Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	church_n	faith_n	tradition_n	1,984	5	9.0083	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A49808	Baptismalogia, or, A treatise concerning baptisms whereto is added a discourse concerning the supper, bread and vvine, called also, communion / by Thomas Lawson.	Lawson, Thomas, 1630-1691.	1678 (1678)	Wing L723; ESTC R36244	71,361	108

and Drinks and divers Baptisms that is Washings it had a temporary Seal to wit Circumcision Rom. 4.11 but the New Covenant Christ Jesus the great Promise of the Father hath a spiritual yea an eternal Seal this is my positive Affirmation in this case that the Old Covenant standing in outward things had an outward Seal but the new Covenant the Promise of the Father hath a spiritual Seal Paul a Witness of Christ the new covenant the great Promise of the Father in writing to the Saints at Ephesus he testified on their behalf saying After that ye believed ye were scaled with the holy Spirit of Promise Ephes 1.13 He calls the Spirit the Seal of the New Covenant Christ the Promise of the Father not Baptism not Rantism dipping or sprinkling Further he exhorted them in these words Grieve not the holy Spirit whereby ye are sealed to the Day of Redemption Ephes 4.30 He preaches up the Spirit to be the Evangelical Seal of the New Covenant the Promise of the Father so who preach up Water-baptism to be the Seal they oppose the Apostles Testimony deny the Lord's Privy and Royal Seal and introduce another of mans making the sealed are the Lord 's Excellent Ones his Worthies And as for that Scripture Acts 2.39 The Promise is unto you and to your Children unto all that are afar off even as many as the Lord shall call This makes nothing for Water-baptism or Rantism to be the Evangelicall Seal Peter told the House of Israel that the Promise was to them to their Children yea to all the called of the Lord. Outward Water was not the Promise which they were to wait for but a thing of a more Heavenly Nature Christ told the Jews John 8.39 If ye were Abraham 's Children ye would do the works of Abraham so that such were the Children of Abraham and had right to the Promise who were found doing the Works of Abraham yea and the Apostle told the Galatians that they which were of Faith were the Children of Abraham Gal. 3.7 such Children as these have right to the Promise and know the Seal thereof IV. Obj. Infants-baptism is an ancient Custom so to be continued in the Church Answ The antiquity of a humane Tradition proves it not to be of divine Institution the spreading or over-spreading of Leprosie proves it not to be Soundness the Entrance of true Reformation thrusts out humane Inventions old as well as new what Christ received of his Father that he taught his Disciples Apostles what the Apostles received from Christ the treasury of Wisdom and Knowledge that they taught to and in the Churches and the same was to be committed and commended to faithful men in the Faith the Tongue of the Learned was their All to them and in them and in this Faith that Tongue was kept silent which afterward brought the Darkness into the Church in the Eye of divine Illumination we see to before August in was or Cyprian was or Pope Innocent the third was who as 't is said first established Infants-baptism by ratifying the Canon of the Milevitan Council by this Eye we see and feel to the Primitive Order before the Apostacy was Christ the Apostles and primitive Church in the Beauty of Heavenly Virginity taught no such thing as dipping or spriekling of Infants and in the Faith the primitive Order is to be pressed after contended for the Smoak of the Pit Inventions Traditions and Idolatious Customs inconsistent with the living Life-giving Truth are to be warred against Id verum quod prius prius quod ab initio ab initio quod ab Apostolis Tertul. contra Marcion lib. 4. That is Truth that was first that was first which was from the beginning which was from the beginning which was from the Apostles what the Apostles preached that they received from Christ who is Alpha and Omega the First and the Last the Beginning and the End glorified with the Father before the Foundation of the World Augustine Bishop of Hippo testified saying Custom is not to be preferred before Truth but ought to give place to the Truth but who plead for Infants-baptism or Rantism they would keep Custom in the Throne and exclude Truth Cyprian Bishop of Carthage bare Testimony saying Custom crept in among some people ought not to hinder Truths prevailing and overcoming for Custom without Truth is nothing but ancient Error wherefore forsaking Error let us pursue the Truth These two said well though true it is as their Writings evidently demonstrate they were guilty of mingling their traditions inventions and imaginations with the Doctrine of Christ and of the Apostles V. Obj. 