shall add by clear Scripture Proof as followeth in Exod. 25.40 Acts 7.44 Heb. 8.4 5. Heb. 10.1 2. That the frame of the Jewish Church was made more glorious at the coming in of the Gospel New Dispensation I readily grant but the state of the Church was never altered and the Materials or Subjects are still of the very same kind without any substantial variation 2. Their spiritual Food in Gods House the Church is still the very same though under a better and more glorious Dispensation 3. If Mr. D. could have proved that the state of the Church had been plucked up by the roots and the Covenant dissolved and that it was but a carnal Constitution as Mr. H. C. and Mr. B. K. laboured in vain to do as may be seen in their Books against me then Mr. D. might have gained the Point but he is wiser than to attempt such a gross Absurdity which borders upon blasphemy and therefore he hath rather chosen to contradict those two populous Authors or Champions 4. The Jews and all their children under the Law were Members of the Church visible and the state of the Church was never altered Therefore all the children of Christian believers are Members with their Parents of the Church visible also now under the Gospel Dispensation unless any of them sin themselves out of it when they are grown Persons John 15.2 Rom. 11.17 But that the state of the Church was never altered I shall prove as followeth 1. The Jewish Church state was built upon the Rock of Ages namely that spiritual Rock Christ Jesus as in 1 Cor. 10.3 2. The Church hath its Foundation in the Covenant of Grace of which Christ is the chief Corner-stone Isa 28.16 3. The Covenant of Grace was first declared and made with Adam immediately after the Fall for Adam had the Gospel Preached first to him by God himself who spake as never Man spake like him Gen. 3.15 4. Noah was a Preacher of Righteousness 2 Pet. 2.5 that was he Preached the Gospel for he that doth not preach up the Righteousness of Christ for Justification Satisfaction Sanctification and Salvation doth not Preach the Gospel for the Righteousness of Christ is the very Marrow and Quintessence of the Gospel 5. Abraham had the Gospel Preached unto him as in Gal. 3.8 And the scripture foreseeing that God would justifie the heathen through faith preached before the Gospel unto Abraham saying In thee shall all nations be blessed Pray observe The Gospel is that which was Preached before unto Abraham that was when God first blessed Abraham and in him both Jews and Gentiles at his first establishing his Covenant with him in Gen. 12.3 And I will make of thee a great nation and I will bless thee and make thy name great and thou shalt be a blessing And I will bless them that bless thee and curse him that curseth thee and in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed 2. This Preaching the Gospel before unto Abraham 1. It was before the Covenant was so fully declared and established with him And 2. before God had changed his Name 3. And lastly It was before God had fixed a Token unto the Covenant All which you have in Gen. 17.5 7 11. Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram but thy name shall be called Abraham for a father of many nations have I made thee And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant to be a God unto thee and to thy seed after thee And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your fore-skin and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you The Covenant was as much a Covenant to Abraham before God added â— Token unto â—â— as it was unto him after as is also clear from Verse 4. As for we behold my covenant is 〈◊〉 thee and thou shalt be a father of man◠〈◊〉 God did not change nor alter his Covenant with Abraham when he added Token to it though he changed his Name Thus you see 1. by whom the Gospel was preached unto Abraham 2 When it was preached unto him 3. How is was preached unto him 4. And lastly What the Gospel was that was preached before unto him Why it was the Covenant of Grace it self in the first broaching of it to Abraham Which utterly destroys that new invented Notion of a Covenant of Peculiarity made with Abraham of Circumcision That is to place the Token of the Covenant in the room of the Covenant it self which is absurd and false And this we must observe also that this was not the first broaching of this Celestial Liquor viz. the Gospel though it was so to Abraham and his Seed for it was first broached and set a running to Adam immediately after the Fall and hath run down upon his Posterity ever since from Generation to Generation and will continue to the end of the World So that to Preach up the Covenant is to Preach the Gospel Hence by the way I infer How unfit all those are who take upon them the Ministry of the Gospel that disown the Covenant that are so ignorant of these profound Mysteries that cannot distinguish between the Covenant and the Token thereof 2. That the Church-state is still the same and the substantial Matter and Form the same now as it was under the Law plainly appears by our Saviours Words to the unbelieving Jews who were then Members of the Church visible as in Mat. 21. Therefore the kingdom of heaven shall be taken from you and gives to a nation bringing forth the fruit thereof And in Mat. 8. Aâ—â— I say unto you