of the Kingdome of glory which is more then a foederall holinesse yet it was in no wise warrantable or lawfull to baptize such a one till afterwards in time the Lord did teach him to know himselfe and he did professe and declare himselfe to believe in the Lord Jesus And this likewise may in part give satisfaction to such who plead for Infants baptism from those words of our Saviour Of such is the Kingdome of God I conclude therefore that it is necessary that all such doe know the Lord and know their duty and ingagement and priviledge who are to be baptized in the Name of the Lord. And so much for this Touchstone and this priviledge A Second priviledge which believers have by Christ in their baptisme is this to wit by baptisme they do enter into the fellowship of his Body that is his Church with all the priviledges and liberties of the same Baptisme is that onely orderly entrance which God hath appointed for believers into the fellowship of the Church of Christ 1. Cor. 12.13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one Body whether we be Iewes or Gentiles whether we be bond or free and have been all made to drinke into one Spirit In which words we have these two things proved to wit first that believers baptisme is their entrance into one particular Body Church or Congregation of Christ By one Spirit speaking of Believers we are all baptized into one Body That is We that are Members in particular diversely gifted and fitted by that one the self-same Spirit are all baptized into one body or fellowship for the mutuall profit and benefit of each member according to the proportion of grace given and divided to us by that one Spirit And secondly as Believers by baptisme do orderly enter into the Body or Congregation of Christ so likewise into all the priviledges of that body And that is expressed in the latter clause of this verse and in the verses following In this verse saith He We have been all made to drink into one spirit That is We as Members of One body are all made to drink into one spirituall benefit or into one spirituall Communion which believers have from Christ in his Supper According to that 1 Cor. 10.16 The Cup of blessing which he blesse is it not the communion of the bloud of Christs And in the verses following of the 12. Chapter He mentioneth other priviledges of the Body which all the Members thereof do share in saith he they are all helpfull to each other and do all take care of each other they suffer and rejoyce one with another And as this Scripture holds forth this priviledge which believers have in baptisme So doth that likewise in Act. 41.42 Then they that gladly received his Word were baptized and the same day there were added about 3000. soules Where it is clear that the entrance of all these believers into the union and fellowship of the body was by baptism they were added by baptisme or in baptisme And so we are to understand Acts 2.47 and 5.14 and 12.24 For God hath appointed but one way for the joyning or adding of believers unto his Body Which sometimes is called an adding to his Church and sometimes an adding to the Lord both which commeth to one and the same thing for to be added to the Church of the Lord or the body of the Lord is to be added to the Lord himself in a mysticall externall union And the same Scripture likewise declareth that as they entred by baptisme into the union and fellowship of the body so likewise unto the enjoyment of all the priviledges of the body For so it followes And they continued stedfastly in the Apostles Doctrine and fellowship and in breaking of bread and in prayers Instruction Hence I may take occasion to instruct believers who have entred into the Lords body in the Lords way that they endeavour to walk closely with the body in all love helpfulnesse carefulnesse tendernesse and usefulnesse as becommeth the Members of Christs body Secondly hence I may take occasion to satisfie such if the Lord please as are opposites unto believers baptisme and their entrance into the Church by baptisme and contend much for their entrance into a Church-estate by Covenant or Contract without baptisme Indeed there ought to be a sweet and firm consent harmony agreement or contract both in judgement and affection according to the Lord amongst all those who are one body in the Lord and as it is unquestionable so it is a desirable a good and pleasant thing and I shall plead for it as much as any But that such a consent or covenant amongst persons is an entrance according to Christ into the body of Christ without this one baptisme upon profession of this one faith in this one Lord Jesus is not clear to me from the Lawes and Statutes of this Law-giver That Scripture Esay 56.4 and 6. verses so much alledged for that purpose by men of that way whom in other things I much esteem where the Lord saith to the Eunuches and the sonnes of the stranger that serve him and keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it and taketh hold of his