that God is the same Mala. 3. 6. Secondly Christ is the same Heb. 13. 8. having given lawes to which none are to add or diminish Thirdly his Ministerie the same 1 Cor. 12. 67. 28. Ephe. 4. 11 12 13. Therefore as wee desire to give to Caesar the things that are Caesars so to God the things that are his Mat. 22. 21. Hee being the Father of Spirits and so the only Author of spiritual worship Jo. 4. 24. He. 12 9. Fourthly the Promises to Beleevers the same Jer. 31. 3. Mat. 28. 20. Rom. 8. 29. 30. 1 Pet. 1. 2. Therefore the Administration the same so long as there remaines any of the members of Christ to be gathered on the earth Rev. 22 18. And if the Q. of Sheba hearing of the fame of Solomon which when shee saw there was no more spirit left in her 1 King 10. 1 2 3 4 5. how much more are we to admire and rest satisfied to see the fulnesse of Christ and the order left in the Gospel Mat. 12. 42. Luke 11. 31. Col. 1. 19. By Edward Barber Citizen and Merchant-Taylor of London late Prisoner for denying the sprinkling of Infants and requiring tithes now under the Gospel to be Gods Ordinance A small Treatise of DIPPING Wherein is clearly shewed that the Lord Christ ordained Dipping for those onely that profest Faith and Repentance I. Proved by Scriptures from the Commission of Christ and practice of the Apostles and Primitive Churches II. By arguments with Answers to some obiectons Psal 119. 130. The entrance of thy word giveth light It giveth understanding unto the simple III. Also a parralell betwixt Circumcision and Dipping Matth. 15. 8 9. IV. An Answere to some Obiections by D. B. This people draweth nigh me with their mouth and honoreth me with their lips but their heart is farre from me But in vaine they doe worship me teaching for Doctrines the Commandements of men THE Lord Jesus Christ in that great Charter of the Holy Gospel Matth. 28. 18. 19. 20. having received all power in Heaven and Earth saith Goe and make Disciples all Nations dipping them in the Name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the Holy Spirit teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you And lo I am with you alway even to the end of the world And Marke 16. 15. he saith Goe yee into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature he that shall beleeve and bee dipped shall be saved but he that will not beleeve shall bee damned Likewise Luke the 24. 47. he saith And thus it behoveth Christ to suffer and to rise againe the third day and that repentance and remission of sinnes should be preached in his Name among all Nations beginning at Ierusalem now yee are witnesses of these things Thus it is cleare that the Lord Christ commanded his Apostles and servants of the Gospel first of all to teach and thereby to gather Disciples And afterward to dip those that were taught and instructed in the mysteries of the Gospell upon the manifestation of their faith which practice ought to continue to the end of the world Matth. 28. 20. Eph. 4. 5. Heb. 13. 8. Secondly that the Apostles according to this Commission of Christ did alwayes practise Acts 2 36 37 38. Peter lift up his voice and said to the Iewes Let all the house of Israel know for a certainty that God hath made this Jesus whom you have Cruciâ—â—ed both Lord and Christ now when they heard this they were pricked in their hearts and said unto Peter and the rest of the Apostles men and brethren what shall we doe Then Peter said vnto them Repent and be dipt every one of you in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sinnes and yee shall receive the gift of the holy Spirit for the promise is to you and to your Children and to all that are afarre off even so many as the Lord our God shall call And with many other words did he testifie and exhort them saying save your selves from this untoward generation Then they that gladly received his Word were dipt And the same day were added unto them about three thousand soules and they conâ—inued in the Apostles Doctrine and fellowship and in breaking of bread and Prayers Againe Acts 8. 5. 6. 12. 37. 38. Then Philip went down to the Citie of Samaria and preached Christ there and the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Phillip spoke hearing and seeing the miracles that he did And when they beleeved Phillip preaching the the things concernâ—ng the kingdome of God and the Name of Jesus Christ they were dipt both men and women againe Phillip said to the Eunuch If thou beleevest with all thine heart thou mayest And he answered and said I beleeve that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and hee commanded the Charriot to stand still and they went downe both into the water both Phillip and the Eunuch and he dipt him Againe it is evident Acts 10. 44. to the 48. that those only that received the holy Spirit by Preaching the Word were dipt in these words while Peter yet spake these words the holy Spirit fell on all them that heard the Word and they of the Circumcision which beleeved were astonished as many as came with Peter because that on the Gentiles also was powered out the gift of the holy Spirit for they heard them speake with tongues and magnified God Then answered Peter can any man forbid water that these should not be dipt which have received the holy Spirit as well as mee And hee commanded them to be dipt in the Name of the Lord. Againe Acts 16. 