sorts of Learning the one to ttanslate the literal words of the original Scriptures into any Language or Speech or Tongue a special natural Gift of God and this may be attained unto by meer natural Men that want the Spirit of Grace The other is the Learning in the Mysteries of Faith And it was and still is the pleasure of God to make choice of some Men unskilled in School-learning to publish his Gospel as for example Peter and John Acts 4. 13. when the Jews saw their Boldness and perceived that they were unlearned and Ignorant Men in School-learning they marvelled and they took knowledge of them that they had been with Jesus who had given them the Tongue of the Learned in the Spirit in that he opened their Understandings Luke 24. 45. that they might understand the Scriptures And therefore they that have not so learned of Christ by the Gift of God are Ignorant of true Learning saith Christ Matt. 13. 11. 2 Pet. 3. 17. For it is given to you to wit to his chosen to know the mysteries of the Kingdom and unto all others though never so learned in the Tongues they know not the true sense of Scripture according to the Analogy of Faith and such saith the Apostle Peter are unlearned although they have skill in all natural Learning and unstable wavering wandering minded Men wrest as they do also the other Scriptures as the Pharisees did Matt. 5. 17 to 48. 23. 13. to 24. unto their own Destruction such were the learned Rabines of the Jews for who were more learned Men than the Jews in the original Hebrew and Greek and other Languages yet when the Scriptures were read every Sabbath day Acts 13. 27. it is said they knew not the Voices of the Prophets spiritually concerning Christ in the Promise no more than did the Eunuch Acts 8. 30 31 34 35. So that if the Anabaptists have no better Schollarship to have their Faith rely on than humane Learning to teach them the Mysteries of Christ 's Kingdom whereof the Doctrin of Baptism is one they may see how they deceive themselves by a natural Faith and all others that are led by them about the signification of the word Baptism And therefore let all remember what is written concerning such as make it a Fundamental Article of their Faith to contend by Carnal Reason about words in Scripture as did the Jews in opposing the Doctrin which the Apostles taught them concerning the Kingdom of God Acts 18. 14 15 16. Insomuch that the Heathen Governour Galio was ashamed of them by the very light of Nature and that contention about words doth generally arise from pride of Heart as it is Written he is Proud knowing nothing but doting about Questions and strife of Words whereof cometh Envy Strife Raylings Evil Surmisings perverse Disputing of Men of corrupt minds destitute of Truth These consent not 1 Tim. 6. 4 3. saith the Apostle to the wholesome words of our Lord Jesus Christ and to the Doctrin which is according to Godliness For these and the like things as appeareth in the fifth Query by John Smith who began first to quarrel with Translation of Scripture such Distraction and Division is among the Churches in this day as was among the Primitive Christians for which God threatned them with Judgments and they being not warned by the Apostles teaching and Writings sent unto them God brought his severe judgments on them as are threatned now on Chrrstians for their Apostacy in this day of like Sins Rev. 8 9 and 16. Chapters as by the opening of the Seales and sounding of the Trumpets and shedding of the Vials is declared Therefore we may see if we read what 's Written God will do nothing contrary to that he hath Revealed to his Prophets Amos 3. 7. and in the Prophets Writings out of which the Book of the Prophecy of the Revelations is taken concerning the State of the Church of God and of her Enemies in all Ages since Christs Ascension and as one well said to wit Ainsworth concerning the Church of Rome p. 54. to begin at Revelation 11 Chapter it is the Key to open that Book So that as God delivered his People of old Zach. 1. 8 16. and 2. 1. 2. out of Old Babylon and a second Temple was Built and God's holy Ordinances restored then for the Sins of them again after they Apostatized from their Faith and Holy Order in Worship The Lord raised up against them that terrible Enemy under that name Gog and Magog Ezek. 38. 39. to their sore Affliction and Misery Even so God who hath called his people out of the Spiritual Babylon and a second Spiritual Temple is Builded Rev. 11. 1. with Ezek. 40. 2. 3 5. compar'd with Zach. 6. 12. Christ the Branch should Build the Temple 1 Pet. 2. 5. as hath appeared by the many Famous Churches of Christ in this and in most parts of the neighbouring Nations and other some more remote since the first Apostacy after the Apostles days wherein the true Doctrin of Faith to wit of free Grace flourished and Gods holy Order in Worship in many Churches abounded which now for some years have been Apostatising both from the Doctrin of free Grace to maintain the Doctrin of Merit or Free-will by the work done which is proved in this Treatise to be the first Foundation of Anabaptistry Not here to speak of several other People called by other Names professing Christianity who are likewise guilty of the same Doctrin that Caine and the Unbelieving Jews were pleading a right to Gods Ordinance by their own Act. What then remaineth but the expectation of God's fearful Judgment on this as on other Nations for Sin of all sorts which is begun already even by that Enemy under the name of Gog and Magog Rev. 20. 8. Whose Number is as the Sand on the Sea-shoar Enemies of all sorts covered and uncovered open wicked and secret hipocritical Enemies to the Truth of the Gospel compassing about the Camp of the Saints and the beloved City ver 9. until Fire come down from Heaven for as in the days of Noah when the true Faith was almost lost none left a Preacher of Righteousness 2 Pet. 2. 5. that is of free Grace in Christ by Christs Merit only for the justification of all in the sight of God that shall be saved from wrath to come but Noah to his Family all others were possessed with the Doctrin of Caine who like Ishmael mocked at the Doctrin of Faith Gen. 21. 9. with 2 Pet. 3. 3. which brought the Flood upon the World expecting acceptance by the work done and how is this Doctrin spread in this our day almost over all so that the day of Christs coming is likened to the days of Noah which will be with respect to the State of things Luke 17. 26. to the End as also at unawares as in the days of Noah for as it is written when the Son of Man cometh shall he
