the Lords people now Moses and the Prophets Christ and his Apostles in their writings as Luk. 16.29 30 31. Which are to us with the Spirit of life in them as effectuall as their personall presence if not more as Job 6.62 63. 2 Pet. 1.18 19. Rev. 11.3.5.11 And thus all succession from the beginning came to Christ and from Christ to the Apostles and from them to the Scriptures which are the head-spring of all to us so that all succession now is onely spirituall according to faith and follows not the personall succession of any but onely the word that gives being to all order and ordinances that is of God And so I come to such as will have no Church before Baptisme and so make Baptisme the forme of the Church I shall be briefe in this because the truth of this will appear in the causes constituting the Church This I thinke we all agree in that matter and forme constitutes a Church the matter is a company of Saints or persons professing faith in the righteousnesse of Jesus Christ and living accordingly that is in holines of life The forme is that by which these are united and knit up together in one fellowship and orderly body and that is the covenant of grace that lies between God and his people by which God visibly becomes the God of such persons and they his people above all other That this is the forme of a Church and not Baptisme I prove thus that by which God and a people become each others apart from all other people that is the forme of them but the covenant is that by which God owns a people for his and they him for their God therefore the covenant is the forme Jer. 31.33 Heb. 8.10 Act. 2. â—1 Gen. 17.11 Luk. 1.72 Act. 3.25 〈…〉 Secondly That which at the first was the forme of a thing ever remaines the forme of the same thing without alteration but the covenant was the forme of the Church at the first before ever any ordinance was annexed therefore the same still the Church remaining the same without alteration in the nature of it Thirdly That which both gives a beeing to a thing and ever keeps the same that must be the forme of the same thing but the covenant both gave a being to the Church ever keeps the same therefore the covenant is the forme Fourthly That which makes a member to be a member or no member of a Church that makes a Church to be a Church or no church and so that is the forme of it for there is the same reason for the whole that is for every part but the covenant is that which makes a member and so the rest as Esa 56.4.6 therefore the covenant is the forme Fifthly That which persons may have and yet be no church that cannot be the forme of a church but persons may have baptisme yet no church ergo not the forme the church being the greatest ordinance of God and the very center of all ordinances as Psal 87.7 with 1 Tim. 3.15 Cannot be formed by any particular ordinance no nor by any lesse then that which comprehends all the essentiall parts and properties of a church which is Gods gracious covenant that gives being to all true churches both first and last But some will say that the Word speakes of no church before Baptisme For answer to this I must distinguish in Baptisme between the truth in the doctrine of Baptisme and the outward administration of the same In the first sense Baptisme is one branch of the covenant as a truth to be revealed and by faith to be received as an essentiall truth together with other truths for the constituting of the church and no church according to the order of Christs new Testament either without it or before it But for the last namely the outward administration of Baptisme that ever follows the Saints joyning in fellowship by mutuall faith agreement in the doctrine wherein consists the stating of the Church in her conjoyning in covenant which ever goes before the administration of Baptisme and gives power and authoritie for the same So that in the first sense the Church is not before Baptisme but in the last sense the church is before Baptisme This distinction being observed I answer in a word thus we are not to deny a church to be a church untill the Word so calls it for the church in the old testament and most of the churches in the new Testament were churches sometime before they were so called And why may not the same be so here be a church before Baptisme be administred Againe a church is onely so a church before Baptisme as that the end of her union is for communion and so an immediate proceeding to the practise of the same truth shee agreed upon by a free and mutuall consent in her conjunction That which states a person or persons in covenant instates them in church-fellowship but faith and not practise instates a people in covenant for a people must first agree upon truth in judgement before they practise the same therefore faith and not practise instates a people in church-fellowship and so a church in covenant and fellowship before baptisme