Sin then both these two Ordinances viz. Circumcision and the Passeover were transformed into Baptism and the Lords Supper and whereas the two former did shew the Lords Death to come so the two latter do shew that the Lord is come and hath been offered up a Sacrifice for sin and Baptism is the Sign of Circumcision a Seal of the Righteousness of Faith as succeeding Circumcision 4. I challenge Mr. B. K. to prove that ever the believing Jews children were denied the Ordinance of Baptism or that Infant-baptism is any where forbid in the Gospel 5. And Lastly Let him also prove if he can that ever any one Child either of believing Jew or Gentile did stay until he was an Adult Person and then made a confession of his Faith and was baptized for no doubt but there were many thousands of Believers children and Grand-children that were Believers and grown Persons in the Apostles Time whose Parents might be baptized by John at the first Institution of that Ordinance And would it not be very strange if they had not been baptized in their Infancy that we should not read of one that had been baptized when he came to Years of understanding Timothy's Mother and Grandmother were both Believers and he himself an Eminent Saint and he made a great Figure in the Church of Christ and yet we never read of his Baptism but we do of his Circumcision but no doubt but as the latter was in his Manhood so the former was in the time of his Childhood Thus I have proved the Infant-Seed of Believers to be Disciples 2. All the Infant-Seed of Believers are called holy Children 1 Cor. 7.14 Even as the Children of Israel were because they were a Covenant-People and yet all Israel were not saved for with many of them God was not well-pleased neither do I believe that all the Seed of Gospel-Believers will be saved though they are baptized but all that are Elected shall be saved They are holy by vertue of their being in the Covenant with their Parents and as Christ did not come to destroy the Law but to fulfil it so neither did he come to Repeal nor Dissolve the Covenant but to confirm it Dan. 9. And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off but not for himself c. And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week c. 5. The Infant-Seed of Believers are under the Ministry of the Holy Angels Mat. 18.10 Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones for I say unto you that in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven And look back on the 6th verse and you will see that they were Children that believed in Christ Heb. 1. Are they not all ministring spirits sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation The blessed Angels have the care and conduct of all the Elect of God both in their Lives and at their Deaths Luke 16. And it came to pass that the beggar died and was carryed by the Angels into Abrahams bosome That was into Eternal Glory and the Angels are as capable of doing Service for an Elect Infant both living and dying as they are for the oldest Saint upon Earth because the Angels are not Acted by any power of the Creatures but by the Power of God therefore the Infant-Seed of Believers have a Right to Baptism in which Ordinance all the Subjects are as passive as all the Subjects of Circumcision were and the Children of Believers do make the same passive Figure in the Church now as the Children of the Jews did in the Church under the Law for our Saviour tells us that of such is the Kingdom of Heaven which is the Church 6. And Lastly To crown all the rest Was the sweet compassionate behaviour of our blessed Redeemer towards the Infant-Seed of Believers in Mark 10. And they brought young children unto him that he should touch them and his disciples rebuked those that brought them But when Jesus saw it he was much displeased and said unto them Suffer the little children to come unto me and forbid them not for of such is the kingdom of God And he took them up in his arms put his hands upon them and blessed them 1. Here was no bodily Distemper complained of nor no cure wrought upon their Bodies 2. These Children were the Infant-Seed of Believers For if their Parents had not been reconciled unto Christ they would never have brought their children unto him to be blessed by him 3. As they were Adult Believers that brought them to Christ so were they also which rebuked them that brought them 4. And Lastly Christ did receive them and laid his Hands on them and blessed them and also prayed Thus you see that the sweet carriage and compassionate behaviour of our blessed Redeemer towards these little Infants of believing Parents doth clearly demonstaate unto us that they were in the Covenant and were baptized before they were thus visibly brought unto Christ seeing that he himself laid his hands on them and blessed them for laying on