that many shall come from the east and west and shall sit down with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven That is they shall be brought into the same Covenant which God established with Abraham Isaac and Jacob and into the same gospel-Gospel-Church as they and their Seed were in for this cannot be meant of the Kingdom of Heaven above for none can be cast out of that as these were to be in the remainder of the Verse Mind it but the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness there shall be weeping 〈◊〉 gnashing of teeth 1. From hence we may observe that the unbelieving Jews were to be cast out of the Church or Kingdom of Heaven and the Elect Gentiles were to be taken in for them in their room which did not destroy the Constitution of the Church no more than the casting out of Hypocrites out of a Church doth now but it was to purge and refine the Church from all its chaffe Hypocrites and to gather in the Elect Gentile-wheat into the Garner Mat. 3. Whose fan is in his hand and he will throughly purge his floor and gather his wheat into the garner but he will burn up the châ—ff with unquenchable fire 2. When this Threatning was executed viz.
No Saint of God ever was or ever will be justified neither for or by the Act of Faith and the reason is plain because that would be for a man to be justified by Works which would destroy Justification by Faith in the Righteousness of Christ which is Popery all over for there is no Justification without the Grace of Faith though not for the Acting of that Grace Therefore it is all a pure Design of preventing Grace from the Foundation to the Top-stone of mans Salvation it is all Grace Grace pure preventing Grace And therefore an Elect dying Infant is as capable of Justification Regeneration Adoption Sanctification and Eternal Salvation as any Adult person is whatsoever And thus I have proved That Habitual Faith is essentially necessary for the salvation of dying Infants as well as Adult believers None can be saved without it for there can be no Acts of Faith where there are not first Habits of Faith it is as impossible as it is for a Tree to grow and bear Fruit without a Root 8. Saith Mr. D. in page 6. It 's to be wondered at how you come to stop at Baptism and do not let children partake of the Lords-supper c. Mr. D. can see no reason why Infants should not be perfect Members of the Church visible if they are any at all To which I reply 1. Truly it is to be wondered at that such an insipid Argument should be destilled from the Brain and drop from the Pen of a Person of such natural Endowments as Mr. D. is generally taken to be But such is the unsearchable Wisdom of God to confound the Wisdom of the Wise and to entangle them in their own Devices that no flesh should glory in his presence Now I shall make good what I have said with a respect to this Argument 1. It cannot be denied but that the Jews children were perfect Members of the Church visible when they were circumcised at Eight days old for the Apostle tells us that unto them were committed the oracles of God Rom. 3.1 2. But yet notwithstanding they did not partake of the Passover and this I am sure that the Gospel of Grace and Christ the Purchaser of Grace did not at all diminish the gracious Priviledges of the children of Christian believers 2. Circumcision was instituted about four hundred and thirty years before the Ordinance of the Passover was in being and were there not perfect Members of the Church visible before the Passover was instituted which was just the Night before they were delivered out of that Egyptian Boâ—dage 3. To come nearer home All those men women and children that were baptized by John the Baptist were perfect Members of the Church visible by vertue of their Covenant-relation to Abraham who was a Type of Christ the Father of alâ— the Faithful and yet they did not partake of the Ordinance of the Lords-supper for it was impossible they should because that Ordinance was not instituted until about thirty years after for as Circumcision was instituted before the Passover so was Baptism before the Lords-supper and as the Passover was not instituted until the Night in which Israel was delivered out of the Egyptian Captivity so the Lords-supper was not instituted until the Night in which our Lord was betrayed when he Actually delivered us out of Spiritual Egyptian Bondage 3. If none are perfect Members of the Church visible until they partake of the Lords supper ther if any of their own Opinion die after they are dipped before they partake of the Lords-supper as no doubt but that many do then they dye imperfect Members of their Church visible 4. Baptism was in force long before the Passover was abolished for our Saviour Christ did eat the Passover and institute the Lords-supper both at a Meal the very Night in which he was betrayed which was the total abolition of the former and the establishment of the latter 5. Our Saviour Christ himself hath in effect declared the Infant-seed of Believers to be perfect Members of the Church visible in Mat. 19 1â— these Words viz. Then were there brought unto him little children that he should put his hands on them and pray and the disciples rebuked them But Jesus said Suffer little children and forbid them not to come unto me for of such