Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n
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A67325
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A necessary treatise for this age, or, A plain discovery of that great error of denying baptisme with water to the children of believers in justification of the arguments of John Turner, for infants basptisme, against Robert Admond : together with several other useful particulars on this subject, the contents whereof follow in the next page / briefly and plainly handled and discust by Thomas Wall.
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Wall, Thomas.
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1669
(1669)
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Wing W486; ESTC R38029
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30,254
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53
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to agree in one as the Apostle saith They that are unlearned and unstable wrest as they do also the other Scriptures unto their own destruction 2 Peter 3. 16. Now then the whole Scriptures are called the Word of God 1 Thes 2. 13. Luk. 8. 11. Yet as it hath many sentences or words as every word of God is pure Prov. 30. 5. Yet it is called the word of God because it agreeth in one harmony together as when a controversie fell out among the Church at Antioch it was ended in reconciling both Old and New Testaments together As it is written to this agreeth the words of the Prophet Acts 15. 15. And all the Apostles Doctrins agree with the Doctrins of the Prophets Rev. 21. 12. 14 19. Ephes 2. 20. Acts 26. 22. Acts 17. 11. Rom. 15. 4. Again the Apostle saith For there are three that bear record in Heaven the Father the Word and the Holy Ghost and these three are one And there are three that bear witnesse in earth the Spirit the Water and the Blood and these three agree in one 1 Joh. 5. 7. 8. Even so there are three baptisms the baptism of the Spirit Mat. 3. 11. the baptism of suffering Mark 10. 38 39. John 18. 11. and the baptism of Water Acts 10 47. Yet the Apostle saith there is but one baptism Ephes 4. 5. So that there is but one word or tearm for these three baptisms and when they be rightly understood the signification of the word baptism will agree in one so I shall begin with the first in order The signification of the word baptism is opened by the Spirit of God in the administration thereof in the spiritual baptism to be a pouring forth as saith the Prophet Vntill the spirit be poured on us from on high Esa 32. 15. Ezek. 39. 29. Joel 2. 28. which was fulfilled in Acts 2. 17. 18. and 10. 45. So that by this one Spirit the whole Church or body of Christ consisting of men women children are baptised into one body 1 Cor. 12. 13. Being an holy nation by the gift and sanctification of that holy Spirit 1 Peter 2. 9. 1 Thes 4. 8. Rom 15. 16. Heb. 11. 2. And this baptism of the Spirit is by the Spirit of God called sprinkling Ezek. 36. 25 26. Heb. 9. 14. 1 Pet. 1. 2. in the manner of Rain Psal 77. 17. Secondly There is also the Baptism of suffering Mark 10. 38 39. Col. 1 24. which the Saints or Members of Christs Body do partake of Phil. 2. 17. 2 Cor. 1. 5 6 7. As for example one suffers reproaches Heb. 13. 13. others reproaches and losse of goods Heb. 33. 34. others banishment Esa 51. 14. Rev. 1. 9. others losse of life Rev. 1â— 11. So every one according to the measure the Lord is pleased they shall be exercised with and these degrees of suffering some more and some lesse is the word Baptism signified by but shall a man say that he that suffers reproaches and not losse of goods is not partaker of Baptism of suffering or he or they that suffer losse of goods and banishment and not losse of life is he not partaker of the baptism of suffering because he doth not partake in the largest sense of the signification of the word baptism in suffering consider these things And thirdly There is also the Baptism of Water which being the same word as the two former in signification and we see the baptism of the Spirit is administred by pouring or sprinkling and also in Isa So shall he sprinkle many Nations Isa 52. 15. ye we see every one hath not a like measure of the Spirit Rom. 12. 