by sprinkling c. is not observed that I may therefore shew the mind of Christ it being my desire to give satisfaction to my Neighbours c. where M. B. left off I shall therefore proceed to interpret the Text And baptizing them that is first disciple by teaching and baptize them that is do not pour or sprinkle a little water in the face of the Child or partially dip in the head with the heels upwards for this is not to baptize nor is the Child the Disciple that is to be baptized but the Text tells you whom you must baptize that is baptize those that are by teaching first discipled so that their bodies may be buried or covered over and humbled upon the acknowledgement of faith and obedience or upon the pronouncing I baptize thee in the name of the Father c. in the lowest element of water prostrated Abraham-like before the presence of his Infinite grace and glory Thus Christ himself being baptized and praying was prostrated with lowest subjection and therefore it s no marvell M. B. was silent in speaking of baptisme for indeed this contradicting practice in sprinkling or pouring water upon the face of the Child would not give liberty to make a handsome interpretation with application to a Child concerning baptizing or the right use of water in baptisme To leave then the interpretation of which M. B. was silent let us return to see his Arguments which from his unwarranted distinctions he indeavours to make his incompleat Disciple to be baptized Mr. B. chap. 3. p. 15. I come now to my first Argument which from my Text is this All that are Christs disciples ordinarily ought to be baptized But some Infants are Christs disciples Therefore some Infants ordinarily ought to be baptized Answ If Mr. B. had kept to his text he would not have made this Argument the minor whereof I deny that Infants are Christs disciples until as the text sayth they be by teaching made disciples And yet Mr. Baxter so laboureth to make children disciples that when the text faileth he is resolved it seems by Logical Fallacies and wrested Scriptures to try what can be done and therefore thus further argueth Those on whose necks the false teachers would have layd this yoke were disciples But some of those were Infants on whose necks they would have layd this yoke Therefore some Infants are disciples Answ That the fallacie in the minor Proposition may appear the light that shineth Acts 15.1 compared with verse 10. will fully discover that false teachers did endeavour to pervert the brethren to be circumcised Act. 15.10 which said brethren were called disciples not by Circumcision And therefore that false teachers would have had the disciples which from Baptism were called disciples to have been circumcised this proves nothing to make children disciples If therefore they that pin their faith on Mr. B's sleeve will not wilfully close their eyes they may see that Mr. Baxter in stead of producing Scripture to prove a childe a disciple it proves to be the brethren which had been baptized which were called disciples whom false brethren would have seduced to be circumcised Act. 15.1 10. upon which attempt or the tampering of the false teachers with the brethren which were disciples Mr. B. catcheth hold of a shadow or wrested consequence to make a child a disciple As if a Preacher were seduced as some disciples were to be circumcised therefore all that are circumcised must be Preachers or disciples And that the fallacy may now clearly be discovered take this Argument Those that the brethren would have converted are Jewish Rabbies and Popish Priests But the Brethren would have Children converted Ergo some children are Jewish Rabbies and Popish Priests Therefore my dear friends that know not Logick and yet have boasted of Mr. Baxter's Arguments you may see if you please that as there is a fallacie a dictu simpliciter ad dictum secundum quid in this Argument whereby children seem to be proved Rabbies and Popish Priests so the like fallacie is in Mr. B's Argument whereby he would from false teachers attempting to circumcise Christians which are called disciples conclude from thence that children may be called disciples And now behold the Scriptures fulfilled He taketh the wise in their own craftiness Job 5.13 in that those that are of contrary judgement would not till of late grant that none but a disciple should be baptized and now not being able to prove their children disciples nay not so much as an incompleat disciple must therefore if they will make conscience to submit to the command of Christ let their children themselves stay until they bed iscipled that so they may be baptized and so the controversie may be ended and according to the intention of Christ all Christians may be united in the Gospel-profession of the Ordinance of Baptism And yet Mr. B. to back out or strengthen his Argument produceth several Reasons to prove a childe a disciple Mr. B. â— Because children are partakers of Gods protection To which I answer That God as God of providence to children and all creatures making his sun to shine on the evil and on the good doth not make children and all creatures disciples whose duties is to learn to know and follow the said God which is so good and merciful in learning to know God and following of God and in not being protected by God are called disciples Matth. 