Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	father_n	hour_n	worship_v	3,741	5	9.8220	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A34433	The font uncover'd for infant-baptisme, or, An answer to the challenges of the Anabaptists of Stafford, never yet reply'd unto, though long since promised wherein the baptisme of all church-members infants is by plain Scripture-proof maintained to be the will of Jesus Christ, and many points about churches and their constitutions are occasionally handled / by William Cook, late minister of the Gospel at Ashby-Delazouch.	Cook, William, Minister of the gospel at Ashby-Delazouch.	1651 (1651)	Wing C6042; ESTC R1614	62,529	56

that had such qualifications only as their children but that those very babes might be admitted to Christ for prayer and laying on of his hands The Disciples rebuked them for bringing not humble persons of ripe years and otherwise qualified as children but those babes Christ is angry with them for hindering those very children pleads for the children and the bringers of them commandeth that the children should be permitted to come to him not such as them in humility and like qualifications at this time and gives this reason For of such is the Kingdom of heaven Now how were this speech and reason of Christ pertinent or convincing if when the question was about little ones he should speak only of those which were endued with humility and such qualifications yet of ripe years 2. The word such is taken most usually in Scripture if not alwaies for the same persons or things of which mention was made immediatly before and those that are of the same nature and kinde not those of different kinde of form that only agree in some remote unquestioned unmentioned qualifications 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as may appear by these and such like Scriptures Joh 4.23 But the hour cometh and now is when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in Spirit and truth for the Father seeketh such to worship him 1 Cor 5.5 To deliver such an one to Satan this is meant of the incestuous man of whom the Apostle had spoken before and of those that were guilty of the same or like sins as he so 2 Cor. 12.2 Such an one taken up into the third heaven vers 3. I know such a man ver 5. Concerning such a man I will glory It 's plain that this is spoken of the man that had Visions and Revelations of God whether in the body or out of the body he knew not and that Paul would glory of that very man or such others for whom God had done such things as none of the false Apostles could glory of the like The same may be observed Gal. 5.21 Heb. 7.26 and Heb. 13.16 By which examples it is plain that though the word such in the English tongue often signifies but similitude yet in the Original it notes entity both specifical and numerical and consequently here are not meant those who were only like babes in humility and such qualifications but those very Infants that were brought and other such Infants viz. of the Church 3. If therefore only Christ admitted children took them in his arms laid his hands on them and blessed them because of their humility and such qualifications wherein these that will enter into the Kingdom of God must resemble them not because they themselves had interrest in the Kingdom of God and were capable of spiritual blessings then it will follow that it had been lawfull and commendable for men to have brought to Christ Sheep Doves or Serpents Salt Lights or Vine-branches good Wheat o● good Fish Mat 5.13 14. Mat. 10 16. Ioh. 10 14. Mat. 13. Ioh. 13.1 c. to have him put his hands upon them and prayed for them and that Christ would have taken these all or any of them into his arms or hands laid his hands on them and blessed them for the Godly are resembled to these and we required to be like unto them in some qualifications as we will be saved and where the same or like cause is the same or like effect will follow But the consequent is absurd and ridiculous if not blasphemous Therefore the antecedent is false I come now to the third Argument taken from this History and it is my fourth Argument in order Arg. 4. Arg. 4 Those and such as those to whom Christ hath vouchsafed his dear imbraces prayers blessing and imposition of hands as a sign or pledge of his blessing are doubtlesse in Covenant and have right to the sign or pledge of entrance thereinto which is Baptism now in time of the Gospel But Christ hath vouchsafed the little children of the faithfull his dear imbraces prayed for them blessed them Mat. 10 13.15 Mat. 10.16 and laid his hands on them as a sign or pledge of his blessing Therefore the children of the faithfull are in Covenant and have right to the seal of entrance thereinto which is Baptism To the clearing of the Proposition let it be remembred 1. The tender imbraces of Christ and ready entertainments of persons argue those to be in Covenant and in his favour whom he so entertaineth For he that forbad his Disciples to go to the Gentiles and Samaritans Mat. 10.5 Mat. 15.24 Luk 7.29 Luk 15.1 2 3. was not sent but to the lost sheep of the house of Israel would not have eaten with publicans and sinners but as they had been lost sheep