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A77739 A confutation of the Anabaptists, and all others who affect not civill government; proving the lawfullnesse of it: and a full answer to all their cavills, that are, or can be made against it. With a nut-cracker for an unnaturall nut, whose shell is as hard as the scales of Leviathan, and the kernell of his heart as hard as a piece of the nether mill-stone, Iob 41.15.24. yet the hammer of Gods word that breaketh in pieces the rocks, Ier. 23.29. will break this nut, that all may see the devillish kernell that is in it. Also arguments against the Anabaptists, proving that infants borne of Christian parents ought to be baptized: with a full answer to all their cavills that are (or can be) made against it. Imprimatur Ja. Cranford. Bakewell, Thomas, b. 1618 or 19. 1644 (1644) Wing B530; Thomason E51_20; ESTC R209932 98,225 89

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baptized of us till after confession whereby he may so satisfie the Church 15thly they object from the institution of baptisme that Christ sending out his Apostles to all Nations commanded them first to teach and then baptize them Mat. 28.19 And so in the last of Mark it is said he that beleeveth and is baptized shal be saved nence they conclude saying that teaching must goe before baptis●ne by the expresse command of Christ to his Apostles and say they hee doth assigne baptisine to be a state after faith and say they Christ shewed us an example of himselfe which would not be baptized till the thirtieth yeare of his life I answer from the first of these that the Apostles after they have baptized any then they are charged to teach them to observe all things whatsoever Christ commanded them Mat. 28.19.20 Hence I gather frō their own exposition thus that although they do as Christ did who lived 30 years before that he was baptized al that time have bin taught to reform their lives yet by their own expositiō they must not observe do what Christ here commands them till they be baptized because observation reformation are set downe after baptisme in this place Then seeing they fall thus foule upon their own exposition that they must not observe practise till they be baptized in my judgmēt it were good to have thē baptized betime that they may begin reformation betime that they may not only be taught 20 or 30 years but they may observe and practise what they have been taught But here all may see what unprofitable hearers they make of their children who shall heare before baptisme because that teaching is set downe first but they must not observe and practise till after baptisme because that is set down last neither will they baptize them that they may observe and practise Here I may repeat againe what I said before that the Apostles were sent amongst heathens that are out of the Covenant but we are Christians in the Covenant and they were men of age but ours are Infants not capable of teaching But do they stand so much upon this that teaching is set down first although observation be set down after baptismein the same place then let us to this joyn another Io. 3.5 see Acts 22.16 where Christ doth not say except ye be born of the spirit first and then of water afterwards ye cannot enter into the Kingdome of heaven but contrary he saith except ye be borne of water and then of the spirit shewing that baptisme must give them admittance into the visible Church of God here and they must be borne of the spirit that is regenerated before that they can come into God heavenly Kingdom and we know that many were baptized before that they had the gifts and graces of the holy Ghost given them Acts 8.16.17 Again they being sent to teach those that were capable of teaching then to baptize them but will it follow hence that Infants must be first taught and then baptized because Abraham was ninety and nine yeares old when he was circumcised must Isaac be so too a pretty conclusion But I have answered it already and proved it too weak an argument to debar Infants born of Christians from the seale of baptisme but further let me cleare this by a similitude the Apostle saith this we command you that if any will not worke neither should they eat 2 Thes 3.10 will they hence conclude that the Apostle will suffer none to eat but such as worke then what shall our aged people and Infants doe and our sick and weak and lame people doe shall we starve them all because they cannot worke this is our Anabaptists divinity who make that a generall rule for all which is spoken only of some for say they because men of yeares must be instructed before they be baptized therefore Infants must be so too and because men growne in health and strength must worke or else they must not eat therefore infants must doe so too or else they must not eat Now for the example of Christ who they say was not baptized till he was 30 years of age I hope they will not say that he wanted fitnesse till he was of that age to be baptized for when be was but twelve yeares old he disputed with the Doctors in the Teme pl and all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers Luke 2.42.46.47 Then the reason why Christ was not baptized till the middle