Selected quad for the lemma: kingdom_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
kingdom_n	church_n	infant_n	visible_a	2,976	5	9.7844	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A76800	The storming of Antichrist, in his two last and strongest garrisons; of compulsion of conscience, and infants babptisme [sic]. Wherein is set down a way and manner for cburch [sic] constitution; together with markes to know right constituted churches, from all other societies in the world. Also the cruelty inequality and injustice of compulsion for conscience, by 29. arguments is opened; with an answer to 26. objections brought for the same. Also 12. arguments against the baptizing of infants; with an answer to 26. objections brought for the same. Wherein is displayed to the view of all, from the testimonies of Scriptures, Fathers, councels; the mischiefs, uncertainties, novelties, and absudities [sic] that do attend the same. Wherein is answered the most valid arguments brought by St. Martiall, in his sermon preached in the Abbey Church at Westminister, for the defence hereof. With an answer to Mr. Blake his arguments, in his book cald Birth-priviledge; and to the arguments of divers others. As also a catechisme, wherein is cleerely opened the doctrine of baptisme, together with a resolution of divers questions and cases of conscience, about baptisme. Written by Ch. Blackwood, out of his earnest desire he hath to a thorow reformation, having formerly seen the mischiefs of half reformations.	Blackwood, Christopher.	1644 (1644)	Wing B3103; Thomason E22_15; ESTC R7842	101,204	126

of the sea upon dry ground so that the Israelites were Baptized spiritually in the cloud and sea because for the miracles which they saw in the cloud and sea they beleeved we see there unbeleefe vers 11.12 Because there were no graves in Egypt hast thou taken us to die in the wildernesse and vers 19. We see the pillar of the cloud stand behinde them and vers 20. It was a cloud and darknesse to them but gave light to those and vers 21.22 Moses stretched out his hand over the sea and the Lord caused the sea to goe backe all that night and made the sea dry land and the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea and the same sea swallowed up the Egyptians vers 23.24.25.26.27.28 When they saw the cloud thus over them and the sea giving them passage it s said vers 31. The people feared the Lord and beleeved the Lord and his servant Moses So that their being b●ptized is Metophoricall as Mat. 20. Can ye be baptized with the baptisme I am baptized with They were baptized that is seeing the cloud over them a signe of Gods presence and the sea thus divided they were Baptized that is clensed from their ignorance security impenitency and unbeleefe 2 If baptizing unto Moses were a type of our Baptisme and that as all were baptized then so all should be Baptized now then Manna the spirituall food they eat and water out of the rocke the spirituall drinke they dranke should be types of the Lords Supper and in the same latitude and so all persons must be admitted to the Lords Supper as all Israel were to the eating of Manna and drinking water but our godly brethren among the Paedobaptists doe generally explode this therefore the other the thing typified by the Manna and rocke was not the Sacrament of the Lords Supper but Christ they dranke of that spirituall rocke Sacramento tenus as Austin speakes which followed them and that rocke was Christ it hath been an errour as I suppose to make one type to typifie another 3 Whereas some bring this place to prove thousands of infants were Baptized in the sea I aske whether the Baptisme of Christ and the Apostles were instituted under the old Testament If not then in vaine is this alledge Object 14. Lydia and all her family was Baptized but it is not said her family beleeve therefore its lawfull for persons to be baptized although they doe not beleeve Answ 1. Lydia and her family were baptized as Christ commanded else Paul had contemned an ordinance of God 2 It s absurd to Baptize any one in the faith of their master or mistresse I ask those that hold infants baptisme whether they would baptize all the servants of a Turke if he should beleeve though the servants did not beleeve 3 Hard Scriptures are to be expounded by easie Nehe. 8.8 But in the same chapter the Jailour and all his house beleeved and then were baptized Acts 16 32.34 ●8 8 Object 15. There are but two kingdomes families cities housholds Mr. M. page 9.14 vers 2. Gods and the devils if infants be not of Gods family Kingdome houshold then are they of the devils which is uncharitable to thinke Answ 1. It s true in respect of election and reprobation there are but two Kingdomes families and to one of these all infants doe belong but election and reprobation being secret things there no Church can tell whom elect or reprobate that they may receive one infant and refuse another and without grounds of receiving they are not to dispence this ordinance Acts 8.37.10.47 