125. That as no Person might eat of the Passover before Circumcised even so no unbaptized may eat of the Lords-Supper and that the Baptized and Vnbaptized ought not to joyn together in the Lords-Supper p. 126 12 d The Anabaptists Objection That Water-Baptism was lost answered p. 128. The Anabaptists Doctrine concerning the State of the Jewish Church answered p. 133. Gen. 17. 7. Exod. 19. 5 6. Deut. 29. 10 11 12 13 14. proved to be no part of the Covenant of Works p. 133 to 161. B. Keach's Assertion That God hath quite pulled down the State of the Jewish Church and turned all Infants out of doore refuted p. 162 to 170. Baptism Anatomized OR A Seasonable Discourse concerning the Right the Infants of Believers have to Water-Baptism Open'd and Explain'd in Five Queries Query 1. WHAT Water-Baptism is according to the true Sense and Meaning of the Word one Scripture opening another together with the Manner how it was Administred by the Apostles on the Primitive Christians Query 2. To what end Water-Baptism was ordained by the Lord Jesus in these last days of the Gospel Query 3. What is that by Scripture evidence that giveth any Soul Young or Old Right to have Water-Baptism administred on them Query 4. Who are they that the Lord Jesus hath ordained in his Gospel to the Worlds end to be the Administrators of Water-Baptism Query 5. Whether it be Lawful for any Man to Baptize himself Wherein is also shewed that from such an Administrator the Anabaptists successively received their new way of Rebaptizing of Adult Persons only and the Reasons disproved as they have exerted it Now Published as an answer to the several Pamphlets sent to several Persons by the Anabaptists in Penny Post Letters and other Books as Gold refined and also a Solemn Call or Challenge by Phillip Cary to any Person that will appear to vindicate the Right of Infants Baptism Therefore There is a time to keep Silence and a time to Speak saith Solomon The Summ of these Queries were delivered to one Benjamin Keach by one that the Anabaptists pressed with Arguments to be Rebaptized and not to have her Children Baptized In answer to these Queries a Book Intituled Gold Refin'd was offered by Benjamin Keach with this Message That it was an Answer to the aforesaid Queries But being examined and found too light in the Ballance of Gods Word to maintain that which it asserteth against Infant-Baptism Therefore what Benj. Keach says in the aforesaid Book relating to these Queries is here incerted and answered To the first Query What Baptism is according to the true Sense and Meaning of the Word one Scripture opening another together with the manner how it was administred by the Apostles on the Primitive Christians B. Keach saith in Page 33. of his Book Entituled Gold Refin'd That the Baptized were always Dip'd all over in Water and certain it is no Baptism at all if not so administred The only Proof he brings is the Learned in the Tongues say The word for Water-Baptism in the Original signifieth so So his Proof is not from Heaven but from Men Learned Men in the Tongues Answ Our last Translation Mr. Henry Ainsworth as well as others Learned in the Tongues saith is the well amended Translation in which written Word of God we find three several kinds of Baptism viz. the Baptism of Water Acts 10. 47. the Baptism of the Spirit Matt. 3. 11. and the Baptism of Suffering Mark 10. 39. Yet saith the Apostle There is one Faith and one Baptism Eph. 4. 5. by the word one Baptism expressed by one and the same word from the Original hath one and the same Sense in the Meaning or Signification of the word Baptism in the Administration thereof in all which the Persons Baptized with Water or with the Spirit or with Suffering are Passive So that when the word for Baptism is rightly understood in its true Sense and Meaning in the manner of Administration all three Baptisms they will agree in one and therefore we say with the Prophet Isaiah 49. 4 My judgment is with the Lord and they that speak not according to this word Isaiah 8. 20. there is no light in them Now according to this word the true Sense of the word Baptism is as followeth To begin with Water-Baptism the Apostle would not have the Primitive Christians Ignorant how that all our Fathers were Baptized unto Moses in the Cloud and in the Sea together with the manner in the Administration of this Water-Baptism by the Lord himself that it was by pouring out Water on the Israelites whom the Apostle calleth our Fathers out of the Clouds as saith the Psalmist Psalm 77. 17 18 19 20. The Clouds poured out water or the Clouds were poured forth with Water Thy way is in the Sea and thy paths in the great waters Thou leddest thy People like a Flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron Now it is to be believed that the Apostle Paul who had the mind of Christ 1 Cor. 2. 16. was not inferior for Learning in the Tongues to any Learned Man since his days who hath given his Sense concerning the signification of the word Baptism to be understood with its natural signification from or by the manner of Israels Baptism in the Sea or where they passed where the Sea or Water had been on dry foot Exod. 14. 22. 29. by the Clouds pouring forth Water on them So that the true signification of the word Baptism by the Apostle Paul's Determination is a pouring or casting Water on the Persons Wash'd or Baptized And to confirm this not by Humane Authority but by the Testimony of God in his Word that as John came Baptizing with Water even so by the same term of words in the Baptism of the Spirit it is written They shall be Baptized with the Spirit Acts 1. 5. Thus we see the manner or meaning of the word Baptize with Water or with the Spirit as it is written Isaiah 32. 15. Until the Spirit be poured on us from on high not the Person dip'd in the Spirit And again saith the Lord Joel 2. 28. I will pour out my Spirit on all Flesh for John truly Baptized with Water but ye shall be Baptized with the Holy Ghost by pouring out on Persons agreeing in one sense By all which it appeareth that at Israel were Baptized with Water when they stood in the Sea so called because it was the place where the Sea or Water had been on dry ground when the Water out of the Clouds was poured forth on them and the Water of the Sea was a Wall on each side Thus they were Baptized with Water as the Apostles were Baptized with the Holy Ghost or Spirit when poured out on them Therefore John when he Baptized Baptized with Water that was by casting or pouring Water on the Persons So then as we are commanded not to lean to our own understanding Prov. 3. 5. but to believe Gods Word in
such an Earth-quake Rev. 11. 13. that the Tenth part of that Romish City or Church fell from her Traditions or Idol-worship to imbrace Christ in his Government in his Church or Kingdom for their King Priest or Prophet they being Translated out of that Kingdom of Darkness as in the beginning of this work when Adam and Eve with his Seed in him were Translated out of Satans Kingdom of Darkness into the Kingdom of the Dear Son of God then as but one Family became Christs Kingdom here many Families or little Kingdoms of this World were become the Kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ Rev. 11. 15. that so he might Reign among them by his Laws as in Adam's Family appeared by the Offerings Gen. 4. 3 4. his Children brought and offered up to God in his Service Next in Noah's Family and so in Abraham's Family as was the everlasting Covenant-Promise Jer. 31. 1. Gal. 6. 16. I will be the God of all the Families of Israel for as the Fathers with the Children were together by the Fall Satans Subjects Children of Wrath even so the Children with the Parents when their Fathers and Mothers who had Actually sinned believed then their Children who were Sinners by original Corruption derived from them Psal 51. 5. were restored with them to be the Subjects of Christs Kingdom as it is written Isaiah 65. 