Ceremonial Law for immersion or dipping in baptism otherwise let them cease from such an unwarrantable practice 2. In the Second place Let us observe how excellently the Apostles have conjoined and applyed those Heavenly things in the Gospel new Dispensation their proper center 1. In Heb. 9. For if the blood of bulls and of goats and the ashes of an heiser sprinkling the unclean sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh Here is Sprinkling and Sanctification joined together 2. In Heb. 10. Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water Here is Sprinkling and Washing joined together 3. In Heb. 11. Through faith he kept the passever and sprinkling of blood Here is the Passover and Sprinkling of blood joined together the one a Type or Pattern of the Lords-supper and the other of Baptism the two Seals of the Covenant and both pointing to the Death and Sufferings of Jesus Christ the Essential Covenant and also Regeneration and Sanctification as Baptism and the Lords-supper most compatibly do 4. In Heb. 12. And to Jesus the mediatour of the new covenant and to the blood of sprinkling Here the Covenant of Grace under the new Dispensation of the Gospel and Sprinkling are joined together namely Baptism the Seal or Token thereof 5. And lastly Here is the Foundation of all these Sprinklings clearly explained by the Apostle St. Peter in these Words in 1 Pet. 1.2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father through sanctification of the Spirit unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ Here is the Covenant and Sprinkling the blood of the Covenant joined together namely the blood of Christ And what God hath joined together let not proud carnal Reason part asunder Thus you see I have clearly proved from the Ceremonial Law That baptism is by sprinkling and pouring water on the subjects baptized for nothing can be the Antitype of all these Sprinklings but this Heavenly Thing namely the Sacrament of Water-baptism Therefore baptism cannot be by dipping because there is no Example or Pattern for it among all the Ceremonies for if it had been one of the Heavenly Things then there must have been a Pattern for it but there is none as I know of unless it be those two which are not of the Heavenly Things here mentioned but a Dispensation of Wrath from Heaven namely the drowning the old ungodly World and proud Pharaoh and all his Host they were all immersed or dipped and drowned Therefore dipping in baptism is of the Earth and but a humane Invention Now to bring things nearer home still Whaâ— did all these Sprinklings with blood and water signifie under the Mosaick Dispensation which are brought down into the New Testament and applied by the Apostle 1. As they were Examples and Patterns of Water-baptism so they pointed unto the same things as Water-baptism doth viz. Regeneration and Sanctification both which we have in John 3. Jesus answered Verily verily I say unto thee Excepâ— a man be born of water and of the Spirit he cannâ—â— enter into the kingdom of God 2. Sprinkling under the Ceremonial Law is baptism under the Gospel for they both point at one and the same thing namely the Death and Sufferings of Jesus Christ without which there had been no Regeneration or Sanctification for without shedding of blood there could have been no Remission of sins 1. Sprinklings under the Law pointed forward to the Death of Christ to shew that he was to come and suffer 2. Baptism under the Gospel points upward to shew that Christ is come and hath suffered and is ascended though baptism was instituted before Christ's Sufferings just as things are spoken in the present Tense for the future as concerning Christ's birth and nativity in Isa 9.6 For unto us a child is born Christ came by water and blood 1 John 5.6 For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us 1 Cor. 5.7 Therefore Christ called his own Sufferings his baptism That is calling the thing it self by the name of that which represents it And Christ was really circumcised and also baptized both which pourtrayed his Death and Sufferings Col. 2.13 14. Thus you see how the Ceremonial Law and the new Dispensation of the Gospel were related one to the other the Ceremonial Law was a Shadow of the Image of Christ in his Ordinances And in the Gospel-Ordinances those Heavenly Things the Image of Christ himself is held forth unto us Heb. 10. For the law having a shadow of good things to come and not the very image of the things 5. Those that are baptized by the Holy Ghost are not said to be dipped into the Holy Ghost but the Graces of the holy Spirit are poured