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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A87687	Baptism without bason. Or, Plain Scripture-proof against infant-baptism, I. By way of answer to Mr. Baxter's arguments, and to the exercitations of Mr. Sidenham, teacher to a church a[t] Newcastle, concerning infants baptism: for which that their pretended consequences are from concessions not to be granted, and from Scriptures as mistaken, and absolutely wrested, is clearly discovered. With II. Several questions and answers, positively holding out the minde of Christ in baptizing of believers onely; and that the magistrates may be induced more and more to encourage the preaching thereof in publike. III. A declaration written to the election of grace, who for want of information are of contrary judgment. Written by William Kaye, minister of the Gospel at Stokesley.	Kaye, William.	1653 (1653)	Wing K32; Thomason E715_13; ESTC R207264	49,935	54

may not unbelievers like Simon Magus come to be baptized Answ Yes a garden may have weeds and ‖ Mat. 13. tares may be sown with the good seed yet as the Church is to † 1 Cor. 6.2 3 4. judge of her members to receive them into communion so hath the Church power to exclude them also out of her communion Quest What is the way of the administration of baptism Answ The Christian disciple that is to be baptized must * Luk. 3.21 Mat. 3.15 Christ-like upon the profession of faith and obedience descend to be ‖ Rom. 6.4 covered or buried in water † Act. 12.16 comp with Luk. 3.21 calling upon the Name of the Lord being baptized in the Name of the Father Son and holy Ghost which being done those Christians which are baptized are as brethren to be received by the * Act. 9 26 Church by the ‖ Gal. 3.9 right hand of fellowship Quest 14. But may not sprinkling of water suffice in baptism Answ No there can be no baptism in sprinkling or partial dipping for in sprinkling the right use of water is as much perverted as when † 1 Sam. 15.15 Saul spared part of the sheep though he intended them for Gods service And besides in the * Rom. 6.4 burying of the whole body in water the mystery of being buried with Christ unto his death and the raising out of the water to be conformable to the resurrection of Christ is not onely revealed but in the baptized humbling of themselves prostrated Abraham like before God in the lowest element there is a submission to the acknowledgement of the profession of Christ in the Gospel which cannot be done or demonstrated in sprinkling which neither sense reason Scripture nor any Author profane or divine can judge to be baptism Quest 15. Whether is it not then a sin to baptize Infants Answ That we may judge no man but by visible appearance it 's without controversie that they which baptize the children of all the Parish or other mens Parishes without exception sin against the light of their own pretended consequences Quest 16. But may not God accept of the good meaning and intention of man though the rule or command be not altogether observed Answ In the sprinkling of an Infant there is nothing at all either in the taught disciple that ought to be baptized or of the use of water in baptism And therefore intend or imagine what we please the Ordinance is so totally perverted that after information I do not know how the Lord can be said to ‖ Acts 17.30 wink at such ignorance Quest 17. Whether is the childe damned if it die unbaptized Answ It is not in man to judge that any childe that dieth is either saved or damned † Deut. 29.29 secret things belong unto God and if in Gods election it be saved want of baptism cannot hinder nor the pretended enjoyment thereof alter the decree of Gods Predestination Quest 18. But may not consequences be admitted to prove Infants baptism Answ In such a case as this of Baptism where there is as Quest 5 6 7. hath been proved an express command and example to the contrary Consequences cannot be admitted of lest we should * Rom. 9.20 reason against God and resist his commandment Quest 19. Wherein do we resist or reason against the command of Christ in Infant-sprinkling Answ In baptizing of an Infant when we are commanded to baptize a taught disciple 1. We bring the wisdom of Christ in question as though he should forget to except against a childe by name having in the taught disciple already excepted against both the ignorant and infants as in wisdom God in onely commanding the male to be circumcised the female though not otherwise excepted against was expresly excluded Again when Christ saith Baptize a taught disciple for us by consequence to interpret this command to belong to sucking children is to make Christ guilty of an implicite contradiction or to deny confound gainsay or confute himself as to say A wise fool Therefore no Consequences whereby we would uphold Infant-sprinkling ought in contradiction to Christs command be at all pretended but as Christians in this Ordinance of baptism we must have the faith of Abraham or believe according to the example of Abraham to submit to Christs express * Mat. 28.19 Mark 16.15 Mat. 3.15 command as hath been declared without any reasoning to the contrary Quest 20. Why do men then usually for the most part rage against the baptizing of believers onely seeing it is according to the express command and example of Christ and his Apostles Answ Because the election of grace before through powerful information they have the means of seeing oppose the Truth of which they are ignorant 2. The world which is the multitude of unbelievers neither will nor can acknowledge to receive any * Joh. 17. truth which doth sanctifie but as it is commanded by Law or acknowledged by custom 3. The baptism of believers onely is such a strict way or profession of godliness that the generality do rage against it so that the Papists and most licentious cannot endure to profess it Quest 21. But may not the Magistrate stint or limit the publike Preachers to observe an Uniformity and suppress this doctrine of Baptism as being against the tradition and present practice of the Church of England Answ All formerly-received Doctrinal Truths and Traditions of the Churches ought not as a Foundation which is Christ in his Word be so peremptorily and forcibly enjoyned as that the authority and truth thereof may not be questioned or upon a true and full discovery thereof be altered or reformed seeing to limit and force publike Uniformity so that none may buy or sell without that mark was and is the designe of Antichrist whereby he tyrannized over the Saints and their most glorious lights were put under a bushel Therefore all private and publike Preachers c. are to be * 2 Thes 3.14 2 Cor. 10.14 limited onely to the Word of God and not otherwise And therefore if the Lord shall be pleased to reveal himself to any publike Teacher more and more to pull off the veil from off the Word and to bless his endeavours in calling the Election of grace out of Babylon this work of grace as it shall appear in any Parish is to be owned and encouraged provided that the Word be not so wrested or pretended to be interpreted as may deny the Fundamental Truth which Christ after his resurrection did immediately command to be preached to all Nations that is to say to teach and baptize them in the Name of the Father Son and holy Ghost and to observe all things whatsoever he hath commanded with belief of his * Mat. 2● 19 20. presence to this way and faithfulness to make good all other his promises the inheritance and priviledges of all faithful Christians Quest 22. But may it

BAPTISM Without BASON OR Plain Scripture-proof AGAINST INFANT-BAPTISM I. By way of Answer to Mr. BAXTER's Arguments and to the Exercitations of Mr. SIDENHAM Teacher to a Church a Newcastle concerning Infants Baptism for which that their pretended Consequences are from Concessions not to be granted and from Scriptures as mistaken and absolutely wrested is clearly discovered With II. Several Questions and Answers positively holding out the minde of Christ in Baptizing of Believers onely and that the MAGISTRATES may be induced more and more to encourage the preaching thereof in publike III. A DECLARATION written to the Election of grace who for want of information are of contrary judgment Written by William Kaye Minister of the Gospel at Stokesley And Jesus being baptized and praying Luke 3.15 And the eunuch said See here is water what doth hinder me to be baptized And Philip said If thou believest with all thine heart thou mayest And they went both down into the water both Philip and the eunuch and he baptized him Acts 8 36 37. Read and then judge withhold not the truth in unrighteousness Rom. 1.18 London Printed by Ja. Courel for Rich. Moon at the seven stars in Paul's Church-yard neer the great North-door 1653. To all the brethren of the MINISTERY within the Election of Grace which unfeignedly desire to preach Christ and baptize in his Name in Truth and Sincerity Truth and Peace be multiplied IT 's very well known that though the stumbling-block which some have cast in the way of Gods people occasioned through the falling away of some stars from the heaven or fellowship of the Churches is now so gloriously removed that divers Saints are return'd to their first love and those that like Caleb and Joshua the faithful Churches which never backslided have kept their garments of Gospel-profession adorned with such meekness truth and moderation so that they cannot shut out Christ as though no Prophet could come out of Nazareth And now though they may look home and see some of their own plants so baptized into one body 1 Cor. 12.14 and kept in such union with Christ the Head and his Body his Churches as not to walk a step without a step of their forerunner going before them 1 Pet. 2.21 Heb. 9.20 And that their consequences also will not uphold Pedo-baptism though they should be granted them being like the Old Covenant on which they are grounded waxen old as ready to vanish away Yet for all this you know that all the Election of grace excepted must needs ve●i●e the Proverb Can the leopard change his spots Jer. 1● 23 And therefore they are so blinde and cannot see deaf and cannot hear and are so set on the lees of obstinate Resolution that they Hate to be Reformed until their fleshly confidence which they had in the Service-book the Treasure of some mens knowledge and to which they stick be crucified with an Order to the contrary Therefore it is to no more purpose to speak to such then to few a piece of New cloth upon an Old garment It 's to you therefore ye successors of the noble Bereans that will search the Scriptures and try the spirit whether it be of God