in the late Persecution the Churches of Christ some of them did find it very convenient to break Bread upon a Week-Day yet we alway think it best on the First when it may be And as for Baptism we do not find the Apostles tarried for the Revolution of the First Day but as occasion offered they did it upon any Day Page 69. he insists upon the order of words Mat. 3. I baptize to Repentance See this answered in my Book p. 54 55 56. That is a false Argument he so largely insisted on pag. 44. If Persons have a right to Remission of Sin they have a right to the Sign Baptism This Argument I have handled in p. 36. Infants are not called Disciples as he supposeth pag. 43. from Acts 15.10 and upon his Request we will shew him a Command and Example for Womens communicating at the Lord's Table p. 42 43. For answer to pag. 21. where it 's asserted That many of the 3000 whom the Apostles batized in Acts 2.39 were Children seing the Pardon of Sin was by the Apostle Peter applied to their Children O horrible perverter of the Word of God! these Children whom he speaks of were no more as yet baptized than the Gentiles which were afar off uncalled 2. Suppose some of their Children were baptized it must be believing Children not Infants my Child is my Child though thirty or forty Years old for you cannot think the Apostle would go beyond his Commission to baptize an ignorant Infant in the room of an understanding Believer O how sophistically doth this Man reason see pag. 29 30 31. of this Book Lastly I refer you to Mr. Cary's Solemn Call which clears up the Covenant made with Israel at Mount Sinai Exod. 19.20 and that in the Land of Moab Deut. 29. as also the Covenant of Circumcision made with Abraham Gen. 17. are plainly proved to be three several Editions of the Covenant of Works Though Mr. Wall will have it to be a Covenant of Grace in Christ And though he spends many Leaves of his Book about it 't is as far from being proved as Believers-Baptism is a Sign to the Infant of the Remission of Sins and being in the Covenant of Grace which yet is confest a few Years after he is neither in the Covenant of Grace nor yet one Sin pardoned These are some of this poor Man's Self-contradictions is he not Felo de se a Self-destroyer Whereas he saith pag. 117. Mr. Ainsworth's Book called A Censure upon a Dialogue of the Anabaptists was never answered That in Abraham 's Seed all Nations should be blessed This Grace Abraham 's Infant-Seed had this Grace Christ gave to little Children See your self and Mr. Ainsworth both answered in pag. 37 38. and p. 34 35. CHAP. XII A brief Answer to a part of Mr. Daniel Williams's Catechism in his Book of the Vanity of Childhood and Youth IN pag. 131. he propounds these Questions What if a Child will not agree but refuse to agree to the Covenant to which his Infant-Baptism engaged him Himself makes this astonishing Answer 1. It 's a rejecting Christ our Saviour and a renouncing the Blessings of the Gospel 2. It 's the Damning Sin 3. It 's the Heart of all Sin 4. It 's Rebellion continued against my Maker 5. It 's Ingratitude and Perjury to my Redeemer 6. It 's gross Injustice to my Parents 7. It 's an Affront to all the Godly 8. It 's self-killing Cruelty to my own Soul Here are hard and dreadful Words to make up the defect of weak Arguments for â—hen some Persons want Arguments 〈…〉 to perswade into an Error they do use some terrible Words and Ways to fright People thereinto Pray Sir shew your Hearers where you have Divine Authority for your Assertions or else there is no ground to be concerned at all about it though laid down in a formidable way Though I know 't is the Duty of Parents to pray for their Children give them moderate Correction good Education and good Examples yet God never made it the Duty of any Parent to dedicate their Child in Baptism nor the Duty of any Child to Engage and Covenant with God in their Infant-State being altogether uncapable therefore the not heeding it cannot be any Sin much less a damning Sin and if so be Persons do then ingage against the Custom of this World as you say they do then they must engage against Infant-Baptism being a worldly Custom I shall speak briefly to all these Particulars 1. Not to agree or to refuse to agree to the Covenant made in Infant-Baptism is no Sin because Where there is no Law saith the Apostle John there is no Transgression Now if this Gentleman can shew us any Law of God for Parents to dedicatâ— their Children in Baptism or Children to covenant with God in Baptism I will give him the Cause but if this cannot be done I think he can do no less than make a publick Recantation of his Assertions to undeceive those whom he in ignorant Zeal may have deceived 2. It 's no Rebellion against our Maker because Rebellion is