SERMON preach'd at his Meeting-House in Namptwich Octob. 16th 1691 whereby he would shew That the Infants of Professing Christians ought to be Baptized WITH AN APPENDIX OF Seven ARGUMENTS SHEWING That Infants ought not to be Baptized WITH A SEASONABLE WORD to my Brethren of the Baptized Church presented by the most Unworthiest of her Servants S. A. Coloss 2.8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit after the traditions of men after the rudiâ—ents of the world and not after Christ. Jude 3. Contend earnestly for the faith onâ—â— delivered â—o the saints LONDON Printed for the Author and aâ—◠〈…〉 â—ld by Tho. Pebian at the Bible in Gheapside near Bread-street-eâ—â— â—692 Mr SAMVEL LAWRENCE SIR IF I am more bold then welcome in the Liberty I take in directing these Lines to you I am sorry but must be content and with Patience am resolv'd to bear the weight of your Censure which I can more easily do then think that such a Man as you should with such Fondness upon no better Grounds and in so unusual a Heat express yourself so Unsuccessfully as neither to Convince your Adversaries nor Please your Friends But knowing with many others that this comes not with a Surprize upon you long since acquainting you with what is now brought to light shall not stand to make any Apology nor for the Author who never intended the Project of this Undertaking till now being inform'd of his Death whose Pains I had desir'd but by the Disposing-Hand of Providence in vain and therefore have now adventur'd myself believing thro' the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ which is most seen in the Weakness of his Creatures that necessary Supplies would be given to ingage in a Cause that so nearly concerns his Honour and Interest in the World Had it not been undue Reflections from the Pulpit invading the Right of my LORD and impairing as much as in you lay the Credit of his Holy Ordinance together with the Manners of some of your Friends who being present when you preach'd that Sermon from the 1 Cor. 7.14 and as Vessels fill'd with Wind that must either vent or flie not contented within their own Confines but trespassing upon their Neighbours Borders to proclaim their own Folly I had almost said together with yours boldly affirming That you had assign'd Scripture enough for Infant-Baptism these Lines had never taken Wing But the very act of Providence which brought your Sermon-Notes and Bible to my hand was such as gives ground to conclude that it was the Divine Pleasure the Structure you had built upon so sandy a Bottom should at once be cast into the Sea of Confusion And to be silent seeing his Right is under so manifest an Invasion must bespeak us to be the most base of Vassals for who is it that is bought with Monies of another from amongst the Gally-Slaves to injoy Freedom but will ever account himself oblig'd to maintain his Redeemer's Honour against all that shall offer to detract from or lay a Blot upon it How much less then shall the Redeemed of the Lord be still who are under a greater Obligation by how much more great the Redemption-Price is that was given So that how ever Unfit in myself yet from the Bond I am under and the Nature of the present Exigence am forced with Cresus his dumb Son to speak Yet from that Respect I have always born to you and still do I could sincerely wish you were not the Man I have to do with but since it is so I have acted with as much Candour as becomes me the Nature of the Cause considered having not rak'd in the Ashes of your Reflections but wish they may lie and die as they shall for me unless new ones give life to the old but hoping better things and that you will not think the worse of your own because it brings Interest along with it wishing you seriously to consider those Words of our Lord Mat. 5.19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of the least of these commandments and shall teach men so shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven And together with Mat. 15.8 9. In vain do they worship me teaching for doctrines the commandments of men So in love I commend you to God and the Word of his Grace which is sufficient to instruct you in all things necessary to Salvation thro' Christ for whom I am all Mens more especially yours S. A. TO THE READER Friends and Brethren more particularly you who were present at the SERMON preach'd from 1 Cor. 7.14 by Mr. Lawrence at his Meeting-House in Namptwich Octob. 18. 1691 for whose sakes next to the Glory of GOD and our LORD JESUS CHRIST I have wrote these Lines as an Answer to his Seven Arguments whereby he would prove That the Infants of Professing Christians ought to be Baptized BRETHREN I Have reason to believe that you are in good earnest for Salvation and to secure your precious and immortal Souls from Loss and Ruine knowing that they once lost shall be no more capable of Repair Matth. 16.26 and that it s not the whole World though it could be given by one damned Soul to procure a Change of State Wherefore as a learned Man saith As the Worth and Loss of Heaven can neither be imagin'd or valued so the dreadful and perpetual Pains of Hell can neither be measur'd nor declar'd To obtain the one and escape the other sure then should be the principal Design and Business of every one of us in this Life The thing is possible and true Happiness next to GOD's Pardoning Grace in CHRIST JESVS consists in our Knowledge and Practice not that Knowledge will profit other ways then as it is accompanied with Practice Therefore says CHRIST If ye know these things happy are ye if ye do them Joh. 13.17 Neither will Practice avail but as it is Conformity to that perfect Law and Rule which He hath given us by which whosoever orders his Conversation aright shall see the Salvation of GOD Psal 50.23 So useful is Holy Scripture which GOD hath given us as his Standard to measure all things that relate either to Matters of Judgment or Practice by that without them we are wholly in the Dark as to the Nature of all Positive and Instituted Worship as Solomon would have been when he was to build the LORD a House had he not received a Pattern for his Direction in doing all things that appertained thereto Now as all things was to be done according to the Pattern given of old in the House of GOD so nothing ought to be done now in the House or Worship of GOD but what he hath assigned by Pattern and Direction in his Word Wherefore saith he To the law and to the testimonies if they speak not according to this word it is
