some of which are dead and some living But I find he is so subject to mistake both in quoting Authors and Scriptures that I dare not lay any weight upon what he says of them 1. In pag. 4. saith Mr. K. I shall begin with Mr. S. pag. 5. viz. I think there is more to be said for sprinkling or pouring water on the Face in Baptism then there is for dipping or ducking over head and ears in a River or Pond for the latter is more like a punishment of Criminals than the solemnizing of an Ordinance of God c. To which I Answer I am of the same mind still and can see no reason at all to alter it for you cannot produce any positive Command for it nor clear Example of it in all the Book of God but the Learned will tell you that the word Baptize is frequently used for pouring and washing with water 2. What was the signification of all those Sprinklings and Pourings and Washings with Blood and also with Water but to set forth and Typifie the cleansing Vertue of the Holy Ghost and the absolute necessity of Regeneration and Sanctification Isa 52.15 So shall he sprinkle many nations c. that is God will sanctifie many Nations or some of many Nations and what is Baptism but a Sign or Token of Sanctification and Regeneration Exod. 24.8 And Moses took the blood and sprinkled it on the people and said Behold the blood of the covenant which the Lord hath made with you And yet that was but the Sign of the Blood of the Covenant for the real Blood of the Covenant was the Blood of Christ who was given for a Covenant of the People Isa 49.6 8. Heb. 9.13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh Mind it was but the purifying of the Flesh not the Spirit it was but an External Sanctification or a Sign thereof and is Water-baptism any more But mind the 14th verse How much more shall the blood of Christ who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God purge your consciences from dead works to serve the living God Ezek. 36.25 26. Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you and ye shall be clean from all your filthiness and from all your idols will I cleanse you A new heart also will I give you and a new spirit will I put within you and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh and I will give you an heart of flesh And I pray mind all these following Scriptures of Sprinkling and Pourings c. Heb. 12.24 1 Pet. 1.2 Isa 44.3 Exod. 29.16 20 21. Levit. 1.5 11. chap. 9.18 chap. 32.8 13. ch 4.6 17. ch 5.9 ch 8.11 24. chap. 14.7 8 9 16 51. Numb 19.18 19 20 21. 2 Chron. 29.22 chap. 30. 16. Here you see are sprinklings c. both of blood and water under the Old Testament and also the New which Types out Regeneration viz. blood for Justification and water for Sanctification which is very compatible to the signification of Baptism Now pray find us out so many Scriptures if you can wherein Dipping or Immersion in blood and water do so nearly represent and parallel the Ordinance of Water-baptism and also that have the Covenant for their Center as all these I quoted have both in the Old and New Testament 3. It is a practice among the Heathens as I have been informed when they Dedicate any thing to their Idol-Gods to take it and dip or plunge it all under water and if so then it is plainly forbidden in Levit. 20.23 And ye shall not walk in the manners of the nations which I cast out before you c. 4. Suppose for Arguments sake that it should be granted That dipping in Baptism was the Mode in those Hot Countries where it could not be so prejudicial to their Health yet it doth not therefore follow that Persons should be dipped all under water in these Northern Countries where it is so extream cold especially in the Winter unless there had been a positive Command given for so doing for Baptism is a Duty at all times of the Year for God never Appointed any Ordinance that would put his People in Jeopardy of their Lives 5. The Anabaptists will have Dipping to be the only Mode of Baptism For say they John baptized in Enon near Salim because there was much water there But the Learned do tell us that it should be read thus viz. Because there were many waters there And so I have it also in a Spanish Testament which I may as well make use of as Mr. B. K. hath of the Dutch Tongue Viz. John 3.23 Y Baptizava Tambien Juan en Enon junto a Salim porque Avia muchas Aguas y venian y eran Baptizados If it had been much water then it must have been mucho agua in the singular and not muchas aguas which is many waters in the plural And Travellers that have been in those Countries do say that there is scarcely water enough to cover a Mans Ancles much less to bury their Bodies 6. Another Scripture they lay great stress upon for Dipping is Rom. 6.4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism c. In which Text is Typed out