God acting faith in them in this Ordinance doth not onely clear up to them more sweetly the pretiousnesse of the death of Christ but also confirm to them more richly their interest in the same to wit the remission of all their sinnes and their peace with the Father through Jesus Christ Hitherto I conceive tends that of Peter to his perplexed hearers Acts 2.38 Repent and be baptized every one of you in the Name of Iesus Christ for the remission of sinnes He doth not say neither dare I say that baptisme is a remedy to remit sinnes for then I should run into the mistake of such who pleading for their Infants baptisme do say Baptisme is a remedy to take away that sinne which they as the sons of Adam have conveyed to them But this Scripture I conceive holds forth to us especially two things First that repentance and remission of sins are preached given only in the Name or through the Name of Iesus Christ There is sufficiency of grace and strength in the Lord Jesus and in him onely to give you repentance and remission of sinnes And so it will agree with what is written by Luke 24.47 And that repentance and remission of sinnes should be preached in his Name among all Nations beginning at Ierusalem Secondly that the Lord Iesus doth in baptisme confirm or witnesse unto Believers in some comfortable measure the forgivenesse of their sins in his Name And therefore he commands them to be baptized partly for this end that in baptisme he may confirm to them in some measure by his Spirit acting faith in them the remission of their sinnes For when a Believer is baptized in the Name of Christ and the Spirit of God acts faith in him in his baptisme then is his heart more sweetly assured that through this Name all his sins are remitted and he is at peace with God And to this purpose I conceive we are to understand that Scripture Acts 22.16 Arise and be baptized and wash away thy sins calling on the Name of the Lord. Not that baptisme doth wash away sinnes for it is the bloud of Christ onely received by us through the faith of the operation of God that washeth or cleanseth us from all sinnes But thus Be baptized and in thy baptisme call on the Name of the Lord that is act faith in the Lord Iesus in whose Name thou art baptized that through faith in his Name in this Ordinance thy heart may be further confirmed in this assurance that all thy sinnes are washed away in his pretious bloud And to this purpose I conceive we are to understand Mark 1.4 and Luk. 3.3 concerning Iohns baptisme Only Iohns baptisme did point at Christ yet to come and that which Christ after gave in Commission did hold forth Christ already come And this priviledge or benefit believers have doubtlesse found in baptisme Hence it is that the Eunuch after he was baptized went on his way rejoycing Acts 8.39 He had found something of Christ in this Ordinance which gave him occasion of rejoycing It was not a uselesse but a gainefull Ordinance through Christ to him And so it was said of the Iaylor and all his house after they were baptized He rejoyced believing in God with all his house Some increase of faith and some witnesse of the Love of Christ they had found ministred to them by the Spirit in this Ordinance And as it was given to our Lord Iesus straightway after his baptisme to see heaven opened and to heare the love of the Father witnessed from heaven to him by the holy Spirit Even so the like mercie in a lesse measure is given to believers in and after their baptisme Neither is this fruit onely to be found in the present administration of baptisme but in respect of this benefit amongst others baptisme hath an influence into the whole life of a believer And truly the grace of God is very observable in this respect for by baptisme or straight way upon it believers are called out to wrestle with Satan as it were in the open feild they are set as a But for Satan and the world to shoot against and therefore they had need be Armed with the strength and love of Christ given into their hearts by the holy Spirit in this Ordinance Thus much concerning the explication of this priviledge Instruction Hence believers may be instructed to act faith dayly in the Lord Iesus in this Ordinance and to expect a renewed power of the Spirit of God inabling them in the faith to looke often upon Christ therein As also witnessing afresh to their hearts in such actings of faith the remission of all their sinnes through him in whose Name they are baptized for baptisme is not onely usefull to believers in the present administration of it but for future times also The comfort and benefit of it through the power of the holy Spirit whose Name is called upon them therein hath an influence into the whole life of a believer Therefore let believers account their baptisme to be of great use and comfort to them through Christ by the operation of the holy Spirit in them therein Tryall Againe the clearing up of this priviledge may serve as a fixth Touchstone for the tryall of Infants baptisme whereby the unlawfulnesse thereof will