intended under the name of every creature and that of them God doth require actual believing as of as great or greater necessity to Salvation then to Baptism The words are not He that believeth not shall not be baptized but shall be damned And are you as confident that all Infants are damned as you are that none of them should be baptized I wonder you dare urge this Text against Infant-Baptism which your own heart tells you is as much or more against their Salvation then against their Baptism For my part I conceive Infants are not to be scrued up to that proportion which God requireth of adult persons The Lord will take vengeance on them that know not God that obey not his Gospel 2 Thess 1.8 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down c. Mat. 3.10 Must therefore Infants either know God obey the Gospel and bring forth fruit or he damned May we not feed and clothe Infants because the Word saith He that will not labor must not eat 2 Thess 3.10 Might not the Jews admit Infants into the visible Church because the Psalmist describes the Citizen of Sion you say a Church-member Walking uprightly working righteousness speaking the truth in love contemning vile persons c. Psal 15.1 2 c. The application is easie ANABAPT CAT. Q. What atker grounds have you against Infant-Baptism A. Infants are not fit subjects for Baptism because they do not believe they have not reason to discern between good and evil Deut. 1.39 Faith is an act of the understanding which cometh by hearing as well as an act of the Will and it is unlawful to baptize persons without they believe Acts 8.37 if thou believest it is lawful Act. 10.47 8.12 18.8 ALL the Textt you now produce have been answered before in the first Chapter Examinat Cap. 3. §. 1. save Acts 10.47 from which you may collect That those that had the gift of the Holy Ghost as it is called v. 45. and could speak with tongues v. 46. were to be baptized but sure you will not infer thence That those that have not the said gifts are not to be baptized If you do you will deny all Baptism that is now adays and turn Seeker But as by your Principles you hold Confession of Faith and Repentance sufficient to Baptism without those gifts so you should shew that the foresaid gift and speaking with tongues was in stead of their believing and repenting or else confess that you impertinently alledg this Text. I must now ask you once for all §. 2. what you mean by Believers whether such only as have a true justifying Faith or all that make profession of Faith whether indeed and in truth they have a true justifying Faith or no The first is requisite in foro Dei conscientiae ex parte baptizati that our Baptism may be acceptable to God and comfortable to us 1 Pet. 3.21 So the Eunuch desiring Baptism with the saving benefit thereof and asking not What doth hinder thee from baptizing me but What doth hinder me was answered If thou believest with all thy heart thou mayst But in soro Ecclesiae ex parte baptizantis the latter sufficeth for admission your self being judg No Scripture-rule was transgressed when Judas Simon Magus Ananias and Sapphira were baptized The Eunuch's profession That he believed Jesus Christ to be the Son of God sufficed to present admission of him to Baptism And surely not the inward and spiritual qualifications but the outward and visible estate of persons to be baptized is to be looked at and we should descend to the lowest personal profession of Faith and Repentance being the highest degree of visibility Suppose a Minister had a spirit to discern the inward estate of men as certainly as Christ did of Judas and possibly the Apostles did of some which they baptized yet were he not to withhold from any for want of inward grace the priviledges which they have right and title to by virtue of their visible estate Saint Augustin and others think Judas was admitted to the Lords Supper though he but received panem Domini not panem Dominum and Mr Cartwright also so judgeth from that connection Luk. 22.19 20 21. Certainly he was admitted to the Passover by virtue of his visible estate Ishmael and Esau were regularly circumcised though Abraham knew that the one and Rebecca that the other was not the Elect seed of the Covenant Gen. 17.19 20. with 23. 25.23 Rom. 9 12. We can but charitably judg not infallible know who are Believers and though Infants do not actually believe yet by the judgment of charity if that he our rule we ought to judg that Infants born of Christian Parents are regenerate and have faith habitual or the principle or seed of it so much as is absolutely necessary to their participation of Christ and Salvation by him and that they dying in Infancy are saved see Chap. 5. For though they cannot actually believe or at least not make a profession of their Faith yet they are not to be doomed Infidels no more then they are to be judged irrational or dumb because they cannot actually reason or speak and therefore they unless you can reduce them to a third party which will much strengthen the Popish conceit of a third place for them when they dye Limbus Infantum are to be counted Believers and so methinks Christ accounteth of them Mat. 18.6 with 4. Ever since God gathered a distinct number our of the World to be his Church visible Kingdom City and Houshold §. 