14. A certaine woman named Lidia a seller of Purple of the Citie of Thyatira which worshiped God heard us whose heart the Lord opened that shee attended to the things that were spoken by Paul And when she was dipt and her houshould shee besought us saying If you have judged me to be faithfull to the Lord come into my house and abide there and she constrained us and verse 30. 31. 32. The Jaylor said Sirs what must I doe to be saved and they said beleeve in the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt bee saved and thine houshold and they spake unto him the word of the Lord and to all that were in his house And he tooke them the same houre of the night and washed their stripes and was dipt hee and all his straightway and when he had brought them into his house he set meat before them and rejoyced beleeving in God with all his houshold and Acts 18. 8. the chiefe Ruler of the Synagogue Crispus beleeved on the Lord with all his house and many of the Corinthians hearing beleeved and were dipt Thus it is cleere that the Institutions of Christ as also the practise of the Apostles concerning Dipping was only to administer it upon such and such onely as did manifest faith and Repentance desiring it and this
heard it of his Father And the Apostle Paul Acts 20. 27. saith That he had declared the whole counsell of God But hee never revealed the Dipping of Infants Therefore the dipping of Infants is none of the counsell of God And therefore as the Jewes were brought by Ceremonies to know Christ so let Christians learne to know first as the Lord saith Isai 53. 11. By his knowledge shall my Righteous servant justifie many And Jere. 31. 34. all shall know me from the least to the greatest and Phillip 3. 3. we are the circumcision which worship God in the spirit and reioyce in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh Quest 5. But what is the true ordinance of the dipping of Christ and wherein doth it differ from childrens Dipping which is the best way to shew the truth and what benefit doth Beleevers receive by it Answ That Dipping whereof we speake is Dipping burying or plunging a Beleever in VVater he desiring of this Ordinance of an Apostle Prophet or Evangelist To whom Christ by his Church hath committed the Administration In the Name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the holy Spirit Matth. 28. 19. 20. in which definition you may observe these two parts 1. The matter and that is a true subiect of a Beleever confessing sinnes and faith desiring the ordinance 2. Water the Element and so you have the matter for the true forme which is First Christs power putting life into the Ordinance in his owne Institution delivered in these words to the Apostles goe yee Thirdly the right verball forme of words in the Name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the holy Spirit Fourthly consider the ends the Lord aimeth at in giving this ordinance of dipping to the Apostles and so to the Church First he will have them all conformable to himselfe Rom. 8. 29. Matt. 10. 13. Mark 1. 9. Luke 3. 21. for before that hee went about the worke of God hee went to Iohn to be dipped of him so before we take on us to make publike profession of Christ or any part of the Gospel much more to preach wee must be Dipped and so put on the right profession of the Gospel Gall. 〈…〉 as many of you as have been dipped into Christ hav◠〈…〉 Christ Secondly God doth by this holy ordinance assure and manifest that he hath washed us from all our sinnes by the blood of Jesus Christ Acts 22. 16. And doth truly and visably receive us into the Covenant of grace whereby wee are partaker of all the Promises therein contained that doe concerne the planting us in Christ or forgivenesse of sinnes and Gal. 3. 26. Hos 14. 3. Gal. 4. 4. 5. 5. 6. receptation of persons both that wee being fatherlesse by nature God will be a Father to us for yee are all the Children of God by faith in Iesus Christ Againe we are lost in Adam therefore we are washed in the Name of the Son for he hath redeemed us that wee might receive the Adoption of sonnes and because yee are sonnes God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts crying Abba Father who of God is made into us wisedome righteousnesse sanctification and Redemption 1 Cor. 1. 30. Thirdly we are unable to will or to doe any thing that is good And therfore wee have the holy Spirit to begin all in and perfect all for us and to worke all our works in us Isai 26. 12. Lord thou wilt ordaine peace for us for thou also hast wrought all our workes in us And Rom. 8. 26. Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our Infirmities And Col. 1. 29. whereunto I labour striving according to his working which worketh in me mightily And Phil. 2. 13. It is God which worketh in you both to will and to doe all his good pleasure Fourthly Hereby the Beleever that was by nature afarre off a Farrenner and Stranger is by the blood of Christ made nigh Ephes 2. 