16.24 2. Mr. B. sayth Children are devoted to learning therefore they may be disciples Answ Though children be devoted to learning and may learn yet I hope Mr. B. would not have them to commence before their time nor upon this account while they are a learning and the seeds of a disciple sown in them reap the corn before it be grown up and white unto the harvest Mr. B. p. 18. If Infants be not Disciples it is because they are not capable or because God will not shew them mercy but neither of these can be the cause Answ To aske the reason of God thus in point of salvation why hast hast thou made me so is liable to that reproof which upon the like account Paul said What art thou O man that that thou repliest against God hath not Christ already told Mr. B. That he that will be his Disciple must deny himself take up his Cross and follow him Mat. 16.14 must not every thing be as God hath determined by his will and not as the thing is capable for so a poor man is capable to be rich and a sick man to be healthfull and yet while poor and sick they are not said to be rich and healthfull but to answer Mr. B. datur tertium a Child cannot be a Disciple because it is an implicite contradiction as to say a wise fool for a Disciple is not a Child nor a Child a Disciple and besides that Disciple which is to be baptized must not be hid or secret but man must so see
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
this cause they chose Jordano for that there was much water there to be the place for baptism And therefore though at the beginning of the Chapter p. 130. and in the last lines but two you have promised to clear up the mist yet indeed you have done nothing less But it 's no matter the sun of Truth can shine thorow your darkness which cannot comprehend it And that which makes me humbled is this that I see you do much endeavour to put a veyl upon the Word so that p. 134. you say Let us view your veyl being cast over the Scriptures which they bring for maintaining of this signification that is to be covered over in baptism Matth. 3.13 Act. 8.36 37 38. What think you Mr. S. have not those Scriptures satisfied you against sprinkling or pouring water on the face of a childe Not to trouble you how much Mr. S. strives to evade with his distinction ab ex that Christ came not out of the water as though Philip was not baptized as Christ whom he confesseth to have come out of the water Oh lamentable cavilling what would he do would he with his ab or ex deny the gonig into the water or what would Mr. S. mean saying p. 135. that Philip was as much in the water as the Eunuch what was Philip buried in the water as much as the eunuch Lord make us truely humbled How gladly would man uphold his sandy foundation or how loth is a lofty spirit to become humbled Cannot a man baptize or put another man into the water but he must go as much into the water as the party that he baptizeth How Mr. S. should be able to answer to the third place where it is said John was baptizing in Enon neer Salim because there was much water there in regard his sprinkling ceremony speaks his contradiction I shall not spend time to no purpose to answer more then I have said to what he can alleadge against the baptizing because of much water seeing that as Reason Janus-like hath two faces some men have a face to object against any thing Mr. S. pag. 138. The last pretence commonly urged for this dipping is from the analogie it hath with Christs burial Rom. 6.4 Col. 2.12 Buried with him in baptism Hence they say it is most clear we must be dipt under water else it will not represent a burial In this they put all their confidence Answ Our confidence is in God and his Truth and therefore we shall be ready to answer if you can more seriously then before object any thing from Scripture to prove the contrary practice And therefore let us hear what Mr. S. hath to say pag. 138. in these words Plunging the whole body in water doth not represent burial for the custom of the Jews was to cut out a place like a cave or den out of a rock to lay their dead bodies and as it is observed by a man of great learning and diligence Thus when we sleep in our houses we may be said to be buried having something over our heads Answ In that Mr. S. hath acknowledged that to be covered over head represents burial or to be buried in baptism is to have the water covering us in this he hath whether he intended or no justified our proceeding and condemned his own sprinkling