that can beleeve yet it may be applyed without in those that cannot beleeve else how could any Infants be saved IF you know nothing of their Salvation Chap. 5. Christ doth Mark 10.14 Of such saith he is the Kingdom of Heaven He means not only those that are meek humble harmless like little children for he would not have blamed those that would have kept little children from him nor have blessed them when they came if they were only meer emblems of such as are blessed as a Lamb or a Dove may be but little children themselves David judged that his child though adulterously begotten and whom God took away in his wrath was saved else he would not have eaten and drunk and rejoyced that he should go to it 2 Sam. 12.20 If any affirm That all Infants of Christians dying in Infancy are certainly saved I know no Scripture against it and if there be no place punctually proving it we are bound to encline to the more charitable opinion Mat. 7.1 especially when we speak of this or that particular Infant You say they may be saved without Baptism true there is a possibility of it so if Infants of the Jews had not been circumcised the eight day and had dyed uncircumcised they might also have been saved their parents or governors being guilty of the contempt or neglect of the Ordinance not they and why should their Salvation or Damnation depend upon others doing or not doing their duty That phrase of cutting off Gen. 17.14 either concerns grown men only or threatens only excommunication or death not eternal damnation God had mercy on the penitent thief yet it is presumption in us to defer repentance till death or to neglect Baptism God can bring a child into the world without a midwife shall we therefore neglect the means Parents when their children are baptized before they dye may not only be comforted in the performance of their duty but also have more grounded hopes of their childrens Salvation Your Antipoedobaptistical Doctrines do take away all or most of the grounds of hope which Christian parents have of the Salvation of their dying Infants ANABAPT CAT. Q. Whether do you think it were better for persons to have Baptism deferred till they be able to make a profession of faith A. Yes it would be far better for hereby the Churches would have right matter i.e. Saints in profession and persons would be careful to get knowledg and holiness whereas now they are careless of hoth Infant-haptism brings many mischiefs besides that it fills the Church with rotten members confounds the Church and the world together and is a groundwork for more tradition and doth so darken the Doctrine of Baptism that we cannot know the true meaning of it when we read it in Scripture THe many mischiefs of Infant-Baptism and the benefis of such delaying of it Examinat Cap. 6. § 1. were unknown to the Apostolique Primitive Church else sure they would have left us some Precept or President of their delaying the Baptism of the children of Christian parents The Jewish Church had Child Circumcision and Child Baptism too as Rites of Initiation had it been better they had been deferred was not the Jewish Church to be freed from mischiefs as you call them as well as the Christian Church If Childrens admission did not bring such mischiefs upon the Jewish how comes it to be so mischievous to the Christian Church We have a Command for Child-baptism not indeed such a direct express Command as they had for Circumcision but a virtual implicite and consequential Command as you shall hear anon Chap. 10. and this is abundantly sufficient to clear it from being a cause of it self of any mischief at all You hold and pretend to prove § 2. that John Baptist and the Disciples of Christ did not baptize Infants but were no rotten members baptized when Jerusalem all Iudea and all the rigion round about Iordan came and were baptized Mat. 3. Mark 1. yea that people or multitude whom or some of whom he called Generation of Vipers Luk. 3.7 with 21. Mr Cobbet a New-England Divine saith Iohn Baptist did and might lawfully baptize those multitudes albeit in the general he knew that many yea most of them would prove false and frothy Mr Nyes another of them saith The Apostles for the baptizing of three thousand expected no testimonies nor a day much less a month or years experience nor could they in so short time make any inquisitions or hear any perswasive relations When all the Samaritans very lately bewitched by Simon Magus Act. 8.9 10. were baptized vers 12. was there then no rotten members Suppose all London Middlesex and all the region round about Thames or Trent should be Jews or Heathens and surely you account them now much better and should presently upon hearing of a Sermon make some profession of faith or confession of sins and be baptized would you judg all these right matter Saints and that there is no rotten member amongst them What became of those multitudes and Myriads of baptized ones when Christ suffered or afterwards if they were not rotten members Were not Judas Ananias Saphira Himeneus Philetus and many others rotten members Were there not amongst the Corinthians though called Saints a parte meliore as we call a Whe it-field a Corn-field though we see many tares and thistles in it known carnal Schismatiques Fornicaters Idolaters some that sacrificed to Devils drunken Communicants Heretiques denying the Resurrection Despisers of Paul Admirers of the false Teachers Men as Paul feared that had not repented of the uncleanness fornication and lasciviousness they had committed amongst whom were debates envyings wraths strifes backbitings whisperings swelling tumults c. were none of these rotten members It is the work of the Ministry to convince rotten members of their rottenness and by the blessing of God to convert them and make them sound 1 Cor. 5. 