the Apostles preached so that it is to be believed that as the Apostles taught so they practised If then the Apostle Paul hath taught that all our Fathers were Baptized when water out of the Clouds by the Lord himself was poured on Persons and many of them were Children called our Fathers until the days of David Acts 7. 45. and how highly the Apostle Peter esteemed of all the Writings of his beloved Brother Paul who among other things presseth Order to be kept in the Administration of all Gods Ordinances teaching from Gods Order of Old when as a peculiar work belonged to the Ministerial Offices as 't is written No Man taketh this Honour to himself but he that is called of God as was Aaron Heb. 5. 4. So that the Example of Numb 16. 1 Chron. 13. 11. Corah Dathan and Abiram and Uzza sheweth by the Judgments that fell on them what a Sin it was for any private Man to take that work to do which God had bound to Office But more to this in the Fourth Query So then it is rationally to be believed and that by grounded Reason from Gods word that the Apostles themselves without the help of the hundred and twenty did Baptize the three thousand in one day which could not be done by Dipping the Anabaptists grant and therefore it was done by casting water on the Forehead and Face as before shewed for Baptized they all were and because that part of Mankind representeth the whole Person either in Old or Young therefore they were Baptized by water cast on that part to wit the Face as by grounded Reason from Scripture is to be believed Besides 't is evident to be believed that many of these three thousand which the Apostles Baptized were Children seeing the Promise of the Pardon of Sin was by the Apostle Peter Acts 2. 39. applied to the Children then present as well as to their Parents of the Pardon of their Sins Water-Baptism being ordained by Christ for a Sign of Remission of Sins Now to all to whom the Promise is applied the Sign of Remission to wit Water-Baptism belongeth to them but the promise of Remission of Sins was applied to them and their Children but more of that anon in the Third Query for as it was the usual manner of the Jews when by Thousands they followed Christ to hear him Teach and see the Miracles which he did to take their Children with them as doth appear in that Miracle which Christ did whom he Fed with Five Loaves and two Fishes Five Thousand Men besides Women and Children Matt. 14. 21. for so it was foretold by the Prophet speaking of the day of Christ as it is written Thus saith the Lord behold I will lift up my hand to the Gentiles and set up my Standard to the People to wit the Jews and they shall bring their Sons in their arms or Bosoms and thy Daughters shall be carried on their shoulders Isa 49. 22. Even so the Jews that resorted to hear Christ and afterwards his Apostles Teach and to see the Miracles which they did they carried their Children with them unto whom the Apostle Peter joyntly applying the Promises of Life and Salvation by Christ in the remission of their Sins in the Blood of Jesus saying The Promise is to you and unto your Children And this maketh way to the Second Query which is Query 2. To what end Water-Baptism by the Lord Jesus was Ordained in these last days for a Gospel-Ordinance Answ John Surnamed the Baptist Matt. 3. 1. with respect of his immediate Call to the work of Baptizing hath shewed the end in the Sign why Water Baptism was ordained namely but that Christ should be made manifest to Israel Therefore saith John am I come Baptizing with Water John 1. 31. The Apostle Peter likewise agreeth thereunto saying Be Baptized for the Remission of Sins Acts 2. 38. Again Ananias confirmeth the same saying Be Baptized and wash away thy sins Acts 22. 6. So then in fine the end why Water-Baptism was ordained to make manifest by that outward Sign that Christ the Lamb of God is now come according to the Gospel-Promise preached to Adam That the Seed of the Woman Gen. 3. 15. shall bruise the Serpents Head that is destroy the works of the Devil 1 John 3. 8. and deliver them who by Sin he had captivated into his Bondage Heb. 2. 15. As also according to the same Gospel preached to Abraham That in his Seed Christ all the Families of the Earth shall be Blessed Gen. 12. 3. Acts 3. 25 26. with the Pardon of Sin And accordingly John the Fore-runner of Christ sent as an Herald before the Prince of Life Acts 3. 15. to prepare the way of the Salvation of Fallen Mankind saith Behold the Lamb of God that beareth away the sin of the World John 1. 