34 15. By all which we see the same Doctrine of Faith Holiness and Love taught in Adam's Family is the same to us in Christ according to the same Covenant of Grace that was made with Adam and his Children whom he taught the way of the Lord but when grown up if as Cain they abide not in it as he so must they be cast out and this could not have been had he not been a Member of the Church in his Infancy born to the Lord in Covenant but when he not proving to be of the Election which the Apostle saith obtaineth it or continueth it in abiding Faithful to the end standing fast in the Faith which Cain did not but departed from the visible Profession thereof Luke 8. 13. so fell away Now then of Cain's Seed the World of ungodly began to take Root in the Earth again so that there was now on Earth the Kingdom of Christ in Adam's House or Family and the Kingdom of Satan in Cain's House or Family called the World of Ungodly who both Fathers and Children were destroyed by the Flood of Noah And then again there was only remaining the Church of God or his Kingdom in Noah's Family the Fathers with their Wives and Children a Holy Nation a chosen Generation to the Lord as Israel were by Families But in process of time Satan had his Seed in the Church in the Person of Cham or Ham Gen. 9. 25. who for his Sin was cast out of the Church and of his Seed sprang another World of Ungodly As likewise in process of time almost all the Posterity of Blessed Shem became Apostatized from the Faith So that then it pleased God to call Abraham from his Idolatry out from his Fathers House Joshua 24 2. Gen. 12. 1 and with him and his Seed as before with Adam and Abraham and their Seed God made an everlasting Covenant or preached to him the everlasting Covenant of the Gospel namely that in his Seed Christ the Womans Seed in the same Gospel afore preached to Adam All Nations of the Earth shall be Blessed Gen. 12. 3. And when again the same Covenant was more particularly applied to belong to the Seed of his Body of whom Christ must be exspected as it is written I will make my Covenant between me and thee and will multiply thee exceedingly besides the Promise before made to him of his being a Father of many Nations and I will establish my Covenant between me and thee and thy Seed after thee in their Generations for an everlasting Covenant to be a God unto thee and to thy Seed after thee Gen. 7. 2 5 7. Now this Promise to be a God to the Believer and his Seed is the Substance of the Gospel-Promise as it is written And they shall be his People and God himself will be with them and be their God Rev. 21. 3. even the God of all the Families of Israel Jer. 31. 1. So then if the very Letter of the Gospel be so plain that in Christ the Families of the Earth shall be Blessed and this Family is the Seed or Infants or Children of Believers and this Blessing is the Remission or Pardon of their Sins as it is written God having raised up his Son Jesus sent him to bless you in turning away every one of you from your Iniquities Acts 3. 26. Water-Baptism being the visible Sign thereof therefore saith Peter to Parents and Children be Baptized every one of you namely that have their Sin or Sins pardoned the Sin of the World for the Promise in the Gospel-Covenant is to you and unto your Children is also confirmed by John the Baptist that this is the Way of Salvation he prepared before the Lord saying Behold the Lamb of God preached to Adam is now come that beareth away the Sin of the World of whom is afore proved Children in Adam were a part thereof Now until the Anabaptists can prove that the Infants were no part of the World Sin entered into and so Children to be no Sinners it remaineth proved that Children are Sinners in Adam and the Sin of the Infants of Believing Parents is taken away by Christ the second Adam as well as the Sin of their Parents who had Actually committed As we have the Testimony of the Spirit of God for to prove it in these words but not as the Offence so also is the Free Gift Rom. 5. 