6. 10. Gal. 4.19 And if so be they remain incurable and after much means pains and patiences are not reclaimed the Church may cut them off Though the draw-net doth take in both good and bad yet the bad afterward may be cast away Matth. 13.47.48 Are there not also amongst the Anabaptists notwithstanding their rejection of Infant-Baptism many rotten members §. 3. Heretiques Blasphemers such as deny the Trinity the Divinity or Humanity of Jesus Christ the Immortality of the Soul the Morality of the Sabbath Authority of the Scriptures the guilt of original sin the necessity yea very being of the Ministry Officers and Ordinances Assertors of the whole Body of Arminianism of immediate Revelations and Enthusiasms of Antinomianism of Poligamy perfection of grace Who more then the Anabaptists I had almost said who but they have been given up by God to those strong and strange delusions to those damnable Opinions and abominable Practices mentioned in the late Act Where is there a more wicked and wretched Sect then the Ranters But
THE Catechist Catechized OR AN EXAMINATION OF AN Anabaptistical Catechism Pretended to be Published for the Satisfaction and Information of the People of God in Lancashire c. ALSO SOME OBSERVATIONS Both Old and New Concerning the pretended Visibility Universality Antiquity Infallibility Unity and Purity of the present Roman Church and Religion Sent to a Gentleman upon his revolt to Popery and now published for the Churches good By RICHARD HOLLINVVORTH Mancuniens LONDON Printed by J. M. for Luke Fawn and are to be sold at his shop at the Parrot in Pauls Church-yard 1653. SIR THere is an Anabaptisticall Catechism that walks abroad lately directed to Lancashire when it is of age and can answer for it self you shal know the name of it it is but newly brought forth to this County and therefore not Christned If you meet with it it would be a good work to Lancashire in which you dwel to the Town of Manchester the place of your Nativity and Ministry to make some Annotations of it a few smooth stones out of soft Siloam hurl'd out of your sling might lay it dead a friendly arrow shot beyond it may give warning that there is danger I would not engage you to the contest with this A. B. C. but that Error is a springing Leprosie in contagious times Wormes in children may turn to the Plague a few vacant hours will serve the business and satisfie the earnest desire of Sir Your Brother and fellow-Labourer in the Work of Christ Richard Heyricke January 1. 52. For Mr. Richard Hollinworth with my Love These To all in Lancashire that love and seek the Lord in all his Soul-filling Ordinances especially them of the associated Churches about MANCHESTER Dearly Beloved and longed for our Joy and Crown YOu shall with more praise to God light and stability to your selves read the ensuing Treatise if you first consider and lament that for abuse of Ordinances Satan transforming himself into an Angel of Light hath undermined all Ordinances of divine Light and Life The Lords-Day not moral publique solemn Assemblies turned into House-meetings publique Ministry exchanged for private Conferences publique preaching of the Word common to gifted Brethren with called Ministers no prayer but when the Spirit moves no communion in the Supper but in Churches newly gathered and no Baptism for Infants No wonder if religious Ordinances be thus undermined when the Doctrine of the holy Trinity the Deity of Jesus Christ and of the Holy Ghost the divine Authority of the Scriptures the Obligation of the Decalogue and other Fundamentals of Faith Holiness and Righteousness are by the Ministers of the Prince of Darkness professedly overturned No wonder that Children are unchurched when so many Churches are unchurched many of them that have done the former having begun at the latter They who would not be saved by Ordinances shall perish for want of Ordinances and they that would not unite themselves to the Fountain of Life by Faith shall be separated from the streams and conveyances of Life that they may apparantly wither and dye only upon the living in Jerusalem that by the subtilty of delusion or power of interest are darkened and benummed pray and weep that the Sun of Righteousness may arise with healing in his wings But the Ordinances being the purchase of Christs blood as well as the Church the gifts of his Princely Government the Ensigns of his Victory over the Kingdom of Darkness and of his glorious Ascension he will by his soveraign Power maintain And to that end successively enoble the spirits of some with beams of heavenly light and courage that they shall discover the stratagems of Opposers and adventure upon their Armies marshalled against them and triumphantly overcome by his glorious power redeeming the captived Ordinances of their King unto a just and glorious Liberty This being so high a favor from Christ the glory of his Grace and Power it is most thankfully to be accepted and his Instruments to be had in honor by all that rejoyce in the glory of his Kingdom His Ministers he hath designed to be the Executors of his last Will and Testament to them it belongs by divine appointment to give out the several Legacies there bequeathed and to put in suit all them in the high Court of sacred Scripture who shall upon any pretence whatsoever detain any Legacy bequeathed and where will their faithfulness more appear then to open their mouth for the dumb and to sue for Childrens rights whil'st they are forcibly wronged and unable to right themselves where is greater Trust and more shining Fidelity The right of Infants to Baptism hath of late been