and Drinks and divers Baptisms that is Washings it had a temporary Seal to wit Circumcision Rom. 4.11 but the New Covenant Christ Jesus the great Promise of the Father hath a spiritual yea an eternal Seal this is my positive Affirmation in this case that the Old Covenant standing in outward things had an outward Seal but the new Covenant the Promise of the Father hath a spiritual Seal Paul a Witness of Christ the new covenant the great Promise of the Father in writing to the Saints at Ephesus he testified on their behalf saying After that ye believed ye were scaled with the holy Spirit of Promise Ephes 1.13 He calls the Spirit the Seal of the New Covenant Christ the Promise of the Father not Baptism not Rantism dipping or sprinkling Further he exhorted them in these words Grieve not the holy Spirit whereby ye are sealed to the Day of Redemption Ephes 4.30 He preaches up the Spirit to be the Evangelical Seal of the New Covenant the Promise of the Father so who preach up Water-baptism to be the Seal they oppose the Apostles Testimony deny the Lord's Privy and Royal Seal and introduce another of mans making the sealed are the Lord 's Excellent Ones his Worthies And as for that Scripture Acts 2.39 The Promise is unto you and to your Children unto all that are afar off even as many as the Lord shall call This makes nothing for Water-baptism or Rantism to be the Evangelicall Seal Peter told the House of Israel that the Promise was to them to their Children yea to all the called of the Lord. Outward Water was not the Promise which they were to wait for but a thing of a more Heavenly Nature Christ told the Jews John 8.39 If ye were Abraham 's Children ye would do the works of Abraham so that such were the Children of Abraham and had right to the Promise who were found doing the Works of Abraham yea and the Apostle told the Galatians that they which were of Faith were the Children of Abraham Gal. 3.7 such Children as these have right to the Promise and know the Seal thereof IV. Obj. Infants-baptism is an ancient Custom so to be continued in the Church Answ The antiquity of a humane Tradition proves it not to be of divine Institution the spreading or over-spreading of Leprosie proves it not to be Soundness the Entrance of true Reformation thrusts out humane Inventions old as well as new what Christ received of his Father that he taught his Disciples Apostles what the Apostles received from Christ the treasury of Wisdom and Knowledge that they taught to and in the Churches and the same was to be committed and commended to faithful men in the Faith the Tongue of the Learned was their All to them and in them and in this Faith that Tongue was kept silent which afterward brought the Darkness into the Church in the Eye of divine Illumination we see to before August in was or Cyprian was or Pope Innocent the third was who as 't is said first established Infants-baptism by ratifying the Canon of the Milevitan Council by this Eye we see and feel to the Primitive Order before the Apostacy was Christ the Apostles and primitive Church in the Beauty of Heavenly Virginity taught no such thing as dipping or spriekling of Infants and in the Faith the primitive Order is to be pressed after contended for the Smoak of the Pit Inventions Traditions and Idolatious Customs inconsistent with the living Life-giving Truth are to be warred against Id verum quod prius prius quod ab initio ab initio quod ab Apostolis Tertul. contra Marcion lib. 4. That is Truth that was first that was first which was from the beginning which was from the beginning which was from the Apostles what the Apostles preached that they received from Christ who is Alpha and Omega the First and the Last the Beginning and the End glorified with the Father before the Foundation of the World Augustine Bishop of Hippo testified saying Custom is not to be preferred before Truth but ought to give place to the Truth but who plead for Infants-baptism or Rantism they would keep Custom in the Throne and exclude Truth Cyprian Bishop of Carthage bare Testimony saying Custom crept in among some people ought not to hinder Truths prevailing and overcoming for Custom without Truth is nothing but ancient Error wherefore forsaking Error let us pursue the Truth These two said well though true it is as their Writings evidently demonstrate they were guilty of mingling their traditions inventions and imaginations with the Doctrine of Christ and of the Apostles V. Obj. 