interpreted in the holy Writ to be a wilful breach of God's Law and Command as you may see in Numb 20.24 Ye rebelled against my Word Chap. 27.14 Ye rebelled against the Command of the Lord so Deut. 1.26 Now then let this never be more called Rebellion except it can be proved to be against the Command of the Lord. 3. It can be no Ingratitude nor Perjury to my Redeemer 1. No Ingratitude because to own a thing he never appointed and is the ready way to thrust out his own Appointment will never be accounted by Christ Ingratitude 2. Neither can it be Perjury Mr. Pool on 1 Tim. 1. saith Perjury is a false Swearing or swearing to an untrue thing Now I suppose this is not Mr. Williams's meaning by Perjury for the Propositions were true if any which were promised in Infant-Baptism But I suppose he means the Covenant the Child made in Baptism against being governed by Satan and the Flesh taking up this World's Goods as my Portion and against the Customs of the Men of the World as my Guide when grown up and found walking in the Ways of the Devil the Flesh and the World contrary to God's Command and his own Vow This I supose he calls Perjury to the Redeemer But let it be considered a Man must first make a Vow or take an Oath before he can be said to break it and be perjur'd Now if the Child never made any Vow or Covenant in Baptism it being impossible how then can he be said to break Covenant and be guilty of Perjury to his Redeemer 4. It cannot be Injustice much less gross Injustice to my Parents because what is accounted Injustice to my Parents the Word of God makes it appear to be so some-where or other but the Word of God doth not any where call that Child an unjust Child that doth not own its dedicating
these Scriptures show in the Margent viz. the Church at Jerusalem Samaria Cesaria Philippi Coloss Corinth Rome Galatia Ephesus c. To conclude If the Churches of Christ were so planted and constituted in the Primitive Times they ought to be so still unless any can shew where Christ hath since that altered the Constitution of his Churches 3ly This Ordinance cannot concern Infants but Believers because it 's a testification of the Remission of Sins and Salvation to the worthy Receiver and Subject of it Acts 2.38 Mark 16.16 else why doth Peter promise remission of Sin and the Gift of the Holy Ghost to such And why did our Lord join Faith Baptism and Salvation all in one Verse Baptism is never enjoined as a Means of Remission of Sins and Eternal Life but something of Duty Choice and Sanctity is joined with it in order to the production of the End so mentioned Dr. Taylor but that the Ordinance should be a Pledg to the Believer of those great things We collect as much from Acts 22.16 where Ananias exhorted Paul to arise and be baptized and wash away his Sins that is put that Duty in practice which will be a Confirmation of thy Justification so we understand Peter The like Figure whereunto Baptism doth now save us viz. As the Ark was the instrumental way of God's saving Noah by his Grace 1 Pet. 3.20 Baptism is our Marriage-Ring Military Press-mony our ingrafting into Christ our Badg and Cognizance our Ship our Ark our Red-Sea our putting on Christ Dan. Rogers so Faith in Christ's Death and Resurrection is the way God saves our Souls this being confirmed unto us in the Figure of Baptism as well as at the Lord's Table But what have Infants to do with this who are not capable to take in the Comfort exhibited and held forth in it This is Meat for strong Men not Babes 4ly Believers only must be the Subjects of this Ordinance because it holds forth a Covenant the Subject makes actually with God Hence saith the Apostle Rom. 6.3 Know you not as many as were baptized into Christ were baptized into his Death as if he should say In that Ordinance you did covenant and promise to die unto Sin and live a new Life Therefore saith he how can you that are dead to Sin live any longer therein And this you have profess'd in your Baptism as in the words of the Institution Gossops and Sureties are no where found in Holy Scripture but in the Pope's Decree and Common-Prayer Book Which the Parliament in K. Edward the 6th's time confessed There was no other difference between that and the Mass-Book only a few things left out but that one was in Latin the other in English Fox's Acts Mon. Edit 9. Vol. 2. Book 9. p. 14 15. the whole Trinity gives it self unto the Believer So he dedicates himself voluntarily to the Service of the whole Trinity Father Son and Spirit In all Covenants of this Nature there is required the Information of the Judgment Consent of the Will it must be an Act of Choice As the Eunuch said See here is Water what hinders me to be baptized But none of these things are agreeable to an Infant and as they are not