because there is no light in them Isai 8.20 To do more then he hath required or to do one thing that is not required for another that is will be found in a Day of Tryal equally Abominable with a not doing his Requirements at all It 's certain all Persons and Things shall be pronounced good or bad as they have or have not agreed with this perfect Law of GOD's Word all Decrees of Councils all Doctrines of Men all Controversies in Religion must be brought to the Test and abide the Award and Determination thereof Now that I may not detain you here let me humbly and earnestly beg three things of you 1. That you will pass Judgment upon what is commended to your view in the Arguments for with the Answer and Arguments against Infant-Baptism according as they bear proportion to GOD's Sacred Word and not as they accord with far-fetcht Consequences and doubtful Conclusions which at best in Matters of Worship can prove but one uncertain Medium and forged Warrant which through the unwearied Industry of some skilful Artificers is made fatal to many even such who do either affect Art above Truth or such who have not skill to discern and so become no less deceived then certain Country Peasants in some former Troubles in France of whose Folly * Epistle to Jesephus one tell us They attempting and entring into a City not far from them and lighting into an Apothecary's Shop furnisht with all kind of Drugs and Dainties and being allured by the pleasant Odours and delight of the Confections they tasted and supposing all to be of the same kind took and swallow'd down every thing whereupon some fell sick of Feavers some grew Frenzy and many lost their Lives to please their Appetites at least he that scap'd best gave occasion of Laughter to the Lookers on What use I shall make of this shall be only to put you in mind that it is recorded for the eternal Commendation of the noble Bereans That they would not receive any thing though offered by a Paul until by searching the Scriptures they had found whether those things he taught were so or no. 2. In reading of these Lines that you would lay aside all Prejudice that may possess your Minds either against the Person or Subject else the Mind by it will be rendred utterly uncapable of making right Judgment or receiving Truth though it presents itself with never so much Plainness and Evidence Prejudice was one if not the principal Cause why the Jews rejected CHRIST 3. Having thus discharg'd your Minds of what may hinder your Profit be earnest with GOD in Prayer to help you rightly to discern between the Mystery of Godliness the Iniquity that is contain'd and detected in the Scriptures and then I trust the Plainness of Dress in which these Lines appear will not be of considerable Disadvantages to the Truths contain'd therein for the more false any thing is the more artificially it had need to be set off and adorned A blear'd Eye loves not to look on the Sun Art and Humane Eloquence may tickle the Ear and well-pollish'd Discourses may affect the Fancy and yet prove but a mear Sound of Words and empty Husks remembring it's said of Lacon Hearing a Nightingale sing by the briskness of its Warbling and delicate Notes and the clearness and quavering Cadency of its Voyce judg'd it a good Prey but when he found and saw it to be of so small a Size he disdainfully left it and said Thou art a Voyce and nothing else Therefore where the Evidence of Truth appears refuse it not because offer'd in and presented under the Disadvantage of an unpollish'd Style but let the Reason of what is said be considered And that the LORD may give you Vnderstanding shall be the Prayer of him that wisheth you present and eternal Peace from GOD the Father through our LORD JESVS CHRIST in whom though the Vnworthiest of his Servants I am yours S. A. A Modest Reply TO Mr SAMVEL LAWRENCE HIS Seven Arguments FOR Admitting the Infants of Professing Christians into the CHURCH of CHRIST by Baptism deliver'd in a SERMON by him preach'd in Namptwich Octob. 18th 1691. AS it may be safely concluded that the great Interest of Man's present Peace and eternal Felicity is eminently concern'd in Religion and Godliness even so all true Religion is taught and takes its Being only from Divine Revelation which God in former Ages and divers manners gave out until the Knowledge of his Will was most perfectly reveal'd in and by his Son and our Saviour Heb. 1.1 2. who in Faithfulness to his Church discharged the Trust committed to him ceasing not to make known to the least Jot and Tittle every thing which he receiv'd or heard of the Father Joh. 15.15 He alone being found worthy to set up a Standard and to become a Law-giver and Statute-maker unto all Generations in things partaining to the Worship of God who no sooner had transmitted the Mind of Heaven to the Children of Men by a sure and perfect Law but it passes the Royal Assent he fixes the Seal of his own most precious Blood unto it for its Confirmation and then by the Father is advanced to the highest Dignity and Glory as a convincing Evidence not only of his Son's Faithfulness but the Purity and Perfection of that Law which he hath enacted as the only Mediator to the end Man should be perfect in the whole Will of God And in further Testimony thereof how great hath Heaven's care been throughout all Ages in preserving the Scriptures clean from those Corruptions and Errours which the Heart of Man tho' learn'd if unsanctied is too apt to dote on and cleave unto it is no less then wonderful to consider in whose hands the Sacred Scriptures in past Ages have been lodged and by whom they have been handed down to us that they have yet strength so loudly to bear Witness against Errours entertained with such Fondness and maintain'd with such Heat as of late hath appeared particularly in the Defence of that Unscriptural Practice of Infant Baptism and that there is not yet so much as one Word to be produced as their Warrant in doing what they have so earnestly contended for strongly argue that God hath marvelously over-ruled the Heart and Hands of all heretofore concern'd in that blessed Work of Translating the Scriptures into a Language known and understood by every one of us And as to the Sufficiency of Scripture as it contains all things necessary to be believed known or done either for Salvation or Church Communion I know not that what is said in the sixth Article of the Church of England is forreign to the Judgment of any Professing Christian saving those of the Papal Communion and some few of late sprung up who through Temptation and the Delusion of their own Hearts have rejected the Word as it is contain'd in the Scriptures of Truth as Useless the one accounts it insufficient to
