before he examined them of Repentance and Faith in the Messiah to come 5. To Baptize unto Repentance the sense can be nothing else than my Baptism being the Baptism of Repentance I Baptize them for my Baptism is the Baptism of Repentance I must see something of that else I have no Commission to Baptize 6. Penitent Souls may well be said to be Baptized unto Repentance Should I say Sir Walter Rawleigh was beheaded in Palace-Yard and made an excellent Speech none would understand that he spoke after he was dead because Beheaded is first and Speech after c. So tho John say I baptized to Repentance it could not be he baptized first because he required Repentance and Faith according to Christ's Commission as necessary to Baptism because 't is an every day's Work after his Baptism to amend and reform However John's words may be placed the scope of the Place sheweth they must repent before they were baptized because when the Pharisees and Sadduces came to his Baptism that is to be baptized said he O Generation of Vipers bring forth first Fruits meet for Repentance or unto or according to the nature of true Repentance and then I will baptize you and not without it Object 21. Water-Baptism is John's Baptism Paul was not sent to Baptize We have the Substance we need not the Shadow we are baptized with the Spirit we need not that of Water I Answer Cornelius and his Houshold were baptized with the Holy Ghost to that degree as they spake with Tongues Acts 10. yet thought it not beneath them to submit to Christ's blessed Ordinance of Water-Baptism I know not but this Scripture may be an everlasting Testimony against some which pretend to the Spirit who have it in that degree as now Cornelius and his Houshold Where the Spirit is Acts 10.44 to 48. there is Obedience to the Command I marvel any who pretend to great degrees of the Spirit should call God's Ordinances Shadows and Shells Is it a Command of Christ and a Shadow did Christ ever call it so Thou may'st as well say all other Ordinances are Shadows as Prayer Preaching c. And where wilt thou run is it a Command hath it a Divine Stamp if so dispute not Christ's Authority Are you wiser than he who subjected himself to it or can you think you have more of the Spirit than him who had it without measure and yet was was baptized in Water Whereas it is Objected Christ sent not * Bullinger in his House-book saith of 1 Cor. 1.17 'T is not slightly to be understood as if Paul was not sent to baptize at all but that Teaching should go before Baptism for the Lord commanded both Teaching and Administring Sacraments Paul to Baptize but to Preach Paul did baptize several either he did it by Commission or Presumption surely not by the latter therefore the former His meaning is that Baptism was not his first and principal Work he was sent to preach and Baptism fell in as a part of his Preaching-Office None are fit for Gospel-Ordinances until they have the Spirit of God Doth Cornelius and his House submit to Water-Baptism after Baptized eminently with the Spirit then that can be no Argument we are Baptized with the Spirit and need no Water This is cleared by our Lord's Word who said I am not sent but to the lost Sheep of the House of Israel not but he came also to be a Light to the Gentiles he was first to preach to them hence called the Minister of the Circumcision And whereas Water-Baptism is called John's Baptism I query the Baptism of John Was it from Heaven or of Men If from Heaven as it was for God sent him to Baptize then let all keep silent I know no difference between John's Baptism and that Christ gave his Apostles but that the former Baptized in the Name of Christ to come the latter in his Name being come Whereas some urge John said He must decrease Christ increase This hath no reference to the ceasing of Gospel-Ordinances but unto the Splendor and Glory of Christ in the World above what John's was in Holiness and Miracles for John did no Miracle John 10.41 Object 22. There are no fit Administrators therefore for the present Sacraments and Church-Ordinances cease I Answer When Christ gave Commission to Preach he gave Power in the same to Baptize Mat. 28. How comes this to pass that those very Persons which thus object do Preach which requires as great Ability and Sanctity to the due performance of the one as of the other I know some object that Commission Mat. 28. lasted no longer than to the end of that Age. To which I Answer Then Preaching ended too Christ commands his Disciples to teach all Nations all things which he commanded them Now Christ's Commands were Holiness Repentance and Faith was this to be no longer than to the end of that Age was Christ's Promise of his Presence but to the end of that Age this would be uncomfortable Doctrine The Promise is I will be with you to the end of the World the Learned know it 's the same original Word as in Matth. 13.39 40. where it is said The Harvest is the end of the World As the Tares are gathered together and burnt in the Fire so shall it be in the end of the World All conclude I think or ought that this hath respect to the final end of all things 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 this being the same word in Mat. 28. We conclude teaching the Gospel baptizing them which are taught and the gracious Presence of Christ If Baptism ended in the Apostles Age then preaching of Repentance Faith and Holiness ceased also because all in the same Commission Yea the promise of Christ's Presence must cease also in the end of that Age a more uncomfortable Doctrine cannot be is to remain in his Church till the World's end that is till the final end of all things Moreover Paul asserts Ephes 3.21 that Christ will have a Church and glory in the Churches throughout all Ages World without end From whence I argue if God have a Church in all Ages he must have Ordinances there because no Church of Christ can be constituted without them If there be Ordinances in the Church in all Ages there must be some to administer them or else they would be insignificant But that he hath fit Administrators in the Church and will have Paul asserts in Ephes 4.12 13. He gave some Apostles some Prophets some Evangelists some Pastors and Teachers For what end for the perfecting of the Saints for the Work of the Ministry for the edifying the Body of Christ How long till we all come to the Vnity of the Faith and of the Knowledg of the Son of God unto a perfect Man unto the measure of the Fulness of Christ Let Men take heed how they put a slight upon the Ordinances of God in crying up the Spirit with
