was a sign of holiness and not of Canaan and if it had been a sign of the Promise of the Land what need had they to Circumcise any more when they possessed the land thus let all men beware of these blind guides that heed not what they say to maintain their errors R. A. Again you say If by the everlasting Covenant be meant all the children of Believers are in the covenant of grace and so to be baptized you say it is false for whosoever is truly in the Covenant of Grace can never fall finally away from it Esay 54. 10. Jer. 31. 3. and 9. But say you the Children of Believers may and do prove wicked and be reprobates witnesse Ishmael Esau c. therefore it appears all the children of Believers are not in the Covenant of Grace and so none to be baptized till some declarative sign to know which are in the Covenant of Grace which will not be made manifest till they are grown up and able to make profession of Faith and then we have that we contend for Ans It is well known that we believe Election and I am glad you do not deny Election but secret things belong to God and revealed things to us and to our children Deut. 29. 29. but when the Lord made his Covenant with Abraham and his Seed he was commanded to administer the Seal of Faith to his children in infancy whether they would stand or fall he had no Rule to question nor you if you were guided by that Spirit that guided him and if he and the children of Israel should have been of your belief when Ishmael became a mocker and Esau a prophane person having both the outward Seal of Faith they would have circumcised no more lest they had not Faith because some do fall away had they done well think you but having no such Rule from God they would not follow their own spirits as you do like the false Prophets in Israel that had seen nothing Ezek. 13. 3. But the faithfull had learned to obey which is better than sacrifice and to hearken than the fat of Rambs 1 Sam. 15. 22. and that which is highly esteemed among men is abominable in the sight of God Luk. 16. 15. And how highly esteem'd is this error among the people of your Judgment to deny the outward Seal of the Covenant of God to the Seed of the Faithfull without warrant from his Word Moreover If we should not baptize our Children because some may fall away and become as Ishmael and Esau by like grounds you should not baptize elder people because after they fall away as Symon Magus Demas the like so to follow your fantasy rather than Faith and neglect Gods Ordinance because we cannot enter into Gods Seat to know the heart Let all beware of this as Solomon saith There is a way that seemeth right unto man but the end thereof are the wayes of death Pro. 16. 25. Again If one by carnall reason should follow your steps to say that the Children of Believers have not Faith because the fruits of Faith doth not yet appear they might reason against you and say that there is none of your Judgment do yet believe because it is said These signs shall follow them that believe they shall cast out devils and speak with new Tongues They shall take up Serpents and if they drink any deadly poyson it shall not hurt them they shall lay their hands on the sick and they shall recover Mark 16. 17 18. Now consider because that these signs do not now attend believers since extraordinary Officers ceased do none believe therefore So though the Apostle saith That Circumcision was the Seal of Faith and it was no lying sign shall any say that Children have or had not Faith because we cannot see the signs of Faith Remember what the Wiseman saith Be not over just Now to conclude this point consider what God saith of the Children of his People Even the house of Jacob and all the remnant of the house of Israel which are born by me from the belly which are carried from the womb Even to old age c. Isa 46. 3 4. And again The Lord hath called me from the womb from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name Esa 49. 1. And in verse 5. And now saith the Lord that formed me from the womb to be his servant And again I formed thee in the belly I knew thee and before thou camest forth of the womb I sanctified thee Jer. 1. 5. And again The babe leaped in the womb for joy Luke 1. 44. Thus the children of Gods people are born unto the Lord as it written Thou hast taken my sons and my daughters whom thou hast born unto me And again Thou hast stain my children Ezek. 16. 20 21. Which children are a holy seed Ezra 9. 2. Isa 6. 13. Jer. 2. 3. 1 Cor. 7. 14. Mal. 2. 15. Which cannot be without Gods Spirit which sanctifieth all that have it 1 Thes 4. 7 8. 2 Cor. 1. 21 22. Which Spirit is the Spirit of Faith 2 Cor. 4. 13. Therefore having the Spirit of Faith they are Christs Rom. 8. 9. Or else none of his now how clear a matter is this that Infants are the Lords and Christ and so have his spirit We shall conclude with the holy Spirit that the children of the faithfull have right to Baptism as it is written can any man forbid water that these should not be baptized which have received the holy Ghost as well as we Acts 10. 47. Now let none reason with Nicodemus How can these things be John 3. 