England a cold one for either Christ did ordain the thing to be done in this different manner in different regions or he did not if he did then it must be first some way or other intimated in the commission but there it is not and secondly it must be done accordingly in this different manner in the execution or else they are high transgressors that do but rantize in Iudaea and they high transgressors and so Mr. Blake and Mr. Cook say they are with a witnesse but will never prove it that baptize by total dipping in England but if he did not ordain it to be done in such several waies in several Regions according as they are hotter or colder but in one way only in all places then that one way is by baptizing i. e. dipping onely or else by rantizing onely and if by baptizing onely then they are high undertakers that take upon them to correct Christs commâ—…ssion saying t is better and safer to rantize only in some places if by rantizing onely then non tutum est ludere cum sacris they were vain persons that made a Mâ—…ygame and matter of pleasure of the ordinances of Christ that in Iudaea and the hotter Countreys would chuse to be baptized for delight and coolnesse sake by totall dipping and bathing in water rather then otherwise when Christ ordained no more then sprinkling or infusion Secondly Sirs you grant so much as to say possibly probably it might be done by dipping in Iudaea and the Hot Regions round about but may not be in these colder pray tell me from the bottom of your consciences without stifling them or shuffling with them so as not to suffer them to speak what constructions must be made of those Scriptures which we have canvast to and fro which relate the manner of their baptizings that then were viz. Matth. 3. 16. Mark 1. 9. 10. Act. 8. 38. where it is said of the people and Christ that they were baptized in Iordan into Iordan went down into the water and came up out of the water yea were buried with Christ in baptism Rom. 6. Collo 2. yea and of all the other Scripâ—…ures that tell us of the baptism that was dispensed in those Hot Countries as Iohn 3. 23. Act. 16. 13. 14. 15. 33. where it is said Iohn baptized in Aenon because there was much water and Paul went out to a Rivers side and spâ—…ke the word at which time Lidya and hers were baptized and a while after the Jaylor and his tell me I say what construction all these and all the Scriptures that talk of baptism as dispensed in those Hot Countryes must consequently bear if it be once granted that such total dipping was the manner of baptizing in the primitive times in those Hotter Countreys must they not then needs have the senses we put upon them viz. that Christ and the rest did really descend into the water were buried under the water and raised again and not those forced senses into which you would rest them to your own ends viz. that they went but to the water and there were wetted onely by sprinkling or pouring and from the water again without going into it or being dipped in it if you give us one for granted viz. that in Iudaea and those Hot Countreyes as Rome Phillippi and Collosse the manner of baptizing was by going down into the water and being dipped therein in this Sacramental washing you must necessarily give up also all the interest that you claim in those Scriptures for sprinkling they being no other then the relation of what baptism was done in Iudea and those Hot Coun-Countreys and not what was done in cold if then it be supposed that baptism by submersion and not aspersion was the custome in the Scripture times it must semblably be supposed that the Scriptures themselves that story out the baptism of those times do speak of that Manner of baptism that then was and not of another unlesse we suppose it must be interpreted as speaking of another thing then that it only speaks of and so consequently this Scripture this Testament must be supposed to be wholly on our sides and to speak only of mens baptism by submersion and you must suppose out some New Testament of Christ if you can tell where for the exemplifying of your baby Baptizing Rantizing And further had you chanced to be born and bred in such Hot Countryes where dipping is the Custome as you happened to come out in such a cold Climate where for fear of cold more then any thing else that is to warrant such a practise the custome is onely to sprinkle I appeal to your own consciences whether such a thing as rantizing would once have come into your minds upon the single search of those Scriptures Thirdly whereas you talk of dipping as the way of baptizing in those Hot Countreyes both Mr. Baxter and Mr. Cook also p. 15. assert that In those Hot Countrys waters for dipping were scarce and rare and could not be had in some places in a great distance and therefore if sprinkling or pouring only must be used in some Countreyes and dipping in other some in all reason and likelyhood if any places may be exempted from dipping sprinkling should