some of which are dead and some living But I find he is so subject to mistake both in quoting Authors and Scriptures that I dare not lay any weight upon what he says of them 1. In pag. 4. saith Mr. K. I shall begin with Mr. S. pag. 5. viz. I think there is more to be said for sprinkling or pouring water on the Face in Baptism then there is for dipping or ducking over head and ears in a River or Pond for the latter is more like a punishment of Criminals than the solemnizing of an Ordinance of God c. To which I Answer I am of the same mind still and can see no reason at all to alter it for you cannot produce any positive Command for it nor clear Example of it in all the Book of God but the Learned will tell you that the word Baptize is frequently used for pouring and washing with water 2. What was the signification of all those Sprinklings and Pourings and Washings with Blood and also with Water but to set forth and Typifie the cleansing Vertue of the Holy Ghost and the absolute necessity of Regeneration and Sanctification Isa 52.15 So shall he sprinkle many nations c. that is God will sanctifie many Nations or some of many Nations and what is Baptism but a Sign or Token of Sanctification and Regeneration Exod. 24.8 And Moses took the blood and sprinkled it on the people and said Behold the blood of the covenant which the Lord hath made with you And yet that was but the Sign of the Blood of the Covenant for the real Blood of the Covenant was the Blood of Christ who was given for a Covenant of the People Isa 49.6 8. Heb. 9.13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh Mind it was but the purifying of the Flesh not the Spirit it was but an External Sanctification or a Sign thereof and is Water-baptism any more But mind the 14th verse How much more shall the blood of Christ who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God purge your consciences from dead works to serve the living God Ezek. 36.25 26. Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you and ye shall be clean from all your filthiness and from all your idols will I cleanse you A new heart also will I give you and a new spirit will I put within you and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh and I will give you an heart of flesh And I pray mind all these following Scriptures of Sprinkling and Pourings c. Heb. 12.24 1 Pet. 1.2 Isa 44.3 Exod. 29.16 20 21. Levit. 1.5 11. chap. 9.18 chap. 32.8 13. ch 4.6 17. ch 5.9 ch 8.11 24. chap. 14.7 8 9 16 51. Numb 19.18 19 20 21. 2 Chron. 29.22 chap. 30. 16. Here you see are sprinklings c. both of blood and water under the Old Testament and also the New which Types out Regeneration viz. blood for Justification and water for Sanctification which is very compatible to the signification of Baptism Now pray find us out so many Scriptures if you can wherein Dipping or Immersion in blood and water do so nearly represent and parallel the Ordinance of Water-baptism and also that have the Covenant for their Center as all these I quoted have both in the Old and New Testament 3. It is a practice among the Heathens as I have been informed when they Dedicate any thing to their Idol-Gods to take it and dip or plunge it all under water and if so then it is plainly forbidden in Levit. 20.23 And ye shall not walk in the manners of the nations which I cast out before you c. 4. Suppose for Arguments sake that it should be granted That dipping in Baptism was the Mode in those Hot Countries where it could not be so prejudicial to their Health yet it doth not therefore follow that Persons should be dipped all under water in these Northern Countries where it is so extream cold especially in the Winter unless there had been a positive Command given for so doing for Baptism is a Duty at all times of the Year for God never Appointed any Ordinance that would put his People in Jeopardy of their Lives 5. The Anabaptists will have Dipping to be the only Mode of Baptism For say they John baptized in Enon near Salim because there was much water there But the Learned do tell us that it should be read thus viz. Because there were many waters there And so I have it also in a Spanish Testament which I may as well make use of as Mr. B. K. hath of the Dutch Tongue Viz. John 3.23 Y Baptizava Tambien Juan en Enon junto a Salim porque Avia muchas Aguas y venian y eran Baptizados If it had been much water then it must have been mucho agua in the singular and not muchas aguas which is many waters in the plural And Travellers that have been in those Countries do say that there is scarcely water enough to cover a Mans Ancles much less to bury their Bodies 6. Another Scripture they lay great stress upon for Dipping is Rom. 6.4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism