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
is to be taken what Hand Administreth the Setting to of the Hand in the Signing and Sealing of our Everlasting Covenant of which Water-Baptism is one wherein is contained all the Promises of Gods Love in Christ to us and unto our Children to confirm the revealed things that the Scripture saith belongeth to us and unto our Children Deut. 29. 23. of the Remission of our Sins here and of our Eternal Inheritance in Heaven hereafter Now then to the Law and to the Testimony they that speak not according to it there is no light in them Isaiah 8. 20. Therefore though it was lawful for any Gifted Brother Acts 13. 15. 1 Cor. 14. 29 31. Heb. 5. 12. 1 Peter 4. 11. or Man in Israel as now it is in the Churches under the Gospel to expound the Scripture Yet as of old the Sealing Ordinances were commanded of God to be done by Men in Office which the Apostle Paul confirmeth in these words For no Man taketh on him the Office of Priesthood Heb. 5. 4. but he that is called of God as was Aaron So that for breach of order as well as in other matters whatsoever was written afore time is written for our Learning Rom. 15. 4. Psal 102. 13. to warn all that none presume without Office to do the work belonging peculiarly to an Officer least Gods Judgment in Soul and Blindness of Mind and Body fall on them as it did on Corah Dathan and Abiram Numb 16. 16. who sought to overthrow Gods Order appertaining to Offices as the Anabaptists do as aforesaid like they of old to Gods Ministers that they take too much upon them For so they of old charged Moses and Aaron as the Anabaptists now do the Apostles upon the same Grounds with like pretence seeing all the Congregation are Holy and so many gifted Brethren Famous in the Congregation Why may not they Administer the Sealing Ordinances as well as you the Ministers of the Lord. Surely if the right Eye of these Men were not blinded Zach. 11. 17. they might see that John for his Office was Surnamed the Baptist foretold of by the Prophet in Holy Scripture and not for his Preaching only but in special by name called John Baptist Matt. 3. 1. Luke 7. 20. John 1. 31. for Baptizing So that we see at the first Institution of Water-Baptism established for a Gospel Ordinance after Christ's Death and Resurrection Acts 2. 38 39. as a Sign and Seal of the Benefit of the New Testament for the Remission of Sins was commended by the Lord and given to his peculiar Messengers the Apostles called Ambassadors 2 Cor. 5. 20. and such as were endued with Gifts to work Miracles These Master-builders having given order for the Ordaining of Officers by the Churches for to Administer the infealing Ordinances namely Water-Baptism and the Lords-Supper by Pastors and Teachers Titus 1. 5. Acts 14. 23. Thus we see why the Anabaptists would be called Baptists because all would be Baptizers and John a Baptist Yea and do hereupon hold it lawful for an unbaptized Person to Baptize himself and herein they pretend to a higher Commission than John Baptist Therefore And now at random without due Consideration hath Ben. Keach said as aforesaid That the Efficacy of Baptism depends not in the least upon the Quality of the Person Administering of it Ben. Keach Gold Refined P. 20 21. As if John was an ordinary Person whom the Scripture saith Among those that were born of Women there was not a greater Prophet than John the Baptist Matt. 11. 11. Moreover the Jews well knew that Water-Baptism was a great Ordinance that was adjoyned to Circumcision as Mr. Henry Ainsworth in his Annotations on Gen. 17. sheweth out of the Jews Records How that every Proselyte that joyned himself to God and his Church by the Covenant of Grace in Christ for by no other Covenant was ever any Soul reconciled to God So that the Hebrews write That every Proselyte that joyned himself was Baptized Circumcised and brought a Sacrifice So that Circumcision and Baptism then was not done by any ordinary Person less than Gods Minister by Office Therefore the Jews made no question of the Ordinance of Water-Baptism in it self But the question they put to John was John 1. 