this is a most subtile sophistry much like to that of Satan when he beguiled Evah saying In the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt not dye but your eys shall be opened and you shall be at Gods knowing both good and evil all which was both true and a lye for they did learn to know evil by it to purpose and as for good they knew it before and now they learned to know it was good by the loss of it And after the same manner is your reasoning when you say If we have nothing but the bare words without the meaning and reason we have no proof To which I answer The truth is that if we have not the meaning of God and the reason reason why he speaks to us how can we understand as we ought but now Sir I shall make it appear that both Gods meaning and the reason of his meaning is plainly declared to the sons of men by his word of truth and so plainly that if you or an Angel from heaven shall add to it or take from it you shall be accursed and he will add to you all the plagues written and take your name out of the book of life All which if you do not knows I pray read Prov. 30.6 Gal. 1.8 9. Rev. 22.18 19. But you would make us believe that what is written is not able to inform us aright but you or such as you are must add to it or take from it at your pleasure and those your additions and substractions you call the meanings and reasons of the word of God But now I shall prove that the word of God alone is able to make us wise to salvation without your adding to or taking from and to that end see 2 Tim. 3.15 16 17. in these words And from a child thou hast known the holy Scriptures which are able to make us wise to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for Doctrine for Reproof for correction for instruction in rightcousness that the man of God may be perfect and throughly furnished unto all good works Again the Apostle Jam. 1.21 exhorteth us to lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness and to receive with meekness the ingraffed word which saith he is able to save your souls Again when Paul left the Saints in a dangerous condition because of deceivers he commits them to God and the word of his grace saying It is able to build them up and give them an inheritance amongst them that are sanctified Thus you see 1 That the Scripture is able to make us wise to salvation 1 Tins 3.15 2 That all Scripture is given by the inspiration of God and therefore profitable for Doctrine reproof correction instruction in righteonsness ver 16. 3 To make the man of God perfect and throughly furnished to all good works ver 17. 4 It s able to save our souls Jam. 1.21 5 It s able to build us up and give us an inheritance amongst them that are sanctified Act. 20.32 And now seeing the holy writings are able to do all these things I will boldly and safely conclude that we have no need of your Reasons and Sences to help them but you have need to help your Reasons and Senses by the holy writings or else you will be but one of those insensible unreasonable men that Paul prays to be delivered from because they had not faith and how can you have faith as Christ saith How can you believe when you receive honor one of another John 5.44 and do not you receive honor one of another when you prefer one anothers words above the words of God which Christ and the holy men of old spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost 2 Pet. 1.21 But whereas you say wickedly that if we have the words of God without the meaning and reason we have no proof Answer I am sure I may honestly and in the fear of God conclude that if we have your words and meanings and reasons without the word of God we have no proof that we may safely trust for Let God be true and every man a lyer and cursed be he that trusteth in man c. Rom. 3.4 Ier. 17.5 And thus your folly is manifest but because this is the very place in which and slight by which Satan doth deceive and murder so many souls the Reader must give me leave to inlarge my selfe in answering Now to your proof which is this you say The Divel used the words of God to tempt Christ I Answer doth it follow that because the Divel and wicked men do sometimes use the word of God to deceive with that therefore the Saints must not use it make them wise to salvation I trow not Againe Sir You much mistake the matter for the Divells deceit did not ly in bringing the Scriptures but in adding to and taking from as I shall make it appear by comparing the words the Divell brought Mat. 4.6 and Luke 4.10 11. with those words in Psa 91.11 12. which are these For he shall give his Angels charge over thee to keep thee in all thy wayes they shall bear thee up in their hands left thou dash thy feet against a Stone These are the words of the Prophesie Psa 91.11 12. but the words of the tempter are these Cast thy self down which is nowhere written Just as you say Baytise your Children which is no where written but the Divell would prove he might thus for saith he it is written He shall give his Angells charge concerning thee to keep thee as in Luk. 14.10 and with their hands they shall bear thee up left at any time that