2. The objection places all infants in one state that they are all either of Gods kingdome or Satans kingdome whereas the Scripture places them of two severall kingdomes as we see in Jacob and Esau Rom 9. and the greater number grow up and go the broad way 3 But if by kingdome city family houshold they meane the visible Church and then if because infants are not of this then are they of the devils kingdom we deny the consequence for first many are of this kingdome who are notwithstanding of the devils kingdome as Ishmael Magus 2. Many are not of this kingdome who yet notwithstanding are of Gods kingdome as Iob and Iacob before he was borne and had done either good or evill before he was circumcised nay borne it was said Iacob have I loved and so he belonged to Gods Kingdome of glory yet was he not of any visible Church as being uncircumcised Obiect 16. As the childe is borne free by the fathers freedome Mr. M. page 15. and others so if God take the father into Covenant he takes the children in with him and if he reject the parents the children are cast out with them As the son of a Priest or Levite the son of a state officer by birth hath right to his fathers office so in this case God takes the father and children into the same Covenant Answ 1. There can no argument be drawen from symbolicall divinity 2. No childe of a beleever is borne in the same priviledge of adoption wherein his father is invested as he is a childe to such a father for them all the children would be so borne if by covenant we meane the covenant of grace no beleever is borne in this being we all are by nature the children of wrath much lesse can the children be borne in any such cov nant But if the objector meane it of some ou●ward covenant that is in●ig●tment to Church priviledge that by the fathers inrightment hereto the child should be inrighted I answer first they must show some copie that by the fathers inrightment in Church priviledges all his children ar● inrighted for that Acts 3.38 and Gen. 17.7 we have answereed before beleevers under the gospel are Abrahams seed Rom. 9. Gal. 7 29. Not children of beleevers of whose being Abrahams seed the scripture speakes not a word 2. If by this outward Covenant the children by Gods taking the the father into covenant be inrighted into the church priviledge of baptisme then are they in righted into the Church priviledge of the Supper being there is one communion in both and so by consequent are inrighted to that which brings judgement to many of them which are wicked 3. Baptisme is not a signe of any such inrightment but of our fellowship with Christ in his death buriall resurrection 4 For these three instances of a childe being free by his fathers freedome and the son of a Levite to be a Levite and the son of a state officer to succeed in his fathers office they had patents for these either in divine writ or humaine ordinances now let these objectors produce if they can that there is any patent in scripture that the children of those beleevers whose parents pertake in ordinances shall also pertake therein that the children of him that is baptized shall also be baptized Obiect But the children of all them that were circumcised were

and all bodies Nationall make one body Catholike then must there be a sutable soul to animate this body but this cannot be Christ nor his spirit therefore must it be Antichrist who hath overshadowed the whole world under the cloud of a visible catholike Church 2 Particular church or churches which is no other then a company of Saints in profession explicitely or implicitely consenting together to worship God in the Word Sacraments and Prayer and all other duties of Religion Now whereas there is mention made of churches in some particular mens houses as in the houses of Philemon Aquila and others I suppose the churches in those houses were no distinct kinde of churches from those that were named in Townes and Cities but they were so called because the brethren did meet to worship God in these principall mens houses and because its like there were divers beleevers in those houses When the Apostles came to this or that City we must not think that multitudes were converted at once but now one and then one so that often the constituted churches were so small that they could well meet together in one place in one private house Now whereas some others have laboured to find a Presbyteriall church in no place in all the New Testament are the Elders or Presbytery cleerly so called though many have laboured with all their power herein to finde it Much lesse is there any shadow of a parochiall church but it hath been brought in by Antichrist of late dayes Instead of a Parhagiall church consisting of Saints Antichrist hath brought in a Parochiall church consisting of a multitude meaning the cohabiting multitude These things being thus premised we will set down these signes of a Church as they do in order of nature present themselves These are sixe the three former necessary to the being the