Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	ghost_n	holy_a	mean_v	6,969	5	6.7481	4	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A41787	A religious contest, or A brief account of a disputation holden at Blyton in the county of Lincoln between Mr. William Fort minister of the perochial congregation at Blyton on the one part, and Thomas Grantham, servant to the baptised churches on the other part : whereunto is added Brief animadversions upon Dr. Stilling-fleet his digressions about infant baptism in his book intituled, A rational account of the Protestant religion, &c., in both which are shewed that the generality of the nations now professing Christianity are as yet unbaptised into Christ : 1. Because their sprinkling and crossing the fore-head is not the right way of baptising, 2. Because infants ought not to be baptised.	Grantham, Thomas, 1634-1692.	1674 (1674)	Wing G1544; ESTC R39430	28,329	42

the Baptising of Infants SOlomon the wise hath told us there are many devices in Mans heart The truth whereof is verified in the multitude of devices old and new which Men have found out to darken the Counsell of God teaching the sacred institution of the Baptism of Repentance for the remision of sins Nevertheless the Counsell of God that shall stand and therefore neither shall the devices of Dr. Stillingfleet prevail nor be found ●o much as a rational account of the grounds of Infant Baptism albeit divers Persons are perswaded that he hath out-done others that have undertaken to defend that innovation 1. First Therefore we shall consider the two Texts John 3. 5. Act. 2. 38 39. which he says according to the interpretation of the Fathers and the antient Church and the Papists themselves do evidently assert Infant Baptism It were answer sufficient to tell h●m that what ever was the interpretation of the Fathers c. yet according to the interpretation of the Protestants the grounds of whose Religion he presents to give an account off these Texts doth not hold forth such a necessity of Infant Baptism as by some of the Antients was imagined seeing the Protestants do not say as the Papists and some before them no Baptism no salvation but they more truly teach that this place is to be understood even as some of the Fathers also expounded it of such as refuse or contemn Baptism and yet saying withall to your confutation that it is not necessary by water John 3. 5. To understand the external rite of Baptism See Fulk Ans to the Rhemists Annot. John 3. so Dr. Willit Synops Papis However it is evident to them that will not shut their eyes that in John 3. 5. Christ is shewing the way of Life and the duties of regeneration to such as came to him for instruction and spea●● nothing there of the case of Infants who as one well observes cannot overcome the World by reason of their natural incapacity to know either good or evil and therefore are not obliged to the duties of the new birth to wit repentance faith and Baptism for whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world and this is the victory that overcometh the world even our faith And hence it is evident that John 3. 5. cannot be understood of Infants who are wholly uncapable of the duties of regeneration And as eviden● it is that Acts ● 38. 39. intends not Infants seeing the persons there to be baptised even every one of them are required first to repent a duty of which Infants are wholly uncapable and the promise there mentioned is clearly meant of the gi●ts of the Holy Ghost or the Spirit of promise in a special manner according to the Prophesie of Jo●l the extent of which promise is only to the called of the Lord v●rse 39 and this interpretation also is avouched by learned Protestants See Diodate on the Text and Erasmus on the same Dr Jer. Taylor in his book of confirmation doth fully expound this place of the promise of the Spirit both to the Parents and to the Children as they are the called of the Lord and not to infants in that capacity Lib. Proph●cy So then the pretended evidence of Infant Baptism from this place is taken away because this tr●th is hence very evident that calling by the word of the Gospel regeneration ●y Faith and repentance are the true antecedents to the Baptism of every sinner 2. Secondly Dr St●lling-fleet states the Q●estion between the Baptists and the Paed●-Baptists after this manner Wh●ther our bless●d Savio●r hath by a positive precept so determined the subject of baptism viz. Adult persons professing the faith that the a●teration of the subject in baptising Infants be not a deviation from a●d a p●rversion off the institution of Christ in a substantial part of it 〈…〉 short whether our Saviour hath so determined the subject of bapt●sm as to exclude infants This done he tells us that taking in only the help of Scripture and reason it were no difficult matter to ●rove directly that infants are so far from being excluded Baptism by the institution of Christ that there are as many grounds as are necessary to a matter of that nature to prove that the baptising 〈◊〉 is ●uita●le to the institution of ●hrist and agreeable to the 〈◊〉 of the Church under the Gospel So then Scripture