and prodigall sons yet sheep and sons found again which had been humbed by Johns Ministry would not doubtlesse tenderly imbrace any young or old that were without God hope Christ or Covenant 2. These whom Christ prayeth for are not of the world and therefore called out of the world to the Church and Covenant Joh. 17.9 3. Christs laying on of his hands being a sign or seal of spiritual blessing for we reade not that these children were brought to be cured of any corporal malady but Christs saying Of such is the Kingdom of God sufficiently implieth that the blessings which he bestowed and confirmed to them Rom. 14.17 by laying on of hands were blessings of his Kingdom which are principally not corporal but spiritual was of the same nature or equivalent to or at least implied right in Baptism For we never reade that God or Christ or any by Divine appointment communicated imposition of hands as a sign of the blessings of his Kingdom to unbeleevers and persons out of Covenant and so uninterested in the seal of entrance into Covenant 4. Hence follows each of these favours of Christ much more all laid together prove that those to whom they are vouchsafed are in Covenant and so have title to the pledge of admission thereto As to the Assumption let it be noted 1. That it is in the very words of the text 2. That though this priviledge of corporal or visible imbracing and laying on of hands and vocal or audible prayer and blessing from Christ was peculiar to those Infants that were then brought to him yet that the same blessings for substance invisibly and spiritually to be conferred by Christ and what is equivalent to these outward signs belong still to children of Beleevers under the Gospel may be gathered from the whole context is partly cleared in the handling of the two former Arguments and might be further proved if need were and intended brevity would suffer Arg. 5. Arg. 5 If all Nations were by the Apostles to be made disciples and baptized then the children of those in the Nations by whom the Gospel is received for children are a very great and considerable part of a

THE FONT UNCOVER'D FOR Infant-Baptisme OR AN ANSWER TO THE Challenges of the ANABAPTISTS OF STAFFORD Never yet Reply'd unto though long since promised Wherein The Baptisme of all Church-Members Infants is by plain Scripture-proof Maintained to be the will of JESUS CHRIST and many Points about Churches and their Constitutions are occasionally handled By WILLIAM COOK late Minister of the Gospel at Ashby-Delazouch LONDON Printed by A. Miller for Tho. Vnderhill at the Anchor in Pauls Church-yard near the little North-door 1651. TO The Faithfull Servants of Christ and Lovers of the Truth in STAFFORD And the Parts adjacent and others that are concerned in this Controversie of INFANT-BAPTISM which desire to imbrace the Truth in Love Grace Mercy and Peace be multiplied through the knowledge of God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. Honoured and Beloved Inhabitants of Stafford AS your Wisdom Resolution Faithfulnesse and Activity to appear for the Truth and contend for the Faith shining forth in those whom God hath set in Civil Authority among you in that great push of temptation hath given occasion to many to glorifie God in your behalf rejoice in your stedfastnesse and pray for you and I doubt not yielded comfort to your own consciences so they have ingaged me to acknowledge my self your servant in Christ and for the Truth in this cause which doth so much concern the glory of Christ and comfort of Christians I therefore though conscious of mine own weaknesse when I heard of those many lowd and proud challenges that had been made by the contrary Party to dispute about this Subject was willing upon the advice and perswasion of some of my Brethren to undertake the Challenge relying on the help of Christ and the goodnesse of the Cause And having received the Papers of the Challengers in as short a space as I could prepared this Answer except some additions and explanations which since its return to my hand I thought meet to insert for the help of the ignorant for whose sake it is principally written upon the giving in of a Copy whereof a Reply was promised shortly by the Challengers I waited long and heard nothing of my Papers nor any Reply untill a Letter came to my hands from some of principall note among you dated Novemb. 11. expressing the contrary Parties boasting of a Reply ready long ago which was to be Printed with their Propositions and mine answered Whereupon I was then in that Letter and since by word of mouth desired to Print mine Answer lest I should be abused by others misrepresenting of the same My answer was that I would consult with my Brethren and if they should think it meet I would be willing to yield to you herein Ever since that time I have been cast on a wandring and unsetled condition as is well known far from my Study and Books Yet when I could gain a little time with the help of the Bible I added something by way of explanation for the help of meaner capacities that are not able to see the strength of an Argument or answer when it is barely propounded Two Arguments more I have also added to the former number from one Scripture