out upon them and shed abroad in their Hearts Isa 44.3 Joel 2.28 Acts 2.18 Thus you may see that I have proved from the Ceremonial Law that baptism is by sprinkling and not by dipping 6. And lastly I shall add one Scripture more to corroborate that which hath been said touching the mode of baptism which is that famous Text in 1 Pet. 3. When once the long-suffering of God waited in the days of Noah while the ark was a preparing wherein few that is eight souls were saved by water The like figure whereunto baptism doth also now save us not the putting away of the filth of the flesh but the answer of a good conscience towards God by the resurrection of Jesus Christ Here are several things of great note in this Text of Scripture 1. Here is the twofold patience of God first he waited patiently on the old ungodly World for their Repentance 2. His patience in waiting on Noah until he had prepared the Ark for the saving himself and his Houshold 3. Here is the fewness of the Number of these which were saved among the many Thousands of Families of the Earth viz. but eight persons and they were saved by water that which was a most dreadful dispensation of Gods Wrath to the old ungodly World was a dispensation of distinguishing Love and Grace unto Noah and his Family for the Text telleth us they were saved by water the like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us 4. Here are two things enveloped in these words First As Noah's temporal preservation and deliverance in and by the Ark was typical of eternal Life and Salvation by Jesus Christ the Ark of Gods Covenant so is baptism also 5. None are eternally saved by nor for their being baptized no more than all were saved eternally that were in the Ark for if it were so then all would be saved that were are or shall be baptized for external holiness will not give them a Right to eternal Salvation nor foederal holiness neither though inherent holiness doth Pray mind the Apostles Words for saith he The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us not the putting away
of the filth of the flesh that is external holiness but the answer of a good conscience towards God by the resurrection of Jesus Christ There is Internal Grace and Holiness Temporal salvation and deliverances are not a sure sign of Eternal salvation nor external purification or putting away the filth of the flesh without inward heart-purification by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ of which Noah's preservation was a true Type or sign and Water-baptism is no more 6. What analogy is there between Noah's preservation and dipping in baptism for the Text saith plainly that baptism maketh the like figure unto it To which I answer in the negative There is none at all it is altogether incongruous all that can be said of it is this namely It makes a true figure of Gods Wrath on the old drowned World for they were all immersed and destroyed 7. And lastly What analogy or congruity is there between Noah's preservation and sprinkling in baptism To which I answer in the affirmative There is a sweet harmonious Agreement between them for sprinkling in baptism is the like figure 1. As Noah's Preservation and his Family was a Mark and Token of Gods distinguishing Love and Grace unto them above all the rest of the World even so is Baptism now to all true Christian believers and their children which is the Figure thereof a Mark and Token of Gods distinguishing Love and Grace unto them above all other persons in the World for baptism is a sealing the Name of God upon them whereby they are externally received into the Family of Christ for whoso shall receive one such little child in Christs name receives Christ himself 2. As Noah and his Family were all in the Ark even so believers and their seed are all in the Covenant and therefore they all ought to have the Figure of Noah's Preservation administred unto them namely Water-baptism and that by sprinkling otherwise it cannot answer to the Figure of Noah's Preservation for he nor none of his Family went over-board into the water and were dipped but was sprinkled with the Rain from Heaven and with the water that did fly over into the Ark by the beating of the Waves against it even as it doth against a ship at sea in a stooâ— by which the Mariners are often sprinkled and know this my self experimentally but if any â— the Mariners are dipped in the sea they are commonly drowned 3. And lastly As the Waters in mercy bâ—â— up the Ark and saved Noah and his Family eveâ— so in judgment it drowned all the World besides for the Text saith that Noah was saved by wateâ— unto