and an Inheritor of the Kingdome of Heaven but Scripture cited in the former point declares the contrary Object But they will say That the Sureties promise that the Infants shall beleeve and repent and forsake the Divell and all his works so soons as they come to yeares of discretion Ergo c. Answ To this I answere that this is monstrous and to be abhorred for it is no lesse then to cause men to assume and arrogate to themselves the Prerogative of the most high who is the author and finisher of Faith the giver of every spiritrall gift and ability by whom we overcome Satan and all his power and this he giveth to whom hee listeth Ioh. 3. 8. Seeing then that Faith and Repentance is only from him and given to or wrought in whom he listeth how dare any to be so presumptuous as to cause any to promise that another shall beleeve or repent or forsake the Divell and all his works dare they presume to cause any to undertake that which appertaineth only to the Lord this argueth therefore great impiousnesse for they by this either would beare the world in hand that men can worke Faith and Repentance when and in whom they please or else that they have the Lord at their beck to performe their wills or last of all which I rather thinke that they cause that to be promised which they regard not whether ever it be performed or not for this cause let them read Eccles 5. 4. 5. Thus having brought the point to this issue I shall now proceed no further therein having said sufficient to discover the grossenesse of this their only and last shift and if any shall yet assirme that the Faith and Repentance of others may give Infants which have none of their own right to Baptisme they must be such who by their arts and sophistries can clude any truth and colourably justifie any Error though never so grosse and absurd such as this of regenerating Infants by Baptisme grounded upon the Faith and Repentance of Sureties is which though they teach others thus to beleeve I cannot judge them to be so ignorant as to beleeve it themselves for if they did then must I needs admire their great uncharitablenesse and the uncharitablenesse of all Christendome as they call it this 1600 yeares in that they have not in all this time sent two beleeving men and two beleeving women with a Minister or Priest into all the Heathen and Pagan Countries in the world to Baptize and Regenerate their Children Object If it be objected That the Parents being Pagans will was suffer them to Baptize their children Answ I answere though some would not yet in all likelyhood many would Secondly By their converse there in a small time they no doubt might have opportunity to Baptize their Children without the privity of the Parents Object Although this might be done yet afterwards if Christians have not the bringing up of such Children this laber would be lost Ans Not so seeing they are thereby Regenerate made the members of Christ the children of God and the Inheritors of the Kingdome of Heaven And shall any be so wicked as to thinke that Christ would want meanes to save his own members or that God would not finde out meanes to save his own Children God forbid Now then to conclude all seeing the Baptisme whereof we treate is administred to a false end in a false manner by a false power from a false ground and upon a false subject as hath bin proved then the Baptisme it selfe must likewise be false and unlawfull Again for the lawfull administred of every Ordinance of God there must besome institution of God to warrant the same but there is no institution of God to warrant the administration of Baptisme upon Infants therefore the administration of Baptisme upon Infants is unlawfull And againe that administration of Baptisme which hath no expresse command in Scripture and which overthrowes or prevents that administration of Baptisme which is expressely commanded in Scripture is a meer devise of mans braine and no Baptisme of Christs but the administration of Baptisme upon infants hath no expresse command in Scripture and yet it overthrowes of prevents the administration of Baptisms upon Disciples or beleevers which is expresselv commanded in Scripture Matth. 28 19. Mar. 16. 16. Job 4. 1. 2. Act. 2. 38. 8. 37. Therfore the Administratio◠〈◊〉 Baptisme upon Infants is a meere device of mans braine and no â—aptâ—â—â—e oâ— Christ Object If they here object that they hold and maintaine hath the Baptisme of Beleevers and the Baptisme of infants also as in the 27 Articl of the Doctrine of the Church of England is expressed and therefore denie that their Baptizing of Infants doth prevent the Baptisme of beleevers for of any Pagan Tuike or Heathen be converted to the faith they allow them Baptisms Answ I answere first that it is affirmed by the Spirit of Goe that there is but one Lord one faith one baptisme Eph. 4. 