be dispensed with rather in those Hot Countreyes to save people the paines of travelling so far as they must do for dipping where the waters were at such a distance from them and dipping rather appointed to be used in these Countreyes where the Service as it is not much more tedious then it was in Iudaea at least in coldest and sharpest seasons so may it be moderated as touching the tediousness therof by being done and dispatcht through the vicinity of waters here not very far off from our own doors Fourthly even those Hot Countryes of Iudaea Rome and the Regions therabout were not within the Torrid Zone nor so hot but that if cold water would have quenched love to Christ and pretence of danger discharg'd from duty they might have been as shy as your selves of being dipped in water for even there the waters saies Mr. Blake was over cold for such a service and also this Colder Countrey as you count it of England is under the Tepid Zone and not so exceeding cold in summer Seasons but that dipping may be as well digested then as in Iudaea or as it is by such as then washed themselves in way of pleasure This Hot Countrey catch therefore is an Argument that flashes fairly in the pâ—…n and makes a report with a powder for almost every one le ts fly at us out of this Engine but verily it is an empty Engine a piece discharged to keep Cold Countrey Christians from killing themselves with Christs service but charged with no great store of truth nor sense nor reason wherefore Sirs if the coldnesse of this service of total dipping do cause you to stand so coldly affected toward it as not to submit to it here in England unlesse
are all agreed in the grand reason why it was so then and why it may not be so now at any hand viz. the different temper of those climates wherein baptism first began and of ours wherein it now is practised theirs being so hot that there could be no danger by dipping in the coldest times ours so cold that it cannot but be very dangerous if not destructive to life and health I grant saith Dr. Featly that Christ and the Eunuch were baptized in the river and that such baptism of men especially in the Hotter Climates hath been is and may lawfully be used but the question is whether no other baptizing is lawfull or whether dipping in Rivers be so necessary to baptism that none are accounted baptized but those that are dipped after such a manner usitatior olim fuit c. submersion was more usual in Judea and other warmer Countreys saith Tilenus then aspersion notwithstanding sith submersion may prove prejudicious to the health specially of such tender infants as for the most part are baptized now a dayes we suppose the Church may use which she pleases and saies Mr. Baxter if it were otherwise in the primitive times it would be proved but occasionall from a reason proper to those Hot Countreys and saith Mr. Cook though it were granted that in those Hot Countreys they commonly washed by going down into the water and being dipped there whether in ordinary or ceremonial or sacramental washing that will no moee inforce on us a necessity of observing the same in baptism now then the example of Christ and the Apostles gesture in the sacrament of the supper ties us to the same which was leaning and partly lying which was their usual table gesture then now the ordinary table gesture which is usual among us is most fit so the usual manner of washing among us is most fit to be observed in baptism and that is by powring as well as by dipping so you see these men are all of a mind that is was or at least might be so possibly in the primitive times but if it were yet not so in ours in regard of the coldnesse of our climate Baptist. Then it seems we shall have it amongst you pro confesso that in the Apostles dayes the way was dipping for though Mr. Cook keeps a loof off in his hypotheticals saying though it were granted and Mr. Baxter who borrowes well nigh all he saies against dipping from Mr. Cook Cookes it out but conditionally saying if it were otherwise yet Tilenus takes our part plainly and the Dr. drawes neerer to us then so giving it for gone that in those Hot Countryes baptism in rivers was then used onely whether such manner of dipping in rivers be so necessary to baptism in all countreyes this we say saies he is false and so for ought I see you say all But Sirs first I pray tell me from the very bottom of your consciences whether you can conceive that Christ hath appointed two sorts of baptism viz. one kind of baptism for Iudea and those regions round about Iordan and another for England Scotland France Spain Italy and all the regions round about of the Romish Christendom whether he hath ordained two baptisms or rather two different dispensations whereof one is not baptism to be used in different places viz. baptism for the Hot Countryes and Rantism for the Cold or whether he hath not rather wild one onely baptism and that a true one to be used throughout the