Selected quad for the lemma: conscience_n
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A38779
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The voice of King Charls the father to Charls the son, and the bride say come being an invitation of King Charls to come in peaceably and be reconciled to his father's minde and shewing the integrity of His Highness Oliver Cromwel ... / by Arise Evans.
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Evans, Arise, b. 1607.
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1655
(1655)
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Wing E3471; ESTC R26694
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43,143
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81
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upon their own score And now let us see whether their then practice was agreeable to the Scripture delivered to us by Christ his Apostles I have delivered seven Arguments grounded upon the Gospel for the defence of Infant-baptism which are so invincible that I believe all the Ana baptists are not able in so few words to answer them which Arguments you shall finde in my book called The Eccho to the Voice from Heaven besides it is evident that the promise is aswel to their children as to the believing parents Act. 2. 39. and therefore the Apostles upon the confession of a master or head of a family baptized all persons both great and small in the house Act. 10. 33 47 48. Act. 16. 14 15 30 31 32 33. according to the saying of our Saviour to Zacheus Luke 19. 9. Salvation is come to this house that is to all in this house both great and small Infants being not excepted nor exempted for our Saviour counts them the purest Luk. 18. 15 16 17. Now to prove that Infants were baptized by their sureties or upon their account some Authors do ground it upon the command of God Isa. 8. 1 2 3. and the example Luk. 1. 57 58 59. These types indeed being well considered are very forcible and a sufficient warrant for it and the Apostles command bindes us to do it saying Rom. 15. 1. We that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak And again Gal. 6. 2. Bear ye one anothers burthens and so fulfil the law of Christ Infants are most weak and we ought in charity to help them in what concerns their souls as we do in what concerns their bodies All by nature are born children of wrath Eph. 2. 1 3. that Infants are not onely dead in sins and trespasses but are also so dead that they know not wherefore they are plunged in water-baptism they know not what their washing signifieth though indeed they have Faith in Christ Mat. 18 6. and a dependency upon the supream power that brought them forth into the world far above that of the young Ravens which cry to God for their sustenance Job 38. 41. Psal. 147. 9. yet Infants are not capable of entring into atonement with God through Christ in baptism and if without it they depart this life they cannot be saved Mar. 16. 16. Jahn 3. 5. Therefore in charity we ought to help them and be sureties for them until they come to age Now Infants being dead in regard of original sin and in regard of speech and understanding what Baptism is 1 Cor. 14. 20. in the Apostles time there were some that did answer for them and perform that part in Baptism for them which they themselves being unable could not do and this is clear by the Apostles words 1 Cor. 15. 29. Else what shall they do that are baptized for the dead if the dead rise not at all why are they then baptized for the dead that is if Infants do not awake to live righteously that God may be all in all their sureties must answer for it 1 Cor. 15. 28 34. and by these dead ones here is meant Infants for to what purpose shall any be baptized for them that are corporally dead as if that would raise them again And therefore the Church of England is right in this point for in the book of Common-prayer the question is not put to the Infant but to the suretie saying wilt thou be baptized in this Faith the surtie answereth That is my desire so that accordingly the surtie is more properly said to be baptized then the Infant though all is for the Infant's sake and the Infant if he by his washing perform the external part in Baptism that is all and that is but the ouside of it as the Apostle saith 1 Pet. 3. 21. For Re-baptizing also you shall finde that it was put in practise in the Apostles time Act. 19. 1 2 3 4 5 6. for them Disciples being found ignorant were baptized again and if you compare Act. 10. 47 48. with Act. 19. 5. you finde they were baptized with water and to clear it further saith he Tit. 3. 5. He saved us by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the holy Ghost Hence I conclude that here he spake of Re-baptizing mark the words regeneration and renewing it signifieth to make an old thing new again and as the renewing of a covenant cannot be done to him that never was in covenant nor can you renew your friendship with him that never was you friend so the renewing of baptism here intimated cannot be said to be done to them that never were baptized and it must needs argue from this place Tit. 3. 5. that in some measure when they were Infants they had baptism and that now being defiled by the sins of their youths they were rebaptized washed and had the Spirit renewed on them again and as David after he went in to Uriah's wife and by sin defiled his holy Spirit he desired God to wash him and to renew a right spirit within him Psa. 51. 2 7 10 11. yet David then had the holy Spirit though in a weak measure because of his sin therefore he desireth God not to take his holy Spirit from him but to wash him and renew the holy spirit he had by giving him a greater measure of the same spirit so in like manner them now that are rebaptized should not despise the holy spirit which they received in their Infant-baptism but with David desire God to renew that holy Spirit within them by giving them a greater measure of the same spirit Again from these Texts Heb. 10. 22. 1 Pet. 3. 21. we must needs understand the rebaptizing for how can Infants be said to come to baptism with full assurance of faith having their hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and their bodies washed with pure water whereas Infants understand not what conscience is and how can they have the answer of a good conscience toward God by the resurrection of Jesus Christ seeing they are not able to know these things surely this baptism meant here is not to Infants but it belongs to them that are of ripe age to receive it And therefore from hence it is evident that those who are to be saved notwithstanding their baptism in their infancy ought to be baptized again As for them that died in the former times of ignorance which God winked at Act. 17. 30. doubtless God was merciful to them but now it will be required if you refuse rebaptizing for Infant-baptism is but as that of John which is appointed to prepare a people for the Lord and truely the holy Ghost is in some measure in John's baptism for our Saviour had the holy Ghost descended on him at his baptism Mat. 3. 16. but the fulness of all is in Christ's baptism who had not the spirit by measure John 3. 34. And St. Augustine understood it thus for speaking to God as if