is added thou dash thy feet against a Stone Thus it is clear the tempter added at any time and left cut in all thy wayes Againe Luke 4.9 10 11. We read Cast thy selfe downe for it is written He shall give his Angells charge over thee to keep thee and in their hands they shall bare thee up left at any time thou dash thy feet against a stone Thus we see in both Scriptures that the tempter added Cast thy selfe downe and at any time and left out in all thy wayes So that here is both adding and diminishing which is accursed of God and yet Mr. Baxter takes the Divells part and saith the Divell used the words of the Scriptures to Christ But this is but a small fault with you Sir for you have learned to take the same leave your selfe as I now shall make it appear thus If thou be the Son of God The Divell said to Christ cast thy self downe which is nowhere written as the Lord saith but the contrary viz. Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God So do you say If you be the Children of God and in Covenant baptize your Children which is nowhere written but the contrary thus Teach all Nations batizing them c. Mat. 28.19 And Preach the Gospell to every
continue in my word then are ye my disciples indeed and you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free And again cap. 15.7 If you abide in me and my words abide in you ask what you will and it shall be done unto you and the word is able to save our souls Jam. 1.21 and the Lord will have respect to them that are of contrite spirits and tremble at his word Isa 66.2 but whose despiseth the word shall be destroyed but he that regardeth the Commandment shall be rewarded Pro. 13.13 And thus its evident that if we run to the word for refuge we do wisely and are safe in so doing But as for Mr. Hall he hath never a word to run to for Infant-baptism as he himself confesses pag. 30. in his fifth Argument in these words In express terms so infants baptism is not commanded nor a thousand things more which get we are bound to observe I shall now conclude with shewing some undenyable Reasons why the word of God must beunderstood and obeyed as it is written without adding to or taking from 1 Because God did never without words make known his minde to the sons of men therefore we read that God at sundry times in divers manners spake to our fathers by the Prophets but now in these last days he hath spoken by his own son c. Heb. 1.12 2 By words the minde of God is compleatly made known so that to fear God and keep his Commandments is the whole duty of man Eccles 12.12 13. 3 Because Christ blames men for erring from the Scriptures saying You erre because you know not the Scriptures Mark 12.24 4 Because we are commanded to hear the words of Christ in all things what soever he shall say unto us Act. 3.22 5 Because they that consent not to wholsom words even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Doctrine which is according to godliness are proud or fools knowing nothing 1 Tim. 6.3 4. 6 Because the Scriptures are able to make us wise to salvation through faith in Jesus and to make the man of God perfect and throughly to furnish us to all good works 2 Tim. 3.15 16 17. 7 Because when Paul left the Church in a dangerous condition because of deceivers he committed them to God and to the word of his grace affirming it is able to build them up and to give them an inheritance amongst them that are sanctified 8 Because if men or Angels shall preach any other Gospel then what is already preached they shall be accursed Gal. 1.8.9 9 Because those that preach are commanded to preach the word in season and out of season 2 Tim. 4.12 and not their own words 10 Because Christ will judge all men by his words that he hath spoken in the last day and then they which do add to his word he will add to them all the plagues written and those that diminish from it he will take their names out of the book of life and their part out of the holy City and he will come in flaming fire to render vengeance on them that know not God and obey not his holy Gospel Joh. 12.48 Rev. 22.18 19. 2 Thef 2.7 8 9. Lastly I shall propound these following Queries with a desire to have them answered by any who will or can 1 Whether God doth require the sons of men to believe any thing in point of Justification that is not recorded in the holy Scriptures of truth 2 Whether God doth require or command us to obey any thing after believing which is not contained in the word of truth 3 Whether the Saints have any ground to believe the Resurrection from the dead and eternal life in glory but as it is recorded in Scripture 4 Whether if a man believe and obey all the known precepts and promises contained in the word of God as much as in him lyeth will God condemn and punish him at the great day because he hath believed and done no more 5 If the Scriptures be not a perfect rule of faith and obedience without the help of any mans inventions what is Or who may we trust or at whose mouth must we seek wisdom 6 If the Scriptures ought to be believed and obeyed as they are written then how dare some deny faith in and obedience to some part