THE Foundation OF THE Font DISCOVERED To the view of all that desire to behold it AND The baptizing of Men and Women when they believe in rivers and fountains proved to be a standing Ordinance in the Church of Christ to the end of the world By plain Scripture-proof In Answer To Mr. Cook 's Font uncovered for Infant-baptism And To Mr. Baxter's Plain Scripture-proof for Infants Church-membership and Baptism With a word sometimes upon occasion to Mr. Hall's Font-guarded which is more fully answered by Thomas Collyer BY HENRY HAGGAR A servant of Christ and the Congregations of his Saints And they were all baptized of John in the river of Jordan confessing their sins Mark 1.5 And whom they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God and the Name of Jesus Christ they were baptized both men and women Acts 8.12 And John also was baptizing in Enon neer to Salim because there was much water there and they came and were baptized Joh. 3.23 And the eunuch said See here is water what hinders me to be baptized And Philip said If thou believest with all thine heart thou mayest c. Act. 8.36 37. London Printed for Giles Calvert at the black Spread-eagle at the west-end of Pauls 1653. To the Reader Courteous Reader BY this I give thee to understand that I should not have troubled thy patience with these ensuing lines knowing there are so many books extant but that many whose judgements are not rightly informed in the truth would still have thought as they have many times said that the things which I here write against are not nor cannot be answered although they were answered even before they came forth both by the holy Scriptures which they seem to lean upon and also by other mens writings gathered out of the Scriptures yet a great number of men remain very confident that these books viz Mr. Cooks Font uncovered for Infant-baptisme and Mr. Baxters Plain Scripture-proof for Infants Church-membership and baptism do still remain unanswered unanswerable For which cause I thought my self in conscience bound being also concerned in one book by name and challenged to answer to use the talent that God hath given me for his glory the vindication of his truth and people and also for the good of those which as yet are not the people of God that so I may remove the reproaches and slanders cast upon my self and others falsly for the truths sake and take away those stumbling-blocks which are laid before those which as yet walk in darkness and know not whereat they stumble because the God of this world hath blinded their eyes so by setting their Faith in the wisdome of men and not in the power of God that the light of the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ doth not yet shine into their hearts neither do they believe what is written in the holy Scriptures for their instructions but do turn aside their eares from the truth and are turned unto Fâ—bles 2 Tim. 4.4 therefore I have resolved in the strength and wisdome of the Lord once more to present my self publickly in Print to the view of all men whether friends or enemies not questioning the courteous loving acceptance of the one nor fearing the subtilty and malice of the other but do earnestly desire the good and happiness of all being also fully assured that the Lord will not fail me of a blessing upon these my weak endeavours for he dispiseth not the day of small things Furthermore I give thee to understand that the persons I have to deal with in particular are two viz. Mr. Cook and Mr. Baxter as aforesaid their volumes together no less then sixty two sheets therefore let not the Reader think me too tedious in eighteen sheets neither let any think me too short for these following reasons 1. Because in their writings there is abundance of superfluous words by which they darken the counsel of God and labour to subvert them that read and hear them but we are commanded to lay aside all superfluity of naughtiness and to receive the ingrafted word of God which is able to save our souls James 1.21 2. Because in the multitude of words there wants no sin Prov. 10.19 therefore I shall take heed of using any more then need 3. Large Volumes are in danger never to be read over because some will not and others are poor and cannot spare time or money for them 4. Because I am commanded not to answer a fool according to his foolishness lest I be like him Prov. 26.4 Now if these men have spoken many words wherein there wants no sin and have not consented to wholsome words even the words of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and the doctrine which is according to godliness then they are fools knowing nothing as they ought to know 1 Tim. 6.3 4. but doting about questions and strifes of words whereof cometh envie strife railings evil surmisings perverse disputings of men of corrupt mindes and destitute of the truth supposing that gain viz. an hundred or two a year is godliness from such we are commanded to turne away and withdraw our selves therefore none can justly take exception at these words for if it doth appear still when the Reader hath perused my lines that there is no folly in their words then my folly will returne upon my self and they and their cause will be exalted Thus have you the reasons why I will be as brief as may be And if any shall say that I have been so briefe that I have not answered the matter I took in hand I answer to all my Antagonists It s the better for them if I come short of a full answer and they will have the greater advantage against me and let them take it and spare not therefore I desire all whom it may concern to read and consider wisely and try it by the holy Scriptures of truth judge impartially asking the Lord for wisdome to discerne between things which differ and the Lord give you all understanding in all things that concern his glory and your comfort which is and shall be the prayer of me his unworthy servant who desires to remain to the utmost of my power Yours in the service of Christ Jesus my Lord till death Henry Haggar The Method and Order of this Book is a followeth 1. I Shall shew what foundation the Saints ought to build upon 2. I shall discover the foundation of the Font and shew whence and how it came to be in use and that by the confession of those which make use of it 3. Concerning Infant-baptism I shall shew whence it came and by whom it was brought into the Church 4. I shall answer to the beginning of Mr. Cooks Book and to Mr. Baxters 10 Positions upon which himself saith his whole Book standeth and without which he confesseth it caneot be understood in his 3 pag. 5. I shall answer in general to their Arguments about Infants Church-membership and
stand reading other books seven yeers but hearing and believing were baptized Act. 18.8 You say further that men think they can understand plain Scripture if they hear it but they cannot and then you cry O that pride would let men know that they cannot understand the plainest Lecture of Geometry or Arithmetick that a man can read unto them and read the Grammer to a boy in the Primer and be understandeth not a word you say Answ Is it possible you would make men believe they cannot understand plain Scripture if they hear it but I pray try us with some first and see I confess we cannot understand this book of yours to be Plain Scripture-proof for Infants Church-membership and baptism because you have packt it so full of such whimsies as these Geometry Arithmetick Grammer c. But Sir we would have you to know that the word of God is of another nature for it giveth light to the blinde and understanding to the simple Psal 19.7 8. Yea it makes men wiser then their enemies and gives them more understanding then all their teachers yea more then the Antients Psal 119.98 99 100. All which I believe you will finde to be true before we have done You say Pos 4. When the cause is so difficult we must follow the most probable way So then it seems its very difficult for you to prove that Infants ought to be baptized by your own confession and indeed so I believe for that must needs be very difficult to prove that there is not one word of God in all the Bible for I cannot blame you for saying its difficult to prove But you say we must follow the most probable way come on then that we will Now whether is it most probable that that practice which is nowhere commanded nor written in Scripture should be of God or of Satan Judge ye Now that Infant-baptism is such a practise as is not written in Scripture both Mr. Hall and your self confess and therefore in your 10 Position you do abuse us and call us bruit-beasts for demanding a plain Scripture for it therefore it s not of God and it s most plain that if that which is written in the word of God be the way of God then that which is not written in it and yet practised as an ordinance of God must needs be of Satan In your 5 Position in short you tell people that if any have taken up this opinion and have not Read and studyed Mr. Cobbet and Mr. Church and other chief books and been able to confute them they have but discovered a seared Conscience which either dare venter on sin without fear or else do count error no sin To all which I answer How now Mr. Baxter Are you grown to this height what must not men obey what they finde written in the holy Scripture till they have asked Mr. Cobbet and Mr. Churches counsel I pray where learned you this divinity at Rome I thought all this time the holy Scriptures had been able to make us wise unto salvation through faith in Christ Jesus but it seems they are not if you say true but we must be beholding to Mr. Cobbet and Mr. Church But I pray how did men before Mr Cobbet and Churches books were written and how do those now that cannot come by their books or never heard of them if it be as you say you may do well to send some men up and down the Country to sell them But I believe this is but one of your scare crows with which you use to affright silly souls that set their faith in your wisdom and not in the power of God but your folly is a making manifest and light and freedom is breaking forth to them which you have kept in darkness and bondage Now to your 6 Position wherein you say That you will discover a most frequent cause of mens falling into errors which you say is this All men in the beginning do receive many truths upon weak or false grounds and so hold them a while till they are beaten out of their old Arguments and then presently they suspect the cause it self and you are perswaded this is Mr. Tombs his own case Ans As for Mr. Tombs he is of age and able to answer for himself I question not and as for your saying that men receive Infant-baptism and other Truths upon weak grounds at first I answer I never knew any receive Infant-baptism upon any ground at all weak nor strong neither can they for they are not capable of what they do because they want understanding when they receive it therefore you may well say they are or may be quickly beaten off it again when they come to reason with themselves or others about it But you say Alas there is far better grounds which they are not aware of Answ That is it may be because you baptize them so soon if you would let them alone till they are men and women before you baptize them as you have example in Scripture they might receive baptism upon better grounds In your 7 Position you confess some Divines have reasoned very weakly for Infant-baptism and used unfit phrases and misapplyed Scriptures and to these some have wrote three or four books and easily answered and seem to triumph and yet the truth is not shaken but it may be all the best Arguments and Plain Scriptures have never been answered say you Answ I desire to answer the Plain Scriptures no way but by faith and obedience by believing and doing of them therefore if you know of any that speaks of Infants-baptism bring them forth and I will be silent The first I see but as for your best Arguments you talk of I look upon them but as so many cunning devised fables wherewith you lye in wait to deceive simple souls by speaking things you ought not for filthy lucre sake Tit. 1.14 You say Pos 8. one sound Argument is enough to prove any thing true Answ Then either the great number of yours in the book of plain Scripture are not sound or else you need not to have brought so many by your own grant But you say What if all the Texts were put by save one Were not that enough Answ Yes it s enough if you can shew us but one but I pray where is that one I cannot finde it in all your book but it seems you are afraid that all should be put by save one therefore you make this apologie but I suppose all will do you little good In your 9 Position you say The former and present customs of the holy Saints and Churches should be of great weight with humble Christians Answ If the present customs of Churches now be according to the Primitive pattern I grant it else not But I am sure the customs of the Churches in the Apostles days was to baptize men and women when they believed with all their hearts and gladly received the word Act. 2.41 c. 8.12 v.
