I will come into him and will sup with him and he with me This is the Gospel-communion here was no outward Bread nor Wine Cup nor Chalice but here is that which the bread and wine pointed at the cup of blessing If we walk in the Light as he is in the Light we have Fellowship one with another and the Blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin 1 Joh. 1.7 In the Light Fellowship with the Lord is known and Fellowship one with another and the Word is known which became Flesh and tabernacles in man this the Redeemed eat feed on discern and though it be said The Flesh profitteth nothing Joh. 6. and that Flesh and Blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God 1 Cor. 15. yet 't is said Except ye eat the Flesh of the Son of Man and drink his Blood ye have no Life in you and he that eateth my Flesh and drinks my Blood dwelleth in me and I in him Joh. 6. And Paul said We are Members of his Body of his Flesh and of his Bones Ephes 5.30 And these are no contradictionâ— but fulfilled in the ground of Self-denyal in the cross to the mortal the Lords Death is shewed forth till he come who lives forever who abolishes Death and brings Life and Immortality to light thorow the Gospel 2 Tim. 1.10 yea and Joh. 3.13 The same that descended the same is ascended and is flesh and bone and nourishes the Soul to eternal Lise here the end of Shadows is known Augustin said truly if truly and livingly read To eat Christ is to believe in Christ why providest thou a Tooth and a Belly believe only and thou hast eaten Faith centers in the eternal Word in the quickning Word so that is revealed which fulfils outward Shadows other things as well as Bread and Wine were not of perpetual continuance nor needful to be practised in the Church after their bounds and season John 13.14 15. Acts 15.28 29. Jam. 5.14 Paul testified saying Henceforth know we no man after the flesh yea though we have known Christ after the flesh yet now henceforth we know him no more 2 Cor. 5.16 Paul was so spiritualized as that he centered in nothing below the eternal Substance he stickt not in Bread and Wine or any other Shadow but in fervency of spirit waited to be comprehended in the prefixed Life as a man that so looks for a lost Jewel that he overlooks all besides it outward things reach no further then fleshly Knowledge but a spiritual Understanding is revealed in by and thorow that which is spiritual Of Transubstantiation Though Israel saw the Wonders of the Lord in Aegypt the Execution of his Judgments for their Deliverance though the Lord went before them by Day in a Pillar of a Cloud and by Night in a Pillar of Fire though they passed thorow the Red Sea as upon dry Land and saw the Aegyptians drowned so that thorow a sense of his Power and mighty Acts they sang a Song of Praise and Thanksgiving unto the Lord saying He was glorious in Holiness fearful in Praises doing Wonders yet coming unto Mount Sinai on to which Moses was called and continued 40 Dayes and 40 Nights Israel fell into a spiritual Lethargy to forget the Lord and his Noble Acts and losing the sense of the pure living invisible eternal God they cryed for artificial Gods Gods of Mans making saying to Aaron Vp make us Gods which shall go before us for as for this Moses that brought us out of the Land of Egypt we wâ—â— what is become of him Exod. 32. Aaron made them a Calf and they said These be thy Gods O Israel which brought thee up out of the Land of Egypt thus losing the sense of the Living and Life-giving God they turned to cryed up and ascribed their Deliverance to a Molten Calf fashioned with a Graving-Tool In the Apostles days and primitive times while their Garments were undefiled being Branches of the Heavenly Olive kept their Heavenly Places in Christ Jesus they had the Bread of Life Water of Life Heavenly Manna the Word that became Flesh in the persumed Houses of sanctified Hearts they drank of the Cup of Salvation the Cup of Blessing they were come to Mount Sion they were Members of the New Jerusalem they were in the spiritual Worship they came to the Life Sum Substance of all Types Figures Shadows and all thorow the Operation of Christ Jesus in them who led them from the Aegyptian-Bondage of Hellish Pharaoh old Abaeddon the Destroyer they knew the Prince of Peace Christ Jesus and their Labour and living concern was that in all things he might have the Preeminence But in dayes succeeding the Apostles when the Mystery of Iniquity which the Apostle saw inwardly working in his day was more and more manifested the Star faln from Heaven Sun and Air darkned the Purity of the primitive Church spoiled through the Smoke of the bottomless Pit through the Darkness and Delusion of this Smoke they lost the bread of Life the cup of blessing within so came to reassume bread and wine without and let in a Sea of Confusion about the same some ministring it to all some to Believers only sometime to Young Children sometime to Dead People c. and the more the Smoke arose out of the Pit the greater Darkness entred the Professors of Christianity till at length like as Israel having lost the sense of the living God called for Gods without so had a Molten Calf and worshipped the same ascribing their Deliverances thereunto even so apostatized Christianity having lost the Bread of Life the Cup of Blessing Christ Jesus thorow the in-steamings of the bottomless Pit they must have an artificial Christ how is that since the Apostles dayes when the Life and Power of Godliness was lost then this Doctrine came to be preacht That Bread and Wine after it be consecrated by the Priest is no more Bread and Wine but the very Christ that was born of the Virgin so to be worshipped that the Bread and Wine by the consecration of the Priest is transubstantiated that is changed into the very Body and Blood of Christ from this came the word Transubstantiation this Doctrine is grounded upon those words This is my Body for from these words Papists say Christ is present transuâ—stantially Lutherans say consubstantially Calvinists say He is present sacramentally Author of the Naked Truth Whether the Bread and Wine after consecration be transubstantiated or not hath been and is much controverted betwixt Papists and Protestants One said Corpore de Christi lis est de sanguine lis est Lis est de modo non habitura modum How Bread and Wine the living Christ should be 'T is controverted much men disagree The Council of Trent begun in the year 1545. and others taught That Bread and Wine being consecrated by the Priest is turned into the true real substantial Body of Christ Flesh Blood Bones c. even the same that was