'T is said Except a man be born of Water and of the Spirit he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God John 3.5 deth not this perpetuate Infants-baptism Answ Christ gave no command for Infants-baptism neither did the Apostles practise any such thing whoever alledge this or any other Scripture for it they use the Scriptures as Torturers who putting innocent men upon the Rack so force them to speak that which they never thought such are these who wrest the Scriptures to draw a sense out of them which the holy Spirit never intended so tortures and perverts them as to make them speak for maintaining those things which were not commanded nor spoken of in those dayes wherein the Scriptures were given forth After the Apostles dayes Satan made an Encroachment upon the Garden of the Lord Earthly Exaltations of Darkness fumed into the Professors of Christianity then their Judgment became carnal and being not able to savour divine things they wrested those Scriptures which spoke of the Water of Life and applyed them to outward Water ascribing inward Washing and Regeneration thereto whenas indeed external Water can contribute nothing thereunto in this place Christ preached unto Nicodemus the Necessity of Regeneration and informed him how it was brought forth not by outward Water which can reach no further then outward things but by a Water able to renew a man to make him a New Holy and Heavenly Creature to dissolve the rotten and loathsom Fabrick of unrenewed untransformed man where Belial is King and to erect a Building in Righteousness and true Holiness where Christ is Monarch sole Lord. Other Scriptures give witness to this as John 4.10 Christ said to the Woman of Samaria If thou knew the Gift of God c. thou wouldst have asked of him and he would have given this living Water Mark here is a Living Water a Life-giving Water effecting a living Work and this all the Re-born know Further saith Christ Vers 14. The Water that I shall give him shall be in him a Well of Water springing up unto Everlasting Life And John 7.38 39. He that believeth on we out of his belly shall flow Revers of living Water which Believers in him should receive there is a living Water producing a Work of Wonder in the Bodies of men making all things new this fulfils inwardly
should sit upon many Waters even upon Peoples Multitudes Nations and Tongues Revel 17.1 15. yea and he saw and fore-told that all Nations yea Kings themselves should be drunk with the Cup of Fornication Revel 18.3 Now as these things were in fulfilling Darkness entred the Professors of Christianity yea and losing the Virtue and Influence of the Heavenly Pearl Christ in them the End Fulfilling and Substance of all shadows from Abel to himself then they began to re-assume shadows and figures without them then losing the pure Graâ—n they began to magnifie the Husk losing Christs spiritual Baptism the bubling Spring of living Water purifying inwardly then they began to re-assume John's Ministration of Water-baptism outwardly yea and to call it Christ Ordinance then Divisions abounded some baptized or sprinkled Old People on their Death-beds some-baptized people in their more early Age as when they were on pable of being catechized some began to baptize or sprinkle Young Children some baptized or sprinkled people after they were Dead some baptized the living for the Dead some baptized Children in their Mothers Womb before they were born some made the Character of a Cross in their Foreheads with a Burning Iron which they called Christ's Baptism some baptized themselves every year still pretending and crying Christs Ordinance Zuinglius in his Ago taking notice of the Confusion of men in reference to Baptism bore record in this manner saying In the beginning of my Book saith he I must ingeniously profess that almost all those that have undertaken to write of Baptism even from the very times of the Apostles have which I desire may be spoken with the favour of all not in a few things erred from the Truth Yea and this Zuinglius as well as they erred also the truly illuminated Branches of the true Vine turns from such as turn from the Life of the Scriptures the End of Shadows into Shadows and Inventions 't is more honourable to joyn to the Word without Men then to joyn to Men without the Word Now of the fore-mentioned Confusion and Inventions concerning Baptism and Rantism Dipping and Sprinkling more followeth I profess I have traced the steps of Antiquity and have been diligent to search out the Original of sprinkling that if possible I might find him out to whom this Tradition Rantism that is sprinkling may cry Abba Father and what I have found thereto to relating I freely commend to him that reads me I find it recorded that about the year 230. lived one Cyprian who was Bishop of Carthage in which time the foggy Exhalations of Darkness much ascended the Hearts of the Professors of Christianity yea so much as that Christ's Baptism in and with the saving Spirit the Water of Life being much lost within they began exceedingly to magnifie Water without the visible Element thinking Water-baptism saved ascribing Washing of Souls Regeneration taking away of Original Sin freeing from Perdition and eternal Salvation to it yea and in effect the Belief of this Doctrine remains and in such as would be accounted high Sharers in Reformation that the thing is so multitudes of Testimonies might be produced Whence saith Augustine hath Water so much Virtue as that it touches the Body and washes the Heart August in Hom. 8. Through baptismal Water men pass from Earth to Heaven saith Ambrose de sacramentis As Water extinguisheth cleanseth and whiteneth above other Liquors so in baptismal Water fleshly Lusts are quenched Sin both original and actual washed away Innocency