23. Acts 2. 39. They are the Seed of the Blessed of the Lord and their Off-spring or buds with them And thus Christ beareth away the Sin of the World in all Ages first Christ in the Promise to Adam and Abraham and when come in Person bore away their Sins on his Body once offered for many Heb. 9. 28 namely the Believing Fathers and Mothers and their Children in Infamy with them as the Apostle proves by Rom. 5. 19. For as by one Mans Disobedience many were made Sinners so by the Obedience of one shall many be made Righteous Thus it is clearly proved that the Infants or Children together with their Believing Parents are redeemed Now if the Children were not Redeemed with their Believing Parents then Christ did not bare away the Sin of the World Contrary to John's Doctrine John 1. 29. If Infants were not a part of the World Sin entered into Then Children are not by Nature Children of Wrath contrary to Paul's Doctrine Eph. 2. 3. If Children are not of Christ's Kingdom then they are of Satans If Children are not to be brought up in the Nurture and Admonition of the Lord then the Promise in the Gospel belongeth not to Children in Infancy contrary to Deut. 29. 29. Acts 2. 39. How many like Absurdities may be brought upon the Doctrine of Anabaptistry if they well consider how they are led by a natural Fancy in denying Infants to be Redeemed by the Blood of Christ in the washing away of the Sin of the World which they by natural Corruption are guilty of but the Sin of the Infants Christ hath bore away with the Sins of their Believing Parents and Water-Baptism is ordained by the Lord to be Administred on all that have their Sin or Sins pardoned by the Lord Christ who by that Sign Water-Baptism Administred on them Christ is to be made manifest to them that he hath washed away their Sin in his Blood which is the only thing that gives any Soul Right to have Water-Baptism Administred on Young or Old Rev. 1. 5. And thus the Lord Jesus as his Kingdom was first in one Family so it still continueth in Families And therefore when Adam and his Wife and Seed in him was restored there was only the Kingdom of Christ on Earth in Adam's House and then for a time no Kingdom of Satan was on Earth he being cast out as aforesaid and Christ taking Possession But because as the Anabaptists grant in their Narrative there is Election of Persons pag. 3. therefore process of time proveth 1 John 2. 19. that all in the visible Covenant of Grace visible Members for a time in the Church of God are not all of it as appeared in the Person of Cain so in the Person of Cham or Ham the Son of Noah therefore Man is to have his Judgment rest with the Lord Isaiah 49. 4. concerning the Infants of the Lords Covenanted People commanded to be Trained up in the way Prov. 22. 6. Eph. 6. 4. they shall go in and if they continue in that Faith 1 Tim. 2. 15. of Gods Elect that was in their Parents as Timothy did in the same Faith his Grand-mother and Mother had 1 Tim. 1. 5. they so long are to be accounted a Holy Seed Ezra 9. 2. 1 Cor. 7. 14. Children of the Promise born to the Lord and so of his Kingdom his Heritage the Fruit of the Womb his Reward Gal. 3. 28. Ezek. 16. 20 21. Psal 127. Now then as that Wise King saith That even a Child is known by his doings Prov. 20. 11. speaking of the Children in Covenant Acts 3. 25. whether his works be pure or whether it be right So when Cain by his evil work proved himself not to be of the Election wanting the Faith of Gods Elect which Abel had known by his Action when wanting the work of Faith in Christ his Offering was not accepted for which he was filled with Wrath but he being reproved repented not but adding Sin to Sin as it is written Prov. 29. 1. He that being often reproved hardeneth his neck shall suddenly be destroyed and that without remedy so was he destroyed as being cast out of the Communion of Saints As he confessed saying Gen. 4. 14. And from thy Face shall I be hid namely from the Favour and Light of the Countenance of the Lord in his Kingdom of Grace and Worship being deprived of the Blessing in Christ that all the Infants born in the Covenant of Grace have because by the Free Love of God Infants are accepted in Covenant with the Lord with their Parents if they as they grow up continue in Faith and Love and Holiness with Sobriety they shall be saved As the Apostle in his reproving the Church of God at Ephesus in suffering Women to usurp Authority over the Man by Teaching as Men did Quaker-women like in the Assembly against the very Order of Nature and Command of God his reason in reproving the Female Sex was for that Adam was first formed and secondly for Adam was not deceived but the Woman being deceived was in the Transgression notwithstanding she shall be saved in Child-bearing that is if she her Husband and Children by the Word of Grace in the Promise believe in the promised Seed God Christ manifest in the Flesh the Seed of Adam and Abraham if they continue in that Faith and Love to God in keeping his Commandments and Holiness of Life as becometh such as are in Communion with the Lord and Sobriety the Women Adorning themselves in Modest Apparel as becometh Women professing Godliness they shall be saved 1 Tim. 2. 9 13
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
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-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
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
trust Therefore what is Gospel but the glad Tidings of Salvation to fallen Mankind by the Death of the Lamb of God Jesus Christ merited for them whether Actual Believers only or Believers and their Infants is a great part of this Controversie to be handled in this Treatise for Christ came to save that which by the Fall was lost Matt. 18. 11. Rom. 5. 12. Now then seeing Water-Baptism is ordained for a Sign of Remission of Sins Acts 2. 38. as is proved in the second Query all that can be proved by the Doctrine of the Apostles and Prophets agreeing in one whether adult Persons or Infants or both that have their Sin or Sins pardoned by Christ mark that are the Persons that have right to have Christ by the visible Sign Water Baptism John 1. 31. made manifest to them I shall therefore refer the Reader for a full proof hereof to read and consider the Answer to the third Query wherein is proved that the Actual Believers as likewise their Infants are equal in the Redemption by the Death of Christ Likewise as there must be a true Administrator of the Sealing Ordinances of the New Testament as well as of the Figurative Ordinances of the Old For this I refer the Reader to the Answer to the fourth Query for Satisfaction And withall to observe in the fifth Query the Description of that first Administrator of the English Anabaptists who Baptized himself because he could not find any in the way of Dipping When denying his Baptism in Infancy he presumptuously Baptized himself without any warrant from God Moreover as the first Sin that generally reigned in the old World was the opposing of the Doctrine of Free Grace which was first seen in Cain the main opposite Doctrine to the Gospel and now reigning by the pleading a Right of Acceptance with God to Gospel-Ordinances by the external Act of Man And that this is the Ground of Anabaptistry which they have laid to deprive the Infants of Believers from the Benefit of the Free Grace of God in the Covenant of the Gospel of the pardon of their Sin And so from the Right which they have to Water-Baptism And this is fully proved against them in the third Query Therefore I desire the Reader to observe their Arguments and the Answer to them for when the Apostle Jude saw the Doctrine of Cain spreading it self among the Christians he exhorteth them that were Faithful To contend earnestly for the Faith once given to the Saints Jude v. 3. Namely first to Adam by which Faith Abel offered a more excellent Sacrifice than Cain therefore saith he concerning them that opposed the Doctrine of Free Grace For they have gone in the way of Cain v. 11. turning the Grace of God into Lasciviousness denying the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ And again concerning such as opposed the Doctrine of Faith he saith v. 10. These speak evil of those things which they know not but what they know naturally as brute Beasts in those things they corrupt themselves And from this Root meerly by the Argument arising from Nature do the Anabaptists continually urge namely that Profession of Faith only giveth Right to Water-Baptism to deprive the Infants of Believers because they cannot Actually profess Faith and repent of a right to the Remission of their Sin and so of a Right to the Sign thereof Water-Baptism as in this Treatise is fully discovered Moreover And to maintain this their Doctrine grounded on Nature they quarrel with our English Translation as though the original word for Baptize was not truly explained because it is Englished Wash and not Dip Therefore we have proved in speaking to the first Query that the greatest Schollar who spake with more Tongues 1 Cor. 14. 