Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	baptism_n	ghost_n	holy_a	8,479	5	5.8461	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A77739	A confutation of the Anabaptists, and all others who affect not civill government; proving the lawfullnesse of it: and a full answer to all their cavills, that are, or can be made against it. With a nut-cracker for an unnaturall nut, whose shell is as hard as the scales of Leviathan, and the kernell of his heart as hard as a piece of the nether mill-stone, Iob 41.15.24. yet the hammer of Gods word that breaketh in pieces the rocks, Ier. 23.29. will break this nut, that all may see the devillish kernell that is in it. Also arguments against the Anabaptists, proving that infants borne of Christian parents ought to be baptized: with a full answer to all their cavills that are (or can be) made against it. Imprimatur Ja. Cranford.	Bakewell, Thomas, b. 1618 or 19.	1644 (1644)	Wing B530; Thomason E51_20; ESTC R209932	98,225	89

great famine and terrible siege were more cruell to their sucking Infants then the sea monsters or like the Estridges in the wildernesse Lam 4.3 The pretious sons of Sion comparable to fine gold were esteemed as earthen pitchers vers 2. So these men when Christ highly commends and greatly delights in young Infants these cruell parents think them not worthy of their society in divine ordinances how doe they know but they were sanctified in the wombe as well as Ieremiah Jer. 1.5 And how do they know but they were filled with the holy Ghost even from their mothers wombe aswel as John the Baptist Luke 1.15 But was Iohn sanctified from the wombe who was the first Minister of the Sacrament of baptisme what is this but to informe Iohn that Infants from the womb are fitted for baptisme And again Christ was conceived by the holy Ghost to sanctifie Infancy aswel as any other age that none may be excepted against then how dare these men make exceptions where Christ makes none then may Infants be sanctified in the wombe and receive the holy Ghost from the wombe Then saith Peter can any man forbid that these should be baptized that have received the holy Ghost aswell as we And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord Acts 10.47 48. Fifthly the Apostles did baptize them that did but in a generall way confesse that Christ was the Son of God Acts 8.37 38. And they baptized Simon Magus many in Samaria when as yet the holy Ghost was fallen upon none of them onely they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Then they laid their hands on them and they received the holy Ghost see Acts 8.15 16.17 And the Apostles finding certaine Desciples said unto them have ye received the holy Ghost since ye beleeved that is have ye received the speciall gifts and graces of the holy Ghost since ye beleeved with a generall faith but say they we have not so much as heard whether there be any holy Ghost and he said unto them unto what were ye baptized and they said unto Johns baptisme Acts 19.1 2 3. Here you see them baptized that can make but a weake account of their faith why may not Infants born of Christians be baptized much rather then these 6. Iohn baptized them with water unto repentance but saith he he that commeth after me shall baptize you with the holy Ghost Mat. 3.11 That is when Christ by his spirit shall make that baptisme by water effectuall by the inward working of the holy Ghost and yet all this but one baptisme Ephes 4.5 And Paul speaking to those that were baptized with water and yet were ignorant of the holy Ghost saith Iohn baptizeth unto repentance and saith to the people that they should beleeve on him that should come after him that is on Jesus Christ And when they heard this they were baptized in the name of the Lord Iesus and Paul laid his hands on them and the holy Ghost came on them Acts 19.5.6 Now this was not another Baptisme but onely the inward baptisme of the holy Ghost as Iohn had told them before how that he which came after him should baptize those with the holy Ghost which then only received the outward forme Mat. 3.11 Then if this be so why may not Infants of Christians now be baptized unto repentance aswell as these But our Anabaptists will have Christ to be the forerunner of Iohn to baptize them first with the holy Ghost and then Iohn shall baptize them with water and so Christ shall prepare the way for Iohn and not Iohn for Christ But the spirit is like the wind and we cannot tell whence it commeth ●●r whither it goeth John 3.8 That new name written no man knoweth but he that hath it Revel 2.17 Then t were a vaine thing to wai●e for that we shall never know in mother so then to children borne of Christian parents we are to doe our duty in baptizing them and let the Lord alone to take his own time to make it effectual to them we must not tye the Lord to convert them to any limited time of their age some the Lord converts in the first houre and some not till the last houre of their life Again it is said when Christ was baptized and went out of the water then the spirit of God descended upon him and a voice from heaven came saying this is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased Mat. 3.16.17 Then if we would see the work of God appear upon our children let us first baptize them and then we may looke for it and not before Seventhly we may take notice of the two Sacraments of the Jewes compared with ours and their agreement together first concerning their Passeover it was required that they should know the thing signified by it and that they should sanctifie and cleanse themselves before they did receive it and when King Hezekiah supposed that some of severall Tribes had not sufficiently prepared themselves and yet had been at that Sacrament he prayed for them saying The good Lord pardon them and the Lord hearkened to Hezekiah and healed the people 2 Chron. 