be administred A people are a church by covenant unto which ordinances are annexed to confirme and establish the same as Gen. 17.11 Ezek 16.8 9. Act. 2.41 as Eph. 4.5 So that here was a church before ordinances or that ever Baptisme was administered either by John the Baptist on the 〈…〉 Some say from Act 2.41 They were added to the Church after they were baptized To which I answer and say If it should bâ— so that they were after Baptisme added to the Church then they should neither put on Christ by Baptisme not yet be baptized into one body not to the true profession of the Father Son and holy Ghost c. directly against these Scriptures Gal. 3.27 1 Cor. 12 13. Mat. 28.19 And for Act. 2.41 the words are these Then they that gladly received his Word were baptized and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand soules which is nothing else but to shew how many they were that received the truth and so by the same were added to them holding Forth the power and goodnes of God in making his word so fruitfull in bringing in so many by one Sermon to the truth as Act. 2.47 which is onely a repeating over the number of Persons God at that time added to the rest Againe it may be said that Baptisme signifies our regeneration and new birth so that a childe must be first borne and brought forth in Baptisme before it can be mad a living Member in Christs body the Church Baptisme indeed is a signe of the new birth and so holds forth the same as a thing done and not as a thing to be done and therefore Baptisme requites the appearance of the same as faith and repentance to goe before the administration
A TREATISE CONCERNING THE LAWFVLL SVBIECT OF BAPTISME Wherein are handled these Particulars The Baptizing of Infants confuted and the Grounds to prove the same answered The Covenant God made with Abraham and his seed handled how the same agrees with the Gentiles their seed The Baptisme administred by an Antichristian Power confuted as no Ordinance of God and the Grounds to prove the same answered If either Church or Ordinance be wanting where they are to be found and how recovered The Covenant and not Baptisme formes the Church and the manner how There is no succession under the New Testament but what is spiritually by faith in the Word of God With some other things examined and briefly discoursed By me J. S. Goe teach all Nations Baptizing them Mat. 28.19 He that beleeves and is baptized shall be saved Mark 16.16 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body 1 Cor. 12.13 Prove all things and hold fast that which is good 1 Thes 5.21 Lord God the strength of my salvation cover thou my head in the day of battell Psal 140.7 LONDON Printed in the Yeare 1643. The Epistle to the Reader CHristian Reader have a favourable construction of my so bold attempt of so great a worke upon such weake abilitie which may possibly seeme to savour as deeply of pride to some as Davids undertaking the challenge of Goliah did to his brother Eliab 1 Sam 17.28 But I am contented to walke naked before the world and to under goe the censure of men to performe any service to God or his people The occasion that pressed me on chiefly to this worke was by reason of some godly persons whose consciences were scrupled about the baptizing of children before they came to know what they doe in the same and others coming to heare of it did much insult upon them in a reproachfull manner with much reviling and despising of them as I understood by a Letter received from them and did as it were make a challenge upon them with certaine Reasons and Arguments gathered up against them Vpon which occasion the said Reasons and Arguments were sent to me from beyond the Seas to be answered and pressed me with Letter after Letter to the same which at length I intended to doe onely in a private way untill some here at home had published their evill affections in a reproachfull manner casting such unseemly aspersions upon the truth of God and godly persons for the truths sake to make the same hatefull in the eyes of all men in what them lieth And others also in resemblance of the truth going on in such a confused way both in respect of corrupt doctrine and as bad order by reason of which disorder the blessed name of God and his holy truth are exposed unto much suffiring And thus the glory of God and the honour of the Gospel of Jesus Christ lying as it were at the stake and his people grieving and suffering together with the same I thought in such a case that I was bound in conscience to come forth to the helpe of the Lord against the mightie and to free my selfe from the sinne of withholding the truth in unrighteousnesse and according to that abilitie Christ bath given to speake a word in the defence of his blessed truth against those ungodly aspersions cast upon the same And thus having shewed my courteous Reader the grounds forcing me to attempt so great