there He gives this exhortation to the Saints verse 3. endeavour to keepe the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace He presseth this exhortation from the consideration of certaine Unityes or Onenesses which were the common lot or portion of them all and so are of all such as walke in the paths of the Gospell Saith he you are all One body and one spirit and you are all called to one and the same hope ye have all one Lord and ye all professe one faith in the same Saviour ye are all baptized with one and the same baptisme you have all one God and Father who is above you all and through you all and in you all in a way of grace and power And therefore do you preserve an Onenesse of heart and Spirit amongst yourselves keep or preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace Now this one baptisme which the Apostle makes use of whereby to strengthen his exhortation must of 〈◊〉 be one of those three baptismes above mentioned but first it was not the baptisme of the holy spirit or fire for it is evident all these believers were not baptized with the powring out of the gift or gifts of the holy spirit upon them they did not all prophesie nor all spake with tongues but he gave some Apostles and some Prophets for the edifying of the Body vers 11.12.13 And secondly it was not the baptisme of afflictions for we do not reade of any notable afflictions which all the members of this body did for the present meet with And therefore that exhortation could not be or not so strongly pressed upon them from either of these baptismes And therefore this One baptisme here mentioned is without doubt the baptisme of water wherewith all the members of that one body upon profession of one faith according to the commandement of that one Lord were baptized And from this One baptisme of water whereof they were all partakers as also they were of many other Onenesses he exhorts them to keepe or preserve the unity or Onenesse of the Spirit in the bond of peace Instruction That usefull Instruction which flowes from hence is to teach all the Saints who are under the profession of this one baptisme according to the commandement of One Lord upon the profession of one faith to endeavour at all times 2 Cor. 13.11 by all meanes to keep or preserve the unity of the spirit the onenesse of heart and minde in the bond of peace Tryall And this that I have said may serve as the first Touchstone for the tryall of Infants baptisme whereby the unwarrantablenesse and counterfeitnesse of the same will be discovered for if this one baptisme ingage all without exception who are under the profession of it to keep or preserve the unity of spirit in that Body whereof they are members to walk in a gracious amiable wise and peaceable manner in the Body then surely Infants have no admittance by the Lord to this Ordinance Doth the Lord any where lay such an ingagement as this is upon Infants Or are they capable of such an ingagement as this is Or doth the Apostle intend them in this Scripture wherein he saith ye are one body and one spirit and ye are called to one hope ye have one Lord one faith and one Baptisme therefore do ye keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace Whereby it is evident that not Infants or Infants of believers but believers onely have entrance and admittance to the Lord to this ordinance And this remains now to be further proved in clearing up the two next particulars to wit The baptisme of water is an Ordinance of the Lord Jesus which is one of them And this Ordinance of the Lord Jesus is properly and peculiarly belonging unto believers which is the other of them These two I shall now prove joyntly 〈◊〉 in the mouth of two clear and faithfull witnesses wherein this is established and shall prevail against all gain-sayers These two witnesses are First the command of the Lord Jesus and of his servants from his mouth Secondly the example of the Lord Jesus and of the Saints in Scripture who have walked before us in the pathes of the Gospell The first witnesse is the command of the Lord Jesus and of his servants from his mouth And who shall contradict his commandement unto whom all power in heaven and earth is given It is thus written Matthew 28.18 19 20. And Jesus spake to his Disciples saying All power is given unto me in heaven and earth Go ye therefore and make Disciples all Nations for so the words are to be read baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the holy spirit Teaching them to obseâ—â—â— all things whatsoever I have commanded you Wherein obseâ—â—e this Order to wit first make Disciples and then baptize them and then teach them to observe all other things that I have commanded you And let another Scripture witnesse to the truth of this interpretation Ioh. 4.2 Jesus made and baptized more Disciples then Iohn First he made Disciples and then they were baptized And the very same Commission of our Lord Jesus as it is expressed by Mark in the 16. chapt vers 15.16 Doth put the matter out of all doubt and is sufficient to convince such if the Lord please as make I know not what strange interpretations of that place of Matth. 28. And he said to them Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospell to every creature He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved That is such as are made believers through the power of God in the preaching of the Gospell let them be baptized and he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved Thus we see Matthew and Mark explaining each other concerning the minde of the Lord Jesus in this Ordinance Make them Disciples saith one and then baptize them Let them be believers saith another and be baptized And doubtlesse the Scripture fore-seeing what contradictions would afterward arise against this Ordinance of Christ thus to be dispensed through that self-love carnall feare pride and worldlinesse which too much possesseth the hearts of many and what oppositions would be raised against the Saints for the practise of it did thus provide to clear up and confirm this truth to them whose hearts God doth perswade to receive in the love of it To these Scriptures may be added divers others concerning the minde of the Lord Iesus in the mouths of his Servants Acts. 2.38 Repent and be baptized every one of you in the Name of Jesus Christ Acts. 10.47 48. Can any man forbid water that these should not be baptized which have received the holy Spirit as well as we And he commanded them to be baptized in the Name of the Lord. Acts. 22.16 And now why tarriest thou It is the command of the Lord Jesus by Ananias to Saul after that he appeared to him in
