Query 15. VVas it not then the Duty of all the Nations round about that could have Informatiâ—n of the Jewish Religion to engage themselves and their Children to God by Circumcision And did not many of the People in Hester's time become Jews Hest 8. 17. who yet were not under their Government And is it not well known that this was to be circumcised they and their little ones as the Proselites were and so to keep the Law of Moses And whether the circumcised Servants of Israel sold away to another Nation and so separated from the Civil state of Israel did eo nomine cease to be Church-members though they for sook not God And â—o of the Infants if they were sold in Infancy And so whether Infants might not be Church-members that were not of the Jews Common-wealth Baptist Antiqu. 15. Although other Nations had the liberty to become Jewes yet whether they were under such an obligation as that they must become Jewes or else not be saved is worthy consideration and whether the contrary will not be found true when the case of Cornelius Act. 10. and of the Gentiles Rom. 2. are duely considered whereas the one is accepted as fearing God and working Righteousness as much as the Jew upon the account of his Jewish Worship And the other Gentiles generally who did by Nature the things contained in the Law were counted the Circumcision so as to judge the Jew who only had the Circumcision in the flesh and not only so but so as to be accepted of God as far at least as the Righteousness of the Law would avail the Jew And whether the Infants of these devout Gentiles was not free from any obligation to Circumcision or any other external Ceremony And whether there be not an evident difference between the Law and the Gospel in this the one being fitted to the Jewish Nation only so as to be capable of an orderly observation there only And the Gospel fitted sor the observation of all Nations equally and consequently all Nations equally obliged to the full and orderly Profession thereof Presbyterian Query 16. VVere not the Israelites Children Members of the universal visible Church as well as of the Congregation of Israel As he that is a Member of the City is a Member of the Kingdom and a part of a part is a part of the whole so was not ever member of the Jews Church also a member of Gods universal Church Baptist Ant. 16. Whether it be well said to call the universal Church visible And whether the universal Church did not contain many thousands such as Job Cornelius c who were neither Jews by Nature nor Religion And whether no Infants might be said to be Members of the universal Church who were not Members of the Jewish Church and if not how shall they be saved seeing Christ is only the Saviour of his body finally Presbyterian Query 17. Was there ever any true Church or Ecclesiastical Worshipping Society appointed by God in all the World since the Fall but the Church of Christ Were not Infants therefore either Members of Christs Church or of no Church of Gods Institution Was not Moses Christs Vsher and Moses Church and Christ's Church one according to God's Institution Baptist Antiqu. 17. Whether this Query be not either captious or else impertinâ—nt for though it should be granted that the Church of Christ was the same in some sence from the beginning yet who knows not that the time and way for admission of the Members thereof to external Ceremonies was not always the same And who doubts but the Church was always of Gods Institution But doth it therefore follow that the Ordinances Instituted therein belongs to Infants might they not have the Passeover as well as Circumcision in the Mosaical Church and yet have neither the Lords Supper nor Baptism in the Christian Church you deny them the one why may not we as well deny the other Baptist Query 18. Whether was Abraham made a Member of the Church by Circumcision or circumcised because a Member of the Church The like of Infants born in his House And how can the ceasing of Circumcision prove Infants Church-Membership ceased any more then it can prove their Church-Membership began with Circumcision or that Women were not Church-Members because not circumcised or that all Israel was unchurched in the VVilderness when they were uncircumcised for fourty years Baptist Antiqu. 18. Although Abraham was in the Church of God essentially by faith yet whether formally in that Church-stâ—te vvhich God was then about to settle till circumcised vvill not I suppose be hastily affirmed and how can Infants be said to be in the Church as Abraham then was seeing they have no faith as he had And whether the Jewish Church-state did not cease de jure when Circumcision so ceased And then whether that state of Infant Church-Membership did not also cease And like as the ceasing of the Passeover de jure was the ceasing of Infants right to any such Ordinance even so we ask why the ceasing of Circumcision de jure is not as truly the ceasation of Infants right to any such Ordinance certainly if Gods Word assign any Ordinances in lieu of the former the place where 't is written would have bâ—en known to this day Presbyterian Query 19. VVhether the blessing of Abraham consists not chiefly in this that God Promised to be a God in Covenant with him and his Seed And how are the believing Gentiles blessed with faithful Abraham and Heirs of the same Promise if their Infants are not also comprehended in the same Covenant Baptist Antiqu. 