again and as new born babes in Christ having tasted of the sincere milk of the word desire still more of the same that they might grow up thereby and such as appeared to be converted and to become as little ones such little ones as believed in Jesus The first proposition I suppose none that own Christ and his Apostles will dare to deny And the second which is more questionable will also be proved See Acts 2. 38 39 40 41 42 c. Although Peter with the 11 calls upon the convicted Jews to repent and to be baptized every one in the name of Jesus for the remission of sins and tells them that then they shall be made partakers of the holy Spirit and that they should not need to distrust it he shews them the largeness of the promise that was made concerning the pouring forth of the Spirit it being promised to be poured forth upon all flesh as they had exprest in the beginning of their discourse out of Joel v. 16. and 17. and therefore â—aith t is to you and to your Children and to all that are a far off even as many of you your children and such as are a far off as the Lord our God shall call yet he baptizeth none but such as were called by the holding forth the word of salvation by Jesus Christ as appears in the words for they that gladly received his word were baptized and they only for they that were baptized were added and continued together in the Apostles Doctrine and in fellowship and in breaking of bread and in prayer and continued dayly with one accord in the Temple and breaking bread from house to house did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart praising God all which cannot be understood of infants of daies And therefore this place if rightly considered will be so far from affording a ground for the baptizing of the children of believing parents because here it is said the promise is to you and to your children that it will sufficiently evince the contrary for indeed such an apprehension is accompanyed with 2 or 3 evident mistakes there is a mistake in the promise in the parties to whom the promise belongs and the manner how it is to them and their children c. 1. There is a mistake of the promise in that it is looked at as the covenant of Grace which doth ingratiate the soul into and gives it an interest in all the privileges of the Gospel of Christ and so in order doth go before baptism or any other visible ordinance and appointment of his whereas in very truth by promise there is meant that holy Spirit of promise which they which believed in Christ and obeyed him should according to promise receive after he was ascended unto the right hand of the father as appears Joh. 7. 39. 14. 16. 16. 7. That which he had here shed a broad in a powerfull manner upon the Apostles and that which these Jews also in believing and obeying the Gospel of Christ should also receive and therfore saith Peter repent and be baptized and ye shall receive c. and was no other than that which was of old prophecyed of by Ioel as is declared v. 16. and so is a promise that follows faith and obedience and not such as goes before to give right to this appointment of Christ 2. There is a mistake in the parties to whom this promise belongs for whereas it is said to you and to your children and the reupon it is conceived to be meant believers and their infants of daies which upon that accompt are to be baptized it is plain and evident when the Apostle spoke these words to them they could not be looked upon as believers forasmuch as they being prick'd at the heart and only convinced of their evill in murdering the Lord of life propounded what they should do to be saved which is farre from believing to which the Apostle replies repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus for the remission of sinnes and to conceive that by their children were meant infants of daies it may be as well so understood by your Sonnes and daughters which should so receive of the promise of the Spirit as to prophecy mentioned in the seventeenth verse of this chapter to which these words are related and to make it appear that the promise was not so either to them or their children as yet manifested to give them right unto baptism after many more words used by the Apostle to perswade them to save themselves from this adulterous generation it is said but as many as gladly received his word were baptized and but only such and not their infants of daies for they that were baptized continued together in such appointments of Christ as infants are in no measure capable of 3. There is a mistake in the manner how this promise is to them their children not spoken to them now as believers their children as having right and interest peculiar by them but indeed to them and their children no otherwise than to all that are a far off which if taken in the generall cannot be understood but with respect to the general promise which is to pour forth his Spirit upon all flesh but if with the restriction which is even as many as the Lord our God shall call then parents and children Jews and Gentiles such as are neer and such as are a far off must be called by the word of his grace before they can have a peculiar right and interest in this spirit of promise and so a child that is called to believe and obey the Gospel may have this promise made good unto him before his father and a Gentile that is a far off before a Jew that is neer This will appear also by other instances as of Philip baptizing in Samaria they were men and women that he baptised there such as believed and received the word with great joy Acts 8. 