5. Now if there be but one Baptisme then either the baptisme of beleevers or the baptisme of Infants destitute or faith must needs be that one true baptisme and not both son to affirme that both is that one true baptisme is a â—â—â—t contradiction Secondly the baptisme of Infants as it is by authority ordained in this Kingdome doth thus farre prevent the baptizâ—ng of beleevers that hereby no native can be baptized upon â—aâ—th seeing all are to be baptized in their Infancy when they are destitute of faith wherefore if all other Kingdomes and Nations did the same then the commandement of Christ for the baptisme of Disciples or beleevers would be quite prevented and destroyed out of the whole world as well as it is out of this Kingdome And therefore notwithstanding this objection it is apparent that herein they have at least so far as in them lies like the Scribes and Pharisees Mat. 15 6. made the commandement of Christ of none effect by their owne traditione And inflany shall here object and say the discovering of the evill of this forme of baptizing is needlesse seeing divers persons see it already to be so frivolous and naught that they much dislike it and will not have their children baptized with Godfathers but upon other grounds namely from the Covenant made with beleevers and their children upon which ground also they of the Separation use to baptize their children wherefore their arguments should have bin likewise answered To which I answere 1 Although some few see this forme of baptisme to be sinfull and naught yet what is this to the rest of the whole Nation who yet make conscience of that Idole to this day 2. Although they of the Separation and some others do mend the matter as they thinke in the baptizing of their Children otherwise and upon other grounds yet what is all this to their own baptisme being naught by their own consession and anullitie also even from their own grounds
thing most evidently knowne whereupon it must needs follow that seeing the power and authority whereby Baptisme is there administred is not from Christ but from an Antichristian Hierarchie that the Baptisme it selfe is not from Christ but from Antichrist likewise The Nonconformists themselves teach us thus to reason for although they approve the Baptisme of Infants when it is administred by themselves of their brethren yet the baptisme administred by the midwife as it was appointed in the book of Common-prayer that they repute to be nothing but a meer prophaning of the name of the Lord Why so did not the mid-wife baptise a right Subject to wit an Infant with a right Element namely with water in a right manner viz by sprinkling water on the face of the Child to a right end that is to say to regenerate the Infant and al this in the name at least as they conceive and to the service of the blessed Trinity Now seeing that in all this the mid-wife was as right as any of them why should not the baptisme administred by the mid-wife be as warrantable and good as if it were administred by any of them Moreover was not the mid-wife a Disciple and a member of the Church aswell as they yea and had she not as lawfull and as true a calling to that Office as any of them for did not the Bishop ordaine her thereunto in one case aswell as authorize them in any other case yet all this availeth nothing with these men to prove this to be the Baptisme of Christ and the reason must needs be this for there can be no other rendred by them because the Lord Jesus Christ hath no where in his word ordained and appointed any women to administer his Baptisme Nor no more hath he any where in his word authorized any men by any false power to administer his baptisme And therefore as the former were none of Christs Ordinance but a humane invention and for that cause by King JAMES justly rejected no more is the latter any of Christs Baptisme but one of Antichrists strong delusions 2 Thessal 2. 1â— and which with him shall one day goe to perdition The truth of this is seene in all Civill States wherin when the Ordinances of the same are administred by such persons as the King or State hath assigned thereunto then are they to be reputed and esteemed as the Ordinances of the State but if a stranger or any other person then such whom the King or State hath so authorized shall attempt to do any such action let him do it never so much like to that which is done by authority as some have bin found too skilfull therein yet notwithstanding he is but a counterfeit and no better then a Traytor against the King and Sâ—ate Apply we this to the present case the Lord Jesus Christ the King of Saints hath instituted and given to his Kingdome which is his Church divers ordinances for the well being thereof and amongst the rest this Ordinance of baptisme and for the administration thereof he hath given rules and precepts to his Church for the authorizing such and such persons to administer the same Now when any such person so authorized shall dip a beleever in water in the Name of the Father Sonne and holy Spirit This is to be esteemed and reputed the baptisme of Christ but when a stranger to the common-wealth of Israel by a false power shall performe any such action let him doe it never so much like and in resemblance to that which is done by the power and authority of the Lord Jesus Christ given unto his Church yet this is but a forgery or a counterfait baptisme and none of the baptisme of Christ That such counterfeits should appeare in the world for the opposing of the truth and deceiving of the people the Lord long since by the Apostle foretold 2 Tim. 3. 