is the kingdom of heaven That is the Church Surely the Kingdom of Heaven is not comprized and made up of imperfect Members or Subjects Thus you see this Argument is pluckt up by the Roots 9. Saith Mr. D. in page 6. Many of those you call outward Priviledges of the Covenant of Grace our children have as well as yours 1. We dedicate them to God by our Prayers for them as soon as born and those of the Church into which in time we hope they will incorporate 2. Our Example 3. Religious Education by catechising and by daily Prayers for them c. Here are several things worthy to come under our consideration from these Premises aforesaid 1. Mr. D. asserts and declares that their children have many of those we call outward Priviledges of the Covenant of Grace as well as ours but he will not allow them to be outward Priviledges c. but saith that we call them so 2. Either they are Priviledges of the Covenant of Grace or they are not and if they are not so then they are no Priviledges at all for they must be of the Covenant of Works they must be of Grace or of Works this is clear from the Scripture in Rom. 11. And if by grace then it is no more of works otherwise grace is no more grace But if it be of works then it is no more grace otherwise work is no more work Therefore if those we call outward Priviledges of the Covenant of Grace of which our Opponents children partake of as well as ours are not outward Priviledges of the Covenant of Grace then they are of the Covenant of Works which is no Priviledge at all thus to boast of 3. This destroys that common and unclean Nation of theirs viz. That the children of Turk and Heathens have as much Priviledge as the children of Christian Believers for Turks and Heathens do not dedicate their children to God in Christ as soon as born Which I take to be Mr. D's meaning though he will not allow them one Dram of Habitual Grace which renders it wholly invalid 4. This Dedication of their children as soon as born and Prayers for them must not pass without a strickt Examination for fear least it should prove to be but blear-eyed Leah instead of beautiful Rachel to use our Authour 's own Phrase Therefore I will bring it into the Ballance of the Sanctuary and try whether it be weight or not 1. How can Mr. D. dedicate his children to God in prayer for them as soon as born seeing he will not allow them to be capable of receiving the Seed and Habits of Grace to unite them to Christ For it is
of this their Principle and whosoever dives into it seriously and judiciously will find it to be so otherwise why do they say that children are not capable of receiving the Habits of Grace which highly reflects dishonour on the Free Grace of God and also the omnipotent Power of God for unless they do pray for their dying children or living either that they may be united to Christ and be begotten and born of God and justified by the Righteousness and Merits of Christ and have their original sins subdued and their Natures sanctified and changed and the Image of God imprest upon them that they may be made meet to partake of the Inheritance with the Saints in Light which must be by infusing Grace into their Souls all their Prayers signifie no more than their Prayers do for any other outward Mercy and Injoyment But how can they pray for their young Infants union with Christ when at the same time they declaim the very instrumental Bond of union viz. The Grace of Faith which is peculiar to all Gods Elect. 2. You shall see how incongruous Mr. D. is in himself For 1. Saith he in page 5. God knows how to sanctifie and save our dying Infants without our application of Ordinances unto them c. 2. In page 6. he saith We dedicate them to God by Prayers for them as soon as born c. 1. He saith God knows how to sanctifie and save our dying Infants without our application of Ordinances unto them Now by the same parity of Reason Adult believers may cast off all Ordinances and say I am in the Invisible and Catholick Church and God knows how to sanctifie and save me without the application of Ordinances This would make a notable Plea for those that do cast off Ordinances 2. It is true that God doth know how to sanctifie and save all Elect Infants But here I must stop for I dare go no further with Mr. D. because I see a dangerous Precipice 2. It is also as true that God hath revealed unto us how he doth sanctifie and save Elect dying Infants for it is in the same way in which he doth sanctifie and save all Elect Adult believers as I have already sufficiently demonstrated and proved For as there is but one Lord one Faith and one Baptism even so there is but one way to Heaven and that is thro' Christ by Justification Regeneration Adoption and Sanctification for Christ himself saith I am the way and in Acts 4.12 Neither is there salvation in any other for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved 3. Is not the dedication of our children to God an Ordinance of God and Is not Prayer also an Ordinance of God 1. If the dedication of our children to God be not an Ordinance of God why do our Opponents practice it Secondly If Prayers to God for them be not an Ordinance of God why do they use it Why doth our Author himself apply these Ordinances of God to his children as soon as born seeing he thus declaims them 2. If