18. than the rest of the Apostles hath by the Holy Ghost which leadeth into all Truth John 16. 13. opened and expounded the true natural and proper meaning of the Sense of the word Baptize to be a pouring of Water on the Persons Baptized as he saith All our Fathers were Baptized in the Cloud and in the Sea 1 Cor. 10. 1 2. Psalm 77. 15 to 20. being under the Cloud the Clouds pouring out Water on them when they passed through the Sea so called Sea where the Water had been for they went through the Sea on dry foot this could not be on dry foot had they been dip'd Now our Translators durst not presume to have more skill in the Sense of the original word for Baptize than the Apostle Paul had and therefore durst not confine the word to one strict Sense as the Anabaptists would have it to maintain their disorderly way of Rebaptising As is fully proved to be against Modesty in answer to the first Query But they have left the word Baptize in its general term to Wash as it is written Acts 22. 16. Be baptized and wash away thy sins So that in vain hath Ben. Keach in his Book Gold Refin'd brought a multitude of Authors to confirm the word Baptize to be Dip'd being all disproved by the Apostle Paul 1 Cor. 10. 1 2. and when they can overthrow his expounding the Sense of the word Baptize by pouring Water on the Persons Baptized then they may have somewhat to plead that Dipping is the way and till then they oppose and withstand the Apostles Doctrine like Alexander 2 Tim. 4. 14 15. for as we may observe in another word that the Translators durst not confine it to one strict sense namely the word in the original for Church or Congregation but left it in the general term Church or Congregation because the plural number more or less is in Scripture called a Church The first Church was in Adam's Family and after in Noah's Family and after that in Abraham's Family or House as the Apostle accordingly writeth to the Church in a Mans House Rom. 16. 5. 1 Cor. 16. 19 all but few in number Whereas in the Wilderness Acts 7. 38. the word for Church or Congregation were in number above six hundred thousand Souls and in the Acts above three thousand Now to limit the word for Church to a strict number is Sin so to limit the word to such a mult of Water is Sin because it is an abusing of the word contrary to the harmonious Agreement of the Scriptures and so contrary to the Analogy of Faith as is shewed at large in the first Query Therefore As in the Lords Supper it is not the quantity of Bread and Wine more or less but the right apprehension of and sincere Affection to the thing signified that Christ intendeth thereby and the same in Baptism being both Signs and Seals to one and the same Covenant of the Gospel So that when any shall plead skill in the. Tongues concerning the signification of words without regard had to the Mysteries of Faith which cannot be understood but by the help of the Spirit of God they abuse the use of Learning for there are two
sorts of Learning the one to ttanslate the literal words of the original Scriptures into any Language or Speech or Tongue a special natural Gift of God and this may be attained unto by meer natural Men that want the Spirit of Grace The other is the Learning in the Mysteries of Faith And it was and still is the pleasure of God to make choice of some Men unskilled in School-learning to publish his Gospel as for example Peter and John Acts 4. 13. when the Jews saw their Boldness and perceived that they were unlearned and Ignorant Men in School-learning they marvelled and they took knowledge of them that they had been with Jesus who had given them the Tongue of the Learned in the Spirit in that he opened their Understandings Luke 24. 45. that they might understand the Scriptures And therefore they that have not so learned of Christ by the Gift of God are Ignorant of true Learning saith Christ Matt. 13. 11. 2 Pet. 3. 17. For it is given to you to wit to his chosen to know the mysteries of the Kingdom and unto all others though never so learned in the Tongues they know not the true sense of Scripture according to the Analogy of Faith and such saith the Apostle Peter are unlearned although they have skill in all natural Learning and unstable wavering wandering minded Men wrest as they do also the other Scriptures as the Pharisees did Matt. 5. 17 to 48. 23. 13. to 24. unto their own Destruction such were the learned Rabines of the Jews for who were more learned Men than the Jews in the original Hebrew and Greek and other Languages yet when the Scriptures were read every Sabbath day Acts 13. 27. it is said they knew not the Voices of the Prophets spiritually concerning Christ in the Promise no more than did the Eunuch Acts 8. 30 31 34 35. So that if the Anabaptists have no better Schollarship to have their Faith rely on than humane Learning to teach them the Mysteries of Christ 's Kingdom whereof the Doctrin of Baptism is one they may see how they deceive themselves by a natural Faith and all others that are led by them about the signification of the word Baptism And therefore let all remember what is written concerning such as make it a Fundamental Article of their Faith to contend by Carnal Reason about words in Scripture as did the Jews in opposing the Doctrin which the Apostles taught them concerning the Kingdom of God Acts 18. 14 15 16. Insomuch that the Heathen Governour Galio was ashamed of them by the very light of Nature and that contention about words doth generally arise from pride of Heart as it is Written he is Proud knowing nothing but doting about Questions and strife of Words whereof cometh Envy Strife Raylings Evil Surmisings perverse Disputing of Men of corrupt minds destitute of Truth These consent not 1 Tim. 6. 4 3. saith the Apostle to the wholesome words of our Lord Jesus Christ and to the Doctrin which is according to Godliness For these and the like things as appeareth in the fifth Query by John Smith who began first to quarrel with Translation of Scripture such Distraction and Division is among the Churches in this day as was among the Primitive Christians for which God threatned them with Judgments and they being not warned by the Apostles teaching and Writings sent unto them God brought his severe judgments on them as are threatned now on Chrrstians for their Apostacy in this day of like Sins Rev. 8 9 and 16. Chapters as by the opening of the Seales and sounding of the Trumpets and shedding of the Vials is declared Therefore we may see if we read what 's Written God will do nothing contrary to that he hath Revealed to his Prophets Amos 3. 7. and in the Prophets Writings out of which the Book of the Prophecy of the Revelations is taken concerning the State of the Church of God and of her Enemies in all Ages since Christs Ascension and as one well said to wit Ainsworth concerning the Church of Rome p. 54. to begin at Revelation 11 Chapter it is the Key to open that Book So that as God delivered his People of old Zach. 1. 