29. And this maketh way to the Third Query to be considered which is Query 3. What is it by Scripture Evidence that giveth any Soul Young or Old Right to have Water-Baptism Administred on them Answ We have shewed in the Second Query that Water-Baptism is the visible Sign of the Pardon of Sin called the Sin of the World Therefore the next thing is to be observed what this Sin of the World is And secondly who are the Persons that stand charged with this Sin And thirdly how Christ the Lamb of God beareth away this sin of the World from these Persons The Apostle Paul hath not only shewed what this Sin of the World is but also the World this Sin first entered into and stand charged with the same and also how Christ the Lamb of God taketh away this Sin from many who are guilty as being under Condemnation as it is written Wherefore as by one man sin entered into the World and Death by Sin and so death passed upon all men for that or in whom all have sinned Rom. 5. 12. Now because Adam was the Root of all Mankind when he broke Gods Law by eating the Forbidden Fruit all his Posterity in his Loynes sinned in him for as Levi is said to pay Tithes in Abraham's Loynes before he was born when Abraham did Heb. 7. 9. even so we all in Adam's Loynes before we were born brake Gods Law when Adam did and this was the Sin that first entered into the World and these are the Persons Sin entered into namely the actual Sinner and his Seed and for these the Lamb of God is come to bear away the Condemnation due to them even Eternal Death the Wages of this Sin Rom. 6. 23. Thus we see in the Fall of Mankind there were two sort of Sinners the one Actual as Adam and Eve the other their Seed or Children in his Loynes Sinners by Original Corruption derived from Fathers to Children who have not sinned after the Similitude of Adam 's Transgression Rom. 5. 14. as by their own act but are Sinners by Derivation or Original Corruption from them and from these two sorts of
Sinners Christ the Lamb of God is come in Person who was the same Saviour for these two sorts of Sins Heb. 13. 8. yesterday from the day he was preached to Adam unto that day John said Behold the Lamb of God and unto the end of the World which beareth away from these two sorts of Sinners the Sin of the World The way and the manner how this is done is one and the same in all Ages for as there are two sorts of Sinners the one who willingly Transgressed These God called as he did Adam and Eve to the Bar of Justice Gen. 3. 10 11 12 13. to answer for their Evil they had done before the Judge of all the Earth as appeareth in Moses Narration but Adam when called had lost all Freedom of Will to Good his Power being gone he with his Seed were Satans Captives holden by the Cords of Sin Prov. 5. 22. so that instead of shewing any Remorse of Conscience for his Sin as the Law required as it is written He that covereth his Sins shall not prosper but he that confesseth and forsaketh them shall find Mercy Prov. 28. 13. but instead of Confession he sought to cover his Sin Job 31. 33. by laying the fault on the Woman as likewise did the Woman on the Serpent Then God of his Free Grace laid no more upon them but a Fatherly Chastisement in this Life Heb. 12. 5 6 7 8. as he doth on all his Children and freely forgave them and their Posterity in them their Sin in the glad Tidings of that Redeemer he had prepared Eph. 1. 4. Titus 1. 2. before the World was for them by the word of his Grace preached to them that the Seed of the Woman Christ should bruise the Serpents Head Gen. 3. 15. that is expounded the Son of God saith John was made manifest that he might destroy the works of the Devil John 3. 8. Thus Christ in the promise took away the Sin of the World from these two sorts of Sinners which the Apostle proveth thus Therefore as by the Offence of one namely the first Adam judgment came upon all Men that is on all Mankind to wit on all Adam's Posterity in his Loynes to Condemnation for a Child is called a Man Gen. 4. 1. John 16. 21. even so by the Righteousness of one to wit Christ the second Adam in the Promise the Seed of the Woman shall bruise the Serpents Head as aforesaid the Free Gift came upon all Men namely on the Actual Sinners and their Seed in them unto justification of Life Rom. 5. 18. Again saith the Apostle For if by one Man's Disobedience namely the Disobedience of the first Adam many were made Sinners even his Seed in him by original Corruption derived from him so by the Obedience of one namely the Obedience of Christ the second Adam shall many be made Righteous Rom. 5. 19. and who namely the Believers and their Infants for as the Infants of Unbelievers are charged by original Corruption derived from Father to Child with the Unbelief and Disobedience of the first Adam Rom. 5. 