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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A41787	A religious contest, or A brief account of a disputation holden at Blyton in the county of Lincoln between Mr. William Fort minister of the perochial congregation at Blyton on the one part, and Thomas Grantham, servant to the baptised churches on the other part : whereunto is added Brief animadversions upon Dr. Stilling-fleet his digressions about infant baptism in his book intituled, A rational account of the Protestant religion, &c., in both which are shewed that the generality of the nations now professing Christianity are as yet unbaptised into Christ : 1. Because their sprinkling and crossing the fore-head is not the right way of baptising, 2. Because infants ought not to be baptised.	Grantham, Thomas, 1634-1692.	1674 (1674)	Wing G1544; ESTC R39430	28,329	42

the Baptising of Infants SOlomon the wise hath told us there are many devices in Mans heart The truth whereof is verified in the multitude of devices old and new which Men have found out to darken the Counsell of God teaching the sacred institution of the Baptism of Repentance for the remision of sins Nevertheless the Counsell of God that shall stand and therefore neither shall the devices of Dr. Stillingfleet prevail nor be found ●o much as a rational account of the grounds of Infant Baptism albeit divers Persons are perswaded that he hath out-done others that have undertaken to defend that innovation 1. First Therefore we shall consider the two Texts John 3. 5. Act. 2. 38 39. which he says according to the interpretation of the Fathers and the antient Church and the Papists themselves do evidently assert Infant Baptism It were answer sufficient to tell h●m that what ever was the interpretation of the Fathers c. yet according to the interpretation of the Protestants the grounds of whose Religion he presents to give an account off these Texts doth not hold forth such a necessity of Infant Baptism as by some of the Antients was imagined seeing the Protestants do not say as the Papists and some before them no Baptism no salvation but they more truly teach that this place is to be understood even as some of the Fathers also expounded it of such as refuse or contemn Baptism and yet saying withall to your confutation that it is not necessary by water John 3. 5. To understand the external rite of Baptism See Fulk Ans to the Rhemists Annot. John 3. so Dr. Willit Synops Papis However it is evident to them that will not shut their eyes that in John 3. 5. Christ is shewing the way of Life and the duties of regeneration to such as came to him for instruction and spea●● nothing there of the case of Infants who as one well observes cannot overcome the World by reason of their natural incapacity to know either good or evil and therefore are not obliged to the duties of the new birth to wit repentance faith and Baptism for whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world and this is the victory that overcometh the world even our faith And hence it is evident that John 3. 5. cannot be understood of Infants who are wholly uncapable of the duties of regeneration And as eviden● it is that Acts ● 38. 39. intends not Infants seeing the persons there to be baptised even every one of them are required first to repent a duty of which Infants are wholly uncapable and the promise there mentioned is clearly meant of the gi●ts of the Holy Ghost or the Spirit of promise in a special manner according to the Prophesie of Jo●l the extent of which promise is only to the called of the Lord v●rse 39 and this interpretation also is avouched by learned Protestants See Diodate on the Text and Erasmus on the same Dr Jer. Taylor in his book of confirmation doth fully expound this place of the promise of the Spirit both to the Parents and to the Children as they are the called of the Lord and not to infants in that capacity Lib. Proph●cy So then the pretended evidence of Infant Baptism from this place is taken away because this tr●th is hence very evident that calling by the word of the Gospel regeneration ●y Faith and repentance are the true antecedents to the Baptism of every sinner 2. Secondly Dr St●lling-fleet states the Q●estion between the Baptists and the Paed●-Baptists after this manner Wh●ther our bless●d Savio●r hath by a positive precept so determined the subject of baptism viz. Adult persons professing the faith that the a●teration of the subject in baptising Infants be not a deviation from a●d a p●rversion off the institution of Christ in a substantial part of it 〈…〉 short whether our Saviour hath so determined the subject of bapt●sm as to exclude infants This done he tells us that taking in only the help of Scripture and reason it were no difficult matter to ●rove directly that infants are so far from being excluded Baptism by the institution of Christ that there are as many grounds as are necessary to a matter of that nature to prove that the baptising 〈◊〉 is ●uita●le to the institution of ●hrist and agreeable to the 〈◊〉 of the Church under the Gospel So then Scripture and rea●on ●nly must now deside the controversie Let us hear therefore 〈…〉 