8 16. and 2. 1. 2. out of Old Babylon and a second Temple was Built and God's holy Ordinances restored then for the Sins of them again after they Apostatized from their Faith and Holy Order in Worship The Lord raised up against them that terrible Enemy under that name Gog and Magog Ezek. 38. 39. to their sore Affliction and Misery Even so God who hath called his people out of the Spiritual Babylon and a second Spiritual Temple is Builded Rev. 11. 1. with Ezek. 40. 2. 3 5. compar'd with Zach. 6. 12. Christ the Branch should Build the Temple 1 Pet. 2. 5. as hath appeared by the many Famous Churches of Christ in this and in most parts of the neighbouring Nations and other some more remote since the first Apostacy after the Apostles days wherein the true Doctrin of Faith to wit of free Grace flourished and Gods holy Order in Worship in many Churches abounded which now for some years have been Apostatising both from the Doctrin of free Grace to maintain the Doctrin of Merit or Free-will by the work done which is proved in this Treatise to be the first Foundation of Anabaptistry Not here to speak of several other People called by other Names professing Christianity who are likewise guilty of the same Doctrin that Caine and the Unbelieving Jews were pleading a right to Gods Ordinance by their own Act. What then remaineth but the expectation of God's fearful Judgment on this as on other Nations for Sin of all sorts which is begun already even by that Enemy under the name of Gog and Magog Rev. 20. 8. Whose Number is as the Sand on the Sea-shoar Enemies of all sorts covered and uncovered open wicked and secret hipocritical Enemies to the Truth of the Gospel compassing about the Camp of the Saints and the beloved City ver 9. until Fire come down from Heaven for as in the days of Noah when the true Faith was almost lost none left a Preacher of Righteousness 2 Pet. 2. 5. that is of free Grace in Christ by Christs Merit only for the justification of all in the sight of God that shall be saved from wrath to come but Noah to his Family all others were possessed with the Doctrin of Caine who like Ishmael mocked at the Doctrin of Faith Gen. 21. 9. with 2 Pet. 3. 3. which brought the Flood upon the World expecting acceptance by the work done and how is this Doctrin spread in this our day almost over all so that the day of Christs coming is likened to the days of Noah which will be with respect to the State of things Luke 17. 26. to the End as also at unawares as in the days of Noah for as it is written when the Son of Man cometh shall he
half of the Body into the Water is to walk by a meer implicit Faith because some Learned in the Tongues say the word signifieth to Dip or Plunge or Overwhelm but presuppose the word for Baptism may have a large Signification and that 't is Lawful to use more or less Water in Washing and therefore the Translators durst not confine the word Baptism to one strict Sense what quantity was used on the Person or what was the manner in the Administration which John did use in the act of Water-Baptism it is not in words prescribed but that Water was used to the Person none will deny and seeing the word in Water-Baptism is said to be with Water and the Baptism with the Spirit is express'd by the same word meaning in both with which is by pouring or casting or putting Water on or to the Person and not the Person in it for it hath been proved by plain words that when they stood in Jordan is but to stand where the Water had been so to be in the Sea was but to be where the Sea had been so as all going to Ponds or Rivers is by descending so going down in or on any part where the Water had or usually did Swell or Flow is said to go in the Water as Israel went into Jordan or in the Red Sea when as they stood where the Waters had flowed on dry ground both in the Sea and in Jordan as at low Water with us how far may one go where the Water had flowed yet but to the brink of the Water so one may be said to be in the Thames as they in Jordan Another Scripture is urged by the Anabaptists to prove that John Baptized at Enon because there was much Water Answ The word Enon being the Name of a Town which took its name from Springs that did arise there as the word signifieth an Eye or Holes from which Water springeth up so that although there may be said to be much Water by its continual Springing up yet as Sandy's and the Travels of the Patriarchs Historians say There is not so much depth of Water standing as will dip half the Body in much less will it dip the whole Body in but as most commonly a Spring riseth on upper Ground so it runneth away as may be seen daily in this Land so there may be said to be much Water by its continual Springing yet no depth of standing Water Moreover another reason why there was said to be much Water at Enon with respect to the part of the Country being forty two Miles Northward from Jerusalem so differing from the South part where ariseth few Springs as it is written from the Scarcity of Waters Psalm 126. 4. Turn our Captivity as Streams in the South and hereupon when Calebs Daughter came to ask a Blessing of her Father she said unto him Thou hast given me a South-land give me also Springs of Water Joshua 15. 18 19. so he gave her the upper and the nether Springs And for another reason we may conceive John did not Baptize at Enon because he wanted much depth of Water to Baptize withall but because there was Spring water more desirous than other water to cast upon the Face as hath been proved is the proper place that water in Baptism or Washing is to be administred by casting upon because that part representeth the whole Body as afore shewed Moreover and why should the Anabaptists be so Despising of the word Sprinkling or casting of Water in Baptism on that part that representeth the whole Person we know not unless it be to maintain their new way of Dipping seeing Sprinkling is so frequently used in Scripture to signifie our Sanctification and Cleansing from Sin by the Blood of the Lord Jesus called the Blood of Sprinkling which so well agreeth with the like Sign express'd by water in Baptism by Pouring or Washing not by Dipping but by Sprinkling as 't is written Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you and you shall be clean from all your Filthiness Ezek. 36. 25. 1 Pet. 1. 2. Heb. 12. 24. alluding to the Sign in Water-Baptism of Remission or Cleansing from the Filth of Sin by the Blood of Jesus by Sprinkling as it is written So shall he sprinkle many Nations by washing in Baptism as afore shewed when Paul was Baptized it is written not Dip'd but be Baptized and wash away thy Sins And herein the Baptism of the Spirit agreeth with Water-Baptism by Isaiah 32. 15. pouring out of the Spirit after the manner of Rain therefore ought the manner in Water-Baptism to be administred not by Dipping but by Pouring or Sprinkling water on the Face for the Reasons aforesaid But as the Lord who chargeth some to have set up an Idol in their Hearts Ezek. 14. 4. so Men may make an Idol of Gods own Ordinance as some did of the Brazen Serpent and as the Jews made little less than an Idol of Circumcision as now it is to be feared the Anabaptists do of Water-Baptism putting that Stress upon it as the Jews did upon Circumcision that they could not be Saved if not Circumcised Moreover that Ben. Keach granteth that the 3000 were not Baptized by Dipping is evident if his words in Page 21 of his Book be but observed his words are these The Multitude to be Baptized were so great that it required others besides the Apostles to do it Nor is it to be believed that Peter himself with the Eleven did Baptize all the Three thousand in one day without the help of the Hundred and twenty Answ All Christians are to know that as the Apostles taught the Churches not only to keep Faith Col. 2. 