judge of them by their fruits but there are some are more transformed into the Ministers of righteousness and can as Paul before his conversion out of zeal persecute the Church of God thinking they should do God good service if they should kill us Phil. 3.6 with John 16.1 2. and these are a generation which as Solomon saith Prov. 30.12 are pure in their owne eyes and yet are not washed from their filthiness and notwithstanding they preach and prophesie in the name of Christ and call him Lord Lord yet they do not the things he saith Luke 6.46 but cause divisions and offences contrary to the Doctrine of Christ and his Apostles witness their Rantizing of Babes instead of baptizing of men and women when they believe Acts 8.12 So that they contend not for the Faith once delivered to the Saints Jude 3. but for a new up-start business which themselves confess they cannot finde written in the Scripture See Mr. Baxters tenth Position pag. 8. and Mr. Halls fifth Argument pag. 30. therefore they serve not the Lord Jesus Christ but their owne bellies and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple Rom. 16.17 18. Thus having made an end with Mr. Baxter I shall conclude with Mr. Cooks last end of his font uncovered pag. 46. where he seems to answer this objection Object But what need you write so much in answering so little it seems your cause is not good you take so much pains about it why did you not answer as briefly as the other party propounded This objection Mr. Cook makes against himself by which all men may perceive that he is sensible of his owne vanity in multiplying words without knowledge whereby he hath laboured to darken the counsel of God which is already so plainly declared in the Scriptures of truth and yet notwithstanding his being so sensible he laboureth to hide himself under this cloke 1. by making the objection and 2. then to answer it himself thus 1. He saith the truth oft lies deep and will not easily be found out as it is more pretious then Gold and Silver so it requires more diligent search Gold-mines are not obvious to every eye much skill and labour are requisite to finde them out and bring the Gold to light Answ Sir I am afraid indeed that this is your Gold that you have deceived so many poor souls withall which you have taken great pains to dig out of the mountain of ancient Fathers the mines of mens inventions and indeed you may well compare your work to digging for you have digged deep to hide your counsel from the Lord like those in Isaiah 29.15 But Sir we would have you understand that the sayings and commandments of Christ and practice of the Apostles are the right Silver and Gold-mines to which we have digged through all your deceivableness of unrighteousness false consequences Syllogisms and Sophistries and are come to that sure Rock Luke 6.47.48 which is the sayings of Christ But what have you to do to call Christ Lord Lord and yet will not do the things which he saith or commands you Luke 6.46 which is to preach the Gospel to all and baptize them that believe it and gladly receive it Mark 16.15 16. with 2.41 chap. 8.12 this Gold will indure the fire and the building will stand upon this foundation in despight of all the power and wisdome from beneath when your tradition of rantizing little Babes will fall and perish with the using after the commandments and Doctrines of men notwithstanding your great pains and skill which you exercise dayly to uphold it and your folly will be manifest to all in time as it is already to some who observe what a heap of confused stuff you make of Christianing as you call it or rather cozening pour Children in their Cradles which you plead for and when you have done you have made them seven times harder to be coverted to the Faith of the Gospel then they were before because now they plead as you have taught them that they are Christians members of Christ Children of God and heirs of heaven made so in their baptism before ever they knew it and that they cannot fall away for you say Once in Christ and alwaies in Christ and so all the men and women in England that were baptized in their infancie must needs be saed by a consequence and if this be not the broad and easie way judge all men But if this Gold be not Brass by which you deceive poor souls I am mistaken for notwithstanding that it is affirmed they are made Christians and they are within Covenant and they are Church-members in their infancie yet 20 or 30 years after you preach to them to convert them and to bring them into Covenant or else you will tell them thousands that were baptized in their infancie they will be damned Who seeth not your folly surely I cannot think but some of you see it your selves yet I confess the Scripture saith that evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse deceiving and being deceived 2 Tim. 3.13 But Sirs you know that by this craft you get your wealth some an hundred a year some two hundred some more some less therefore I confess Mr. Cook you may say you have been in the Silver and Gold-mines but take heed that the earth do not fall upon you and swallow you up for such casualties do sometimes happen to those that work under the ground in darkness and you will not come to the light lest your deeds should be manifest but if you shall escape judgement in this world yet remember the day is coming in which men shall call to the mountains to fall upon them and to cover them from tha face of him that shall sit upon the throne whose commands of baptizing men and women when they believe and understand the truth have you made of none effect by Rantizing Infants before they can beleive understand or give a reason of their Faith which things are utterly unprofitable amongst men and abominable in the sight of God But you say again that though we have now briefly propounded our judgements in these Papers yet it is known what large discourses we have made amongst the People and how many treatises are written on this subject Answ If we have had large discourses amongst the people to declare nothing but the word of God to them you cannot blame us for it is lawful to preach the word both in season and out of season and thereby to reprove rebuke and exhort with all long suffering and doctrine 2 Tim. 4.2 Secondly whereas you say we have written may treatises on this subject I answer That is because you have written so many against it but yet our Treatises do not exceed yours in bigness so much as yours do exceed ours as appeareth thus we you gave about a quarter of a sheet of paper and you have answered it in seven sheets and
her treasure who beleeved and was baptized by Philip Act. 8.27.37 38. and what say you to Erastus the Chamberlaine of the City Rom. 16.2 3. and likewise of those Saints of Caesars houshold Philip. 4.22 And for an Oath did you never read in the New-Testament Heb. 6.16 that an oath for confirmation is an end of all strife And for War did you never read Luke 3.14 that the souldiers came to John and asked what they should do and he did not bid them lay down their arms but be content with their wages and do violence to no man And did you never read of Cornelius a Censurion of the Italian band Act. 10. and doth not the Apostle Peter put us in mind to subject Magistrates 1 Pet. 2.13 14 15. Likewise Paul to Tit. ch 3.1 and 1 Tim. 2.1.2 and Rom. 13. Is not the Scripture full of these things and yet do you call for Scripture Surely you read so many other books that you forget to read the Scripture For I well remember in your third position you say that some 8 years agoe you had read some hundreds more then most of them you call Godly Christians and thought yourself as wise as most of them and some thought you wiser you say but it seems you are not yet wise enough to lay aside those hundreds of books and give your self wholly to read and study the Scriptures which are able to make you wise to Salvation if you were you would be better acquainted with the matter contained in them And thus I proceed to your second position finding your first so frothy and full of superfluous words In your second you say that The great difficulty of a point is no proof that it is not truth and a thing is not therefore to be rejected as not of God because it is not easie to understand You affirm also that multitudes of silly ignorants do the same In all which I shall not oppose you But your next considerable is this you say If a subtill Pagan should come amongst the people and dispute that the Scripture is not the word of God and that Christ Jesus is not the Son of God he would silence them more then the Anabaptist con do Answ Here Mr. Baxter makes himself very suspicious and his words very unsavory in that he rather sideth with Pagans and Atheists that deny both God and Christ and the holy Scriptures then with those which are falsely called Anabaptists though we honestly own God and Christ and the Scriptures and desire to plead nothing else for our practise for which cause he crieth out against us in his 10. position calling us brute beasts and nothing but because we call to him for Scripture for to prove his practice and yet now he makes as if the Atheists and Pagans had more to say for themselves then we all which I leave to God and the impartial Reader to judge Again Mr. Bextar speaks a great swelling word of vanity saying he will hazard all the reputation of his understanding on it that there is ten times more to be said for free-wil then can be said against Infants baptism yea it is twenty times more difficult and yet you offer to dispute it with any man and must it therefore be true say you Answ 1. Sir as for the reputation of your understanding I will not say what I judge its worth 2. If you had said there is ten times more to be said for free-will then is to be said for Infants baptism you had hit it right Lastly whereas you say free-will is such a difficult point I