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arbitrament_n antidote_n of_o holy_a scripture_n and_o do_v allow_v the_o sufficiency_n of_o holy_a scripture_n to_o decide_v the_o controversy_n depend_v between_o they_o in_o time_n past_a say_v chrysostome_n there_o be_v many_o way_n to_o know_v matth._n the_o church_n of_o christ_n viz._n by_o good_a life_n by_o miracle_n by_o chastity_n etc._n etc._n but_o from_o the_o time_n that_o heresy_n do_v take_v hold_n of_o the_o church_n it_o be_v only_a know_v by_o the_o scripture_n which_o be_v the_o true_a church_n again_o he_o say_v the_o lord_n then_o know_v that_o so_o great_a confusion_n will_v come_v in_o the_o latter_a day_n therefore_o will_v the_o christian_n that_o will_v take_v to_o the_o sureness_n of_o true_a faith_n to_o have_v refuge_n to_o nothing_o but_o to_o the_o scripture_n otherwise_o say_v he_o if_o they_o regard_v other_o thing_n they_o shall_v perish_v not_o understand_v what_o the_o true_a church_n be_v thus_o my_o answer_n be_v avouch_v good_a as_o it_o respect_v the_o mean_n to_o decide_v the_o difference_n which_o be_v about_o the_o church_n next_o hear_v what_o they_o say_v touch_v such_o difference_n as_o be_v in_o the_o church_n iren._n if_o there_o be_v any_o disagreement_n rise_v up_o among_o christian_n 4._o concern_v controversy_n in_o religion_n what_o better_a course_n be_v there_o to_o be_v take_v than_o to_o have_v our_o recourse_n into_o the_o most_o ancient_a church_n which_o must_v needs_o be_v those_o plant_v by_o the_o apostle_n consider_v the_o time_n when_o he_o live_v and_o to_o receive_v from_o thence_o what_o shall_v be_v certain_a and_o manifest_a augustine_n because_o the_o scripture_n can_v deceive_v whoso_o fear_v to_o be_v mislead_v in_o the_o obscurity_n of_o this_o question_n let_v he_o ask_v counsel_n be_v of_o that_o church_n which_o the_o scripture_n without_o any_o ambiguity_n point_v out_o constantine_n mag._n there_o be_v the_o gospel_n the_o prophet_n and_o apostle_n which_o do_v teach_v we_o what_o to_o hold_v in_o religion_n wherefore_o expelling_a all_o hostile_a and_o bitter_a contention_n let_v we_o seek_v the_o solution_n of_o these_o question_n out_o of_o the_o scripture_n thus_o speak_v this_o famous_a emperor_n in_o the_o council_n of_o nice_a at_o what_o time_n the_o bishop_n have_v like_a to_o have_v jar_v into_o piece_n thus_o have_v i_o give_v a_o impartial_a relation_n of_o what_o have_v pass_v between_o the_o popish_a querist_n and_o my_o self_n in_o our_o two_o last_o paper_n which_o contain_v the_o sum_n of_o what_o pass_v in_o the_o other_o as_o touch_v this_o question_n about_o the_o judge_n of_o controversy_n and_o now_o for_o further_a satisfaction_n that_o the_o scripture_n as_o aforesaid_a aught_o to_o be_v admit_v the_o high_a prerogative_n of_o judge_n in_o our_o debate_n consider_v that_o of_o necessity_n it_o must_v be_v so_o my_o reason_n be_v because_o either_o the_o scripture_n or_o some_o other_o write_n must_v be_v our_o judge_n especial_o in_o this_o important_a question_n which_o be_v the_o true_a church_n for_o when_o we_o contend_v about_o she_o it_o be_v very_o unreasonable_a that_o any_o party_n contend_v for_o that_o title_n shall_v be_v permit_v to_o give_v judgement_n in_o their_o own_o cause_n as_o for_o example_n the_o present_a assembly_n of_o