three latter to the well-being of a church The first is a right matter viz. visible Saints as was proved before 1 Cor. 14 33. Matter towards the production of being is in order though not in time before form therefore it is essentially requisitie to a well constituted church that there be a right matter We will not here dispute whether churches failing in the matter cease to be churches But this is enough that we know God requires such a matter henceforth such matter must the churches have to be right as the Apostolicall churches had but they had Saints for the matter of their churches therefore so must we have Beleeve it we are beholding for the recovery of this truth to our brethren nick-named Independants which is as precious a truth about church order as ever was recovered from the spoiles of Antichrist for if the matter of churches be wrong let the wisest and holiest do what they can they shall never bring things into a comfortable order 2 The second Essentiall requisite to a consti uted church is agreement consent or covenant call it what you please the foundations of all societies are and have been established herein nor can this nor any other society be accidentally shuffled together as Cards in a pack or Lo●s in a Lot box therefore sanctified reason requires that a particular or visible church for these are terminis convertabiles be established by some kinde of covenant or agreement which to me seemeth sufficient if it came under no other precept but the precept of order yet have we examples both of the 3000. added to the Church at Jerusalem Acts 2.41 47. and the Apostle Acts 9 6. Paul assaying to joyne to the church who could not be admitted till Barnabas gave testimonie of him for those places which some alledge for this covenant from Deut. 26.17 18. and 29.10 11 12. Ier. 50.4 c. They were peculiar to the church of the Jewes and were used in point of Reformation not of Constitution and belongd onely to the church of the Jewes which did totâ specie differ from Evangelicall churches as having both Ordinances and Officers different they having Priests we Ministers They bodily Sacrifices of beasts We spirituall They having the presence of God confined to one place especially We having it where two or three are gathered in Christs Name Their service for the most part ceremoniall till time of Reformation Ours Morrall and perpetuall Their passeover eaten by all the family confined to a certain day with many other differences Yet when I speake thus of this covenant it s far from me to thinke that it doth give being to the Church It s one thing to give being to a thing per se or by it selfe and its another thing to concurre to the being of a thing meate and drinke doth not give being to the life of man though without it he could not live for if he had not rest and Phisicke and ayre and Stomack and digestive power he could not live though he had never so good meate and drinke So this covenant or agreement doth not give being to the church for a company of Arrians Socinians Papists c. may have a visible Sanctitie and enter thus into covenant yet will not we call them a church but a Synagoue of Satan because they want a right dispensation of doctrine and Sacraments This is such a necessary signe that one Church cannot be severed from another without it son why are you of this Church rather then of that Because there was such an agreement betwixt the Elders and members of this Church which was not betwixt the Elders and members of another The third signe is a right dispensation of the word and Sacraments That whereby the Apostolicall Churches were known from other societies is a signe of a true Church of Christ but they were known by this See this note first in constitution of Churches Acts 2.42 they continue● in the Apostles doctrine and fellowship and breaking of bread and in prayers Matth. 28.19 Christ sending forth the Apostles to convert and constitute Churches bids them only teach and baptize them as if he should say word and Sacraments are essentiall to his Church 2 In reformation when Iosiah would reform the Church of the jews he declares the doctrine of the law unto them 2 Kings 23.1 2 3.2 Chron. 34.30 31. when Ezra was to restore the Church after the captivity he layes this foundation for restoring of it he expounds the law to the people a practise well to bee thought of in these times fit for many congregations in this Kingdome who are not fit to pertake of any thing else save the word shortly after Ezra restored the worship of the Passeover according to the prescript of Moses Ezra 6.19 Apoc. 11.1 There was in the reformation of the Churches a reed to m●asure t●e Temilo and the worshippers therein this was no other but the word of God and Paul 1 Cor. 11. reforming the Church of Corinth teaches them the doctrine of the Sacrament of the Supper as he had received it from Christ verse 23. There are b●sides these three essentiall