30.18.19.20 And saith Moses concerning some that were defiled and had not cleansed themselves therfore they could not keep the Passover on that day Num. 9.6 Now to this Passover our Lords Supper doth well agree which requires examination and knowledge of the thing signified and a remembrance of the death of Christ till his comming againe 1 Cor. 11. But for the other Sacrament of the Jewes was nothing required of them if so be they were but children of circumcised Jewes and baptisme is come in the place of it why then should more be required of our children then was of the children of the Jewes let them answer if they can But suppose they should require some qualification in our children why may we not answer that children are the heritage of the Lord Psa 127.3 then why should they be kept from this ordinance of baptisme Again children were in the Temple and sang Hosanna to the sonne of David to the astonishment of the Priests and Scribes yet to the great approbation of Jesus Christ who said to the Priests have yee not read that cut of the monthes of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise Mat. 21.15 16. Psa 8.2 But doth Christ here acknowledge an Evangelicall perfection to be in the praise of babes and sucklings then who dares to keep them from the ordinance of baptisme Again Christ saith of such is the Kingdome of Heaven then who dares to make question of that which Christ affirmes and he kindly embraced them which he would not have done if they had not beene part of his Kingdom neither could he be deceived because he knew their hearts and he prayed for them Mat. 19.13 and his prayers were alwaies heard Luke 11.42 neither would he pray for the world but only for those that were given

him 17.9 and he blessed them but who are blessed of Christ but they whose sinnes are forgiven Psa 32.1 And Christ was displeased with those that kept them from him which plainly shewes his tender affection to them and he gave his Apostles a double charge that they should neither forbid those that brought them nor drive way but freely give them admittance into his presence and saith Christ Hee that receives not the Kingdom of Heaven as a litle child he shal not enter therein and saith he their Angels are in heaven beholding the face of my Father which is in heaven that is they stand ready and hearken for a command from God to bee sent for their good Psa 103.20 But the angels are ministring spirits onely for the 〈◊〉 of salvation Heb. 1.14 they incampe about those that feare the Lord Psa ●4 7 Then why should Infants be debarred from the Sacrament of baptisme who have so f●re a Title to the Kingdome of heaven But they will say those in the Gospell are to be understood babes in Christ or young converts To this I answer when they brought them to Christ he tooke them up in his armes when he blessed them Mat. 10.16 which she wes plainely that they were litle children Secondly the Disciples call them young children and litle children ver 13. and Luke saith they brought unto him Infants Luke 18.15 And when Christ called a litle child unto him Mat. 18.2 he set him in the midst of them which argues plainely that he had him in his armes but see Mar. 9.36 there you shall see in plaine words that he took that very child in his armes and spake unto them Thirdly Christ saith unto his Disciples who were strong Christians except ye be converted and become as litle Children ye shall not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven but now will those men who say this place is meant of babes in Christ or young converts will they I say make their inference thus that strong christians must become weak in faith yea the Apostles must become as babes in Christ their strong faith must become weake againe or else they cannot enter into heaven these men declare their folly as Sodom delareth her sin Isa 3.9 For doth not Christ often blame a weak faith see Mat. 8.26.14.31 and doth he not highly commend a strong faith Mat. 8.10.15.28 Rom. 4.20 Then the true meaning is this the Disciples had beene reasoning who should be the greatest Mat. 18.1 Mar. 9.34 then Christ tooke a young child in nature up in his armes to convince their pride and envy as the Apostle saith in malice be ye children but in understanding be ye men 1 Cor. 14.20 So here in pride and envy Christ would have them to be as children saying except yee bee converted from your pride and envy yee cannot be saved that is your pride and envy must be mortified crucified which makes you affect high places he that would be first the