39. For Christ in the Promise was the good Tidings of great Joy preached by the Angel Luke 2. 10 11 12 13 14. according to the Scriptures of the Prophets Isaiah 9. 6. Micah 5. â— Seeing it hath been proved what the Gospel is and from whence the Apostles reaped it namely out of the Scriptures of the Prophets and that the Angel upon the Birth of Christ preached glad Tidings of a Saviour out of the Scripture of the Prophets Luke 2. 10 11 12. also Christ himself and his Apostles taught us no other glad Tidings than is written in the Prophets aforesaid It is therefore desired and required of the Anabaptists to shew us out of any part of the Scriptures of the Prophets where they prove that Gospel to be written that preacheth glad Tidings to Actual Sinners and not a like glad Tidings to their Infants in Infancy who as we have proved are Sinners by original Corruption derived from Father to Children and if dying in Infancy cannot be saved if there be no Promise or glad Tidings of Salvation for them in the Gospel in Infancy commanded to be preached to all Nations that is to every Creature of Mankind unless they will at once affirm and prove that Infants are no part of Mankind that the Gospel is to be preached unto with their Parents under the name of every Creature Col. 1. 23. To the second thing to be considered in the Commission of our Lord Jesus who came to save Sinners yea Sinners of two sorts as afore proved the Fathers with their Infants and that these are the Persons every Nation consisteth of is thus proved If that the Scripture may be allowed to expound its own Sense in every Article of Faith as in lesser matters therefore we read that after the Flood were only left alive Noah and his Family among which Noah had three Sons Shem Ham and Japheth and unto these were born Sons after the Flood And by these were the Isles of the Gentiles divided in their Lands every one after his tongue after their Families in their Nations Gen. 10. 1 5. These are the Families of the Sons of Noah after their Generations in their Nations and by these were the Nations divided after the Flood ver 32. By which it appeareth that every Nation consisteth of Families after their Generations that is the Father and Mother with their Children the two sort of Sinners Sin entered into by the Fall of Adam as aforesaid And likewise as aforesaid Christ was proclaimed when come according to the Gospel preached to Adam and to Abraham that in Christ all the Families of the Earth shall be Blessed Gen. 12. 3. namely with the Pardon of Sins so Christ came to take away the Sins of the World by Families because he came to save that which was lost Luke 18. 11. but Mankind was lost by Families Rom. 5. 12. as afore shewed Now whereas Moses writeth concerning the Gospel preached to Abraham saying that in his Seed Christ all the Families of the Earth shall be Blessed Gen. 12. 3. The Apostle Peter preaching that Gospel-Promise to the Nation of the Jews in his first Sermon applied the Promise in the Blessing to the Father and Mother with their Children saying The Promise is to you and unto your Children Acts 2. 39. And in his second Sermon expoundeth the word all Families written by Moses to be Kindreds of the Earth shall be Blessed Acts 3 25. The Apostle Paul expoundeth the word Families by Moses Kindreds by Peter to mean Nations even Men Women and their Infants and these are the Persons which by Christs Commission are to be Taught and Baptized Gen. 12. 3. Gal. 3. 8. Now as to the manner the Actual Sinners must be taught and they must actually confess and forsake their Sins because they had actually sinned before they may be Baptized and when the Parent believed then Peter applied the Gospel-Promise to the Believers and their Infants or Children as aforesaid Acts 2. 39. So then a Man's Family under the Promise are his Children in Non-age other of their Children if they have any that have actually sinned as have their Parents must actually repent and believe before Baptized but the Infants in Non-age must be Baptized when their Parents are Baptized because their Sin charged on them is by original Corruption derived to them pardoned with them as Adam's Children and Abraham's and all Believing Jews and Gentiles Children in all Ages were else Children dying in Infancy could not be saved by the revealed Will of God because they are by Nature Children of Wrath Eph. 2. 3. Now this is Gods way in his word that as Families Kindreds Nations are one and the same and as a Mans Children are his Family under the Promise in the Gospel and a Mans nearest Kindred under the Promise are his Children and that every Family is a little Nation as we see before of Noah's three Sons the Isles of the Gentiles were divided every one after their Families in their Nations so when a Believer and his Children are joyned to the Lord called a Family or Kindred a little Nation is joyned to the Lord as Judah when they came up out of Babylon by Families were joyned to the Lord Jer. 50. 5. as before all Israel were joyned to the Lord by Families in the Wilderness Deut. 29. 10 11 12 13. The Father and Mother with their Infants a Holy Nation for saith the Prophet meaning many Families little Nations were joyned to the Lord in that day as it is written many Nations shall be joyned to the Lord in that day and they shall be my People Zach. 2. 11. as Israel were Gods People by Families and so many Families in Covenant with the Lord make one Holy Nation both of old and now as by Exod. 19. 6. with 1 Peter 2. 9. is proved how God calleth his People by Families some out of every Nation as it is written Thou hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every Kindred Tongue People and Nation Rev. 5. 9. But Nations as the whole People in England France Spain Holland or other Nations never was yet heard of to be all Converts in one day or such a Nation to be joyned to the Lord every individual Person in one day but Israel as many Families was joyned to the Lord in one day being actual Believers and their Seed so were they a Holy Nation in a Holy Covenant Dan. 11. 28 30. a Nation in the midst of a Nation or Nations about them to whom saith the Lord in respect of their Faith Worship and Marriages they shall not be reckoned among the Nations Numb 23. 9. So now as every Gospel Church consisting of Families as the Churches of God in all Ages did are as distinct Bodies Holy Nations yet considered as under one chief Sheepherd Christ they are but one Fold one Nation or Brotherhood 1 Pet. 2. 17. in all the World called The Family of Heaven and Earth Eph. 3. 15.
of Reasoning of judging and discerning True and False Good and Evil of Approving or Improving of Willing or Nilling of Speaking Numbering c. Now let them that affirm Infants are born Men as Christ doth John 16. 21. prove that Infants do understand do think remember judge discern Good and Evil approve will speak c. or else they say nothing Were not such a Disputer to be hissed at who requireth the Actual Use and Manifestation of Humane Affections and Faculties in Infants which are in them but potentially and in the Seed and Beginning And because they cannot declare these things by their Works therefore he denieth them to be of the Generation of Mankind or born Men into the World or that they have the Faculties of Men at all in them any manner of way Even so they reason against the Grace of Christ in Infants his work of Regeneration in them as Christ saith of the Children of his Kingdom that they are converted humble and believe in him because they cannot actually manifest the Effects of Regeneration and Fruits of Faith as did Timothy when grown up as in Elder Persons who by reason of Age have the use of their Senses exercised to discern both Good and Evil. And here I desire to know saith Mr. Ainsworth of the Anabaptists First When they think that Children who in their opinion are born without any Sin begin to be Sinners Whether at two three five or seven Years And when they can justly reprove a Child for Sin If it shew in Word Deed or Gesture any thing contrary to the Law of God as if it Swear Curse Lye Disobey Parents take another's Goods be Froward Angry or the like Yea let any of them tell if he can when he himself fell from his Innocency and became a Sinner being none before as they account by what Act of Transgression of what Commandment for it is Strange that an Innocent Man should fall from his Innocency and know not when nor how Secondly Whether any Child so soon as it beginneth to be a Sinner an Actual Sinner hath not a Remedy for the Sin by Christ and so whether it is not capable of Repentance Faith Regeneration c. and consequently of Baptism the Sign of Remission of Sin so soon as it is a Sinner and at what Age any of them have Baptized their Children unto Remission of Sins for Parents are commanded to bring up their Children in the Nurture and Admonition of the Lord Eph. 6. 4. This they cannot do aright unless they know when first they begin to Sin and consequently when they begin to Believe for if they blame a Child for Sin while it is an Innocent they commit Iniquity If they keep a Child from Christ and Christian Baptism when it is a Repentant and Believing Sinner which may be so soon as it is a Sinner they wrong most Sinfully to coudemn that which Christ justifieth These things ought to be considered by all that Fear God And therefore before we conclude this Query I cannot but observe the Folly of the Anabaptists and in particular B. Keach how he despiseth those that prove by Grounded Reasons from Gods Word the Right the Infants of Believers have to Water-Baptism because they shew not a plain Text in the New Testament in so many literal words Baptize your Children as of old Circumcise your Children And therefore he chargeth them Gold Refined P. 69. to reflect upon the Honour Care and Faithfulness of the Lord Jesus as if they rendred him less Faithful than Moses For saith he Can any thing reflect more upon the Care Honour and Faithfulness of Christ c. than this If he should neglect to speak out his Mind and Will to us to be so Careless that Sorry Man is forced to try his Wits to supply that which is wanting or defective in his word and when he hath done all he leaves it as doubtful as he found it in the Judgment of Indifferent Men. Did Moses deal thus with the Children of Israel No no how careful was he to deliver every Law Statute and Ordinance exactly and in particular the Passover So B. Keach saith Answ Methinks this Man together with the rest of his Brethren in their late Narrative Page 16 17. may by their own Ground wherewith they charge others to reflect upon the Care Honour and Faithfulness of the Lord Jesus be moved to look on themselves in that they are forced to try their Wits for want of so many plain literal words in Christs Testament Remember to keep Holy the first day of the Week for the Performance of Religious Worship as there is in Moses Writings Remember to keep Holy the Seventh day I say they may see how while they in their own Sense charge others to reflect on the Care Honour and Faithfulness of Christ they themselves are forced to try their Wits by Reasons drawn from Christ's Testament to prove that which they grant is defective and wanting by a plain Law as aforesaid to keep Holy the first day for Religious Worship Therefore to turn that on themselves which they take to be the way of Faith to keep the first day Holy for Religious Worship shall be as sufficient a Rule of Faith by their own Grant for us to prove by grounded Reasons from Christs Testament the Command for Baptizing of Infants as there is for keeping the first day Holy for Religious Worship without so many literal words As for Example Their first Question or Reason is for the keeping the first day Whether it be not the Duty of all Christians and Churches of Christ to observe the Lords-day or the first Day of the Week in the Worship and Service of God both in Publick and Private They answer to their own question it is concluded in the Affirmative their reason is because we find that day was set apart for the Solemn Worship of God by our Lord Jesus and his Holy Apostles through the Infallible Inspiration of the Holy Spirit We likewise answer It is concluded in the Affirmative That that which was once commanded by God to be observed and never by the same Law-giver yet abrogated is still to be kept and observed Deut. 22. 32. But the Command to set the Sign and Seal Gen. 17. 12 13. or Token of Gods Mercy in Christ on the Believers and their Infants was never yet repealed but only the Sign and Seal or Token changed from Circumcision to Water-Baptism even as the Seventh day time is changed from the Seventh day to the First day of the Week by the Lord Jesus and his Holy Apostles through the Infallible Inspiration of the Holy Spirit Again they say another reason is for keeping the first day because the Son of God was made manifest in the Flesh had Authority to make a Change of the Solemn day of Worship being Lord of the Sabbath Matt. 12. 10. Mark 1. 28. Luke 6. 5. By like reason we say Christ was manifested in the Flesh
