Female are all one in Christ Jesus and Women are called Disciples and so are not Infants 2. We have plain presidents that Women were baptized which is all one with a Command Acts 8. 12. When they believed Philip Preaching the things concerning the Kingdom of God and Name of Jesus Christ they were baptized both Men and Women And also that Lyd a was baptized Acts 16. Do but shew us one like president where any Infant was baptized and we will say no more You say we have not a particular Command for keeping the first day of the Week as an Holy Sabbath to the Lord. Answ We have a command to keep the Seventh part of time as a Sabbath to the Lord Exod. 20. and plain presidents in the New Testament That on the first day the Saints did meet to Worship God Acts 20. 7. 1 Cor. 16. 1. The first day of the Week as the Christian Sabbath was also confirmed by the first miraculous appearance of Christ after his Ascension into Heaven which was the day of Pentecost Acts 2. 1 2. give like proofs for your Infant Baptism You would have us to shew what Scripture we have for re-baptizing Answ I shall answer that by and by when I come to your next Chapter where we have it again we do not own it Lawful to baptize them Again who have been once rightly baptized but Rantism is not Baptism nor are Infants the true Subjects of it You say you have shewed already That there are many examples in the Scripture for Infant Baptism which are plain unto them that understand the agreement and the consequences of Scripture Answ I answer let the Reader judge in this case now we have examined all those Texts you draw your examples from whether your consequences are clear and plain or not Obj. The Scripture calleth upon some to believe before they are baptized He that believeth and is Baptized shall be saved Mark 16. 16. and according to that Rule the Apostles did not baptize any untill they believed Acts 2. 38. This is the Second Objection Mr. Owen brings against what he hath wrote take his Answer viz. Saith he when the Scriptures saith that he that believeth and is baptized 1. It mentioneth Adult Persons viz. the unbelieving Gentiles unto whom Christ sent his Disciples Mark 16. 15. Mat. 28. 19. and not the Children of the Faithful Christ sending them into all the World to preach the Gospel into Pagan Nations and saying He that believeth and is Baptized shall be saved Mark 16. 15 16. shews that neither Baptism nor Salvation belongeth unto them until they believe in the Lord Jesus if we were to preach unto such we should baptize none until they would believe But what is this to the Seed of the Faithful of whom Christ mentioneth not 1. Answ I answer Reader observe that here Mr. Omen hath given away his cause for ever for he saith Christ speaks not of the Children of the Faithful but of the Adult Now consider that these two Texts which he here Quotes viz. Mat. 28. 19 20. Mark 16. 15 16. does contain the great and only Commission and Warranty given by the Lord Jesus the only Law-giver about Baptizing and if Infants are not mentioned nor intended here there is no Warrant at all to Baptize them for if by virtue of the great Commission all persons must first believe before they are baptized farewell for ever to Infant Baptism 2. The Objection well saith That according to this Rule or Commission the Apostles did not baptize any until they believed which is true and he cannot refute it 3. Consider that the Commission Mat. 28. 19 20. Mark 16. 15 16. did not only authorize the Apostles to go and make Disciples among the Gentile or Pagan World but also among the Jews that were the Seed of Abraham nay they were commanded first to begin or open their Commission to preach to them at Jerusalem moreover the words of this Commission is all the Commission and Warrant the Disciples and Ministers of the Gospel have to administer Baptism to all the Christian Nations to the end of the World There are not two Commissions given by Christ about baptizing one to go to the Pagan or Gentile World and another to be believing Christian World or to believers and their Seed Now there is but one Commission and only Rule we have to baptize therefore Mr. Baxter saith well i. e. Christ in his Commission directeth his Apostles to make Disciples and then baptize them promising that he that believeth and is Baptized shall be saved Baxt. Confirm p. 27. And in another place he saith speaking of this only Warrant or Commission of Baptizing if we have it not here where have we it Shall any one think Christ's Commission short and defective 4. Mr. Owen saith if we were to preach unto such that is to unbelievers or Heathens we should baptize none until they believed Now pray consider that this is his Commission to baptize if he be a true Minister of Christ let him preach to whom he will or come where he will he must do all things according to this Commission as 't is here given neither baptize Young nor Old neither Jew nor Gentile Parent nor Child until they believe or profess their Faith in Jesus Christ if he doth he Violates and acts directly contrary to his only Commission and therefore if he doth he sins Should any Commissioner of an Earthly King act contrary to the very express words and purport of his Commission he certainly would be condemned as a false and unfaithful Servant and be turned out of his Masters Service Mr. Owen saith That the Seed of the faithful Christ mentioneth not that is in his great Commission Mat. 28. 