same shal be last servant of all Mar. 9.35.36 So then the Disciples were already converted from the state of nature to the state of grace but yet they were not sufficiently converted from their pride envy so then you see all these testimonies of Christ to be concerning young children in nature and not of young converts being growne in age therefore infants having such approbation and testimony from the mouth of Christ I say againe who dares hinder them from the ordinance of baptisme Eightly from the ends of baptisme which are these First it is a pledge unto us in regard of our weaknesse to assure us of all the graces and mercies of God especially of our union with Christ and of remission of sins and both mortification of them and vivification to arise from them to newnesse of life Rom. 6.3.4 For he that is baptized into Christ hath put on Christ Gal. 3.27 The second end of our baptisme is to distinguish Christians from Tuckes and Pagans for it is a signe of our Christian profession against all the enemies of Jesus Christ as Circumcision was a token of the Covenant saith the Lord between me and thee Gen. 17.11 Christians may say as David did Thy vowes are upon me O God I will render praise unto thee Psal 56.11 The third end of our baptisme it is a meanes of our entrance or admission into the visible Church of Christ for saith Christ Except a man be borne of water and the spirit he cannot enter into the Kingdome of God John 3.5 The Kingdome of God here hath a double signification answerable to the double qualification sometimes it is meant the visible Church so then except a man be baptized with water he cannot enter into it it is also meant heaven it selfe and so a man must be borne of the holy Ghost or else he cannot enter into it The fourth end of our baptisme it is a meanes of our unity with the Church and people of God For we are all baptized into one body 1 Cor. 12.13 There is one body and one spirit and one hope of our calling one Lord one faith one baptisme one God and Father of all who is above and through all and in you all Ephes 4.4 5 6. Then would you have a pledge of Gods love to you in regard of your children that they are united to Christ and their sins forgiven and mortified and that they are risen with Christ to the life of grace then let them be baptized And would you have them distinguished from the enemies of Christ and to have a signe and a badge of their Christian profession before the world then let them bee baptized And would you have them to be admitted into the Visible Church of Christ then let them be baptized And would you have them to enjoy the priviledges of the Church and to be at peace and unity with the people of God then let them be baptized But some will here demand whether baptisme be of absolute necessity to salvation or not I answer to make covenant with God and to be in the said covenant is of absolute necessity to salvation for unlesse God be our God in Covenant and we his servants we cannot be saved now baptisme is the seale of this Covenant and therefore necessary but in part 1. In respect of Gods command who hath enjoyned us to use it 2. In respect of our weaknesse that have need of all helper that may confirme our faith yet baptisme is not absolutely necessary to salvation For the want of baptisme doth not condemne the children of beleeving Parents if they dye before baptisme when it cannot be had for they being holy theirs is the kingdome of God although they dye before baptisme the thiefe upon the crosse and many other holy Martyrs dyed before baptisme that are now in the Kingdome of heaven and those parents that slighted this ordinance so that their children dyed without it if they repent of that sin it may be forgiven and their

were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Then laid they their hands on them and they received the holy Ghost Acts 8.16.17 So then they were baptized into repentance and faith to come for as yet these graces be not found actually in them yet by the secret working of the spirit of God the seede of both lies hid in them Paul calls this the w●shing of regeneration and renewing of the holy Ghost Titus 3.5 But still they stand upon an expres word of God to command it I answer Circumcision had a command and baptisme is come in the place of it then let them shew how and when that command was repeated for although the signe be changed the command remaines still as it was to Circumcision so it is now to baptisme Again if they be elected and have this signe of regeneration and shall depart before they be capable to understand the mystery of it they shal be renewed by the power of the holy Ghost unconceivable to us before they goe hence be no more seen but if they grow up to age whereby they may be taught the truth of baptisme they wil be the more engaged to endeavour reformation of their lives having the token or signe of regeneration given them from their Infancy saith Paul we are buried together with Christ by baptisme Rom. 6.4 If this be done by baptisme then it was no● done before and saith he again as many as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ Gal. 3.27 That they might henceforth live unto Christ and saith Peter baptisme