9. But in sobriey say with Solomon As thou knowest not what is the way of the Spirit nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all Eccle. 11. 5. Object If any further object and say that Abraham was commanded to command his children and his houshold supposing that a mans servants are his houshold Answ Abraham was a Prophet and at that time the Church of God was under his government so that as he was a Prophet and Over-seeâ— the Lord knew he would feed the Church of God as he was a Father he would teach his Children the nurture and admonition of the Lord Eph. 6. So that he and all true Pastors that was fit according to the rule must both rule his own children having them in subjection with all gravity for if a man know not how to rule his own house how shall he take carâ— of the Church of God 1 Tim. 3. 4. 5. And that a mans servants are not called his house or houshold but are distinguished by the holy Ghost called houshold-servants Acts 10. 7. As a mans goods are called houshold-stuffe Nehemiah 15. 8. Thus I suppose the Objection is fully answered And now my friend I shall endeavour according to that small understanding I have to
broken off with them though ignorant of their Fathers Rebellion therefore seeing the condition both of Fathers and children was all one he said unto them Repent and be Baptised every one of you in the Name of the Lord Jesus for the remission of sins for the Promise is to you and your children and now can any one believe but that the children upon the Fathers Repentance are as capable to believe in the belief of their Parents and so grafted in the true Olive Tree Christ with their Parents again as they were of unbelief and rebellion in their Parents unbelief and rebellion So then upon the Parents Repentance who can hinder the children of those Repenting Parents from the Ordinance of Baptism of Water with their Parents seeing they were cut off with them and the Ordinance a sign of the pardon of sins From whence may justly be concluded that if the Infants of Rebellions Jews were cut or broken off in their infancy with their Parents though ignorant of their Parents Rebellion Even so both Jews and Gentiles comming to the obedience of the Faith of Christ though their Children in infancy be ignorant of their Fathers obedience must of necessity be excepted with them And that we may the better understand the scope of the Apostles Doctrine the Doctrine being Repent and be Baptised every one of you for the remission of sins the reason is For the promise is to you and your children Take notice and observe whether the Precept of Scripture is not to reach so far as the Reasons thereunto doth extend as may be seen Deut. 7. 1. 4. Ezra 9. 2 11 12. 2 Chron. 21. 6. Now the Doctrine is Repent and be Baptised and the Reason is For the Promise is to you and your children so that mention being made of children in the Reason therefore the Precept of Baptising here spoken implieth the children also Otherwise how can you prove at the first celebration of the Lords Supper that women should be partakers thereof seeing neither there nor any other where in Christs Testament any mention of any Woman by name were present or partook thereof as concerning children you require us to shew a child by name that was Baptised yet seeing the Reasons that are annexed to the Precept do necessarily imply women as well as men and there is no Prohibition to the contrary and cannot be denyed them without great sin Matth. 26. 20 26 27 28. Luke 22. 14 19 20. 1 Cor. 11. 23 24 25. Now then consider how in this Ordinance you will grant that women may partake thereof though no name of any Woman that did is expressed but that children may partake of the Ordinance of Baptism because there is no mention of any child by name that did though there is as good reason and true gathered consequence from the Scripture for the one as the other in this all men may see you are partial and wilfully blind Again the people of your Judgment seem more unreasonable to me in this point of denying Infants of Believers Baptism than the Sadduces which denyed the resurrection of the body whom Christ put to silence by consequence from Scripture without the litteral words of Scripture to say the body shall rise again as may be seen in Exod. 3. 6. compared with Matth. 22. 31 32. and as the Text saith they were put to silence ver 34. and the multitude were astonished at his Doctrine ver 33. Likewise there is the Doctrine of Baptism Heb. 6. 2. and any of understanding in Scripture know that Doctrine is the sense and intendment of Scripture for the natural man reads only the Letter as the Eunuch did when he read in Isa 53. 7. as it is written in Acts 8. 32. the place of Scripture which he read was this He was led as a sheep to the slaughter and like a lamb dumb before his shearers so opened he not his mouth see ver 33. and ver 34. the Eunuch answered Philip and said I pray thee of whom speaketh the Prophet this of himself or some other man ver 35. Then Philip opened his mouth and began at the same Scripture and Preached unto him Jesus but had the Eunuch bin an Anabaptist in Judgment he would not have believed Philip to Preach Jesus from that 53 of Isa when the word Jesus was not expressed by name and though the Apostles did Baptise Believers and their housholds 1 Cor. 1. 