be further discovered I lay downe this conclusion to wit Baptisme may be lawfully administred to none but to such whom the Lord Iesus hath made meet in some measure to be partakers of such a priviledge in baptisme to have the remission of their sinnes through the Name of Christ confirmed or witnessed to their hearts by the power of the holy Spirit whose Name is called upon them in this Ordinance Are Infants meet to have repentance and remission of sinnes preached to them through the Name of Christ and to be baptized in his Name for the remission of sinnes are they meet to have remission of sinnes through Christ witnessed to their heart in baptisme by the holy Spirit who neither know their sinnes nor know Christ nor know the holy Spirit in his gratious and comfortable operation Therefore the baptisme of Infants is not of God for I affirm as I said before that baptism can lawfully be administred to none but such whom the Lord Jesus hath made meet in some measure to receive remission of sinnes in baptisme I meane to have the remission of sinnes through the Name of Christ witnessed and confirmed to their hearts in some comfortable measure by the holy Spirit working gratiously in them in that Ordinance And Surely at the least it is needfull that they know their sinnes and know Christ and know the holy Spririt and know his operations when he puts forth his grace and power in them Now how these things will agree to Infants I leave to the Iudgement of the Wise Thus much concerning the priviledges or benefits which the Lord Iesus gives in a gratious and meet proportion unto believers in their
A TREATISE OF BAPTISME Wherin is clearly proved the lawfulnesse and usefulnesse of Believers Baptisme As also the sinfulnesse and vanity of Infants Baptisme With many usefull Instructions concerning the same matter Grounded upon Ephes 4.5 One Lord One Faith One Baptisme By ROBERT GARNER PROVERBS 10.9 He that walketh uprightly walketh surely But he that perverteth his wayes shall be known PSAL. 119.126 127 128. It is time for thee Lord to work they have made void thy Law Therefore I love thy Commandements above gold yea above fine gold Therefore I esteem all thy Precepts concerning all things to be right I hate every false way Printed in the Year 1645. To the Churches of JESUS CHRIST in London and elsewhere in all places BEloved in the Lord My hearts desire to the Fountain of grace is that you may receive abundantly from thence a multiplication of grace and peace and a most rich enjoyment of the full assurance of understanding to the acknowledgement of the mistery of God and of the Father and of Christ and that in every thing ye may be strengthened by him with all might and enriched by him with all utterance and with all knowledge and replenished from him with that wisedome which is from above and enabled by him to walk in holinesse love and unity and to stand stedfast in the Truth as it is in Jesus that in all things he may be glorified by you Beloved our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ whose I am and whom I serve in whom also I am your Brother and Servant in the Faith and fellowship of the Gospell having brought to my hand some understanding and enjoyment of the doctrine of Baptisme and the usefulnesse thereof as it concernes Believers unto whom onely he hath alloted it I did account my self bound in duty to make you partakers of his grace given to me by recommending the same to your consideration as it is propounded in the following Treatise And the rather I was willing to do so because although I have seen the precious labours of some of my dear brethren to my edification clearing the truth of the doctrine of Believers baptisme and discovering the falsenesse of infants baptisme in way of answer to such or the arguments of such who pleaded so earnestly though carnally for the same yet I have seen no Treatise positively and directly declaring the doctrine of Believers baptism with the End and use thereof unto them I beseech the stronger Brethren not to account this undertaking arrogancie or presumption in me who am the unworthiest amongst the Saints I have writ it and sent it especially for the instruction and confirmation of the weaker having confidence through the Lord that it will be of some such use and advantage to them Some things in this Treatise do not so directly concern you my Brethren as others who upon severall grounds though but Sandy are otherwise minded as will be manifest to such as reade with understanding Neverthelesse such things will not be uselesse unto you my Brethren And so it may please the Lord that they may not be without fruit amongst those among whom more especially they do concern if the Lord in bringing this Treatise to their hands bring it to their hearts also It is their instruction that I desire If any man think himself to be a Prophet or spirituall let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the Commandements of the Lord. But if any man will be ignorant let him be ignorant Brethren pray for me