heard it of his Father And the Apostle Paul Acts 20. 27. saith That he had declared the whole counsell of God But hee never revealed the Dipping of Infants Therefore the dipping of Infants is none of the counsell of God And therefore as the Jewes were brought by Ceremonies to know Christ so let Christians learne to know first as the Lord saith Isai 53. 11. By his knowledge shall my Righteous servant justifie many And Jere. 31. 34. all shall know me from the least to the greatest and Phillip 3. 3. we are the circumcision which worship God in the spirit and reioyce in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh Quest 5. But what is the true ordinance of the dipping of Christ and wherein doth it differ from childrens Dipping which is the best way to shew the truth and what benefit doth Beleevers receive by it Answ That Dipping whereof we speake is Dipping burying or plunging a Beleever in VVater he desiring of this Ordinance of an Apostle Prophet or Evangelist To whom Christ by his Church hath committed the Administration In the Name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the holy Spirit Matth. 28. 19. 20. in which definition you may observe these two parts 1. The matter and that is a true subiect of a Beleever confessing sinnes and faith desiring the ordinance 2. Water the Element and so you have the matter for the true forme which is First Christs power putting life into the Ordinance in his owne Institution delivered in these words to the Apostles goe yee Thirdly the right verball forme of words in the Name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the holy Spirit Fourthly consider the ends the Lord aimeth at in giving this ordinance of dipping to the Apostles and so to the Church First he will have them all conformable to himselfe Rom. 8. 29. Matt. 10. 13. Mark 1. 9. Luke 3. 21. for before that hee went about the worke of God hee went to Iohn to be dipped of him so before we take on us to make publike profession of Christ or any part of the Gospel much more to preach wee must be Dipped and so put on the right profession of the Gospel Gall. 〈…〉 as many of you as have been dipped into Christ hav◠〈…〉 Christ Secondly God doth by this holy ordinance assure and manifest that he hath washed us from all our sinnes by the blood of Jesus Christ Acts 22. 16. And doth truly and visably receive us into the Covenant of grace whereby wee are partaker of all the Promises therein contained that doe concerne the planting us in Christ or forgivenesse of sinnes and Gal. 3. 26. Hos 14. 3. Gal. 4. 4. 5. 5. 6. receptation of persons both that wee being fatherlesse by nature God will be a Father to us for yee are all the Children of God by faith in Iesus Christ Againe we are lost in Adam therefore we are washed in the Name of the Son for he hath redeemed us that wee might receive the Adoption of sonnes and because yee are sonnes God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts crying Abba Father who of God is made into us wisedome righteousnesse sanctification and Redemption 1 Cor. 1. 30. Thirdly we are unable to will or to doe any thing that is good And therfore wee have the holy Spirit to begin all in and perfect all for us and to worke all our works in us Isai 26. 12. Lord thou wilt ordaine peace for us for thou also hast wrought all our workes in us And Rom. 8. 26. Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our Infirmities And Col. 1. 29. whereunto I labour striving according to his working which worketh in me mightily And Phil. 2. 13. It is God which worketh in you both to will and to doe all his good pleasure Fourthly Hereby the Beleever that was by nature afarre off a Farrenner and Stranger is by the blood of Christ made nigh Ephes 2. 12. 13. 14. And is by this Ordinance of Dipping in union with the whole body of God upon earth 1 Cor. 12. 13. And may challenge a right in the priviledges of the Gospel in any place wheresoever he commeth into the Communion of the Saints Acts. 9. 26 27 28. Fiftly this is Christs Livery by which Christians are knowne from all other and the Church from the world Gal 3. 27. Sixly if at any time any should aske us who reqâ—ireth us to walke in such a holy fellowship and communion wee are inabled to it by Christ and so assured of Countenance in it by the Lords Supper for hee that saith he is in Christ and hath fellowship with him ought himself so to walke even as he hath walked John 1. 2. 6. Seventhly That the person thus dipped is first visibly sealed to the day of Redemption Secondly he hath truely a right to Communion as being dipped into that one body whereof Christ is head 1 Cor. 12. 13. Thirdly that hee is mortified Rom. 6. 4. crucified dead and buried and risen againe with Christ Gal. 3. 2. 3 4 5. Eightly that the Beleever may in that day role away all the reproach of Egypt or Antichristianisme renouncing the marke of the beast in our right hands by holding or fighting for him or in our forehead Revel 13. 