19 20. Mark 16. 15 16. therefore such he must not Baptize unless he hath from Christ received a new or any other Commission that doth authorize him so to do 5. And observable it is to see how Mr. Owen contradicts himself here in respect of what he said before when he mention'd the same Texts and Commission of Christ he told us that Children are part of the Nations that Christ commanded to be Baptized but now he saith The Seed of the Faithful Christ mentioneth not and besure now at this turn he speaks the Truth and if none of the Seed of the Faithful ought to be Baptized by vertue of Christs Commission but such only of them that do believe then no Infant for Teaching is making of Disciples so that they are to be taught so as to believe before they are to be Baptized and that in all Nations whether Heathens or Christians and that also to the end of the World teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you and lo I am with you all ways to the end of the Word Mat. 28. 20. It is certain saith Mr. Owen that this Scripture mentioneth not of Children if it doth they must needs be damned for want of Faith
shall be circumcised ver 10. 1st There were some who were circumcised to whom the Promise of the Gospel-Covenant God made with Abraham did not belong as Ishmael Esau c. God expresly said that his Covenant i. e. the Covenant of Grace was not establish'd with Ishmael but with Isaac and yet the Covenant of Circumcision belonged to Ishmael as well as to Isaac See Gen. 17. 20 21. As for Ishmael I have heard thee behold I have blessed him c. But my Covenant will I establish with Isaac whom Sarah shall bear unto thee c. Compare this with Rom. 7. 8 9. Not because they are the Seed of Abraham are they all Children that is Children of the Covenant of Grace or the Children of God but the Children of the Promise are coâ—…d for thy Seed See Gal 4. 29 30. Nay all that were in Abraham's House whether born there or Strangers or such who were bought with his Money were circumcited But will you say all these were in the Gospel-Covenant God made with him Moreover there were other Persons in Abraham's House who no doubt might some of them be in the Covenant of Grace and had the Promises belonging to them who were nevertheless not circumcised namely the Females also Male-Infants dying before the eighth day coming from Abraham Moreover other Godly Men who were not of Abraham's Family yet lived in his time as Melchisedec Lot Job c. none of these had right to be circumcised But if any object and say the Females were circumcised in the Males I answer with Mr. Tombs it is without Proof and by like nay perhaps greater Reason it may be said that the Children of Believers are baptized in the Persons of their Parents and therefore are not to be baptized in their own Persons Also 't is apparent that the Jews comprehended in that Covenant made with Abraham and circumcised accordingly were nevertheless not admitted to Baptism upon that root of account which had the Covenant of Circumcision been a Gospel-Covenant i. e. of the same nature I see no Reason why â—ohn Baptist should deny their Argument i. e. We are Abraham's Seed c. Hence it plainly appears that the right Evangelical Promises were not the adequate 〈◊〉 oâ— Circumcision but as I have before said 〈◊〉 Precept or express command of God to Abraham And from hence I shall infer this third Argument Aâ—g 3. That Covenant that was made with or did belou unto the Fleshly Seed of Abraham and ungodly ones as well as the godly was not a Covenant of Grace or Gospel-Covenant But the Covenant of Circumcision was made with or did belong to the Fleshly Seed of Abraham as Ishmael Esau and all the Lineal Seed of Abraham who were ungodly as well as to the godly Ergo The Covenant of Cirumcision was not a Covenant of Grace or Gospel-Covenant Arg. 4 If all who are in the Covenant of Grace or Gospel-Covenant do know the Lord from the greatest to the least of them then the Covenant of Circumcision could not be the Covenant of Grace or Gospel-Covenant But all who are in the Covenant of Grace or Gospel-Covenant do know the Lord from the greatest to the least of them Ergo The Covenant of Circumcision was not the Covenant of Grace This Argument is fully proved by that in Jer. 31. 