they are not Ordinances of God then it falls under the sin of Will-worship and humane Invention and if so then it would be said another day Who hath required these things at your hands But 3. If they are Ordinances of God then they ought not to be against the application of Ordinances unto them by others seeing they allow it in themselves for Dedication without Institution is down-right Superstition Get over this Sir if you can For we are to do all things spiritually in the Worship and Service of God according to the Pattern shewn by God himself unto Moses in the Mount 4. Baptism as hath been proved is one of the Heavenly Things or Gospel-Church-Ordinances which is a publick solemn dedication of the subject baptized unto God in the Church in the presence of God Angels and Men by Thanksgiving and Prayer for as we receive our children from God so it is but reasonable we should offer them up to God through Christ from whom we received them But yet notwithstanding we ought to dedicate them to God secretly as soon as born and privately in our Families for as in Prayers there i◠1 secret Closet-prayer 2. there is private Family-prayer 3. and lastly there is publick Prayer in the Church Assembly And the 〈◊〉 former may be said to be preparatory to the latter secret Prayer in the Closet ought not 〈◊〉 or hinder private Prayer in the Family 〈◊〉 ought both these to excuse or impede publick Prayer in a publick Church Assembly Even so ought we to do in point of dedicating our children to God first it ought to be from the very Womb as soon as born in secret devotion in our Closets and in our Hearts by Faith praising of God on the Childs behalf that the Womb was not its Grave and for that its Members were written in Gods Book of Creation and also to pray unto God that the name of it may be written in the Book of Life that it may be regenerated renewed and sanctified and be sealed up unto the Day of Redemption by the Holy Spirit 2. We ought to dedicate our Children to God in like manner aforesaid in our Family with those Neigbbours and Friends that are there as Instruments to help usher them into the World 3. And lastly These Dedications aforesaid of our children as soon as born must not hinder nor prevent our publick solemn Dedication of them afterwards in that Church Ordinance of Baptism in a more publick solemn manner in the presence of God Angels and Men for the Angels are present in Church Ordinances and Discipline and are strickt Observators of all our Behaviour and Deportment as in 1 Cor. 11.7 10. Which brings me to the second thing viz. That the Angels attend the Church in their Ministry and in special manner their Ministry is extended to the Elect Infant-members thereof as doth plainly appear from the Words of our Saviour in that Rebuke he gave to those Disciples that were of his own peculiar Family when they were striving among themselves who was the greatest in the Church as in Mat. 18. At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus saying Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven Pray observe they did not ask who should be greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven hereafter but who is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven now in the present tense That was as much as to say Who among us Disciples is greatest in the Church of God now for they knew that Christ was the greatest in the Church and that God is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven in Glory Now pray mind Christs Answer unto them And Jesus called a little child unto him and set him in the midst of them And said Verily I say unto you Except ye be converted and become as little children ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven This Christ spake to
when the unbelieving Jews and their Children were â—â—st out the believing Jews which remained in the Church their Children remained in the Church with them and God did take the Adult Elect Gentiles and their Children into the Church together he did not take in their Parents and shut out and exclude their Children as is clear from Acts 2.39 Rom. 11.17 3. The Church state which is the Kingdom of Heaven is the same now as it was in the Beginning in Adam's Time after the Fall and ever will be to the End of the World and the Covenant of Grace is the same in whiâ—h all the Matter Form Laws and Ordinances of Worship and Subjects are contained though some of the unbelieving Jews and their Châ—ldren were cast out especially of those who were actually concerned in condemning our Saviour Christ by which they intailed a Curse upon their Posterity when they said His blood be on us and on our children Mat. 2â— 25 4. And lastly The state of the Church is and ever was indissolvable though it is locally mâ—table God may and he hath taken it from one place and fixed it in another and remove it from one People of Nation and bestow in upon another 2. I shall also prove the Church state is the same now as it was under the Old Testament and the Frame the same substantially but in a more glorious Dress as farther appears from the Apostles Doctrine in Eph. 2. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and forreiners but fellow-citizens with the saints and of the houshold of God And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone In whom all the building fuly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord In whom you also are builded together for an haâ—itation for God through the Spirit Here are several Things to be observed 1. Those whom the Apostle Preached this Doctrine unto were the then called Gentiles who were come from the East and West and were sat down with Abraham Isaac and Jacob in the Kingdom of Heaven and the Children of the Kingdom viz. The Reprobate Jewes and their Children were cast out 2. The believing Jews which kept their station in the Church were these Citizens and Saints 3. That the Gentiles before their Conversion were Strangers and Forreiners to this City but were then Fellow-citizens with the believing Jewes and their Children the Citizens aforesaid 4. They were taken into the Family Royal of Heaven the Houshold of God who before were Gentiles in the flesh with out Christ being aliens from the common-wealth of Israel aâ—â— strangers from the covenants of promise having no hope and without God in the world Eph. 2.12 5. These Gentiles as miserable and vile as they were 〈◊〉 that Time were not only made Fellow citizens with the Saints but also fellow heirs with them of the same body and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel Now thiâ— was spoken to the Gentiles by name as in Eph. 3.6 6. The foundation of the Church of Christ was to be 〈◊〉 in the Doctrine of the Prophets in the Old Testament which â— the same with the Apostles Doctrine in the New Testament and Christ himself is the chief Corner-stone in whom all the Building is joined exactly together and groweth unto an holy Temple in the Lord an Habitation for God 7. And lastly All the believing Hebrews and all their children and all the believing Gentiles and theirs maketh but 〈◊〉 Mystical Body which is the Church Eph. 3.6 4. The Church under the Law was a Golden Candlestick Exod. 25. And thou shalt make a candlestick of puregold c. Zech. 4. What seest thou And I said I have looked and behold a candlestiâ—k all of gold c. This was the Gospel-church in the Old Testament-Times 1. Gold to signifie the Mattâ—â— and Subjects of it 2. Pure Gold to signifie the holiness and purity of it 3. A Candlestick to signifie the Form of it 4. And lastly A Candlestick to signifie the usefulness of the Church for as a Candlestick is to set up a Light in even so â—â— the Church It is a City built upon a Hill 2. Compare this with the Churches in the New Testament in Rev. 1. And I turned to see the voice that spake with me Aâ—â— being turned I saw seven golden candlesticks and the seven golden candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches Now I would fain know of our Author where lyes the difference for my part I can see none but this namely There was but one Candlestick of pure Gold in the Old Testament thâ—â— was but one Church or Congregation which was all the Nation and there are seven in the New Testament which is a certain number set for an uncertain but all of Gold under both Dispensations viz. all Gospel holy Churches 3. And lastly The Gospel Church in the Old Testament lived upon the same Food as the Gospel-Churches of Christ do now in the New Testament and as these Churches are baptized Churches so was that one Church in the Old Testament for all the Members of it men women and children were baptized Hear is a clear Scripture-proof for it let who as will or dare deny it 1 Cor. 10. Moreover brethren I would not that 〈◊〉 should be ignorant how that all our fathers were under the cloud and all passed through the sea And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea And did all eat the same spiritual meat And did all drink the same spiritual drink For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them and that Rock waâ— Christ On this Rock the Church was built immediately after Adam's Fall and on this Rock it hath stood ever since and ever will to the end of the World and the gates of Hell shall never be able to preva l against it for Christ doth watch over it and keep it Thus I have proved what the Prescription of the Church in the New Testament is though Mr. D. was not so kind as to do it and also of the Old Testament and demonstrated the Matter Form Laws and Ordinances of Worship and the subjects also and I find them joined together and so I leave them for I dare not part them asunder For though this Dispensation is more glorious than that of the Old Testament was yet it is the same for substance 1. It was made of the same Mettle viz. Gold 2. It was of the same quality fine Gold 3. The same Subjects viz. Parents and Children 4. The Church was of the same Form viz. a Candlestick 5. It was of the same use viz. it was for Light for the Laws and Ordinances of Worship are for Light Indeed Satans Kingdom is a Kingdom of Darkness but Christs Kingdom is a Kingdom of Light 6. And lastly They lived upon the very same Food as the Churches of God now do And thus I have proved the Title of this my Book For Infant-Baptism and Church-Membership is of Divine Institution and the Mode of Baptism I have also proved to be by Sprinkling for it is one of the Heavenly Things POSTSCRIPT HAving finished my Discourse at this time concerning the Infant-seed of Christian Believers I now come in the first place to address my self in particular