direct us in all things necessary and therefore to the Word they joyn their own Traditions for the rendring it a more compleat and perfect Rule the other accounts it Useless and therefore directs all for Instruction to the Dictates of the Light within Of both these I have only to say Lord deliver my Soul from coming into their Secrets But you and we being agreed in all things touching the Authority and Sufficiency of the Scriptures I presume from thence an equal Freedom in us to refer the Tryal of the things wherein we differ to the Determination of Holy Writ being firmly resolved for myself to abide by its Award sincerely desiring that nothing may pass for Truth but upon their Testimony Now I shall not take notice of any thing you offer in your Sermon preach'd from 1 Cor. 7.14 Else were your children unclean but now are they holy before you come to state the Question 1. Because I would not have this Paper to swell into too great a Bulk 2. Because there is not any thing material but what I shall meet with under one or other of your Arguments shall therefore recite your Doctrine which was this Doctrine That the Seed of Professing Christians have a Right to Baptism and ought thereby to be admitted into the Church or Body of Christ Whether your Text doth preach the same Doctrine you do from it I question and conclude that there is no more a-kin between your Question stated and your Words rightly consider'd in their proper place then there would have been had you drawn the same Conclusion from the first words in Genesis which tells us That in the beginning God made the heaven and the earth as I trust hereafter will be made evident to every judicious and unprejudiced Reader You proceed and say Here I shall not undertake to produce all the Proof that is for it nor answer every Quibble that is brought against it but lay that Foundation which if of God standeth sure and if it stands the contrary must needs fall Ans That you have produced more Proof then the Scripture affords you for your Practice is plain and Scripture-Arguments that strongly make head against your Practice be by you accounted Quibbles is not strange but very strange it is that you see cause to query whether your Foundation be of God and yet dare lend a hand to support a sinking and falling Dagon The Idol could not stand before the Art even so Lord in this our day let Errour fall before thy Truth and help you so to discern the Sandiness of that Foundation upon which all Errour with that of Infant-Baptism is built as that you may better improve the Certainty of its Ruine then those biggotted Priests and blind Philistines did the Fall and Ruine of their adored Dagon 1 Sam. 5.3 4. I now come to your seven Arguments you offer as Proof and Evidence though reasonably we might have expected for Proof and Confirmation of a Doctrine of so great moment two or three Witnesses from Holy Scripture but knowing that no such Evidence is to be found there we shall weigh and allow of your Authority provided your Arguments are strongly concluded in and truly deduced from the Scriptures and because I would not in the least be thought to injure you in my Reply I shall at large recite your several Arguments and so well as I can with the help of some Collections endeavour the Confutation of them And you say in your First ARGUMENT 1. I argue from the Command of Christ Matth. 28.19.20 For 1. the Command is so general as to include not exclude Infants surely they will be allowed to be a considerable Part of the Nations 2. Christ doth here prescribe the way of gathering his Church and preserving it to the end of the World now his Church consists of Infants as well as grown Persons and both are to be dealt with according to that State As to grown Persons First teach them and baptize them as to Infants finding them Disciples baptize them in order to their being taught when capable of it 3. All Nations is set in Opposition to the Jewish Nation therefore as the Disciples would have understood what and whom Christ meant if he had said Go circumcise all Nations c. So and its observable that Baptism was of use amongst them though not a Sacrament before as Maimonides speaks That they baptized the Infant or little Stranger upon the knowledge of the House of Judgment i. e. on their desire in behalf of their Children 4. The Practice of the Apostles in Baptising whole Houshoulds is a plain Comment on the Text and shews how they understood it Acts 16.15.33 1 Cor. 1.16 5. Infants are Disciples Acts 15.10 together with their Parents therefore may be baptized if not Disciples of Man's making so neither was Paul yet of God's making who graciously accepts them and takes them into his Covenant If any object That such Disciples are meant as are capable of observing Christ's Command Ans It 's true as to grown Persons with whom the Apostles had most to do in gathering a Church out of the World to Christ but as the Proselites were first taught and then circumcised but there Children were first circumcised before they were taught so it may and ought to be here nothing in Christ's Commission gainsaying it First ANSWER Whether all that you have said here doth not directly tend to darken Knowledge I refer to your own Conscience and shall leave all wise men to judge when the Text is read and the order of it laid down Our Lord Jesus Christ after he had declared himself invested with absolute Power given him of the Father to be Soveraign Lord and supream Law-giver to the whole World through all Ge-Generations He saith as Mat. 28.19 20. Go ye therefore and teach all Nations baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you And lo I am with you alway even unto the end of the World This Command is so extensive as authorizes the Apostles of our Lord to take in by Baptism all Nations Discipled or so many of all Nations as should be made Disciples but how it includes one Infant that neither is made nor is capable as such of being made a Disciple I see not otherways than as Infants are a considerable part of all Nations and if therefore to be baptized then are all Nations to be baptized by the lump even Infidels Idolaters prophane and abominable persons as they are a part yea the greatest part of all Nations And this will as truly follow as the other if this Command may be understood without restriction but if not then the limitation must needs lye in the Word which says Teach or Disciple then neither the Infant nor prophane person can be admitted by this Text if the Order in which it is laid down be duly considered which