18 19. for if through the Offence of one many be Dead much more the Grace of God and the Gift by Grace which is by one Man Jesus Christ hath abounded unto many and not as it was by one that sinned so is the Gift for the Judgment was by one to Condemnation but the Free Gift is of many Offences unto Justification So then all is of Free Grace both to the Actual Sinner and his Seed in Infancy who are Sinners by original Derivation Now although God doth require of such as have Actually sinned Actually to repent and to make Confession of their Faith before they may have the Sign of Remission of Sins if they were not before Baptized into the Name of Christ to be set on them So that great is the Difference between what it is that giveth any Soul Young or Old Right to have Water-Baptism Administred on them and what God requireth of Actual Sinners before they be Baptized Therefore the very Letter of the Law a Schoolmaster leading to Christ might teach the Anabaptists that of whom did God require a Sacrifice of Confession brought to the Altar figuring Christ but from such only that had Actually sinned yet the Infants of such by vertue of Gods Free Grace in the Covenant of the Gospel were Blessed with their Believing Parents and the Males sealed with the Seal of the Righteousness of Faith therefore called with their Parents The Blessed of the Lord as shall be more spoken to anon But now to insert here the general Argument grounded on Carnal Reason the Anabaptists bring as their main Pillar to deny the Right Infants have to Water-Baptism published by B. Keach in his Book Gold Refined P. 141. That nothing less than Profession of Faith and Repentance can give any Soul Young or Old Right to have Water-Baptism administred on them Answ If there were no Sinner pardoned or their Sin or Sins remissed there would not have been this Ordinance of Baptism ordained seeing it is ordained for a Sign of the Remission of Sins that such as have Right thereto may have Christ made manifest to them that he hath washed away their Sin or Sins in his Blood But because Christ the Lamb of God is come who taketh away not only the Sin of such Actual Sinners whom his Father giveth Faith to Believe in his Son but also the Sin of the World Infants stand charged with by natural Corruption derived from their Parents Now then who is it Man even Sinful Man that Meriteth a Right to have his Sins pardoned or is it not Christ that hath done
the Gospel Matt. 5. 17. Think not that I am come to destroy the Law or the Prophets I am not come to destroy but to fulfil Rom. 3. 30 31. Seeing it is one God which shall justifie the Circumcision by Faith and the Uncircumcision through Faith do we then make void the Law through Faith God forbid yea we establish the Law Rom. 7. 7. What shall I say then is the Law Sin God forbid I had not known Sin but by the Law For I had not known Lust except the Law had said thou shalt not Covet James 2. 8 9 10 11. Thus the Law is of the same use to us now as it was to the Church of the Jews We have the Gospel to shew us our Righteousness by Christ without the works of the Law so had they Heb. 4. 2. for unto us was the Gospel preached as well as unto them see Levit. 26. 42 45. Luke 54. 55. 72. 73. Deut. 30. 1. 12 13 14. Rom. 10. 5 6 8. Gen. 15. 6. Psalm 32. 1 2. with Rom. 4. 6. c. 1 Cor. 10. 1 2 3 4. Heb. Chap. 11. only in the manner of Administration of the Law and Gospel there be Differences manifested Ainsworth's Defence of Scripture Page 119. In which Answer of Mr. Ainsworth's is proved these things 1. That the Church of Israel had the very same use of the Law we now have to shew them and us our Sins that we as well as they might be lead to Christ 2. They had the same Gospel to shew them as us our Righteousness in Christ without the works of the Law 3. They had Ordinances for Worship which figur'd Christ to come which they in believing and looking for his coming offered in Faith Heb. chap. 11. so worshipped they the Father in Spirit and in Truth as Christ said to the Woman of Samaria Ye worship ye know not what we know what we worship for Salvation is of the Jews but the hour cometh and now is when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in Spirit and in truth for the Father seeketh such to worship him God is a Spirit and they that worship him must worship him in Spirit and in Truth John 4. 22 23 24. and such Worshippers were the Church of the Jews though not all as in the Gospel-Church many were reproved for seeking to be justified by the works of the Law Gal. 3. Therefore as well they of the Circumcision as others the Apostle testifieth worshipped God in the Spirit though not all as it is written For we are of the Circumcision which worship God in the Spirit and rejoyce in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the Flesh Phil. 3. 3. And thus in the Church of Israel many were Righteous walking in all the Ordinances of the Lord blameless waiting by Faith for Christ in the Promise to come the Consolation of Israel as it is written of old Simeon when Christ was born and brought into the Temple He then took him up in his arms and blessed God and said Lord now lettest thou thy Servant depart in peace according to thy word for mine eyes have seen thy Salvation which thou hast prepared before the face of all People a light to lighten the Gentiles and the Glory of thy People Israel So likewise Anna she coming into the Temple at the same Instant gave Thanks likewise to the Lord and spake of him to wit of Christ To all them who looked for Redemption in Israel Luke 2. 25 28 to 39. Rev. 3. 4. These things being duly observed let the impartial Reader judge whether the Church of Israel were a Carnal People or had a Carnal Covenant and Promise of Carnal things as Mr. Smith feigneth or whether the Church of Israel were not such that worshipped the Father in Spirit and in Truth under the Covenant of Grace by Faith serving God although under Figurative Ordinances for the hope of the Promise made of God to the Father Acts 26. 6 7. yea believing that it was not the Blood of Bulls and Goats that could take away Sin Psalm 40. 6. 51. 16. Heb. 10. 4. but it was the Blood of Christ the Lamb of God the true Sin-offering 2. Cor. 5. 21. that on him was laid the Iniquity of us al Isaiah 53. that shall be saved As John hath proclaimed Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world Therefore what an Erroneous Doctrine is it that John Smith and Mr. Danvers have laid to build the way of Anabaptistry upon to deprive the Infants of Believers from the Right they have now to the Sign of the Remission of their Sin Water-Baptism And not only so but by their Doctrine they Damn the Infants of all Gods People of old if the Covenant the Church of Israel were accepted into with their Children was no other than a Carnal Covenant for a Carnal State is opposite to a Spiritual State as the Apostle proveth Rom. 8. 