of mans age or till he was 30 years of age was because he was minded then with his Doctrine to institute baptisme and that he might procure the greater authority to his institution he sanctified it with his owne body who was baptized to sanctifie that ordinance unto us and he sent out his Apostles to baptize all Nations in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy Ghost Mat. 28. Though Iesus himselfe baptized not meaning with water because saith Iohn the Baptist he that commeth after me shall baptize you with the holy Ghost Mat 3.11 Thus Christ did then to many as also now when he make to that ordinance effectuall to the cleansing of their foules from sin but if they stand so much upon the thirtieth yeare why then did they suffer Gervetus one of their great Masters to begin at the age of one and twenty years to boast of himselfe to be a prophet and they suffered him to take the place of a teacher before that he had been a member of their Church 16 they object that if Infants be baptized they may aswell receive the Lords Supper I answer no that will not follow for the Scriptures shew us a large difference betweene those two baptisme is a signe of admission whereby they are numbred among the people of God it is a signe of spirituall regeneration whereby wee are born again the children of God whereas on the other side the Lords Supper is given to men growne in years and therefore able to beare stronger meat and whereas the Scripture never saith that any infants born of christian parents are unfit for baptisme yet none must receive the Lords Supper but such as discerne the body and blood of the Lord and are able to examine their owne conscience and able to declare the Lords death the Apostle exhorteth that every man should prove and examine himselfe and then eat of that bread and drinke of that cup therefore examination must go before which were a vaine thing to looke for from infants againe he that eateth and drinketh unworthily eateth and drinketh damnation to himselfe not discerning the Lords body But if none can partake worthily but they that can discerne the Lords body why then should we give to our tender children poyson in stead of lively food Again the commandement is that ye shall doe it in remembrance of me and that other sentence as often as ye eat of this bread and
drinke of this cup ye doe shew the Lords death till he come but what remembrance can bee required in our infants of the thing which they never attained with understanding what preaching of the crosse of Christ can they comprehend in their mind none of these things are prescribed nor required in baptisme therefore between these two signes there is great difference and it was so between circumcision and the passeover in the old Testament for circumcision which is well knowne to answer our baptisme was appointed for infants but the passeover which our Lords Supper succeeded did not receive all manner of guests without difference but it was rightly eaten by them only that were of age did enquire into the signification of it These things methinks might satisfie these men if they were not wilfully blinded and obstinately bent to goe on in their errour Now it may be demanded whether the children of Turkes of Jewes may lawfully be baptized I answer no because their parents are out of the Covenant so that the case is not the same as with Infants borne of Christans with whom God hath made a Covenant and with their seed who are children of the Covenant Therefore as we our selves have right to the seale of this covenant so have our Infants as soone as they are borne although the Lord in mercy did forbeare eight dayes to the Jewes because they were then unable to beare it 2. It may be demanded whether children of professed Papists may be baptized I answer their parents are baptized in the name of the Father Son and holy Ghost and though the Papacy be not the Church of God yet the true Church of God is hidden amongst them and for this cause baptisme remaines still in the Church of Rome and their children may be baptized yet with these cautions First that their parents desire this baptisme 2. That there be Churches which promise the educacation of the child in the true saith Thirdly it may be demanded whether the children of prophane and wicked parents who hold the true religion in their judgement but deny it in their lives may the children of such be baptized I answ They may for all that for without exception they that were of circumcised lewes were circumcised Gen. 12.23 Although many were wicked yet al were circumcised Again although our immediate parents were wicked yet it may be some of our predecessors were holy and if the roote bee holy so are the branches Rom. 11.16 This also may answer a question whether the children of fornication may be baptized I answ They may if some besides their parents will answer for their good education neither is there any reason that the sins of the parents should hinder the child of baptisme being a thing pertaining to life eternall Fourthly It may be demanded whether children of excommunicate parents may be baptized I answ as before that if some will answer for their good education they may for the parents