openly impleaded in reference to Lancashire and the Bill printed to be published there in special with expectation of the concurrence of the godly but blessed be God one of the Lords Executors in Manchester where part-taking was most desired and expected hath wisely and faithfully joyned issue and by clear Evidence hath procured a determinate sentence for the setling of their undoubted right upon Infants to our great comfort and the honor of the Kingdom of Christ in the Right whereof Infants are rightly baptized And our hope in the Lord Jesus is that the questioning of the Right of Infants and the shaking of their title will have that influence upon all the godly in Lancashire especially Parents peculiarly in Manchester and the rest of the associated Churches that out of enflamed love to Christ and the Souls of their Children they will so much the more settle their Judgments in this Truth by the conscionable and diligent use of this hâ—lp provided by the Lord amongst them so seasonably in respect of danger and so suitably in respect of clearness brevity and charge that will happily lead to the believing repenting and prayerful use of this Ordinance which is the Covenant-way of conveying to their Children the sure and saving Mercies of the Covenant so shall they and others who have seen the holy Seal set on in Infancy clearly behold in their holy life the lively characters of the Spirit of the Covenant the Image of the Lord Jesus in their riper years To their own abundant satisfaction the silencing of Adversaries the increase of the Church mystical the encouragement of them that have carefully and painfully pleaded their Right and above all the honor of the Lord Jesus who in their Infancy opened unto them his Arms and Bosom in his Church that in an hidden way he might warm them with a spiritual Life to be manifested in due time In this hope we pray for you and labor amongst you that we might present Parents and Children in Covenant-obedience and blessing at that great Day This is the principal Desire and Soul-travel of The Lords unworthy Servants who in reference to Infants do rejoyce in our Ministry John Angier John Harison Nathaneel Rathband William Meek March 10. 1652. THE Authors Preface to the Christian Reader IN these times the Lords Builders are compelled while they
Parents be Christian partus sequitur meliorem partem the children are not Infidels but Christian But §. 3. say you there is no command for baptizing such and you call it Will-worship forbidden Lev. 10.1 A tradition and ground-work for more traditions others call it the mark of the beast one of the strongest holds of Antichrist and what not To all which I answer 1. If Nadah and Abihu's offering strange fire fire unsanctified or not taken off the Altar Was Will-worship though the Scripture doth not call it so yet Paedobaptism suppose it be not warranted by the Word cannot be will-worship because it is not an introduction of a new Worship or Ordinance but the misapplication of an old and unquestionable Ordinance of God or if you put on it the worst name you can with any shew of reason the Profanation of an Ordinance as your self call it some of your party which have in derision and contempt of Infant-Baptism baptized Horses Cats or Dogs have been unquestionably guilty of horrible Profanation but not of will-worship 2. Infant-Baptism is grounded on and warranted by the Word of God and therefore is far enough from being a Profanation or so much as the misapplication of an Ordinance That it is so grounded and warranted needs no other proof then what hath already been produced in this Examination upon occasion of the Scriptures and Reasons brought against it 1. They that are Disciples in Scripture-sence are expressed in Christs Commission about Baptism and are to be baptized But Infants of the Church are Disciples in Scripture-sence Therefore they are to be baptized See Chap. 2. Sect. 3. 2. They that are Abrahams seed are to be baptized as you confess But such Infants are the seed of Abraham Therefore they are to the baptized See Chap. 7. 3. They that are visibly Within the Covenant of Grace are to be baptized as you acknowledg But such Infants are visibly Within the Covenant of Grace Therefore they are to be baptized See Chap. 8. 4. They that are to be judged Church-members are to be baptized But such Infants of the Church or born of members of the Church are to be judged Church members Therefore c. 5. They of Whom the Kingdom of God is are to partake of the privileges of the Kingdom of God But of Infants is the Kingdom of God Therefore c. 6. They that are Saints and holy are to be baptized But such Infants are Saints and holy Therefore 7. Christ knew that Baptism was an ancient Ceremony of initiation into the Church and applyed to the Infants of the Church as well as to adult Proselytes yet he took up that Ceremony and advanced it as he did the Postcoenium of the Passover to be a Sacrament of the New Testament without prohibition of Infants from it and therefore he did at least approve it should be administred to Infants See Cap. 2. § 1. In these alone to omit others conscientious enquirers into the mind of the Lord Jesus may find satisfactory grounds of Infant-Baptism especially when they are compared with the grounds of the contrary Opinion and Practice You cannot shew any precept at all §. 