5. but Order also in the Administration of Gods Ordinances themselves being Examples to the Flock to follow them in due order in the Churches Then Note as that work to wit of Administring the Sealing Ordinances did in all Ages belong to Men in Office to do as shall be fully proved in the Fourth Query none being in Office then when the Three thousand were Baptized but the Apostles who only had received the Command from Christ to go Teach and Baptize Nations Matt. 28. 19 20. So that the Hundred and twenty the Apostles excepted were but common Disciples and some if not many of them Women Acts 1. 14 15. Some particularly named therefore it is not rationally to be believed that any common Disciple had any hand in Baptizing the Three thousand in part of that one day in which short time they were all Baptized and therefore how contrary to Sense and Reason and Scripture also is it for any to believe that the Three thousand were all Dip'd or Plunged all over in water every one of them to be taken up in their Arms by Twelve Apostles to be buried in water as the Anabaptists Plead but yet Practice not for the day was but Twelve hours long John 11. 9. and it was the third hour of the day Acts 2. 15. when
their Sin or Sins but Christ is come who beareth away the Sin of the World that Infants are guilty of and we have proved the Infants of Believers have their Sins pardoned And this is the only thing which giveth any young or Old right to Water-Baptism So that this Doctrine that sinful Mans external Act of Profession or the Godliest Mans external Act of Profession giveth Right to Water-Baptism is a new Doctrine no where found written in the Book of God Now if this be the Anabaptists Gospel That God gave his Son to save Actual Sinners only and these by their own Act Merit a Right to the Sign of Remission of Sins and that because Infants cannot Actually profess Faith and Repent that they have no Right to the Sign of Remission of their Sins or is it their Judgment because their Sin in Infancy is not pardoned therefore they have no Right to the Sign And whether doth this Doctrine lead these People but to conclude either Infants are saved without Christ or else have no Sin and so Christ died not for them If on the other hand they say that Infants are Sinners then they cannot be Saved without a Redeemer if Redeemed then they have Right to the Sign of the Remission of their Sins for no other Reason but because God for Christ's sake hath pardoned the Sin of the World charged on Infants As John saith in preparing the way of the Lord in the Salvation of Sinners Behold the Lamb of God which taketh or beareth away the Sin of the World Again B. Keach having asserted the aforesaid Argument to deprive the Infants of Believers from the Right they have to Water-Baptism merited by Christ for them hath formed another Argument least his former when tryed by the Golden Reed Gods Word Rev. 11. 1. with Rev. 21. 15. should as it hath been proved be insufficient to deprive the Infants of Believers of the Right to have Water-Baptism to be Administred on them His words are these in his aforesaid Book Page 64. There is no better way to know who or what manner of Persons our Lord Jesus hath commanded to be Baptized than to go to the great Commission of our Lord Jesus Go teach all Nations Baptizing them Answ That there is no better way is granted when the Commission of the Lord Jesus is rightly understood in his Will and Mind contained therein which when rightly understood will agree with the Doctrine contained in the Prophets and Apostles on which our Faith is to be builded on Christ Jesus being the chief Corner-stone Eph. 2. 20. Therefore I desire the Reader to observe these two things First In the Commission of the Lord Jesus it is said Matt. 28. 19. Go ye therefore and teach all Nations Baptizing them It is also said Go ye into all the World and preach the Gospel to every Creature Mark 16. 15. By every Creature is all Mankind that is called the World which by the Fall Sin entered into Actual Sinners and their Seed or Infants as afore proved To these the Apostle preached the Gospel as it is written The Gospel which ye have heard and which was preached to every Creature which is under Heaven whereof I Paul am made a Minister Col. 1. 23. Secondly What this Gospel is or from whence it was the Apostles were sent to gather or reap the same they were to teach seeing when they were sent no Gospel was to be found written but in Scriptures of the Prophets therefore to this we shall first speak namely what the Gospel was the Apostles were commanded to teach all Nations it was no other than they found in the Scriptures of the Prophets as it is written from the words of the Lord Jesus to his Apostles I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour other men laboured and ye are entered into their labour And herein is that saying true One soweth and another reapeth John 4. 37 38. Now concerning this Gospel the Apostles were commanded to teach the Apostle Peter writeth saying to the Primitive Christians The Prophets have enquired and searched diligently who prophesied of the Grace that should come unto you Searching what or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ that was in them did signifie when it testified beforehand the Sufferings of Christ and the Glory that should follow Unto whom it was revealed that not unto themselves but unto us mark that but unto us they did Minister or serve unto the things which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the Gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from Heaven which things the Angels desire to look into 1 Pet. 1. 10 11 12. Likewise the Apostle Paul in his Defence before King Agrippa to clear himself of the Charge the Jews laid against him That he taught other Doctrine for Gospel than what he found written in the Prophets His answer was Having therefore obtained help of God I continue unto this day witnessing both to small and great saying no other things then those which the Prophets and Moses did say should come That Christ should suffer and that he should be the first that should rise from the Dead and should shew light unto the People and to the Gentiles Then Paul said to King Agrippa Believest thou the Prophets I know that thou believest Then Agrippa said unto Paul Almost thou perswadest me to be a Christian Acts 26. 22 23 27 28. And again when many Jews at Rome had appointed a day to come to Paul's Lodging to be informed of his Doctrine or Gospel he taught concerning Jesus it is written To whom he expounded and testified the Kingdom of God perswading them concerning Jesus both out of the Law of Moses and out of the Prophets from morning till evening Acts 28. 23. The Lord Jesus himself likewise proved what he taught concerning himself in coming into the World according to the Promise to Adam proving himself to be the Womans Seed God manifested in the Flesh by the Prophets Beginning at Moses and all the Prophets he expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself Luke 24. 27. So that hence it is that the Gospel or glad Tidings of Christ our Saviour the Apostles were sent to reap their Doctrine they preached from the Scriptures of the Prophets as the Apostle Paul saith the Gospel they taught is made manifest by the Scriptures of the Prophets according to the Commandment of the everlasting God made known to all Nations for the obedience of Faith Rom. 16. 26. As in the Commission saying Go ye therefore and teach all Nations Baptizing them Matt. 28. 19. So then Christ sent his Disciples and Apostles and the Jews to search the Scriptures to wit of the Prophets to be informed of the glad Tidings promised them concerning the Messiah they looked for as it is written Search the Scriptures for in them ye think to have eternal Life and they are they which testifie of me John 5.
