|
^ |
«j |
.1 |
|||
|
^ |
CL |
||||
|
, •^ |
|||||
|
.5 |
1 |
||||
|
'? |
|||||
|
^>« |
0) T3 J3 |
||||
|
•**** |
»-9 |
||||
|
♦S |
|||||
|
^ |
^ |
o |
|||
|
€i |
> |
||||
|
> |
' ; |
||||
|
o |
o |
< ■ |
^' |
||
|
o |
:3 |
t |
|||
|
^-^ |
^ |
E |
'"^ |
||
|
a^* ■^^ ^ |
M (14 |
CO ' >> |
! |
||
|
^ |
^ |
||||
|
V |
CD |
^ |
|||
|
%. |
c |
||||
|
^ |
5i |
||||
|
v>^^ |
cii |
g |
|||
|
S<:^'B |
^'^ |
/O^SiD
. r.^\ -i J^,jUMtttlf2
m.
«
<i^'
c^
■ I r
IP
^ 1^ llllfiiVrTi~l III I'lBiiK*^
■ Ac the B»^/(? in iNn^^uc-ireet, over againft tijc
LIreth rfVZ/iito and ^/r/>i& MjrJbaUt Bookreller and Stationer ". Where is a Warehouse, and is fold all lorts of P2per-Hangings, Ijy Wholefale or Retalc, very deUghfulfor E^om crClojets, of the ncwdi invention oFFiguref, as frifh and Diaraond-ftitch, Carpit or Tuiky, and Foreft-W(';rk, &c,
Alfo moft lorts of Plain Colours, Printed with a hot Role like your Stuifs, fold very Cheap.
You may likewjfe be furnifht with Screens ready-. made, at low Prices. &c t
And all ot}ier forts of Tdper^ both Brown, White^ Brown and Writing ; and Paper-hook, as Shop-books, Pocket-books, and Mathematical-books; Affidavits for burying in Woollen, i"//ttej and i'/^re-^oot/^Letter-Cafes,, Copy-l:)ooks,beft Ink for Records. Royal (hining Japan^ Tnk,^o/mJw's Ink-pov.der, Indiz ink; QuillS:Pcns,Wa?,- Pencils, Files, Wafer'i and Boxes, &c. /
Likewife Bibles, T^ftaments, Plakers. Catechifms,;. Spelling-book5.AccideDces,Grammar^/^<ri[>*sShorc-handj with his Teftareent and SiTigivg-Vfalms, and other^ Short-handbooks and moft forts of Books, either "School-books or others : |0* And you may have Bills, BondSjOr Funeral Tickets, Printed at reaferahie rates,
Alfo Dr. Pijfffs Elixir, Blagrave's Spirits pf Scurv-y grafs, both Golden and piJin, i:\\t Queen of izuvgaryi Wat^r.rm'/frs Chymical Water for Teeth & Gums 5 SromftefS^ and Miithrx>\ Pills rightly prepared.
All fold, as above, at the Biak'm Nexog&u-ftrecu
Where is fold, a Guide to.i'arjjh. Claris for Shigwg films, by fJerry Phnfcri^ price 1 s. As aUc Thyforor-i rjiiinSf mdliU pfviKs Corupirim^^c,
BAPTISM
^ifc(/Vered Plainly ^ Faithfully^ V//€^^dwg to the^y^j^
WoR^D^j^f GOD.
WHEREIN Is fet forth the Glorious Pattern of Our Blefled Saviour jESUS Chrift, the Pattern of all Believers in his Subjedion to Baptifm. Together, with the Example of Thoulands who were Baptized after they Believed.
By ^ O // N A^ OI^C'OT r. Late Servant of Jefas Chrift, and of his Church.
The Third Edition, Correaed by WiU^lQffn, \ ■
and Fjch, CUridge. '
With an Appendix by anotheri-iand.
Jer. 6. 4. Ask.for the Old and the Good Way, and Vfdk tkrein, ^youjhall find re/}foryoitrj}mls,
Ifa. 30. 21. This is the iVay^wxlk.in it, I Cor. II. I. Be ye followers of 'me, as I am )
ofChm. Uzt'^,t6? And rohcfi Refits ti'ii Baptized cr
dip^i he came up out of the Water, LiSc. 7- 30. But the Pharjfees md Lmyer: re- jeBed the Counfel of God dgninfi themfelvesp not being Baptized or dipt. ' ^.
Printed at I^tterJamt and now Re- printed at Londorfy by the Ailigns of Widc^ Norc^t and Sold by Will, Marjk^l "'■ t.:£ Bible in AAfwgjij /^reet, 1694., ■ - '.
' — ■ ->^ i.^i»m
i
cvAn
^£^<
ii
To All that Love4Jj%, LO(!iTfjESVS£HtlST,
And His Holy Ordinances in the Truth,
Grace, Mercy; and* Peace be
Multiplyed.
S the Lord Jefus Chrifi: is moft pretious to your [^ Souls, his Name being as Oyntment poured forth ^ and His Love letter thxn Winey Song i. 2,, 3. So hath every Truth of his, a due Value and Etteem with you. , WhatfoeVer hath the Di- vine Imprefs upon it, ye readily em- A % brac^,
brace,- but not that, which is but a Tradition of Man. Hence it is, that 3'e are for a Chi^rch of Chrifis own Ere^hn^ for a MiniHry of his own CaU ling^ and for Ordinances of his own Ap' fomting, 'Tis both your. Defire and Endeavour to follow Chrifl: fully, and therefore cannot admit of any thing in Dodrine, or Worfliip, that is not exafitly confonant to his revealed will. Ye are {q tender of Chrift's Honour, which fliines in all his Commands, that ye cannot deviate knowingly the leaft tittle from any one of them, 0 what an Awe Chriji's Authority car^ rys with it ! Ye are the flieep that hear his Voice, the fervants that do his will, and the People that are o- bedient in the Day of his Power. Blejfed areje that make his word y out Rule\ and rejolvedly do praHife accor- ding thereunto !
Ihe Author of this Short and plain Difcourfe, was a True Lover of our Lord Jefus, and his Holy Ap" poinfments, he Steer 'd his whole
courfe,
Clje ^piffle De5icato?p.
^ourfcjby the Compafs of the Word, making Scripture- Precept, or Exam- ple, his conftant Rule in Matters ofi Religion : Otlier Mens Opinions or Interpreta|ions were not the Stan- dard by which he went ; but through the Afliflance of the Holy Spirit, he- laboured to find out what the Lord himfelf had faid in his Word. And' therefore throughout this Little Book, he ftili keeps clofe to the Scriptures^ Vouching no Authority for what he delivers, but from tlience.
What Approbation this Piece hativ found, may appear from hence ; that fince the Firft Edition of it here in England^ it hath been Reprinted ift Holland^ was al(b lately Tranflated into Welfh^ and now growling fcarce, and much asked for, the Bookfell^r hath been Advifed to give'it ano- tiier ImpreiTion. In which there arr few material Alterations or Additi- ons, the Author's own Phrafe, and Method being generally preferved.
A3 The
^ ^ — , -n
Cfje epiffle Deoicato^g.
The Lord , who is able to give
feed to the SQwer^ and to hlefs the
feed Sown^ Profper this Plain DiP
courfe to evjery foul tliat fliall read
ir, which is. the hearty Defire of,
Tours in the Lordj
Xk
To his Truly Beloved Friends and Brethren in and about Wappifjg^ who Love our Lord JESUS in Sincerity, Children of one Father, Partakers of the Glorious Spirit of Grace..
'^^T was Joftphs Lot to he fepa- r^ted from his (Brethren y hut God meant it for good;, tho'' it w^ not for the prefent Jeen^ jetin due time it appeared. J oiephs2)r^«mx were fulfilled; and tho the Jrchers fl)Qt forely at him^ and grieved Um^ yet his ^ow abode in Jirength : Oh\ "how good it is to he upright with the Lord I It is one of the fad evils^ of th TtmeSy Brethren (hoot at:^ Brethren =:- ^ut this will be aMerc^ ^"4, indeed^
%o W iftietttiiS am Tg?et&^en
indeed J if all our Aim might he more to enjoy J and be conformable to Chrijl ; om part of Conformity to our Lord Jefus^ is Obedience to the Trecious Ordlmnce of Baptilm, judging you are fuch as prefs after Chrift your Heady together with a Tejlimoml of 77ty unfeigned Loy^ to you, I haVe prefented thefe few Tl^oughts to your feriom Con/tderation. 1 have read of . Two Loving Friends^ who having fpznt a great part of the day in a matter of Dtjference between them; could not he reconciled^ andfo parted: One of them bethinking him f elf of that Texi^ Eph. 4. 16. ran to the other ^ fayingy The Sun is going down j by ')Vhich they '^ere both im* mediatelyj reconciled. My (Brethren^ our Sun is going down ^ Eternity is
upon
in ann about Wapping.
tipcn tiSj and [hall we not conftdtr the Work W kve to do for the Lord? I hejeechyou be like the Ko- ^/^ Bereans, (earch whether thefe things be fo ; and if you find thefe things not mine^ hut the Lords ^ then give him the glory due to his Name. {Beloved^ as I haye^ fo 1 (Jyall yet appeal in the Ears of - the Lord of Sahhmh^ like Elijah} Lord God o( Jbrahnniy Ifaacy3,ni of Ifrael^ let it be km this day that thou art God in Jfrael^ and that I am thy fervant, and that I have done all thefe thing3 at thy Word, i I^jjigs i8. ;6* Kow Lord let Fire come doi^n from Heaven on this Sacrifice^ that may drink up all the IVaters of (Irife : J?id that you may all cry^ThQ Lord
ha
Co ijlis iftien^is, &c
he is God, the Lord he is God, ver. 59. Which is the unfeigned Jejtre of him that is unworthy to fer'Ve you ; yet your hyin^ brother in Jefus Chrifl^
John >5orcott>^
« • — '^ — -"^ —
The Contents of the Book.
The Incroduftlon Page i.
CHAP. I. Chrift was Baptized in the River of
y ^crdan, p. 2.
rll* Of the great Commiffion for Believers Ba-
Pt-ifm. p. 7.
in. Exanipies. P. 11.
IV. Baptifra i« dipping or covering under Wa- ter. P. 17.
V. Proving Water-Baptifm to continue till the fecond coming of Jefus Chrift. p. 21.
V I. That no Meafures of Grace or of the Spi- rit are a fufficient ground to keep any from Water-Baptifm. . P. 2^
VII. Believers Baptifm a great Ordinance, P. 25.
V I I I. Anfwers to the common. Objeftions, p. 28. IX* Believers Baptifm and Infant -Baptifm com- pared, P. 43.
X Plain Scriptures concerning Baptifm without any
Human Confequencefrom man's Wifdom P. 41'.
XI. Confiderations by wayof Conclufion, P. 50.
An Appendix. P. 57.
Baptifm Difcovered.
^ — *■ TT '^' f ■'
•' *
The Introdf^ion.