able to enter into Covenant themselves if others do it for them 't is not only Unscriptural but Antiscriptural Can Persons covenant to keep others from Sin when they find it too hard a work to keep themselves 5ly Baptism is a lively representation of Regeneration therefore can only affect Believers The Apostle alludes unto Baptism when he speaks of the washing of Regeneration Titus 3.5 His meaning is that the Ordinance is a lively Badg Symbol and Sign of Regeneration and the New Birth The Apostle to the Colossians Ch. 2.12 tells them That their Baptism did exhibit and shew forth their being dead and risen with Christ through that Faith which was of that Omnipotent Operation which raised Christ from the Dead but no Signs of Regeneration appear in Infants at Baptism that is untruly said Saith the Papist to the Prelat You prove that Sacraments convey Grace in the very Act as we assert for just before Baptism the Child was an Heir of Hell and Child of Wrath but being baptized it is Regenerated and born again as your Common-Prayer Book saith in the Common-Prayer Book after the Child is sprinkled Forasmuch as this Child is regenerated and born again which just before was acknowledged to be a Child of Wrath and an Heir of Hell We say tho God hath promised his Presence in all his Appointments yet we also say Persons are not to be Baptized that they may be Regenerated but to hold forth and signify Regeneration therefore Baptism can no ways affect little Infants CHAP. V. Contains the Answer of Objections Objection 1. FEW Learned Men own this way of Baptizing only a few mechanick poor illiterate Persons I Answer The Apostle saith Not many wise Men after the Flesh are called 1 Cor. 1.24 29. Christ did not ordinarily make use of the learned Rabbies among the Jews to preach the Gospel but rather those who were counted illiterate and ignorant that no Flesh might glory in his Presence God gets the more praise by making use of Babes and Sucklings Christ thanks the Father Psal 8.2 that Divine Things were hid from the Wise and Prudent such as the World so accounted Mat. 11.27 and revealed unto Babes because they would render the Glory unto God while the worldly wise Men would take it to themselves 2. Those who have the most humane Literature are no Rule but God's Word we must follow Paul no further than he follows Christ 3. The Holy Scriptures account no Man truly Wise and Learned but those taught of God and that keep his Commands Psal 111.10 The Learned Pharisees and Expounders of the Law rejected the Counsel of God against themselves in not being Baptized 4. Are there no Learned of this Practice What think you of St. Augustine See Danvers on Baptism p. 60 61 62 63. Many of those born of Christian Parents Basil Gregory Nazianzen Jerom Ambrose Chrysostom Constantine Theodosius Paul and as the Crown of all our Lord Jesus were all these Illiterate and Ignorant Object 2. The Children of Believers are in the Covenant They say the Foederati were to be the Signati therefore ought to have the Seal of the Covenant Baptism I Answer There is but two ways of being in the Covenant Absolutely or Conditionally Let it first be proved the Infant-Seed of Believers are in Covenant then 2ly if so that they ought to be baptized Female Children under the Law had a legal or federal Holiness yet not to be Circumcised No Believer dare say all his Infant-Seed are in the Covenant of Grace absolutely for then they must all be saved but we see Abraham had an Ishmael Isaac an Esau David an Absalom Samuel Sons of Belial c. so that they cannot
be baptized under that Consideration Or 2. Persons are in the Covenant of Grace Conditionally viz. in case they Believe and Repent Now under this Consideration the Children of Unbelievers have the same Interest in the Covenant and Sign of the Covenant And Children of Believers have a right no other way to the one or other the promise of Remission and Gift of the Holy Ghost is made as well to the Gentiles which are afar off as to the natural Seed of Abraham if they have the same Qualifications Acts 2.37 albeit Heathens by Nature and these are oft-times made the Subjects of Grace when Believers Children are left Hence a wicked Ahaz hath a good Hezekiah ungodly Abia a good Asa wicked Ammon a good Josiah idolatrous Jeroboam a good Abijah But were all the Children of Believers in the Covenant of Grace it follows not that therefore they ought to be baptized no more than they may come to the Lord's Supper because they want the Qualification required in that Duty And whereas it is further urged from the 2d of the Acts The word Children there is really the Posterity of the Jews and not particularly their Infant Children my Child is my Child tho 40 or 50 Years old the Promise is to you and your Children