is thus 1. Our Lord Jesus commands them to go to all Nations 2. To teach all Nations or Disciple them 3. That they baptize such so taught or Discipled 4. That they shall further Teach and Instruct such baptized Disciples to observe all other things that Christ hath commanded Now that this and no less than this is intended here will appear with great Evidence from the Consent of such as dissent from us And therefore Mr. Baxter speaking of this Text shews the several Work and Duty of the Apostles in their several Places and Orders who tells us in his second Disputation of Right to Sacraments Pag. 149 150 Their 1. Task is to make Disciples which Mark calls Believers 2. Their work is to baptize them whereunto is annexed the Promise of Salvation 3. Their work is to teach them all other things which are after to be learned in the School of Christ Further saith he To contemn this Order is to contemn all Rules of Order for where can we expect to find it if not here I profess my Conscience is fully satisfied from this Text that it is one sort of Faith even Saving-Faith that must go before Baptism the profession whereof the Minister must expect And in his Poor Man's Family-Book pag. 168. saith The Church never knew any Baptism but such as was joyned with a present profession of present Faith Repentance and Renunciation of the Devil the World and the Flesh and a total devotedness to God and Christ with more to this purpose And the Author of the Annotations began by Mr. Poole upon this Text expresly saith I cannot be of their mind who think persons may be baptized before they be taught we want Presidents of any such Baptisms in the Scripture tho' indeed we find Presidents of persons baptized who had but a small degree of knowledge of the Gospel but it should seem that they were all taught and then baptized Now what this Author saith farther with reference to Infant-Baptism because they are a part of all Nations I leave as that which may justly evidence him guilty of Self-Contradiction and Inconsistence You add further That Christ is here prescribing a way to gather his Church and of preserving it to the Worlds end and That the Church consists of Infants as well as grown persons Answ As to the first we grant that Christ here is prescribing a way of gathering his Church but that his Church was made up of Infants as well as grown persons professing Believers is a bold Assertion and a meer Imposition upon your Auditory having not the least Light or Evidence nor being able to give so much as one Instance of any one Infant that was ever admitted by any of the Apostles a Member of any Church by Baptism in their days Could you do this you would do something to purpose but to undertake this Task would be to labour under an utter Impossibility knowing the old Maxim that says That which appears not is not You further say Had Christ said Go circumcise all Nations the Disciples would have understood what and whom he meant Answ It seems then in your Apprehension the Apostles were ignorant of what Christ meant and what they did in pursuance to his Command they did at a venture Is not this peevish Reasoning and a manifest impeaching Christ and his Disciples Was Christ so dark and unintelligible in what he commanded them that they could not apprehend him Is not Go teach and baptize all Nations as easie to be understood as Go circumcise every Male at eight days old Surely they did understand Christ and you may if you will not put out your own Eyes which I entreat you to have a care of lest continuing to preach up and practise things contrary too or at least not agreeable with the Doctrin of Christ and his Apostles you become culpable and so liable to that Anathema pronounc'd against all tho' an Angel from Heaven that shall preach another Gospel Gal. 1.8 And Maimonides tells you no more than what we allow you That the Jews of old did baptize the Proselyte and little Stranger but in that they did not use Baptism as a Sacrament as you your self acknowledge is a Tradition of the superstitious Jews an Authority sufficient to warrant you in your sprinkling Infants as a Gospel Ordinance Sure Sir this your Practice as well as some of their Traditions bespeaks Christ's Command to be void and of none effect and in plain terms gives the Lye to Mr. Baxter and more in their Comments upon the Commission of Christ For Mr. G. Lawson in his Magna Charta dedicated to Hen. B. of London pag. 27 28. tells us That the word Teach before baptizing imports a teaching with success so as to cause the persons taught to learn i. e. to receive their Doctrin understand it approve it be convinced of the Truth of it and be converted by it so far as to be made Christians And so the Apostles understood Christ as is evident by their whole practise and if you dare not say that they were mistaken in the mind of Christ I am sorry you give me occasion to tell you that you are and as a Friend I advise you to correct the mistake you are under and act for time to come more conformably to Christ's Doctâ—in and his Apostles Practice But you further urge The practice of the Apostles in baptizing whole Housholds for your practice in baptizing Infants Answ That Housholds was baptized we grant but that Infants was in those Houses is more than you can prove and the best ground you have for your Practice here is Probability there may be and may not be is too slight a Ground to build so great an Ordinance upon as Baptism We could give you an account of as many Housholds in this County if not in this Town that are baptized and that have no Children in them as you read of in the Gospel but admit there were Children which remains for you to prove yet it follows not that they were baptized it being usual in Scripture to take a part for the whole as 1 Sam. 1.21 saith All the House went up to offer the yearly Sacrifice yea the 22 23. Verses say expresly That Hannah and her Child Samuel went not up yet all the House So Luke 2.1 In those days went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed yet who will understand any other part of the World than that within his own Dominions and within the bounds of his own Territories yet all the world And so in many other places But to speak of these Housholds in particular will if I mistake not turn your own Artillery against you which we shall do in a few words and 1. To the Houshold of Lydia 'T is said she and her Household was baptized Acts 16.15 but no ground to conclude that there were any Infants there but a fair ground to suspect the contrary and that she might
