went not it will be well for him if such as are no more esteemed by him than Publicans do not get into the Kingdom of God before him I hope my Writing doth not in the least savour of such a Spirit and therefore desire my Friends the Anabaptists impartially to weigh what I have laid down and if it will not hold weight in the Ballance of the Sanctuary reject it if it doth let it not be rejected because of the weakness or unworthiness of the Instrument but rather let it be received because it is the Mind of God If you receive Light into any Truth herein bless God for it But if through my weakness I have laid down any thing Erroneous then I desire that in as mild a Spirit they confute me with solid Arguments from Scripture which Confutation shall not break my Head or inrage my Heart nor I hope cause me to speak unadvisedly with my Tongue but shall be as a precious Ointment to me I long to see more clearly into the Truth acknowledging I know but in part and so can but Prophecy in part and if God will make use of an Anabaptist to inform me to the end I may know the Ways and Truths of God more perfectly I hope I shall rejoice I must confess in the reading of some Authors of the Anabaptist Perswasion I have been so far from being convinced that I am in an Error that I am the more confirmed in my present Sentiments while I find that in their Endeavours to confute us they wrest the Scripture and most grosly abuse Authors they cite for them Sometime since I read an Author on this Subject supposed to be Mr. Danvers whom upon Examination I find dexterous at abusing Authors as if he was resolved to confirm his Opinion from Antiquity per fas aut nefas right or wrong he there cites Calvin against Infant-Baptism I had almost said Calvin against himself on his Exposition on Mat. 3.6 thus That Men may rightly offer themselves in Baptism Confession of Sins is required otherwise the whole Action would be nothing else but sport But leaves out his words immediately following no doubt on purpose knowing otherwise his Cause had been betrayed and his abuse of that worthy Author discovered his Words are these Porro notandum est de Adultis hic verba fieri that is Let it be noted I am speaking here concerning Adult And who differs from him in this Not I. But as to Infant-Baptism I could weary my reader to cite passages to that purpose especially out of his common places but his Judgment is so well known I may spare my Labour Had this Author had as much Honesty as Learning I am perswaded he would have cited the whole passage of Calvin's If no Body could have read Calvin in Latin how miserably would this Author have beguiled his Ignorant Reader The same Author hath filled his Book almost with citations of Authors but if he hath dealt no better with them than he did with Calvin as 't is certain he did not with some of them no wonder he concealed his Name lest on this account it should be rendred hateful to the World Why did he not cite that whole passage of Calvin's May not Scripture it self be turned into Blasphemy at this rate I do assure my Brethren the Anabaptists such Men as these will never strengthen their Cause were it never so good 'T is a poor shelter to make Lies our Refuge and under Falshood to hide our selves and no commendable practice to force Men to speak in Vindication of that when Dead which they abhorred wrote against and always spoke against while Living And therefore I would desire my Friends the Anabaptists that if they will again Write in Vindication of their Sentiments that they would not always imploy the most Learned but the most Gracious and that they would fix on a Man of Good Report a Man Fearing God and Hating Wickedness not a Slanderer or a Reviler but on such a one who Labours to keep a Conscience void of Offence towards God and Man for though for my own part I am perswaded many of the Anabaptist Perswasion are Persons dear to God I mean of those that are against the Doctrine of Free-Will and that what some of them hold is out of Tenderness of Conscience yet that wicked Spirit which hath discovered it self in some of their Writers hath caused the rest to be the worse thought of while in their Writings they seem liker unto Men acted by their own Spirit striving for a Party than contending for Truth by the Spirit of God I would in all Love to my Friends the Anabaptists caution them in one thing and that is to beware of putting too much Considence in their own Writers especially in citing old Authors for they oft cite this and the other of the Fathers speaking for Believer's Baptism and by this Means beguile their unwary Reader with a strong Opinion that they were against Infant Baptism one Instance of which I have cited out of Mr. Calvin to prove this as if he that was for Baptizing Believers who never were Baptized before which is as many of them do