the Name of Lollards Hence we read in Mr. Fox of Lollards Tower commands all sorts to Baptize their Children and to forbear Rebaptization upon the penalty of Pecuniary Mulcts and Imprisonments The second Edict extended to Banishment Confiscation and Death this was five Years after in 1530. Many starved and died in Prison The Duke of Newburgh Anno 1653. banished all the Anabaptists out of his Country who thereupon disperse themselves into the Dukedom of Cleave and Brandenburgh An Abstract of the bloody Edict of the Emperor Charles the 5th of Spain made June 1535. against the Anabaptists or Waldensian Christians and the execution thereof in the Seventeen Provinces viz. COmmanding all Persons to renounce those Perswasions and Practices and refrain the publishing the same by Preaching or otherwise upon penalty of forfeiture of Life and Goods without Mercy The Men to be burnt the Women to be drowned And all that Conceal Harbour and do not in their Places prosecute the Law against them to suffer the same Penalty And that those that discover them to have the third part of their Estates forbidding all Mediation or Intercession upon severe Punishment Many hundreds suffered Death upon this Edict and what his Son Philip made in 1556. Thus you see Christ's Words made good His People shall suffer for Righteousness sake See this Chapteâ— much enlarged in Danvers on Bâ—ptism CHAP. IX Contains an Epitome of this Book in a Comparison of Believers-Baptism and Infant-Baptism together Believers-Baptism GOd hath promised in the Text That all who believe and are Baptized shall be saved Mark 16.16 There is a lively Similitude between Christ's Death Burial Resurrection and Believers being buried in Baptism Rom. 6.4 Believers Baptized are converted and shall never come into Condemnation John 5.24 Believers Baptized love God and keep his Commandments John 14.15 It 's Christ's Command that Teaching Repenting and Believing should precede and go before Baptism Matth. 28.18 19. Those who baptize Believers baptize Christians In Believers Baptism there are no Contradictions attend the practice of it Believers Baptized come lawfully and immediately to the Lord's Supper Acts 2.41 42. Believers Baptism is a sign of Regeneration unto them Tit. 3.5 Believers Baptism hath a Command Mat. 28.18 19. Believers Baptism confirms unto them Justification Remission and Salvation Acts 2. Chap. 22.16 Mark 16.16 We have many Examples for Believers Baptism Acts 8. Chap. 10. Ch. 16.18 Christ was faithful in all his House and St. Paul delivered the whole Counsel of God and so Believers Baptism is a part of God's Counsel Luke 7. Believers Baptism hath been gloriously sealed in the Holy Ghost's coming upon Christ in the likeness of a Dove when he was coming up out of the Water Mat. 3.16 In Believers Baptism the Person baptized acts Faith Acts 8.37 In Believers Baptism the Subject baptized hath the Answer of a good Conscience 1 Pet. 3.16 A Man might comfortably die as many have done in Mentz Holland Germany and the Palatinate for asserting Believers Baptism because it hath God's Word for its Foundation The Publicans glorified God in being baptized with John's Baptism because it was the Counsel of God Luke 7. The Pharisees and Lawyers rejected the Counsel of God against themselves in not being baptized with the Baptism of John Luke 3. In Believers Baptism there is a glorious Harmony with the Commission Mar. 16.16 Believers Baptism requireth much Water as according to God's Word John 3. It 's without all doubt Believers were Baptized To baptize Believers is to keep the Ordinances as they were delivered 1 Cor. 11.2 To baptize Belielievers is no change of God's Ordinance Such as are baptized on their own Faith shall never perish John 10.28 Believers are baptized as an Act of their Judgment Choice Will and Affection so worship God in Spirit and Truth John 4.24 All those who baptize Infants do confess Believers were baptized Believers know and remember when they were baptized All Believers baptized are in the Covenant of Grace Believers Baptism is from Heaven and the Counsel of God Mat. 21.25 Believers baptized are not the Children of Wrath John 3.36 To baptize Believers is to act according to the Pattern and Command of Christ All Believers baptized receive Remission of Sins Acts 2. In Believers Baptism the Person subjects in Acts of Obedience Believers Baptism hath no Absurdities attending it Believers rejoice and shew their full Consent when they are baptized Acts 8. Believers Baptism hath the plain Word of God All the World may affirm Believers were baptized by the Apostles All Believers baptized are spiritual believing Stones fit to be laid in God's House 1 Pet. 2.5 Believers baptized may repel Satan as Christ did saying It is written Luke 4. God will not say unto Believers baptized Who hath required these things at your Hands because it is his own Command Believers Baptism must stand as long as God's Word doth stand Mat. 5.18 To baptize Believers is to have respect unto God's Command the only way not to be ashamed Psal 119.6 The most Holy the most Wise the most Learned Person that ever was in the World submitted unto Believers-Baptism Mat. 3.13 14 15 