a living Sacrifice holy acceptable unto God which is their reasonable service Rom. 12.1 a living Sacrifice instead of a Ram sinful Passions are here slain instead of a Goat unclean affections instead of flying Fowls vain Thoughts foaring Purposes wandring Imaginations are slain this is read in those Bodies that are this living Sacrifice Eighthly The Spirits Baptism makes all that partake of it one in and with Christ the Head Christ prayed to his Father saying John 17.11 Holy Father keep through thy own Name those whom thou hast given me that they may be one as we are he prayed for their Oneness who was heard of his Father and Verse 20 21. Neither pray I for these alone but for them also which shall believe on me through their word that they all may be one as thou Father art in me and I in thee that they all may be one in us No true Unity is out of the Lords Name it is a strong Tower a Munition of Rocks here security and safeguard is known a sure and sweet Haven to have recourse unto After Christs Ascension when the Spirit was received with which Christ baptizeth the Churches were Witnesses of this Oneness so Paul told the Galatians Chap. 3.27 28. As many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ there is neither Jew nor Greek there is neither Bond nor Free there is neither Male nor Female for ye are all one in Christ Jesus These were clothed with the Sun these were beautiful through divine Ornaments Consider this it was not through Water-baptism but through the Spirits baptism that Christ was put on that Oneness was witnessed And 1 Cor. 12.13 By one Spirit we are all baptized into one Body So who become living Members of that Body whereof Christ is the Head and feel themselves to be of the Corporation and Company of Believers 't is through the Spirits Baptism not through outward Water And 1 Cor. 6.17 He that is joyned unto the Lord is one Spirit Further Paul to the Ephesians said Endeavouring to keep the Vnity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace Epâ—es 4.3 So the Unity and Unanimity is in the Spirit in which Christs Baptism is Ninthly The Spirits Baptism cleanseth from sin and iniquity so fulfils inwardly what John's Water-baptism shadowed forth outwardly 1 Cor. 6.9 10 11. Paul wrote to the Corinthians saying Know ye not that the Vnrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God it is an undefiled Inheritance the Unclean must not tread on that golden Pavement And this Apostle having branched out such and such Workers of Iniquity he concludes thus And such were some of you but ye are washed but ye are sanctified but ye are justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God Consider this when they came to be Partakers of the Spirit to know its Baptisin then they came to be washed sanctified yea and justified also The same Apostle wrote to the Saints at Ephesus saying Christ loved the Church and gave himself for it that he might sanctisie and cleanse it with the washing of Water by the Word that he might present it to himself a glorious Church without Blemish Spot or Wrinkle Now 't is not Water without though man were washed a thousand times therewith but the Spirit of the Lord wherewith Christ baptizeth where a Well of Water is known springing up unto eternal Life that effects these things in the Church Tenthly The Spirits Baptism makes true Christians so deny it and sweep true Christianity from off the Earth Paul writing to the Romans said He is not a Jew which is one outwardly neither is that Circumcision which is outward in the Flesh but he is a Jew which is one inwardly and Circumcision is that of the Heart in the Spirit and not in the Lettir whose Praise is not of man but of God and as truly it may be said He is not a Christian that is one outwardly neither is that Baptism which is outward in the Flesh but he is a Christian which is one inwardly and Baptism is that of the Heart and not in the Letter whose Praise is not of men but of God Gods Eye and Regard is to the inward Iew and the inward Circumcision to the inside Christian to the inward Baptism but mans Eye and Regard who knows not the Laver of Regeneration is to the out-side Christian to outward Baptism for of the many Eplscopalians Presbyterians Independents Baptists and others who have written of Baptism and Rantism that is dipping and sprinkling few if any have written of the Baptism of Christ with the Spirit which John the Baptist Christ Peter Paul c. bare witness to the Virgins Birth was by the Angel unto Joseph named Jesus by interpretation a Saviour for saith he He shall save his People from their Sins Matth. 