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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.
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