the Lord Iesus doth manifest his grace and strength to believers in it I shall prove afterward when I come to shew of what end and use baptisme is through Christ unto believers I shall therefore request such persons to consider that what necessitie the Lord Iesus hath put upon a Church relation upon hearing the Word prayer breaking bread and the like the same necessitie he hath put upon the baptisme of believers also I shall beseech such to take heed that in charging us with folly they charge not the Lord Iesus also Others there are whether through ignorance or malice I leave to the Lord and their own consciences who endeavour to make this way of the Lord odious and believers odious in the practice of it But believers may answer such as David did Michal when she reproached him for dancing before the Ark It is before the Lord Jesus who himself was baptized and hath commanded all believers to walk in this way Therefore I will glory in this way and account it a Crown to me And I will yet be more vile then thus as you account it vile and I will be base in my own sight And though you reproach me yet of the Lord Iesus and of his servants of them shall I bee had in honour 2 Sam 6.20.21 22. Tryall And further This may serve as a second Touchstone or tryall of Infants Baptisme For if the Lord Iesus hath given and commanded this Ordinance of baptisme as properly and peculiarly belonging unto believers or disciples as hath been proved by two witnesses then this doth manifestly discover Infants baptisme not to be of God but of men onely Search and try if this One Lord do any where command Infants to be baptized Or if he appoint baptisme to any but upon profession of this One faith in their own persons onely Or if you have any clear example in Scripture for Infants Baptisme or the baptisme of any but believers onely Mr. Marshall in his Sermon upon baptisme seemes to grant that none but the disciples of Christ should be baptized but then he turneth aside from the truth by affirming that Infants in Scripture are called Disciples He alledgeth onely Acts 15.10 In the first verse it is said There were false teachers came from Iudaea and taught the brethren Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses ye cannot be saved Now saith Mr. Marshall To be circumcised after the manner of Moses is for infants to be circumcised as well as men And these saith he as well infants as men are called Disciples verse 10. In answer to this I shall shew the mistake of Mr. Marshall and others who follow him herein from a twofold consideration First These words after the manner of Moses respects not persons but things to wit the keeping of the Law of Moses annexed to circumcision And so the words are thus to be understood Certain men which came from Iudaea taught the Brethren Except ye be circumcised and keep the Law of Moses ye cannot be saved And verses 5. and 24. will confirm this interpretation and this onely where the same thing being repeated it is thus said to wit It is needfull for you to be circumcised and keep the Law of Moses vers 5. Ye must be circumcised and keep the Law vers 24. So that the manner of Moses respect not persons but things to wit the observation of the Law of Moses which thing the false teachers required of the same persons at the same time whom they commanded to be circumcised which how it will agree with Infants let the wise judge Secondly the very same persons whom the false teachers commanded to be circumcised are such whom Iames in the 19. verse s i th are turned to the Lord and such whom he with the Church writes unto to abstain from the pollution of Idols and from fornication and from things strangled and from bloud verse 29. and such whom they call brethren verse 25. and such who upon the reading of the Epistle rejoyced at the consolation These and these onely are Peters Disciples verse 10. And how these will agree with Infants which are Mr. Marshals disciples let the wise judge The Lord teach him likewise to judge rightly I would hope that upon further consideration he will be otherwise minded especially if the Lord teach him to consider what is written Luk. 14.26 27 33. Whosoever doth not bear his crosse and come after me cannot he my Disciple I do therefore upon renewed consideration bring back Infants baptisme to the forementioned Touchstone which is faithfull and precious and we may trust to it for it consists of two faithfull witnesses wherein are no deceit whereby it is evident that the baptisme of Infants is meerly and onely a device of man seeing these two witnesses do agree in one that the baptisme of water is properly and peculiarly belonging unto believers or disciples upon profession of knowledge faith repentance and holinesse in their owne persons onely And therefore as those two witnesses do require justifie and commend the baptisme of believers so they disallow and disapprove Infants baptisme I shall now proceed as the Lord gives strength to shew what is the End and Use of baptisme unto Believers and this I shall do by declaring what are those priviledges