1.21 After he was baptized of John in Jordan and the holy Spirit descended like a Dove upon him from the divine Anointing which came upon him he came to be called Messias and Christ which both signifie anointed Christ in Greek as Mesâ—â—â— in Hebrew signifies anointed because he was anointed of the Father Peter bare record of Christ saying God anointed Jesus of Nazareth wâ—th the holy Spirit and with Power who were about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the Devil for God was with him Acts 10.38 Thus Jesus was the Anointed of the Father the Christ the Messias and him the High Priests Prophets and some Kings under the Law anointed with material Oyl represented so Christians signifies Anointed Ones and none are truly Christians but as they partake of the Anointing whereby they become Members of Christ spiritually influenced by Christ their Head so become Kings and Priest unto God The Disciples as Acts 11.26 were called Christians first in Antioch called so by divine Direction as the word signifies saith Trapp on this place the same Anointing which came upon Jesus which God gave not by measure unto him Joh. 3 34. the same Anointing is given in measure to the Members of Christ of his Fulness they receive Grace for Grace these are true Christians truly Anointed Ones Hebr. 1.9 Thou hast loved Righteousness and hated Iniquity therefore God even thy God hath anointed thee with the oyl of Gladness above thy Fellows Thus real Christians partake of the Anointing in their respective Measures Christians are Christ's and they that are Christs have crucified the Flesh with the Affections and Lusts Gal. 5 24. Now such as take not up the Cross but live in the Flesh in the carnalizing Principle and in this profess the Scriptures God Christ and his Ordinances so become swel'd with historical Knowledge and Notions and hence conclude themselves Christians I say they are not really so Non re sed nomine Christiani Not real but nominal Christians in Name only even as such who said they were Jews but were not but were the Synagogue of Satan Rev. 2.9 The Tucks at
the holy Spirit wherein the Redeemed cry Abba Father Rom. 14. Visibles are temporal as Moses's Laver-washing John's Jordan-washing imposed only until the Time of Reformation but Invisibles are eternal as the Spirit of the Lord is eternal in which Christs Baptism is such as center in temporals that Eye being shut which sees into the beginning before the temporals these are but as an House without Pillars tottering with every Blast as a Ship without Anchor tossed with every Wave for the Establishment is in that which is Eternal Whose Antitype Baptism doth also now save us By this Scripture as all the wise in heart understand Peter puts an End to Baptism of the Flesh as Paul did to Circumcision of the Flesh for saith Paul Rom. 2.28 29. He is not a Jew which is one outwardly neither is that Circumcision which is outward in the Flesh but he is a Jew which is one inwardly and Circumcision is that of the Heart in the Spirit and not in the Letter whose Praise is not of men but of God which in effect is this In Gospel-dayes where all shadows are fulfilled Circumcision in the Spirit puts an end to Circumcision in the Flesh in effect Peter saith as much of Baptism Baptism saith he saves but not that Baptism which puts but away the Filth of the Flesh but that Baptism of Christ in the Spirit where the Answer of a good Conscience is known Yea by this Peter intimates that Baptism in the Spirit puts an to Baptism in the Flesh for of a Truth it may be said He is not a Christian who is one outwardly neither is that Baptism which is outward in the Flesh but he is a Christian which is one inwardly and Baptism is that of the Heart in the Spirit and not in the Letter whose Praife is not of men but of God For neither Moses's Laver-shawing nor John's Jordan-washing could bring inward Cleanness and Purity of Conscience therefore Christ put an end to all outward shadows figures and Types by the Power of his Spirit inwardly effecting and fulfilling that which they in an outward manner shadowed out Many bear record in Truth to the Apostles Testimony who said The Law make nothing perfect but the bringing in of a better hope by the which we draw nigh unto God Hebr. 7.19 Here is the perfecting of the Children of Light here they are truly joynted whom Satan had dislocated Paul who was not sent to baptize but to preach the Everlasting Gospel a more weighty and ponderous Concern he had his Call from Heaven in writing to the Church at Rome he speaks of Gifts differing and exhorts every one to be faithful but of baptizing with Water he speaks not but in other places sets up the Spirit 's Baptism as conducing to the Salvation of the Soul So who are serious in the things of God cannot but conclude from what is spoken that the Spirit 's Baptism is the only Baptism peculiar to Gospel-dayes and that the continuance thereof is of absolute necessity whatever you be that deny it to and in the Church you shut out of the Church the divine Nature the new Name the true Worship Translation into the Kingdom of God the Lords Temple the Gospel-Ministry the true Service of God true Unity inward cleansing true Christianity present Salvation and what is that Church and what are the respective Members thereof that are destitute hereof Out-sides Formalists tossed to and fro as a Feather or Froth upon the Waves hurried about with every Wind of Doctrine like Glasses blown into this or that shape at the pleasure of mans breath what are Professors that are destitute of the Spirit and its Baptism as hollow Trees in an old Wood tall but pithless sapless and unsound What are these lifeless Formalists as a Bulrush whose Colour is fresh Skin smooth Body knotless yet nothing is within but a kind of spongeous unsubstantial substance The Swan in the Law was rejected for sacrifice as some affirm because of her Black Skin under White Feathers thus it is with Unscripturalized Out-side Formalists their Performances how specious soever black Death reigning within brings them not unto divine Acceptance their most Religious Duties and Performances issue from Art and Acquired Parts not from divine In-dwellings who then touched with the sense and possession of the Lord's Presence and with the Virtue of his spiritual Baptism can be silent And not as the Lord's Worthies contend for