be baptized under that Consideration Or 2. Persons are in the Covenant of Grace Conditionally viz. in case they Believe and Repent Now under this Consideration the Children of Unbelievers have the same Interest in the Covenant and Sign of the Covenant And Children of Believers have a right no other way to the one or other the promise of Remission and Gift of the Holy Ghost is made as well to the Gentiles which are afar off as to the natural Seed of Abraham if they have the same Qualifications Acts 2.37 albeit Heathens by Nature and these are oft-times made the Subjects of Grace when Believers Children are left Hence a wicked Ahaz hath a good Hezekiah ungodly Abia a good Asa wicked Ammon a good Josiah idolatrous Jeroboam a good Abijah But were all the Children of Believers in the Covenant of Grace it follows not that therefore they ought to be baptized no more than they may come to the Lord's Supper because they want the Qualification required in that Duty And whereas it is further urged from the 2d of the Acts The word Children there is really the Posterity of the Jews and not particularly their Infant Children my Child is my Child tho 40 or 50 Years old the Promise is to you and your Children The scope of that place seems to be this When the Jews were pricked at their Heart for their Crucifying Christ upon Peter's Sermon they cry out Men and Brethren what shall we do The Apostle exhorts them what to do viz. Repent and be Baptized and for their Comfort subjoins that the Promise of Remission of Sins also of the Holy Ghost was like to be their Portion and their Childrens also if they did the same tho they once called for Christ's Blood upon their Heads and their Children yet now if you and your Children believe in that Christ you have Crucified those Promises are to the one and to the other yea to all afar off the poor Gentiles for since the partition Wall is broken down Jew Greek Col. 3.11 Barbarian Scythian Bond Free Male Female all one by Faith in Christ For we are all the Children of God by Faith in Christ Jesus Gal. 3. Object 3. Infant-Baptism neither hath Precept nor Example in God's Word is confess'd by Luther Erasmas Zwinglius Melancthon Bucer Calvin Chochler Stuphilus Rogers Mr. Baxter Dauvers on Baptism p. 90 91. The Infant-Seed of Abraham was Circumcised therefore the Infant-Seed of Believers may be Baptized I Answer Abraham had a plain Injunction and Command for the former Believers have none for the latter In Matters of Worship we must keep to the Institution as Moses did to the Pattern shew'd him in the Mount Tho Lot was a Believer his Children were not to have the sign of Circumcision because limited unto Abraham's Seed and Family also to such a Sex and such a Day So hath God limited Baptism to Penitent Believers Whoever practises an Institution otherwise than was appointed by the great Law-giver does not honour the Ordinance but an Idol of his own making therefore let us keep to the Institution and not be wise above what is written and take not up with a dark Consequence in the rejection of a plain Command being not so satisfying to the true Reason of a Man nor his Conscience Those that argue for their Infant-Seeds Baptism from Circumcision being entail'd unto Abraham's Seed may as well argue and say the Priesthood was by a Covenant entail'd on the Tribe of Levi and his Seed therefore the Ministry is entail'd upon Gospel-Preachers and their Seed As this cannot be warranted no more can the other Object 4. Whole Families were Baptized Ergo Infants I Answer It 's said indeed Acts 16.33 Whereas some say No doubt but the Jailor had Children It may be very much questioned seeing it hath been observed some Years ago that for very many Years together not one Child was born to the Jayl-keepers in all the County of Essex The Jaylor and all his were baptized well they might seeing they all believed vers 34. So Crispus the chief Ruler believed in God with all his House Act. 18.8 And many of the Corinthians hearing believed and were baptized And for Lydia and her Houshold those they Baptized those they comforted ver 40. But Infants could not take in that nor the comfort of that spiritual Appellation or Relation of Brethren as the Apostle calls them in Lydia's Houshold 2. The word all doth not always intend every Individual in a Family In 1 Sam. 1.21 't is said Elkanah and all his House went up to the yearly Sacrifice to Jerusalem Yet in the 22d it is said Hannah and the Child Samuel stay'd at Home So Augustus Cesar is said to Tax all the Word Luke 2.1 which was no more of the World than that little part where the Roman Empire stretched Should there be Infants in any of these Families To carry a poor ignorant Infant to the Ordinance of Baptism is as much as if you should carry it to hear a Sermon and no more significant than to instruct a Stock or Stone or shew some godly thing to a blind Man no charitable Person can think the Apostle would act contrary to his Commission to baptize ignorant Infants instead of understanding Believers Object 5. Circumcision