am not of your judgement in that for I beleive its easie to them that will understand to know that no man in himself or of himself without God hath any free-will or power to think or do that which is good for In him we live move and have our being Act. 17.28 in and through God that gives all men life and breath and all things to the end they may seek him Act. 17.25 26 27. Even the wickedest and Hypocrites the worst of men have a will and power to do more good then they do and that 's one cause of their just condemnation Moreover its evident that wicked Balaam had a will and desire to dy the death of the righteous and that his latter end might be like unto theirs Numb 23.10 And Paul saith plainly To will is present with me but how to performe that which is good I know not Rom. 7.18 by all which it is evident that free-will is not such a difficult point as you would make it but it s an easie matter with you to call Light darkness and darkness light Isa 5.20 But I leave this at present and proceed to your fourth position wherein you say That if never so clear evidence of truth be produced yet it will still be dark to them that are uncapable of discerning it for its Gods work to make people understand And then you instance in the Author to the Heb. cap. 5.11 12 13 14. who had many things to say to them concerning Melchisedec which were hard to be uttered because their ears were dull of hearing Answ We grant you all this I That though there be never so cleer truth for a thing yet it will still be dark to some But however let us see some cleer evidence of truth first and shew where it s written that babes must be baptized and then if we do not believe it be it upon us We know it is Gods work to perswade the heart but its mans work to declare the truth by which the heart is perswaded The Apostle often preacht very plainly that men should Repent and be baptized but there were many that heard them which rejected their words though very plain as they are still upon record but you bring us no Scripture for what you affirm about Infant-baptism but call us unreasonable men and bruit beasts for requiring Scripture of you for your practice and yet you would bear the world in hand in this your Position that you have proved cleer evidence of truth for it but we will not believe it but I say once more shew us but where it s written in the word of God which alone is able to make us wise to salvation 2 Tim. 3.15 16 17. and then if we will not nor cannot believe it our blood be upon our selves but till you shew us something written we have nothing to believe As for your saying we had need study the controversie at least seven yeers I answer What Rule have you for that Did the three thousand in Act. 2.41 42. study this controversie seven yeers or seven days either Consider it again and those men and women Act. 8.12 that believed Philips preaching and were baptized and the Eunuch in the latter part of the chapter and Lydia and the Goaler Act. 16. and Crispus the chief Ruler of the Synagogue with his houshold and many of the Corinthians who did not
them and said Verily I say unto you Except ye be converted and become as little children you shall not enter into the kingdome of heaven Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little Child the same is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven Observe He doth not say that the little Child was or should be greatest in the Kingdome of heaven but whosoever of his Disciples did humble themselves as this little Child the same is greatest c.. And then saith he vers 5. Whoso shall receive one such little Child in my name receiveth me Thus it is plain and clear as the mouth of the Lord himself hath spoken it what children he would have received as Disciples in his name not little children of a few dayes old that can neither speak nor understand but such as humble themselves and are converted from their sins and become as little children But some will say How do you mean they should become as little children Answ I mean as Christ in this place that they should be humbled and converted and as Paul meaneth 1 Cor. 14.20 that they should become Children in malice but in understanding be ye men and as Peter meaneth 1 Pet. 2.1 that men should Lay aside all malice and all guile and hypocrisies and envies and all evil speakings and as new-borne Babes desire the sincere milk of the word that they may grow thereby and whosoever shall receive one such little one as a Disciple in the name of Christ receiveth me saith Christ bur whoso shall offend one of these little ones that believe in him it were better for him that a milstone were hanged about his neck and that he were drowned in the depth of the Sea Mat. 18.5.6 Again if we shall understand that little Children are believers in this place then it followeth that whosoever is a believer and chastiseth his son betimes as Solomon adviseth It were better for him to have a milstone hanged about his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the Sea for certain we are that whosoever correcteth his Child will offend him And thus you see the absurdity which will follow Thus having answered all his Arguments or rather Cavils that have any weight in them or colour upon them I leave it to the wise to judge and proceed to prove that little children that can neither speak nor understand are not nor cannot be Christs Disciples And having proved already both by Scripture and reason that Disciples of Christ are such as are capable of the teachings of Christ I go to my second Argument Argument II. My second Argument is from John 8.31 32. in these words Then said Jesus to those Jewes which believed on him If you continue in my word then are ye my Disciples indeed and ye shall know the truth and that shall make you free But little Children that can neither speak nor understand cannot abide in the words of Christ for they know not what they are neither can they be made free by knowing the truth for they know nothing at all of it Therefore such little Children are not Christs Disciples indeed Argument III. My third Argument is from John 15.8 in these words Herein is my Father glorified that ye bear much fruit So shall ye be my Disciples whence I argue thus If the Disciples of Christ be such as must bring forth much fruit to the glory of God and so be his Disciples then little Infants that cannot bring forth much fruit are not his Disciples But the Disciples are such Therefore Argument IIII. My fourth Argument is from John 13.34 35. in these words A new Commandment I give unto you that you love one another as I have loved you that ye also love one another By this shall all men know that ye are my Disciples c. from whence I argue thus If this be the mark that Christ hath given to all men to know his Disciples by namely if they love one another as he hath loved them then no man can know little Infants that can neither speak nor understand to be the Disciples of Christ because they cannot so love one another as Christ hath loved them neither do they know it is their duty But by this shall all men know Christs Disciples Therefore little Babes cannot be known to be his Disciples Argument V. My fifth Argument is from Luke 26. compared with Mark 13.37 Watch and pray alwaies that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things and to stand before the Son of man And what I say unto you I say unto all Watch. But little Children that can neither speak nor understand cannot watch and pray as Christ commanded all his Disciples neither doth God require it of them Therefore none of Christs Disciples Argument VI. My sixth Argument is from Mat. 13.10 11. in these words And the Disciples came and said unto him Why speakest thou unto them in Parables He answered and said unto them Because it is given to you to know the mysteries of the Kingdome but to others it is not given From whence I argue thus If the Disciples of Christ be such as it is given unto to know the mysteries of the Kingdome of heaven then little children that do not know the mysteries of the Kingdom are not his Disciples But it is given to the Disciples of Christ to know the mysteries of the Kingdome and that 's their priviledge Therefore little Children that do not know them are not his Disciples Thus far I have gone to prove that infants that can neither speak nor understand are not Christs Disciples and now it followeth that they cannot be his Disciples the which I prove by my seventh Argument Argument VII My seventh Argument by which I prove that Infants cannot be Christs disciples is from the same Text Matth. 13.11 To you it is given to understand the mysteries of the kingdom but to others it is not given From whence I argue thus If it be given to none but the disciples of Christ to know the mysteries of his kingdom then children to whom it is not given cannot at that present be Christs disciples But it is given to none but the disciples of Christ to know the mysteries of the kingdom for to others it is not given vers 11. Therefore children to whom it is not given cannot be Christs disciples But I remember Mr. Baxter said If God call children Servants why may not we call them disciples Now it may be he will object here and say If Christ say that little children are of the kingdom of heaven Why may not we say they understand the mysteries of the kingdom I answer The cause is plain all children that are free-born subjects in a kingdom are of that kingdom and belong to that kingdom and may enjoy all the priviledges in that kingdom so far as little children need to enjoy but yet none of them know the mysteries of the Government and Order of that kingdom nor the Rights