3. in opposition to the rest of the World which is the visible Kingdom City or Houshold of Satan God would have the Infants of all who are taken into Covenant to be accounted his and to belong to his Church and Family and not to the Devils If Adam had kept the Covenant of Works his Infant seed had been righteous Adam breaking that Covenant his Infant seed was guilty of that breach and became sinners against the Law though they knew not what the Law or sin against it was Adam being within the Covenant of Grace his Infant seed was so judged likewise For by seed of the woman Genes 3.15 is meant Christ in his minority as well as in his grown years who dyed for Infants as well as others neither are infants to be excluded from the benefit of that Promise The Infants of Noah Abraham and the Jews were members of the same Church with their Parents As Infants of Jews Turks and Pagans though uncapable of those Opinions or Practises are esteemed Jews Turks Pagans so the Infants of Christians though as the children of men they are born in sin Psal 51.5 dead in it Ephes 2.1 3. yet as children of the Church they are visibly Christians not Insidels Jews Turks or Pagans Though a Noble-man a Free-man of a Corporation a visible Church-member do beget children as men not as a person of Honor a
Free-man a Church-member yet according to their respective Charters the Honor of the one the Freedom of the other and Church-priviledges of the third may descend on their children ANABAPT CAT. Q. What other Arguments have you to prove That Infants have not Faith and are not to be baptized A. If they had Faith they were presently to be admitted to the Supper and not excluded from communion therein as many are which are admitted to communion in Baptism whereas the communion in both is one and the same the same thing signified in both viz. our fellowship with Christ in his Death and Resurrection So that all that are baptized into one body are all made to drink into one Spirit 1 Cor. 12.13 and the same preparations of Faith and Repentance are required for both and he that is cast out of the one is cast one of the other seeing by excommunication he is like an Heathen or Publican IT is the Judgment both of Mr Rutherford Exam. Chap. 4. §. 1. and Mr Hooker and others of New-England That Infants of visible Churches born of wicked Parents members of the same Churches ought to be baptized The reason may be We when a Child is presented to Baptism are to take notice of the Parents Church-membership not of his scandalousness If the Church do not cast out the Parents why should the Minister cast out the Child Parents where suspended lose only their present fruition not their fundamental right to membership It is right to membership not the present fruition of it nor their worthiness of that right doth as they conceive transfer that priviledg to Infants Mr Cotton in his Way p. 115. conceives it is considerable if the Grandfather or Grandmother making profession be still living and willing to undertake for the Child yea that in some cases a Heathens child may be baptized in right of its houshold-governor Gen. 17. Yet it is very far from their Opinions That these children or the immediate Parents of them should be admitted to the Supper Amongst the Jews Infants were circumcised §. 2. yet were they not presently admitted to the Passover they could not come up nor do we read they were carryed from the remote parts of Judea to Jerusalem where only the Lamb was eaten nor could they eat it standing with staves in their hands and with sowr herbs as was required Exod. 12. nor keep it to the Lord vers 46. with spiritual respects to Gods glory to Gods ends and rules and to have their hearts prepared as well as to be ceremonially clean 2 Chron. 18.19 and the same males were as well to be at the feast of tabernacles as at the Passover and to carry boughs which was no Infants work to make booths or tabernacles to dwell in Deut. 16.16 17. with Levit. 