was a Seal of the New Covenant to Believers and their Seed under the Law so is Baptism to the Seed of Christian Parents under the Gospel I Answer This Objection is grounded upon Rom. 4.11 where 't is said Abraham received the Sign of Circumcision Some unto whom the Covenant of Grace did not belong received the Sign of Circumcision as Ishmael God said the Covenant should not be established with him but Isaac So Esau and all the Strangers in Abraham's House or bought with Mony in Israel that were Circumcised of whom it may as well be doubted whether the New Covenant-Promise did belong to them therefore they mistake to say Circumcision was a Seal of the New-Covenant to Abraham's Seed seeing some of them had it that were out of the Covenant by the express Word of God Gen. 4.19 20 21 25. Gal. 4.29 a Seal of the Righteousness of his Faith First Consider it 's not said Circumcision was a Seal of the New Covenant to Abraham and his Seed that is begg'd in the Objection the Text saith It was a Token of the Righteousness of Abraham 's Faith But it could not be a Seal of Faith to an Infant which had none The scope of the Apostle in this Chapter is to shew that Abraham himself was not justified by Works no not by Circumcision but by Faith which he had long before he was Circumcised The reason of his Circumcision was to be a Seal and Confirmation to him that he by his Faith should be a Father of many Nations and that the poor Gentiles should be accepted of God by Faith without the Works of the Law though not circumcised seeing Abraham's Faith
before he examined them of Repentance and Faith in the Messiah to come 5. To Baptize unto Repentance the sense can be nothing else than my Baptism being the Baptism of Repentance I Baptize them for my Baptism is the Baptism of Repentance I must see something of that else I have no Commission to Baptize 6. Penitent Souls may well be said to be Baptized unto Repentance Should I say Sir Walter Rawleigh was beheaded in Palace-Yard and made an excellent Speech none would understand that he spoke after he was dead because Beheaded is first and Speech after c. So tho John say I baptized to Repentance it could not be he baptized first because he required Repentance and Faith according to Christ's Commission as necessary to Baptism because 't is an every day's Work after his Baptism to amend and reform However John's words may be placed the scope of the Place sheweth they must repent before they were baptized because when the Pharisees and Sadduces came to his Baptism that is to be baptized said he O Generation of Vipers bring forth first Fruits meet for Repentance or unto or according to the nature of true Repentance and then I will baptize you and not without it Object 21. Water-Baptism is John's Baptism Paul was not sent to Baptize We have the Substance we need not the Shadow we are baptized with the Spirit we need not that of Water I Answer Cornelius and his Houshold were baptized with the Holy Ghost to that degree as they spake with Tongues Acts 10. yet thought it not beneath them to submit to Christ's blessed Ordinance of Water-Baptism I know not but this Scripture may be an everlasting Testimony against some which pretend to the Spirit who have it in that degree as now Cornelius and his Houshold Where the Spirit is Acts 10.44 to 48. there is Obedience to the Command I marvel any who pretend to great degrees of the Spirit should call God's Ordinances Shadows and Shells Is it a Command of Christ and a Shadow did Christ ever call it so Thou may'st as well say all other Ordinances are Shadows as Prayer Preaching c. And where wilt thou run is it a Command hath it a Divine Stamp if so dispute not Christ's Authority Are you wiser than he who subjected himself to it or can you think you have more of the Spirit than him who had it without measure and yet was was baptized in Water Whereas it is Objected Christ sent not * Bullinger in his House-book saith of 1 Cor. 1.17 'T is not slightly to be understood as if Paul was not sent to baptize at all but that Teaching should go before Baptism for the Lord commanded both Teaching and Administring Sacraments Paul to Baptize but to Preach Paul did baptize several either he did it by Commission or Presumption surely not by the latter therefore the former His meaning is that Baptism was not his first and principal Work he was sent to preach and Baptism fell in as a part of his Preaching-Office None are fit for Gospel-Ordinances until they have the Spirit of God Doth Cornelius and his House submit to Water-Baptism after Baptized eminently with the Spirit then that can be no Argument we are Baptized with the Spirit and need no Water This is cleared by our Lord's Word who said I am not sent but to the lost Sheep of the House of Israel not but he came also to be a Light to the Gentiles he was first to preach to them hence called the Minister of the Circumcision And whereas Water-Baptism is called John's Baptism I query the Baptism of John Was it from Heaven or of Men If from Heaven as it was for