St●ll●ng fleet brings from thence and th●s he speaks If there were any ground to exclude them it must be either the incapacity of the subject or some express precept and institution of our Saviour but neither of them can be supposed to do it But I answer for both these cau●es Infants are not to be bapti●ed and sith their incapacity depends upon the nature of the institution these two reasons are resolved into one Now the institution of baptism whether we consider it as delivered by God to his Servant John and by him to us or as it is established by precept from Christ for a perpetual Ministry in his Church to the end of the world we shall find it delivered by both in such sort as it is exclusive of infants for in the first place it is deli●ered as the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins Mark 1. 4. and every sinner who is said to be baptised by him is said to be baptised confessing their sins verse 5. which we know is not to be expected of Infants The precept of our Saviour for the perpetuity of Baptism so expresly requires the making every subject a Disciple in order thereunto and that by actual teaching or preaching the Gospel to them Mat. 28. 19. Mark 16 15 according to Christs own example who so made Disciples before they were baptised that no Infant with any shew of Scripture or reason can possibly be brought within the reach of baptism according to it's institution In a word Dr. St●ll●ng-fl●et seems in so many words to grant in his first state of the Question that to bring Infants to Baptism is an alteration of the subject and therefore not agreeable to the institution of Christ in which to admit of alterations is very dangerous But saith Dr. S. The rule and measure as to the capacity of divine Institutions must be fetched from the end of them for this was the ground ef the Circumcision of Proselites under the Law Answer That the ground of the circumcision of Proselites was fetched from the end of the institution is not true And indeed had it been left to that Mens various conceits about the ends of such institutions might have made as ill work as we see yours do now wherefore the wisdom of God to prevent those dangers gave express order in that case as appears Gen 17. 13. compared with Exod. 12. 44. 48. And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee and will keep the Passeover let all his Males be circumcised and

disciples T. G. Sir I marvel you should no better observe the Law of disputing which I must hold you to and the rather because you were pleas●d to glory so much over your poor Neighbours because of your skill in Logick and now I will shew your mistake of this Text by the prosecution of my next Argument which is this Arg 2 None ought to be baptised but such as are Christs Disciples according to the gospel use of that expression Infants are not Christs Disciples according to the gospel use of that ●●pression Ergo infants ought not to be baptized Mr. Fort. I deny the minor Infants are Christs Disciples according to the Gospel use of that expression T. Grantham None are Christs Disciples according to the gospel use of that expression but such as take up their cross daily and follow Christ but Infants do not so Ergo to this agree the words of Christ Luk. 12. Mr. Fort. This place speaks of persons of years and not of Infants T. Grantham I grant it and so doth every Text that speaks of Christs Disciples according to the gospel use of that expression Mr. Fort. Not so for I will shew a place where Infants are called Disciples Acts 15. Here such as were to be circumcised after the manner of Moses are called Disciples and you know Infants were circumcised after the maaner of Moses T. Grantham That Infants were circumcised after the manner of Moses is true and that the false Apostles would have put the yoke upon all the Disciples is true but that every one upon whom they would have put that yoke were Disciples is not true I will expound this text by another Acts 4. 32. here we are informed that the multitude of them that believed had all things common yet it doth not follow that all that had part in these common things were believers for Infants had part in common things and yet were no believers for it 's said the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and one Soul Mr. Fort. That text doth not expound the other T. Grantham Let them be diligently compared and you will find that a man may as well prove Infants believers from the one as you can prove them Disciples from the other but I proceed Arg. 3. None ought to be baptized but those whose duty it is to be born again of water and of the spirit It is not the duty of Infants to be born again of water and the spirit Ergo Infants ought not to be baptised Mr. Fort. I except against the term duty in your Argument T. Grantham Why so Mr. Fort. There are four terms in your Argument T. Grantham This is but an evasion and no answer you cannot shew four terms in it Mr. Fort. I say Infants ought to be born again of water and of the spirit T. Grantham Here you grant that they ought to be born again of water and of the spirit and yet deny it to be their duty this is no good distinction to make the new birth no