6 7. for to be carnally minded is Death but to be Spiritually minded is Life and Peace because the Carnal Mind is Enmity against God for it is not subject to the Law of God neither indeed can be so then they that are in the Flesh cannot please God Now if the Church of Israel was in no better State and had but a Carnal Covenant their State was Death and Damnation for as much as there is no Eternal Life but in the Covenant of Grace in Christ John 17. 3. so the Church is not the World which Christ pray'd for ver 9. But that the Church of God from the day the Gospel was Preached to Adam and he and his Wife believed in Christ to come they had the Covenant of Grace whereby God was the God of the Faithful and their Seed so that the Gospel first Preached to Adam that the Seed of the Woman should bruise the Serpents Head is the same Gospel the Apostles taught as it is written And the God of Peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly Rom. 16. 20. And this glad Tidings is summed up in these words of the Everlasting Gospel-Covenant made with Abraham and his Seed as it is written Gen. 17. 7. And I will establish my Covenant between me and thee and thy Seed after thee in their Generations for an everlasting Covenant to be a God unto thee and to thy seed after thee which Covenant together with that in Exod. 19. 5 6. that in Deut. 29. Mr. Cary affirmeth to be but three several Additions to the Covenant of Works made with Adam before the Fall so no part of the Covenant of Grace in Christ Now for as much as Mr. Cary and others when they seek to pervert the Scripture from its true Sense or Meaning as afore hath been shewed concerning the Sense of the word Baptize so here concerning the word Everlasting Covenant Mr. Cary saith in P. 126 127. of his Book Solemn Call It is true saith he the Covenant of Circumcision is called also an Everlasting
to dwell in his Spiritual Family but Believers only or such as prefess so to be Answ As to the Persons whom God admitteth into this House Peter saith They are a Holy Nation a Chosen Generation the same namely that the Church of Israel were Believers and their Seed in Infancy let the Reader compare word for word Exod. 19. 5 6. with 1 Pet. 2. 9. and then judge who we are bound to believe he that speaketh as Peter did by the Holy Ghost or B. Keach who without respect to Moses or Peter's words presumptiously saith None are admitted into the Church now but Actual Believers His words are contrary to Matt. 18. 6. 2. The other Scripture that is brought to prove that God hath pulled quite down the State of the Church of the Jews and turned the Infants out of doors is Heb. 7. 12. For the Priesthood being changed there is made of necessity a change of the Law Which saith he must needs include Circumcision with all the Appurtenances and Priviledges belonging to it and therefore as Infants Church membership came in with the Law of Circumcision so it went out and was disannulled with it they were 't is true of the Houshold of old but it was by a positive Law shew us the like now and you do your business Answ Two things I observe in B. Keach's words aforesaid First he granteth by the coming of Christ there is a Change of the Priesthood so is there also of the Law contained in the Ceremonial Ordinances which were both Figures of Christ as it is written Having abolished in his Flesh the Enmity even the Law of Commandments contained in Ordinances Eph. 2. 15. And these were those things which were to be removed as it is written And this word yet once more signified the removing of those things that may be or are shaken that those things which cannot be shaken may remain Heb. 12. 27. And what are those things which cannot be shaken namely the Church State of the Jews as aforesaid Mount Sion the State of the Covenant of Grace Christs Kingdom which cannot saith the Apostle be moved and therefore by him set in opposition to the Law Exod. 20. given on Mount Sinai to terrifie Sinners for the Church of Israel had not only the Law to shew them their Sins but also God gave them his good Spirit to instruct them Neh. 9. 20. with the Gospel to walk with God by Faith in Christ Heb. 11. chap. so that the difference between the Jewish Church and now they had Figurative Ordinances to teach them Christ to come we have Gospel-Ordinances to teach us he is come so that although God hath given more of his Spirit in these latter days yet it is but the same Spirit the Church of old had so that without ground it is for B. Keach to say God hath quite pulled down the Church-State of the Jews and built him a more Spiritual Surely a double measure of the Spirit did not make the Prophet Elisha not Elisha 2 Kings 2. 9. no more than a double measure of the Spirit make the State of the Gospel-Church not the same State the Church of Israel had so that the Kingdom or Spiritual State by the Covenant of Grace the Jewish Church had was never yet pulled down although many of them rejected Christ the chief Corner-stone And Therefore from such the Kingdom saith Christ shall be taken away not pulled down and given to a Nation to wit the Gentiles bringing forth the Fruits thereof Matt. 21. 43. And therefore the Lords Vineyard his Church was not destroyed or pulled down but let out to other Husband-men which should render to the Lord the Fruits in their Season Matt. 21. 41. And therefore saith the Author to the Hebrews Heb. 12. 