16 17. Persons baptized believe repent examine themselves make Judgment of things love one another take up Christ's Cross Watch and Pray and have the same care of each others Souls these are fit Members of a Gospel-Church Believers Baptism hath Antiquity to plead being as old as John Baptist Christ and his Apostles Believers ought to be baptized who have an inherent Holiness wrought by the Holy Spirit Believers Baptism hath many glorious Promises annexed unto it Acts 2.38 39. In Believers Baptism all the holy Ends of it are preserved as to be a sign of present Regeneration dying to Sin burying rising with Christ Answer of a good Conscience a mutual Stipulation and Contract between God and the Party In Believers Baptism by Dipping the Manner and true Administration is preserved the Usage of the Primitive Times retained and the Ends of it manifest Believers Baptism introduceth no Error nor false Doctrine into the World Believers baptized are taught of God and made his Disciples Matth. 28.18 Acts 15.10 If none ought to forbid the Baptism of Water unto those who had been baptized with the Holy Ghost Acts 10.44 45 46 47 48. Christ submitted unto Water-Baptism and ate the Supper with his Disciples who had the Holy Spirit without measure Water-Baptism is to continue unto the End of the World and the Sacrament of the Supper unto the second coming of Christ 1 Cor. 11.26 Mat. 28.19 20. If Christ will have Glory in the Churches throughout all Ages World without end then he must have a Church and Ordinances administred which is the Essence of a Church-Constitution and so cannot want Administrators because Christ hath given Apostles Prophets Evangelists Pastors Teachers for the perfecting of the Saints for the Work of the Ministry edifying of the Body of Christ How long till we all come to
a secret Design to decry the Holy Scriptures crying up the Power of Godliness in Word to undermine the Form of Godliness cry up Faith and Justification by Faith to lessen Repentance and a holy Life crying out against the Error of all Churches and under that pretence leave the true Church and the Communion of Saints until at last they have lost the Church in the Wilderness the ready way to lose themselves too if Grace prevent not which I desire may CHAP. VI. Contains the Vse 1. IF it be their Duty who believe to be Baptized then I infer those who are not capable of this Grace of Faith are under no Divine Obligation nor their Parents neither to Baptize them 't is only a piece of Will-worship which God never required Col. 2.23 If any reckon themselves obliged to Baptize or be Baptized from Mens Authority let such baptize in their Name of whom they have this Authority and not join the Name of Christ with humane Inventions Baptism of Infants was not practised for near 300 Years after Christ nor enjoined as necessary till 400 Years after Christ. Magdeburgh Hist Cent. 5. p. 835. Danvers on Baptim p. 105 106 107 108 109. Infant-Baptism was hardly heard of till about three hundred Years after Christ Augustine was the first that preached it necessary in his heat against Pelagius Bishop of Rome who denied Original Sin which Augustine supposed to be taken away in Baptism about the 5th Century it was confirmed and decreed by the Pope and his Council in the Milevetan Council a Province in Africa 2. Is Faith to precede Baptism Then how irregular do they act who baptize first before the Subject hath any Grace and know not whether ever they will Our Lord knew how he placed his words when he said Believe and be baptized and for Persons to act contrary reflects upon the Wisdom of Christ as though they knew it were better to Baptize first whatever the Lord said to the contrary 3. Is Faith to precede Baptism Then we infer those who are in this practice are very unjustly called Anabaptists Persons Baptized in Infancy are to be Baptized after they believe which is not to be esteemed Rebaptization but right Baptism as Peter Bruce the great Waldensian Martyr Rebaptizers We know but of one Baptism Ephes 4. and that is Believers having the Broad-Seal and Stamp of Divine Authority upon it how in derision are such called Catabaptists as if they were against Baptism because they plead for Christ's Institution against Mens Inventions 4. Is Faith to precede Baptism Then we infer they are greatly Heterodox who assert that Baptism works Regeneration by the very * Some call it Opus operatum Act altho we doubt not of the concurrence of the Holy Spirit to strengthen and comfort God's People in the Way of their Duty But to say the very Act works it is not allowable forasmuch as Regeneration is required before it and this Sacrament is a Sign and Signification of Regeneration therefore called by the Apostle the washing of Regeneration Tit. 3.5 Death to Sin and Sanctification is figured out in this Ordinance when Persons are buried with Christ in Baptism Rom. 6.4 Grotius saith in his Annotations upon Matth. 19. The Synod of Neocesarea decreed a Woman with Child might be Baptized because it reached not the Fruit of the Womb forasmuch as in Baptism each one 's free choice is shewed 5. Are Persons to believe before Baptism Then an actual personal Faith is to precede this Ordinance 't is not the Faith of the Church nor an imputative Faith of the Parents in Covenant nor the Faith of the Gossips or Sureties can be a sufficient Argument for any Minister to Baptize but a profession of their own Faith as Philip required of the Eunuch Act. 8.37 And whereas some assert Infants have Faith what they may have is not known by any Sign appears in them See Dr. Duveil on Acts 8. And for personal and actual Faith they have none which the Commission requires as prerequisite to Baptism And for any to assert Infants have Faith or any other inspired Habit may we not say with Dr. Taylor such are constrained to answer this without Revelation against Reason common