certainly mean must needs be against Infant Baptism which is as unnatural a Consequence as to conclude if a Man loves his Wife therefore he must hate his Child whereas his Love to his Wife is no Hindrance to his loving his Child For my part I am for Infant Baptism but withal I am as much for the Baptism of grown Believers if never Baptized before So that these two do no ways contradict each other I leave this as a Caution for my Friends for the time to come I shall hasten to a Close and sum up all in a Word of Exhortation to my Christian Friends the Anabaptists that if they see any weight in what I have said or cannot from Scripture confute me that then they would embrace this Doctrine and practice accordingly for 't is dangerous living in Neglect of that which God in his Word reveals to be a Duty as is clear from Exod. 4.24 There you read how God sought to slay Moses because he had but neglected to Circumcise his Child longer than the time appointed Tho' Moses was dear to God tho' the meekest Man on Earth tho' intimately acquainted with God yet he had died if his Son had not been Circumcised and what ground we have to think that God will more approve of our Neglect of Baptism as to the Subject now than he did the Neglect of Circumcision as to the time then I see not for as God appoints no Ordinance in vain so he cannot bear to see them neglected or despised tho' by his own People And sure I am such Parents not only offend God by so doing but seem to be without all natural Affection to their Seed Even the Sea-Monsters will draw out the Breast to their young ones Lam. 4.3 And they seem Monsters of Parents that can deny such
Infants Faith AND RIGHT TO BAPTISM Proved from Scripture WITH THE Chief Objections against it Answered By John Hunt Pastor of a Particular Congregation in Northampton Isa 8.20 To the Law and to the Testimony if they speak not according to this Word it is because there is no Light in them Joh. 5.34 I receive not Testimony from Man 2 Tim. 4.3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound Doctrine Joh. 12.48 The word that I have spoken the same shall Judge him in the last Day LONDON Printed by R. Janeway and Sold by the Author THE EPISTLE TO THE READER Christian READER THou mayest well wonder that in this Day when the World can scarce contain the Books already Written that this Little Piece should croud in among the rest under my Hand And more especially on such a Subject as hath been so Frequently and Learnedly insisted on by so many Worthy Servants of Christ who have been daily bringing out of their Treasury concerning this Matter contained in this Book things New and Old and what can the Man say that cometh after the King But though it may seem strange on this Account yet I hope some Satisfactory Reasons may be produced why I have engaged in this Work For since the Providence of God hath cast my Lot at Northampton it hath no little concerned me to see how Generally the County is Infected not only with Anabaptism but also with those many and gross Errors which commonly that Doctrine is an inlet into and especially with that Soul-damning Error of Free-Will And not only so but even some among my own Flock over which the Holy Ghost hath made me Overseer though Blessed be God far enough from the Doctrine of Free-Will are dissatisfied about Infants Right to Baptism And for the sake of those I have Printed this not designing it if possible to be exposed beyond the extent of my Church and if it goes further I would have the Reader look upon it as having strayed beyond its designed Bounds And could no other Reason be given but this I think it may excuse me for since God hath set me a Watchman over this Flock I think my self bound as ever I hope to give up my Account with Joy to take all the Care of them I can and to do my utmost to reduce such as are wandering and to establish such as are wavering and to keep the Plague out of their Head as well as their Hands from being Defiled Judging a Blind Eye worse than a Lame Foot Errors in Judgment are like to be an inlet into continual Errors in Practice And as some of my People stand in need of information in this Point so there are some that desire to be informed which is no small Motive to me to Write And because I love not to spend my time in my Pulpit in Controverted Points I have therefore exposed my Sentiments to the meanest Capacity that can but Read But besides all this I have been importunately urged by several Friends whom I highly esteemed to Print this having seen the Copy who hope it may be Serviceable to the Church of God in the Neighbouring Parts and though I love to live an obscure Life and never could entertain one thought of appearing at so publick a Post tho' frequently in other Cases urged thereunto Yet for these Reasons I have been prevailed upon and while I find my Mind