16. Acts 16. yet you will not believe that he Baptised Children though the word Houshold are the children as shall in this Treatise most plainly appear as in Isa 53. Jesus was intended in the Text by the word Lamb so that I hope not only you unless you shut your eyes but others shall see by the Holy Ghosts own exposition according to his own counsel comparing spiritual things with spiritual 1 Cor. 2. 13. knowing this first that no Prophesy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation 2 Pet. 1. 20. but a publick interpretation is for one Scripture to unfold another as when Ezra and the people returned out of Captivity Neh. 8. 8. he read in the Book of the Law distinctly and gave the sense and caused them to understand the reading so that I hope that if the Scripture do expound the houshold to be children seeing the Apostle did Baptise housholds you will believe he did Baptise Children and so repent of your error in denying the same and leave off deluding the people through your former ignorance Next then to observe that little children which do partake of Christs spiritual blessing have not only right to Baptism of Water but were also Baptised by the hands of the Apostles Though some will think this Argument cannot be proved because the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness unto him neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned 1 Cor. 2. 14. observe the Lords Covenant of old made with the faithful and their seed in infancy and the words of the Covenant was To be a God unto thee and to thy seed after thee Gen. 17. 7. So that Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him for righteousness and they that are of Faith the same are the children of Abraham Gal. 3. 6 7. and the children of the Promise are counted for the seâ—d but Isaac was a child of Promise in Infancy Gal. 4. 28. even an heir of life 1 John 2. 25. and had the seal of Faith administred upon him and I hope none will be so bold to say it was a lying sign or seal to seal to him that he had not but of this we shall have occasion to handle anon but now to prove that a mans children are his houshold We read Gen. 45. 11. and 46. 5 6 7 8. that Joseph is said to nourish his Father and his Brethren and all his Fathers houshold according to their Families which is expounded I will nourish you and your little
ones Gen. 50. 21. and it is lâ—â—ewise said David dwelt with Achish at Gath he and his men every man with his hâ—ushold 1 Sam. 27. 3. which is expounded to be their Sons and daughters 1 Sam. 30. 6. If there were no more evidence than these two Witnesses it might suffice reasonable men but all men have not faith and therefore do they muddy the water of Gods truth with their feet Ezek. 34. 18 19. but there is a pure River of water of life clear as Chrystal proceeding out of the Throne of God and of the Lamb Rev. 22. 1. to confirm the spirits of the faithful from these mens abuse of Scripture We read in Deut. 25. If two brethren dwell together and one of them dye and have no child the Wife of the dead shall not marry without unto a stranger her Husbands Brother shall go in unto her and take her to him to Wife and perform the duty of an Husbands brother unto her and it shall be that the first born which she beareth shall succeed in the name of his brother which is dead that his name be not put out of Israel ver 5 6. and in the seventh verse If the man like not to take his Brothers wife see in ver 9. then shall his Brothers wife come unto him in the presence of the Elders and loose his shoe from off his foot and spit in his face and shall answer and say So shall it be done unto that man that will not build up his Brothers house how plainly doth it appear in this place that a mans children are his house Again the Elders prayed the Lord to make Ruth like Leah and Rachel which built the house of Israel Ruth 4. 11. which were their children and again the Widdow of Zareptha's son was called her house read 1 Kings 17. 12 13 14 15. verses Again a Bishop or Pastor must be one that ruleth well his own house having his children in subiection 1 Tim. 3. 4 5. and again Jacob went down into Egypt every man and his houshould which were their children Exod. 1. and where persons had no children see what God saith promising to give children he maketh the barren woman to keep house or dwell in a house and to be a joyful mother of children Psal 113. 9. which is farther confirmed in that sense and it came to pass because the Midwives feared God he made them houses Exod. 1. 21. compared with 1 Sam. 2. 35. and the cause why Sarah gave her Maid Hagar to Abraham that she might be builded up by her Gen. 16. 2. or obtain children thus I hope no Conscience can doubt or scruple or think the contrary but that the children is the mans house or houshould and the Apostle Baptising Believers and their houshould or house did with his own hands Baptise Believers and their children thus your stumbling block is taken out of the way if God be pleased to open your eyes to see it R. A's Objection Because you cannot see the children of the faithful bring forth the fruits of faith you presume to say they have not faith T. W. his Answer Might not one by your ground say that a child of 8 dayes old cannot have all the faculties of nature in him as a man though the Holy Ghost saith a child is born a man John 16. 