it of the which such excellent things are spoken if Christ must have preheminence in all things if he be All in his Church beautified out of his Wardrobe why is Outward Water so much magnified in Gospel dayes Christ is sufficient to and in his Church without John though John was of use in his season to point out Christ to come so the Baptism of Christ without visible Water is sufficient in his Church without the Baptism of John with Water though the Baptism of John with Water was useful in its season being a shadow of a better thing to come even of Christs Baptism with the Spirit who said He that believes on me out of his Belly shall flow Rivers of living Water but this spake he of the Spirit which Believers in him should receive John 7.38 39. So that Believers receive the Spirit so Christs Baptism living Water is to flow out of the Womb of their Souls they know the precious Virtue thereof its Cooling Cleansing Thirst-quenching and Fructifying Virtue they know the fulfilling of Moses's Laver and John's Jordan-Washing in their Mortal Bodies The Fourth Assertion Rantism that is Sprinkling of Infants is a Case unpresidented in the Primitive times an Irreptitious Custom sprung up in the Night of Apostacy after the Falling Away from the Primitive Order I Have already shewed the Temporary Baptism of John and have likewise spoken of the Baptism of Christ with the Spirit and that this Baptism put an end to John's Water-baptism as to the other shadows so that to and in the gathered Churches one Baptism was preached and that by one Spirit into one Body the shadow being left off now it remains that I inform you how Dipping which was John's Ministration came to be re-assumed and likewise how Sprinkling of Infants got entrance among the Professers of Christianity Christ being upon the Mount of Olives with his Disciples told them that False Christs and False Prophets should come Mat. 24. which John seeing fulfilling and fulfilled said expresly they were come saying Little Children it is the last time and as ye have heard that Antichrist shall come even now are there many Antichrists whereby we know that it is the last time â— John 2.18 Paul in the Spirit of Discerning sore-saw and fore-told of an Apostacy a Departure from the Faith that seducing spirits should be heeded and Doctrines of Devils 1 Tim. 4.1 John in the Spirit fore-saw all the world wondring after the Beast Revel 13.3 yea and he saw and fore-told of a great Whore that
and Drinks and divers Baptisms that is Washings it had a temporary Seal to wit Circumcision Rom. 4.11 but the New Covenant Christ Jesus the great Promise of the Father hath a spiritual yea an eternal Seal this is my positive Affirmation in this case that the Old Covenant standing in outward things had an outward Seal but the new Covenant the Promise of the Father hath a spiritual Seal Paul a Witness of Christ the new covenant the great Promise of the Father in writing to the Saints at Ephesus he testified on their behalf saying After that ye believed ye were scaled with the holy Spirit of Promise Ephes 1.13 He calls the Spirit the Seal of the New Covenant Christ the Promise of the Father not Baptism not Rantism dipping or sprinkling Further he exhorted them in these words Grieve not the holy Spirit whereby ye are sealed to the Day of Redemption Ephes 4.30 He preaches up the Spirit to be the Evangelical Seal of the New Covenant the Promise of the Father so who preach up Water-baptism to be the Seal they oppose the Apostles Testimony deny the Lord's Privy and Royal Seal and introduce another of mans making the sealed are the Lord 's Excellent Ones his Worthies And as for that Scripture Acts 2.39 The Promise is unto you and to your Children unto all that are afar off even as many as the Lord shall call This makes nothing for Water-baptism or Rantism to be the Evangelicall Seal Peter told the House of Israel that the Promise was to them to their Children yea to all the called of the Lord. Outward Water was not the Promise which they were to wait for but a thing of a more Heavenly Nature Christ told the Jews John 8.39 If ye were Abraham 's Children ye would do the works of Abraham so that such were the Children of Abraham and had right to the Promise who were found doing the Works of Abraham yea and the Apostle told the Galatians that they which were of Faith were the Children of Abraham Gal. 3.7 such Children as these have right to the Promise and know the Seal thereof IV. Obj. Infants-baptism is an ancient Custom so to be continued in the Church Answ The antiquity of a humane Tradition proves it not to be of divine Institution the spreading or over-spreading of Leprosie proves it not to be Soundness the Entrance of true Reformation thrusts out humane Inventions old as well as new what Christ received of his Father that he taught his Disciples Apostles what the Apostles received from Christ the treasury of Wisdom and Knowledge that they taught to and in the Churches and the same was to be committed and commended to faithful men in the Faith the Tongue of the Learned was their All to them and in them and in this Faith that Tongue was kept silent which afterward brought the Darkness into the Church in the Eye of divine Illumination we see to before August in was or Cyprian was or Pope Innocent the third was who as 't is said first established Infants-baptism by ratifying the Canon of the Milevitan Council by this Eye we see and feel to the Primitive Order before the Apostacy was Christ the Apostles and primitive Church in the Beauty of Heavenly Virginity taught no such thing as dipping or spriekling of Infants and in the Faith the primitive Order is to be pressed after contended for the Smoak of the Pit Inventions Traditions and Idolatious Customs inconsistent with the living Life-giving Truth are to be warred against Id verum quod prius prius quod ab