c. In which Text is Typed out unto us the new Birth which consists of two parts namely the death of Sin and the Resurrection of Spiritual Life c. And both these are pointed at in Baptism as a Sign thereof and so it was in Circumcision both which you have represented together to the same purpose in Col. 2.10 11 12. which seems also to refer to or point out unto us the change of the Ordinance from Circumcision to Baptism viz. And ye are complete in him which is the head of all principality and power In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ Buried with him in baptism wherein also you are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God who hath raised him from the dead Ver. 13 14. And you being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh hath he quickened together with him having forgiven you all trespasses Blotting out the hand-writing of ordinances that was against us which was contrary to us and took it out of the way nailing it to his cross Here are several things to be observed from these Scriptures 1. Here is Circumcision and Baptism both pointing at one and the same thing viz. The death of the body of Sin for all the Elect of God vertually in the death of Christ and the Resurrection of their Spiritual Life when Christ arose from the dead which is the First Resurrection on whom the Second Death shall have no power for under the Figure of Circumcision it is said putting off the body of the sins of the flesh Secondly Under the
Justification 3. The State of a young Child by Nature is as much depraved by the Fall of Adam as the oldest Sinner upon Earth therefore it must be by the very same Grace for kind though it may not be for degree that must justifie sanctifie and save a young Infant dying in his Infancy as is to justifie sanctifie and save an Elect Adult Believer and that is by Faith For by grace are ye saved through faith and that not of your selves it is the gift of God Now is not a young Babe in the Womb or Cradle as capable of this Salvation as the oldest Saint upon Earth And is there any other way for the saving of any either old or young but this Even the righteousness of God which is by Faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe for there is no difference For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ Rom. 3. 4. And Lastly Young Infants that die in their Infancy must have the Image of God restored unto them and enstamped upon them which was blotted out by the Fall of Adam or they can never be saved and that must be by Infusion of Grace and Holiness into their Souls and so make them partakers of the Divine Nature which is the new Creation in the Soul and the new Creature must have all his Lineaments or else the new Creature would be imperfect it must have Eyes or else it would be blind and Faith is the new Creatures Eyes Heb. 11. To conclude The Righteousness of Christ and Faith in the justifying sanctifying and saving a Sinner ever goeth together therefore none can be saved by the Righteousness of Christ without the Grace or Spirit of Faith for they are all brought into the Ballance of Redemption together 1 Cor. 1.30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus who of God is made unto us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption Now where is that differing way or many ways for the saving Elect dying Infants from that of sanctifying and saving Elect old Sinners Mr. K. saith in his Title Page that I am an unskilful Person in Polemical Cures but I am sure those that Assert That there are more ways than one for the sanctifying and saving young Infants differing from that of Adult Believers are very unskilful Physicians and I pitty those poor People that have no skilfuller Physicians than these are to take care of them 5. Mr. K. brings in a Caution by way of Argument viz. Saith he 'T is forbid and a sinful thing for any to pry into Gods Secret All they that pry into the way how God applies the Merits of Christ to dying Infants and sanctifies them do pry into Gods Secrets Ergo. But those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our Children for ever The justifying sanctifying and saving all the Elect of God is a revealed thing as I have sufficiently proved therefore it is not a sinful thing to pry into the way how God applies the Merits of Christ to dying Infants and sanctifie them This is like the P. that forbids the Laicks the use of the Bible because they should not detect their Errours and false Doctrines 1. The Scripture hath revealed unto us that we are all Children of wrath by nature Eph. 2.3 and conceived in sin Psal 51.5 Here is our Epidemical Malady revealed 2. Here is also the Remedy revealed 1 Tim. 2. For there is one God and one mediatour between God and man the