21. in the bud or beginning as hearing seeing smelling speaking and the like yet because the child cannot hear understandingly and see perceivingly and smell distinguishingly and speak plainly as a man of years shall one conclude he hath not the faculties in him in the bud but little children Christ saith are of the Kingdom of God which is the houshould of Faith Gal. 6. 10. and can any be of the houshould of Faith and want Faith therefore as the world knoweth not Christ nor the subjects of his Kingdom 1 John 3. 1. they must needs be but as the world to say those have not faith which are of Christs Kingdom and with Nicodemus say how can thâ—se things be John 3. Again we read Isaac was Circumcised at eight dayes old the Apostle calleth Circumcision a seal of the righteousness of Faith Rom. 4. 11. and the children of Believers are as capable of Faith at eight dayes old now in Gospel times as before the Law the Prophet speaking of Gospel times saith their children shall be as afore-time Jer. 30. 20. so that as Circumcision was a sign of Faith and holiness Rom. 4. 11. and 2. 29. Col. 2. 11. Deut. 10. 16. even so is Baptism now Acts 8. 37 38. Rom 6. 3 4. The Covenant of the Gospel with Abraham is the same now in substance Gal. 3. 8. Gen. 17. 4 5. Rom. 4. 13 16 17. the Covenanâ— with Abraham was that the Lord would be a God to him and his seed after him Gen. 17. 7. as Blessed is that Nation whose God is the Lord Psal 33. 12. this blessedness commeth on none by the Law Rom. 4. 15. Gal. 3. 10 11 12. and that the Lord will be a God to us and we his people is the Gospel in the substance Heb. 8. 10. Rev. 21. 3. 2 Cor. 6. 16. and Christ was a Minister of the Circumcision to confirm the Promise made to the Fathers which they believed Christ was to come we believe he is come Luke 1. 69 72 73. Acts 13. 32 33. being one faith of Gods elect Gal. 3. 9. Heb. 11. and we believing Gentiles fellow Heirs and of the same body with the Believing Jews therefore I may justly conclude That which was once commanded of God and never repealed ought still to be done But God commanded the sign or seal of faith and holiness to the faithful and their seed and never yet repealed therefore ought still to be done But if any object that Circumcision was a seal of the Land of Canaan the Apostle ought to be believ'd before them who saith It was a Seal of faith and for farther manifesting of their folly that say It was a seal of Canaan for Abraham and Isaac and Jacob were Circumcised and they never passed it according to the promise nor their Generations till they came out of Egypt but dwelt as strangers in it Heb. 11. 9. Again as uncleanness is opposite to holiness when the fruit of the Land of Canaan was forbidden the children of Israel three years it should be as uncircumcised unto them and not to be eaten and in the fourth year all the fruit thereof shall be holy Lev. 19. 23 24. thus we see that Circumcision is a sign of holiness Again we read that God promiseth to Circumcise the hearts of his people to love him Deut. 30. 6. which is no less than a clean heart Psal 51. 10. which is no less than putting off the body of sins by the Circumcision of Christ Col. 2. 11. and when men do not hear and obey the Lord they are said to have uncircumcised ears Jer. 6. 10. Thus we may see plainly that Circumcision
not to go beyond their limits set them by the King of Kings and because some presumed to break the order of God as Corah Dathan and Abiram Numb 16. and Nadab and Abihu Levit. 10. and Uzah 1 Chro. 13. 9. 10. and Vzziah 2 Chro. 26. 18. Gods Judgment fell upon them for presuming to do Gods service out of Gods order even so in the dayes of the Gospel some presumed as aforesaid to be Apostles but were found lyers and ministers of Sathan 2 Cor. 11. And though Uzah was a Levite yet he must not touch any of the holy things which belonged only to the sons of Aarons line Numb 4. 15. And the Lord smote the men of Bethshemoth because they looked into the holy things in the Ark fifty thousand threescore and ten men Sam. 6. 19 So that let all know that as of old God was the God of Order he is the same in all Churches of the Saints 1 Cor. 14. 4. Col. 2. 5. So that the place where Baptism ought to be performed must be in the Stative Assembly or Church of God in which Assembly the ordinary Officers of Christs true Church ought only to perform and those who are not Officers of a true Church have no Rule from the Word of God either to baptize or administer the Lords Supper but if any out of Office presume to do it is accursed as Corah Uza and Uzziah and as I heard some say some of your Judgment have taught persons must be dipt or damned If this be so it is very high judging Mat. 7. 1. We find it written He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved and he that believeth not shall be damned Mark 16. 