initio ab initio quod ab Apostolis Tertul. contra Marcion lib. 4. That is Truth that was first that was first which was from the beginning which was from the beginning which was from the Apostles what the Apostles preached that they received from Christ who is Alpha and Omega the First and the Last the Beginning and the End glorified with the Father before the Foundation of the World Augustine Bishop of Hippo testified saying Custom is not to be preferred before Truth but ought to give place to the Truth but who plead for Infants-baptism or Rantism they would keep Custom in the Throne and exclude Truth Cyprian Bishop of Carthage bare Testimony saying Custom crept in among some people ought not to hinder Truths prevailing and overcoming for Custom without Truth is nothing but ancient Error wherefore forsaking Error let us pursue the Truth These two said well though true it is as their Writings evidently demonstrate they were guilty of mingling their traditions inventions and imaginations with the Doctrine of Christ and of the Apostles V. Obj. 'T is said Except a man be born of Water and of the Spirit he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God John 3.5 deth not this perpetuate Infants-baptism Answ Christ gave no command for Infants-baptism neither did the Apostles practise any such thing whoever alledge this or any other Scripture for it they use the Scriptures as Torturers who putting innocent men upon the Rack so force them to speak that which they never thought such are these who wrest the Scriptures to draw a sense out of them which the holy Spirit never intended so tortures and perverts them as to make them speak for maintaining those things which were not commanded nor spoken of in those dayes wherein the Scriptures were given forth After the Apostles dayes Satan made an Encroachment upon the Garden of the Lord Earthly Exaltations of Darkness fumed into the Professors of Christianity then their Judgment became carnal and being not able to savour divine things they wrested those Scriptures which spoke of the Water of Life and applyed them to outward Water ascribing inward Washing and Regeneration thereto whenas indeed external Water can contribute nothing thereunto in this place Christ preached unto Nicodemus the Necessity of Regeneration and informed him how it was brought forth not by outward Water which can reach no further then outward things but by a Water able to renew a man to make him a New Holy and Heavenly Creature to dissolve the rotten and loathsom Fabrick of unrenewed untransformed man where Belial is King and to erect a Building in Righteousness and true Holiness where Christ is Monarch sole Lord. Other Scriptures give witness to this as John 4.10 Christ said to the Woman of Samaria If thou knew the Gift of God c. thou wouldst have asked of him and he would have given this living Water Mark here is a Living Water a Life-giving Water effecting a living Work and this all the Re-born know Further saith Christ Vers 14. The Water that I shall give him shall be in him a Well of Water springing up unto Everlasting Life And John 7.38 39. He that believeth on we out of his belly shall flow Revers of living Water which Believers in him should receive there is a living Water producing a Work of Wonder in the Bodies of men making all things new this fulfils inwardly
what Water elementary shadowed out outwardly which cools cleanses quenches the Thirst makes fruitful outwardly Piscator on this John 3.5 saith very evidently Seeing that without this Water whereof Christ spake to Nicodemus no man can attain unto eternal Life it follows that Christ spake not of Baptismal Water Lombard Vossius yea a Cloud of Witnesses have showred down Testimonies to the same purpose but if notwithstanding all this thou wilt have John 3 5. to speak of material Water then Mat. 3.11 He shall baptize you with the holy Spirit and with fire must be understood of material Fire then outward Fire must be used in Baptism which would be judged an Absurdity and a strange Doctrine Water and Fire are in these places added to shew the effectual Operation of the Spirit working that inwardly which Fire and Water represent outwardly as many have observed born of Water and of the Spirit or of Water which is the Spirit John 7.38 9. as Piscator observes so baptized with the holy Spirit and with Fire baptized with the holy Spirit which is Fire a Coal from the Lord's Altar giving light to the inward man spiritualizing him changing him into the divine Image from Glory to Glory elevates and carries the Renewed Heaven-ward purifying from the dross of Sin Polutious and Defilements uniting to the Called Faithful and Chosen separating from the World in a word who dwell in the Light of Grace these more and more receive the Spirit in which Christ's Baptism is a Coal from the Lord's Altar operating inwardly as elementary Fire outwardly Of Children in the Womb Baptized Satan the grand Adversary by Hellish Suggestions Wicked Temptations Unclean Injections by little and little after the primitive Times disjoynted and as I may fay dis-spirited many so that the pure serious Worship in Spirit and in Truth came by little and little to be departed from and a Will-Worship clouded with Ceremonies Shadows Traditions Inventions of men came to be established so that Augustin in his day taught That Children born or unborn if quickened in the Womb were Damned if they dyed without baptism hence the Necessity of baptizing Infants was concluded as before I have touched Now it being observed that many Children dyed in the Womb and according to Father Augustin's Doctrine such were damned if unbaptized the consideration of this set them to seek a Remedy for that Disease and none could be found except the Child in the Womb could be baptized but if it might then all was well in order to this concern a great Question