12. 13. 14. And is by this Ordinance of Dipping in union with the whole body of God upon earth 1 Cor. 12. 13. And may challenge a right in the priviledges of the Gospel in any place wheresoever he commeth into the Communion of the Saints Acts. 9. 26 27 28. Fiftly this is Christs Livery by which Christians are knowne from all other and the Church from the world Gal 3. 27. Sixly if at any time any should aske us who reqâ—ireth us to walke in such a holy fellowship and communion wee are inabled to it by Christ and so assured of Countenance in it by the Lords Supper for hee that saith he is in Christ and hath fellowship with him ought himself so to walke even as he hath walked John 1. 2. 6. Seventhly That the person thus dipped is first visibly sealed to the day of Redemption Secondly he hath truely a right to Communion as being dipped into that one body whereof Christ is head 1 Cor. 12. 13. Thirdly that hee is mortified Rom. 6. 4. crucified dead and buried and risen againe with Christ Gal. 3. 2. 3 4 5. Eightly that the Beleever may in that day role away all the reproach of Egypt or Antichristianisme renouncing the marke of the beast in our right hands by holding or fighting for him or in our forehead Revel 13. 16. by dipping of Infants that false Constitution of Rome to beget grace thus it is cleere who is the true subjects of Dipping And who are not Now the Lord Jesus came not till the fulnesse of time Gal. 4. 5. and when he was come never undertooke any Administration though he were heire of all things Heb. 1. 3. but in an orderly way as hath been shewed nor will hee contract marriage with any though the husband of all his Church and members Hosea 2. 19. I will betroath them unto me in Righteousnesse And in Judgement and in loving kindnesâ—e And in mercy yet not with any that are so young and under age Gal. 4. 1. 2. 3. that they are not sencible of the want of Christ or any benefit they receive by him or what contract they make with him In short all those holy ends that God aimed at in true dipping are wholly made voide and of no effect in the dipping of Infants which the Lord Christ commanded not Jere. 7. 31. Revel 22. 18. Matth. 28. 19 20. nor came into his heart And cursed is he that shall adde to the Word of the Lord Deut 4. 2. 12. 31. Prov. 30. 6. If any man shall adde to these things God shall adde to him the Plagves that are written in this book and therefore that â—very one would be incovraged to bring out their Talent and not to hide it in a napkin to the overthrowing of all the inventions of the man of sinne Psal 137. 8 9. Objection 1. NOW follow certaine answeres to divers objections As First Matth. 19. 13. 14. In which it is cleere children were brought to Christ therefore he dâ—pt them or it was
is cleere in the Apostles words Heb. 6. 1. 2. where the right order of the principles is laid downe saying leaving the Principles of the doctrine of Christ let us goe on to perfection not laying againe the foundation of Repentance from dead works and of Faith towards God of the Doctrine of Dippings and of laying on of hands and of resurrection of the dead and of eternall Judgments c. vers 4. 5 6. Thus you see it proved by Scripture Now it followes to be proved by arguments grounded on Scripture that the Lord Jesus Christ who is Lord of all administrations being the Priest Prophet and King of his Church in that great Commission of his Matth. 28. 19. hath not appointed one Dipping for Iewes another for Gentiles one for men another for women one for old another for young one for the primitive times another for present and future one upon manifestation of repentance and faith professed another upon doing it by God-fathers and God-mothers much lesse having right thereunto by the faith of their parents for Habak 2. 4. The iust shall Ioh. 3. 36. Rom. 1. 17. 1 Ioh. 5. 10. Heb. 10. 33. live by his faith therefore not the faith of others For as there is one Body one Spirit and beleevers called in one hope of calling one Lord one Faith so also one dipping which was to be administred onely on those that were made Disciples by teaching and not on those who had it professed by others which Christ commanded not Matth. 28. 19. Therefore Infants by expresse prohibition are excluded as is cleare in the 1 Sam. 15. 19. 22 23. following discourse wherefore from that which hath beene spoken we argue thus 1. They onely are to be dipped that are made Disciples by teaching Matth. 28. 19. Infants cannot be made Disciples by teaching thefore Infants are not to be dipt 2. Againe Every precept affirmative containeth under it a negative To make Disciples and dip them is the affirmative contained under it dip not those that are not made Disciple by teaching 3. Againe if the command of Christ our Saviour for making disciples by teaching before they are dipt be Evangelicall and perpetuall as all the Precepts of the Gospel are then it ought to bee performed and observed in the Church of Christ for ever The Major Position is true Isai 9. 