16. The stress of damnation is for not believing the Holy Ghost foreseeing that in the greatest heat of persecution men by reading holy Scriptures may believ seeing none have right to baptize but the Ministers of a true Church and when the Church cannot of a Soul be fond and die in that time who dare say that Soul shall not be saved as it is written tell me O thou whom my Soul loveth where thou feedest and where thou makest thy Flock to rest at noon For why should I be as one that turneth aside by the Flocks of thy Companions Cant. 1. 7. Here was no neglect of the Souls desire to give it self up in holy Covenant with Christ and his Church when it saw the true way of God Deut. 26. 17 18 19. Ruth 1. 16. and 2. 12. 2 Cor. 11. 2. Jer. 50. 5. to put in practice Gods holy Ordinances Mat. 7. 24. James 1 22 23. for the neglect of injoying or performing Gods holy Ordinance is a sin but it shall not be laid to their charge if they want the injoyment of Gods Ordinances when in Gods holy Order they cannot have it but what will belaid to their charge that shall run head-long upon the Ordinances of Christ with out warrant from his Word Secondly Next I shall now shew on what part of the Body Baptism of Water ought to be administred or is most likely by the Scriptures it was administred upon You have R. A. supposed because they went down into the Water that therefore they were dipt do you think one cannot go into the water unless he be over the head Consider my friend a man is said to be in the mountain when he standeth within the limits of it Mat. 5 1. 2 Pet. 1. 8. Deut. 10. 1. Heb. 12. 20. Christ is said when he was teaching in a Ship that he sat in the Sea Mark 4. 1. So that when one is never so little in the water it answereth to the going into the water but it is very likely John preaching in the Wilderness where the River was which by reason of Ebbing and Flowing of the Water as Enon and Jordan were great Rivers joyning to the Sea might at sides be muddy and in the Wilderness having nothing conveniently to take up water they might that were baptized go so far as to take with the hand clear water to cast upon the face or forehead for the dumb beast will go so far into the River to drink as he may have clear water much more a man being a reasonable creature will go so far as to have clear water to cast upon the face or forehead lest the eyes be filled with dirt being so tender a place God having appointed every ordinance for the good of his people and not for their hurt and as I said before how Jerusalem and all Judea and all the Regions round about Jordan were baptized of John when here a part must be taken for the whole Because The Pharisees and Lawyers rejected the counsell of God against themselves being baptized of John Luke 7. 30. and these were inhabitants of Jerusalem John 1. 19. 24. So that here a part is taken for the whole in like manner we may conclude the use of water in Baptism on a part of the Body even the Face or forehead which representeth the whole Person As for example Hagar was said to flee from the Face of her Mistris which was from her person Gen. 16. 6 8. for farther evidence see these Scriptures Lev. 19. 23. 2 John ver 12. 3 John 8. 14. Rev. 6. 16. and many such like testimonies there is Likewise when Israell played the Harlot she is said to have a whores forehead setting forth all her abominations by the forehead beheld of all and yet not ashamed Jer. 3. 3. So the fals Church hath upon her forehead a name written Mystery Babilon the Great the Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth Rev. 17. 5. Moreover the Saints are not ashamed of the profession of the Gospel Rom. 1. 16. signified as sealed on the forehead Rev. 7. 3. departing from all iniquity as a seal to Gods people 2 Tim. 2. 29. So that as Baptism of Water is a manifesting of Christ to Israell John 1. 31. a sign of Remission of Sins by Christ Acts 2. 38. whereon should it be administred but on that part of the Body wâ—icâ— repâ—â—sâ—ntâ—th the whole man even the face or forehead which place or part of man the name of Christ is said to be Rev. 23. 4. whose name is the Word of God the of Christ Rev. 19. 13. the Covenant of the Gospel Heb. 8. 10. where then should the sign seal or token be administred but to the Covenant and on that place where the Covenant or Name of Christ is said to be even on the fore-head Rev. 22. 4. Again Christs Law or Covenant is also said to be written in the mind and heart of his people Heb. 8. 10. and the spirituall Baptism being there for Christ dwelleth in the heart by faith Eph. 3. even by the spirit of faith 2 Cor. 4. 13. then it will necessarily follow that as the inward baptism of Gods spirit is administred by God himself on that place even the heart where his Law or Covenant is wrot the end of the