is the answer of a good conscience towards God by the resurrection of Iesus Christ 1 Pet. 3.21 But they often erre in this that they will have the the thing it selfe alwaies in order of time before the signe But if this were so then Infants could not have beene circumcised for they could not manifest to others their regeneration being Infants but circumcision was to them the witnesse of good conscience the seeds of grace being there but the declaration and manifestation was applyed to the time to come so also baptisme is to confirme and establish the Covenant made by the Lord with us and we then receive the seale thereof and when wee actually believe being of age then we set to our seale that God is true John 3.33 13. They object that baptisme is given unto forgivenes of sins but this we grant as wel as they for we are al born sinners stand in need of pardon from the womb and also of she signe of it to assure us as soon as it may be had seeing the Lord doth not cut off Infants from the hope of mercy why should we deprive them of the signe which is far inferiour to the thing it selfe so then Infants have remission of sins given them therefore they ought not to have the signe taken from them They say again that Christ cleanseth his Church by the washing of water by the word Eph. 5.26 And this also we grant aswell as they for it quite overthrowes their errour For if the Lord will have that washing whereby hee cleanseth his Church to be testified by baptisme why then should we do so much wrong to Infants as to debar them from that which is given in generall to all the members of the Church And they also are heirs aswell as others to the Kingdome of heaven Mat. 18.34.19.14 And baptisme is an ingrafting into the body of Christ then Infants who are reckoned among the members ought also to be baptized lest we be found guilty of this horrible sin to pluck away by violence any member from the body of Christ 14. They object that the Apostles baptized none but those that did before make profession of faith and repentance For they said unto Peter and to the rest of the Apostles men and brethren what shall we doe Then Peter said unto them repent and be baptized every one of you Acts 2.37.38 And wh●n the Ennuch required to be baptized Philip answered if thou beleevest with all thy heart thou mayest Acts 3.37 Hence they conclude that baptisme is to be granted to none but toose that have saith and repentance given before I answ The first of these places doth not mention saith at all so that it seems by that place repentance alone may suffice and the other place doth not mention repentance so that it seems from that place that faith alone may suffice so that of necessity the two places must be joyned together but if you goe to joyne Scriptures together we will joyne with you and lay some other Scriptures to them both which will soone split your argument for these to whom Peter and Philip spake were men of yeares and sufficient to have the practise of repentance and to conceive faith Now such as these we grant ought not to be baptized till we conceive of their conversion and faith so far as it may be conceived by the judgment of men but the case of Infants is to be accounted otherwise as for example When any stranger joyned himselfe in communion with the religion of Israel they taught them first the Covenant of the Lord instructed them in his law before that he was marked with Circumcision because that he was by birth a stranger to the people of Israel with whom the Covenant was made and with whom Circumcision was established The Lord when he adopted Abraham to himselfe doth not begin at Circumcision and hide from him what he meant by that signe but first he declareth what Covenant he intendeth to make with him then after faith is given to apply the promises then he maketh him partaker of the Sacrament of Circumcision but why must Abraham first have faith and then receive this Sacrament and yet his son Isaac shal be partaker of it at eight dayes old I answer because that he was a man grown in years and before a stranger therefore it was meet that he should first learn the conditions of the Covenant our Isaac an Infant begotten of him is in Covenant by right of Inheritance according to the forme of the promise which was not only to be ●is God but the God of his seed after him Gen. 17.19 So that his son had right to it from the wombe although he understood not the conditions thereof being an Infant neither ought such Infants to be debard from the signe for this that they cannot swear to the form of the Covenant So then if heathens which are grown in age shall embrace the faith of Christ they must not bee marked with baptisme till they doe evidently declare their faith in Christ and repentance for their sins which only can open to them an entrance into fellowship of the Covenant but Infants of Christians as they are received of God into the inheritance of the Covenant as soon as they are borne ought to be received to baptisme but if a Turk or a heathen shall offer himselfe to baptisme he must not be rashly