12. even so the Children of Believing Parents are discharged from the Condemnation due for that Sin by the Obedience and Righteousness of Christ the second Adam by the Free Grace of God imputed to them according to the Promise in the Everlasting Gospel-Covenant as the Apostle Peter applied to such as Actually believed and unto their Children Acts 2. 39. saying The Promise is unto you and to your Children And again I will be merciful unto their unrighteousness and their Sins and Iniquities will I saith the Lord remember no more Heb. 8. 12. And thus as was the glad Tidings of the Gospel first preached to Adam as after the same by John the Baptist was preached to Israel that Christ the Lamb of God was now come to take away the Sin of the World meaning the Seed of the Woman Christ now manifest in the Flesh was to destroy the works of the Devil and deliver all such both Father and Children who by Sin Satan had captivated into his Bondage Heb. 2. 15. And therefore as Water-Baptism was ordained for a Sign of Remission of Sins not only the Actual Sins of Parents but when the Parents Actually believed it also was a Sign of Remission of the Sin to their Infants as to them who by original Corruption Sin is derived in nature from Fathers to Children and therefore by the Doctrine of the Gospel Such are to be Baptized saith the Apostle every one of you in the Name of the Lord Jesus for the Remission of Sins Because the Lamb of God being come hath taken away the Sin of the World which the Fathers and their Children were guilty of and why be Baptized every one of you for this reason saith Peter For the Promise of the Pardon of Sins is to you and unto your Children and this is Gods way in all Ages of the Redemption of Fallen Mankind that as Sin entered into the World by Families so Christ came to Redeem Fallen Mankind by Families And hence it is that the Children born to Gods Covenanted People are said by God to be born to the Lord whom although they be Man and Womans Children by Nature called their Sons and Daughters yet by vertue of the Free Grace of God in Christ in the Covenant of Grace into which they are accepted in all Ages with their Believing Parents the Lord calleth such Children Ezek. 16. 8 20 21. his Children and of his Kingdom born unto him his Heritage the Fruit of the Womb his Reward for when Adam and Eve was Fallen they together with their Seed in them were the World Sin entered into Rom. 5. 12. of whom Satan was Prince as he is called John 14. 30. The Prince of this World Prince of the Power of the Air the Spirit that now from the days of Adams Fall worketh in the Children of Disobedience and hence it is the Apostle saith Eph. 2. 2 3. by nature we are all Children of Wrath but when the Gospel was preached to Adam and so ever since to all who have Actually sinned as they did God of his Free Grace mixing Faith with the word of Grace preached to them by which power of his word Christ dispossesseth the strong Man armed Luke 11. 20 21 22. namely the Prince of the Fallen World first in Adam's House or Children in his Loynes taking from him all his Armour wherein he trusted and divided his Spoil for saith Christ when come in Person to perform that work he the promised Seed to Adam was to do in bruising the Serpents Head Gen. 3. 15. namely as it is written Luke 11. 20. But if I saith Christ with the Finger of God cast out Devils no doubt the Kingdom of God is come upon you And hereupon when by the Preaching of the same Everlasting Gospel afore preached to Adam and to Abraham to the Dead in Sin Rev. 14. 6. in the Spiritual Babylon which caused
such an Earth-quake Rev. 11. 13. that the Tenth part of that Romish City or Church fell from her Traditions or Idol-worship to imbrace Christ in his Government in his Church or Kingdom for their King Priest or Prophet they being Translated out of that Kingdom of Darkness as in the beginning of this work when Adam and Eve with his Seed in him were Translated out of Satans Kingdom of Darkness into the Kingdom of the Dear Son of God then as but one Family became Christs Kingdom here many Families or little Kingdoms of this World were become the Kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ Rev. 11. 15. that so he might Reign among them by his Laws as in Adam's Family appeared by the Offerings Gen. 4. 3 4. his Children brought and offered up to God in his Service Next in Noah's Family and so in Abraham's Family as was the everlasting Covenant-Promise Jer. 31. 1. Gal. 6. 16. I will be the God of all the Families of Israel for as the Fathers with the Children were together by the Fall Satans Subjects Children of Wrath even so the Children with the Parents when their Fathers and Mothers who had Actually sinned believed then their Children who were Sinners by original Corruption derived from them Psal 51. 