7. of the increase of his government and peace there shall bee no end upon the Throne of David and upon his Kingdome to order and establish it with judgement and with justice from henceforth even for ever The zeale of the Lord of Hosts will performe this And Mat. 28. 18. 19. 20. All power is given to me in heaven and in earth Goe ye therefore and teach all Nations dipping them in the Name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the holy Spirit teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you And lo I am with you alway even to the end of the world Therfore persons upon the manifestation of Repentance and faith onely are to be dipped 4. None but those that doe expresse that inward Baptisme Matth. 3. 11. Acts 10. 47. 48. are to be dipped Infants cannot expresse that inward Baptisme therefore infants ought not to be dipped 5. Whatsoever was written afore time was written for our learning Rom. 15. 4. For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning that wee through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope Infants dipping was never written aforetime Therefore infants dipping is not for our learning 6. We are commanded to stand in the way and aske for the old pathes which is the good way and walke therein and wee shall finde rest unto our soules Jer. 6. 16. The old and good way under the Gospell is the Institutions of Jesus Christ This is that Moses that said unto the Deut. 18. 15. Asts 3. 2â— 23. 7. 37. Children of Israel A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren like unto mee him shall yee heare And it shall come to passe that every soule which will not heare that Prophet shall bee destroyed from among the people But the dipping beleevers is that good old way of Christ and infants is not Ergo. Againe the Lord complained Judg. 5. 6. his people walked in by-paths that are of their owne invention and not of his appoâ—ntment From whence we reason thus They which walke in a way or set up an invention which God hath not commanded walke in a by-path But the dipping of infants God hath not commanded Therefore the dipping of infants is a by-path Againe if there be conditions required of all those that are dipped and none are to be dipped before the performance of these conditions then are not infants to be dipped The first is true Acts 2. 38. Then Peter said unto them Repent and be dipped every one of you in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sinnes and yee shall receive the gift of the holy Spirit And verse the 44. And all that beleeved were together and had all things common And Acts 8. 37. Philip said to the Eunuch If thou beleevest with all thine heart thou mayest And Luke 3. 7. 8. Iohn faith to the multitude that came forth to bee dipped of him O generation of Vipers Who hath fore-warned you to flye from the wrath to come bring forth therefore fruit meet for repentance and begin not to say within your selves We have Abraham to our Father For I say that God is able of these stones to raise up children to Abraham Thus that repentance and faith is required before dipping is cleare not onely by Scripture but also acknowledged in the Catechisme of the Primer set forth by authority where it is As Godfathers and Godmothers manifested though by others contrary to these Scriptures Hab. 2. 4. Rom. 1. 17. Heb. 10. 38. The second cannot be denied seeing infants have not the use of these faculties for the performance of repentance and faith therefore infants are not to be dipped This is proved thus They onely are to be dipped in whom repentance and faith is manifested by hearing the Word preached But in persons of yeares onely is repentance and faith wrought by hearing the Word preached the reason is persons of yeers have eares to heare and faith commeth by hearing and hearing by the Word of God Rom. 10. 17. and Acts 11. 14. who shall tell thee words wherby thou and all thy house shall be saved And James 2. 17. faith without workes is dead yea no faith at all Therefore persons of yeares are onely to be dipped Againe thus If the new Testament be as plaine and perspicuous as the old and Christ the Mediator of the new Testament as faithfull as Moses the Mediator of the old Testament Then the persons to bee dipped and the conditions of dipping and the time when are as cleaâ—e and faithfully described in the institutions
A Small Treatise of BAPTISME OR DIPPING VVHEREIN Is Cleerely shewed that the Lord CHRIST Ordained Dipping for those only that professe Repentance and FAITH 1. Proved by Scriptures 2. By Arguments 3. A Paralell betwixt Circumcision and Dipping 4. An Answere to some Objections by P. B. Psal 119. 130. By EDVVARD BARBER Printed in the Yeere 1641. The Preface To all that love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity and his Appearing Ephe. 6. 24. 1 Gal. 8. 9. Matth. 24. 30. 1 Revel 7. 1 Cor. 9. 18. 2. 11. 4. BEloved Reader it may seeme strange that in these times when such abundance of Knowledge of the Gospell is professed in the World there should notwithstanding be generally such ignorance especially in and amongst those that professe themselves Ministers thereof of that glorious principle True Baptisme or Dipping Ephe. 4. 