unto my loving Friend Mr. B. D. who hath said in p. 8. as followeth For many Years I have attended to see what could be made of this Argument of the necessity of Baptism to Infants and could I have found it proved I would not have been an Hour out of your Tents Now Sir you have seen it proved to be of as much necessity as Circumcision was under the Law to the Eight-day Disciples for the Infant seed of Believers are fixed in the same station in the Church now as the Jews Children were then for they were never excluded 2. It is necessary it should be so for you see I have fully proved that God commands it 3. It is a Badge of Honour and Token of Gods Covenant-Love and Grace to the Seed of believing Parents who are stiled holy Children 1 Cor. 7.14 4. And lastly Circumcision was the Type of Baptism which is 〈◊〉 Heavenly Things Now my good Friend if you dare veâ—â—â— There was no necessity for those Things aforesaid then you â— that there is no necessity for Infant-Baptism for you see thâ—â— proved Infant-Baptism and Church-Membership 1. From â—ample of John the Baptist 2. From Christs Command 〈◊〉 the Apostles Argumentative Exhortation or Mandamus 〈◊〉 lastly From their Covenant-relation to God who hath proâ— be the Believers God and the God of his Seed and of hâ— Seed Psal 105.8 9 10. Whereever God layeth his Coâ— there is an absolute necessity of Obedience Now Sir I expect you should comply with your Prâ—mâ— make haste and delay not to come into our Tents or shew cause in Print why you will not for I humbly yet boldly longe you to do one or the other either to confute it or of it 2. I address my self to all you that are of this Opinion iâ— not read our Books about this Controversie but pass a deâ— Sentence upon them and condemn them without Book 〈◊〉 Popish Priests and Jesuits do for they judge and câ—â—deâ— Books and Doctrines to be heretical and charge the People hear them on pain of damnation But methinks noâ—â— that are called Protestants should be found guilty of imitaâ— Papists Pray for the future either forbear that ungâ— christian Practice of yours which some of you are guilty â— knowledge by their own confession of judging Books withouing them And if you cannot coâ—fute them then compâ— them It is a greater Honour to recant and renounce 〈◊〉 when detected than to cleave to it Lastly Do not meâ— Truths of God by the Passions and Infirmities of the Inâ—iâ— which God makes use of to declare them for Martin Lutâ— an Eminent Saint in his Day yet very passionate And that is perfectly clear of this Sin cast the first stone at â— thus condemn Thus I leave a Challenge with you all to Answer this my â— the Lord give you spiritual skill and understanding in these â— Covenant-Mysteries that we may all embrace the Truth aâ— Jesus and be of one Heart and one Mind fervent 〈◊〉 serving the Lord with one Consent And so dear Friends to you all FINIS
cure them of their Itch of Pride and Ambition which he perceived they began to be contaminated with and therefore he said unto them Whosoever shall humble himself as this little child the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven Pray note by the way that Humility is the first step unto true greatness in the Church But to proceed fâ—rther on our Saviours Words And whosâ— shall receive one such little child in my 〈◊〉 receiveth me 1. That is Whoso shall receive little children of believing Parents into the bosome of the Church in Christs Name receives Christ along with them because Christ is externally formed in them 2. How can little children be received into the bosome of the Church in Christs Name but by Baptism And for a clear demonstration of this pray observe strictly the Words of Christs general Commission unto his Ministers and Servants and there you will find that Christ commanded them to baptize all in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy Ghost This is in the Name of Christ and to receive them into the Church in the Name of Christ which is by a publick solemn dedication of them to God in Baptism Act. 2 38. But whosâ— shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea What a dreadful threatning is here against all those that offend these little ones And for my part I declare that I do not know who among Christians there are that do offend young Infants so much as all those do that are against their being dedicated unto God in the Ordinance of Water-baptism Pray mind our Saviours threatning all you that oppose Infant-baptism and be no longer wilful and obstinate for it is a most dreadful one viz. But whose shall offend one of these little ones c. How so offend them If you observe narrowly it will appear that the ground of the offence is the not receiving them into the Church in Christs Name for the threatning follows upon that of our Saviour Christs saying And whoso shall receive one such little one in my name receiveth me But whoso shall offend me of these little ones which believe in me c. The offence cometh upon the contrary of receiving them in Christs Name This could not be meant of their Parents first reception of them into the World at their Birth and Nativity But some of our Opponents have been so confident in Print as to say What offences are young Infants capable of taking which is carnal reason all-over for though they