papist_n say_v that_o they_o be_v the_o true_a church_n and_o the_o present_a assembly_n of_o baptist_n say_v that_o they_o be_v the_o true_a church_n be_v it_o fit_a that_o either_o party_n contend_v shall_v here_o give_v judgement_n decissive_a what_o then_o must_v we_o do_v why_o of_o necessity_n we_o must_v to_o some_o write_n whereby_o to_o be_v decide_v or_o agree_v in_o this_o controversy_n these_o write_n must_v be_v either_o the_o scripture_n or_o some_o other_o but_o no_o other_o can_v compare_v with_o those_o so_o that_o they_o do_v deserve_v this_o prerogative_n better_o than_o any_o other_o the_o papist_n ordinary_a way_n in_o this_o difficulty_n be_v to_o tell_v we_o that_o we_o must_v here_o be_v try_v by_o the_o tradition_n of_o our_o forefather_n in_o which_o they_o say_v we_o can_v be_v deceive_v which_o tradition_n they_o say_v be_v the_o only_a thing_n that_o be_v unquestionable_a and_o needs_o no_o other_o ground_n to_o stand_v upon_o but_o qu._n itself_o and_o against_o the_o scripture_n be_v receive_v upon_o its_o own_o evidence_n or_o authority_n they_o usual_o do_v thus_o object_v that_o before_o we_o can_v receive_v what_o it_o teach_v we_o must_v be_v assure_v of_o its_o truth_n and_o again_o contro_n they_o say_v the_o scripture_n may_v not_o be_v the_o judge_n of_o controversy_n because_o it_o may_v be_v corrupt_v translate_v ill_o interpret_v not_o right_o understand_v and_o by_o these_o and_o other_o like_a objection_n they_o usual_o in_o all_o their_o write_n invalidate_v the_o scripture_n certainty_n authority_n and_o sufficiency_n that_o so_o they_o advance_v the_o authority_n of_o their_o tradition_n but_o let_v it_o be_v serious_o consider_v whether_o these_o objection_n have_v not_o the_o same_o force_n against_o what_o they_o rest_v upon_o which_o they_o have_v against_o the_o holy_a scripture_n first_o then_o whereas_o they_o tell_v we_o the_o scripture_n can_v teach_v we_o any_o thing_n till_o we_o be_v assure_v of_o its_o truth_n do_v not_o this_o conclude_v against_o any_o other_o thing_n as_o strong_o ought_v we_o not_o to_o be_v assure_v of_o the_o truth_n of_o the_o church_n before_o we_o receive_v her_o document_n ought_v we_o not_o to_o be_v assure_v of_o the_o truth_n of_o that_o tradition_n which_o we_o receive_v for_o the_o rule_n of_o our_o faith_n but_o how_o must_v we_o be_v assure_v of_o the_o truth_n of_o the_o papal_a church_n and_o tradition_n there_o be_v not_o a_o man_n live_v that_o can_v remember_v when_o either_o begin_v and_o so_o avouch_v its_o beginning_n to_o be_v of_o divine_a institution_n and_o the_o continnance_n of_o the_o same_o ever_o since_o its_o beginning_n to_o have_v be_v without_o any_o corruption_n what_o then_o must_v we_o do_v why_o we_o must_v search_v rome_n record_n and_o then_o i_o ask_v be_v they_o not_o as_o questonable_a and_o liable_a to_o misinterpretation_n as_o easy_o misunderstand_a as_o the_o record_n of_o god_n what_o be_v now_o become_v of_o these_o objection_n the_o force_n whereof_o be_v evident_o against_o the_o papal_a church_n and_o her_o tradition_n of_o the_o truth_n whereof_o we_o must_v be_v assure_v before_o we_o can_v be_v teach_v by_o either_o of_o they_o i_o say_v again_o there_o be_v not_o a_o man_n of_o all_o the_o papist_n that_o can_v evidence_n rome_n to_o have_v be_v a_o church_n two_o hundred_o