Covenant that he will give them a glorious setled Name in His house c. Where they understand an entering into a Church-estate by Covenant onely I say I conceive this Scripture which is indeed a Gospell-Scripture will without any violation admit of other interpretations more spirituall and more sweetly agreeing to the Gospell of Christ then their interpretation is Why may we not say without wrong to this or any other Scripture that by taking hold of the Covenant here may be understood in part believers obedience to Christ in baptisme For whatsoever Christ commandeth to his servants may in a true sense according to the Scripture be called his Covenant But if we come up to the spiritualnesse of this Scripture I conceive that by Covenant in this place we are to understand Christ himself For as I said this Scripture is a Gospel-scripture Therefore by Sabbath here we are to understand the Lord Iesus only who alone is the Sabbath or Rest of Believers under the Gospel And to keep this Sabbath from polluting it is to believe in him onely unto righteousnesse For to do any work I mean to seek righteousnes or peace or reconciliation with God by any work is to pollute this Sabbath or this Rest by whom alone such as believe in him do and shall enjoy a glorious an everlasting rest So likewise by Covenant here we are to understand Christ himself and so he is called in the same Prophet Esay 42.6 I will give thee speaking of Christ for a Covenant of the people for a light to the Gentiles And chapter 49.8 I will preserve thee and give thee for a Covenant of the people Therefore to take hold of his Covenant is to believe in Christ onely to embrace him to cleave close to him
the Sonne and of the Holy Spirit carry the force of a promise in them for in that the Lord hath commanded his servants to baptize believers in his Name to Put or Call his Name upon them in baptisme he saith Amen to it he confirmeth the word of his servants he performeth what he promiseth to them Agreeable to what he saith by Moses Numb 6.27 They shall put my Name upon the Children of Israel and I will blesse them Now the summe of what the Lord promiseth or saith Amen to and which his servants declareth in his Name unto believers in baptisme is this to wit The Lord is your Father and Master and Lord requiring honour and feare and service and Obedience from you there is his Authoritie And not onely so but likewise promising loving kindnesse mercy truth peace blessing strength teaching and preservation to you there is his Grace And indeed as his Name alone is excellent in respect of Authority so in respect of Grace also The second thing which is implyed is this to wit Believers in baptisme do professe to put or call the Name of the Lord that is his Authority and Grace upon themselves for in baptisme there is as it were a promise on their parts And it is as much as if they should openly declare before the Lord and his servants thus we do now professe the Lord alone to be our Lord our God our Father and our Master and our selves to be his Children his servants his people and that we give up our selves wholly and onely to him to serve him to love him to feare him to honour him there is an acknowledgment of his Authority and not onely so but likewise to depend upon him and to trust in him onely for mercy righteousnesse peace blessing strength Wisdedome preservation and all good things there is an acknowledgment of his Grace And thus or to this purpose believers are said to put on Christ in baptisme as it is expressed by the Apostle Gal. 3.27 And thus as the Lord hath taught me I have shewed you what it is for Disciple or Believers to be baptized in the Name of the Lord. And therein I have briefly declared to you one of those glorious priviledges which the Lord Jesus gives to Believers in baptisme And indeed such to whom the Lord gives a spirituall understanding will acknowledge that this is a glorious priviledge Instruction That which I have said for the clearing up of this priviledge is usefull to instruct believers who are under the obedience of this Ordinance as believers to look upon their baptisme neither as shamefull nor beggarly but as honourable and precious through Christ whose Name is called upon them in the same Therefore be not ashamed of your baptisme but own it continually and before all men as an honourable and rich priviledge to you through the Lord Jesus And again let Believers be instructed to walk answerably to this priviledge which the Lord Jesus gives them in their baptisme Let them in all things and at all times be subject to him as their Lord and Master let them be subject to none other in the things of Christ but Christ only whose Authority only they have professed in baptism to be subject to Let them in all their ways relations walk according to the Lord Christ whose commandements they have professed to be subject to Let them likewise look for all supply of Grace from the Lord Iesus that in his grace and strength they