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A67325
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A necessary treatise for this age, or, A plain discovery of that great error of denying baptisme with water to the children of believers in justification of the arguments of John Turner, for infants basptisme, against Robert Admond : together with several other useful particulars on this subject, the contents whereof follow in the next page / briefly and plainly handled and discust by Thomas Wall.
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Wall, Thomas.
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1669
(1669)
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Wing W486; ESTC R38029
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30,254
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53
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open the signification of the word Baptism by context of Scripture which you build your Faith so much upon and to shew you how you deceive your selves in binding limiting and confining the word to signifie only to dip plung overwhelm without warrant of the learned in the Tongues or sense of holy Scripture I must acknowledge my selfe the unfittest of many to intermeddle with a work of this nature by reason of my want of skill in the Tongues as you likewise acknowledg the same yet you bring many Authors to prove the word Baptize to signifie to dip yet you confess they say it also signifieth to wash or sprinckle so that by your own grant the testimony of the Learned proveth no more for * It is error to confine it as you do you then against you and forasmuch as the Learned themselves are at their wits end concerning the signfication of some words in holy Scripture as in Job 2. 9. Some say where it is translated Curse other say Bless also the word Euriclydon Act. 27. 14. One saith it signifieth a North-East wind another a soultery hot wind but forasmuch as many words in Scripture are left by the learned in the original Term though in English Letters as Baptize Messiah and many the like It behoveth you I being Englishmen not wholy to rely upon the learned in Tongues seeing the Jewish Rabins skilfull in Tongues did not all of them understand the true sense or meaning of the Scripture nor yet to slight or lightly esteem of the worthy endeavours of the learned in translating the Scriptures who have dealt so honestly where they durst not confine the word to one sense or tearm they left it to be understood by the people of God as the Spirit of the Lord should direct them The word Messiah being alledged against a Jew to prove the death of Christ how the Angel prophesied Messiah should be slain Dan. 9. 26. I saith the Jew but Messiah signfieth any one that is anoynted Governor so that when words in Scripture have large or divers significations we ought carefully and wisely to consider the divers use and meaning of them to agree in a harmony of holy Scripture Likewise â—ell an Athiest that God made the Heavens and the Earth Gen. 1. 1. He may answer as the Learned in the Tongues say Aelohim sometimes is used to signifie Angels Psal 8. 5. with Heb. 2. 7. sometimes to signifie magistrates Psal 82. 1 6. therefore he believes not any such God properly as we profess not having Gods Spirit to understand the sense and true intendment thereof Likewise the originall word for worship as the Learned do express the same Latria and Latréuo sometimes largely used and sometimes more strictly so that word worship generally comprehendeth the performance of all duties required in the first Table of Gods Law Deut. 5. 6. 15. more strictly and properly to worship is to bow down and supplicate to God Mat. 2. 2. Again the originall word for Church Congregation or Assembly given in by the learned Kahal in Hebrew and in Greek Ecclesia which word is used for any Assembly which without the help of Gods holy Spirit cannot be rightly divided as the gathering together in a Market is Ecclesia where Women as well as Men have equall priviledge to speak yet the word Ecclesia a gathering in a Church Assembly where men and women have not equall priviledge alike to speak 1 Cor. 14. 34 35. Likewise when but two or three are gathered together in Church worship Mat. 18. 20. they bear the name Ecclesia and when the Church consisteth of thousands they are but Ecclesia Acts 4. 4. Acts 7. 38. Exod. 19. 1 3 5. 6. So when it signifieth the least we are not to despise the day of small things Zech. 4. 10. Luk. 12. 32 Likewise the word Saviour sometimes signifieth Christ sometimes Christs Miniâ—â—â—rs Obadiah ver 21. 