16. by dipping of Infants that false Constitution of Rome to beget grace thus it is cleere who is the true subjects of Dipping And who are not Now the Lord Jesus came not till the fulnesse of time Gal. 4. 5. and when he was come never undertooke any Administration though he were heire of all things Heb. 1. 3. but in an orderly way as hath been shewed nor will hee contract marriage with any though the husband of all his Church and members Hosea 2. 19. I will betroath them unto me in Righteousnesse And in Judgement and in loving kindnesâ—e And in mercy yet not with any that are so young and under age Gal. 4. 1. 2. 3. that they are not sencible of the want of Christ or any benefit they receive by him or what contract they make with him In short all those holy ends that God aimed at in true dipping are wholly made voide and of no effect in the dipping of Infants which the Lord Christ commanded not Jere. 7. 31. Revel 22. 18. Matth. 28. 19 20. nor came into his heart And cursed is he that shall adde to the Word of the Lord Deut 4. 2. 12. 31. Prov. 30. 6. If any man shall adde to these things God shall adde to him the Plagves that are written in this book and therefore that â—very one would be incovraged to bring out their Talent and not to hide it in a napkin to the overthrowing of all the inventions of the man of sinne Psal 137. 8 9. Objection 1. NOW follow certaine answeres to divers objections As First Matth. 19. 13. 14. In which it is cleere children were brought to Christ therefore he dâ—pt them or it was
their right say they Answ 1. It doth not follow that because Christ received and blessed them that therefore he dipped them for hee dipped none at all Iohn 4. 2. but his Disciples Secondly this place is put in to be read at the sprinkling of children for the whore hath sweet words as soft as oyle and with these faire speeches she maketh the nations yeeld to her Pro. 7. 21. but the simple only beleeveth her Pro 9. 16. 17. For this place as all may see makes nothing at all for sprinkling of children Thirdly if they were infants of Eight daies old as Circumcision was Administred And that their parrents were Jewes they might not be dipt before nor after the Eighth day and then their Mother would lie in and be very unfit to goe abroad much lesse to carry out their children If they were not of the Jewes but Gentiles then had they no right they knowing not God And their Children not borne of beleeving parents Acts 2. 30. Gen. 17. 9. 10. 11. Fourthly we must not thinke so meanely of the servants of Christ or thinke his Disciples so untaught that if Christ had instituted the dipping of infants and so had practised the same that they would forbid or keep any away fâ—om Christs Ordinance But rather of all others observe all things as Christ commanded them to the end of the World Matth. 28. 20. 5. In both these places there is not one word spoken of Concerning Dipping in many Chapters before and after and therefore they came not for Dipping vnâ—o Christ he never did it to any having greater works to doe to writ the more Noble worke of preaching anâ— working miracles as hee thought good for to confirme his doctrine for the generall good in all places where he came The spirit of the Lord is upon me because he hath Anointed Isay 61. 2. 3. Luk. 4. 18. 19. me to preach the Gospel to the poore he hath sent me to heale the broken-hearted To preach deliverance to the captives and recovering sight to the blinde to set at liberty them that are bruised to preach the Acceptabâ—e yeere of the Lord Acts. 10. 37. 38. 6. If the dipping of infants be Gods Ordinance Christ was not so faithfull over his House a sonne as Moses a servant was For Moses made and set out all things according to the patterne Heb. 8. 5. but if Christ received any patterne for dipping infants hee hath left no rule for it by precept or example And for those that doe it from Circumcision they set the Lord Jesus and the Apostles to schoole to Moses to learne of him in the Law to teach the Gospel but we have not so learned Christ as to thinke his care and faithfulnesse lesse then Moses and therefore he had no such command of God as to institute Dipping of infants for if hee had hee might have said to those that brought them have they been dipt and all the rest of your children at home look to it and for time to come see that you passe not the Eight day for you know Circumcision was not to be omitted Remember how angry God was with that good servant of his Moses Exod. 4. 25. but heere is not a word for any such end And therefore no ordinance of God for the truth is there is nothing in these places for dipping beleevers which is Gods Ordinance much lesse for the dipping of infants which he commanded not neither came into his heart Iere. 7. 