a worke with so weake meanâ—â— I trust he will sparingly consider rather then rashly censure as the manner of too many is And to judge as he would be judged remembering there is a righteous Judge before whom we must all appeare and give account every one for himselfe as Rom. 14.10.12 2 Cor. 5.10 The subject controverted in the following Treatise one part of it is about Infants Baptisme And wheras I oppose the same as an unwritten tradition yet I would not be understood that I oppose Infants in respect of either their persons or age or salvation it selfe between God and them invisibly but honour them with all naturall respects desiring their safety and well-being here and glory here after but what their estate is in respect of grace that I doe not know but as the same appeares by some effect of faith untill which time as I condemne none no more dare I justifie all but leave them all unto the good pleasure of God that onely knows who are his And this I beleeve that God of his meere grace before the world was did elect and choose a number in Christ to salvation All which shall unavoydably come to glory as Ephes 1. Rom. 8.30 But who these be that I doe not know untill God reveales the same by some effect of his grace appearing in them And all that I intend by opposing Infants Baptisme is but onely to forbeare a while and waite upon God in the use of meanes untill faith appeares to meet with God in his holy Ordinance without which the same is voyd and of no effect but prophaned God provoked and the party indangered Friend how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment take him c. Mat. 22.12 13. And also that Baptisme administred in an Antichristian Church and by the same power is no ordinance of God so that all such so baptized are to submit to the Lords ordinance of Baptisme whensoever God calls them to beleeve and receive the Gospel And yet not holding any rebaptizing for he that is once baptized with the Lords true Baptisme he needs no more Nor yet a new way of baptizing as some to please themselves so call it but onely that good old way which John the Baptist Christ and his Apostles walked in before us and left the same as a Rule under command in the holy Scriptures for such as will be followers of them to walke by And as it is recorded by the holy Ghost in the Scriptures of God even so it is the judgement of the most and best learned in the Land so farre as I have seene or can come by any of their writings As in all the common Dictionaries which with one joynt consent affirme that the word Baptisme or Baptiâ—o being the originall word signifies to dipp wash or to plunge one into the water though some please to mock and deride by calling it a new found way Yet truth was before error and what they please Indeed it is a new found truth in opposition to an old growne errour and so it is a new thing to such as the Apostles Doctrine was to the Athenians Act. 17.19 But this being no part of the following Discourse I shall leave it and turne such so mocking over to consider of these Scriptures Isa 28.22 Pro. 17.5 Isa 57.4 Act. 17.32 Heb. 11.36 Jude 18. Gen. 21.9 with Gal. 4.29 and I doubt not but the wise hearted Reader will thy and examine things of so high a nature by the Word of God and not to build upon darke
This way Satan in his instruments lies at all advantage to disable and prevent the Word for taking effect upon the hearts of men as Mat. 13.19 And this is the theft that the aforesaid theeves and robbers had not repented of and not Antichrists stealing of the Lords Baptisme out of his Church But it is thought by some that the gold and rich attire by which Antichrist is painted and the golden cup in the Gentlewomans hand are the ordinances of God as Rev. 17.4 As there is little matter in this to any purpose I shall answer in briefe to the same And first that this is a comparative speech with reference to that outward pompe and glorious state wherein shee sits triumphing as a Queene Rev. 18.7 And withall the same wisely and cunningly composed by humane policy under a generall forme of an outward profession of Religion yet opposing the truth and power thereof Cant. 5.7 Under a shew of humilitie and pretence of zeale by her forwardnesse in the executing of her power against all such that refuse subjection to her holy orders and to worship God according to that image and forme which shee hath set up Col. 2.8.18.20 21 22 23. Rev. 13.15 16. Thus by her policy shee draws forth her forme in some resemblance of truth so far as it suits with reason and humane wisdome and therefore it is that the greatest Politicians and artificers are of her side Rev. 18.23 and so carries out things with a strong hand against all that shall oppose her Rev. 13.4 and through her great wisdome art and policy shee is exalted and becomes famous and in great esteeme for the generalitie of men as Ezek. 2.8 Rev. 13.3 Rev. 