Heb. 3. 6. the Son of God and Phil. 2. 11. Lord of his own House had power to change the Seal of the Covenant who altered not but Rom. 15. 8. confirmed the Promises in the Covenant by his being Circumcised to the Believers and their Infants Now to be sealed with the Sign Water-Baptism by the same Authority which we believe Christ changed the Seventh day to the First day to be kept Holy for Religious Worship Again whereas they say it is manifest our Blessed Lord and Saviour rose on that day as having compleated and confirmed the Work of our Redemption Matt. 28. 1. Mark 16. 2. Luke 24. 1. John 20. 1. whereby is laid a Foundation of the Observation of that day By like reason we say that for all whom Christ by his Resurrection hath compleated and confirmed the work of their Redemption he hath laid a Foundation thereby for Sealing the same unto them by that visible Sign of Pardon or Remission of their Sins Water-Baptism but that Christ hath confirmed and compleated Redemption for the Believers and their Seed in Infancy before is largely proved in this third Query Therefore these are to be Baptized Baptism by Water being cast upon them as is at large proved to be Gods way in the first Query and by like grounded reason brought from Scripture as they now do to keep the first day of the Week Holy for Religious Worship to God Again they say our Lord on that day appeared to his Disciples teaching and instructing them and Blessing them giving them their Commission breathing on them the Holy Ghost Luke 24. John 20. Answ If the Blessing of Christ to his Disciples with his Spiritual Blessing of the Pardon of their Sins who died for them and on that day rose again for their Justification be a reason why we should keep the first day Holy it is a like reason why Infants of Believers are to be Baptized seeing the visible Sign of the Remission of their Sins in or by the Blessing of Christ bestowed on the Infants of his Kingdom Water-Baptism is to be Administred on them because Christ died for their Sin and rose on the first day for their Justification because they are of the Kingdom of God Luke 18. 16. in which time of the Forty days Christ spoke to them of all things pertaining to his Kingdom Acts 1. Again if it be a reason as they say why we should keep the first day Holy because our Lord Jesus remained with his Disciples Forty days after his Resurrection and spake to them of the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God and if they question not but he then gave them command about the Observation of the Lords day Acts 1. 3. Answ Seeing the Lord Jesus in the Forty days he was with his Disciples after his Resurrection spake to them of the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God and that the time for Worship is one thing pertaining to the Kingdom because there is a Time and Season for every work and that therefore there is no question but he gave command about keeping the first day Holy Even so there is likewise no question but he gave command concerning all things else pertaining to his Kingdom as aforesaid and the Infants of his People Christ himself hath said are of his Kingdom There is no doubt seeing he Blessed them with the Pardon of their Sin as well as he Blessed their Parents but that he gave a command they should be Baptized as well as their Parents seeing Water-Baptism was to be Administred on all that had their Sin by the Blessing of Christ pardoned Acts 3. 26. as it is written Be baptized every one of you for the remission of sins for the promise to wit of the Pardon of Sins in the Blessing of Christ is to you and unto your Children So that by the Anabaptists own grant seeing Christ was Faithful in his House as a Son he did not omit the commanding of the visible Sign of Remission of Sins Water-Baptism to all the Blessed in his Kingdom no more than he omitted a command for the keeping the first day Holy for Religious Gospel-worship because he was Faithful in his House as a Son as Moses was as a Servant Heb. 3. Moreover whereas they grant that the day of Pentecost was the first day of the Week Acts 2. 1. and seeing the Apostles Baptized 3000 on that day there is no question but that Christ gave command that they should Baptize on that day as in their Sixth Reason in their Narrative they say and grant the first day was solemnly observed by the Churches as appears in Acts 20. 7. with the Solemn Duties then performed and that we have no Example of the Churches then Assembling together to celebrate all the Ordinances of the Lord Jesus peculiar to them but on the first day of the Week mark that therefore If the Practice of the Primitive Churches in the Purest of Times be the Rule for Gospel Churches ever since to follow their Examples 1 Thess 2. 14. as it is and that all the Ordinances are to be celebrated on the Lords day which Practice of the Churches is by the Anabaptists granted in their Narrative to be an evident plain Demonstration of its being a Day set apart for Religious Worship by the Will and Command of the Lord Jesus as if it had been express'd in the plainest words How is it then seeing Water-Baptism is a part of Spiritual Worship as they grant and an Ordinance when first performed after Christ's Resurrection on the Lords day in the Church-Assembly where was no River nor Pond that the Anabaptists Baptize after their way of Dipping on any Working-duy out of the Church Estate when Assembled when as by the Example of a Church-Practice at Jerusalem in the Purest of Times whose Example all Churches are to follow that then when the Church was Assembled to perform other parts of the Worship then Water-Baptism was performed in the Congregation Which is a plain Demonstration that they were not Baptized by Dipping but by casting Water on the noble part of Mankind which representeth the whole Person as before in the first Query is proved Therefore tho the Apostles and Evangelists by an extraordinary call Baptized in any place where any were Converted yet that any ordinary Officer as Pastor or Teacher chosen and ordained by a particular Congregation Baptized any other where but in the Congregation at the same time when all other Ordinances are to be performed in Worship as they grant therefore it is not lawful by the Anabaptists own grant for any to Baptize on any other day but the Lords day and then to be done in the Assembly with other parts of Worship forasmuch as they say the first day was solemnly observed by the Churches as appears by Acts 20. 7. with the Solemn Duties then performed and that we have say they no example of the Churches then Assembled together to celebrate all the Ordinances of our Lord
joying and beholding your Order and Stedfastness of your Faith in Christ Col. 2. 5. Therefore as the Ordinances are several every one having dependance on each other therefore Prayer being a Sanctifying Ordinance Numb 10. 35. Col. 14. 4. 1 Tim 4. 4. Acts 2. 42. 6. 4. Matt. 26. 26 27. Numb 6. 23 27. the Pastor or Teacher when the Church is gathered together in some one place 1 Cor. 11. 29. Sanctifieth the Congregation by Prayer and as Praises are next unto Prayer the whole Church Praising the Lord by Singing a Psalm of Holy Scripture even the words of the Prophets of old 1 Chron. 16. 7 8 9 29. Matt. 26. 26. Col. 3. 16. Eph. 5. 19. 2 Chron. 29. 29 30. Rev. 15. 2 3. This being ended the Pastor or Teacher giveth Attendance to Reading Exhortation and Doctrine having read some part of Holy Scripture giving the Sense and Meaning thereof as likewise taking some Scripture and teach or raise Doctrine from the same 1 Tim. 4. 13. Nehem. 8. 8. Phil. 4. 16. 1 Cor. 2. 13. Luke 4. 18 21 22. Cant. 4. 16. This being done then the Prophets or Gifted Brethren spake by Memberal Right as it is written Quench not the Spirit despise not Prophecying 1 Thess 5. 19 20. Keeping order by one two or three at most 1 Cor. 14. 24 29. as time will permit This being done the Church freely contributing to the Maintenance of the Officers and Poor the Deacons attending thereto by Office to gather the same and as need requireth to distribute the same Acts 6. 2 3 5. 1 Cor. 16. 1 2. 2 Cor. 8. 12. Prov. 27. 23. 3. 18. This being ended the Ruling Elder in the time of Christs Regal Government in the Church Christ's Kingdom together with the other Elders Pastor and Teacher see that order be kept being the time when any Persons desire to be joyned to Christ by Covenant Jer. 50. 5. Acts 2. 47. to judge of the work of Grace in them by their Profession being approved by the whole Church and then are they to receive them into the Covenant with their Children in Nonage Deut. 29. 11 12. because the Promise is to them and unto their Children Deut. 29. 29. Acts 2. 39. in which time of Government likewise if there be any Complaint against any Members for their Disorderly walking or for Errors in Faith it is written If they will not hear to wit private Admonition and so if they will not be reclaimed at the first and second Admonition to tell it to the Church and if they despise the Churches Admonition to cast them out in the Name of the Lord Jesus from the Communion of Christ in the Church and so from all the Benefit of the Promises in the Covenant Rev. 4. 2. Isa 9. 7. Matt. 18. 15 16 17 18. 1 Cor. 5. Prov. 29. 1. This Ordinance being ended if any were received into Covenant in the time of Government and had never been Baptized into the Name of Jesus then the Seal must be set on the Persons received into Covenant as a Sign of the Pardon of their Sins being washed away in the Blood of Christ the Lamb the Blood of the Everlasting Covenant called the Church Covenant Zach. 9. 10. So that by Water-Baptism Christ may be made manifest both to Parents and their Infants that he hath bore away their Sin or Sins John 1. 29 31. Heb. 8. 12. This Ordinance being ended performed by the Pastor or Teacher then follows the Administration of the Lords-Supper as it is written The Cup of Blessing which we Bless is it not the Communion of the Blood of Christ The Bread which we brake is it not the Communion of the Body of Christ For we being many are one Bread and one Body for we are all partakers of that one Bread 1 Cor. 10. 16 17. The finishing of this Ordinance is by singing a Psalm the whole Action of the day in Worship finished by Prayer Thus as all grant every Ordinance in the Church-Assembly is to be performed on the Lords day as the Anabaptists also grant in their Narrative Page 17. in these words We have no Example of the Churches then Assembling together to celebrate all the Ordinances of our Lord Jesus peculiar to them but on the first day of the week As afore shewed in their Reasons about keeping the first day for Gospel-worship Thus when Gods Holy Order is kept in the Practice all Gods Ordinances in his Church his Kingdom the Beholders thereof will say God is in them for a truth 1 Cor. 14. 25. and with this Admiration who is this Cant. 8. 5. that thus followeth the Captain of their Salvation Heb. 2. 10. in the Heavenly Warfare of his Gospel Rev. 19. 11. 2 Tim. 2. 3 4. whether soever he goeth before them in his Commands Rev. 17. 14. Rev. 14. 4. 1 Cor. 11. 1. then will the Spouse of Christ appear Crowned with Twelve Stars walking in the Apostles and Prophets Doctrine Christ being the chief Corner-stone whose Righteousness is put on by Faith Rom. 13. 14. looking forth as the Morning she is Fair as the Moon Clear as the Sun Terrible to all her Enemies as an Army with Banners Cant. 6. 10. Rev. 3. 7 8 9 10. And this is that Vertuous Woman her Price is above Rubies that looketh well to the ways of her Houshold and Eateth not the Bread of Idleness her Children arise and call her Blessed her Husband also and he praiseth her Prov. 31. 10 27 28. Now then where Gods Holy Order is not kept there is Confusion and every evil work and what doth Babel mean but Confusion so is every City or Church that transgresseth the Laws or changed the Ordinances or breaketh the Everlasting Covenant called the City of Confusion And this maketh way to take in consideration the Fifth Query which is Query 5. Whether it be Lawful for any Man to Baptize himself In speaking to this Query is shewed that from such an Administrator the English Anabaptists have successively received their way of Re-baptizing of Adult Persons only and excluding the Infants of Believers from the same or the Right to have Water-Baptism Administred on them Therefore it may be expedient to give some Description of this first Baptizer of himself by Name John Smith who by Profession was a Minister of the Church of England disliking thereof went over into Holland and joyned himself to an English Church at Amsterdam at which time Mr. Henry Ainsworth was Teacher to the said Church now as it appeareth by Calvin in his Institutions there were some in his time called Anabaptists in Judgment denying Infants Baptism from this Principle they then maintained in denying original Sin so that they affirmed Infants were not born Sinners and from hence they pleaded there need no Sign of Remission of Sins be Administred on them Now this Error is confuted in a word If Infants were not born Sinners then they could not dye until they had Actually sinned for the