5. Instituted by the Lord Jesus Christ which aâ— that look for life and Salvation by him ought to be partakers of it being that onely which was received by the Apostles and Primitive Churches and for a long time unviolably kept and practised by the ministerie of the Gospel in the planting of the first Churches that the Lord should amongst some others raise up mee a poore Tradesman to devlge this glorious Truth to the worlds censuring but first inasmuch as the Lord notwithstanding my own unworthinesse hath in his Son accepted and counted worthy to suffer for his Name It being also by the Providence of God so much in question at this time we are therefore imboldened thereunto 2. The Lords usuall dealing it being to bring mighty things to passe by weake meanes as in Josh 6. 3. 4 5 20. 1. 1. where the walls of Jerecho fell downe by the blasts of Rams hornes 1 Sam. 16. 11. Amos 7. 14. And Judg. 7. The Lord gave that great deliverance to Gideon and 300. which he would not doe to him with 32000. verse 2. 7. And 1 Cor. 1. 27. 28. Chusing the foolish things of the world to confound the wise and weake things to confound the mighty Jer 49. 20. 50. 44. And base things and things despised hath God chosen yea and things which are not to bring to naught things that are Zach. 4. 10. thereâ—ore looking only at the glory of God and love to the Truth for which being imprisoned 11. Moneths by meanes whereof I being taken off my Calling had the more opportunitie to search the Scriptures daily to see whether those things were so not as they delivered by Paul but practised by the Priestes and Prelates so our times for Paul delivered no such things as by them is practised in many particulars as is cleerly showne in the following discourse 3. The reports of some who notwithstanding they never saw our faces and so by discourse trie the Spirits as John adviseth 1 Joh. 4. 1. yet behind our backs have reproached us and so as Saint Jude saith Speake evill of things they know not and as Jere. saith speak a vision of their heart and not from the mouth of the Lord Jer. 23. 16. 30 31. 32. I am against the Prophesies saith the Lord that steale my words every one from his neighbour I am against the Prophets saith the Lord that use their tongues and say he saith Behold I am against them that prophesie false dreames saith the Lord and doe tell them and cause my people to erre by their lies and by their lightnesse yet I sent them not nor commanded them therefore they shall not profit this people at all saith the Lord. 4. Others affirming there was no plaine text of the Dipping of any VVoman by the which they discover much ignorance of or malice against the Truth striving to uphold the Traditions of men in stead of the glorions Institutions of Jesus Christ for the word saith Acts 8. 12. that when they beleeved Philip preaching the things concerning the things concerning the Kingdome of God and the Name of Jesus Christ they were dipt both men and Women and Acts 16. 14. 15. Lidia a seller of purple with her houshold being judged faithfull was Dipped And Gal. 3. 28. Male and female one in Christ 5. Considering the great burden this State and Kingdome lately lay under chiefly by those that pretended to be the heads of the Church as hath been manifestly proved by divers that were none of their Clergy to their eternal fame in that most honorable high Court of Parliament 6. Others that pretend to come neerer in witnessing against the Prelates yet durst not Moses-like stand to it Exod. 23. 32. who desired his owne ruine rather then the destruction of the people But these seeing the Wolfe comming hid themselves or fled beyond the Seas not standing up in the gap to make up the hedge for the house of Israel so as they might justly be compared to the Foxes of the Desarts Ezek. 13. 4 5. so that if the Lord should have sought for one to make up the hedge and stand in the gap for the Land that it should not be distroyed they were gone beyond the Seas or â—id themselves when If ever the Kingdome stood in need but herein they discovered themselves to be hirelings and not true Shepheards John 10. 12 13. or as much as in them is giving Christ the lye who saith his Desciples shall be brought before Kings and Governours for his sake whereas the fearefull and unbeleeving are set in the forefront of wicked ones Revel 21. 8. But the true Shepheard layeth downe his life for his Flocke and Nehimia the 6. 11. being in danger and perswaded by Sanballet to goe into the Temdlâ— saith should such a manas I flye and who is he that being as I am would goe into the Temple to save his life I will not goe in then he perceived that God had not sent him and Acts 4. 18 19. 20. The Apostles being command silence by Authority durst not obey but answereth whether it bee right in the fight of God to hearken to you more then unto God judge yee for wee cannot but speake the things wee have seene and heard And Matthew 16. 25 26. Christ saith whosoever will save his life shall lose it and hee that shall lose his life for my sake shall find it This we see fulfilled in these daies for some forsaking the cause of Christ have lost estates and lives whereas others who have stood boldly to it have saved both And if Meroz with the Inhabitants thereof was cursed with a bitter Curse Judges 5. 23. Because they came not forth to the helpe of the Lord And Paul thought not good to take Marke with him because he went not with them to the worke what may wee think of those that run from it And if by the Law a Souldeir that leaves his Colours is to dye the death What may bee thought of those that leaves their Countries leaving the cause of Christ thinking thereby to shun the crosse When if ever the Kingdome stood in need of helpe
