stand reading other books seven yeers but hearing and believing were baptized Act. 18.8 You say further that men think they can understand plain Scripture if they hear it but they cannot and then you cry O that pride would let men know that they cannot understand the plainest Lecture of Geometry or Arithmetick that a man can read unto them and read the Grammer to a boy in the Primer and be understandeth not a word you say Answ Is it possible you would make men believe they cannot understand plain Scripture if they hear it but I pray try us with some first and see I confess we cannot understand this book of yours to be Plain Scripture-proof for Infants Church-membership and baptism because you have packt it so full of such whimsies as these Geometry Arithmetick Grammer c. But Sir we would have you to know that the word of God is of another nature for it giveth light to the blinde and understanding to the simple Psal 19.7 8. Yea it makes men wiser then their enemies and gives them more understanding then all their teachers yea more then the Antients Psal 119.98 99 100. All which I believe you will finde to be true before we have done You say Pos 4. When the cause is so difficult we must follow the most probable way So then it seems its very difficult for you to prove that Infants ought to be baptized by your own confession and indeed so I believe for that must needs be very difficult to prove that there is not one word of God in all the Bible for I cannot blame you for saying its difficult to prove But you say we must follow the most probable way come on then that we will Now whether is it most probable that that practice which is nowhere commanded nor written in Scripture should be of God or of Satan Judge ye Now that infant-Infant-baptism is such a practise as is not written in Scripture both Mr. Hall and your self confess and therefore in your 10 Position you do abuse us and call us bruit-beasts for demanding a plain Scripture for it therefore it s not of God and it s most plain that if that which is written in the word of God be the way of God then that which is not written in it and yet practised as an ordinance of God must needs be of Satan In your 5 Position in short you tell people that if any have taken up this opinion and have not Read and studyed Mr. Cobbet and Mr. Church and other chief books and been able to confute them they have but discovered a seared Conscience which either dare venter on sin without fear or else do count error no sin To all which I answer How now Mr. Baxter Are you grown to this height what must not men obey what they finde written in the holy Scripture till they have asked Mr. Cobbet and Mr. Churches counsel I pray where learned you this divinity at Rome I thought all this time the holy Scriptures had been able to make us wise unto salvation through faith in Christ Jesus but it seems they are not if you say true but we must be beholding to Mr. Cobbet and Mr. Church But I pray how did men before Mr Cobbet and Churches books were written and how do those now that cannot come by their books or never heard of them if it be as you say you may do well to send some men up and down the Country to sell them But I believe this is but one of your scare crows with which you use to affright silly souls that set their faith in your wisdom and not in the power of God but your folly is a making manifest and light and freedom is breaking forth to them which you have kept in darkness and bondage Now to your 6 Position wherein you say That you will discover a most frequent cause of mens falling into errors which you say is this All men in the beginning do receive many truths upon weak or false grounds and so hold them a while till they are beaten out of their old Arguments and then presently they suspect the cause it self and you are perswaded this is Mr. Tombs his own case Ans As for Mr. Tombs he is of age and able to answer for himself I question not and as for your saying that men receive Infant-baptism and other Truths upon weak grounds at first I answer I never knew any receive Infant-baptism upon any ground at all weak nor strong neither can they for they are not capable of what they do because they want understanding when they receive it therefore you may well say they are or may be quickly beaten off it again when they come to reason with themselves or others about it But you say Alas there is far better grounds which they are not aware of Answ That is it may be because you baptize them so soon if you would let them alone till they are men and women before you baptize them as you have example in Scripture they might receive baptism upon better grounds In your 7 Position you confess some Divines have reasoned very weakly for infant-Infant-baptism and used unfit phrases and misapplyed Scriptures and to these some have wrote three or four books and easily answered and seem to triumph and yet the truth is not shaken but it may be all the best Arguments and Plain Scriptures have never been answered say you Answ I desire to answer the Plain Scriptures no way but by faith and obedience by believing and doing of them therefore if you know of any that speaks of Infants-baptism bring them forth and I will be silent The first I see but as for your best Arguments you talk of I look upon them but as so many cunning devised fables wherewith you lye in wait to deceive simple souls by speaking things you ought not for filthy lucre sake Tit. 1.14 You say Pos 8. one sound Argument is enough to prove any thing true Answ Then either the great number of yours in the book of plain Scripture are not sound or else you need not to have brought so many by your own grant But you say What if all the Texts were put by save one Were not that enough Answ Yes it s enough if you can shew us but one but I pray where is that one I cannot finde it in all your book but it seems you are afraid that all should be put by save one therefore you make this apologie but I suppose all will do you little good In your 9 Position you say The former and present customs of the holy Saints and Churches should be of great weight with humble Christians Answ If the present customs of Churches now be according to the Primitive pattern I grant it else not But I am sure the customs of the Churches in the Apostles days was to baptize men and women when they believed with all their hearts and gladly received the word Act. 2.41 c. 8.12 v.
Creature he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved Mark 16.15 16. And repent and be baptized c. Act. 2.38 But you know well that little Babes know not what repentance is And ver 41. They that gladly received the word were baptized but you know well or else you have lost your sences that such Children as you baptize cannot gladly receive the word Again If thou believest with all thine heart thou maist Act. 8.37 And when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the Kingdome of God and the name of the Lord Jesus Christ they were baptized both men and women Act. 8.11 37. But you know that there is no Children in the Text and you know also if you be not wilfully blinde that they cannot believe with all their hearts but yet notwithstanding all this you are so impudent as to do the works of Satan and as he tempted Christ and would have had him cast himselfe downe before Gods time was come to send his Angells to take him downe and to that end would have applied a promise falsly saying It is written He shall give his Angells charge over thee to keep thee leaving out in all thy waies even so do ye tempt men and women to baptize their Children before Gods time is come of his own will to beget them by his word of truth James 1.18 That they might be born againe not only of Water but also of the Spirit Joh. 3.5 And to that end you tell them it is written they are Disciples and Church-members and they were circumcised under the Law and therefore they must be baptized under the Gospell and thus you misâ—pply and wrest the Scriptures putting in and leaving out what you please and then when poor Souls aske you for plaine Scripture for Infants baptisme and would gladly see where it is written then you tell them the Divell brought the words of Scripture to Christ and if they will have the words without the reasons and consequences they have no proof and thus you labour with your consequences and reasons and words without knowledge to darken the Counsell of God Job 38.2 But I hope by this time your folly is made more manifest But you proceed and tell us that if we have the meaning and reason we have enough for evidence for words are but to express sence To which I answer Then it seems the meanings and reasons you talke of without the word are without sence by your own confession for you say If we have the meanings and reasons we have enough c. As for the words they are but to express sence therefore it seems if we be without the words of Scripture we are without sence And thus you see or may see that God by weak instruments can take you wise ones in your own craftiness But good Sir consider once againe are not the words of the Scriptures which were given by the inspiration of the Spirit as good and better sence and reason then any words and reasons you can speake or give if you deny this upon your second thoughts I must needs conclude that you are far gone and very high flowne But you are pleased to say further Would it not make a man pitty such senceless ignorant wretches that will call for express words of Scripture when they have evident consequences Is Scripture-reason no reason Answer Sir methinks you are very pitifull but yet you are a miserable comforter for when you have done you fall a railing on us calling us senceless ignorant wretches that will call for express words of Scripture when we have your consequence But Sir I have told you already why we dare not trust your consequences But you say Is Scripture-reason no reason I answer Yes its goodreason and it s that we would have from you but you call us ignorant senceless wretches for so doing But there may be a mistake betwixt us for we call Scripture reason written reason now if you would but shew us where your reason is written in the book of God the holy writings the controversie were at an end but till then you have done nothing But you might inform the ignorant wretches that the holy Scriptures in English are holy writings for Scriptures are writings and holy Scriptures are holy writings and thus the people might learn to know what you mean by Scripture-reasons which are in plain English written reasons Further You are pleased to say that we disclaim Reason and therefore not to be reasoned with and if we once renounce Reason we are brute beasts and who will go to plead with a beast its Reason that differeth a man from a beast c. Answ Sir truly you do put me in minde how like one of your forefathers you are for to my best remembrance you speak his very words and I question not but if you had an opportunity you would do his deeds The man I speak of was Doctor Story to Mr. Philpot the Martyr who suffered for what he saw in that dark age The place where you may finde it is in Fox his book of Martyrs pag. 1972. in these following words Philpot After this Doctor Story came in to whom I said Mr. Doctor you have done me great wrong and without Law have straightly imprisoned me more like a dog then a man and besides this you have broke promise with me for you promised I should be judged the next day after Story I am now come to keep promise with you Was there ever such a fantastical man as this is Nay he is no man he is a beast yea these Hereticks be worse then brute beasts for they will upon vain singularity take upon them to be wiser then all men being indeed very fools and Asse-heads not able to maintain that which of an arrogant obstinacie they stand in Philpot. I am content to abide your railing judgement now say what you will yet I am no heretick neither shall you or any other be able to prove that I hold any jot against the word of God but as a Christian man ought Story The word of God forsooth the word of God! it s but a folly to reason with these hereticks for they are incurable and desperate but as I may reason with thee not that I have any hope to win thee But whom wilt thou appoint to be Judge of the word whereunto thou standest Philpot. Verily the word it self Story Do you not see the ignorance of this beastly heretick he will have the word to be judged of the word can the word speak Philpot. If I cannot prove what I have said by good authority I will be content to be counted an heretick or ignorant person or what you please Story Let 's hear what wise authority you can bring for it Philpot. It s the saying of Christ Joh. 12.48 The word that I have spoken the same shall judge you in the last day and if in the last day much more now our doings ought to be judged by it I
went first down into the water or else how could he come out of it and the Scripture saith John 3.23 that John baptized in Enon neer to Salem because there was much water there c. But Mr. Baxter hath given a learned answer to that Scripture viz. That Travellers report that the River Enon where John baptized is but a little Brook that a man may almost step over and that he had from some lying Traveller or other for the Proverb is that Travellers may ly by authority O fearfull wickedness and surely want of the fear of God and love to the truth of his word that a Divine a professed teacher of others should turn aside his eares from the truth of the Scripture that saith there was much water there and that was the cause that they carried there to baptize I say that he should turn aside his ears from such plain Scripture to believe a Man nay a travelling Man who are suspected of all Men to be lyers in many things A desperate afrront to the word of God which is true from the beginning Why may not Mr. Baxter as well believe Sir John Mandevil as well as another that telleth us of Men that are born with but one foot and yet go as fast with it as we can do with two and it is so big that in the heat of the day they can lay them down on their backs and hold up their foot against the Sun and it shades their whole Body and of other Men that have no head at all but their eyes and their mouth stand in their Brests This is Travellers news if Mr. Baxter will believe it and Sir John was to believed be for ought I know as soon as the Taveller that told Mr. Baxter that the River Enon was but a little Brooke that a man might almost step over But it s a good turn the almost is in but is this Mr. Baxters plain Scripture-proof Then the Lord be praised that hath delivered my Soul from believing of him and such as he is and let every poore Soul labour to save themselves as Peter saith Acts 2.40 out of the hands of such an untoward generation which speak things they ought not and believe Travellers reports rather then the truth of the word of God and all for filthy lucres sake But again What if we grant that the Travellers words are true will it therefore follow that the River Enon is no bigger in no place then it was where the Traveller could almost step over Are there not many Rivers in England that are very little in some places and yet in other places very large I cannot think but Mr. Baxter doth know that it is so and if so then Enon might have much water in another place though but a little where the Traveller was Further He saith the Jaylor in the night in his house was baptized but the Scripture saith that He tooke them the same hour of the night and washed their Stripes and was baptized he and all his straightway and then he brought them into his house and seâ— meat before them and rejoyced believing in God with all his house Now if the Jayler took Paul and Silas it implies they took them out and the next words prove it plainly for it saith He brought them into his house His next is this Mr. Baxter saith that we desperately conclude that if it be Gods way he will save our lives how probable soever the danger may seem to be to which he answereth four things 1. He saith this is to beg the question nay he saith he hath shewed and is a shewing that it is not Gods way Answ 1. If he hath shewed any thing already in these six Arguments which do prove baptizing of believers not to be Gods way I leave it to the Reader to judge when he hath considered his Arguments and my Answers and compared them both with the word of God by which we ought to try all things Againe He saith he hath shewed and is a shewing that it is not Gods way by which the Reader may take notice that Mr. Baxter is conscious to himself that he hath not yet proved it to any purpose and therefore he saith he is a shewing that it is not the way of God Answ Well then we will take notice how he proves it hereafter for by his owne confession it seems he hath not proved it yet 2. He saith God must not be temped This was the Devils trick to have drawn Christ under pretence of Scripture and of trusting God to have cast himself into danger of death Answ But therefore that way which the Devil tempted Christ to walk in was never the way of God but baptizing men and women when they do believe hath been and is the way of God Act. 8.12 Again whereas you say the Devil tempted Christ by pretending the Scripture I answer it is true he did so but there was no Scripture that said Cast thy self downe nor yet that said He shall keep thee at any time as I have shewed you already at large in answer to your tenth Position And so likewise when you tempt men and women to baptize their little children you also pretend Scripture but you have none that say they should or ought to be baptized nor any Scripture that sheweth that ever they were baptized in all the word of God and therefore I well remember how angry you are with us in your 10 Position for asking you for a Scripture to prove baptisme of Infants calling of us bruit beasts c. Therefore whose practice is most like the tempters yours or ours I leave it to the impartial Reader to judge 3. You say we might have said to the Disciples That if it were Gods command to keep the Sabbath then they needed not to rub the ears of corne for God could sustain them without Answ So we might if it had been Gods command so to keep the Sabbath as not to eat on the Sabbath day but it was not for they might eat and did eat on the Sabbath dayes Exod. 16.22 23 24 25. although they were not to kindle files to bake or seeth or rost on that day and therefore this your Objection is worth nothing for there is both command and example to baptize men and women when they believe all the world over See Matth. 28.19 20. Mark 16.15 16. with Act. 10.48 and chap. 8.12 but there is no command nor example to compel or perswade men to fast on the Sabbath day more then of another day therefore your Argument is frothy and vain 4. You say If it were a Duty yet when it is inconsistent with a greater duty it is at any time sinful for it is alwaies a sin to prefer a less duty before a greater But the duty of self-preservation is a moral duty and baptizing is but positive therefore it is a sin to prefer it before self-preservation Answ Now I hope Mr. Baxter hath laid himself open to