of Hands in the Primitive Time was succedaneous to Baptism Acts 8.12 15 16 17. Thus you see it clearly made out That all the Infant-Seed of Believers have a Right to the Ordinance of Baptism and this brings me to take notice of that Query of B. K's viz. What Benefit is it to a Child to be baptized To which I reply So might proud carnal Reason have Queried in the Time of Circumcision What benefit have our Young Infants by being circumcised at Eight Days old But the Apostles Answer is very compatible to Mr. K. Rom. 3.1 2. What advantage then hath the Jew or what profit is there of circumcision Much every way chiefly because that unto them were committed the Oracles of God Believing Gentiles and their Children are one Body and likewise a holy People 1 Cor. 7.14 And so they have a Federal Right unto the Oracles of God as Israel had of old 3. Baptism is a solemn Dedication of our Children unto God from whom we received them and it must be done by a solemn Act by the Parents consent in an Ordinance of God or else it is but humane Invention therefore if it ought not to be done in that Church Ordinance namely Baptism then I desire to know of those Gentlemen that oppose it what Church Ordinance it must be done in that is more compatible than that of Baptism 4. And Lastly It is the Duty of all Christian Believers to look upon all their Children in their Infancy as Elected of God from all Eternity It is not for us to reprobate any of them in our Minds and say If I knew which of my Children were chosen of God I would dedicate them only unto God in Baptism For that indeed is a secret we ought not to pry into it is Gods Prerogative only to know which of our Childrens Names are written in
Christ hath forbid all wanton Looks to prevent Luxury and Uncleanness therefore he never appointed the Holy Ordinance of Baptism to run parallel in this muddy Channel with it viz. For Women and young Maids to be made such a shameful spectacle to Angels and Men which is most abominable for it is against the Law and Light of nature as well as against the Express Commands of God namely To abstain from all appearance of evil and let all things be done decently and in order 5. Were we in a State of Innocency such a Mode of Baptism might be Authentick but it can never be good in our depraved laps'd Estate especially if we consider these Things 1. There is no Saint of God either Man or Woman but is liable to Temptations 2. Satans great Work and Business lieth chiefly among Christians to tempt them to sin 3. That there are the Remainders of corrupt nature in all the Saints of God whilst they are in this Life 4. The greatest Saint upon Earth hath a deceitful Heart within him and that Soul that knows nothing of this hath little acquaintance either with God or his own heart The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked who can know it Jer. 17.9 6. For a Man to go hand in hand with a beautiful brisk young Gentlewoman or Maid into the water and to handle her back and breasts and trip up her heels and flounce her over head and ears is a very immodest tempting thing because there are as many Remainders of sin in a Believer as there is in an old Sinner only here lieth the difference Sin doth not reign in a Believer 1. Though the domineering power of sin in the believer be destroyed yet the being of sin is not for though it be not in him as a King yet it is in him as a Tyrant 2. But sin reigns over the sinner as the Heart of a believer is a Throne for Christ and Grace so the Heart of a sinner is a Throne for sin and Satan 7. These Men that Transact this Mode of Baptism must put great confidence in their own Hearts otherwise they could never dare be so bold thus to dally with a Temptation But what saith the Scripture He that trusteth his own heart is a fool and the reason is plain because it is so deceitful as nothing can be more for it is deceitsul above all things and desperately wicked who can know it And this many a dear Child of God have found by woful experience therefore it is every Christians Duty to keep a strict watch over his own heart and against the Temptations of Satan to keep them asunder for our Hearts are like Tinder that no sooner the Tempter strikes Fire but it takes unless the Heart be well guarded 8. By this unseemly Mode of Baptism they go not only into the water but at the same time they run into the Fire of Temptation and dally with the Tempter wherefore I will appeal to these Mens own Hearts and Consciences that ingage in this Mode whether they can perform this Thing with those Female Subjects aforesaid without being tempted by Satan to vain lascivious Thoughts Pray remember to watch and observe your Hearts the next time if ever you ingage in it again and if you do I am sure you will find what I say to be true But in the baptizing the Infant Seed of