to dwell in his Spiritual Family but Believers only or such as prefess so to be Answ As to the Persons whom God admitteth into this House Peter saith They are a Holy Nation a Chosen Generation the same namely that the Church of Israel were Believers and their Seed in Infancy let the Reader compare word for word Exod. 19. 5 6. with 1 Pet. 2. 9. and then judge who we are bound to believe he that speaketh as Peter did by the Holy Ghost or B. Keach who without respect to Moses or Peter's words presumptiously saith None are admitted into the Church now but Actual Believers His words are contrary to Matt. 18. 6. 2. The other Scripture that is brought to prove that God hath pulled quite down the State of the Church of the Jews and turned the Infants out of doors is Heb. 7. 12. For the Priesthood being changed there is made of necessity a change of the Law Which saith he must needs include Circumcision with all the Appurtenances and Priviledges belonging to it and therefore as Infants Church membership came in with the Law of Circumcision so it went out and was disannulled with it they were 't is true of the Houshold of old but it was by a positive Law shew us the like now and you do your business Answ Two things I observe in B. Keach's words aforesaid First he granteth by the coming of Christ there is a Change of the Priesthood so is there also of the Law contained in the Ceremonial Ordinances which were both Figures of Christ as it is written Having abolished in his Flesh the Enmity even the Law of Commandments contained in Ordinances Eph. 2. 15. And these were those things which were to be removed as it is written And this word yet once more signified the removing of those things that may be or are shaken that those things which cannot be shaken may remain Heb. 12. 27. And what are those things which cannot be shaken namely the Church State of the Jews as aforesaid Mount Sion the State of the Covenant of Grace Christs Kingdom which cannot saith the Apostle be moved and therefore by him set in opposition to the Law Exod. 20. given on Mount Sinai to terrifie Sinners for the Church of Israel had not only the Law to shew them their Sins but also God gave them his good Spirit to instruct them Neh. 9. 20. with the Gospel to walk with God by Faith in Christ Heb. 11. chap. so that the difference between the Jewish Church and now they had Figurative Ordinances to teach them Christ to come we have Gospel-Ordinances to teach us he is come so that although God hath given more of his Spirit in these latter days yet it is but the same Spirit the Church of old had so that without ground it is for B. Keach to say God hath quite pulled down the Church-State of the Jews and built him a more Spiritual Surely a double measure of the Spirit did not make the Prophet Elisha not Elisha 2 Kings 2. 9. no more than a double measure of the Spirit make the State of the Gospel-Church not the same State the Church of Israel had so that the Kingdom or Spiritual State by the Covenant of Grace the Jewish Church had was never yet pulled down although many of them rejected Christ the chief Corner-stone And Therefore from such the Kingdom saith Christ shall be taken away not pulled down and given to a Nation to wit the Gentiles bringing forth the Fruits thereof Matt. 21. 43. And therefore the Lords Vineyard his Church was not destroyed or pulled down but let out to other Husband-men which should render to the Lord the Fruits in their Season Matt. 21. 41. And therefore saith the Author to the Hebrews Heb. 12. 28. concerning the Kingdom of Christ that cannot be shaken we having received a Kingdom that cannot be moved even Mount Sion on which Christ from the day the Covenant of the Gospel was preached to Adam and imbrac'd the Kingdom of Christ was established in Adam's Family then Christ first sat King on the Holy Hill Sion Psal 2. 6. for all were redeemed in Adam's Loynes as they fell in him and Rom. 5. 12. 1 Cor. 15. 22. after the Flood Christs Kingdom as afore shewed remained in Noah's Family although some Apostatized then God chose the Posterity of Blessed Shem of whom Abraham came and God was pleased that of the Seed of Abraham's Body Christ should be born yet a Promise was made that God would perswade Japheth to dwell in the Tents of Shem as was fulfilled when the Gentiles were grafted into the Olive Tree the State of the Jewish Church the Covenant of Grace in Christ from which some Jews for their unbelief were broken off Rom. 11. ch So then here was no new Covenant no new Olive Tree no new Kingdom or new Church-State no nor were the Infants of Christs Kingdom ever yet shut out Luke 18. 16. as Mr. Keach dreameth to deceive his Reader 2ly he hath also dreamed that Infants Church-membership came in with the Law of Circumcision if People are not willing to be deceived by him they may see Gods word for the contrary for no Person was ever joyned to the Lord by Circumcision but by Covenant Jer. 50. 5. as it is written Let us joyn our selves it the Lord in a perpetual Covenant that shall not be forgotten And so Abraham was in Covenant with the Lord some years before Circumcision was instituted Gen. 12. 3. and when Children were born to Abraham as after to the Believing Jews they were born to the Lord because they were joyned to the Lord by Covenant and the Lord was their God and God called them his Children so that all Infants born in Covenant must be eight days old before they were Circumcised Gen. 17. 12. As in the Wilderness by Deut. 29. before their Infants were Circumcised both Parents and their Infants were joyned to the Lord and established by Covenant to be the Lords People so that as Infants Church-membership came not in with Circumcision so Infants Church-membership went not out when Circumcision was abolished but as the Covenant afore proved was the same Circumcision and now Water-Baptism Sealeth the Covenant remaineth together with the Subjects Believers and their little ones the Covenant never yet by any word of God abolished nor yet the Infants born in Covenant shut out of doors that is our of Gods Covenant so long as the Parents abode in the Faith and the Children continued therein Therefore at Random B. Keach falsly affirmeth through his gross mistake to say that Infants Church-membership came in not till Circumcision was instituted and that by the Act of Circumcision they were joyned Members this were to put the Seal to before the Covenant is entered into to the divertment of all order in sealing Covenants So then when he can prove Infants were joyned Members by Circumcision then he may have some colour to say that Infants were no longer
whole and what do we plead for more but that Water may by the Administrator be cast on the upper part to wit the Nobler part of the Party to be Baptized which representeth the whole Man even the Forehead and Face But if it be so as Benjamin Keach saith Page 38. of his Book That it is no Baptism at all if the whole Body be not plung'd into the Water then neither he nor yet any of them are yet by his own grant Baptized when they Baptize but the part from the Waste upward because the Party to be Baptized puts the lower part into the Water himself who must be wholly Passive as a Man Dead to be put into the Grave as they plead for that manner of Baptism in the act of his being Baptized so that what an out-cry do they make against them that in Water-Baptism Baptize a part of the Person for the whole when they themselves do no other only a little lower on the Body now then for ever hereafter let them for shame open their Mouths no more about Water-Baptism till they Practice what they Teach and then to bring better Grounds than to say the word Baptism signifieth to Dip the whole Body in Water contrary to the use of the word Baptism as by the Holy Scripture hath been shewed to be a pouring out both of the Spirit and also of Water on the Person and that on that part of Man Water-Baptism is to be administred upon that is Naked and visibly bare that is the Face and Forehead that representeth the whole Person As for example When Hagar fled from her Mistress Sarah she is said to flee from the Face of her Mistress Gen. 16. 8. so the Face is taken for the Person So Jacob is said to flee from the Face of Esau Gen. 36. 6. that is from his Person So likewise Christ sent his Disciples before his Face Luke 9. 52. 10. 1. that is before his Person where he was to come Therefore to cast Water upon the Forehead or Face the whole Person being signified thereby the Person is said to be Baptized for when the Fore-skin was cut off the whole Man Ex. 12. 48. or Child was said to be Circumcized Again where should the Sign Seal or Token of Remission of Sins be administred but on that part where the Name of God his Law to wit of Faith by the open Profession thereof was hold forth as 't is written Rov 22. 4. And his name shall be in their Foreheads and lo a Lamb stood on Mount Sion and with him a hundred forty and four thousand having his Fathers Name written in their Foreheads Rev. 14. 1. as being not Romans 1. 16. ashamed of the Gospel of Christ for if by the Jer. 3. 3. Forehead is set forth the bold imperious Whoredoms of Judah in her Apostacy from her Husband the Lord how much more by the Forehead of Christs Chast Virgin is represented her open Profession of the Commands of her Lord and Husband Mark 8. 38. as not being ashamed of his Gospel 2 Tim. 1. 8. the Power of God to Salvation Moreover as all Gods Ordinances are to be performed under the Form and Manner of a good report Phil. 4. 8. with Shamefacedness and Sobriety because 't is most certain that part of Man Woman and Child that is to be Baptized must be naked and bare for the Flesh must be wash'd in Baptism and not the Covering As for example in those Figurative Washings under the Law as the Jews were not Strangers to Water-Baptism as Mr. Ainsworth on Gen. 17. hath shewed out of the Hebrew Writers that every Proselite that was joyned to the Lord by the Covenant of Grace in Christ was Circumcised Baptized and brought a Sacrifice Now as the Circumcised part must be bare when Circumcised even so the part that is to be Baptized must not be covered as in all Legal Washings which signified Sanctification and Cleansing from Sin by the Blood of Christ Therefore when Moses and Aaron and his Sons washed their Hands and Feet at the Laver they Exod. 40. 31 32. washed them not with their Stockins or Gloves on for that had been to wash the Covering and not the Flesh and do we believe that Mary Luke 7. 38. washed Christ's Feet with Tears with his Shoes on no sure for she is said to have wiped his Feet with the Hair of her Head and not his Shoes So when the Saints Feet were John 13. 5. washed by Christ as also the Deaconist washing the Saints Feet surely they washed the bare Feet so now as Baptism is called a Washing Acts 22. 16. so Paul when Baptized is said to be Washed part for the whole so that part Washed or Baptized must be naked and bare As is shewed by the Lord alluding to the Laver of Regeneration Titus 3. 5. he poured Water into a Bason and washed the Disciples Feet from and by the Blood of Christ As saith the Lord Ezek. 16. 9. Then washed I thee with water not the Covering but the Flesh with water yea I throughly washed away thy Blood in the Blood of the Covenant of Grace in Christ by the Water of the word Water-Baptism being a Sign thereof to us according to his words Eph. 5. 26. Heb. 8. 12. Now then if a part in Baptism with Water serveth not for the whole as the Anabaptists affirm and yet by their Practice deny then the whole Body as they plead for Washed or Baptized must be naked or else they Baptize the Covering and not the Flesh and what an unseemly thing it were for a Man to Baptize the Female Sex naked taking the Person up in the Arms of the Administrator and lay her in open view of others for Water-Baptism was no secret Ordinance into the Water as they teach must be buried as afore shewed when one is buried is not till the Earth is cast upon the Person so Water must be cast upon the Person Baptized according to the literal words in common Burials or else say they the Person is not Baptized at all Now let them shew any word of God that among all we read of were either so Baptized by or after the literal word Buried as common Burials are daily of the Bodies of Dead Persons when Dead Strip'd their Apparel taken off and others put on we read not any such Practice in Baptism for although Acts 16. 13. Lidia was converted at a Rivers side where the word was taught as John at Jordan and Philip the Eunuch near a Water yet no mention in the least of putting off or putting on any Apparel but Baptized Nor Israel in the Cloud and in the Sea the Face and Forehead together being open and bare whichn represented the whole Person Washed is a sufficient warrant for us in Water-Baptism and not to walk by Imagination by a natural Belief or Conceit that either Persons changed their Apparel or went into the Water to the middle and that the Administrator put the one