begotten saith Algerus Not particular men only but even Councils were involved in this erroneous Conceit and Misapprehension The Council of Florence taught That by Baptism we are spiritually born again and that it imprints in the Soul a Character that is some spiritual sign indeleble that is which cannot be blotted out and further That we are thereby made Members of Christ of the Body of the Church Summa Concil et Pontif. The Trent Council taught That by Baptism we put on Christ and are thoroughly made New Creatures Children dying without it are by the Roman-Catholicks accounted Heathen and must not be buried in Hollowed Mould Church or Church-Yard Protestants dancing after the same Pipe accounâ— such Heathen and wanting their Christendom so bury them behind the Church so called This ancient Error of magnifying outward Water when the the purifying Virtue of the Water of Life was lost yet remains 't is read in the beginning of the old Catechism of present allowance My Godfathers and Godmothers in my Baptism wherein I was made a Member of Christ a Child of God and an Inheritor of the Kingdom of God Is not here unspeakable Virtue ascribed to baptismal Water Mayer in his Explanation of the English Catechism paraphrasing on the before-cited words saith Outward Water makes none Partakers of such Priviledges and that the Externals of the New are of no more Vertue then the Externals of the Old Testament alledging that in Christ Jesus neither Circumcision avails any thing nor Vncircumcision but a New Creature and the keeping of the Commandments of God Baptism saith he confers not Grace ex opere operato as the Church of Rome teaches and if not Grace neither those precious Effects of Grace neither is external baptismal Water any more effectual then the Blood of Bulls and Goats to take away sins Hebr. 10.4 But to return from this digression in Cyprian's Age though the Degeneration was not so great and general as afterwards it became yet they greatly magnified Water and ascribed Salvation to it so that converted Persons deferred their Baptism to as near their Latter-end as they could guess so that they might have an Evidence of the Remission of their sins all at once they were not willing to have it before lest by after-sinning they should lose their Evidence now in propounding this End to themselves sometimes they deferred their Baptism so long as that through Extremity of Sickness and Weakness or the like they could not be baptized that is dipped then one Magnus enquired of Cyprian What they should do in such a case Cyprian answered Seeing it could not be done as it ought without the hazard of the sick Persons Life they must do it as well as they could so that they might have the Element of Water applyed to them on their Beds sprinkled upon them alledging Ez. 36. I will sprinkle clean Water upon them yet if they were restored again they should be dipped in a River Now Cyprian allowing of sprinkling in this case people would make use of it in other cases see Cyprian's Epistle to Magnus Here you see the Author of Rantism that is Sprinkling not Christ nor the Apostles but Cyprian not in the dayes of Christ but some Two Hundred and Thirty Years after yet not Infants but Old People were sprinkled Also he pleads for the sprinkling of new converted Prisoners in the Prison-house by degrees they let in the Custom of Sick Children afterwards of All Children Cypr. Lib. 4. Epist 7.
what Water elementary shadowed out outwardly which cools cleanses quenches the Thirst makes fruitful outwardly Piscator on this John 3.5 saith very evidently Seeing that without this Water whereof Christ spake to Nicodemus no man can attain unto eternal Life it follows that Christ spake not of Baptismal Water Lombard Vossius yea a Cloud of Witnesses have showred down Testimonies to the same purpose but if notwithstanding all this thou wilt have John 3 5. to speak of material Water then Mat. 3.11 He shall baptize you with the holy Spirit and with fire must be understood of material Fire then outward Fire must be used in Baptism which would be judged an Absurdity and a strange Doctrine Water and Fire are in these places added to shew the effectual Operation of the Spirit working that inwardly which Fire and Water represent outwardly as many have observed born of Water and of the Spirit or of Water which is the Spirit John 7.38 9. as Piscator observes so baptized with the holy Spirit and with Fire baptized with the holy Spirit which is Fire a Coal from the Lord's Altar giving light to the inward man spiritualizing him changing him into the divine Image from Glory to Glory elevates and carries the Renewed Heaven-ward purifying from the dross of Sin Polutious and Defilements uniting to the Called Faithful and Chosen separating from the World in a word who dwell in the Light of Grace these more and more receive the Spirit in which Christ's Baptism is a Coal from the Lord's Altar operating inwardly as elementary Fire outwardly Of Children in the Womb Baptized Satan the grand Adversary by Hellish Suggestions Wicked Temptations Unclean Injections by little and little after the primitive