3. but to every one is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ he gave some Apostles some Prophets some Evangelists some Pastors some Teachers Eph. 4. And he that received least received one tallent and all the baptism of the Spirit but shall a man say because he that received but one Tallent or the least gift of the Spirit that he is not partaker of the spiritual baptism because he hath not ten Tallents or the largest gift of the Spirit he would be deceived in his understanding of the true meaning of the word so as the word in the two former significations is not nor cannot be tied up to one sense according to the Scriptures nor the testimony of the Learned but signifieth more or lesse water in the administration of the baptism of water being performed in the order of God therefore it is evill to confine the word in the signification to dipping or greatest measure of the use of water unlesse the two other baptisms of the Spirit and suffering could or ought to be confined to the greatest measure of the Spirit and suffering but the learned in the Tongues as I conceive durst not confine the signification of the word Baptism to one sense as you presumptuously do but not only to dip but to wash to water and sprinkle and did very faithfully to leave it in the tearm baptize to be understood of all Gods people as his holy Spirit should direct them by context of Scripture comparing spiritual things with spiritual one Scripture unfolding another by harmony of agreement and this may be observed for a general rule of Faith that whatsoever Doctrin Collection or Observation for a truth believed out of holy Scripture by any If an absurdity will fall upon it then their supposed truth is but error as for example when some denyed the Resurrection of the Body the Apostle Paul overthrew their collection by an absurdity that justly would fall upon it in these words If the dead rise not then is not Christ risen then is our preaching vain and your faith is also vain the like 1 Cor. 15. So likewise if according to your understanding of the word Baptize that it is only to be understood of the greatest measure of washing by dipping plunging or overwhelming it will then upon it this absurdity follow that he that hath not the greatest measure of the baptism of the Spirit as the Apostles Prophets and Evangelists hath not the baptism of the Spirit then the whol Church are not baptized by one Spirit into oâ—e Body for every one had not a like measure but had diversities of gifts then there is * Contrary to 1 Cor. 3. 1. 1 Pet. 2. 2. no babes in Christ but only those that have the greatest measure of knowledge contrary to the Apostles doctrin 1 Cor. 12. 4. 7 8 9 10 11 12 13. seeing that it hath the same word for the spiritual baptism as for the water it must needs have the like sense in signification and if one may be tyed up to the largest sense only there is like reason for the other and if not the one then not the other thus my friend R. A. consider how you are deceived in your understanding of the true sense of the word Baptize and observe farther what
ones Gen. 50. 21. and it is lâ—â—ewise said David dwelt with Achish at Gath he and his men every man with his hâ—ushold 1 Sam. 27. 3. which is expounded to be their Sons and daughters 1 Sam. 30. 6. If there were no more evidence than these two Witnesses it might suffice reasonable men but all men have not faith and therefore do they muddy the water of Gods truth with their feet Ezek. 34. 18 19. but there is a pure River of water of life clear as Chrystal proceeding out of the Throne of God and of the Lamb Rev. 22. 1. to confirm the spirits of the faithful from these mens abuse of Scripture We read in Deut. 25. If two brethren dwell together and one of them dye and have no child the Wife of the dead shall not marry without unto a stranger her Husbands Brother shall go in unto her and take her to him to Wife and perform the duty of an Husbands brother unto her and it shall be that the first born which she beareth shall succeed in the name of his brother which is dead that his name be not put out of Israel ver 5 6. and in the seventh verse If the man like not to take his Brothers wife see in ver 9. then shall his Brothers wife come unto him in the presence of the Elders and loose his shoe from off his foot and spit in his face and shall answer and say So shall it be done unto that man that will not build up his Brothers house how plainly doth it appear in this place that a mans children are his house Again the Elders prayed the Lord to make Ruth like Leah and Rachel which built the house of Israel Ruth 4. 11. which were their children and again the Widdow of Zareptha's son was called her house read 1 Kings 17. 12 13 14 15. verses Again a Bishop or Pastor must be one that ruleth well his own house having his children in subiection 1 Tim. 3. 