God sent him to Baptize then let all keep silent I know no difference between John's Baptism and that Christ gave his Apostles but that the former Baptized in the Name of Christ to come the latter in his Name being come Whereas some urge John said He must decrease Christ increase This hath no reference to the ceasing of Gospel-Ordinances but unto the Splendor and Glory of Christ in the World above what John's was in Holiness and Miracles for John did no Miracle John 10.41 Object 22. There are no fit Administrators therefore for the present Sacraments and Church-Ordinances cease I Answer When Christ gave Commission to Preach he gave Power in the same to Baptize Mat. 28. How comes this to pass that those very Persons which thus object do Preach which requires as great Ability and Sanctity to the due performance of the one as of the other I know some object that Commission Mat. 28. lasted no longer than to the end of that Age. To which I Answer Then Preaching ended too Christ commands his Disciples to teach all Nations all things which he commanded them Now Christ's Commands were Holiness Repentance and Faith was this to be no longer than to the end of that Age was Christ's Promise of his Presence but to the end of that Age this would be uncomfortable Doctrine The Promise is I will be with you to the end of the World the Learned know it 's the same original Word as in Matth. 13.39 40. where it is said The Harvest is the end of the World As the Tares are gathered together and burnt in the Fire so shall it be in the end of the World All conclude I think or ought that this hath respect to the final end of all things 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 this being the same word in Mat. 28. We conclude teaching the Gospel baptizing them which are taught and the gracious Presence of Christ If Baptism ended in the Apostles Age then preaching of Repentance Faith and Holiness ceased also because all in the same Commission Yea the promise of Christ's Presence must cease also in the end of that Age a more uncomfortable Doctrine cannot be is to remain in his Church till the World's end that is till the final end of all things Moreover Paul asserts Ephes 3.21 that Christ will have a Church and glory in the Churches throughout all Ages World without end From whence I argue if God have a Church in all Ages he must have Ordinances there because no Church of Christ can be constituted without them If there be Ordinances in the Church in all Ages there must be some to administer them or else they would be insignificant But that he hath fit Administrators in the Church and will have Paul asserts in Ephes 4.12 13. He gave some Apostles some Prophets some Evangelists some Pastors and Teachers For what end for the perfecting of the Saints for the Work of the Ministry for the edifying the Body of Christ How long till we all come to the Vnity of the Faith and of the Knowledg of the Son of God unto a perfect Man unto the measure of the Fulness of Christ Let Men take heed how they put a slight upon the Ordinances of God in crying up the Spirit with
were first taught 'T is as if a King should give a Commission to an Herauld to proclaim throughout his Dominions whoever in the Nation Male or Female would go to School and learn the Greek Tongue should have a Wedg of Gold Doth this follow that every one in the Nation should have a Wedg of Gold because a part of the Nation No not unless they do learn the Greek Tongue So in like manner A dreadful piece of Infant-Baptism appeared when the Heads of 6000 Infants were found murdered and buried in a Warren near a Monastry no more in the Nations are to be baptized than what are first taught and learn Christ Christ did no more intend that every one in the Nation should be baptized than the Prophet Haggai did So superstitiously zealous were some in the 7th Century for Infant-Baptism that a dead Child was taken from the Grave and Christened its Father's Name given unto it that every individual in the Nations of the World would desire our Lord's coming because he saith the Desire of all Nations should come Hag. 2.7 which is only the Believers in all Nations God did not intend Infants had robbed him when he said Ye have robbed me even this whole Nation they being not capable of it No more are Infants of Baptism tho a part of the Nation being not first taught and made Disciples according to the Commission Object 17. Men of Years were first Circumcised afterwards Infants So in the Gospel Baptism was first administred unto Men and Women but afterwards Infants were Baptized I Answer You say well Men and Women were baptized first Infants were never baptized by virtue of a Commission from Christ tho Believers were and it was about three hundred Years after Christ before any Infant was Sprinkled Danvers on Baptism p. 204. Christ's Commission was to baptize Believers now unless any can show where this was abrogated and a new Commission for Baptizing Infants given this remains and will to the end of the World Indeed Abraham was Circumcised