Times disjoynted and as I may fay dis-spirited many so that the pure serious Worship in Spirit and in Truth came by little and little to be departed from and a Will-Worship clouded with Ceremonies Shadows Traditions Inventions of men came to be established so that Augustin in his day taught That Children born or unborn if quickened in the Womb were Damned if they dyed without baptism hence the Necessity of baptizing Infants was concluded as before I have touched Now it being observed that many Children dyed in the Womb and according to Father Augustin's Doctrine such were damned if unbaptized the consideration of this set them to seek a Remedy for that Disease and none could be found except the Child in the Womb could be baptized but if it might then all was well in order to this concern a great Question was propounded An pueri in utero possint baptizari it a salvari that is Whether Children in the Womb could be baptized so saved yea or nay This was looked upon as a Mysterious Question and necessary to be considered and it set the most curious Wits on work and out of the Magazine of carnal Reasoning came this Conclusion If a Quickened Child in the Mothers Womb shall be in danger to dye thorough the Weakness of the Mother or of the Child or thorough hard Labour let them bless or pray for the Child and let them strengthen the Mothers Womb let them commend the Child to God with Desires to baptize it and can protest saying The Fault is not in them why that Child is not baptized the Observation of these Ceremonies upon the Child's account was judged equivalent to Baptism and the Child concluded to be saved thorough its Parents Belief Cassander de baptismo Thus after the ingress of Apostacy multitudes of Inventions were brought into the Church and to the end they might have favourable Entertainment they were stiled Decent and Doctrines of Christ or Apostolical Traditions Concerning Baptizing of the Dead Thorough the Smoak of the Apostacy after the Apostles dayes such was the Depravation of mens Understandings as that they ascribed the virtue of Renovation Regeneration and Eternal Salvation to Baptismal Water yea and not a few concluded it effectual not only for the Living but also for the Dead so that the Cataphygians and Montanists baptized the Dead Bodies of men as saith Philastrius and Georgius Ederus in his Mataeologia haereticorum There were some saith Sparke that baptized the Dead and put the Sacramental-Bread in their Mouths as their Viaticum udging it better to have such a necessary Ordinance by Proxy then altogether to go without it A Child that dyed unbaptized was taken up and Christened as 't is said and had his Fathers Name given him Magd. Cent. 7. Concerning Baptizing the Living for the Dead Thorough the Apostacy many fell into a dead Lethargy as I may say into a spiritual Sleepiness Drowsiness and Forgetfulness as Israel of old who forgot the Lord dayes without number a Custom crept in among the Marcionites and Cerinthians that when any Catechumenist dyed without Baptism that is such a one as had been instructed in the Principles of Christianity some living Person was placed under the Bed of the Deceased then the Priest came unto the Deceased Party saying Desirest thou to be baptized the Dead Man replying nothing the Party under the Bed answered for it saying I would be baptized thus they baptized him for the Dead as if they acted a Play upon a Stage Tertull. Epiphan de Cerinth haeres Goodwins Roman Jewish Antiquities Paul to the Corinthians said If the Dead rise not at all why are they then baptized for the Dead 1 Cor. 15.29 a Custom saith Piscator on this place not universal nor taken up in all Churches nor among the Corinthians is here noted A Custom saith this Piscator sprung up among the ancient Christians of being baptized at or over the Graves of the Dead of the Martyrs to testifie saith he that with Christ they were dead to sin and ready to dye for him c. But the Churches who bare about in their mortal Bodies the Dying of the Lord Jesus so came to witness his Life manifest in them they knew the Ground of Rudiments and beggarly Elements cast out the End of Shadows and Figures manifested in which they left off John's typical Baptism without and all other irrePtitious Customs and Confusions about the same Of an Annual Baptism that is of such as Baptize themselves every Year The Habbasines a kind of mongrel Christians in Affrica baptize themselves every year on the day of Epiphany so called in Lakes or Ponds thereby to keep a Memorial of Christs Baptism in Jordan which was performed on the aforesaid day as many of the Ancients conjectured Trapp on Matth. 3. Of Outward Fire used in Baptism The Apostacy prevailed with and in the Church as a Consumption upon a Mortal Body which weakens the Body by little and little causeth Leanness and turns the Body to the Dust so the Apostacy crept in by little and little the Cross of Christ being turned from Weakness followed spiritual Leanness that was lost which opens Scriptures and fulfils them in men so conceits conceivings mis-apprehensions mis-interpretations got place as from that