1 Tim. 4. 16. sometimes civill Magistrates or Deliverers Neh. 9. 27. which divers use is approved by the Scriptures by which we ought to take the more notice of the word Baptize which as is said before that the learned give in to signifie to dip wash water sprinckle so that my friend R. A. you are very bold upon you own head and the men of your Judgment to bind up the word Baptize to only dip without either the learneds assent or warrant of holy Scripture therefore both you and all of your Judgment consider by what hath been said how many words in Scripture a few before treated on that cannot be confined without adding or diminishing from the mind of God but to be understood by the directions of Gods Spirit Rev. 22. 18. Deut. 4. 2. Pro. 30. 6. and learn the counsell of the Holy Ghost of these things put them in remembrance charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit but to the subverting of the hearers study to shew thy self approved unto God a workman that needeth not to be ashamed rightly dividing the word of truth 2 Tim. 2. 14 15. So then forasmuch as the holy Scriptures hold forth three several Baptisms by the one word Baptism I shall endeavour by the help of the Lord to lay down some grounds according to the sense of Scripture how we may rightly divide the Word of Truth to understand the same comparing spirituall things with spirituall 1 Cor. 2. 13. and not altogether rely on the learned in Tongues though in due place and right use are not in the least to be despised but highly esteemed for we read the Book is given to one that is learned Saying Read this I pray thee and he saith I cannot for it is sealed And the Book is delivered to him that is not learned saying Read this I pray thee and he saith I am not learned Esay 29. 12. So that great is the mystery of godlinesse 1 Tim. 3. 16. So that when the holy Scriptures as so made use of and interpreted that no one Scripture jar against another but agree in one harmony like as the Levites having Cymbals and Psalteries and Harps and with them an hundred and twenty Priests sounding with Trumpets they made but one sound to praise the Lord 2 Chron. 5. 12. 13. so also the true Trumpets of Gods holy Truths make but one sound 1 Thes 1. 8. Rom 15. 6. to praise the Lord which none can learn but the redeemed from the earth Rev. 14. they can tune both old and new Testament to agree in one harmony of melody and soul comfort Psal 81. 2. Rev. 14. 2. Rev. 15. 3. never a Scripture to jar one against another by which learning our Lord and Master put to silence the learned Rabbins in the Mother Tongue Mat. 22. 41 42 to 46. with this learning and wisdom Stephen in disputing the Studients were not able to resist the wisdom of the Spirit by which he spake Acts 6. 9 10. But the unlearned and unskilfull to reconcile the Scriptures
to agree in one as the Apostle saith They that are unlearned and unstable wrest as they do also the other Scriptures unto their own destruction 2 Peter 3. 16. Now then the whole Scriptures are called the Word of God 1 Thes 2. 13. Luk. 8. 11. Yet as it hath many sentences or words as every word of God is pure Prov. 30. 5. Yet it is called the word of God because it agreeth in one harmony together as when a controversie fell out among the Church at Antioch it was ended in reconciling both Old and New Testaments together As it is written to this agreeth the words of the Prophet Acts 15. 15. And all the Apostles Doctrins agree with the Doctrins of the Prophets Rev. 21. 12. 14 19. Ephes 2. 20. Acts 26. 22. Acts 17. 11. Rom. 15. 4. Again the Apostle saith For there are three that bear record in Heaven the Father the Word and the Holy Ghost and these three are one And there are three that bear witnesse in earth the Spirit the Water and the Blood and these three agree in one 1 Joh. 5. 7. 8. Even so there are three baptisms the baptism of the Spirit Mat. 3. 11. the baptism of suffering Mark 10. 38 39. John 18. 11. and the baptism of Water Acts 10 47. Yet the Apostle saith there is but one baptism Ephes 4. 5. So that there is but one word or tearm for these three baptisms and when they be rightly understood the signification of the word baptism will agree in one so I shall begin with the first in order The signification of the word baptism is opened by the Spirit of God in the administration thereof in the spiritual baptism to be a pouring forth as saith the Prophet Vntill the spirit be poured on us from on high Esa 32. 15. Ezek. 39. 29. Joel 2. 28. which was fulfilled in Acts 2. 17. 18. and 10. 45. So that by this one Spirit the whole Church or body of Christ consisting of men women children are baptised into one body 1 Cor. 12. 