when he was old as a Seal of the Righteousness of his Faith to assure him he should be a Father of many Nations a Spiritual Father unto Believers Jews and Gentiles And after this God commanded him to Circumcise his natural Seed and when any can shew us as plain a Command for Believers to Baptize their Infant-Seed as Abraham had to Circumcise his the Controversy shall end Object 18. Infant-Baptism is an Apostolical Tradition Tho this Tradition be not written in any Apostolical Book yet it is of no less Authority with us than the Scripture Bellarmine and though the Scripture be silent in the Case the uninterrupted Tradition and Vsage of the Church makes up that Defect I Answer Tradition ought to be proved by more than one Evidence viz. Origen whom all other Ages have condemned of Errors Dr. Taylor And whose Works are so spurious that he that reads them knows not whether he reads Origen or Ruffinus Erasm With Dr. Taylor Tradition saith he must by all means supply the place of Scripture and there is pretended a Tradition Apostolical that Infants were Baptized But at this saith he we are not much moved for we who rely upon the written Word of God as sufficient to establish all true Religion do not value the Allegation of Tradition The pretended Proof for Infant-Baptism being an Apostolical Tradition from Dionysius the Areopagite Justin Martyr's Responses Origen's Homilies Cyprian in an Epistle to one Fidas a Priest have been examined refuted and found fabulous and forged Danvers on Baptism pag. 133 to 150. It is very improbable that Infant-Baptism should be an Apostolical Tradition when decreed by several Councils in the 4th Century the Council of Carthage of Neocesarea and Laodicea c. they did hold forth the necessity of Confession and Profession before Baptism In short It is against the Reason of a Man to conclude this an Apostolical Tradition because this were to make the Apostles act beyond their Commission which were to Baptize only Believers Object 19. Infants were once Church-Members and that Law was never abrogated neither do we find they were cut off I Answer John the Baptist abrogated this sufficiently when he told the Pharisees and Sadduces it was a vain Plea to say Abraham was their Father that was a good Argument for Infant-Church-membership under the Law by Circumcision but signified nothing to Church-membership under the Gospel by Baptism now the Dispensation is alter'd If any bring not forth good Fruit in his own Person the Ax being laid to the Root of the Tree it is to be hewn down and cast into Eternal Fire The Apostle Paul in Rom. 11.20 ends this Controversy plain enough where he asserts the natural Branches were broken off by Unbelief and if they come to believe they may be grafted in again Who can shew any Instance where Infants were accounted Members of the Church under the Gospel but until then they remain broken off and that Law of Infant-Church-membership is as plainly abrogated under the Gospel as the Passover and Circumcision c. which all grant is void tho not so formally done as once commanded there being no need the Substance being come necessarily Shadows cease Object 20. In Mat. 3.11 John Baptist said I Baptize you with Water unto Repentance And in the 6th Verse Were Baptized of John in Jordan confessing their Sins Here say some is Baptism before Confession or Repentance in the order of words therefore we being Baptized in our Infancy if we repent and confess our Sins afterward 't is sufficient and we need not be Baptized again I Answer 1. If you were only sprinkled in Infancy you were never yet Baptized 2. 'T is said they were Baptized in Jordan confessing their Sins but I never heard of an Infant confess Sin in the Act of Baptism as these did I will gladly Baptize any Souls that shall truly confess themselves Sinners in the very Act and Administration of that Ordinance to the Glory of the Messiah who came to save Sinners 3. Tho the Text says I Baptize you unto Repentance none dare say that John Baptized them before they did manifest Repentance because when many of the Pharisees and Sadduces came unto John's Baptism he said O Generation of Vipers John's Baptism is called The Baptism of Repentance for Remission of Sins because Christ preached Remission of Sins to the Penitent Believer Piscator on Mark 1.4 bring forth Fruit meet for Repentance and think not to say you have Abraham to your Father 4. John's Baptism is called the Baptism of Repentance Mark 1.4 Can any other be the meaning than this that John was appointed of God to demand Repentance from dead Works of all that were Baptized and Faith also in him that was to come Acts 19. and upon this John did preach unto them the Remission of Sin I think it never did enter into any Man's Heart that John did first Baptize