which baptism is annexed Thus I have pâ—ved that sprinkling in baptism is of Divine Institution and dipping for baptism but a human Invention 7. Saith Mr. D. Habitual Faith is not to be fâ—â— in the primitive Fathers Writings To which â— thus reply What is that to us I will put it to a fair and short Issue which shall be this Either Mr. D. must grant that all elect dying Infants have Habitual Faith otherwise he must totally deny Original sin which he please here is his choice for this is the genuine consequence of it withoâ— offering the least force or violence unto his Allegation 1. For First If all young Infants by nature are guilty of Adam's Transgression then they cannot be saved without Regeneration for there is no passing immediately out of the Kingdom and Dominion of Sin and Satan into the Kingdom of Glory for there is a great Gulf fixed between them Luke 16.26 And if they are not in the Ark of Gods preventing Grace to ferry then over they must perish for the only Road to the Kingdom of Glory lyeth through the Kingdom and Dominion of Gods free preventing Grace for all old and young that are saved Eph. 2.8 2. All young Infants by nature are guilty of Original Sin and depravation Psal 51. Behold I was shapen in iniquity and in sin did my mother conceive me Rom. 3. For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God Therefore they must have Grace poured into their Souls to subdue and conquer that original depravation or they cannot be sanctified nor saved for we all received our very shape and first being in sin Therefore they must have Grace to unite them to Christ the lost Image of God by the Fall of Adam must be restored unto them and re-instamped upon them and Christ with all the Graces of his Spirit must be formed in them or God will never save them nor be reconciled unto them no more than he will to the Fallen Angels and this must be done by the Infusion of Gracious Habits into their Souls 1 John 3.9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin for his seed remaineth in him This Seed of God is the Principles and Habits of Grace which is a Fruit of the Spirit but Grace in Act and Exercise is called the Fruit of the Spirit 3. Habitual Grace is sufficient by the powerful Agency of the Spirit to subdue and conquer original Depravation in regenerating and changing their state and making them Partakers of the Divine Nature by the application of the Righteousness and Merits of Jesus Christ for Justification and Sanctification by the aforesaid Habitual Grace instrumentally of which Faith is supream because without Faith it is impossible to please God 4. The salvation of all Gods Elect both old and young is begun carried on and finished by the Work of Christ without us and by the powerful Operation of his holy Spirit within us Christ ever lives to make Intercession at the Right hand of God for the Application of his Satisfaction to the Fathers Justice for us and his Spirit abideâ— in us to help our infirmities in making Inteâ—cession for us also with groanings which cannot 〈◊〉 uttered Rom. 8.26 27. And thus all Elect dying Infants are made meâ— to partake of the Inheritance with the Saints â—â—â—ight even as all Adult believers are for this 〈◊〉 the only way in which God doth justifie sanctifâ—â— and save all his chosen People both old and young and therefore it is emphatically called the Faiâ—â— of Gods Elect Titus 1.1 5. Wherefore if any dying Infants are any paâ—â— of Gods Elect as that they are then they mâ—â— have this Faith because it is peculiar to God Elect and to none else which is the Faith of the Operation of God and not by maturity of yeaâ—â— for he is the Author and the Finisher of it 〈◊〉 12.2 And it is the gift of God Eph. 2.8 We reverence be it spoken God may be compared 〈◊〉 a man that maketh a Watch with all the Whâ—â— and Pins and Members thereof but it may be 〈◊〉 doth not wind it up and set it a going as soon 〈◊〉 he hath made it but the Watch is a compleaâ— Watch notwithstanding though it should never 〈◊〉 set a going but it is ready to go whenever the Watch-maker please Even so God forms and