us that we are such as the Apostle speaks of when he saith The end of the Commandment is Charity out of a pure heart a good Conscience and faith unfeigned from which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling desiring to be teachers of the Law understanding not what they say nor whereof they affirm and here you think you hit us home Answ Sir I must confess now you have catched us out of our Element and in your own for we know you are scholars and have learned to contend about words to no profit which tends to the subverting of the hearers but be it as it will Seeing we erred in saying we affirm a Negative we will either confess our errour or else shew you a president which may justifie us in our practice Rom. 3.12 Paul saith There is none that doth good no not one here Paul affirmeth a Negative saying There is none for there is is an Affirmative therefore if you had been by him you might have taught him to have said I deny that any doth good no not one and then he had spoke as like a scholar as your self Again Isa 45.5 the Lord saith by the Prophet I am the Lord and there is no God besides me now Sir if you dare presume to be a teacher here it should have been thus I deny that any God is but my self And I pray shew us the word negative in the Scripture if you can Lastly to conclude Job 1.20 When they sent to John to know who he was the Scripture saith He denyed not I pray observe if he denyed not then he affirmed and what did he affirm Answ He said I am not the Christ here John affirmed a negative confessing and saying I am not c. now that I am is to affirm is evident for vers 23 he saith I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness c. And now let me shew poor souls the mystery of Mr. Cooks iniquity about the affirming a negative 1 The word negative is not to be found in all the Bible but hatched up in the schools and now is nursed by them and grown to such a stature that none must say they affirm a negative without great dishonour amongst them and yet to affirm is but to say a thing is so and to deny is also to say a thing is not so As if I should say or affirm when the Sun shines it is day and when it is down I should say or affirm it is night all honest men will understand me without prejudice Again that man that saith he will prove a Negative is among scholars much derided because they stand upon punctilioes but yet the thing may be honestly done thus If I say I will prove a man is not alive if I shew others that he is dead do not I prove he is not alive Again if I affirm or say a man is not in his house if I go and shew others his house and he is not in it do not I prove he is not in it and so prove a negative viz. that he is not there c. And now seeing you will make us offenders for a word may not we justly say that you are one of those the Apostle speaks of 1 Tim. 6.3.4 in these words If any teach otherwise and consent not to wholesome words even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Doctrine that is according to godliness he is proud and knoweth nothing doting about Questions and strife of words whereof cometh envies strifes railings evil surmisings perverse disputings of men of corrupt mindes destitute of the truth supposing gain to be godliness c. And now do not you doat about words viz. the affirmative and negative whereby you gender envie strife c. And do not you count gain godlinese viz. an hundred or two hundred a yeer for Preaching and Baptizing Infants and rather then you will part with it you do dispute perversly like a man of a corrupt minde destitute of the truth as it is in Jesus I beseech you in the fear of God consider it And know also that although we have affirmed a Negative yet you cannot justly apply that Scripture to us 1 Tim. l. 5 6 7. because we desire not to be teachers of the Law and therefore Mr. Baxter saith we are Antinomians and deny the Law But I answer Both you and he desire to be teachers of the Law witness your running to Moses to prove Baptism of Infants and Church membership from Circumcision and the Old Covenant that was faulty and therefore done away Heb. 8.7 and another to be established upon better promises vers 6. and in this I am sure you nor Mr. Baxter know not what you say nor whereof you affirm therefore take the Scripture wholly to your selves and consider it well And thus Mr. Cook I shall at present take leave of you for a time and apply my self to Mr. Baxter Sir in the first place to your Positions in the first of which p. 3 you say thus It hath pleased the holy Ghost to speak of some things in the Scriptures more fully and of others more sparingly and where God spake more sparingly the thing must needs be more difficult and yet truth still Answ But he never speaks of Infants Baptism in all the Scripture neither fully not sparingly therefore none of his Truth nor ever was But you instance in four particulars but that which is pertinent to the matter in hand is your fourth wherein you say The New Testament speaketh more sparingly of that which is more discovered in the Old and say you what need the same thing to be done twice except men should question the authority of the Old and if God should reveal his minde in one part of the Scripture what use should we make of the other Therefore say you how silent is the New Testament concerning a Christian Magistracie which made the Anabaptists of old deny it And say you further Where finde you a Christian in the New Testament that exercised the place of a King or Parliament-man or Justice of Peace or the like And so of an Oath before a Magistrate of war and of the Sabbath how sparing is the New Testament and why say you because it is said enough in the Old To all which I answer You have spoken many words to no purpose except it be to deceive the hearts of the simple for whereas you say That which is spoken on in the Old Testament need not be spoken of again I answer Infants baptism is nowhere spoken of neither in the Old nor New Testament therefore you ought not for shame to speak of it 2. As for your saying Where finde we a Christian Magistrate in the New Testament I answer Surely you have forgotten the Deputy that was turned to the faith by Paul Act. 13.12 Sergins Paulm by name Likewise the Eunuch a man of great authority under Candace Queen of the Ethiopians who had the charge of
36 37 38. c. 10.47 c. 16.33 34. c. 18 8. therefore I pray let this custom be of weight to your self and do not baptize little babes that cannot believe nor understand what they do especially because you say there was weight in that Argument when Paul said We have no such custom nor the Churches of God Again you say that you can prove that Infants-baptism was used in the Church as high as to the Apostle as there be many sufficient histories extant inform us and that the deferring of baptism came in with the rest of Popery upon popish or heretical grounds Answ O Sir have I now found you out truly seeing I have I must not conceal your wickedness lest I become guilty with you of the blood of souls and therefore I do by this declare to all men that you are both a deceiver and a blasphemer the which charge I now come to prove I That you are a deceiver it is evident in that you have entituled your book Plain Scripture-proof for Infants Church-membership and baptism by which you perswade many hundred souls that there is plain Scripture indeed in the Bible for Infants-baptism when there is no such thing but your self confess in your 9 Position that your proof is from some histories extant which you judge sufficient O that poor ignorant souls would but see and consider your cunning craftiness wherewith you lye in wait to deceive them before it be too late 2 That you are a blasphemer is plain if the Scriptures may be heard to speak for you say deferring of baptism came in with the rest of Popery Answ But Sir do you not know that our glorious Lord Jesus Christ deferred his baptism till he was thirty yeers of age Luke 3.21 22 23. and yet he was the child of believing parents I think you dare not deny And now do you not see your wickedness in affirming that deferring of baptism came in with the rest of Popery or do you think wickedly that Christ brought in any part of popery take heed Again doth not the Commission of Christ defer baptism till believing Mark 16.15 16. saying He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved and doth not Philip defer baptism upon the same account to the Eunuch Act. 8.36 37. when the Eunuch said to him See here is water what hinders me to be baptized Philip said if thou believest with all thine heart thou mayest shewing by these words plainly that if he did not believe it was to be deferred and that unbelief would hinder And thus is your folly made manifest though I fear you will not see it but however I leave it to the consideration of all rational men desiting that the Lord will give them wisdom to consider how you delude poor souls by this means perswading them that there is very plain Scripture for infants-baptism when at last you confess there is none but some histories which you judge sufficient and thus have you made proselytes and when they are made they are sevenfold more the children of Satan then they were before for before they were forced in their non-age to receive the mark of the beast spoken of Rev. 19.20 which was not received by a few despised people as you say the Anabaptists are but he caused all both free and bond rich and poor small and great to receive it yea and that none may buy or sell save he that had the mark c. See Rev. 13.16 17. and this is most properly applyed to you for there is never a small child in the Nation if it were but eight days old but you would look it should be Rantized and in that receive the mark on its forehead namely to be signed with the sign of the cross in token c. and this was so universal throughout England that if any did but stand up to oppose it they must neither buy nor sell amongst you but must be imprisoned banished or hanged So that all both rich and poor free and bond small and great were glad to be and suffer their children to