5. were restored with them to be the Subjects of Christs Kingdom as it is written Isaiah 65. 23. Acts 2. 39. They are the Seed of the Blessed of the Lord and their Off-spring or buds with them And thus Christ beareth away the Sin of the World in all Ages first Christ in the Promise to Adam and Abraham and when come in Person bore away their Sins on his Body once offered for many Heb. 9. 28 namely the Believing Fathers and Mothers and their Children in Infamy with them as the Apostle proves by Rom. 5. 19. For as by one Mans Disobedience many were made Sinners so by the Obedience of one shall many be made Righteous Thus it is clearly proved that the Infants or Children together with their Believing Parents are redeemed Now if the Children were not Redeemed with their Believing Parents then Christ did not bare away the Sin of the World Contrary to John's Doctrine John 1. 29. If Infants were not a part of the World Sin entered into Then Children are not by Nature Children of Wrath contrary to Paul's Doctrine Eph. 2. 3. If Children are not of Christ's Kingdom then they are of Satans If Children are not to be brought up in the Nurture and Admonition of the Lord then the Promise in the Gospel belongeth not to Children in Infancy contrary to Deut. 29. 29. Acts 2. 39. How many like Absurdities may be brought upon the Doctrine of Anabaptistry if they well consider how they are led by a natural Fancy in denying Infants to be Redeemed by the Blood of Christ in the washing away of the Sin of the World which they by natural Corruption are guilty of but the Sin of the Infants Christ hath bore away with the Sins of their Believing Parents and Water-Baptism is ordained by the Lord to be Administred on all that have their Sin or Sins pardoned by the Lord Christ who by that Sign Water-Baptism Administred on them Christ is to be made manifest to them that he hath washed away their Sin in his Blood which is the only thing that gives any Soul Right to have Water-Baptism Administred on Young or Old Rev. 1. 5. And thus the Lord Jesus as his Kingdom was first in one Family so it still continueth in Families And therefore when Adam and his Wife and Seed in him was restored there was only the Kingdom of Christ on Earth in Adam's House and then for a time no Kingdom of Satan was on Earth he being cast out as aforesaid and Christ taking Possession But because as the Anabaptists grant in their Narrative there is Election of Persons pag. 3. therefore process of time proveth 1 John 2. 19. that all in the visible Covenant of Grace visible Members for a time in the Church of God are not all of it as appeared in the Person of Cain so in the Person of Cham or Ham the Son of Noah therefore Man is to have his Judgment rest with the Lord Isaiah 49. 4. concerning the Infants of the Lords Covenanted People commanded to be Trained up in the way Prov. 22. 6. Eph. 6. 4. they shall go in and if they continue in that Faith 1 Tim. 2. 15. of Gods Elect that was in their Parents as Timothy did in the same Faith his Grand-mother and Mother had 1 Tim. 1. 5. they so long are to be accounted a Holy Seed Ezra 9. 2. 1 Cor. 7. 14. Children of the Promise born to the Lord and so of his Kingdom his Heritage the Fruit of the Womb his Reward Gal. 3. 28. Ezek. 16. 20 21. Psal 127. Now then as that Wise King saith That even a Child is known by his doings Prov. 20. 11. speaking of the Children in Covenant Acts 3. 25. whether his works be pure or whether it be right So when Cain by his evil work proved himself not to be of the Election wanting the Faith of Gods Elect which Abel had known by his Action when wanting the work of Faith in Christ his Offering was not accepted for which he was filled with Wrath but he being reproved repented not but adding Sin to Sin as it is written Prov. 29. 1. He that being often reproved hardeneth his neck shall suddenly be destroyed and that without remedy so was he destroyed as being cast out of the Communion of Saints As he confessed saying Gen. 4. 