25. Why Baptizest thou if thou be not the Christ nor Elias nor that Prophet By which it appeareth that they held it unlawful for any ordinary Teacher in Israel to Baptize but a Prophet of God or at least a Ministerial Officer And so we have reason to believe now in the Administration of Gods Sealing Ordinances Water-Baptism and the Lords-Supper that no Man but a Minister by Office as Pastor or Teacher can or may Administer it without Sin since extraordinary Officers are ceased as Apostles and Evangelists unless we hold the Baptism of Water after Christs Resurrection inferior to the Baptism of John For most clear it is that the Sacraments of the Old Testament were Administred by peculiar Men called of God thereunto As the Ark in the Water being a Figure of Baptism built by Noah 1 Peter 3. 20 21. a Priest and Preacher of Righteousness Circumcision Administred by Abraham a Prophet Gen. 17. 13. Patriarch and Priest the private Passover by the Elders and Fathers of Families the publick Passover at the place the Lord had chosen Administred by the Priests and Levites and to this day the Priests among the Jews Circumcise all their Male Children in Germany and other places So when Christ the Master Matt. 26. 26. did eat the Passover with his Disciples He it was that took the Bread Blessed and brake it and gave it to his Disciples These things the Apostle Paul urged to be minded in the Church of God at Corinth and so to all Churches that order be kept in the Performance of all Gods Ordinances for God is not the Author of Confusion but of Peace as in all Churches of the Saints and therefore hath commanded that all things be done decently and in order 1 Cor. 14. 33 40. Again For to what purpose are Officers chosen as in the Old and New Testament But that some special work belongeth to them which Men out of Office may not no not under never so good intent presume to do 2 Chron. 13. 11. as did Uzza which cost him his Life but he that is called of God So that whereas it is afore objected by Ben. Keach that Philip Baptized being but a Deacon which is a gross Mistake Acts 21. 8. for a Teacher to publish in Print wherein he hath shewn his gross Ignorance in so plain a case if not a willful Mistake supposing his word was a Law to the Anabaptists for we read when Philip Baptized he was more than a Deacon namely a Minister of the Word and named expresly an Evangelist Acts 21. 8. which was one of those extraordinary Offices given to the Churches for a time as were the Apostles Besides Philip was Acts 8. 26. Authorized expresly to
Kindred and Tongue and People and Nation and hast made us unto our God Kings and Priests and we shall reign on Earth First over our Sins and Corruptions that they have no Dominion over us Rom. 6. 14. The Lord Christ having subdued our Iniquities Micah 7. 19. So having a part in the first Resurrection we shall Reign with Christ 2. By overcoming our selves which is greater than all Earthly Conquest according to the Scripture He that is slow to Anger is better than the mighty Man and he that ruleth his own Spirit is better than he that winneth a City Prov. 16. 32. 3. Our overcoming the World is in not loving it 1 John 2. 15. and to keep our selves unspotted from it James 1. 27. Patiently for Christ's sake bareing the Reproaches in it 1 Cor. 4. 9 13. so shall we be more than Conquerors Rom. 8. 37. And this is the Victory that we overcome the World even our Faith 1 John 5. 4. â—4 Over Satan by resisting him stedfast in the Faith 1 Peter 5. 9. So shall we by the Power of Christ overcome him by the Blood of the Lamb and word of his Testimony Rev. 12. 11. So shall we tread Satan under our Feet shortly and judge the World and Angels 1 Cor. 6. 2 3. As Noah condemned the World by Faith in preparing an Ark to the saving of his House the Church of God and Preaching Christ our Righteousness by Faith in the Promise and so became an Heir to reign with Christ in Glory in Heaven for evermore Heb. 11. 7. Rom. 8. 17. Thus as Christ is King and Priest on his Throne in the Kingdom of his Mediatorship in his Church Zach. 6. 13. Rev. 4. 3. 15. 3. from whom this Grace cometh to his Saints by applying unto us his Sufferings Death Burial Righteousness Resurrection and Glorious Victory over Sin Death and Hell to be ours Isaiah 53. 4 5. Rom. 4. 25. For so he hath made us Kings and Priests unto God even his Father Rev. 1. 6. So that as the Covenant of Grace was one to the Church of Israel of old as now to us Gentiles as it is written I the Lord have called thee in Righteousness and will hold thine hand and will keep thee and give thee for a Covenant of the People for a light of the Gentiles Isa 42. 