'T is said Except a man be born of Water and of the Spirit he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God John 3.5 deth not this perpetuate Infants-baptism Answ Christ gave no command for Infants-baptism neither did the Apostles practise any such thing whoever alledge this or any other Scripture for it they use the Scriptures as Torturers who putting innocent men upon the Rack so force them to speak that which they never thought such are these who wrest the Scriptures to draw a sense out of them which the holy Spirit never intended so tortures and perverts them as to make them speak for maintaining those things which were not commanded nor spoken of in those dayes wherein the Scriptures were given forth After the Apostles dayes Satan made an Encroachment upon the Garden of the Lord Earthly Exaltations of Darkness fumed into the Professors of Christianity then their Judgment became carnal and being not able to savour divine things they wrested those Scriptures which spoke of the Water of Life and applyed them to outward Water ascribing inward Washing and Regeneration thereto whenas indeed external Water can contribute nothing thereunto in this place Christ preached unto Nicodemus the Necessity of Regeneration and informed him how it was brought forth not by outward Water which can reach no further then outward things but by a Water able to renew a man to make him a New Holy and Heavenly Creature to dissolve the rotten and loathsom Fabrick of unrenewed untransformed man where Belial is King and to erect a Building in Righteousness and true Holiness where Christ is Monarch sole Lord. Other Scriptures give witness to this as John 4.10 Christ said to the Woman of Samaria If thou knew the Gift of God c. thou wouldst have asked of him and he would have given this living Water Mark here is a Living Water a Life-giving Water effecting a living Work and this all the Re-born know Further saith Christ Vers 14. The Water that I shall give him shall be in him a Well of Water springing up unto Everlasting Life And John 7.38 39. He that believeth on we out of his belly shall flow Revers of living Water which Believers in him should receive there is a living Water producing a Work of Wonder in the Bodies of men making all things new this fulfils inwardly

baptized put on White Garments Of the Chrisom Of old the Custom was when the Earthly Mind turned to Earthly Rudiments and Elements to baptize none till at years of Discretion and the Baptized for certain dayes put on a white Garment in Imitation hereof when Infants are now baptized they have on their Heads a White Cloth called a Chrisom why called a Chrisom because a white Cloth at the first Institution of it was put upon a Childs Head newly anointed with Chrisom a hallowed Oyntment among Papists after Baptism so from this Oyntment this Chrisom the White Cloth as 't is said was called Chrisom now 't is taken for the White Cloth put upon a Child newly christned as 't is called in token of its Baptism and it s usually brought to the Church so called at the day of Churching the Woman and pinned behind her Head and in many places it is bestowed upon the Priest and in some places Money instead thereof Thus the In-dwellings of Truth being lost and turned from after the primitive times ceremonies inventions customs human traditions as Sprinkling of Infants Godfathers Godmothers Goss●ps Gommothers Chrisom Chrisoms Sign of the Cross c. sprung up among the Professors of Christianity as Weeds in untilled Grounds yet to gain acceptance they are stiled by many Commands of Christ or at the least Apostolical Traditions Now after Rantism that is sprinkling of Infants was received into the Churches as a Doctrine meet to be observed and also Supream Authorities and Church-Liturgies in divers Countries commending and commanding it hence the Clergy so called judged themselves concerned to propogate and defend the same it being that Nonconformity is not the Way to Preferment yet in divers Ages several who had Glimpses of Heavenly Light in them questioned Infants-baptism yea and esteemed it as Counterfeit Coyn as such may see who trace the steps of Ecclesiastical Writers some of whose Testimonies I shall mention Tertullian as 't is said opposed some Introducers of Infants-baptism saying That Confession of Sins Faith Repentance and Renouncing of the Devil was required of the Baptized which Infants are not capable of Tertull. de baptismo Walafridus Strab● who lived about the year 840. in his Book of Church Affairs chap. 26. said to this purpose That in the early Ages of the Church Baptism was administred on the Adul● only When the Substance say I was turned from then they re-assumed the Shadows But afterwards saith he Christians understanding Original Sin and left their Children should perish without any Means of Grace they began to baptize them by the Decree of the Council of Africa and then Godfathers and Godmothers were invented This I say is carnal Reasoning and charging the Apostles of Christ as not understanding Original Sin or as denying Means of Grace to Children but I say such as reason thus they reject the Lord's means of Increase in Grace and entertain Inventions of men in place thereof Zuing lius speaking of Infants-baptism saith There is no plain words of Scripture where the same is commanded The Magdiburgenses in their learned History tell us That as to the baptizing of Infants they read of no Example in the Scriptures Cent. 1. Lib. 2. They also therein declare against consecrating of Water before Baptism as also against Fonts Baptisterions and against baptizing at two times in the year