28. concerning the Kingdom of Christ that cannot be shaken we having received a Kingdom that cannot be moved even Mount Sion on which Christ from the day the Covenant of the Gospel was preached to Adam and imbrac'd the Kingdom of Christ was established in Adam's Family then Christ first sat King on the Holy Hill Sion Psal 2. 6. for all were redeemed in Adam's Loynes as they fell in him and Rom. 5. 12. 1 Cor. 15. 22. after the Flood Christs Kingdom as afore shewed remained in Noah's Family although some Apostatized then God chose the Posterity of Blessed Shem of whom Abraham came and God was pleased that of the Seed of Abraham's Body Christ should be born yet a Promise was made that God would perswade Japheth to dwell in the Tents of Shem as was fulfilled when the Gentiles were grafted into the Olive Tree the State of the Jewish Church the Covenant of Grace in Christ from which some Jews for their unbelief were broken off Rom. 11. ch So then here was no new Covenant no new Olive Tree no new Kingdom or new Church-State no nor were the Infants of Christs Kingdom ever yet shut out Luke 18. 16. as Mr. Keach dreameth to deceive his Reader 2ly he hath also dreamed that Infants Church-membership came in with the Law of Circumcision if People are not willing to be deceived by him they may see Gods word for the contrary for no Person was ever joyned to the Lord by Circumcision but by Covenant Jer. 50. 5. as it is written Let us joyn our selves it the Lord in a perpetual Covenant that shall not be forgotten And so Abraham was in Covenant with the Lord some years before Circumcision was instituted Gen. 12. 3. and when Children were born to Abraham as after to the Believing Jews they were born to the Lord because they were joyned to the Lord by Covenant and the Lord was their God and God called them his Children so that all Infants born in Covenant must be eight days old before they were Circumcised Gen. 17. 12. As in the Wilderness by Deut. 29. before their Infants were Circumcised both Parents and their Infants were joyned to the Lord and established by Covenant to be the Lords People so that as Infants Church-membership came not in with Circumcision so Infants Church-membership went not out when Circumcision was abolished but as the Covenant afore proved was the same Circumcision and now Water-Baptism Sealeth the Covenant remaineth together with the Subjects Believers and their little ones the Covenant never yet by any word of God abolished nor yet the Infants born in Covenant shut out of doors that is our of Gods Covenant so long as the Parents abode in the Faith and the Children continued therein Therefore at Random B. Keach falsly affirmeth through his gross mistake to say that Infants Church-membership came in not till Circumcision was instituted and that by the Act of Circumcision they were joyned Members this were to put the Seal to before the Covenant is entered into to the divertment of all order in sealing Covenants So then when he can prove Infants were joyned Members by Circumcision then he may have some colour to say that Infants were no longer
trust Therefore what is Gospel but the glad Tidings of Salvation to fallen Mankind by the Death of the Lamb of God Jesus Christ merited for them whether Actual Believers only or Believers and their Infants is a great part of this Controversie to be handled in this Treatise for Christ came to save that which by the Fall was lost Matt. 18. 11. Rom. 5. 12. Now then seeing Water-Baptism is ordained for a Sign of Remission of Sins Acts 2. 38. as is proved in the second Query all that can be proved by the Doctrine of the Apostles and Prophets agreeing in one whether adult Persons or Infants or both that have their Sin or Sins pardoned by Christ mark that are the Persons that have right to have Christ by the visible Sign Water Baptism John 1. 31. made manifest to them I shall therefore refer the Reader for a full proof hereof to read and consider the Answer to the third Query wherein is proved that the Actual Believers as likewise their Infants are equal in the Redemption by the Death of Christ Likewise as there must be a true Administrator of the Sealing Ordinances of the New Testament as well as of the Figurative Ordinances of the Old For this I refer the Reader to the Answer to the fourth Query for Satisfaction And withall to observe in the fifth Query the Description of that first Administrator of the English Anabaptists who Baptized himself because he could not find any in the way of Dipping When denying his Baptism in Infancy he presumptuously Baptized himself without any warrant from God Moreover as the first Sin that generally reigned in the old World was the opposing of the Doctrine of Free Grace which was first seen in Cain the main opposite Doctrine to the Gospel and now reigning by the pleading a Right of Acceptance with God to Gospel-Ordinances by the external Act of Man And that this is the Ground of Anabaptistry which they have laid to deprive the Infants of Believers from the Benefit of the Free Grace of God in the Covenant of the Gospel of the pardon of their Sin And so from the Right which they have to Water-Baptism And this is fully proved against them in the third Query Therefore I desire the Reader to observe their Arguments and the Answer to them for when the Apostle Jude saw the Doctrine of Cain spreading it self among the Christians he exhorteth them that were Faithful To contend earnestly for the Faith once given to the Saints Jude v. 3. Namely first to Adam by which Faith Abel offered a more excellent Sacrifice than Cain therefore saith he concerning them that opposed the Doctrine of Free Grace For they have gone in the way of Cain v. 