good Wheate But they must both grow together in the world Mat. 13.30 which cannot be meant of Hypocrites unlesse the field were the church but the field is the world as Christ expounds it verse 38. where he also expounds what he meanes both by Tares and Wheate the Tares are the children of the wicked one and these must grow in the field of the world till the harvest That is till the end of the World as Christ expounds it God intended many of these should be brought home in future time therefore they should not be banished from their seats and dwellings but let alone if God at any time would give them repen●ance By Tares are meant persons not doctrines as verse 38. and for persons Christ uses a generall word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifying all those weedes that spring up with the corne to show that all prsons opposite to true worshipers ought to be permited in the field of the World But for as much as God hath appointed the civil sword to take away wicked men as theeves murderers c. And that the children of the Kingdome are the visible Church of Christ Mat. 8.12 21.43 erefore the Tares are Idolaters Will-worshippers which are to remain in the field of the world 7 Persecu●ion for religion makes us uncapeable of amending what is amisse or seeing our own errors yea by this ground the R●formers themselves tha● sit abou● Refo mation would be made uncap●ble of reforming any thing amisse in the churches wer● there such m●gistrates as formerly ●o put the lawes yet standing in execution yet do the be●t see but in part and many glorious truths have been lately revealed a●d more may we expect if the compulsions of conscience which is in most places of the Christian world hinder not 8 It is against all equity for it is unequall for to bid me to see with other mens eyes they have read other books heard other conferences and reasons then I have yet I must see with their eyes 9 Because there is a possibility of error in those that thinke they s●e most yea even Paul said of himselfe and his collegus We know onely in part and prophesie in part 1 Cor. 13.9.12 How oft have the most glorious Fathers of the church erred not one of them that ever I heard of but have erred the fure Generall Councels though many good things concluded yet I suppose in many things have erred Have not Parliaments sometimes erred doing and undoing did not those godly Martyrs who laid down their lives for some truths remain in other things erronious and left the ceremonies the stumbling blocke of the godly for so many yeers Now there being a possibility of error how know you but you in p●rsecuting and compelling may persecute and compell a man who retaines the trurh your selfe mean time retaining the errour 10 Because the Scriptures of the New Testament for what can be alleadged from the old testament we shall hereafter answer God willing never mention any compulsion but the embracement of Christian religion is required form persons willingly When Christ sent out the 70. Luk. 10.6 10.11 They were to wish peace if they were received well if not they were onely to shake off the dust off their feet and not to goe to any violence So Mark ●6 15.16 preach the Gospell to every creature whosoever beleeveth and is baptized shall be saved they were to do no more but onely propound truths and so perswde Act. 2.41 They that gladly received the word were baptized here was nothing but willinesse The Corinthians 2 Cor. 8 5. gave their owo s●lues to the Lord and to us by the will of God there was no compulsion And so Mat. 11.12 From the dayes of ●ohn the Baptist untill now the Kingdome ●f Heaven suffereth violence and the violent take it by force there was no violence offered to persons to embrace it for persons did willingly embrace it of themselves 1 Cor. 14.25 The unbeleever that comes into the Churches assemblie having the secrets of his heart discovered he fa●ls down to worship that God that they preacht and report when hee was gone that God was in them of a truth And therefore to force Papists and prophane multitudes whether they will or no to joyne in one worship one word Baptisme Supper and Identity of communion is not according to the word but though it carry the specious show of a glorious uniformity yet doth it b●get nothing but a politick hypocriticall faith which changes according to the vicissitude of Armies in time of warre and the multitude of Princes States and humane Lawes in times of Peace 11 Compulsion is unlawfull because it produceth many mischiefs As first it exposes Protestan●s to compulsion in Popish countries I have heard ●t related that when sundry Protestants in France complained against persecution the Pap●sts made this answer that wee doe no otherwise then your owne Doctor Calvin allowes 2 It is a great mischiefe to your posterity yea to the posterity of the whole Kingdom for though your selfe were so full resolved that you should never stand need nor see more light yet how know you but your son or daughter or father or mother may see more light then your self do and would you willingly loose the society of so many friends