4. or president or good warrant in the Word of God that children of believing Parents should be kept from Baptism as you require them to be till they do in their own persons actually believe or make profession of Faith or that any such were baptized in riper years as you would have them now to be Yea I further say that if you can shew me in Scripture any son or daughter of believing Parents baptized I shall shew you that he or she was baptized in Infancy Surely from the time that John Baptist begin his Ministry to the writing of the Apocalyps great multitudes of Infants of Christians grew up to maturity yet amongst them all we read not of one whose Baptism was so delayed nor have we any solid ground to conceive that God at the coming of Christ took away Infants Covenant interest Church membership and Sacramental initiation and made their condition as to this as bad as the Heathen and worse then the Jewish children seeing it cannot be said that God did take these priviledges away in judgment upon occasion of Christs coming from all Infants even Elect children of Elect Parents seeing Infants in the time of the Gospel are not any way more guilty or uncapable then in former times nor can it any way appear that God did it in mercy and sure if it was done it was done either in judgment or mercy for it was a mercy to the Jewish children to have these priviledges and nothing more was conferred upon Infants which lost them then upon adult Christians which did not lose them You cannot shew a precept ' or president for your gathering Churches out of other true Christian Churches for requiring persons before they can be admitted members to give account of the truth of their graces for the Congregations judging whether they have grace or no and consequently whether they were to be admitted or no for a solemn explicite Church-Covenant for the erection of a Church without Officers for the power of such a Church consisting only of unofficed Christians to elect ordain impose hands by one or more of them on their Officers to censure or excommunicate any member yea any or all their Officers when they have them for maintenance of Ministers by Lords Day-Collections formerly urged as an Ordinance of God though of late much waved for a sentence of non-communion with Sister-Churches for Synods only consultative and not decretive for publike ordinary preaching of gifted men not so much as intending the Ministry and their receiving maintenance for their pains and yet these are asserted by men of the Congregational way in which Antipaedobaptists are generally found to be duties priviledges of the Church or Ordinances of God nor can you shew any Church consisting of unbaptized ones such as you account your selves to be your Infant-Baptism being a nullity till you be baptized upon profession und such a Church admitting members commissionating some Disciples to preach and dip nor any precept or president for admission of such which are in your opinion unbaptized to the Lords Supper not for rebaptizing such as were baptized suppose in Infancy in the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost or for renouncing such Baptism nor can you shew any one Text of Scripture in which Infant-Baptism either in express words or in the interpretation of any Apostolick or Primitive Church or Father in the purest Times nor can you shew one visible Church from the beginning of the World to the time when your Opinion was lately broached which was of any long continuance and did neither admit into it nor permit in it any Infant-member Finally §. 5. Should you or I be required a Command for admission of women to the Supper as you require a Command for Infant-Baptism though you can neither shew command
least it is the profanation of the Ordinance Who you are I know not but the general Opinion of your party is that any Disciple especially a teaching Disciple may baptize See Confession of the seven Churches Art 41. And doth Ordination by a Bishop and other Ministers make voyd such Discipleship and make him that he cannot be so much as a private Christian yea make his Baptism Antichristian We receive from God the Old Testament by the hands of the Jews and the whole Bible by the hands of Papists most Scriptures have some time or other been abused must we therefore disuse them If a Bishop should baptize one at full age making profession of faith and repentance yea suppose a Jesuite pretending to be a gifted Brother or a teaching Disciple as it is lawful for the Jesuites to say or do any thing that may tend to the weakening the true Reformed Religion and should dip many would his dipping be null and voyd and to be reiterated This I dare say Whatsoever is rational or religious cannot be made irrational or irreligious whosoever useth or hath used it And if multitudes of persons should cast away all that they have received by the Bishops and Ministers ordained by them they should with those things irrecoverably cast their Souls into Hell When Antichrist most reigned and raged and the woman fled into the Wilderness God did preserve some Fundamental Doctrines and the essence of Baptism and the essence of a true Ministry dispensing it and they that is her Pastors did feed her there Revel 12.6 14. 