Sinners Christ the Lamb of God is come in Person who was the same Saviour for these two sorts of Sins Heb. 13. 8. yesterday from the day he was preached to Adam unto that day John said Behold the Lamb of God and unto the end of the World which beareth away from these two sorts of Sinners the Sin of the World The way and the manner how this is done is one and the same in all Ages for as there are two sorts of Sinners the one who willingly Transgressed These God called as he did Adam and Eve to the Bar of Justice Gen. 3. 10 11 12 13. to answer for their Evil they had done before the Judge of all the Earth as appeareth in Moses Narration but Adam when called had lost all Freedom of Will to Good his Power being gone he with his Seed were Satans Captives holden by the Cords of Sin Prov. 5. 22. so that instead of shewing any Remorse of Conscience for his Sin as the Law required as it is written He that covereth his Sins shall not prosper but he that confesseth and forsaketh them shall find Mercy Prov. 28. 13. but instead of Confession he sought to cover his Sin Job 31. 33. by laying the fault on the Woman as likewise did the Woman on the Serpent Then God of his Free Grace laid no more upon them but a Fatherly Chastisement in this Life Heb. 12. 5 6 7 8. as he doth on all his Children and freely forgave them and their Posterity in them their Sin in the glad Tidings of that Redeemer he had prepared Eph. 1. 4. Titus 1. 2. before the World was for them by the word of his Grace preached to them that the Seed of the Woman Christ should bruise the Serpents Head Gen. 3. 15. that is expounded the Son of God saith John was made manifest that he might destroy the works of the Devil John 3. 8. Thus Christ in the promise took away the Sin of the World from these two sorts of Sinners which the Apostle proveth thus Therefore as by the Offence of one namely the first Adam judgment came upon all Men that is on all Mankind to wit on all Adam's Posterity in his Loynes to Condemnation for a Child is called a Man Gen. 4. 1. John 16. 21. even so by the Righteousness of one to wit Christ the second Adam in the Promise the Seed of the Woman shall bruise the Serpents Head as aforesaid the Free Gift came upon all Men namely on the Actual Sinners and their Seed in them unto justification of Life Rom. 5. 18. Again saith the Apostle For if by one Man's Disobedience namely the Disobedience of the first Adam many were made Sinners even his Seed in him by original Corruption derived from him so by the Obedience of one namely the Obedience of Christ the second Adam shall many be made Righteous Rom. 5. 19. and who namely the Believers and their Infants for as the Infants of Unbelievers are charged by original Corruption derived from Father to Child with the Unbelief and Disobedience of the first Adam Rom. 5. 12. even so the Children of Believing Parents are discharged from the Condemnation due for that Sin by the Obedience and Righteousness of Christ the second Adam by the Free Grace of God imputed to them according to the Promise in the Everlasting Gospel-Covenant as the Apostle Peter applied to such as Actually believed and unto their Children Acts 2. 39. saying The Promise is unto you and to your Children And again I will be merciful unto their unrighteousness and their Sins and Iniquities will I saith the Lord remember no more Heb. 8. 12. And thus as was the glad Tidings of the Gospel first preached to Adam as after the same by John the Baptist was preached to Israel that Christ the Lamb of God was now come to take away the Sin of the World meaning the Seed of the Woman Christ now manifest in the Flesh was to destroy the works of the Devil and deliver all such both Father and Children who by Sin Satan had captivated into his Bondage Heb. 2. 15. And therefore as Water-Baptism was ordained for a Sign of Remission of Sins not only the Actual Sins of Parents but when the Parents Actually believed it also was a Sign of Remission of the Sin to their Infants as to them who by original Corruption Sin is derived in nature from Fathers to Children and therefore by the Doctrine of the Gospel Such are to be Baptized saith the Apostle every one of you in the Name of the Lord Jesus for the Remission of Sins Because the Lamb of God being come hath taken away the Sin of the World which the Fathers and their Children were guilty of and why be Baptized every one of you for this reason saith Peter For the Promise of the Pardon of Sins is to you and unto your Children and this is Gods way in all Ages of the Redemption of Fallen Mankind that as Sin entered into the World by Families so Christ came to Redeem Fallen Mankind by Families And hence it is that the Children born to Gods Covenanted People are said by God to be born to the Lord whom although they be Man and Womans Children by Nature called their Sons and Daughters yet by vertue of the Free Grace of God in Christ in the Covenant of Grace into which they are accepted in all Ages with their Believing Parents the Lord calleth such Children Ezek. 16. 8 20 21. his Children and of his Kingdom born unto him his Heritage the Fruit of the Womb his Reward for when Adam and Eve was Fallen they together with their Seed in them were the World Sin entered into Rom. 5. 12. of whom Satan was Prince as he is called John 14. 30. The Prince of this World Prince of the Power of the Air the Spirit that now from the days of Adams Fall worketh in the Children of Disobedience and hence it is the Apostle saith Eph. 2. 2 3. by nature we are all Children of Wrath but when the Gospel was preached to Adam and so ever since to all who have Actually sinned as they did God of his Free Grace mixing Faith with the word of Grace preached to them by which power of his word Christ dispossesseth the strong Man armed Luke 11. 20 21 22. namely the Prince of the Fallen World first in Adam's House or Children in his Loynes taking from him all his Armour wherein he trusted and divided his Spoil for saith Christ when come in Person to perform that work he the promised Seed to Adam was to do in bruising the Serpents Head Gen. 3. 15. namely as it is written Luke 11. 20. But if I saith Christ with the Finger of God cast out Devils no doubt the Kingdom of God is come upon you And hereupon when by the Preaching of the same Everlasting Gospel afore preached to Adam and to Abraham to the Dead in Sin Rev. 14. 6. in the Spiritual Babylon which caused
34 15. By all which we see the same Doctrine of Faith Holiness and Love taught in Adam's Family is the same to us in Christ according to the same Covenant of Grace that was made with Adam and his Children whom he taught the way of the Lord but when grown up if as Cain they abide not in it as he so must they be cast out and this could not have been had he not been a Member of the Church in his Infancy born to the Lord in Covenant but when he not proving to be of the Election which the Apostle saith obtaineth it or continueth it in abiding Faithful to the end standing fast in the Faith which Cain did not but departed from the visible Profession thereof Luke 8. 13. so fell away Now then of Cain's Seed the World of ungodly began to take Root in the Earth again so that there was now on Earth the Kingdom of Christ in Adam's House or Family and the Kingdom of Satan in Cain's House or Family called the World of Ungodly who both Fathers and Children were destroyed by the Flood of Noah And then again there was only remaining the Church of God or his Kingdom in Noah's Family the Fathers with their Wives and Children a Holy Nation a chosen Generation to the Lord as Israel were by Families But in process of time Satan had his Seed in the Church in the Person of Cham or Ham Gen. 9. 25. who for his Sin was cast out of the Church and of his Seed sprang another World of Ungodly As likewise in process of time almost all the Posterity of Blessed Shem became Apostatized from the Faith So that then it pleased God to call Abraham from his Idolatry out from his Fathers House Joshua 24 2. Gen. 12. 1 and with him and his Seed as before with Adam and Abraham and their Seed God made an everlasting Covenant or preached to him the everlasting Covenant of the Gospel namely that in his Seed Christ the Womans Seed in the same Gospel afore preached to Adam All Nations of the Earth shall be Blessed Gen. 12. 3. And when again the same Covenant was more particularly applied to belong to the Seed of his Body of whom Christ must be exspected as it is written I will make my Covenant between me and thee and will multiply thee exceedingly besides the Promise before made to him of his being a Father of many Nations 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 Gen. 7. 2 5 7. Now this Promise to be a God to the Believer and his Seed is the Substance of the Gospel-Promise as it is written And they shall be his People and God himself will be with them and be their God Rev. 21. 3. even the God of all the Families of Israel Jer. 31. 1. So then if the very Letter of the Gospel be so plain that in Christ the Families of the Earth shall be Blessed and this Family is the Seed or Infants or Children of Believers and this Blessing is the Remission or Pardon of their Sins as it is written God having raised up his Son Jesus sent him to bless you in turning away every one of you from your Iniquities Acts 3. 26. Water-Baptism being the visible Sign thereof therefore saith Peter to Parents and Children be Baptized every one of you namely that have their Sin or Sins pardoned the Sin of the World for the Promise in the Gospel-Covenant is to you and unto your Children is also confirmed by John the Baptist that this is the Way of Salvation he prepared before the Lord saying Behold the Lamb of God preached to Adam is now come that beareth away the Sin of the World of whom is afore proved Children in Adam were a part thereof Now until the Anabaptists can prove that the Infants were no part of the World Sin entered into and so Children to be no Sinners it remaineth proved that Children are Sinners in Adam and the Sin of the Infants of Believing Parents is taken away by Christ the second Adam as well as the Sin of their Parents who had Actually committed As we have the Testimony of the Spirit of God for to prove it in these words but not as the Offence so also is the Free Gift Rom. 5. 18 19. for if through the Offence of one many be Dead much more the Grace of God and the Gift by Grace which is by one Man Jesus Christ hath abounded unto many and not as it was by one that sinned so is the Gift for the Judgment was by one to Condemnation but the Free Gift is of many Offences unto Justification So then all is of Free Grace both to the Actual Sinner and his Seed in Infancy who are Sinners by original Derivation Now although God doth require of such as have Actually sinned Actually to repent and to make Confession of their Faith before they may have the Sign of Remission of Sins if they were not before Baptized into the Name of Christ to be set on them So that great is the Difference between what it is that giveth any Soul Young or Old Right to have Water-Baptism Administred on them and what God requireth of Actual Sinners before they be Baptized Therefore the very Letter of the Law a Schoolmaster leading to Christ might teach the Anabaptists that of whom did God require a Sacrifice of Confession brought to the Altar figuring Christ but from such only that had Actually sinned yet the Infants of such by vertue of Gods Free Grace in the Covenant of the Gospel were Blessed with their Believing Parents and the Males sealed with the Seal of the Righteousness of Faith therefore called with their Parents The Blessed of the Lord as shall be more spoken to anon But now to insert here the general Argument grounded on Carnal Reason the Anabaptists bring as their main Pillar to deny the Right Infants have to Water-Baptism published by B. Keach in his Book Gold Refined P. 141. That nothing less than Profession of Faith and Repentance can give any Soul Young or Old Right to have Water-Baptism administred on them Answ If there were no Sinner pardoned or their Sin or Sins remissed there would not have been this Ordinance of Baptism ordained seeing it is ordained for a Sign of the Remission of Sins that such as have Right thereto may have Christ made manifest to them that he hath washed away their Sin or Sins in his Blood But because Christ the Lamb of God is come who taketh away not only the Sin of such Actual Sinners whom his Father giveth Faith to Believe in his Son but also the Sin of the World Infants stand charged with by natural Corruption derived from their Parents Now then who is it Man even Sinful Man that Meriteth a Right to have his Sins pardoned or is it not Christ that hath done