may serve him in all things and at all times that in all their conversation they may shew forth the praise and honour of their Lord and Master whose Name is called upon them Tryall Again This priviledge which Believers have in baptisme through Christ may serve as a third Touchstone of Infants Baptisme for I thus conclude Baptisme may lawfully be administred to none but unto such onely whom the Lord hath made meet to be partakers of such a priviledge as to have his Name called upon them in Baptisme And who are these But first such as know the Lord such as know the Father and the Sonne and the Holy Spirit such as know the Authority and Grace of the Lord Iesus such as know what the Lord declareth and promiseth to them and what they promise or professe before the Lord and his people in baptisme as I have above shewed Secondly such whom the Lord hath inabled in some measure to walk answerably to such a priviledge and such a profession as the Lord puts upon them and they take upon themselves in baptisme from thenceforth to walk as the servants of the Lord whose Name therein is called upon them being subject in all things to him and depending for all things upon him onely Now then the baptism of Infants being wisely and sincerely applyed to this Touchstone it will evidently appear to all discerning humble spirits not to be of God but of men onely for hath the Lord made them to be meet partakers of this Ordinance Do they know the Lord Do they not want this necessary thing How then shall his name bee called upon them How shall his Authority and Grace be declared to them in Baptisme and they promise and professe before the Lord and his people from thenceforth to be subject unto him and depend upon him seeing they do not know him Do not therefore such as command and practise Infants baptisme goe a direct contrary course from the mind of the Lord Jesus I leave it to the consideration of the wise And heare I may take occasion to deale with such in a word or two who plead so earnestly for the baptisme of the Infants of believers upon this ground because they are holy to wit say they with a foederall holynesse by vertue of their Parent or Parents being believers which holynesse say they gives them a Right to baptisme Their alone ground is from the Apostles words 1. Cor. 7.14 else were your children uncleane but now are they holy I might answer first that not such a holynesse neither any other but a naturall holynesse contrary to a naturall uncleanesse is there intended by the Apostle as will evidently appeare to such to whom the Lord gives a discerning Spirit Secondly I might say the Apostle speaks not the last word concerning baptisme neither was it to his purpose in that Chapter But Thirdly if I grant to them seeing they are so earnest upon it that the Infants of believers are foederally holy yet this will be no advantage to them concerning the baptisme of these Infants seeing I may affirme from the Lord Iesus according to cleare scripture that no holynesse whatsoever can admit any to baptisme but a professed holynesse or knowledge or faith or repentance in their owne persons onely Yea I may boldly affirm that if the Lord should witnesse from heaven to our knowledge that such an Infant of such Parents was an elect vessell one ordained to eternall life an heire with the Lord Jesus
there He gives this exhortation to the Saints verse 3. endeavour to keepe the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace He presseth this exhortation from the consideration of certaine Unityes or Onenesses which were the common lot or portion of them all and so are of all such as walke in the paths of the Gospell Saith he you are all One body and one spirit and you are all called to one and the same hope ye have all one Lord and ye all professe one faith in the same Saviour ye are all baptized with one and the same baptisme you have all one God and Father who is above you all and through you all and in you all in a way of grace and power And therefore do you preserve an Onenesse of heart and Spirit amongst yourselves keep or preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace Now this one baptisme which the Apostle makes use of whereby to strengthen his exhortation must of 〈◊〉 be one of those three baptismes above mentioned but first it was not the baptisme of the holy spirit or fire for it is evident all these believers were not baptized with the powring out of the gift or gifts of the holy spirit upon them they did not all prophesie nor all spake with tongues but he gave some Apostles and some Prophets for the edifying of the Body vers 11.12.13 And secondly it was not the baptisme of afflictions for we do not reade of any notable afflictions which all the members of this body did for the present meet with And therefore that exhortation could not be or not so strongly pressed upon them from either of these baptismes And therefore this One baptisme here mentioned is without doubt the baptisme of water