the Unity of the Faith and of the Knowledg of the Son of God unto a perfect Man unto the measure of the Stature of the Fulness of God Ephes 3.21 Chap. 4.11 12. Infant-Baptism GOD hath not promised all Infants that are Baptized shall be saved But there is no Similitude between Christ's Death Burial Resurrection and Infants sprinkled on the Face But Infants Baptized are not converted and may come into Condemnation But Infants Baptized do not love God and keep his Commandments Therefore Infant-Baptism must be of Men because it 's before Teaching Repenting and Believing But those who baptize Infants baptize Heathens because all are Children of Wrath by Nature before born again Ephes 3.2 But Infant-Baptism hath manifold Contradictions by asserting that Baptism is a Symbol of present Regeneration yet apply it to an ignorant Infant Also that it figures out Christ's Death Burial and Resurrection yet do nothing but sprinkle or pour Water on the Face They separate from Rome as the false Church yet own their Baptism the Foundation-Stone They own the Doctrine of Perseverance in Grace and no falling from it baptizing the Children of Believers as in the Covenant of Grace yet afterwards teach their Conversion and in case of Vnbelief reject them as Reprobates But Infants Baptized come not to the Lord's Supper immediately nor lawfully But the Baptism of Infants cannot be a sign of Regeneration to them Infant-Baptism hath no Command But Infants have none of those confirmed to them in their Baptism But we have not one Example for the baptizing an Infant But Infant-Baptism is no part of God's Counsel appears because Christ nor his Apostles never delivered any such thing Infant Baptism never was sealed by God But in Infant-Baptism the Infant acts no Faith But Infants have no answer of a good Conscience in Baptism But how can any die for Infant-Baptism when it wants the Broad Seal of God's Word for the Authority But God is not glorified in Infants Baptism because none of God's Counsel But to reject Infant-Baptism cannot be against any Person because it is none of the Counsel of God But there is no harmony with the Commission in Infant-Baptism nor with their own Profession which is that Faith and Repentance is required in Persons to be baptized yet confess that Children unto whom they apply it have neither Again that it is a demonstration of a Spiritual Marriage between God and the Believer yet assign it unto Subjects as uncapable of it as a Stock or Stone Moreover that the Baptismal Covenant enters into the Visible Church yet deny Church-Members the Lord's Supper But Infant-Baptism needs but a little therefore it is not according to God's Word But the baptizing Infants at the best is doubtful But it was never delivered as an Ordinance of Christ to sprinkle Infants But to baptize Infants is to change God's Ordinance in the Subject and Manner But such as are baptized on anothers Faith may perish Infants cannot worship God in that Act in Spirit and Truth because not an Act of Judgment and Choice Will and Affection But all who baptize Believers do deny that Infants were baptized Infants know not remember not any thing of their Baptism All Infants baptized are not in the Covenant of Grace Infants Baptism is from Earth and the Counsel of Men. But Infants baptized may be Children of Wrath. But to baptize Infants is to act without a Pattern or Command But all Infants baptized do not receive Remission of Sins But in Infants Baptism the Infant puts forth no Act of Obedience But Infants Baptism hath many namely that Persons may have Regeneration Grace before Vocation and that Persons may be visible Church-Members before Conversion Moreover that Persons may be baptized by another's Faith Also making a National Gospel-Church instead of a Congregational and bringing in a carnal fleshly Seed into Christ's Church in the room of a Spiritual Seed But Infants weep when baptized as if they did dissent Infant-Baptism hath nothing but humane Consequence But all the World cannot affirm any Infants were baptized by the Apostles But all Infants baptized are not living Stones fit for God's House But you cannot repel Satan saying It is written Infants were baptized for it is not written But God may say to those who baptize Infants Who hath required these things at your Hands because God commanded it not But Infant-Baptism must fall because it hath not the Word of God to support it But to baptize Infants without a Divine Command is the way to be made ashamed because no respect to God's Command But the most Holy the most Wise the most Learned never was subjected unto Infant-Baptism But Infants baptized cannot repent or believe examine themselves make no Judgment of things nor take up Christ's Cross Watch nor Pray love not nor watch not over one another cannot be Members of a Gospel-Church Infant-Baptism hath started up several hundred Years since Christ and his Apostles But Infants ought not to be baptized who are only legitimately Holy as all born in Wedlock are and is the Holiness mentioned 1 Cor. 7.14 Infant-Baptism hath not one Promise But in Infant-Baptism all these are frustrated and being applied to an Infant are but Mock-shows and altogether insignificant But Infant-Sprinkling is an inverting the Order and Manner and contrary to the Vsage of the