23.34 35 38 39 40. The children yea those that could speak and ask questions did not partake of the Passover as is implyed in that they did not say what mean we but what mean you by this service It was not allowable to count them for the eating of the Passover that could not eat of it viz. Infants sick persons uncircumcised and unclean see Ainsw in Exod. 12.4 The uncleanness of a Proselyte was no bar to Circumcision but to the Passover it was Numb 9.6 10. An adult Proselyte might in some case be circumcised and baptized and not presently admitted to the Passover Ainsw in Exod. 12.44 The Rite of Baptism is after the common custom of washing new born Infants from the pollutions of the womb §. 3. Ezek. 16. 5 9. but the elements of bread and wine are the food of riper years Baptism is a Sacrament of Initiation as Bernard calls it the Supper is the highest Ordinance Christians as such are capable of It is one thing to be admitted a Scholar in a School or to be matriculated into the University another thing to be of such a form standing or degree It is one thing to be a subject a tenant or free of a Corporation which children may be another to do homage suit and service Our Regeneration or birth in Christ whereof Baptism is the laver Infants are capable of but not of that growth and augmentation signified in the Supper To be baptized is to be passive as in the first act of Regneration we are meerly passive the action is wholly the Baptizers I baptize thee c. but to eat and drink in remembrance of Christs death and to discern the Lords body is to be active and requires exercises of reason and grace And as Christ himself did not administer Baptism but his Disciples Joh. 4.1 2. Paul faith God sent him not to baptize the Apostles did not so usually baptize as ordinary Ministers 1 Cor. 1.14 15 17. but Christ did administer the Lords Supper as also the chief Minister present did usually afterward So multitudes were baptized by John Baptist and the Disciples of Christ which were not presently admitted to the Supper when Christ instituted it The Apostles were to teach all Nations baptizing them but the communicating of all Nations is not expressed of the Samaritans and several housholds baptized we read of their present admission to the Supper we read not So that though the communion in both the Sacraments be one and the preparations for them both in adult persons be the same for substance yet because of their different dispensations and degrees Infants may be admitted to the one and not to the other Yet I freely and confidently assert that to admit children to the Supper is far more excusable then to deny them Baptism for they have jus ad rem a right to it as a young heir hath to his lands as Saints decayed in mind and body have a right to hear the Word and the communicating of Infants is of more antiquity and credit in the Church then denying of their Baptism though I hold it not fit that Infants should communicate because they have not jus in re they have not aptitude and fitness for it a child is not fit to manage his own estate nor is it rational to preach the Gospel to an holy man what right soever he may have to it when he is destitute of capacity to hear or understand it and hence it is that the Church having some while admitted Infants to the Lords Supper did upon second considerations discern her mistake and lay it aside but yet still continued that other of baptizing Infants seeing no cause to leave it off but rather more strictly to observe it ANABAPT CAT. Q. But what if an Infant or any other in their childhood should dye unbaptized are they not damned A. We know nothing out of the Scripture of their Salvation or Damnation and therefore we must not be too inquisitive yet may such Infants so dying be saved through the presentment of the satisfaction of Christ to the Justice of God for original sin which Satisfaction though it be applyed through beleeving in those
your own confession doth signifie washing as well as dipping and washing is the main thing being the end and dipping but the means especially with reference to this Ordinance which is for washing or putting away the filth of the flesh 1 Pet. 3.21 Acts 22.16 Hebr. 10.22 1 Cor. 6.11 Now a thing may be washed not only by Dipping but by Sprinkling or by affusion or puring water upon it which is mostly used by us and not Sprinkling 3. The Greek word Baptism in Scripture signifie not only washing by dipping or plunging into the water but by sprinkling or affusion The Baptisms or washings mentioned Hebr. 9.10 were at least some of them done onely by sprinkling of water Numb 8.7 which was called the water of separation Numb 19.9 and holy water Numb 5.17 or by sprinkling of blood which himself instanceth in Heb. 9.13 19 21. See also Exod. 29.16 21. Psal 51.7 Their washings called baptizings of hands were frequently at least by letting wate fall on their hands from a Laver 2 King 3.11 So their Tables and Beds were not dipped into the water but washing with pouring water on them Mark 9. They that were baptized with the Holy Ghost and with fire were not dipped or plunged into the fire though if they had if seems it would not have burned them but cloven tongues as of fire sat upon each of them Acts 2.3 with Matt. 3.11 They that were baptized in the Cloud and in the Sea 1 Cor. 10.1 were not dipped or plunged into the Cloud or Sea for it was dry Land but probably they were bedewed besprinkled or dropped on The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 baptized by the Translation rendered dipt Revel 19.13 is no other in Isai 63.2 3. then besprinkled 4. Baptism signifies Justification by the blood of Christ which is called the Blood of Sprinkling Hebr. 12.24 1 Pet. 1. 