man Christ Jesus who gave himself a ransom for all that is especially for all the Elect and if so then Christ died as much for all Elect dying Infants as for all Elect old Sinners Acts 4.12 Neither is there salvation in any other for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved Eph. 4. One Lord one faith one baptism One God and Father of all who is above all and through all and in you all And this one Faith is the Faith of Gods Elect Titus 1.1 And by this Faith they shall get the Victory because they are born of God Children of the most High Heirs of Glory made meet to partake of the Inheritance with the Saints in Light Thus you see this Doctrine of Implicite Faith overthrown and your Argument against prying into the way of Gods sanctifying and saving Elect dying Infants destroyed O but saith Mr. K. in pag. 3. I hope his Reverend Pastor whom I have more cause both to love and honour than Ten Thousand Instructors in Christ he being the blessed Instrument in my Conversion almost Fourty Years agoe gave no encouragement to him thus to write and abuse his Brethren But my Reverend Pastor who is worthy of double honour he never taught you any such kind of Doctrine for though he might be an Instrument in Gods Hand of making you a Christian yet he never had any hand in making you an Anabaptist neither is he a Person of such a weak Capacity as not to see through and beyond your little kind of Insinuations and Flattery by which you endeavour to ingage him to side with you and justifie your corrupt Doctrines and Principles in opposition to his own but that will not do 5. Saith Mr. K. Little Children may have Faith if God please to work a Miracle and inspire them with his Spirit I Answer All that Faith that is in a Soul that is not wrought by a miraculous Power is no better than the Faith of Fallen Angels Jam. 2.19 Thou believest that there is one God thou doest well the devils also believe and tremble 2. It is no less a Miracle to work Faith in a dead Sinner in raising him from the Grave of Unbelief then it was to raise a dead crucified Saviour Eph. 1.19 20. And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us ward who believe according to the working of his mighty power Which he wrought in Christ when he raised him from the dead and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places It was always counted a Miracle to raise the Dead Eph. 2.1 And you hath he quickned who were dead in trespasses and sins What is become of this carnal unbelieving Proposition 6. And Lastly Saith Mr. B. K. If Children be part of their Parents then certainly if the Parents go to Heaven all their Children must likewise for the whole of Believers shall be saved This Argument like the former is lighter than Vanity It doth not follow that because I am a Believer and my Children a part of me they shall therefore be saved But yet notwithstanding the Children of Believers have a peculiar Priviledge above all other Mens Children in the World and if you ask me what Priviledge that is I must refer you to the Apostles for Answer Acts 2.39 and 1 Cor. 7.14 Here you see all the Children of believing Parents are
Figure of Baptism it is buried with him in baptism which is the death and burial of Sin 2. Here was the total Abolition of the Ceremonial Law but not of the Moral Law for the substantial part of the Ten Commandments are as much in force and as binding now as ever and likwise of Circumcision the Token of the Everlasting Covenant which is centered in the Ordinance of Baptism 3. This destroys their Argument viz. That Persons do act Grace in their own Baptism For what Analogy can there be in Burial which they make the Pattern for their Mode of Baptism wherein the Subject is wholly passive so as nothing can be more and being active in Baptism here the former part of their Argument contradicts and destroys the latter part thereof 4. The substance of these Scriptures do not only make more for us who do affirm That all the Subjects of Baptism are wholly passive in the Administration thereof but also it points out unto us the very subjects themselves namely Young Infants For such were the subjects of Circumcision 5. And Lastly The Apostle represents the new Birth in these Scriptures in which all the Elect Young and Old are as passive as a Child is in its own natural birth and this Spiritual birth is frequently set forth by sprinkling washing and pouring water as I have proved and let them prove that it is represented by dipping or plunging if they can in all the Book of God 2. Let us hear something of what Mr. John Ollyffe Rector of Almer in the County of Dorset saith in his Brief Defence of Infant-Baptism concerning the Mode or Manner of Baptism First Mr. O. saith in pag. 57. It is to be observed that whenever the Holy Ghost in the New Testament hath occasion to mention the Act of Dipping it is never expressed by this word that signifieth to baptize but by another which we have but four times in the New Testament viz. Luke 16.24 John 13.26 Matth. 