be baptized or rather Rantized or else they could not be suffered to live for to buy and sell amongst you to get a livelihood And thus I have presented you a glass to look in that you may behold what manner of persons you are Again its impossible that you should apply these Scriptures to those you call Anabaptists because now they have their liberty to declare their minde freely they do not desire small and great to receive the mark of baptism which they practise but onely great ones which can understand what they do and give a resson thereof even as we read Act. 2.41 They that gladly received the word were baptized and added to them c. and Act. 8.12 when they believed Philips preaching they were baptized both men and women And Act. 11.8 Crispus the chief Ruler of the Synagogue believed in the Lord with all his house and many of the Corinthians hearing believed and were baptized And thus you may sue that the more we do look in the glass of the Gospel which is the perfect Law of liberty to them that fear God Jam. 2.12 the more we see our selves conformable to the image of Christ and walking according to the Primitive pattern and we are so far from compelling rich and poor that we would have neither rich nor poor to be baptized until they believe the truth of the Gospel and amend their lives and can give an account thereof to those that ask them a reason of the hope that is in them with meekness Again you say Position 10. Evident Consequences or Arguments drawn by Reason from Scripture are as true proof as the very express words of a Text and if we have the words without the meaning and reason we have no proof at all for the devil used the words of the Scripture to Christ To all which I answer As for your saying that Consequences or Arguments drawn from Scripture are as true proofs as Scripture this is but one of your untruths for most certain it is that what the Scripture saith we need not prove by Consequence for that would be but darkening the Counsel of God by words without knowledge as for example Gen. 1.1 In the beginning God created the heavens and earth now what need you prove this by Consequence again ver 3. God said Let there be light and there was light And what can any Consequence do in this case And again ver 7.8 And God made the firmament and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters that were above the firmament and it was so And this I do believe without any Consequence and if you will deny it because it is plain Scripture without any Consequence you may if you please but your folly will be manifest as it is to me already When you say if we have the word without the meaning and reason we have no proof at all I answer
this is a most subtile sophistry much like to that of Satan when he beguiled Evah saying In the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt not dye but your eys shall be opened and you shall be at Gods knowing both good and evil all which was both true and a lye for they did learn to know evil by it to purpose and as for good they knew it before and now they learned to know it was good by the loss of it And after the same manner is your reasoning when you say If we have nothing but the bare words without the meaning and reason we have no proof To which I answer The truth is that if we have not the meaning of God and the reason reason why he speaks to us how can we understand as we ought but now Sir I shall make it appear that both Gods meaning and the reason of his meaning is plainly declared to the sons of men by his word of truth and so plainly that if you or an Angel from heaven shall add to it or take from it you shall be accursed and he will add to you all the plagues written and take your name out of the book of life All which if you do not knows I pray read Prov. 30.6 Gal. 1.8 9. Rev. 22.18 19. But you would make us believe that what is written is not able to inform us aright but you or such as you are must add to it or take from it at your pleasure and those your additions and substractions you call the meanings and reasons of the word of God But now I shall prove that the word of God alone is able to make us wise to salvation without your adding to or taking from and to that end see 2 Tim. 3.15 16 17. in these words And from a child thou hast known the holy Scriptures which are able to make us wise to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for Doctrine for Reproof for correction for instruction in rightcousness that the man of God may be perfect and throughly furnished unto all good works Again the Apostle Jam. 1.21 exhorteth us to lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness and to receive with meekness the ingraffed word which saith he is able to save your souls Again when Paul left the Saints in a dangerous condition because of deceivers he commits them to God and the word of his grace saying It is able to build them up and give them an inheritance amongst them that are sanctified Thus you see 1 That the Scripture is able to make us wise to salvation 1 Tins 3.15 2 That all Scripture is given by the inspiration of God and therefore profitable for Doctrine reproof correction instruction in righteonsness ver 16. 3 To make the man of God perfect and throughly furnished to all good works ver 17. 4 It s able to save our souls Jam. 1.21 5 It s able to build us up and give us an inheritance amongst them that are sanctified Act. 20.32 And now seeing the holy writings are able to do all these things I will boldly and safely conclude that we have no need of your Reasons and Sences to help them but you have need to help your Reasons and Senses by the holy writings or else you will be but one of those insensible unreasonable men that Paul prays to be delivered from because they had not faith and how can you have faith as Christ saith How can you believe when you receive honor one of another John 5.44 and do not you receive honor one of another when you prefer one anothers words above the words of God which Christ and the holy men of old spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost 2 Pet. 1.21 But whereas you say wickedly that if we have the words of God without the meaning and reason we have no proof Answer I am sure I may honestly and in the fear of God conclude that if we have your words and meanings and reasons without the word of God we have no proof that we may safely trust for Let God be true and every man a lyer and cursed be he that trusteth in man c. Rom. 3.4 Ier. 17.5 And thus your folly is manifest but because this is the very place in which and slight by which Satan doth deceive and murder so many souls the Reader must give me leave to inlarge my selfe in answering Now to your proof which is this you say The Divel used the words of God to tempt Christ I Answer doth it follow that because the Divel and wicked men do sometimes use the word of God to deceive with that therefore the Saints must not use it make them wise to salvation I trow not Againe Sir You much mistake the matter for the Divells deceit did not ly in bringing the Scriptures but in adding to and taking from as I shall make it appear by comparing the words the Divell brought Mat. 4.6 and Luke 4.10 11. with those words in Psa 91.11 12. which are these For he shall give his Angels charge over thee to keep thee in all thy wayes they shall bear thee up in their hands left thou dash thy feet against a Stone These are the words of the Prophesie Psa 91.11 12. but the words of the tempter are these Cast thy self down which is nowhere written Just as you say Baytise your Children which is no where written but the Divell would prove he might thus for saith he it is written He shall give his Angells charge concerning thee to keep thee as in Luk. 14.10 and with their hands they shall bear thee up left at any time that is added thou dash thy feet against a Stone Thus it is clear the tempter added at any time and left cut in all thy wayes Againe Luke 4.9 10 11. We read Cast thy selfe downe for it is written He shall give his Angells charge over thee to keep thee and in their hands they shall bare thee up left at any time thou dash thy feet against a stone Thus we see in both Scriptures that the tempter added Cast thy selfe downe and at any time and left out in all thy wayes So that here is both adding and diminishing which is accursed of God and yet Mr. Baxter takes the Divells part and saith the Divell used the words of the Scriptures to Christ But this is but a small fault with you Sir for you have learned to take the same leave your selfe as I now shall make it appear thus If thou be the Son of God The Divell said to Christ cast thy self downe which is nowhere written as the Lord saith but the contrary viz. Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God So do you say If you be the Children of God and in Covenant baptize your Children which is nowhere written but the contrary thus Teach all Nations batizing them c. Mat. 28.19 And Preach the Gospell to every