and rea●on ●nly must now deside the controversie Let us hear therefore 〈…〉 St●ll●ng fleet brings from thence and th●s he speaks If there were any ground to exclude them it must be either the incapacity of the subject or some express precept and institution of our Saviour but neither of them can be supposed to do it But I answer for both these cau●es Infants are not to be bapti●ed and sith their incapacity depends upon the nature of the institution these two reasons are resolved into one Now the institution of baptism whether we consider it as delivered by God to his Servant John and by him to us or as it is established by precept from Christ for a perpetual Ministry in his Church to the end of the world we shall find it delivered by both in such sort as it is exclusive of infants for in the first place it is deli●ered as the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins Mark 1. 4. and every sinner who is said to be baptised by him is said to be baptised confessing their sins verse 5. which we know is not to be expected of Infants The precept of our Saviour for the perpetuity of Baptism so expresly requires the making every subject a Disciple in order thereunto and that by actual teaching or preaching the Gospel to them Mat. 28. 19. Mark 16 15 according to Christs own example who so made Disciples before they were baptised that no Infant with any shew of Scripture or reason can possibly be brought within the reach of baptism according to it's institution In a word Dr. St●ll●ng-fl●et seems in so many words to grant in his first state of the Question that to bring Infants to Baptism is an alteration of the subject and therefore not agreeable to the institution of Christ in which to admit of alterations is very dangerous But saith Dr. S. The rule and measure as to the capacity of divine Institutions must be fetched from the end of them for this was the ground ef the Circumcision of Proselites under the Law Answer That the ground of the circumcision of Proselites was fetched from the end of the institution is not true And indeed had it been left to that Mens various conceits about the ends of such institutions might have made as ill work as we see yours do now wherefore the wisdom of God to prevent those dangers gave express order in that case as appears Gen 17. 13. compared with Exod. 12. 44. 48. And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee and will keep the Passeover let all his Males be circumcised and

disciples T. G. Sir I marvel you should no better observe the Law of disputing which I must hold you to and the rather because you were pleas●d to glory so much over your poor Neighbours because of your skill in Logick and now I will shew your mistake of this Text by the prosecution of my next Argument which is this Arg 2 None ought to be baptised but such as are Christs Disciples according to the gospel use of that expression Infants are not Christs Disciples according to the gospel use of that ●●pression Ergo infants ought not to be baptized Mr. Fort. I deny the minor Infants are Christs Disciples according to the Gospel use of that expression T. Grantham None are Christs Disciples according to the gospel use of that expression but such as take up their cross daily and follow Christ but Infants do not so Ergo to this agree the words of Christ Luk. 12. Mr. Fort. This place speaks of persons of years and not of Infants T. Grantham I grant it and so doth every Text that speaks of Christs Disciples according to the gospel use of that expression Mr. Fort. Not so for I will shew a place where Infants are called Disciples Acts 15. Here such as were to be circumcised after the manner of Moses are called Disciples and you know Infants were circumcised after the maaner of Moses T. Grantham That Infants were circumcised after the manner of Moses is true and that the false Apostles would have put the yoke upon all the Disciples is true but that every one upon whom they would have put that yoke were Disciples is not true I will expound this text by another Acts 4. 32. here we are informed that the multitude of them that believed had all things common yet it doth not follow that all that had part in these common things were believers for Infants had part in common things and yet were no believers for it 's said the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and one Soul Mr. Fort. That text doth not expound the other T. Grantham Let them be diligently compared and you will find that a man may as well prove Infants believers from the one as you can prove them Disciples from the other but I proceed Arg. 3. None ought to be baptized but those whose duty it is to be born again of water and of the spirit It is not the duty of Infants to be born again of water and the spirit Ergo Infants ought not to be baptised Mr. Fort. I except against the term duty in your Argument T. Grantham Why so Mr. Fort. There are four terms in your Argument T. Grantham This is but an evasion and no answer you cannot shew four terms in it Mr. Fort. I say Infants ought to be born again of water and of the spirit T. Grantham Here you grant that they ought to be born again