unto us the new Birth which consists of two parts namely the death of Sin and the Resurrection of Spiritual Life c. And both these are pointed at in Baptism as a Sign thereof and so it was in Circumcision both which you have represented together to the same purpose in Col. 2.10 11 12. which seems also to refer to or point out unto us the change of the Ordinance from Circumcision to Baptism viz. And ye are complete in him which is the head of all principality and power In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ Buried with him in baptism wherein also you are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God who hath raised him from the dead Ver. 13 14. And you being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh hath he quickened together with him having forgiven you all trespasses Blotting out the hand-writing of ordinances that was against us which was contrary to us and took it out of the way nailing it to his cross Here are several things to be observed from these Scriptures 1. Here is Circumcision and Baptism both pointing at one and the same thing viz. The death of the body of Sin for all the Elect of God vertually in the death of Christ and the Resurrection of their Spiritual Life when Christ arose from the dead which is the First Resurrection on whom the Second Death shall have no power for under the Figure of Circumcision it is said putting off the body of the sins of the flesh Secondly Under the
Figure of Baptism it is buried with him in baptism which is the death and burial of Sin 2. Here was the total Abolition of the Ceremonial Law but not of the Moral Law for the substantial part of the Ten Commandments are as much in force and as binding now as ever and likwise of Circumcision the Token of the Everlasting Covenant which is centered in the Ordinance of Baptism 3. This destroys their Argument viz. That Persons do act Grace in their own Baptism For what Analogy can there be in Burial which they make the Pattern for their Mode of Baptism wherein the Subject is wholly passive so as nothing can be more and being active in Baptism here the former part of their Argument contradicts and destroys the latter part thereof 4. The substance of these Scriptures do not only make more for us who do affirm That all the Subjects of Baptism are wholly passive in the Administration thereof but also it points out unto us the very subjects themselves namely Young Infants For such were the subjects of Circumcision 5. And Lastly The Apostle represents the new Birth in these Scriptures in which all the Elect Young and Old are as passive as a Child is in its own natural birth and this Spiritual birth is frequently set forth by sprinkling washing and pouring water as I have proved and let them prove that it is represented by dipping or plunging if they can in all the Book of God 2. Let us hear something of what Mr. John Ollyffe Rector of Almer in the County of Dorset saith in his Brief Defence of Infant-Baptism concerning the Mode or Manner of Baptism First Mr. O. saith in pag. 57. It is to be observed that whenever the Holy Ghost in the New Testament hath occasion to mention the Act of Dipping it is never expressed by this word that signifieth to baptize but by another which we have but four times in the New Testament viz. Luke 16.24 John 13.26 Matth. 26.23 Rev. 19.13 But whenever the Act of Baptizing is exprest it is always exprest by another word The word Baptize is often used to signifie any kind of washing or cleansing by water by the application of water any way to the thing Mark 7.4 The Pharisees eat not except they wash In the Greek it is Except they be baptized Again Luke 11.38 The Pharisees marvelled that our Saviour had not first washed before dinner In the Greek likewise it is That he was not first baptized Secondly In pag. 59. In those Examples which seem to be most express for Dipping and therefore are most commonly urged for the Proof of it there is at most but a bare probability of it and hardly that in some but there is no demonstrative Proof can be made from any of them The first is Mat. 3.13 16. which sets forth the Baptism of our Saviour by John Baptist at Jordan ver 16. Jesus when he was baptized went up straitway out of the water c. But indeed this Text if rightly interpreted doth not so much as prove that our Saviour went into the water at all for in the Greek he came up from the water and not out of it c. And so I have it in my Spanist Testament also viz. Y Jesus Desque Fue Baptizado Subio Luego Del Aqua y heaqui los cielos le Fueron Abiertos y vido Al Espiritu de Dios que Decendia como paloma y venia Sobre el And Jesus when he was baptized came up straightway from the water Subio Luego Del Agua came up from the water and not out of the water Mr. O. saith Another