was propounded An pueri in utero possint baptizari it a salvari that is Whether Children in the Womb could be baptized so saved yea or nay This was looked upon as a Mysterious Question and necessary to be considered and it set the most curious Wits on work and out of the Magazine of carnal Reasoning came this Conclusion If a Quickened Child in the Mothers Womb shall be in danger to dye thorough the Weakness of the Mother or of the Child or thorough hard Labour let them bless or pray for the Child and let them strengthen the Mothers Womb let them commend the Child to God with Desires to baptize it and can protest saying The Fault is not in them why that Child is not baptized the Observation of these Ceremonies upon the Child's account was judged equivalent to Baptism and the Child concluded to be saved thorough its Parents Belief Cassander de baptismo Thus after the ingress of Apostacy multitudes of Inventions were brought into the Church and to the end they might have favourable Entertainment they were stiled Decent and Doctrines of Christ or Apostolical Traditions Concerning Baptizing of the Dead Thorough the Smoak of the Apostacy after the Apostles dayes such was the Depravation of mens Understandings as that they ascribed the virtue of Renovation Regeneration and Eternal Salvation to Baptismal Water yea and not a few concluded it effectual not only for the Living but also for the Dead so that the Cataphygians and Montanists baptized the Dead Bodies of men as saith Philastrius and Georgius Ederus in his Mataeologia haereticorum There were some saith Sparke that baptized the Dead and put the Sacramental-Bread in their Mouths as their Viaticum udging it better to have such a necessary Ordinance by Proxy then altogether to go without it A Child that dyed unbaptized was taken up and Christened as 't is said and had his Fathers Name given him Magd. Cent. 7. Concerning Baptizing the Living for the Dead Thorough the Apostacy many fell into a dead Lethargy as I may say into a spiritual Sleepiness Drowsiness and Forgetfulness as Israel of old who forgot the Lord dayes without number a Custom crept in among the Marcionites and Cerinthians that when any Catechumenist dyed without Baptism that is such a one as had been instructed in the Principles of Christianity some living Person was placed under the Bed of the Deceased then the Priest came unto the Deceased Party saying Desirest thou to be baptized the Dead Man replying nothing the Party under the Bed answered for it saying I would be baptized thus they baptized him for the Dead as if they acted a Play upon a Stage Tertull. Epiphan de Cerinth haeres Goodwins Roman Jewish Antiquities Paul to the Corinthians said If the Dead rise not at all why are they then baptized for the Dead 1 Cor. 15.29 a Custom saith Piscator on this place not universal nor taken up in all Churches nor among the Corinthians is here noted A Custom saith this Piscator sprung up among the ancient Christians of being baptized at or over the Graves of the Dead of the Martyrs to testifie saith he that with Christ they were dead to sin and ready to dye for him c. But the Churches who bare about in their mortal Bodies the Dying of the Lord Jesus so came to witness his Life manifest in them they knew the Ground of Rudiments and beggarly Elements cast out the End of Shadows and Figures manifested in which they left off John's typical Baptism without and all other irrePtitious Customs and Confusions about the same Of an Annual Baptism that is of such as Baptize themselves every Year The Habbasines a kind of mongrel Christians in Affrica baptize themselves every year on the day of Epiphany so called in Lakes or Ponds thereby to keep a Memorial of Christs Baptism in Jordan which was performed on the aforesaid day as many of the Ancients conjectured Trapp on Matth. 3. Of Outward Fire used in Baptism The Apostacy prevailed with and in the Church as a Consumption upon a Mortal Body which weakens the Body by little and little causeth Leanness and turns the Body to the Dust so the Apostacy crept in by little and little the Cross of Christ being turned from Weakness followed spiritual Leanness that was lost which opens Scriptures and fulfils them in men so conceits conceivings mis-apprehensions mis-interpretations got place as from that
Disciples is undeniable Paul mentioning the Institution unto the Corinthians mentions both as 't is evident the Bread represented his Body the Bread of Life that nourishes the Soul to eternal Life the Wine his Blood which they came to witness to cleanse them from all sin as they kept to the Head thorow the Ligament of living Faith they came to the End of all Figures to partake of the one Bread one in all but in the dark reign of Apostacy they re-assumed the Shadows and divided Christendom into Clergy that is Teachers and Laity that is all others out of Holy Orders so called but all the Faithful are the Lord's Lot as Acts 26.18 translated there Inheritance but properly signifies Lot if the Greek Copies be consulted and makes nothing for but against the distinction of Clergy and Laity Leighs Crit. However the Distinction hath found continuance in the Church and in the year 1215. Pope Innocent the third did first of all as 't is recorded forbid that the Lay People should receive their Communion in both kinds he would allow them Bread but no Drink this kind of Communion as 't is said was not before the Council of Constance where in the thirteenth Session they deprived the People of the Cup yea and a Canon was put out saying in down-right and express terms If any one shall deny whole and entire Christ the Fountain and Author of all Graces to be taken under one Species of Bread c. let him be Anathema accursed Thus in this as in other things it appears that not only the Power of Godliness hath been lost but great Confusion hath followed Of