Easter and Whitsontide so called against Gossips or Sureties for the Adult and Infant giving of Names in Baptism Exorcisms Chrisms or Anointing Consignations that is Sign of the Cross Albs Salt Spittle giving or receiving of Gifts Confirmation of Bishoping these things were not in primitive Times but steamed in as the Smoak arose out of the Bottomless Pit Magdib-Cent 1. Lib. 2. Bellarmine de baptismo saith That in Scripture there is neither Command nor Example for Infants-baptism but he refers it to the immaginary Catalogue of Apostolical Traditions Beringarius with the Bishop Bruno in France gave publick Testimony against Infants-Baptism which Doctrine spread through France and Germany Bar. Ann. 1050. Hence they were called Beringarians and Waldenses they testified also against the Real Presence Magd. cent 11. Peter de Brusius taught against Infants-baptism Transubstantiation praying for the Dead for which Testimony he was burned to Death Bar. Ann. 1116. Arnaldus taught against Infants-baptism Transubstantiation Bar. Ann. 1116. Peter Abailardus opposed Infants-baptism so did many of the Clergy this Abailardus was burned to Ashes at Rome for his Testimony In the year 1176. a People was raised up in the Province of Albi in France who preached That Infants-baptism was not necessary to Salvation Bar. ● 310. Calvin saith expresly That Infants-baptism is not mentioned by any of the Evangelists Instit lib. 4. cap. 16. They that baptize Children saith Taylor make Baptism to be wholely an outward Duty a carnal Ordinance it makes us be satisfied with Shadows and to relinquish the Substance and Spirituality of the Gospel pag. 242. Dr. Jerom Taylor saith That the Parents of Augustin Jerom and Ambrose though Christians did not baptize their Children till aged which thing saith he is very effectual for destroying the supposed Necessity of derivation of Infants-baptism from the Apostles Lib. proph pag. 239. Luther in Postill saith Young Children hear not so if the Command be followed they are not to be baptized Erasmus in his Book of the Vnion of the Church saith It is no where expressed in the Apostolical Writings that they baptized Children Bucer upon Matthew saith That Christ no where commanded to baptize Infants Staphil●● in his Epitome saith That it is not expressed in holy Scriptures that Young Children should be baptized Chocleus saith That Jesus took a Child c. but he thinks he did not baptize it Melancton in his Treatise concerning Anabaptists saith That there is no plain Commandment in the Scriptures that Children should be baptized Daniel Rogers saith That he is Vnconvinced by Demonstration of Scripture that Infants should be baptized De bapt part 29. Baxter though much for Infants-baptism yet in pag 3. he confesses That Infants-baptism is not plainly determined in the Scriptures Dr. Taylor saith It is against the perpetual Analogy of Christs Doctrine to baptize Infants Saying further ' That Christ gave no Command for the same neither did he or his Apostles baptize any of them lib. proph pag. 239. Further he saith in pag. 237. of the same Book As there was no Command for Infants-baptism so the Necessity of it was not determined in the Church till the Canon made by the Milevitan Council a Provincial in Affrica Some I grant saith he used it before this time in Affrica having good Thoughts of it yet none of them pretended it to be necessary nor a Gospel Precept and for every Ordinance the Institution is to be eyed and neither to be stretched under nor drawn narrower then the Lord hath made it I have read of a great Papist in London who going to a Dispute about Infants-baptism told his Friend He

what Water elementary shadowed out outwardly which cools cleanses quenches the Thirst makes fruitful outwardly Piscator on this John 3.5 saith very evidently Seeing that without this Water whereof Christ spake to Nicodemus no man can attain unto eternal Life it follows that Christ spake not of Baptismal Water Lombard Vossius yea a Cloud of Witnesses have showred down Testimonies to the same purpose but if notwithstanding all this thou wilt have John 3 5. to speak of material Water then Mat. 3.11 He shall baptize you with the holy Spirit and with fire must be understood of material Fire then outward Fire must be used in Baptism which would be judged an Absurdity and a strange Doctrine Water and Fire are in these places added to shew the effectual Operation of the Spirit working that inwardly which Fire and Water represent outwardly as many have observed born of Water and of the Spirit or of Water which is the Spirit John 7.38 9. as Piscator observes so baptized with the holy Spirit and with Fire baptized with the holy Spirit which is Fire a Coal from the Lord's Altar giving light to the inward man spiritualizing him changing him into the divine Image from Glory to Glory elevates and carries the Renewed Heaven-ward purifying from the dross of Sin Polutious and Defilements uniting to the Called Faithful and Chosen separating from the World in a word who dwell in the Light of Grace these more and more receive the Spirit in which Christ's Baptism is a Coal from the Lord's Altar operating inwardly as elementary Fire outwardly Of Children in the Womb Baptized Satan the