the Apostles preached so that it is to be believed that as the Apostles taught so they practised If then the Apostle Paul hath taught that all our Fathers were Baptized when water out of the Clouds by the Lord himself was poured on Persons and many of them were Children called our Fathers until the days of David Acts 7. 45. and how highly the Apostle Peter esteemed of all the Writings of his beloved Brother Paul who among other things presseth Order to be kept in the Administration of all Gods Ordinances teaching from Gods Order of Old when as a peculiar work belonged to the Ministerial Offices as 't is written No Man taketh this Honour to himself but he that is called of God as was Aaron Heb. 5. 4. So that the Example of Numb 16. 1 Chron. 13. 11. Corah Dathan and Abiram and Uzza sheweth by the Judgments that fell on them what a Sin it was for any private Man to take that work to do which God had bound to Office But more to this in the Fourth Query So then it is rationally to be believed and that by grounded Reason from Gods word that the Apostles themselves without the help of the hundred and twenty did Baptize the three thousand in one day which could not be done by Dipping the Anabaptists grant and therefore it was done by casting water on the Forehead and Face as before shewed for Baptized they all were and because that part of Mankind representeth the whole Person either in Old or Young therefore they were Baptized by water cast on that part to wit the Face as by grounded Reason from Scripture is to be believed Besides 't is evident to be believed that many of these three thousand which the Apostles Baptized were Children seeing the Promise of the Pardon of Sin was by the Apostle Peter Acts 2. 39. applied to the Children then present as well as to their Parents of the Pardon of their Sins Water-Baptism being ordained by Christ for a Sign of Remission of Sins Now to all to whom the Promise is applied the Sign of Remission to wit Water-Baptism belongeth to them but the promise of Remission of Sins was applied to them and their Children but more of that anon in the Third Query for as it was the usual manner of the Jews when by Thousands they followed Christ to hear him Teach and see the Miracles which he did to take their Children with them as doth appear in that Miracle which Christ did whom he Fed with Five Loaves and two Fishes Five Thousand Men besides Women and Children Matt. 14. 21. for so it was foretold by the Prophet speaking of the day of Christ as it is written Thus saith the Lord behold I will lift up my hand to the Gentiles and set up my Standard to the People to wit the Jews and they shall bring their Sons in their arms or Bosoms and thy Daughters shall be carried on their shoulders Isa 49. 22. Even so the Jews that resorted to hear Christ and afterwards his Apostles Teach and to see the Miracles which they did they carried their Children with them unto whom the Apostle Peter joyntly applying the Promises of Life and Salvation by Christ in the remission of their Sins in the Blood of Jesus saying The Promise is to you and unto your Children And this maketh way to the Second Query which is Query 2. To what end Water-Baptism by the Lord Jesus was Ordained in these last days for a Gospel-Ordinance Answ John Surnamed the Baptist Matt. 3. 1. with respect of his immediate Call to the work of Baptizing hath shewed the end in the Sign why Water Baptism was ordained namely but that Christ should be made manifest to Israel Therefore saith John am I come Baptizing with Water John 1. 31. The Apostle Peter likewise agreeth thereunto saying Be Baptized for the Remission of Sins Acts 2. 38. Again Ananias confirmeth the same saying Be Baptized and wash away thy sins Acts 22. 6. So then in fine the end why Water-Baptism was ordained to make manifest by that outward Sign that Christ the Lamb of God is now come according to the Gospel-Promise preached to Adam That the Seed of the Woman Gen. 3. 15. shall bruise the Serpents Head that is destroy the works of the Devil 1 John 3. 8. and deliver them who by Sin he had captivated into his Bondage Heb. 2. 15. As also according to the same Gospel preached to Abraham That in his Seed Christ all the Families of the Earth shall be Blessed Gen. 12. 3. Acts 3. 25 26. with the Pardon of Sin And accordingly John the Fore-runner of Christ sent as an Herald before the Prince of Life Acts 3. 15. to prepare the way of the Salvation of Fallen Mankind saith Behold the Lamb of God that beareth away the sin of the World John 1. 