Mixed Wine Alexander if I may use the Language of my Author the seventh Pope from Peter being about to consecrate was the first of all that mingled Water and Wine together Polydor lib. 5. Of taking Money for Bread and Wine I have shewed before how Pope Innocent the third and the Council of Constance denyed the Cup to the Laity so called one Eckius complying with this Doctrine gives an irrational Reason for it The Laity saith he ought to content themselves with the Bread only because equi donation sunt inspiciendi dentes that is a gift Horse is not to be looked in the Month Apud Manlium in loc com He though belike that Lay Men could not claim any Right to the Bread neither Bellarmine grants that they have Right to the Bread but adds that in eating the Bread transubstantiated by the Priest into the Body of Christ they drink his Blood also But Lombard his Master contradicts this his Doctrine saying That the Bread is not turned but into Christs Flesh nor the Wine but into his Blood Let him that is crowned with Heavenly Wisdom judge whether these Contradictions bespeak them to be Builders of Sion a City of Unity the Joy of the whole Earth or Builders of spiritual Babel a City of Confusion The Council of Constance acknowledged that Christ instituted and administred both Bread and Wine tamen hoc non obstante yet notwithstanding the Authority of the holy Canons and the Custom of the Church hath and doth deny the Cup to the Laity But to return Neither did Christ take Money for the Bread and Wine which he gave to any but as the spirit of Selfishness entred the Temple of the Church it produced other Effects surely there was occasion why the six the general Council of Constantinople decreed That no Bishop Priest or Deacon administring the Communion to people should take any Money whatever of them for the same and that who as did should be deposed Summa Concil et Pontif. Yet notwithstanding the Constantinopolitan Canon in Protestant Churches now the Parish buyes Bread and Wine and the Priest sells it them again that the Priest may have an Offering at Easter so that many otherwise zealous for the established Ministry blame their Ministers their spiritual Hosts as they call them that first the Parish must buy Bread and Wine and give it to the Minister and then the Minister give it to the People and after call for a Reckoning yea and force such as neither bite nor sup thereof to reckon and pay Let us hear the Lord's Proclamation Ho every one that thirsteth come ye to the Waters to the Water of Life the Cup of Salvation Consolation and Blessing a spiritual Thirst is called for neither Money nor Price And further He that hath no Money come ye buy and eat yea come buy Wine and Milk without Money and without Price Here is Bread and Wine and Milk at the Lord's Hand without Money or Price Isa 55.1 2. but such as are made Ministers by the will of man through the strength of Arts Sciences Natural Parts Abilities Qualifications Endowments Acquisitions they have another Language so another Spirit forcing Money and Price not only from Receivers but from Non-receivers also so that the Practice of many I say not all bespeaks them saying We preach the Gospel tantum ut nos pascat et vestiat meerly for Food and Rayment to pick a living by Trap on 1 Pet. 5. Yea and Revel 22.17 The Spirit and the Bride say come and let him that heareth say come and let him that is athirst come and whosoever will let him take the Water of Life freely Here is Communion Royal Communion Water of Life Bread of Life the Cup of Blessing freely without Money or Price But their Voice is not the Voice of the Spirit nor of the Bride nor of him that heareth nor of him that is athirst who forces Money and Price for Bread and Wine the Shadow not only from the Receiver but the Non-receiver also for where Christ's Doctrine and the Apostles is transgressed his Institution for Gospel-Maintenance violated their Voice is the Voice of Balaam who was for Gifts Rewards Wages of Unrighteousness filthy Lucre who have nothing but the Shadow which maketh not alive they make Gain of it sell it but who are Members of Christ's Body of his Flesh of his Bones as freely they have received the Bread of Life so they freely give Of the Kiss of Peace and of the Pax. David the sweet Singer of Israel exhorted Kings and Judges of the Earth to kiss the Son lest he be angry Psal 2.12 These are Greetings cordial Embraces not known but in the operating Virtue of the Seed of Regeneration and in spiritual Submission to his Heavenly Will Let him kiss me saith the Church with the Kisses of his Mouth Cantic 1.2 In the sense-restoring Life these are felt as Seals and Assurances of divine Favour and Acceptance Earnests and Fruits of the Spirit like Balm to the Wounded Paul writing to the Romans said Salute one another with an Holy Kiss Rom. 16.16 This Peter called The Kiss of Love 1 Pet. 5.14 In after Ages as Fellowship with the Lord and with one another in the Light in a high measure came to be loft then the Observation of Shadows more and more got entrance then their