8. 12. and when the Eunuch seeing the water asked what should let him to be baptised Philip intimates that although he had been taught yet the want of a manifestation of faith would be a let v. 36 37. And whereas there is mention made of whole houses that were baptised that the Commissioners might appear faithfull unto their Lord and keep close to the very words of their Commission you shall find they were first taught and by teaching were made his disciples and gladly received his word See it in Cornâ—lius houshold Acts 10. 33 34. compared with the 44. 47. the Iaylors houshold Acts 16. 32. 34. they spake unto him the word of God and unto all that were in his house and he set meat before them and rejoyced believing in God with all his house see it also in Crispus houshold Acts 18. 8 9 10 11. Stephanus houshold 1 Cor. 1. 16 17. compared with chap. 16 v. 15. And as for Lydias houshold Acts. 16. the Spirit of God being more silent
and powerfull instructing there is none to him in point of instruction for he it is in whose hand is the Key of David and he openeth the heart to understand the scriptures and to shew a lively experiment of his powerfull instructing when he was here upon Earth he past by the wise and learned Rabbies and called the illiterate and foolish Fishermen and to this day doth choose not many wise nor many learned but the poor foolish and despised ones that as a teacher he may shew his abilities thereby giving understanding to the simple speaking words of light and life and spirit to them and by them to confound the wise and learned and mighty yea he indeed is the light of the Gentiles which sate and still in a great measure sit in darkness and is that true light that enlightneth every one that cometh into the World see 24 Luke 45. 1 Corinthians 1. 26 27. Iohn 6. 63. Acts 13. 47. Iohn 1. 9. And as he was the Prophet opening his Fathers Bosome and shewing the things that were past and present so the things also that were to come he tells them how many things he must suffer of the Elders and Chief Priests and Scribes and be killed and raised again the third day and therein foresheweth his Office of Priesthood he also foretells how after he is risen as a Lord he will set his House in order and so depart to his Father to receive his Kingdom and to return and what shall befall his Servants in the time of his absence by the reign and rage of the Beast and Spirit of Antichrist and what will be each ones portion at his return as appears in the book of the Revelation which is surrounded with blessings to him that readeth Chapter 1. 3. and curses to him that addeth to it or taketh from it Chapr last 18. 19. Wherefore seeing there is no Prophet or Teacher to Christ and his Spirit in point of instruction both for excellency of matter and efficacy in teaching it well suites with Christians to be still cleaving close to this Prophet and concluding with the Disciple that first trusted in him Whither shall we go thou hast the Words of Eternall life But to proceed he is The Anointed King who is gone unto his Father for his glorious Kingdom and shall ere long return again That Jesus of Nazareth is the Anointed King could not be hid in the day of his humiliation as appears Luke 23. 2 3. Chapter 19. 38. The Majesty of a King did to appear in that lowly and meek form while he rode upon an Asse that if the multitude of the Disciples had not confest him but had held their pâ—ace the stones would cry out yea and then his word had a powerfull efficacy like the word of a King among Men and Devils the winds and Seas so that he speaks but the word and the blind see the lame walk the deaf hear the dumb speak the dead are raised the Devills are cast out the poor receive the Gospell when he is at the weakest then is Pilate fore'd to confess that he is King of the Iews and to propagate this confession as far as Latin Greek and Hebrew will cary it this appears more evident since he was raised and sits as Lord at the right hand of the Father at least in the hearts and lives of his Servants by powring forth that Spirit or oyntment received Acts 2. 33 34 35 36. So that the Kings of Israel were but his types and the Kings of the Nations are but his Sword-bearers for he is King of Kings but most lively shall this truth be made manifest when all enemies shall become his footstool and he shall appear indeed in the form of a King with thousands of his Saints and ten thousand times ten thousand of the heavenly Hosts and shall in the powerfull word of a King command the Earth and the Sea to give up their Dead and both wicked men and Devills to go together into torment and they shall be tormented and the Saints to enter into the joy of their Lord and it shall be unspeakably glorious 25 Mat. 31. 32. Luke 9. 