or benefits which the Lord Iesus gives to Believers in this Ordinance for all the Ordinances of Christ are through Christ gainfull to believers And indeed here is the marrow of the matter First One priviledge is this to wit Believers in submitting to this Ordinance have the name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the holy Spirit called upon them therein This is expresly commanded by our Saviour Mat. 28.19 Make Disciples all nations baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the holy Spirit And another scripture saith They were baptized in the name of the Lord Iesus And againe He commanded them to be baptized in the Name of the Lord. All which commeth to one and the same thing for through the Lord Iesus believers have a glorious interest in the Father and in the holy Spirit And this is expressed elsewhere by being baptized into Christ Rom. 6.3 Gal. 3.27 Now to be baptized into Christ or into the Name of Christ or in the Name of Christ have one and the same sense and signification in Scrpture The meaning of all is this to wit Let them be baptized in the Name of the Lord that is Let the Name of the Lord be called upon them in baptisme Now his Name holds forth unto believers especially two things Authority and Grace as such know to whom the Lord giveth understanding And to have his Name called upon them in baptisme implyeth two things First the Lord declareth or promiseth to them that he Calleth or Putteth his Name that is his Authority and his Grace upon them in baptisme for these words Baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of
God acting faith in them in this Ordinance doth not onely clear up to them more sweetly the pretiousnesse of the death of Christ but also confirm to them more richly their interest in the same to wit the remission of all their sinnes and their peace with the Father through Jesus Christ Hitherto I conceive tends that of Peter to his perplexed hearers Acts 2.38 Repent and be baptized every one of you in the Name of Iesus Christ for the remission of sinnes He doth not say neither dare I say that baptisme is a remedy to remit sinnes for then I should run into the mistake of such who pleading for their Infants baptisme do say Baptisme is a remedy to take away that sinne which they as the sons of Adam have conveyed to them But this Scripture I conceive holds forth to us especially two things First that repentance and remission of sins are preached given only in the Name or through the Name of Iesus Christ There is sufficiency of grace and strength in the Lord Jesus and in him onely to give you repentance and remission of sinnes And so it will agree with what is written by Luke 24.47 And that repentance and remission of sinnes should be preached in his Name among all Nations beginning at Ierusalem Secondly that the Lord Iesus doth in baptisme confirm or witnesse unto Believers in some comfortable measure the forgivenesse of their sins in his Name And therefore he commands them to be baptized partly for this end that in baptisme he may confirm to them in some measure by his Spirit acting faith in them the remission of their sinnes For when a Believer is baptized in the Name of Christ and the Spirit of God acts faith in him in his baptisme then is his heart more sweetly assured that through this Name all his sins are remitted and he is at peace with God And to this purpose I conceive we are to understand that Scripture Acts 22.16 Arise and be baptized and wash away thy sins calling on the Name of the Lord. Not that baptisme doth wash away sinnes for it is the bloud of Christ onely received by us through the faith of the operation of God that washeth or cleanseth us from all sinnes But thus Be baptized and in thy baptisme call on the Name of the Lord that is act faith in the Lord Iesus in whose Name thou art baptized that through faith in his Name in this Ordinance thy heart may be further confirmed in this assurance that all thy sinnes are washed away in his pretious bloud And to this purpose I conceive we are to understand Mark 1.4 and Luk. 3.3 concerning Iohns baptisme Only Iohns baptisme did point at Christ yet to come and that which Christ after gave in Commission did hold forth Christ already come And this priviledge or benefit believers have doubtlesse found in baptisme Hence it is that the Eunuch after he was baptized went on his way rejoycing Acts 8.39 He had found something of Christ in this Ordinance which gave him occasion of rejoycing It was not a uselesse but a gainefull Ordinance through Christ to him And so it was said of the Iaylor and all his house after they were baptized He rejoyced believing in God with all his house Some increase of faith and some witnesse of the Love of Christ they had found ministred to them by the Spirit in this Ordinance And as it was given to our Lord Iesus straightway after his baptisme to see heaven opened and to heare the love of the Father witnessed from heaven to him by the holy Spirit Even so the like mercie in a lesse measure is given to believers in and after their baptisme Neither is this fruit onely to be found in the present administration of baptisme but in respect of this benefit amongst others baptisme hath an influence into the whole life of a believer And truly the grace of God is very observable in this respect for by baptisme or straight way upon it believers are called out to wrestle with Satan as it were in the open feild they are set as a But for Satan and the world to shoot against and therefore they had need be Armed with the strength and love of Christ given into their hearts by the holy Spirit in this Ordinance Thus much concerning the explication of this priviledge Instruction Hence believers may be instructed to act faith dayly in the Lord Iesus in this Ordinance and to expect a renewed power of the Spirit of God