of them and impose things not written in the Scriptures to be obeyed in stead of the ordinances of Christ 7 Whether there be any sin or corruption incident to man that the Scriptures doth not reprove and make manifest in express terms 8 Whether there be any vertue or praise in any thing that the best of men ever did but what is expresly commanded or commended in the Scriptures of truth 9 I appeal to every mans Conscience in the sight of God whether their Consciences do not condemn them when they walk contrary to what is written in the Scripture 10 Whether every mans Conscience do not justifie him when he walks according to what is contained in the word of God Now if all these Queries be granted as they are stated to be true then it followeth that those that teach and perswade men to do any thing in matter of Justification or salvation more or less then is plainly written and expressed in the word of God are such as do add to or take from what God hath spoken to the sons of men for instruction and are guilty of those plagues pronounced Rev. 22.18 19. but infants baptism is nowhere written nor expressed in all the Scriptures as Mr. Hall Mr. Baxter and Mr. Cook do confess therefore they and all they that plead for it are guilty of the plagues aforesaid except they repent And thus have I answeâ—â—d to Mr. Baxters ten Positions which he saith pag. 3. must necessarily be well understood before we can understand the point in hand So that the Reader must take notice that if these Positions be not well understood to be true then all the rest of his book cannot be understood to be true by his own confession For saith he If people be mistaken in that which goeth before no wonder if they deny the consequents or that which followeth after c. So that if I have fully answered these Positions I need say but little to the rest of the book All which I leave to the Reader to consider of But howsoever I shall not fail by the assistance of God to speak so much to the two first parts of his book as may undermine his building and lay it in the dust As for the last part of his book from the 162 page to the end himself confesseth that they are but such vain contendings as he is like to be guilty of and Mr. Tombs also as you may see in his Epistle to the Church at Bewdley towards the latter end Likewise Mr. Cooks Arguments being the same with his the substance of both tending to prove that infants are in Covenant and that they are
testimonies of the Lord. Mark 1.3.4.5 where we read first of the voice of one crying in the wilderness to prepare the way of the Lord and to make his paths straight Secondly that John baptized in that wilderness and whom he baptized is evident in the following words And he preacht the Baptism of Repentance for the Remission of sins and there went out unto him all the Land of Judea and they of Jerusalem and were all baptized of him in the River of Jordan confessing their sins c. Thus we see that all that were baptized of John of the Inhabitants of Judea and Jerusalem were such as could and did confess their sins But little children that cannot speak cannot confess their sins therefore none such were baptized by John See also Matth. 3.5 6. Thus it being cleer by the Scriptures that John baptized men and women that could believe and confess their sins and not a word spoken of sucking children I shall now proceed to the works of the Apostles to whom Christ gave Commission as aforesaid and see what they practised Act. 2.40.41 we read that when they preached and exhorted the people with many words to save themselves from that untoward generation then they that gladly received his word were baptized and added to the Church c. But little babes of eight days weeks or months old cannot gladly receive the word of God because they understand it not therefore none such were baptized there Object But some will object from ver 39. that the Promise was to them and their children and therefore children may be baptized Answ I grant the Promise was to them vers 38 that if they did repent and be baptized in the name of Christ for the Remission of sins they should receive the gift of the Holy-Ghost and this is true also to their children if they did repent and obey the Gospel as aforesaid and so it is to us and to our children though never so far off upon the same condition of Faith Repentance and Baptism for it is to all that the Lord our God shall call but they must be called first observe that ver 39. And thus is the objection fully answered Again If ever the Apostle baptized children it must needs be now according to their Argument who say the Promise is to children and therefore But that they baptized no such children is evident because they that were baptized were such as could and did gladly receive the word and continued stedfastly in the Apostles Doctrine and fellowship and breaking of bread and Prayer all which little babes that cannot speak words nor understand Reason cannot possibly do therefore none such baptized The next place is Act. 8.12 where we read that when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ they were baptized both