grand Adversary by Hellish Suggestions Wicked Temptations Unclean Injections by little and little after the primitive Times disjoynted and as I may fay dis-spirited many so that the pure serious Worship in Spirit and in Truth came by little and little to be departed from and a Will-Worship clouded with Ceremonies Shadows Traditions Inventions of men came to be established so that Augustin in his day taught That Children born or unborn if quickened in the Womb were Damned if they dyed without baptism hence the Necessity of baptizing Infants was concluded as before I have touched Now it being observed that many Children dyed in the Womb and according to Father Augustin's Doctrine such were damned if unbaptized the consideration of this set them to seek a Remedy for that Disease and none could be found except the Child in the Womb could be baptized but if it might then all was well in order to this concern a great Question was propounded An pueri in utero possint baptizari it a salvari that is Whether Children in the Womb could be baptized so saved yea or nay This was looked upon as a Mysterious Question and necessary to be considered and it set the most curious Wits on work and out of the Magazine of carnal Reasoning came this Conclusion If a Quickened Child in the Mothers Womb shall be in danger to dye thorough the Weakness of the Mother or of the Child or thorough hard Labour let them bless or pray for the Child and let them strengthen the Mothers Womb let them commend the Child to God with Desires to baptize it and can protest saying The Fault is not in them why that Child is not baptized the Observation of these Ceremonies upon the Child's account was judged equivalent to Baptism and the Child concluded to be saved thorough its Parents Belief Cassander de baptismo Thus after the ingress of Apostacy multitudes of Inventions were brought into the Church and to the end they might have favourable Entertainment they were stiled Decent and Doctrines of Christ or Apostolical Traditions Concerning Baptizing of the Dead Thorough the Smoak of the Apostacy after the Apostles dayes such was the Depravation of mens Understandings as that they ascribed the virtue of Renovation Regeneration and Eternal Salvation to Baptismal Water yea and not a few concluded it effectual not only for the Living but also for the Dead so that the Cataphygians and Montanists baptized the Dead Bodies of men as saith Philastrius and Georgius Ederus in his Mataeologia haereticorum There were some saith Sparke that baptized the Dead and put the Sacramental-Bread in their Mouths as their Viaticum udging it better to have such a necessary Ordinance by Proxy then altogether to go without it A Child that dyed unbaptized was taken up and Christened as 't is said and had his Fathers Name given him Magd. Cent. 7. Concerning Baptizing the Living for the Dead Thorough the Apostacy many fell into a dead Lethargy as I may say into a spiritual Sleepiness Drowsiness and Forgetfulness as Israel of old who forgot the Lord dayes without number a Custom crept in among the Marcionites and Cerinthians that when any Catechumenist dyed without Baptism that is such a one as had been instructed in the Principles of Christianity some living Person was placed under the Bed of the Deceased then the Priest came unto the Deceased Party saying Desirest thou to be baptized the Dead Man replying nothing the Party under the Bed answered for it saying I would be baptized thus they baptized him for the Dead as if they acted a Play upon a Stage Tertull. Epiphan de Cerinth haeres Goodwins Roman Jewish Antiquities Paul to the Corinthians said If the Dead rise not at all why are they then baptized for the Dead 1 Cor. 15.29 a Custom saith Piscator on this place not universal nor taken up in all Churches nor among the Corinthians is here noted A Custom saith this Piscator sprung up among the ancient Christians of being baptized at or over the Graves of the Dead of the Martyrs to testifie saith he that with Christ they were dead to sin and ready to dye for him c. But the Churches who bare about in their mortal Bodies the Dying of the Lord Jesus so came to witness his Life manifest in them they knew the Ground of Rudiments and beggarly Elements cast out the End of Shadows and Figures manifested in which they left off John's typical Baptism without and all other irrePtitious Customs and Confusions about the same Of an Annual Baptism that is of such as Baptize themselves every Year The Habbasines a kind of mongrel Christians in Affrica baptize themselves every year on the day of Epiphany so called in Lakes or Ponds thereby to keep a Memorial of Christs Baptism in Jordan which was performed on the aforesaid day as many of the Ancients conjectured Trapp on Matth. 3. Of Outward Fire used in Baptism The Apostacy prevailed with and in the Church as a Consumption upon a Mortal Body which weakens the Body by little and little causeth Leanness and turns the Body to the Dust so the Apostacy crept in by little and little the Cross of Christ being turned from Weakness followed spiritual Leanness that was lost which opens Scriptures and fulfils them in men so conceits conceivings mis-apprehensions mis-interpretations got place as from that