baptism shewing by the Scriptures I. Why Infants that cannot speak nor understand cannot be Church-members under the Gospel II. Why they cannot be Christs Disciples 6. To Mr. Baxters 8. Arguments by which he saith he proveth the Anabaptists way of baptizing sinful 7. Lastly I shall shew the reasons of our separating from the Church of England which standeth upon these four Legs viz 1. Infant-Baptism 2. Humane learning 3. Tythes their wages of unrighteousness 4. The Magistrates sword which they have used 1. to support themselves 2. to persecute and pull down others ERRATA Page 71. line 4. for send nothing can speak no salutations read speak nothing can send no salutations NOw according to the method propounded I shall proceed to shew First What foundation the Saints ought to build upon which Foundation is Christ 1 Cor. 3.11 for other foundation no man layeth then that which is layed which is Christ Jesus and the Apostle saith Eph. 2.20 that we are built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets of which Christ himself is the chief corner-stone in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth to an holy Temple in the Lord in whom you also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit To this also agreeth the words of Peter 1 Pet. 2.3 4 5. If ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious to whom coming as unto a living stone disallowed indeed of men but chosen of God and precious ye also as living stones are built up a spiritual house an holy Priesthood to offer up spiritual Sacrifices holy and acceptable to God by Jesus Christ And again it is also plain in the words of Christ to Peter when Peter said Thou art Christ the Son of the living God then saith Christ to him Thou art Peter and upon this Rock will I build my Church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it Observe upon what Rock not Peter as the Papists say for Peter is called a stone but Christ is called a Rock 1 Cor. 10.4 for they drank of that Rock which followed them and that Rock was Christ and who that is a Christian knoweth not that the Church of Christ is built upon the Rock Christ and therefore David saith 2 Sam. 22.2 The Lord is my Rock fortress and deliverer and verse 47. The Lord liveth and blessed be the God of the Rock of my salvation c. All which I suppose will not be denyed by any that own Christ But the 〈◊〉 Question is How the Saints may or ought to build upon this Rock Christ Which is cleerly answered by these following Scriptures Mat. 7.24 in these words Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine and doth them I will lâ—ken him to a wise man that built his house upon a Rock and the rain descended and the floods came and the winds blew and beat upon that house and it fell not because it was founded upon a Rock c. From all which we learn that to build upon the Rock Christ is to hear his sayings and do them and those that hear his sayings and do them not are likened unto a foolish man that built his house upon the sand c. and to this agreeth the saying of the Apostle Act. 3.22 23. for Moses truly said to the Fathers A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren like unto me him shall ye hear in all all things whatsoever he shall say unto you and it shall come to pass that every soul that will not hear that Prophet shall be destroyed from the people and that destruction is an ever lasting destruction from the presence of God and the glory of his power 2 Thes 1.8 9. Now seeing these things are so it standeth every soul in hand to search after the sayings of this great Prophet Christ Jesus and in searching they shall finde that he sharply reproveth all those that call him Lord Lord and yet do not the things which he saith Luke 6.46 and so saith the Apostle 1 Joh. 2.4 He that saith I knew him and keepeth not his Commandments is a lyer and the truth is not in him and all Lyers shall have their part in that Lake which burreth with fire and brimstone which is the second death Rev. 21 8. And thus we see the imminent danger that all those are in which say or think they are Christians and that they know Christ and will call him Lord Lord and yet not do the things that he hath commanded them nor keep his sayings the which danger to prevent I shall briefly endeavour by putting down his Commandments and sayings in order as they were spoken by him and practised by his Apostles and Saints in that generation And first The sayings of the Lord Christ after his Resurrection when he had obtained of God the Father all power both in heaven and earth are as followeth Mat. 28.18.19.20 And Jesus came and spake unto them saying All power is given unto me both in heaven and in earth go ye therefore and teach all Nations baptizing them in the name of the Father Son and Holy Spirit teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you and lo I am with you always even to the end of the world To this agreeth his words in Mark 16.15 16. And he said unto them Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature he that believeth and is Baptized shall be saved but he that believeth not shall be damned c. These are the words sayings and Commandments of the Lord Christ which we ought to hear and obey as aforesaid From all which words we observe 1 That he commanded the Gospel to be preached to every creature or all Nations 2 The end was that they might believe it 3 That those which did believe it should be baptized into his name 4 That those baptized believers were after to be taught to observe all other things whatsoever Christ had commanded his Apostles to teach them 5 To this practice viz. to a people thus walking according to this rule hearing his sayings and doing them the Lord Christ hath promised his presence saying And lo I am with you always even to the end of the world but the end of the world is not yet therefore Christ is still with those baptized believers which do thus walk Thus have I shewed the order of the words as they were spoken by the Lord himself I shall now proceed to the example of the Apostles and see whether they did act accordingly or whether they baptized children as well as believing men and women or whether John the Baptist did baptize any children And if it can be proved by any word of God that any baptized little babes that cannot speak or understand then I confess they that practise it may be born with and they which cry it down as Antichristian superstition and mans traditions may be to blame now therefore to the words and
testimonies of the Lord. Mark 1.3.4.5 where we read first of the voice of one crying in the wilderness to prepare the way of the Lord and to make his paths straight Secondly that John baptized in that wilderness and whom he baptized is evident in the following words And he preacht the Baptism of Repentance for the Remission of sins and there went out unto him all the Land of Judea and they of Jerusalem and were all baptized of him in the River of Jordan confessing their sins c. Thus we see that all that were baptized of John of the Inhabitants of Judea and Jerusalem were such as could and did confess their sins But little children that cannot speak cannot confess their sins therefore none such were baptized by John See also Matth. 3.5 6. Thus it being cleer by the Scriptures that John baptized men and women that could believe and confess their sins and not a word spoken of sucking children I shall now proceed to the works of the Apostles to whom Christ gave Commission as aforesaid and see what they practised Act. 2.40.41 we read that when they preached and exhorted the people with many words to save themselves from that untoward generation then they that gladly received his word were baptized and added to the Church c. But little babes of eight days weeks or months old cannot gladly receive the word of God because they understand it not therefore none such were baptized there Object But some will object from ver 39. that the Promise was to them and their children and therefore children may be baptized Answ I grant the Promise was to them vers 38 that if they did repent and be baptized in the name of Christ for the Remission of sins they should receive the gift of the Holy-Ghost and this is true also to their children if they did repent and obey the Gospel as aforesaid and so it is to us and to our children though never so far off upon the same condition of Faith Repentance and Baptism for it is to all that the Lord our God shall call but they must be called first observe that ver 39. And thus is the objection fully answered Again If ever the Apostle baptized children it must needs be now according to their Argument who say the Promise is to children and therefore But that they baptized no such children is evident because they that were baptized were such as could and did gladly receive the word and continued stedfastly in the Apostles Doctrine and fellowship and breaking of bread and Prayer all which little babes that cannot speak words nor understand Reason cannot possibly do therefore none such baptized The next place is Act. 8.12 where we read that when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ they were baptized both men and women in express terms but we never read a word of little children Again ver 36 37. we read that the Eunuch said to Philip See here is water what hinders me to be baptized and Philip said If thou believest with all thine heart thou mayest But such little babes as these baptize cannot believe with all their hearts therefore they may not be baptized neither do we yet in the least see that any such were baptized by the Apostles The next is Act. 10.46 47 48. in these words Can any man forbid water that these should not be baptized that have received the Holy Ghost as well as we And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord Iesus By all which we see that no such babes were here baptized for all that were in this place baptized were such as had received the Holy Ghost as well as the Apostles and they heard them speak with tongues and magnifie God which children that cannot speak at all cannot possibly do all rational men will grant The next is Lydia and her houshould Act. 16.14 15. Now some say thus Who knows but she might have little children To which I answer if none know then all ought to be silent and not to believe and affirm things they know not for that is wickedness and folly but thus much we know 1 That Christ commanded them to baptize them which believed 2 Hitherto we have found them baptizing of none else 3 The Scripture speaks of no children she had nor yet of any husband and therefore silence gives no commands to obey nor no Promises to believe nor no examples to follow Again if she had an husband he was baptized for she and her houshoald were baptized Now if he had been baptized he would surely have born the name in the history rather then she being the head of the house Lastly we read ver 40. that when Paul and Silas came out of prison they entred into the house of Lydia and comforted the brethren and departed but little babes are not capable of such comfort therefore no such brethren in Lydia's house nor any ground at all to believe it from Scripture nor Reason The next is the Jaylor who was baptized with his houshould from whence some would draw the same Argument as from Lydia's and perswade us that there were children in his house but the Text is plain against it for it saith Act. 16.32 33 34. that they spake the word of the Lord to him and to all in his house and he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes and was baptized he and all his straight ways and when he had brought them into his house he set meat before them and rejoyced believing in God with all his house Thus the Scripture in plain words as it saith the one that he and all his were baptized so also it saith he with all his house believed in God and therefore if Mr. Cook will evade the one by his learned Exposition in his 17 page he may as well evade the other and so conclude that none but he was baptized But consider the result of his labours when he hath laboured by all his wit and skill to pervert the Text yet he confesseth that the Syriack Translation reads it thus And he exulted and all the children of his house even all of them in the Faith of God I pray let all rational men consider what difference is between their all rejoycing and believing God and exulting even all of them in the Faith of God but that the man labours to darken the Counsel of God by these words words without knowledge As in Job 38.2 And thus the Lord taketh the wise in their own craftiness and the Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise that they are vain 1 Cor. 3.19.20 But one thing more I had like to have forgotten viz. his seeming sophistical answer to Act. 8.12 where the Text saith plainly that when they believed they were baptized both men and women To this he answereth in his 16 page that these words men and women are applyable to sexes
