alone to those that were instructed in the Faith and seaven times in the weeke before Easter and Pentecost Catechized or asked Questions and then upon confession of their faith were Baptized But afterwards when it was thought and adjudged needfull to everlasting life to be Baptized marke how one error ushered in another it was ordained that new borne Children should be Baptized and that Godfathers or Sureties were appointed who should make confession of their Faith and renounce the Devill in their behalfe And with this accords the Rubrick before Baptisme in the Book of Common Prayer which saith that the Sacrament of Baptisme in old time was not commonly administred but at two times in the yeare at Easter and Whitsontide at which time it was openly administred in the presence of all the Congregation c. But now to the Question What is meant by the holinesse which Children are said to have 1 Cor. 7. 14. In Answer wherero I shall shew onely what I conceive it to be and then leave it to the Judgements of the wise I say then it is only such a holinesse as is opposite to some kinde of uncleanesse which I take to be this as if when they are said to be holy it is no more then to say they are not uncleane to wit no Bastards And I will shew my ground by my thus opening the text The believing Corinthians both men and women married and single do joyne in a Letter to the Apostle for resolution of many of their doubts touching their Severall conditions this appeares in the first verse and thence to the 12 and their doubts in this particular and which he answers in the five verses following seemes to be this in effect as if they should thus write wee being borne a new and made the Sonnes and Daughters of God by Faith in Iesus Christ and being made holy by his spirit and taken into Communion and fellowship with Iesus Christ and his Saints in light from an estate of darkenesse and death from being Idolaters and Children of the Devill have very uncomfortable cohabitation and fellowship with our wives and husbands remaining still in their naturall and blind condition so farre different from the estate into which we are now brought Surely our holy God that bids us touch no uncleane thing doth not allow us thus to do And wee feare least wee have done very ill in continuing thus so long for our Marriage wee cannot thinke but it was dissolved when wee first beleeved And wee ought then to have put away our wives as the Iewes did their strange wives And unto this the Apostle begins his answer in the 12. verse thus And unto the rest to wit of your doubts speake I not the Lord If any Brother have a wife that beleeveth not if she be content to dwell with him let him not put her away And the woman that hath a husband that beleeveth not if he be pleased to dwell with her let her not leave him for the unbeleeving husband is sanctified to the wife and the unbeleeving wife is sanctified to the beleeving husband else were your Children uncleane but now they are holy As if the Apostle should have said to them thus you Corinthians do doubâ— of your cohabitation with your unbeleeving married yoke-mates of which there is no cause for to the pure all things are pure that is all lawfull things namely whatsoever is lawfull in nature or civill use is sanctified to the beleever and yet even those things are impure to the impure or unbeleeving for even their mindes and consciences are defiled Tit. 1. 15. But to the Beleever all things are pure that is as I have already said all lawfull things for things that are unlawfull in themselves cannot be sanctified by the faith of a true Beleever no not to his use but must be left and abhorred as sinfull and wicked which if your cohabitation were such as you in weaknesse judg then was not your marriage lawfull as the first then it is not lawfull nor sanctified to you now as you judge it is not and then are your Children uncleane But if your marriage were at first lawfull then your Cohabitations now with your yoke-mates is likewise lawfull and then also sanctified to you now by your beleeving else were your Children uncleane that is unlawfully begotten and Bastards but now are they holy that is Legitimate and no Bastards And that this is the genuine sence of this place may further and clearely appeare by the generall scope of the Apostle in the 20 21. 22 23. verses following in the same Chapter where he after he had resolved the married Beleevers not to depart from their lawfull yoke-mates he then in these verses exhorts Servants and all others to abide likewise in the lawfull callings wherein they were before their Conversion and seemeth to tell them in effect thus much That their being converted to the faith did in no wise release them from any Lawfull Covenants and civill duties in their severall relations wherein they stood before but bound them to a more due performance of all such obligements towards all men but in point of Religion and worship of God therein they were not to be in subjection to any save onely to Iesus Christ who had therefore bought them with a price And this may likewise appeare in Mal. 2. 