part of mans duty but I will prove that whosoever is born again must therein perform duty i Joh. 5. whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world and this is the victory even our faith certainly to believe and overcome the world is something of duty Mr. Fort This place speaks not of Infants but of persons which are Adult T. Grantham I grant it but withall I say this Text speaketh of whatsoever is born of God and saith Christ every one that is born of the spirit is like the wind that bloweth so as the sound thereof is heard now can you imagine your Infants are born again of the spirit seeing they give not any demonstration of it Mr. Fort. You still insist upon places which speak of adult persons T. Grantham I have told you that all the Scriptures which speak of the new birth of water and of the spirit speaks of adult persons or if any speak of Infants pray shew us where they are Arg 4. No sinners ought to be baptized but those of whom faith and repentance is first required Faith and rep●ntance are not required of Infants E●go Infants are not such sinners as ought to be baptized Mr. Fort. This Argument is like the rest you still insist upon those things wh●●h are the duty of adult persons T. Grantham Your conscience tells you that I insist upon those things which are the duty of all that are to be baptised yea your vulgar Catechism teacheth us that faith and repentance are required of all that are to be baptised but seeing you answer not but evade only I shall proceed Arg. 5. All that ought to be buried with Christ in Baptism ought first to be dead with him from the rudiments of the world Infants ought not to be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world Ergo Infants ought not to be Baptised Mr. Fort. I deny the consequence T. Grantham No Sir you cannot deny the consequence in a Categoricall syllogism so that you must either distinguish or deny one of the propositions Mr. Fort. Well then I deny your major T. G. I need but only shew the absurdity of this your denyal for you say in effect that so●e are to be buried before they be dead now that all Christians in Rome and Coloss were dead with Christ before they were buried with him in baptism is evident Rom. 6 1 2 3 4 Colos 2. 10 11 12. and is as true of all other Churches by which it is plain that no Infants were then nor ought now to be baptised Arg. 6. Such only ought to be baptised as Christ and his Apostles did baptise or appointed to be baptised but neither Christ nor his Apostles baptised any Infants n●r appointed them to be baptised Ergo. M. Fort. Christ did appoint Infants to be baptised and said suffer little Children to come unto me and forbid them not Mat. 18. T. Grantham All that can fairly be inferred of this passage is this that if any desire the Prayers of the Ministers of Christ for their Children c. they may lawfully pray for such blessings as they have need of but if any presume to baptise them they do more to them then Christ did or any other by his appointment Mr. Fort. The Jaylor and all his were baptised and how can you think there were no Infants in his house T. Grantham The very reading of this Text doth shew that there were no Infants baptised for first the word was Preached to him and to all that were in his house secondly he rejoyced believing in God with all his house I desire no better evidence against your Infant baptism then the place you bring for it Arg. 7. All that are to be Baptised ought therein to worship God in spirit and truth as also in other general duties of the n●w Testament But Infants ought not to worship God in spirit and in truth in Baptism nor any other general duty of the new

uncapable as of the Lords Table What the Dr. says further of the ends of baptism to represent and exhibit the nature of the grace of the Gospel and to confirm the truth of the covenant on Gods part We have considered before and to what you here add saying It instates the partakers of it in the priviledges of the Church of God I answer That though the Dr. speaks right according to the right administration of baptism yet according to his way of infant baptism it is not so seeing we all know infants while such though sprinkled have no more priviledge in your Church then those who are not sprinkled for the priviledges next following baptism is to be taught to observe all things whatsoever Christ commanded and to continue in fellowship with the Church in breaking of Bread and prayer Acts 2 42. Ma. 28. 