are not personally capable of taking offence yet Christ himself is fâ—r as those that receive them into the Church in Christs Name by baptism receive Christ himself even so all these that offend them offend Christ himself even as those that persecute his People persecute Christ himself because by their not receiving them into the Church in Christs Name they shut Christ himself out of the Church therefâ—re Christs must needâ— be offended at them Mark 9.41.42 These little ones which were brought unto Christ to be blessed by him were 〈◊〉 of believers and this will clearly appear to be so if we do but consider these things 1. The old Disâ—iples which were of Christ peculiar â—amily rebuked those that brought them for which Christ rebuked them and said Suffer little children and forbid them not to come unto me for of such to the kingdom of heaven Mat. 19.13 14. and â—â— Maâ—k 10.13 14. Luke 18.15 2. Pray who had to do to bring young Infants to Christ for his blessing on them but their Parents And if they had not been believers themselves they would not have brought their children to Christ to be blessed by him And for this reason they must be the â—â—ed of believers nay they had the Grace of Faith in them for they believed in Christ Maâ— 18. Therefore I demand of our Opponents Two Things 1. If the receiving of young Infants the seed of believers in Christs Name was not to receive them into the Church Then I demand where they are to be received for they mentioned in the Text were not to be received into Christs peculiar domestick Family for he had his select number of them viz. the Twelve Apostles 2. If this receiving them in Christs Name be a receiving them into the Church in some visible way being of the Church before by descent of believing Parents 1 Câ—â— â— 14 If it be not by the Ordinance of Baptism then I desire them to tell us in what other way or publick Ordinance in the Church it is to be done in Christs Name for you see it must be done or else they that reject them are 〈◊〉 to the threatning 2. In the second place Christ proceeds farther to inform us of the great Priviledge that those little ones have by being in the Church for they are under the Ministry and Charge of the holy and blessed Angels as in verse 10. where we have Christ introducing it with a caution to all those that despise these Infant-disciples viz. Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones for I say unto you that in heaven their Angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven But as they offend all thâ—se little ones by refusing to receive them in Christs Name into the Church visible by Baptism even so they despise them by saying What good doth Baptism do a young Child And what Grace is a young Infant capable of receiving And thus they both offend and despise them 3. If there be such a dreadful threatning against him that shall offend but one of these little ones which belong unto Christ viz. the Seed of Believers what then is it against them which boldly adventure to offend and despise them all by not receiving them in Christs Name into the Church by baptism and justifie themselves therein It is better for them that a millstone were hanged about their neck saith the Scripture and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea than to offend one of these little ones which believe in Christ It is very strange to me that our Opponents will allow them to be of Gods Family Royal in Heaven the invisible Catholick Church and yet will not allow them so much as a Name in the House of God the Church militant here on Earth which is a spacious pretext of allowing of them the greatest Priviledge of all and yet at the same time deny them one of the lesser 4. Mr. D. hath publickly owned and declared that Elect dying Infants shall be saved which I own to be true And if dying Infants are elected then are they Heirs of Salvation and if they are Heirs of Salvation then are they under the conduct and ministry of the holy and blessed Angels and do share as much in their Ministry as any of the
Adult Elect do as is clear from that excellent Scripture in Heb. 1. But to which of the angels said he at any time Siâ— on my right hand until I make thine enemies thy footstool Are they not all ministring spirits sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation I humbly conceive these Angels here are not to be understood of the Bishops Elders or Pastors of the Churches but of the invisible Heavenly Host because it is said in the very next Chapter verse 16. He took not on him the nature of angels but he took on him the seed of Abraham Pray what account is an adult Believer capable of giving concerning the Ministry of Angels these invisible blessed Spirits of their Ministry for them any more than Elect â—abes in Christ can of their Ministry for them Even none at all Pray take notice by the way that it is not said that they do minister unto them but for them And therefor a young Child is as capable of the Ministry of of those Angelical Spirits as any Adult Believer is whatsoever O what a blessed Priviledge is it for persons to be under the conduâ—t and ministry of Angels for they are their Life-guard Psal 91. For he shall give his angels charge over thee to keep thee in all thy ways They shall hear thee up in their hands