Deut. 17.11 From Jeremiah 35.6 some there are contend to maintaine the law and customes we have in this Nation received from our fathers because the Rechabites stuck so close to theirs To which I answer 1. That the Rechabites were subject to the judicial law as the other Jews were 2. These traditions of theirs were not forbid nor commanded of God that the magistrate could not forbid the doing what they did 3. Nor cause c. saith In the Congregation of God confession of sins is always the first the which in times past went before before baptism for commonly children were baptized when they came to their understanding c. Idem super Mat. Christ hath nowhere commanded to Baptize infants 19 Calvinus in Institutionibus lib. 4. cap. 16. Confesseth that it is nowhere expresly mentioned by the Evangelists that any one childe was by the Apostles hands baptized 20 Dathenus in the Frankendalische Colloquium fol. 549. We believe that christian children ought to be baptized albeit it stand no where plainly with such words written That Christian children shall in the New-Testament be baptized And folio 605. Now we have plainly confessed that we have no such express commandment that you should baptize the Christians children And fol. 663. Also in Protocol Printed in Netherlandish 274. 1 He confesseth that there is no evident example that the Apostles did baptize children 21 Beza in Annotationibus super Matth. John taught those that were to be baptized and admitted none to baptism but those that gave testimony that they believed the forgiveness of their sins such Confession was also in the Primitive Church required of the Catechumens before baptism For in that the Sacraments are Seals it is requisite that Doctrine or Instruction should go before the use of those things by which the Doctrine it self is to be sealed 22 Luther in his book of the civil Magistrate The Sacraments neither can nor may be received without Faith but with great hurt Wherefore we hold our selves to the words of Christ He that believeth and is baptized so that either before or else even then present when Baptism is administred there must needs be Faith or else there is a contempt of the divine Majesty who offers his present grace when there is none to receive it Thus much out of those Teachers own writings which observe and use childrens baptism from whence the Reader may take notice of the unsoundness of their principles and what little ground 1 There is for it in the Word of God as they themselves confess 2 Therefore what great cause have we to search the Scriptures for better information let the sober-minded judge Moreover I shall further prove out of their own writings that the baptism of infants and sucklings is a Ceremony and Ordinance of man brought into the Church by Teachers after the Apostles times and Instituted and Commanded by Councels Popes and Emperours Proofs out of the Ancient and latter Teachers 1 ORigen calleth Baptism of children a ceremony and tradition of the Church In Levit. Hem. 8. In Epist ad Rom. lib. 5. 2 Augustine calleth it a common custom of the Church De baptismo contra Donat. lib. 4. cap. 23. Et de Genesi ad literam lib. 10. cap. 23. 3 Pope Gregory the 4. calleth it a Tradition of the Fathers In decretis distinct de consecrat 4 Erasmus lib. 4. de ration concio saith that they are not to be condemned that doubt whether infant-Infant-baptism was or was denyed by the Apostles and think that the same is to be received as the placita Scholasticorum theologicorum which cannot be proved by sacred Scripture 5 Eckins calleth it a commandment and ordinance of man In Enchiridion 6 Luther in his book of Anabaptism acknowledgeth that it cannot be proved by sacred Scripture that childrens baptism was instituted by Christ or begun by the first Christians after the Apostles For many yeers since it came to be in use in the Church and was established by Pope Innoceneius 7 Cassander in his book de infantium Baptismo saith That it came to be used by the Fathers which lived three hundred yeers after the Apostles 8 Cyprianus lib. 3. Epistolarum 8. Epistle 9 Augustinus Epist 28. ad Hieroni. 10 Cassander de infantium baptismo 11 Bullinger in his House-book 12 Justus Menius of the Spirit of the Anab. 13 Melancthon in his Answer to the Anab. Articles About the yeer of our Lord 248 and after the departure of John the oldest Apostle 158 yeers lived a Priest called Fidus the same would that men should according to the manner of Circumcision baptize young children upon the eighth day Against whom Cyprianus with sixty six Bishops and Elders more gathered together opposed themselves ordaining that every one without delay should receive Baptism and that the young children should timely be brought thereto Thus have you the time when and the persons by whom it was brought in viz. The time when in the yeer of our Lord 248. the persons by which it was brought in namely Fidus by name who was a Priest who then lived Thirdly the opposition that he then had by Cyprianus and 66 other Bishops and Elders so that by their own Confessions it is an Ordinance and Tradition of man which will and must perish with the using And that it is Will-worship and Idolatry appeareth by their own Confessions as followeth 14 Bullingerus in ex Augustino contra Julianum lib. 1. cap. 2. saith The Carthaginian Councel concludeth thus to Innocentium Forasmuch as we believe that Christ the Son of God was holy born of the pure Virgin Mary to fulfil and ratifie the promise of God which excludeth not children from salvation but much rather comprehends the same within the Covenant We will therefore that they be baptized Thus we see it is We will therefore Will-worship 15 In Tomis Conciliorum Synodorum ex Concilio Carthag 5. cap. 6. saith Concerning Infants we will that they be baptized if there be no certain witness to testifie that they are baptized c. 16 Item Gregorius quartus Bonifacio Those young children whose parents are absent or unknown whether they be baptized or not let them according to the Tradition of the Fathers be baptized Here the Reader may take notice that it is a Tradition of the Fathers according to their own confession 17 Ex Concilio Miletano cui interfuit Augustinus Anselmus Romae Ecclesiae legatus It is also our will that all those that will not that children which are new born from their mothers womb should be baptized to the washing away of Original sin let them be excommunicated 18 Ex Tomis Conciliorum Franck. in Chronologia In the second Bracharense Councel holden 610. Baptism of children was adjudged and holden to be needful 19 Tuicensi Divinis officiis lib. 4. cap. 18. In times past the children in the Church were throughout the whole yeer instructed in the word And at the feast of Easter to rehearse the Faith which
us that we are such as the Apostle speaks of when he saith The end of the Commandment is Charity out of a pure heart a good Conscience and faith unfeigned from which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling desiring to be teachers of the Law understanding not what they say nor whereof they affirm and here you think you hit us home Answ Sir I must confess now you have catched us out of our Element and in your own for we know you are scholars and have learned to contend about words to no profit which tends to the subverting of the hearers but be it as it will Seeing we erred in saying we affirm a Negative we will either confess our errour or else shew you a president which may justifie us in our practice Rom. 3.12 Paul saith There is none that doth good no not one here Paul affirmeth a Negative saying There is none for there is is an Affirmative therefore if you had been by him you might have taught him to have said I deny that any doth good no not one and then he had spoke as like a scholar as your self Again Isa 45.5 the Lord saith by the Prophet I am the Lord and there is no God besides me now Sir if you dare presume to be a teacher here it should have been thus I deny that any God is but my self And I pray shew us the word negative in the Scripture if you can Lastly to conclude Job 1.20 When they sent to John to know who he was the Scripture saith He denyed not I pray observe if he denyed not then he affirmed and what did he affirm Answ He said I am not the Christ here John affirmed a negative confessing and saying I am not c. now that I am is to affirm is evident for vers 23 he saith I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness c. And now let me shew poor souls the mystery of Mr. Cooks iniquity about the affirming a negative 1 The word negative is not to be found in all the Bible but hatched up in the schools and now is nursed by them and grown to such a stature that none must say they affirm a negative without great dishonour amongst them and yet to affirm is but to say a thing is so and to deny is also to say a thing is not so As if I should say or affirm when the Sun shines it is day and when it is down I should say or affirm it is night all honest men will understand me without prejudice Again that man that saith he will prove a Negative is among scholars much derided because they stand upon punctilioes but yet the thing may be honestly done thus If I say I will prove a man is not alive if I shew others that he is dead do not I prove he is not alive Again if I affirm or say a man is not in his house if I go and shew others his house and he is not in it do not I prove he is not in it and so prove a negative viz. that he is not there c. And now seeing you will make us offenders for a word may not we justly say that you are one of those the Apostle speaks of 1 Tim. 6.3.4 in these words If any teach otherwise and consent not to wholesome words even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Doctrine that is according to godliness he is proud and knoweth nothing doting about Questions and strife of words whereof cometh envies strifes railings evil surmisings perverse disputings of men of corrupt mindes destitute of the truth supposing gain to be godliness c. And now do not you doat about words viz. the affirmative and negative whereby you gender envie strife c. And do not you count gain godlinese viz. an hundred or two hundred a yeer for Preaching and Baptizing Infants and rather then you will part with it you do dispute perversly like a man of a corrupt minde destitute of the truth as it is in Jesus I beseech you in the fear of God consider it And know also that although we have affirmed a Negative yet you cannot justly apply that Scripture to us 1 Tim. l. 5 6 7. because we desire not to be teachers of the Law and therefore Mr. Baxter saith we are Antinomians and deny the Law But I answer Both you and he desire to be teachers of the Law witness your running to Moses to prove Baptism of Infants and Church membership from Circumcision and the Old Covenant that was faulty and therefore done away Heb. 8.7 and another to be established upon better promises vers 6. and in this I am sure you nor Mr. Baxter know not what you say nor whereof you affirm therefore take the Scripture wholly to your selves and consider it well And thus Mr. Cook I shall at present take leave of you for a time and apply my self to Mr. Baxter Sir in the first place to your Positions in the first of which p. 3 you say thus It hath pleased the holy Ghost to speak of some things in the Scriptures more fully and of others more sparingly and where God spake more sparingly the thing must needs be more difficult and yet truth still Answ But he never speaks of Infants Baptism in all the Scripture neither fully not sparingly therefore none of his Truth nor ever was But you instance in four particulars but that which is pertinent to the matter in hand is your fourth wherein you say The New Testament speaketh more sparingly of that which is more discovered in the Old and say you what need the same thing to be done twice except men should question the authority of the Old and if God should reveal his minde in one part of the Scripture what use should we make of the other Therefore say you how silent is the New Testament concerning a Christian Magistracie which made the Anabaptists of old deny it And say you further Where finde you a Christian in the New Testament that exercised the place of a King or Parliament-man or Justice of Peace or the like And so of an Oath before a Magistrate of war and of the Sabbath how sparing is the New Testament and why say you because it is said enough in the Old To all which I answer You have spoken many words to no purpose except it be to deceive the hearts of the simple for whereas you say That which is spoken on in the Old Testament need not be spoken of again I answer Infants baptism is nowhere spoken of neither in the Old nor New Testament therefore you ought not for shame to speak of it 2. As for your saying Where finde we a Christian Magistrate in the New Testament I answer Surely you have forgotten the Deputy that was turned to the faith by Paul Act. 13.12 Sergins Paulm by name Likewise the Eunuch a man of great authority under Candace Queen of the Ethiopians who had the charge of
her treasure who beleeved and was baptized by Philip Act. 8.27.37 38. and what say you to Erastus the Chamberlaine of the City Rom. 16.2 3. and likewise of those Saints of Caesars houshold Philip. 4.22 And for an Oath did you never read in the New-Testament Heb. 6.16 that an oath for confirmation is an end of all strife And for War did you never read Luke 3.14 that the souldiers came to John and asked what they should do and he did not bid them lay down their arms but be content with their wages and do violence to no man And did you never read of Cornelius a Censurion of the Italian band Act. 10. and doth not the Apostle Peter put us in mind to subject Magistrates 1 Pet. 2.13 14 15. Likewise Paul to Tit. ch 3.1 and 1 Tim. 2.1.2 and Rom. 13. Is not the Scripture full of these things and yet do you call for Scripture Surely you read so many other books that you forget to read the Scripture For I well remember in your third position you say that some 8 years agoe you had read some hundreds more then most of them you call Godly Christians and thought yourself as wise as most of them and some thought you wiser you say but it seems you are not yet wise enough to lay aside those hundreds of books and give your self wholly to read and study the Scriptures which are able to make you wise to Salvation if you were you would be better acquainted with the matter contained in them And thus I proceed to your second position finding your first so frothy and full of superfluous words In your second you say that The great difficulty of a point is no proof that it is not truth and a thing is not therefore to be rejected as not of God because it is not easie to understand You affirm also that multitudes of silly ignorants do the same In all which I shall not oppose you But your next considerable is this you say If a subtill Pagan should come amongst the people and dispute that the Scripture is not the word of God and that Christ Jesus is not the Son of God he would silence them more then the Anabaptist con do Answ Here Mr. Baxter makes himself very suspicious and his words very unsavory in that he rather sideth with Pagans and Atheists that deny both God and Christ and the holy Scriptures then with those which are falsely called Anabaptists though we honestly own God and Christ and the Scriptures and desire to plead nothing else for our practise for which cause he crieth out against us in his 10. position calling us brute beasts and nothing but because we call to him for Scripture for to prove his practice and yet now he makes as if the Atheists and Pagans had more to say for themselves then we all which I leave to God and the impartial Reader to judge Again Mr. Bextar speaks a great swelling word of vanity saying he will hazard all the reputation of his understanding on it that there is ten times more to be said for free-wil then can be said against Infants baptism yea it is twenty times more difficult and yet you offer to dispute it with any man and must it therefore be true say you Answ 1. Sir as for the reputation of your understanding I will not say what I judge its worth 2. If you had said there is ten times more to be said for free-will then is to be said for Infants baptism you had hit it right Lastly whereas you say free-will is such a difficult point I am not of your judgement in that for I beleive its easie to them that will understand to know that no man in himself or of himself without God hath any free-will or power to think or do that which is good for In him we live move and have our being Act. 17.28 in and through God that gives all men life and breath and all things to the end they may seek him Act. 17.25 26 27. Even the wickedest and Hypocrites the worst of men have a will and power to do more good then they do and that 's one cause of their just condemnation Moreover its evident that wicked Balaam had a will and desire to dy the death of the righteous and that his latter end might be like unto theirs Numb 23.10 And Paul saith plainly To will is present with me but how to performe that which is good I know not Rom. 7.18 by all which it is evident that free-will is not such a difficult point as you would make it but it s an easie matter with you to call Light darkness and darkness light Isa 5.20 But I leave this at present and proceed to your fourth position wherein you say That if never so clear evidence of truth be produced yet it will still be dark to them that are uncapable of discerning it for its Gods work to make people understand And then you instance in the Author to the Heb. cap. 5.11 12 13 14. who had many things to say to them concerning Melchisedec which were hard to be uttered because their ears were dull of hearing Answ We grant you all this I That though there be never so cleer truth for a thing yet it will still be dark to some But however let us see some cleer evidence of truth first and shew where it s written that babes must be baptized and then if we do not believe it be it upon us We know it is Gods work to perswade the heart but its mans work to declare the truth by which the heart is perswaded The Apostle often preacht very plainly that men should Repent and be baptized but there were many that heard them which rejected their words though very plain as they are still upon record but you bring us no Scripture for what you affirm about infant-Infant-baptism but call us unreasonable men and bruit beasts for requiring Scripture of you for your practice and yet you would bear the world in hand in this your Position that you have proved cleer evidence of truth for it but we will not believe it but I say once more shew us but where it s written in the word of God which alone is able to make us wise to salvation 2 Tim. 3.15 16 17. and then if we will not nor cannot believe it our blood be upon our selves but till you shew us something written we have nothing to believe As for your saying we had need study the controversie at least seven yeers I answer What Rule have you for that Did the three thousand in Act. 2.41 42. study this controversie seven yeers or seven days either Consider it again and those men and women Act. 8.12 that believed Philips preaching and were baptized and the Eunuch in the latter part of the chapter and Lydia and the Goaler Act. 16. and Crispus the chief Ruler of the Synagogue with his houshold and many of the Corinthians who did not