when the unbelieving Jews and their Children were â—â—st out the believing Jews which remained in the Church their Children remained in the Church with them and God did take the Adult Elect Gentiles and their Children into the Church together he did not take in their Parents and shut out and exclude their Children as is clear from Acts 2.39 Rom. 11.17 3. The Church state which is the Kingdom of Heaven is the same now as it was in the Beginning in Adam's Time after the Fall and ever will be to the End of the World and the Covenant of Grace is the same in whiâ—h all the Matter Form Laws and Ordinances of Worship and Subjects are contained though some of the unbelieving Jews and their Châ—ldren were cast out especially of those who were actually concerned in condemning our Saviour Christ by which they intailed a Curse upon their Posterity when they said His blood be on us and on our children Mat. 2â— 25 4. And lastly The state of the Church is and ever was indissolvable though it is locally mâ—table God may and he hath taken it from one place and fixed it in another and remove it from one People of Nation and bestow in upon another 2. I shall also prove the Church state is the same now as it was under the Old Testament and the Frame the same substantially but in a more glorious Dress as farther appears from the Apostles Doctrine in Eph. 2. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and forreiners but fellow-citizens with the saints and of the houshold of God And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone In whom all the building fuly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord In whom you also are builded together for an haâ—itation for God through the Spirit Here are several Things to be observed 1. Those whom the Apostle Preached this Doctrine unto were the then called Gentiles who were come from the East and West and were sat down with Abraham Isaac and Jacob in the Kingdom of Heaven and the Children of the Kingdom viz. The Reprobate Jewes and their Children were cast out 2. The believing Jews which kept their station in the Church were these Citizens and Saints 3. That the Gentiles before their Conversion were Strangers and Forreiners to this City but were then Fellow-citizens with the believing Jewes and their Children the Citizens aforesaid 4. They were taken into the Family Royal of Heaven the Houshold of God who before were Gentiles in the flesh with out Christ being aliens from the common-wealth of Israel aâ—â— strangers from the covenants of promise having no hope and without God in the world Eph. 2.12 5. These Gentiles as miserable and vile as they were 〈◊〉 that Time were not only made Fellow citizens with the Saints but also fellow heirs with them of the same body and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel Now thiâ— was spoken to the Gentiles by name as in Eph. 3.6 6. The foundation of the Church of Christ was to be 〈◊〉 in the Doctrine of the Prophets in the Old Testament which â— the same with the Apostles Doctrine in the New Testament and Christ himself is the chief Corner-stone in whom all the Building is joined exactly together and groweth unto an holy Temple in the Lord an Habitation for God 7. And lastly All the believing Hebrews and all their children and all the believing Gentiles and theirs maketh but 〈◊〉 Mystical Body which is the Church Eph. 3.6 4. The Church under the Law was a Golden Candlestick Exod. 25. And thou shalt make a candlestick of puregold c. Zech. 4. What seest thou And I said I have looked and behold a candlestiâ—k all of gold c. This was the Gospel-church in the Old Testament-Times 1. Gold to signifie the Mattâ—â— and Subjects of it 2. Pure Gold to signifie the holiness and purity of it 3. A Candlestick to signifie the Form of it 4. And lastly A Candlestick to signifie the usefulness of the Church for as a Candlestick is to set up a Light in even so â—â— the Church It is a City built upon a Hill 2. Compare this with the Churches in the New Testament in Rev. 1. And I turned to see the voice that spake with me Aâ—â— being turned I saw seven golden candlesticks and the seven golden candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches Now I would fain know of our Author where lyes the difference for my part I can see none but this namely There was but one Candlestick of pure Gold in the Old Testament thâ—â— was but one Church or Congregation which was all the Nation and there are seven in the New Testament which is a certain number set for an uncertain but all of Gold under both Dispensations viz. all Gospel holy Churches 3. And lastly The Gospel Church in the Old Testament lived upon the same Food as the Gospel-Churches of Christ do now in the New Testament and as these Churches are baptized Churches so was that one Church in the Old Testament for all the Members of it men women and children were baptized Hear is a clear Scripture-proof for it let who as will or dare deny it 1 Cor. 10. Moreover brethren I would not that 〈◊〉 should be ignorant how that all our fathers were under the cloud and all passed through the sea