26. John 5. 28 29. And that he is gone unto his Father to receive his Kingdom and shall ere long return again will be made manifest by these scriptures Io. 20. 17. Lu. 19. 12 13. Heb. 9. last 2 Tim. 4. 1. Rev. last so that as certainly as he hath had a time for his Propheticall Office and for his Priestly so shall he have a time for his Kingly and as the dream of Nebuchadnezzer hath been found certain and the interpretation of Daniel sure concerning those four Monarchies or Kingdoms of men which should come to pass in the Earth so certain and sure it is that the day is aproaching that the God of Heaven will set up his Kingdom by that despised yet Corner-stone that was cut out without hands Dan. 2. 44. 45. That this Iesus Christ is also the Lord none to or with him c. That he is the Lord appears 2 Cor. 4. 5. We preach Christ Iesus the Lord saith Paul and Acts 10. 36. saith Peter he is Lord of all and hence it is that he is called Lord of Lords Rev. And that there is none to him by way of commanding and ordering with respect to the worship of God the household of Faith will evidently appear if the nature of the household of Faith the worship of God and the commanding and ordering power that suits therewith be considered with respect unto him For the nature of the household of Faith they are a company of faithfull ones that are bought with the price of his blood knit together in one by his Spirit founded wholly upon himself built up by him to be a holy habitation of God and therefore not in the least measure to be defiled with the inventions and commandements of men from whence it is that they are still with their ey fixt upon him whom they look upon to be as well the finisher as the author of their faith still in their hearts calling on him that hath bought them and saying Lord what wilt thou have me to doe and still standing upon their watch to harken what this Lord will speak for the voice of a stranger they will not hear so that by this it evidently appears that there is none that hath so much right unto this household of Faith by way of ordering it not yet freedom in it by way of commanding as hath Christ Iesus the Lord And from the nature of the worship which is spirituall to be performed by a spirituall worshipper and after or in that true manner that the Father of spirits hath appointed it will as evidently appear that there is none to him by way of commanding and ordering in this matter who is the only begotten of the Father came out of and yet is in his bosome and hath declared him the true way of his worship and
that loved him and kept his commandments and that he intended the same unto other visible disciples that should love him and keep his commandments unto the end of the world will also appear for if the appointment of Christ sci the supper that went before and is exprest chapter the 13. and the prayer of Christ that followed after and is exprest chapter 17. did belong unto them that should believe through their word till he come again then this promise that is so often repeated between doth as well belong unto them as to these but the former is true See Iohn 17. 20. 1. Cor. 11. 26. therefore the later If the consequence be denied it will still be proved out of Christs own words See Iohn 7. 37 38. and the consideration even in reason of Christs exceeding love and tender care towards all his disciples that love him and keep his commandments and their sensible wants of the same supplies of the Spirit will clearly evince it 2. It will clearly appear out of the words of the Apostles of Christ See Iohns interpretation of these words of Christ Out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water This spake he saith Iohn of the Spirit which they that believe on him should receive for the holy Spirit was not yet because Iesus was not yet glorified John 7. 29. See also what they all say with one mouth after they had received this holy Spirit with power whereby they were furnished as Apostles or Embassadors of him that had all power in heaven and earth in his hand to go forth with the embassage of peace into all Nations and could deliver the mind of their Lord unto them in their own language Acts 2. 38 39. Repent and be baptised every one of you in the name of Iesus for the remission of sins ye shall receive the gift of the holy Spirit for the promise is to you and to your children and to all that are a far off as many of all these as the Lord our God shall call sci to repentance from dead works to faith in Christ Iesus to this visible manifestation thereof by being baptised and so visibly planted into the death buriall and resurrection of Christ for the remission of sins 3. This will also appear by the enjoyments of those that first trusted in Christ and visibly manifested their faith and love in and to the Lord by keeping his commandments The Disciples which were also called Apostles waiting in the appointment of their Lord at Jerusalem received and were filled with that holy Spirit with power according to promise See Acts 1. 4. compared with 2. 