inabling them in the faith to looke often upon Christ therein As also witnessing afresh to their hearts in such actings of faith the remission of all their sinnes through him in whose Name they are baptized for baptisme is not onely usefull to believers in the present administration of it but for future times also The comfort and benefit of it through the power of the holy Spirit whose Name is called upon them therein hath an influence into the whole life of a believer Therefore let believers account their baptisme to be of great use and comfort to them through Christ by the operation of the holy Spirit in them therein Tryall Againe the clearing up of this priviledge may serve as a fixth Touchstone for the tryall of Infants baptisme whereby the unlawfulnesse thereof will be further discovered I lay downe this conclusion to wit Baptisme may be lawfully administred to none but to such whom the Lord Iesus hath made meet in some measure to be partakers of such a priviledge in baptisme to have the remission of their sinnes through the Name of Christ confirmed or witnessed to their hearts by the power of the holy Spirit whose Name is called upon them in this Ordinance Are Infants meet to have repentance and remission of sinnes preached to them through the Name of Christ and to be baptized in his Name for the remission of sinnes are they meet to have remission of sinnes through Christ witnessed to their heart in baptisme by the holy Spirit who neither know their sinnes nor know Christ nor know the holy Spirit in his gratious and comfortable operation Therefore the baptisme of Infants is not of God for I affirm as I said before that baptism can lawfully be administred to none but such whom the Lord Jesus hath made meet in some measure to receive remission of sinnes in baptisme I meane to have the remission of sinnes through the Name of Christ witnessed and confirmed to their hearts in some comfortable measure by the holy Spirit working gratiously in them in that Ordinance And Surely at the least it is needfull that they know their sinnes and know Christ and know the holy Spririt and know his operations when he puts forth his grace and power in them Now how these things will agree to Infants I leave to the Iudgement of the Wise Thus much concerning the priviledges or benefits which the Lord Iesus gives in a gratious and meet proportion unto believers in their
the Sonne and of the Holy Spirit carry the force of a promise in them for in that the Lord hath commanded his servants to baptize believers in his Name to Put or Call his Name upon them in baptisme he saith Amen to it he confirmeth the word of his servants he performeth what he promiseth to them Agreeable to what he saith by Moses Numb 6.27 They shall put my Name upon the Children of Israel and I will blesse them Now the summe of what the Lord promiseth or saith Amen to and which his servants declareth in his Name unto believers in baptisme is this to wit The Lord is your Father and Master and Lord requiring honour and feare and service and Obedience from you there is his Authoritie And not onely so but likewise promising loving kindnesse mercy truth peace blessing strength teaching and preservation to you there is his Grace And indeed as his Name alone is excellent in respect of Authority so in respect of Grace also The second thing which is implyed is this to wit Believers in baptisme do professe to put or call the Name of the Lord that is his Authority and Grace upon themselves for in baptisme there is as it were a promise on their parts And it is as much as if they should openly declare before the Lord and his servants thus we do now professe the Lord alone to be our Lord our God our Father and our Master and our selves to be his Children his servants his people and that we give up our selves wholly and onely to him to serve him to love him to feare him to honour him there is an acknowledgment of his Authority and not onely so but likewise to depend upon him and to trust in him onely for mercy righteousnesse peace blessing strength Wisdedome preservation and all good things there is an acknowledgment of his Grace And thus or to this purpose believers are said to put on Christ in baptisme as it is expressed by the Apostle Gal. 3.27 And thus as the Lord hath taught me I have shewed you what it is for Disciple or Believers to be baptized in the Name of the Lord. And therein I have briefly declared to you one of those glorious priviledges which the Lord Jesus gives to Believers in baptisme And indeed such to whom the Lord gives a spirituall understanding will acknowledge that this is a glorious priviledge Instruction That which I have said for the clearing up of this priviledge is usefull to instruct believers who are under the obedience of this Ordinance as believers to look upon their baptisme neither as shamefull nor beggarly but as honourable and precious through Christ whose Name is called upon them in the same Therefore be not ashamed of your baptisme but own it continually and before all men as an honourable and rich priviledge to you through the Lord Jesus And again let Believers be instructed to walk answerably to this priviledge which the Lord Jesus gives them in their baptisme Let them in all things and at all times be subject to him as their Lord and Master let them be subject to none other in the things of Christ but Christ only whose Authority only they have professed in baptism to be subject to Let them in all their ways relations walk according to the Lord Christ whose commandements they have professed to be subject to Let them likewise look for all supply of Grace from the Lord Iesus that in his grace and strength they may serve him in all things and at all times that in all their conversation they may shew forth the praise and honour of their Lord and Master whose Name is called upon