business or ceremony To what Mr. S. sayth further in this particular Mr. S. pag. 139. relates Secondly the maner of burying in Europe is not by plunging the body in a pit of dust but by casting dirt or dung on the person so that the pouring out water on the face of an infant as a passive subject seems more to answer the similitude of burying then the casting into the water wherein there is some motion of the party himself contributing to his baptism Answ In that Christ went into the water and prayed in the water and that in imitation of Christ it is said Act. 22.16 be baptized calling upon the Name of the Lord the mystery of a burial is held forth not so much from passive deadness as in being separated and covered in the water whereby deadness in that act is declared And this Mr. S. pag. 138. that to be covered is implyed in burial and that this covering in water is not by sprinkling for in stead of covering the childe to represent a burial Mr. S. takes another course or the Good-wives by his permission for they take off the cloth and make the childs face that before was covered to be uncovered that he may sprinkle a drop or two or pour a little water on the face Now hereby that he should represent a burial when he seems onely to rantize the face it 's known that the childe is so far from being covered or hid from the people or separated that the Goodwives hold it up in their arms to be rantized in the face of the Congregation Which methinks Mr. S. should not fancie to represent a burial for in this he is as much mistaken as he is by the book in that he tells us pag. 141. that the Jaylor was baptized in prison for Acts 16.30 the Jaylor brought out Paul out of prison and after Paul had preached to the Jaylor and to all his house then the Jaylor was baptized and that this was not in prison as Mr. S. dreamed it is said after he was baptized he brought them into his house vers 34. But this mistake is not so great as that Mr. S. hath thus far suffered his passion to be predominant as to say pag. 142. that if there be any absolute need of dipping it is to cool the heat of these mens spirits who deny baptism to be true because they have not been plunged Answ Oh strange if this vox populi should come from Christ what 's that he tells of cooling the heat of spirits Alas Physitian cool your self But I hope he hath his check as I am troubled for his levity for that fire of zeal that is in the Saints to own the due administration of the Ordinance in Baptism is such a fire of zeal that Mr. S. is not able to quench it And if there could be an outward remedy for hot spirits it were a mercy that the sparkles of Mr. S's youthfulness were so far quenched that it might not be his recreation to contradict the minde of Christ in the right use of the element of water in baptism which we do not as Mr. S. saith ascribe to plunging but to be covered over or buried with Christ in baptism Mr. S. chap. 16. pag. 148. endeavouring that the washing of the body Heb. 10.22 was not meant by baptism and his summoning up his former principles as he calleth them chap. 17. p. 154. and his business in troubling himself about the administration of baptism chap. 18. being things that are not either granted or denyed prejudicial to the cause no more necessary then his recapitulation of his former principles which doth spend time and
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 veâ—iâ—e the Proverb Can the leopard change his spots Jer. 1â— 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 â—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 seâ—veâ— rather with he fleece then the floâ—k if we wâ—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 â—he darkness of Romish Babylon and as the Presbâ—terial Waâ— is useful to reform Episcopacie Episcopacy Presbytery and Independency compared in respect of Goâ—ernment Traditions and Ceremonies as Independency reforms Presbytery in the point of gathering of Church-members and all of them as David â—iâ— for the Temple make preparations for the most glorious Apostolical Government so that out of all the materials of Truth therein discovered â—he golden Candleâ—â—ick of Christian profession may be moldeâ— 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 baptiâ—ing and governing of the Church of believers And therefore though when darkness began