year_n ago_o and_o then_o much_o less_o one_o thousand_o six_o hundred_o year_n ago_o so_o that_o of_o necessity_n we_o must_v to_o the_o write_n of_o some_o man_n who_o we_o never_o see_v write_v one_o word_n to_o find_v the_o church_n and_o then_o i_o will_v know_v why_o we_o may_v not_o make_v enquiry_n at_o the_o pen_n of_o paul_n what_o the_o church_n be_v at_o first_o and_o what_o it_o ought_v to_o be_v now_o as_o well_o as_o at_o the_o pen_n of_o augustine_n can_v the_o pen_n of_o peter_n the_o apostle_n give_v we_o as_o good_a information_n in_o this_o matter_n as_o the_o pen_n of_o any_o pope_n pretend_v to_o be_v his_o successor_n if_o the_o papist_n answer_n that_o we_o know_v not_o the_o pen_n of_o peter_n or_o paul_n we_o answer_v as_o well_o as_o they_o know_v the_o pen_n of_o augustine_n or_o gregory_n if_o they_o say_v paul_n write_n may_v be_v corrupt_v and_o must_v be_v interpret_v may_v be_v misunderstand_a i_o return_v the_o same_o answer_n of_o all_o other_o book_n whatsoever_o yea_o those_o which_o contain_v rome_n tradition_n see_v therefore_o what_o be_v gain_v by_o devise_v objection_n against_o the_o authority_n or_o certainty_n of_o the_o holy_a scripture_n such_o
apostolical_a tradition_n tend_v to_o the_o make_v null_n or_o void_a any_o apostolical_a write_n but_o infant_n sprinkle_v make_v null_a and_o void_a all_o that_o be_v write_v in_o the_o scripture_n concern_v the_o subject_n and_o manner_n of_o baptism_n in_o all_o that_o part_n of_o the_o world_n where_o the_o papist_n or_o such_o as_o they_o get_v the_o civil_a power_n on_o their_o side_n yea_o we_o see_v that_o by_o this_o mean_v the_o son_n of_o man_n be_v great_a enemy_n to_o the_o way_n of_o god_n in_o this_o matter_n how_o long_o have_v many_o nation_n lie_v destitute_a of_o the_o knowledge_n of_o the_o baptism_n of_o repentance_n for_o the_o remission_n of_o sin_n by_o reason_n of_o the_o interposition_n of_o this_o cloudy_a tradition_n of_o pedo-rantism_a how_o have_v man_n pretend_v to_o be_v minister_n of_o christ_n never_o in_o many_o generation_n preach_v peter_n doctrine_n repent_v and_o be_v baptize_v every_o one_o of_o you_o for_o the_o remission_n of_o sin_n note_v this_o observation_n well_o for_o although_o the_o baptism_n of_o repentance_n etc._n etc._n have_v not_o be_v cry_v down_o in_o the_o nation_n of_o christendom_n by_o such_o as_o count_v themselves_o the_o only_a preacher_n of_o the_o gospel_n yet_o it_o be_v not_o for_o that_o these_o nation_n have_v no_o need_n of_o the_o practice_n of_o baptism_n for_o they_o daily_o have_v practise_v something_o under_o that_o notion_n which_o be_v rheir_o infant-sprinkling_a so_o that_o it_o be_v plain_a infant-baptism_n make_v void_a the_o apostolical_a write_n therefore_o infant-baptism_n be_v no_o apostolical_a tradition_n second_o infant-baptism_n be_v not_o a_o apostolical_a tradition_n because_o no_o mention_n be_v make_v of_o it_o in_o the_o first_o hundred_o of_o year_n after_o christ_n although_o i_o be_o not_o much_o read_v yet_o i_o have_v use_v the_o utmost_a of_o my_o diligence_n to_o know_v the_o truth_n in_o this_o point_n and_o i_o have_v attain_v to_o sufficient_a satisfaction_n that_o the_o great_a favourer_n of_o infant-baptism_n that_o yet_o i_o have_v meet_v with_o dare_v not_o say_v that_o ever_o he_o see_v any_o record_n of_o