19. Whether the blessing of Abraham if you understand it of eternal life were not the blessing of the Fathers that were before him And whether that blessing did not belong to their Infants And whether their Infants were Partakers with them in any Rites or Ceremonies of instituted worship And if not then why may not the Infants of the Gentiles partake of the blessing of Abraham though not concern'd in Rites or Ceremonies or whether you think the blessing of Abraham is confined to Ceremonies in respect of Infants if so shew us what Ceremonies these are Presbyterian Query 20. Whether in that great Promise Gen. 12. 3 Tribes Kindreds Families do not most certainly comprehend Infants As it was to such Families that the Promise was made before Christ as to the Jewish Church VVhat warrant have we to understand Families or Tribes otherwise when the same Promise is made to the Gentiles Baptist Antiq. 20. Whether you ought not to distinguish in this great Promise the things which are eternal from the things that were but for a time And then whether you can imaâ—inâ— that all the temporal blessings rites and ceremonies â—oncernâ—d any Nation as it concerned the seed of Abraham after the flesh But if by this Promise you understand it as the Apostle Paul doth Gal. 3. 16. thâ—n we doubt not but all the Kindreds of the
Jerusalem should have Infant-Members and the Church at Rome should have none That the Jews Infants should be Members and not Gentiles If the Jews were broken off by unbelief should they not be graffed in again upon their Repentance of Faith And so should not every repenting believing Jews Infants be Church-Members Or otherwise how would their graffing in answer to their breaking off should they be but in part graffed in Baptist Antiqu. 26. Whether it be not a great mistake to say that Christ came to make the Jew and Gentile one Church otherwise then by taking away the Jewish Church and making all things new 2 Cor. 5. 17. c. And whether this might not be done without setling any of the Practical Ordinances upon Infants as under the Law If otherwise why have you not shewed us where Christ hath required Parentâ— to get their Infants baptized and where he forbade them to be brought to Imposition of Hands the Table of the Lord c. If the denial of the first make our Infants no Members of the Church doth not your denial of the other two which do as generally pertain to Members of the Church make yours none also And if the Church at Jerusalem Rome c. had any Infant-Members therein in the sence wherein you would have them Members why do you not name some one Infant so made a Member sith you know it would suffice Wherher if the Jews grafting in must in all Points answer to their breaking off their Infants must not come to other Ordinances as well as Baptism or will you say Infants cannot partake with their Parents of salvation without Baptism or whether was the Infants of the Jews exposed to damnation by their Parents unbelief And if so what is become of all their Infants ever since Presbyterian Query 27. Was not Christ Church Spiritual before his Incarnation when it took in Infants and gathered in a spiritual way Was not â—he visible frame of the Jewish Church set up and erected by the Father of Spirits and were not spiritual Duties commanded then upon Promises of spiritual blessings even lise eternal How will any prove that it was a blemish to the old frame that Infants were Members What was the Church the worse for Infants Rights If it be no blemish why must it be done away Baptist Antiqu. 27. Though it be true that Christs Church was always spiritual in some measure and his services such also yet whether it be not also true that the Church under the Law of Moses was carnal in respect of the spirituality of the Church under the Gospel Does not the Apostle say 2 Cor. 3. These two Ministrations differ as much as Letter and Spirit differeth and that the glory of the one had no glory in respect of the glory which excelleth And is it not then rational that the Churches concern'd under these Ministrations respectively should differ aecordingly And though it was no blemish to the Jewish Church to have Infants Partakers of their Ordinances which are called carnal yet whether it be not a more perfect state when the Church do alâ— know God from the least to the greatest of them And whether this be not the state of the Church under the Gospel according to Gods Appointment Heb. 8. 10 11 12 13. And whether that which is less perfect ought not to vanish away when that which is more perfect is come In that he saith a new Covenant he hath made the first old now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away Heb. 8. 13. Presbyterian Query 28. In what regard were the new frame better supposing the casting out of Infants which were in the old How doth Infants Relation detract from its Spirituality Do not the adult come in by â—he same kind of consent for themselves as they make for their Infants And do not the Adult blemish the Church with more carnal sins then Infants do Would any Kingdom be more excellâ—nt if all Infants were disfranchised Does not Nature teach all Kingdoms on Earth to take them fâ—r Members though but Infant-Members Baptist Antiqu. 