the Father and of the Son and of the holy Ghost c. Answ That as a Scholar he hath ingenuously acknowledged the original Go ye therefore and disciple unto me that is Go and teach I do agree with him and so I shall if with the like ingenuity he appear in the interpretation of the words thus rightly translated unto us Mr. B. p. 4. Before I come to argue I will tell you what is meant by a disciple A disciple may be taken in the larger sence as those that are actually believers and then to the making of a disciple some things may concur effective and some things conditionaliter Answ If Mr. B. had gone the plain way to worke as his title so often proclaimeth then he would have lightned one candle by another the first being lightned from the fire of the Altar I mean he would have explained the Scripture or commission of Baptism by some other Scripture but failing herein he hath supplyed the want with Logical distinctions a strange voice which the sheep cannot hear and therefore as not acquainted with conditionaliter and effective they cannot give the right hand of fellowship to Mr. B's as being none of Christs disciple and therefore while I had thought to have returned an answer to those distinctions Mr. B. having reconciled himself in telling us what disciple he will pitch upon in his next chapter there you may expect a further discovery M. B. chap. 3. p. 3. By Disciple I mean as in the text those that are de jure or incompleatly Disciples Answ If this be the Disciple you pitch upon out of the great choice that you afforded us It s strange that Christ that is most glorious in all his works and in whom the Saints are compleat should command to baptize an incompleat Disciple truly M. B. it were well you had found some other master for him and not Christ As if Christ should say Go and make incompleat Disciples which indeed is no less then an implicite contradiction all being compleat in Christ Col. 2.10 And I wonder M. B. should think a Child an incompleat Disciple if he will walk by his own pretended light in that p. 132. he saith that indirectly and remotely the discipling of the parent is the discipling of the seed and yet the seed for all this though upon his account it be twice discipled yet it is still incompleat and will be so for all M. B. can do though he had his desire that Children should be cofirmed that is to speak plain English Bishopped p. 120. And therefore M. B's distinction may suit with the Poets fiction which by casting of stones created Disciples which at first were in compleat or rude but afterwards were more compleated and therefore it would too much savour of partiality to admit of his Logical distinctions seeing in stead of expounding we find the text by M. B. so confounded and overvailed with blind and impertinent distinctions for indeed to tell you the naked truth baptisme doth not make a Disciple or a believer though believing Disciples so called by grace ought to be baptized that is buried or covered over or humbled to God in water in the name of the Father Son and holy Ghost so that to be a Disciple and baptized are two distinct things though both are united or married together in the same Gospel-Ordinance and therefore M. B. ought not to imagine as the blind world conceiteth that baptisme maketh a Disciple or believer or as they say a Christian for to be a believer and Disciple is to be a Christian who as a Christian he cannot be so adjudged except he be baptized And therefore all the course that M. B. taketh in sprinkling or pouring water upon the face of the Child will not do the feat Neither can that which M. B. saith p. 14. be approved of that the matter of a Disciple in a natural way is nothing but our being be granted him for if by nature or as we have a natural being we are Disciples then the worke is done to our hand and Christ might have saved his Disciples a great deal of labour in commanding them first to disciple by teaching and then to baptize And if by nature or our being we have that miraculous priviledge why are we called by nature the Children of disobedience so that for any thing I can find as none of M. B's distinctions are proved by Scripture he cannot prove that his incompleat disciple either in matter or forme is the taught Disciple that is commanded by Christ to be baptized And therefore I would not have troubled my self any further but that I find M. B. so averse against the way of discipling according to the express command of Christ in his text which he pretendeth to explain unto us as like the envious man he denies his own discipling saying He was discipled by education p 133. whereby he puts out both of his own eyes whereby we might lose one of our eyes or he might have a sandy foundation to raise an argument against discipling by teaching therefore I have this further to tell him If education made him a Disciple then baptisme did not and questionless if he were well educated he heard the word and was Timothy like taught the Scriptures of a Child which through the Spririt of grace are able to make us wise unto salvation and though a work of grace cannot be discovered yet all education and knowledge and waiting are little enough or it is but the means that God hath appointed for discipling and yet with M. B's leave whatsoever he thinks yet we judge in the rule of truth that to attain to common knowledge of the outward profession of Christ doth not make a Disciple except the day-star hath so risen in