baptized put on White Garments Of the Chrisom Of old the Custom was when the Earthly Mind turned to Earthly Rudiments and Elements to baptize none till at years of Discretion and the Baptized for certain dayes put on a white Garment in Imitation hereof when Infants are now baptized they have on their Heads a White Cloth called a Chrisom why called a Chrisom because a white Cloth at the first Institution of it was put upon a Childs Head newly anointed with Chrisom a hallowed Oyntment among Papists after Baptism so from this Oyntment this Chrisom the White Cloth as 't is said was called Chrisom now 't is taken for the White Cloth put upon a Child newly christned as 't is called in token of its Baptism and it s usually brought to the Church so called at the day of Churching the Woman and pinned behind her Head and in many places it is bestowed upon the Priest and in some places Money instead thereof Thus the In-dwellings of Truth being lost and turned from after the primitive times ceremonies inventions customs human traditions as Sprinkling of Infants Godfathers Godmothers Gossâ—ps Gommothers Chrisom Chrisoms Sign of the Cross c. sprung up among the Professors of Christianity as Weeds in untilled Grounds yet to gain acceptance they are stiled by many Commands of Christ or at the least Apostolical Traditions Now after Rantism that is sprinkling of Infants was received into the Churches as a Doctrine meet to be observed and also Supream Authorities and Church-Liturgies in divers Countries commending and commanding it hence the Clergy so called judged themselves concerned to propogate and defend the same it being that Nonconformity is not the Way to Preferment yet in divers Ages several who had Glimpses of Heavenly Light in them questioned Infants-baptism yea and esteemed it as Counterfeit Coyn as such may see who trace the steps of Ecclesiastical Writers some of whose Testimonies I shall mention Tertullian as 't is said opposed some Introducers of Infants-baptism saying That Confession of Sins Faith Repentance and Renouncing of the Devil was required of the Baptized which Infants are not capable of Tertull. de baptismo Walafridus Strabâ— who lived about the year 840. in his Book of Church Affairs chap. 26. said to this purpose That in the early Ages of the Church Baptism was administred on the Adulâ— only When the Substance say I was turned from then they re-assumed the Shadows But afterwards saith he Christians understanding Original Sin and left their Children should perish without any Means of Grace they began to baptize them by the Decree of the Council of Africa and then Godfathers and Godmothers were invented This I say is carnal Reasoning and charging the Apostles of Christ as not understanding Original Sin or as denying Means of Grace to Children but I say such as reason thus they reject the Lord's means of Increase in Grace and entertain Inventions of men in place thereof Zuing lius speaking of Infants-baptism saith There is no plain words of Scripture where the same is commanded The Magdiburgenses in their learned History tell us That as to the baptizing of Infants they read of no Example in the Scriptures Cent. 1. Lib. 2. They also therein declare against consecrating of Water before Baptism as also against Fonts Baptisterions and against baptizing at two times in the year Easter and Whitsontide so called against Gossips or Sureties for the Adult and Infant giving of Names in Baptism Exorcisms Chrisms or Anointing Consignations that is Sign of the Cross Albs Salt Spittle giving or receiving of Gifts Confirmation of Bishoping these things were not in primitive Times but steamed in as the Smoak arose out of the Bottomless Pit Magdib-Cent 1. Lib. 2. Bellarmine de baptismo saith That in Scripture there is neither Command nor Example for Infants-baptism but he refers it to the immaginary Catalogue of Apostolical Traditions Beringarius with the Bishop Bruno in France gave publick Testimony against Infants-Baptism which Doctrine spread through France and Germany Bar. Ann. 1050. Hence they were called Beringarians and Waldenses they testified also against the Real Presence Magd. cent 11. Peter de Brusius taught against Infants-baptism Transubstantiation praying for the Dead for which Testimony he was burned to Death Bar. Ann. 1116. Arnaldus taught against Infants-baptism Transubstantiation Bar. Ann. 1116. Peter Abailardus opposed Infants-baptism so did many of the Clergy this Abailardus was burned to Ashes at Rome for his Testimony In the year 1176. a People was raised up in the Province of Albi in France who preached That Infants-baptism was not necessary to Salvation Bar. â— 310. Calvin saith expresly That Infants-baptism is not mentioned by any of the Evangelists Instit lib. 4. cap. 16. They that baptize Children saith Taylor make Baptism to be wholely an outward Duty a carnal Ordinance it makes us be satisfied with Shadows and to relinquish the Substance and Spirituality of the Gospel pag. 242. Dr. Jerom Taylor saith That the Parents of Augustin Jerom and Ambrose though Christians did not baptize their Children till aged which thing