4. There are now more Antichrists then ever were before in our or in any other Reformed Church and worse Antichrists by how much Fundamental Errors in Doctrine are greater abominations then Errors only in Discipline All Heretiques in Scripture-language are Antichrist 1 Epist John The Errors Heresies Blasphemies Treacheries Hypocrisies Perjuries sacrilegious seditious Actions Divisions and Subdivisions bitter and bloody Contentions Rebaptizations Ordinations by the people and other meer humane inventions of these Times do justifie the Bishops and all Episcopal men that have kept themselves free from these and the like crimes from being so Antichristian as we do really dishonor the true Reformed Religion delight the truly Antichristian Faction and make way for our reducing not only to Prelacy but to that which all sober men count incomparably more dangerous to Popery yea to the worst edition of it Spanish Jesuited Inquisition-Popery ANABAPT CAT. Paedobaptism is done upon a wrong subject who is not in Christs commission Matt. 28.19 nor Mark 16.16 Believers and Repentants being the subjects therein EXAMINAT You here beg the question what you here alledg hath been answered Chap. 1. and Chap. 2. ANABAPT CAT. All the certainty I can have of such a Baptism is only conjectural not infallible whereas the outward sign of a Sacrament must be visible and infallible as the thing signified is this Infant-Baptism I take only in trust from others THe Infants blessed by Christ could in their riper age have no certainty of their being so blessed by him Examinat Chap. 14. nor had the Jewish Infants any certainty of their Circumcision for the foreskin of circumcised Infants might be and sometimes was so drawn up that when they came to age they could not discern their Circumcision To this Paul alludes 1 Cor. 7.18 If the flesh-mark was alway discernable yet it could not teach them whether a friend or foe had done it whether for sacred or civil ends whether duly or unduly without instruction and information by word or writing and such instruction may assure us of our right Baptism though it was administred in Infancy You may have such assurance of your Baptism as the Priests by the Registers had of their pedigree Ezra 2.62 as Paul had that he was circumcised the eighth day that he was of the stock of Israel an Hebrew of the Hebrews of the tribe of Benjamin Phil. 3.5 Yea you may have as much or more certainty that you were baptized as that such an one was your father such a woman your mother yet sure if you will call that only a conjectural and not infallible testimony you will test so much upon it as to call him your father and her your mother that are testified and reputed to be so and without scruple of conscience honor them as you are bound by the fifth Commandment and also keep that which is generally computed to be the first day of the week or the Lords-Day though you take it but on trust from others Possibly he that is baptized at full age may not infallibly know that he was baptized some have forgotten through sickness the greatest concernments yea their own names must they thereupon be rebaptized Possibly a man or woman as you are dipping them under the water may be so damped that they may not hear or not heed the words used by the Administrator whether he baptize or bless or curse must they be dipped again till they do hear and heed that they may infallibly know themselves to be baptized If a man should herein be deceived and think he was baptized in his Infancy when he was not the Error is not very dangerous Faith in Christ may supply the defect of Baptism and he not neglecting or contemning Baptism nor knowing that he wants it may reap benefit by his supposed Baptism as if it were reâ—l As for his resolution of the case grounded on the suppose unlawfulness of Paedobaptism whether a Christian may with good conscience be present at it I judg it unnecessary for me to discuss it having I hope cleared the lawfulness of Infant-Baptism yet I confess I cannot approve sundry things in it though Paedobaptism were confessed to be unlawful SOME OBSERVATIONS Both Old and New Concerning the pretended Visibility Universality Antiquity Infallibility Unity and Purity of the present Roman Church and Religion Sent to a Gentleman upon his Revolt to Popery and now Published with some few Additions for the Churches good SIR 1. YOu do all confess the affirmative and positive Doctrines of the Church of England and other Reformed Churches to be true and Catholique and to have had visible Professors in all Ages only you superadd certain other Doctrines which you say are necessary to be beleeved unto Salvation For evidence whereof observe 1. Our Churches Doctrine All the Books of the Old and New Testament mentioned in the 39 Articles and in the late Confession of Faith to be holy and Canonical are for such to be received 2. Your Churches Additions The Books of Tobit Judeth Wisdom Maccabees and the rest commonly called Apocrypha are also Canonical The Scripture is the Rule of Faith and Manners Traditions of the Church are of equal Authority with the Scriptures The Originals Hebrew and Greek are Authentical The Vulgar Edition is most pure and Authentical There are two Sacraments of the New Testament Baptism and the Lords Supper There are also five more viz. Confirmation
that as good testimony may be produced out of the Fathers for the absolute necessity of the Eucharist as for the absolute necessity of Baptism 15. Also that though gemina or duo Sacramenta be sometimes found yet septem Sacramenta or words equivalent to them cannot be found in any ancient Father though they did call by the name of Sacraments not only Ordination Matrimony c. but ablution of the feet sign of the Cross c. which are not properly so called 16. I desire to be satisfied why you so frequently and suspiciously the matter being so mainly controverted do in your allowed Manuals Catechisms c. leave out of the Decalogue all the second Commandment or that large passage prohibiting the worship of Images 17. Also how you can reconcile the two Bibles of Sixtus and Clement between which are so many and material differences or if you cannot reconcile them how you can satisfie your Conscience whether of them is Authentical seeing they have equal Authority from the See Apostolique equal Absolutions from Oaths of admitting any other equal Imprecations and Curses to them which receive them not for Authentical so that either you must use no Bible at all or undergo the curse of Pope