The scope of that place seems to be this When the Jews were pricked at their Heart for their Crucifying Christ upon Peter's Sermon they cry out Men and Brethren what shall we do The Apostle exhorts them what to do viz. Repent and be Baptized and for their Comfort subjoins that the Promise of Remission of Sins also of the Holy Ghost was like to be their Portion and their Childrens also if they did the same tho they once called for Christ's Blood upon their Heads and their Children yet now if you and your Children believe in that Christ you have Crucified those Promises are to the one and to the other yea to all afar off the poor Gentiles for since the partition Wall is broken down Jew Greek Col. 3.11 Barbarian Scythian Bond Free Male Female all one by Faith in Christ For we are all the Children of God by Faith in Christ Jesus Gal. 3. Object 3. Infant-Baptism neither hath Precept nor Example in God's Word is confess'd by Luther Erasmas Zwinglius Melancthon Bucer Calvin Chochler Stuphilus Rogers Mr. Baxter Dauvers on Baptism p. 90 91. The Infant-Seed of Abraham was Circumcised therefore the Infant-Seed of Believers may be Baptized I Answer Abraham had a plain Injunction and Command for the former Believers have none for the latter In Matters of Worship we must keep to the Institution as Moses did to the Pattern shew'd him in the Mount Tho Lot was a Believer his Children were not to have the sign of Circumcision because limited unto Abraham's Seed and Family also to such a Sex and such a Day So hath God limited Baptism to Penitent Believers Whoever practises an Institution otherwise than was appointed by the great Law-giver does not honour the Ordinance but an Idol of his own making therefore let us keep to the Institution and not be wise above what is written and take not up with a dark Consequence in the rejection of a plain Command being not so satisfying to the true Reason of a Man nor his Conscience Those that argue for their Infant-Seeds Baptism from Circumcision being entail'd unto Abraham's Seed may as well argue and say the Priesthood was by a Covenant entail'd on the Tribe of Levi and his Seed therefore the Ministry is entail'd upon Gospel-Preachers and their Seed As this cannot be warranted no more can the other Object 4. Whole Families were Baptized Ergo Infants I Answer It 's said indeed Acts 16.33 Whereas some say No doubt but the Jailor had Children It may be very much questioned seeing it hath been observed some Years ago that for very many Years together not one Child was born to the Jayl-keepers in all the County of Essex The Jaylor and all his were baptized well they might seeing they all believed vers 34. So Crispus the chief Ruler believed in God with all his House Act. 18.8 And many of the Corinthians hearing believed and were baptized And for Lydia and her Houshold those they Baptized those they comforted ver 40. But Infants could not take in that nor the comfort of that spiritual Appellation or Relation of Brethren as the Apostle calls them in Lydia's Houshold 2. The word all doth not always intend every Individual in a Family In 1 Sam. 1.21 't is said Elkanah and all his House went up to the yearly Sacrifice to Jerusalem Yet in the 22d it is said Hannah and the Child Samuel stay'd at Home So Augustus Cesar is said to Tax all the Word Luke 2.1 which was no more of the World than that little part where the Roman Empire stretched Should there be Infants in any of these Families To carry a poor ignorant Infant to the Ordinance of Baptism is as much as if you should carry it to hear a Sermon and no more significant than to instruct a Stock or Stone or shew some godly thing to a blind Man no charitable Person can think the Apostle would act contrary to his Commission to baptize ignorant Infants instead of understanding Believers Object 5. Circumcision was a Seal of the New Covenant to Believers and their Seed under the Law so is Baptism to the Seed of Christian Parents under the Gospel I Answer This Objection is grounded upon Rom. 4.11 where 't is said Abraham received the Sign of Circumcision Some unto whom the Covenant of Grace did not belong received the Sign of Circumcision as Ishmael God said the Covenant should not be established with him but Isaac So Esau and all the Strangers in Abraham's House or bought with Mony in Israel that were Circumcised of whom it may as well be doubted whether the New Covenant-Promise did belong to them therefore they mistake to say Circumcision was a Seal of the New-Covenant to Abraham's Seed seeing some of them had it that were out of the Covenant by the express Word of God Gen. 4.19 20 21 25. Gal. 4.29 a Seal of the Righteousness of his Faith First Consider it 's not said Circumcision was a Seal of the New Covenant to Abraham and his Seed that is begg'd in the Objection the Text saith It was a Token of the Righteousness of Abraham 's Faith But it could not be a Seal of Faith to an Infant which had none The scope of the Apostle in this Chapter is to shew that Abraham himself was not justified by Works no not by Circumcision but by Faith which he had long before he was Circumcised The reason of his Circumcision was to be a Seal and Confirmation to him that he by his Faith should be a Father of many Nations and that the poor Gentiles should be accepted of God by Faith without the Works of the Law though not circumcised seeing Abraham's Faith