WHEN thou by readkggoeft to fearch out the mind orGod, let thy Cry be, Lord anoint mifte eyes with eye-falvcythat J may fie •, and if it hath been the day of Gods Power with thy foul, I fear not but thou wilt bid Truth welcome, in whatever drefs it comes •, and more think on what is comprized in the Letter , than be affrighted at the poor Cloathing of the Mejjengcr ; efpecially, knowing it comes from one whofe Name is the Great God. Therefore in handling this Truth, viz,- Believers Baptifm, as it was pradifed by Chrift and the Primitive Churches, my great Requeft to thee, is. That thou wilt read what is faid without prejudice: And whatever thou findcfb ac- cording to Truth, receive as that which is more precious than thy Life, and judge of it according to the Holy Scriptures-, for
whea
^ /Baptifm l^tetiup
when all is faid that can be, they mufl: be Judge in all Controverfies of Religion: And as Chrifi is the Fow7j^tiorjj I Cor. 2. 1 1^ upon which whoever buildeth, Ihall never be confounded. 1 fhall therefore take a few Obfervations concerning Chrift his being baptized ; and herein you ra^y take notice how exad the Holy Scriptures are, to fet down the Circumftances of his Bap- tifm. ^
'^ C H A P. I.
Chrifi rvas Bapiiz^edin the River 0/ Jordan.
Concerning the Baptifm of Je/^j Chrifi you may read it at large, Mat,^, 13, &c. Then comet h Jefns from Galilee to Jor- dan unto John to be Baytiz^ed of him. Every word hath Emphafis ( then ) before he en^ tred upon his publick Minillry, as you fee in Mat, 4. 17. From that time Jefus began to preachy (^cometh) he might have com- manded John to have attended him ; but in token of his fubjedtion he cometh (from .Galilee) many miles, & 'tis likely on foot y every ftep we take for God is acceptable, and one day fhall have a Glorious Re- ward (io Jordan^ wliere there was a Ri- ver
^ aim faitljfultg Difcouerco.
yer where Thoafands had been Baptized, and was a fuitable place for John to dip Chrift in, as will be ktn hereafter. Now i (hall take notice of eight things concern^ the Baptifm of Chrift.
Firji^ Concerning his Age, 'tis faid, L«/^. 3.21- jefus being haptiz^ed^ . ver • 23 . bega^t to be aboHt thirty years of j4ge ; here you fee that Chrili: himfelf was baptized at<^roW7t Tears ; if any might be baptized in Infancy, why not ChriJfl: ? Chriftians be not alha- med, your Captain is gone before you, he was thirty years old when baptized. Chrift is not afhamed. to call you Bre- thren, Heb, 2. II.
Secondly^ Another thing to be obferved. in the Baptifm of Chrifl:, is the Admini- llrator of this holy Ordinance, .yo/:?^, who confefleth of himfelf he was not worthy to unloofe the latchets of hisfhooes, Mark^ 1.7. Now if Chrill: would receive Bap-: tifm froih fuch an unworthy Inftrument ; never flight the Ordinance, becaufe of the unworthinefs of the Adminiftrators, let your eye be on Chrift your Example.
Thirdly^ Note the Repulfe, John for- bad him;, Mat. 3- 14. Difficultly in duty mufl be no excufe :, . we mull ta^e no dc- nyal in following God, Strive to cmcr t;- tit the fir ait gaie^ Mat,, ?• ^3.
i> tfjirujiw
TBatJtffm plainlp
Fourthly^ Note, John's Argument, A/4;. 3. 1 4. / have med to he hapcz'd of thee^ and comeft thou to me ? Some will not be bap- tized but of need ^ their carnal Argument is, May I not go to Heaven though I be not baptized ? Is it of neceflity to falvati- on ? Is this like your Lord and Mailer ? Was not he a perfefl; Saviour ? Was not the Spirit poured on him without meafure ? He had no fin to be wafiied away, wherefore fee your example, he doth it not of need, but of obedience to his Fathers will.
Fifthly^ Note the excellent Terms he gives to this Ordinance of Baptifm. i. He calls it Riohteonfnefs^ Matth. 3. 15. 'Tis righteous and juft that I fhould be about my Fathers bufinefs. 2. It is a comely thnig, it becomes us : Ob it is a very comely thing in God's Children, to have
.^-efped to all the Commandments of God. 3. The Conjuniflion ( nO thee and me, and all my Foll'jwers, John 12. 26. If any man ferve me^ let him follow mi •, and where I am,
^jhere fiidtalfo myjervant be. 4. A Comple- tion, k is a. fulfilling, iCor. 104. Thewca-
■ '■;^ons of our warfare are nut carnal but fpiritn- 'al\.SfhX:'<i:y^g^''^g cve'^^ thought into capti»
'MtXitQ h^i^efti'nce of Chrifi^ ver. (5. having
^~i^^?^lh^^t6 revenue aH dijnhedtence^ whm yofir obedance jhall i^e fidfilled. Obedience
muit
aua faitt)fuHg Difcoaeteo» 5
muft be fuliilled. 5. The univerfal Term (-// j Baptifm is one of the all, Chrifi: reckons it fb> Thou can ft net wal\ m all the Commandj^ if this be emitted,
6. Note, Concerning Chrifts Baptifm the form of Adminiftration, ^^at, 3. j^f^d ftraitvpay he wer:t up out of the water (ftrait» 7i'^'7)becaure Baptifm is once Dipping-^ Qip) had he not been down, 'twould not have been faid he went up; (loemf^O was noc carryed in Arms as Infants are, (ptit^ if he went out of the water then he had been in : We never fay one goes out of the houfe* when he never was in. So Chrift could not be laid to come out of the water? had he not been in ; (he went up oat) had a lit* tie water been brought to him in a Bafon^ he had not been faid to go up out (.of the wat ter) this water was the River of Jordan .• Chrifl (loops to fmall things becaufe an Ordinance.
7. Note, Concerning Chrift's Baptifmj the Father's Acceptance,vW./f .3. i6^ij.(the Heavens were opened : ) Some of thrift's Followers have fonnd glorious openings of Heaven in Baptifm •, {the fpirit defcended) the very fame that is promifed to Believ- ers in their Baptifm) A^, 2, 38. R^ent Av.d be Biipttx^ed every one ofyou^ and yolf ^all re^ ciivetker-Holy^Gkaft^ Obj. But doth every
Bz cm
:!3aptum plamlt)
^>>e receive the Holy Ghoj} th,it is tapt:z^s4:f Afif. The dtkCt lies not in Bsptifm, but in faith and Repentance ; witiiout which no Ordinance is effeaual : iAndlc^ a voice f/om Heaven, This is )r,y beloved S:??') Ghrift as Head was fealedj and ia Baptifm is held forth the Sonfhip of his Members ( m him J ajH Kell pleafed:) not only in all he hath and doth do, but in this very Aft of Bap- tifm? as an A^ of Obedience to my glo- rious Will. I am v';el] pleafed, and fo is the Lord well pleafecj in the Ad of Obedience, ivherein fyom the heart we obey the form of Deprive delivered to hSj Rom. 6. 17. The fame Voice the blefled Son of God ha:h in the Mount, Luk, 9.35. This is my beloved Son ; hear hif/t. Hear him in his Commands and AppointEiients j hear him now in his Baptifm : Oh, faith Chrill, thus it becom- eth US', you that have my Father for your Father, you that have my God for your God : Thus it becometh us to be baptized, and to fulfil all righteoufnefs ; Oh he is ,% belovtd Son^ bear him,
8 Note,How in Chrilts Baptifm the Tri- nity doth as it were meet ; the Father with a Voice,the Son baptized in Perfon, the Ho- ly Gholt defcends like a Dove : And furely i€ is oncl^eafon, why Baptifm in fpecial is isto be admioiftrcd in the Name of the Fa- ther,
ann faitftfulip DiftaaereD. 7
ther, Son, & Holy Ghoft i becaule he who doth fincerely believe, and is baptized, the whole Trinity, the Father, Son and Spirit is his portion ^ and that glorious Union of the Trinity in Chrift's Baptifra, is in eve- ry Believers Baptifm commemorated.
CHAP. U.
Of ths great Co/r.miflon for Belki/crs Baftiffh\
AS you have heard fomething concern- ing your great Pattern, the Lord Je-- ius ; fo now I fliail (hew fomething concern- ing his Command, ^-^^*\28. 1 9. And I pray note what is faid of our Lord Jefus, ^^. i . t . Chrift is faid both to do & teach ; 'tis good for Teachers to imitate their Lord both to do and teach , and ver. 2. Ue was taken ufy after that he thrcH^h the Spirit had given Comniandmenn to his jlfofiles-^ gf which Commandments, this of Believers Baptiftn is certainly dne *, and as you fee in Mat,i%, iS, 19, 20. The great God gave him to be a Commander and Leadir to his People^ Ifa. 5S-4. Ghrift is a Gift as a Commander-, Oh what Mercy it is to have fuch a wile Commander,whofe Commandments to Be- lie vers are not grievous 5 i^ k^eeping his Come B 3 m,ifif'.'
« TBaptifm platnlp
mandmems there is great reward^ Pfal. 19. 1 1. Now in this Command tKere are Eight Things very notable-.
F/V/, Note whence Chrifl came, why ? He came but of the Grave, A Rifen Jefus ; And God raijed him from the dead^ arid fent himtoblefsiis, Ad.3.26. Surely thisblelTed Jefus would not appoint any thing but what is good for his People^ he is a blelled Jefus, and he.g^ives blelTed Commands; Bkjfed tire ihey that do his Commandmcfits^ that they may have a right to the Tree of Life^ and may enter in through the Gates into the City^ Rey. 22.14.
JecoW/jjNotejChrifi: appeared and came to them •, now fhould an Angel appear and command men to be baptized, who wonld ftand againfl: it ? But here you have the glo- rious Son of God in his own Perfon appear- ing, and faith, Go teach and haptiz^e.
Thirdly^ Note what Authority he comes,, with. Mat, 2.8. 18.. All power in Heaven and Earth is given tome ; all Power to XOm- mand both in Heaven and Earth is given to me,i all power to difpofe of Heaven and Earth, all poyyer to protefi. J have Angels and Men at rny. Command ;. I am able to protect you, to (land by you, and to be with y du; both in the fire and in the water : I
have
have al] power. Go therefore^ teach andbaf^ tiz^e ; fear no enemies :
Go teach andba^ttz^e,
Fourthly^]siotQ the Command it felf,Mif;. 28. J 9. faith Ghrift, Go therefore teach and baptiz,e. Chrift faid but to Legion^ Go^ Mat. 8. 52. and they ran riolently, and fhall not Believers be as willing People in tlie day of his power ? The Centurion did but fay Go^ to his fervants,and they did go j and he did but fay Come, and they came > &he did but fay, Do this, and they did it : And fhall Chrifts fervants be worfe to him^ than the Centurions fervants were ? 'Tis Chrift faith. Go,
Go teach and^ baptize.