am sure I have Christ my Judge on my side for this Thus you may see and consider how like your forefather Doctor Story you speak and behave your self and to that end I have writ it and that the Reader may consider that even as these wicked Tyrants dealt with the poor Martyrs that suffered in Queen Maries days for that part of truth which they then saw in those times of ignorance and darkness even so would Mr. Baxter and his brethren deal with us now if they had but their liberty witness these words of Doctor Story compared with Mr. Baxters tenth Position by which it appeareth that they are children of one father whose works they do Joh. 8.44 And now whereas you say we disclaim Reason I answer It s but one of your false accusations we own all things written in the Scriptures of truth and they are better reason about heavenly matters then any you can bring for they are able to make us wise to salvation as aforesaid But now I come to the great invincible Argument of Mr. Baxter and Mr. Cook which is this saith Mr. Baxter Do you think the Lord Jesus knew a good Argument or the right way of disputing why how did he prove the Resurrection to the Sadduces from that Text I am the God of Abraham and Isaas and of Jasob would not one of these men if they had stood by have chiddeu Christ for this Argument and have said Give us a Text that says the dead shall Rise what 's this to the Resurrection that God is the God of Abraham would not these have reported abroad that Christ could not confute the Sadduces or bring any Scripture for his doctrine thus far Mr. Baxter the same saith Mr. Cook in his 24 and 25 pag. To all which I answer that the Lord Jesus knew a good Argument and the right way of disputing better then Mr. Baxter Mr. Cooke or my selfe or any man else I humbly confess to his praise and therefore I desire to make use of his words that he hath already spoken knowing that he hath reasoned and proved all things better then I can But Mr. Baxter although he confess for his own ends that the Lord Christ knew the best reasoning yet he is not content with his reason but adds to it these words in his 10 Position 1. If God be the God of Abraham then it will follow that Abraham in soul is living 2. This is not directly proved from this Text but another principle must be taken in to support it viz. That God is not the God of the dead but the living 3. If Abrahams soul be living then his body must needs be raised 4. If Abrahams body shall rise then there is a resurrection and others shall rise also To which I answer 1. Mr. Baxter in all these consequences that he hath drawn hath but darkened the councell of God spoken by the mouth of Christ 2. The resurrection is more plainly proved by the words of Christ without all his consequences as appeareth by the word of the Text Luk. 20.35 36 37. But they that shall be accounted worthy to obtaine that world and the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage neither can they dy any more for they are equall with Angells and are the Children of God being the Children of the resurrection Thus Christ himselfe in plaine terms hath proved the resurrection already speaking plainly of the happiness of those that shall obtaine the resurrection from the dead and then when he had done he concludes that the resurrection of the dead is so plain that even Moses shewed it at the Bush c. 3. Let Mr. Baxter prove if he can that Christ did draw any consequences from his owne words but left them barely as he spake them as sufficient proof without the help of any of Mr. Baxters consequences 4. If Christ had used never so many consequences to prove any thing yet his words were all Scripture and infallibly true So true that whosoever of Men or Angels should add to or take from it they were accursed But Mr. Baxters are none such therefore we weigh them not 5. Whereas Mr. Baxter is pleased to say If we had stood by we would have said to Christ Give us a Scripture that saith the dead shall rise I answer So Christ did give them two Scriptures though Mr. Baxter is so blind he cannot see them for he telleth us ver 35. of the world to come and the Resurrection from the dead in plaine tearms saying They which shall be accounted worthy to obtaine that world and the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage And in ver 37. he saith that the dead are raised And we would have Mr. Baxter and all men know that we take all the sayings of Christ to be as good Scripture and of as great authority as any part of the Bible therefore now Mr. Baxter and Mr. Cooks folly and wickedness is manifest who would insinuate into peoples mindes that Christ did not bring Scripture to prove the resurrection of the dead but they must help him by their consequences But their deceit lieth in this namely in that they did conclude that because Christ did not bring some other Scripture that was written before to prove the resurrection therefore he proved it by consequence never minding that what he said was Scripture and what he approved of is approved and ought to be approved of all without murmurings or disputings But now to make their folly manifest I will reason with them another way and if they prove as plainely that Infants ought to be baptized as Chirst did there prove that the dead should rise they shall have it and I will confess my selfe in an errour And now to the matter 1. Mark 12.25 For when they shall rise from the dead they neither marry nor are given in marriage Now do you shew a Scripture that saith And when they shall baptize little Children they shall c. 2. Ver. 26. And as touching the dead that they rise have you not read c. Now do you produce such a Scripture if you can that saith And as touching little Children that they be baptized have you not read c. bring you but Scriptures that come but thus neer the matter and we will grant you Infant-baptisme but till then you are unreasonable in your reasoniags and while you accuse others you are guilty your selves Obj. It may be some will object and say that I will tie Mr. Baxter and Mr. Cooke to plaine Scripture but yet I have written many words in this Book my selfe that are not plaine Scripture Ans It s one thing for a man to use words to express himselfe to those that will not believe the Scriptures as they are written and it s another thing to bring the holy Scriptures to shew men a Rule to walk by and what their duty is in matters of faith and obedience We will
and Customs of it till they come to understanding to learn them and when they learn then they are scholars or disciples and to them that learn it is given to know c. So also I believe that little children according to the Scriptures do belong to the kingdom of heaven and partake of the priviledges of divine protection and likewise of the redemption that is in Christ Jesus although they know nor believe nothing of it till they be of yeers and discretion to be disciples of Christ and begin to learn of him and then To them it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom as aforesaid Argument VIII My eighth Argument is from Luke 14.27 in these words And whosoever doth not bear his cross and come after me cannot be my disciple Whence I reason thus If none can be the disciples of Christ but those that bear the cross of Christ and so come after him then little children that know not what the cross of Christ is nor yet what belongs to following of him as dear children in love cannot be his disciples But none can be his disciples but such as do bear his cross and follow him Therefore little babes cannot be Christs disciples Argument IX My ninth Argument is from Luke 14.33 in these words So likewise whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath cannot be my disciple From whence I reason thus If none can be Christs disciples but such as considering before what it will cost are willing to forsake all that they have yea and their own lives also for his sake then little children that can neither consider what it will cost nor yet resolve in themselves what to do cannot possibly be Christs disciples But none can be Christs disciples without they have the use of their Will Reason and Affections so far as to consider before what it will cost and to resolve after whatsoever it cost to forsake all and their own lives also as is proved by all these Scriptures Luk. 14.26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33. compared with Matth. 10.37 38. and Mark 8.34 Matth. 16.24 25. Therefore they which say little children that can do none of these things are Christs disciples it is much to be feared that they never yet learned to know what a disciple of Christ is and are none themselves Thus having shewed the deceit of Mr. Cooks and Mr. Baxters Arguments in general by which they would prove that Infants are Church-members and Christs disciples and so fit subjects for Baptism I leave it to the view of all both friend and foe and proceed to answer Mr. Baxters eight Arguments by which he saith he proveth the Anabaptists way of Baptizing sinful His first Argument is this If there be no word of precept or example for baptizing the childe of any one Christian at yeers of discretion then to delay their baptism till yeers of discretion and then to baptize them is not the Scripture-way But there is no one word of precept or example in all the Scripture for the baptizing of the childs of any one Christian at yeers of diseretion Therefore to defer it till then and then to baptize them is not the Scripture-way Answ 1. I would gladly know whether Mr. Baxter do or dare judge Mary the mother of Jesus to be no Christian who said Luk. 1.46 47. My soul doth magnifie the Lord and my spirit hath rejoyced in God my Saviour c. if he will deny her to be a Christian who rejoyced in God her Saviour then I will be bold to say he doth not know what a Christian is yea and that he is none himself Again if he confess her to be a Christian then his Argument is worth nothing for her childe viz. her Son Jesus was baptized at yeers of discretion when he was thirty yeers of age Luk. 3.21 22 23. And thus I have given him an example And our way of baptizing of people at yeers of discretion is a Scripture-way and therefore not sinful And now I shall retort his Argument upon himself that all men may see his folly thus If there be no word of precept nor example in all the Scripture for baptizing the childe of any Christian before they come to yeers of discretion then so to baptize them is not the Scripture-way But there is no word of precept nor example in all the Scripture for baptizing the childe of any one Christian before yeers of discretion Therefore to baptize them before yeers of discretion is not the Scripture-way and therefore sinful And thus is Mr. Baxter wounded with the edge of his own sword and his folly manifest Now to the second Argument which is this That practice which is utterly inconsistent with the obeying of Christs rule for baptism is a sinful practice But the baptizing of children of Christians at yeers of discretion is utterly inconsistent with obedience to the rule for baptism Therefore such baptizing is a sinful practice Answ This is the same with the first Argument therefore the same answer may serve But yet to make Mr. Baxter's folly manifest I shall give him his Argument again thus That practice which is utterly inconsistent with the obeying of Christs rule for Baptism is a sinful practice But the baptizing of children of Christians or others before they come to yeers of discretion is utterly inconsistent with the obedience to Christs rule Therefore it is a sinful practice 2. Whereas Mr. Baxter would make us offenders for doing of nothing that is to say for not baptizing children in their non-age I answer He can never make it a sin till he shew us what command we have broke in not baptizing them for all sin is the transgression of some law therefore saith the Apostle where there is no law there is no transgression But there is no law nor commandment in all the Scripture to baptize little babes that cannot speak before they come to yeers of discretion Therefore no sin to let it alone 3. There is both precept and example for baptizing men and women at yeers of discretion viz. when they believe Mar. 16.16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved and Acts 8.12 When they believed Philips preaching they were baptized both men and women And Acts 10.48 Peter commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus c. And now seeing there is both precept and example for it therefore it is no sin to baptize men and women at yeers of discretion 4. That Mr. Baxters Mr. Halls and Mr. Cooks way of baptizing is sinful is evident First because they baptize little babes before they come to yeers of discretion for which they have neither precept nor example therefore utterly inconsistent with Christs rule for baptism and a sinful practice as Mr. Baxter himself hath granted in these former Arguments and thus out of his own mouth he is judged and condemned for a sinner Secondly that this their way of baptizing infants before
THE Foundation OF THE Font DISCOVERED To the view of all that desire to behold it AND The baptizing of Men and Women when they believe in rivers and fountains proved to be a standing Ordinance in the Church of Christ to the end of the world By plain Scripture-proof In Answer To Mr. Cook 's Font uncovered for Infant-baptism And To Mr. Baxter's Plain Scripture-proof for Infants Church-membership and Baptism With a word sometimes upon occasion to Mr. Hall's Font-guarded which is more fully answered by Thomas Collyer BY HENRY HAGGAR A servant of Christ and the Congregations of his Saints And they were all baptized of John in the river of Jordan confessing their sins Mark 1.5 And whom they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God and the Name of Jesus Christ they were baptized both men and women Acts 8.12 And John also was baptizing in Enon neer to Salim because there was much water there and they came and were baptized Joh. 3.23 And the eunuch said See here is water what hinders me to be baptized And Philip said If thou believest with all thine heart thou mayest c. Act. 8.36 37. London Printed for Giles Calvert at the black Spread-eagle at the west-end of Pauls 1653. To the Reader Courteous Reader BY this I give thee to understand that I should not have troubled thy patience with these ensuing lines knowing there are so many books extant but that many whose judgements are not rightly informed in the truth would still have thought as they have many times said that the things which I here write against are not nor cannot be answered although they were answered even before they came forth both by the holy Scriptures which they seem to lean upon and also by other mens writings gathered out of the Scriptures yet a great number of men remain very confident that these books viz Mr. Cooks Font uncovered for Infant-baptisme and Mr. Baxters Plain Scripture-proof for Infants Church-membership and baptism do still remain unanswered unanswerable For which cause I thought my self in conscience bound being also concerned in one book by name and challenged to answer to use the talent that God hath given me for his glory the vindication of his truth and people and also for the good of those which as yet are not the people of God that so I may remove the reproaches and slanders cast upon my self and others falsly for the truths sake and take away those stumbling-blocks which are laid before those which as yet walk in darkness and know not whereat they stumble because the God of this world hath blinded their eyes so by setting their Faith in the wisdome of men and not in the power of God that the light of the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ doth not yet shine into their hearts neither do they believe what is written in the holy Scriptures for their instructions but do turn aside their eares from the truth and are turned unto Fâ—bles 2 Tim. 4.4 therefore I have resolved in the strength and wisdome of the Lord once more to present my self publickly in Print to the view of all men whether friends or enemies not questioning the courteous loving acceptance of the one nor fearing the subtilty and malice of the other but do earnestly desire the good and happiness of all being also fully assured that the Lord will not fail me of a blessing upon these my weak endeavours