or no 1 Joh. 4 1 ye that prefer Conscience before Custom and preach unto the people Come out of Babylon it 's you that God hath stirred me up to perswade and Oh that you may be perswaded to lay to heart and to consider That in the business of Infant-sprinkling you do not onely contradict your own pretended ●ight Sprinkling is not Baptizing for Sprinkling is not so much Baptism as the Picture is the man it representeth though we should pretend as we have been taught that the childe should by its G fathers and G mothers believe all the Articles of the Christian faith But for you to sprinkle as some of you pretend onely the children of believers and yet to sprinkle the children of all your Parishioners c. doth declare that you have not either preached the Gospel within your Parishes Christ truly preached makes Parishes to be divided c. or that it hath not been powerfully received for the true preaching of Christ will separate your people to be called out of the world to be gathered into the fellowship of the Church of Christ Therefore as there is any love to Christs name let us not I beseech you withhold though it were the tenure of all our estates the truth in unrighteousness Rom. 1.18 For tell me I pray ought we to walk by the Glo-worm-light of Consequences or sparkles of our own kindling Isa 50 11 though the world be confederate and comply with you to uphold that darkness against the known light or command and example of the Word of God to the contrary Or shall we exclude Bishops Government and Service-Book and by consequences contend for Infant-Baptism the greatest obstacle to the reforming gathering and planting of Churches within your Parishes Churches to be gathered within Parishes that can be for if we would not content our se●ve● rather with he fleece then the flo●k if we w●re acquainted with the mysteries of the Kingdom of heaven we might clearly see That as Bishops Government was useful to hold on a light of Profession to such as were altogether in ●he darkness of Romish Babylon and as the Presb●terial Wa● is useful to reform Episcopacie Episcopacy Presbytery and Independency compared in respect of Go●ernment Traditions and Ceremonies as Independency reforms Presbytery in the point of gathering of Church-members and all of them as David ●i● for the Temple make preparations for the most glorious Apostolical Government so that out of all the materials of Truth therein discovered ●he golden Candle●●ick of Christian profession may be molde● to vanish out the smoke out of the Temple Let us but then abolish Infant-Baptism out of the Church and the work of Unity Truth The abolishing of Infant-sprinkling in the union of all Churches and Peace will be fully compleated For let Presbyterians gather what they can if they gather in Christs way to make none of their Church but such as they baptize upon the profession of faith as believers And if the Independents gather none into their Church but such as believe and are then baptized then they shall all be united and centred upon one the same foundation of Christianity in their observation of the Gospel-Ordinance of Baptism with baptized Churches commonly though unjustly called Anabaptists so that as Christ in his wisdom foresees but one way to baptize all nations so this is the only way to make all Churches out of all nations to be one in the profession of faith and obedience It 's no marvel then if Antichrist stand so violently for Pedo-baptism for as all darkness came in with it so all light shall shine as this darkness shall vanish away in the administration of bapti●ing and governing of the Church of believers And therefore though when darkness began

to appear after the times of the Apostles the brass and copper of Infant-baptism being double gilt over with glistering pretences passed like Bishops government and other traditions for currant Coyn yet this being the time when every plant which our heavenly Father hath not planted shall be rooted up whereby the Saints may be restored to the primitive profession of the Churches in the time of the Apostles Therefore the double-gilded consequences which are or shall be produced to make an Infant a baptized disciple can expect no better entertainment then Toittis the gray fryer found in Scotland Book of Martyrs p. 1451. Hen. 8. who endeavoured by consequences to prove that the Pater-noster might be said to the Saints which though he did gloss over pretending in that we called aged men father and that the Saints are in heaven that therefore we may say Our Father which art in heaven and because their names are holy we might say Hallowed be their names c. But for all his wit the time of light being come the Popish Church was upon this absolutely divided and the Fryer was much derided for his pains The Lord make us seers and followers of his Truth which as soon as the Lord was pleased fully to reveal unto me I was constrained to bear witness of it as I was formerly acted to bear witness to the Truth in the time of Innovations when too many were serving at the Altar by which said power I was stirred up to declare at the first I do not say the first that declared for Reformation And now I am also constrained to use this plainness of speaking think of me as you please wherein I beseech you to consider See a Book intituled the church Register that Mr. Spering