of water and of the spirit and yet deny it to be their duty this is no good distinction to make the new birth no part of mans duty but I will prove that whosoever is born again must therein perform duty i Joh. 5. whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world and this is the victory even our faith certainly to believe and overcome the world is something of duty Mr. Fort This place speaks not of Infants but of persons which are Adult T. Grantham I grant it but withall I say this Text speaketh of whatsoever is born of God and saith Christ every one that is born of the spirit is like the wind that bloweth so as the sound thereof is heard now can you imagine your Infants are born again of the spirit seeing they give not any demonstration of it Mr. Fort. You still insist upon places which speak of adult persons T. Grantham I have told you that all the Scriptures which speak of the new birth of water and of the spirit speaks of adult persons or if any speak of Infants pray shew us where they are Arg 4. No sinners ought to be baptized but those of whom faith and repentance is first required Faith and rep●ntance are not required of Infants E●go Infants are not such sinners as ought to be baptized Mr. Fort. This Argument is like the rest you still insist upon those things wh●●h are the duty of adult persons T. Grantham Your conscience tells you that I insist upon those things which are the duty of all that are to be baptised yea your vulgar Catechism teacheth us that faith and repentance are required of all that are to be baptised but seeing you answer not but evade only I shall proceed Arg. 5. All that ought to be buried with Christ in Baptism ought first to be dead with him from the rudiments of the world Infants ought not to be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world Ergo Infants ought not to be Baptised Mr. Fort. I deny the consequence T. Grantham No Sir you cannot deny the consequence in a Categoricall syllogism so that you must either distinguish or deny one of the propositions Mr. Fort. Well then I deny your major T. G. I need but only shew the absurdity of this your denyal for you say in effect that so●e are to be buried before they be dead now that all Christians in Rome and Coloss were dead with Christ before they were buried with him in baptism is evident Rom. 6 1 2 3 4 Colos 2. 10 11 12. and is as true of all other Churches by which it is plain that no Infants were then nor ought now to be baptised Arg. 6. Such only ought to be baptised as Christ and his Apostles did baptise or appointed to be baptised but neither Christ nor his Apostles baptised any Infants n●r appointed them to be baptised Ergo. M. Fort. Christ did appoint Infants to be baptised and said suffer little Children to come unto me and forbid them not Mat. 18. T. Grantham All that can fairly be inferred of this passage is this that if any desire the Prayers of the Ministers of Christ for their Children c. they may lawfully pray for such blessings as they have need of but if any presume to baptise them they do more to them then Christ did or any other by his appointment Mr. Fort. The Jaylor and all his were baptised and how can you think there were no Infants in his house T. Grantham The very reading of this Text doth shew that there were no Infants baptised for first the word was Preached to him and to all that were in his house secondly he rejoyced believing in God with all his house I desire no better evidence against your Infant baptism then the place you bring for it Arg. 7. All that are to be Baptised ought therein to worship God in spirit and truth as also in other general duties of the n●w Testament But Infants ought not to worship God in spirit and in truth in Baptism nor any other general duty of the new

Testainent Ergo Infants ought not to be Baptised Mr. Fort. What do you mean by the general duties of the new Testa ent T G. I mean Prayer hearing the Word and Communion at the Lords Table according to Acts. 2. 41. 42. Mr. Fort This is spoken of grown Persons and not of Infants T. Grantham This is spoken of all that were baptised in the first Church whose pattern we ought to sollow rather then the innovations of Men. Mr. Fort. Your way is an innovation not much above two hundred years old Tho. Grantham Not so for our way of baptising began in the days of John the Baptist and for our opposing Infant baptism 't is very antient for as soon as we hear it mentioned we find it opposed by Tertullian who lived in the third Century Mr. Fort. Tertullian is conceived to oppose only the Baptising of the children of unbelievers T. G. That is a great mistake his words are indefinite for he saith veniant ergo dum adolescunt veniant dum discunt dum quo veniant decentur fiant Christiam cum Christum nosse potuerint Mr. W Mr. Wright who was one of the other Priests stood up and said let the business be put to that issue for you only have Tertullian for the Antients and he was a Mantanists T. Grantham If he must be lightly looked at because he was in some errour as that of Montanus then you must lay aside most of the antient Fathers who also had their errours but you are