baptized of us till after confession whereby he may so satisfie the Church 15thly they object from the institution of baptisme that Christ sending out his Apostles to all Nations commanded them first to teach and then baptize them Mat. 28.19 And so in the last of Mark it is said he that beleeveth and is baptized shal be saved nence they conclude saying that teaching must goe before baptis●ne by the expresse command of Christ to his Apostles and say they hee doth assigne baptisine to be a state after faith and say they Christ shewed us an example of himselfe which would not be baptized till the thirtieth yeare of his life I answer from the first of these that the Apostles after they have baptized any then they are charged to teach them to observe all things whatsoever Christ commanded them Mat. 28.19.20 Hence I gather frō their own exposition thus that although they do as Christ did who lived 30 years before that he was baptized al that time have bin taught to reform their lives yet by their own expositiō they must not observe do what Christ here commands them till they be baptized because observation reformation are set downe after baptisme in this place Then seeing they fall thus foule upon their own exposition that they must not observe practise till they be baptized in my judgmēt it were good to have thē baptized betime that they may begin reformation betime that they may not only be taught 20 or 30 years but they may observe and practise what they have been taught But here all may see what unprofitable hearers they make of their children who shall heare before baptisme because that teaching is set downe first but they must not observe and practise till after baptisme because that is set down last neither will they baptize them that they may observe and practise Here I may repeat againe what I said before that the Apostles were sent amongst heathens that are out of the Covenant but we are Christians in the Covenant and they were men of age but ours are Infants not capable of teaching But do they stand so much upon this that teaching is set down first although observation be set down after baptismein the same place then let us to this joyn another Io. 3.5 see Acts 22.16 where Christ doth not say except ye be born of the spirit first and then of water afterwards ye cannot enter into the Kingdome of heaven but contrary he saith except ye be borne of water and then of the spirit shewing that baptisme must give them admittance into the visible Church of God here and they must be borne of the spirit that is regenerated before that they can come into God heavenly Kingdom and we know that many were baptized before that they had the gifts and graces of the holy Ghost given them Acts 8.16.17 Again they being sent to teach those that were capable of teaching then to baptize them but will it follow hence that Infants must be first taught and then baptized because Abraham was ninety and nine yeares old when he was circumcised must Isaac be so too a pretty conclusion But I have answered it already and proved it too weak an argument to debar Infants born of Christians from the seale of baptisme but further let me cleare this by a similitude the Apostle saith this we command you that if any will not worke neither should they eat 2 Thes 3.10 will they hence conclude that the Apostle will suffer none to eat but such as worke then what shall our aged people and Infants doe and our sick and weak and lame people doe shall we starve them all because they cannot worke this is our Anabaptists divinity who make that a generall rule for all which is spoken only of some for say they because men of yeares must be instructed before they be baptized therefore Infants must be so too and because men growne in health and strength must worke or else they must not eat therefore infants must doe so too or else they must not eat Now for the example of Christ who they say was not baptized till he was 30 years of age I hope they will not say that he wanted fitnesse till he was of that age to be baptized for when be was but twelve yeares old he disputed with the Doctors in the Teme pl and all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers Luke 2.42.46.47 Then the reason why Christ was not baptized till the middle of mans age or till he was 30 years of age was because he was minded then with his Doctrine to institute baptisme and that he might procure the greater authority to his institution he sanctified it with his owne body who was baptized to sanctifie that ordinance unto us and he sent out his Apostles to baptize all Nations in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy Ghost Mat. 28. Though Iesus himselfe baptized not meaning with water because saith Iohn the Baptist he that commeth after me shall baptize you with the holy Ghost Mat 3.11 Thus Christ did then to many as also now when he make to that ordinance effectuall to the cleansing of their foules from sin but if they stand so much upon the thirtieth yeare why then did they suffer Gervetus one of their great Masters to begin at the age of one and twenty years to boast of himselfe to be a prophet and they suffered him to take the place of a teacher before that he had been a member of their Church 16 they object that if Infants be baptized they may aswell receive the Lords Supper I answer no that will