Sixtus if you use that of Clement or of Pope Clement if you use the other of Sixtus 18. For as much as Traditions are defined to be the Rule of Faith and equal to the Scriptures and nothing is more necessary for the Chuâ—ch to do then to deliver the Rule of Faith clearly and precisely what is the cause I pray you that no Pope or Councel no not that of Trent hath given an exact Catalogue or List of divine and infallible Traditions is it because you are not fully as yet agreed of them or are they for some politique ends reserved in the Popes Brest 19. This Assertion that the Roman Church is infallible in all her Decrees and Definitions is the Foundation of your Faith and if it fail your Faith fails also yet it is much doubted of yea denyed by some Romanists nor as I suppose was it ever declated decreed or defined by the Church in any General Councel if it was I pray you shew me when where and in what terms 20. Suppose this was so defined and thereupon you be assured that the Church is infallible yet you cannot be infallibly assured what is meant by the Church which some of your Doctors interpret to be the Church essential some the Church representative which as some of them hold is a General Councel though without the Pope others the Councel and the Pope together some the Church virtual the Pope alone which yet are not agreed amongst themselves when where and in what matters the Pope may or may not err 21. If herein you were resolved yet you cannot be infallibly assured that the present Pope is a true and lawful Pope seeing he may be promoted by Simony or his Baptizer or Ordainer or the Baptizers or Ordainers of them or some of them might miss the right intention of Baptizing or Ordaining in which case he cannot be in the sight of God a lawful Pope 22. Put case you hope well of your Pope yet it is possible you may mistake Papal Decrees Definitions c. and not understand them in their true and genuine sence Soto and Catharinus who were present at the Trent Councel could not agree what was the Councels meaning in the Points of Original Sin and Justification but writ Books one against another of that Subject 23. You will say perhaps The Pope is a living Judg to determine these or the like doubts which if it were granted yet still you have no such infallible certainty as you pretend for you never heard the Pope preach propound Truths or resolve Doubts you only hear his Priests and Jesuits whom I hope you will not exempt from a possibility of deceiving or being deceived especially seeing both Priests and Jesuits Dominicans and Franciscans do pretend the Pope to be their Patron and their Tenents though contrary one to another to be the Tenents of the Church 24. Lastly to omit other Observations till further occasion If proof of the Churches Infallibility be demanded of you you will alledg Matth. 16.18 or Luke 22.32 or some other Scripture If again you be demanded what assutance you have that Matth. 16.18 Luk. 22.32 and the other Scriptures are of divine Authority and that they are not corrupted nor mis interpreted you must answer That the Church is infallible which keeps and interprets the Scripture Thus you prove the Infallibility of the Church by the Scriptures and the Infallibility of the Scriptures by the Church which is nothing else but to run round in a circle to beg the Question and in effect to prove the Churches Infallibility by the Infallibility of the Church Imprimatur Edm Calamy March 4. 1652. FINIS
your own confession doth signifie washing as well as dipping and washing is the main thing being the end and dipping but the means especially with reference to this Ordinance which is for washing or putting away the filth of the flesh 1 Pet. 3.21 Acts 22.16 Hebr. 10.22 1 Cor. 6.11 Now a thing may be washed not only by Dipping but by Sprinkling or by affusion or puring water upon it which is mostly used by us and not Sprinkling 3. The Greek word Baptism in Scripture signifie not only washing by dipping or plunging into the water but by sprinkling or affusion The Baptisms or washings mentioned Hebr. 9.10 were at least some of them done onely by sprinkling of water Numb 8.7 which was called the water of separation Numb 19.9 and holy water Numb 5.17 or by sprinkling of blood which himself instanceth in Heb. 9.13 19 21. See also Exod. 29.16 21. Psal 51.7 Their washings called baptizings of hands were frequently at least by letting wate fall on their hands from a Laver 2 King 3.11 So their Tables and Beds were not dipped into the water but washing with pouring water on them Mark 9. They that were baptized with the Holy Ghost and with fire were not dipped or plunged into the fire though if they had if seems it would not have burned them but cloven tongues as of fire sat upon each of them Acts 2.3 with Matt. 3.11 They that were baptized in the Cloud and in the Sea 1 Cor. 10.1 were not dipped or plunged into the Cloud or Sea for it was dry Land but probably they were bedewed besprinkled or dropped on The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 baptized by the Translation rendered dipt Revel 19.13 is no other in Isai 63.2 3. then besprinkled 4. Baptism signifies Justification by the blood of Christ which is called the Blood of Sprinkling Hebr. 12.24 1 Pet. 1. 