13. Being an holy nation by the gift and sanctification of that holy Spirit 1 Peter 2. 9. 1 Thes 4. 8. Rom 15. 16. Heb. 11. 2. And this baptism of the Spirit is by the Spirit of God called sprinkling Ezek. 36. 25 26. Heb. 9. 14. 1 Pet. 1. 2. in the manner of Rain Psal 77. 17. Secondly There is also the Baptism of suffering Mark 10. 38 39. Col. 1 24. which the Saints or Members of Christs Body do partake of Phil. 2. 17. 2 Cor. 1. 5 6 7. As for example one suffers reproaches Heb. 13. 13. others reproaches and losse of goods Heb. 33. 34. others banishment Esa 51. 14. Rev. 1. 9. others losse of life Rev. 1â— 11. So every one according to the measure the Lord is pleased they shall be exercised with and these degrees of suffering some more and some lesse is the word Baptism signified by but shall a man say that he that suffers reproaches and not losse of goods is not partaker of Baptism of suffering or he or they that suffer losse of goods and banishment and not losse of life is he not partaker of the baptism of suffering because he doth not partake in the largest sense of the signification of the word baptism in suffering consider these things And thirdly There is also the Baptism of Water which being the same word as the two former in signification and we see the baptism of the Spirit is administred by pouring or sprinkling and also in Isa So shall he sprinkle many Nations Isa 52. 15. ye we see every one hath not a like measure of the Spirit Rom. 12. 3. but to every one is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ he gave some Apostles some Prophets some Evangelists some Pastors some Teachers Eph. 4. And he that received least received one tallent and all the baptism of the Spirit but shall a man say because he that received but one Tallent or the least gift of the Spirit that he is not partaker of the spiritual baptism because he hath not ten Tallents or the largest gift of the Spirit he would be deceived in his understanding of the true meaning of the word so as the word in the two former significations is not nor cannot be tied up to one sense according to the Scriptures nor the testimony of the Learned but signifieth more or lesse water in the administration of the baptism of water being performed in the order of God therefore it is evill to confine the word in the signification to dipping or greatest measure of the use of water unlesse the two other baptisms of the Spirit and suffering could or ought to be confined to the greatest measure of the Spirit and suffering but the learned in the Tongues as I conceive durst not confine the signification of the word Baptism to one sense as you presumptuously do but not only to dip but to wash to water and sprinkle and did very faithfully to leave it in the tearm baptize to be understood of all Gods people as his holy Spirit should direct them by context of Scripture comparing spiritual things with spiritual one Scripture unfolding another by harmony of agreement and this may be observed for a general rule of Faith that whatsoever Doctrin Collection or Observation for a truth believed out of holy Scripture by any If an absurdity will fall upon it then their supposed truth is but error as for example when some denyed the Resurrection of the Body the Apostle Paul overthrew their collection by an absurdity that justly would fall upon it in these words If the dead rise not then is not Christ risen then is our preaching vain and your faith is also vain the like 1 Cor. 15. So likewise if according to your understanding of the word Baptize that it is only to be understood of the greatest measure of washing by dipping plunging or overwhelming it will then upon it this absurdity follow that he that hath not the greatest measure of the baptism of the Spirit as the Apostles Prophets and Evangelists hath not the baptism of the Spirit then the whol Church are not baptized by one Spirit into oâ—e Body for every one had not a like measure but had diversities of gifts then there is * Contrary to 1 Cor. 3. 1. 1 Pet. 2. 2. no babes in Christ but only those that have the greatest measure of knowledge contrary to the Apostles doctrin 1 Cor. 12. 4. 7 8 9 10 11 12 13. seeing that it hath the same word for the spiritual baptism as for the water it must needs have the like sense in signification and if one may be tyed up to the largest sense only there is like reason for the other and if not the one then not the other thus my friend R. A. consider how you are deceived in your understanding of the true sense of the word Baptize and observe farther what