And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea And did all eat the same spiritual meat And did all drink the same spiritual drink For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them and that Rock waâ— Christ On this Rock the Church was built immediately after Adam's Fall and on this Rock it hath stood ever since and ever will to the end of the World and the gates of Hell shall never be able to preva l against it for Christ doth watch over it and keep it Thus I have proved what the Prescription of the Church in the New Testament is though Mr. D. was not so kind as to do it and also of the Old Testament and demonstrated the Matter Form Laws and Ordinances of Worship and the subjects also and I find them joined together and so I leave them for I dare not part them asunder For though this Dispensation is more glorious than that of the Old Testament was yet it is the same for substance 1. It was made of the same Mettle viz. Gold 2. It was of the same quality fine Gold 3. The same Subjects viz. Parents and Children 4. The Church was of the same Form viz. a Candlestick 5. It was of the same use viz. it was for Light for the Laws and Ordinances of Worship are for Light Indeed Satans Kingdom is a Kingdom of Darkness but Christs Kingdom is a Kingdom of Light 6. And lastly They lived upon the very same Food as the Churches of God now do And thus I have proved the Title of this my Book For Infant-Baptism and Church-Membership is of Divine Institution and the Mode of Baptism I have also proved to be by Sprinkling for it is one of the Heavenly Things POSTSCRIPT HAving finished my Discourse at this time concerning the Infant-seed of Christian Believers I now come in the first place to address my self in particular unto my loving Friend Mr. B. D. who hath said in p. 8. as followeth For many Years I have attended to see what could be made of this Argument of the necessity of Baptism to Infants and could I have found it proved I would not have been an Hour out of your Tents Now Sir you have seen it proved to be of as much necessity as Circumcision was under the Law to the Eight-day Disciples for the Infant seed of Believers are fixed in the same station in the Church now as the Jews Children were then for they were never excluded 2. It is necessary it should be so for you see I have fully proved that God commands it 3. It is a Badge of Honour and Token of Gods Covenant-Love and Grace to the Seed of believing Parents who are stiled holy Children 1 Cor. 7.14 4. And lastly Circumcision was the Type of Baptism which is 〈◊〉 Heavenly Things Now my good Friend if you dare veâ—â—â— There was no necessity for those Things aforesaid then you â— that there is no necessity for Infant-Baptism for you see thâ—â— proved Infant-Baptism and Church-Membership 1. From â—ample of John the Baptist 2. From Christs Command 〈◊〉 the Apostles Argumentative Exhortation or Mandamus 〈◊〉 lastly From their Covenant-relation to God who hath proâ— be the Believers God and the God of his Seed and of hâ— Seed Psal 105.8 9 10. Whereever God layeth his Coâ— there is an absolute necessity of Obedience Now Sir I expect you should comply with your Prâ—mâ— make haste and delay not to come into our Tents or shew cause in Print why you will not for I humbly yet boldly longe you to do one or the other either to confute it or of it 2. I address my self to all you that are of this Opinion iâ— not read our Books about this Controversie but pass a deâ— Sentence upon them and condemn them without Book 〈◊〉 Popish Priests and Jesuits do for they judge and câ—â—deâ— Books and Doctrines to be heretical and charge the People hear them on pain of damnation But methinks noâ—â— that are called Protestants should be found guilty of imitaâ— Papists Pray for the future either forbear that ungâ— christian Practice of yours which some of you are guilty â— knowledge by their own confession of judging Books withouing them And if you cannot coâ—fute them then compâ— them It is a greater Honour to recant and renounce 〈◊〉 when detected than to cleave to it Lastly Do not meâ— Truths of God by the Passions and Infirmities of the Inâ—iâ— which God makes use of to declare them for Martin Lutâ— an Eminent Saint in his Day yet very passionate And that is perfectly clear of this Sin cast the first stone at â— thus condemn Thus I leave a Challenge with you all to Answer this my â— the Lord give you spiritual skill and understanding in these â— Covenant-Mysteries that we may all embrace the Truth aâ— Jesus and be of one Heart and one Mind fervent 〈◊〉 serving the Lord with one Consent And so dear Friends to you all FINIS