Apostolick Times and End of the Ordinance and is a telling a Lie in the Name of the Lord saying I Baptize when he doth but Rantize But Infant-Baptisme doth introduce many Errors in that it was to take away Original Sin work Grace and Regeneration effect Salvation by the Work done that it was an Apostolical Tradition that Children have Faith and are Disciples of Christ that all Children of Believers are in the Covenant defiling and polluting the Church with false Matter and confounding the Church and the World together introducing many hainous Traditions and Inventions of Antichrist together with it as Gossips or Sureties Bishoping or Confirmation Chrism Exorcism Consignation Lastly It hath made a great deal of Contention in the Church of Christ and stirred up much Hatred Infants baptized are not taught of God nor made Disciples of Christ Then such are greatly Heterodox and unsound who slight and contemn Water-Baptism under pretence of being baptized with the Holy Ghost Then that Argument is of Flesh and not Spirit of Man and not God that rejects Water-Baptism and the Supper as carnal under an ungrounded imagination of the Baptism of the Spirit Then for any to neglect those Ordinances under an imagination those Commands ceased at the end of the Apostles Age are under a delusion If so then the Church-State did not end with the Apostles neither can Ordinances cease for want of Administrators CHAP. X. Contains an Enquiry into the Carriages of the German Anabaptists falsly so called in Luther's Time and the Reproach from thence reflected upon that Way removed THE Matter of Fact which hath caused such a Noise in the
in the late Persecution the Churches of Christ some of them did find it very convenient to break Bread upon a Week-Day yet we alway think it best on the First when it may be And as for Baptism we do not find the Apostles tarried for the Revolution of the First Day but as occasion offered they did it upon any Day Page 69. he insists upon the order of words Mat. 3. I baptize to Repentance See this answered in my Book p. 54 55 56. That is a false Argument he so largely insisted on pag. 44. If Persons have a right to Remission of Sin they have a right to the Sign Baptism This Argument I have handled in p. 36. Infants are not called Disciples as he supposeth pag. 43. from Acts 15.10 and upon his Request we will shew him a Command and Example for Womens communicating at the Lord's Table p. 42 43. For answer to pag. 21. where it 's asserted That many of the 3000 whom the Apostles batized in Acts 2.39 were Children seing the Pardon of Sin was by the Apostle Peter applied to their Children O horrible perverter of the Word of God! these Children whom he speaks of were no more as yet baptized than the Gentiles which were afar off uncalled 2. Suppose some of their Children were baptized it must be believing Children not Infants my Child is my Child though thirty or forty Years old for you cannot think the Apostle would go beyond his Commission to baptize an ignorant Infant in the room of an understanding Believer O how sophistically doth this Man reason see pag. 29 30 31. of this Book Lastly I refer you to Mr. Cary's Solemn Call which clears up the Covenant made with Israel at Mount Sinai Exod. 19.20 and that in the Land of Moab Deut. 29. as also the Covenant of Circumcision made with Abraham Gen. 17. are plainly proved to be three several Editions of the Covenant of Works Though Mr. Wall will have it to be a Covenant of Grace in Christ And though he spends many Leaves of his Book about it 't is as far from being proved as Believers-Baptism is a Sign to the Infant of the Remission of Sins and being in the Covenant of Grace which yet is confest a few Years after he is neither in the Covenant of Grace nor yet one Sin pardoned These are some of this poor Man's Self-contradictions is he not Felo de se a Self-destroyer Whereas he saith pag. 117. Mr. Ainsworth's Book called A Censure upon a Dialogue of the Anabaptists was never answered That in Abraham 's Seed all Nations should be blessed This Grace Abraham 's Infant-Seed had this Grace Christ gave to little Children See your self and Mr. Ainsworth both answered in pag. 37 38. and p. 34 35. CHAP. XII A brief Answer to a part of Mr. Daniel Williams's Catechism in his Book of the Vanity of Childhood and Youth IN pag. 131. he propounds these Questions What if a Child will not agree but refuse to agree to the Covenant to which his Infant-Baptism engaged him Himself makes this astonishing Answer 1. It 's a rejecting Christ our Saviour and a renouncing the Blessings of the Gospel 2. It 's the Damning Sin 3. It 's the Heart of all Sin 4. It 's Rebellion continued against my Maker 5. It 's Ingratitude and Perjury to my Redeemer 6. It 's gross Injustice to my Parents 7. It 's an Affront to all the Godly 8. It 's self-killing Cruelty to my own Soul Here are hard and dreadful Words to make up the defect of weak Arguments for â—hen some Persons want Arguments 〈…〉 to perswade into an Error they do use some terrible Words