14 15. where the spirit of God by the Prophet sheweth the reasons why their offerings were no more accepted because saith he God hath beene witnesse betweene thee and the wife of thy youth that is his first wife then living against whom thou hast dealt Treacherously yet she is thy companion and the wife of thy Covenant and did not he make one yet had he aboundance of the spirit and wherefore one in that he sought a Godly or holy seed therefore keepe your selves in spirit and let none trespasse against the wife of his youth In which words it plainely appeareth that the scope of the place is that those Children which are generated by one man and one woman lawfully married are a godly or holy seed and those that are generated otherwise are not so but Bastards And the reason of this holynesse ariseth not here from any relation they had to the Iewish State nor from any Church Covenant but meerely from Gods first Institution of Marriage in the Creation and his then providing one woman for one man and which therefore is of Universall concernement to all man-kinde by the Law of Creation In the same sense is the Apostle to be taken Heb. 13. 4. where he saith Marriage is Honourable in all and the Bed undefiled but Whoremongers and Adulterers God will judge If Marriage be Honourable in all and the Bed undefiled then the issue of that Bed must needs be undefiled that is cleane and holy as on the other side the issue of all unlawfull conjunctions are uncleane illegitimate and Bastards Now this holynesse and unholinesse of Children proceedeth not from the
workes of Abraham but yee seeke to kill me who tell you the truth this did not Abraham I must therefore tell you whose children you are yee are of your father the â—â—vâ—ll and his workes yee doe repent yee therefore and bring forth fruits worthy amendment of life and thinke not to say with your selves you have Abraham to your father for now the Axe is laid unto the root of the tree and every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is to be hewne downe and cast into the fire Matth. 3. 10. 11. which is you must not now thinke to profit your selves by pleading your naturall descent or birth from faithfull Abraham But you must be borne againe and have faith in your owne person as he had and doe the workes which he did else you are to be cut downe and cast out as unprofitable trees for now every naturall branch of all that natural tree or stocke of you Iewes whereof Abraham is your roote if it be not transplanted by my spirit into me the true Vine and so to be inabled to bring forth fruit in mee is to be taken away by my Father the husbandman but such as in me bring forth fruit he will purge that they way bring forth more fruit Jo. 15. 1. 2. Now then to shut up all put case it be granted which is not true that all the children of Believers are those to whom the promise belongeth are within the Covenant are elected yea and had faith also yet notwithstanding can they not warrantably be baptized untill they doe manifest and declare the same by profession this is apparent by the doctrine and practice first of Iohn Matth. 3. 6. 8 9. Mark 1. 4. Secondly of Christ and his Apostles Ioh. 3. 22. compared with 4. 1. 2. Act. 2. 38. 41. and 8. 12. 36. 37. and thirdly by the tenor of the Commission Matth. 28. 29. Mar. 16. 15. 16. 1. By this we may partly see the grosse mistake of all such great Clerks of our times which confound these two Covenants of Law and Gospell and make them both as one in substance and different onely in circumstance as in administration or in degrees the one more darke the other more light c. whereas indeed they are no lesse different then old and new workes and faith nature and grace then the Administration of condemnation and the administration of righteousnesse or than the letter killing and the spirit giving life 2 Cor. 3. 6. 7 8 9. or than a state of bondage and a state of sonnes Gal. 4. 21. c. And from hence this errour comes that in their teachings and writings they make such a kinde of hodge podge of the doctrine of the Gospell and so intermix Grace and Workes Truth and Error and distill thereby such a spirit of giddinesse into the hearts of their hearers that for the most part they walke in a circular maze or as in a twilight left between legall terrors and Gospel hopes betweene consolations and consternations of spirit all the dayes of their lives and never come to find that spiritual life brought to light by the glorious Gospel nor that rtyumphant state of son-ship and freedome purchased them by Jesus Christ through faith in his blood The Apostle tels the Church of the Romanes Chap. 6. 14. That sinne should not have dominion over them the reason hee addes because they were not under the Law but under grace whence it is evident to be under the Law is to be under the dominion of sinne and consequently of death Now therefore by how much any by their teachings doe confound Law and Gospell by so much they seeke to bring us or rather deteine us in Bondage to sinne And hence also followes that grosse error of admitting of Infants and a naturall seed as right Subjects of Paptisme and of the Gospell Priviledges These two errors like Hypocrites Twynnes smile and weep stand and fall together For if the doctrine of free grace by Iesus Christ in its native luster were once distinctly set out and the Spirituality thereof in its fullnesse of Beauty and glory clearely laid open It would then evidently appeare to all men that none ought to partake of such a spirituall estate and worship without being made sutable thereunto by Regeneration manifested by their Faith and Obedience to the Gospell But how sutable such Spirituall worship and Churches would be to a Priestly Levitical gay Clergy let the wise judge I cannot but much suspect that they do finde farre more sweetnesse and relish in their revenewes of hundreds per annum gleabes tithes c. Though it be from the world in a Church then they have hopes to finde in any thing from any such Church in the world I conceive therefore that there is no more hope to see that Tribe stoope so low or forget themselves so much as to owne and beare witnesse to this truth then there is to see them to allow the Doctrine and Practise of blessed Saint Paul Act. 20. 