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
Thirty years of Age for as God is a God of order so Christ as Man kept order in all things he did So that as he came to fulfil all Righteousness for Believers and their Infants waited for one foretold of by the Prophet Isaiah to begin that work which was to continue for a Gospel-Ordinance as it is written The Voice of him that crieth in the Wilderness Prepare ye the way of the Lord make straight in the Desert a High-way for our God Isaiah 40. 3. Matt. 3. 12. Now although Christ was God yet was he also Man and so waited for a Ministerial Officer to begin so great an Ordinance a Gospel-Ordinance to remain as a Sign of Justification by Christs Righteousness in the Remission of the Sins of the Believers and their Infants whose Sin or Sins he had bore away in Promise and was now come in Act to bare away in Person their Sins as a Lamb slain in the determinated Council of God before the World was Therefore John being the Son of a Priest might not begin his Ministerial Office according to the Law not then abolished until he was Thirty years of Age Numb 4. 3. The Lord Jesus as Man being but Six Months younger was Baptized so soon as John began his Ministry and this was the reason why Christ was not Baptized until he was about Thirty years old So that this Plea from Christs being not Baptized until he was a Man grown is Insufficient to prove that Infants are not to be Baptized thus we see what Windings and Turnings by any Colour or vain Deceit these People lye in wait to deceive by who turn away their Ears from the Truth and be turned unto Fables 2 Tim. 4. 4. Another Pretence is they plead the order of words go Teach and Baptize so that from hence by carnal Reason without respect to the Analogy of Faith according to the Doctrine of Baptism they infer That no one is to be Baptized until he is capable to understand Doctrine If the order of words would satisfie these People we read John did baptize in the Wilderness and preached the Baptism of Repentance for the Remission of sins Mark 1. 4. Here by this Scripture we see the order of words runneth John Baptized and Taught as elsewhere it is written Go Teach and Baptize To contend about words we are forbidden but commanded to contend for the Faith once given to the Saints Then for a ready way to understand the order of words in this matter we must begin at the Root the Figure or Forerunner of Water-Baptism namely Circumcision the one coming in room of the other as they both signified one and the same Benefit to Believers and their Seed in Christ who was Baptized and Circumcised for us in the one to fulfil all Righteousness imputing his Righteousness to Believers and their Infants as by that Sign Washing away their Sins in his Blood the other in disburdening them of their Sins as by Col. 2. 11 12. is proved Matt. 3. 15. Rom. 1. 5. Therefore as afore shewed of all Actual Sinners Actual Repentance and Confession of Faith God required before they might be Circumcised for Abraham and the Proselyte Gentiles first by the word were called to Repent God having given them also Faith to believe in Christ who was yesterday and to day and the same for ever no other name given under Heaven that ever any Soul can be saved by from Wrath to come Now when such had Actually sinned and repented and believed then were they Circumcised as a Seal set on them of the Righteousness of their Faith in Christ who by his Circumcision when come in the Flesh should disburden them of their Sins as afore proved by Col. 2. 11 12. with Rom. 4. 11. and because it was the pleasure of God that as Infants are Sinners not by their own Act but by the Actual Sin of Adam and so by original Corruption still derived from Father to Children therefore as the Free Grace of God was in the Gospel preached to Adam and Abraham That Christ came to take away the Sin of the World as afore proved Infants were guilty of and Rom. 5. 12. Christ having bore away the Sin from Infants when the Sin of their Parents was bore away is the reason that the Infants of old were Circumcised without Actual Confession of Faith and Repentance and after were commanded to be taught Then by the order of words some as Actual Sinners were first to be taught before either Circumcised or Baptized and others their Seed in Infancy as for the reasons afore given first Circumcised and after Taught as now Baptized and after Taught Deut. 3. 12 13. Eph. 6. 4. And thus we see the order of words are reconciled that John is said to Baptize in the Wilderness and preach the Baptisin of Repentance and the Apostles preached Repentance and after Baptized So that there is no warrant to keep Infants from Water-Baptism until they repent Thus the Anabaptists Doctrine is not of God but a Point of their natural Faith Seeing then it is clear that as Infants were first accepted into the Covenant of Grace in Christ with their Believing Parents and then Circumcised as by Deut. 29. is proved that first the Parents with their Little ones entered Covenant with the Lord even the same Covenant made with Abraham Isaac and Jacob v. 13. and afterwards were Circumcised at Gilgall Joshua 5. 3. by Joshua who was a Circumcised Person of them that came out of Egypt and then the Children were taught what God had done for them and what he did require of them as they grew up Gen. 18. 19. Deut. 6. 7. and 11. 19. Prov. 22. 6. So that the Infants then born when God accepted them with their Parents into the Covenant of Grace with himself as also the Infants after born their Parents were to bring with them in the Feast of Tabernacles as it is written Gather the People together Men and Women and Children and thy Strâ—â—gers that is within thy Gates joyned with Israel in Covenant with the Lord Deut. 29. 10 11 12 13. that they may hear and that they may learn and fear the Lord your God and that their Children which have not known any thing may hear and learn to serve the Lord your God Deut. 31. 11 12 13. Even so are Parents now to bring their Children with them to the Congregation to hear the Law of God opened and explained though as yet they may not have known any thing as it is written Ye Fathers bring up your Children in the Nurture and Admonition of the Lord Eph. 6. 4. For whatsoever things were written afore-time were written for our the whole Church of Gods Learning That they through Patience and Comforts of the Scriptures might have hope for them and their Children Rom. 15. 4. as saith the Prophet Who should arise and declare them to their Children that they might set their hope in God and not forget the works of
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
Baptize and furnished with Gifts and working Miracles Therefore no ordinary Person as B. Keach degradeth him in saying He was no other than a Deacon or an Overseer of the Poor when Philip Baptized This Error he had need to correct in his next Again as concerning Ananias he was no private Person as B. Keach saith for we read he was by the Lord immediately called and inabled to work Miracles Acts 22. 12 13. to wit on Paul before he Baptized him And as touching the Sects in Corinth it giveth light in this matter for some followed Paul some Cephas some Apollo taking occasion as it seemeth by the Persons that Baptized them unto whom they leaned more than unto others Now if it were so that some of these were private Men though as it hath been proved they were not yet the Action of a private Man in a work done by express command from God any more than Gideon Judges 16. 25 26. in offering Sacrifice which belonged only to the Tribe of Levi might be followed by any other of his Brethren of the Tribe of Manasseh Again that any Man of Cyprus or Cyren Administred Baptism or the Lords Supper cannot be nor yet is by the Anabaptists proved by any one Scripture and as for Apollo he was no private Man whom Paul joyned with himself nor Cephas who either was Peter or some eminent Officer a Planter and Minister whom the Corinthians accounted as one of their chief Teachers therefore more than common Disciples as B. Keach faineth out of his own Heart which deceiveth him and others that take his bare word for proof or rule to practise of what he hath written about Baptism either in the manner or in the Administrator of it And what is to this end published lately in a Narrative Page 18. of the Anabaptists but that they allow the high Breach of Gods order Namely That other than Pastors or Teachers may Administer the Lords Supper If so then what need is there of Men to be chosen into Office or what need any care be taken for Ministers Maintenance who are chosen to wait upon their Ministry and have charge given them by the Holy Ghost as Overseers of the Flock Acts 20. But we see how little care these Men take that all things among them be done decently and in order but have published as aforesaid rather that order is not to be regarded whereas they may remember when for breach of order for presuming to do that work which God had enjoyned to be done by Office as aforesaid how Corah and his Company were swallowed up in the Earth Numb 16. And for breach of order how King Uzziah was 2 Chron. 