them Tryall Again This priviledge which Believers have in baptisme through Christ may serve as a third Touchstone of Infants Baptisme for I thus conclude Baptisme may lawfully be administred to none but unto such onely whom the Lord hath made meet to be partakers of such a priviledge as to have his Name called upon them in Baptisme And who are these But first such as know the Lord such as know the Father and the Sonne and the Holy Spirit such as know the Authority and Grace of the Lord Iesus such as know what the Lord declareth and promiseth to them and what they promise or professe before the Lord and his people in baptisme as I have above shewed Secondly such whom the Lord hath inabled in some measure to walk answerably to such a priviledge and such a profession as the Lord puts upon them and they take upon themselves in baptisme from thenceforth to walk as the servants of the Lord whose Name therein is called upon them being subject in all things to him and depending for all things upon him onely Now then the baptism of Infants being wisely and sincerely applyed to this Touchstone it will evidently appear to all discerning humble spirits not to be of God but of men onely for hath the Lord made them to be meet partakers of this Ordinance Do they know the Lord Do they not want this necessary thing How then shall his name bee called upon them How shall his Authority and Grace be declared to them in Baptisme and they promise and professe before the Lord and his people from thenceforth to be subject unto him and depend upon him seeing they do not know him Do not therefore such as command and practise Infants baptisme goe a direct contrary course from the mind of the Lord Jesus I leave it to the consideration of the wise And heare I may take occasion to deale with such in a word or two who plead so earnestly for the baptisme of the Infants of believers upon this ground because they are holy to wit say they with a foederall holynesse by vertue of their Parent or Parents being believers which holynesse say they gives them a Right to baptisme Their alone ground is from the Apostles words 1. Cor. 7.14 else were your children uncleane but now are they holy I might answer first that not such a holynesse neither any other but a naturall holynesse contrary to a naturall uncleanesse is there intended by the Apostle as will evidently appeare to such to whom the Lord gives a discerning Spirit Secondly I might say the Apostle speaks not the last word concerning baptisme neither was it to his purpose in that Chapter But Thirdly if I grant to them seeing they are so earnest upon it that the Infants of believers are foederally holy yet this will be no advantage to them concerning the baptisme of these Infants seeing I may affirme from the Lord Iesus according to cleare scripture that no holynesse whatsoever can admit any to baptisme but a professed holynesse or knowledge or faith or repentance in their owne persons onely Yea I may boldly affirm that if the Lord should witnesse from heaven to our knowledge that such an Infant of such Parents was an elect vessell one ordained to eternall life an heire with the Lord Jesus
of the Kingdome of glory which is more then a foederall holinesse yet it was in no wise warrantable or lawfull to baptize such a one till afterwards in time the Lord did teach him to know himselfe and he did professe and declare himselfe to believe in the Lord Jesus And this likewise may in part give satisfaction to such who plead for Infants baptism from those words of our Saviour Of such is the Kingdome of God I conclude therefore that it is necessary that all such doe know the Lord and know their duty and ingagement and priviledge who are to be baptized in the Name of the Lord. And so much for this Touchstone and this priviledge A Second priviledge which believers have by Christ in their baptisme is this to wit by baptisme they do enter into the fellowship of his Body that is his Church with all the priviledges and liberties of the same Baptisme is that onely orderly entrance which God hath appointed for believers into the fellowship of the Church of Christ 1. Cor. 12.13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one Body whether we be Iewes or Gentiles whether we be bond or free and have been all made to drinke into one Spirit In which words we have these two things proved to wit first that believers baptisme is their entrance into one particular Body Church or Congregation of Christ By one Spirit speaking of Believers we are all baptized into one Body That is We that are Members in particular diversely gifted and fitted by that one the self-same Spirit are all baptized into one body or fellowship for the mutuall profit and benefit of each member according to the proportion of grace given and divided to us by that one Spirit And secondly as Believers by baptisme do orderly enter into the Body or Congregation of Christ so likewise into all the priviledges of that body And that is expressed in the latter clause of this verse and in the verses following In this verse saith He We have been all made to drink into one spirit That is We as Members of One body are all made to drink into one spirituall benefit or into one spirituall Communion which believers have from Christ in his Supper According to that 1 Cor. 10.16 The Cup of blessing which he blesse is it not the communion of the bloud of Christs And in the verses following of the 12. Chapter He mentioneth other priviledges of the Body which all the Members thereof do share in saith he they are all helpfull to each other and do all take care of each other they suffer and rejoyce one with another And as this Scripture holds forth this priviledge which believers have in baptisme So doth that likewise in Act. 41.42 Then they that gladly received his Word were baptized and the same day there