1 Esdr. 5. 37. surely this Prophesie is for us for they were hindred for a longer time And this sheweth you That since the Foundation was laid in 1653. you shall be perfectly delivered afore 1655. be expired and King Charles will be on the Throne by then provided That you unfaignedly turn to the Lord by fasting praying and reforming your wayes according to Gods Commandments and specially in not profaning but keeping holy and sanctifying the Sabbath day for therein lieth the promise of glory Isa. 58. 13 14. here and for ever Isa. 56. Now you will ask me How was the Foundation laid and wherein had the King's party any freedom in 1653. or in what manner doth it resemble Cyrus his decree for the Jews First I answer That in 1653. by all accounts the Foundation was laid for whereas before the power was in the State Parliament or People or where we knew not now it is in one single person again so that the Foundation of Monarchy which was destroyed is laid again in the Protector I hope for King Charles Secondly In 1653. the Ingagement was so taken off that the King's party that took it not now have the benefit of the Law from the which benefit by the Ingagement they were utterly excluded so that if one that had taken the Ingagement had robbed and killed one that had not taken it it had not been a Crime in those times for we have right to nothing but by she Law Thus you see what God hath done for you to fulfil my Propoesies in 1653. you must not despise the day of small things Zach. 4. 10. There came unto me a Gentleman a great Historian about two yeers agone who did affirm that Cromwel was Cyrus and that he would restore both our Liberty Church and King to us again This Gentleman was a West Country-man who had Commanded in the late King's Army and had suffered much I could wish all the King's Party were of his temper and minde Truely I believe That Cromwel is not onely Cyrus but will also prove Zerubbabel that did not onely lay the Foundation but will also finish the work of God and bring forth the head-stone thereof with shoutings I mean King Charles crying Grace grace unto him Zach. 4. 6 7 8 9 10. And not onely so but that Cromwel will be Darius that shall curse and bring a curse upon all whether they be Kings or whatsoever they be that hinder the work of God in establishing the King again and the true worship of God Ezra 6. 11 12. Therefore be not like the Jews that said Can there come any good thing out of Nazareth John 1. 46. for you see Jesus the most blessed came from thence John 19. 19. Wherefore let not the Independent think but that much good may come to them from the King Charles Steward and let not the Kings Party think but that great good may come to them from Oliver Cromwel now Protector who will restore the King and hath done as you see something already in order to it and more I could shew you Therefore I say to you again of Oliver Cromwel as the Prophet said Zach. 4. 9 10. to the Jews of Zerubbabel He hath laid the foundation of the work for the King's restoration he shall also finish it do not despise the day of small things that is do not despise what he did in 1653. when he turned the State into a Monarchy and freed you from the Ingagement that is somthing though it be but small in your eyes Oh that you had abated in your sins so much as that doth add to your deliverance You know the people of God fasted and prayed oft when they were in distress and that not onely privately but also publikely And you see the Independents and Sectaries do so though they be not yet the people of God and why do not you so seek the Lord that he may be merciful to you I am ashamed of you what can I say to God or Man for you when you neglect these things Once not long since as I was at Mr. Peters's Chamber on a Sabbath-day in the evening after Sermon he was disputing Cases of Conscience when all was done and the people gone except some few Gentlemen that staid to talk with him He asked me How I liked such meetings I said I liked it well if it had been done in and for the Church of God He said If you do not count us the Church why do not the Cavaliers use such holy meetings among themselves we should be glad to see them do so Said I The reason is because you will not suffer them to do it for fear they should plot against you as you formerly plotted in such meetings against them Said he we never hindred them to meet in this manner I answered That you did to my knowledge for not long since at a house in Coven-Garden there was a company of devout Cavaliers met to serve the Lord and you sent a company of Souldiers upon them for no other cause which took many of them prisoners to St. Jamses Then Mr. Peters remembring it had not a word more to say to that But he might have answered That was in the long Parliaments time the Lord Protector since he came in power did allow of no such thing for now you have the Church-door open you need not go into houses you may fast you may pray you may preach provided it be for peace and I am sure his Highness will rejoyce to see it yet if you fast for strife and debate as the Presbyterians did all for blood giving thanks when they kill'd many and fast to the end that they might kill oppress the more as the Prophet sets them out in their colours Isa. 58. 1 2 3 4 5. if you cause your voice to be heard on high and fast as they did then God and man will not allow your deeds but if you fast innocently being without malice and pray the Almighty God to send Truth and Peace to all Nations Zach. 8. 19. and specially to give a good understanding between the King and Protector and their Councels that they may make peace and confidently believe one the other and keep faith and a good conscience toward God and with one another for the time to come then will God grant your desire and no man can hurt you for so doing And the main cause why you are not delivered is because you have not a good opinion of Oliver Cromwel the man under God that is appointed to effect it by restoring your King and Church again If you look upon me as one sent of God you should hearken to me and obey my voice and and not tax me for things not coming to pass for your good when you would not believe and obey me for so the good people obeyed the Prophets of old and prevailed 2 Chro. 15. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8. 2 Chron. 20. 14 15 16 17 18.