4 5. and again Jacob went down into Egypt every man and his houshould which were their children Exod. 1. and where persons had no children see what God saith promising to give children he maketh the barren woman to keep house or dwell in a house and to be a joyful mother of children Psal 113. 9. which is farther confirmed in that sense and it came to pass because the Midwives feared God he made them houses Exod. 1. 21. compared with 1 Sam. 2. 35. and the cause why Sarah gave her Maid Hagar to Abraham that she might be builded up by her Gen. 16. 2. or obtain children thus I hope no Conscience can doubt or scruple or think the contrary but that the children is the mans house or houshould and the Apostle Baptising Believers and their houshould or house did with his own hands Baptise Believers and their children thus your stumbling block is taken out of the way if God be pleased to open your eyes to see it R. A's Objection Because you cannot see the children of the faithful bring forth the fruits of faith you presume to say they have not faith T. W. his Answer Might not one by your ground say that a child of 8 dayes old cannot have all the faculties of nature in him as a man though the Holy Ghost saith a child is born a man John 16. 21. in the bud or beginning as hearing seeing smelling speaking and the like yet because the child cannot hear understandingly and see perceivingly and smell distinguishingly and speak plainly as a man of years shall one conclude he hath not the faculties in him in the bud but little children Christ saith are of the Kingdom of God which is the houshould of Faith Gal. 6. 10. and can any be of the houshould of Faith and want Faith therefore as the world knoweth not Christ nor the subjects of his Kingdom 1 John 3. 1. they must needs be but as the world to say those have not faith which are of Christs Kingdom and with Nicodemus say how can thâ—se things be John 3. Again we read Isaac was Circumcised at eight dayes old the Apostle calleth Circumcision a seal of the righteousness of Faith Rom. 4. 11. and the children of Believers are as capable of Faith at eight dayes old now in Gospel times as before the Law the Prophet speaking of Gospel times saith their children shall be as afore-time Jer. 30. 20. so that as Circumcision was a sign of Faith and holiness Rom. 4. 11. and 2. 29. Col. 2. 11. Deut. 10. 16. even so is Baptism now Acts 8. 37 38. Rom 6. 3 4. The Covenant of the Gospel with Abraham is the same now in substance Gal. 3. 8. Gen. 17. 4 5. Rom. 4. 13 16 17. the Covenanâ— with Abraham was that the Lord would be a God to him and his seed after him Gen. 17. 7. as Blessed is that Nation whose God is the Lord Psal 33. 12. this blessedness commeth on none by the Law Rom. 4. 15. Gal. 3. 10 11 12. and that the Lord will be a God to us and we his people is the Gospel in the substance Heb. 8. 10. Rev. 21. 3. 2 Cor. 6. 16. and Christ was a Minister of the Circumcision to confirm the Promise made to the Fathers which they believed Christ was to come we believe he is come Luke 1. 69 72 73. Acts 13. 32 33. being one faith of Gods elect Gal. 3. 9. Heb. 11. and we believing Gentiles fellow Heirs and of the same body with the Believing Jews therefore I may justly conclude That which was once commanded of God and never repealed ought still to be done But God commanded the sign or seal of faith and holiness to the faithful and their seed and never yet repealed therefore ought still to be done But if any object that Circumcision was a seal of the Land of Canaan the Apostle ought to be believ'd before them who saith It was a Seal of faith and for farther manifesting of their folly that say It was a seal of Canaan for Abraham and Isaac and Jacob were Circumcised and they never passed it according to the promise nor their Generations till they came out of Egypt but dwelt as strangers in it Heb. 11. 9. Again as uncleanness is opposite to holiness when the fruit of the Land of Canaan was forbidden the children of Israel three years it should be as uncircumcised unto them and not to be eaten and in the fourth year all the fruit thereof shall be holy Lev. 19. 23 24. thus we see that Circumcision is a sign of holiness Again we read that God promiseth to Circumcise the hearts of his people to love him Deut. 30. 6. which is no less than a clean heart Psal 51. 10. which is no less than putting off the body of sins by the Circumcision of Christ Col. 2. 11. and when men do not hear and obey the Lord they are said to have uncircumcised ears Jer. 6. 10. Thus we may see plainly that Circumcision