Be mindfull of the Brethren amongst us Study to advance the Kingdome of Christ in these parts for there is a generall backwardnesse to cast off humane traditions and to close with the Lord Jesus in his pure Ordinances The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you My love be with you all in Christ Jesus Amen Your Brother in the love and service and riches of the Gospell ROBERT GARNER A Treatise of BAPTISME Wherein is clearly proved the lawfulnesse and usefulnesse of Believers Baptisme As also the sinfulnesse and vanitie of Infants Baptism With many usefull Instructions concerning the same matter Grounded upon Ephes 4 5. One Lord One Faith One Baptism WHich Scripture holdeth forth to us this truth to wit The Lord Jesus hath given and commanded One Baptism of water under the Gospell to be administred unto Believers onely In holding forth this truth it is needfull to clear up these things to wit First by Baptisme in this Scripture we are to understand the Baptism of water Secondly This Baptisme of water is an Ordinance of the Lord Iesus Thirdly This Ordinance of the Lord Iesus is properly and peculiarly belonging vnto Believers Or it is given and commanded unto believers onely Fourthly What is the end and use of baptisme unto believers And this I shall shew by laying downe what are those Priviledges or benefits which the Lord Jesus gives to believers in this Ordinance Fifthly What is the duty of believers in and after their partaking in this Ordinance Sixthly Whom the Lord Iesus hath appointed to be the Dispencer or Administrator of this Ordinance unto believers These things through the helpe of God being cleared up will afford to us some vsefull instructions as flowing from thence and will serve for a Touchstone to make tryall of that which is commonly called Infants Baptisme What Instructions will naturally arise to us from these generall heads I shall annexe them thereunto as I goe forward The first thing to be cleared up is this to wit By baptisme in this scripture we are to understand the baptisme of water There is indeed a threefold baptisme which we reade of in scripture The baptisme of water Acts 8.36 and 10.47 The baptisme of the holy Spirit or fire Mat. 3.11 Mark 1.8 And the baptisme of afflictions Math. 20.23 Mark 10.39 The first of these was administred to all believers we reade of in the Gospell The second was given by Christ more especially to some persons either before or after the administration of the baptisme of water in what measure the Lord Christ was pleased to dispense the same And this is called the gift or gifts of the holy Spirit Acts. 10.45 and 19.5.6 The last of these is one time or other the portion of all such as will live godly in Christ Jesus though indeed some by the appointment of God drinke deeper of the Cup and are plunged lower and longer in afflictions then others are yet so as God alwayes proportioneth richer measures of grace and strength to greater measures of tryals and afflictions What hath beene spoken concerning this threefold baptisme may serve as I conceive to give some light to Heb. 6.2 Where mention is made of Baptismes not one onely in the singular number but baptismes in the plurall number This by the way Now the main Scope or Argument of the Apostle in the forementioned Scripture Ephes 4.5 will fully prove that the baptisme of water is chiefly and onely intended
a way of grace Arise and be baptized Thus we have the first witnesse speaking clearly plainly and fully to the matter Joh. 15.14 without any Deceitfulnesse Darknesse or inticeing words of Mans Wisedome The second witnesse agreeing with the former is the example of the Lord Jesus and of the Saints in Scripture who have walked before us in the paths of the Gospel We will set the Lord Jesus in the first place Matthew 3.13.14.15 Then commeth Iesus from Gallile to Iordan unto Iohn to be baptized of him but Iohn forbad him saying I have need to be baptized of thee and commest thou to me And Iesus answering said to him suffer it to be so now for thus it becommeth us to fulfill all righteousnesse Then he suffered him The Lord Jesus is herein an example to believers in those or the like respects first in his paines He travaileth from Gallile unto Iordan to be baptized He is willing to take paines to fulfill his Fathers will Secondly in his forwardnesse and that is implyed in the word then Then commeth Iesus That is when Iohn had entred upon the administration of baptisme Then when the worke was now in hand commeth Iesus He doth not delay but makes haste to fulfill the will of his Father Thirdly in his humility He cometh to Iohn He disdaineth not nor neglecteth the Ordinance of God although to be administred to him by one much inferiour to himselfe Fourthly in his holy and firme resolution He breaks through all oppositions which did lye in his way to hinder him in his Obedience to his Fathers will Iohn forbad him But the Lord Iesus overcomes that opposition with this consideration that it is an act of righteousnesse and therefore it