although excommunicated yet still they remain for members of the Church having still a right and title to the Kingdome of heaven are not absolutely cast out of it but with this condition if they do not repent although in part they are in respect of their communion or use of their liberty yet not in respect of their right and title but as a free man of a corporation being imprisoned remains a free man still although for the time he hath no use of his liberty 5. It may be demanded whether the intention of him that baptizeth be necessary I answer if the word of institution come to the element it is a Sacrament whatsoever the Ministers intention be Paul rejoyced that Christ was preached although many preached of envy contention with no desire of any good to their hearers Phil. 1.16 Then the intention of the mind is not necessary if so be the institution be observed And the efficacy of the Sacrament depends not on the will of man but on the will of God 6. It may be demanded what is the duty of the Minister in baptizing I answ he stands in the room of God what he doth according to the institution is as much as if God himself had done it with his own hand and therefore when the Minister doth apply water to the body which is the signe and pledge of grace he doth withall apply the promise of remission and life everlasting to the party baptized that is as much as if God should say to the party baptized calling him by his name I freely give unto thee the pardon of all thy sins and life everlasting upon condition that thou keepe the order set downe in baptisme which is to turne unto me and to beleeve in Christ then here is ground for a speciall saith First God for his part by hand of the Minister applyes the promise of mercy to every particular beleever then againe every particular beleever is by a speciall faith to receive the promise For when God shall speake unto us particularly and as it were assure us of his mercies with his owne hand and seale we must needs be moved in our obedience to his will and our hearts must be affected with it 7. It may be demanded whether baptisme administred by wicked men or Hereticks or such as cannot preach be lawfull and true baptisme I answer if such a one be chosen and put in the place of a true Pastor and keepe the true forme of baptizing according to the Institution in the name of the Father Son and holy Ghost it is true baptisme but if they baptize in the name of any other it is unlawfull for were ye baptized in the name of Paul I thanke God I baptized none of you lest any should say that I baptized in my owne name 1 Cor. 1.13.14 15. These things considered although they were ignorant and could not preach or wicked Hereticks that did administer it yet their baptisme was lawfull For the Pharisees and Doctors of the Jewes were many of them not of the Tribe of Levi but of some other Tribes and many of them were Hereticks and Apostates yet they were in the place of good Pastors and sate in Moses Chaire and taught some of Moses doctrine therefore saith Christ heare them 8. It may be demanded by the Anabaptists who are not pleased with our baptisme whether those that we have baptized may not be baptized againe by them Such Katabaptists were in Calvin's time that did furiously cal upon them to be baptized againe To this I answer that they may not be baptized againe being once baptized the efficacy of baptisme extends it selfe to the whole life of man and we are but once new borne and once ingrafted into Christ and the gift of regeneration is never extinguished if a man could be borne againe he should need to be baptised againe because that baptisme is the Sacrament of Incision or ingrafting Now if any should say that a beleever that is ingrafted into
Christ should by his own sins and wickednesse make himselfe a dead member I should tell that man it is unpossible For the spirituall Temple is made of living stones 1 Pet. 2.5 And they are passed from death to life John 5.24 And beleevers are of the houe and flesh of Christ that can never dye more Ephesians 5.30 9. It may be demanded what seale or marke is set on Gods people by this ●acrament of baptisme I answer there is a two-fold seale one outward and ●●e other inward The outward and visible marke or seale is to distinguish Christians from Turkes Jewes and Infidels as the blood of the Pascall Lamb did betweene the Israelites and the Egyptians Now the inward or invisible marke or seale that is set upon us in baptisme being effectuall is the knowledge of our election this baptisme being effectuall shewes unto us that the foundation of God remaineth sure having this seale the Lord knoweth who are his 2 Tim. 2.19 By vertue of this saith Christ I know my sheepe John 10. And by this the elect of all nations are marked Rev. 7.9 The second inward seale is the gift of regeneration which is nothing else but the imprinting of the image of God in the soules of men and by this beleevers are sealed Epes 1.13 2 Cor. 1.22 Now baptisme is a meanes to see this marke in us because it is the laver of regeneration for as the water washeth away the filth of the body so the thing signified which is the blood of Christ doth wash away the sin of our soules Here