and Mr. Barrow c. could not enjoy this liberty to gather Churches as we may do This is our day shall we not see it or shall we be dead-hearted sullen or not willing to go about our Fathers business except we were countenanced or backed out with common approbation by which we may be thought rather to be driven to our work then to be that people that shall be willing in the day of his power to worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness Seed of Martyrs Psal 110.4 Alas consider may not our hearts bleed to see that that seed which our Martyrs did sow with their blood which did but then peep out with the head is now white already unto harvest and much of it almost lost for gathering into Church-fellowship We must not now think to feed all the flock with the pap-milk of ordinary principles nor will Traditions or Consequences which shall contradict the command and example of Christ and his Apostles as a strange voice be possibly heard any longer As we are therefore heirs apparent to all the light which hath shined and have been spectators in the time of judgement of the Lords overturning both of Church and State because his fore-prophesied time is now fulfilled New heaven New Earth to have a New heaven or a reformed Church according to the very example of Christ and his Apostles and a New Earth or a people through opposing the old earth or world are reformed from Popery See Mr. Brightm Exposit on 21 chap. of Revel in part discovering it and affecting civil righteousness which I am able though I have not here time to make fully appear without Allegorizing of the Scripture Let then all that are Saints in that the Lord is risen start fair and see who can first run to the Sepulchre let us see who will approve themselves * Aurum igne probalum is est cujus fides rebus adversis splendet 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 tryed gold in the fire that patronize not a partial but a perfected inward and outward Reformation that as wax and seal so our faith obedience may be found indeed agreable to the doctrine and example of Christ and his Apostles The Lord ravish your hearts with the love of this Truth and remove all prejudice until you have read and so may judge whether I have fully and truely as far as I have undertaken answered these two men of parts whose faces I never saw and against whom I bless God I have not the least prejudice or acrimony nor do desire to put their light under a bushel as far as it appeareth to be light unto me but onely as I have been much provoked desired and partly chalenged I have used that liberty which Mr. S. hath done with Mr. T. c. And therefore I desire you my dear friends to commune with your own hearts and see upon examination on both sides what ground you have for Infant-baptism And until the Lord in mercy open your eyes despise not the counsel of Doctor Gamaliel to let this alone for if this be of God But I have my check for there is not an If in this business Christ-like to go about our Fathers business No difference with the Churches of Saints but in Infant-sprinkling in submitting to the Gospel-Ordinance of Baptism for I hope as soon as Truth shall be heard to speak prejudice being removed and the moderation of gathered Churches and their full compliance with all the Saints except in the unwarranted tradition of sprinkling being made to appear the Election of grace and further we cannot expect will receive satisfaction to submit to this so much despised Ordinance of the Lord Jesus To conclude therefore Jesus Christ could not in wisdome have excluded children by name more then in commanding to baptize believers onely concerning this great matter in controversie which fills the ears of the whole Country with the report and is so much scandalized belyed and opposed by the profane and ignorant this I have to hint unto you That if Jesus Christ himself should come again and were to reveal himself concerning the baptizing of believers onely he could not in wisdom exclude children by nome they being already excluded by Christ in commanding to baptize a taught disciple for without mentioning of the female in commanding the male to be circumcised the female was expresly prohibited For it is I say against the wisdom of Christ to command to baptize those that are caught and thereby are discipled and then to say But baptize not an Infant seeing in wisdom all men know that a childe cannot be taught or profess the faith of the Gospel And besides God hath made man judge of Baptism not to proceed as he pleaseth but according to the express Rule and Commission which God hath appointed him And therefore it is not in man in favour to the world and in opposition to the Saints of the most High to raise Consequences Allegations and Reasonings to interpret and wrest the express commission and command of Christ to the contrary but Man if he will be faithful to his Commission without gainsaying he must baptize none but those that are taught And