whence I had only propounded one Argument at the first It may be some will demand What is the reason that their Challenge is not accepted in a way of publique Dispute seeing they have urged it frequently and confidently upbraided your Town and all Ministers that none would publiquely Dispute with them To this I Answer 1. What hope of a publique Dispute on good terms to be undertaken by a Minister of Christ when your own faithfull and peaceable Pastour might not be suffered to preach the Gospel to you a people committed to his charge 2. What incouragement can any rationall man have to Dispute with such as abhorre Syllogismes which are the rationall way of disputing 3. What hope of finding out or clearing the Truth by Dispute where there is no likelihood that the laws and rules of disputing will be observed with freedom safety peace and love with the help of a Learned Judicious and Impartiall Moderator 4. What likelihood of good by a Dispute wherein impudencie audaciousnesse and verbosity passion bitternesse and violence are like to bear sway 5. What can a publique Dispute in such a case which case there is too great cause to fear be but a sinfull abuse of pretious time of peoples patience and even of Scripture and reason it self 6. Who sees not that the drift of these men is to turn Religion into a matter of contention and to draw people together to vain-janglings and concertations as heretofore they met together at Stage-plaies Bear-baits and Cock-fights which abuse What pious heart doth not abhorre 7. It was judged that most or all these evils might farre better be prevented by calm considerate writing wherein the passions of fear anger c. and all tumults might be avoided and reason might speak and be heard 8. Yet if this way of discussing the truth shall not be satisfactory and good grounds of hopes shall be given that the afore-named evils may be prevented I doubt not but the Challenge will be accepted Otherwise no faithfull Minister of Christ may to satisfie the irrationall desires of some and answer the insolencie of others adventure on that which will be by the judgement of the prudent no better then a taking of Gods Name in vain and exposing of himself to certain danger Paul himself though full of zeal for the Truth was willing to yield to the Disciples and his Friends Act. 19.30 31. perswading him not to adventure himself into the tumultuous Theater It were much to be wished that those men which have but weak reason neither knowing how to manage an Argument nor capable of conviction thereby but are taken with plausible expressions and big words or drawn by hopes of honour pleasure gain ease or liberty into new waies like children Carried about with every winde of doctrine would make more use of their sense by which only it seems they live making no use of faith or reason in this case to observe the end and issue of these waies into which they are so easily drawn We need not go to Munster or other parts beyound the seas to see the judgement of God on these men Our own Countrey gives too many sad experiences thereof I will only give one instance of one whose name deserves to be written in the dust and doth already stink throughout the Land and therefore I will not stain my paper with it Yet he is so notorious and infamous that a short description of him will sufficiently put men in minde whom I mean In Warwickshire he appeared first crying down in his Preaching the Ministry of England and Infant-Baptisme After that he proceeded to be a great Dipper after that he became a Master of the Quakers and would cast people into Trances and Revelations as is credibly reported Lastly he became Head of

of water That they are capable also of the spiritual grace of Baptism Gods many promises of circumcising the hearts of the faithfull seed and pouring his Spirit upon them c. prove as also the example of Jacob and John the Baptist whereof the one was beloved of God the other filled with the holy Ghost while little ones 2. I answer to the assumption by distinction of the first second act of reason faith The power or faculty of understanding or reason which we may call the first act Infants have else they were bruits and unreasonable creatures though the actual exercise thereof which is in man they want so a seminal virtual habitual faith implied in regeneration and the gift of the holy Ghost they have not a professed faith of ripe Beleevers 2. If men will needs have actual professed faith for the admission of persons to Baptism I answer Gen. 17.7 Act. 2.39 As parents by faith accept the Covenant for themselves and children according as Scripture propounds the Covenant Gen. 17.7 Act. 2.39 which is agreeable to the usual way of contracts and Covenants amongst men that parents take a Lease for themselves and infant-children and binde themselves and children to the condition as infant-children are parts and adherents of their parents having no use of power reason or will to provide for or dispose of themselves in their own persons untill they come to years of discretion so the faith of their parents may be said to be their faith as the parents act in taking a house or making a bargain may be called the childes act as no lesse