9. As Iannes and Iambres saith he to wit the Magicians and Sorcerers of Egypt withstood Moses so shall these withstand the truth Now Iannes and Iambres withstood Moses no otherwise then by their arts counterfaiting and resembling the signes and miracles which Moses and â—â—ron by the power of God wrought before Pharaoh for as Moses cast downe his â—od and it became a Serpent Exod. 7. 10. so likewise the Magicians and Sorcerers cast down every man his rod and they became Serpents also ver 11. 12. And Pharaohs heart was hardened just thus deales Antichrists Ministers who by the Spirit and power of Antichrist resemble and counterfait and thereby resist and oppose the Baptisme of Christ in the hands and ministry of his Servants whereby the hearts and mindes of the people are hardned and prejudiced against the same but as the Magicians Serpent was not the Ordinance of God though like unto the same No more is Antichrists Baptisme the Baptisme of Christ though never so much like thereunto And although notwithstâ—nding by this their jugling and counterfaiting they may for a season dâ—lude the people and harden their hearts agâ—iâ—st the Lord and his truth as the Magicians and Sorcerers did Pharaoh yet saith the Apostle they shall prevaile no further Moses his Serpent devoured the Magicians for their folly shall be made manifest to all men as theirs also was 2 Tim. 3. 9. Object If any object That though they received the Office of Ministry from the Bishops yet they received it from them as Elders and not as they were Lord Bishops Answ If the Bishops be lawfull Elders they must be Elders chosen by a true Church which is a Congregation constituted of Beleevers and Saints by calling Act. 2. 41. 1 Cor. 1. 2. Phil. 1. 7. Rom. 1. 7. 8. As the nineteenth Article of the doctrine of the Church of England doth also witnes whichsaith The visible Church of Christ is a Congregation of faithfull men c. now let them shew where or when such a Church made either the Bishops or any of our Priests to be Ministers or Elders by Election as the Scriptures doth testifie to be done in every Church Act. 14. 23. And as the entrance of all ordinary Offices of which we speake of necessitic presupposeth a Church by whose election they are to enter so their continuance requireth a Church wherin as in a Subject they are to subsist and to which they must minister but the unlawfulnesse of the calling of the Ministry of the Church of England in all these respects is acknowledged by many of themselves who have therefore forsaken and cast off their ministry there received of the Bishops and departed the land and became as Lay-men untill they were authorized a new by the Election and appointment of such a Congregation as they conceived to be a true Church And these were no whit inferior but for most-part did farre exceed any of their fellowes which they left behind them either in learning wisdome or godlinesse or in any other parts or guifts Nor did these men judge that inward
Now then if no generall Counsell which is accounted to represent the whole Church upon earth hath any such power then no Nationall Synod of what sort soever hath any such power and if neither of these then much lesse a Covocation of Priests hath any seeing our late experience yet prompts us of a monstrous issue produced by that Generation soil savoured and unsevoury that the corruption therof might soone have poysoned our whole Land if by the mercy of our good God the wisdome of our State had not soone strangled that birth Object Rut a Nationall Synod might be chosen of learned godly Divines that may do better and preseribe such a forme of worship so agreeable to Gods word that no mans conscience may be offended Answ They can no more do this then make one laast serve every mans foote besides God only can and already hath prescribed rules in his word for his own worship so absolute and perfect that none may adde or diminish or vary from it in the least without incurring eternall Piagues bringing down judgements upon themselves Deut. 4. 2. 12. 32. Iosh 1. 7. 8. Pro. 30. 5 6. Rev. 22. 18 19. Gal. 3. 15. First Because all men knowing but in part have erred 3 by Rease may erre and the reason is further rendred in the 21 Article of the Church of England which saith even of generall Councells thus That for asmuch as they be an Assembly of men whereof all are not governed by the Spirit and ward of God they may erre and have erred even in things appertayning to God Because we can be saved only by our own Faith and that Reason 2. grounded upon the word and truth of God alone apprehended and seene by our own judgements and not by any others nor built upon the Testimony of any man or men for all such can produce no divine but a humane Faith and which like the house built upon the Sands Matth. 