32 33 34 speaking of the new Covenant which God would make with the House of Israel which should not be according to the old he goes on and tells us what God would do in the gospel-Gospel-day That he would put his Law into their inward Parts and write it in their Hearts And they shall teach no more every Man his Neighbour and every Man his Brother saying Know the Lord for they shall all know me from the least of them unto the greatest of them saith the Lord c. And indeed in this very respect the Gospel-Covenant is not according to the old as the Lord said it should not be as well as in divers other cases For many of those who were in the old Covenant to which Circumcision did appertain were Infants though all of them were not taken in by Circumcision for Female Infants were received into that old Covenant without it Now these Children who were taken into Covenant did not know the Lord Infants having no Understanding know not their Right-hand from their Left it is therefore impossible they should know the Lord and therefore there was a necessity after they were in that Covenant that they should be taught to know the Lord First That God is and what a God he is and so to know him as to fear him and serve him in Sincerity But in the Gospel-Covenant God promised it should be otherwise all who were received into that Covenant should be Adult Persons or such who did know the Lord which plainly implies no ignorant Infant should be taken into that Covenant and be a Member of that Church-State for it so then it would follow such would have the like need to be taught to know the Lord as they had in the old Covenant Church State And remarkable it is that this Text doth clearly intimate that all who should be taken into the Gospel-Covenant or Gospel-Church should be discipled or taught first to know God for to be taught or discipled is all one and the same thing which agrees with Christ's great Commission Mat. 28. 19 20. where he gave Direction who or what kind of Persons they were to be that he would have his Apostles receive into his Gospel-Church and that they should be all of them first taught or made Disciples and as such be baptized is clearly declared Now that this Text in Jer. 31. refers to the Gospel-Covenant is evident see Heb. 8. 7 8 9 10. Arg. 5. That Covenant that was a part or branch of the old Covenant or Covenant of Works was not a Covenant of Grace or Gospel-Covenant But the Covenant of Circumcision was a part or branch of the old Covenant or Covenant of Works Ergo The Covenant of Circumcision was not a Covenant of Grace or Gospel-Covenant The Major cannot be denied The Minor is easily proved That which bound or obliged all those who were under it or did it to keep the whole Law and was also abrogated or taken away by Christ with all the other Rites and Shadows of the old Covenant was a part or branch of the said old Covenant But Circumcision bound or obliged all who were circumcised to keep the whole Law and also the same Rite of Circumcision was abrogated with all other Rites and Shadows of the old Covenant by Christ Ergo Circumcision was a part or branch of the old Covenant see Gal. 5. 3. I testify to every Man that is circumcised that he is a Debtor to keep the whole Law Arg. 6. The Covenant which was in its nature and quality as much a Covenant of Works as that made with Adam or the Sinai-Covenant was not a Covenant of Grace or Gospel-Covenant
advantage can Ministers have from the Consideration of Infants Baptism to press Regeneration or the Performance of Repentance upon them when they come to age above what we have to press these great Duties upon our Children when grown up that never were baptized What need is there to press that on the Consciences of your Children when they come to age which they had wrought in them when they were in their Infancy No your Work is rather to press them as Saints and renewed Persons to live holy Lives and improve those Divine Habits which they received when their Parents believed or those inspired Habits that were plauted in their Souls when in Infancy they were baptized and regenerated 4. Certainly your Children when they come to age may think that they received some mighty Privilege in their Infancy by being in the Covenant of Grace with their Parents and so in a State safe enough for you tell them there is no final Falling from a State of true Grace We and you too know that and declare that the Covenant of Grace is sure to all the true Seed or Spiritual Seed of Abraham of which Seed you declare all your natural Off-spring as such are a part This being so it is evident that Ministers have no Advantages but the contrary in pressing the necessity of Repentance and Conversion on your Children when at age we have the greater advantage far in preaching to our Sons and Daughters who tell them that our Faith did not cannot profit them or save them no but that they were born in sin and were Children of Wrath by Nature and so remain till true