31. Answere But for Answere to this Christ would shew his mercy to all both jew and Gentile Acts. 13. 48. for theres no difference Col. 3. 11. But the fame of Christ being spread abroad as hee was famous in all places Insomuch they thought them happie that could but see him Luke 1. 9. 6. and those that could but touch the hem of his garment were healed of whatsoever disease they had Matt. 4. 23. Luke 6. 17 18 19 hence it came to passe they came thronging in upon Christ And brought their Children for it is naturall for Parents to desire the good of their Children as well as their owne Matth. 15. 25 26. where the Woman of Canaan came to Christ in the behalfe of her daughter crying Lord helpe me Secondly Christ by imbracing and blessing them doth shew himselfe to be Saviour of Iew and Gentile young and old for there is no other Saviour and so that hee receiveth none upon decent but though he be poore and have no money yea nor money worth yet hee will give them milke and wine without money and without price Isai 55. 1. 2. Thirdly to teach his Disciples humility and selfe-deniall for he that is not a little childe in lowlinesse love humility and selfe-deniall hee shall not inherite the kingdome of God Matth. 18. 3. Mark 10. 13. 14. 15. Obiection But the promise is made to the faithfull and their seed for Acts 2. 38 39. Peter saith the Promise is made to you and to your children and to all that are afarre off even so many as the Lord our God shall call Answ In these words is not so much as any shew of truth for Dipping of infants for the words are part of an Exhortation of incouraging these Converts pricked at the heart vers 37. for they cryed out what they should doe to be saved the Apostle answers First Repent and be dipped every one of you for the remission of sinnes Then comes with this incouragement for the promise is made to you and to your children And to all that are afarre off even as many as the Lord our God shall call that is not to you Jewes onely but to the Gentiles also to so many as the Lord our God shall call of them and so it answeres to a case of conscience that they might bring being sencible of their owne unworthinesse in crucifying CHRIST Secondly this answeres that the promise is made to them And not onely to them present But to their posteritie yea and to all that are called though never so farre off the Lord calling them as he hath done you they may come in by faith for a part in Chrst as well as Abraham your Father or you his children or the children after you But what is this to the dipping of Infants for children in this place and many other the like is not meant infants of seven or eight daies old that is pâ—eaded to be dipped But the linially descended sonnes of Abraham Acts. 13. 26. Rom. 9. 27. loines men and women of age full growne for the Converts did not scruple the dipping of their Infants they knew not that they should be dipt themselves untill Peter tells them of it And exhorts them to it thus you see plainly this makes nothing for dipping of Infants Objection 4. But children are holy and therefore may bee Dipt 1 Cor. 7. 14. Answere The scope of the former part of the Chapter is to answere cases of Conscience put or sent by some of the members
of dipping as the persons condition and time of circumcision But for infants dipping there is no expresse description of of the persons condition time whereas true dipping which is that one dipping Ephes 4. 5. which is the dipping of repentance for remission of sinnes Mark 1. 4. it is most evidently and faithfully set downe for persons condition and time viz. Persons confessing their sinnes Mat. 3. 6. whereas persons unrepentant are put by Luke 7. 29. 30. And all the people that heard him justified God being dâ—pped with the dippâ—ng of Iohn but the Pharisees and Lawyers reiected the counsell of God against themselves being not dipt of him Persons beleeving Acts 8. 12. 13. 36. 38. Persons penitent Acts 2. 38. Persons that received him and are made Disciples by teaching Matth. 28. 19. Iohn 4. 41. 42. Persons borne againe not of corruptible seed nor by the will of man but of God Iohn 1. 12. 13. 1 Pet. 1. 23. begotten by the word of truth Iames 1. 18. Thus for true dipping there is a certaine time appointed as was for Circumcision Acts 8. 37. yea commanded Acts 10. 48. And he commanded them to be dipt in the Name of the Lord. And 22. 16. And now why tarriest thou so long arise and be dipped and wash away thy sins calling on the Name of the Lord therefore such persons onely are to be dipped who are thus particular described wherein the new Testament is as cleare as the Old and Christ the Mediator of the new Testament as faithfull as Moses the Mediator of the Old So it appeares what subjects are to be dipped whereas if otherwise then is not the New as cleare as the Old nor Christ as faithfull as Moses which to say is blaâ—phemy 3. Againe if the Lord doth make his Covenant of the new Testament with those onely which know him by faith which at the hearing of faith preached doe apprehend and apply the promises contained in the Covenant and not to any by vertue of fleshly generation though the naturall children of Abraham Then not any by vertue of fleshly generation are under the Covenant though the naturall children of Abraham The first is proved Heb 8. 