for he dispiseth not the day of small things Furthermore I give thee to understand that the persons I have to deal with in particular are two viz. Mr. Cook and Mr. Baxter as aforesaid their volumes together no less then sixty two sheets therefore let not the Reader think me too tedious in eighteen sheets neither let any think me too short for these following reasons 1. Because in their writings there is abundance of superfluous words by which they darken the counsel of God and labour to subvert them that read and hear them but we are commanded to lay aside all superfluity of naughtiness and to receive the ingrafted word of God which is able to save our souls James 1.21 2. Because in the multitude of words there wants no sin Prov. 10.19 therefore I shall take heed of using any more then need 3. Large Volumes are in danger never to be read over because some will not and others are poor and cannot spare time or money for them 4. Because I am commanded not to answer a fool according to his foolishness lest I be like him Prov. 26.4 Now if these men have spoken many words wherein there wants no sin and have not consented to wholsome words even the words of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and the doctrine which is according to godliness then they are fools knowing nothing as they ought to know 1 Tim. 6.3 4. but doting about questions and strifes of words whereof cometh envie strife railings evil surmisings perverse disputings of men of corrupt mindes and destitute of the truth supposing that gain viz. an hundred or two a year is godliness from such we are commanded to turne away and withdraw our selves therefore none can justly take exception at these words for if it doth appear still when the Reader hath perused my lines that there is no folly in their words then my folly will returne upon my self and they and their cause will be exalted Thus have you the reasons why I will be as brief as may be And if any shall say that I have been so briefe that I have not answered the matter I took in hand I answer to all my Antagonists It s the better for them if I come short of a full answer and they will have the greater advantage against me and let them take it and spare not therefore I desire all whom it may concern to read and consider wisely and try it by the holy Scriptures of truth judge impartially asking the Lord for wisdome to discerne between things which differ and the Lord give you all understanding in all things that concern his glory and your comfort which is and shall be the prayer of me his unworthy servant who desires to remain to the utmost of my power Yours in the service of Christ Jesus my Lord till death Henry Haggar The Method and Order of this Book is a followeth 1. I Shall shew what foundation the Saints ought to build upon 2. I shall discover the foundation of the Font and shew whence and how it came to be in use and that by the confession of those which make use of it 3. Concerning Infant-baptism I shall shew whence it came and by whom it was brought into the Church 4. I shall answer to the beginning of Mr. Cooks Book and to Mr. Baxters 10 Positions upon which himself saith his whole Book standeth and without which he confesseth it caneot be understood in his 3 pag. 5. I shall answer in general to their Arguments about Infants Church-membership and
rather then to ages and instanceth in Evah who when Cain was born she said I have gotten a man from the Lord. But what is this to our purpose for she doth not say that this man believed the things concerning the kingdom of Jesus Christ but those men and women Act. 8.12 were such as believed all these things therefore your Argument is false and your self deceitful and wise to do evil as appeareth by this your cunning craftinesse wherewith you lye in wait to deceive Eph. 4.14 Now the last Text is in Act. 18.8 that Crispus the chief Ruler believed in the Lord with all his house and many of the Corinthians hearing believed and were baptized Thus we have seen the command of Christ and the practice of the Apostles agreeing together by which the foundation of the Saints is discovered upon which they ought to build which is the words and sayings of Chirst and the practice and example of his holy Apostles but not a word that I can finde in all the holy Scriptures or sayings of Christ the Prophets or Apostles about the Baptizing in a Font nor baptizing little infants that can neither speak nor understand my not so much as the name of that abominable Idol the Font is once mentioned in all the holy Scriptures much less that the people of God should sacrifice their children to it as the children of Israel once sacrificed their Babes to Molech See Jer. 32.35 Therefore we may most safely conclude that it is none of the Councel of God for Paul saith Act. 20.27 I declare unto you the whole Counsel of God but in all Pauls writings it is nowhere declared therefore it is none of Gods Counsels nor for us to follow And now seeing there is no foundation nor footing for the Font nor Infant-baptism in all the word of God we must if we will discover it seek for it somewhere else the which I confess is not worth the doing were it not to discover and make manifest the folly of them that uncover it and guard it for infants baptism and to that end I shall do it Look into a book intituled A view of the Civill and Ecclesiastical Law written by Sir Thomas Ridley Knight and Doctor of the Civill Law printed by William Turner Printer to the University of Oxford 1634. Cum privilegio In that book pag. 176. he although an enemy to us yet confesseth that the Rites of baptisme in the primitive times were performed in Rivers and Fountaines where the persons baptized received that Sacrament and this manner of baptizing saith he the ancient Church entertained from the example of Christ who was baptized of John in the river of Jordan and some say that this was very tolerable in the of Eastern parts but saith he most certaine it is that it was most convenient for that time because their Converts were many and men of years a reason also may be saith he for that those ages were otherwise unprovided of Fonts and such conveniences as are now in use Thus he confesseth that Fonts were not then in use Againe saith he And this hath been the cause why this manner of baptizing was resumed in after-times and other places for saith he our venerable Bede telleth us of some that were baptized here in England in the river Swale which runneth through part of York-shire in the North-riding and he giveth the same reason Nondum enim Oratoria vel Baptisteria in ipso exordio nascententes ibi Ecclesiae poterant aedificari Ecclesiast hist lib. 2. cap. 14. And then he saith The days we now live in have no other remainder of this rite of baptizing in rivers and fountaines then the very name and hence it is saith he that we call our vessels that containe the water of baptisme Fonts or Fountaines From all which let the Reader consider 1. That he confesseth that baptism in the ancient times was administred in Rivers and Fountaines 2. That nothing of that is remaining but only the name 3. That from thence it is that they call those vessels they baptize in Fonts And thus we have begun to discover the foundation of the Font. But he proceedeth further and confesseth saying This custome of baptizing in Rivers and Fountaines being discontinued or left off Fonts were erected in private houses Hence let the Reader observe 1. He saith the primitive practise was to baptize is in Rivers and Fountaines which the ancient Churches received from the example of our Saviour who was baptized of John in the River of Jordan Mat. 3.13 14 15 16. 2. He saith that was left off observe They left off the example of Christ 3. They erected Fonts in their own private houses observe here is the words of the Prophet Jeremiah fulfilled Jer. 2.12 13. Be astonished O ye Heavens at this and be ye horribly afraid be ye very desolate saith the Lord for my people have committed two evils they have forsaken 2. There is a being without the law that is all the true knowledge of the law as infants ignorants Atheists of which Paul himself said of himself that he was without the law and this is from the sence and understanding of it Rom. 7.9 3. There is a being under the law in the external government of it in a Commonweal and in the condition of the soul as it is in unbelief Gal. 3.23 before faith came we even Jews and Gentiles were shut up under the law 1. Those under the law internally are to be under the external form of the law to be guided and instructed thereby as by a Schoolmaster to bring them to Christ 2. Those without the law are not freed from the law though they are judged by another law Gal. 3.22 The Scripture hath shut up all men under sin that is the law even all those which are without law and those under law also 3. All which prove the law of God to be the rule to judge by that it is indeed the Magna Charta Suprema Lex and Salus Populi and now only is judgement the Lords The second General to clear that that followeth is Deut. 6.1 These are the Commandments the Statutes and the Judgements 1. By the Commandments I understand the 10 words given in two Tables by God to Moses on Sinai Exod. 20. which was the ground of Statutes 2. The Statutes are the several cases depending on each Command and arising out of them and set down to direct the Judges how to Judge according unto God in the matters of God laid down in the first Tables and in matter of men in the second they being the absolute decrees of God Judges and Judged must rest in from whence is no appeal and is the ground of Judgement 3. The Judgement contains the sentence added to the breach of every law for punishment or to obedience of the law for couragement therein the promises of good and mercy and is only proper to Gods law and curses added to his law not mans which is
writings as we wrote them and therefore he cunningly saith that in the stating the question many things must be animadverted or changed in the minde and then he states the question according to his own minde and then falls on answering not ours but his own words and thus he darkneth the Counsel of God by words without knowledge and so deceives the hearts of the simple but he telleth us that we take it for granted that he holds that by baptizing or sprinkling of infants Churches are constituted but he denies it Answ 1 If you deny that you differ from the rest of your brethren and forefathers who all generally and with one consent till within these ten or twelve yeers at the most did conclude that children were made members of Christ children of God and heirs of heaven in their baptism witness your old Catechism which you all concluded was Orthodox till the beginning of the first Parliament 1640. and therefore out of your own mouths you are condemned for if in Baptism they were made members of Christ children of God c. then they were not so before and if not members nor children before then not constituted members and thus is your folly manifest And now if you shall for an advantage seem to disown the Common-Prayer book and that Catechism Then I answer You may as well disown your baptism which you had by it and be baptized again as we are 2 I suppose you will not be so absurd as to own any unbaptized person for a Church-member that hath an opportunity to be baptized neither do I think any of you that are zealous in your own way will have communion with any such persons in the Lords Supper or other Ordinances 3 No people in Scripture since the Resurrection of Christ and his Ascension the time that all power was given into his hands to give to his Church Laws and Commandments were ever called a Church of Christ without baptism prove it if you can by the Scriptures Therefore baptism doth constitute a true Church being done upon right subjects viz. such as can believe and gladly receive the word of God as in Act. 2 41 they that gladly received the word were baptized and the same day were added three thousand souls And ver 47. the Lord added to the Church dayly such as should be saved 4 Your self saith than faith and interest in Christ constitutes a Christian Very well then but why do you baptize such as cannot believe in Christ nor yet make out their Interest in the Covenant of Grace it is cleer to all that will understand that if faith in Christ and interest in the Covenant of Grace do constitute a Christian then they that do not believe in Christ and cannot make out their interest in the Covenant of Grace are no constituted Christians but all the infants baptized into the Church of England could do neither therefore no constituted Christians What they are to God is nothing to you nor me secret things belongs to God Deut. 29. Again you say that joynt and orderly profession of faith and interest in the Covenant doth constitute them a Church Very well and I pray then is not repentance and baptism an orderly profession of faith doth not the Apostle say Act. 2 38. 1 Repent and 2 be baptized c. and 3 So many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ Gal. 3.27 and is not putting on Christ profession Consider it again doth not a man that puts on a garment profess to wear it to all that behold him whilst it is upon him so likewise they that put on Christ by baptism do profess to own him before all men and Mr. Baxter calleth it a listing engaging ordinance himself I hope you will not deny his Doctrine to be Orthodox although you cavil with the Scriptures And now seeing that baptism is an Ordinance by which believers do put on and profess Christ then its evident out of your own mouth that it constitutes a Church or else you must say they are constituted before they put on Christ 5 You say that baptism is a sign or pledge of peoples admission into the Church Well then if so then it followeth that they are not in before to any mans sight and if not in the Church much less constituted and established members of the Church But you proceed to prove by instancing the Thief upon the cross to be saved without baptism Answ We deny it not because he declared openly his faith in Christ and owned him when he was disowned almost of all which sheweth plainly that if he might have had liberty to come down he would have quickly been baptized into his name and therefore the Lord accepting the will for the deed as 1 Cor. 8.12 he said unto him This day shalt thou be with me in Paradise But what makes this for the baptizing of Infants to tell us of a man that was saved and was never baptized at all You might rather if you would have dealt honestly with the Text have proved that little babes may be saved though not baptized for alas they can profess no faith nor confess no sin neither hath Christ anywhere required them to obey any command before they can understand and believe the Gospel for what soever is not of faith is sin Rom. 14.23 But you are pleased to say that we do not apply that Scripture right And why I pray because it spoyles your practice but doth not the word what soever include all matters and duties we owe to God Consider it again cannot the Scriptures be in quiet for you But because this offends you we will give you another Heb. 11.6 without faith its impossible to please God Now consider whether you please God or no when you baptize babes that have no faith in them neither have you any word of God for it Again this your president of the Thief upon the Cross will not at all help you except you finds some men in the like condition or some men upon the Gallows that would gladly come down and become new creatures then I confess as you say 2 multitude of such penitent ones might be reckoned to be in a saying condition though not baptized But sir I suppose that neither you nor I are in that straight the poor Thief was in as yet therefore it wall be no plea for us but if either of us be unbaptized we have time and liberty enough to consider our ways and to turn our feet to the testimonies of the Lord therefore let us make haste and not delay the time see Psal 119.59 60. Lastly You tell us that the Church of England was constituted in or anon after the Apostles days and by the Ministry of the word were converted from heathenism to Christianity and then persons of yeers were baptized upon profession of Faith and Repentance Answ What then what is your Church now the better for that which was done 1600 yeers agone