actual Faith and Regeneration do pass upon them or they do believe in Christ 5. Besides the Baptismal Vow you brought them under being not by God's Appointment what Blessing can you expect from thence Will God own and bless a voluntary Vow or approve of an Humane Tradition 6. The Papists as I hinted before may expect as well and from as good Ground and Authority as great advantage to press Holiness and Chastity upon those that they bring under their voluntary Vows and Covenants in their Nunneries and Fryaries 7. Besides your Children entred not into that Baptismal-Covenant you talk of by their own consent they knew nothing of it and can find no Authority from God's Word you had to bring them under it and therefore what power is that like to have upon their Consciences Had you not better bring them under a solemn Vow to become good and to repent as soon as they come to age nay bring them under an Oath or cause them to enter into a solemn Covenant so to do and set their Hands unto it But you will say you have no Command nor Warrant from God's Word to do that no more say we have you any Command or Warrant from the Word of God to bring them under any such Baptismal Vow â—o forsake Sin the Devil and all his Works c. in their Infancy Infant-Baptism is so effectual to continue the true Religion and the Encrease of the Church of God at this time as Circumcision formerly had been It pleased God to continue true Religion among the Jews by bringing their Children under the Bond of the Covenant He left them not to their own liberty c. and let none take upon them to be wiser than God by leaving Children at this time to follow their own Fancies to choose their own Religion without having God's Covenant upon them for Humane Nature is as corruptible at this time as formercy c. Answ 1. I answer Circumcision was God's absolute and positive Command in the Jewish Church which was national but God hath not commanded Infants to be baptized into the Gospel-Church which is not National but Congregational if therefore there was the like Authority from God for the one as there was for the other we would contend with you no longer 2. 'T is you that would seem wiser than God whose Wisdom hath not led him to erect his Gospel Church of such Materials or of such Matter and in such Form now as it was his Wisdom to build the Jewish or Legal Church Must the fleshly Seed as such be taken into the Gospel-Church by Baptism because the Male-Infants were circumcised under the Law Who tells you so where is it written Will you be wiser than God Did not John Baptist say Think not to say within your selves we have Abraham to our Father Now the Ax is laid to the Root of the Tree Now the case is altered as if he should say Now we know no Man after the Flesh 2 Cor. 5. 17 18. 3. Hath not God freely left us and our Children to choose to be his Servants or to choose our Religion Are not the Saints to be all Volunteers Will Christ accept of Prest-Souldiers into his Service Or have you any power to force or compel your Children to be of what Perswasion in Religion you please God it is true hath no more left Children now than formerly to follow their own Fancies no God forbid But he hath commanded them to believe and be baptized and not to follow the Fancies of their Parents any more than to follow their own Fancies nor Ministers who teach them contrary Doctrine to that which the Word of God doth 4. As to the Corruption of our Nature 't is true that is as bad as ever but your Sprinkling your Children in Infancy hath no Virtue or Power in it to change or purge out that Corruption your Children receive no benefit by that you call Baptism Say what you will I am sure you cannot prove they receive any profit thereby 5. I affirm God hath not commanded us to bring our Children into the Bond of the Covenant by Baptism until they believe and you can never disprove us while you live from God's Word You say the Lord hath blessed the Baptism of Infants to be a Means for the continuing of the true Religion and of the Christian Church From the days of the Apostles even to this very day the Lord bestoweth his particular Blessings but upon his own Ordinance he imprinteth not the Seal of Heaven upon earthly Inventions none can deny but that there are thousands baptized in their Infancy that feel in themselves the Virtue of their Baptism Answ 1. I answer You cannot prove that God hath any manner of ways owned or blessed Infant-Baptism for because God hath continued a Seed to serve him in every Age since the Apostles time will you attribute that to Infant-Baptism which is only to be ascribed to the rich and soveraign Grace of God and Power of his Spirit 2. As to the true Church for many years she was hid and in the Wilderness she fled from the face of the Romish Beast and cruel Dragon Rev. 12. I must confess Infant-Baptism hath in part been a means to keep up the name of the Christian Religion in the Church ever since the Apostacy and it was