14. And from thy Face shall I be hid namely from the Favour and Light of the Countenance of the Lord in his Kingdom of Grace and Worship being deprived of the Blessing in Christ that all the Infants born in the Covenant of Grace have because by the Free Love of God Infants are accepted in Covenant with the Lord with their Parents if they as they grow up continue in Faith and Love and Holiness with Sobriety they shall be saved As the Apostle in his reproving the Church of God at Ephesus in suffering Women to usurp Authority over the Man by Teaching as Men did Quaker-women like in the Assembly against the very Order of Nature and Command of God his reason in reproving the Female Sex was for that Adam was first formed and secondly for Adam was not deceived but the Woman being deceived was in the Transgression notwithstanding she shall be saved in Child-bearing that is if she her Husband and Children by the Word of Grace in the Promise believe in the promised Seed God Christ manifest in the Flesh the Seed of Adam and Abraham if they continue in that Faith and Love to God in keeping his Commandments and Holiness of Life as becometh such as are in Communion with the Lord and Sobriety the Women Adorning themselves in Modest Apparel as becometh Women professing Godliness they shall be saved 1 Tim. 2. 9 13
34 15. By all which we see the same Doctrine of Faith Holiness and Love taught in Adam's Family is the same to us in Christ according to the same Covenant of Grace that was made with Adam and his Children whom he taught the way of the Lord but when grown up if as Cain they abide not in it as he so must they be cast out and this could not have been had he not been a Member of the Church in his Infancy born to the Lord in Covenant but when he not proving to be of the Election which the Apostle saith obtaineth it or continueth it in abiding Faithful to the end standing fast in the Faith which Cain did not but departed from the visible Profession thereof Luke 8. 13. so fell away Now then of Cain's Seed the World of ungodly began to take Root in the Earth again so that there was now on Earth the Kingdom of Christ in Adam's House or Family and the Kingdom of Satan in Cain's House or Family called the World of Ungodly who both Fathers and Children were destroyed by the Flood of Noah And then again there was only remaining the Church of God or his Kingdom in Noah's Family the Fathers with their Wives and Children a Holy Nation a chosen Generation to the Lord as Israel were by Families But in process of time Satan had his Seed in the Church in the Person of Cham or Ham Gen. 9. 25. who for his Sin was cast out of the Church and of his Seed sprang another World of Ungodly As likewise in process of time almost all the Posterity of Blessed Shem became Apostatized from the Faith So that then it pleased God to call Abraham from his Idolatry out from his Fathers House Joshua 24 2. Gen. 12. 1 and with him and his Seed as before with Adam and Abraham and their Seed God made an everlasting Covenant or preached to him the everlasting Covenant of the Gospel namely that in his Seed Christ the Womans Seed in the same Gospel afore preached to Adam All Nations of the Earth shall be Blessed Gen. 12. 3. And when again the same Covenant was more particularly applied to belong to the Seed of his Body of whom Christ must be exspected as it is written I will make my Covenant between me and thee and will multiply thee exceedingly besides the Promise before made to him of his being a Father of many Nations and I will establish my Covenant between me and thee and thy Seed after thee in their Generations for an everlasting Covenant to be a God unto thee and to thy Seed after thee Gen. 7. 2 5 7. Now this Promise to be a God to the Believer and his Seed is the Substance of the Gospel-Promise as it is written And they shall be his People and God himself will be with them and be their God Rev. 21. 3. even the God of all the Families of Israel Jer. 31. 1. So then if the very Letter of the Gospel be so plain that in Christ the Families of the Earth shall be Blessed and this Family is the Seed or Infants or Children of Believers and this Blessing is the Remission or Pardon of their Sins as it is written God having raised up his Son Jesus sent him to bless you in turning away every one of you from your Iniquities Acts 3. 26. Water-Baptism being the visible Sign thereof therefore saith Peter to Parents and Children be Baptized every one of you namely that have their Sin or Sins pardoned the Sin of the World for the Promise in the Gospel-Covenant is to you and unto your Children is also confirmed by John the Baptist that this is the Way of Salvation he prepared before the Lord saying Behold the Lamb of God preached to Adam is now come that beareth away the Sin of the World of whom is afore proved Children in Adam were a part thereof Now until the Anabaptists can prove that the Infants were no part of the World Sin entered into and so Children to be no Sinners it remaineth proved that Children are Sinners in Adam and the Sin of the Infants of Believing Parents is taken away by Christ the second Adam as well as the Sin of their Parents who had Actually committed As we have the Testimony of the Spirit of God for to prove it in these words but not as the Offence so also is the Free Gift Rom. 5. 