a secret Design to decry the Holy Scriptures crying up the Power of Godliness in Word to undermine the Form of Godliness cry up Faith and Justification by Faith to lessen Repentance and a holy Life crying out against the Error of all Churches and under that pretence leave the true Church and the Communion of Saints until at last they have lost the Church in the Wilderness the ready way to lose themselves too if Grace prevent not which I desire may CHAP. VI. Contains the Vse 1. IF it be their Duty who believe to be Baptized then I infer those who are not capable of this Grace of Faith are under no Divine Obligation nor their Parents neither to Baptize them 't is only a piece of Will-worship which God never required Col. 2.23 If any reckon themselves obliged to Baptize or be Baptized from Mens Authority let such baptize in their Name of whom they have this Authority and not join the Name of Christ with humane Inventions Baptism of Infants was not practised for near 300 Years after Christ nor enjoined as necessary till 400 Years after Christ. Magdeburgh Hist Cent. 5. p. 835. Danvers on Baptim p. 105 106 107 108 109. Infant-Baptism was hardly heard of till about three hundred Years after Christ Augustine was the first that preached it necessary in his heat against Pelagius Bishop of Rome who denied Original Sin which Augustine supposed to be taken away in Baptism about the 5th Century it was confirmed and decreed by the Pope and his Council in the Milevetan Council a Province in Africa 2. Is Faith to precede Baptism Then how irregular do they act who baptize first before the Subject hath any Grace and know not whether ever they will Our Lord knew how he placed his words when he said Believe and be baptized and for Persons to act contrary reflects upon the Wisdom of Christ as though they knew it were better to Baptize first whatever the Lord said to the contrary 3. Is Faith to precede Baptism Then we infer those who are in this practice are very unjustly called Anabaptists Persons Baptized in Infancy are to be Baptized after they believe which is not to be esteemed Rebaptization but right Baptism as Peter Bruce the great Waldensian Martyr Rebaptizers We know but of one Baptism Ephes 4. and that is Believers having the Broad-Seal and Stamp of Divine Authority upon it how in derision are such called Catabaptists as if they were against Baptism because they plead for Christ's Institution against Mens Inventions 4. Is Faith to precede Baptism Then we infer they are greatly Heterodox who assert that Baptism works Regeneration by the very * Some call it Opus operatum Act altho we doubt not of the concurrence of the Holy Spirit to strengthen and comfort God's People in the Way of their Duty But to say the very Act works it is not allowable forasmuch as Regeneration is required before it and this Sacrament is a Sign and Signification of Regeneration therefore called by the Apostle the washing of Regeneration Tit. 3.5 Death to Sin and Sanctification is figured out in this Ordinance when Persons are buried with Christ in Baptism Rom. 6.4 Grotius saith in his Annotations upon Matth. 19. The Synod of Neocesarea decreed a Woman with Child might be Baptized because it reached not the Fruit of the Womb forasmuch as in Baptism each one 's free choice is shewed 5. Are Persons to believe before Baptism Then an actual personal Faith is to precede this Ordinance 't is not the Faith of the Church nor an imputative Faith of the Parents in Covenant nor the Faith of the Gossips or Sureties can be a sufficient Argument for any Minister to Baptize but a profession of their own Faith as Philip required of the Eunuch Act. 8.37 And whereas some assert Infants have Faith what they may have is not known by any Sign appears in them See Dr. Duveil on Acts 8. And for personal and actual Faith they have none which the Commission requires as prerequisite to Baptism And for any to assert Infants have Faith or any other inspired Habit may we not say with Dr. Taylor such are constrained to answer this without Revelation against Reason common Sense and all the Experience in the World no greater Advantage can be desired