by banishm●nt imprisonment d●a●h when it may be you have none of your kinred so conscientious as they for indeed conscientious persons only or mostly suffer in point of compulsion other men by Scholastick-distinctions and fleshly devices being able to turn themselves any way 3 It hardens Papists in their inquisitory practises for they reason thus the Protestants as well as we doe all agree in this point as well as in the doctrine of the Trinity Resurrection c. therefore that wherein all agree is undoubted And so long as t ey goe in these inquisitory wayes there is little likely-hood that the Gospell should once take footing in Spaine or Italy c. S●● M. S. Ans to A. S p. 24. Bloody Tenent of pers● for cons p 6 4 It causes many hypocrites and time-s●rvers or else cause State-insurrections as in Holland Scotland 5 It takes away possibility from comming to the light of any new truth 12 Compulsion is unlawfull in Religion from universall practise both of Nations and Churches till the t me of Antichrist the Sichemites suffer●p Iacob and his sonnes to dwell among them though of a different Religion Gen. 4.7 When the Israelites were in captivity yet did they injoy their consciences The Romans bore with the Jews in their Religion t●ough a tributary Na●ion yea among the Jewes there were divers Sects as Pharis●es Saduc●s Herodians There were divers errors in the Churches of Corinth Galatia seven Churches of Asia yet are none blamed for not forcing but for not Excommunicating the Hereticall for the first 300. yeers after Christ though wee finde the sword of Excommunication drawn out too rashly yet did wee never hear that

would have said you were Rantized or sprinkled to Moses in the clowde and in the sea and not said Baptised to Moses 2. At that time when the Israelies were Baptised to Moses in the cloud and s●a Exod. 14 2●.22 There were none of those things mentioned Psal 77.17 Neither the clouds powring forth water nor the voice of Thunder and Lightning but Exod. 9.17.18 compared with vers 23.24 There is mention made of all these where there was a very grievous rain together with such Thunder and lightning that the fire ran along upon the ground Therefore that place of Psal 77.17 must have respect to this seventh Plague of Egypt and not to the story of Exod. 14. When they went thorow the sea therefore Pauls words Baptise to Moses cannot signifie to sprinkle but must needs signifie a Metaphoricall Baptisme 3. There 's mention of the clouds going before them and standing behinde them but never of the going of it over their heads much lesse of the raining of the cloud upon them there is not one word of Raine or Thunder in all that chapter The Second Arguments against Baptising Infants 1. Ministers who are Christs commissioners ought to cleave close to their commission But to make Disciples before Baptising is the Ministers Commission Therefore Ministers who are Christs commissioners ought to cleave close hereto The major is undoubted all persons and States confine their commissioners to their commisson The minor viz. that first to make Disciples and after to Baptize is their commission appeares Mat. 28. There are sundry exceptions from this place As first the order of the words is not morall but that though make disciples be here put before baptising yet Mar. 1.4 baptising is put before preaching JOHN did baptise in the wilderness● and preach the baptisme of repentance unto remission of sinnes Answ Preaching verse 3. is put before baptising the voice of one crying in the wildernesse prepare ye the way of the Lord. 2. This place is rather to be referred to Christs commission then Christs commission to this and the Geneva notes on the place do so referre this verse Now that the order of the words is morall appears 1. Because it reaches to all nations and to the end of the world 2. Because the same order is observed Mark 16.16 3. It is Christs last commission now in commissions there is a punctuall command not only what shal be done but also the manner of doing 4. It s absurd to think a man can be baptised before he be preached unto for so he shall be baptised into he knowes not what 2. Exception Iohn Baptist did baptise before this commission was given John 1.26 and so did Christs discipl●s John 4.2 therefore this was not the commission but an enlargement thereof Ans We only find the practise before we find not any commission for the practise VVe are not to take notice of vvhat unvv●itten vvord Christ spake which we know not of but of what he hath left us in ●●citing and in that practise we finde onely believers and repentants baptised not infants 2. It s like Christ gave them a commission by word of mouth for what they did but this is the churches commission by writing to the end of the world 3. If this were the enlargement of their commission show us where the commission it self is the Word is silent concerning any such thing Either this is our commission from Christ or else we have nothing but bare example yea we know nothing about the form