29. And this maketh way to the Third Query to be considered which is Query 3. What is it by Scripture Evidence that giveth any Soul Young or Old Right to have Water-Baptism Administred on them Answ We have shewed in the Second Query that Water-Baptism is the visible Sign of the Pardon of Sin called the Sin of the World Therefore the next thing is to be observed what this Sin of the World is And secondly who are the Persons that stand charged with this Sin And thirdly how Christ the Lamb of God beareth away this sin of the World from these Persons The Apostle Paul hath not only shewed what this Sin of the World is but also the World this Sin first entered into and stand charged with the same and also how Christ the Lamb of God taketh away this Sin from many who are guilty as being under Condemnation as it is written Wherefore as by one man sin entered into the World and Death by Sin and so death passed upon all men for that or in whom all have sinned Rom. 5. 12. Now because Adam was the Root of all Mankind when he broke Gods Law by eating the Forbidden Fruit all his Posterity in his Loynes sinned in him for as Levi is said to pay Tithes in Abraham's Loynes before he was born when Abraham did Heb. 7. 9. even so we all in Adam's Loynes before we were born brake Gods Law when Adam did and this was the Sin that first entered into the World and these are the Persons Sin entered into namely the actual Sinner and his Seed and for these the Lamb of God is come to bear away the Condemnation due to them even Eternal Death the Wages of this Sin Rom. 6. 23. Thus we see in the Fall of Mankind there were two sort of Sinners the one Actual as Adam and Eve the other their Seed or Children in his Loynes Sinners by Original Corruption derived from Fathers to Children who have not sinned after the Similitude of Adam 's Transgression Rom. 5. 14. as by their own act but are Sinners by Derivation or Original Corruption from them and from these two sorts of
God but keep his Commandments Psalm 78. 6 7. Now that Israel were with their Children in the Covenant of Grace is evident for if the Believing Gentiles and their Infants were grafted into the same Olive-Tree from which the Unbelieving Jews with their Infants were broken off and that when the Unbelieving Jews as the Apostle teacheth shall by Grace be Grafted in again to what but their own Olive-tree Rom. 11. 24. that is into Christ by the Covenant of Grace from whence they were broken off by not believing Christ in the Promise when come to be their Saviour as Christ said to the Jews If ye believe not that I am he to wit the Seed of the Woman promised ye shall die in your sins John 8. 24. but Peter in his first and second Sermons to these Jews broken off from the visible Covenant of Grace in Christ know if they were of the Election they should yet obtain Mercy so shall they with their Infants be received of God in Christ See Rom. 11. 7. for saith the Apostle to the Jews upon their being pricked in their Hearts and their imbracing of Christ for their Saviour The Promise is unto you and unto your Children Acts 2. 39. Ye are the Children of the Prophets and of the Covenant God made with our Fathers saying unto Abraham and in thy Seed shall all the Kindreds of the Earth be Blessed unto you first God having raised up his Son Jesus sent him to bless you in turning away every one of you from his Iniquities Acts 3. 25 26. Here we see God hath not cast away the Infants of his People but as by Unbelief some of the Jews were broken off and their Infants with them so when such Actual Sinners believed they and their Infants were grafted into the True Olive Christ by the Covenant of Grace again and hereupon was that Gospel-Promise fulfilled as it is written I will multiply them and they shall not be few I will also glorifie them and they shall not be small Their Children also shall be as afore-time and their Congregation shall be established before me and I will punish all that oppress them Jer. 30. 19 20. Thus God ever had great esteem of the Lambs of his Fold as appeareth in a day of Sore Calamity when the Lord called for a Fast who but the Infants must be Assembled with their Parents as it is written Blow the Trumpets in Sion sanctifie a Fast call a Solemn Assembly gather the People Sanctifie the Congregation Assemble the Elders gather the Children and those that suck the Breast Then saith the Lord Let the Priest say Spare thy People O Lord and give not thy Heritage to reproach Here we see Gods People are Men Women and their Sucklings and Little ones the Heritage of the Lord their God Joel 2. 15 16 17. Will not these Anabaptists say what Sense had Sucking Infants in that work to seek the Lord As much Sense as God required of them but because they were his Redeemed ones with their Parents unto whom the Promises did belong therefore they were comprehended within the Benefit of the Promise in the Church of God being a part of the Lords People O Spare thy People O Lord and God was their God not by any other way but by the Covenant of Grace in Christ who taketh away their Sin from them the Sin of the World Rom. 5. 