men and women in express terms but we never read a word of little children Again ver 36 37. we read that the Eunuch said to Philip See here is water what hinders me to be baptized and Philip said If thou believest with all thine heart thou mayest But such little babes as these baptize cannot believe with all their hearts therefore they may not be baptized neither do we yet in the least see that any such were baptized by the Apostles The next is Act. 10.46 47 48. in these words Can any man forbid water that these should not be baptized that have received the Holy Ghost as well as we And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord Iesus By all which we see that no such babes were here baptized for all that were in this place baptized were such as had received the Holy Ghost as well as the Apostles and they heard them speak with tongues and magnifie God which children that cannot speak at all cannot possibly do all rational men will grant The next is Lydia and her houshould Act. 16.14 15. Now some say thus Who knows but she might have little children To which I answer if none know then all ought to be silent and not to believe and affirm things they know not for that is wickedness and folly but thus much we know 1 That Christ commanded them to baptize them which believed 2 Hitherto we have found them baptizing of none else 3 The Scripture speaks of no children she had nor yet of any husband and therefore silence gives no commands to obey nor no Promises to believe nor no examples to follow Again if she had an husband he was baptized for she and her houshoald were baptized Now if he had been baptized he would surely have born the name in the history rather then she being the head of the house Lastly we read ver 40. that when Paul and Silas came out of prison they entred into the house of Lydia and comforted the brethren and departed but little babes are not capable of such comfort therefore no such brethren in Lydia's house nor any ground at all to believe it from Scripture nor Reason The next is the Jaylor who was baptized with his houshould from whence some would draw the same Argument as from Lydia's and perswade us that there were children in his house but the Text is plain against it for it saith Act. 16.32 33 34. that they spake the word of the Lord to him and to all in his house and he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes and was baptized he and all his straight ways and when he had brought them into his house he set meat before them and rejoyced believing in God with all his house Thus the Scripture in plain words as it saith the one that he and all his were baptized so also it saith he with all his house believed in God and therefore if Mr. Cook will evade the one by his learned Exposition in his 17 page he may as well evade the other and so conclude that none but he was baptized But consider the result of his labours when he hath laboured by all his wit and skill to pervert the Text yet he confesseth that the Syriack Translation reads it thus And he exulted and all the children of his house even all of them in the Faith of God I pray let all rational men consider what difference is between their all rejoycing and believing God and exulting even all of them in the Faith of God but that the man labours to darken the Counsel of God by these words words without knowledge As in Job 38.2 And thus the Lord taketh the wise in their own craftiness and the Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise that they are vain 1 Cor. 3.19.20 But one thing more I had like to have forgotten viz. his seeming sophistical answer to Act. 8.12 where the Text saith plainly that when they believed they were baptized both men and women To this he answereth in his 16 page that these words men and women are applyable to sexes
am sure I have Christ my Judge on my side for this Thus you may see and consider how like your forefather Doctor Story you speak and behave your self and to that end I have writ it and that the Reader may consider that even as these wicked Tyrants dealt with the poor Martyrs that suffered in Queen Maries days for that part of truth which they then saw in those times of ignorance and darkness even so would Mr. Baxter and his brethren deal with us now if they had but their liberty witness these words of Doctor Story compared with Mr. Baxters tenth Position by which it appeareth that they are children of one father whose works they do Joh. 8.44 And now whereas you say we disclaim Reason I answer It s but one of your false accusations we own all things written in the Scriptures of truth and they are better reason about heavenly matters then any you can bring for they are able to make us wise to salvation as aforesaid But now I come to the great invincible Argument of Mr. Baxter and Mr. Cook which is this saith Mr. Baxter Do you think the Lord Jesus knew a good Argument or the right way of disputing why how did he prove the Resurrection to the Sadduces from that Text I am the God of Abraham and Isaas and of Jasob would not one of these men if they had stood by have chiddeu Christ for this Argument