were added about 3000. soules Where it is clear that the entrance of all these believers into the union and fellowship of the body was by baptism they were added by baptisme or in baptisme And so we are to understand Acts 2.47 and 5.14 and 12.24 For God hath appointed but one way for the joyning or adding of believers unto his Body Which sometimes is called an adding to his Church and sometimes an adding to the Lord both which commeth to one and the same thing for to be added to the Church of the Lord or the body of the Lord is to be added to the Lord himself in a mysticall externall union And the same Scripture likewise declareth that as they entred by baptisme into the union and fellowship of the body so likewise unto the enjoyment of all the priviledges of the body For so it followes And they continued stedfastly in the Apostles Doctrine and fellowship and in breaking of bread and in prayers Instruction Hence I may take occasion to instruct believers who have entred into the Lords body in the Lords way that they endeavour to walk closely with the body in all love helpfulnesse carefulnesse tendernesse and usefulnesse as becommeth the Members of Christs body Secondly hence I may take occasion to satisfie such if the Lord please as are opposites unto believers baptisme and their entrance into the Church by baptisme and contend much for their entrance into a Church-estate by Covenant or Contract without baptisme Indeed there ought to be a sweet and firm consent harmony agreement or contract both in judgement and affection according to the Lord amongst all those who are one body in the Lord and as it is unquestionable so it is a desirable a good and pleasant thing and I shall plead for it as much as any But that such a consent or covenant amongst persons is an entrance according to Christ into the body of Christ without this one baptisme upon profession of this one faith in this one Lord Jesus is not clear to me from the Lawes and Statutes of this Law-giver That Scripture Esay 56.4 and 6. verses so much alledged for that purpose by men of that way whom in other things I much esteem where the Lord saith to the Eunuches and the sonnes of the stranger that serve him and keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it and taketh hold of his Covenant that he will give them a glorious setled Name in His house c. Where they understand an entering into a Church-estate by Covenant onely I say I conceive this Scripture which is indeed a Gospell-Scripture will without any violation admit of other interpretations more spirituall and more sweetly agreeing to the Gospell of Christ then their interpretation is Why may we not say without wrong to this or any other Scripture that by taking hold of the Covenant here may be understood in part believers obedience to Christ in baptisme For whatsoever Christ commandeth to his servants may in a true sense according to the Scripture be called his Covenant But if we come up to the spiritualnesse of this Scripture I conceive that by Covenant in this place we are to understand Christ himself For as I said this Scripture is a Gospel-scripture Therefore by Sabbath here we are to understand the Lord Iesus only who alone is the Sabbath or Rest of Believers under the Gospel And to keep this Sabbath from polluting it is to believe in him onely unto righteousnesse For to do any work I mean to seek righteousnes or peace or reconciliation with God by any work is to pollute this Sabbath or this Rest by whom alone such as believe in him do and shall enjoy a glorious an everlasting rest So likewise by Covenant here we are to understand Christ himself and so he is called in the same Prophet Esay 42.6 I will give thee speaking of Christ for a Covenant of the people for a light to the Gentiles And chapter 49.8 I will preserve thee and give thee for a Covenant of the people Therefore to take hold of his Covenant is to believe in Christ onely to embrace him to cleave close to him
such things that are but shadowes of the Lord Jesus for ye are buried with him in Baptisme Endeavour to walk in newnesse of life in a holy and heavenly conversation at all times Walk like such as are risen with Christ Do you ascend up with him into heaven in your affection Set your affection upon things which are above and not on things on the earth Walk answerable to your profession that this Ordnance of the Lord Jesus be not justly blamed And for your incouragement be assured you shall have a renewed supply of strength from the Lord Jesus The glory of the Father the operation of God shall be put forth as need is on your behalf Therefore act faith daily in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ which is so richly made over to you in this Ordinance not for present use onely but for future profit and benefit also during the time of your sojourning in this present world Account your selves in all things to be compleat in Christ and that your Baptisme in his Name as Believers is part of that compleatnesse which you have in him Endeavour in the strength of Christ to walk answerable to these priviledges that the Name of the Lord Jesus may be exalted by you Apologie Secondly The explication of the former priviledge is partly to be an Apologie for baptized Believers reproachfully called Anabaptists truly called Christians against all those hard speeches and grievous accusations which ungodly men and many who are accounted religious also do falsly speak and charge against them and that not privately onely but in publike also How are they accused before authority How are they openly charged to be movers of sedition troublers of the State and such as the Land cannot bear Yea some are not ashamed to say and that openly that they are sensuall persons walking after the lusts of the flesh and many such like things as these are Surely if such men did