Believers by sprinkling water upon them there is none of all this danger because there is no Object to draw out the Hearts Lusts for Satan to fasten his Temptation upon therefore Dipping or Immersion for Baptism cannot be good 9. The Words for Administration of the Ordinance of Baptism ought to be used at the same Instant when the water is applied to the Person baptized but if Dipping or Plunging be the Mode of Baptism then these things would necessarily follow 1. They must go into the water very near as deep as their Waste before the words of Administration are spoken and so they are half baptized before the words are spoken 2. If the words are spoken before their heels are tript up then they are baptized before they are dipped 3. And Lastly If they speak the words while they have them under water they cannot be active in their own Baptism which is to overthrow one of their own grand Arguments they produce to prove that none but Adult Believers ought to be baptized viz. Because that all Persons ought to be Active in their own Baptism Pray what Grace can they exercise under Water when they can scarcely exercise their Reason much less their Graces 10. Saith Mr. K. pag. 6. Sir you should take more heed to your Words and to what you Assert Is it said they were baptized in the Jaylors house c. How can you say pag. 7. that they were all baptized in his own house when the Text speaks not any such thing How can you presume to Assert that they did not go out of the House Reader observe the Text well And so say I too Pray Reader observe the Text well and therefore I will fairly repeat it in Acts 16.23 And when they had laid many stripes upon them they cast them into prison charging the jaylor to keep them safely Ver. 24. Who having received such a charge thrust them into the inner prison and made their feet fast in the stocks Ver. 25. And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises unto God and the prisoners heard them Ver. 26. And suddenly there was a great earthquake so that the foundations of the prison were shaken and immediately all the doors were opened and every ones bands were loosed Ver. 27. And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep and seeing the prison doors open he drew out his sword and would have killed himself supposing that the prisoners had been fled Ver. 28. But Paul cried with a loud voice saying Do thy self no harm for we are all here From this Passage we may observe that the Jailors House or Appartment and the Place of Paul's close confinement were both within view and call one of another for Paul perceiving that the Jaylor would have murdered himself crys out unto him to prevent it Ver. 29. Then he called for a light and sprang in and came trembling and fell down before Paul and Silas Ver. 30. And brought them out and said Sirs what must I do to be saved This seems as if that Inner Prison where they were thrust was a dark Dungeon because the Jaylor called for a Light and sprang in and brought them out of it and not out of the House for then they preached the Word of God to him and to all that were in his House as you may see in Verse 32. And they spake unto him the word of the Lord and to all that were in his house Thus you see they were not out of the House which I look upon to be the Jail-keepers Appartment for they preached to
all that were in it But saith Mr. K. Might they not in that hour go a little way out of the House and be baptized This is begging the Question and yet he thus concludes viz. 'T is evident he abuses the Sacred Text. But hitherto you may see it is plain they did not go out of the House Ver. 33. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes and was baptized he and all his straightway Ver. 34. And when he had brought them into his house he set meat before them and they rejoiced believing in God with all his house This was to bring them into some more peculiar Place or Dining-Room in his House for you see it is clear they were not out of the Prison before for so it appears by the next Verse viz. Ver. 35. And when it was day the magistrates sent the sergeants saying Let those men go But the Apostles refused to go out of the Prison And they came and besought them and desired them to depart out of the city Thus you see here was 1. The Jaylors bringing the Apostles out of their close confinement after his conviction 2. There was preaching the Word of the Lord to all that were in his House and not out of his House 3. Here was washing their stripes after they were taken out of their close confinement into his House at large 4. And Lastly Here was their Baptism And all this was done in the same hour of the Night straightway and then when this was done he invites them into his own peculiar Appartment or Dining-Room and set Meat before them And in the last place it doth