not follow for the Scriptures shew us a large difference betweene those two baptisme is a signe of admission whereby they are numbred among the people of God it is a signe of spirituall regeneration whereby wee are born again the children of God whereas on the other side the Lords Supper is given to men growne in years and therefore able to beare stronger meat and whereas the Scripture never saith that any infants born of christian parents are unfit for baptisme yet none must receive the Lords Supper but such as discerne the body and blood of the Lord and are able to examine their owne conscience and able to declare the Lords death the Apostle exhorteth that every man should prove and examine himselfe and then eat of that bread and drinke of that cup therefore examination must go before which were a vaine thing to looke for from infants againe he that eateth and drinketh unworthily eateth and drinketh damnation to himselfe not discerning the Lords body But if none can partake worthily but they that can discerne the Lords body why then should we give to our tender children poyson in stead of lively food Again the commandement is that ye shall doe it in remembrance of me and that other sentence as often as ye eat of this bread and

Infants are heirs of the Kingdome of Heaven for of such is the Kingdome of Heaven Mat. 19.14.18.14 And they are members of Christ 1 Cor. 12.13 And the imbracing of Christ was a true token of their adoption Mat. 19.15 Thus infants are joyned in common with full growne men therefore although they abstaine from the supper for a time it hinders not but that they pertaine to the body of the Church 13. He addeth that none is made our brother but by the spirit of adoption which is given only by the hearing of faith this objection hath been often answered that it is spoken of men of yeares which is not required in Infants this hearing of faith but is this sufficient to prove that God neither will nor can bring home any of his elect but by the ordinary meanes of the Word preached shall we shut all the world out of heaven because they have not this ordinary meanes of salvation as we have why then shall we limit the holy one of Israel as though he were not able to graft Infants into Christ by his spirit because the manner how is hidden from us 14. Hee objecteth that Gornelius was baptized after hee had received the holy Ghost Acts 10. But what of this because one was so must all be so I have shewed the contrary by many examples read Acts 8.15.16.17 The holy Ghost was faln upon none of them Yet they were baptized in the name of the Lord Iesus 15. Here this blasphemer saith by regeneration we are made Gods and that they be Gods to whom the word of God is spoken This saith he accordeth not to children that be Infants All that I will say at this time to this damnable errour is this to shew their hellish inference from some places where Kings and Magistrates by reason of their offices are called Gods being his Vice-gerents or Deputies upon earth Hence they would gather that all the saithfull are deified that they may the better banish Infants out of the Church 16. He saith that Infants cannot be accounted new men because they have not been begotten by the word This I have often answered to belong to men of yeares yet Gods spirit can worke without the ordinary meanes 17. Here he brings another allegory saying in the Law a sheep a goate were not offered in sacrifice as soone as they came out of the wombe Here I might answer that the first born of man and beast was consecrated to the Lord as soon as it came out of the wombe Exod. 13.2 18. He affirmeth that none can come to Christ but they that have beene before prepared of Iohn I answer had those Infants beene with Iohn whom Christ embraced and blessed away with such false principles 19. Here he calleth for Patrons such as Trismegistus and the Sibylls to prove that holy washing pertaine to none but them that are grown of age here this man discovers his honourable esteeme of the baptisme of Christ who will reduce it to the Ceremonies of the Gentiles that it may be no otherwise administred then pleaseth Trismegistus but we more esteem the authority of God whom it hath pleased to make Infants holy to himselfe and to admit them with that holy signe the force whereof they did not yet understand neither do we count it lawfull to borrow any thing out of the cleansings of the Gentiles that may change in our baptisme the everlasting inviolable law of God which he hath established concerning circumcision 20. Last of all he maketh this argument that if it be lawfull to baptize Infants without understanding that baptisme like an interlude may be in sport administred of boyes when they play But of this matter let him quarrell with God by whose commandement Circumcision was common to Infants before that they had attained to understanding was it therefore a thing to bee played with or subject to the follies of Children that they might overthrow that holy ordinance of God but it is no marvaile that those reprobate spirits although they were vexed with frenzie do thrust in all the grossest absurdities for defence of their errors because God doth with such giddinesse justly