antiquity_n that_o mention_v such_o a_o thing_n and_o that_o the_o scripture_n do_v not_o mention_v it_o the_o papist_n grant_v and_o because_o the_o papist_n make_v such_o boast_n of_o the_o consent_n which_o they_o have_v in_o this_o matter_n from_o antiquity_n i_o will_v therefore_o here_o put_v in_o something_o by_o way_n of_o evidence_n to_o the_o contrary_n for_o it_o be_v certain_a that_o infant_n baptism_n as_o it_o be_v not_o hear_v of_o in_o the_o first_o hundred_o so_o neither_o be_v it_o general_o receive_v till_o above_o half_a a_o thousand_o year_n revolve_v from_o christ_n as_o be_v undeniable_a for_o that_o it_o be_v plain_a that_o the_o most_o famous_a or_o at_o least_o very_o famous_a christian_n parent_n bring_v up_o their_o child_n without_o have_v they_o baptize_v such_o be_v the_o parent_n of_o greg._n nazianzen_n ambrose_n augustine_n and_o other_o yea_o the_o emperor_n constantius_n bear_v of_o christian_a parent_n be_v not_o baptize_v till_o he_o be_v about_o thirty_o year_n of_o age_n baptism_n see_v also_o these_o ensue_a testimony_n i_o will_v declare_v unto_o you_o how_o we_o offer_v up_o ourselves_o unto_o god_n in_o pium_fw-la baptism_n after_o that_o we_o be_v renew_v through_o christ_n such_o as_o be_v instruct_v in_o the_o faith_n and_o believe_v that_o which_o we_o teach_v they_o be_v to_o live_v according_a to_o the_o same_o we_o admonish_v to_o fast_o and_o pray_v and_o we_o fast_o and_o pray_v with_o they_o then_o they_o be_v bring_v to_o the_o water_n and_o there_o call_v on_o the_o name_n of_o the_o father_n etc._n etc._n they_o be_v wash_v in_o it_o so_o say_v erasmus_n paraphrase_n on_o matth._n 28._o if_o they_o believe_v that_o which_o you_o teach_v they_o and_o begin_v to_o be_v repentant_a of_o their_o former_a life_n then_o dip_v they_o in_o water_n in_o the_o name_n etc._n etc._n the_o lord_n command_v his_o apostle_n that_o they_o shall_v first_o instruct_v 28_o all_o nation_n and_o afterward_o baptise_v those_o that_o be_v instruct_v for_o it_o can_v be_v that_o the_o body_n shall_v receive_v the_o sacrament_n of_o baptism_n unless_o the_o soul_n have_v receive_v before_o the_o true_a faith_n our_o saviour_n do_v not_o slight_o command_v to_o baptize_v but_o first_o of_o all_o arrian_n he_o say_v teach_v and_o then_o baptize_v that_o true_a faith_n may_v come_v by_o teach_v and_o baptism_n be_v perfect_v by_o faith_n haimo_n say_v in_o this_o place_n matth._n 28._o be_v set_v down_o a_o rule_n right_o how_o to_o baptize_v that_o be_v that_o teach_v shall_v go_v before_o baptism_n for_o he_o say_v teach_v all_o nation_n and_o then_o he_o say_v and_o baptize_v they_o for_o text_n he_o that_o be_v to_o be_v baptize_v must_v be_v before_o instruct_v that_o he_o first_o learn_v to_o believe_v that_o which_o in_o baptism_n he_o shall_v receive_v for_o as_o faith_n without_o work_n be_v dead_a so_o work_v if_o they_o have_v no_o faith_n be_v nothing_o worth_a beda_n say_v all_o they_o that_o come_v to_o the_o apostle_n to_o be_v baptize_v be_v instruct_v of_o they_o and_o when_o they_o be_v instruct_v concern_v the_o sacrament_n 19_o of_o baptism_n they_o receive_v the_o holy_a administration_n thereof_o tertullian_n who_o live_v about_o the_o time_n when_o infant-baptism_n begin_v to_o appear_v do_v dispute_v against_o it_o as_o a_o unnecessary_a practice_n