of the Church to the Apostle beâ—ng absent from them at Philippi 1. VVhether it was lawfull for them to marry verse 1. 3. 2. About the lawfull use of libertie in their marriage estate vers 3. 4. 5. 3. If they being married the one being a Heathen whether they might continue to dwell together or no And not as in Esrahs time put away their wives Esiah 10. 3 4 5 6. VVhere they were to put away their strange wives that were not of the seed of Israel and herein is the case of the children being holy where the Apostle answerâ—s 1. Negatively they may not part though one be an unbeleever and that for these reasons First he or shee that beleeveth not is sanctified as a cleane vessell by the blessing of God for the lawfull use one of another in that honorable Estate of Marriage Heb. 13. 4. else were were your children uncleane that is Bastards but now are they holy that is borne in lawfull marriage Deut. 23. 2. That holy Ordinance of God instituted by him in Paradise for our first parents in the estate of innocency before the fall and grac'd by our Lord Christ himselfe to shew that he was by a woman in that estate Matth. 22. 23. Acts 4. 27. as also by his holy presence and first miracles that he wrought John 2. 1. to the 7. but before thou passe 1 Cor. 7. 14. consider that if the words be truely translated the unbeleeving parent and the childe hath all one holinesse or sanctification and so rendred in the Latine and would be so in the English were it not to blinde the Reader Thirdly Christ is pleased to set out the mysticall sweet and heavenly union and communion betwixt him and his Church by this holy Communion for this cause should a man leave his father and mother and shall be joyned to his wife and they two shall be one flesh this is a great misery but I speake concerning Christ and his Church Ephes 5. 31 32. Fourthly true holinesse floweth from faith in Christ and not by generation of holy parents but by regeneration wrought by the Spirit of God John 1. 12. 13. and 3. 3. 5. Fifthly God doth not make promise to any faithfull man and woman and their seed now under the Gospell Psal 89. 27. 28 but to the Lord Jesus Christ and his feed that everlasting father of the faithfull Esay 9 6 7. and 59. 21. Gal. 3. 29. 6. If you say the promise was made to Abraham â—nd his seed Gen. 17. 9 10. viz. to his naturall seed then it was to give them the Land of Canaan but if to the spirituall seed as it was to Christ Gal. 3. 16. then the Land of Canaan was the type and eternall by Christ and faith in the new Covenant is the truth but you must prove this promise made to a woman also if it helpe any thing by this conclusion so that if but one be a beleever of the parents and that be the woman it must hold that the children be holy by the promise made to her and by her faith Oject 5. Children are of the Kingdome of God and therefore have right to all the Ordinances of God and so to Dipping Marke 10. 14. Mat. 19. 14. Answer Whereas it is objectected children bee of the Kingdome of God and have right to all the Ordinances and so to Dipping This consequence necessarily followes that they have right also to the Lords Supper aswell as Dipping seeing right to all The Argument is grounded because they are of the Kingdome of God and that Christ saith it which being true as they would beare us in hand that Christ would have them to receive Dipping We desire that to be shewn where or when Christ dipt any or commanded it to be done by any other at else that they would appoint Godfathers and Godmothers as they call them to eate the Supper as well as to professe repentance and faith and desire Dipping for them to the Law and to the testimony if they speake not according to this word it is because there is no light in them and Jerem. 23. 30. to the 40. The Lord will bring an everlasting reproach upon the Prophets which cry the burthen of the Lord when the Lord hath not sent them but Prophesie false dreames and cause his people to erre by their lies and by their lightnesse yet he sent them not Object 6. But the maine Objection children were circumcised under the Law therefore under the Gospell they ought to be Dipped Answer Is it a sufficient reason because Abraham at the command of God under the Law circumcised his males Gen. 17. 11. and you shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you Therefore we must dip infants under the Gospell which Christ commanded not as is before proved neither came into his heart to imagine Jerem. 7. 