18 19. for if through the Offence of one many be Dead much more the Grace of God and the Gift by Grace which is by one Man Jesus Christ hath abounded unto many and not as it was by one that sinned so is the Gift for the Judgment was by one to Condemnation but the Free Gift is of many Offences unto Justification So then all is of Free Grace both to the Actual Sinner and his Seed in Infancy who are Sinners by original Derivation Now although God doth require of such as have Actually sinned Actually to repent and to make Confession of their Faith before they may have the Sign of Remission of Sins if they were not before Baptized into the Name of Christ to be set on them So that great is the Difference between what it is that giveth any Soul Young or Old Right to have Water-Baptism Administred on them and what God requireth of Actual Sinners before they be Baptized Therefore the very Letter of the Law a Schoolmaster leading to Christ might teach the Anabaptists that of whom did God require a Sacrifice of Confession brought to the Altar figuring Christ but from such only that had Actually sinned yet the Infants of such by vertue of Gods Free Grace in the Covenant of the Gospel were Blessed with their Believing Parents and the Males sealed with the Seal of the Righteousness of Faith therefore called with their Parents The Blessed of the Lord as shall be more spoken to anon But now to insert here the general Argument grounded on Carnal Reason the Anabaptists bring as their main Pillar to deny the Right Infants have to Water-Baptism published by B. Keach in his Book Gold Refined P. 141. That nothing less than Profession of Faith and Repentance can give any Soul Young or Old Right to have Water-Baptism administred on them Answ If there were no Sinner pardoned or their Sin or Sins remissed there would not have been this Ordinance of Baptism ordained seeing it is ordained for a Sign of the Remission of Sins that such as have Right thereto may have Christ made manifest to them that he hath washed away their Sin or Sins in his Blood But because Christ the Lamb of God is come who taketh away not only the Sin of such Actual Sinners whom his Father giveth Faith to Believe in his Son but also the Sin of the World Infants stand charged with by natural Corruption derived from their Parents Now then who is it Man even Sinful Man that Meriteth a Right to have his Sins pardoned or is it not Christ that hath done
by Profession The contrary by their own writing doth clearly appear That Infants are in Covenant and so visible Members of the Church so that 't is a bad cause when the Anabaptists are necessitated to bely such worthy Men to maintain their Errors And surely it is a bad cause when as the Scripture saith how some Men may confess that they make Lyes their Refuge Isaiah 28. 15. in making the World believe a false Report when the Men are not alive to speak for themselves yet that their Works like others spake for them how little they favoured the way of Anabaptistry when nothing less as farther appeareth in the last words of Mr. Ainsworth's Book called A Censure upon a Dialogue of the Anabaptists never yet by them answered saith That it was Christ's last Farewel to his Disciples when he Blessed them Luke 24. 50. being the Summ of the Gospel Gal. 3. 8. that in Abraham 's Seed that is Christ all Nations shall be Blessed this Grace Abraham 's Infants had this Grace Christ gave to little Children Luke 18. 16. and so the same he hath vouchsafed to continue unto us and to our Children throughout their Generations preserving us and them from the Curse of Anabaptistry whereby so many Errors are dispers'd Scriptures wrested and Souls perverted unto Destruction Moreover how apparently true it is that in the Anabaptists denying Infant-Baptism many Scriptures are perverted and Souls destroyed by such as press that Baptism in the World which they have received from their Administrator John Smith Baptizing of himself â—nâ— yet is condemned by Ben. Keach in his Book Page 147. in these words as aforesaid Water-Baptism saith he is a part of Instituted Worship and Service to God so that whatsoever is done in Worship and Service to God without an express word drop'd from Christ or his Apostles is Will-worship Now until he can prove it lawful for a Man to Baptize himself by some word drop'd from Christ or his Apostles it is Will-worship and so not from Heaven or from God therefore Ben. Keach's Baptism which he and the rest have received from their Administrator John Smith who Baptized himself is Will-worship and so not of God and to be Abhorred of all Christians because he granteth it is Will-worship forbidden of God Col. 1. 