continue in my word then are ye my disciples indeed and you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free And again cap. 15.7 If you abide in me and my words abide in you ask what you will and it shall be done unto you and the word is able to save our souls Jam. 1.21 and the Lord will have respect to them that are of contrite spirits and tremble at his word Isa 66.2 but whose despiseth the word shall be destroyed but he that regardeth the Commandment shall be rewarded Pro. 13.13 And thus its evident that if we run to the word for refuge we do wisely and are safe in so doing But as for Mr. Hall he hath never a word to run to for Infant-baptism as he himself confesses pag. 30. in his fifth Argument in these words In express terms so infants baptism is not commanded nor a thousand things more which get we are bound to observe I shall now conclude with shewing some undenyable Reasons why the word of God must beunderstood and obeyed as it is written without adding to or taking from 1 Because God did never without words make known his minde to the sons of men therefore we read that God at sundry times in divers manners spake to our fathers by the Prophets but now in these last days he hath spoken by his own son c. Heb. 1.12 2 By words the minde of God is compleatly made known so that to fear God and keep his Commandments is the whole duty of man Eccles 12.12 13. 3 Because Christ blames men for erring from the Scriptures saying You erre because you know not the Scriptures Mark 12.24 4 Because we are commanded to hear the words of Christ in all things what soever he shall say unto us Act. 3.22 5 Because they that consent not to wholsom words even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Doctrine which is according to godliness are proud or fools knowing nothing 1 Tim. 6.3 4. 6 Because the Scriptures are able to make us wise to salvation through faith in Jesus and to make the man of God perfect and throughly to furnish us to all good works 2 Tim. 3.15 16 17. 7 Because when Paul left the Church in a dangerous condition because of deceivers he committed them to God and to the word of his grace affirming it is able to build them up and to give them an inheritance amongst them that are sanctified 8 Because if men or Angels shall preach any other Gospel then what is already preached they shall be accursed Gal. 1.8.9 9 Because those that preach are commanded to preach the word in season and out of season 2 Tim. 4.12 and not their own words 10 Because Christ will judge all men by his words that he hath spoken in the last day and then they which do add to his word he will add to them all the plagues written and those that diminish from it he will take their names out of the book of life and their part out of the holy City and he will come in flaming fire to render vengeance on them that know not God and obey not his holy Gospel Joh. 12.48 Rev. 22.18 19. 2 Thef 2.7 8 9. Lastly I shall propound these following Queries with a desire to have them answered by any who will or can 1 Whether God doth require the sons of men to believe any thing in point of Justification that is not recorded in the holy Scriptures of truth 2 Whether God doth require or command us to obey any thing after believing which is not contained in the word of truth 3 Whether the Saints have any ground to believe the Resurrection from the dead and eternal life in glory but as it is recorded in Scripture 4 Whether if a man believe and obey all the known precepts and promises contained in the word of God as much as in him lyeth will God condemn and punish him at the great day because he hath believed and done no more 5 If the Scriptures be not a perfect rule of faith and obedience without the help of any mans inventions what is Or who may we trust or at whose mouth must we seek wisdom 6 If the Scriptures ought to be believed and obeyed as they are written then how dare some deny faith in and obedience to some part of them and impose things not written in the Scriptures to be obeyed in stead of the ordinances of Christ 7 Whether there be any sin or corruption incident to man that the Scriptures doth not reprove and make manifest in express terms 8 Whether there be any vertue or praise in any thing that the best of men ever did but what is expresly commanded or commended in the Scriptures of truth 9 I appeal to every mans Conscience in the sight of God whether their Consciences do not condemn them when they walk contrary to what is written in the Scripture 10 Whether every mans Conscience do not justifie him when he walks according to what is contained in the word of God Now if all these Queries be granted as they are stated to be true then it followeth that those that teach and perswade men to do any thing in matter of Justification or salvation more or less then is plainly written and expressed in the word of God are such as do add to or take from what God hath spoken to the sons of men for instruction and are guilty of those plagues pronounced Rev. 22.18 19. but infants baptism is nowhere written nor expressed in all the Scriptures as Mr. Hall Mr. Baxter and Mr. Cook do confess therefore they and all they that plead for it are guilty of the plagues aforesaid except they repent And thus have I answeâ—â—d to Mr. Baxters ten Positions which he saith pag. 3. must necessarily be well understood before we can understand the point in hand So that the Reader must take notice that if these Positions be not well understood to be true then all the rest of his book cannot be understood to be true by his own confession For saith he If people be mistaken in that which goeth before no wonder if they deny the consequents or that which followeth after c. So that if I have fully answered these Positions I need say but little to the rest of the book All which I leave to the Reader to consider of But howsoever I shall not fail by the assistance of God to speak so much to the two first parts of his book as may undermine his building and lay it in the dust As for the last part of his book from the 162 page to the end himself confesseth that they are but such vain contendings as he is like to be guilty of and Mr. Tombs also as you may see in his Epistle to the Church at Bewdley towards the latter end Likewise Mr. Cooks Arguments being the same with his the substance of both tending to prove that infants are in Covenant and that they are
London and among the Gentlewomen that have been tenderly brought up and ancient People and weak People and Shopkeepers especially women that take but little of the cold ayr the dipping them in cold water in the course of nature would kill hundreds and thousands either suddenly or by casting them into some Chronical disease Answ Observe all Mr. Baxters proof is nothing but he dare say so let the Reader observe that but was there ever such a piece of Divinity seen as this Surely Mr. Baxter is much afraid of losing of Gentlewomen that are tenderly brought up and such as take but little of the cold ayr and Shopkeepers he knoweth well that such usually have the heaviest purses and if he lose them he loseth a great part of his Religion as it s well known to most men that they will preach no longer then they are paid for it nay they will be sure of it beforehand and therefore now he speaks things that he ought not for filthy lucres sake Titus 1.11 saying in effect that if they obey the Ordinance of Christ it will kill hundreds and thousands of them if not suddenly yet afterwards He could not nor dare not positively say suddenly because there are hundreds and thousands now alive not onely baptized people but also others yea of his owne judgement that can prove him a false speaker by what they have seen and known But it seems it will cast them into diseases that will kill them afterward Answ But he did not tell us how long after it may be they might have dyed as soon if they had never been dipped for all must dye afterward or else never therefore every fool may see his folly in this But he desperately proceeds like a man resolved not to take heed to his tongue which as James saith chap. 3.6 is set on fire of hell and wherein is a world of iniquity I know not saith he what trick a covetous Landlord can find out to get his Tenants to dye apace that he might have new fines and heriots likelier then to encourage such preachers that he may get them all to turne Anabaptists and covetous Physitinas methinks should no be much against them Catarrhes and Obstructions which are the two great fountains of most mortal diseases in mans body could scarce have a more notable means to produce where they are not or to increase them where they are Appolexies Lethargies Palsies and all Comatious diseases would be promoted by it So would Cephalalgies Hemicranies Phthises debelity of the Stomack Crudities and almost all Feavers Dissenteries Diarrhaeas Collick Iliack Passions Convulsions Spasmes Tremors c. all Hepatick Splenetick Pulmoniack Persons Hypocondriachs will soon have enough of it in a word its good for nothing but to dispatch men out of the world that are burdensome and to rank Church-yards And all this is proved by Mr. Baxters dare say so Sound Divinity and plain Scripture-proof even such as Mr. Baxter hath made use of all over his book But was there ever such doctrine as this preach'd by Christ or any of his Disciples would not any Rational indifferent man take Mr. Baxter for a Mountebanck rather then a Divine and that he hath more skill in curing bodies then souls And may not any man that hath read and beleived the Scriptures and desires to walk according to that blessed rule prescribed in them and to contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the Saints by them may not such say of Mr. Baxter as Paul said to Elymas the Sorcerer when he would have turned away the deputy from the faith O full of all subtility and all mischiefe thou Child of the Devil thou enemy of all righteousness wilt thou not cease to pervert the right wayes of the Lord And though I cannot say as Paul said Thou shalt be blinde for a season yet I can truly and with a good Conscience say he is spiritually blind already and to prove it to his face for Peter exhorts the Saints that have the eyes of their understanding opened to give all diligence to add to their faith vertue and to vertue knowledg and to knowledge temperance and to temperance patience and to patience godliness and to godliness brotherly kindness and to brotherly kindness charity but he that lacketh these things is blind and cannot see afar off and hath forgotten that himself was purged from his old sins 2 Pet. 1.5 6 7 8 9 c but whether he hath shewed any of these forenamed vertues in all this Argument I leave it to the wise to judge But I leave him to stand or fall to his master and proceed to