so strangely changed in this respect I would hope I have the Mind of God in it READER Though I have not studied to please this wanton Age having never affected Novelties in Matters of Religion but rather to stand and enquire for the Good Old Way and to Contend earnestly for the Faith once delivered to the Saints Yet I doubt not but much of what is contained herein will seem new to most Vulgar Capacities But as I judge it not safe to embrace any thing because new as is the Custom with many in our Day for thus we may be ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the Truth So on the other Hand I judge it dangerous to reject any Truth proved to be so from Scripture because it seems new or above our reach But however strange it may appear I could have cited several worthy Authors of my Judgment but I receive not my Testimony from Men. If therefore I have not proved what I have laid down from Scripture then reject it but if I have you are bound to receive it and not to look upon it as mine and must own 't is through your ignorance if it seems strange unto you I have not studied Eloquence in Composing of this nay rather I have studied to shun and avoid it and to speak in the Demonstration of the Spirit of God comparing Spiritual things with Spiritual that so the ensuing Discourse might the better suite with those for whom I designed it I hope Reader thou wilt find that I have managed this Discourse with all Mildness and Moderation and have only put a Genuine Construction on those many Texts I have cited and yet I cannot but fear this will enrage some Men who are lovers of a Party more than lovers of Truth who can easier cry up their own Opinions than solidly confute other Arguments As I did not intend in Writing this to Enter the List with any in a Publick Debate or to provoke any to make a Reply so if contrary to my expectation any of the common Disputants of our Age shall think good to Answer it I design to take no further notice of it than to Read it not doubting but they will be found to oppose God as well as me in the Judgment of any who esteem the Scripture as the Word of God or prefer it above their own Fancies and that while they open their Mouths to oppose the Truth so clearly proved they will but belch out their Arminian Tenets and as Raging Waves foam out their own shame and be as unsuccessful in their Attempts as those who never would cease endeavouring to set up Dagon in opposition to the Ark till only the Stump remained But however this may inrage others who know not what manner of Spirit they are of yet if it may but profit my own Flock I have gained my chief Design Which that it may shall be the Earnest and Continual Prayer of him who bears a dear Love and Affection to their Souls and who is willing to serve the advancing the Interest of Christ in the meanest Place in his House John Hunt Infants FAITH AND RIGHT TO BAPTISM Proved from Scripture c. THE Consideration of the unhappy Differences which are this Day among the People of God about the Doctrine of Infant Baptism whereby God is much dishonoured and the Adversaries Mouths opened to reproach the Ways and People of God whereby much time is spent in Controversies which might be better improved in giving diligence To make our Calling and Election sure and in helping
is more easily eradicated than a Grown Tree so in this Case Sin by Custom and Continuance gets root and though all things are equally possible to God yet to change an Old Sinner is most difficult in it self We may conceive a greater opposition in the Heart of Grown Persons to a Work of Grace than in Infants The longer we have been wedded to Sin the more unwilling we shall be to give it a Bill of Divorce and put it away So that Infants are as capable of Grace as Adult and more capable as to the Humane Conception of any unless Arminians And though 't is said Faith comes by hearing yet that only points out the ordinary way of God's Working Faith in Adult This directs us to our Duty but sets no bounds or limits to his Power God can work Faith other ways than by the hearing of the Ear if he will Thus having cleared my Proposition that Infants are capable of Faith I now come to confirm the Minor Proposition of my Argument which was this That the Infant Seed of Believers are such as we have good ground from Scripture to hope are Believers Before I proved Infants were capable of Faith now I come to prove some Infants have Faith which I prove thus Argument If some Infants get to Heaven then some Infants have Faith But some Infants do get to Heaven therefore some Infants have Faith 'T is possible that the Anabapatists may say That there is no necessity for Infants to have Faith in order to their getting to Heaven but I am loth to resign up such a Gospel Truth meerly because they have said it I shall lay down nothing but what I shall