saith he is very effectual for destroying the supposed Necessity of derivation of Infants-baptism from the Apostles Lib. proph pag. 239. Luther in Postill saith Young Children hear not so if the Command be followed they are not to be baptized Erasmus in his Book of the Vnion of the Church saith It is no where expressed in the Apostolical Writings that they baptized Children Bucer upon Matthew saith That Christ no where commanded to baptize Infants Staphilâ—â— in his Epitome saith That it is not expressed in holy Scriptures that Young Children should be baptized Chocleus saith That Jesus took a Child c. but he thinks he did not baptize it Melancton in his Treatise concerning Anabaptists saith That there is no plain Commandment in the Scriptures that Children should be baptized Daniel Rogers saith That he is Vnconvinced by Demonstration of Scripture that Infants should be baptized De bapt part 29. Baxter though much for Infants-baptism yet in pag 3. he confesses That Infants-baptism is not plainly determined in the Scriptures Dr. Taylor saith It is against the perpetual Analogy of Christs Doctrine to baptize Infants Saying further ' That Christ gave no Command for the same neither did he or his Apostles baptize any of them lib. proph pag. 239. Further he saith in pag. 237. of the same Book As there was no Command for Infants-baptism so the Necessity of it was not determined in the Church till the Canon made by the Milevitan Council a Provincial in Affrica Some I grant saith he used it before this time in Affrica having good Thoughts of it yet none of them pretended it to be necessary nor a Gospel Precept and for every Ordinance the Institution is to be eyed and neither to be stretched under nor drawn narrower then the Lord hath made it I have read of a great Papist in London who going to a Dispute about Infants-baptism told his Friend He
was going to hear a Miracle viz. Infants-baptism to be proved by Scriptures Oxford Divines in a Convocation held in the year 1647. said That without the consentaneous Judgment and Practice of the Vniversal Church they should be at a loss when they are called upon for Proof in the Point of Infants-baptism Eccius acknowledges That Infants-baptism is not clear from the Scripture see his Enchiridion Monsieur Daille a learned Frenchman a great Searcher into Antiquities said That in ancient times they often deferred the Baptism of Infants and produces many Examples but whence is it saith he that the very mentioning hereof is scarce to be endured at this day Lib. 2. pag. 149. Claudius Espontius Bishop ordained at a Council at Pysoy in France about the year 1500. That Infants-baptism should be received by Tradition because it could not be proved a Command of Christ The Long Parliament which sate in the year 1647. in their Declaration in Answer to the Scots Commissioners declared thus The Opinion touching the Baptizing of Infants is such wherein former Ages as well as this learned and godly Men have differed both in Opinion and Practice and said they herein we hold it fit that men should be convinced by the Word of God with Gentleness and Reason and not be beaten out by Force and Violence It is no small Evidence saith Hugo Grotius on Matth. 19. tho Baptism of Infants for many Hundred Years was not ordinary in the Church because Constantine the Great the Son of Helena a zealous Christian was not baptized till aged By what hath been spoken the Sober mind may understand that such as dip people are relapsed into the Shadow John's temporary Baptism and not confirmed in the one Baptism the inward cleansing the Spirits Baptism into one Body and that such as rantize or sprinkle Infants have no Command from Christ nor Example among the Apostles nor the first primitive Christians for â—o doing but only the Commands of Popes Councils Kings Earthly Powers and the Examples of men deviated from the primitive Order and Ministers of Christ should not be hurried away with the heady Torrent of Times Customs Traditions Unscriptural Non-apostolical Doctrines but should have an Eye to Christs Command and the Apostles Practice for what they do I cannot but subscribe to the Testimony of Tertullian who said Id verum quod prius prius quod ab initio ab initio quod ab Apostolis that is That is Truth which was first that is first which was from the beginning that is from the Beginning which was from the Apostles Tertul. contr Marcion lib. 4. for what the Apostles preached the same they received from Christ who is Alpha and Omega the First and the Last the Beginning and Ending glorified with the Father before the Foundation of the World Now if any question in their Minds why I call Sprinkling of Infants Rantism let them consider what follows for their satisfaction The Ceremony of John's Ministration according to Divine Institution was by Dipping Plunging or Overwhelming their Bodies in Water as Scapula and Stephens two great Masters of the Greek Tongue testifie as also Grotius Pasor Vossius Miâ—ceus Leigh Casanbon Bucan Bullenger Zanchy Spanhemius Rogers Taylor Hammond Calvin Piscator Aquinas Scotus Now this Dipping or Plunging of the