28. Whether it be necessary to say Infants are cast out of that whereof they were never possessed to wit the use of Ordinances in the new frame of the Church Or how can Infants be said to be a spiritual seed How are they living stones built up a spiritual house to offer spiritual sacrifices in a Gospel sense Or how are your Infants a more spiritual seed then our Infants And whether any other are by Christs Order to partake in Gospel-Ordinances then such as therein worship God spiritually And whether hence it be not clear that the way of making Infants Church-members do not detract from the spirituality of the new frame of the Church Also where hath God required the Adult to consent for their Insant Church mâ—mbership in this new frame And whether the comparison between an earthly Kingdom and the Ghurch of Christ be any way fitting seeing Infants have as much need of the priviledge of humane Laws for the preservation of their Lives and Rights as grown persons But how stand they in need of the Laws of the Church and particularly Baptism for the preservation of their souls And whether this similitude may not be emproved against you seeing Infants though Members of Kingdomes yet are excused from all duties personal wbatsoever and then why may they not be reputed of the Kingdom of God and yet exempt from the duties of his Kingdom or how come they to be concern'd so much in that one duty of Baptism and no other whatsoever Presbyterian Query 29. Whether any Jew at age was a Member of the old Church without professing faith in the Articles then necessary to salvation Repentance and Obedience And wherein the supposed new call and frame doth in this differ from the old save only that a more full and express Revelation of Christ requireth a more full express Faith Is it not evident that they were to profess consent to Gods Covenant which who so denied Asa would put to death And was not circumcision a covenanting Act And did they not thereby prosess to take God for their God Or would God else have taken them for his People And would not renouncing God have cut them off Baptist Antiqu. 29. What is become now of your Infant Church-membership if when grown up they cease to be Members upon that account Were the Jews Infants twice made Members of their Church Or is every renewing the Covenant as in the case of Asa making men Members of the Church But where did the Church ever admit one Member to her communion by Baptism without Profession or where did she ever decree that those who would not submit to her new frame should be put to death And whether in this the new frame of the Church do not greatly differ from the old Presbyterian Query 30. Whether Gods Law obligeth not Persons to devote themselves and their Infants to
THE QUAERIES Examined OR FIFTY ANTI-QUERIES Seriously Propounded to the PEOPLE called PRESBYTERIANS Occasioned by The Publication of FIFTY QUERIES Gathered out of the Works of Mr. RICH. BAXTER By J. B. Wherein the Principal Allegations usually brought to support Infant-Baptism are Discovered to be Insufficient By T. G. PROV XIX 21. There be many Devices in a Mans heart nevertheless the Council of the LORD that shall stand Mr. Baxter more Reas p. 69. The true Method of one that would Arrive at certainty and not deceive himself and others is to begin at the bottom and discern things in their nearest and most certain Evidences and afterward to try the By-Objections as he is able And not tâ— Porâ—first upon the Objected difficulties and judge of all the cause by those LONDON Printed in the Year of our Lord 1676. The QUAERIST Examined OR Fifty Anti-Queries seriously Propounded to the People called Presbyterians c. Presbyterian Query 1. WHether under the Covenant of Works if Adam had not sinned Innocents should not have been holy to God and so Members of the Innocent Church or Kingdom of God Baptist Antiquery 1. Whether this be not a groundless and unlearned Query for seeing the word Church as used in the Holy Scriptures signifieth A People Called out namely from another people out of what people should they have been called had the whole world been in the state of innocency And seeing no man can tell whether any man should have had Authority committed to him in matters of Religion or whether God should immediately have exercised his own Government Neither yet in what capacity children should have come into the world whether endowed with knowledge or otherwise whether therefore it concern or become any man to let his fancy rove about in such an unknown and unknowable case And thereupon 1. Suggest how Infants should be concern'd or not concern'd in matters of Religion And how can any thing be concluded from such an imagination as imitable for us about Infant Church-membership And whether we are not like to have a bad superstructure when the foundation is a meer fancy Presbyterian Query 2. Whether God was any more obliged to order it so that the Children of Righteous Parents should have been born with all the Perfections of their Parents and enjoyed the same Priviledges than he was obliged in making the Covenant of Grace to grant that Infants should be of the same Society with their Parents and have the Immunities of that Society Baptist Antiquery 2. More obliged Whether it be not in vain to suppose that God was obliged at all in either of those cases seeing he is absolutely free to do whatsoever he plâ—aseth