26. 16. struck with Leprosie to the day of his death presuming to do the Priest's work Likewise God destroyed Uzza a Levite as aforesaid who out of a good Intent touched the Ark 1 Chron. 13. 10. to keep it from falling which work only belonged to the Priest's Office Numb 4. to touch the Ark. These things being written for our Admonition upon whom the end of the World is come 1 Cor. 10. 11. How then dare the Anabaptists resolve in the Affirmative in their Narrative page 18. without any word drop'd from Christ or grounded Reason from Scripture that an Elder of one Church may Administer the Ordinance of the Lords Supper to another of the same Faith being called so to do by the said Church though no Pastor but as a Minister that is neither Pastor nor Teacher by Office Necessity being only considered in the case and produced no Scripture to prove it when as Necessity did not warrant Uzza in touching the Ark as aforesaid Narrative page 18. Now although B. Keach hath set his Hand to the aforesaid Narrative as Lawful without Command or Example or true grounded Reason from Scripture for it yet in his Answer to an Argument brought for Infants Baptism nothing he will allow but a literal Command in such Term of words he thinks fit The Argument for Infants Baptism is this There is nothing in all the New Testament against Infants Baptism saith Mr. Smythies If indeed our Saviour had declared that Infants should not be Baptized or if we had read of the Apostles refusal of them And there is no hint from any express word from Christ saith Mr. Sidenham or his Apostles nor any Phrase which doth forbid such an Act. B. Keach saith We will answer with Tertullian for there is a certain Rule saith he If it be said it is lawful because the Scripture doth not forbid it it may be equally retorted it is therefore not lawful because the Scripture doth not command it To which he farther addeth to back Tertullian saying That which is done in the Worship and Service of God without an express word drop'd from Christ or his Apostles or any Phrase which doth signifie it is his Will and Mind it should be done is unlawful and no better than Will worship Gold Resin'd Page 146 147. Now will not the Reader mark how this Man is Yea and Nay for what word is drop'd from Christ that other besides Pastor or Teacher shall Administer the Ordinance of Water-Baptism and the Lords-Supper since extraordinary Offices are ceased as Apostles Evangelists and the like as he with others affirmeth that a Teaching Disciple may Baptize and no word drop'd from Christ for it Yet he granteth Water-Baptism to be a part of Gospel-Worship and that whatsoever is done in Worship without an express Command from Christ or his Apostles he granteth is no better than Will-worship therefore seeing there is no word drop'd from Christ that any other besides Pastor or Teacher may Administer the Lords-Supper nor yet no other may Administer Water-Baptism It is therefore Will-worship by his own grant for any being but a Teaching Disciple to Baptize As likewise when any among them and not a Pastor or Teacher Administers the Lords-Supper is likewise Will-worship and so a high Breach of Gods Order So that Church which alloweth these things hath as the Lord complained transgressed the Laws and broken the Everlasting Covenant which Church or City is therefore called the City of Consusion Isa 24. 10. the very Name of Babylon out of which Assemblies all Gods Elect are called out from among them Rev. 18. 4. Although they Boast and say Lo here is Christ and Lo there is Christ Christ saith Go not after them Matt. 24. 23. for where Order is not regarded nor kept in either State Spiritual or Civil there is Consusion and every evil work Therefore let us take a view in Holy Scripture in Christs last Will namely of the orderly Performance of all Gods Holy Ordinances in Worship according to the Rules prescribed in the Testament of the Lord Jesus as it is written Let all things be done Decently and in Order 1 Cor. 14. 40. Now because Order is joyned to Faith therefore saith the Apostle For though I be absent in the Flesh yet am I with you in the Spirit
18 19 10. as it is written Beloved remember ye the words which were spoken before of the Apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ how that they told you there should be Mockers in the last time and these because they have not the Spirit speak evil of those things which they know not but what they know naturally as brute Beasts in those things they corrupt themselves If this Man was not one of them he would not have dared to be so bold as to say Flocks and Heards Exod. 12. 38. that went through the Sea when our Fathers were saith the Apostle Baptized 1 Cor. 10. 1 2. were doubtless Baptized as well as Children under the Cloud and in the Sea and now to say again to carry Children out when it raineth is as true Baptism as Israel had under the Cloud Yet notwithstanding he hath so contemptuously spoken of the Baptism in the Cloud and in the Sea yet he saith that Baptism was a Type or Figure of Gospel-dipping but how will this Mans words hang together one while he saith Beasts and Unbelievers were Baptized as well as Children whatsoever was a Type or Figure hath its Substance If the Beasts were Baptized in the Sea what did it typifle such Beastly Men surely that withstood Paul's Doctrine at Ephesus as it is said He fought with Beasts at Ephesus after the manner of Men as such Beasts of Men as Jude speaks of That speak evil of the way of Faith which they know not of and would exclude Infants out of Christs Kingdom as they do Infants from being our Fathers then as the Apostles calleth them Rom. 9. 5. Again whereas he saith The Baptism in the Cloud and in the Sea was a Figure of Gospel-dipping if so then Men Women and Children must be Baptized standing on dry ground for so it is said They stood in the Sea or place where the Water had been on dry ground but the truth is it was a Figure of Gospel-Baptism by casting pouring or sprinkling Water on the Head and Face the noble part that representeth the whole Person and whereas Infants were Baptized in the Figure it tipisied the Right they have now as afore proved in the third Query Now having proved by the Testimony of Holy Scripture What Baptism is The end wherefore it was ordained What it is that giveth any Soul Right to it Who is a true Administrator of it And what a High Breach of Gods Order it is for any Person to Baptize himself The next thing is farther to prove by Holy Scripture that the Covenant the Church of Israel was established in to be the People of God and the Lord to be their God was the Covenant of Grace in Christ and that it was not as the Anabaptists say a Carnal Covenant And also in particular to prove that the Covenant which God made with Abraham and his Seed Gen. 17. 7. and with Israel when they came out of Egypt Exod. 19. 5 6. and again renewed with all Israel Men and Women and their little ones Deut. 29. 10 11. that they were no parts of the Covenant of works as Mr. Cary affirmeth but the everlasting Covenant of Grace in Christ now confirmed to all Believers and their Infants Rom. 4. 11. Col. 2. 11. as shall be further proved I shall first lay down the Doctrine of the Anabaptists being the Ground and Foundation their whole Fabrick is built upon To begin with the Father of the English Anabaptists Mr. Smith who saith in his Book called The Character of the Beast P. 16. That the Church of Israel was a Carnal People had a Carnal Covenant or promise of Carnal things 2. Mr. Danvers his apt Schollar affirmeth in his Treatise of Baptism Page 144. That Circumcision initiated a Carnal Seed into a Carnal Church and gave them Right to Carnul Ordinances and that Trees and Fruit were as capable of Circumcision as Children at eight days old P. 173 175. Mr. Cary saith That she Covenant God made with Abraham Gen. 17. 7. and the Covenant God made with Israel Exod. 19. 