10. 11. For this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel After thoâ—e dayes saith the Lord I will put my Lawes into their minde and write them in their hearts and I will be to them a God and they shall be to me a people and they shall not teach every man his neighbour And every man his brother saying Know the Lord for all shall know me from the least to the greatest Isai 59. 21. Iohn 1. 11. 12. Eph. 1. 13. Rom. 3. 16. 21. 22. Gal. 3. 26. 2. The second is proved Rom. 2. 28. Matth 3. 9. Joh. 8. 39. Rom. 9. 8. For he is not a Iew that is one outwardly neither is that circumcision that is outward c. Therefore none by vertue of fleshly generâ—tion though the naturall children of Abraham are under the covenant 4. Again if the covenant which the Lord made with Abraham and his seed under the Gospel concerning life and salvation through Christ is meant his spirituall seed and not his naturall then Abrahams spirituall seed under the Gospel are under the covenant of life and salvation and not his naturall 1. The first is true Rom. 4. 11. 12. 13. 16. Gal. 3. 7. 9. 22. 23. 29. Know ye therefore that they which are of faith the same are of the children of Abraham 2. And the second is proved Matth 3. 9. Rom. 9. 7. 8. Gal. 3. 22. And think not to say within your selves we have Abraham to our father for I say unto you that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham Therefore the covenant which God made with Abraham and his seed under the Gospel concerning life and salvation was with his spirituall seed not his naturall From hence we reason thus They onely are to bee dipped and received into the Church of God to whom the covenant doth appertaine But the covenant doth appertaine to the spirituall children of Abraham not the naturall Therefore the spirituall children of Abraham are to bee dipped and his naturall are not till they become spirituall From whence we reason thus againe If the naturall children of Abraham are not to bee received into the covenant of the new Testament by vertue of the covenant made unto Abraham the father of the faithfull and no beleeving Gentile hath the like promise title or priviledge to his naturall children as Abraham had to his then no beleeving Gentile by vertue of the covenant made to Abraham hath that priviledge of the admittance of his naturall children into the covenant of the new Testament by dipping But the first is true Luke 3. 8. Rom. 9. 6. 8. And 4. 13. 16. Now seeing the promise is of the faith that is upon the condition of faith Iohn 1. 12. Acts 8. 37. Rom. 10. 9. 10. Luke 7. 29. 30. Which faith is a living and working faith not dead 2. Iames 17. 18. 21. 22. 23. Without which Condition none are to be admitted into the Covenant of the Gospel though the naturall children of Abraham Matth. 3. 7. 8 9 10. Asts 2. 37. 38. 41. And no beleeving Gentile though never so holy have not that honor or dignitie as Abraham had to be the father of the Faithfull yea of all that beleeve Gen. 12. Gal. 3. 3. 8. Whether Jewes or Gentiles But hath this honor or dignitie onely to be Christs to be the Children of Abraham by faith Gal. 3. 7. 26. So that this Covenant standeth between GOD and man manâ—fested by holy Writ is That as there is but one Lord one Faith and one Dipping Ephes 4. 5. which is the Dipping of Repentance for the Remission of sinnes Mark 1. 4. so there is but one way or entrance into the Covenant under the Gospel so as the Father to wit an Infidell after Convertion is admitted and received a Member into the Church of Christ upon the manifestation of his faith and repentance by Dipping even so his naturall children those begotten after the Parents Convertion and admittance into the Church must come in the same way as the Parent did or else he cannot see the Kingdome of God Iohn 3. 3. Mark 1. 4. Except he die in Infancie or a larger mercy be showne of God then is revealed to us in his VVord Therefore we conclude thus with Deu. 29. 29. secret things belong to the Lord our God But revealed to us and to our children for ever And say with Paul Rom. 11. 33. Oh the depth of Riches both of the wisdome and Knowledge of God how vnsearchable are his Judgments and his wayes past finding out But for his reuealed will Christ saith Iohn 15. 15. That he declared all things which he heard of his Father but he neuer declared Dipping of Infants but forbid it as is proved from the negative part of the Commission Therefore he never