Answer a fool according to his foolishness as I am commanded Prov. 26.5 lest he be wise in his own conceit And first if it be the only way for covetous Landlords and Physations as he saith then if the Devil had not put it in their heads before yet Mr. Baxter like a diligent Servant hath done it now Secondly as concerning his new-found diseases he talks of I shall ask him two questions First Whether he can say in his conscience that he ever did know of his owne knowledge any baptized person dye of it or fell into any of these diseases afterwards I question not if he had known any such he would have put downe their names in his book although all rational people know that they may fall into some disease after they are dipped in water and yet that not be in the cause of it no more then it is to them that never were dipped Againe we have through mercy plenty of faithful witnesses both old and young Gentlewomen and Ladies wise and honourable with many other people both of strong and weak constitutions that can prove Mr. Baxter a false accuser and an inventer of evil things in this particular And as for my owne part I can boldly say with a good conscience in the presence of God to his glory that I have known many weak and sickly before that have recovered health and strength afterwards and some immediately in a few dayes yea and that when they have been so ill that all Doctors have given them over but I never knew any miscarry in my life so mightily hath God gone along with us owning his owne Ordinance If any shall be so foolish as to say that people become Ranters afterwards and that 's a sign of judgement and not of Gods owning it as his owne ordinance I answer that is after they are again gone away from the faith and deny the Ordinance of Christ which once they owned then as Peter saith It had been better for them that they had never known the way of truth then after they have known it to turn from the holy Commandment once delivered to them But more of this in answer to his last Argument My second Question is to Mr. Baxter Whether he be not convinced in his conscience that some or all of these diseases that he speaks of do not frequently
reign upon a multitude of persons in London or elsewhere that never were dipped in cold water let him or any man deny if they can Now if Mr. Baxter do know none of his own knowledg that have perished or are like to perish by dipping by any of his aforesaid strange diseases and is also convinced in conscience that thousands in the Nation do dye of them that were never dipped in cold water then let all impartial people judge whether Mr. Baxter be a good tree by the fruit he bringeth forth If his intentions seem in his owne eyes to be good and that he aymeth hereby to undelude some souls and keep others from being deluded yet he must needs be one of those Paul speaks of in Rom. 3.8 which do evil that good may come thereof whose damnation is just The next thing Mr. Baxter speaks of is Mr. Tombes his salving up all this with saying that they may be baptized in warm water I answer I am not of his Judgement in that for I believe it s his weakness But then Mr. Baxter saith we cannot agree among our selves and therefore people have no reason to believe us I answer We do not desire people to believe us if we did agree never so well but to search the Scripture to see whether the things we speak be so or no like the noble Bereans Acts 17.11 and therefore to believe we would not have them hanged out of the way because they believe not us as Mr Baxter would have us because we believe not him but we know the Wheat and Tares must grow together in the field which is the world until the harvest according to the commandment of Christ 2. What if we do not agree together in every thing doth it follow therefore that the truth must not be believed and practised I hope not for its easie to prove that the Disciples of Christ in the first Churches did differ in their judgements although it was not their wisdome nor yet to the glory of God when one was of Paul and another of Apollo and another of Cephas and another of Christ 1 Cor. 1.12 c. and I believe that Paul and Barnabas were not of one minde when the contention grew so sharp between them that they parted and walked no more together Acts 15.39 and likewise Paul and Peter when Paul withstood him to the face 3. It is no marvel he telleth us of this because Mr. Baxter and his brethren the Ministers of England agree so well doth not one hold for baptisme with the sign of the Cross and another against it for Baptism in a Font and another in a Bason one for baptizing children of believers onely and others for the baptizing of all one for Railes and bowing at the Altar and others against it one for the Common-prayer-book and others for the Scotch Directory nay do not they persecute one another to Prison Banishment even death it self sometimes If Mr. Baxters Argument be good then let all people take good heed how they believe him and his brethren and so I desire they may do however except they bring plainer Scripture-proofes then Mr. Baxter hath done in his book for Infants Church-member-ship and baptisme The next remarkable thing of Mr. Baxter is denying of dipping of believers to be the custome of the Church in the primitive times and he is not ashamed to give the Scripture the lye before all men saying It is not proved by any Answ And why is it not proved I pray it may be because our Translators have not put the word Baptize into English and called it Dipping therefore he will not grant it but yet I question not the proving of it by the Scripture notwithstanding his subtil evasions of the truth saying They might well be said to go downe into the water because the country was mountainous To which I answer If this be all that Mr. Baxter have to prove it was not dipping in those dayes I think I have more to prove it was dipping and first I shall take what Mr. Baxter and his Brethren have granted me for Mr. Baxter in his 135. page saith the word signifieth as well to wash as to Dip so that by his owne words it signifies Dipping as well as Washing And in the Catechisme made by the learned of the Land when they question what is the outward form in baptisme their owne answer is Water wherein the person baptized is dipped c. thus much as Paul saith to the Atheniens Acts 17.28 their owne Poets confess From whence I argue thus If the word do signifie Dipping as well as Washing then they can no more blame us for practising dipping then we may blame them for practising washing Secondly If the word signifie Dipping and Washing one as well as another as Mr. Baxter and others say it doth then how are they to be blamed that do neither but onely sprinkle a few drops of water upon the face of a child for if the word signifie both Dipping and Washing and sprinkling be neither Dipping nor washing then they have deluded the People all this while and at leaft there quarters of the People of this Nation are still unbaptized And what an horrible thing is this that a whole Nation almost should thus be deceived by a company of learned self-seeking Men who profess themselves to be eyes to the blind and feet to the lame and to teach others that they should not deceive and as yet have not taught themselves Thirdly If the word signifie both washing and dipping then it must needs be washing by dipping or wetting all over for who can wash a thing that is not wet As for Mr. Baxters objection that Christ saith Ye need not but wash the seet and ye are Clean every whit I answer If Christ had spoken that about baptisme as he did about washing the Disciples feet to teach them humility it had been a good proofe but he did not therefore it s none but for to shew their humility and make them clean every whit from pride the washing one anothers feet did shew it as well as if they had washed their whole Bodies but now Christ when he speaketh of baptizing believers Mar. 16.16 he doth not say He that believeth and is baptized on his Feet shall be saved every wit but He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved and Philip and the Eunuch went both down into the water and he baptized him and not his feet only for then they should not have needed to have both gone down into the water Again If the word him or them includes the whole man or men as all that have understanding will confess it doth if they be not partial in this case then whole man or men and women were baptized of John in the River of Jordane confessing their sins and of Philip Acts 8.12 and the Scripture saith Mar. 1.10 that when Christ was baptized he came up out of the water which plainly sheweth that he