his heart and his judgement be so brought unto victory that he as is prophesied Psal 110.4 be willing as well as able in the day of power to submit as called or desire as the Eunuch did in his own person to be baptized till this work be wrought we judge one is not as before baptism they ought to be fully discipled for such a discipling as M. B. speaketh of unto which he had attained by education suits with or may shake hands with his incompleat Disciple And therefore if the Disciples of John being ignorant of the holy Ghost were discipled again and rebaptized for any thing I can see the work through disaffection is not so compleat but that Priscilla and Aquila may schoole great Apollo and most may learn to be Disciples seeing the incompleat Disciple which M. B. speaketh of in his interpretation or rather prevarication of the commission of Christ cannot be approved of And here M. B. giving over his text I mean speaking no more of it then of the first words Go and disciple he not as I expected proceeding to baptize them therefore in regard our difference lieth very much concerning the right use of the element of water which
and judge of him as from full satisfaction proceed to baptize him when by teaching the party is discipled and therefore God in his wisedome that giveth every thing its name doth not approve of calling a Child a Disciple neither can baptisme make a Child or any man a Disciple how would Mr. B. then make a Child a Disciple but because by grace as any is taught to profess to follow Christ and is so discipled as a Disciple and as a believer we do baptize them Thus having answered Mr. B. first Argument and reasons whereby he would have proved a Child a Disciple his enterprize failing to prove a Child a Disciple to make work for Poedo-baptisme he produceth this his second Argument Mr. B. 2 Argu. chap. 4. p. 23. My second Argument and therefore the cheife I make use of is this All that ought to be admitted visible Church-members ordinarily ought to be baptized But some Infants ought to be admitted visible Church-members Therefore some Infants ordinarily ought to be baptized Answ Of this second Argument Mr. B. giveth this superlative encomium that this is his chief but believe me if he could have made his first Argument good whereby a Child might have been discipled he then had had commission for what he had said and therefore he failing to make his incompleat disciple to be baptized he would now see what he can do to make a consequence from his first Argument whereof this second is but a shadow for if Children be not Disciples they can be no members of the Church visible but they are not Disciples for indeed to be a disciple a member of a visible Church differeth no more then that a man that intendeth to list himself to be a Souldier and is approved of onely wanteth an opportunity to have his admission or approbation so a Disciple as soon as he declares himself and is willing to yeild himself up to serve God with his Saints is made a visible Church-member but that this work of wonder did ever appear in Infants that they were ever heard thus to declare their good affection to the government of Christs church I never yet heard and as soon as I hear them I will submit to Mr. B's Arguments and say that those Children thus declaring themselves for Christ and his Church must needs be admitted visible Church-members but till this appear visibly I desire Mr. B. would content to forbear to intrude them since Christs commission will not give leave for such to be baptized in his name that know not Christ or yet have not named him and yet Mr. B. to prove his second Argument forgetting his promise that he would not meddle with other mens Arguments hath scraped up all the thredbar'd impertinent consequences that any before had pretended to have blocked up the mouth of the Cannon or to make the worke more tedious to gain-say or oppose him while therefore I was intending to have lighted a Candle to have discovered or rather dispelled this great cloud of darkness Providence so ordered it that a book intituled A Christian sober and plaine Exercitation on two grand practical controversies of this time Baptisme and singing of Psalmes writen by C. Sidenham teacher to a Church of Christ in New-castle being brought unto me and I finding upon perusal thereof that it treated as sufficiently of all Mr. Baxters consequences and with no less advantage to his cause and in that Mr. Sidenham with his party hath as powerfull an influence to stop an ear Therefore I thought that I might bear better testimony to the truth to answer Mr. Baxter in Mr. Sidenhams booke in which way I take no more liberty then he hath done with the right worthy and Apostolical Mr. Tombes And yet before I proceed according to my promise I desire to hint something to Mr. Baxter upon the fourth particular which I first mentioned 4. That Mr. B. hath contradicted