stand with the honour of the Magistrate to countenance the professors of this doctrine Answ In that for divers yeers we have experienced that the Lord is * Isai 1.26 fulfilling of his prophecie to send Magistrates to take away the dross and tin and to restore the * Dan. 7.25 dominion of the Saints in the enjoyment of their Laws and Languages which were taken from them by the fourth Beast or last Monarchy Rev. 17.1 14. and that they are the Lamb's souldiers that shall pour out the seventh Vial that as former Monarchs brought in smoak or darkness into the Temple so Gospel-Magistrates by their approbation of publike shining lights shall be glorious instruments to restore again the light into the Temple or publike Meeting-place for Gods Worship And in that the Magistrates have also according to their duty so far opposed visibly appearing * 1 Tim. 1.9 unsound doctrine having put their hand to Gods Plough in cutting down the Episcopal tree and in abolishing the Service book it must needs be then their honour crown and glory so to finish the good work begun so that Parochial sprinkling the root of the Episcopal tree having its life and moisture in the old Service-book which is abolished may not in this great light of the Gospel be replanted or so suffered to take root again so as to shoot out more wilde olive-branches or sons of opposition under which the most ignorant and Popish party are still nourished or so to favour it as not to suffer the Gospel-Ordinance to grow beside it Quest 23. But is it consisting with the peace of this Nation so many opposing and being disaffected to this doctrine for the Magistrate to tolerate it in publike Answ As no Ordinances the fruits of faith are to be forced so there is little appearance of God in them or they are not at all considerable that being not forced to this doctrine become the troubled sea to be offended with such Saints that receive this Gospel-Truth that is preached unto them and that the peace by any such shall be disturbed or broken the Lord which hath so promised his presence hath so blessed these and other Saints in procuring the peace of this Nation that the Saints of Gathered Churches are ready to sacrifice their lives to maintain the peace of the Nation under the present Government And therefore the Magistrate may expect in the promised presence of Christ to this Way really submitted unto the blessing of God unto themselves and the establishing of the Peace and Righteousness of the Nation A Declaration to the Election of Grace who for want of information are either ignorant of or enemies unto the Gospel-Ordinance of Baptizing of BELIEVERS onely Dearly beloved in the Lord WHen the falling away from the faith which was foretold by the * ● Thes 2. Apostle was fulfilled the man of sin as it is said or popish Antichrist did not onely sit in the temple of God opposing himself above all that is called God or is worshipped but as foretold he brought the smoak of ignorance strong delusions into the Temple and though he pretends infallibility yet Satan like that abode not in the truth he cannot receiv the love of the truth And therfore the Master-peice or great design of the man of sin was and yet is to endeavor by lying wonders all deceivableness to corrupt all the Ordinances or commands of Christ and his Apostles The Pope or Antichrist did corrupt all the Ordinances but especially Baptism And therefore though Antichrist had a great designe against fasting which he hath perverted and corrupted in respect of set daies and ordering a white meal or to eat and drink when they fast as prayer by him is also corrupted and perverted in the Popish use of ungodly forms pictures and invocation of Saints and Angels singing with an unknown voice as he hath also made the Lords day of no effect by sporting and playing and the observation of holy daies and though he hath blasphemed the doctrine and deprived the people of the cup of the Lord in the Ordinance of the Lords Supper and hath totally perverted the gathering and government of the Churches of Christ as far as his persecuting power extendeth yet in all these he hath no such malicious designe as in the perverting of the Gospel-Ordinance of baptizing of believers onely And yet behold the power of God how by weak and contemptible means the Son of God is manifest that he might destroy the works of the Devil in that though Infants sprinkling past the muster of a notable outward reformation and was almost endenized into the profession of some Saints and that great Champions threw down the Gantlet of Arguments to fight with the Weapons of consequences traditions to defend the same yet behold the Lord makes the flock or common people to see the truth when almost all publick teachers were overvailed and could not burst thorow the cloud of delusion until at last the Lord saw his time to trouble thereby make the discovery of his light unto the publick Ministry by calling some of them to trim up their lamps that they may shine in the discovery of the mind of Christ in baptizing of beleivers onely Do not then question why not before now you are called to witness your profession the Kingdom of Heaven is not got by observation What are we that we should withstand God or hate to be reformed Arise why sleep ye the light shineth the Bridegroom calleth search the Scriptures and try whether it be of God or no. Do not overlook Christ in the Manger the Star shines let us with the wise men worship and present our selves unto him unto whom it doth direct us What is the Egypt Reed of humane Tradition or obstinate resolution that you should rely upon or do you fear to be put out of the Synagogue Is not the Rigteous as bold as a Lion Great