Fifthly^ Note, what is precedent to Bap- tifm : Go teach^thtr^ niuft be teaching-, God> is a Spirit,and he feeks fuch to worfhip him^ that worfhip him in fpirit and truth, Joh. 4, 24^ therefore there muft go Teaching before Baptifm^ or elfe they will ne'^^er wor(hip-> him in fpirit and truth. Go teach and ba^- tiz.e, I confefs many men do fay the word: Teach in the Greek, is, Make difciplcs,and. I dare not fay againft it v for I find it the- very pra(^tice of Jefus Chrift, he did firit make Difciples, and then baptized them, Joh. 4. I . Jefits made and baftiz.ed.more dif" cifles than John-, here was firft a makings B4 Pif-
^ : ^ -■
iQ Qgqptifm plaimp
Difciples, and then a baptizing them ; but how many poor fouls Igmrantly baptiz^e thofe who never were made Difciples*, but, Ghriil faith? tvach and baftiz^e them.
Sixthly^ Note? The Extent of the Cora- niand? Teach all Natioyis and baptiz.e them^ Go into all Nations, whether it be a hot or a cold Clirriate^ Jews and Gentiles^ Male and female •, when you have taught them, then baptize them. Now the middle Wall of Partition is broken down- Now ^od is no Pxefpefter of Perfons, now let none think to boall that they have Ahraham for their Father \ No, no, go intoall Nations, pub- liQi the glad tydings of the Gofpel to eve- ry Creature, Mark 1 6. 15, 16. He that k- Ikveth and is haptiz^edj Jball be faved ; Go, teach all Nativns^baptiz.ing them ; when you have taught them, then baptize them.
Severti'jly^^olQ the words of Inftitution, M4t, 28. 19. B^ftiziijg them in the Name of the Father^ fuch as receive the Lord Je- fu« on Gofpel-terms, God will be a Fa- ther to them, 2 Cor. 6. 175 1 8. Go give them a Call 5 come out from amongfi Z)nbelievers^ , &c. a-'^d befeparate-i and J will be a Father to yoUj andyoH jhail be my fons afid daughters : Stand a while, and wonder here you that make nothing of the blefled Ordinance of Baptifmi here below things done in the
King's
anti faitljfttllj) Difcoaetco. 1 1
King's Name, carries power *, but here's' the Greac God's Name : Yea, here's the Name of the Myfterious Trinity, Fatker^, Sori^ and Holy Ghofi^ and doffc thou think Baptifm hath nothing in it, that haththac glorious Name to be adored and admired ? Go, baptize thera in the glorious Namebf the Father^ So/iy and Holy Choft,
Ei^htly^ Note the glorious Promife an- nexed, Go haptlsie^ and I will he with yon ; Chrift is a good Companion, you that love his Company, feek it where he promifeth it \ Ask for the old and the good way^ and walk therein^ and you fljall find refi for yonr fouls : Is there any Soulreft ihort of Chrifl; ? Noi no, 7« his pre fence is fulnefs of joy ' would you have his Prefence, do like ZachensfiQt into the way, Believe and be baptized, for he comes this way, (baptiz.e^ and I wdl be with you always to the end of the Worlds (^A>nen^) an Amen follows,they are the fare- wel words of the befi; Friend, Baftiz,e^Iwill be with yoity Amen.
CHAP. IM. '* E X AM ? L E S..
OF many thoufands who were bapt> zed in Rivers, all of them Perfons who profeffed, Faith and Repentance*,
and
I5aptifm plauflp
and were of years able to anfwer for them- felves-
Firit Example : Thofe that Chrift is faid to baptize, Job. 4. 1, 2. it is faid, h'e made them Difciples^ and baptized them : Firft, they are Difciples, then baptized; they are made Difciples, not born Difci- ples (that isj they are made Difciples by the preaching of God's Word, and then they were baptized.
Second Example : You have an Exam- ple, -^ii, 2. 41. Then they who gUd'.y re- ceived his Word were baftiz.ed'^ the occa* Hon of this you have? vcr, 37. They were frick^d at the heurt-^ they hew n't what t9 do ; the knfc of fin lay heavy upon them- The Apoflle tells them, That they [h uld repent and be baptiz^ed^ then they jhould re- ceive the. Hvly Ghofi ., then they who glad- ly received ihe Word were baptiz^ed, Mercy is fvsreet to a wounded foul) and fuch a foul fticks at no duty^ now he can be plunged in water at Chr ill's Command,^'e/'.4 1. And the fame day there were added mto thim about three thoufajid fouls.
Third Example : another Example you; have, A^. 8, 12. But when they believed Philip? preaching the things concerning the Kingdom of God^ and the Njime of Jefus^ Cbriflj they were bp.ftixed both Mi:n and
Women :
ariD fait&fuiip Difcoacrea* 1 3
Women: When they believed, ver, 5.- They of Samaria^ and for ought we know, fome of thofc whom the Difciples would a Jictle while ago have ca/kd for fire from Heavtu upon, />^i9. 52,54. yet when thefe believed^ they were bapttsied both Men and Women. Oh, if never fo near Hell, yet be- lieve and be bapti:£ed, there's Mercy for thee.
Fourth Example : You have another Ex^ ample of the baptizing of believers in A^, 8. 35. Phi/ltj> preached u?2to the EHnHchJefus^ ver. 36, Th:y came to a certain water and thl Enmch faidyfee^ here is water ^ what doth hinder me to he baptiz^ed; and ver, 37. And Philip faidj If thou heliev^fi With all thy heart ^thoH may ft : This //,is the //we ftand upon vbe never fo poor/o \i\t^ if God once make thee to believe, then thou mayft be baptized, 'twas not his godly Parents,'twas Eot his readiSg, 'twas not his coming to Je. mfakm co worniip,'cwas not his wilJingnefs to be baptized ; but if thou belisveft thou ^ayft ' faith the Greek, it ts lawfnl v it is according to Chrilts Law- -ver. 38. They mn bctb down into the water, both Philip and the Enmich^ and l:e baptiz^ed him : Oh behold ?Man, the great Treqfurer of the Queen M ^th^pta, a Rich Man, an F^nourable Man, a Religious Man,^ a Mm^hh like, ^ ' having
p/i4 OiSaptifm 0ainlp
having many Attendants at his Chariot, he flops all, comraands all to ftand ftill, tiij he yields obedience to his Lord and Ma- iler in Water-bsptifm j he can now go down into the water for Him, who bad Gome down from Heaven for him*,he counts it no difgrace to obey Chrill by his poor fervant PhtUp : Oh the condefcention of truly gracious fouls : No Argument works like Love? Therefore if yon lave me keep my Commandments : Here's going down, and coming up^like the glorious ways of Chrift j he firil; calls down, then he raifeth up *, firft brings to the Grave, and then faith, Return ye fons of men^ ver. 39. Jind he went on his way rejoyciT7g : Oh what Triumph is in Chrifts ways, in keeping, though not for keeping his Commands; there is, as well as (hall be great Reward(fe^ went on his way*) the Righteous jhall hold on in his way^ and he that hath clean hands jhall be*fironger and jlrpnger-^lob, 1 7.9. How many have fluck in their way, wept in their way, droopt in their way , but when baptized, have gone on their way rejoycing*; he might have a fad heart, though a rich Treafurer : Riches would not do, Being baptiz^ed^ he went on ^-is way rejoycing. The J ay lor being baptized^ rcjoycedj bMieving in Cod with all his honfe^ Ads 16. ,3^, 34. j.
Fifth
att5 faitl)fuWp Difcoaetea. 1 5*
5 Example, The nexn Example we come to, is the Baptizing of the famous A- poftle PanlyAcixai, i6. ^'^ndfiowwhytar^ riefithoH^ anfe and be baptiz^ed^ andwaflj'a- xvdythy fws ; wouldell thou have thy foiil filled with joy ? wilt thou take Chrifc for thy Lord ? then arife, why tarrieft thou^ and be baptized : -He that appeared to thee in the way when thou waB a Perfecutor^ and ftopt thee from going to Heil^ when thou wafi runnings hathfent nte, faith An2inhs-)A^. 9. 1 5, 17. And tiovo why tarrieft thon ? ari'fe^ and be baptiz.edy Ad. 22. 16. Thoii haft heeri- a PerfecHtor, and now I muft fhew thee" that thou mull: be a Preacher, and a Suf- ferer i as A^s 9. 15, 16. And therefore Arife, why tarrieft thou ? and be baptized : Oh accept of the terms and tenders of Mer^ cy '^ bid Mercy welcome,but do not put it oiF a day ; why dofl; thou tarry? doll thinly thy. felf unworthy, and therefore tar rye ft ? do- rot let that hinder, I tell thee from the Lord thou art a cholen VeOel, y^B, 9. 1 5. Ti^erefore, arife, why tarrieft thou ? and be baptized. The Lord is willing to for- give all thy former fins, and to accept of thee on Gofpel- terms, and now^ why tarriefi
: thoH ? artfe^ and be baptiz,ed^ and wajh ^- "^W ay thy (ins,
6 Example: Another Example of Believ*
C ers
/
^^i^ TBaptifm plamli?
ers Baptifmis the Baptifni of the Jayior, >4^j 16.30, 31,32; He went to bed in his iins, and might have awaked ixi Hell ^ but preventing - Metcy meets him when his fword was drawing*, and by a Glorious Inftrumeat God crys, Do thy [elf no harnt^ there is hope for thee : And he trembling crieS) What mnfi I do ? That foul thafi trembles before the Almighty God, will not only cry out what fliall I have, but what ihall I do ? Belie've^ faith Paid^believe on thd Lord Jefiis * And to demonftrate his wil- Imgnefs to yield Obedience to the Lord Jefus, and to accept of him on Gofpel- terms, he is baptized the fame hour of the ' night, 'ver, 33. And if you note, ver, 34.^ ail his believed and were baptiz^ed,
7. Another Example you have of Lydra^ ' ^A^, 16, 14. a godly woman? a praying woman, God opened her heart to attend^ his Word by Tad^ and being at the River (lie was baptized. When the heart is (hut, how backward are fouls to obey Chriil? One draw from Chrlfl makes the Soul run, Sor.g 1 . 4. The Lord opened her hearty and fie was baptized,
8 Exsmple,you have Aots 18. 8. Crifpus
the chief Ruler of the Synagogue believed
'on the Lord with all his houfe •, and many
of the Corimhians hearing, believed and
were
were baptized ; Crifpus believed, his houfe believed, all runs in their believing, and then they were baptized ; Thus you have Pattern.and Precept ; if Command or Ex- - ample be of *any force, here^sboth. *
CHAP. IV.
Bitftifm is Dipping or Ccveringmder Water,
1 . ^TpHe Greek Baptizo^ to plunge^ to o-
JL vervohelm. Thus Chrift was plunged
in water? /^^f. 3. 16. Thus he was plunged
or overwhelm'd in his fufrering^Z.«i^i2.50.
2. The Dutch Tranflation reads Mat. 3. ^In thofe days came John ths Dipper^ John
3. 23. John was dipping in Aenon,n'^5r^ there was much water ^ what need much water were it not dipping ?
3. They did baptize in Rivers, i^<^f. 5.6, They came to Jotin, and were baptiz^ed in the River of Jordan, John 3 • 23, John was bap^ tiz^ing m Aenon where there was mmh water ^ what need it be in a River? and where there was much water ? would not a little in a Ba^ ion ferve to Sprinkle the face ?