Sense and all the Experience in the World no greater Advantage can be desired against such a Position 6. Is Faith to be professed before we are Baptized Then we infer those that have suffered in defence of this Doctrine had a good Foundation for what they did The Waldensian Christians suffered Imprisonment Danvers on Baptism p. 113 114. confiscation of Goods and some Death Many in Germany Holland Flanders Vienna Mentz the Palatinate for their opposing Pedo-Baptism and asserting Believers II. Let all Believers be exhorted to obey Christ who yet lie short of their Duty the King or Subject Pastor or People Learned or Illiterate for the King of Kings hath done it the great Shepheard of the Sheep and he who is only wise If any Object I was Baptized in my Infancy I Answer As one saith of Marriage It 's not the Bed that maketh Marriage for then Fornication is Marriage but it 's a lawful Consent by Covenant So I say of Baptism It 's not a little Water sprinkled upon the Face makes Baptism but also Consent and Subjection to Christ's Command When thou wast an Infant Mr. Baxter saith Entring Covenant with God is the essential point of Baptism without it it is not Baptism Children cannot Covenant Sureties neither by the Law of God nor Nature ought not Parents by the Canon Law must not thou gavest no Consent but rather Dissent by crying when the Water was scatter'd upon thy Face thou hadst no Faith no Love no active Obedience thy Judgment not informed thy Will and Affections not inclined but wholly passive in the thing Dr. Barlow saith In the Primitive Times Persons were first Catecumini then Illuminati or Baptizati If Matter and Form be wanting the Essence of the Oâ—â—inance is 〈…〉 like a Stock or Stone so that thou art not yet Baptized because there wanted then the very Essence of the Ordinance which is right Matter and Form as for Matter an ignorant Infant was the Subject in the room of an understanding Believer For the Form Sprinkling instead of Dipping so that thy Infant-Baptism is a meer non entity and nothing The Church of the Rome confesseth she changed Dipping into Sprinkling Cyprian is the first who pleads for Baptizing the Sick by Sprinkling and for Sprinkling new Converts in the Prison-House Danvers p. 204 205 206. Magd. Cent. 3. C. 6. p. 126. By degrees they brought it in for Sick Children then for all Children Rome's first and great Argument Novatians and Donatists against Infant-Baptism by which Infant-Baptism was brought in was their imagining it took away Original-Sin Upon which they made this Canon in the Milevetan Council It is our Will Too many are very tenacious of this
the Unity of the Faith and of the Knowledg of the Son of God unto a perfect Man unto the measure of the Stature of the Fulness of God Ephes 3.21 Chap. 4.11 12. Infant-Baptism GOD hath not promised all Infants that are Baptized shall be saved But there is no Similitude between Christ's Death Burial Resurrection and Infants sprinkled on the Face But Infants Baptized are not converted and may come into Condemnation But Infants Baptized do not love God and keep his Commandments Therefore Infant-Baptism must be of Men because it 's before Teaching Repenting and Believing But those who baptize Infants baptize Heathens because all are Children of Wrath by Nature before born again Ephes 3.2 But Infant-Baptism hath manifold Contradictions by asserting that Baptism is a Symbol of present Regeneration yet apply it to an ignorant Infant Also that it figures out Christ's Death Burial and Resurrection yet do nothing but sprinkle or pour Water on the Face They separate from Rome as the false Church yet own their Baptism the Foundation-Stone They own the Doctrine of Perseverance in Grace and no falling from it baptizing the Children of Believers as in the Covenant of Grace yet afterwards teach their Conversion and in case of Vnbelief reject them as Reprobates But Infants Baptized come not to the Lord's Supper immediately nor lawfully But the Baptism of Infants cannot be a sign of Regeneration to them Infant-Baptism hath no Command But Infants have none of those confirmed to them in their Baptism But we have not one Example for the baptizing an Infant But Infant-Baptism is no part of God's Counsel appears because Christ nor his Apostles never delivered any such thing Infant Baptism never was sealed by God But in Infant-Baptism the Infant acts no Faith But Infants have no answer of a good Conscience in Baptism But how can any die for Infant-Baptism when it wants the Broad Seal of God's Word for the Authority But God is not glorified in Infants Baptism because none of God's Counsel But to reject Infant-Baptism cannot be against any Person because it is none of the Counsel of God But there is no harmony with the Commission in Infant-Baptism nor with their own Profession which is that Faith and Repentance is required in Persons to be baptized yet confess that Children unto whom they apply it have neither Again that it is a demonstration of a Spiritual Marriage between God and the Believer yet assign it unto Subjects as uncapable of it as a Stock or Stone Moreover that the Baptismal Covenant enters into the Visible Church yet deny Church-Members the Lord's Supper But infant-Infant-Baptism needs but a little therefore it is not according to God's Word But the baptizing Infants at the best is doubtful But it was never delivered as an Ordinance of Christ to sprinkle Infants But to baptize Infants is to change God's Ordinance in the Subject and Manner But such as are baptized on anothers Faith may perish Infants cannot worship God in that Act in Spirit and Truth because not an Act of Judgment and Choice Will and Affection But all who baptize Believers do deny that Infants were baptized Infants know not remember not any thing of their Baptism All Infants baptized are not in the Covenant of Grace Infants Baptism is from Earth