mistaken Tertullian was not the only person among the Antients that opposed Infant baptism for Greg. Nazianzene did likewise disswade from it Mr. Wright We have Irenaeus before Tertullian who speaks for Infant baptism for he saith Infantes pueris senis T. Grantham You act his words amiss for it is not senis but seniores Mr. Wright It is senis it is senis T. Grantham You mistake it is s●niores and beside Irenaeus speaks not of baptism only he useth the words renascunter in d●um Mr. Fort The Antients understood by them words to be baptized T. G. It is inconvenient so to interpret Ir●●eus in this place for then it would follow that unless Infants be baptised they cannot be saved which is absurd but I desire you to answer to the Argument Mr. Fort seemed not disposed to give any surther answer then T. Grantham said I have propounded and prosecuted 7 Arguments against your pretended way of baptising and 7 against your Infant subject of what weight they are and how you have answered them we are no proper Judges but must leave that to the Auditors now because I would not take up the whole time I desire you to be Opponent and I will answer you I conclude with the words of Aug●stine Nec ego te nec tu me sed ambo audiamus Christi in Scrip●●res Mr. Fort Opponent I am now to prove our way of baptising to be the right way of baptising and that Infants ought to be baptised Arg. 1. If our way of baptising doth signifie that which ought to be signified in baptism then it is the right way of baptising But our way of baptising doth signifie that which ought to be signified in baptism Ergo it is the right way of baprising T. Grantham If you mean that your way of baptising doth signifie all that ought to be signified in baptism then I deny the minor and we have before shewed how short it comes of the true and full signification of baptism Mr. Fort. Our way of baptising signifies the washing away of sins and it agrees with the signification of the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is to wash therefore it is sufficient T. Grantham The contrary to this hath been shewed and I now deny that every kind of washing agrees with the signification of the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 when used to express the sacred act of baptising and I desire you to shew one text where that word is taken for a washing the Fore-head only when the sacred act of baptising is expressed by it Mr Fort. The Jaylor was baptised at midnight and do you think he had a River in his house T. Grantham You are much mistaken the Jaylor went out to be baptised Mr. Fort. You cannot make that appear T. Grantham Yes the reading of the text is plain to that purpose for it is said he was baptised he and all his straightway and then it follows and when he had brought them into his house he set meat before them Mr. Fort. That may be meant of carrying them out of one room into another T. Grantham This is contrary to common sence you cannot speak your conscience in this Mr. Fort. I have shewed our way of baptizing is sufficient I will now prove that Infants ought to be baptised Arg 2 If Infants are within the Covenant of grace then they ought to be sealed with the seal of the Covenant and by consequence to be baptised But Infants are within the Covenant of grace and ough to be sealed c Ergo they ought to be baptized T. Grantham Before I answer your argument give me leave to ask you a Question How many Seals belong to the Covenant of grace and what be they Mr. Fort. There are two Seals of the Covenant to wit Baptism and the Lords Supper T G. Then I deny your minor proposition from your own practice for you deny Infants one of these Seals to wit the Lords Supper though you confess them to be within the Covenant and we by as good reason deny the other Seal to belong to Infants Mr. Fort. Yes we have better reason for the one then you have for the other for it is said let a man examine himself and so let him eat T. Grantham 1. It is also said Repent and be baptised every one of you Acts 2. ●8 if thou believest with all thine heart thou maist 2. I might answer your instance out of your own mouth by saying this is meant of persons of years and not of infants which as it is true so it shews the weakness of your answers to many of my Arguments Mr. Fort. I say infants being in the Covenant they ought to be sealed with the Seal and I pray tell me plainly whether you hold them in the Coven●n● or no T. G. I say being in the covenant you mean the grace of Eternal Life by the death of Christ then I say all infants are so in the covenant of say but if by covenant you mean the duties of the covenant then I 〈◊〉 infants are not so under the covenant Mr Fort. You cannot prove that all infants dying in infancy shall be saved T. G. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 if it were my business I could and would prove it but I am 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 you Mr. Fort. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to prove it if you can T. Grantham Then I prove it by the testimony of the Apostle who saith as in Adam all dye so in Christ shall all be made alive and again as