world Dr Featley Mr. Cook Mr. Baxter suppose the first but where 's Mr. Blake all this while their wonted Coâ—…diutor in the cause verily he leaves them a little here and lends us his hand who hold that Christ gave order and commission for no more then one way of baptism in all Nations for howbeit he finds in his heart to let Rantism passe for currant baptism among them that take the liberty to maintain and use it for fear of cold p. 4. yet whatever way of baptism the commission was given out for in those Hotter Countryes whether submersion or infusion for a spersion he ownes not to be it however the very same way and no other he holds the commission to be for in the coldest Nations under heaven and this will appear if what he saies in his 9. p. be considered where after he had used this argument to prove that total dipping was not the way of the primitive baptism viz. because the conversion of disciples and so consequently their baptism hapned sometimes to be when there was no season for dipping the element of water being over cold for that service he speaks thus in way of answer to an objection viz. if any object that in those Hotter Countryes there was no danger in the coldest times I answer saith he The Commission being for all nations disciples were made in all Countries how soon came the word to this nation c. In which words he is void of common sense that doth not discern Mr. Blake siding with us saying that the way of baptism should be one in all ages and places and asserting quite contrary to his fellow disputers against dipping so far as to confute them to our hands for whereas they all uno ore with one consent cry out that the reason why they baptized by dipping in the primitive time was because Judea and the regions round about were Hot Countryes but England is a colder climate and therefore we need not baptize the same way as they dâ—…d he Tells them plainly that the heat of those Countries could be no reason why they should use totall dipping then more then other nations because the commission for baptizing was one and the same to all Nations and disciples were then made in all Countryes as well as in Iudea in cold Countries as well as in hot yea how soon saies he came the word to England it self baptism therefore in his account should be the same in England as in Iudea not by dipping in Iudea more then in England because that was a hot Country and this a colder but the commission is a like in all places cold and hot this is the sense those words of his sound forth but if Mr. Blake were silent in this case the Scripture speaks loud enough that there is but one baptism for all Nations and no Rantism ordained for any for then the commission must include Christs willingnesse to dispense with colder climates in this point and in our understandings at least run thus viz. go and teach all nations baptizing them that live in hotter countryes and rantizing them that live in colder climates he that believeth and is baptized if he live in Iudea or any Hotâ—…er Countrey or is but rantized if he live in England or any cold Countrey shall be saved in which silly unsound sense to understand those Scriptures is to be silly indeed and without either sense or understanding and yet thus it may be understood if this be the reason why they in Iudea must be dipt and we in England must be no more then sprinkled for fear of danger viz. because Iudea was a warm Countrey and
and Antient people and weak people and shop keepers especially women that take but little of the cold air the dipping them in the cold weather in cold water in the course of nature would kill hundreds and thousands of them either suddenly or by casting them into some Chronicle disease I know not what trick a covetous Land lord can find out to get his tenants to dy apace that he may have new fines and heriots likelier then to encourage such Preachers that he may get them all to turn Anabaptists I wish that this devise saith be not it that countenanceth these men and covetous Phisitians me thinks saith he should not be much against them Catarrhes and obstrustions which are the two great foúntains of most mortall disâ—…ases in mans body could scarce have a more notable means to produce them where they are not or to increase them where they are Apoplextes Lethargies Palsies and all comatous diseases would be promoted by it so would â—…phalagies Hemicranies Phthises debility of the stomach Crudities and almost all Feavers Dissenteries Diarraeas Colicks Illiack passions Convâ—…sions Spasmes Tremors c. all Hepatick Splenetick Pulmoniack persons and Hipocrandriacks would soon have enough of it in a word saith he it is good for nothing but to dispatch men out of the world that are burthensome and â—…o ranken Church yards But Mr. T. will salve all this for he saith that there is no necessity that it be in cold water To which I reply saith he 11. But then he forsaketh the generality of his partners in this opinion so