which cannot be actually in them Ans I answer 't is very true that Christ in his Commission neither meaneth nor mentioneth Infants he hath given no Commission to baptize Infants because the words of the Commission runneth to such who are capable to be taught to be made Disciples by Teaching and so to Believe which Infants Mr. Owen saith cannot actually do But he adds the Apostle saith in 2 Thes 3. 10. saith he if any would not work neither should he eat would not that Father be unnatural who would take an occasion from this Scripture to starve his little Children because they cannot work so when Christ saith he that believeth and is baptized it doth not follow that none ought to be baptized untill they believe Answer 1. I answer this seems strange when Christ in the Affirmative declares who he would have baptized doth it not follow that in the Negative none else ought to be baptized In other cases you would not argue thus as for Example when God commanded Abraham to Circumcise his Male Infants doth he not implicitly forbid the Circumcising of his Female Children and when he commanded him to Circumcise his Male Infants on the eighth day doth he not implictly forbid him to circumcise them on the seventh or ninth day and when Paul saith let a Man examine himself and so let him eat doth he not forbid Infants to partake thereof and all to come to the Lord's Supper that do not so examine themselves or who do not discern the Lord's Body Moreover 2. Are not all those Persons that a testator in his last Will and Testament leaveth out or expresseth not excluded from having any Legacy in the said Will now the great Commission Mat. 28. Mark 16. is also Christs last Will and Testament about the right of Baptism viz. who are right subjects and they are expressed by their qualifications viz. Disciples or Persons Taught or such that believe are not therefore all unbelievers all Pagans and ungodly persons and ignorant Babes that are not capable to believe excluded from Baptism according to Christ last Will and Testament it signifies nothing to find Infants right to Circumcision under the Law nor other the external priviledges of the Seed of the Faithful then for that was a Legacy given in the Old Will and Testament which is abolished by Christ making his New and last Will and Testament in which the Infant Seed of Believers are left out as touching any right they have now in Gospel times to be Members of the Gospel Church or to Baptâ—sm c. 3. As to that Text you mention 2 Thess 3. 10. If 〈◊〉 will noâ— work neither let him eat I answer Mr. Burâ—… in that Treatise of his for Infant Baptism which I answered and he hath made no reply since brings in the very same Text upon the like account take his words and my answer Must Children be starved because they cannot work thus says he Children lie under a Natural incâ—pacity of professing actual Faith therefore the first Text that is Mark 16. 16. doth not concern them any more then the latter 2 Thess 3. 10. now take our answer viz. You have given away say we your Cause for ever for if this Text Mark 16. 16. does no more concern Infants then that in 2 Thess 3. 10. then be sure they have nothing to do with Baptism You and Mr. Burkitt say that in Mark 16. 16. the Adult only are intended we say so too whether then shall we go for your Infant Baptism we can prove from many Texts that Infants ought to Eat though they cannot Work but how will you prove that Infants ought to be Baptized by any other Scripture if it be not in the Commission tho' they do not believe or have actual Faith Mr. Burkiâ— saith Children have Mortal Bodies therefore they must be Fed at their Parents Table and they have Immortal Souls and from â—hence he argues they ought to be Baptized to which I answered As Infants have mortal Bodies and must therefore be Fed at their Parents Table tho' they can't Work so because they have Immortal Souls he might as well have said they ought to be Fed at the Lord's Table tho' they cannot believe nor discern the Lord's Body The Apostle saith Let a Man examine himself and so let him eat c. but this say I is spoken of the Adult but Infants who are capable to receive Spiritual Benefits by Christ's Death must have the Ordinance that figureth it out namely the Lords Supper There is the same ground and reason therefore to conclude Infants are included in 1 Cor. 11. 22 23. about receiving the Lord's Supper as there is to conclude that they are included in Matth. 21. 19. Mark 16. 