over whom Christ is King King of Saints Rev. 15. 3. as in civil States earthly Kings are called Kings or King of Nations Gen. 14. 1. unto whom both Believers as well as others are to obey them in Civil things in the Lord as Christ himself paid them Tribute by which example as in other Duties all Christians are commanded by the Apostles to obey Rom. 13. Now to Nations consisting of Families of Unbelievers the Apostles were sent by Christ to preach the glad Tidings to Families and Kindreds Rev. 14. 6. Therefore whosoever shall preach any other Gospel than is found in the Prophets sent to be preached to Families preacheth not the Gospel of Christ but another not found in the Prophets And therefore how dare any Man preach such a Doctrine for Gospel that is not written in the Prophets that Adult Persons only have the Promise of the Pardon of their Sins and are saved by Christ and not their Infants with them when as the Angel sent to Cornelius durst not deliver any such Message as the Anabaptist Doctrine is that he should send for Peter to tell him words whereby he that had been an Actual Sinner should be saved only and not his House his Child or Children in Non-age with him who were Sinners Children of Wrath by original Sin derived from Fathers to Children but the Message from God by the Angel was according to the Gospel contained in the Prophets in Christ Families or Kindreds shall be Blessed as aforesaid Therefore send for Peter and he shall tell thee words whereby thou shalt be saved and thy House as anon shall by Scripture evidence be proved that a Mans House are his Children his near Kindred who are not Sinners in Infancy by their own act but Sinners as aforesaid by original Corruption derived from Father to Child by the Fall in the first Adam and are therefore by Grace saved from Wrath to come by Christ the second Adam the Sheepherd of his Sheep who hath in his Fold bought with his pretious Blood Lambs as well as Sheep Infants as well as their Parents As was foretold by the Prophet when he should come his fore-runner John should proclaim that Christ who was born a Lamb a Sacrifice a Saviour should like himself be a Sheepherd most compassionate to all his Redeemed as it is written He shall feed his Flock like a Sheepherd he shall gather the Lambs with his Arm and carry them in his Bosom Isaiah 40. 11. This did Christ when he was on Earth took Infants Lambs of his Fold of his Kingdom in his Arms or in his Bosom and Blessed them Mark 10. 13 14 15 16. for by the word Bosom is signified one near him Beloved as John by that Sign leaning on Christs Breast or Bosom John 13. 23. was said to be the Disciple whom Jesus loved And whether was poor Lazarus carried by the Angels but into Abraham's Bosom as one dearly Beloved of his Father so Christ was by that word Bosom manifested as one most dearly Beloved of his Father John 1. 18. But now the Anabaptists by their new found Gospel would perswade that in Christ's Fold he hath no Lambs but all Sheep Adult Persons such a Fold was never heard of in Holy Scripture to be the Fold of Christ nor from the borrowed Metaphor of Sheepherds with their Folds on Earth So that this Doctrine of the Anabaptists is against the very order in things Natural and so in things Spiritual that a Sheepherds Flock should have no Lambs among them but we shall by Gods help prove Christs Fold his Church on Earth in all Ages had Lambs in that Fold as well as Sheep called a Mans House Children or Lambs of the Sheep Men and Women Gods Holy Flock are Men Ezek. 34. 3. such as Fell in Adam and were Restored in Christ Rom. 5. 18. And that a Mans Child or Children are his House saved with him according to the Gospel preached unto Abraham that in Christ his Seed all the Families of the Earth shall be Blessed and that every Nation to whom the Gospel is sent to be preached consisteth of Families or Kindreds Rev. 14. 6. Acts 3. 25. as first concerning the Nation of the Jews in the Scriptures of the Prophets Children are there called a Mans House and so in the New Testament we therefore are most certainly right in understanding of Scripture Terms or Phrases in the true meaning thereof according as the Scriptures expound themselves as for example that a Mans Child is called a Mans House when any Man Married in Israel and died without Issue his next a Kin was to take his Brothers Widow to Wife and the first born Son was to bear up the Name of the Deceased but if he refused to take his Brothers Widow to Wife Then shall his Brothers Wife in the presence of the Elders loose his Shoe from off his foot and spit in his face and shall answer and say So shall it be done unto the man that will not build up his Brothers House Deut. 25. 5. to 9. And thus Ruth did to her deceased Husbands next a kin that refused to build up his Brothers House but when Boaz took her to Wife the Elders Prayer was The Lord make this Woman like Rachel and Leah which two did build the House of Israel Ruth 4. 11 12. that is by bearing Children unto Jacob here we see a Child or Children are a Mans House by Scripture Explanation Likewise the Widow of Sarephtha's Son is called her House see 1 Kings 17. 9. to 15. and when God promised to make the Barren Woman Fruitful it it written He maketh a barren Woman to dwell in an House that is to be a joyful Mother of Children Psalm 113. 9. To this truth that a Mans Child or Children are his House the Doctrine of the Apostle agreeth with the Doctrine of the Prophets for when the Apostle Paul in shewing the Qualifications of one to be called into the Office of a Bishop or Pastor of a Congregation in the Church of God it is written 1 Tim. 3. 4 5. He must be one that ruleth his House well the House being explained in the next words having his Children in subjection the reason is given For if a man know not how to rule his own House his Children how shall he take care of the Church or House of Gods Children Young or Old To confirm this Truth that Children are a Mans House under the Promise of Remission of Sins and so of Salvation by Christ according to the Gospel preached to Abraham in Christ all Families of the Earth shall be Blessed Christ said to Zacheus when he confessed his Faith and repented This day is Salvation come to this House Luke 19. 9. or Children For this reason although he was in all likelihood a Gentile yet because he had the Faith of Abraham therefore he was his Son believing as Abraham did that God was a God not only to him when he actually believed as Abraham did
but a God unto his Seed in that Salvation was come to his House his Children with him therefore to whom the Gospel is by the command of Christ to be preached unto and the Promises applied to them go teach all Nations these are they by B. Keach's own grant that our Lord Jesus hath commanded to be Baptized as it is written in the great Commission Go teach all Nations Families or Kindreds of the Earth Baptizing them c. Again seeing Lydia and Stephanus were Baptized and their Housholds Acts 16. 15. 1 Cor. 1. 16. if the Scriptures of the Prophets do expound to us That a Man and Womans Houshold were their little ones their Sons and Daughters then we hope none can deny but that the Believers and their Children were Baptized for the proof whereof we read how David and his Men dwelt with Achish at Gath every Man and his Houshold 1 Sam. 27. 3. but in process of time while David and his Men were absent from their Families their Wives and Children were taken Prisoners so that as it is written Every Man lamented for their Sons and Daughters 1 Sam. 30. 6. Thus what before were called their Housholds in 1 Sam. 27. 3. are explained to be their Sons and Daughters Again it is written Jacob went down into Egypt Every Man and his Houshold Exod. 1. 1. the Father and Mother with their Children concerning whom Joseph said unto his Father and Brethren I will nourish you and your Housholds Gen. 45. 11. which is expounded I will nourish you and your little ones called their little ones in Gen. 46. 5. and 50. 21. Now if Men will not believe the Spirit of God his own expounding his own word to be sufficient ground of Faith to believe that the Houshold is the Children or little ones of his People there is no credit to be given to such Teachers or People in Matters of Faith but the Spirit of God hath expounded the Housholds to be Children therefore all that will take Gods word for their warrant may answer themselves That the Apostles Baptized Children or little ones of Believers when they Baptized Believers and their Households If the Anabaptists will not believe this let them shew better or more clear proof for any thing as an Article of their Faith which they believe making the Scriptures of the Prophets and Apostles agree in one harmony together But if any shall object that Servants are included in the word Houshold on purpose to cavil at the Right Infants of Believers have to Water-Baptism The Answer is to them such need to be taught rather than to be accounted Teachers that can no better distinguish between a Son a Child and a Servant the very light of Nature might convince them that great is the difference between a Son and a Servant a Mans Son is his very next a Kin Gen. 12. 1. with Gen. 43. 7. Gen. 15. 4. and 21. 10. Gal. 4. 7. Heir to his Father beareth his Fathers name a Master to his Fathers Servants As for example when Abraham sent his Servant to take a Wife for his Son Isaac in their return Rebecca seeing a Man coming in the Field to meet them she asked the Servant who that Man was he said it was his Master to wit Isaac Gen. 24. 65. Again the Prodigal Son when returning to humble himself to his Father said Father not Master but Father I have sinned against Heaven and before thee I am no more worthy to be called thy Son make me as one of thy hired Servants Luke 15. 18. Now by all this we see a Servant is inferior to a Son therefore when the Angel said to Cornelius Send for Peter he called two of his Hired or Houshold Servants Acts. 10. 7. these were not the House but Servants to the House but a Son abideth in the House because he beareth the Name of the House for ever or for Life So then if a Servant were equal with a Son an Heir or to bear up the Mans Name doubtless Absalom who had no Son to bear up his Name therefore he erected a Pillar 2 Sam. 18. 18. which he needed not to have done if a Servant had been equal with a Son to have borne up his Name as a Son doth his Fathers Name And who were they that were called the House of Israel the House of Aaron but their Children and not their Servants Thus we see none are properly a Mans House or Houshold but a Mans Children So Leah and Rachel as aforesaid are said to build the House of Jacob or Israel by bearing Children in the Covenant Heirs with Isaac in Infancy of the Promises in Christ until they with Ishmael for Sin be disherited and become Servants with the Bond-womans Son Obj. Another pretended Plea is say the Anabaptists Shew us a Child by name that was Baptized Answ It was the way of Christ to some to answer a Question by a Question we say to them shew us a Woman by name that received the Lords Supper They will answer it is evident that Disciples did break Bread at the Lords Supper and Women are called in Scripture Disciples therefore here is sufficient ground to believe that Women did partake of the Lords Supper It is granted a Scripture Consequence is good Proof that it is to be believed even in an Article of Faith Now then we read that Infants at eight days old with their Parents are called Disciples in Scripture as it is written Acts 15. 10. when circumcised Why therefore tempt ye God to put a Yoke upon the Disciples neck which neither our Fathers nor we were able to bear This answer was made by the Apostle when the Jews that Believed taught that unless the Gentiles and their Children were Circumcised they could not be saved here Infants with their Parents are called Disciples So then we read that Disciples were Baptized Infants being by the Spirit of God called Disciples We have grounded reason to believe that Infants were Baptized by the Anabaptists own grant proportionably to their own Plea aforesaid in the Objection And that Infants of Believers have right to Water-Baptism is most certain because Christ hath taken away their Sin as John saith Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the Sin of the World So is Salvation come to them as to their Parent when he the Father actually Believeth as Christ said to Zacheus Luke 19. 9. when he believed This day is Salvation come to this House for as much as he is a Son of Abraham having the Faith of Abraham believing as Abraham did that God was a God to him and unto his Family or Seed his Children and they that have not this Faith have not the Faith of Abraham so are not Abraham's Seed and if not Children of Abraham they are not of Christ for it is written Gal. 3. 29. If ye be Christs then are ye Abraham 's Seed and Heirs according to promise So the Children of the Promise are accounted for the