against such a Position 6. Is Faith to be professed before we are Baptized Then we infer those that have suffered in defence of this Doctrine had a good Foundation for what they did The Waldensian Christians suffered Imprisonment Danvers on Baptism p. 113 114. confiscation of Goods and some Death Many in Germany Holland Flanders Vienna Mentz the Palatinate for their opposing Pedo-Baptism and asserting Believers II. Let all Believers be exhorted to obey Christ who yet lie short of their Duty the King or Subject Pastor or People Learned or Illiterate for the King of Kings hath done it the great Shepheard of the Sheep and he who is only wise If any Object I was Baptized in my Infancy I Answer As one saith of Marriage It 's not the Bed that maketh Marriage for then Fornication is Marriage but it 's a lawful Consent by Covenant So I say of Baptism It 's not a little Water sprinkled upon the Face makes Baptism but also Consent and Subjection to Christ's Command When thou wast an Infant Mr. Baxter saith Entring Covenant with God is the essential point of Baptism without it it is not Baptism Children cannot Covenant Sureties neither by the Law of God nor Nature ought not Parents by the Canon Law must not thou gavest no Consent but rather Dissent by crying when the Water was scatter'd upon thy Face thou hadst no Faith no Love no active Obedience thy Judgment not informed thy Will and Affections not inclined but wholly passive in the thing Dr. Barlow saith In the Primitive Times Persons were first Catecumini then Illuminati or Baptizati If Matter and Form be wanting the Essence of the Oâ—â—inance is 〈…〉 like a Stock or Stone so that thou art not yet Baptized because there wanted then the very Essence of the Ordinance which is right Matter and Form as for Matter an ignorant Infant was the Subject in the room of an understanding Believer For the Form Sprinkling instead of Dipping so that thy Infant-Baptism is a meer non entity and nothing The Church of the Rome confesseth she changed Dipping into Sprinkling Cyprian is the first who pleads for Baptizing the Sick by Sprinkling and for Sprinkling new Converts in the Prison-House Danvers p. 204 205 206. Magd. Cent. 3. C. 6. p. 126. By degrees they brought it in for Sick Children then for all Children Rome's first and great Argument Novatians and Donatists against Infant-Baptism by which Infant-Baptism was brought in was their imagining it took away Original-Sin Upon which they made this Canon in the Milevetan Council It is our Will Too many are very tenacious of this
the Name of Lollards Hence we read in Mr. Fox of Lollards Tower commands all sorts to Baptize their Children and to forbear Rebaptization upon the penalty of Pecuniary Mulcts and Imprisonments The second Edict extended to Banishment Confiscation and Death this was five Years after in 1530. Many starved and died in Prison The Duke of Newburgh Anno 1653. banished all the Anabaptists out of his Country who thereupon disperse themselves into the Dukedom of Cleave and Brandenburgh An Abstract of the bloody Edict of the Emperor Charles the 5th of Spain made June 1535. against the Anabaptists or Waldensian Christians and the execution thereof in the Seventeen Provinces viz. COmmanding all Persons to renounce those Perswasions and Practices and refrain the publishing the same by Preaching or otherwise upon penalty of forfeiture of Life and Goods without Mercy The Men to be burnt the Women to be drowned And all that Conceal Harbour and do not in their Places prosecute the Law against them to suffer the same Penalty And that those that discover them to have the third part of their Estates forbidding all Mediation or Intercession upon severe Punishment Many hundreds suffered Death upon this Edict and what his Son Philip made in 1556. Thus you see Christ's Words made good His People shall suffer for Righteousness sake See this Chapteâ— much enlarged in Danvers on Bâ—ptism CHAP. IX Contains an Epitome of this Book in a Comparison of Believers-Baptism and Infant-Baptism together Believers-Baptism GOd hath promised in the Text That all who believe and are Baptized shall be saved Mark 16.16 There is a lively Similitude between Christ's Death Burial Resurrection and Believers being buried in Baptism Rom. 6.4 Believers Baptized are converted and shall never come into Condemnation John 5.24 Believers Baptized love God and keep his Commandments John 14.15 It 's Christ's Command that Teaching Repenting and Believing should precede and go before Baptism Matth. 