Linguistic DNA - Concept Modelling Demonstrator

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	new_a	old_a	testament_n	6,607	5	8.4174	4	true

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A31663	An impartial account of the Portsmouth disputation with some just reflections on Dr. Russel's pretended narrative : with an abrigdment of those discourses that were the innocent occasion of that disputation / by Samuel Chandler, William Leigh, Benjamin Robinson.	Chandler, Samuel.; Leigh, William.; Robinson, Benjamin, 1666-1724.	1699 (1699)	Wing C1933; ESTC R24745	96,620	125

a Common Objection and therefore deserves a distinct answer 1. To this I Answer What Express Command or Example can they produce for previous Examination of Persons that offer themselves to be Baptiz'd for Stated Prayer before and after this Ordinance or for dipping or Plunging the whole Body under Water All these things must be deduc'd by consequence for no express Scripture can be produc'd for them I may add what express Command have they for singing Psalms in Rhime and Metre which is the Practice of the most Orthodox Anabaptists at this day I mention this the rather to convince Mr. Webber and his adherents what a doughty Champion they have chosen for themselves For this Dr. Russel hath written some Animadversions on his Brother Allen's Essay on singing Psalms wherein he advances the very same Arguments against their Practice of singing Psalms that he doth against ours for Infant Baptism and therefore hath prov'd himself a Hackny disputant that hath one constant Road and train of Arguments upon all occasions Perhaps I may be so dull of Apprehension as not to be able to Answer them therefore must cry Men of Israel help The Arguments of Russel against Allen pag. 9. If it doth not appear from Scripture or any Authentic History that the Psalms of David were Translated into Rhime or Metre till the 16 th Century then it is Impossible any Church could so sing them as our Brethren now do the Major is undeniable the Minor I thus prove If it be so recorded you or some other are able to show it Further if Singing in Rhime or Metre was never practic'd in any Church till the 16 th Century then it was because our Lord Jesus had not commanded it so to be If our Lord had Commanded it his Apostles would have so taught the Churches If the Apostles were faithful in the discharge of their Ministry and kept back nothing that was profitable to the Churches but declar'd to them the whole Councel â—â— God then they did teach the Churches all that the Lord Jesus Commanded If the Apostles did teach the Churches to sing in Rhime and Metre then it is somewhere so recorded in the New Testament Thus argues this mighty Man of Logick but as he cannot distinguish between Rhime and Metre â—o I can see neither Rhime nor Reason in his discourse these were the Arguments for want of better he â—rifâ—ed wâ—th at Portsmouth but Mr. Webber to whose Civility I am indebted for a sight of this curious peice must either Renounce his beloved Rhimes or comply with the Practice of Infant Baptism notwithstanding the Wonderful Arguments of his Champion to the contrary But to return from this digression 2. Those Truths that were Establish'd in the Old Testament are rather suppos'd than positively express'd in the New but the Grounds and Foundations upon which Infant Baptism stands were Establish'd in the Old Testament Infants were then admitted into the Covenant and Church of God Except therefore Christ had blotted their Names out of the Covenant and Rolls of the Church They are to be continued there under the New Testament Thus a Magistracy was setled under the Old Testament but there is no precept for it under