2. So that great number that were about three or rather five thousand souls that believed through their word and were baptized in Jerusalem and waited in the appointments of the same Lord that is to say together steadfastly in the Apostles doctrine and in fellowship and in breaking of bread and in prayer they also enjoied this holy Spirit according to promise See Acts 4. 31. The like may be found among the Saints in Samaria Acts 8. 17. in Ephesus Acts 19. And the same may be found among the Saints that thus put on Christ and walked in him among those that first trusted in him in all places See it in the Romans chap. 5. 5. and chap. 8. at large See it in the Corinthians Epistle 1. chap. 2. 10. 12. and 6. 11. 19. and ch 12. at large In the Galathians ch 3. 2. 4. 6. In the Ephesians chap. 1. 13. In the Philippians chap. 3. 3. In the Colossians chap. 1. 8. In the Thessalonians Ep. 1. chap. 1. 5 6. and chap. 5. 19. This promise is also found true in the litle children that Iohn writes to and is often repeated 1 Iohn 3. 24 4. 13. and in the 2. 27. he speaks unto them after this manner but the anointing speaking of this holy Spirit of promise which ye have received of him abideth in you and such is his supply that you need not that any man teach you but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things and is truth and is no lie even as it hath taught you ye shall abide in him And now litle Children abide in him c. And Iude telleth us that the very ground why some that had made a profession of the faith and order of Iesus caused divisions and offences contrary to that doctrine they had received and separated themselves was because they were sensuall not having this Spirit Iude 19 And as all this hath been proved by the last Will and Testament of that living Lord so is it also clear that his Will is not to be added to or taken from compare Gal. 3. 15. with Rev. 22. 18 19. which notwithstanding if any man shall attempt to do let him know this Lord is alive and will ere-long appear sufficiently able to avenge it 3. I testifie that every such servant of Christ Iesus may in point of liberty yea ought in point of duty to improve that talent which his Lord hath given unto him That it is their duty to improve the talent the Lord hath given unto them and that for that end it was also given will appear by those two instances of the Lord himself the first is Mat. 5. 13 14 15. Ye saith the Lord to his Disciples are the salt of the earth the light of the world c. neither do men light a candle and put it under a hushell but on a candlestick whereby he intimates that if it be far from the intention of men who are but weak and foolish in their intentions and actions to sight a candle which is for use and then to put it under a bushell and so make it useless then much further from the purpose and intention of God who is the father of lights to enlighten the spirit of a man which is the candle of the Lord and then to have that light concealed and with-held therefore it follows let your light saith the Lord so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorifie your father which is in heaven The other instance is in the 19 th chapter of Luke 11 12 13 14 15 16. to the 27. verse in which Parable is lively declared by the Lord 1. That that glorious Kingdome of God that shall certainly appear should not so immediatly appear as some thought it should for which end is the Parable spoken verse 11. and the first words of the Parable will prove the same thing for the Noble-man which is Christ Iesus the Lord must first go into a far counâ—ry to receive his Kingdome which is to the right hand of the Father there to sit untill all his enemies become his footstool and so return 2. Here is declared the order in which this Lord left this houshold when he went to receive his Kingdome he bestowed gifts or talents upon them and commands them as his servants in their severall places to occupy till he come
oppose themselVes which word signifieth a setting a mans self in an opposition to the truth in a more than an ordinary manner even by way of covenant or resolution of spirit yet are they still to be waiting with meekness upon them if God at any time will giVe them repentance to the acknowledgement of the truth that they may recoVer themselVes out of the snares of the deVil who are taken captiVe by him at his will Another argument that there can be no warrant from Christ for such a practice as this is taken from such expressions of his wherein he shews his dislike thereof and it standeth thus 7. Arg. If Christ Jesus the Lord have sharply reproved and checked his servants when he hath espied such a spirit as this but breaking forth in them then can no servant of his have any countenance much less authority from him so to practise But the first is true he hath sharply reproved them when he espied such a spirit as this but breaking forth witness his words Luke 22. 24 25. c. Joh. 18. 10 11. Mat. 26. 51 52 53. 54. Luke 9. 46 47. 49 50. 52 53 54. 