know what an ingagement lyeth upon Believers in baptisme to cast off the service and obedience of sinfull lusts and to walk in newnesse of life having their conversation as becommeth Saints As also what strength they receive from the death and resurrection of Christ in baptisme which hath an influence into their whole life I say if they did rightly know the pretiousnesse of Believers baptisme in these and other respects they would be so far frō speaking against them that they would speak for them would say to thē we wil go with you walk with you for we have heard that God is with you Truly I will not deny but some who take this profession upon them do hold forth and maintain some things very erronious As free-will and power in corrupt nature to come to Christ As also a falling away from Christ after they have once received him or believed in him with other opinions also very dangerous But there are but few so erronious who are under this profession Neither dare the Churches of Christ under this profession hold communion with them For we utterly disclaim these opinions Neither will I deny but that some who are under this profession do walk scandalously loosely sinfully and altogether unanswerably to such a profession But we abhor their practises and disclaim fellowship with them who walk so yet not mentioning such things without grief But if Iudas prove a Traitor let not the eleven Apostles be so accounted If Ananias and Saphyra prove dissemblers and lye to the holy Spirit let not the rest of the Church who were of one minde and heart in the Lord be accounted dissemblers If some branches in the Vine prove fruitlesse let not all the branches be thought such If some Professors make shipwrack of that faith which they once professed let not all Professors be judged to be such Thus much for this Apologie Tryall Thirdly the Explication of this third Priviledge may serve partly to be as a fifth Touchstone of Infants baptisme whereby the unlawfulnesse and vanity thereof will be further discovered For according to this priviledge of baptisme through Christ I make this conclusion to wit Baptisme may lawfully be administred to none but such whom the Lord Jesus hath made meet to be partakers of such a priviledge in baptisme to have fellowship with him in baptisme through faith in his death and resurrection that they may walk answerably in some measure to such a profession and such an ingagement as they take upon themselves in baptisme having their conversation from thenceforth more holy and heavenly as becommeth such who professe themselves to be buried and risen with Christ in baptisme Let then the baptisme of Infants be skilfully and sincerely tried by this Touchstone Are Infants made meet to have fellowship with Christ in his death and resurrection in this or any other Ordinance Do they know Christ or believe in him Do they know any thing concerning the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ How then shall they have fellowship with Christ in this or any other Ordinance who neither know CHRIST nor believe in him Are any persons meet to have fellowship with Christ in any Ordinance but such as know him and believe in him I may therefore firmly conclude that as the knowledge of Christ and faith in him are necessary to a worthy partaking in the Lords Supper and a fellowship with Christ in that Ordinance So also they are necessary to a worthy and warrantable receiving of baptisme and a fellowship with Christ in that Ordinance And further are Infants made meet to have such an ingagement laid upon them as baptisme layeth upon all those who are under the profession of it according to Christ From thenceforth and from that time to shew forth Christs death and resurrection To walk like such as have professed themselves to be dead and risen with Christ in Baptisme Doth not this Touchstone with all the former cleerly discover Infants baptisme to be onely a device and commandement of men Thus much concerning this Touchstone which I leave to the consideration of the wise And so much concerning this Priviledge The fourth priviledge which is the last I shall name which the Lord Jesus gives to Believers in this Ordinance is this to wit In this Ordinance the Lord Jesus by his Spirit acting in a believers heart doth more richly seal up or confirm to him the free and full remission of all his sinnes through the bloud of Christ And therefore observe it Not onely the Name of the Father and of the Sonne but of the holy Spirit also is called upon believers in this Ordinance And this is the proper grace or work of the holy Spirit to witnesse or confirm to us by acting faith in us more assuredly to believe the remission of all our sins by Jesus Christ In baptisme as well as in the Lords Supper although in another manner the pretious death and resurrection of Christ is mystically yet clearly set forth before believers And the Spirit of
A TREATISE OF BAPTISME Wherin is clearly proved the lawfulnesse and usefulnesse of Believers Baptisme As also the sinfulnesse and vanity of Infants Baptisme With many usefull Instructions concerning the same matter Grounded upon Ephes 4.5 One Lord One Faith One Baptisme By ROBERT GARNER PROVERBS 10.9 He that walketh uprightly walketh surely But he that perverteth his wayes shall be known PSAL. 119.126 127 128. It is time for thee Lord to work they have made void thy Law Therefore I love thy Commandements above gold yea above fine gold Therefore I esteem all thy Precepts concerning all things to be right I hate every false way Printed in the Year 1645. To the Churches of JESUS CHRIST in London and elsewhere in all places BEloved in the Lord My hearts desire to the Fountain of grace is that you may receive abundantly from thence a multiplication of grace and peace and a most rich enjoyment of the full assurance of understanding to the