the New the Lawfulness of War was then setled but suppos'd not expresâ— under the New The forbidden degrees of Marriage were setled under the Old Testament No need of mentioning them again under the New 3. Ans. There are many Virtual and General Commands for the Baptizing of Infants in the New Testament which were mention'd before 4. Ans. There was no need of an express Command because it was the constant Practice of the Church when the Scripture was written in conformity to the Practice of the Iews for many Ages before I cannot here express my self better than in the words of the Learned Lightfoot If Baptism and Baptizing of Infants had been as strange and unheard of a thing till Iohn Baptist came as Circumcision was â—till God appointed it to Abraham There would then no doubt have been an express Command for Baptizing Infants as there was for Circumcising them But when the Baptizing of Infants was a thing commonly known and us'd as appears by Uncontestable Evidence from all their Writers there need not be express Assertions that such and such Persons were to be the Objects of Baptism when it was as well known before the Gospel began that Men Women and Children were Baptiz'd as it is to be known that the Sun is up when it shines at noon day 5. There would need a Positive Command to exclude Infants who were admitted into Covenant before The Iews were extremely tender of their Priviledges and you know there was a great dispute among them whether their Children should be Circumcis'd Acts. 21.21 Now if their Children were wholly cast out of Covenant this would have enrag'd them much more seeing therefore there is not one word in Scripture that once mentions the unchurching of Infants not one Apostle that once questions or discovers it the believing Iews did not once Scruple it nor the unbelieving once charge it on Christ nor the Councel in Acts 15. Reveal it tho they that taught Infants should be Circumciz'd did suppose they were Church-Members I say seeing all these things are True Infants are Church-Members still and consequently ought to be Baptiz'd 6. There are Examples of whole Housholds that were Baptiz'd in Scripture and we may well conclude as Abrahams Children In Luk. 19.9 Christ saith to Zaccheus Salvation is come to this House for that he also is the Son of Abraham Zaceheus was a Publican and a gatherer of the Roman Tribute and perhaps a Gentile but upon his Faith in Christ he becomes a Spiritual Son of Abraham and Salvation comes not only to himself but his House God becomes a God to him and his So when we read of so many Housholds Baptiz'd upon the Parents and Masters Believing we have Reason to conclude their Infants were Baptiz'd as Abraham and his were Circumciz'd 7. There is no Instance of any Christian Child whose Baptism was defer'd still he came to Years There was great Reason that they who had been Iews or Heathens before should upon their undertaking Christianity be Baptiz'd at Years as Abraham at the first Institution of Circumcision was Circumciz'd when he was old but we may well suppose their Children as Abrahams were Baptiz'd with them and afterwards in their Infant State Now it is utterly unaccountable that in that long tract of time between St. Mathews Gospel and the Revelations when many Christian Infants were grown adult we should read of none that were Baptiz'd but only of Iews and Heathens I say this is unaccountable and therefore supposeth they were Baptiz'd in Infancy Obj. 2. Infants are uncapable of performing the Duties prerequir'd to Baptism Of confessing their Sins Mat. 3.6 Of Repenting Acts 2.38 Of gladly receiving the word Acts 2.41 Of Believing Mar. 16.16 1. Infants are admitted on the account of their