take vengeance of their pride and stubbornnesse So much for the 20. arguments of Servetus and his brethren the Anabaptists One objection I find since which is this that Christ and his Apostles did enjoyne all that they baptized to make profession that they had justifying faith although they had it not I an Christ said some of you beleeve not for Iesus knew who they were that beleeved not John 6.64.66 And the Apostles say thēselves that the holy Ghost was faln upon none of those in Samaria yet they were baptized in the name of the Lord Iesus Acts 8.16 Then shall we think that Christ and his Apostles would enjoyne them to make profession of a lye to say they have justifying faith when they had it not or did Christ and his Apostles engage themselves to beleeve that the baptized had justifying faith when they knew the contrary and so beleeve a lye against their owne conscience But they display their folly and reply saying the knowledge of Christ was above the rule and therefore he might cause them to make profession of a justifying faith though he knew they had it not but what blasphemy is this to make Christ the author of their dissembling and not only so but a desembler himselfe to professe that they had justifying faith which say our Anabaptists was the cause of baptisme when he knew they had it not Hence we may gather that knowledge of sin gives free toleration of sinne for Chrst knew they had no justifying faith yet he might baptize them But this is no rule say our Anabaptists for other Ministers because they do not know that they have no justifying saith as Christ did so then by the doctrine of Anabaptists if our Ministers know that Infants have no faith they may baptize them but if they doe not know that they have no justifying faith then they must not baptize them Now all sober-minded men may see how rashly they trouble the Church of Christ with brawls and contentions for baptizing of Infants but it will be profitable to consider what Satan goeth about with this so great subtilty even to take away from us the singular fruit of affiance and spiritual joy which is to be gathered hereof and to diminish also the glory of the goodnesse of God for sweet it is to godly minds to be certified not onely by word but also by sight to our eyes of the great favour that we have obtained of our heavenly father both to us and our posterity How should this stirre up thankfulnesse that God is not only in Covenant with us but with our seed after us this thankesgiving and praise unto our God for this mercy is the thing that Satan seeks to hinder by depriving our Infants of this ordinance of baptisme Now if Satan could hinder this assurance of the grace of God to our Posterity he would soone stifle all the promises that ever God made to us and our posterity after us in his word hence would follow in stead thereof unthankfulnesse and sloathfulnesse to instruct our children in godlinesse for what encouragement have we more then this to bring them up in the feare of God when we consider that even immediately from their birth the Lord taketh and acknowledgeth them for his Children Oh then let us labour to see the bountifull goodnesse of God towards us and let us offer to him our children who will give them a place among them that be in his family and houshold of faith yea he will make them members of his Church and heires of his everlasting Kingdome Then what heart can be so cruell to debar his litle Infants from the ordinance of baptisme which is the doore of entrance to all the mercies of God both here and hereafter Psal 102.28 For saith Luke all the people that heard him and the publicans justified God being baptized with the baptisme of John But the Pharisees and Lawyers rejected the counsell of God against themselves being not baptized of him Luke 7.29.30 FINIS

is this to Christ who came to put an end to all darke Types and shadowes and to manifest to the sons of men the infinite goodnes of the Father more clearely then ever it was before Christ is the light of the Gentiles Luke 2.32 Then let us not think that Christ came to deprive our children of that which the children of the Jewes had before his comming Eightly they will object and say that it is no where found that any one Infant was ever baptized by the hand of any of the Apostles I answer although it be not expresly by name set downe by the Evangelists yet it is plainly implyed when it is said that they baptized Lydia and her houshold and the Jaylor and all his Acts 16.15.23 But if all this will not suffice to answer them I reply that by the same argument women may be debard from the other Sacrament the Lords Supper because that we read of none that received it in the Apostles times but if we observe and consider well what the instrution requireth by that we may know to whom the use of the Lords Supper ought to be communicated now the same rule is to be observed in baptisme for when we consider to what end it was ordained we may easily see that it belongs aswel to Infants as to elder folks so that if they be deprived of it the will of Christ is manifestly defrauded then lot us not beleeve their lyes when they say that baptisme of Infants was not in the Apostles times But try