be a Maid or a Widow there being no mention made of her Husband and she reckon'd the Head of the Family which is not proper where there is a Husband besides she was a Trader and at this time many miles from home being now at Philippi but was of the City of Thialira as ver 12 compared with the 14. so that if she had any Children it is probable she should carry them about with her from place to place whither she went to trade and merchandize most likely she should leave them at her abode in Thialira and not that she would be cumbered with the trouble and care of her Infants in her Travels to traffick But that this may issue with Evidence against you the Apostles in the last Verse in this Chapter they went into the House of Lydia and when they had comforted the Brethren they departed So that it 's plain those of Lydia's Houshold were Brethren and the Brethren were capable of being comforted which Infants are not in the sence of that Text. A second Houshold is that of the Jaylor in the 33d Verse of the same Chapter the Jaylor and all his were baptized straightway all his that is as one observes his Wife his Servants and Relations for to them it may more properly refer than to his Children who whether he had any is uncertain but whether he had or not it 's not material in this Case for in v. 32. 't is said expresly And they i. e. Paul and Silas spake unto him the word of the Lord and to all that were in his House which cannot be imagined they should do unto Infants And v. 34. saith He rejoyced believing in God with all his House So then all that were baptized in his House were such as heard the Word of the Lord and rejoyced believing in God which Infants are not capable to do But A Third Houshold is that of Crispus Acts 18.8 And Crispus the chief ruler of the Synagogue believed on the Lord with all his house and many of the Corinthians hearing believed and were baptized Though it be certain that he with all his House was baptized from 1 Cor. 1.14 yet from this Text it is not so plain that he with all his House was baptized as that he with all his House believed on the Lord. And that such as believe were fit Subjects of Baptism who denies But A Fourth Houshold is that of Stephanas 1 Cor. 1.16 says Paul And I baptized also the house of Stephanas Now if any enquire what is said of this Houshold to hinder but that Infants might be there and consequently baptized why enough and that which may satisfie all men that there were no Infants here for the Apostle saith in the 16th Chapter of this Epistle and 15th verse Ye know that the house of Stephanas were the first-fruits of Achaja and that they addicted themselves to the ministry of the Saints Which Infants as such will never be capable of doing but are to be ministred unto Therefore how great an Uncertainty do the Patrons and Defenders of Infant-Baptism labour under Hence it was that the worthy Dr. Hammond grants that no concluding Argument can be deduced from the baptizing whole Housholds for baptizing Infants and certainly the Doctor concludes but rationally herein knowing that a clear word of Command is necessary to constitute a Gospel Ordinance as you your self have fully acknowledged in time past I now pass to the last Branch of your Argument wherein you say the Infants of Professing Christians ought to be baptized because they are Disciples which you would insinuate from Acts 15.10 which I find thus worded Now therefore why tempt ye God to put a yoke upon the neck of the Disciples which neither our Fathers nor we were able to bear What is here in all this Text to prove Infants Disciples Not one tittle the Disciples here spoken of are those Gentiles that were converted to the Faith at Antioch who met with some disturbance occasion'd by some that came down from Judea urging the necessity of Circumcision saying as Vers 1. That unless ye be circumcised ye cannot be saved Hereupon Paul and Barnabas contends with them and says Why tempt ye God to put a yoke upon the neck of the Disciples in imposing the observance of Circumcision with the other Ceremonies of the Law upon the Gentile Church For the Yoke spoken of by the Apostle lay not strictly in Circumcision but in keeping of the whole Law whereunto they were firmly bound and obliged by Circumcision Gal. 5.3 which Infants were never capable of doing neither in the least are here intended for though this Church at Antioch is made up of Disciples we believe but that one Infant is here included we deny For when the Dissention grew hot between Paul and Barnabas and the men that came down from Judea the Disciples determined to send Paul and Barnabas up to the Council at Jerusalem to enquire as to that matter ver 2. and in the Third Verse you read That the Church or Disciples spoke of in the Second Verse brought them on their way and when they returned with their Answer from the Council you read in the 31. ver that they rejoyced for the consolation and in the 32. ver that Judas and Silas exhorted the Brethren and with many words confirmed them all which Offices performed and Comfort received Infants can no way be capable of neither can be intended in this place by the Disciples Besides to say Infants as such are Disciples is insipid and contrary to the true import of the word being render'd by all Lexicons and Dictionaries that ever I saw which tell us that a Disciple is a Scholar or Learner * 66 Epist to Dard. Austin saith That those who go about to make Infants Disciples do not only lose their pains but expose themselves to laughter And though it be true that all Disciples are of God's making and not Man's as you say Infants are and Paul was yet we tell you that Infants neither are nor can be made Disciples without a Miracle according to the sence and signification of the word neither are any made so as to be fit Subjects of Baptism till they have been instructed by Man what to do as appears from the Commission and Paul's own Case for upon his enquiring what the Lord would have him to do you read the Lord sends him to Damascus and there saith he it shall be told thee what thou must do Acts 9.6 And accordingly the Lord sends Ananias to meet and instruct Paul as ver 10 11. I come to your Second ARGUMENT I argue from the nature of the Covenant and Baptism as its Seal the Covenant belongs to them therefore its Seal Gen. 17.7 Acts 2.39 The Promise is to you and your Children c. It s true primarily and principally it belongs to the Parents who can come in and agree to it and seal but so as to include their Seed If you have