Text that is urged is John 3.23 That John was baptizing in Enon near Salim because there was much water there And because of the numbers of those that went to John to be baptized it was most convenient that it should be in such places where there was plenty of water but can any one prove hence that they were baptized by dipping into it or under it c. In that place it is not said that there was much water together but in the Original it is many waters that is many Streams or Rivulets c. But let that be how it will there is no determinate manner exprest or to be certainly and evidently concluded as ought to have been to build a Consequence of such a nature upon as to infer an obligation to such a determinate manner Thus you hear what this Learned Author saith touching the Mode of Baptism and it is to be observed from Mr. B. K's own words to me in his Book that this Mode of theirs is but a bare Supposition at best because saith he Suppose it be found at the Last Day to be Dipping This looks little especially to lay such a stress upon it as to Assert all other Modes are no Baptism for if he had a clear Command for it why had he not said You shall find it to be Dipping at the Last Day and not Suppose it be found so But say I Suppose it be found at the Last Day to be Sprinkling pouring Water c. For there is a far greater Probability of that then of Dipping as I have sufficiently proved Wherefore this Great Pretended Infallible Mode of Dipping for Baptism is but a bare may be at the best I shall descant a little upon the unseemliness of Immersion of Women and Maids in Baptism 1. If it be a shame for a Woman to be uncovered in the Church and Worship of God because of the Angels how much more abominable in the fight of God Angels and Men is it for Women and Young Maids to be uncovered by being stript out of their ordinary Dress within a little of naked and to be handled about the Back and Breast and have their Heels tript up and flounced over Head and Ears for Baptism This is against the plain written Word in 1 Cor. 11. For Baptism is a part of Gospel Church-Worship 2. Doth not Nature it self teach us that it is a shameful luxurious way thus to baptize Women and Maids For though the Mans Hands do not slip it is a thousand to one but his Heart and Thoughts may for I know of no Saint upon Earth that is so perfectly holy as to be out of the reach of Satans Temptations for David though a Man after Gods own Heart was insnared at the remote sight of a beautiful Bathsheba a washing her self though he was not so near as to handle her 3. All sober modest Women do count it to be a very bold lascivious Action for any Man except their own Husband to attempt to lay his Hands upon her Breasts and looks upon it to be but one degree short of most notorious Impudence And the Caution concerning Womens behaviour and deportment in the Church and worship of God is brought in by the Apostle Argumentativily viz. Because of the Angels for they are strict observators of ALL persons in the Church and worship of God 4.
Sin then both these two Ordinances viz. Circumcision and the Passeover were transformed into Baptism and the Lords Supper and whereas the two former did shew the Lords Death to come so the two latter do shew that the Lord is come and hath been offered up a Sacrifice for sin and Baptism is the Sign of Circumcision a Seal of the Righteousness of Faith as succeeding Circumcision 4. I challenge Mr. B. K. to prove that ever the believing Jews children were denied the Ordinance of Baptism or that Infant-baptism is any where forbid in the Gospel 5. And Lastly Let him also prove if he can that ever any one Child either of believing Jew or Gentile did stay until he was an Adult Person and then made a confession of his Faith and was baptized for no doubt but there were many thousands of Believers children and Grand-children that were Believers and grown Persons in the Apostles Time whose Parents might be baptized by John at the first Institution of that Ordinance And would it not be very strange if they had not been baptized in their Infancy that we should not read of one that had been baptized when he came to Years of understanding Timothy's Mother and Grandmother were both Believers and he himself an Eminent Saint and he made a great Figure in the Church of Christ and yet we never read of his Baptism but we do of his Circumcision but no doubt but as the latter was in his Manhood so the former was in the time of his Childhood Thus I have proved the Infant-Seed of Believers to be Disciples 2. All the Infant-Seed of Believers are called holy Children 1 Cor. 7.14 Even as the Children of Israel were because they were a Covenant-People and yet all Israel were not saved for with many of them God was not well-pleased neither do I