Bodies of such as repented and believed in Rivers or Fountains the Greeks called it baptismos the Latius call it baptismus in imitation of whom in our Orthography we call it baptism the before-cited fully agree hereunto Now as for Sprinkling the Greeks call it rantismos which I render rantism for 't is as proper to call Sprinkling Rantism as to call Dipping Baptism this Linguists cannot be ignorant of that dipping and sprinkling are expressed by several words both in Latin Greek and Hebrew 't is very evident if Sprinkling had been of divine institution the Greeks had their rantismos but as Dipping was the Institution they used baptismos so maintained the purity and property of the Language Meds in his Diatribe on Titus saith That there was no such thing as Sprinkling or Rantism used in Baptism in the Apostles dayes nor many Ages after them to sprinkle Young or Old and call it Baptism is very incongruous yea as improper as to call a Horse a Cow for Baptism signifies Dipping c. Zepperus is as clear as the Sun in this thing saying Ex ipsa vocis notatione et etymo apparet quae baptismi administrandi consuitudo fuerit initio cuâ— not pro baptismo Rantismon potius hoc est aspersionem â—unc habeamus that is It appears by the genuine signification of the word what their Custom in administering Baptism was at the first forasmuch as for Baptism we now rather use Rantism that is sprinkling Zepperus de sacramentis However Rantism hath entred into among the Professors of Christianity and to gain the more acceptance 't is called Baptism Since the Ingress of the Apostacy great hath been the Confusion of men about this Point as hath beenshewed and might further be made apparent If any Bishop or Priest saith a Canon fathered upon the Apostles do not immerge that is dip the Party to be baptized three times in the Water but content himself with one Immersion that is Dipping let him be deposed Summa Concil et Pontif. But the fourth Toletan-Council under Pope Honorius the first taught That whether an Infant be baptized with three Immersions or but with one in plain English whether the Infant were dipt thrice or but once yet he should be accounted baptized and the Priest not to be deposed Here was Canon against Canon and the Canon fathered upon the Apostles wholely or in a high measure made void but it hath been a Sleight of Antichrist to father upon the Apostles his smoaky Inventions that coming under that guise they may find Acceptance But drawing to the Haven let me seriously tell the Reader That John's Water-baptism in its season I own as an useful Shadow fulfilled and ended by Christ's Spiritual Baptism and that such as are for dipping Believers are thorow the influence of Earth within turned to Shadows without and Relapses are dangerous And as for Rantism that is Sprinkling of Infants with Godfathers Godmothers Gossips Commothers Fonts and all other Antichristian Appurtenances the same I deny Now to what I have spoken of Fonts I further say that they are usually hallowed in this manner The Priest makes two Crosses in the Water with his Right Hand c. then he takes a burning Candle and drops it into the Water in form of a Cross then cries aloud over it and prayes That the holy Spirit would descend into it and make it fruitful that it may have Power to regenerate and beget anew then he breathes thrice into the Font and puts Oyl and Cream into the Water c. Further the Council of Trent taught That at the Font a spiritual Kindred and Relation was contracted between the baptized Child its Parents and the
a Representation consecrated Bread works not the Works of the true Christ the true and faithful Witness so is not Christ Christ called also Jesus by interpretation a Saviour such is his Name such is his Nature he saves his People from their Sins Mat. 1.21 thorow his inward Operation they become new Creatures God's Workmanship in a word of Beth-aven that is a House of Vanity or Iniquity they become Bethel that is the House of God Sharers in the Riches Peace of the Lords Family consecrated Bread effects not these things in the Receivers though a thousand times consecrated received so is not the Virgins Birth John testified saying The Blood of Jesus Christ clenseth us from all sin 1 Joh 1.7 this is the effectual remedy the Lords Candle finds many a foul Flaw in man such as believe are reduced into the Order of the heavenly Truth the Apostle further bare record saying He loved us and washed us from our sins in his own Blood Rev. 1.5 6. and hath made us Kings and Priests unto God Kings to reign in Truths Dominion over the Earth over the World over Lusts over spiritual Adversaries Priests to offer a Sacrifice of Praise and Thanksgiving unto the Lord to this Dignity Bread and Wine though a thousand times consecrated cannot bring Again The true Christ the Virgins Birth is the same today yesterday and forever incorruptible perishes not immortal the Holy One sees not Corruption but Bread and Wine though consecrated corrupts perishes grows mouldy loses Vertues Taste Savour so is not the Body and Blood of Christ and the Disciples were not to labour for the Meat which