Seed but the Believer and his Child or Children are Children of the Promise for so is the Doctrine of the Prophets taught by the Apostles to the Believers and their Seed Acts 2. 39. For the promise is to you and unto your Children from that word written Ye are the Blessed of the Lord and your Off-spring or Buds with you Children of the Covenant God made with their Fathers Isaiah 65. 23. Acts 3. 25. Moreover the truth of this is confirmed by the Babes of Christs Kingdom who together with their Parents wellcomed the Lord Christ their Saviour into his Kingdom acknowledging Christ to be their Saviour so that the Children Crying in the Temple Hosanna to the Son of David Matt. 21. 15. that is O Lord Save or Give Salvation O Lord And this was a trouble to such Men then carnal Christians that expected they should be accepted for the external act done who knew not the way of the working of the Spirit of Christ in the Infants of his Kingdom But Christ defendeth their Fact by the Scriptures of the Prophets and said unto them that were sore displeased when they said to Christ Hearest thou what these to wit the Children say And Jesus said unto them Yea have ye never read Psalm 8. 2. Matt. 21. 15 16. out of the Mouths of Babes and Sucklings thou hast perfected praise Forasmuch as the Lord hath said concerning these Infants of his Covenant And this is my Covenant with them Isa 59. 21. my Spirit that is upon thee my words which I have put in thy mouth shall not depart out of the mouth of thy Seed nor out of the mouth of thy Seeds Seed saith the Lord from hence forth and for ever Thus Gods Promise is I will pour my Spirit upon thy Seed and my Blessing upon thine Off-spring Isaiah 44. 3. Which was here made manifest to the Amazement of natural Professors Thus we see that the Fruit of Faith in Children appeareth in time in due season when God requireth Fruit of them as Plants in his Vineyard come forth saying But thou hast took me out of the Womb thou didst make me hope when I was upon my Mothers Breast I was cast upon thee from the Womb Thou art my God from my Mothers Belly Psalm 22. 9 10. Thus the Lord Sanctifieth his from the Womb Jer. 1. 5. and as it is written The Babe leaped in the Womb for joy Luke 1. 41 42 44. when the Mother was affected with Spiritual Joy of such the Lord saith Hear O Jacob and all the Remnant of the House of Israel which are born by me from the Belly which are carried from the Womb even to your old Age Isaiah 46. 3. these by vertue of the Promise to the Father and Child say my Fathers God and I will exalt him Exod. 15. 2. So that the Subjects of his Kingdom are Young Men and Maids and Old Men and Babes Psalm 148. 12 13. are all called upon to Praise the Lord in due season as Christ aforesaid out of the mouth of Babes thou hast perfected thy praise Now then as Infants were a part of the Subjects of the Kingdom of David and that the Infants were a part of the Honour of his Kingdom as Solomon said In the multitude of People is the Kings Honour Prov. 14. 28. Then for the Honour of the Lord Jesus whom David figured in his Kingdom as it is written They shall hang on him to wit on Christ all the glory of his Fathers house the Off-spring and the Issue all Vessels of small quantity from the Vessels of Cups even to all the Vessels of Flagons Isaiah 22. 24. which Vessels great and small are Saints Young and Old Believers and their little ones A chosen Generation a Holy Nation Exod. 19. 5 6. 1 Pet. 2. 9. every Vessel great and small Sanctified and made meet for the Masters use 2 Tim. 2. 21. as we see by the Children in the Temple for out of their Mouth the Lord perfected his Praise crying Hosannah to Christ their Saviour These things throughly weighed what a wicked Principle are these Men of that deny Infants the Sign of the Remission of Sins Water-Baptism and utterly reject them from being visible Members of the Church of God or Subjects of Christs Kingdom and so deprive the Lord Jesus of at least a third part of the Subjects of his Kingdom robbing him of his Honor as aforesaid the multitude of People is the Kings Honor which Honor they will not allow Christ but exempting them out of the Covenant of Grace in Infancy to be ranked among the Infants of the vilest of Men Turks and Pagans For what saith the Scripture concerning such as are without that is without Gods Covenant Rev. 22. 14 15. they are reckoned among Dogs Sorcerers and Whoremongers and Idolaters and whosoever loveth and maketh a Lye And this is the State the Anabaptists reckon their own Children in and if dying in Infancy they in their own judgment as aforesaid must perish to all Eternity O horrible Principle for there is no middle way of Purgatory either the Children of Believers are in the Covenant of the Gospel or out if within as hath been proved they are Blessed and Happy dying in Infancy For Blessed are the Dead that dye in the Lord Rev. 14. 13. that is in his Covenant If as the Anabaptists say without the Covenant then under the Curse Cursed Children without God in the World So that it is a Spiritual Cheat as aforesaid to say to blind the Eyes of the People that hear them that the State of Infants is secret the contrary hath been evidently proved by these and like Scriptures Rom. 5. 12. Eph. 2. 3. Deut. 29. 29. Again that which blindeth these People that they cannot see the Kingdom of God and so do not know the Subjects of the same is because they reason carnally against Infants thus that because many of the Children of Believers fall away and become Profane therefore say they they have no right in Infancy to Water-Baptism If these Men would look back in and among themselves and see how many of them whom they re-baptize by Dipping do fall away to deny that to be any Baptism at all as how many of them turn Quakers who deny Water-Baptism as well as the Lords-Supper not now to be externally Administred and so no Gospel Ordinances They might for shame be silent from such vain Objections against the Baptizing of Infants until they could enter into the Secret Council of God to know who among them should renounce their way and turn to another and who would not Again another Objection they make to deprive the Infants of Believers from their Right to Water-Baptism That Christ was Baptized at Thirty Years of Age therefore none but Men and Women of Years are to be Baptized Answ This is as Carnal a Plea as the former for herein they still bewray their Ignorance knowing not the reason why Christ was not Baptized until he was
God but keep his Commandments Psalm 78. 6 7. Now that Israel were with their Children in the Covenant of Grace is evident for if the Believing Gentiles and their Infants were grafted into the same Olive-Tree from which the Unbelieving Jews with their Infants were broken off and that when the Unbelieving Jews as the Apostle teacheth shall by Grace be Grafted in again to what but their own Olive-tree Rom. 11. 24. that is into Christ by the Covenant of Grace from whence they were broken off by not believing Christ in the Promise when come to be their Saviour as Christ said to the Jews If ye believe not that I am he to wit the Seed of the Woman promised ye shall die in your sins John 8. 24. but Peter in his first and second Sermons to these Jews broken off from the visible Covenant of Grace in Christ know if they were of the Election they should yet obtain Mercy so shall they with their Infants be received of God in Christ See Rom. 11. 7. for saith the Apostle to the Jews upon their being pricked in their Hearts and their imbracing of Christ for their Saviour The Promise is unto you and unto your Children Acts 2. 39. Ye are the Children of the Prophets and of the Covenant God made with our Fathers saying unto Abraham and in thy Seed shall all the Kindreds of the Earth be Blessed unto you first God having raised up his Son Jesus sent him to bless you in turning away every one of you from his Iniquities Acts 3. 25 26. Here we see God hath not cast away the Infants of his People but as by Unbelief some of the Jews were broken off and their Infants with them so when such Actual Sinners believed they and their Infants were grafted into the True Olive Christ by the Covenant of Grace again and hereupon was that Gospel-Promise fulfilled as it is written I will multiply them and they shall not be few I will also glorifie them and they shall not be small Their Children also shall be as afore-time and their Congregation shall be established before me and I will punish all that oppress them Jer. 30. 19 20. Thus God ever had great esteem of the Lambs of his Fold as appeareth in a day of Sore Calamity when the Lord called for a Fast who but the Infants must be Assembled with their Parents as it is written Blow the Trumpets in Sion sanctifie a Fast call a Solemn Assembly gather the People Sanctifie the Congregation Assemble the Elders gather the Children and those that suck the Breast Then saith the Lord Let the Priest say Spare thy People O Lord and give not thy Heritage to reproach Here we see Gods People are Men Women and their Sucklings and Little ones the Heritage of the Lord their God Joel 2. 15 16 17. Will not these Anabaptists say what Sense had Sucking Infants in that work to seek the Lord As much Sense as God required of them but because they were his Redeemed ones with their Parents unto whom the Promises did belong therefore they were comprehended within the Benefit of the Promise in the Church of God being a part of the Lords People O Spare thy People O Lord and God was their God not by any other way but by the Covenant of Grace in Christ who taketh away their Sin from them the Sin of the World Rom. 5. 16. Again in a like day of Fast when the Heathens came to invade the Land King Jehosaphat proclaimed a Fast throughout all Judah as it is written all Judah gathered themselves together to ask help of the Lord now all Judah were Men and Women and their Little ones as it is written And all Judah stood before the Lord with their little ones their Wives and their Children 2 Chron. 20. 4 13. Thus Children with their Parents the Lord calleth for them in his Service that as Christ is a Mediator for them so they are included in the Prayers of the Church as they are a part of the same Now let these Men shew when Infants of Believing Parents were shut out from the Covenant of Grace before they with Cain Ishmael and Esau by their own Actual Sins made a Separation between the Lord and them while their Parents were stedfast with the Lord in his Covenant which they were bound to keep with Their Children that the Generations to come might know them even the Children that should be born who should arise and declare them to their Children that they might set their hope in God and not forget the works of God but keep his Commandments Psalm 78. 6 7. Now with what Face can the Anabaptists say The State of all Infants is Secret what word have they for it no word of God but like Men relying on the word of Mortal Men as B. Keach doth on his Author Dr. Taylor who saith God may have many ways to magnifie his Grace through Jesus Christ to them which we know not of to which he addeth And what have you to do with the Secrets of God who made you one of his Privy-Council Gold Refined page 143. Answ Paul was one of Christ's Privy-Council and he telleth us the State of Infants is not Secret for by Nature they are all Children of Wrath all sinned in Adam and so are under Death and Condemnation Is this Secret the Apostle Peter telleth us the Promise of the Gospel belongeth to Believers and their Children Christ telleth us in answering a question his Disciples asked him who was greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven the Church Jesus calleth a little Child such as played in the Streets of Jerusalem Zech. 8. 4 5. and set him in the midst of them and declared that that Child of his Kingdom was in the State of the Converted and the Humble and Believing so that if they were not in like State they should not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven Matt. 18. 1 2 3 4 5 6. In Derision of all this whatsoever the Prophet or Christ in Person or his Apostles have said concerning the Happy State of the Infants of his People B. Keach saith Page 144. What Faith is in Infants and therefore in Derision of them against the very Testimony of Christ saith Is it the Faith of the Church or is it an imputive Faith or is it a dogmatical Faith or is it a Physical or Metaphysical or Hyperphisical Faith c. Answ Cannot a Child have the beginning of the Seed of Faith in the Bud unless the Acts of Faith be made manifest I may answer him with Mr. Ainsworth's words against the Anabaptists never yet answered by any of them Ainsworth's Censure on a Dialogue of the Anabaptists Page 52. How do they reason against the Light of Gods Word and even against Nature it self for if some Brutish Person should plead thus a Man is a Living Creature that hath a reasonable Soul and the proper Affections of a Man as he is a Man are the Faculties of Understanding