55 56. where it is said when the Samaritans perceived that Christs face was towards Ierusalem they did so envy him for Ierusalems sake which was the place of Gods worship that they would not receive him nor afford unto him such common curtesie as belonged unto strangers for which discurteous repulse of their Lord and master James and John in a preposterous zeal judged that they deserved to dy and thereupon moved the question to Christ in these words verse 55. Wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven and consume them but what is the answer of Christ it is said he turned and rebuked them saying ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of They were scarce awar that they were hereunto moved by no other spirit than the spirit of Antichrist for saith he The Son of man is not come to destroy mens lives but to save them and if he came into this world to save mens lives and not to destroy them and will have his Servants to learn of him meekness and mercy and to be as he was in this present evil world I say if he came to save mens lives even the rebellious then no servant of his can have any authority from him for such cases as these to destroy them The last Argument standeth thus 8. Arg. That which of it self is inconsistent with the civil peace liberty prosperity and safety of a Place Commonwealth or nation no servant of Christ Jesus can have liberty much less authority from his Lord to do But this outward forcing of men in matters of conscience towards God to believe as others believe and to practise and worship as others do cannot stand with the Peace Liberty Prosperity and safety of a Place Commonwealth or nation Therefore no servant of Christ can have any liberty much less authority so to do The first proposition can scarce be denyed if these things be considered sci That Christ Jesus the Lord is the Prince of Peace Isa 9 6 Heb 7. 2. and the more a man is made partaker of and led by the Spirit of the Lord which is the Spirit of Peace the more peaceable and quiet is he like to be towards all men with whom he hath to do for this Prince of Peace hath given express command unto all his Servants who are the Children of Peace in whose hearts his word stands with power as the word of a King to be at peace among themselves 1 Thes 5 13. To live in peace 2 Cor. 13. 11. To follow peace with all men Heb 12. 14. To seek peace and ensue it 1 Pet. 3. 11. To follow after those things that make for peace Rom. 14. 19. If it be possible as much as in them lyeth to have peace with all men Rom. 12. 16. Yea not to seek their own but every man anothers wealth 1 Cor. 10. 24. To seek the peace of the place where God hath bounded his habitation yea and to pray unto God for it and for the rulers thereof Jer. 29. 7. 1 Tim. 2. 2. By all which it doth evidently appear that that which of it â—elf cannot stand with the peace and prosperity of a place and nation that can no servant of Christ have by the authority of this Lord unless by a just judgement from him upon the rulers of this world for giving their power and sword to the beast thus to be abused and made drunk with the blood of the Saints which his tender heart cannot but avenge upon themselves and upon the Nations for their loving to have it so And as for the second Proposition which is this that this outward forcing of men in matters of conscience towards God to believe as others believe and to practise and worship not as themselves but as others are perswaded cannot stand with the peace liberty prosperity and safety of a Place Nation and Commonwealth this will as plainly appear in the examination of each particular thereof And first it cannot stand with the peace of a Commonwealth for as there could be no peace expected in the Israel of old so long as that harlot Jezabel who thirsted after innocent blood could at her pleasure obtain the seal and power of the King to effect her bloody design upon the servants of the Lord who withstood her Idolatrous Priests and that Idolatrous way and worship which they had set up so likewise as long as that spirituall Jezabell among those that account themselves the Israel of God who is seen in Rev. 17. 3. to ride upon that scarlet-coloured beast and to own her self as the City and spouse of that great King the King of Saints so long I say as she can by her glorious deckings and splendours so deceive and allure the Kings and Rulers of the earth to commit fornication with her and to give their sword and power to the beast that bears her up there can be no expectation of peace in the earth but still of wars and rumours of wars untill mens hearts fail them for so long as there is an outward force or power to be had to maintain and uphold the carnall interests and advantages of some upon religious accounts and to persecute others who for conscience sake towards God dare not yea cannot conform to their way What hopes are hereby begotten and nourished in some what jealousies suspicions and fears in others what revengfull desires in most yea what plottings and contrivings in all and as a fruit and effect hereof what riding running troublesome and tumultuous assemblings together and â—idings yea and outragious murderings and bloodshedings are hereby produced in a Nation to gain that power and sword to their party either to crush suppress or cause the other to conform or at the least and best to save themselves from being crushed suppressed or forced to