if you walk not in the same footsteps which they did then I can prove as well the Church of Rome was then a constituted Church according to the order of the Gospel Rom. 1.7 but I pray doth that make the Pope and his crew now to be a true Church If they be why do you separate from them But they are not neither are you though a true Church might be in England 1600 yeers agone and possibly may be found now Again you say that they and their children were then admitted into the Covenant and Church as Abraham and his family were by Circumcision To which I Answer It still remains for you to prove that they and their children were admitted into Church-fellowship I deny it prove it if you can or else you have done nothing As for Abraham and his family being circumcised I grant it because the Scriptures say so but you have no Scripture for Infants baptism if you have shew it if you can and as for that Covenant that Circumcision was a token of it s far different from the Covenant now under the Gospel as I shall shew by and by The next thing you speak of is a National Church which you seem to prove thus in that the Lord said Gen. 22.18 to Abraham that in his seed all Nations should be blessed Answ But he doth not say that All of All Nations shall be blessed nor yet that All of any Nation shall be blessed and I am perswaded that you think in your own Conscience that some in this Nation are not blessed for by your writings you pronounce us accursed and I suppose there are many that live in known sins as drunkenness whoredom wichcraft murder theft c. of your own Church and yet you dare not judge them blessed in Christ if you do why do you hang them up every Assizes and Sessions If they be members of Christ their bodies are Temples of the Holy Ghost and he that destroyeth the Temple of God him shall God destroy therefore if your Argument be true take heed what you do in such cases 2. You bring this Scripture Psal 22 27 28. which saith All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord and all kindreds of the Nations shall worship before him for the kingdom is the Lords and he is the Governour among the Nations Answ When that day shall come and that Prophecie be fulfilled we will grant you it is fulfilled but for present I think you will be our witnesses that all Nations do not serve him for the Turks and Moors and Indians with many other do not serve nor worship God neither do all in this Nation worship him as aforesaid but Peters words are true if you please Act. 10.34 35 viz. that in every Nation he that feareth God and worketh righteousness is accepted for God is no respected of persons But there are many in this Nation which do not fear God and work righteousness therefore no National Church 3 You say Isa 49.23 that kings shall be nursing fathers and Queens shall be nursing mothers to the Church Answ That it shall be so I deny not but prove you that it is so if you can As for Englands King and Queen it is well known how they would have nursed the Church if they had but had their mindes or if you please to side with them and the Cavaliers party and own them for a Church yet are the other that oppose them contrary minded therefore you can have no National Church 4 You say Isa 52.15 that Christ shall sprinkle many Nations Answ It s granted but it doth not follow that he doth sprinkle whole Nations it is also true as the Apostle saith Heb. 10.22 that believers have their hearts sprinkled from an evil Conscience and their bodies washed with pure water but it doth not follow therefore that all men and such as are wicked and prophane have their hearts sprinkled from an evil Conscience therefore no National Church And I much wonder that you Ministers of the Church of England who for the generality of you hold and preach that Christ did not dye for all men but onely for some few elect persons should yet preach up national Churches and impudently say all England are so far in Covenant as all their children ought to be baptized I confess you had all need to have seven yeers education at Cambridge or Oxford or else you could never make these things hang together but that the people would see your folly 5 You say from Matt. 28.19 Did not Christ command his Apostles to go into all Nations and preach and baptize Answ But do not you know that they never baptized whole Nations nor yet whole Cities but most men hated and abused them so as they were forced to shake the dust off their feet against them and we read but of seven Churches in all Asta which is one quarter of the world and they were so far from converting and baptizing whole Nations that we read but of four or five whole housholds in all the Scriptures that were baptized therefore not likely to baptize whole Nations but if they did any such thing we desire to see it Moreover we grant you if a whole Nation can be converted by the preaching of the word they ought to be baptized but you baptize little babes that know not what the word is contrary to the primitive practice Act. 8.12 6 You bring Rev. 11.15 which saith The kingdoms of this world are become our Lords and his Christs and he shall raign for ever Answ I told you already that I believe such times shall be but they are not yet if they were then we should no longer need to pray Thy kingdom come and in that day Satan shall not deceive the Nations See Rev. 20.3 but Sir I suppose these things are too hard for you to understand though you be a scholar for they are hid from the wise and prudent and revealed to babes See Luke 20.21 with 1 Cor. 2.8 9 10. 7 You say from Rev. 21.24 that the Nations of them that are saved shall walk in the light of the New Jerusalem Answ That 's granted but that new Jerusalem is not yet here below for drunkards and wicked persons to walk by but Paul saith Gal. 4.26 that it s above and is free and is the mother of all the Saints 8 Lastly you say If a company of believers in one house have been called a Church domestical then a multitude of believers in a City or Nation may be called a National Church I answer That 's granted if they be all believers as you said at first but little babes are not believers therefore your Argument will not hold One thing more I have to answer to you in your sixth page which is this You say we affirm a negative namely that the baptism or sprinkling of Infants is not the baptism of Christ c. and here you follow us on to purpose and tell
36 37 38. c. 10.47 c. 16.33 34. c. 18 8. therefore I pray let this custom be of weight to your self and do not baptize little babes that cannot believe nor understand what they do especially because you say there was weight in that Argument when Paul said We have no such custom nor the Churches of God Again you say that you can prove that Infants-baptism was used in the Church as high as to the Apostle as there be many sufficient histories extant inform us and that the deferring of baptism came in with the rest of Popery upon popish or heretical grounds Answ O Sir have I now found you out truly seeing I have I must not conceal your wickedness lest I become guilty with you of the blood of souls and therefore I do by this declare to all men that you are both a deceiver and a blasphemer the which charge I now come to prove I That you are a deceiver it is evident in that you have entituled your book Plain Scripture-proof for Infants Church-membership and baptism by which you perswade many hundred souls that there is plain Scripture indeed in the Bible for Infants-baptism when there is no such thing but your self confess in your 9 Position that your proof is from some histories extant which you judge sufficient O that poor ignorant souls would but see and consider your cunning craftiness wherewith you lye in wait to deceive them before it be too late 2 That you are a blasphemer is plain if the Scriptures may be heard to speak for you say deferring of baptism came in with the rest of Popery Answ But Sir do you not know that our glorious Lord Jesus Christ deferred his baptism till he was thirty yeers of age Luke 3.21 22 23. and yet he was the child of believing parents I think you dare not deny And now do you not see your wickedness in affirming that deferring of baptism came in with the rest of Popery or do you think wickedly that Christ brought in any part of popery take heed Again doth not the Commission of Christ defer baptism till believing Mark 16.15 16. saying He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved and doth not Philip defer baptism upon the same account to the Eunuch Act. 8.36 37. when the Eunuch said to him See here is water what hinders me to be baptized Philip said if thou believest with all thine heart thou mayest shewing by these words plainly that if he did not believe it was to be deferred and that unbelief would hinder And thus is your folly made manifest though I fear you will not see it but however I leave it to the consideration of all rational men desiting that the Lord will give them wisdom to consider how you delude poor souls by this means perswading them that there is very plain Scripture for infants-baptism when at last you confess there is none but some histories which you judge sufficient and thus have you made proselytes and when they are made they are sevenfold more the children of Satan then they were before for before they were forced in their non-age to receive the mark of the beast spoken of Rev. 19.20 which was not received by a few despised people as you say the Anabaptists are but he caused all both free and bond rich and poor small and great to receive it yea and that none may buy or sell save he that had the mark c. See Rev. 13.16 17. and this is most properly applyed to you for there is never a small child in the Nation if it were but eight days old but you would look it should be Rantized and in that receive the mark on its forehead namely to be signed with the sign of the cross in token c. and this was so universal throughout England that if any did but stand up to oppose it they must neither buy nor sell amongst you but must be imprisoned banished or hanged So that all both rich and poor free and bond small and great were glad to be and suffer their children to be baptized or rather Rantized or else they could not be suffered to live for to buy and sell amongst you to get a livelihood And thus I have presented you a glass to look in that you may behold what manner of persons you are Again its impossible that you should apply these Scriptures to those you call Anabaptists because now they have their liberty to declare their minde freely they do not desire small and great to receive the mark of baptism which they practise but onely great ones which can understand what they do and give a resson thereof even as we read Act. 2.41 They that gladly received the word were baptized and added to them c. and Act. 8.12 when they believed Philips preaching they were baptized both men and women And Act. 11.8 Crispus the chief Ruler of the Synagogue believed in the Lord with all his house and many of the Corinthians hearing believed and were baptized And thus you may sue that the more we do look in the glass of the Gospel which is the perfect Law of liberty to them that fear God Jam. 2.12 the more we see our selves conformable to the image of Christ and walking according to the Primitive pattern and we are so far from compelling rich and poor that we would have neither rich nor poor to be baptized until they believe the truth of the Gospel and amend their lives and can give an account thereof to those that ask them a reason of the hope that is in them with meekness Again you say Position 10. Evident Consequences or Arguments drawn by Reason from Scripture are as true proof as the very express words of a Text and if we have the words without the meaning and reason we have no proof at all for the devil used the words of the Scripture to Christ To all which I answer As for your saying that Consequences or Arguments drawn from Scripture are as true proofs as Scripture this is but one of your untruths for most certain it is that what the Scripture saith we need not prove by Consequence for that would be but darkening the Counsel of God by words without knowledge as for example Gen. 1.1 In the beginning God created the heavens and earth now what need you prove this by Consequence again ver 3. God said Let there be light and there was light And what can any Consequence do in this case And again ver 7.8 And God made the firmament and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters that were above the firmament and it was so And this I do believe without any Consequence and if you will deny it because it is plain Scripture without any Consequence you may if you please but your folly will be manifest as it is to me already When you say if we have the word without the meaning and reason we have no proof at all I answer
continue in my word then are ye my disciples indeed and you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free And again cap. 15.7 If you abide in me and my words abide in you ask what you will and it shall be done unto you and the word is able to save our souls Jam. 1.21 and the Lord will have respect to them that are of contrite spirits and tremble at his word Isa 66.2 but whose despiseth the word shall be destroyed but he that regardeth the Commandment shall be rewarded Pro. 13.13 And thus its evident that if we run to the word for refuge we do wisely and are safe in so doing But as for Mr. Hall he hath never a word to run to for Infant-baptism as he himself confesses pag. 30. in his fifth Argument in these words In express terms so infants baptism is not commanded nor a thousand things more which get we are bound to observe I shall now conclude with shewing some undenyable Reasons why the word of God must beunderstood and obeyed as it is written without adding to or taking from 1 Because God did never without words make known his minde to the sons of men therefore we read that God at sundry times in divers manners spake to our fathers by the Prophets but now in these last days he hath spoken by his own son c. Heb. 1.12 2 By words the minde of God is compleatly made known so that to fear God and keep his Commandments is the whole duty of man Eccles 12.12 13. 3 Because Christ blames men for erring from the Scriptures saying You erre because you know not the Scriptures Mark 12.24 4 Because we are commanded to hear the words of Christ in all things what soever he shall say unto us Act. 3.22 5 Because they that consent not to wholsom words even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Doctrine which is according to godliness are proud or fools knowing nothing 1 Tim. 6.3 4. 6 Because the Scriptures are able to make us wise to salvation through faith in Jesus and to make the man of God perfect and throughly to furnish us to all good works 2 Tim. 3.15 16 17. 7 Because when Paul left the Church in a dangerous condition because of deceivers he committed them to God and to the word of his grace affirming it is able to build them up and to give them an inheritance amongst them that are sanctified 8 Because if men or Angels shall preach any other Gospel then what is already preached they shall be accursed Gal. 1.8.9 9 Because those that preach are commanded to preach the word in season and out of season 2 Tim. 4.12 and not their own words 10 Because Christ will judge all men by his words that he hath spoken in the last day and then they which do add to his word he will add to them all the plagues written and those that diminish from it he will take their names out of the book of life and their part out of the holy City and he will come in flaming fire to render vengeance on them that know not God and obey not his holy Gospel Joh. 12.48 Rev. 22.18 19. 2 Thef 2.7 8 9. Lastly I shall propound these following Queries with a desire to have them answered by any who will or can 1 Whether God doth require the sons of men to believe any thing in point of Justification that is not recorded in the holy Scriptures of truth 2 Whether God doth require or command us to obey any thing after believing which is not contained in the word of truth 3 Whether the Saints have any ground to believe the Resurrection from the dead and eternal life in glory but as it is recorded in Scripture 4 Whether if a man believe and obey all the known precepts and promises contained in the word of God as much as in him lyeth will God condemn and punish him at the great day because he hath believed and done no more 5 If the Scriptures be not a perfect rule of faith and obedience without the help of any mans inventions what is Or who may we trust or at whose mouth must we seek wisdom 6 If the Scriptures ought to be believed and obeyed as they are written then how dare some deny faith in and obedience to some part of them and impose things not written in the Scriptures to be obeyed in stead of the ordinances of Christ 7 Whether there be any sin or corruption incident to man that the Scriptures doth not reprove and make manifest in express terms 8 Whether there be any vertue or praise in any thing that the best of men ever did but what is expresly commanded or commended in the Scriptures of truth 9 I appeal to every mans Conscience in the sight of God whether their Consciences do not condemn them when they walk contrary to what is written in the Scripture 10 Whether every mans Conscience do not justifie him when he walks according to what is contained in the word of God Now if all these Queries be granted as they are stated to be true then it followeth that those that teach and perswade men to do any thing in matter of Justification or salvation more or less then is plainly written and expressed in the word of God are such as do add to or take from what God hath spoken to the sons of men for instruction and are guilty of those plagues pronounced Rev. 22.18 19. but infants baptism is nowhere written nor expressed in all the Scriptures as Mr. Hall Mr. Baxter and Mr. Cook do confess therefore they and all they that plead for it are guilty of the plagues aforesaid except they repent And thus have I answeâ—â—d to Mr. Baxters ten Positions which he saith pag. 3. must necessarily be well understood before we can understand the point in hand So that the Reader must take notice that if these Positions be not well understood to be true then all the rest of his book cannot be understood to be true by his own confession For saith he If people be mistaken in that which goeth before no wonder if they deny the consequents or that which followeth after c. So that if I have fully answered these Positions I need say but little to the rest of the book All which I leave to the Reader to consider of But howsoever I shall not fail by the assistance of God to speak so much to the two first parts of his book as may undermine his building and lay it in the dust As for the last part of his book from the 162 page to the end himself confesseth that they are but such vain contendings as he is like to be guilty of and Mr. Tombs also as you may see in his Epistle to the Church at Bewdley towards the latter end Likewise Mr. Cooks Arguments being the same with his the substance of both tending to prove that infants are in Covenant and that they are