lest thou dash thy foot against a stone What an Honour is this that the great and glorious Majesty of Heaven and Earth should condescend to Men of such a low degree and extract as to provide such a guard as this is for them and this Honour have all the Saints both old and young O the admirable preventing love and Grace of God! 5. The Ministry of Angels lyeth principally next unto that in the Church in assisting and ministring for the Elect when they are least capable of the ministry of Men and that especially with a respect to two Seasons namely the hour of the believers death and to Elect Infants as appears by our Saviour Christs words first at the believers hour of death in Luke 16. And it came to pass that the beggar died and was carried by the angels into Abrahams bosome 2. The Angels ministers for Elect Infants in the Church who are Heirs of salvation Mat. 18. Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones for I say unto you that in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven Therefore we ought to dedicate all our children to God in baptism by which they are more nearly received into the bosome of the Church for we ought not to reprobate our own children but to deal with them as if we knew they were all Elected the particular knowledge of which God hath reserved to himself for it is his Prerogative to know that and not ours Thus I have proved that the dedication of our children to God by Faith in Prayer in secret private and publick is an Ordinance of God for it is a solemn offering up our children as a Sacrifice to God through Christ and not to Moloch as some of our Opponents have blasphemously stiled it 3. Mr. D. doth grant that all elect dying Infants are in the Invisible and Catholick Church but will not by any means allow them to be in the Church visible And farther saith We have no Rule to put them into the Church visible by baptism To which I thus reply viz. Mr. D. should first have shewn himself a skilful Logician by proving that ever the Infant-seed of Believers were cast out the Church visible by the personal coming of Christ in the New Dispensation of the Gospel before he had talked of putting them into the Church visible by baptism Indeed Baptism is a visible receiving them nearer into the Church than they were before for they were in Christ externally before they were baptized by vertue of their Covenant-relation as being the Seed of believing Parents 1 Cor. 7.14 though all that are thus in Christ may not be saved for Christ hath external Branches in him which he will never own at the Great Day John 15. Every branch in me that heareth not fruâ—t â—e 〈◊〉 away And thus whosoever receiveth these little ones in Christs Name into the Church by baptism receiveth Christ himself 2. Mr. D. should also have clearly demonstrated and proved what personal Actual sin and transgression those young babes commited against God which provoked him to cast them all out of the Church visible in which they had been from the beginning in the first Being or Formation of the Church before he had told us we have no Rule to put them into the Church visible by baptism for otherwise all his Arguments against Infant-baptism do but puzzle the Cause and are but as so many Arrows shot against a brazen Wall 3. Because all the Infant-seed of the Jews and Proselytes were Members of the Church visible under the Ceremonial Law and the Gospel of Grace did not diminish the Priviledge of the Infant-seed of Believers it did not bring less Grace but more than there was in the Ceremonial Law And therefore the Infant-seed of believing Church members are still members of the Church visible now under the New Dispensation of the Gospel and have a Right to the Ordinance of Water-baptism Thus you see Mr. D. hath drawn a Conclusion without any Premises which is to build a House without a foundation or a Castle in the Air And this bringeth me to the Ninth and last Thing 9. And lastly Saith our Authour in page 4. The Gospel-Church hath its Matter and Form fully prescribed in the New Testament its Laws and Ordinances of Worship and Subjects that are to be found in the practice of these And their qualifications this is what we stick by and dare go no further the frame of the Jewish Church having had its day and end we look upon it as taken down to admit a more glorious Dispensation Now our next business is to inquire what difference there was between the Church frame under the Ceremonial Law and the New Dispensation of the Gospel and try whether we can find any such capital difference as will favour our Authors Principles 1. Therefore in the first place What is all this which Mr. D. saith to the purpose For he hath not told us where it is to be found in the N. Testament that the Matter Form Laws and Ordinances of Worship in the Gospel Church are so fully prescribed as to exclude the Infant-seed of Believers from being Members thereof But I find many Queries not answered and the most of our Authors Positions unproved But I have already fully proved that there must be nothing in the Gospel New Dispensation of the Matter Form Laws Ordinance of Worship and Subjects c. but what must answer to the Matter Form Laws Ordinances of Worship and Subjects of the Church under the Ceremonial Law and I shall now corroborate it by what I