and have said Give us a Text that says the dead shall Rise what 's this to the Resurrection that God is the God of Abraham would not these have reported abroad that Christ could not confute the Sadduces or bring any Scripture for his doctrine thus far Mr. Baxter the same saith Mr. Cook in his 24 and 25 pag. To all which I answer that the Lord Jesus knew a good Argument and the right way of disputing better then Mr. Baxter Mr. Cooke or my selfe or any man else I humbly confess to his praise and therefore I desire to make use of his words that he hath already spoken knowing that he hath reasoned and proved all things better then I can But Mr. Baxter although he confess for his own ends that the Lord Christ knew the best reasoning yet he is not content with his reason but adds to it these words in his 10 Position 1. If God be the God of Abraham then it will follow that Abraham in soul is living 2. This is not directly proved from this Text but another principle must be taken in to support it viz. That God is not the God of the dead but the living 3. If Abrahams soul be living then his body must needs be raised 4. If Abrahams body shall rise then there is a resurrection and others shall rise also To which I answer 1. Mr. Baxter in all these consequences that he hath drawn hath but darkened the councell of God spoken by the mouth of Christ 2. The resurrection is more plainly proved by the words of Christ without all his consequences as appeareth by the word of the Text Luk. 20.35 36 37. But they that shall be accounted worthy to obtaine that world and the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage neither can they dy any more for they are equall with Angells and are the Children of God being the Children of the resurrection Thus Christ himselfe in plaine terms hath proved the resurrection already speaking plainly of the happiness of those that shall obtaine the resurrection from the dead and then when he had done he concludes that the resurrection of the dead is so plain that even Moses shewed it at the Bush c. 3. Let Mr. Baxter prove if he can that Christ did draw any consequences from his owne words but left them barely as he spake them as sufficient proof without the help of any of Mr. Baxters consequences 4. If Christ had used never so many consequences to prove any thing yet his words were all Scripture and infallibly true So true that whosoever of Men or Angels should add to or take from it they were accursed But Mr. Baxters are none such therefore we weigh them not 5. Whereas Mr. Baxter is pleased to say If we had stood by we would have said to Christ Give us a Scripture that saith the dead shall rise I answer So Christ did give them two Scriptures though Mr. Baxter is so blind he cannot see them for he telleth us ver 35. of the world to come and the Resurrection from the dead in plaine tearms saying They which shall be accounted worthy to obtaine that world and the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage And in ver 37. he saith that the dead are raised And we would have Mr. Baxter and all men know that we take all the sayings of Christ to be as good Scripture and of as great authority as any part of the Bible therefore now Mr. Baxter and Mr. Cooks folly and wickedness is manifest who would insinuate into peoples mindes that Christ did not bring Scripture to prove the resurrection of the dead but they must help him by their consequences But their deceit lieth in this namely in that they did conclude that because Christ did not bring some other Scripture that was written before to prove the resurrection therefore he proved it by consequence never minding that what he said was Scripture and what he approved of is approved and ought to be approved of all without murmurings or disputings But now to make their folly manifest I will reason with them another way and if they prove as plainely that Infants ought to be baptized as Chirst did there prove that the dead should rise they shall have it and I will confess my selfe in an errour And now to the matter 1. Mark 12.25 For when they shall rise from the dead they neither marry nor are given in marriage Now do you shew a Scripture that saith And when they shall baptize little Children they shall c. 2. Ver. 26. And as touching the dead that they rise have you not read c. Now do you produce such a Scripture if you can that saith And as touching little Children that they be baptized have you not read c. bring you but Scriptures that come but thus neer the matter and we will grant you Infant-baptisme but till then you are unreasonable in your reasoniags and while you accuse others you are guilty your selves Obj. It may be some will object and say that I will tie Mr. Baxter and Mr. Cooke to plaine Scripture but yet I have written many words in this Book my selfe that are not plaine Scripture Ans It s one thing for a man to use words to express himselfe to those that will not believe the Scriptures as they are written and it s another thing to bring the holy Scriptures to shew men a Rule to walk by and what their duty is in matters of faith and obedience We will