4. Baptifm fignifies the Burial of Chrift, Rom, 6. 4. 'therefore we are buried with hkn by Baptifm^ Colofs. 2. I2» Bnried with him
^ Qz in
i8 'Baptifm plainly
— * ■
in Baftifm, Now we do not reckon a man buried, when a little earth is Sprinkled on his Face ; but he is buried when Covered^ tlmsyou are buried in Baftifm,
5. ChriftsfufFerings are called a Baptifra? LnkCy 12. 50. I have a Baftifm to he hafm fizzed vpith^ and how am I ftraitned till it he accompliped <' when Chrift fuffered, he was plunged into pains ; did his fufferings lye only on his head or on his forehead ? No, no, there wa$ not one part free ^ he was from head to foot in pain ; his head was crowned with piercing Thorns, his hands and feet nailed to the Crofs ; fo ftretchs ed out on the Grofs, that a man might have told all his -bories, pf, 22, 17. There was not one part free, the man hath fin^ ned, body, foul and fpirit. Chrilt was baptized into pains, plunged into forrow, not any part free, this he calls his Ba- ptifm. Thus one baptized is plunged un- der water, to fhew how Chrift was plunged into forrow for our fakes.
6. Baptifm is a putting on Chrift, ^s many of you as are baptized into Chrifl have fHtonChrifi:^ Gal. 3. 27. that as a fervant wears his Lords Livery, a Garment which demonftrates him to be a Servant to fuch a Lord : So in Baptifm we put on our Lords Livery, he cloathes from head to
foot:
ano faitfifttlip Difcoiietes. 19
foot ; Thus by Baptifm we put on Chrift. 7. When Chrifi was baftiz.edy.he came up DM of the water. Mat. 3 .. 16. Was it only , a tittle Water thrown on his Face f Then he had not been in the water j but becaufe he was baptized in the water, therefore being baptized he came up out of the wa* ter- Phitif and the Emnch vpent both down into the water ^ ( and being there in the it?/z- ier) Philip baftiz,ed the Ennmh^ and when he was baptiz^ed he came up out of the wa* ter-, ^^.8.38,39.
Thus you fee the place where they Were baptized, w^as a River i their A(flion, they went down into the Water j then being in the water, they were baptized ; this was where was much water. The end was to (hew forth Chrifts Burial. Now if there be not a Burial under water to fhew Chrifts Burial) the great end of the Ordinance is loft : but we are buried by Baptifm. .
Qiieft. But why may not Sprinkiing with "water ferve^ as well as Covering under water ? ''Is there any more vertue in a great deal ofwa^ ter J than there is in a little water ?
jinfw. Sprinkling may not ferve as well ss Dipping under water. *
1 .Becaufe God is a jealous God, & ftands
upon fmall things in matters of Worfhip ^
tris likely iVW^^ and Abihu thoughtjif they
C 3 put
2,0
TSaptifm plainli?
put fire in the Cenfer^it might ferve,though it were not fire from the Altar •, but God calls it flrange five, and therefore he burns them with flrange fire, Lev. lo. 1,2. and Mofes adds^ Fer. 3. This is it that the Lord ffak^r fayifi^y I mil be fan^ified in them that come, nigh me-i and before all the people I will be glorified, God 'bid Mojes fpeak to the Rock,, and Mofes fmote the Rock, and therefore mufl dye fhort of Caman^]<l\mi,
2. Sprinkling may not ferve, becaufe^ thereby the end of the Ordinance is lofl, which is to lliew the Death,Burial,and Re- {iirredion of Chrift, Rom. 6. 4. We are bu- Tied With him by Baptifm^ that like M Chrift -was raifed^ &c.
3. Sprinkling will not ferve, becaufe it is not that God hath appointed. Naaman the •Leper did think the waters of Vamafcus to be of the Tame vertue with (or better than) the waters oUfrael, 2 Kings 5. 12. May I ?iot ivaflj in them and be clean ? God had ap- pointed him to dip in 7cr^^;?,not that th^^re* was more vertue in tiiat water j but God did appoint him to dip in Jordan^ and he did, and was clean. Dipping is God's Ap- pointment.
, 4- Sprinkling will not ferve, becaufe it is dot. according to the Pattern^ Chrift went
down
dowri into the water. PhtUp & the Eunuch^ went down into the water, ^^7.8.38. Heb, 8.5. See thoH make all things- according to l^e Pattern.
5. Sprinkling Jidil not ferve, becaufe it is high prefumption to change God's Ordi- nances 5 Is not God wife enough to appoint his own Worfhip how it (hall be perform- ed ? If'-i. 24. 5. J- he Earth is defiled^ becaufe they have changed the Ordinance,
6. Sprinkling will not ferve,. becanfe Sprinkling is not Baptifm ; it is not the thing intended by God ; Baptifm is £>/p?/\^ or Plunging. Sprinkling is not Baptifm, therefore Sprinkling will not fervei Luh.'-j. 29,30. GodsCouncelis Baptifm or Dipping.
CHAP, V.
Prgving Water-Baptif/Hy to contime till tie Scc^ind Coming of.jejm olorifi,
THat this may appear that Water-Bap- tifm is to continue, arid to be pradi- fed by Believers till the fecond coming of Jefus Chrill ; take thefe lix Conlidersti- ons :
I. Cociiider that VVater-Baptifm was once commanded, and never yet repealed,
C 4 1 and
^r OSaptifm piaml?
and no power can repeal a Command of Chrifb, but the fame power of Chrift, by which it was given forth, Jiid. ver. 3 . Con-, tend for the Fakh which was once delivered to the Saints,
2. Confider, that Water-baptifm was pradtifed before, and lince the Refurredion 1 of Jefus Chrift :
1. Before the Refurreflion of Chrift,, Mat.^. 16. Joh. 3.23.& Joh. ^. 1,2/
2. Since the Refurret^ion of Chrift, ^^.2.41. &8. 12, 38. &10.47, &c.
3 . Confider that Water- Baptifm was commanded after Chrifts Refurredion, Mat, 28. 19. Go teach all Nations^ hapti^ z^ing them. Had Water « Baptifm ceafed with Chrifts death? it had not been com^ manded and praftifed after his Refurr«- dlion.
4. Conllder, that the end of theOrdi* nance rema ins as at the Lords Supper ; the end of it is to fhew forth the Lords death till he comer and to do this in remembrance of Chrift j as long as we are to remember Chrifts death, it is-to be done in remem- brance of C^^^}f even tiiJ his fecond coming : fo Baptifm is to fhew the Death, Burial &: Kefurredion of Chrift, Rom, 6. 3,4>S« the End remaining, the Ordinance remains till his fecond coming,
5. Con-
I . : , ■JK'
^ ant! faitfifiiUpDifcoiJeren. 2 3
5, Confider, it hath been continued by Chriflians in all Ages, fince jefus. Chrill
' left his Command with the Saints-
6. Conflder whether the fame Argument t hatfthrows down Water=baptifm,if grant- ed, will not throw down all Ordinances: for if you grant that when the Spirit is c©me Baptifm ceafeth , may you not as well fay, when the Spirit is come?Preaching cea- feth. Prayer ceafeth j butthis^isbyreafon of mans corrupt heart : Chrift {^ith^Teachi ing them to obferve all things whatfoever I have commanded yon ^ jind lo I am with yon alway^' even unto the end of the world. Mat. 28. 19, 20.
CHAP..^I.
77?^^ no Meafitres of Grace or of the Spirit
are a fi^fficient Ground to hetf any fvam
Water-Baftifm,
THAT no Meafures of Grace or of the Spirit are a fufEcient Ground to keep from Baptifm, may plainly appear, if you
1. Confider, that Baptifm is from Hea- ven, asyoufee, Mat,2i.i<^, Now what fhould keep from a Heavenly Command ?
2. Conlider the Lord Jefus had all grace,
and
if isaptifm plamip
and the Spirit without Meafure^ asjo;?; 3- 34. and yet he was Baptized in th( River of Jordan^ as you may fee, ^at, 3 I s, 14, 1 5. Is not Chrift a good Patten for Believers to follow ?
3- Confider, where hath God thus limi ted Baptifm to per fons,having little Grace or little of the Spirit. Nay, on the Con traryhath not God promifed his Spirit that you may keep my Ordinances and dc them? £z.€k^. 11. 19, 20.
4» Confider, the Apoftle makes receive ing the Spirit, an Argument to encourag* to Baptifm, A^s 10. 47. Can any man for bid watery that thefe fljonld not be baftizjd who have rewved the Holy Ghofi as well a ,Tve? Now if you mind> thefe were fo ba ptized with the Spirit,tbat they fpake wit! Tongues and WBphefied •, a (Irange worl to Prophefieand fpeak with Tongues^ fuel a Meafure of the Spirit is not in our days yet he Commanded them to be baptized "ver, 48.
CHAP
aitn fait^fullp Difcoieteu*
CHAP. VII.
Believers Baftifm a great Ordinance,
THE greatnefs of the Ordinance of Be^ Hevers Baptifm may appear, if you confider thefe feven Particulars.
1. Confider that Baptifm is an Ordi- nance which hath the great Pattern, the Captain of our Salvation himfelf did pra- aife it; as you fee, Mat. 3; 13. Then comtth Jefus to he haptisied- If any man ferve me^ faith Chrift^ let%m follow me ^^ And where I am there fhall my fervant be^ John 12. 26. Chrift is the great Exam- ple.
2. Confider the great Name in which ^ Baptifm is Adminiftred, Mat. zS, 19, 20. Baptiz^e them in the Name of the Father ^Son^ 'and Holy Ghoft : This Name mult not be flighted ^ it is a great Name.
3. Confider Baptifms great bufinefs, it is called Righteoufnefs; Righteoufnefs is a great thing. Chrift calls it a comely thing* Mat. 3 . 15. Thus it hecometh us to fulfil all Right eonfnefs ; it is a fulfilling all Righte- oufnefs.
4. Confider Baptifms great Commiflion; it is one of the lall Conmands of our blef-
fed
OSaptifm plmnl?
fed Saviour after his Refurredtion, a little before his Afcenlioiij as a.ppears. Mat, 28. 19, 20. Go Teach and Baptisie.
5. Conilcler Baptifms great Proraifes, A^at. 28. 1 9, 20. G^ teach and bapttz^c^ and /a, \a??i with ytw •, here's the Proraife of the glorious prefence of Chrift. Then you have the promife of the Holy Ghofl, Se-* fent and be baptiz^cdy and yon Jh all receive the gift of the Hly Ghofi., Ad:- -2. 38.
You have alio the Promife or AfTurance of. waihing away your fins, y4ci. 11, 16, ArifCy and be baptiz.>id^ and rvajh away thy fins. *
Again? You (hall find the promife of Sal- vation annexed to Baptifm, Mark^iS, 16. He that bclteveth and is hapttz^edy jhall be faved'^ Chr ill's Prefence? the Holy Ghoft's, Pardon of fm, and Salvation ; all thefe are great Promifes.