7. 26 27. will at last utterly faile us All this these men know to be true and therefore it cannot be Object thought that they seeke to have any such unlawfull power or having it would use it so unlawfully as to compell any in matters of Faith or worship knowing what the Spirit of God saith That the servant of the Lord must not strive but be gentle towards all men apt to teach patient in meeknesse instructing those that oppose themselves if God at any time will give them repentance That they might acknowledge the truth 2 Tim. 2. 24 25 26. That these men will prove persecutors as I will not accuse â—nsw them all so yet conceiving that no unlawfull power can support it selfe but by unlawfull meanes I cannot but suspect the best of them in this case especially discerning the malignant Spirits of some already this way breaking out like little sparks from a great flame against such as concurre not in judgement with them as is evident by their revilings both in Pulpits and private for the attaining of which rayling Rhetorick they needed not to have spent much time in the Vniversities seeing herein they might become sufficient Graduates by conversing but a while at Billings-gate amongst the eloquent Oyster-women there to whom for answere to all such their Arguments I wholly referre them And also discerning their murmurings and complaints against some for their exercising among themselves edifying one another out of Gods word according both to their liberties and duties they being but Lay-men as they call them and without orders as if they feared least truth should too soone breake forth and shake their buildings in the very Foundation thereof and as if they thought the Spirit of God was only at a Bishops dispose to blow when where and upon whom he pleased to breath his Holy Ghost and hence hope they that some fiery Law will speedily come down from the heavens and Hemispheere of our teâ—rene Gods at once to devour all these their adversaties not considering of what spirit they are so different from that in Moses which wished that all the Lords people were Prophets and that the Lord would put his spirit upon them Numb 11. 49. And so quite contrary to that sweet and blessed Spirit of Christ which breathes in the Scriptures and which there also tells us of an Antichristian Spirit that should both raign and rage in the world make warre with the Saints and prevaile against them yea to the overcoming and killing of them And wherefore is all this only for not conforming themselves to a worship meerely set up by the wills and traditions of men Rev. 13. 4. to the 16. Dan. 7. 21 25. And now least I should be thought to shoote at Rovers I will instance in one particular and late carriage of a learned Divine as they would be stiled in the West who frequenting the company of strangers part of three daies together under pretence of unfained love and friendship and then and there reasoning with them upon certaine points of Religion wherein they and he differed in judgement did afterward take leave of them and pretended to be sorry he could stay no longer with them and immediatly hasted and raised most soule and false accusations against them as being Blasphemers Hereticks and what not and did in fine procure them to be apprehended by Constables Behold here a true Sonne of a Butcher a Bonner a Bishop Ioh. 8. 40. 44. and brought publiquely like Thiefe's before the civill Magistrate and this Priest being there ready on the bench as if he would be both accuser and judge lay's these his false accusations against them all which not taking such effect as he desired he then instigated the Magistrate after their taking the oath of Allegiance to put them also to the Oath of Supremacy which the Magistrate contrary to Law meerly to satisfie the will and pleasure of this Priest did which oath they scrupling to take desired some time to consider of that as duty bindes them they might give to Cesar the things which are Cesars and to God the things which are Gods wherupon being committed and to be carried to to the Jâ—yle they were constrained with sureties to be bâ—uâ—d over and are yet to be prosecuted accordingly Now faine would I know whether this be any meet Spirituall weapon for this Spirituall mans use to convert men by and whether this Sword was ever intended to lie ready in the Magistrates hands to be drawne forth and be disposed of by such a Scholasticke Ignoraâ—â—us in defect of better Arguments to confute his opposites by and therewith to kill and Skinne them and all for not subjecting their judgements to his in some doctrines vainely received and taught by him from the vaine traditions of men and in particular for their not granting with him that the God head of Christ was begotten which for any to affirme as I conceive is no lesse then grâ—sse Blasphemie inasmuch as thereby he denieth the Lord Jesus Christ