could quote you Justin Martyr Origen Jerom Cyprian and S. Augustine the great Lights of the Church all for it Seventh ANSWER You are pleased I perceive to restrain the Churches of Christ to the conventions of your own practice and to exclude all differing with you in the point of Baptism so that many Churches as perspicuous as your selves especially in a trying season have little thanks to give you for your Charity towards them however since you make not the practice of preceding Churches the Basis on which you build only call them in for Light and Evidence to help you in Cases dark and difficult as by your own Grant as well as Mr. Baxter's That the Baptizing of Infants is if it be an Ordinance at all it is next to a Miracle that all the famous Lights shining in the Churches have not given so much light and clearness in this thing of so much weight and moment but that it should still be found so dark and difficult as it appears to this day and when a Star will arise to make it more clear then it is I know not But in fine to perswade your Brethren into a good and firm opinion of it you tell them that you could quote Justin Martyr Origin Cyprian Jerom and S. Augustin all for it to tell them you can do it is much easier than to do it And to tell you by the way if you have read the Fathers you know in your Conscience that though some baptized Infants in the Third and Fourth Centuries for particular ends yet none in those Ages practised Infant Baptism as a Gospel Ordinance if any before Austin as may be shewed from Dr. Taylor 's Testimony with others Therefore to come to a Conclusion though I might give Instances at large from Tertullian with all or most of those you name together with Nazianzene Ambrose Athanasius and many more as they are handed to me all bearing head strongly against your practice yet take one for all which sways much with me as I find it quoted by Mr. Baxter and you may read it in this order of words in his Saints Everlasting Rest pag. 143. viz. In the primitive times none were baptized without an express Covenanting wherein they renounced the World the Flesh and the Devil and ingage themselves to Christ as you may see saith he in Tertullian Origen and Cyprian and others at large Now Sir I would ask you whether Mr. Baxter never read of any that opposed Infant Baptism whereas he tells you That none of old were baptized without an express Covenanting Certainly you have either mis-quoted Mr. Baxter or else he greatly forgot himself when he said as you speak of him yea he proceeds and names Justin Martyr in particular in the same Book and Page speaking of the order and manner of baptizing the Aged and how we are dedicated to God being renewed by Christ saith he we will now open unto you As many as being perswaded do believe these things to be true which we teach and do promise to live according to them they first learn by Prayer and Fasting to beg pardon of God for their former sins our selves joyning also our Prayer and Fasting then they are brought to the Water and born again or baptized in the same way as our selves were born again for they are washed in water in the Name of the Father the Lord and God of all and of our Saviour Jesus Christ and of the Holy Ghost Then we bring the Person thus washed and instructed to the Brethren as they are called where the Assemblies are that we may pray both for our selves and the illuminated Person that we may be found by true Doctrine and by good Works worthy observers and keepers of the Commandments and that we may obtain Eternal Salvation Then there is brought to the chief Brother so they called the chief Minister Bread and a Cup of Wine washed which taking he offereth Praise and Thanksgiving to the Father by the Name of the Son and Holy Ghost and so a while he celebrateth Thanksgiving and after Prayer the whole Assembly saith Amen Thanksgiving being ended by the President or chief Guide and the consent of the whole People the Deacons as we call them do give to every one present part of the Bread and Wine over which Thanks was given and they also suffer them to bring it to the absent this Food we also call the Eucharist to which no Man is admitted but only he which believeth the truth of our Doctrine being washed in the Laver of Regeneration for remission of sins and that so liveth as Christ hath taught This then saith Mr. Baxter is no new and over strict way you see Thus I have done with your seven Arguments believing through the Mercy of God might what is said be impartially considered be sufficient to bring us to that Unity of Judgment in all the Truths of Jesus Christ and Conformity in Practice that might render us more serviceable in carrying on that Interest in the World for our One and Only Lord which would be mighty conduceable to his Glory and a full Evidence through Grace of our own Title to that Glory which shortly will be revealed in him unto whom be given all Glory in the Church throughout all Ages Even so Amen An APPENDIX Seven Arguments shewing that Infants ought not to be Baptized First Argument IF Christ in the Commission Matth 28.19 commands his Disciples to baptize none but the very fame persons he commanded them also first to teach and make Disciples by teaching then that place is a plain prohibition and not a precept to baptize Infants for Men cannot teach or disciple Infants But Christ there commands his Disciples to baptize none but such as he commands them also first to teach and make Disciples by teaching therefore that place is a plain prohibition and not at all a precept to baptize Infants If it be required we shall give you proof enough hereof out of your own Authors as well as others Second Argument If Infants ought to be baptized then Infant Baptism is of Divine Institution but Infant Baptism is not of Divine Institution therefore they ought not to be baptized The Major is true if as you say there is but one Command for Baptism viz Matth. 28.19 which appears by the fore-going Argument to be a plain prohibition of Infant Baptism The Minor is true because no Man can shew any Institution of Infant Baptism Third Argument If Infants ought to be baptized as agreeable with the Command of Christ then it is agreeable to the practice of the Apostolical Churches but Infant Baptism is not agreeable to the practice of the Apostolical Churches therefore Infants ought not to be bapized as agreeable to the Command of Christ The Major is true because the Apostolical Church did observe T.G. all that Christ commanded in the Case of Baptism The Minor is true because no Man can shew that the Apostolical Churches did Baptize so