of baptisme to baptise in the name of the Father Sonne and Ho●y Ghost but from this place 3. Exception There is difference betwixt a church gathering and a church gathered though Faith was to go before Baptisme then in the gathering of churches people comming then out of Heathenisme yet is not so required now churches are gathered Answ Then there must be either an exception from the commission or a limitation of it that this my commission shall last till churches be gathered and no longer 3. Or a dispensation with it as if Christ should say I gave you a commission to make Disciples and Baptise but now I dispense with it Or 4. an institution besides it as if Christ would say I gave you such a commission formerly but now here is a new institution the churches being gathered the old is out of date But Christ sayes no such thing 2. Christ intends no difference twixt churches gathering and gathered for the commission reaches to the worlds end lo I am present with you to the end of the world 3. The Apostle cuts off all such difFerence Gal. 3.27 As many as were baptised into CHRIST that is into the name doctrine and profession of Christ had put on CHRIST which both excludes infants and showes there was no difference twixt churches gathering and gathered 4. Give an example of any one baptized in a gathered church without faith The Scripture is silent herein 5. Our Saviour names faith as an univers●ll preceding requisite for all that are baptised Mark 16.16 Preach the Gospell to every creature whosoever beleeveth c. cutting of all distinctions of churches gathering and gathered 6. When Chr●st was 40. dayes on earth after his resurrection and spake of things concerning Gods Kingdome Acts. 1.3 strange he should not speah one tittle hereof strange Christ should set down such a generall rule and speak of no exception and yet mean one 4. Exception The commission is make disciples all nations baptising them but infants are capable of being made disciples Mr. M. pa 4. 39. But infa●ts belong to Christ therefore they may be disciples For first to belong to Christ and to be a disciple of Christ is all one Mat. 10.42 compared with Mar. 9.41 Secondly Acts 15 10. All they upon whose necks the false teachers would have put the yoke of circumcision are called disciples but they would have put this yoke upon infants as well as others therefore infants are disciples Thirdly to belong to Christ and to be a disc●ple are not all one for the ore may be in present the other in possibility It s true in grown and converted disciples not in infants Answ To the former infants belong to Christ not in respect of visible constitution but in respect of misticall union and not all but only elect infants 2. Christ speaks not of infants but of discipl●s grown up Mat. 10.42 Mar. 9.41 and these he makes all one with belonging to Christ though he call them little ones it s because they are little in their own apprehension For that Acts 15.10 the false teachers did not go about to put a yoke upon the neck of infants but only on the brethren as appears vers 1. Certain mene came down from Iudea taught the Brethren and said except Yee not infants be circumcised after the manner of Moses you cannot be saved 2. Though infants might be sensible of pain yet could they not be sensible of a yoke onely the

them out of Communion and so the matter of the churches come to be so corrupted that they are made uncapable of reformation for when the matter of Churches is rotten what hope is there that the churches will come into a pure state Better did the Nicene Councell that divided their Congregations into Hearers Catechumeni or persons catechised and Communicant The mixt multitude were hearers hopefull persons that had good desires were Chatechumini and those that were deemed believers were Communicants a practise much to be thought of in these times of reformation 2 It confounds the world and the church together which Christ hath severed Joh. 15.19 Joh. 17.9.14.15 Infants b●ptisme especially serving to christianize the prophane world who if men enlightned would speak what they think they must needs say they are not Christians no not one tenth part in too too many Congregations 3 It causes reproach to christianity when many persons that have been christianized only by their infants baptisme prove so unholy which Heathens look on as part of you yea though they be kept off from communion with you in the Lords Supper yet will it be hard to keep off such from the Supper their ignorance must be very grosse and their scandals very soul that keeps them off but more hard to keep them off if they lead civill lives and be rich especially if they understand some Catechisticall points though any christian man may see they are strangers from any life of grace 4 Wicked persons rest in the baptisme they had in their infancy without seeking after knowledge or grace whereas were they held a while up●n hope of acceptation into communion of churches they might be furthered to seek knowledge and restrain