indeed is Diana of the Ephesians great is the power of the Prince of darkness but greater is the truth of God and his light which is able to dispel the darkness both of Pope and people Did not the truth alwaies when it was revealed and think you it shall not now as well as ever if God intend mercy to England c. marvailously prevail Did not the Doctrine of Baptism cause the Pharisees and people yea the whole election of grace to follow John into the Wilderness And did not those that were bewitched with Simons Sorceries when they beleived Philip concerning the Kingdom of Heaven and the Lord Jesus become baptized both men and women Shall not then if Christ be fully preached indeed overturn overturn your parochiall legal worldly union and gather the election of grace out of every parish to be members of the church of Christ your Saviour You know or may come to experience the truth thereof that his people shall be willing in the day of his power his

sheep shall hear his voice but that strange voice of baptizing Infants never spoken of in the Scripture shall they not hear Come let us reason the case can Pedobaptism be a plant that our Heavenly Father hath planted that spreads forth its luxurious branches and makes a shadow for the world to rest themselves under in the Cradle of security Baptized disciples falsly slandered Close not your eyes nor shut your ears against the revelation of truth though common fame would afright you as some did the Israelites to obstruct their marching into Canaan telling them that there were great Zamzummims there and therefore if you will believe them they will tell you what monstrous people the Anabaptists are if you look that way you shall lose your selves in the midst of darkness and delusions they will draw you away from all Scriptures and Ordinances but try before you trust and search into their profession and you shall see the contrary that there was ever any way of God but it was ever evill spoken of Did they not say of John the baptist that he had a Devil The way of God ever evil spoken of Did not the world cast spots of reproaches in our Masters face who was without sinne or any spot or wrinkle If they do these things to the green Tree what will they do to the dry Were not the old professors shortly after the times of the Apostles in that they called one another Brother and Sister accused of incest and fornication and when they were forced to forsake the world and went into caves did not the Troubled Sea the Sons of Belial cast mire and dirt into their faces saying That they laid lurking there to rob and spoil those that passed by Just Mart. Apol. so that Justin Martyr was forced to make an Apology for their justification And thus Luther and Martin Bucer c. were slandered with them by reproaches and yet they were no more troubled Ex Guibert Genebrard then Luther was with the Popes Bull of which he said O Bulla vere Bullarum filia Be not then discouraged you know this is an evidence of their condemnation but of your salvation It s enough to give an account of faith and that in the name of God to assure you that there is nothing to be owned but Christ and his Commandments whereby he is our Saviour and hath made himself an example for us to imitate him in all things Miracles excepted But alas all the pretences and consequences that the most learned can produce cannot make the delusion of sprinkling children to be baptism God that never lyed did never require an action to be done against sence and reason nor can representations or intentions alter an express command to the contrary Were it enough think you if any of you bid should your servant give a cup of water to a thristy soul were it enough for that servant to put his hand into the cup and sprinkle the man in the face with two or three drops of water were this to obey his Masters command I trow not and yet no more is done in sprinkling of children in answering the Comand of Christ in Baptism And though this might be reformed and that you might say with the Eunuch Lo here is water what letteth that the Child may not be baptized To this the same answer must be returned that Philip made to the Eunuch If the Child can beleive with all its heart it may but let the Child alone though it may be pretended to be the Child of a believer We know or may know that believers themselves Rebaptization Acts 19.1 2 3 4 In the case of ignorance of the fundamental truth or of the commission for Baptism which were really and fully baptized because they were at that time ignorant of the holy Ghost were upon that account all the fundamentals being not revealed without which baptism cannot be warrantable rebaptized when we were sprinkled great darkness in comparison of the light of Gospel-reformation that now shineth was then as a cloud over-veiling the Word What hole can cavill find to seek evasion unless we say we are not believers Is it not then the duty of Disciples to imitate their Lord and Master who in submitting to this glorious Gospel-Ordinance made himself our example in which he was said to fulfill all righteousness This is the way to humble a soul to give satisfaction of the profession of Faith and the testimony of a good conscience to this the presence of Christ our peace light and life and protection is promised Tindal's wick●d Mommon fol. 25. That you intend no evill