wherewith all the members of that one body upon profession of one faith according to the commandement of that one Lord were baptized And from this One baptisme of water whereof they were all partakers as also they were of many other Onenesses he exhorts them to keepe or preserve the unity or Onenesse of the Spirit in the bond of peace Instruction That usefull Instruction which flowes from hence is to teach all the Saints who are under the profession of this one baptisme according to the commandement of One Lord upon the profession of one faith to endeavour at all times 2 Cor. 13.11 by all meanes to keep or preserve the unity of the spirit the onenesse of heart and minde in the bond of peace Tryall And this that I have said may serve as the first Touchstone for the tryall of Infants baptisme whereby the unwarrantablenesse and counterfeitnesse of the same will be discovered for if this one baptisme ingage all without exception who are under the profession of it to keep or preserve the unity of spirit in that Body whereof they are members to walk in a gracious amiable wise and peaceable manner in the Body then surely Infants have no admittance by the Lord to this Ordinance Doth the Lord any where lay such an ingagement as this is upon Infants Or are they capable of such an ingagement as this is Or doth the Apostle intend them in this Scripture wherein he saith ye are one body and one spirit and ye are called to one hope ye have one Lord one faith and one Baptisme therefore do ye keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace Whereby it is evident that not Infants or Infants of believers but believers onely have entrance and admittance to the Lord to this ordinance And this remains now to be further proved in clearing up the two next particulars to wit The baptisme of water is an Ordinance of the Lord Jesus which is one of them And this Ordinance of the Lord Jesus is properly and peculiarly belonging unto believers which is the other of them These two I shall now prove joyntly 〈◊〉 in the mouth of two clear and faithfull witnesses wherein this is established and shall prevail against all gain-sayers These two witnesses are First the command of the Lord Jesus and of his servants from his mouth Secondly the example of the Lord Jesus and of the Saints in Scripture who have walked before us in the pathes of the Gospell The first witnesse is the command of the Lord Jesus and of his servants from his mouth And who shall contradict his commandement unto whom all power in heaven and earth is given It is thus written Matthew 28.18 19 20. And Jesus spake to his Disciples saying All power is given unto me in heaven and earth Go ye therefore and make Disciples all Nations for so the words are to be read baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the holy spirit Teaching them to obseâ—â—â— all things whatsoever I have commanded you Wherein obseâ—â—e this Order to wit first make Disciples and then baptize them and then teach them to observe all other things that I have commanded you And let another Scripture witnesse to the truth of this interpretation Ioh. 4.2 Jesus made and baptized more Disciples then Iohn First he made Disciples and then they were baptized And the very same Commission of our Lord Jesus as it is expressed by Mark in the 16. chapt vers 15.16 Doth put the matter out of all doubt and is sufficient to convince such if the Lord please as make I know not what strange interpretations of that place of Matth. 28. And he said to them Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospell to every creature He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved That is such as are made believers through the power of God in the preaching of the Gospell let them be baptized and he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved Thus we see Matthew and Mark explaining each other concerning the minde of the Lord Jesus in this Ordinance Make them Disciples saith one and then baptize them Let them be believers saith another and be baptized And doubtlesse the Scripture fore-seeing what contradictions would afterward arise against this Ordinance of Christ thus to be dispensed through that self-love carnall feare pride and worldlinesse which too much possesseth the hearts of many and what oppositions would be raised against the Saints for the practise of it did thus provide to clear up and confirm this truth to them whose hearts God doth perswade to receive in the love of it To these Scriptures may be added divers others concerning the minde of the Lord Iesus in the mouths of his Servants Acts. 2.38 Repent and be baptized every one of you in the Name of Jesus Christ Acts. 10.47 48. Can any man forbid water that these should not be baptized which have received the holy Spirit as well as we And he commanded them to be baptized in the Name of the Lord. Acts. 22.16 And now why tarriest thou It is the command of the Lord Jesus by Ananias to Saul after that he appeared to him in