21 22 23. Isaiah 1. 12. Moreover seeing then the Anabaptists Baptism is not of God and the Baptism received in Infancy they deny then is there no true Water-Baptism remaining among them and thus at once all Gospel Ordinances by their Doctrine must cease and the whole Building of Christ must fall to the Ground Now whither must we go for Counsel in this Distress Surely but as the Prophet saith To the Law and to the Testimony so we should go for Counsel to none but to God his Gracious Spirit blowing upon the Sails of our Faith whereby we shall safely pass through all these Difficulties into an Orderly Practice of the Gospel in the Injoyment of all Christs Ordinances For after the deep Apostacy after the Apostles Decease we hear a Voice saying Arise measure the Temple the Altar and the Worshippers Rev. 11. 1. therefore He that hath ascended up on High hath not left his Church destitute of Counsel at any time for although the Lord for the Judgment of the World and Trial of his Servants and Manifestation of his Power did suffer his Church or People to wit Judah to be captivated by the Babylonians of old and now since his Churches or People captivated by the Spiritual Babylonians yet as of old a right way was found for the restoring the due and orderly Practice of all Gods Ordinances without the help of Mans Inventions so that the Lords Building was finished without a Stone of Babel for a Corner or for a Foundation so that although the Spiritual Babylonians said like their Ancestors Rase it even to the Foundation Yet we have a perfect Rule to the Practical Performance of all Gods Ordinances if we take Gods Counsel for direction as aforesaid To the Law and to the Testimony they that speak not according to it have no light in them Isaiah 8. 20. Now then as Water-Baptism came in place of Circumcision as hath been afore proved we then after a deep Apostacy must take our Directions from the one to the other let us then see whether we can find in Scripture any President for retaining Gods Ordinance done in Apostacy not to be repeated when as nothing but the Ordinance is retained only the Evil or Disorder purged away by Repentance as it was concerning Circumcision Therefore we read in the days of Hezekiah that the Church of God was fallen into deep Apostacy as the Divine History doth shew 2 Chron. 30. chap. the like we read in Josiah's time and after in Ezra and Nehemiah's time in which State of Apostacy they still Circumcised their Children so that when they returned to God to walk with him by Faith in keeping his Commands in his Worship they did not repeat their Circumcision but the Evil through Gods Mercy was Purged by Repentance and so they were admitted to the Passover for no uncircumcised Person might eat of the Passover Exod. 12. 48. so now no unbaptized Person must eat of the Lords Supper This being a President for all Christians when returning out of deep Apostacy the Baptism then received in Apostacy ought not to be repeated any more than Circumcision Seeing it hath been proved that both Circumcision and Water-Baptism are Signs and Seals to one and the same Covenant of Grace in Christ to wit Rom. 4. 11. of the Righteousness of Faith in the Remission of Sins by the Blood of Christ Col. 2. 11 12. For although Water-Baptism and Circumcision were no Seals of Gods Favour and Mercies but rather Judgments to them of old as now so long as they remained in Sinful Idolatry for it will be granted by all that Gods Covenant in the Blessings thereof continueth with any Church or People no longer than they remain in his true Faith and Obedience in walking with God according to his written word Rev. 2. 3. chap. 2 Chron. 15. 2 3. So then as of old upon a return of Gods Elected ones even they and their Children out of Apostacy they did enter into the Covenant of Grace in Christ as it is written They shall ask the way to Zion with their faces thitherward saying Come let us joyn our selves to the Lord in a perpetual Covenant that shall not be forgotten Jer. 50. 5. This was fulfilled in Ezra and Nehemiah's days when they came out of Babylon by Families yet they were not again Circumcised but having separated themselves from the Filthiness of the Heathen of the Land Ezra 6. 21 22. and were joyned to the Lord by renewing their Covenant did keep the Feast of the Lord and so were admitted to the Passover which no uncircumcised Person might eat of Exod. 12. 48. Obj. If any say Circumcision once done could not be