and the Counsel of Men. But Infants baptized may be Children of Wrath. But to baptize Infants is to act without a Pattern or Command But all Infants baptized do not receive Remission of Sins But in Infants Baptism the Infant puts forth no Act of Obedience But Infants Baptism hath many namely that Persons may have Regeneration Grace before Vocation and that Persons may be visible Church-Members before Conversion Moreover that Persons may be baptized by another's Faith Also making a National Gospel-Church instead of a Congregational and bringing in a carnal fleshly Seed into Christ's Church in the room of a Spiritual Seed But Infants weep when baptized as if they did dissent Infant-Baptism hath nothing but humane Consequence But all the World cannot affirm any Infants were baptized by the Apostles But all Infants baptized are not living Stones fit for God's House But you cannot repel Satan saying It is written Infants were baptized for it is not written But God may say to those who baptize Infants Who hath required these things at your Hands because God commanded it not But Infant-Baptism must fall because it hath not the Word of God to support it But to baptize Infants without a Divine Command is the way to be made ashamed because no respect to God's Command But the most Holy the most Wise the most Learned never was subjected unto Infant-Baptism But Infants baptized cannot repent or believe examine themselves make no Judgment of things nor take up Christ's Cross Watch nor Pray love not nor watch not over one another cannot be Members of a Gospel-Church Infant-Baptism hath started up several hundred Years since Christ and his Apostles But Infants ought not to be baptized who are only legitimately Holy as all born in Wedlock are and is the Holiness mentioned 1 Cor. 7.14 Infant-Baptism hath not one Promise But in Infant-Baptism all these are frustrated and being applied to an Infant are but Mock-shows and altogether insignificant But Infant-Sprinkling is an inverting the Order and Manner and contrary to the Vsage of the Apostolick Times and End of the Ordinance and is a telling a Lie in the Name of the Lord saying I Baptize when he doth but Rantize But Infant-Baptisme doth introduce many Errors in that it was to take away Original Sin work Grace and Regeneration effect Salvation by the Work done that it was an Apostolical Tradition that Children have Faith and are Disciples of Christ that all Children of Believers are in the Covenant defiling and polluting the Church with false Matter and confounding the Church and the World together introducing many hainous Traditions and Inventions of Antichrist together with it as Gossips or Sureties Bishoping or Confirmation Chrism Exorcism Consignation Lastly It hath made a great deal of Contention in the Church of Christ and stirred up much Hatred Infants baptized are not taught of God nor made Disciples of Christ Then such are greatly Heterodox and unsound who slight and contemn Water-Baptism under pretence of being baptized with the Holy Ghost Then that Argument is of Flesh and not Spirit of Man and not God that rejects Water-Baptism and the Supper as carnal under an ungrounded imagination of the Baptism of the Spirit Then for any to neglect those Ordinances under an imagination those Commands ceased at the end of the Apostles Age are under a delusion If so then the Church-State did not end with the Apostles neither can Ordinances cease for want of Administrators CHAP. X. Contains an Enquiry into the Carriages of the German Anabaptists falsly so called in Luther's Time and the Reproach from thence reflected upon that Way removed THE Matter of Fact which hath caused such a Noise in the
the Infants of all God's People of old by our Doctrine And enviously addeth pag. 171. The Anabaptists are not only erroneous in their Faith and there polluted but also garnished with shame to Nature in pag. 169. calling our Faith a Carnal Faith I think were he a Spiritual Man he could not have such carnal Language O how far is this poor Man from imitating our Lord When he was reviled he reviled not again But this Man reviles when no occasion is given him But he hath not yet spit all his Venom for in pag. 71. he saith The Anabaptists Doctrine is not of God but a Point of their natural Faith And further saith These Men are sensual having not the Spirit calling us Beasts pag. 111. And that we make Falshood our Refuge And pag. 117. saith Christ hath preserved the Infant-Seed of Believers from the Curse of Anabaptistry whereby so many Errors are dispersed Scriptures wrested Souls perverted to their own destruction Pag. 143. he asserts the Doctrine upon which Anabaptistry is built is a Soul-destroying Doctrine and that we have belied the Lord's Ministers although we repeated nothing but their own Words and that saith he to uphold our Errors pag. 116. And cries out pag. 66. as well he might if true The Anabaptists reckon their own Children dying in Infancy by their own judgment lost and perish to Eternity Pray consider Is not this Man's Doctrine agreeable with the Church of Rome's and the Council of Carthage who decre'd If any asserted Baptism did not take away Original Sin they should be Anathematized Is this reasoning like a Man or Christian Because we dare not in Conscience give the Sacrament of Baptism to our Infants must they be damned therefore We can tell you a better way of washing away of Original Sin namely by the Imputation of Christ's Righteousness to Infants dying in Infancy My Prayer shall be John Wall for thee that thou mayest not run the hazard of thy Soul as John Child did so thou mayest but reproach the Innocent People of God But as if all this were not yet enough he asserts Our Baptism is not from Heaven but Will-worship and so to be abhorred of all Christians for saith he they received their Baptism from one Mr. Smith who baptized himself pag. 