2. Hebr. 10.22 and Sanctification by the Spirit of Christ which is called sprinkling of clean water on them Ezek. 36.25 Isai 52.15 both which were also typified by the aforesaid legal purifications or washings 5. It cannot be proved by the Word nor is it probable in it self that the three thousand baptized in Jerusalem Acts 2.41 were carryed to a River and there dipped one by one by the Apostles or that Paul Lydia the Jaylor and all theirs which it's likely were baptized in houses were so dipped Did they shift their clothes or continued they in their wet apparel and how could their whole body be washed though it might be wet with their clothes on or were they all men and women baptized stark naked and was not this contrary to modesty and a temptation which mastered holy David 2 Sam. 11.1 Much less can it be proved that be the person never so sickly the season never so cold yet dipping is though it may endanger mens lives not only lawful in it self as we account it yea it hath been commended above sprinkling or affusion but in all cases and conditions necessary and the omission of it upon any occasion is sinful ANABAPT CAT. Paedobaptism is done by an Officer where there is a questionable Power as the Ministers ordained by Bishops deemed Antichristian THis exception is of no force against Child Baptism administred by such Ministers as are not ordained by Bishops Exam. Cap. 13. 2. You tell us not by whom or whether truly or falsly the Bishops were deemed Antichristian certes the old Nonconformists how ever they or some of them might hold that in the calling and authority of the Bishops there be divers things Antichristian agreed by joynt consent That they did not see I use their own words how our Bishops could be called Antichrists or Antichristians 1. Because the Word marks out Antichrist by his false doctrine nor do we find in holy Scripture any such accounted Antichrist or Antichristian which holding the truth of Doctrine swerveth either in judgment or practice from Christs rule for Discipline now it is evident that our Bishops do hold and teach all fundamental Doctrines and Truths and some of them have soundly maintained it against Hereticks converted many to it and have suffered persecution for the Gospel 2. Their Hierarchy and other corruptions charged upon the calling of our Bishops were rather to be esteemed the stairs and way to Antichristianity then Antichristianity it self for they were in the Church before the Pope who is the Antichrist and the chief Head-link of all Antichristianity was revealed 3. The Antichristian Bishops hold their preeminence as from Gods Law which is unchangeable whereas our Bishops since her Majesties reign to this day for the most part held their superiority by no other right then the positive Law which is variable yea it appears by the Institution of the Court of Delegates and the continuance thereof to this day that they do and ought by Law to hold their Jurisdiction not as from God but as from the Prince Thus they And as to Ministers ordained by the Bishops they say Bishops are able to judg of such gifts as are required for the sufficiency of Ministers that many of them have been such Ministers themselves as to Whose labors the Lord hath set to his Seal We are perswaded that though it were not necessary yet it cannot be unlawful for him that entreth into the Ministry to be approved and authorized even by them And if our Ordination be in this behalf faulty how will our Brethren justifie the calling of their own Ministers that have received Ordination ever from the people who neither by commandment nor example can be found to have any such authority nor are in any degree so capable of it as the Bishops See Mr Rathbands grave Confutation c. pag. 19. and 38. 