11. turning the Grace of God into Lasciviousness denying the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ And again concerning such as opposed the Doctrine of Faith he saith v. 10. These speak evil of those things which they know not but what they know naturally as brute Beasts in those things they corrupt themselves And from this Root meerly by the Argument arising from Nature do the Anabaptists continually urge namely that Profession of Faith only giveth Right to Water-Baptism to deprive the Infants of Believers because they cannot Actually profess Faith and repent of a right to the Remission of their Sin and so of a Right to the Sign thereof Water-Baptism as in this Treatise is fully discovered Moreover And to maintain this their Doctrine grounded on Nature they quarrel with our English Translation as though the original word for Baptize was not truly explained because it is Englished Wash and not Dip Therefore we have proved in speaking to the first Query that the greatest Schollar who spake with more Tongues 1 Cor. 14. 18. than the rest of the Apostles hath by the Holy Ghost which leadeth into all Truth John 16. 13. opened and expounded the true natural and proper meaning of the Sense of the word Baptize to be a pouring of Water on the Persons Baptized as he saith All our Fathers were Baptized in the Cloud and in the Sea 1 Cor. 10. 1 2. Psalm 77. 15 to 20. being under the Cloud the Clouds pouring out Water on them when they passed through the Sea so called Sea where the Water had been for they went through the Sea on dry foot this could not be on dry foot had they been dip'd Now our Translators durst not presume to have more skill in the Sense of the original word for Baptize than the Apostle Paul had and therefore durst not confine the word to one strict Sense as the Anabaptists would have it to maintain their disorderly way of Rebaptising As is fully proved to be against Modesty in answer to the first Query But they have left the word Baptize in its general term to Wash as it is written Acts 22. 16. Be baptized and wash away thy sins So that in vain hath Ben. Keach in his Book Gold Refin'd brought a multitude of Authors to confirm the word Baptize to be Dip'd being all disproved by the Apostle Paul 1 Cor. 10. 1 2. and when they can overthrow his expounding the Sense of the word Baptize by pouring Water on the Persons Baptized then they may have somewhat to plead that Dipping is the way and till then they oppose and withstand the Apostles Doctrine like Alexander 2 Tim. 4. 14 15. for as we may observe in another word that the Translators durst not confine it to one strict sense namely the word in the original for Church or Congregation but left it in the general term Church or Congregation because the plural number more or less is in Scripture called a Church The first Church was in Adam's Family and after in Noah's Family and after that in Abraham's Family or House as the Apostle accordingly writeth to the Church in a Mans House Rom. 16. 5. 1 Cor. 16. 19 all but few in number Whereas in the Wilderness Acts 7. 38. the word for Church or Congregation were in number above six hundred thousand Souls and in the Acts above three thousand Now to limit the word for Church to a strict number is Sin so to limit the word to such a mult of Water is Sin because it is an abusing of the word contrary to the harmonious Agreement of the Scriptures and so contrary to the Analogy of Faith as is shewed at large in the first Query Therefore As in the Lords Supper it is not the quantity of Bread and Wine more or less but the right apprehension of and sincere Affection to the thing signified that Christ intendeth thereby and the same in Baptism being both Signs and Seals to one and the same Covenant of the Gospel So that when any shall plead skill in the. Tongues concerning the signification of words without regard had to the Mysteries of Faith which cannot be understood but by the help of the Spirit of God they abuse the use of Learning for there are two
but a God unto his Seed in that Salvation was come to his House his Children with him therefore to whom the Gospel is by the command of Christ to be preached unto and the Promises applied to them go teach all Nations these are they by B. Keach's own grant that our Lord Jesus hath commanded to be Baptized as it is written in the great Commission Go teach all Nations Families or Kindreds of the Earth Baptizing them c. Again seeing Lydia and Stephanus were Baptized and their Housholds Acts 16. 15. 1 Cor. 1. 16. if the Scriptures of the Prophets do expound to us That a Man and Womans Houshold were their little ones their Sons and Daughters then we hope none can deny but that the Believers and their Children were Baptized for the proof whereof we read how David and his Men dwelt with Achish at Gath every Man and his Houshold 1 Sam. 27. 3. but in process of time while David and his Men were absent from their Families their Wives and Children were taken Prisoners so that as it is written Every Man lamented for their Sons and Daughters 1 Sam. 30. 6. Thus what before were called their Housholds in 1 Sam. 27. 3. are explained to be their Sons and Daughters Again it is written Jacob went down into Egypt Every Man and his Houshold Exod. 1. 1. the Father and Mother with their Children concerning whom Joseph said unto his Father and Brethren I will nourish you and your Housholds Gen. 45. 11. which is expounded I will nourish you and your little ones called their little ones in Gen. 46. 5. and 50. 