2. Hebr. 10.22 and Sanctification by the Spirit of Christ which is called sprinkling of clean water on them Ezek. 36.25 Isai 52.15 both which were also typified by the aforesaid legal purifications or washings 5. It cannot be proved by the Word nor is it probable in it self that the three thousand baptized in Jerusalem Acts 2.41 were carryed to a River and there dipped one by one by the Apostles or that Paul Lydia the Jaylor and all theirs which it's likely were baptized in houses were so dipped Did they shift their clothes or continued they in their wet apparel and how could their whole body be washed though it might be wet with their clothes on or were they all men and women baptized stark naked and was not this contrary to modesty and a temptation which mastered holy David 2 Sam. 11.1 Much less can it be proved that be the person never so sickly the season never so cold yet dipping is though it may endanger mens lives not only lawful in it self as we account it yea it hath been commended above sprinkling or affusion but in all cases and conditions necessary and the omission of it upon any occasion is sinful ANABAPT CAT. Paedobaptism is done by an Officer where there is a questionable Power as the Ministers ordained by Bishops deemed Antichristian THis exception is of no force against Child Baptism administred by such Ministers as are not ordained by Bishops Exam. Cap. 13. 2. You tell us not by whom or whether truly or falsly the Bishops were deemed Antichristian certes the old Nonconformists how ever they or some of them might hold that in the calling and authority of the Bishops there be divers things Antichristian agreed by joynt consent That they did not see I use their own words how our Bishops could be called Antichrists or Antichristians 1. Because the Word marks out Antichrist by his false doctrine nor do we find in holy Scripture any such accounted Antichrist or Antichristian which holding the truth of Doctrine swerveth either in judgment or practice from Christs rule for Discipline now it is evident that our Bishops do hold and teach all fundamental Doctrines and Truths and some of them have soundly maintained it against Hereticks converted many to it and have suffered persecution for the Gospel 2. Their Hierarchy and other corruptions charged upon the calling of our Bishops were rather to be esteemed the stairs and way to Antichristianity then Antichristianity it self for they were in the Church before the Pope who is the Antichrist and the chief Head-link of all Antichristianity was revealed 3. The Antichristian Bishops hold their preeminence as from Gods Law which is unchangeable whereas our Bishops since her Majesties reign to this day for the most part held their superiority by no other right then the positive Law which is variable yea it appears by the Institution of the Court of Delegates and the continuance thereof to this day that they do and ought by Law to hold their Jurisdiction not as from God but as from the Prince Thus they And as to Ministers ordained by the Bishops they say Bishops are able to judg of such gifts as are required for the sufficiency of Ministers that many of them have been such Ministers themselves as to Whose labors the Lord hath set to his Seal We are perswaded that though it were not necessary yet it cannot be unlawful for him that entreth into the Ministry to be approved and authorized even by them And if our Ordination be in this behalf faulty how will our Brethren justifie the calling of their own Ministers that have received Ordination ever from the people who neither by commandment nor example can be found to have any such authority nor are in any degree so capable of it as the Bishops See Mr Rathbands grave Confutation c. pag. 19. and 38. 3. Suppose it were confessed That the Bishops as claiming by Gods Law sole power of Ordination and Jurisdiction if any so did might in some qualified sence be called Antichristian had this such an influence upon an Ordination in which others joyned as well as he so as to make it voyd and null both as from himself and from them The Bishops were Presbyters and so more enabled by Gods Word to ordain as the godly Nonconformists truly assert then any Non-Presbyters and they came nearer to a Presbytery then two three or more members which are nothing like a Presbytery or company of Presbyters can do and their Ordination was judged valid not only by the Parliament and the Assembly but also by all the Reformed Churches abroad as by the Nonconformists at home notwithstanding they were opposers of and were opposed by the Bishops yea God himself added his own Seal affording not only Ministerial Gifts and Graces but his gracious assistance for Conversion of Souls and edifying of the Saints and sometimes so gloriously working by the Ministry of the Church of England as he hath not that we know of wrought so by any other But in your account the Baptism administred by such a Minister is neither lawful nor sufficient or at
Pennance Extream Vnction Orders of which there are seven viz. Priests Deacons Sub-deacons Acolytes Exorcists Lectors or Readers Ostiaries or Door-keepers and Matrimony God is to be invocated and Religiously worshipped Yea and the Images of God also Crosses Crucifixes Altars Angels Saints with their Reliques and Images Christ is the Head of the Church And the Pope also Christ is our Mediator and Advocate So are the Angels and Saints likewise Christ was conceived without original sin And the Virgin Mary also Christ was once sacrificed on the Cross for the Redemption of the world Christ is dayly offered up in Mass a propitiatory Sacrifice for the sins of quick and dead We are saved by the merits of Christ And also by the merits of the Saints We are justified by Faith And by hope love fear of God good works which merit Salvation All the words and actions which Scripture records to be used by Christ in the celebration of the Supper are to be used by us also The sacred Hoast must also be elevated adored reserved carried in solemn procession Christ is truly present in the Eucharist Christ is corporally present by Transubstantiation and may be received into