much as we can learn who usually baptize in Rivers and ponds 2. And his warm bath would be very dangerous also 3. Where should this bath be prepared if in private it will scarce be a solemn engaging act if in the meeting place of the Church then 1. It will take no small room â—…nd require no small stir to have a batâ—…iag place and water to dipp people over head 2. And if they do not run home quickly before they are well ingaged the hot bath will be turned to a cold one to them and make them repent this badge of repentance except they will have all things ready and be brought to bed also in the Church before the people 3. And it will be long ere Mr. T. can clear out of his reading Antiquity what Church had such a bathing place in it but me thinks they that call for Scripture for infant baptism should also bring Scripture for their baptizing in warm water but some say they may stay till the heat of summer when the water will be warm To which I reply saith he where is your Scripture for that I have proved the constant rule and Example of Scripture is clean contrary and requires that men be baptized when they are first made disciples and not stay till summer But some desperately conclude that if it be Gods way he will save our lives how probable soever the danger may seem I answer saith he that this is to begg the question nay I have shewed and am shewing that it is not Gods way God hath appointed no ordinances contrary to his great morall commands 2. God must not be tempted this was the devils trick to have drawn Christ under pretence of Scripture and trusting God to have cast himself into danger of death 3. So you might have said to the disciples that if it were Gods command to keep the Sabbath then they might not rub the ears of Corn for God could sustain them without 4. If it were a duty yet when it is inconsistent with a greater duty it is at that time a sin for it is alwaies a sin to prefer a lesser duty before a greater for the duty of self preservation is a morall naturall duty and baptizing is but positive c. God hath not appointed ordinances in his Church that will destroy men exâ—…ept they be preserved by Miracles for then it were a tying himself to a constant working of Miracles c. So that I conclude saith Mr. Baxter if Murder be a sin then dâ—…ing over head in cold water in England is a sin and if those that would make it mens religion to murder themselves and urge it on their consciences as their duty are not to be suffered in a Common-Wealth any more then High way Murderers then judge how these Anabaptists that teach the necessity of such dipping are to be suffered Thus you see what opinion these men are of concerning your totall dipping and upon what ground yea though Mr. Tombs and others make so light of it and wash it over as well as they can yet Mr. Baxter wipes of all their varnish and represents it in its proper colour to the world in its own ugly hue and maintains it to be no lesse then meer Murder and you may prate a while and practise to if you please having your quiet advantages so to do in this distracted juncture of time but I hope an order will we taken with you in time according to your deserts if the right Kirk Government were once settled though hitherto you have the hap to scape Scot-free Baptist. If one were disposed to give no other answers then Mr. Tombes viz. that bathing is a remedy against diseases and that it is not necessary to be in cold water as vain as these are with Mr. Baxter they may serve to salve the cause sufficiently from any sore that Accrues to it from that much more vain and pedling pritâ—…le-prattle in which Mr. Baxter reanswers him e. g. his learned conjectures about Coveteous Land-lords Physitians and his wretched wishes that they in hopes to have men dy apace do not divise countenance for the way of dipping and the divine verdit he vents on it as good for nothing but to dispatch men out of the world that are burthensome and to ranken Church-yards what Rotten Riff-Raff is all this if one should answer him according to his folly saying and coveteous Clergy men should me thinks be not much against it if it ranken Church-yards that the Parsons horse may have the bigger pasture I wish they have not a trick to favor it c. were it not as wise a wish as the other but I spare him lest I be like him though if he be not answered according to his folly I fear the man may be so wise in his own conceit as to suppose his folly to be wisdome Further what great store of small stir doth the man make about a warm bath wondering much where it should be prepared in private or in the Church and what stir it would require as if it were more difficult to build a bath a little wider and a great deal lower then a font then t is to build a steeple house and what room it would take as if the Church had rather retain her Rome then be rob'd of her room in removing that Romish relique of infants sprinkling and how dangerous this hot bath may