perishes but for that Meat which endureth unto everlasting Life John 6.27 Again Thorow the Body of Christ the faithful become dead to the Law to be married to Christ to be fruitful unto God Rom. 7.4 dead to the Law dead to sin yea and the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus makes free from the Law of Sin and Death Rom. 8.2 10. but the consecrated Host hath not this Operation in man but leaves men alive in Sin dead to God so not Christs bodâ— not his flesh not his blood Christ said to the Jews Your Fathers did eat Manna in the Wilderness and are dead such Minds as stick in Visibles are dead in Sins and Trespasses though consecrated by Man they quicken not it is the Spirit that quickneth and he that eats of the Bread saith Christ that comes from Heaven the Word Christ's Flesh he knows a Vivification a Quickning he dyes not but lives forever John 6. and 't is the Lord that gives being and Vertue to all Creatures not mans Consecration which cannot keep Visibles from losing their Vertue Savour Taste 't is evident by their own Constitution that they were conscious of this who enjoyned That Priests on every eighth day should renew the holy Eucharist that is consecrated Bread c. lest thorow Oldness thereof some should be brought into Indevotion to have the Spark of their Devotion as I may say in measure extinguished Summa Concil et Pontif. but Christ is the same today yesterday and forever his Years fail not he waxes not old as a Garment Of giving Bread and Wine to the World for this it is alledged that Judas did eat of the Bread and did drink of the Cup. Answ That was that the Scripture might be fulfilled Mine own familiar Friend which did eat of my Bread hath lift up his Heel against me Psal 41.9 yea and Christ the Store-house of Wisdom and Knowledge said He that dippeth his Hand with me in the Dish the same shall betray me Matth. 26.23 his Fellow-commoner as I may say whereby the Indiguity of the thing was much aggravated as for Judas he was numbred with the Disciples and had obtained part of the true Ministry Acts 1. but fell by Transgression and became a Member of that sinful and unsociable Society which Christ testified against and for giving Bread and Wine the Sacrament as 't is called to the World have you no Example but Judas who sold Christ for Money as many sell Bread and Wine for Money now which after Consecration is truly and really Christ as many in Degeneration affirm Christ gave it to his Disciples only a Shadow of a more spiritual Bread of a more spiritual Cup after to be received Of giving Bread and Wine to Infants After the Primitive Times when thorow the inundation of Apostacy and over-spreading of that foul Leprosie the living Bread and living Cup was lost then streamed in a Sea of Confusion as I said before the Heavenly Key of pure Knowledge and Divine Understanding was lost things of God became as a Book sealed with seven Seals the Opener and Fulfiller of the Scriptures of Truth came in a high measure to be lost then a Cloud of Mis-apprehensions and Mis-interpretations of Scriptures involved the Professors of Christianity then thorow a Mis-apprehension and Mis-understanding of that Scripture of Christ Except ye eat the Flesh of the Son of Man and drink his Blood ye have no Life in you John 6.53 the Fathers fell into that Error that None but Communicants could be saved whereupon they gave the Sacrament so called to Infants and put it into the Mouthes of Dead Men c. Augustine Bishop of Hippo was thus minded as appears by this his following Conclusion tâ—at It is in vain to promise Salvation and Life Eternal to little Children unless they be baptized and receive the Body and Blood of Christ since the Necessity of them both is attested by so many so great and divine Testimonies This Practice of giving the Sacrament to Infants crept in the early Ages of the World became wonderful general and continued above six hundred years in the Church till the time of Charlemain some were so strict in it as that a Canon enjoyned That baptized Infants should receive the Communion before they sucked or received any other Nourishment the same is or hath been observed by the Greeks Aethiopians Bohemians Moravians and that this was enjoyned by Popes Bishops c. these following Authors testifie recourse being had to their Canons Constitutions c. Pope Innocent Paganinus Gaudentius Theol. de moribus seculi Nicephorus in Histor Eccles Johannes Langius Augustin Taylors worthy Communicant chap. 3. Alcninus Maldonate on John 6. Author of the Naked Truth Grotius Notwithstanding Pope Innocent had appointed the Sacrament to be given to Infants and it became in a manner universal of long continuance yet the Council of Trent put out this Canon If any one shall say that the Communion of the Eucharist that is consecrated Bread is necessary for Children before they attain unto years of Discretion let him be Anathema accursed Concil Trident. Sect. 3. Can. 4. Here the Pope who cannot err as 't is said came to be questioned his Doctrine Augustin's Doctrine and the Church Practice for above six hundred years came to be cast out as spurious by the