the mouths of wicked men yea of Rats and Mice There are two places for the Souls of such as depart hence And two besides viz. Purgatory and Limbus Infantum The three Creeds commonly called the Creed of the Apostles of the Nicene Councel and of Athanasius are to be received and beleeved And Pope Pius his Creed also or his additions to the Nicene Creed are also to be received and beleeved These and the like positive Points of the Reformed Religion whereof I omit sundry are truly and properly Catholique for in them not only Papists but in a manner all Christians in the world concur with us but in your Additions you stand single and have multitudes of Christians in the Eastern and Western Churches dissenting from you 2. Peruse the Book of nine and thirty Articles the Homilies Leiturgy and Catechisms or the late Directory Confession of Faith or Catechisms larger or shorter and find if you can the Doctrine of our Church contrary to any one Article of those several Creeds which in the first six hundred years were Badges of Catholique Profession or produce any one of those Articles to which we do not willingly subscribe 3. Though the ancient Church did undoubtedly beleeve and profess all that was necessary to Salvation yet there is not one Creed of General or National Counced particular Church or Father within a thousand or twelve hundred years after Christ in which the Articles of Pope Pius his Creed were imposed as now they are for Articles of Faith necessary to be beleeved unto Salvation 4. The Church of God as might be proved by Scriptures or Fathers if it were not acknowledged by your own Authors cannot make a new Article of Faith nor any addition to the Creed save by way of Explication of that which was formerly upon Scripture grounds beleeved and professed But these additions of yours were not beleeved if you should say that they were beleeved implicitely this suppose it true would take away the Visibility of the Profession thereof by the Ancient Caâ—holique and Apostolique Church 5. None of your side hitherto hath or hereafter can produce any one visible Church which in the Apostolique and in all succeeding Ages did approve and use Communion in one kind Private Mass Prayer in an unknown Tongue Image-worship Pardons Indulgences which beleeved the Popes Infallibility his Superiority over General Councels his temporal Authority over Kings and Emperors to depose them and dispose of their Dominions the necessity of auricular Confession the determinate number of seven Sacraments Purgatory and the Popes Power to deliver Souls from thence which forbade Lay-men without a special dispensation to read the Scriptures or Priests to marry c. 6. Nay you cannot name any one person in each several Age out of whose words or writings notwithstanding there were sundry Creeds Confessions of Faith Catechisms Sermons or Homilies Summaries of Christian Doctrine the aforesaid particular Points of Popery may be collected descending from the age of Christ to the days of Luther 7. Nay you cannot name any one Father or Catholique Writer for twelve hundred years after Christ that did hold all those Tenets which are now taught by the Romish Church and authorized by the Trent Councel 8. None of your side hath or can prove that any of the Primitive Martyrs or Confessors suffered Death Banishment Torment Confiscation c. for the Popish Religion or any particular thereof in which they differ from the Church of England as Papal Supremacy Communion in one kind Image-worship c. 9. You cannot shew that any one Article of your Faith in which we dissent from you is Catholique according to Vincentius Lirinensis his Rules viz. which was Ancient in his time and in respect of the Arrian Heresie which he calls novellum dogma a novel tenet and that which you know that not unus aut duo tantum sed omnes c. not only one or two but all though living in several times and places have with one consent openly frequently constantly held written and taught 10. None of your side dare for shame affirm that Communion in both kinds Prayer in a known Tongue communion of Priest with people Lay-mens reading of the Scriptures Worship of God without Images Invocation of God without mediation of Saints or Angels and other the aforesaid affirmative and positive Doctrines were invented by Luther or that they are not in themselves so lawful and agreeable to the Scriptures and practise of the first six centuries of years as Communion in one kind Prayer in an unknown Tongue c. 11. There are few or no Points denyed or affirmed against us by you in which you vary not amongst your selves and if any of you will distinctly set down avoyding general and ambiguous terms what he thinketh to be the truth in any Question or Exposition of Scripture controverted betwixt us I verily beleeve I can name him another Papist new or old that saith the contrary Bellarmine doth obiter discover to the world above three hundred several Opinions of Papists and those only in and about the Points controverted between you and us and Navane mentions about sixty Dissentions of your Doctors in one only Point to wit Confession 12. I shall hold till herein I be convinced of Error by instance to the contrary that whatsoever titles are by the ancient Fathers given to the Eucharist whereby you would prove Transubstantiation Adoration Sacrifice c. the same phrases or some equivalent to them may be found in the Fathers concerning Baptism in which you confess there is neither Transubstantiation nor Sacrifice 13. Also that those glorious things which were spoken by them of the Bishops of Rome may be parallel'd by such as read them throughly with the like honorable mention of other Patriarchs and Bishops 14. Also