6. So have we the same Faith the Church of Israel had 2 Cor. 4. 13. Psalm 116. 10. only their Redemption was under the Performance of Figurative Ordinances as the Epistle to the Hebrews sheweth yet both the Churches now and of old all under the same Benefits of Grace as they were a Kingdom of Priests so are we a Royal or Kingly Priesthood as they were a Holy Nation so are we as they were a peculiar Treasure to the Lord above all People so are the Churches now a peculiar People Exod. 19. 5 6. 1 Peter 2. 9. As they were called out of Egypt the Figure of our Captivity by Sin so are we called out of the Spiritual Egypt Exod. 4. 22 23. Rev. 11. 8. As the very Names of the Five Books of Moses have their Titles to note the things contained in them as Mr. Ainsworth in his Epistle to the Five Books of Moses saith Genesis that is Generation which endeth with the going down of Israel into Egypt in which we have the Image of the Natural Man fallen from God into the Bondage of Sin 2ly In Exodus or Departure is the Type of our Regeneration and State revived by Christ so was the Covenant of Grace Gen. 17. revived Exod. 19. 5 6. 3ly As in Leviticus the Sacrifices in the Service of God the shadow of our Mortification sheweth whilst we are made Sacrifices unto God Rom. 12. 4ly Numbers the Sign of our Spiritual Warfare whereunto we are mustered and armed to Fight the Good Fight of Faith 5ly Deuteronomy or the Repetition of the Doctrine of Sanctification and Preparation to enter into our Heavenly Canaan after Moses Death by the Conduct of Jesus the Son of God By all which it appeareth although God lead his People under Tipes and Shadows pointing to Christ yet the proper end of the Law taught Israel the Worship of God in Spirit and in Truth Deut. 5. 7 8. 6. 4 5 6. as the truly Godly in Israel well knew and confessed see and read Psal 32. 1 2. Psalm 40. 6. 51. 6 16. compared with Rom. 10. 8 9. Again what the Nature of the Covenant Exod. 19. 5 6. was the Prophet Jeremiah sheweth speaking to Judah in reproving the Church for Breach thereof when as by that Covenant Exod. 19. 5 6. they were planted a noble Vine wholly a right Seed but by Apostacy they were turned into a strange Vine Jer. 2. the Vine is Christ unto whom they were espoused to him their Head and they were Branches by this Covenant John 15. made in the Wilderness Acts 7. 38. Members of his Body the Church as it is written Thus saith the Lord I remember thee the kindness of thy youth the love of thine espousals when thou wentest after me in the Wilderness Israel was Holiness unto the Lord and the first fruits of his Increase all that devour him shall offend evil shall come upon them saith the Lord Jer. 2. 2 3. Now where do we read that by any other Covenant than that of Grace Israel were espoused or married to the Lord The Angel of Gods Presence who went before them in the Wilderness Isaiah 63. 9. and was also their Rearward for by no other Covenant but that of Grace are a People made the First-fruits unto the Lord as we read Israel by this Covenant of Grace in Christ was as James saith to the Christians that they were a kind of the First-fruits of his Creatures James 1. 18. We likewise read that Christs redeemed ones Rev. 14. 4. are called the First-fruits unto God and unto the Lamb. These Spiritual Mercies were never given to any People by a Covenant of Works but by the Covenant of Grace in Christ from whence only ariseth these Priviledges to be a Kingdom of Priests a Holy Nation a Chosen Generation the First-fruits unto God and the Lamb. Moreover the Lord when treating with Judah in her Apostacy by Ezekiel putteth her in mind of his Mercy to their Forefathers when he brought them out of Egypt when they were polluted with the Idols of Egypt Ezek. 20. so that their Estate was like the State of the Heathen Canaanites the worst of People in which sinful State when no Eye pittied them then by the Free Grace of God in Christ the Lord had Compassion on them as it is written Ezek. 16. 6 8. When I passed by thee and saw thee polluted in thine own blood I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood Live Yea I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood Live Now when I passed by thee and looked upon thee behold thy time was the time of Love and I spread my