plainly appear that they did not go out of the House or Prison all night because they were there in the Morning and refused to go out when the Magistrates sent to the Jaylor to release them therefore there is no manner of ground to imagine that they went out of the Prison and out of the City a little way in the Night to be baptized in a River or a Pond of Water but besides the Gates of Cities use to be shut in the Night and Guard kept at them who would have secured them had they attempted to go out in the night Ergo they were baptized in the House So that I have not abused the Sacred Text but it is evident that Mr. K. hath abused me in charging me falsely 12. And Lastly I shall give some Reasons to Evince that the Face of the Subject is the properest part to be baptized Because by the Face both God and Man are described 1. God is described by his most glorious face Psal 51.9 Psal 44.24 〈◊〉 18.10 Not that we are to conceive of God as of any Form or Shape who is a most Glorious Immense Spiritual Being in himself but it is in condescension to our weak capacities 2. Man is described and best known by the Face Gal. 1.22 Psal 84.9 And how common a thing is it among Men to say I never saw such an Ones Face That is they never saw the Person 2. The Face is the properest part for the application of water in Baptism because the Face represents the whole Man 3. The Face ought to be baptized as the properest part because the part baptized ought to be naked for these Reasons viz. 1. Because otherwise the Cloaths and not the Person are baptized 2. Because it maketh the truest Figure of Man in his natural laps'd State before he is washed in the Water of Regeneration and renewed by the Holy Ghost by which the Soul puts on these two blessed Garments of Salvation namely Christs Righteousness for Justification and the Robe of Holiness for Sanctification Every Soul in a laps'd State you have set forth in these two Texts in the old and New Testament first in the Old Testament Ezek. 16.4 5 6. Here you have Man in his natural State which is unsavoury loathsome polluted and helpless and in the New Testament Rev. 3. there he is set forth to be wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked This is the State and Condition of all Men by nature before they are washed in Regeneration 4. And Lastly The Face of the Subject is the properest part for the application of water in Baptism because Nature it self teacheth us that the Face is the most delightful comely part of Man for Conversation We do not care to converse with a Man that turns his back upon us Thus much for the part of the Subject that ought to be baptized and the posture the Subject ought to be prepared in and that is the naked Face Thus I have confuted Mr. Keach's Arguments which he hath produced to prove that Dipping is the only Infallible Mode for Baptism whereas there is neither Precept nor Example for it no not so much as a bare May be for it in all the Book of God but you see there is a great Analogy between those many Sprinklings and Baptism though the Mode is not absolutely determined declaratively II. I will prove that all Elect dying Infants must have the Grace of Faith or they can never be saved 1. But saith Mr. K. in p. 14 16. How doth God sanctifie dying Infants I speak as to the Mode of it No mortal Man I am sure can tell if it is by infusing Grace let it be so though it can't be proved while the World stands yet Gods design therein could not be the same in them as in others c. Though the Grace is given by which we do believe yet is not the Act ours Can God be said to believe for us or can there be Faith in any Subject and yet no knowledge of the Object To which I answer that the Mode of sanctifying Elect dying Infants must be by Infusion of Grace by the Holy Spirit into their Souls is as clear as the Sun because there is no other way for Old or Young to be savingly sanctified by 2. God hath promised it Isa 44.3 I will pour my spirit upon thy seed and my blessing upon thine off-spring c. 3. Gods design is the same in the infusing Grace and Holiness into an Elect Infant as it is in an Adult Elect Sinner for God hath no other End nor higher Design then the glorifying his own Free Grace in the salvation of both Old and Young therefore that part of your carnal Argument is already destroyed Pray Sir in your next let us know if God hath any other or differing Design or End in the saving Adult Elect Sinners from that of sanctifying and saving Elect dying Infants and let us also know what way that is 2. Faith is the Gift of God though the Act of Faith may be said to be the Believers yet if God do not Act in the Believers Faith his Acting will signifie nothing for God is the authour and finisher of our faith Heb. 12. And it is God that worketh in us both the will and the deed of his good pleasure