20. Now to tell us that infants are instated in these things and yet whilst infants have nothing at all to do with them is too gross a vanity For If you say they are instated in these priviledges upon future contingences viz. Repentance Faith and newness of Life according to the Gospel I answer when this comes to pass they are no infants nor as infants partake of these priviledges but as those that are now the Sons of God by faith and thus truly all infants are instated in Church priviledges as soon as born seeing by the death of Christ they have a right upon the conditions of the Gospel when capable to perform them thus you mislead the world with a specious pretence of instating their infants in Church priviledges when 't is only an empty sound of words But the Jews Infants as they were instated in the priviledges of their Church by circumision so they entred upon the enjoyment of their priviledges in infancy appearing by Gods commandment three times a year in the Temple with the offerings accustomed and to partake of the Passeover with the congregation or family where it was eaten The Dr. saith nothing can seem wanting of the ends of Baptism in respect of Infants but that which seems most cerimonial which is the personal restipulation which yet may reasonably be supplyed by Sponsors c. That there is much wanting beside this restipulation in your infant baptism is shewed before and it is unadvisedly said that the restipulation of the person baptised is the most ceremonial thing in baptism seeing it is the moral and substantial part being indeed our covenanting with God and in truth the external washing is far more ceremonial as appears 1 Pet. 3. 21. And for your saying that the personal restipulation in baptism may be reasonably supplyed by Godf●thers is very much below the reason of any Christian to affirm But is it so that Sponsors may supply the personal restipulation which is the greater then let them also supply the lesser to wit sprinkling with water which they can better perform then the covenant they make for the infant and then the whole business will appear to have the same reasonableness in every part viz wholly unreasonable Thus much touching the capacity of infants c. Next the Dr tells us That in the Institution of Baptism there is neither direct nor consequential prohibition of Infants to be baptized and that there is nothing of that nature pretended before the 〈◊〉 comission Mat. 28. 19. But here is a mistake and its strange he never observed that it hath often been demonstrated that as when Circumcision first appeared in the world it clearly took in the Infants of those to whom it was first given so accordingly it was propagated But when Baptism first appeared in the world it as clearly left out the Infants of those to whom it was first ministred and accordingly was propagated by the holy Apostles insomuch that of the many thousands and famous Churches that were baptised all the world is not able to shew so much as one Infant to have been baptised in any one of them nor one word of precept for so doing and if this be not so much as a consequential prohibition of Infant baptism I shall never believe that the Dr. or any else can shew me so much as a consequential prohibition of Infants receiving the Lords Supper the imposition of hands c. And though the Dr. consider never so much what apprehensions the Apostles had concerning the Church state of such as were in external Covenant with God yet he cannot rationally imagine that they should measure the state of the Gospel Churches by the reason of the Covenant which God made with the Jews and their Seed according to the flesh Seeing it is expresly said from henceforth to wit from the vanishing of the old Covenant know we no Man after the flesh But now if any Man be in Christ he is a new Creature And now Men are not to be accounted of the Church because they are Abraham s Seed but they are accounted Abraham s Seed by being in the Church of Christ Gal. 3. 29. If ye be Christs then are you Abraham 's Seed and Heirs according to promise Neither is it true that Christ commanded his Apostles to gather whole Nations into Churbes as the Dr. affirms neither did the Apostles gather any one whole Nation or City into a Church S●ate that we read of therefore Churches consisting of whole Nations Men Women and Infants are not Apostollical But this the Apostles did they taught many Nations 1. v. their sound went through many Nations not that they taught all manner of Persons in the Nations for they taught no Infants and the persons by them gathered into the Church were only such as received their Doctrine as appears by those Families where their Gospel was received the Husband sometimes opposite to the Wife and otherwhiles the Wife to the Husband Servants and Masters likewise differing in the same Family about christianity 1. Cor. 7. If then the Apostles did not gather whole Families into a church state unless they did wholly believe Act. 16. how-should any Man imagine they gathered whole Nations the greatest part whereof by all experience are wicked persons yea in those very Nations which Men pretend to have made into churches of Christ of which would God England were not so full an evidence as it is this day The Dr. grants that the order of words Mat. 28 19. Teach all Nations baptising them was necessary for those who were then to be proselited to Christianity And we say they are as necessary for the generations following who have as much need of true Faith and Repentance or the first principles of Christianity in order to their being Christians as them that went before and it is a pernitious alteration of the order of Christs commission to out-run it●s direction so as to make persons to be Christians before they do or can know the least title of Christianity The case which the Dr. puts about going to Disciple the Indians Baptising them is not at all rational