106 107 108. one who was cast out of a Church and endeavoured to deprive the Church of Christ of the use of the Bible O full of all Subtilty and all Mischief Mat. 3.15 Enemy of Righteousness for the Ordinance is so called when wilt thou cease to pervert the right Ways of the Lord How many Leaves hast thou spent in thy Book in asserting and maintaining a Lie and to cast Filth upon the holy Ways of the Lord Could not the Ordinance of Christ which was lost in the Apostacy be revived as the Feast of Tabernacles was tho lost a great while unless in such a filthy way as you falsly assert viz. that the English Baptists received their Baptism from Mr. John Smith It is absolutely untrue it being well known by some yet alive how false this Assertion is and if J. W. will but give a meeting to any of us and bring whom he pleaseth with him we shall sufficiently shew the Falsity of what is affirmed by him in this Matter and in many other things he hath unchristianly asserted Mark his second Query is What is the End of Baptism Pag. 22. saith he John sirnamed the Baptist hath shewed the End in the Sign why Water-Baptism was ordained namely it was ordained that Christ should be made manifest to Israel and for the washing away of Sins Remission of Sins and that Christ the Lamb of God is now come according to the Gospel-Promise Gen. 3.15 We answer All these things are very good Ends in the Sign to an understanding Believer who can take the comfort of it But what comfort can an ignorant Infant take in Christ's being manifested in the Sign or of Christ being come or of the Pardon and Remission of Sin these things are Meat for strong Men not for Babes answered more fully pag. 23 24. In pag. 4. of his Preface he saith We ground our Doctrine on Nature and plead a right to Gospel-Ordinances by the Act of Man We answer We never understood that we grounded our Doctrine upon Nature but upon the Will of God revealed in the Gospel And for our pleading for a right to Gospel-Ordinances by Mens Actions if you will call Repentance and Faith Mens Actions you may in some good sense for though God give Faith 't is not God's Act to believe but Man's though God give Repentance it is not God's Act to repent but Man's And if Persons are offended because we require what Christ requires as prerequisite to Baptism if that be to be vile we must be still so He would insinuate pag. 3. that in Baptism a Person is wholly passive because he is so in the Baptism of the Spirit and of Afflictions But shall we believe God or Man Christ saith He must be active in the Grace of Faith and Repentance Paul must be active and arise to the Ordinance Christ was active in going into Jordan and coming up so the Eunuch went down into the Water as an Act of his Judgment Will and Affection both Soul and Body is active in this Ordinance How then is Man wholly passive in Baptism In the last Page of his Preface he nicknames the Interest of God calling them Anabaptists or Rebaptizers yet saith he it is no Nickname Which indeed must be 1. because we own but one Baptism Ephes 4.5 2. Persons in Infancy are not Baptized but Rantized therefore 't is no Rebaptizing 3. Should it be said Children were Dipped yet it was no proper Gospel-Baptism because it wanted a proper Subject it was an ignorant Infant instead of an understanding Believer 4. If John was called John the Baptist because he baptized Persons upon profession of Repentance and Faith in him who was to come after him why may not those be so called that follow his Practice tho they have no extraordinary Commission as he had What is more common than to call them by the same Name of those whose Principle and Practice they approve of and that innocently enough as Calvinists from Calvin Lutherans from Luther so we own the word of Baptists because we are in the same Faith and Practice with John the Baptist Christ's Harbinger So that it plainly appears 't is a Nickname and a Name of Reproach cast upon those of this Perswasion Turn to Page 64 and 65 for a fuller Answer Page 4 5. he will have Baptism to be a pouring of Water upon the Face because 't is said God will pour out of his Spirit upon his By way of answer he is to know pouring was the most proper word could be used for the Holy Spirit 's proceeding because it is Above with God in Heaven and we upon Earth below but the Element of Water is beneath us
for Men go down into the Sea So accordingly it was practised in the Apostles Time they went down into the Water which if it had not been to be dipp'd in it they need to have gone only unto it therefore how vain is that he asserts John baptized standing at the brink of the River Jordan pag. 8. This is to contradict the Word of God which saith plainly Philip and the Eunuch went both down into the Water not to the brink of it and came up out of the Water In pag. 4 5. his great Ordnance by which he thinks to do the most Execution is from 1 Cor. 10.1 2. where it is said All our Fathers were baptized unto Moses in the Cloud and in the Sea Answer 1. Consider it is said the Fathers not the Children were baptized 2. If you will have it the Children also then you must include there Beasts and Cattel for the Cloud poured Water upon them all 3. Where-ever the word Baptism is used whether it be applied to the Spirit to Sufferings or to Water it always sheweth some large measure of all So here they were baptized in the Cloud and in the Sea not properly baptized for that Ordinance was not in use then but the scope of that place is the Apostle thought fit to borrow that word Baptize for to show God's gracious protection of them in the Red-Sea as in the Wilderness he fed them with Manna from Heaven and gave them Water out of a Rock So he left them not in the Red-Sea but encompassed them about in safety by his Divine Providence with Water on each side of them and the Cloud over them as Persons are encompassed with