from grosse enormities whereas now supposing themselves Christians by their baptisme they received in infancy they care not to do either 5 It s a Nest-egge and ground work for traditions if we fall upon traditionary teachers Bell ●● d ve●b ● d●● 5. Mort A●ol part 2. l 1. c 39. Obj-Ame● Ant Synod ●e ●●●ver 〈…〉 apo p 2●2 presently they hit us in the teeth with infants baptisme B●llarmine saith the Lutherans cannot prove the baptisme of infants against the Anabaptists by the Scripture the Catholiks are not wont So the Remonstrants in their Assemblies as a very ancient rite which can scarcely be left off without great scandall and offence 6. It fills the conscience with scruples some question whether they were ever baptised some question how could I make a covenant by my selfe much lesse by others being an infant Some thinke there is no word at all for what is herein done but it s onely a laudable Apostolicall tradition some thinke it a Signe of faith in present others in infants But that which causeth most scruple is about the formalis ratio the formall cause that inrights a man to this infant Baptisme Some thinke the faith of the parents or of those that offer them doth inright them hereto Others think that the faith of their Grand-father great-grandfather to many generations if none be neerer that were godly of the race the faith of Noah shall serve Aug. Ser. 1 ● de ver apostol Others thinke the faith of the whole Church Others thinke that childrens Seminall faith makes them capable hereof the nature whereof who can understand seeing all faith requires an act of the understanding which infants have not Some thinke Abrahams faith doth it Some think there is an inward covenant which was made to Abraham whereby whatsoever God is to a godly man he is the same to all the seed Nay say others seeing many of the godlies seed are wicked this is impossible but th●re is a certain outward Covenant formerly in circumcision now in bap●isme whereby infants do partake talke with ten men and you shall see them divided into five parts about the formall cause that en●itles an infant to baptisme It s a speech of Erasmus things are bad where there is need of so many remedies Infants Baptise destroyes two of the principall marks of a particular church whereby the members of it are known from all other societies i● the world so that hereby they are made no markes at all as 1. Prof●ssion 2. Baptisme 1. Profession That which makes us members of the Catholike I mean Christs bodie for the catholike visible church I explod as a monster that hath neither Ordinances nor officers unlesse w●e take catholike into opposition to the church closed up in Iudea I say that which makes us members of the catholike the profession hereof makes us members of a particular Church faith doth the one the profession of faith doth the other Acts 8.37 38. Acts 19.18 and this profession is required in New England before any person is admitted as a member Now infants baptisme utterly destroyes this note being they are members already 2. Infants baptisme destroyes baptisme from being a marke of a Church He that would truely define and describe it by such properties as are so essentiall to the thing as that being there they make it to be that it is and being absent it ceaseth to be any more the same And further that it be common to no more but that thing Now infants baptisme is no distinguishable signe or mark of a member of a church because it is common to more persons then such as by Church right are members of Churches even to many that assoon as they grow up become persecutors of beleeving members of the same church of which the persecutors themseves are reputed members Most Divines make Baptisme a signe of a church but how it can be so in such a subject I see not 8. It makes the Preachers assertions of Baptisme and the peoples practicalls to jar one with another Melancton saith dipping signifies the old man with sin to be appointed to death and comming up out of the water Loc. com de bap signifies that wee being now washt do expect a new and eternall life Zanchy They that are dipt Zanch in Ephes loc de ba● are received into the faith and flock of Christ and Order of them that are to be renewed by the spirit forgivenesse of all sins being given unto them ●n Roma●●s c 6.5 Martyr saith Baptisme is a signe of regeneration into Christ into his death and resurrection which succeeded circumcision consisting of the washing of water in the word whereby in the name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost remission of sins and powring out of the Spirit is offered and by a Sacrament we are planted in Christ and his visible Church and right to the Kingdome of heaven is sealed unto us and we likewise professe that we will hereafter die ●o sin and live to Christ 〈◊〉 l. cap. ●5 Polanus saith Baptisme is a Sacrament in which they to whom the Cov●nant of grace belongs according to the command of Christ are washed with water in the name of the Father Sonne and Holy Ghost that is