Church-members and Disciples of Christ and therefore ought to be baptized for which cause I shall now come to Answer to their Arguments in general and to shew by the Scriptures why infants that cannot speak words nor understand Reason cannot be Church-members under the Gospel nor Christs Disciples the which being cleered it will plainly appear they are not fit subjects for baptism by their own grant For the cleering of which I shall first speak something concerning the Covenant that God made with Abraham upon which Mr. Cooke and Mr. Baxter do pretend to build making the Covenant with Abraham and his natural seed under the law all one with the Covenant made with Abraham and his spiritual seed born of the spirit under the Gospel In answer to which I thus Reason 1 That there is two Covenants is evident Gal. 4.24 in these words for these are the two Covenants Now if there be two Covenants then either we are under the old Covenant still or else the new is come in place but that we are not under the old Covenant still is evident because Christ is come whose blood is the blood of the new Covenant which is everlasting Heb. 13.20 and Luke 22.20 he saith This cup is the New-Testament in my blood giving us to understand that as the old Covenant or Testament was sealed with the blood of Bulls and Goats and Calves Heb. 9.19 20. So the new Covenant that is established upon better promises is sealed and confirmed by the blood of Christ the Son of God who hath obtained a more excellent ministery in that he is the Mediator of a better Covenant Heb. 8.6 for finding fault with the first he saith Behold the days come saith the Lord that I will make a new Covenant with the house of Israel and Judab not according to the former c. ver 7 8 9 10 11. what is that he will put his Laws in their minds and write them in their hearts and I will be to them a God and they shall be to me a people which Covenant the Saints are now under and are heirs of these better promises upon which it is established therefore Paul applyeth the same to the Saints 2 Cor. 6.16 saying as God hath said I will dwell in them and walk in them and I will be their God and they shall be my people c. And thus have I proved that we are not under the old Covenant which did properly belong to the fleshly seed which had but the promise of an earthly Canaan under the curse and Jerusalem which is in bondage with her children See Gal. 4.24.25 but believers are under the new Covenant which hath better promises viz. that they shall inherit that new Heaven and new Earth wherein dwelleth righteonsness and that new Jerusalem which is above and is free and is the mother us of all see 2 Pet. 3.13 with Gal. 4.26 Againe I believe Paul knew as well the intent and meaning of the Covenant of God made with Abraham as Mr. Baxter or Mr. Cooke and yet he applieth it not to a fleshly seed as appeareth thus Gen. 17.7 God said unto Abraham I will establish my Covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting Covenant to be a God to thee and thy seed c. Now the Question is who are the seed to whom the Covenant and promises do belong which Paul answereth Gal. 3.16 saying Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made be saith not to seeds as of many but as of one and to thy seed which is Chrst Thus we see that it is not every one that is born of the flesh to Abraham that had right to the Covenant and priviledges thereof but as he saith ver 29. If ye be Christs then are ye Abrahams seed and heirs according to the promise as it is written Rom. 4.13 The promise that Abraham should be the heir of the world was not to him nor his seed according to the Law but according to the righteousness of Faith as Rom. 9.7.8 Neither because they are the seed of Abraham are they all Children but in Isaac shall thy seed be Called that is saith the Apostle They that are the Children of the flesh are not the Children of God but the Children of the promise are counted for the seed Now if the Children of Abraham were not the Children of the Covenant nor heirs of the promise by fleshly birth much less can the Children of beleeving Gentiles that are inferior to Abraham be in Covenant for that which is born of flesh is flesh Joh. 3.6 Likewise the Apostle doth not say that it was Esan though he was the elder that was in Covenant but Jacob though the younger who beleeved in the God of his Father Isaac And indeed I do much wonder how the Preachers of the Chureh of England dare affirme that beleevers Children are in Covenant before beleeving by vertue of their Parents faith and yet they hold that God did hate and had reprobated Esau before he was born or had done good or evill and so notwithstanding his Parents Isaac and Rebecea were both precious beleivers yet Esau their own Child was never in Covenant before he was born nor after by their own grant Thus all men may see how they confound their own principles no marvell then although they labour to confound other mens and if this very thing were but well weighed and rightly considered it is sufficient to discover the folly and falshood of all Mr. Baxters and Mr. Cooks arguments Againe If beleivers Children be in Covenant because they are beleivers Children then grace comes by generation and not by regeneration the which to affirme is absurd Againe If beleivers Children be in Covenant by vertue of their beleiving Parents then all the World ever since righteous Noah must needs be in Covenant for they and we all came of righteous Noah But Mr. Cooke saith in his Font uncovered pag. 45. That he doth not hold falling from the inward efficacy of grace and true sanctification justification and adoption Answ So then it seems by his own confession it s not true and then it must needs be false and it s well if they fall from false grace and false sanctification and false justification and false adoption for they that fall from false must needs fall to true as certainely as they which fall from true must needs fall to false or else they fall from nothing but abide as they were But to make the folly of these wise men manifest I pray consider with me 1. what the new Covenant is and then 2. you shall judge whether Infants are or can be in it or no Heb. 8.8.9 10 11. The Lord saith The daies come when I will make a new Covenant with the house of Israel and Judah not according to the Covenant that I made with their Fathers when I tooke them by the hand to lead them out of the Land of Egypt
Apostles they were no infants and as for thos e scattered they were no infants for they went every where preaching the word which infants that cannot speak nor understand cannot possibly do Therefore no such infants in the Church at Jerusalem Obj. But questionless there were women scattered as well as men and then it must follow they preached also and then we have women preachers I answer Although the Ministers in out days would have neither women nor men a preach but themselves yet the Scripture telleth 1 Cor. 11.4 5. that in those days women did use to pray and prophesie and they did it with their heads covered and Philip had four daughters virgins and they did prophesie Act. 21.9 and the Lord saith he will pour out his spirit upon all flesh upon his servants and handmaids and they shall prophesie Act. 2.17 18. and they that do prophesie do speak to men to edification exhortation and comfort 1 Cor. 14.3 therefore women may preach or declare the mind of God to others to edification exhortation and comfort if they be indued with gifts and abilities provided they do not usurp authority over the men 1 Tim. 2.12 And thus is the objection answered Argument III. My third Argument is from 1 Cor. 1. where Paul saith in the second verse he wrote to them at Corinth which were Saints by calling with all that in every place call upon the name of the Lord Jesus c. and in ver 10. he exhorts and beseecheth them to speak all one thing ver 12. he saith that Every one of them did speak and one said I am of Paul and another I am of Apollo and I am of Cephas and I am of Christ But infants that cannot speak nor understand cannot call upon the name of the Lord Jesus as ver 2. nor speak all one thing as ver 10. for they cannot speak at all neither can they say for their parts who they are of whether of Paul Apollo or Cephas or Christ Therefore no infants that could not speak nor understand were members of the Church of Corinth its evident for every one that was a member there could speak and say they were of one of these Argument IV. My fourth Argument is from 1 Cor. 6.4 If then ye have judgements of things pertaining to this life set them to judge that are least esteemed in the Church That he meant them that are least esteemed for wisdom and judgement is plain in the 5. verse But infants of eight or ten days or weeks of age cannot either judge or speak in such cases Therefore I conclude there were none such members of the Church at Corinth Argument V. My fifth Argument is from 1 Cor. 10.16 17. compared with ch 11.28 29. which words are these The cup of blessing which we bless is it not the communion of the blood of Christ and the bread that we break is it not the communion of the body of Christ for we being many are one bread and one body for we are all partakers of that one bread and Whosoever doth eat of this bread and drink this cup of the Lord unworthily shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord and eateth and drinketh damnation to himself not discerning the Lords body c. But infants that can neither speak nor understand cannot discern the Lords body from the world as it is sanctified and separated from it by faith and obedience neither can they discern his body broken nor his blood blood shed for them which is so lively represented and holden forth in this bread and cup to every discerning believer till he come ver 26. Therefore such infants are no visible Church-members or if Mr. Baxter or any will yet have it so then we must needs conclude with the Scripture 1 Cor. 11.29 that they eat and drink damnation to themselves not discerning the Lords body which would be absurd If any object and say that Infants must not nor do not eat of that bread and drink of that cup till they be of riper age Answ They discover abundance of ignorance like those 1 Tim. 7. which desired to be teachers of the Law and yet knew not what they said nor whereof they affirmed for if they be Church-members as Mr. Baxter and Mr. Cook say then they are to partake both of the bread and the cup for the Apostle saith 1 Cor. 10.16 17. that both the cup and the bread are the Communion of the body and also that the members of the body being many are all partakers of that one bread c. Therefore either little infants that can neither speak nor understand are no members or else if they be they eat and drink damnation to themselves not discerning the Lords body as aforesaid let Mr. Baxter Mr. Cook or any man alse avoid this absurdity if they can Argument VI. My fixth Argument is from 1 Cor. 10.17 compared with 1 Cor. 11.28 in these words for we being many are one bread and one body for we are all partakers of that one bread but let a man examine himself and so let him eat of that bread c. whence I argue thus If all that are members of the body do partake of that bread and they that do partake of it must examine themselves and so eat then little infants that can neither speak nor understand are no members visible of Christs body the Church for they can neither examine themselves nor none else for them because they cannot speak nor make answer But all that are members of the body do partake of that one bread 1 Cor. 10.17 and all that do partake of it must examine themselves and so eat of that bread c. Therefore no such infants are visible members of Christs body which is the Church Object If any shall object that we may as well exclude women as children for the Text saith Let a man examine himself c. I Answer first it discovers but a wicked cavilling spirit for conscience telleth them that both men and women did partake of it because its the communion of the body as I have proved and that women are members of the body of Christ which is the Church Eph. 1.22 23. I think none fearing God dare deny but lest any should I shall prove it Gal. 3.27 for as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ There is neither Jew nor Gentile bond nor free male nor female but ye are all one in Christ c. and we read when they believed Philips preaching they were baptized both men and women Act. 8.12 Again that women are members of the body is evident for Paul writing to the Church of Corinth 1 Cor. 11.4 5. Saith Every man that prayeth or prophesieth with his head covered dishonoureth his head but every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head and ver 11. he saith the man is not without the woman nor the woman without the
they come to yeers of discretion is sinful I further prove Because they by their tradition of Rantizing or Sprinkling babes before they understand and believe the Gospel do make the command of Christ which is To baptize men and women when they believe and understand of none effect and so in vain they worship God and they which take his name in vain he will not hold them guiltless See Mar. 7.7 8 9. Matth. 