3. Suppose it were confessed That the Bishops as claiming by Gods Law sole power of Ordination and Jurisdiction if any so did might in some qualified sence be called Antichristian had this such an influence upon an Ordination in which others joyned as well as he so as to make it voyd and null both as from himself and from them The Bishops were Presbyters and so more enabled by Gods Word to ordain as the godly Nonconformists truly assert then any Non-Presbyters and they came nearer to a Presbytery then two three or more members which are nothing like a Presbytery or company of Presbyters can do and their Ordination was judged valid not only by the Parliament and the Assembly but also by all the Reformed Churches abroad as by the Nonconformists at home notwithstanding they were opposers of and were opposed by the Bishops yea God himself added his own Seal affording not only Ministerial Gifts and Graces but his gracious assistance for Conversion of Souls and edifying of the Saints and sometimes so gloriously working by the Ministry of the Church of England as he hath not that we know of wrought so by any other But in your account the Baptism administred by such a Minister is neither lawful nor sufficient or at
THE Catechist Catechized OR AN EXAMINATION OF AN Anabaptistical Catechism Pretended to be Published for the Satisfaction and Information of the People of God in Lancashire c. ALSO SOME OBSERVATIONS Both Old and New Concerning the pretended Visibility Universality Antiquity Infallibility Unity and Purity of the present Roman Church and Religion Sent to a Gentleman upon his revolt to Popery and now published for the Churches good By RICHARD HOLLINVVORTH Mancuniens LONDON Printed by J. M. for Luke Fawn and are to be sold at his shop at the Parrot in Pauls Church-yard 1653. SIR THere is an Anabaptisticall Catechism that walks abroad lately directed to Lancashire when it is of age and can answer for it self you shal know the name of it it is but newly brought forth to this County and therefore not Christned If you meet with it it would be a good work to Lancashire in which you dwel to the Town of Manchester the place of your Nativity and Ministry to make some Annotations of it a few smooth stones out of soft Siloam hurl'd out of your sling might lay it dead a friendly arrow shot beyond it may give warning that there is danger I would not engage you to the contest with this A. B. C. but that Error is a springing Leprosie in contagious times Wormes in children may turn to the Plague a few vacant hours will serve the business and satisfie the earnest desire of Sir Your Brother and fellow-Labourer in the Work of Christ Richard Heyricke January 1. 52. For Mr. Richard Hollinworth with my Love These To all in Lancashire that love and seek the Lord in all his Soul-filling Ordinances especially them of the associated Churches about MANCHESTER Dearly Beloved and longed for our Joy and Crown YOu shall with more praise to God light and stability to your selves read the ensuing Treatise if you first consider and lament that for abuse of Ordinances Satan transforming himself into an Angel of Light hath undermined all Ordinances of divine Light and Life The Lords-Day not moral publique solemn Assemblies turned into House-meetings publique Ministry exchanged for private Conferences publique preaching of the Word common to gifted Brethren with called Ministers no prayer but when the Spirit moves no communion in the Supper but in Churches newly gathered and no Baptism for Infants No wonder if religious Ordinances be thus undermined when the Doctrine of the holy Trinity the Deity of Jesus Christ and of the Holy Ghost the divine Authority of the Scriptures the Obligation of the Decalogue and other Fundamentals of Faith Holiness and Righteousness are by the Ministers of the Prince of Darkness professedly overturned No wonder that Children are unchurched when so many Churches are unchurched many of them that have done the former having begun at the latter They who would not be saved by Ordinances shall perish for want of Ordinances and they that would not unite themselves to the Fountain of Life by Faith shall be separated from the streams and conveyances of Life that they may apparantly wither and dye only upon the living in Jerusalem that by the subtilty of delusion or power of interest are darkened and benummed pray and weep that the Sun of Righteousness may arise with healing in his wings But the Ordinances being the purchase of Christs blood as well as the Church the gifts of his Princely Government the Ensigns of his Victory over the Kingdom of Darkness and of his glorious Ascension he will by his soveraign Power maintain And to that end successively enoble the spirits of some with beams of heavenly light and courage that they shall discover the stratagems of Opposers and adventure upon their Armies marshalled against them and triumphantly overcome by his glorious power redeeming the captived Ordinances of their King unto a just and glorious Liberty This being so high a favor from Christ the glory of his Grace and Power it is most thankfully to be accepted and his Instruments to be had in honor by all that rejoyce in the glory of his Kingdom His Ministers he