that Element when baptized Again for the true understanding of the Word we must have recourse to the common Acceptation of it and not imagine the Spirit of God doth contradict the common Acceptation of Words among Men. When the Prophets wrote by Inspiration and the Apostles they always used such words as were vulgar and commonly accepted amongst Men so that the common acceptation of the Hebrew word Tabal among the Hebrews and Baptizo among the Greeks always signifying to dip there being other words to signify sprinkle or pour How then can pouring Rain from the Cloud be called Baptism as John Wall would needs have it though he beg for it because it can never be proved see my Book pag. 16 17. And is he not full of audacity or boldness to tell the World in pag. 8. That there is not one word that any by John or Philip were dipped when the very word properly signifieth dipping Hence the Dutch call John the Dooper And our Translators might as well have rendred baptize dip in all the places where it is as to render Judas sopt dipp'd and Christ's Vesture dipp'd in Blood being all from the same Original Word And whereas he tells the World pag. 16 17. Though the Scripture say they baptized in Aenon because there was much Water He saith It would not be enough to dip half the Body in 1. I suppose he never was there to see it but speaks by an implicit Faith 2. Common sense directs us to believe there was need of much Water to the due performance of that Ordinance or else the Holy Spirit would not have mentioned it as commodious for that Work because much Water there a little Water will sprinkle hundreds but much Water is necessary unto the due performance of this Ordinance of Baptism because it must be so done as to figure out the Death Burial and Resurrection of Christ Now I would fain know how sprinkling or pouring Water upon the Face doth figure out Christ's Death Burial and Resurrection Rom. 6.1 2 4. In pag. 9. how disingenuously doth he deal with Coloss 2.12 We are buried with Christ in Baptism To follow their natural Fancy saith he the Person buried is wholly passive and must be taken in Arms laid upon the Water then Water cast upon him till covered as Earth is upon the Dead Answer This way of discourse is a kind of trifling with God's Word You are to know Similitudes do not run upon all four as we say but respect must alway be had to the chief intent and design of a Metaphor which in this Text is to hold forth the Death Burial and Resurrection of Christ for our Justification and also holds forth our Death to Sin and Resurrection to a new Life This being the prime scope of the Apostle his way of discourse is nothing but to evade the strength of the Argument Whereas in pag. 10. he saith The Person baptizeth part of himself because he goeth into the Water We answer That is false because he doth not lay himself down in the Water but that is done by the Administrator he lays him along as one buried under the Water his whole Body not the upper part only to figure out Christ's lying in the Grave for as the Persons stands upright in the Water that is not Baptism but when laid along under the Water by the Administrator using the words of Institution I baptize thee in the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost this is Baptism In pag. 14. he saith The Person is not baptized but his Cloaths Those things are not becoming Modesty to discourse of Let that vain Man know we do not baptize the Cloaths in the Name of the Blessed Trinity but the Person and should we baptize otherwise I fear this poor Man would be the first would reproach the Interest of Christ upon that account Whereas he chargeth B. K. pag. 80. with the whole Assembly of Baptized Believers that they were forced to try their Wits for want of those literal words Remember you keep holy the First Day Answ Our Arguments for observing the First Day do greatly satisfy our Consciences being grounded upon the Word of God Also our Arguments against Pedobaptism and for Believers Baptism also being proved from the same Divine Revelation But alas how are Men put at their Wits end to find Arguments for Pedobaptism or else they would never prefer a dark Consequence before a plain Command which is beneath the Reason of a Man nor run to the Law to prove a Gospel-Ordinance and reject God's Institution and set up Man's Invention Could he say as much for Pedobaptism as we can for the Lord's Day the Controversy would not have held so long Could he give us such Examples of Infant-Baptism as we can for our religious observing that Day we shall give him thanks And whereas in pag. 104. he quarrels because we do not Baptize always upon the First Day We do not judg we are confin'd to that Day The Lord's Supper Christ himself did institute it and practise it with his Apostles on another Day than the First Day of the Week Although we do grant it is very commendable to do such Work on such Days when retired from our Labour yet we do not think we are confin'd to that Day for
that hath Christ's Authority stamp'd upon it tho it were the blowing of Rams-horns round the Walls of Jericho Josh 6.13 Exod. 20.24 25. Making an Altar of Earth or rough Stone taking the Blood of the Trespass-Offering putting it on the Lap of the High-Priest's right Ear Levit. 8.24 the Thumb of the right Hand the great Toe of the right Foot having on it a Divine Stamp is an Argument sufficient for our Obedience Acts 9.18 St. Paul a very learned Man the Eunuch who was Lord Treasurer under Candace Queen of Ethiopia Crispus a chief Ruler Constantine and Theodosius great Emperors our Lord the only Potentate accounted it so honourable a thing as to practise it when about thirty Years of Age and led us the way as well by his Example as Commission Nothing sure can be more obliging Believers unto Obedience than their Saviour's Precept and Precedent CHAP. III. What Baptism is FIrst Negatively Not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mat. 28.18 19 20. It 's not sprinkling dropping or pouring of Water Sprinkling is known to be Rantising not Baptising or Baptism Baptism is an external washing plunging or dipping a profest Believer in the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost Which I thus demonstrate The Hebrew word Tabal 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Dip. The Septuagint translate it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Dr. Hammond notes on John 13.10 Gen. 37.31 Levit. 