28.18 19. Those who baptize Believers baptize Christians In Believers Baptism there are no Contradictions attend the practice of it Believers Baptized come lawfully and immediately to the Lord's Supper Acts 2.41 42. Believers Baptism is a sign of Regeneration unto them Tit. 3.5 Believers Baptism hath a Command Mat. 28.18 19. Believers Baptism confirms unto them Justification Remission and Salvation Acts 2. Chap. 22.16 Mark 16.16 We have many Examples for Believers Baptism Acts 8. Chap. 10. Ch. 16.18 Christ was faithful in all his House and St. Paul delivered the whole Counsel of God and so Believers Baptism is a part of God's Counsel Luke 7. Believers Baptism hath been gloriously sealed in the Holy Ghost's coming upon Christ in the likeness of a Dove when he was coming up out of the Water Mat. 3.16 In Believers Baptism the Person baptized acts Faith Acts 8.37 In Believers Baptism the Subject baptized hath the Answer of a good Conscience 1 Pet. 3.16 A Man might comfortably die as many have done in Mentz Holland Germany and the Palatinate for asserting Believers Baptism because it hath God's Word for its Foundation The Publicans glorified God in being baptized with John's Baptism because it was the Counsel of God Luke 7. The Pharisees and Lawyers rejected the Counsel of God against themselves in not being baptized with the Baptism of John Luke 3. In Believers Baptism there is a glorious Harmony with the Commission Mar. 16.16 Believers Baptism requireth much Water as according to God's Word John 3. It 's without all doubt Believers were Baptized To baptize Believers is to keep the Ordinances as they were delivered 1 Cor. 11.2 To baptize Belielievers is no change of God's Ordinance Such as are baptized on their own Faith shall never perish John 10.28 Believers are baptized as an Act of their Judgment Choice Will and Affection so worship God in Spirit and Truth John 4.24 All those who baptize Infants do confess Believers were baptized Believers know and remember when they were baptized All Believers baptized are in the Covenant of Grace Believers Baptism is from Heaven and the Counsel of God Mat. 21.25 Believers baptized are not the Children of Wrath John 3.36 To baptize Believers is to act according to the Pattern and Command of Christ All Believers baptized receive Remission of Sins Acts 2. In Believers Baptism the Person subjects in Acts of Obedience Believers Baptism hath no Absurdities attending it Believers rejoice and shew their full Consent when they are baptized Acts 8. Believers Baptism hath the plain Word of God All the World may affirm Believers were baptized by the Apostles All Believers baptized are spiritual believing Stones fit to be laid in God's House 1 Pet. 2.5 Believers baptized may repel Satan as Christ did saying It is written Luke 4. God will not say unto Believers baptized Who hath required these things at your Hands because it is his own Command Believers Baptism must stand as long as God's Word doth stand Mat. 5.18 To baptize Believers is to have respect unto God's Command the only way not to be ashamed Psal 119.6 The most Holy the most Wise the most Learned Person that ever was in the World submitted unto Believers-Baptism Mat. 3.13 14 15 16 17. Persons baptized believe repent examine themselves make Judgment of things love one another take up Christ's Cross Watch and Pray and have the same care of each others Souls these are fit Members of a Gospel-Church Believers Baptism hath Antiquity to plead being as old as John Baptist Christ and his Apostles Believers ought to be baptized who have an inherent Holiness wrought by the Holy Spirit Believers Baptism hath many glorious Promises annexed unto it Acts 2.38 39. In Believers Baptism all the holy Ends of it are preserved as to be a sign of present Regeneration dying to Sin burying rising with Christ Answer of a good Conscience a mutual Stipulation and Contract between God and the Party In Believers Baptism by Dipping the Manner and true Administration is preserved the Usage of the Primitive Times retained and the Ends of it manifest Believers Baptism introduceth no Error nor false Doctrine into the World Believers baptized are taught of God and made his Disciples Matth. 28.18 Acts 15.10 If none ought to forbid the Baptism of Water unto those who had been baptized with the Holy Ghost Acts 10.44 45 46 47 48. Christ submitted unto Water-Baptism and ate the Supper with his Disciples who had the Holy Spirit without measure Water-Baptism is to continue unto the End of the World and the Sacrament of the Supper unto the second coming of Christ 1 Cor. 11.26 Mat. 28.19 20. If Christ will have Glory in the Churches throughout all Ages World without end then he must have a Church and Ordinances administred which is the Essence of a Church-Constitution and so cannot want Administrators because Christ hath given Apostles Prophets Evangelists Pastors Teachers for the perfecting of the Saints for the Work of the Ministry edifying of the Body of Christ How long till we all come to