21. Now if Men will not believe the Spirit of God his own expounding his own word to be sufficient ground of Faith to believe that the Houshold is the Children or little ones of his People there is no credit to be given to such Teachers or People in Matters of Faith but the Spirit of God hath expounded the Housholds to be Children therefore all that will take Gods word for their warrant may answer themselves That the Apostles Baptized Children or little ones of Believers when they Baptized Believers and their Households If the Anabaptists will not believe this let them shew better or more clear proof for any thing as an Article of their Faith which they believe making the Scriptures of the Prophets and Apostles agree in one harmony together But if any shall object that Servants are included in the word Houshold on purpose to cavil at the Right Infants of Believers have to Water-Baptism The Answer is to them such need to be taught rather than to be accounted Teachers that can no better distinguish between a Son a Child and a Servant the very light of Nature might convince them that great is the difference between a Son and a Servant a Mans Son is his very next a Kin Gen. 12. 1. with Gen. 43. 7. Gen. 15. 4. and 21. 10. Gal. 4. 7. Heir to his Father beareth his Fathers name a Master to his Fathers Servants As for example when Abraham sent his Servant to take a Wife for his Son Isaac in their return Rebecca seeing a Man coming in the Field to meet them she asked the Servant who that Man was he said it was his Master to wit Isaac Gen. 24. 65. Again the Prodigal Son when returning to humble himself to his Father said Father not Master but Father I have sinned against Heaven and before thee I am no more worthy to be called thy Son make me as one of thy hired Servants Luke 15. 18. Now by all this we see a Servant is inferior to a Son therefore when the Angel said to Cornelius Send for Peter he called two of his Hired or Houshold Servants Acts. 10. 7. these were not the House but Servants to the House but a Son abideth in the House because he beareth the Name of the House for ever or for Life So then if a Servant were equal with a Son an Heir or to bear up the Mans Name doubtless Absalom who had no Son to bear up his Name therefore he erected a Pillar 2 Sam. 18. 18. which he needed not to have done if a Servant had been equal with a Son to have borne up his Name as a Son doth his Fathers Name And who were they that were called the House of Israel the House of Aaron but their Children and not their Servants Thus we see none are properly a Mans House or Houshold but a Mans Children So Leah and Rachel as aforesaid are said to build the House of Jacob or Israel by bearing Children in the Covenant Heirs with Isaac in Infancy of the Promises in Christ until they with Ishmael for Sin be disherited and become Servants with the Bond-womans Son Obj. Another pretended Plea is say the Anabaptists Shew us a Child by name that was Baptized Answ It was the way of Christ to some to answer a Question by a Question we say to them shew us a Woman by name that received the Lords Supper They will answer it is evident that Disciples did break Bread at the Lords Supper and Women are called in Scripture Disciples therefore here is sufficient ground to believe that Women did partake of the Lords Supper It is granted a Scripture Consequence is good Proof that it is to be believed even in an Article of Faith Now then we read that Infants at eight days old with their Parents are called Disciples in Scripture as it is written Acts 15. 10. when circumcised Why therefore tempt ye God to put a Yoke upon the Disciples neck which neither our Fathers nor we were able to bear This answer was made by the Apostle when the Jews that Believed taught that unless the Gentiles and their Children were Circumcised they could not be saved here Infants with their Parents are called Disciples So then we read that Disciples were Baptized Infants being by the Spirit of God called Disciples We have grounded reason to believe that Infants were Baptized by the Anabaptists own grant proportionably to their own Plea aforesaid in the Objection And that Infants of Believers have right to Water-Baptism is most certain because Christ hath taken away their Sin as John saith Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the Sin of the World So is Salvation come to them as to their Parent when he the Father actually Believeth as Christ said to Zacheus Luke 19. 9. when he believed This day is Salvation come to this House for as much as he is a Son of Abraham having the Faith of Abraham believing as Abraham did that God was a God to him and unto his Family or Seed his Children and they that have not this Faith have not the Faith of Abraham so are not Abraham's Seed and if not Children of Abraham they are not of Christ for it is written Gal. 3. 29. If ye be Christs then are ye Abraham 's Seed and Heirs according to promise So the Children of the Promise are accounted for the
Baptize and furnished with Gifts and working Miracles Therefore no ordinary Person as B. Keach degradeth him in saying He was no other than a Deacon or an Overseer of the Poor when Philip Baptized This Error he had need to correct in his next Again as concerning Ananias he was no private Person as B. Keach saith for we read he was by the Lord immediately called and inabled to work Miracles Acts 22. 12 13. to wit on Paul before he Baptized him And as touching the Sects in Corinth it giveth light in this matter for some followed Paul some Cephas some Apollo taking occasion as it seemeth by the Persons that Baptized them unto whom they leaned more than unto others Now if it were so that some of these were private Men though as it hath been proved they were not yet the Action of a private Man in a work done by express command from God any more than Gideon Judges 16. 