31. Secondly why might not Ieroboam better build an Altar at Betheel 1 Kings 12. 28. 32. 33. seeing God commanded Iacob Gen. 35. 1 to doe it but Jacob built the Altar according to the command of God verse 7. and was approved of God for it and Ieroboam offered upon the Altar which he had made in Betheel the fifteenth day of the eight moneth even in the moneth which he had devised of his owne heart and had this memoriall that he made Israel to sin Againe it is alledged that Abrahams children were circumcised because they were under the covenant so that the word because seemes to be the reason that the children were circumcised because they were under the covenant or because they were Abrahams seed which I deny my reason is First if they were circumcised because they were under the covenant then onely Isaac was to be circumcised because he onely was under the covenant as is cleare Gen. 17. 19. my covenant will I establish with him for an everlasting covenant Now Ishmael and the sons of Keturah were the sons of Abraham yet were they not under the covenant Secondly whereas some seemes to give the reason because they were Abrahams seed then the pupills or servants which were borne in the house or bought for money were not to be circumcised But the pupills and servants that were borne in the house or bought with money were circumcised as well as Abrahams children borne of his body Therefore they were not circumcised because they were Abrahams seed Thirdly if they were circumcised because they were under the covenant then all these children and servants were under the covenant and so should have had right to the inheritance of the Land of Canaan as well as Isaac and so should have kept Circumsion in their posterities for ever which thing was not done by any but Isaacks posterity But now to give a Reason why Circumcision was administred was because God commanded it his command giving a being to all his Ordinances from whence it is cleere that as Abraham the father of
much easier 3. In respect of the end of it Circumcission did but manifest an outward right to temporall inheritance in the land of Canaan but Dipping doth witnesse to Beâ—eevers that they have a visible right into the Kingdome of heaven Luke 12. 32 not onely in grace here but in glory hereafter Againe in respect of the time for circumcision was to continue so long as the Jewes continued to bee a Nationall Church and then to end at Christs death but Dipping is to continue so long as Christ hath any Church upon earth Mat. 28. 20. till the Kingdome be delivered up and God shall be all in all 1 cor 15. 28. Lastly circumcision was a Tipe of inward dipping the truth of Regeneration or the circumcision of the heart and Spirit Rom. 2. 26. to the 29. coll 2. 11. 12. And not a Type of outward Dipping Prov. 30. 6. Adde thou not to his words least he reprove thee and thou be found a lyar And Revellat 22. 22. for I testifie unto every man that heareth the words of the Prophesie of this book If any man shall adde unto these things God shall adde unto him the Plagues that are written in this book and Heb. 12. 9. Further more we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us and we gave them reverence shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of Spirits and live BEloved since part of this Treatise was in Presse there came to my hand a book set forth by P. â— which could I have gotten sooner I should have answered more fully But to touch some particulars and first of Christs not being a Widdower nor his Church without a head though I find not this expression we differ not in the matter or substance though it bee not alwaies visibâ—e on the earth as is cleare Rev. 6. 12. 13. 14. whereupon the opening the eight Seale heaven departed as a scroule when it is rolled together and the 11. 7. 12. the witnesses lying dead three daies and a halfe therefore the Church is not alwaies visible nor the Mâ—nistry but for a time is hid in the Wildernesse where she is nourished for a time and times and halfe a time from the face of the Serpent Chap. 13. 3. 17. And therefore Christ is no Widdower nor his Church without a head so long as his Spouse hath a being in heaven or earth 2. We grant the Ordinance being lost none but a Câ—rist a Moses Elias or a Prophet from heaven can raise it but beleevers having Christ the Word Spirit have this Mat. 18 19 20 11. 11. Luke 7. 28. Rom. 10. 6 7 8. for the Scripture is as silent of Johns baptising himselfe and so others as for one After the defection of Antichrist to baptise himselfe being worse then the Apostasie of Israel And this is plaine for the Spirit doth not call them falne Israelites but Sodomites and Egyptians that were the worst of all Pagans and so of all the Gentiles Rev. 11. 2. 8. 3. Israels Apostasie dâ—d not race the foundation of the constitution of the Church of the Jewes for that was of an infant of Abrahams seed or a Prosselite to be circumcised Exod. 12. 48. and so long as they did this their constitution was true in the Land of Canaan Gen the 17. 10 11 12. But it is plaine that Antichrist as hee hath changed all other Ordinances both in the Church Ministâ—y Worship and Government Esai 24. 