went first down into the water or else how could he come out of it and the Scripture saith John 3.23 that John baptized in Enon neer to Salem because there was much water there c. But Mr. Baxter hath given a learned answer to that Scripture viz. That Travellers report that the River Enon where John baptized is but a little Brook that a man may almost step over and that he had from some lying Traveller or other for the Proverb is that Travellers may ly by authority O fearfull wickedness and surely want of the fear of God and love to the truth of his word that a Divine a professed teacher of others should turn aside his eares from the truth of the Scripture that saith there was much water there and that was the cause that they carried there to baptize I say that he should turn aside his ears from such plain Scripture to believe a Man nay a travelling Man who are suspected of all Men to be lyers in many things A desperate afrront to the word of God which is true from the beginning Why may not Mr. Baxter as well believe Sir John Mandevil as well as another that telleth us of Men that are born with but one foot and yet go as fast with it as we can do with two and it is so big that in the heat of the day they can lay them down on their backs and hold up their foot against the Sun and it shades their whole Body and of other Men that have no head at all but their eyes and their mouth stand in their Brests This is Travellers news if Mr. Baxter will believe it and Sir John was to believed be for ought I know as soon as the Taveller that told Mr. Baxter that the River Enon was but a little Brooke that a man might almost step over But it s a good turn the almost is in but is this Mr. Baxters plain Scripture-proof Then the Lord be praised that hath delivered my Soul from believing of him and such as he is and let every poore Soul labour to save themselves as Peter saith Acts 2.40 out of the hands of such an untoward generation which speak things they ought not and believe Travellers reports rather then the truth of the word of God and all for filthy lucres sake But again What if we grant that the Travellers words are true will it therefore follow that the River Enon is no bigger in no place then it was where the Traveller could almost step over Are there not many Rivers in England that are very little in some places and yet in other places very large I cannot think but Mr. Baxter doth know that it is so and if so then Enon might have much water in another place though but a little where the Traveller was Further He saith the Jaylor in the night in his house was baptized but the Scripture saith that He tooke them the same hour of the night and washed their Stripes and was baptized he and all his straightway and then he brought them into his house and seâ— meat before them and rejoyced believing in God with all his house Now if the Jayler took Paul and Silas it implies they took them out and the next words prove it plainly for it saith He brought them into his house His next is this Mr. Baxter saith that we desperately conclude that if it be Gods way he will save our lives how probable soever the danger may seem to be to which he answereth four things 1. He saith this is to beg the question nay he saith he hath shewed and is a shewing that it is not Gods way Answ 1. If he hath shewed any thing already in these six Arguments which do prove baptizing of believers not to be Gods way I leave it to the Reader to judge when he hath considered his Arguments and my Answers and compared them both with the word of God by which we ought to try all things Againe He saith he hath shewed and is a shewing that it is not Gods way by which the Reader may take notice that Mr. Baxter is conscious to himself that he hath not yet proved it to any purpose and therefore he saith he is a shewing that it is not the way of God Answ Well then we will take notice how he proves it hereafter for by his owne confession it seems he hath not proved it yet 2. He saith God must not be temped This was the Devils trick to have drawn Christ under pretence of Scripture and of trusting God to have cast himself into danger of death Answ But therefore that way which the Devil tempted Christ to walk in was never the way of God but baptizing men and women when they do believe hath been and is the way of God Act. 8.12 Again whereas you say the Devil tempted Christ by pretending the Scripture I answer it is true he did so but there was no Scripture that said Cast thy self downe nor yet that said He shall keep thee at any time as I have shewed you already at large in answer to your tenth Position And so likewise when you tempt men and women to baptize their little children you also pretend Scripture but you have none that say they should or ought to be baptized nor any Scripture that sheweth that ever they were baptized in all the word of God and therefore I well remember how angry you are with us in your 10 Position for asking you for a Scripture to prove baptisme of Infants calling of us bruit beasts c. Therefore whose practice is most like the tempters yours or ours I leave it to the impartial Reader to judge 3. You say we might have said to the Disciples That if it were Gods command to keep the Sabbath then they needed not to rub the ears of corne for God could sustain them without Answ So we might if it had been Gods command so to keep the Sabbath as not to eat on the Sabbath day but it was not for they might eat and did eat on the Sabbath dayes Exod. 16.22 23 24 25. although they were not to kindle files to bake or seeth or rost on that day and therefore this your Objection is worth nothing for there is both command and example to baptize men and women when they believe all the world over See Matth. 28.19 20. Mark 16.15 16. with Act. 10.48 and chap. 8.12 but there is no command nor example to compel or perswade men to fast on the Sabbath day more then of another day therefore your Argument is frothy and vain 4. You say If it were a Duty yet when it is inconsistent with a greater duty it is at any time sinful for it is alwaies a sin to prefer a less duty before a greater But the duty of self-preservation is a moral duty and baptizing is but positive therefore it is a sin to prefer it before self-preservation Answ Now I hope Mr. Baxter hath laid himself open to
how have you laid aside the Common prayer-Book or why do you lay it aside and yet retain the baptisme that you had according to it and the rules prescribed in it is not this plain dissembling deceiving your selves and mocking of God consider it well in the fear of God before it be too late had you ever any baptisme but that you had in your infancie or were you baptized since you believed if you were not then you are still unbaptized persons and no visible Christians by profession because you have not put on Jesus Christ by being baptized into him since you believed See Gal. 3.26 27. you have but received Common-prayer-Book-baptism which is full of lyes and deceit as I have already proved at large shewing that the Godfathers and Godmothers stood by and said they desired to be baptized when they never meant it and then their taking the poor Babes that said nor knew nothing of their doings and baptizing them and making them Christians as they think before they know either Christ or their owne Parents or their right hand from their left Thus have you the third reason at large why we separate or dissent from the Church of England which is the Priests lying and deceiving the people by false baptism instead of a true Our fourth and last Reason is the Priests their teachers cruelty and blood-thirstiness for they are them that would build up Sion with blood Jerusalem with iniquity as Mic. 3.10 11. for they do not onely preach for hire and divine for mony but they would have the life and blood of all that will not be of their minde and judgement and the weapons of their warfare are not mighty through God by his Spirit and the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God to cast downe high imaginations of men and to stop their mouths by sound doctrine as 2 Cor. 10.4 5. with Eph. 6.17 but the weapons of their warfare are carnal and mighty through the Magistrates to pull downe mens houses and hale them to Prison and convert them with Prisons and stocks and whips and Gallowes these are the weapons of their warfare men must believe as they believe or else be hanged or banished or at least be imprisoned and disabled to get an honest living by the labour of their hands And how doth this their doings agree with that saying in Rev. 13.16 17. which saith that none might buy or sell but they that worshipped the beast and his Image and received his Mark c. let all that fear God and understand themselves judge Object But they do not persecute now for now all opinions have liberty enough Answ We will never thank them for it for we know it is against their wills witness Mr. Baxters incensing the Magistrate against us to cut us off as soon as highway-murderers and their dayly preachings and printings extant therefore praised be the great God in whom we trust who hath changed the times and seasons at his pleasure for the good of them that fear him and hath given his Churches rest for a little season to the end we might renew our strength and walk in the comfort of the holy Ghost and be edified And thus have you four reasons at large of our dissenting or separating from the Church of England 1. Because of the Priests or Ministers covetousness as appeareth by their taking tythes and forced maintenance greedily looking every one for his gaine from his owne quarters as Isa 56.11 2. The Ministers pride in advancing themselves by reason of their humane learning above those that have the Spirit and truth of God in them more then they 3. Because of the Ministers deceit and falshood in administring Antichrists baptism piecing and patching of it together with lyes and deceits to make the poor people believe it is the baptism of Christ 4. Reason is their cruelty and bloodthistiness as aforesaid in that they would have all suffer that are not of their minds and believe as they believe being the same that is done at Rome to those that will not believe as the Church believe From all which I reason thus If these things be in the Teachers and Leaders of the people what may we expect from the poor deluded people thus blindly led but onely Christs words fulfilled viz. If the blind lead the blind they will both fall into the ditch Thus having laboured to manifest the truth of Christ to those that know it not and to vindicate the truth against those that do speak evil of it and the professors of the same I having also laboured to make the folly and wickedness of deceivers who transform themselves into Ministers of righteousness manifest to all I commit my lines to the view of all both friends and enemies not doubting the favourable acceptance of the one not at all fearing the subtilty nor malice of the other but desiring the blessing of God upon my weak and unworthy labours for the good of all men I remain Yours engaged in the service of Christ Henry Haggar FINIS