26.23 Rev. 19.13 But whenever the Act of Baptizing is exprest it is always exprest by another word The word Baptize is often used to signifie any kind of washing or cleansing by water by the application of water any way to the thing Mark 7.4 The Pharisees eat not except they wash In the Greek it is Except they be baptized Again Luke 11.38 The Pharisees marvelled that our Saviour had not first washed before dinner In the Greek likewise it is That he was not first baptized Secondly In pag. 59. In those Examples which seem to be most express for Dipping and therefore are most commonly urged for the Proof of it there is at most but a bare probability of it and hardly that in some but there is no demonstrative Proof can be made from any of them The first is Mat. 3.13 16. which sets forth the Baptism of our Saviour by John Baptist at Jordan ver 16. Jesus when he was baptized went up straitway out of the water c. But indeed this Text if rightly interpreted doth not so much as prove that our Saviour went into the water at all for in the Greek he came up from the water and not out of it c. And so I have it in my Spanist Testament also viz. Y Jesus Desque Fue Baptizado Subio Luego Del Aqua y heaqui los cielos le Fueron Abiertos y vido Al Espiritu de Dios que Decendia como paloma y venia Sobre el And Jesus when he was baptized came up straightway from the water Subio Luego Del Agua came up from the water and not out of the water Mr. O. saith Another Text that is urged is John 3.23 That John was baptizing in Enon near Salim because there was much water there And because of the numbers of those that went to John to be baptized it was most convenient that it should be in such places where there was plenty of water but can any one prove hence that they were baptized by dipping into it or under it c. In that place it is not said that there was much water together but in the Original it is many waters that is many Streams or Rivulets c. But let that be how it will there is no determinate manner exprest or to be certainly and evidently concluded as ought to have been to build a Consequence of such a nature upon as to infer an obligation to such a determinate manner Thus you hear what this Learned Author saith touching the Mode of Baptism and it is to be observed from Mr. B. K's own words to me in his Book that this Mode of theirs is but a bare Supposition at best because saith he Suppose it be found at the Last Day to be Dipping This looks little especially to lay such a stress upon it as to Assert all other Modes are no Baptism for if he had a clear Command for it why had he not said You shall find it to be Dipping at the Last Day and not Suppose it be found so But say I Suppose it be found at the Last Day to be Sprinkling pouring Water c. For there is a far greater Probability of that then of Dipping as I have sufficiently proved Wherefore this Great Pretended Infallible Mode of Dipping for Baptism is but a bare may be at the best I shall descant a little upon the unseemliness of Immersion of Women and Maids in Baptism 1. If it be a shame for a Woman to be uncovered in the Church and Worship of God because of the Angels how much more abominable in the fight of God Angels and Men is it for Women and Young Maids to be uncovered by being stript out of their ordinary Dress within a little of naked and to be handled about the Back and Breast and have their Heels tript up and flounced over Head and Ears for Baptism This is against the plain written Word in 1 Cor. 11. For Baptism is a part of Gospel Church-Worship 2. Doth not Nature it self teach us that it is a shameful luxurious way thus to baptize Women and Maids For though the Mans Hands do not slip it is a thousand to one but his Heart and Thoughts may for I know of no Saint upon Earth that is so perfectly holy as to be out of the reach of Satans Temptations for David though a Man after Gods own Heart was insnared at the remote sight of a beautiful Bathsheba a washing her self though he was not so near as to handle her 3. All sober modest Women do count it to be a very bold lascivious Action for any Man except their own Husband to attempt to lay his Hands upon her Breasts and looks upon it to be but one degree short of most notorious Impudence And the Caution concerning Womens behaviour and deportment in the Church and worship of God is brought in by the Apostle Argumentativily viz. Because of the Angels for they are strict observators of ALL persons in the Church and worship of God 4.