5. So hath he destroyed that true Apostolicall institution the matter whereof being beleevers confessing sins and faith desiring the Ordinance Matth. 3. 6. Acts 8. 36 37. to false matter of carnall infants not new-borne Babes of that everlasting Father Begotten by that immortall seed Isai 6. 9. 1 Pet. 2. 23. First being Christ Gal. 3. 29. and not a fleshly Generation for that which is borne of the flesh is flesh that have not visible Faith neither can they seale unto the Lord. John 3. 33. as all true beleevers doe for all true matter for the true church under the Gospel must know the Lord Jere. 31. 34. And be all taught of God Isai 54. 13. And therefore did the church of Rome or England Baptize beleevers onely confessing faith and sins desiring it wee would never separate from them much lesse remove their Baptizme as false because it is Gods ordinance in it selfe but so was never the sprinkling of infants 2. Whereas you say we are filled with prejudice that we have not patience to heare wee shall bee ready as we have ever beene to speake or write and concerning the vessels of the Lords House if you performe your promise I hope you will change your minde for the Vessels of the Lords House had no relation to the sprinkling of Infants as hath beene formerly answered for they were his owne Ordinance â—nd need not be new cast so long as they remained the same but the sprinkling of Infants was never And so the Argument to no purpose But put the case the Babilonians had destroyed the Lords Vessels and in stead had made them of Brasse Copper Tin or Lead whereas they were to be of pure Gold and Silver had they beene then the Lords Vessels or would his people have used them in his service and worship or brought them backe Ezra 1. 11. or would the Lord have accepted them for his owne Vessels And thus it stands in truth for the Dipping of Christ destroyed and raced out both for matter and forme as hath beene formerly shewed the matter being a beleever desiring it the true forme dipping them into Jesus Christ in the New Covenant to be visible heires Rom. 8. 17. Gallat 4. 5. Matth. 28. 20. whereas the other is but a tradition of the Church As Master Rogers in his Treatise of Baptisme sheweth that his conscience was never convinsed by any Word of God Also confest by the Jesuits in the 17 controversies Therefore though in words you denie traditions yet for the sprinkling Infants you have no better Arguments 3. Whereas you say the whole Church of â—olosse and so children being a part thereof were baptised To which I answer could you prove them Saints and faithfull brethren in Christ with experience of their love 1 Chap. 2. 14. 21 22. and 2. 11. and 3. 8. wherefore he exhorts the Church to beware least any man spoile them through Phylosophy and vaine deceit after the traditions of men after the rudiments of the world and not after Christ they being compleat in him in whom dwelleth the fulnesse of the God-head bodily being circumcised with the Circumcision made without hands and so buried with Chrâ—st in baptisme wherein also they were risen with him through the faith of the operation of God which was by regeneration and not generation as Christ saith John 3. 3. 5. 1 Pet. 2. 3. 1. 3. 21. Rom. 10. 10. and formerly proved having tasted that the Lord is gracious to whom comming as unto a living stone elect and pretious they as living stones are built up a Spirituall House an holy Priesthood to offer up Spirituall Sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ And whereas he saith some hold that Christ is to come and Raigne at Jerusalem wherefore hee would have had them to stay till then for the Ordinance To which I answer if the want of the visibility of the Church proveth Christ a Widdower then the state of the Church of which P. B. is a Member was unheard of within these two hundred yeares and so Christ a Widdower unlesse hee hold the Church of Rome a true Church which if he doe how dare they separate from her If not some of them being loving friends holding the same Principle how dare they raise up a State before Christ comes as they say to restore all thâ—ngs Lastly whereas the clothes or vestments are said to bee holy which they weare when they receive the Ordinance of Dipping they being dipt into the death of Christ for answeâ— hee might as well have said the clothes are holy preached unto exhorted to repentance faith and other duties that men weare when they are in their Assemblies but as is the man so is his strength and for setting our parts Judg. 8. 21. by Gods parts Ezek. 43. 8. Whether the Dipping beleevers which Christ comand or springling Infants which he commanded not be it let every wise man judge and the Spirit of the Prophets are subject to the Prophets 1 Cor. 14. 32. And for the whole houshold that he speakes of did hee but consider the Apostles first preaching to them the Word of Faith and their believing Acts 16. 31. 32. 34. This Objection is soone taken away but this hath beene sufficiently spoken to before therefore I shall leave it to Gods blessing and thy censure FINIS