15 16. In the Commission to Baptize the one saith Let a Man examine himself the other saith He that Believeth c. You say you have proved That the Apostles Baptized not only the Adult when they believed but the Children of such also Answ I have I hope to the satisfaction of all that are willing to be informed disproved what you say and proved that the Apostles Baptized no one Infant by far better Arguments than you have brought to prove they did Obj. Infants do not understand what is done and therefore what profiteth Baptism unto them this Objection Mr. Owen answereth as followeth This Objection saith he is not only against Baptism but against Circumcision also yet the Ordinance was profitable unto them A little Child may receive a great gift c. 1. Answ I answer Circumcision was God's Command Infants had aright to it but God has not Commanded Infants to be Baptized God's Ordinance shall have that effect on its proper subject which he designed by it no doubt had it been the Will of Christ to have given Command to Baptize Infants but it should some ways or another been profitable to them but since he hath not Commanded it it can no way profit them 2. A little Child may receive a great Gift no doubt but they must not have that given to them that God never appointed for them When God gave out the Commission of Circumcision he Commanded Abraham as an Adult Person to be Circumcised and also at the same time Commanded him to Circumcise his Male Children that was by a positive Law a gift given to all the Male Children of Abraham and to all the Male Children by Isaac in their Generation whether their Parents were godly or wicked but Baptism in Christs Commission is only given to Believers and to all that Believe and therefore no Gift given to Infants we must not be Wiser then God nor add to his word 4. Obj. Mr. Owen adds another Objection against his Doctrine viz. Christ was about Thirty years of Age when he was Baptized Luke 3. 23. 1. His answer is though he was not Baptized until he was Thirty years of Age yet he was Circumcised when he was eight days Old Luke 2. 21. 2. He delayed
directly lie under his Promise and believing things which are matter of Practice which depends wholly upon Christ's mere positive Command we must have some Ground or Foundation from God's Word to believe 't is a Truth which you blame us for not believing and we declare that we see we have no Ground no Foundation to build our Faith nor Practice upon in the case of Infant Baptism and are we guilty of unbelief from hence what Divinity is this you preach and publish to the World you would have us act upon an implicite Faith or believe as the Church believes do you not talk like a Son of the Church of Rome 2. Find the Woman that had the Issue of Blood no Command no Example nor no Promise to believe Christ would â—…er Do you believe what you seem to affirm did the never see nor hear of any Person that Christ had cured sure you cannot imagine any such thing the could not have believed unless she had some good Ground did she not know the power of Christ was great if we had but heard of one Infant baptized by Christ or his Apostles upon the Faith of their Parents as we find some Children were healed by the Faith of their Parents we should not be such unbelievers as we now are about Infant Baptism You say the Woman of Canaan comes boldly with her Child unto Christ for to receive benefit though she was not invisible Covenant with God and Christ commended her Faith and received her Daughter her Faith breaks through all impediments Mar. 15. 22. 28. Her Faith was great who against Hope believed in Hope is not thy unbelief great who destroyest the foundation of Hope touching thy Children O question not the promise of God through unbelief but be strong in Faith giving Glory to God 1. Answ Must we boldly bring our Children to Baptism without any authority from Christ because the Woman of Canaan come bodily to him to have her Daughter healed of her Boldly Disease she had ground for her Faith but we have none for such a Practice 2. Do we destroy the foundation of our Hope about the State of our Infants because we dare not baptize them without a word from Christ or without Authority from him No Sir we have ground to hope our Children that Die are as happy as yours tho' never Baptised and that from Gods word Hath not Christ said Of such are the Kingdom of Heaven no doubt God hath comprehended Infants in his eternal electing Love that Die for whom he also gave his Son and in some secret way doth Sanctifie them or makes them meet for glory above and we have as much ground to hope that God will give Grace to those Children of ours that live as you have to hope he will give Grace to yours Doth your Baptism save your Infants Will you say with the Old Erroneous Fathers and Blind Papists that Baptism washes away Original Sin Your expressions look that way I am afraid of you Ought we not to believe say you for our Children that Christ will receive them Is he more unready to administer Spiritual Blessings than he was in administring Temporal Blessings to the Children of the Faithful Answ Let Christ receive whom he pleases He will have mercy upon whom he will have mercy And receive and Bless whom