I thought to have ended this discourse concerning baptisme being already I suppose sufficient to satisfie the Reader but I looking about me saw one Servetus a mighty Anabaptist the glory of their company he came matching with his twenty arguments and he set upon me and forced me to give him Battell First saith he the signes of Christ are perfect therefore saith he they that receive them must bee perfect or at least able to conceive perfection But here this man is a litle too hasty to require perfection the first day saith Paul not as though I were already perfect but I follow after and presse toward the marke Phil. 3.12 13 14. Baptisme extendeth it selfe throughout all our life till death therefore we must grow unto perfection in degrees Secondly he saith the signes of Christ were ordained for remembrance that every man should remember that he was buried together with Christ but here the man hath left his baptisme and is fled to the Lords Supper see 1 Cor. 11.24.25 Thirdly he saith all they abide in death which believe not the Sonne of God and the wrath of God abideth on them and therefore infants which cannot believe lie in their damnation I answer Christ only threatneth the despisers of the Gospell which proudly and stubbornly refuse the grace that is offered them but what is this concerning infants saith Christ it is not the will of your heavenly Father that one of these litle ones should perish Mat. 18.14 But how can this be if they he still in damnation under the wrath of God no the spirit of God can worke the seeds of grace in them although wee cannot conceive the maner how it is done 4. he objecteth that we are first in our natural condition therefore we must tarry for baptisme which is spiritual It i● true we are shapen in iniquity conceived in sin Ps 51. And by nature children of wrath Ephes 2.3 But by his good leave God is able to remedy this even in Infancy as I shewed in Ieremiah Iohn the Baptist Fiftly then he bringeth an allegory saying David tooke neither blind nor lame but strong souldiers with him into the Tower of Sion 2 Sam. 5.8 But here I shall split his allegory with a parable of Christ wherein God calleth to his heavenly banquet both the blind and the lame Luke 14.21 Sixtly then he bringeth another allegory saying that the Apostles were fishers of men Mat. 4.19 And lesus said unto Simon henceforth thou shalt catch men and not litle children Luke 5.10 To this I reply and demand what that saying of Christ meaneth that into the net of the Gospell are gathered all kind of fishes Mat. 13.47 Neither were the Apostles when they were sent to preach forbidden to baptize Infants and when the Evangelists name them Anthropous men which word comprehends all mankind without exception why then should they except against Infants when as God makes no exceptions against any Age Sex or Nation Seventhly he saith sith spirituall things agree with spirituall therefore Infants which are not spirituall are not meet for baptisme I answer here Paul speakes of Doctrine where the Corinthians were very quick to apprehend carnall things and blames them to be very dull to conceive spirituall things 1 Cor. 2.13.14 But what is this to infants which are not required to heare points of Doctrine is any thing here to hinder them from baptisme He replies that if they be new men they must be fed with spirituall food I answer the signe of Adoption may suffice till they be growne of age and able to beare stronger meat But he objecteth that Christ calleth all his to the holy supper I answer he admitteth none but them that are already prepared to celeb●●te the remembrance of his death this infants cannot doe yet Christ doth vouchsafe to imbrace them which argues they are not strangers although Christ hath stronger meat for them yea many things hee hath to say to them which they cannot beare now John 16.12 Eighthly hee saith it is monstrous that a man after he is borne should not eat I answer the soule may be fed although they doe not eat outwardly of the supper Christ is meat to infants though they abstaine from the signe which is the supper but of baptisme the case is otherwise for by it alone the gate into the Church is opened to them Ninthly he saith a good steward distributeth meat to his houshold in due time I grant it but then withal let him prove that baptisme is given to infants out of due time Tenthly he bringeth the commandement of Christ to make haste into the harvest for the fields are already white John 4.35 I answer from this place Christ would have his Apostles to take notice of the present fruit and good successe of their labours that they may the more cheerefully prepare themselves to teach because they were fitted to heare but I say againe what doth this concerne Infants to keep them from baptisme 11th reason he saith in the first Church Christians and disciples were all one It is true those that were converted and baptized were both Disciples and Christians but what of this will he gather hence that infants borne of Christians are strangers and out of the Covenant let him prove it 12. He alledgeth that all Christians are brethren but infants are out of this number so long as we debar them from the supper I answer