to Romes I shall lay down their manner as their own Writers say It is a dipping three times in water In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost in Bellarm. de sac Bap. 1. 1. c. 25. Bellarm. de Image 1. 2. c. 29. Again consider my friend suppose a man while he is an unbeliever in the Wars have a leg or arm shot off and yet by Chyrurgery he is cured that he is as heart-whole as ever and may probably live as long as if that had not befallen him and in process of time comes to be a Believer shall not this man be Baptised if he was not Baptised before because you cannot Baptise all the whole man having not all his Members As many members make one body 1 Cor. 12. and this man with his heart believeth and with his mouth confession is made to Salvation Rom. 10. Shall not this man be Baptised think you and here a part must be taken for the whole or else it is not lawful to Baptise some Believers contrary to the Scriptures And again If the Baptism be utterly denyed not to be retained which we have received in Apostate Churches you thereby affirm all the people that are in our known parts of the world to be unbaptised and you cannot prove a succession in your way and so no lawful ministry to Baptise a People for no unbaptised person may be a Minister to Baptise but such was Mr. Smith in his own judgment Neither have any unbaptised people power to elect or ordain a Minister among them of this can no rule president or example be shewed in the Scripture but all to the contrary especially since all extraordinary Officers have ceased So must all the building of Christs Church and work of the Ministry cease until some second John Baptist or new Apostles be sent down from Heaven c. And they that make a new Ministry as Jeroboam did will be found to be the worship of the Devil and Ministers of Sathan 2 Chron. 11. 15. 2 Cor. 11. false Apostles deceitful workmen must also make a new Gospel and confirm it with new Miracles as I have heard some say when they could not prove a succession of Dipping by a trùe Ministry from the Apostles dayes they have thought an unbaptised person might begin the work to Baptise by Dipping but for warrant hereof no one word of God could be brought as Israel who made them Idols after their own understanding Hos 13. 1-3 When the way of man is not in himself it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps Jer. 10. 23. but that we may beware of the Rocks of Popery and quick-sands of Anabaptistry by the light of God's Word let us consider what is the safest way to take in this distress when men are at their wits end whither should we go but to the Lord for counsel Isa 42. 16 God's gracious Spirit blowing upon the sails of our faith we shall safely sail through all these difficulties into a strait way to the sincere practise of the Gospel for he that hath ascended up on high hath not left his Church destitute of counsel in all times and estates whatsoever and though the Lord for the judgment of the world and trial of his servants and manifestation of his power bring his servants into Babylon yet knoweth he how to deliver his servants without justifying of Antichristian or Babylonian Assemblies to bring his people forth to Sion and to rear up the decayed Tabernacles of David which were fallen down Amos 9. 11. without using one stone of Babel in the work for a corner or for a foundation And we being fallen into deep Apostasie in these parts of the world let us see whether we can find any president of such times and see whether we can fetch any better directions for the retaining of the Ordinance of Baptism than your way of Anabaptistry or twice baptizing for it is good for all to observe that the persons which John Baptist and the Apostles did baptize were not baptized before as we were in the state of Apostasie We read That whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our instruction Rom. 15. 4. And we find written in the time of Hezekiah that the Kingdom of Israel had a long time remained in Schism and Apostasie having forsaken the true Temple and made to themselves new Temples new Altars as the History of the Chronicles do declare 2 Chron 30. neither could by any warning be reclaimed only such as did return and left their false worship and came to the true Temple to worship God were received and admitted to the Passeover without either gathering correcting or repeating the Circumcision they had received in the times of their Apostacy The like we read in the times of Josiah in 2 Chron. 30. and in Ezra and Nehemiah when they had yet longer continued in their Schism and Idolatry and yet upon their return out of captivity unto the Lord the Circumcision then received was not repeated again Ezra 6. 21 22. yet no doubt to those men in those times while they continued in that idolatrous estate the Circumcision then received was no true seal of Gods Covenant to them being added to their false Worship Idolatry and Apostacy And I think this will be granted of all hands that God's Covenant is no longer continued with any Church or people than they remain in his faith and obedience Rom. 2. 