hath designed to be the Executors of his last Will and Testament to them it belongs by divine appointment to give out the several Legacies there bequeathed and to put in suit all them in the high Court of sacred Scripture who shall upon any pretence whatsoever detain any Legacy bequeathed and where will their faithfulness more appear then to open their mouth for the dumb and to sue for Childrens rights whil'st they are forcibly wronged and unable to right themselves where is greater Trust and more shining Fidelity The right of Infants to Baptism hath of late been openly impleaded in reference to Lancashire and the Bill printed to be published there in special with expectation of the concurrence of the godly but blessed be God one of the Lords Executors in Manchester where part-taking was most desired and expected hath wisely and faithfully joyned issue and by clear Evidence hath procured a determinate sentence for the setling of their undoubted right upon Infants to our great comfort and the honor of the Kingdom of Christ in the Right whereof Infants are rightly baptized And our hope in the Lord Jesus is that the questioning of the Right of Infants and the shaking of their title will have that influence upon all the godly in Lancashire especially Parents peculiarly in Manchester and the rest of the associated Churches that out of enflamed love to Christ and the Souls of their Children they will so much the more settle their Judgments in this Truth by the conscionable and diligent use of this hâ—lp provided by the Lord amongst them so seasonably in respect of danger and so suitably in respect of clearness brevity and charge that will happily lead to the believing repenting and prayerful use of this Ordinance which is the Covenant-way of conveying to their Children the sure and saving Mercies of the Covenant so shall they and others who have seen the holy Seal set on in Infancy clearly behold in their holy life the lively characters of the Spirit of the Covenant the Image of the Lord Jesus in their riper years To their own abundant satisfaction the silencing of Adversaries the increase of the Church mystical the encouragement of them that have carefully and painfully pleaded their Right and above all the honor of the Lord Jesus who in their Infancy opened unto them his Arms and Bosom in his Church that in an hidden way he might warm them with a spiritual Life to be manifested in due time In this hope we pray for you and labor amongst you that we might present Parents and Children in Covenant-obedience and blessing at that great Day This is the principal Desire and Soul-travel of The Lords unworthy Servants who in reference to Infants do rejoyce in our Ministry John Angier John Harison Nathaneel Rathband William Meek March 10. 1652. THE Authors Preface to the Christian Reader IN these times the Lords Builders are compelled while they
nor example nor good warrant for your contrary opinions and practices what clearer command can we shew for that then for Infant-Baptism Women were not admitted to both the Sacraments of the Old Testament Christ did not admit women no not his own Mother to the Supper There is express uncontroverted mention in the New Testament of women being baptized but not so of women communicating If you alledg that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a name common to women as well as mâ—n ought to communicate 1 Cor. 11.28 it is early evaded by saying that the Apostle confines it to the Male by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 v. 28 29. and the same word is used of Circumcision of which the Male only was capable Joh 7.22 General terms of Disciples Church-members persons in Covenant will carry it for Infants Baptism as well as womens communicating If you alledg That such and such Assemblies in which there were women did break bread you know it may be yea it is doubted by some sober spirits whether that breaking of bread was Sacramental or no and it may be said that the company is said to do it because the Males did it as the whole house of Israel is said to be circumcised and called Circumcision though the Females thereof were not circumcised If you should tell us of housholds admited to the Supper though I know not any such instance in Scripture I might as well say there was no women there or they were excluded as you say there was no Infants in such or such an houshold or if there were they were excluded Lastly If men should bend their strength that way they might as plausibly except against your admission of women usually the forwardest part of your Societies to the Supper as you do or I believe can do against Paedobaptism Oh that our good God would in mercy to this distracted Church and to the deluded Souls therein remove prejudice out of our hearts ANABAPT CAT. Q. Whether do you think Baptism administred in Infancy to be a lawful Baptism and sufficient A. To me it is not for I think it to be a Profanation of an Ordinance for these Reasons 1. Because it is taught by the precepts of men Isai 29.13 not by God Jerem. 