6 Confider the Emrnency of Baptifm*? every Word of God is pure, but Baptifm is cailed the Councel of God^ ^^k 7.29,30. They reje^ed the C'Xincel of God a^ainFt thewfelves^ not being baptiz^ed j is not the Councelof God a great thing ?
7. Confider, fince Chrift hath been gone to Heaven, he hath commanded Ba- ptifm Alls 8.29. the Spirit bid PhUip]oyn himfelftothe Chariot, which clearly ap*
' Dears
pears was, tbat he might preach Chrifl, and baptize the Eunuch ; ^(^d when he was bapttz.t^d', he went away rcjoycwg : Here's one Call from Heaven.
Another Comriiand from Heaven to bap- tize,after Chrifts Afcenfion,you have in the Lord Jefus's fending Ananias to Panl^AB, 9. jp. The Lord called Ananias in a Vifio??^ and fends him to Paul ; nnd when he comes^ he faith, Ads, 22. 16. and now why tarriefi thou i arife and be baf>tiz,ed, and wafj away thy fins. This Pad tells us were the words of Ananias ^ here you have another Call from Heaven to baptize.
Again you fhall find, ASt, 10. 4, 5. Cor*- nelius hath a Call from Heaven to fend for Feter^ who fhould tell him words where- by he fhould be faved. Teter ha3h a Call from Heaven to go to Cornelius ^ver, 19.20. Go therefore^ nothing doubting y here Peter is fent from Heaven, and to fpeak words -whereby Cornelius might be faved \ iind when he came to Cornelius^ you lliall find M/jr. 4S. He commanded them to be baptized. Thus you fee Baptifm was commanded af- ter Chrift's Afcenfion^ all which m^y fhew Baptifm to be a great Ordinance.
D CHAP.
TBaptifm plainlj?
CHAP. VIII.
'^nfwer to the common Ohje^ions,
SUch is the corruption of mans heart? as he will make Objedlions againfl the cleareft Truth in the blelTed Word of God ; and which of the Truths of God, yea, hath not God himfelf been objected againft ? but I may fay of Baptifm, as once He fa id, Thefe things were not done in a Corner : I only give this Scripture- caution, They have clojed their eyes left they flwHldfee and be converted^ and J Jhonld heal them : Take heed of clofing the eyes, and then I am fure thou wilt be willing in the day of God's power ; but if in Confcience thou defireft fatisfadion) confider the An- fwcrs to the following Objections. Objea:. I.
Some Objed where it is faid. Mat. zS 19, 20. '/ -he end of the World^ that is, tc the end of that Age.
Anfw, I.
To which I Anfwer, This cannot be the fenfe of the Text : Fir ft, Becaufe Chrifl bids the Apoftles teach them to obferve aL things xvhatfoever J have commanded yen. Mat* 28. 20. Now do you think that al
thing!
things the Apoftks were to teach them to obferve, were only to the end of that Age ? Chrift commands them to repent, believe, to be holy, to be baptized j and are we to repent, believe and be holy, no longer than to the end of that Age ? Secondly, Chrilt promifes his prefence to the end of the World, Mat, 28. 20. Lo^ J am, with yon to the end of the Word, Now hath Chrift pro- mifed his Prefence but to the end of that
' Age ? this would be a dreadful Do(n;riDe, Jolh- 1.5. He hath [aid, I will not fail thee^ mr fcrfake thee ; fo that the promife of his Prefence is to lafl; in all Ages? as the word may be rendred ; / will he with yon in Ages^ or, to the end of the World ; there- fore obferve, all things to the end of the World,
Objed. 2.
1, But Water^baptifm was John's Baftif?^,
I Anfwer,
Was the Baptifm of John from Heaven
or of men ? jQhrP% Baptifm was from Hea-
^ ven, Mat, 21.25. Then further, John was but to prepare Chrift's way before him, Luk. I. 76. ThoH [Ijalt go beforh the face of the Lordj to prepare his ways-^ fo that John did but prepare Cbrifts way : This there- fore was Chrill's way, not John\ way : But further hath riot Chrift commanded, and
D2 the
3*o OBaptlfm plamlp
J
the Churches pradtisM Baptifm after John'^s Death, and Chriil's Refarredion ? Did not Chrifl fay, Go teach and baptize ; and wilt thoiiYay this is JohrPs Baptifm ? Objea. 3.
3. But Circumcifion and VricircmTJCtfion avmkth notloina;. but a New Creature-
I Arifvper, Once Circumcifion was foraething^when the Lord would have killed Mofes becaufe of the Circumcifion, as Exod. 4. 24, 25,26. and when the Lord fiiid, That whoever was ?2ot circHmcifidy he fioifld be cut off from the j^eopie^ Gen. 17. 14. Now in the Gofpel it is nothing, becaufe abolilhed, Gal- 5.2. If yon be circiimcifed-i Chrifi Jhali profit yon nothing : But wilt thou fay the Councel of God is nothing ? Baptifm is the Coun- cel of God, Lnk» 7. 29, 30. And is this no- thing? Baptifm is a Command of the Lord Jefus, Mat, 28. 19. And is his Com- mand nothing ?
Objea. 4.
4. \ am baptiz^ed with the Spirit y which is the f lib fiance ; Water^baptifm is but thefiht- dow^
I jifjfwer. Thou mayfl as well fay fo of all other Ordinances, they are but fhadows ; the Supper is but a (hadow : Prayer? Hearing
and
atrti f^itSfuHp Difcoueteo* ^i ^
and Preaching are butlhadows.^ andthent whither wilt thou run ? Then further, the* Queftion is not whether it be a ihadow ; Is it a Command ? If a Command, difpute not Chrift's Authority left he be angry» But further, call Water-baptifm a fhadow, yet confider Chrift fubjefted to it, and who art thou? wilt thou be wifer than Chrift i^ And further5yi<^i lo, d^j.'They were haftix.* ed with the Sprit-, and /pake with Tongues^ and yet were baptized in water. Remember he that is faithfd in the leaft^ is faithful in, much, Objed. 5.
5. Doth not Baftifm come in the room of CircHmciJion f
\ jinfwer, !<Jo furely, for there's not any Word of God for fuch a thing? and thou muft not be wife above what is written, 1 Cor.4.6. And then confider, Circumcifion concerned on« ly the Males *, but A^s 8. 1 2. When they believed^ they were baptized^ both Men and Women,
Objeft. 6,
6, Bat are not very learned Men f^r In^ jant Baptifm ?
1 j4nfwer, Lnke^. 29. 30. The Pharifees and Law- yers ( the learned men of the times ) reje- fted the Councel of God againft them-
3x Tg^ptifm plaimp
felves, not being baptized. Do not fay as they faid-, Wrjich of the Rukrs have he- lmed in him <* Hearken to Chrift's An- 'fwer, Mcit\ 1 1. 25. Jefui anfwered^ I thank thcCy O Father^ Lord of Heaven and Earthy that th'm ^^ft' hid thefe things from the wifi and frndentj and hafl revealed them to Babes ^ And further, If Learnifig were an Argu- ment in this cafe, Are there not many Gar= dinals and Jefuits Learned Men ? Qb/ea. 7.
7. But are not there very Godly jnen^ fa- fiors of ChurcheSf that hold Infant --baftifm ?-
lui^fwer You are not to follow an Apoflle further than he followeth Chrift, I Ccr. 11. i. foU low me-) as \ follow Chrifi. Again, bring no Examples of good Men againft an exprefs*. word. You have an exprefs word, u45isS. Hi Whert they believed they were Baftiz^edj both Men & Woinen, Elias was a good man, he called for fire from Heaven, but we mulb not dofo. Jehofafhat was a good King^bue* the High Places were not removed -, follow no Example againfl: a word, i Kings -22^. 42, 43. Thoti ]hdt not folhw a mHltifnde- 1^ v do evil, Exod, 23.2.
Objea. 8.
8, Bi^^t thsrfpimtn word a^air^ft^Bafti^'^-
I ^
J Anfwer,
Nadab and Ahihtt were burned with fire, becaufethey did that the Lord commanded not, Ltv. 10, 2, 3 . Again,! f you mean by a word, an exprefs word, then where have you a word, Thoiijhalt mt haptiz,e Bells^ as you read in the Book of Martyrs they did ? Wiiere have you a word, faying, Thoufljalt mt fife S little^ Cream or Salt in Buftifm^ as the Roman Catholicks do? But you muib know, it is enough againft Infanc-Baptifm, k is not commanded.
Objert. 9.
9. But were there not whijie Families Ba^-^ fnzed.^
I Anfwer,
That it is exprefly faid, They all heliev^d^ A^S 16. 34. He was baptiz^cd and all hisj *ver, 33. He rejoyced^ heleivifi^ in God rvlth^ all his Hokfe^ ver 34. Crifpus //?^ Chief Rit^ ler^ believed in Cod with all his Houfe ; and many of the Cor'mih\2im belie-ved and wereba^^ ftiz^ed Ads 18. 8. Lydia and all her Bonfe larebaptiz.td^AOLS 16. 15. Here's no men- • tion of Husband or Children, whether fhe- wasaMaidor a Widdowj only they are called Brethren, 'ver, 40. Objed. J a. 10-' Infants were once Chnrcht Members^.
'id Vi^e do not, find they were cnt off^
D 4 / An-.
34 Qgaptitm piamip
That the natural Branches were brojcen ofFby their Unbelief ; and if they come to believe, they may be grafted in again » but till then they are broken off, J^om. 1 1 . 20, 21 . Again now in the Gofpel, the Axe is laid to the root of the Tree 5 and every Tree that brings not forth good fruit, is cut down and call into the fire, Mat.^^, 9, 10. Therefore yoh mnfl not think^tofay you have Abraham, or a Believer^ for your Father^ This is the fure Word of God- And thus you may fee that the Saddnces • were rejeded, when they came for Ba- ptifm, thinking to fay, They had Abraham for their Father^ Mat. 3. 7> 8, 9. And further, Infants were Members of the Na- tional Church of the Jews : Bat where were they ever Members of a particular Church under the Gofpel? When Infants were Members, then Servants that were bought with Money were all Members, Gen. 17, 2 2 . Which are not of thy feed : God now in the Gofpel feeks fuch to Worlhip him, who Worjhip him in Spirit and in Truthy John 4. 23. And further, therc^Ag thea a middle Wall of Partition*, but' this mid* die Wall of Partition is broken down, Efh. 2. 14. And now God is no Refpedler of Perfohsjbut in every Nation, fuch as fear
him
ana faitljftiUp Difcoserec.
0 J
him and work Righteoufners, are accept- ed of him, ^^s 10. 34. 35.
Oh]ta- II. . ■ ' ' 1 1. Bpit is the -'Pmilcdge of Believers Chtldreti^ lefs under the Gofpel tbyin it was urfder the Law ?
I uiiijwer, , What dofl thou mean by Priviledge?