Jesus peculiar to them but on the first day of the Week Now let the Reader judge whether the Charge given by these Men against such as by Scriptures grounded Reasons prove it lawful to Baptize the Infants of Believers without so many literal words in Christs Testament Baptize your Children Seeing they by the same way allow and endeavour by grounded Reasons from Scripture to prove the first day of the Week to be the only day to keep Holy for Gospel-worship when as in the Testament of Christ there wants so many literal words Remember to keep Holy the first day as of old Remember to keep Holy the Seventh day Who is it now I say they or we that reflect upon the Care and Honour and Faithfulness of our Lord and Blessed Saviour Because say they did Moses deal thus with the Children of Israel No no how careful was he to deliver every Law Statute and Ordinance exactly and particularly in or about the Ordinance of the Passover that now they are forced to try their Wits to supply that which is wanting in their Sense to prove the first day to be kept Holy in the Worship of God Therefore seeing that they allow it lawful in themselves to do that which in things of like nature they condemn in others Let these Men hear what the Lord Jesus saith to such like Spirits Mat. 5. 2 3 4 5. With what judgment ye judge ye shall be judged and with what measure ye meet it shall be measured to you again And why beholdest thou the Mote in thy Brothers eye but considerest not the Beam that is in thine own eye thou Hypocrite first cast out the Beam out of thine own eye and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the Mote out of thy Brothers eye And again as we do believe the next immediate time after the Work of the Creation of the World was the time God in the Fourth Commandement commanded to be kept Holy until a new Creation was made wherein God in Christ his word created new Heavens and a new Earth Isaiah 65. 17. Rev. 21. 1. Isaiah 51. 16. namely new Heavenly Ordinances the old as Figures of Christ to come now by Christ's Death abolished Heb. 9. 23. which were for a time commanded to be kept by the Second Commandement as now the Lord Jesus we hear by a Voice from the Throne of God saith Behold I create all things new to wit new Ordinances a new Ministry a new Maintenance and a new Time to be kept Holy and a new People called a new Earth the Gentiles called to the Faith Fellow-heirs and of the same Body with the Believing Jews Partakers of his Promise in Christ by the Gospel And therefore it is written also Eph. 3. 6. Rom. 15. 9 10. Rom. 11. 24. with Jer. 11. 16. Rejoyce ye Gentiles with his People who were wild by nature are now by a new Creation in Christ Jesus Grafted contrary to nature into the good Olive-Tree with the Believing Jews and their Children so that if the Root be Holy so are the Branches the Root being Gods Love in Christ in the Covenant of Grace to us and our Children as of old to Abraham and his Seed the Believing Jews and their Children so now to the Believing Gentiles and to our Children who are Holy by virtue of the Holy Covenant which God made with Abraham and his Seed in their Generations if so as they grew up they continued with Isaac in the Faith So that the next immediate time after Christ by his Death had confirmed the Holy Covenant with many Dan. 9. 27. to wit with Believers and their Seed in Infancy was the time to be kept Holy even the first day of the Week So that although the Figurative Ordinances be abolished together with the old time next after the first Creation by the Death and Resurrection of the Lord of the Sabbath Yet as by the Moral Equity of the Second Commandement the new Ordinances for Gospel-worship are to be kept without adding to or diminishing from by any Mortal Man even so by the Moral Equity of the Fourth Commandement the first day the next immediate time after the new Creation is to be kept Holy for Gospel-worship to be believed by all Christians by grounded Reasons from Scripture as by like equality by grounded Reasons from Scripture is to be believed the Right the Infants of Believers have to Water-Baptism And therefore let them be ashamed ever hereafter to speak against or deny that Reasons from Scripture are not sufficient to prove the Right the Infants of Believers have to be Baptized And this leadeth to the Fourth Query Query 4. Who are they that the Lord Christ hath ordained in his Gospel to the Worlds end to be the Administrators of Water Baptism and the Lords Supper To this Query Ben. Keach saith in Page 20 21. of his Book That the Administration or Act of Water-Baptism was not tyed up to the Apostles or to the more ordinary Ministers but that any Faithful gifted Disciple might Administer it as well as they nor doth the Efficacy of Baptism depend in the least upon the Quality of the Person Administering of it whether it be Paul Apollo or Cephas or any other Disciple much inferior to them in Capacity or Office it is no matter for Ananias a private Disciple Baptized and Philip who was no other than a Deacon or Overseer of the Poor Baptized many in Samaria Acts 8. So that we find in the Primitive times the Simple Act of Baptism was a Work Inferior Servile and Subservient to that of Preaching the Gospel Answ The Lord Jesus in the Commission Go ye and teach all Nations Baptizing them was after Christs Resurrection given to Men in Office only Unless the Anabaptists think that the Apostles were no Officers but Common Disciples as anon it will be proved is their Judgment and that they look upon the Apostles in the work of Baptizing but only to be Gifted Disciples So that when these Men Err in any one of the Fundamentals in Christs Building with respect to the Ministry it being overthrown the whole work must needs be a Babel of Confusion as will appear for no Man can maintain an Erroneous Principle but he must violate either Faith or Order As first in this particular for Ben. Keach to affirm That the Simple Act of Baptism was a work Inferior Servile and Subservient to that of Preaching of the Gospel This Man seemeth not only to cross the very Order in Nature and much more in Grace For in earthly Covenants it matters not what hand writeth the Conditions if he be judged capable thereof Yet heed is to be taken in a special manner that the Sign or Seal to it be fixed by the Person that hath Authority to do it as the very Nature of Sealing to Covenants Civil or Spiritual the Holy Scripture sheweth John 3. 33. Eph. 1. 13. 4. 30. Jer. 32. 10. 2 Tim. 2. 9. therefore what care
repeated the Foreskin being once cut off could not be cut again Answ The Apostle Paul answereth this Objection in these words Is any Man called being circumcised let him not become uncircumcised Is any called in Uncircumcision let him not become circumcised 1 Cor. 7. 18. By which it appeareth that the Foreskin might be gathered again by the Art of Chirurgery as Historians shew Joseph Antiq. Lib. 12. ch 6. So then the way of God is clear by proportion from Circumcision to Water-Baptism both received in Apostacy That as Judah when in Babylon they Circumcised as in the Spiritual Babylon Water-Baptism was and still is practised that as God accepted of his People of old only renewing their Covenant with the Lord even so all whom God calleth out of the Spiritual Babylon God only requireth that the Lords Covenant be renewed he made with their Ancestors that were once in the Lords Covenant and so that People once Baptized into the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost is not to be done again And this Ben. Keach granteth from his Author's words Elten on Col. 2. 11. Page 291. who saith That Baptism is the Sacrament of Incision or ingrafting into Christ Sealing up our setting into Christ which is only once done never after to be done again Gold Refin'd Page 178. So then there is a difference to be made when an Ordinance of God is done and not done at all or done and not rightly done for if in Judah's Apostacy as aforesaid they Circumcised as the Christians in Apostacy Baptized the Error in the one being repented if so in the other Now because the Anabaptists have not in this matter taken Counsel of Gods Word but followed their own Spirits they have run themselves into Confusion some in Baptizing themselves others receiving their Baptism from them and others of them all crying out against Romes Baptism because so many Additions is joyned therewith and therefore they say it is no Baptism when as it may be easily proved that we English People received not our Baptism from Rome but from the Britains or Welsh the first Inhabitants of this Nation who as Historians say received the Gospel Ten years before the Gospel was preached at Rome as Mr. Jones in his Book Entituled Rome no Mother Church to England Sect. 4. Page 123. Besides the General Agreement of Histories for in the year of Tiberius the Emperor Gildas affirmeth That Britain received the Gospel Further he saith That Joseph of Arimathea was sent by Philip the Apostle from France to Britain about the Year of our Lord 63. and remained in Britain all his days who with his Fellows laid the first Foundation of the Christian Faith amongst the British People Acts and Monum Book 2. p. 95. Gildas Lib. de vict Aurelii Ambrosius 2. Tertullian testifieth How the Gospel was dispersed abroad by the Sound of the Apostles Tertull. con Judeus as was the Commission to all Nations as the Apostle Paul writeth to the Colossians The Gospel which ye have heard and which was preached to every Creature which is under Heaven Col. 2. 23. so that some of all Nations for so they Sung Praises to God and the Lamb saying Thou hast redeemed us by thy Blood out of every Kindred and Tongue and People and Nation Rev. 5. 9. and there reckoneth up Medes Parthians and Dwellers of Mesopotamia Jury Cappadocia Pontus Asia Phrygia Egypt Pamphilia with many more At length cometh to the Coasts of â—he Morians and to all the Borders of Spain and France and among the rest reciteth all the parts of Britain and reporteth them to be subject to Christ Again Origen saith that Britain did consent to the Christian Faith Nesiphorus saith that Simon Zelots did spread the Gospel of Christ to the West Ocean and brought the same into the Isle of Britain Origen Hom. 4. in Ezech. Nic. Lib. Cap. 40. Again the Scots did celebrate their Easter in the time of the Abbots of Clunick not after the Roman manner but after the Greeks which argueth they received the Faith but not from Rome Also it appeareth by a Letter of Elutherius Bishop of Rome written to Lucius King of Britain Anno 169. that Lucius had received the Faith in this Land before he sent to Elutherius for the Roman Laws for so the words of the Letter purport which are these Ye have received of late through Gods Mercy in the Realm of Britain both the parts of the Holy Scripture out of them by Gods Grace take ye a Law and by that Law through Gods Sufferance Rule your Kingdom of Great Britain Anno 169. By these and like Testimonies it appeareth that the Baptism received first in this Land was in a true Church and this Scripture was fulfilled The Isles shall wait for thy Law as Christ hath expounded it The Gentiles shall trust in thy Name Isa 42. 4. with Matt. 12. 21. And again one while the Anabaptists will not have Water-Baptism to succeed Circumcision as visible Seals to one and the same Covenant for then they suppose they shall grant that if Infants had Right of old to be Circumcised by vertue of the Covenant of Grace they must confess if they would speak truth that Infants have Right to be Baptized by vertue of the same Covenant But when it will serve their turn then they will grant Water-Baptism came in place of Circumcision in this thing for say they Circumcision initiated Members into the Jewish Church and now Water-Baptism initiateth Members into the Gospel-Church And thus they are Yea and Nay but to let them know that no Person had Right to be Circumcised until he was first in Covenant with the Lord as Abraham was a Believer in Covenant before Circumcised And further it is proved that all Israel the Males except Caleb and Joshua were uncircumcised Persons when they by the Covenant of Grace in Christ were established to be the Lords People Deut. 29. and after Circumcised by Joshua Josh 5. Chap. So now first Members are joyned to the Lord with their little ones and by vertue of Gods Free Grace in Christ their Sin or Sins are pardoned and then the Sign Seal of the Covenant or Token of Remission of Sins is to be set on the Believers and their Seed Acts 2. 38 39. largely proved in the third Query Moreover as no uncircumcised Person might eat of the Passover even so no unbaptized Person might or may eat of the Lords-Supper Now this the Anabaptists will grant that the Lords-Supper came in room of the Passover yea and so did Water Baptism come in room of Circumcision for if 1 Cor. 5. Chap. proveth the one then Coll. 2. 11 12. proveth the other And as no Man might eat of the Passover until all his Males were Circumcised even so no Man may eat of the Lords-Supper until all his Children in Nonage are Baptized but for want of the due informing of the Congregations in these and such-like things Note what