15.8 9. and thus they binde two sins together and in the one they shall not go unpunished Now to his Third Argument which is drawn from that which he hath spoken already as he himself confesses which he layeth down thus That practise which goeth upon meer uncertainty and hath no Scripture-Rule to guide it is not according to the will of Christ But the practise of baptizing of children of Christians at age goes upon meer uncertainties and hath no Scripture-rule to guide it Therfore it is not according to the will of Christ Answ Who would think Mr. Baxter could have chopped one Argument into so many pieces to multiply words for this Argument is the same in substance with the two former onely put downe in other words But I further answer thus 1. That to baptize men and women when they believe is not an uncertain rule but very certain both from the command of Christ and example of the Apostles as Mar. 16.16 He that believes and is baptized shall be saved And Acts 2.41 They that gladly received the word were baptized and added c. chap. 8.12 When they believed Philips preaching they were baptized both men and women And vers 37. If thou believest with all thy heart thou mayest be baptized Thus we see that it is guided by Scripture-rule and therefore it is most certain by Mr. Baxters grant But I must needs give Mr. Baxter his owne Argument againe thus That practice which goeth upon meer uncertainty and hath no Scripture-rule to guide it is not according to the will of Christ saith Mr. Baxter But say I the practice of Baptizing little Babes before they come to years of discretion goes upon meer uncertainties having no Scripture-rule to guide it Therefore it is not according to the will of Christ by Mr. Baxters owne confession His fourth Argument is this That practice which will necessarily fill the Church with perpetual contentions as being about a matter that cannt be determined by any known rule is not according to the minde of Christ But the practice of baptizing Christians children at age upon their profession is such as will necessarily fill the Church with perpetual contentions Therefore it is not according to the mind of Christ Answ But the baptizing of men and women when they believe is a matter that can be and is determined by a known rule in Scripture therefore no just cause of contentions because it is acccording to the will and minde of Christ as I have proved by those Scriptures quoted in the a foresaid Argument Again I shall retort his owne Argument upon himself thus That practice which will necessarily fill the Church with perpetual contentions as being about a matter that cannot be determined by any known Rule is not according to the minde of Christ But the practice of baptizing little Babes before they come to years of discretion is a thing which there is no known rule for in all the word of God Therefore it is not according to the minde of Christ and there is just cause to contend against it and that perpetually And thus Mr. Baxter I have thrown your owne Arguments upon your owne head and you are fallen into the same pit which you digged for others and thus is your folly manifested in the fourth Argument Your fifth Argument is thus That doctrine which would turn the Ordinance of Baptisme out of the Churches of the Saints or neer turn it out is contrary to the doctrine of Christ But this Doctrine of theirs that those onely should be baptized that are directly made Disciples by the preaching of men sent according to the text Mat. 28.19 20. would turn baptisme for the most part out of the Churches of the Saints Therefore it is contrary to the Doctrine of Christ To which I answer It seemes it is Mr. Baxters judgement that they which preach and baptise according to the Commandment Christ hath given to his Diseiples Mat. 28.19 20. are those which turn baptisme out of the Church and yet he will not shew us one Scripture to prove that any else ever were baptized but such as were made Disciples according to the will and minde of Christ viz. by the preaching of the Gospel But I confess such a Doctrine doth not almost but altogether turne Mr. Baxters baptisme out of the Church for we have no such custome nor the Churches of God as to baptize little Babes that can neither speak nor understand what the Gospel is 2. I shall give Mr. Baxter his owne Argument at first thus That Doctrine which would turn the Ordinance of Christs baptism out of the Church or neer out is contrary to the Doctrine of Christ But this Doctrine of Mr. Baxters and the rest of the Priests of England which is that all Children should be baptized in their non-age according to their practice doth turne the baptisme of Christ which is to baptize men and women when they believe quite out of the Churches of the Saints Therefore it is contrary to the doctrine of Christ and is to be abhorred as sinful And thus is Mr. Baxters sword turned with the edge against himself To Mr. Baxters sixth Argument which is against the manner of baptizing by dipping the which he makes a breach of the sixth Commandment Thou shalt not kill and therefore no Ordinance of God but an hainous sin and so exhorts the Magistrates pag. 134. and pag. 136. in the conclusion of his Argument to destroy the Anabaptists as well as highway-murderers To which I shall answer in order as followeth First Observe how Mr. Baxter proves it murther he useth not one Scripture therefore none can believe him that desires to make the word of God a ground of their Faith But he laboureth to prove it thus by affirming out of his owne mouth onely that its flat murder being ordinarily used And then insinuates thus It s undeniable to any understanding man for saith he again That which directly tendeth to the overthrow of mens lives being wilfully used is plain murther But dipping men over head in cold water ordinarily doth tend to the overthrow of their health and lives Therefore wilful murder Answ In all this the Reader shall do well to observe that Mr. Baxter hath used many vain words which prove nothing except we grant him that dipping people after this manner doth tend to the overthrow of mens lives which we cannot do because Scripture and experience hath taught us the contrary as I shall shew anon But he proceeds thus I dare say that in Cities like
reign upon a multitude of persons in London or elsewhere that never were dipped in cold water let him or any man deny if they can Now if Mr. Baxter do know none of his own knowledg that have perished or are like to perish by dipping by any of his aforesaid strange diseases and is also convinced in conscience that thousands in the Nation do dye of them that were never dipped in cold water then let all impartial people judge whether Mr. Baxter be a good tree by the fruit he bringeth forth If his intentions seem in his owne eyes to be good and that he aymeth hereby to undelude some souls and keep others from being deluded yet he must needs be one of those Paul speaks of in Rom. 3.8 which do evil that good may come thereof whose damnation is just The next thing Mr. Baxter speaks of is Mr. Tombes his salving up all this with saying that they may be baptized in warm water I answer I am not of his Judgement in that for I believe it s his weakness But then Mr. Baxter saith we cannot agree among our selves and therefore people have no reason to believe us I answer We do not desire people to believe us if we did agree never so well but to search the Scripture to see whether the things we speak be so or no like the noble Bereans Acts 17.11 and therefore to believe we would not have them hanged out of the way because they believe not us as Mr Baxter would have us because we believe not him but we know the Wheat and Tares must grow together in the field which is the world until the harvest according to the commandment of Christ 2. What if we do not agree together in every thing doth it follow therefore that the truth must not be believed and practised I hope not for its easie to prove that the Disciples of Christ in the first Churches did differ in their judgements although it was not their wisdome nor yet to the glory of God when one was of Paul and another of Apollo and another of Cephas and another of Christ 1 Cor. 1.12 c. and I believe that Paul and Barnabas were not of one minde when the contention grew so sharp between them that they parted and walked no more together Acts 15.39 and likewise Paul and Peter when Paul withstood him to the face 3. It is no marvel he telleth us of this because Mr. Baxter and his brethren the Ministers of England agree so well doth not one hold for baptisme with the sign of the Cross and another against it for Baptism in a Font and another in a Bason one for baptizing children of believers onely and others for the baptizing of all one for Railes and bowing at the Altar and others against it one for the Common-prayer-book and others for the Scotch Directory nay do not they persecute one another to Prison Banishment even death it self sometimes If Mr. Baxters Argument be good then let all people take good heed how they believe him and his brethren and so I desire they may do however except they bring plainer Scripture-proofes then Mr. Baxter hath done in his book for Infants Church-member-ship and baptisme The next remarkable thing of Mr. Baxter is denying of dipping of believers to be the custome of the Church in the primitive times and he is not ashamed to give the Scripture the lye before all men saying It is not proved by any Answ And why is it not proved I pray it may be because our Translators have not put the word Baptize into English and called it Dipping therefore he will not grant it but yet I question not the proving of it by the Scripture notwithstanding his subtil evasions of the truth saying They might well be said to go downe into the water because the country was mountainous To which I answer If this be all that Mr. Baxter have to prove it was not dipping in those dayes I think I have more to prove it was dipping and first I shall take what Mr. Baxter and his Brethren have granted me for Mr. Baxter in his 135. page saith the word signifieth as well to wash as to Dip so that by his owne words it signifies Dipping as well as Washing And in the Catechisme made by the learned of the Land when they question what is the outward form in baptisme their owne answer is Water wherein the person baptized is dipped c. thus much as Paul saith to the Atheniens Acts 17.28 their owne Poets confess From whence I argue thus If the word do signifie Dipping as well as Washing then they can no more blame us for practising dipping then we may blame them for practising washing Secondly If the word signifie Dipping and Washing one as well as another as Mr. Baxter and others say it doth then how are they to be blamed that do neither but onely sprinkle a few drops of water upon the face of a child for if the word signifie both Dipping and Washing and sprinkling be neither Dipping nor washing then they have deluded the People all this while and at leaft there quarters of the People of this Nation are still unbaptized And what an horrible thing is this that a whole Nation almost should thus be deceived by a company of learned self-seeking Men who profess themselves to be eyes to the blind and feet to the lame and to teach others that they should not deceive and as yet have not taught themselves Thirdly If the word signifie both washing and dipping then it must needs be washing by dipping or wetting all over for who can wash a thing that is not wet As for Mr. Baxters objection that Christ saith Ye need not but wash the seet and ye are Clean every whit I answer If Christ had spoken that about baptisme as he did about washing the Disciples feet to teach them humility it had been a good proofe but he did not therefore it s none but for to shew their humility and make them clean every whit from pride the washing one anothers feet did shew it as well as if they had washed their whole Bodies but now Christ when he speaketh of baptizing believers Mar. 16.16 he doth not say He that believeth and is baptized on his Feet shall be saved every wit but He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved and Philip and the Eunuch went both down into the water and he baptized him and not his feet only for then they should not have needed to have both gone down into the water Again If the word him or them includes the whole man or men as all that have understanding will confess it doth if they be not partial in this case then whole man or men and women were baptized of John in the River of Jordane confessing their sins and of Philip Acts 8.12 and the Scripture saith Mar. 1.10 that when Christ was baptized he came up out of the water which plainly sheweth that he
not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance and even those that killed the Lord of life obtained mercy Mat. 9.13 with Acts 2.36 37 38 39. and so did Paul the worst of sinners 1 Tim. 1.15 16. therefore if any that are now Anabaptists have formerly been gross sinners it was while they were of your Church and it s no more then some of the best of Saints have been before conversion and repentance But I suppose Mr. Baxter would make the world believe that the Anabaptists are all so now after they become Anabaptists and would make that the cause of it and would perswade the world that its our principle and judgement Answ If Mr. Baxter had known any such in fellowship with us when he wrote his Book he should have done well to have named them but neither Mr. Saltmarsh Paul Hobson Mr. Williams are in fellowship with the Anabaptists and as for Mr. Erbery and others that have apostatized what have we to do with them we have cast them out from us long since and they are returned to you againe As for Mr. Denis amongst the Levellers he confessed his fault before God and man and obtained mercy and then what have you to do to play the Devils part to accuse him againe I believe his offence was not bigger then Peters who denyed and forswore his Master its like therefore if you had lived in those dayes you would have been so wicked as to have cryed downe Christ and his wayes as you do now and have said with the rest of your fore-Fathers the Scribes and Pharisees It s not likely that he and his way should be of God for in his prosperity none followed him but a company of poor people that knew not the Law and were accursed As for the Scribes and Pharisees and Wise-men and Rulers few or none of them were so simple as to be led aside with him and now see what an end he comes to and how God followeth him on with judgements one of his owne Disciples betrayed him and sold him for 30 pieces of silver and the other denyed and forswore him See what they are one a covetous wretch and a Traytor and the other a lyer for he said he knew not his Master and a perjured fellow for he forswore him and their followers the Church of Corinth such as denyed the Resurrection 1 Cor. 15.12 and were incestuous persons And afterwards Peter and some of the Saints dissembled so as other were fain to withstand them to the face Gal. 2.11 12 13. Now is it possible that Mr. Baxter should be so blinded as to conclude that because of these things happening amongst them that therefore they were not the People of God and their way not the way of God Surely he speaketh evil of things he knows not for he cannot possible prove worse things among us that are in fellowship then there were some in those Churches but now since he and Mr. Hall in his nineteenth Argument have begun I am ingaged to answer them according to their foolishness lest they be wise in their own conceits Prov. 26.5 And first I much wonder that Mr. Baxter and Mr. Hall should reason thus against the Anbaptists when none are more deeply under the same condemnation then themselves It s strange they should complain of others for lying and are so notorious in it themselves for the very Title of Mr. Baxters book is a lye for he calls it Plain Scripture-proof for infants Churchmembership and Baptisme and brings not one Scripture to prove either Now for Treachery let them remember Mr. Love who was beheaded for a Traytor And for Perjury its easie to prove most of the Priests in England perjured for they have renounced the Bishops and their Orders which once they took an oath to he true unto And as for disobedience to the Magistrates and stlrring up of sedition in the Nation it s dayly manifest by their praying and preaching to all that hear them And as for idleness I would have them for shame to forbear speaking of that for they are all idle and know not how to work and were brought up idle and are such as Paul speaks of to Timothy which go up and downe not working at all nay they think it a great dishonour to their cloth to put their hands to labour and if you be not the men that live upon other mens labours when you would take away the tenth of all their increase and labours by a Law let the poor people judge Now as for your saying that the Anabaptist desert their wives it s a lye among the rest of your evil invented things for there is none amongst us that do or dare do such wickedness or if you know any such why do not you prosecute them according to Law you have a Law to hang up your owne Church-members for such things and then why do you spare us We may know by this your accusation is false for if we did as you report wickedly we were sure of no mercy at your hands and you are very simple if these things be true that you do not prosecute the Anabaptists and get them hanged out of the way and then they should not trouble you but your tongues are no slanders as it happens and that I hope all men will shortly see But I pray let us look a little further into your Church of England and see are not all the whores and rogues and theeves and murderers and witches that are hanged all the year through at every Assizes or Sessions are they not of your Church did you not baptize them into it in their Infancy and have they not continued in it some of them many yeers Nay is it not your practise in the Gayles after they are condemned to give them the Sacrament on the Sunday and one Church-member to hang up another on the Munday-morning And yet for all this are you so audacious as to say the Churches of the Anabaptists cannot be of God because they have corrupt members amongst them Who seeth not your wickedness and partiality And now may I not be bold to use the words of the Lord Christ Mat. 7.3 4 5. to you Mr. Baxter and to you Mr. Hall and others And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy Brothers eye but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye or how wilt thou say to thy Brother Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye and behold a beame is in thine own Thou Hypocrite first cast out the beame out of thine own eye and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy Brothers eye Now lest you or any should think I deal too hardly with you in this case I answer you according to your folly lest you should be wise in your own conceits and that I am commanded to do by the word of the Lord Prov. 26.5 But to pass by the poor deluded people that are hanged up for