with his own And what ground have you to believe that some Infants were more concern'd then others in mâ—tters of Religion by vertue of any Covenant made with Adam And what society was Infants capable of with Adam by vertue of any Covenant made with him after his fall Câ—rtis the Scripture is silent as to these matters Presbyterian Query 3. Whether we have any reason when the design of Redemption is the magnifying of Love and Grace to think that Love and Grace are so much less under the Gospel to the Members of Christ then under the Law to the Members or Seed of Adam as that then all the Seed should have partaken of the same Blessings with their righteous Parents and now they shall all be turned out of the Society whereof the Parents are Members Baptist Antiquery 3. Whether you your selves do not lessen the magnifying Love of God in Mans Redemption whilest in respect of Infants you would restrain it to the seed of such Parents as are in Covenant with God yea to such Infants as partake with them in Practicals of Religion which you seem to intend by the Blessings you speak of But who denies any Blessing to Infants under the Gospel which was their portion under the Law made with Adam And how were Infants Members of the society of the seed of Adam more then of the society of the Baptists shew the difference if you can Presbyterian Query 4. Whether though our Innocency be lost Parents be not Parents still and have not as much interest in Children and whether God have reversed this natural Order and if God change not his Order therein whether Parents be not as capable of consenting to grace for their children as they were of being innocent for them Baptist Antiquery 4. Whether there be any that question whether Parents be Parents still or what need of such Enquiries Or what do you mean by Gods natural Order If you mean natural Religion then shew us what Infants are bound ro in matters of Religion by natuâ—e or what this natural Order ties Parents to do to their Infants upon the account of Practicals in Religion which we omit And whether Parents could be innocent for their Infants if their Infants were not innocent as well as they and if not how should their consenting to grace be the Childs consent And whether it will not as well hold retro that the Parents consenting to wickedness is the Childs consent And whether this do not give the Parents the power to save or damn their Infants And can such Councils stand with the Wisdom Justice or Mercy of God Presbyterian Query 5. Whether Infants be not included in the first Edition of the Covenant of Grace made with Adam Gen. 3. 15. Whether unless it can be proved that Infants are none of the Womans Sâ—ed we must not take that Fundamental Promise to extend to Infants And was she not thereby obliged to lâ—st her self and all her Infant-Progeny in the Redeemer's Army against the Proclaimed Enemy and to teach her Posterity to do the like And did they not continue visible Members of Christs Army and Kingdom till such time as they violated that Fundamental Obligation and as the Seed of the Serpent fought against Christ and his Kingdom for Satan and his Kingdom Baptist Antiquery 5. Whether the Baptists do not as clearly assert Infants Right to the Grace of God in the first Edition of the Covenant made with Adam as any whatsoever And if by the Seed of the Woman you understand all that are saved who then questions Infants belonging to that seed But where is the Woman bound to List her Infants in the Redeemers Army or where shall we finde them visible Members of Christs Army in the first Edition of the Covenant Are not these meer words without Authority of Scripture or where did Infants ever fight for or against the Serpent and if not why do you make them the Seed of the Serpent and Fighters against the Kingdom of Christ And if you say you speak not these things of Infants quatalis Then whether you have not transferr'd the Question and so it is impertinent Presbyterian Query 6. VVhether in that first Proclamation of Grace to fallen man or in the first Promise of Redemption to sinners Gen. 3. 15.
c. And whether he was not about 30 years when he entred in our Profession Heb. 3. 3. The Apostle and High Priest of our Profession Christ Jesus See Luke 3. And then whether his example be not flat against you Also whether Christs only praying for Infants and not baptizing them though brought to him neither ordering any other to do it that we reade of do not shew us that Infants may be under the blessings of Christ without baptism And whether you may not tremble to presume to do more then he did or appointed to be done Are you wiser then he Also whether it lies within the power of any Minister to disciple an Infant or shew us one Infant with you or any Pedo-baptist ever made a disciple or be pleased to come and make my Infants disciples if you can and I promise you I will assist you what I can in the baptizing them and not only so but do my best to employ you elsewhere I speak it seriously And whether this would not do more to decide the Controversie then all the Books that are written by any of you and if you cannot do this how will Matth. 28. 19. warrant you to baptize Infants sith its plain that discipling goes before baptizing and how disciples are to be made we think it best to learn of Jesus John 4. 