much as one Infant Fourth Argument If Infants ought to be Baptized then Infant Baptism is a part of Divine Worship either natural or positive but Infant Baptism is no part of Divine Worship either natural or positive therefore they ought not to be baptized The Major is true by your own grant that Infant Baptism is an Ordinance of Christ The Minor appears thus If it be any part of Natural Worship it is to be found either among the Heathen that have not the Law or certainly among the Patriarchs who were before the Law But it hath not been known to either of them 2 If it be a part of Positive Worship then it becomes so by Precept and Command but there is no Command if there be assign it Note All Commands are either Express or Implicite An Express Command requires the performance of it an Implicite Command shews that some have been commended in the practice of it or blamed in the neglect of it but you can shew neither I shall take leave to wave a term and so turn the edge of Mr. Baxter's Sword against you in my fifth and sixth Arguments which I find in his Plain Scripture Proof falsly so called p. 130. Fifth Argument That practice which goeth upon meer uncertainty and hath no Scripture Rule to guide it is not according to the will of Christ but the practice of baptizing Infants goes upon mear uncertainty and hath no Rule in Scripture to guide it therefore it s not according to the will of Christ nor ought Infants to be baptized Sixth Argument That practice which doth necessarily fill the Church with perpetual Contention as being about a matter that cannot be determined by any known Rule is not according to the mind of Christ But the practice of baptizing Infants is such as will necessarily fill the Church with perpetual Contention as that which cannot be determined by any known Rule therefore it is not according to the mind of Christ nor ought Infants to be baptized Seventh Argument That practice which renders the practice of Christ and his true Followers who were baptized in Rivers or much water superfluous or ridiculous and which agreeth not with the word Baptize when used in the New Testament to express the act done in that Ordinance is contrary to the Command of Christ But the sprinkling of Infants now used by you renders the practice of Christ and his true Followers who were baptized in Rivers or much Water superfluous or ridiculous and agreeth not with the signification of the word Baptize when used to express according to the New Testament the act done in that Ordinance therefore Infant Baptism is contrary to the Command of Christ and ought not to be The Major is true because Christ hath Commanded nothing that reflects dishonour upon his own practice The T.G. Minor is true because if Sprinkling a little Water upon the Face only be sufficient then Immersion or Dipping in the River must needs be superfluous c. Neither can the word Baptize and Rantise with any equity of Speech or good Sense be used to express the same Action Now how poor and paultry soever our Arguments against your practice as you term them may be I leave to consideration judging these sufficient to justifie all in refusing Infant Baptism and if possible to perswade you more effectually to endeavour the restoration of this Ordinance to its pristine Purity in which you will do well And so Farewel The CONCLUSION Being a Word to my Brethren of the Baptized CHVRCHES INto whose of your hands soever these Lines may come with them I greet you in the Lord through whom from God the Father I sincerely wish you an increase of all Grace and Peace praying that you may keep your selves in the love of God and in a patient waiting for the coming of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ And that we may be without blame in that day let us in this day Brethren consider our Calling and the Obligation we are laid for ever under by that Grace which God through Christ hath so freely and fully imparted unto us so as that every one of us may fill up our places in the Church of God adorning the Truth which we profess as it is in Jesus ordering the affairs of our whole Conversations with circumspection expressing Piety flowing from hearts sincere towards God and Humility Love and Reverence towards all Men in all things a defect in either of these may justly make way for a What do ye more then others Without controversie if any People in the World have the true Form of Godliness you have and in holding fast the Form of sound words ye do well but better in making manifest the Power of Godliness without which the true Form will not avail but turn to our detriment I design not to impeach any of you though I would to God there were no cause but earnestly perswade to a more compleat and constant Conformity to Christ our Head not only in Doctrine but in Imitation that Holiness with the Fear and Favour of God may fill our Assemblies and Houses to their utmost Borders and our Hearts being fill'd with Love thereto we may at all times by good Conversations shew forth our works with meekness of Wisdom James 3.13 This would certainly render Arguments for Truth more powerful and convincing and atract and win upon the hearts of the more considerate and wise though not one with us in holy Baptism whenas Prophaneness Folly and Uncharitableness in Israel will dis-ingage and harden more than a whole Volume of the most pregnant and invincible Arguments will make to yield Therefore Brethren as we are called to Holiness let us expressively evidence that what we know of God in Christ is more than speculative And to that end 1. Be ready unto every good Work that refers to your Duty to God in that relation you stand in to the Church of God 2. Be truly generous and wise in your deportment towards all Men especially the more Sober and Religious avoid Censoriousness and Unwarrantable Judging of such treat them in love as Brethren and occasionally as you have opportunity contend earnestly for the Truth yet without heat and passion Maintain your Communion intire and Separation compleat from all whose fear more or less in the Worship of God is taught by the Traditions of Men and not after the Traditions given us by Christ and his Apostles yet in all things wherein we are agreed let us walk uniting in Affection till God shall reveal the rest unto them praying earnestly that God would cause the Beams of Gospel Light powerfully to dart into the Minds of all helping them by Divine Illumination to discern Truth 's shining Beauty and Excellency that all Error may fall before it as Dagon did before the Ark and that none may find either heart or hand to support it that Christ's own Fold may be filled with his own Sheep in this our day yea through the Increase of Knowledge and Righteousness let Honour and Glory be given to the Lamb and all the Earth know that the Lord alone is God Amen FINIS