the spirits whether they be of God 1 John 4.1 And search the Scripture daily and see whether those things be so Acts 17.11 Ninthly they will object that although Infants were Circumcised yet it will not follow that they should be baptized because that the signs the Covenant are different and also the names of the children For first say they Circumcision was a figure of mortification not of baptisme so I say too that mortification is the thing signified by both hence I conclude that baptisme doth rightly come in the place of Circumcision because that they both do signifie the same thing 2. Whereas they affirm the difference of the Covenant they are forced to wrest the Scriptures with audacious boldnesse and all because they would make them speake a damnable lye which is this They say that the Covenant which God made with Abraham did not exceed this temporal life al the promises therein contained are but for temporall things but if this be so hence it wil follow that the Jewes were only filled with benefits like swine fatted with huskes and so at length did perish with eternal damnation for say they Circumcision was but a litterall signe and the promises thereof were but carnall To this I reply that Hereticks may draw the same inference from baptisme for saith the Apostle we are circumcised in Christ in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the Circumcision of Christ and presently he addeth buried with him in baptisme Col. 2.11 12. Thus you see that baptisme is directly in the place of Circumcision and the fulfilling of baptisme is also the fulfilling of Circumcision for they figure unto us both the same thing yet I deny not but the land of Canaan with many temporall blessings was infolded in this promise yet not as the chiefe which was Christ and in him all spirituall and eternall blessings that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Iesus Christ that we might receive the promise of the spirit through faith Gal. 3.14 Thus those soule● murderers do not only seek to murder our little Infants but also the soules of all the Israel of God under the old Testament in saying that Covenant which God made with Abraham was but litterall and all the promises contained in it were but for carnall things 3. They say that in the old Testament they were called the children of Abraham because they carne of him and now none but the faithfull are called Abrahams children therefore say they that carnall Infancy which was by Circumcision grafted into the fellowship of the Covenant figured the Infants of the new Testament which are regenerated by the word of God to immortall life This is a truth but yet it is not the whole truth for as the Serpent beguiled Eve so doth this subtile Sophister seek to seduce those little ones that beleeve in Christ 1. Here you see that he excludes all our Infants from having any right in Christ because saith he the circumcising of Infants and receiving them or ingrafting them into the fellowship of the Covenant signified those under the new Testament which are regenerated by the Word which no Infant can be yet I have proved before that they may have the seeds of faith regeneration wrought in them by the spirit of God although the manner how it is wrought in them be hidden from us then why should he exclude these Infants Again he calls them all carnall Infants that were circumcised before that they manifest themselves so to be not considering that God is able to sanctifie them and to give them the gifts of the holy Ghost from their mothers wombe as I have shewed in Ieremiah Iohn the Baptist Again Abraham was called the Father of the faithfull aswell to Jewes as Christians for when a company of wicked wretches called themselves the children of Abraham saith Christ if ye were the children of Abraham you would do the workes of Abraham Ye are of your father the Divell and the lusts of your father ye will doe John 8.39.44 And Abraham rejoyced to see my day and ye goe about to kill me this did not Abraham vers 56.40 Againe all the faithfull whether Iewes or Gentiles are all joynt heirs with Abraham of the same promises and shall come from the East and West and sit downe with him in the Kingdome of heaven Mat. 8.11 so then by Circumcision the Jewes were taught that God was the author of their salvation by this knowledge their minds were raised to the hope of eternal life they were called Gods peculiar treasure and his purchased people and what can be wanting to them when God hath taken charge of them And Abraham had faith before he received the seale of the righteousnesse of faith that he should be the father of all the faithfull both of circumcision and uncircumcision Rom. 4.10.11 Yet God was pleased particularly to imbrace the seed of Abraham with his mercie and that the same mercy might be the more witnessed to them he gave them the seal of circumcision so like unto this is the Christian Church when the parēts receive the seal of the covenant so must the children also For if the root be holy so are the branches Ro. 11.16 Yea if but one of the parents beleeve the children are holy 1 Cor. 7.14 And are so accounted of God although they be Infants and not yet capable to be converted by the