he will receive and Bless no doubt his Sovereign Grace is extended to many of the Children of the Faithful now as formerly but what of this because he healed some little Children in the days of his Flesh of their Bodily Distempers Will you therefore baptize them without any Authority received from him you may if you please as well argue thus viz. Jesus Christ Fed many little Children with Temporal Food when he Fed the multitude therefore they must come to the Lords Table and be fed with Spiritual Food Is this to argue like a Man of Wisdom and Learning 3. They are guilty you say of Pride thus you charge those that deny Infant Baptism The humble submitteth to every Revelation of the Will of God say you God hath left divers things obscure in the Scripture that we might search them and judge humbly of our Selves who know things only in part seeing through a Glass in a parable Is it not great pride that a simple Man should take upon him to teach God how to speak in his Word let the Lord speak his Mind clearer about Childrens Baptism or else we will note believe him say some is not this a proud reasoning of the Heart of Man The humble Heart searcheth the Scriptures and considereth the agreement of one Scripture with another believing the consistency of the Old Testament with the new and fearing every untrodden Path there be great Truths as secret Treasure in the field of the Scripture which the Humble searcheth and findeth but the Proud despiseth and comes short thereof Answ I answer Is it Pride in us not to believe that to be a truth that is no where revealed in Scripture or is it not folly in you to believe such a thing to be of God's appointment and yet upon the most diligent Search that can be made into God's Word nothing can be found therein to prove it so to be 2. Because some things that are matter of Faith I say again or some Truths of the Gospel do lie obscure and in dark parables in the sacred Scripture doth it follow that one of Christs great Gospel Institutions nay one of the great Sacraments as they are called doth lie so dark and obscure therein also this is strange Moses who gave out the Laws of the Old Testament from God as a Servant made every thing plain that is he shewed them plainly what the command and precept was so that he that run might read it and will any Man think that our Lord Jesus who was as faithful as a Son over his whole House would be less faithful and leave an Ordinance so dark and obscure that there is not any Precept nor Example in all the New Testament for any such thing did Christ ever give forth Gospel Precepts in dark Parables Wonder O Heavens 8. We say Infant Baptism is not layd down in the Scripture obscurely or darkly but do affirm in the holy fear of God that it is not at all to be found therein and it may appear to all that you cannot prove that it is if God never so darkly had declared it we would receive it but because he hath neither plainly nor obscurely revealed That 't is his Institution we do reject it and we shall not be charged with Pride in so doing 't is I fear too evident that you are left in this Case by the Lord to believe a lie and may be because you will not believe nor receive the plain Revelation of the baptism of Believers tho' no one Truth lies more clear and plain in God's Sacred Word 4. Is it pride in you because you will not own the Common-Prayer and
the Seal of the Covenant of Grace for hath the Covenant of Grace any other Seal that Seals to us all the Blessings of that Covenant save the Holy Spirit only the Spirit of God is called a Seal Eph. 1. 13 14. Chap. 4. 30. but so is not baptism called any where 2. If all your Children have the Seal of the Covenant of Grace or all the blessings thereof sealed up to them shall they not be all saved all know a Seal confirms and gives an assurance of all the Priviledges Blessings and Profits that are contained in that Covenant to which it is prefix'd 3. You falsly also apply that Text in Ezek. 16. 5 6 7. that is not applicable to our Infants as such but to God's Israel or Believers who were once like that wretched Infant cast out in its Blood but God entered into Covenant with us and washed us c. But are all believers Children washed in the Blood of Christ no doubt they are in the Covenant of Grace that go to Heaven that die in Infancy but the rest remain polluted in their Original and actual pollution until they believe in Christ Jesus and are negenerated by Divine Grace tho' they are baptized for that washeth them not 4. Set time a part say you for earnest praying praying to the Lord for to forgive the Sins of your Child to Sanctifie his Nature and bless the Ordinance of Baptism unto him c. Answ Prayer is good and a great Duty 't is to pray for our Children but take heed how you pray their baptism may be blessed since Christ did not appoint any Baptism for them in Infancy hath he promised any blessing to that or will he bless an Invention of Men 5. When the Minister doth baptize thy Child do thou act Faith in God's Covenant for thy self and thy Child c. Ans How can you act Faith in doing that which God hath made no promise unto you or to your Children believers that are baptized may act Faith indeed 1. Because Christ commandeth them to be baptized Mat. 28. 