25. But some may say I justifie the outward action of Circumcision as it is done in the false Church nothing less but condemn it altogether as a hainous profanation of God's holy Ordinance yet when it is purged by sincere repentance of the abuse thereof it pleased God in pardoning the faults and to reserve and not repeat the outward action which because it was vvrongly done it cannot be said not to be done at all for vve must put a difference betvveen a thing not rightly done and a thing not done at all for the errors and defaults of the Baptism being purged by Repentance and done away by the mercy of God the Lord now beholdeth the rest of the action and the thing which in pretence they seemed to do as his Ordinance so that we find this way the way of God concerning Circumcision received in the false Church when as those persons that were Circumcised in that state and after came to the true way of God they were not Circumcised again the like may be said of Baptism seeing Circumcision was the seal of faith and Baptism now as is before proved So by like equality as the one Seal received in Apostacy and not repeted so Baptism received in Apostacy is not to be repeted and so we have a foundation in Gods word to build our faith upon and not to follow your own spirits Object But if any say that Circumcision could not be repeted again and Baptism may because the foreskin being once cut could not after be cut again Answ The Apostle resolveth this doubt saying If any man called being Circumcised let him not become uncircumcised 1 Cor. 7. 18. which words do import that there might be a gathering of the flesh again by the Art of Chyrurgery as divers Histories do declare Joseph Antiq. Lib. 12. chap. 6. And again what should be more against reason to think why the outward Baptism delivered in a false Church should be denyed to be retained seeing Circumcision that was received in a false Church was not denyed when as the Scriptures shew that the state of the Romish and false Church in their Apostacy is like the state of Israel in their Apostacy as these and like Scriptures do shew Rev. 17. 1. 5 with Jer. 3. 8. Hos 2. 2 3. 1 Thes 2. 3. Therefore Baptism received in such estate is to be esteemed Now as Circumcision was in Israel in their defection but that Circumcision was so esteemed and such a state and walking was only repented of Thus if persons will follow the president of Scripture they shall find comfort at last but for persons to deny this Baptism and own that true Baptism for a man to Baptise himself as Smith did is proved by several testimonies this will be their reward as saith the Prophet Behold all ye that kindle a fire that compass your selves about with sparks walk in the light of your fire and in the sparks that ye have kindled this shall ye have of mine hand ye shall-lye down in sorrow Isa 50. 11. Thus according to my weak ability in unfained love to your soul I have returned you some Answer to your answer to John Turners Argument for Infants Baptism though he himself if he had pleased while he lived could have given you a more fuller Answer But forasmuch as your desire was I should peruse the writing between you I was willing for the vindication of the Truth of God in this point though the unfittest of many but as many of their great abilities brought rich things for the work of the Tabernacle yet those of small abilities who brought but Goats hair being accepted of God was not despised so though my abilities be but small to farther the work of the Lord I hope it will not altogether be despised of any that are imployed in the work of the Lords Tabernacle the true Church of God the stay and pillar of truth thus desiring the Lord to bless these my labours for the comfort of his Elect and the Lord alone to have the glory honour and praise now and for evermore Amen Reader I having no thoughts when I first wrote this Treatise that it should come to publick view but seeing providence hath so disposed thereof I think good to acquaint thee if these people which deny Infants Baptism have likewise deceived thee as perswading in word or writing that it is not lawful to eat blood and things strangled which is the Doctrine of Devils 1 Tim. 4. For thy help against that error you may have a small Treatise where this book is to be had proving it lawful by the Doctrine of Christ and his Apostles to eat blood and strangled things in these dayes of the Gospel Published by the Author of this Book FINIS
Commandment being love out of a pure heart and of a good conscience and of faith unfained 1 Tim. 5. so ought the outward baptism of water to be administred on that place even the forehead where Christs name or covenant is recorded Rev. 22. 4. Moreover when the Lord sent the Messenger to destroy the wicked in Jerusalem those that were to be preserved or saved were marked on the forehead Ezek. 9. So likewise in Rev. 7. 3. and as Baptism is a figure of our safety 1 Pet. 3. 21. and the forehead or face representeth the whole man why not a part taken for the whole in this Ordinance as well as in the Spiritual Baptism and the mark of old and now of the people of God Ezek. 9. Rev. 7. in the forehead a part was taken for the whole as may be seen in the use of water where Christ washed the Disciples feet as if the whole body had been washed John 13. signifying a cleansing of the whole so Baptism on the face or forehead signifyeth the whole body washed in the Blood of Christ as a cleansing from all sins for of old in the figures of cleansing or sanctifying it was chiefly by sprinkling a part taken for the whole Again If you will not grant a part to be taken for the whole we cannot justify the Scriptures of truth for it was said as Jonas was three dayes and three nights in the Whales belly Ion. 1. 