Covenant but that can be understood in no other Sense Mark that bold Affirmation in no other Sense than that wherein the Priesthood of Aaron and his Sons under the Law which was called an Everlasting Pristhood Exod. 40. 15. which we know to be now abolished as likowise the Covenant with Phineus was called the Covenant of Everlasting Priesthood Numb 25. 13. which yet is now also done away I shall in the first place seeing Mr. Ainsworth hath given Annotations on the word Everlasting give the Reader his Exposition on Gen. 17. 7. Everlasting Covenant of Eternity Although the outward Signs and manner of dispensing this Covenant were Temporary and changeable as Circumcision into Water-Baptism Col. 2. 11 12. yet the Covenant it self remaineth one in Substance for ever being established by the Blood of Christ the great Pastor As it is written Now the God of Peace that brought again from the Dead our Lord Jesus the great Sheepherd of the Sheep through the Blood of the Everlasting Covenant Heb. 13. 20. In opposition to this Truth Mr. Cary saith Mr. Pool telleth us the word Olam rendered for ever doth not always signifie Eternity but a long continuance as is evident saith he from Gen. 17. 13. and Exod. 40. 16. Answ That the word Everlasting in Gen. 17. 7. the following words prove it that the word Everlasting there signifieth Eternity without End for as much as the word Everlasting Covenant was to be a God unto thee and to thy Seed after thee which is the Sum of the Gospel and that this was not for a time as was the word Everlasting with reference to Priesthood that which pointed to Christ to Fulfil or Abolish but to be a God was the Covenant of Eternity without end namely the Everlasting Covenant sealed by the Blood of Christ first shed when he was Circumcised and after at his Death called the Blood of the Church-Covenant Zach. 9. 11. as it is written By the Blood of thy Covenant I have sent forth thy Prisoners out of the Pit wherein is no water Thus the Covenant of Eternity was to be a God the first glad Tidings the Lord Christ after he had finished the work of our Redemption sent by Mary to Christs Disciples Go to my Brethren and say unto them I ascend unto my Father and your Father and to my God and unto your God John 20. 17. And again to all the Churches is this Message sent They shall be my People and God himself shall be with them and be their God Rev. 21. 3. So then to call this Everlasting Covenant to be a God to the Faithful and their Seed Temporary is to call Light Darkness and to deny the Faith of the Gospel by making it Temporary So they abuse the word Everlasting as they have done the Sense of the word Baptize proved in the first Query To which we may add Mr. Ainsworth's Notes on the word contained in this Everlasting Covenant the Covenant of Eternity Gen. 17. 7. namely To be a God or for a God unto thee that is thy God as the Greek translateth it Herein consisteth the Power and Life of the Everlasting Covenant whereby God himself his Power Wisdom Goodness Mercy c. is applied unto Man for Blessing and Salvation and we are by Adoption made the Children of God For ye are the Temple of the living God as God hath said I will dwell in them and walk in them and I will be their God and they shall be my People And I will be a Father unto you and ye shall be my Sons and Daughters saith the Lord Almighty 2 Cor. 6. 16 18. For Blessed is the People whose God Jehovah is Psalm 144. 15. And they shall be delivered out of Miseries Rev. 21. 3 4. And raised up from the Dead Matt. 22. 31. For I am the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob ver 32. Wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God for he hath prepared for them a City Heb. 11. 16. Now for Mr. Cary to call that Covenant wherein God is by Christs Blood reconciled to be the God of his People a part of the Covenant of Works is no less Error than to destroy the Gospel and so make void the Comfort of Mankind By which it is evident that the Doctrine on which Anabaptistry is built is a Soul-destroying Doctrine until he can prove this is not Gospel I will be a God to thee and unto thy Seed Gen. 17. 7. And ye shall be my People and I will be your God Jer. 30. 22. But to help this Man and others deceived by him that they may see if it be the Will of God how they are deceived in that they consider not the end why Christ was Circumcised for it was not a Covenant of Works but a Covenant of Grace which Circumcision sealed to the Believers and their Children both Jews and Proselited Gentiles even as the Apostle teacheth it was to confirm the Promises in the Covenant of Grace in Christ to the Believing Jews and Gentiles and their Children as it is written Rom. 15. 8. Now I say that Jesus Christ was a Minister of the Circumcision for the Truth of God namely the Gospel the Truth of the Gospel to confirm the Promises made to the Fathers And what greater Promise in the Gospel than to be a God to them and their Children as it is written Jer. 30. 22 24. And ye shall be my People and I will be your God In the latter days ye shall consider it And in Chap. 31. 1. At that time saith the Lord will I be the God of all the Families of Israel and they shall be my People This is the Mercy in the Everlasting Covenant which Circumcision Sealed both to the Believing Jews and Gentiles before and since Christ came in the Flesh And therefore by the Apostle both Believing Jews and Gentiles are called upon to Glorifie God for his Mercy to them in the Benefit of Christs being Circumcised Now I say that Jesus Christ was a Minister of the Circumcision for the Truth of God to confirm the Promises made to the Fathers And that the Gentiles might glorifie God for his Mercy as it is written For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles and sing unto thy name And again Rejoyce ye Gentiles with his People Rom. 15. 9 10. So then as aforesaid saith Mr. Ainsworth Although the Signs of this Covenant Gen. 17. 7. were changeable namely Circumcision into Water-Baptism yet the Covenant is the same in the Life and Power and Blessing in it As the Apostle teacheth the Gospel Churches saying Col. 2. 11 12. In whom also ye are circumcised with the Circumcision made without hands in putting off the Body of the Sins of the Flesh by the Circumcision of Christ Mark that how great the Gospel Churches Mercy is in putting off the Body of the Sins of the Flesh for them by the Circumcision of Christ This
Members than Circumcision remained but Circumcision was a Seal of the Righteousness of Faith Rom. 4. 11. the Covenant for which the Seal was ordained was the Covenant of Grace the word of Faith wherein is contained the Promises of the Pardon of Sins and eternal Life now confirmed by the Circumcision of Christ as afore proved and now Water-Baptism set in place thereof by the Authority of Christ the only Law-giver in Worship Isaiah 33. 22. James 4. 12. Neither will his third proof by similitude taken from Act of Parliament help him in his Assertion aforesaid For saith he shew us a positive Law for Infants Church-membership Now the word of God is plain that Infants were Church-members from the day Adam was restored so soon as Infants were born as afore proved in the third Query For if all Infants sinned in Adam's Loynes when Adam was restored they were restored in his Loynes and when born they were born in the Gospel-Covenant by which the Church of God was established in Adam's House so that the Children born in Covenant were born to the Lord whom the Lord called his Children for none out of the Covenant of Grace are visibly the Lords Children Therefore how carnally doth he reason against Children in these words For evident it is that what Priviledges soever are given to any Persons by an Act of Parliament which said Law was to continue in force for so long time and no longer when that time is expired and another Parliament makes a new Law wherein many things are contained that were in the first but those certain Priviledges given to those Persons in the former Law are left out in the latter Act it would not be a Folly for any of them to plead those Priviledges by virtue of a Law that is gone and not now in force This being a carnal Argument like his carnal Faith In answer hereunto his Comparison is Odious a Parliament is an Earthly Kings Great Council who maketh Laws and he signeth them But saith the Scripture who hath been the Lords Counsellor to direct him Rom. 11. 34. to give Laws to his Church or to order all things in that State So then as hath been proved as touching the State of the Infants of Believers since the day they were restored in Adam's Loynes and when born born to the Lord Ezek. 18. 20 21. Blessed with their Parents with Remission of Sin Isaiah 65. 23. Acts 3. 25 26. there hath been no word of God to dispriviledge them so long as they continue in the Covenant of Grace of whatsoever Priviledges they ever had no nor yet have these Men by any word of God shewed when or wherein they have been turned out from the Promises in the Covenant of the Gospel which they call out of doors for the things which only have been removed or abolished given from the beginning concerning what God had given to his Church to keep and observe were only those things which were shadows of good things to come by Christ but Infants in Gods Covenant were no Shadow or Figure to be abolished no nor the Baptizing of Infants any of Babylon's Rubbish as Mr. Keach with others affirm in the first Epistle to Mr. Cary's Book No nor yet is Infants Baptism a Corner-stone that supports the An-Antichristian Fabrick by unsavory words as Mr. Cary affirmeth in his Epistle to his Solemn Call but it is one of the Glorious Tokens of Gods Love to his People and to their Seed that as Christ hath taken away the Sin of such Infants Christ's Name should be set on them in Water-Baptism that they are his bought or redeemed because Christ washed away their Sin with his precious Blood the small Vessels in his House who welcomed their Lord into his Kingdom that as they were included of old in the precious Stones in Aaron's Breast-plate with their Parents Exod. 28. 15. to 21. so are they now by Christ our High Priest presented before the Lord with their Parents a Holy Seed a Holy Nation a chosen Generation 1 Pet. 2. 9. shining among the Precious Stones which the Foundations of the Walls of the City the Church of God is garnished withall Rev. 21. 18 19 20. as the Church of Israel was that as by Tribes Israel went up to Jerusalem even by Families to be presented before the Lord both Fathers and Mothers and Children Deut. 31. 10 11 12 13. Psalm 122. 1 2 3 4. to praise the Lord Psalm 148. 12 13. Exod. 12. 26 27. for now as Vessels great and small the Glory of Christs Kingdom Isaiah 22. 24. doth likewise shine among the lively Pretious Stones in Christs Spiritual Building crying Hosannah to Christ their Lord while the Anabaptists not only in Errors in their Faith are polluted but also garnished with the Shame to Nature as Ben. Keach for one when he beholdeth himself in a Glass how he weareth Womans covering the Shame to Man Nature which at this time I should not have mentioned but for this reason because he with other Teachers in their Narrative among other things proposed debated and resolved in the Affirmative That it is a shame for a Man to wear long Hair and Perriwigs and especially Ministers 1 Cor. 11. 14. Narrative Page 14. Now what kind of Teacher is this Man that shall condemn in words that he alloweth in himself by Practice Rom. 14. 15. he is one of those Teachers the Apostle reproveth as it is written Thou that teachest another teachest thou not thy self Rom. 2. 21. Thou that makest thy boast of the Law even the Law of Nature through breaking the Law dishonorest thou God ver 23. Hear what the Lord saith to such Teachers What hast thou to do to declare my Statutes or that thou shouldest take my Covenant in thy mouth seeing thou hatest instruction and castest my words behind thee Psalm 50. 16 17. of such the Lord complained concerning his People their Leaders have caused them to err and they that are led by them are destroyed Isaiah 9. 16. Now are not these like the Teachers the Lord complained of of old that would seem to reprove Sin but saith the Lord They healed the hurt of the Daughters of my People slightly Jer. 8. 11. So have these Men in their Narrative reproved this Sin the shame to Nature slightly And therefore for the help of all that desire to be informed in this Particular there is to be had where this Book is sold a Treatise on that Subject under these particular Heads God's Holy Order in Nature which Man and Woman were Created in truly Stated and Explained Proving First THat Man is Head of the Woman and how Woman is made in Subjection to Man her Husband Secondly That God gave unto Woman a Sign in Nature differing from Man to teach her she is the Glory of Man her Husband and this Sign is called Glory to Woman and Shame to Mans Nature Thirdly That Man is Commanded by the Law of Nature and Written Law of God not