prove from plain Scripture and I shall expect the same of them especially in Matters of such grand Import And sure I am the Scripture no where affirms any such thing that any can get to Heaven without Faith-Nay Nay I am certain the whole Currant of Scripture doth in most express terms run directly contrary thereunto as I shall shew anon So that we cannot open our Mouths in Defence of such a Notion unless we dare even fight against God I grant indeed there are some Secrets in God's working in Infants yet this makes nothing against the Truth of the thing because we cannot comprehend it We cannot conceive the manner how God works Grace in Adult unless very imperfectly As John 3.8 the Wind Bloweth where it listeth and thou hearest the Sound thereof but canst not tell whence it cometh nor whither it goeth so is every one that is Born of the Spirit Mind every one Adult as well as Infants where Christ himself makes it as hard to know how God Regenerates as to give Account of the Wind which hath puzzled our wisest Philosophers We may feel the Wind refresh us and see the effects of it but cannot tell exactly how it is caused So in this Case we may find and feel the refreshing Influence of the Spirit in our selves and may see the effects of it in others yet can no more comprehend the manner of his working than we can conceive how the Body is formed in the Womb of her that is with Child Eccles 11.5 There you have these two compared Why then should it be thought incredible that God should Work Faith in Infants Though we cannot fully comprehend his way of Working God can make use of various ways to effect one and the same thing though in the mean time he gives us no account of his Matters His ways are in the deep Waters and his Footsteps are not known And sure I am if we must believe nothing but what we can fully comprehend the Articles of our Faith may stand in less room for what can we say as to the Trinity we are bound to believe such a thing because God hath revealed it but alas how little can we comprehend of Three in One or to the Hypostatical Union of Two Natures Personally united What shall we say as to the Resurrection of the Dead Of the Joys of Heaven or the Torments of Hell If nothing must be Believed but what we can comprehend we must blot out these and many more Articles of our Creed Is not this the way to Atheism if we must not believe God to be unless we can comprehend him since 't is but a little portion we have heard of him Job 26.14 and since none can by searching find out God to Perfection This is to prefer the Light within or Carnal Reason above the Word of God if we must not believe God's Word unless we can comprehend it Nay this is to make a Man worse than a Beast while he must not believe that which he sees Hence we must not believe such a thing as the Tide or Sun since though it is easie to see both yet we cannot fully comprehend either Nay at this rate we must not believe our selves to be Creatures since we cannot tell how we were formed in the dark Recesses of the Womb for we are said to be wonderfully made In a word by this Rule we must believe nothing because there is nothing but what doth in some respect or other exceed our shallow Understandings This is a Rule to be observed among all that profess themselves Christians whatever God reveals we are to believe though it be as far above the reach of our Reason as the Heavens are above the Earth since 't is impossible for God to Lie and Blasphemous for us to suppose he should and worse to suppose God to Lie than to suppose him not to be As once Plutarch said Malo de me dici nullum esse Plutarchum quam malum Plutarchum I had rather said he Man should say I am not than say I am wicked And therefore since God hath in his Word set forth the necessity of Grace and Faith in order to our getting to Glory we ought to Believe the one or to Despair of the other Some time since I was reading a Book put out by one of the most Learned of the Anabaptists and in that he owns the Sins of Children are done away and that some such if not all such do go to Heaven but most boldly affirms they are not done away in Regeneration But sure that Gentleman would have done well to have told us which way they are cleansed and not to leave so many tender-hearted Parents mourning for their deceased Infants as those without hope as they must needs do if they are not capable of Regeneration or if they cannot tell some others way how they may be fitted for Heaven But I perceive that Gentleman was resolved none should know his new-found way but himself let the effects be what they will But though he is thus unkind his Dear Brother Mr. C. seems to be a Man of a better Spirit and though he seems to agree with him in the former yet he tells us if we will believe him how Sin comes to be destroyed in Infants and that is saith he