5 6. and the same renewed in Deut. 29. are but three Additional parts of the Covenant of works made with Adam before his Fall Solemn Call Page 120. Mr. Keach saith That Children were admitted Members of the Jewish Church is granted and 't is also evident that God hath now quite pulled down that House of his I mean that National Church State and broke up House keeping and turned the Bond-woman and her Son the Fleshly Seed Servants and Infants all out of doors the natural Branches are broken off and God hath built a new a Glorious and more Spiritual House into which he admitteth none as his houshold Servants to dwell in his Spiritual Family but Believers only or such as profess so to be 1 Pet. 2. 5. and that the old House the Jewish Church-State with all the Appurtenances Rights and Priviledges of it is pulled down and a new one built into which Infants are not to be admitted as is very evident from what the Apostle speaks Heb. 7. 12. which 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 disanull'd 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 or else you say nothing Gold Refin'd Page 113. This being the Ground and Foundation of the Faith of these Men on which their whole Fabrick of Anabaptistry is erected I shall therefore speak to each of them particularly and first as touching Mr. Smith's words concerning the State of the Church of Israel where he affirmed That the Church of Israel was a Carnal People had a Carnal Covenant or promise of Carnal things I shall first set down Mr. Henry Ainsworth's Answer which he gave him not only to the aforesaid words but also to what Mr. Smith farther said namely The Israelites did worship to Repentance we worship from Repentance first Men declare their Repentance and then we receive them into Communion to worship with us with them to wit in the Jewish Church saith he first Men were received into typical Communion and then they were trained up to Repentance and Faith in Christ c. Parallel Page 30. Mr. Ainsworth answereth These and the like distinctions Mr. Smith fetcheth out of his own Heart not from the word of God for although there be differences many between them and us as touching the outward Rights and Services ended and abolished by Christ as the Epistle to the Hebrews sheweth yet as touching the Substance of their Religion Worship Constitution c. as tonching Repentance Faith Reconciliation to God c. There was no such difference as Mr. Smith faineth for the Church of the Jews they had the Law to shew them their sin and to bring them to Christ so have we the Church under
the Gospel Matt. 5. 17. Think not that I am come to destroy the Law or the Prophets I am not come to destroy but to fulfil Rom. 3. 30 31. Seeing it is one God which shall justifie the Circumcision by Faith and the Uncircumcision through Faith do we then make void the Law through Faith God forbid yea we establish the Law Rom. 7. 7. What shall I say then is the Law Sin God forbid I had not known Sin but by the Law For I had not known Lust except the Law had said thou shalt not Covet James 2. 8 9 10 11. Thus the Law is of the same use to us now as it was to the Church of the Jews We have the Gospel to shew us our Righteousness by Christ without the works of the Law so had they Heb. 4. 2. for unto us was the Gospel preached as well as unto them see Levit. 26. 42 45. Luke 54. 55. 72. 73. Deut. 30. 1. 12 13 14. Rom. 10. 5 6 8. Gen. 15. 6. Psalm 32. 1 2. with Rom. 4. 6. c. 1 Cor. 10. 1 2 3 4. Heb. Chap. 11. only in the manner of Administration of the Law and Gospel there be Differences manifested Ainsworth's Defence of Scripture Page 119. In which Answer of Mr. Ainsworth's is proved these things 1. That the Church of Israel had the very same use of the Law we now have to shew them and us our Sins that we as well as they might be lead to Christ 2. They had the same Gospel to shew them as us our Righteousness in Christ without the works of the Law 3. They had Ordinances for Worship which figur'd Christ to come which they in believing and looking for his coming offered in Faith Heb. chap. 11. so worshipped they the Father in Spirit and in Truth as Christ said to the Woman of Samaria Ye worship ye know not what we know what we worship for Salvation is of the Jews but the hour cometh and now is when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in Spirit and in truth for the Father seeketh such to worship him God is a Spirit and they that worship him must worship him in Spirit and in Truth John 4. 22 23 24. and such Worshippers were the Church of the Jews though not all as in the Gospel-Church many were reproved for seeking to be justified by the works of the Law Gal. 3. Therefore as well they of the Circumcision as others the Apostle testifieth worshipped God in the Spirit though not all as it is written For we are of the Circumcision which worship God in the Spirit and rejoyce in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the Flesh Phil. 3. 3. And thus in the Church of Israel many were Righteous walking in all the Ordinances of the Lord blameless waiting by Faith for Christ in the Promise to come the Consolation of Israel as it is written of old Simeon when Christ was born and brought into the Temple He then took him up in his arms and blessed God and said Lord now lettest thou thy Servant depart in peace according to thy word for mine eyes have seen thy Salvation which thou hast prepared before the face of all People a light to lighten the Gentiles and the Glory of thy People Israel So likewise Anna she coming into the Temple at the same Instant gave Thanks likewise to the Lord and spake of him to wit of Christ To all them who looked for Redemption in Israel Luke 2. 25 28 to 39. Rev. 3. 4. These things being duly observed let the impartial Reader judge whether the Church of Israel were a Carnal People or had a Carnal Covenant and Promise of Carnal things as Mr. Smith feigneth or whether the Church of Israel were not such that worshipped the Father in Spirit and in Truth under the Covenant of Grace by Faith serving God although under Figurative Ordinances for the hope of the Promise made of God to the Father Acts 26. 6 7. yea believing that it was not the Blood of Bulls and Goats that could take away Sin Psalm 40. 6. 51. 16. Heb. 10. 4. but it was the Blood of Christ the Lamb of God the true Sin-offering 2. Cor. 5. 21. that on him was laid the Iniquity of us al Isaiah 53. that shall be saved As John hath proclaimed Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world Therefore what an Erroneous Doctrine is it that John Smith and Mr. Danvers have laid to build the way of Anabaptistry upon to deprive the Infants of Believers from the Right they have now to the Sign of the Remission of their Sin Water-Baptism And not only so but by their Doctrine they Damn the Infants of all Gods People of old if the Covenant the Church of Israel were accepted into with their Children was no other than a Carnal Covenant for a Carnal State is opposite to a Spiritual State as the Apostle proveth Rom. 8. 6 7. for to be carnally minded is Death but to be Spiritually minded is Life and Peace because the Carnal Mind is Enmity against God for it is not subject to the Law of God neither indeed can be so then they that are in the Flesh cannot please God Now if the Church of Israel was in no better State and had but a Carnal Covenant their State was Death and Damnation for as much as there is no Eternal Life but in the Covenant of Grace in Christ John 17. 3. so the Church is not the World which Christ pray'd for ver 9. But that the Church of God from the day the Gospel was Preached to Adam and he and his Wife believed in Christ to come they had the Covenant of Grace whereby God was the God of the Faithful and their Seed so that the Gospel first Preached to Adam that the Seed of the Woman should bruise the Serpents Head is the same Gospel the Apostles taught as it is written And the God of Peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly Rom. 16. 20. And this glad Tidings is summed up in these words of the Everlasting Gospel-Covenant made with Abraham and his Seed as it is written Gen. 17. 7. 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 which Covenant together with that in Exod. 19. 5 6. that in Deut. 29. Mr. Cary affirmeth to be but three several Additions to the Covenant of Works made with Adam before the Fall so no part of the Covenant of Grace in Christ Now for as much as Mr. Cary and others when they seek to pervert the Scripture from its true Sense or Meaning as afore hath been shewed concerning the Sense of the word Baptize so here concerning the word Everlasting Covenant Mr. Cary saith in P. 126 127. of his Book Solemn Call It is true saith he the Covenant of Circumcision is called also an Everlasting
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
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