and Ways to fright People thereinto Pray Sir shew your Hearers where you have Divine Authority for your Assertions or else there is no ground to be concerned at all about it though laid down in a formidable way Though I know 't is the Duty of Parents to pray for their Children give them moderate Correction good Education and good Examples yet God never made it the Duty of any Parent to dedicate their Child in Baptism nor the Duty of any Child to Engage and Covenant with God in their Infant-State being altogether uncapable therefore the not heeding it cannot be any Sin much less a damning Sin and if so be Persons do then ingage against the Custom of this World as you say they do then they must engage against Infant-Baptism being a worldly Custom I shall speak briefly to all these Particulars 1. Not to agree or to refuse to agree to the Covenant made in Infant-Baptism is no Sin because Where there is no Law saith the Apostle John there is no Transgression Now if this Gentleman can shew us any Law of God for Parents to dedicatâ— their Children in Baptism or Children to covenant with God in Baptism I will give him the Cause but if this cannot be done I think he can do no less than make a publick Recantation of his Assertions to undeceive those whom he in ignorant Zeal may have deceived 2. It 's no Rebellion against our Maker because Rebellion is interpreted in the holy Writ to be a wilful breach of God's Law and Command as you may see in Numb 20.24 Ye rebelled against my Word Chap. 27.14 Ye rebelled against the Command of the Lord so Deut. 1.26 Now then let this never be more called Rebellion except it can be proved to be against the Command of the Lord. 3. It can be no Ingratitude nor Perjury to my Redeemer 1. No Ingratitude because to own a thing he never appointed and is the ready way to thrust out his own Appointment will never be accounted by Christ Ingratitude 2. Neither can it be Perjury Mr. Pool on 1 Tim. 1. saith Perjury is a false Swearing or swearing to an untrue thing Now I suppose this is not Mr. Williams's meaning by Perjury for the Propositions were true if any which were promised in Infant-Baptism But I suppose he means the Covenant the Child made in Baptism against being governed by Satan and the Flesh taking up this World's Goods as my Portion and against the Customs of the Men of the World as my Guide when grown up and found walking in the Ways of the Devil the Flesh and the World contrary to God's Command and his own Vow This I supose he calls Perjury to the Redeemer But let it be considered a Man must first make a Vow or take an Oath before he can be said to break it and be perjur'd Now if the Child never made any Vow or Covenant in Baptism it being impossible how then can he be said to break Covenant and be guilty of Perjury to his Redeemer 4. It cannot be Injustice much less gross Injustice to my Parents because what is accounted Injustice to my Parents the Word of God makes it appear to be so some-where or other but the Word of God doth not any where call that Child an unjust Child that doth not own its dedicating
the Name of Lollards Hence we read in Mr. Fox of Lollards Tower commands all sorts to Baptize their Children and to forbear Rebaptization upon the penalty of Pecuniary Mulcts and Imprisonments The second Edict extended to Banishment Confiscation and Death this was five Years after in 1530. Many starved and died in Prison The Duke of Newburgh Anno 1653. banished all the Anabaptists out of his Country who thereupon disperse themselves into the Dukedom of Cleave and Brandenburgh An Abstract of the bloody Edict of the Emperor Charles the 5th of Spain made June 1535. against the Anabaptists or Waldensian Christians and the execution thereof in the Seventeen Provinces viz. COmmanding all Persons to renounce those Perswasions and Practices and refrain the publishing the same by Preaching or otherwise upon penalty of forfeiture of Life and Goods without Mercy The Men to be burnt the Women to be drowned And all that Conceal Harbour and do not in their Places prosecute the Law against them to suffer the same Penalty And that those that discover them to have the third part of their Estates forbidding all Mediation or Intercession upon severe Punishment Many hundreds suffered Death upon this Edict and what his Son Philip made in 1556. Thus you see Christ's Words made good His People shall suffer for Righteousness sake See this Chapteâ— much enlarged in Danvers on Bâ—ptism CHAP. IX Contains an Epitome of this Book in a Comparison of Believers-Baptism and Infant-Baptism together Believers-Baptism GOd hath promised in the Text That all who believe and are Baptized shall be saved Mark 16.16 There is a lively Similitude between Christ's Death Burial Resurrection and Believers being buried in Baptism Rom. 6.4 Believers Baptized are converted and shall never come into Condemnation John 5.24 Believers Baptized love God and keep his Commandments John 14.15 It 's Christ's Command that Teaching Repenting and Believing should precede and go before Baptism Matth. 