17. 34 35. to be now of use and immitation in our times or then to allow the speeches of Iesus Christ Mar. 12. 38 39 40. Luk. 11. 44. 52. Mat. 15. 14. To appertaine aswell to the Clergy of this Age as to them of any former age yea and aswell as to the learned Scribes c. of whom they were immediately spoken Wherefore to prevaile with these men in this point there is yet one Argument onely wanting to wit certaine revenews of 3. 4. or 500. per annum for each of them with which Argument I doubt not But one might convince the Judgements of a hundred in one day easier then a hundred can one in a whole yeare without it So prevalent is the world with our corrupt natures as by dayly experience is seene But these Arguments are of the earth earthly and sutable to earthly affections which men ought to mortifie and to have their conversation in Heaven Phil. 3. 19. 20. Col. 3. 2 3. And seriously to consider Christs Arguments who reasons quite contrary telling us of denying our selves and taking up our Crosses dayly Luk. 9. 23. Of being sent as Sheep amongst Wolves Mat. 10. 16. Of being hated of all men Mat. 10. 22. Of suffering hunger and nakednesse 1 Cor. 4. 11. 2 Cor. 11. 27. Persecution tribulation affliction reproach imprisonment distresse yea death it selfe for his sake Mat. 24. 9. Io. 15 20. Luk. 21. 12. 2 Tim. 3. 12. 2. Cor. 6. 4 5. and 12. 10 And that except we first count our Costs and forsake all for Christs sake and the Gospells we cannot be his Disciples here in this world nor raigne with him in the Kingdome and world to come Luk. 14. 26 27 28. 33. Io. 12. 25. 2 Tim. 2. 12. 2. And from confounding of these two Covenants and States of Law and Gospell ariseth another great error and that of no small consequence For from hence as I conceive the Papists have brought in many disorders into
the Gospell worship As nationall Churches Oblations Sacrafices first fruits Tythes Offerings Holy Ceremonies Holy Dayes Holy feasts Holy Temples Holy Altars Holy Places Holyest places Holy Persons Holy Garments Musicke c. And many other pretty trinkets of that kinde And into Government Office and Ministery likewise variety of sorts as Sextons Clarkes Curates Vicâ—ars Parsons Singing-men Orgenists Canons Petty-Canons Prebends Deans Arch-Deacons Abbotts Lord Abbotts Lord Bishops Lord Arch-Bishops Chancellors Officialls Commissaries Doctors Proctors Apparitors c. with a rable of them even to the Pope himselfe alluding to Moses Aaron and to the Kings and State of Israel Hence also collaterally have they brought the power of the Civill Magistrate into the Church as their Executioners and as subordinate and particular heads under the Pope the universall head who challengeth hence most wickedly to dispose of their Crownes and Kingdomes at his pleasure being willingly ignorant that the State and Church of the Iewes is to be considered in a two-fold respect one as it was a civill State and Common-wealth and Kingdome in respect whereof it was common to other Civill States and Kingdomes in the world the other as it was the Church of God and in relation thereto had Worship Commandements a Kingly office and government which no other state or Kingdome had or ought to have for herein it was altogether typicall this Kingly office and government in relation to the Church concentred only in Christ who now is onely the head King and Law-giver to Israel his Church and admitts of no other head to his Church subordinate or otherwise in any respect Ephes 1. 22. and 4. 15 and 5. 23. Col. 1. 18 2. 10. 19. 1 Pet. 2. 7. For this State being sprituall admits of none but him their spirituall King Head and Law-giver Iam. 4. 12. Hence the Gospel is called the Gospell and word of this Kingdome Mat. 4. 12 and 13. 19 Acts 2. 25. And the true Ministery of the Gospel a Ministery of the spirit 2 Cor. 3. 6. whereby men being converted to God are said to be translated into the Kingdome of his deare sonne Col. 1. 13. Hence God proclaimes from heaven commanding us only to heare and obey his Sonne Matth. 17. 5. he being the Christ of God Luke 9. 20. Hence Christ himselfe declares to us that all power in heaven and earth is given to him and commands his Disciples therefore in his name and by vertue of his power and authoritie alone to goe into all Nations and make Disciples baptizing them c. Matth. 28. 18. 19. And this honour of being Head of his Church gives hee to none at all by deputation or otherwise in any kinde it being the greatest prerogative and dignity for the greatest Monarch upon earth to become a true member and subject of Jesus Christ in his Church under the Gospell for by his being so he is made a childe of God a fellow heire with the Saints in light Col. 1. 12. yea a coheire with Iesus Christ of the everlasting Inheritance Kingdome and Glory Rom. 8. 16. 17. And the same honour have all the Saints for there is no respect of persons with God Col. 3. 25. 1 Pet. 1. 17. Jude 16. Eph. 6. 9. Iam. 2. 1. 2. 3. 9. and this will one day be made manifest to all men when Christ shall say Bring hither those mine enemies that would not that I should raigne over them and slay them before mee Luke 19. 27. At which time hee will be terrible to all yea to the greatest Monarches upon earth which rebell against him Psal 76. 