acknowledgement of the mistery of God and of the Father and of Christ and that in every thing ye may be strengthened by him with all might and enriched by him with all utterance and with all knowledge and replenished from him with that wisedome which is from above and enabled by him to walk in holinesse love and unity and to stand stedfast in the Truth as it is in Jesus that in all things he may be glorified by you Beloved our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ whose I am and whom I serve in whom also I am your Brother and Servant in the Faith and fellowship of the Gospell having brought to my hand some understanding and enjoyment of the doctrine of Baptisme and the usefulnesse thereof as it concernes Believers unto whom onely he hath alloted it I did account my self bound in duty to make you partakers of his grace given to me by recommending the same to your consideration as it is propounded in the following Treatise And the rather I was willing to do so because although I have seen the precious labours of some of my dear brethren to my edification clearing the truth of the doctrine of Believers baptisme and discovering the falsenesse of infants baptisme in way of answer to such or the arguments of such who pleaded so earnestly though carnally for the same yet I have seen no Treatise positively and directly declaring the doctrine of Believers baptism with the End and use thereof unto them I beseech the stronger Brethren not to account this undertaking arrogancie or presumption in me who am the unworthiest amongst the Saints I have writ it and sent it especially for the instruction and confirmation of the weaker having confidence through the Lord that it will be of some such use and advantage to them Some things in this Treatise do not so directly concern you my Brethren as others who upon severall grounds though but Sandy are otherwise minded as will be manifest to such as reade with understanding Neverthelesse such things will not be uselesse unto you my Brethren And so it may please the Lord that they may not be without fruit amongst those among whom more especially they do concern if the Lord in bringing this Treatise to their hands bring it to their hearts also It is their instruction that I desire If any man think himself to be a Prophet or spirituall let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the Commandements of the Lord. But if any man will be ignorant let him be ignorant Brethren pray for me Be mindfull of the Brethren amongst us Study to advance the Kingdome of Christ in these parts for there is a generall backwardnesse to cast off humane traditions and to close with the Lord Jesus in his pure Ordinances The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you My love be with you all in Christ Jesus Amen Your Brother in the love and service and riches of the Gospell ROBERT GARNER A Treatise of BAPTISME Wherein is clearly proved the lawfulnesse and usefulnesse of Believers Baptisme As also the sinfulnesse and vanitie of Infants Baptism With many usefull Instructions concerning the same matter Grounded upon Ephes 4 5. One Lord One Faith One Baptism WHich Scripture holdeth forth to us this truth to wit The Lord Jesus hath given and commanded One Baptism of water under the Gospell to be administred unto Believers onely In holding forth this truth it is needfull to clear up these things to wit First by Baptisme in this Scripture we are to understand the Baptism of water Secondly This Baptisme of water is an Ordinance of the Lord Iesus Thirdly This Ordinance of the Lord Iesus is properly and peculiarly belonging vnto Believers Or it is given and commanded unto believers onely Fourthly What is the end and use of baptisme unto believers And this I shall shew by laying downe what are those Priviledges or benefits which the Lord Jesus gives to believers in this Ordinance Fifthly What is the duty of believers in and after their partaking in this Ordinance Sixthly Whom the Lord Iesus hath appointed to be the Dispencer or Administrator of this Ordinance unto believers These things through the helpe of God being cleared up will afford to us some vsefull instructions as flowing from thence and will serve for a Touchstone to make tryall of that which is commonly called Infants Baptisme What Instructions will naturally arise to us from these generall heads I shall annexe them thereunto as I goe forward The first thing to be cleared up is this to wit By baptisme in this scripture we are to understand the baptisme of water There is indeed a threefold baptisme which we reade of in scripture The baptisme of water Acts 8.36 and 10.47 The baptisme of the holy Spirit or fire Mat. 3.11 Mark 1.8 And the baptisme of afflictions Math. 20.23 Mark 10.39 The first of these was administred to all believers we reade of in the Gospell The second was given by Christ more especially to some persons either before or after the administration of the baptisme of water in what measure the Lord Christ was pleased to dispense the same And this is called the gift or gifts of the holy Spirit Acts. 10.45 and 19.5.6 The last of these is one time or other the portion of all such as will live godly in Christ Jesus though indeed some by the appointment of God drinke deeper of the Cup and are plunged lower and longer in afflictions then others are yet so as God alwayes proportioneth richer measures of grace and strength to greater measures of tryals and afflictions What hath beene spoken concerning this threefold baptisme may serve as I conceive to give some light to Heb. 6.2 Where mention is made of Baptismes not one onely in the singular number but baptismes in the plurall number This by the way Now the main Scope or Argument of the Apostle in the forementioned Scripture Ephes 4.5 will fully prove that the baptisme of water is chiefly and onely intended