28.18 19. Those who baptize Believers baptize Christians In Believers Baptism there are no Contradictions attend the practice of it Believers Baptized come lawfully and immediately to the Lord's Supper Acts 2.41 42. Believers Baptism is a sign of Regeneration unto them Tit. 3.5 Believers Baptism hath a Command Mat. 28.18 19. Believers Baptism confirms unto them Justification Remission and Salvation Acts 2. Chap. 22.16 Mark 16.16 We have many Examples for Believers Baptism Acts 8. Chap. 10. Ch. 16.18 Christ was faithful in all his House and St. Paul delivered the whole Counsel of God and so Believers Baptism is a part of God's Counsel Luke 7. Believers Baptism hath been gloriously sealed in the Holy Ghost's coming upon Christ in the likeness of a Dove when he was coming up out of the Water Mat. 3.16 In Believers Baptism the Person baptized acts Faith Acts 8.37 In Believers Baptism the Subject baptized hath the Answer of a good Conscience 1 Pet. 3.16 A Man might comfortably die as many have done in Mentz Holland Germany and the Palatinate for asserting Believers Baptism because it hath God's Word for its Foundation The Publicans glorified God in being baptized with John's Baptism because it was the Counsel of God Luke 7. The Pharisees and Lawyers rejected the Counsel of God against themselves in not being baptized with the Baptism of John Luke 3. In Believers Baptism there is a glorious Harmony with the Commission Mar. 16.16 Believers Baptism requireth much Water as according to God's Word John 3. It 's without all doubt Believers were Baptized To baptize Believers is to keep the Ordinances as they were delivered 1 Cor. 11.2 To baptize Belielievers is no change of God's Ordinance Such as are baptized on their own Faith shall never perish John 10.28 Believers are baptized as an Act of their Judgment Choice Will and Affection so worship God in Spirit and Truth John 4.24 All those who baptize Infants do confess Believers were baptized Believers know and remember when they were baptized All Believers baptized are in the Covenant of Grace Believers Baptism is from Heaven and the Counsel of God Mat. 21.25 Believers baptized are not the Children of Wrath John 3.36 To baptize Believers is to act according to the Pattern and Command of Christ All Believers baptized receive Remission of Sins Acts 2. In Believers Baptism the Person subjects in Acts of Obedience Believers Baptism hath no Absurdities attending it Believers rejoice and shew their full Consent when they are baptized Acts 8. Believers Baptism hath the plain Word of God All the World may affirm Believers were baptized by the Apostles All Believers baptized are spiritual believing Stones fit to be laid in God's House 1 Pet. 2.5 Believers baptized may repel Satan as Christ did saying It is written Luke 4. God will not say unto Believers baptized Who hath required these things at your Hands because it is his own Command Believers Baptism must stand as long as God's Word doth stand Mat. 5.18 To baptize Believers is to have respect unto God's Command the only way not to be ashamed Psal 119.6 The most Holy the most Wise the most Learned Person that ever was in the World submitted unto Believers-Baptism Mat. 3.13 14 15 16 17. Persons baptized believe repent examine themselves make Judgment of things love one another take up Christ's Cross Watch and Pray and have the same care of each others Souls these are fit Members of a Gospel-Church Believers Baptism hath Antiquity to plead being as old as John Baptist Christ and his Apostles Believers ought to be baptized who have an inherent Holiness wrought by the Holy Spirit Believers Baptism hath many glorious Promises annexed unto it Acts 2.38 39. In Believers Baptism all the holy Ends of it are preserved as to be a sign of present Regeneration dying to Sin burying rising with Christ Answer of a good Conscience a mutual Stipulation and Contract between God and the Party In Believers Baptism by Dipping the Manner and true Administration is preserved the Usage of the Primitive Times retained and the Ends of it manifest Believers Baptism introduceth no Error nor false Doctrine into the World Believers baptized are taught of God and made his Disciples Matth. 28.18 Acts 15.10 If none ought to forbid the Baptism of Water unto those who had been baptized with the Holy Ghost Acts 10.44 45 46 47 48. Christ submitted unto Water-Baptism and ate the Supper with his Disciples who had the Holy Spirit without measure Water-Baptism is to continue unto the End of the World and the Sacrament of the Supper unto the second coming of Christ 1 Cor. 11.26 Mat. 28.19 20. If Christ will have Glory in the Churches throughout all Ages World without end then he must have a Church and Ordinances administred which is the Essence of a Church-Constitution and so cannot want Administrators because Christ hath given Apostles Prophets Evangelists Pastors Teachers for the perfecting of the Saints for the Work of the Ministry edifying of the Body of Christ How long till we all come to