19 20. Acts 2. 37. 2. Because he hath promised unto them great blessings in Baptism Mark 16. 16. Acts 2. 37 38. but there is neither a precept for nor promise made unto Infants Baptized 1. Speedily do it stay not as Moses did to Circumcise his Child Exod. 4. 24. the which had like to cost him his life it is true God bindeth us not at this time to the Eighth day as he did the Jews yet we ought not to delay Vid. Cypr. Fidem Ep. 59. Answ Make not more speedy hast then good speed or more hast then God directeth you why not delay since God no where saith on the Eighth Day nor at a year Old nor three years Old but when they believe then they ought to rise indeed and not tarry and be baptized but since you have no Scripture for this advise you Quote Cyprian who would not have the Adult delay if he speaks it of Infants he is no rule for us the Ordinance was corrupted in his time where is it written in Gods Word Moses had a command to Circumcise his Son on the Eighth Day therefore he ought not to delay longer but what is this to your case 2. Cheerfully as one Marrieth his Child with the Lord Jesus Christ Answ Cheerfully do it no do it not at all on your peril For 't is as Mr. Baxter saith a strange Marriage where there is nothing of consent 3. Publickly say you before the Congregation Answ And yet not ashamed shew your authority first Your other advice seems tolerable good save what you speak concerning your Infant Baptism in Teaching your Children the knowledge of the Holy Scriptures and giving them good examples and in putting them into godly Families in doing thus you may expect a blessing from God but none of these things will add any vertue to their Infant Baptism to make that any ways effectual to them so much only shall suffice as toy our 18th Chapter CHAP. XXIII In answer to Mr. James Owens 19th Chapter wherein he gives advice to Children with an answer to his Queries that he would have the Antipedobaptists to reply unto CHildren bless the Lord for the priviledges of your Baptism God hath taken you into Covenant say you with your Parents he hath prevented you with the blessings of goodness and made you nigh who being by Nature a far off ye are no more Strangers and Foreigners but fellow Citizens with the Saints and the Houshold of God Eph. 2. 19. 1. Answ Must they bless God that their Parents deceived them with false hopes of priviledges which neither they nor your selves know what they are or for putting a cheat upon them to make them think their State is better thereby and yet cannot prove it from Gods Word so to be How doth God prevent them with blessings of Goodness by your Rantizing them doth your pretended baptism insuse grace or gracious habits unto them or what to 〈◊〉 or is â—t the blessings of that Vow you brought them under voluntarily without any authority from God 2. Are you not afraid to affirm that Children by their baptism are by the Lord made neer unto him and made thereby Children of God who were by Nature Children of Wrath and no more Strangers and Foreigners c. If this was so shall they not be all Saved Can any thing bring Children near to God and make them fellow-Heirs and Citizens with the Saints but a Sacred Work of God's Spirit upon their Souls and doth your Baptism do this 2. Can such that are no more Strangers to God c. ever perish Is there a possibility of Final falling from a State of true Grace and if it be thus ought not your Children to have all the priviledges of the Houshold of God the Lords Supper c. 3. Will you attribute those High and Sublime Priviledges that belong to believers who are only born of the Spirit to your poor Babes that yet remain Children of Wrath and unrenewed by the Grace of God is not this a ready way to blind the Eyes of your Children and ruine their Souls if they should believe you herein You are under that Gracious Providence say you which watcheth over the Church c. 1. Answ You must first prove them Members of the Church and not only Members but all of them elected Persons for they are such Members that the special Providence of God is over 2. You say they have a share in the daily prayers that are put up for the Church of God Psalm 72. 15. Prayers shall be made for him and daily shall he be praised Psalm 51. 13. Do good in thy good pleasure to Zion and build the Walls of Jerusalem Gal. 6. 16. As many as walk according to this rule peace on them and mercy on the Israel of God If you had been without baptism you should have been without and so without any share in these prayers Answ I