believe that all the Seed of Gospel-Believers will be saved though they are baptized but all that are Elected shall be saved They are holy by vertue of their being in the Covenant with their Parents and as Christ did not come to destroy the Law but to fulfil it so neither did he come to Repeal nor Dissolve the Covenant but to confirm it Dan. 9. And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off but not for himself c. And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week c. 5. The Infant-Seed of Believers are under the Ministry of the Holy Angels Mat. 18.10 Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones for I say unto you that in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven And look back on the 6th verse and you will see that they were Children that believed in Christ Heb. 1. Are they not all ministring spirits sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation The blessed Angels have the care and conduct of all the Elect of God both in their Lives and at their Deaths Luke 16. And it came to pass that the beggar died and was carryed by the Angels into Abrahams bosome That was into Eternal Glory and the Angels are as capable of doing Service for an Elect Infant both living and dying as they are for the oldest Saint upon Earth because the Angels are not Acted by any power of the Creatures but by the Power of God therefore the Infant-Seed of Believers have a Right to Baptism in which Ordinance all the Subjects are as passive as all the Subjects of Circumcision were and the Children of Believers do make the same passive Figure in the Church now as the Children of the Jews did in the Church under the Law for our Saviour tells us that of such is the Kingdom of Heaven which is the Church 6. And Lastly To crown all the rest Was the sweet compassionate behaviour of our blessed Redeemer towards the Infant-Seed of Believers in Mark 10. And they brought young children unto him that he should touch them and his disciples rebuked those that brought them But when Jesus saw it he was much displeased and said unto them Suffer the little children to come unto me and forbid them not for of such is the kingdom of God And he took them up in his arms put his hands upon them and blessed them 1. Here was no bodily Distemper complained of nor no cure wrought upon their Bodies 2. These Children were the Infant-Seed of Believers For if their Parents had not been reconciled unto Christ they would never have brought their children unto him to be blessed by him 3. As they were Adult Believers that brought them to Christ so were they also which rebuked them that brought them 4. And Lastly Christ did receive them and laid his Hands on them and blessed them and also prayed Thus you see that the sweet carriage and compassionate behaviour of our blessed Redeemer towards these little Infants of believing Parents doth clearly demonstaate unto us that they were in the Covenant and were baptized before they were thus visibly brought unto Christ seeing that he himself laid his hands on them and blessed them for laying on of Hands in the Primitive Time was succedaneous to Baptism Acts 8.12 15 16 17. Thus you see it clearly made out That all the Infant-Seed of Believers have a Right to the Ordinance of Baptism and this brings me to take notice of that Query of B. K's viz. What Benefit is it to a Child to be baptized To which I reply So might proud carnal Reason have Queried in the Time of Circumcision What benefit have our Young Infants by being circumcised at Eight Days old But the Apostles Answer is very compatible to Mr. K. Rom. 3.1 2. What advantage then hath the Jew or what profit is there of circumcision Much every way chiefly because that unto them were committed the Oracles of God Believing Gentiles and their Children are one Body and likewise a holy People 1 Cor. 7.14 And so they have a Federal Right unto the Oracles of God as Israel had of old 3. Baptism is a solemn Dedication of our Children unto God from whom we received them and it must be done by a solemn Act by the Parents consent in an Ordinance of God or else it is but humane Invention therefore if it ought not to be done in that Church Ordinance namely Baptism then I desire to know of those Gentlemen that oppose it what Church Ordinance it must be done in that is more compatible than that of Baptism 4. And Lastly It is the Duty of all Christian Believers to look upon all their Children in their Infancy as Elected of God from all Eternity It is not for us to reprobate any of them in our Minds and say If I knew which of my Children were chosen of God I would dedicate them only unto God in Baptism For that indeed is a secret we ought not to pry into it is Gods Prerogative only to know which of our Childrens Names are written in