himself in speaking evill of the Ordinance of Baptisme as by his two Arguments will appear is to be discovered Mr. Baxter chap. 12. p. 134. his first Argument That which is a plain breach of the sixth commandment is no Ordinance of Jesus Christ but a most hainous sin But the ordinary practice of dipping the head in cold water is a breach of the sixth commandment Ergo it is a most hainous sin Answ It is impossible that an effectually called Child of God can raise this Argument without check of conscience or contradiction he approving of the way of baptisme in Brasill and yet in his Argument contradicts the same practise of Christ upon the pretence of the cold climate and custome of the Country Alas Alas this needs no answer for hereby the Scripture is experienced their oâ—n â—ongues shall make them fall or at least Mr. B. I hope is ashamed or may be ashamed of this cavilling scandalous Argument in making a Christians submission to the Ordinance of Christ a hainous sin and in telling us it is good for nothing but to dispatch men out of the world and to ripen Church-yards these be his words What if he had lived in the time of circumcision he that can dispence to prevaricate Christs command in baptisme by pouring a little water or sprinkling a Childs face with two or three drops of water certainly if acted with the same Spirit he would have thought the ripple of a pin or a drop or two of blood to be spilt to have been sufficient to have answered the command in circumcision Mr. Baxter 2 Argument If it be a breach of the seventh commandment Thou shalt not commit Adultery ordinarily to baptize naked then it is an intolerable wickedness and not Gods command But it is a breach of the seventh command to baptize naked Therefore it is an intolerable wickedness and not Gods command Answ I am ashamed to name Mr. Baxters lightness in mentioning upon supposition onely the Maids of Bewdley though we have no example for being baptized naked nor any thing against it and therefore as an indifferent thing a Saint may as well be baptized naked as Saints prophesied naked yet it is well known that Garments with decency are approved of And will Mr. Baxter argue against an Ordinance because some probable evill may ensue why then doth he administer the Lords Supper seeing probably so administred many eat and drink their own damnation not discerning the Lords Body or why doth he allow of marriage meat drink and apparell seeing abuse hath been found in them why doth he therefore upon uncertain conjectures speak evill of the way of God in the administration of baptisme may he not be ashamed thus to contradict himself what is Christs command to be observed in a hot Country and not in a cold when were any killed with any one of the diseases that he hath reckoned though to some thereof baptisme hath been a present remedy In regard therefore Mr. Baxter hath so presumptuously shamelesly scandalously and malignantly spoken evill against the express
children were neglected for if it had been the will of God the Apostles would have readily baptized them and would not have neglected their duty nor would the holy Ghost so fully have declared the exclusion of children or nominated that all in the house believed c. when housholds were baptized Mr. S. chap. 12. pag. 109. in which Circumcision and Baptism are compared To which I answer Mr. S. having pleased himself to roul over the same stone I may say a stone of offence in tumbling it back again we being fully troubled with it chap. 1.2 3. So that Mr. S. I suppose will not finde it useful for his building therefore I much admire that he would compare Baptism and Circumcision and yet make them both look so like themselves as that pag. 114. the one he sayth cutting away sin as with a knife and the other washing it away with water In which words of Mr. S. there appeareth so much smoke in the temple in this blinde Popish doctrine as that I need not further confute it And yet it is so precious in his eyes as that the darkness of Uncharitableness hath so far possessed his spirit as I am constrained to say that he further hath judged his brethren saying That if they did with more sobriety weigh such considerations they would not with such foolish contempt write and speak of Infant baptism To which words of Mr. S. in soberness plainness and in the simplicity of the Gospel I say unto him Brother first take out the moat out of your own eyes which makes you imagine you see your brethren want sobriety and wisdom in that they cannot with you see that knife and water that cutteth off and washeth away sin Who is most inconsiderate I pray you It is the blood of Christ and not that of Circumcision which is the fountain and not of water that is set up for sin and for uncleanness Zâ—ch 13.1 Did not Popery hold forth this doctrine in teaching that Original sin is washed away in Baptism Certainly upon second thoughts