'was it a priviledge to be under the Law, or is it now a priviledge to be under the Gofs pel? or doll: thou mean by priviledge to have the Promifes which the Apoftle tells US' of, Rord g; 8. They which .trx Children of the fleJJj, are mt the ChildrefJ of Tromife ;
,,or dofl thou mean by Priviledge to par- take of the vifible Ordinance of Circurtici- lion ? And is this fuch a priviledge which the Apoflle," AEis 15. 10. calls a yoke, that neither we nor our Fathers were able to bear, is this the priviledge thou mean- eft?
Objedt. \z. i.Z. Bnt the Seed was jn Covenant I God made a Covenant with Abraham a^d his Seed,
I Anfxver, . W hat doft^thou mean by Covenant? doft thou mean the Covenant that was made on Mount Sinai^ox a Covenant of Works ?dofl thou mean the Qoyenant of Grace, where-
3^ Tgaptifm pteinlp ^
in* God promifech to be their God ? and dofl thon make this Covenant of Grace to be Conditional ? And doll thou judge, that Jjhmad^ Saul^ and Jeroboam the Ton of ^ Neb at ^ and ^haz.^ and all they, were in * the Covenant of Grace ? or doll thou judge they loft their Interefl: in the Covenant'of Grace, and fo indeed make it a Covenant of Works ? Therefore confider, God did make a Covenant with Abraham and his natural Seed, to give them the Land of C^- naar7j Gen, 17. 7, 8. but as to the Promife of Life and Salvation,this was made to ^- hrahammd his ipirituai Seed, Gal, 3. 16. Now to Abraham arid his Seed rvere the Pro- mjks made-y he faith^ not unto Seeds ^ as of many ; but ns of 0;?!?, to thy Seed^ which is Chrifi, Ifyou will believe this Textjthere's little difficulty in the Objection, ^o/«. 9.8. The Children of Promife are counted for the Seed,
Objed. 13. 13. Bnt they were fo far in the Covenant^ as to give the?u a Might to the Ordi- nance f
I Afifwer, Circumciflon was cntail'd on Abraham and his Seed, and his Servants; but where is Baptifm in tailed, upon Believers natu- ral Seed ?
The
aitP faittjfmiP Difcoueteo. 3 7
The Priefthood by a Covenant wasea- tailed on the Tribe of Levt and their Seed, as you may read, Joflj. i8. •^.-Nnm. 25. 13. will you now entail the Miniftry on Preachers and their natural Seed ? But as to the point of Baptifm? were there not many that came to be Baptized ? and John faid, Thinks not to fay you have Abraham /or yonr Father, Mat. 3.9. clearly fhewing that their Carnal Right was cut off by the Gofpel. Now the Axe is laid to the Root of the Tree^ every Tree that bringeth not forth good fruity is hewen down and c^ft into the. fire. And note further, Abraham had a word for to warrant his circumciling his* Seed j but where is there a word for Ba- ptizing Infants ?
Objea. 14- 14. But Chrift faid^ jujfer little Children to come to me-, for of fuch is the Kingdom of ', Heaven,
I Anjwer, The Text tells you plainly? they were not brought to be baptized,but that Chrifb might lay his hands on them^ and pray for them. Mat. 19. 13. Adark 10, 16. Here's nothing of Baptifm.
Objed. 15. 15. J?«f 'tis faid, AEhs 2. 39. The Pro^ Tfiifeis toyoH and to your Children.
I An^
TSaptifm ptoinlp
/ Arifwer.
Do fo much juftice to thy own Soul as to read the whole Text ; and you fliall find,' that it is faid, The Promt fe is to yon and to your Children^ and to all that art a-, far ojf^ even as many as the Lord our Cod JJjall call : Here you fee it is to fuch as are called. Now if you fay this word Call re- lates not to the Children, but to them that are afar off. I Anfwer^ it muft needs relate to the Children and their Parents, and all afar off, becaule it is the Promife, vcr, i6, 17. this is that which is fpoken of by Joel the Prophet, I will four out of my Sprit 01 all fie fi^ on your Sons and D aught ters^ Joel 2. 28. on the Remnant whom the Lord {hall cally ver. 32. Now if tlie Pro- niife of the Spirit be to Children, though not called j then either the promife doth failp and that's a fearful thing to think ; or elfe all the Children of Believers do partake of this glorious Spirit j but the contrary dayly experience fhews , that many of Believers Children are Carnal, not having the Spirit; and it is fulfilld only to fuch,whom the Lord our God Ihall call
Objeft. 16.
1 6. But J have been Baftiz^ed in my Infant. cy therefore what need I ht Ba^ttZicd again f
aitn fatttjfitnp Difcoijeteo. 39
As one faith of Marriage, It is not the Bed that nia"kes Marriage, for then forni- cation is Marriage, but a lawful confcnc by Covenant, that makes Marriage. So I fay of Baptifni, it is not Water thrown on the face that makes Baptifm ; but it is a free confent and fubje^flion to Clirift ac- cording to the Rule^ that makes Baptifm ; Now when thou waft an Infant thou gavelt no confent> thou canft not tell of any fuclv thing but by report-, thou knoweft'not when it was, thou hadd no Faith in the A6\:. -^^^ ^^^^^ ^"^^^ i^ ^ot of Faith is fin ^ fo that thou art not yet baptized. Again, confider what defeats have been in thy In- • fant- Baptifm ? Firfb, th^pas no Rule to baptize thee while an Infant. Then thou wail not a right fubjed:, for thou oughtft to believe and be baptized^, then thou waft only fprinkled, not buried in . baptiimjas Chrifl was and hath command- ed •, Now wilt thou call that baptifm which nvas only a Tradition received from thy Fore- Fathers, when the Lord Jefus did Ilied his moft precious blood to redeem thee' from the Tradition of thy Fore- Fathers, 1 Fct, I. 18, 19?
Objeft. 17. 1 7. Bui'^ many lay Jo ttuKh firefs on Ba- E pifm
40 Qgaptifm p'ainlg
pijmj as makes hs more backboard to it, 1 Ai'i freer.
Is there more flrefs laid by any than by Chrift ? whofaid they rejefted the Counce! of God againft themfelvesjnot being bapth Zt^^Luk^ 7'2953o. And is it not our duty, to contend for the faith once delivered to the faints ?
Oh)tCt: i8, ^
1 8, But the Children of Believers arc holy^ therefore they OH^ht to be baptiz^ed. I Anfwer,
As it is faid the Children are holy, fo it isfaid the unbelieving Husband is holy, or ian£tified by the believing Wife. ThisHo= linefs is whoU^o the ufe of Marriage., for the Apoftle wm that place, ( i Cor, 7. ) fpeaking of Marriage, and whether thofe who have believed ihould live with unbe- lieving Husbands, or put them away, as I Cor. 7. 1 3. So that the Holinefs here fpo- ken of, it is wholly to their ufe ; it is faid, Zach, 14. 20. T here jhall be Holinefs on the Horfes Bells, and every pot in the Lords Houfe jhall be Holy. Now do you think this was a fufBcient warrant to baptize Bells, as you may read they did in the Book of Martyrs? But there is a being holy for the ufe of the Believer, as every Creatnre is San^ified by the Word of Cod and Prayer^ 1 Tim. f. 4, 5.
Aod
anti faitljfull^ BtfeatJerea.
41
yl'fid to the Pi'tre^ all thinas are Pure, Ttt* I. 15. That iS) to their ufe : Thus Child" ren are holy, and unbelieving Husbands are fandified to their ufe ; But if you think. Believers Children are inherently holy, doth not your experience tell you the con- trary ? do not we fee good Men have un- godly Children, and bad Men have holy. Children ? fo that they 'are only holy for their ufe,they are not born in uncleafmefs. Objed. 19.
19. When they were formerly circHmcifeJ^ Men of years were circHmcifed \ but after-' w^rds Infants were cirCHmcijed • fo in the Go/pel^ when Baptifm was firfl admlmjiredy jMen and Women wfre baptiz^ed^ but after'* wards Infants were Bapttz^ed, I Anfwer,
When God firfl: commanded Circumei- fion he commanded that it fhould be admi- niftred to Children, Gen, \j, 10. evtry Af an- child 'y but when Ch rift commanded Baptifm^he commanded that perfonsihould be taught, and that they (liould believe and be baptized ; and never gave a Command to baptize Children. Then confider wc have the Lives and. Ads of the Apoftles and Primitive Churches for divers years, and not one Infant baptized. Panl was converted fbiuetime after Chrifts Afcenll-
E2 OD7
4^ TSaptiTm plmtilp
on, and was fourteen years in Chrift, 2 Cor., 1 2. 2. \n thcfe fourteen years f lirely feme Children were born, yet not one ba- ptized that we read of.
Objea. 20.
20. . Thsy were Heathens that were bapth z^ed in the Jpofiles days,
I Arifwer,
Was the Lord Jefiis a Heathen ? he was baptized. The Eunuch a Worihipper of the true God. ComdlHs^ a man whole Prayers and Alms came to God for a Memorial, were thefe Heathens ? N ay, do not tbofc who baptize Infants, baptize Heathens? Eph. 2. 3, We are the Children of nr^th by Natti-'-e : It is you that plead for the bapti- zing Pleathensj we plead for the baptizing Believers.
Objed. 21.
21, But Pawlfaith^i Com. 17. Chrififint tne not to baptize bftf to preach. I Afffwer,
That P^i^l did baptize, t Cor. i. 14, i 5. He baptized Cri//?//j and Gains., and the Houlhold of Stephanas^ and divers others. Now what he did, he did by CommilTion or Prefumption \ but he did it not by Prefum- ption> therefore he did it by Com mi (lion ; he was fent to preach- Baptifm fell in as a pare of his Preaching Office V Philip w^s
chofefl
ann faitfifuli? IMfcoueteo* 43
ehofen a Deacon, yet he baptized the Eu- nuch, Baptifm fell in as part of his worlr, j4^s 8. fo that he that is called to be a Preacher, needs no call to baptize, the other falls in as his work. Objedt. 22.
22. But there were thr«c thoufand baftix^ed in one^day-i how could all thefe be diffed in one day ? they might hefprinkled^ bnt not dipfed^ I Anfwer,
They might well be dipped, for there were twelve Apollles, and feventy Difci- ples, as Lnke lo. i. that is eighty two; thefe might well baptize three thoufandin a day.
^ CHAP. IX.
Believers- Baptifm and Infant- Baft if m compared.
1. Believers Baptifm hath a Command, ^.zr. 28.19, 20.
2. Believers baptifm hath many Exam- ples, ^^s 8. 12. c^f.2.37, 41,42?
3. Believers' baptifm is from Heaven, Jkffit, 21. 25.
, InfoKt ' Baptifm hath not a Com" mAnd*
, Infant - baptifm hath no Example,
. Infant '.baptifm is from Msn.
S3
4. B«t
44
TB^ptifm plainli?
4. Believers baptifm is the Councel of God fLiik, J. 2^, ^o
5. Believers baptifm hath been Glori- oufly fealedj Mat- thew 3 .
6» In believers ba-
, ptifm , the perfon
baptized ads faith-
7. In believers ba- ptifm the perfon fubje'^^s in ads of obedience.
8. In believers ba- ptifm the perfon knows when he is baptized.
9. Believers remem-
ber when they were baptized.