behoveth or becommeth him to fulfill the same To his example we shall add the practise of the Saints in Scripture Acts. 2.41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized Acts. 8.12.13 But when they believed Philips preaching the things concerning the Kingdome of God and the Name of Iesus Christ they were baptized both men and Women Then Simon himselfe believed also and was baptized And verses 36.37.38 of the same chapter the Eunuch said see here is water what doth hinder me to be baptized And Philip said if thou believest with all thine heart thou mayest And he answered and said I believe that Iesus Christ is the Sonne of God Then they went into the water both Philip and the Eunuch and he baptized him Acts 9.18 After that the Lord Iesus had appeared in a way of Grace to Saul and had sent him to Anamas It is said He received sight forthwith and arose and was baptized Acts. 18.8 Many of the Corinthians hearing believed and were baptized And we reade further of foure housholds of believers who were baptized Lydia and her houshold Acts 16.14 15. The Iaylor and his houshold vers 33 34. of the same Chapter Crispus and his house Acts 18.8 The houshold of Stephanas 1 Cor. 1.16 Now if some shall yet continue to say as many have already spoken upon their own imagination that it is probable there were Infants in the houshold of Lydia as well as them of grown yeares and therefore Infants were baptized as well as them I give this twofold answer to wit First there is but one baptisme of water one in respect of that One Lord who hath commanded it and one in respect of that one subject to wit believers such as make profession of one faith upon whom onely that One Lord hath commanded it to be administred And therefore we may boldly affirm that upon the same ground Lydia was baptized upon the same ground also her houshold was baptized that was upon their diligent attention and subjection unto the Gospell which Paul preached And how this will agree with Infants let the wise judge Secondly it is much safer and more agreeable to the rule of heavenly wisedome and godly equitie to interpret this one Scripture wherein there is some seeming darknesse and yet but seeming by other clear Scriptures of the like nature rather then to intangle and lose our selves and wrong the Testimony of the Lord Iesus with our own imaginations Let us then compare spirituall things with spirituall Let us try the baptisme of Lydia and her houshold by the baptisme of those other three housholds mentioned above The Iaylor and his houshold who were baptized were such to whom Paul and Silas did speak the word of the Lord Acts 16.32 and such as believed and rejoyced in God vers 34. He rejoyced and believed in God with all his house And of Crispus and his houshold it is said Acts 18.8 Crispus believed on the Lord with all his house and they were baptized And the houshold of Stephanas whom Paul baptized 1 Cor. 1.16 He witnesseth of them in the 16. chapter of this Epistle vers 15. they were the first fruits of Achaia and have addicted themselves to the ministery of the Saints Now whether any of these Scriptures teach to us either directly or by way of consequence the baptism of Infants let the wise judge And doubtlesse Lydia and her houshold will speak as little for that baptisme for such as were these housholds such was Lydia and her houshold also 1 Cor. 11.1 Thus we have the second witnesse agreeing with the former as the Lords witnesses alwayes do speaking clearly plainly and fully to the matter also And in the mouth of these two witnesses we have the second and third general heads clearly and fully proved to wit Baptisme is an Ordinance of the Lord Iesus which he hath given and commanded as properly and peculiarly belonging unto believers disciples or repentant ones And this Testimony which is from heaven shall stand immoveable against the imaginary and counterfeit testimony of all gain-sayers If we receive the witnesse of men the witnesse of God is greater That which I have said for the clearing and proving of these two generall heads Instruction is usefull to instruct us concerning the necessitie of believers baptisme some say it is of no necessitie And they charge us that we put a greater necessity upon it then is meet To such I may answer Of what necessitie is any of Gods Ordinances For what necessitie there is of others the same necessitie there is of this And truly we put no greater necessitie upon it then the Lord Iesus himself hath put upon it Now I conceive there is a threefold necessitie which the Lord hath put upon this as upon other Ordinances First it is of necessitie to obey the Lord in this as in all other Ordinances Secondly it is of necessitie to shew forth the praise and honour of the Lord in this as in all other Ordinances Thirdly it is of necessitie to seek the face and strength and blessing of Christ in this as in all other Ordinances That the Lord Iesus hath commanded it to believers and in that respect therefore it is necessary I have already proved And that