is easily to be believed But as Tindall the blessed Martyr said That though Peter of a good minde or intention would perswade Christ not to have suffered yet Christ for all that called him Satan It s one thing to have a good intention and another to do of knowledge God saith he hath made a testament between him and us wherein is contained both what he would have us to do and what he would have us to ask of him see therefore thou do nothing to please God withall but what he commandeth And that they might be good and Godly men and Martyrs that were never more then sprinkled Ten Martyrs in Eng. Hen. 8. anno 1553. it may be granted but then it was the time that the smoak was in the Temple Martyrs have suffered for the profession of the baptizing of believers only but never any Martyrs have suffered in the defence of Infant pretended baptism If we would look on humane example It not for us to say as those obstinate unbelievers that the Maryr Stephen reproved who said As our Fathers did so will we do Can there be any more precious in our eyes then to be led by the example of Christ and his Apostles If you be not of the election of grace if you would you ought not to be baptized And if God have elected us and we live under the means our hearts and judgements shall be changed we shall be the people that shall be made willing in the day of Christs power whether you will or no. Cease then poor souls be humble and patient and wait till you see that God will do with you shoot not your bolt to wound your Saviour through the sides of his despised Members Be ye the Disciples of Doctor Gamaliel untill Christ make you his It was the Pharisees and Lawyers that rejected the counsell of God against themselves and would not be baptized Luk. 7.30 but the election of grace must needs submit As they are under the means of information they have a promise to be effectually called they cannot close their eyes All the election of grace as they shall be under the means shall profess Baptism as the means of seeing is revealed unto them and if they have light already and yet see not in something that is newly discovered then they are like a man in a dark Dungeon that seeth as soon as the window or interpretation of the Scripture is opened unto them But no light no means can make a blind man see whom God will not call though the heavenly Lamp were never so resplendent And though a naturall man shine as a Star in the Church yet shall the taile of the Beast cast him down from the new Heaven or the Church into his proper place or earthly Element he cannot finish his course he cannot like his tempter abide in the truth he cannot receive the love of the truth that he might be saved But on the contrary Joh. 4.44 2 Thess 2.10 all the election of grace they cannot though with Paul they have commission to persecute the Saints nay though they have renounced the truth as divers * Archbish C. Io. Bayaham Lawyer Martyrs did rest till at length they return to their first love and to the profession of the Gospel from whence they are fallen Let us then content our selves if our Master be pleased to call but a few to serve him if we be in the number of that few that are called Let the election then wait on the means and see what God will do or dispose of them and not trouble themselves like Zobedee's Mother to desire that for her Children that cannot be granted her To conclude therefore either to stop the mouths of opposers or to open the heart as the Lord is pleased if at this time you will hear his voice that hath commanded to baptize believers if reason may be heard or true information may not be despised you may see in the confession or practices of contrary judgements as much as may raze down the foundation of Infant pretended baptism Artic. 27. Church of England in that it is acknowledged that there is no express tearms in the Scripture for Pedobaptism and that by experience it may be sufficiently evidenced in our hearts and consciences as is made visible that such inevitable evils follow Infants sprinkling as that it brings all the World into the Church which should be called out of the World and is the onely obstacle or cause of the division of all gathered Churches they differing nothing but in Infant sprinkling in which the Church of Rome or rather the World forced into order is in present practise and from which all the Churches of Christ ought to be totally separated or effectually called out of Babylon the very consequences by which Infants-sprinkling a meer delusion and prevarication to the command of Christ as mens inventions being altogether groundless and unwarrantable and though proved are of no force or validity to contradict the express command or example of Christ and his Apostles to the contrary Let then all real zealous sincere converted Christians hear Christs voice who hath commanded to teach and baptize all Nations and let them with all their old fellow-servants desire to imitate Christ their Master who was baptized to make himself an example to fulfill all righteousness And let us not think that his arm is shortened that he cannot help or that he is not faithfull who in this Gospel-Ordinance hath promised his presence in which all the Saints have found and ever unto the end of the World shall most surely find their onely protection comfort peace and glory FINIS