12. and 82. all the Psalme Be wise now therefore yee Kings be instructed yee Iudges of the earth serve the Lord with feare and rejoyce with trembling kisse the sonne lest hee be angry and yee perish from the way when his wrath is kindled but a little then will it be manifest that they and onely they are blessed that put their trust in him Psal 2. 10. 11. 12. 3. This may likewise teach us to see and bewaile the great apostafie both in faith and worship that is brought into the world by this childish baptisme And what a glorious uniforme Babilonish Tower the man of sinne hath reared upon this rotten foundation bringing there by whole Nations at once into subjection to his carnall worship and indeed what is more sutable to his carnall Gospell and Worship then such carnall worshipers and nothing more conduceth to his Exaltation nor better serveth to the maintenance of him and his sutable Clergie in all their riches Pompe and Pride then this nay how possibly could he otherwise have corrupted the whole Earth and brought whole Nations to admire and follow and worship the Beast as he hath done And why then think we of reformation of Religion continuing this foundation Can we wash the Black-more white Or give spirituall life to a whole nation in a lumpe Hath God any such need of worshipers as to accept such lip-service meerely compelled by the laws and commandements of men Isa 29. 13. Mat. 15. 8 9. Is not every man first to be perswaded of the truth in his owne mind before he worship else is he not damned in himselfe Rom. 14. 5. 23. And who art thou that judgest and usurpest Authority over another mans servant 1 Cor. 7. 23. Seeing likewise the Church of England in the 13. article of her doctrine doth maintaine and a verre that works done before the grace of Christ and the inspiration of his spirit are not pleasant to God for as much as they spring not of faith in Iesus Christ neither doe they make men meete to receive Grace or deserve grace of congruity yea rather for that they are not done as God hath willed and commanded them to be done we doubt not but they have the nature of sinne And this then being so what spirituall house thinke we can be built unto God upon such a carnall foundation May we expect grapes of thornes or figs of thistles must not the Tree first be made good and then the fruite had not God respect first to Abell and then to his Offering hath not God long since abrogated the state of the Iewes under the law and cast off Israel according to the flesh the naturall seed of Abraham to whom and his seed the promises were made Gal. 4. 29 30. Ioh. 8. 34 35. 36. And do we thinke to bring in the naturall seed of us Gentiles as acceptable on Gods Altar none in the time of the Gospell when the true seed is produced Gal. 3. 19. and when onely spirituall worship and worshipers are accepted Io. 4. 23. must the parents whether Iew or Gentile needs be borne againe of the spirit and onely by faith become the seed of Abraham and heires according to promise Gallathians 3. 7. 29. Romanes 4. 11 12. And shall their children become the same seed by nature can our natures produce a spirituall seed to Abraham which Abrahams owne nature never did nor could doe Rom. 9. 7. 8. Ioh. 3. 6. Neither can any shew any one such promise to any Believer in all the whole world and his seed as was and is to Abraham his seed who is therefore the father of us all to wit of all Believers and onely of Believers sew and Gentile father and child c. Rom. 4. 16. and therefore it is of faith that it might be by grace to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed but the promise is sure only to Believers therefore Believers only are the seed of Abraham to whom the promise and ordinance of the new Testament doe properly appertaine Againe That administration of Baptisme which overthrowes the very nature of the Covenant of Grace and whole Gospell of Christs is Antichristian and abominable But the administration of baptisme upon Infants doth so because it stands upon the ground and interest which they have in the Covenant by naturall generation onely or by the meere profession of faith in the Parents or Sureties without faith in their owne persons whereby faith is made void and the promise which is the Gospel and Object of Faith is also made of none effect and so the preaching thereof becomes uselesse and vaine also Rom 4. 14. therefore the administration of Baptisme upon Infants is Antichristian and abominable These things being so it is most certaine that the baptisme of Infants is the greatest delusion and a thing of as dangerous consequence as ever the Man of Sin brought into the world and therefore the greatest maintainers thereof are justly to be esteemed the greatest deluders wherefore it is high time for us to looke about us to awake out of this drunken slumber and to see how hitherto wee and our fathers have beene blindly lead by our blind Guides into this depth of Ignorance and mist of iniquity and let us seeke out by what meanes and by whom wee are so miserably intosticated as to stumble and grope for our way thus even at noone day Rev. 17. 1. Come hither I will shew unto thee the judgement of the great Whore Rev. 18. 3. 8. 11. For all Nations have drunke of the wine of the wrath of her fornications and the Kings of the earth have committed fornication with her and the Merchants of the earth have waxed rich through the abundances of her delicacies Therefore shall her plagues come in one day death and mourning and famine and she shall be utterly burnt with fire for strong is the Lord who judgeth her And the Merchants of the earth shall weepe and mourne over her for no man buyeth their merchandize any more FINIS