charge upon you which truly defin'd is as I shall give it you from the worthy Doctor Hopkin late Bishop of London Derry as I find it in his Exposition upon the Ten Commandments worthy to be printed in Letters of Gold page 142. who says Will-worship is nothing else but an inventing and ascribing any other Worship unto God besides what he hath been pleased to Command and Institute God saith Will worship what it is he will not be worshipped according to our Fancies but his own Appointment for as we must have no other God besides the true so that God must have no other Service performed unto him besides what himself hath required and prescribed for this were to impute folly and weakness unto him as if indeed he would have Servants but knew not what Service to injoyn them And by this time I hope you may see what may hinder if not may not I as industriously inquire why Nadab and Abihu might not bring strange Fire to the Lord's Altar I know of no express Command of God hindering and yet for their unadvised attempt the Lord sends Fire from Heaven and destroys them both Lev. 10.1 2. Let us therefore fear to do any thing in the Worship of God which he hath not commanded nor conclude our selves safe though he hath not in so many express words forbid it To do what he hath commanded is our work not what he hath not prohibited else where would our wild Inventions terminate Further If this be not sufficient to hinder I pray what may hinder your use of the Cross in Baptism Is that Ceremony any more incongruous to holy Writ then your own practice And why find you fault with the Church of England for the use of their Ceremonies whereas many of them are so indifferent in themselves that for ought I know they may or may not be used Nay if any thing can warrant you short of a Command of God to set up this or that in the Worship of God as an Ordinance of God may not the Church of Rome pretend to as good Authority for any part of their practice that is not in so many express words forbid especially their Baptizing with Salt and Spittle as you can for yours I do sincerely profess were I satisfied that either Custom or Consequence were a warrant sufficient to bear you out in this particular I should reckon my dissenting from the Church of England where I may be as holy as I will or can might be justly imputed to my Ignorance or Pevishness You add Nothing in the Sacrament may hinder they may have all that is Essential to Baptism given to them as well as the Adult and grown Persons Answer Sir It is strange that you should so thwart your own practice for I presume there is not any whom you Baptize but you do it upon a Profession of Faith if not their own yet their Parents so that your own practice bespeaks Faith essential And Mr. Baxter in his Poor Man's Family Book pag. 168. affirmeth The Church never knew any Baptism but such as was joyned with a present profession of present Faith and Repentance and Renunciation of the Devil the World and the Flesh and a total devotedness to God in Christ Also the Church of England in her Catechism to this Question What is required of Persons to be baptized The Answer is Repentance whereby they forsake sin and Faith whereby they stedfastly believe Which with Acts 8.36 37. Acts 2.37 38. and Rom. 6.4 is evident that Repentance Faith and devotedness to God is necessary but how doth it appear that Children are capable of these things When did any Child give you the least Evidence that he Believed Repented Renounced the World the Flesh and the Devil and that before he can possibly know the nature or evil of the one or the other Remember Sir that which appears not is not nor let it suffice that the Parent believes for the Child for I pray why may not the Parents Baptism pass currant for the Child as the Parents Faith You add Nothing on the Minister's part but they may Baptize Infants as well as grown Persons Answer I confess some Ministers by permission and through the liberty of their own will may do what they please but in that case what they do is neither in obedience to any Command of Christ nor in Imitation to any Example of the Apostles who neither did nor durst do it but had it been in their liberty without controversie they had done it and then their president had been sufficient But though Paul shunned not to declare unto the Elders and Churches the whole Counsel of God Acts 20.27 yet the Baptizing of Infants no where appears to be either any part of the Lord's Counsel or his Ministers Practice therefore as you would have a comfortable Evidence that you are the Lord's Minister it becomes you publickly to enter your Protest against this practice for the undeceiving of many and for the future that you presume to do nothing in his Name but what you have his Authority for You say further There is nothing on the Childrens part as hath been shewn c. Answer As hath been shewn there is nothing on the Childrens part that renders it needful and as they need it not so they have not the least appearance of right to it As to their Capacity being the same with them that received Circumcision I conceive it to be a wide mistake for they received both Capacity and Right for Circumcision from the words of Institution and not because they were either able or unable immediately to answer the Obligation they were laid under by it which was to keep the whole Law Gal. 5.3 Therefore as your Infants now are able to do no more then they did under the Law and you having no Institution and Divine Authority for your warrant bespeaks both their incapacity and want of right but as to your Females I perceive they have both a larger Capacity and Propriety than those of old in that yours must be baptized though the others were never circumcised I pass to your Seventh ARGUMENT I may add That the practice of the Church of Christ both primitive and modern is a good Comment on all these Texts and though it is not the Foundation we build this Doctrine upon yet it may help to strengthen and confirm us in the belief of it in dark and difficult Cases especially we should have regard what hath been the Stream and Currant of the godly Learned in all Ages the way of good Men for wise Men to walk in Mr. Baxter saith That for his part he cannot find in his small reading that any one Divine or party of Men did certainly oppose or deny Infant Baptism for many hundred years after Christ and adds that you cannot prove so much as one Man except one Herimarus that did once oppose or deny Infant Baptism from the Apostles days till about Luther's time but I