4.6 Deut. 33.24 2 Kings 5.14 Josh 3.15 1. From the Scripture-acceptation of the Word the word Baptize in the New Testament is taken from the word Dip in the Old as the Learned do know Where 't is said Joseph 's Coat was dipt in Blood The Priest's Finger dipt in Blood Asher 's Foot dipt in Oil. The Priests Feet dipt in Jordan Naaman wash'd or dipt seven times in the same River with many more places of Scripture ☞ Moreover 't is worth our noting the word translated Dip John 13.26 Rev. 19.13 Luke 16.24 concerning the Sop Judas had And where it 's said Christ's Vesture was dipt in Blood it is from the same Original word Baptism is that our Translators might had they pleased have rendred the word Baptizing Dipping being from the same Theme Bapto as Baptism is We are much to be governed by the Common and Vulgar acceptation of words as they were used and understood among all Nations God so inspired the Prophets and Apostles to deliver his Mind always in such words as were understood among the vulgar and ordinary People or else they would have been Barbarians unto them We cannot understand each other in Discourse but this way I call for a Book it 's readily given me because every one knows what it is we call a Book So if Tabal were used among the Hebrews for Dip in the common Acceptation and the Learned Hebrews by the Order of Ptolomy King of Egypt did translate that word Baptizo which was commonly accepted for Dip among the Grecians and we also translate Baptizo Dip none but an Enthusiast will object against the common acceptation of words This puts me in mind of a Discourse between Bishop Vsher and Mr. Hanserd Knowllys about the Propriety of the word Baptizo the Bishop said it signified to sprinkle as well as dip Mr. Knowllys said it signified only to dip there being other words in the Greek for sprinkling and pouring 'T is observable 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to wash 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to pour 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to sprinkle are never taken or used for Dip or Baptize nor 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 simply taken for Washing by sprinkling or pouring Danvers on Baptism p. 206. To end this Controversy those who could produce the best and most Authors for their Sense should carry it the Bishop after some search found Two for his Opinion Mr. Knowllys brings Seventy for his Two namely the Septuagint and so the Controversy ended The Writings of the most Learned of the contrary Mind do confess that the Original Word * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from whence Baptism is taken signifieth properly to dip Leigh's Critica Sacra saith The native signification of the Word is to dip into or plunge under Water as the Dyer dips his Cloth in his Fat 's The Book of Canons saith You shall dip c. So the Dutch translate the Word In those Days came John the Dipper Ende doc Jesus ghe Doope was quam hysterstont vanden Water and when Jesus was dipt he came out of the Water Calvin saith We see what Fashion the Ancients had to Administer Baptism for they plunged the whole Body into Water 2. The end of the Ordinance sheweth Baptism to be dipping which is to hold forth unto a Believer the Death Burial and Resurrection of Christ as the Apostle saith Rom. 6.4 We are buried with him in Baptism Although there be no manner of similitude and likeness between Christ's Death and Burial with sprinkling a little Water on the Face yet burying in the Water is as lively a Similitude and Likeness of Jesus Christ's Death as the breaking Bread and pouring out the Wine is at the Lord's Table So that they lose one great End of this Ordinance who Rantize instead of Baptize for no Man accounts him buried who hath only Earth cast on his Face but he who is in the Heart of the Earth and covered with the same 3. John the beloved Disciple gives this as the Reason why John the Baptist baptized in Enon John 3.23 because there was much Water there the place was commodious for that Ordinance Hence our blessed Saviour came from Galilee to Jordan From Galilee to Jordan where John baptized is about thirty or forty miles to be baptized of him there which if Sprinkling would have done there had been no need of much Water nor Rivers 4. That Baptism is Dipping appears from Scripture-Metaphors explaining it Luke 15.50 Our Lord's Sufferings are called a Baptism because his Pains were not only upon one part of his Body No such thing as Sprinkling or Rantizing used in the Apostles Days nor many Ages after Mede's Diatribe but his whole Soul and Body was baptized and plunged into Sorrows Thus one that is Baptized is plunged under Water to shew how Christ was Baptized and plunged into Sorrows for Man's sake Great Measures of the Spirit are also discovered by Persons being said to be Baptized with the Spirit Acts 1.5 for where the word Baptism is used whether it be joined with Suffering with the Spirit or with Water it always holds forth a great quantity either of Sufferings of the Spirit or Water 5. Hence in the 5th place The vast height of Waters which stood above the Church in the Red Sea like a high Wall is called 1 Cor. 10.2 3. A Baptism unto Moses in the Cloud and in the Sea because encompassed with it for the Ordinance of Baptism was not then in force but