16. Again in a like day of Fast when the Heathens came to invade the Land King Jehosaphat proclaimed a Fast throughout all Judah as it is written all Judah gathered themselves together to ask help of the Lord now all Judah were Men and Women and their Little ones as it is written And all Judah stood before the Lord with their little ones their Wives and their Children 2 Chron. 20. 4 13. Thus Children with their Parents the Lord calleth for them in his Service that as Christ is a Mediator for them so they are included in the Prayers of the Church as they are a part of the same Now let these Men shew when Infants of Believing Parents were shut out from the Covenant of Grace before they with Cain Ishmael and Esau by their own Actual Sins made a Separation between the Lord and them while their Parents were stedfast with the Lord in his Covenant which they were bound to keep with Their Children that the Generations to come might know them even the Children that should be born who should arise and declare them to their Children that they might set their hope in God and not forget the works of God but keep his Commandments Psalm 78. 6 7. Now with what Face can the Anabaptists say The State of all Infants is Secret what word have they for it no word of God but like Men relying on the word of Mortal Men as B. Keach doth on his Author Dr. Taylor who saith God may have many ways to magnifie his Grace through Jesus Christ to them which we know not of to which he addeth And what have you to do with the Secrets of God who made you one of his Privy-Council Gold Refined page 143. Answ Paul was one of Christ's Privy-Council and he telleth us the State of Infants is not Secret for by Nature they are all Children of Wrath all sinned in Adam and so are under Death and Condemnation Is this Secret the Apostle Peter telleth us the Promise of the Gospel belongeth to Believers and their Children Christ telleth us in answering a question his Disciples asked him who was greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven the Church Jesus calleth a little Child such as played in the Streets of Jerusalem Zech. 8. 4 5. and set him in the midst of them and declared that that Child of his Kingdom was in the State of the Converted and the Humble and Believing so that if they were not in like State they should not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven Matt. 18. 1 2 3 4 5 6. In Derision of all this whatsoever the Prophet or Christ in Person or his Apostles have said concerning the Happy State of the Infants of his People B. Keach saith Page 144. What Faith is in Infants and therefore in Derision of them against the very Testimony of Christ saith Is it the Faith of the Church or is it an imputive Faith or is it a dogmatical Faith or is it a Physical or Metaphysical or Hyperphisical Faith c. Answ Cannot a Child have the beginning of the Seed of Faith in the Bud unless the Acts of Faith be made manifest I may answer him with Mr. Ainsworth's words against the Anabaptists never yet answered by any of them Ainsworth's Censure on a Dialogue of the Anabaptists Page 52. How do they reason against the Light of Gods Word and even against Nature it self for if some Brutish Person should plead thus a Man is a Living Creature that hath a reasonable Soul and the proper Affections of a Man as he is a Man are the Faculties of Understanding
the Gospel Matt. 5. 17. Think not that I am come to destroy the Law or the Prophets I am not come to destroy but to fulfil Rom. 3. 30 31. Seeing it is one God which shall justifie the Circumcision by Faith and the Uncircumcision through Faith do we then make void the Law through Faith God forbid yea we establish the Law Rom. 7. 7. What shall I say then is the Law Sin God forbid I had not known Sin but by the Law For I had not known Lust except the Law had said thou shalt not Covet James 2. 8 9 10 11. Thus the Law is of the same use to us now as it was to the Church of the Jews We have the Gospel to shew us our Righteousness by Christ without the works of the Law so had they Heb. 4. 2. for unto us was the Gospel preached as well as unto them see Levit. 26. 42 45. Luke 54. 55. 72. 73. Deut. 30. 1. 12 13 14. Rom. 10. 5 6 8. Gen. 15. 6. Psalm 32. 1 2. with Rom. 4. 6. c. 1 Cor. 10. 1 2 3 4. Heb. Chap. 11. only in the manner of Administration of the Law and Gospel there be Differences manifested Ainsworth's Defence of Scripture Page 119. In which Answer of Mr. Ainsworth's is proved these things 1. That the Church of Israel had the very same use of the Law we now have to shew them and us our Sins that we as well as they might be lead to Christ 2. They had the same Gospel to shew them as us our Righteousness in Christ without the works of the Law 3. They had Ordinances for Worship which figur'd Christ to come which they in believing and looking for his coming offered in Faith Heb. chap. 11. so worshipped they the Father in Spirit and in Truth as Christ said to the Woman of Samaria Ye worship ye know not what we know what we worship for Salvation is of the Jews but the hour cometh and now is when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in Spirit and in truth for the Father seeketh such to worship him God is a Spirit and they that worship him must worship him in Spirit and in Truth John 4. 