have more Reason to hope the promises will be made good to them than others The vein of Election frequently runs in the Channel of Believing Parents and their seed 5. They are put into a new Covenant Relation As Abraham receiv'd the sign of Circumcision as a Seal of the Righteousness of Faith to himself and seed Rom. 4.11 So this ordinance of Baptism shall be a Seal of the Righteousness of Faith to Believers and their seed 6. If they dye during their Infant State they shall be saved Our Saviour useth this Argument for the proof of the Resurrection I am the God of Abraham Mat. 22.32 Now for God to be the God of any is to distinguish them from others by his rewards he did not do thus for Abraham and his Family in this World therefore there is another Heb. 11.16 Now when God is said to be a God to Believers and their seed the meaning is he will be a rewarder of them therefore if they dy in their Infant State they have a promise to rely on that God will receive them to Salvation Whereas others must leave their Children to the unfathomable depths of Divine Mercy as they do the Heathen World 3. The Practical uses of Infant Baptism beyond that of Years This I do the rather to take off the Common Objection that Infant Baptism is an useless Ordinance 1. By Baptizing our Infants we practically own our Original Pollution Those Baptiz'd at Râ—per Years own themselves Sinners by Practice but do not necessarily own that there is a Fountain of Sin within But when we offer our Children to be Baptiz'd we acknowledg that we have been Instruments of conveying polluted Natures to our Infants and that they need washing by the Blood and Spirit of Christ. Thus the Prophet sets forth our sinful State by the Pollutions of a new born Infant Ezek. 16.4 2. Hereby we practically acknowledg the Necessity of Gods free Grace in order to our recovery As an Infant cannot contribute to his Baptism but is purely passive So we can contribute nothing by any Work or Merit of our own towards obtaining the Grace of God and Regenerating Influences of his Spirit It is not in him that willeth nor in him that runneth but in God that sheweth Mercy Rom. 9.16 3. Hereby we practically own Christs universal Headship that he is Lord of all of all Ages Sexes and Conditions Those that deny their Children to be in Covenant with God hereby deny them to be Visible Members of Christ And thus rob him of a great part of his Subjects and indeed rob themselves of that comfort they might enjoy they look upon their Infants as in the same case and State with the Heathen World If Christ save them it is by a Prerogative of Mercy and not as his Members or Covenant Children but for this cause Christ both Died â—â—d Rose and reviv'd that he might be the Lord of the Dead and Living Rom. 14.9 and as Christ whilst an Infant himself was head of the Church so he is pleas'd to admit of Infant Members in Covenant with him 4. Infant Baptism lays stronger Obligations on Parents to train up their Children for God Certainly t is a mighty Obligation on a Parent to consider 1. I have Solemnly devoted my Child to God Solemnly promis'd before the Minister and in the Face of a great Congregation that I will Endeavour by hearty Prayers Serious Instructions and a Religious Example to train up my Child for God the vows of the Lord are upon me and I shall add perjury to the rest of my Sins if I Neglect them The Prophet makes it a great Agravation of the Israelites Sin that they had taken their Sons and Daughters that they had Born unto God and Sacrafic'd them to Idols Ezek. 16.21 and it follows Thou hast slain my Children God calls them his Children as born in his Family and Solemnly devoted to him So the sin of Christians will be highly aggravated if they bring up their Children for the destroyer and Neglect those Parental Instructions they have oblig'd themselves to 5. Infant Baptism Engages Children to acquaint themselves with the Terms and Tenour of the Covenant When Children are told by their Parents how Solemnly they were enter'd into Covenant with God this engages them to enquire betimes what they are by Nature what they may be by Grace and to understand all the Principles of Religion in order to that end 6. Infant Baptism Engages us against Sin Betimes We are prepossess'd with a happy Prejudice against Sin in our Early Years and this is a great advantage When Hannibal was but 9 years Old his Father made him laâ— his hand upon the Altar and Swear that he would be an Irreconcilable Enemy to the Romans And this was the Reason he would never admit of any Peace with them My Friends we were Engaged for God against Sin and the Devil as our Irreconcilable Enemies not at 9 Years Old but in our Infant State and this obliges us to maintain a constant Enmity against them for ever 7. Infant Baptism is a great Encouragement for Faith in Prayer with Respect to our Children Those that have dedicated their Children to God in Baptism may pray to God with larger Measures of Faith and Hope than such as have Neglected this Duty They may say Lord I have resign'd them up unto thee Brought them to thine Authoriz'd Representative to be listed into thy Family consented for them to the claims of thy Covenant and the token of thy Covenant hath been apply'd to them let the Promises of thy Covenant be made good to them They are call'd by thy Name do thou receive them They are Visible Members of thy Church Oh give them the Favours that belong to thy Children A Visible Relation to God is a good Encouragement for Faith in Prayer We are call'd by thy Name Thou bearest not Rule over them Ier. 14.9 Those that have not thus dedicated their Children to God can only say Lord be Merciful to them tho' they are not call'd by thy Name and make them thine But we have a better Plea and can say Lord they are call'd by thy Name 8. Infant Baptism adds to the Parents comfort They may comfortably hope as to their living seed that if they are Faithful in training them up for God he will according to his promise Is. 44.3 pour out his Spirit and Blessing upon them and as to those that die in an Infant State they have Reason to Believe and hope that they are happy because God hath promis'd to be a God to them and to their seed Whereas those that Neglect this ordinance have no more Reason to hope for the Salvation of their Infants than the Heathens must only leave them to the unfathomable depths of Gods Goodness having no promise to rely upon 4. I shall answer some Principal Objections against this Truth 1. There is no Precept nor Example for Infant Baptism in all the New Testament This is

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