Fellowship and Communion began much to consist in Externals as Bread and Wine then Christians entertained a Custom of Kissing one another before they received the Communion thereby testifying their Love to one another as faith Parens on the Romans In the ancient Church when they assembled saith Meds to celebrate the Communion the Deacon was wont to proclaim Nequis contra aliquem Let no Man have ought against his Brother and then Salutate alij alios osculo sancto that is Salute one another with an Holy Kiss which they did first the Bishop and Clergy then the Laity the Men apart by themselves and the Women by themselves in token of Friendship this was called Osculum pacis The Kâ—ss of Peace After this entred a Ceremony in the Midnight of Apostacy as I may say still used among the Romanists to this day ' for the Priest to send a little Gilded or Painted Table with a Crucifix or some Saints Picture thereon to be kissed of every one in the Church before they receive the Bread this they call The Kissing of the Pax Mede What there is of the Power of Godliness or of the Form thereof in this thing without further Remarks I leave to the Wise to judge Of the Feast of the Sacrament of the Altar The outward Jew had several Feasts of especial Solemnity which shadowed out a spiritual Feast under the Gospel-Dispensation to be truly and inwardly witnessed in the purified Houses of inward Jews The outward Jew was to observe the Feast of the Passover of Unleavened Bread wherein for seven dayes they were to eat Unleavened Bread no Leaven was to be found in their Houses Exod. 23. The outward Jew was to observe the Feast of Pentecost instituted in Remembrance of the Law delivered unto Moses in the Mount fifty dayes after their departure out of Aegypt this was called the Feast of Weeks in which they were to offer a new Meat-Offering unto the Lord Levit. 23. a Tribute of a Free-will Offering Deut. 26. The outward Jew was to observe the Feast of Harvest the first ripe Fruits of the Land were to be offered unto the Lord Exod. 22. As also the Feast of In-gathering when Fruits were gathered in and this was to continue seven dayes called also the Feast of Tabernacles Exod. 23. Levit. 23. Moreover The outward Jew was to observe the Feast of Attonement c. Now Christ Jesus put an End to all these as Typical Shadows Figures being the End of the Law for Righteousness to every one that believes the inward Jews the truly Gathered of the Lord had the true sense and feeling hereof bearing record to Christ Jesus their Passover their Unleavened Bread Bread of Life their spiritual Law-giver making them free from the Law of Sin and Death they were come to the Evangelical Meat-Offering to the Free-will Offering they bare record to Christ the First Fruits of them that sleep they knew the Evangelical In-gathering having Heavenly Treasure in Earthen Vessels they knew a Tabernacle not of man's building John testified saying The Word became Flesh and tabernacled in us dwelt in us as in a Tabernacle so they saw his Glory and the Tabernacle of God is with men and he will in-dwell in them Rev. 22.3 yea and by Christ they were Witnesses of Attonement the inward Jews Called and Chosen were come to the End of the Jewish Shadows Feasts as other things they were come to the Joy of the holy Spirit to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb these knew a Good Conscience to be a continual Feast blessed are they which are called unto the Marriage Supper of the Lamb if they obey his Call and frame not Excuses as those Guests did mentioned by the Evangelist and that the Apostles who were come to the End of Jewish Observances as oâ— Days and Feasts did institute others I have not found nor observed further then that the Churches in the Apostles dayes usually gathered together to wait upon and worship the living God on the First Day of the Week and in primitive Times the Observation of it was as a Badge of Christianity when the Question was propounded Servasti Dominicum Hast thoú kept the Lord's Day the Answer was returned Christianus sum intermittere non possum I am a Christian I cannot but keep the Lord's Day But Professors of Christianity are grown perfectly prophane saith one as that they can play on that day without Book Trapp Let us keep that day saith Ignatius in a spiritual manner rejoycing in the Meditation of the Law not in the Rest of the Body Epist 3. ad Magnes The Apostle in Christ the End of the Jewish Observation of Dayes said thus He that observes a Day he observes it to the Lord Rom. 14.6 so say we Further the Galatians Judaizing turning to beggarly Rudiments Paul wrote unto them saying Ye observe Days Moneths Times and Years I am afraid of you Gal. 4.10 11. Now as the Apostacy prevailed the Sun-shine of the Evangelical Day was loft then they brought in multitudes of Saints Dayes so called to be observed to this and that Saint till such times as all the Dayes of a Year were not sufficient to afford a particular Day to each Saints whom they desired to honour with a Festival then came in All-Saints Day so called and among other dayes set apart in the year 1254. Pope Vrban the fourth ordained the Feast of the Sacrament of the Altar with Indulgences and Pardons in this Degeneration of Christianity came in as I said before these things and as for Christmas Shrovetide c. the very Names discover their Founders and those that plead for the Observation of those Times are generally the greatest Prophaners thereof in Sports Games vicious Courses Observers rather of the Rule of Sardanapalus who said Ede bibe lude post mortem nulla voluptas Eat drink play c. then of Christ Jesus Concerning the word Sacrament and Eucharist The old Roman Soldiers took an Oath to be true to their General to live and dye with him and that Oath was called Sacramentum militare Rivet Horace Now when the Roman Empire turned Christians by the lump and painted themselves with the Form of Godliness few beautified with the Power and Virtue thereof they began to apply the Term of their Heathen Custom to the Signs or Shadow of the Christian Church so that the word Sacrament came from the Heathen Romans Leigh Tertullian is said to be the first who used the word Sacrament in order to the Signs or Figures of the Church who was about the year 210. It is a word not found in the Scriptures if truly translated yet it hath got such rooting among the Professors of Christianity as that if any deny it they are branded as Hereticks and Schismaticks by Papists and Protestants Now as it were to allure people into a Reverence and Veneration of it Papists in their Translations have put it in the Body of the Scripture for whereas Paul said This