I hope Mr. S. will not condemn his despised brethren of foolish contempt it upon this account as Popery hath corrupted and perverted the Ordinance they deny your doctrine concerning Baptism and Circumcision being thus by you made enemies to the cross of Christ and therefore there neither wants wisdom nor sobriety in those that upon this account do zealously oppose the ascribing of Justification to Circumcision and Infants baptism seeing Circumcision did never cut off sin and that Infant baptism is repugnant to the command of Christ in the Scripture And though I am tyred to meet again with Circumcision which was so silenced by the first General Assembly Acts 15. as methinks it should not be received by us that succed them To answer further That Circumcision as Mr. S. pretendeth hath no correspondency with Baptism we may observe 1. That Baptism is upon profession and prayer but Circumcision without any prayer or profession was instituted 2. Baptism hath relation to the Church called out of the world but Circumcision was onely the token of an entayl of inheritage in which the world were gathered or made a nation Exod. 12.48 3. Baptism brought in both men and women into the Church but Circumcision had no relation to the female And therefore I know not in what Baptism and Circumcision may justly be compared Mr. S. chap. 13. pag. 116. tells us that Col. 2.11 12. is a famous place holding forth correspondencie betwixt Circumcision and Baptism To which I answer You see Circumcision hath got upon the stage again to plead its correspondencie betwixt it and Baptism from Col. 2.11 12. from which you cannot expect any great applaudet first in that M. S. confesseth that some Divines are of contrary judgement And if all be not they may see cause of better information if they consider that it is circumcision made without hands which precedeth vers 11. which Baptism cannot succeed v. 12. And therefore this place which Mr. S. produceth cannot be famous except thereby that Mr. S. produceth a place whereby he is cast with his own witness But I hasten Mr. S. chap. 14. pag. 122. In which is a clear explication of Matth. 28.19 with Mark 16.15 16. wherein their Arguments from the first institution are opened and confuted Answ Mr. Baxter's Arguments and explanation of the commission of Christ Go and disciple unto me and baptize is I hope so fully answered that all the mists scruples wrangling and criticisms whereby Mr. S. hath endeavoured to over-veil the commission of Christ are there so answered that it will further appear that Mr. S. is either under delusion or doth prevaricate the command of Christ in that he would have the express and most plain words of Christ Go teach and baptize to mean sprinkle an untaught disciple An implicite contradiction to the Gospel-Ordinance as in Mr. S. next chapter will more appear Mr. S. chap. â—5 pag. 130. In which the signification or what it is to be baptized is discovered Answ That you may see what Mr. S. hath done in this business and how little his Humane authority which pag. 131. li. 1. he sayth are the best guides in this case It cannot be denyed but that after Mr. S produced Scapula Pasor and Grotius to shew their judgement of Baptism out of his ingenuity he confesseth which is all which we desire to be granted that those Authors in the strictest sense acknowledge and do interpret baptism for immersion that is to be covered all over or as the Scripture saith to be buried in baptism Rom. 6.4 Now behold how Truth prevaileth when Mr. S. set himself and all his learning to finde some scruple or doubt against the known received practice of Christ and his Apostles in baptism to try the test and to see how it may be judged by man his own witnesses Budeus Scapula and Grotius confess that in the strictest sense baptizing is to be understood as we would have it Yet notwithstanding Mr. S. doth with this Ordinance as the Heathens as Josephus tells us did with Christ in that they would not acknowledge him to be God because the Synod and common people had not seen him before his resurrection For to deny the right use of water in baptism Mr. S. flees to the Oracle of the Athenians Oâ— wonderful how gropes he or stumbleth for light on the noon-day or how hardly would he admit of Baptism In that he saith the Athenians baptized pots or cups what then do you think them so slovenly that they would onely sprinkle their pots and cups which are usually put into or washed all over in the water Alas Mr. S. alas this running under the fig-tree for shelter discovers Eve's nakedness Truely these critical fancies and wrested allegations will not hold water You are deceived if you think to blinde a seeing eye from beholding the right use of the element of water into which Christ descended was buried and for
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 wickâ—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