18.18 19. And therefore such are best accepted of her that are the strongest for reason and the most skilfulst artificers to paint and to trim her up and to set her forth in her glory and beautie to the eyes of men And by this means shee as an harlot deceives the simple and bewitches the Nations as Pro. 7.16 17. Nabum 3 4. Gal. 3.1 Rev. 18 All which is to be understood in a spirituall sense and in matters of Religion and then her golden cup and all her rich attire will appeare to be onely of the Gentlewomans own devised painting and not any of the Lords ordinances as Jer. 51.7 Jer 2.33 with Jer. 4.30 Rev. 18.12 13.16 So that here the holy Ghost sets forth her state to be Babylon spiritually considered as Rev. 11.8 and her Ministers are set forth under the name of Merchants because they buy and sell trade for her in all the Merchandise of her Religion wherein all things are set at sale as much as the soules and bodies of men Rev. 18.13 that is the penall laws imposed to the forcing of their consciences such as are rich to escape for money or friends but such as are poore or conscious to abide the punishment as a Pet. 2.3 the Merchants are stiled or called The great men of the earth ver 23. that is great for humane learning arts and policy to keep up her state and trade and make out the same against all gaine-sayers and what they want in skill they have it in power and so able to beare downe all before them for they are the great men of the earth and who is able to make war with the beast The things they merchandise withall are all manner of precious stones and the like which holds forth the curious art of nature for the ordering and composing of all those things concurring for the making up of that state and forme in so neere a resemblance to truth All which is without substance for at length no man will buy their ware which causeth great lamentation among the Merchants Rev. 18.11 And so I shall now leave this subject to the wise godly Readers consideration to mind well the truth of such a practise that leave a church as false and Antichristian and yet approve of that Baptisme there administred by a false and an Antichristian power to be the true ordinance of God I must here conclude with Doctor Hall in his Apologie against the Brownists pag. 17 18.31 That either such must goe forward to baptisme or else turne backe againe from whence they came for there is no middle way nor the least light in the word of God to beare out the same but the contrary You shall not doe whatsoever is right in your owne eyes for you are not as yet come to your rest and to the inheritance which the Lord your God giveth you Deut. 12.8 9. Arise and depart for this is not your rest because it is polluted Micah 2.10 I am come a light into the world that whosoever beleeveth on me should not abide in darknesse Joh. 12.46 And now why tarry yee arise and be baptized and wash away your Antichristian sinnes calling on the name of the Lord Act. 22.16 or submitting to the order and way of Christ They resisted the counsell of God against themselves being not baptized of him Luk. 7.30 Arise therefore and obey the Lord and thinke not within your selves we are baptized already and that by Antichrist for I tell you that you are never able to prove your selves to be under the Lords holy ordinance of Baptisme by all the light in Scripture and art in nature in that way you goe namely to deny the state as false and Antichristian and yet retaine your baptisme there administred by the same power as the Lords ordinance and assume a Church to yourselves upon the same baptisme I speake in subjection to better judgement I thinke the last Church is as much against the Rules of the new Testament as the former For certainly where there is a false state constituted by a false power all that stative ordinances essentiall to the same and constituted by the same power must be also of the same nature together with the rest which is all alike false therefore if you take hence a corner stone to lay in your foundation and build you a resting place upon the same know this that it will not lie firme but ever be rouling under you that you shall not rest long upon it therefore arise and depart for this is not your rest because it is polluted it will destroy you even with a sore destruction look betimes the higher you build the greater the fall will be if it be not right upon the true foundation I doe beleeve that God will cause his truth to shine forth with power both to cleare the darke clouds of ignorance off the hearts of men and beare downe that which stands in opposition to the same and if such hath been so hard put to it in the darke as it were that they are forced to leave the holy and blessed word of God and betake themselves to Antichrists power and testimony to prove them under Gods holy ordinance of baptisme though the whole body of the Scripture lies against