7.22 23. YOu hold Exam. Chap. 11. it seems that it is neither lawful nor sufficient and in plain English it is null voyd no Baptism at all But consider I pray you could you prove the nullity of Infant-Baptism as you have a great mind to do what sad consequences would ensue 1. That the people of God for the space of 1600 years using Paedobaptism were destitute of one if not by consequence of both the Sacraments 2. That the Churches in England Scotland France Denmark Sweden Germany Geneva Holland New England c. which have usually no other Baptism but Child-Baptism are no Churches the members thereof being not so much as Christians outwardly nor Sacramentally initiated into the Church in doing whereof you dishonor God and do Satan great service Gods work being to disciple and enchirch the Nations of the World Matt. 28.19 Mark 16.16 2 Cor. 5.19 and Satan's to undesciple and Heâ—thenize the Church either in realty or in reputation for the advancement of his own Kingdom 3. That these and all others must for ever as the case stands want the Sacrament of Baptism except a special and particular warrant come from Heaven as to John Baptist for the setting up of this Ordinance for no man who is both unseparated to the work of the Ministry and unbaptized his Paedobaptism being a nullity and ununited to the Church of Christ can warrantably baptize himself or any other any more then Saul might sacrifice Vzzah stay the Ark Vzziah offer Incense a Midwife Turk Jew or Pagan administer the Sacraments of Christs Church for if Paedobaptism be a nullity because of default in the subject this also will be a nullity for want of commission for you can shew neither precept president nor good warrant for the Word for any man that is unbaptized having no special Commission from God to baptize himself or to baptize any other or for any man to accept of Baptism from such an one which is indeed no Baptism at all John as he had commission from God for his baptizing so he affirms that a man can receive nothing viz. no authority to baptize as he did except it be given him from Heaven John 3. 26 27. as if he would professedly caution the Church against such courses 4. That the Societies of the Independents and Separatists notwithstanding their separation from us do yet except they also turn Anabaptists live within one of the strongest holds of Antichrist are guilty of observing traditions and precepts of men of will-worship of profanation of Gods holy Ordinance of filling the Church with rotten members of confounding the Church and the World together yea say some of you they have the mark of the Beast in their soreheads and by consequence are in the high way to eternal damnation And what worse can you say of any Your Texts prove that God hates hypocrisie and over much regard of the commandments of men and that God did command Obedience rather then Sacrisice as 1 Sam. 15.22 for God did command Sacrifices and Offerings Levit. chap. 1. 2.3 c. What is this to Paedobaptism Will you acknowledg that God hath commanded it to us as he did burnt-offerings and sacrifices to the Jews we our selves say no more for it But if your Texts do forbid all humane inventions in the Worship of God Paedobaptism is yet safe enough for it hath been proved in the foregoing Chapter to have as good warrant from the Word as some other by your self acknowledged Ordinances of God have and better then your opposite Opinion and Practicas ANABAPT CAT. A. Paedobaptism is done in a Wrong manner by sprinkling in stead of Dipping THis exception you begin your Catechisun with telling us that Baptism signifies Dipping Examinat Chap. 12. By Dipping is never signified Sprinkling whence you would infer That Baptism should be by Dipping only and that it is done in a Wrong manner When it is done by Sprinkling wherein you much mistake For. 1. Should the original signification of other Scriptures words be so much squeezed then because the holy Communion is callâ—d a Supper 1 Cor. 11.20 the word signifying a whole meal and the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Cor. 14. Ephes 5. signifies not simply to sing but to sing to a musical Instrument and the original words for the gesture at the Supper signifie lying or leaning on a bed you might with as good reason collect That the holy Communion should be a whole meal That there should be instrumental musick in Churches as well as vocal That men ought to lie or lean on beds at the receiving of the Supper or else the Ordinances are dons in a Wrong manner 2 The word Baptism by