10. Believers are bu- ried with Chtift by baptifm, ^o«;. 6.4.
i.i« All believers that are baptized, are in the Covenant of Grace.'
12. Allbelievers^ba- gtized receive r«-
4. Jnf^r4 - baptifm hath the Conncil of Men,
5. Jnfant'baftifmm'. ver ivM fcalcd by God.
6, Btit irj Infant- baftifm^the Infa:'>t acis no faith,
7. But in Infant-ha- ftijm the Infant pHts. forth noA^ of Obedience,
8, BMt Infants know not any thing of their baptifm,
9, Infants remember not their baptifm,
,10, Infants are n.t buried^they are on: ly fprinkled,
II.. J4// Infants ba-. ptizjedarenoLin a Covenant of grace
12. But alt Ivfants
bapiIx.€dd0Pi0tr€2^
minion'
ceive^he remtjfion of fl?is,
1 3 . God bath mt pro^ . mifed that ail In^
pints that are ha- ptiz.e.djl>all he fa- ved, .
14. Infants do mt rejoyce^ ktt nfunlly W:ep when they, arc Jjrinkled,
1 5,. I'fam 'baft if m hath htmian cmfe^ quences only,
1 6. Biit all the wcM cannot affirm that any Infant ixas ba- ptized by the A- poftles.
17. But all baptix^ed believers do deny^ that- Infants wsre baptiz,ed.
18. Infants baptized^ do net I av^ fully pan take of the Lcrd^s Sapper,
19. Bhp all Infants
E4 ptized,,
iniiTionofiins,^^^'^ , 2, 97- 3-3. 13. God hath pro- niifed that all that believeand are ba- ptized, fhall be fa- Ytd^Mark,i6. 16. 14- Believers rejoyce when they are ba- ptized, A^. 8.39. & 16.34. 1^5. Believers ba p - tifm hath the plain Word of GO D, Mat. 2S. 19. t6. All the World mayundeniaffyaf- firm,that believers were baptized by the ApoHles, A^,
o\ 12.
.i7.AlIthorewhoba= ptife Infants, do confefs believers were baptized.
18. Believers bapti- zed, do lawfully partake of the Lords Supper.
39. All believers ba-
46
TBaptifm plamlP
ptized, are living ftones fit for Gods houfe, I Pet. 2. 5.
20. Believers bapti- zed,build on Chrift by their own faith.
21. Such as are ba- ptized on their own Faith , fliall never Tptriih^Joh. 10.28.
22. Believers bapti- zed are convert- ed, an'd Ihall never come into condem- nation, 70^.115. 24.
23. Believers bapti- zed^ are Hot the Children of wrath, Jolm 3, 36.
24.. Believers bapti- ' zed do know Chrift
to be precioiis,!/^^^.
2.7.
25. Believers Love Chrill, arid keep his Command-
26. Believers bapti- zed, worfliip God in Spirit} and in
baptiz.edy are not livhig (ivories [h for Gods Houfe,
20. But fucb as ha- ptife l/}fah'tsj[niild on another s faith,
ZI. But fnch as are] baftiz^ed on ano- t hers, faith maype^ njh.
22. B^t Infants ha- ptiz^ed (^e not .corim verted^ arid, many come- into condem- nation,
iz. But Infants ha"
^/■/^r^,Joh. 3.36..
may he yet under wraths
24. But Infants ha* ptiz.ed^ do not hnow^ Chrifi to he preci- ous.
25. But Infants ha- ptiTied do not love Chr/fl and keep his- Commandments, ■
16^
But Infants do truths
ants faitfjfunj? 'Diitomt'o, 47
?20t k/7ow what to Wcrfilp,
V truth^&fiich God fceks to Worfhip him, ?p^.4-23^24.
27.Believersbaptirm muflftand as long as God's Word doth Hand, A^^it. 5.18.
28. Believers bapti- zed may repel Sa tan asChrift did, faying, ic is writ- ten ^ i'hey bdkvcd and were baftiz^ed.
27.
Ir.fant - hapt'ifm
nmjtfall^hecaujt it bath not the Word of God.
28. Bnt yon dinnot npcl Sat an J fayifig^ ItiswriitenyMints vverebapnVdj/?r it is not written.
CHAP. X.
Thin ScriptHYCs concerning Baftifm mth'>
oHt any human confeqnence from Mans
Wtfdom,
MAT ^. 13. Then cometh Jefus to John to be baptized, iJcr, 15. And Jefus faid, Suffer it to be fo now, for thus it becometh us to fulfill all Righteoufnefs, zer, 16. And Jefus when he was baptized went up ftraightway out of the water-
Mat, 21. 25. The Baptifm of >^», whence was it, from Heaven or of Men ?
if
48 TSaptifm plamlp
if we fay from Heaven, he will fay why did ye not believe in him?
L^tke 20. 6. But if we fay of men, the people will ftone us.
Lnkc 7. 29. The Publicans jiiftified God being baptized.
Vlr. 30. But the Pharifees and Laws yers rejected the Councel of God againit themfelves not being baptized.
Mat 28. 19. Go teach all Nations, ba- ptizing them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son? a.nd of the Holy Ghoil.
Atii 2. 38. Repent and be baptized e- very one of you in the Name of Jefus Chrift.
Ver, 41. Then they that gladly re- ceived his Word were baptized-
Mark 16. 16. He that believeth and is baptized Ihall be faved.
Acts 8. 12, And when they believed they were baptized, both men and women.
yc'\ 36. And the Eunuch faid, here is water, what doth hinder me to be ba- ptized ?
f^cr, 37. And Philif) faid, if thou be* lieveft thou mayft.
^cr, 3iJ. And they went both down in* to the water; both Fhillf and the Eunuch, and be baptized him.
A^s 9.18. Saul arofe and was baptized.
Jolm
ann faitf)fuUp Difcoaereo. 49
i John 3.22. After thefe things came Jefus and his difciples into the Land of 7«r/f.?, and there he carried and' baptized.
John Or. I. Jefus made and baptized more difciples than John,
ABf 1 o. 47. Can any man forbid water that thefe fhouid not be baptized, that have received the Holy Ghoft as well as we ?
^er. 48. And he commanded them to be baptized in the Name of the Lord.
Atis. 18.8. And CrtffHs the chief Ru* ler of the Synagogue believed on the Lord with all his Houfe, and many of the CoW»s mans hearing? believed and were baptiz- ed.
-^^/ 22.1 6. Andnowwhy tarrieft thou ? ^rife and be baptifed, and waih away thy lins, calling on the name of the Lord.
R'un. 6. 4, We are buried with hini by Baptifm. -
GaL 3. 27. As many as have been ba- ptized into Chrift, have put on Chrift.
I Ptt, y 21. The like Figure where- unto baptifm doth fave us.
I Cor. 12. 13 . By one fpirit we are all baptized into one body.
^tis 16. 33. And he took them the fame hour of the night, and wafhed their ftripes, and was baptized? he and all his ftraightway.
Ver, 34.
Ooaptiftti plainip
TcT. 34. He believing in God with all his Houle.
Luke 3. 21. Jefus being baptizedj the Heavens were opened .
rer, 23. And Jefus himfelf being about thirty years of Age.
JohN 3. 23 . John was baptizing in -^^- m>i near Salim^ btczvik there was much water there.
CHAP. XI.
Confideratioris by way of Conchfion,
I ./"^Onfider that when fouls are afham'd, \^ then God will fhew them the Ordi- nances and forms of his Houfe, ^^e^. 43 . 1 1. The Gofpel Church hath its forms. .
2. Confider when God gives any foul^ a new heart, it is to fit him for Gods Ordi« nances, £^^ffe. H 19,20. I will give than a new ffiritj and 1 will tahe away the heart of ft one ^ and give thetn a heart ofjlefli^ that they may walk, tn my StatMtes^and keep my Or-: dinances and do them,
3. Confider what a danger it is to refifb an Ordinance of God ^ read Rom: 13. 2. Liih 7. 29, 30- They rejected the Coun- eel of God, not being baptized
4* Con-
aiw faitljfuilp DifcoljereD. 5 1
4. Confider what Judgmencs have at- tended the changing of Gods Ordinances, . Ifa- 24. 1. Behold^ the Lord mak^th the Earth empty^ and turntth it Hpfidc down ; there's a change, but why, -^^er. 5. They have changed the Ordinanee j when Chrift commands to Believe and be baptized ^ and men baptize Infants who do not believe whether this be a change of the Ordinance,
5!^on(ider, what fell on Nadab and Jbihit the fons of Aaron. Lev- 10. 1,2. They offered what the Lord commanded not : it was not forbidden 5 but that's not enough, 'twas not commanded ; Infant- Baptifm is not forbidden, but it is what the Lord commanded nor.
6. Confider if what thou didil receive in thy Infancy was no^ Baptifm, an^ thoa haft not been baptized fince, then thou liveft in the negled of a great Gofpel Ordis nance : wilt thou call that Obedience which was'not thy Act, and had not thy confent, nor thou knowsft not of, nor canft remem* ber when it was done, and thou hadft no faith in ? and wilt thou call tha; baptifm
I that was not of thy obedience, but thy Pa- rents will ? ^
7. Confider that the Ordinances mufl ; be kept as they were delivered ji Cor. 1 1.2. i • F Hut
^-2 Xaptifm pJamlp
But Bapcifm was delivered to Believers and not to Infants. God did indeed deli- ver Circumcifion to Infants, but never did deliver Baptifm to Infants.
8. Conlider, that many who have not been Bapti2;ed fince they believed, do de- ny Baprifm to their Children: Let me ask fuch, if their own Infant- baptifm was fufficient to them> if they do deny it to their Children ? why do they reckon their own Infant = baptifm fufficient? - — How Idna halt ye heiwteri two optnto^/s /
9. Confider, that it is without all doubt Believers were Baptized, yields 8. 12. The Baptizing of Infants ( at the belt ) is but a doubt; Infant-bnptifm hath been often difputed, but vv hen was Believers Baptifm difputed ? It is in very words expreft, Tloty hthcvcd a^^dwere 8.'tpt!Z'd. Now is it not better to go in an undoubted way^than in a dark vv^ay ?
10. Confider, there are multitudes of Examples of Believers B iptifm ; fee page I U-of this Bock ; but toeie's not one Ex- ample of Inrani'baprifm,
11. Conilder if the falvation of thy foul did ly upon this qoeHion, Whether, were B e 1 ! f V c rs 13 a p c i zed o r w ere 1 n fa n ts ba p i iz- ed ? wouldit thou not fay, llircJy believ- ers ?
12. Con-
anti faitt)fti»p Difcoaereo. 5-3
12. Conrider,as Birch right gave a right to Circuracifion under the Law, fo Birth- right gave right to the Prieflhood.
Now you would entail Baptifm without a word to the Believers feed, why then will you not entail the Miniftry unto the feed of Minifters ? Would it not be ftrang Logick) to fay, the Preachers feed under the Gofpel, have lefs priviledg than the Prieft's under the Law ?
13. Confider, that we are not to think of any above what is written, i Cor, 4, 6. Now if Infant-baptifm be not written as an Ordinance, do not jud^e it to be an Ordi- nance.