22 23 24. and such Worshippers were the Church of the Jews though not all as in the Gospel-Church many were reproved for seeking to be justified by the works of the Law Gal. 3. Therefore as well they of the Circumcision as others the Apostle testifieth worshipped God in the Spirit though not all as it is written For we are of the Circumcision which worship God in the Spirit and rejoyce in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the Flesh Phil. 3. 3. And thus in the Church of Israel many were Righteous walking in all the Ordinances of the Lord blameless waiting by Faith for Christ in the Promise to come the Consolation of Israel as it is written of old Simeon when Christ was born and brought into the Temple He then took him up in his arms and blessed God and said Lord now lettest thou thy Servant depart in peace according to thy word for mine eyes have seen thy Salvation which thou hast prepared before the face of all People a light to lighten the Gentiles and the Glory of thy People Israel So likewise Anna she coming into the Temple at the same Instant gave Thanks likewise to the Lord and spake of him to wit of Christ To all them who looked for Redemption in Israel Luke 2. 25 28 to 39. Rev. 3. 4. These things being duly observed let the impartial Reader judge whether the Church of Israel were a Carnal People or had a Carnal Covenant and Promise of Carnal things as Mr. Smith feigneth or whether the Church of Israel were not such that worshipped the Father in Spirit and in Truth under the Covenant of Grace by Faith serving God although under Figurative Ordinances for the hope of the Promise made of God to the Father Acts 26. 6 7. yea believing that it was not the Blood of Bulls and Goats that could take away Sin Psalm 40. 6. 51. 16. Heb. 10. 4. but it was the Blood of Christ the Lamb of God the true Sin-offering 2. Cor. 5. 21. that on him was laid the Iniquity of us al Isaiah 53. that shall be saved As John hath proclaimed Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world Therefore what an Erroneous Doctrine is it that John Smith and Mr. Danvers have laid to build the way of Anabaptistry upon to deprive the Infants of Believers from the Right they have now to the Sign of the Remission of their Sin Water-Baptism And not only so but by their Doctrine they Damn the Infants of all Gods People of old if the Covenant the Church of Israel were accepted into with their Children was no other than a Carnal Covenant for a Carnal State is opposite to a Spiritual State as the Apostle proveth Rom. 8. 6 7. for to be carnally minded is Death but to be Spiritually minded is Life and Peace because the Carnal Mind is Enmity against God for it is not subject to the Law of God neither indeed can be so then they that are in the Flesh cannot please God Now if the Church of Israel was in no better State and had but a Carnal Covenant their State was Death and Damnation for as much as there is no Eternal Life but in the Covenant of Grace in Christ John 17. 3. so the Church is not the World which Christ pray'd for ver 9. But that the Church of God from the day the Gospel was Preached to Adam and he and his Wife believed in Christ to come they had the Covenant of Grace whereby God was the God of the Faithful and their Seed so that the Gospel first Preached to Adam that the Seed of the Woman should bruise the Serpents Head is the same Gospel the Apostles taught as it is written And the God of Peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly Rom. 16. 20. And this glad Tidings is summed up in these words of the Everlasting Gospel-Covenant made with Abraham and his Seed as it is written Gen. 17. 7. And I will establish my Covenant between me and thee and thy Seed after thee in their Generations for an everlasting Covenant to be a God unto thee and to thy seed after thee which Covenant together with that in Exod. 19. 5 6. that in Deut. 29. Mr. Cary affirmeth to be but three several Additions to the Covenant of Works made with Adam before the Fall so no part of the Covenant of Grace in Christ Now for as much as Mr. Cary and others when they seek to pervert the Scripture from its true Sense or Meaning as afore hath been shewed concerning the Sense of the word Baptize so here concerning the word Everlasting Covenant Mr. Cary saith in P. 126 127. of his Book Solemn Call It is true saith he the Covenant of Circumcision is called also an Everlasting