25 26. in offering Sacrifice which belonged only to the Tribe of Levi might be followed by any other of his Brethren of the Tribe of Manasseh Again that any Man of Cyprus or Cyren Administred Baptism or the Lords Supper cannot be nor yet is by the Anabaptists proved by any one Scripture and as for Apollo he was no private Man whom Paul joyned with himself nor Cephas who either was Peter or some eminent Officer a Planter and Minister whom the Corinthians accounted as one of their chief Teachers therefore more than common Disciples as B. Keach faineth out of his own Heart which deceiveth him and others that take his bare word for proof or rule to practise of what he hath written about Baptism either in the manner or in the Administrator of it And what is to this end published lately in a Narrative Page 18. of the Anabaptists but that they allow the high Breach of Gods order Namely That other than Pastors or Teachers may Administer the Lords Supper If so then what need is there of Men to be chosen into Office or what need any care be taken for Ministers Maintenance who are chosen to wait upon their Ministry and have charge given them by the Holy Ghost as Overseers of the Flock Acts 20. But we see how little care these Men take that all things among them be done decently and in order but have published as aforesaid rather that order is not to be regarded whereas they may remember when for breach of order for presuming to do that work which God had enjoyned to be done by Office as aforesaid how Corah and his Company were swallowed up in the Earth Numb 16. And for breach of order how King Uzziah was 2 Chron. 26. 16. struck with Leprosie to the day of his death presuming to do the Priest's work Likewise God destroyed Uzza a Levite as aforesaid who out of a good Intent touched the Ark 1 Chron. 13. 10. to keep it from falling which work only belonged to the Priest's Office Numb 4. to touch the Ark. These things being written for our Admonition upon whom the end of the World is come 1 Cor. 10. 11. How then dare the Anabaptists resolve in the Affirmative in their Narrative page 18. without any word drop'd from Christ or grounded Reason from Scripture that an Elder of one Church may Administer the Ordinance of the Lords Supper to another of the same Faith being called so to do by the said Church though no Pastor but as a Minister that is neither Pastor nor Teacher by Office Necessity being only considered in the case and produced no Scripture to prove it when as Necessity did not warrant Uzza in touching the Ark as aforesaid Narrative page 18. Now although B. Keach hath set his Hand to the aforesaid Narrative as Lawful without Command or Example or true grounded Reason from Scripture for it yet in his Answer to an Argument brought for Infants Baptism nothing he will allow but a literal Command in such Term of words he thinks fit The Argument for Infants Baptism is this There is nothing in all the New Testament against Infants Baptism saith Mr. Smythies If indeed our Saviour had declared that Infants should not be Baptized or if we had read of the Apostles refusal of them And there is no hint from any express word from Christ saith Mr. Sidenham or his Apostles nor any Phrase which doth forbid such an Act. B. Keach saith We will answer with Tertullian for there is a certain Rule saith he If it be said it is lawful because the Scripture doth not forbid it it may be equally retorted it is therefore not lawful because the Scripture doth not command it To which he farther addeth to back Tertullian saying That which is done in the Worship and Service of God without an express word drop'd from Christ or his Apostles or any Phrase which doth signifie it is his Will and Mind it should be done is unlawful and no better than Will worship Gold Resin'd Page 146 147. Now will not the Reader mark how this Man is Yea and Nay for what word is drop'd from Christ that other besides Pastor or Teacher shall Administer the Ordinance of Water-Baptism and the Lords-Supper since extraordinary Offices are ceased as Apostles Evangelists and the like as he with others affirmeth that a Teaching Disciple may Baptize and no word drop'd from Christ for it Yet he granteth Water-Baptism to be a part of Gospel-Worship and that whatsoever is done in Worship without an express Command from Christ or his Apostles he granteth is no better than Will-worship therefore seeing there is no word drop'd from Christ that any other besides Pastor or Teacher may Administer the Lords-Supper nor yet no other may Administer Water-Baptism It is therefore Will-worship by his own grant for any being but a Teaching Disciple to Baptize As likewise when any among them and not a Pastor or Teacher Administers the Lords-Supper is likewise Will-worship and so a high Breach of Gods Order So that Church which alloweth these things hath as the Lord complained transgressed the Laws and broken the Everlasting Covenant which Church or City is therefore called the City of Consusion Isa 24. 10. the very Name of Babylon out of which Assemblies all Gods Elect are called out from among them Rev. 18. 4. Although they Boast and say Lo here is Christ and Lo there is Christ Christ saith Go not after them Matt. 24. 23. for where Order is not regarded nor kept in either State Spiritual or Civil there is Consusion and every evil work Therefore let us take a view in Holy Scripture in Christs last Will namely of the orderly Performance of all Gods Holy Ordinances in Worship according to the Rules prescribed in the Testament of the Lord Jesus as it is written Let all things be done Decently and in Order 1 Cor. 14. 40. Now because Order is joyned to Faith therefore saith the Apostle For though I be absent in the Flesh yet am I with you in the Spirit