3. How think you Do you indeed believe that any person being of the Nation entitles them toâ— bâ—ptism why then who is not a fit subject seeing all Infants â—nd men too are of one Nation or another and if there be other Qualifications necessary whether to be taught be not one of the chief of them and why do you say we take Infants away from Christs Church because we baptize them not are they in it before baptized if so how do we take them away Presbyterian Query 44. In summ whether 1. God would not have Parents devote their children to him and enter them according to their capacity in his Covenant 2. Whether also he doth not accept into his Covenant all that are faithfully thus devoted to him and be not peculiarly their God that such children are holy 3. Whether they are not as certainly Members according to an Infant-capacity of the visible Church as they are of all Kingdoms under Heaven 4. Whether there be not far more hope of their salvation then of those without 5. Whether the Covenant doth not make their salvation certain if they so die 6. Whether the Investâ—ure and Solemnization of their Covenant with Christ should not be made in Infancy c Baptist Antiqu. 44. In summ 1. Whether we do not as much to our Infants in our capacity as Christ did to the Infants which were brought to him and will not that satiâ—fie unless we go from him to follow you And as to the business of the Covenant let us hear what Mr. Baxter saith More Râ—â—s p. 86. All Mankind is brought by Christ under a Covenant of Grace which is not vain or repealed by God but as their abuse of the grace of the Covenant may cast them out for as a Covenant of entire Nature was made with all mankind in innocent Adam so a Covenant of grace was made with all mankind in lapsed Adam Gen. 3. 15. in the Promised Seed and renewed again with all maâ—kind in Noah c. And now we ask whether our Infants according to this account of the Covenant of Grace be not in it without baptiâ—m fith they have not abused the grace of the Covenant and whether baptism be not far more proper when after they have corrupted themselves by sin they come to humiliation and so to enter into this Covenant upon the termes of the Gospel Whether your Exposition of the universal Church upon Mat. 28. 19. do take in the Practice of the Apostles in pursuance of that Commission to the Acts of the Apostles and the Exposition of the Baptists and if not then you either deny us to be of the universal Church or else you have not the Exposition of the Church universal Presbyterian Query 45. How inconsiderable a Part of the universal Church do the Anabaptists hold Communion with And do they not unchurch almost all the Churches on Earth may we not think that they rob Christ of more them nine Parts of ten of his Kingdom or Church universal V. p. 305. Baptist Antiqu. 45. Whether upon Luthers revolt from the Pope you were not upbraided with holding communion with an inconsiderable part of the universal Church why do you take up the Papists weapons Did not that pious man that succoured Athanasius in the time of the Arrian persecution answer the Objection well when he said The cause of truth is not therefore empaired because I am alone --- Glory not therefore in multitudes for it is not the multitude but the cause that justifieth or condemneth Also whether we may not also conclude that many are of the universal Church which do not communicate with us or your selves and yet whether the separation from many Pedobaptists will not justifie our separation from you more clearly Presbyterian Query 46. Whether they can possibly hopâ— that ever the Church on Earth will unite upon their terms of rejecting all their Infants from the visible Church and renouncing all our Infant-Rights and Benefits conferred by the Baptismal Covenant of Grace Baptist Antiqu. 46. Whether this be in effect to say What will these feeble Jews do And why may we not hope that this great mistake of yours may vanish as well as that great mistake of Austin and the generality of men prosessing Christianity who brought Infants also to the Lords Table and that for many hundreds of years together and defended it by as plaufible reasons as any you have for baptizing them Could God reform so great and general an errour forced on by Learning and Authority of eminent men And shall we think this thing only too hard for God our small number shall not make us doubt for we know God doth great things by small means And what Baptismal grace do we desire you to renounce when we only defire you to mend an errour Did the twelve disciples Acts 19. renounce any baptismal grace when according to the Interpretation of the Ancients they were baptized again Surely Reformation is no errour Presbyterian Query 47. And whether if they continue to the Worlds end to separate from almost all the Churches and unchurch them their Employment will not be still to serve the great Enemy of Love and Concord against the Lord of Love and Peace and against the Profperity of Faith and Godliness and against the welfare of the Church and Souls and to the scandal and hardning of the ungodly Baptist Antiqu. 47. Whether the separation is not justly chargeable upon those which cause divisions and offences by asserting and maintaining such errours as being admitted the way of God must be corrupted or laid aside and whether these are not the men that at least