14. Cdnfider that Chrift was faithful in all his Houfe, Heb, 3. 5, 6. If it had been his Fathers Will that Infants fhould have been Baptized, furely he would have been fo faithful as to have left us one word in hisBiefled Scriptures.
1 5 . Conllder, MofesthQ fervant of the Lord did all according to the Pattern /hew* ed in the Mount, Exod, 25. 46. and (hall not the fervants of the Lord do all accord- ing to the Pattern he hath fhewed to us in thS New Teflament ? the pattern left on record is, They belkved and mere Baptized^ Aas 2. 12.
16. Conllder, whether thofe who do fo
F z depend
£4 Tggptifm plaitUp
depend on their confequences without a plain Text, will grant Papifts and others the fame confequences, for Altars, Surpli- ces, 0"c. feeing all is to be done decent- ly i And they fay, Surplices are decent*, Railes about the Tables are decent, c^c ?
17. Confider, that feeing the Scripture is fo exadt, in fetting down the feveral circumlLances of Perfons Bapti^edj ^^s 16. 13,, 14. the time, the Sabbath^ the place, L^ a Rtvtr fids ., tbeCuflom, Pray €f vras wt;^i to be P,afie ^ the Company, Wo- n.en\ the Name, Lydta; the Trade, a Seller oj Pur lie j place of abode, as the Ci /}' (/ Thyatira, . her Uelifjon, ^ IVorJlnp. per of Cod', her A'ttion, She heard Gods Wurd'^ the Lord ifened her h-cirt : the In- ilrumert, vords Jpoheri iy Paiiir So j4^s 16. 27, 28,29, 30 fo many circumdanc- cs, but not one \Aord in any place expref- fed, that ever any Infant was Baptized •, why Jhould it be left out, were it Gods Will it (hcuidbe done?
18. Confider, there is bnt one Law-giver who is able to faze and to deftrcy^ James 4. J 2. Tie Lord is ourr Judge^ The, Lord is our 'Larvfiver^ Ifa. 33 . 2 2. Now where hath this Lord given a Law for Baptizing In- fants ? I his one Law-giver hath not giv- en one Law for the Baptizing Infants.
19. Con-
1
ana fait6fuH|.Dircoaei:eii4 5 s
19. Conilder, whether Baptizing In- fants, Godfathers and Godmothers, the Crofs in Baptifm, the Promifes and Vows made for Children, were not all brought in by Humane Invention, at the fame time or on the fame Reafons ?
20. Confider, whether it be fafeto ad^ mit of Confequences againfb an exprefs Rule ? Mat, 28. 19. Teach and Bapttsie.
• 21. Confider, whether thofe who Ba- ptize Infants, will not have it faid to them^ by the Lord one day ? as in Ifa, i. 12* Who hath required thefe things at yonr'' hands ?
22. Confider, whether any oftheGof- pel-Ordinances hath fo many plain words ^ as Believers Baptifm ?
23. Confider, whether being Baptized be not a juftifying God, and on thy part thou not being Baptized, doft not reject ^ the Councel of God ? Luke 7, 29, 30.
24. Confider, whether fuch as hold In-- fant'-baptifm do not Preach Baptifm to be - a Sign of Regeneration, and whether all or any Infants Baptized are Regeneiat-* cd?
25. Confider, whether thofe who have- not refped to all Gods commands will not one day be afhamed ? PfaL 119. 6.
26v Confider> whether v^^y-^^^//^ durft'-' . ^ ' cir-f*
56 TDaptlfm plainip I
circiuncife his child without a word of Command, then how daiefl: thou Baptize a child without a word >
27. Confider, whether we are not to prefsafter the purity of Ordinances) and whether thofe Ordinancefi which have the exprefs Rule, are not moil. Pure?
28. Conlider, whether they and only tlicy (hall not have the W'elLdone at Chrift's coining, who have done what he hath commanded^ and as he hath command- ed?
iVbi?? fhcfeech thee tn confider what hath beeir faidi" this matter '^ and the ^^loriom God ofTr.ah pve thee the Sprit of Truths which may lead thee into all Truth ^and may build thee Hp^ arid give thee an inheritance fijnong them that are fanUi fled ? and as in finccrity^ rvlth unfeigned Lvs to God and thy,fotilthefc things have been written : So iheferyG.'d nd F Either of eur Lord Je^ HSjfa^tltfle thee thYoMghcutj in bodvy foul and/piiit^.v.^'give thee a heart to fearch wht her theft ihmgi he fo^
An^
Y)
Jn ATTENVIX, contammg other ObjeElms of the Paedo- Baptifts , "^ith Jnfmrs there- unto ^ (Bj another Hand.
^ Objed. I.
»■
I. T Nfants of Believers onght to be Baftiz^^ i edy becaufe the Natnral Seed of Be^ Ikvers are the Spiritual Seed of Abraham-
/ ^^jwer.
This is contrary to Rom. 9. 6, 7,8. For
they are not all Ifrael, which ^reo/Ilrael; neither becaufe they are the feed of Abra- ham, ^^^^ they alt ChMxtn: hpit in Ifaac fh;ill thy Seed be called ^ that j>, theyjvhich are. the Children of the Fiefh *, thefe are not the Children of God : but the Chilren of the Promife are comted for the Seed^ And Gal, ^.^-,16^ 29. They which are of Faithi the fame are the Children of Abraham. Te (ire all the Children of God by Faith in Chriil Jefus : And if ye be Chrifl's, then <sr^ y^ Abraham's Seedr and Heirs accord-- F -^ ing
^s ^ an appcnafic.
ifjg to the Promiie. The Sum of the A- poftles Argument is, that, the Children of the flejh^ or Abraham's Natural Setd ar^ not the Children of tie PrQmife : but who- foever believe, whether Jew or Gentile, they are Abraham's y/?*>/>«^/yie^,and none other.
Objed. 2.
2. But to Abraham and his Seed were the Promifes madey Gal. 3. i(S.
/ jinfwer.
Tiie new Covenant promifes were made to Abraham and his fftrltual feed^ that is, . Bdkvers ^ fon they are the children of Godj an^ Heirs according to the fromife. There- fore faith the Apoftle, He f aid not^ and to feeds-, as of tnany^ hnt as of one^ and to thy feed-t which is Corijl^ Gal, 3. 15. Many Temporal promifes were made to all the feed of Abraham^ natural and fpiritual ; but his fpiritual feed onIy,that is,Believers, are intitled to the promifes of the new Co- venant. For thofe promifes being made to Chrift, namely, to Chrifl: firfl:, and then to all that are in Chrilt, none can have an Interefl: in them, but as they arc confider- edia hip, becaule he is (be great pointer
centre \
centre of the promifes,in whom they meet andareeftablifhed.
Objedt. 3.
3. But the J<}fants of Btlievers are to he b^ftiz^ed^ becanfe they have Habitual Faith.
I Anfwer.
If by Habitual Faith our Adverfarys un- derlland an Infuftd Habit of Btlieving^znd that all the Infants of Believers have this Infujed Habit ^ then let them produce fome Argument either from plain Scripture^ igood Confcquence or rectified Reafon for their Opinion. For to tell us of HMtual Faith in Infants, without any manner of Proof 5 either Serif tur at or Philofophical is meer begging of the Queftion. But if by 'Habitual Faith they mean a Potentiality in the foul to believe, this will no more quali- fy their Infants for Baptifm, than the /«- far:ts of Heathens ; bccaufe there ma-y be a Porentiality in the one, as vyell as the other to believe. And feeing it is but a Patenti* aiiry they fpe^ k of, I demand how they come to know » hat their Intani s have this Power ? is it by Revelation,or by Obferva- tion ^ If by Revelation, then furely they
have
6o an appcnDiF^ ^
V '
have fome Text for ic ? If by Obfervation, then their Infants do deraonfti ate it by fome Awl or other of Believing ? but if neither of thefe ways, then not at all
Further? we may not Baptize ^jf^nts upon a meer fuppofed power of believing, becaufe a bare fuppolition or Prefumption, is a groundlefs bottom to go upon : For the Scriptures do po where countenance fuch a pradice. We do indeed baptize Grown Perfons upon prefumption that they are Beiievers, they making to us a profef- lion of their Faith in Chrift,and giving Te- ftimonials of amendment in their Lives^buc Infants being not capable of profeiling Faith in Chrift , or teftifying of Refen^ • tance from Dead Works, we muft not baptize them upon a fuppofition, that 5 as Believers Children^ they have a potentia- lity to believe, wiiich others have noc«
Objeft. 4-.
Infants cf Believers are capable of having the Seal of the Covenant of Grace ^ which ts Baftifm^ applyed mto them,
I Anfwerr
Baptifra is no Seal of the Covenant of '■• Grace,
r^ ^
Grace, Chrift is the Creat Bkffwg of the Covenant^ and the Holy ^i^mt St aleth h m to the Souls of the Faithful, hi whom after that ye believed , ye were f tale d with the Holy Spirit of promife, Bph. 1.13. yi^d grieve not the holy j fir tt^ whereby ye are feakd to the Day of Redemption^ ^. 30. And as the Ho- ly Spirit fealeth Chrift to the Souljfo Faith the fruit th€reof,realeth the Soul to Chriih He that hath recetved his Teftim'Aiy^ hath jet to hfs Seat t hilt God is trtie^-Johff ^.^^, But granting for Argument iake, that Ba- pifm is a Seal of the Covenant ot Grace, how come Infants to be capable of it ? Is there any Word of God in the New Te- ilament for the Baptizing of them ? There is none- How then are they capable of Baptifin ? Why, the ^De-vljers of WtlU Worjhip have created them a Tide to it agaiaii xxi^Exprefs ReveLition ot-Gotd.
FINIS.
^ BOOKS lately Prlntecl, and Sold by • WHL Marfhal at the Bible in Mewgate-fireet,
MR* Bunyans IVorks^ Prhted in Folio ^ price Bound 14 s.
Mr, Rnowls his Expofition on the whole Book of the Revelations j price bound 2 X. 6 J,
Mr. Gollin'i Vindication of BelieV' ers Baptifm, price 4 ^.
How' J Spiritual Teackir>g^ price6</.
Mr. Keeches Childs Delight^ con-^ taining a Scripture Catechijm^ ivherein all the chief principles of Chriflian Re- ligion art clearly ( though briefly ) o- pened^ neceffary to eflMijh young Peo- ple in Gods truths^ in Oppojiticn to Popery in perillous Times ; together with many other things^ both pleafant and ufeful^ for the Chrijlian Education of Touth ; with Letters to Parents : Adorned with fever al Copper CutSy teaching to Spell^ Read^ and cafting \ Accounts ; fitted for the ufe ofSchoolsy ^ and very ufiful for all families ^ price | bound 6 d. , >
1
i
i
\
.-^
V J
^„v— yj""^
7jf:v
r^lA4^^^
r^/ f ♦
i f *t ^ -i C4cf/c
y f ye ^^^-^^ dr^
-^^o^Y/fff g
\ J ^
» .^^fi***
&!?
z;^.?]
V
r^-
-^
J