beneficiall and obliging to the childe then to the parent at least untill he come to the use of reason where in his own person he may by some voluntary act ratifie or disannul it And here observe a second distinction of faith namely actual and professed It is this professed faith may be distinguished into Personal and private which is required of all persons which are at their own dispose at their first entrance into Covenant and admission to the seal of entrance and Common or publick faith which in a common or publick person may suffice in the behalf of those that are wholly under his power and at his dispose as Infants are to their parents This is sufficient for such to interest them in the Covenant and seal of admittance as we see in Abrahams and the Jewish Infants and Christians children which are holy by virtue of their parents faith 1 Cor. 7.14 and in this respect they may be said to have actual professed faith viz. of their parents If the Jews with their children were broken off by unbelief as the Apostle affirmeth Rom 11.29 then by faith they and their posterity had continued implanted untill their posterity should by actual professed unbelief break off themselves and their posterity The same is the case of the ingraffed Gentiles and will be of the Jews that are to be reingraffed vers 20.23 24 25. that by virtue of the faith of the parents infant-children should be in Covenant and beleevers even professedly by the profession of parents as it had been with Gods people for many generations before Christ for the Apostle speaks of such a growing up in the Olive tree that the implanted Gentiles and reimplanted Jews must expect as was that which the Church of the Jews had enjoyed to that time And sure if the unbelief of professed Infidels leave their infant-children in the case of professed infidelity and estrangement from the Covenant untill by their own personal individual faith they embrace that Covenant no lesse must the saith of beleeving parents leave their Infants in the state of professed or known Beleevers and persons in Covenant until by their own wilfull voluntary act they reject the Covenant for Gods promises to the faithfull and their posterity are no lesse full then his curses to the wicked and their posterity Exod. 20.5 6. 3. How ignorantly and impertinently that sentence is added by you Whatever is not of faith is sin any one may see And thus for the answer to your Arguments You prevent an Objection thus But you will say H. H. and J.B. Where doth the Scripture forbid That your Ministers will say is an unreasonable and unlearned question there being no proving negatives for then where doth the Scripture say You shall not worship the Pope go to Masse you shall not reade the Common prayer book or wear the Surplesse But it doth forbid Idolatry Will-worship which is that if you have no Scripture rule for the same and teaching for doctrine the commands of men which is this being only traditionall and that acknowledged by one of your Ministers lately in this Town that it was Ecclesiasticall and not Apostolicall Ans Deut. 4.2 Prov. 30.6 Iam 4.11 17. Rev. 22.8 9. The Scripture is such a perfect rule to Gods people of faith worship and holy walking both affirmatively and negatively that nothing may be urged as a duty Divine worship or truth but what is there commanded or taught nor charged as a sin Will-worship or errour but what is there forbidden or condemned either particularly and expresly or at least in general and to be gathered by good consequence 2. They are very ignorant and rash that will condemn worshipping the Pope going to Masse c. and yet cannot finde them forbidden in the Scripture yea they are too great friends to the Pope Masse and other superstition that will say or but insinuate that the Scripture doth no where condemn them or that will match Infant-baptisme with them 3. Forbear charging us with Will-worship Idolatry and teaching for doctrines the commands of men untill you have heard what Scripture grounds we can bring for our judgement and practice in this particular 4. Why do not you name the Minister which acknowledged this traditional and Ecclesiastical not Apostolical If there were any such let him answer for himself The Papists indeed call it a tradition of the Church to prove the imperfection of the Scripture and necessity of tradition Our Protestant Writers confute them in this shewing that it is grounded on Scripture not on tradition If any whom you call one of our Ministers speaks as the Papist against the whole current of Protestant Divines we are no more bound to stand to his principles or to defend him therein or answer for him then we are bound to do it for you and the Papists which agree with him in that opinion Now before I lay down our Arguments I must for the clearing of the truth confirm one thing which I have partly touched already It 's this That it is not only lawfull but necessary to argue from Scripture by way of consequence or deduction for the finding out of the truth neither must we alwaies expect expresse and immediate commands in Scripture for the particular circumstances and applications of the Ordinances of God or for the justifying of every matter of judgement and