for_o divers_a cause_n 1._o for_o that_o it_o be_v not_o meet_v to_o commit_v heavenly_a thing_n to_o those_o parvil_a who_o be_v not_o capable_a of_o keep_v treasure_n of_o a_o earthly_a nature_n 2._o for_o that_o the_o sponsor_n may_v be_v endanger_v 3._o for_o that_o it_o become_v they_o that_o be_v to_o be_v baptize_v to_o fast_o pray_v and_o confess_v their_o sin_n 4._o because_o they_o that_o receive_v christ_n must_v ask_v he_o let_v they_o that_o be_v little_a one_o come_v therefore_o say_v he_o while_o they_o be_v youth_n whilst_o wherein_o they_o come_v they_o be_v teach_v etc._n etc._n augustine_n say_v we_o spend_v much_o time_n in_o exhort_v those_o who_o we_o baptize_v ludovicus_n vives_fw-la comment_v upon_o this_o place_n sai_z lest_o dei_fw-la any_o man_n shall_v mistake_v this_o place_n of_o augustine_n let_v he_o know_v that_o in_o old_a time_n it_o be_v the_o custom_n to_o baptize_v none_o except_o they_o be_v of_o full_a age_n and_o do_v desire_v baptism_n in_o their_o own_o person_n and_o that_o several_a time_n and_o do_v understand_v what_o that_o mystical_a water_n mean_v which_o we_o see_v resemble_v in_o our_o baptise_v of_o infant_n lo_o here_o your_o pedo-baptism_n be_v not_o the_o old_a custom_n of_o the_o church_n the_o three_o reason_n the_o present_a papal_a church_n of_o rome_n be_v a_o national_a church_n therefore_o she_o be_v not_o the_o church_n of_o christ_n the_o three_o reason_n maintain_v 1._o to_o make_v the_o gospel-church_n national_a consequent_o destroy_v the_o doctrine_n of_o conversion_n as_o it_o be_v a_o principle_n of_o the_o doctrine_n of_o christ_n appertain_v to_o the_o begin_n of_o a_o christian_a man_n for_o if_o man_n can_v regenerate_v or_o beget_v person_n to_o god_n in_o their_o infancy_n than_o the_o word_n of_o regeneration_n or_o new-birth_n be_v needless_a in_o order_n to_o our_o admission_n into_o the_o church_n of_o christ_n and_o so_o the_o preach_n of_o faith_n and_o repentance_n must_v cease_v as_o it_o be_v a_o principle_n pertain_v to_o a_o christian_a man_n in_o all_o those_o nation_n which_o be_v call_v christendom_n which_o be_v a_o great_a part_n of_o the_o world_n and_o indeed_o experience_n have_v long_o ago_o prove_v this_o conclusion_n to_o be_v most_o true_a for_o since_o the_o church_n as_o they_o term_v it_o be_v national_a the_o word_n or_o work_v of_o conversion_n have_v be_v little_o know_v in_o the_o life_n and_o power_n of_o it_o nay_o very_o the_o very_a term_n conversion_n be_v become_v a_o reproach_n among_o our_o national-churchmembers_a but_o thus_o to_o make_v the_o word_n of_o conversion_n unnecessary_a in_o order_n to_o person_n admission_n into_o the_o church_n of_o christ_n be_v contrary_a to_o the_o scripture_n john_n 3._o 5._o luke_n 24._o 47._o matth._n 20._o 19_o 2_o cor._n 5._o 16_o 17._o heb._n 8._o 10_o 11._o gal._n 3._o 26_o 27_o 28._o matth._n 3._o 8_o 9_o 10._o 2._o to_o make_v the_o gospel-church_n national_a put_v a_o end_n to_o the_o doctrine_n of_o christ_n touch_v that_o separation_n and_o those_o division_n which_o for_o the_o gospel-sake_n must_v be_v in_o nation_n and_o family_n as_o appear_v from_o these_o scripture_n john_n 15._o 19_o and_o 17._o 14_o 16._o act_n 2._o 40_o 47._o 1_o cor._n 6._o luke_n 12._o 49_o to_o 54._o and_o therefore_o in_o vain_a do_v any_o person_n think_v to_o do_v