17. So shall the Son of Man be three dayes and three nights in the heart of the earth Matth. 13. 40. But we know he lay but a part for the whole therefore beware of following your own spirit and have seen nothing as the foolish Prophets did in Israel Prophecying out of their own hearts Ezek. 13. and your having neither the warrant of the Learned to limit the word to one sense of Dipping neither the Scripture for your opinion but take warning by the Counsel of the Holy Ghost Cursed is he that addeth or diminisheth which must needs be in denying the sense and meaning of the Word And next I shall by the help of God shew you that you are not faithful to practise what you seem to contend for in the administration of the Baptism of water and that in your own Judgment are not yet Baptised unless you grant a part to serve for the whole When Philip and the Eunuch went down into the water I suppose you will not deny but so far as they both went into the water was no part of Baptism and when they were both gone so far into the water as was convenient to make use of the water then Philip Baptised the Eunuch Now whether Philip and the Eunuch went but to the ankles or midleg or knees or wast before he Baptised the Eunuch is not mentioned in the Text the Scripture is silent but according to your Judgment that the whole body must be dipt or else none are Baptised then sure you must prove that the Eunuch was born up in the arms of Philip quite out of the water and so dipt all the body under water or else so far as the Eunuch went he Baptised himself or else Philip put the rest of the body of the Eunuch that was out of the water in the water and so Philip Baptised but a part for the whole and as I am informed by some that have seen the manner of your Administration oâ— Baptism that the party that is to be Baptised goeth into he water with the Administrator to the Loyns and the Administrator putteth the other part of his body which is out of the water into the water and so you Baptise but a part for the whole yet you plead for dipping the whole body and yet practice the contrary supposing there is a mâ—â—h in anothers eye and the beam is in your own and keep ado with that Scripture Rom. 6. Buried with Christ in Baptism and that of 1 Cor. 15. 29. Baptised for dead or for the dead answerable to a mans burial that is dead and put in the ground But if you will practise what you contend for as I said before the Administrator must bear up the man that is to be Baptised quite out of the water and so put him into the water as a dead man into the Grave but did you ever know a man that was dead bury himself to the knees or waste and some other bury the rest of the mans body to see this would be a Miracle But a man cannot by any Rule from Gods word Baptise himself neither a part nor whole but so far as you go into the water you do Baptise your selves and another Baptiseth the rest thus you must acknowledg a part is by you practised for the whole or else in your own Judgment you are yet unbaptised and yet condemn others that believe and practise a part for the whole on that part of the body that representeth a part for the whole even the Forehead or Face And now I will shew you by the testimony of four several writers who was the beginner of your manner of Baptism by Dipping of himself though before this time there might be some that held your Judgment but knew not of any true administrator by succession but one being more desperately wicked than others would begin to Baptise himself and others being deceived by him follow after but beware and follow not a multitude to do evil Exod. 23. 2. In the dayes of King James or thereabouts one Mr. Smith who was of the Church of England after disliking thereof and leaving England in process of time was admitted a Member of a people of our Judgment then living in Amsterdam commonly but falsly called Brownists and in process of time was cast out of that Church for Errors he held and not long after he fell to deny his Baptism in infancy and knew not how to have a better nor a truer Administrator successively after your way of Dipping at length he Baptised himself and then he Baptised one Helvish by name this you may see in a Book written by one Mr. Jessop presented to King James more to â—his purpose I have seen in a book written by Mr. â—obinson living then at Leyden in Holland also in another Book written by one Mr. Clifton who wrote an answer to one of Mr. Smiths Books and in another Book written by Mr. Henry Ainsworth Teacher at that time in the Church where Mr. Smith was cast out from and as I have heard when I lived in London that one * This of Mr. Spilsbury I speak as I was told the others testimony is publick in Print and such men as were worthy to be believed Mr. Spilsbury should go to Holland to be Baptised of this Smith so he brought it into England And if you can prove no better an Administrator your Ministry will be found to come out of the bottomless pit as Romes Ministry did And that you may know how near kin your Baptism is