^ CL ^ l^ ^ o EH W o M P^ I $ qj c tsfl < .<::i" OJ ^ 3 F ::r cd C; 00 ••3 2 1 ^.^ c BAPTig^M According to the Word of GOD. WHEREIN Is ret forth the Glorious I^attern of Our Blef- led Sayiour JESUS CHRIT, the Pattern ot all Believers inhisSubjedion to Baptifm. Together, uith tht Exam^^u of Thoufands who were Baptized after the y Believed. ^Y J H Dl^ O RCOTT. _ The Si xth Edition CorreOed. i^eco mmend^^ Divines' With an Appendix by another HaiidT"" Jer. 6. M for the old ^nd the Good li^ay. und wdk therein, andyoujlM I find rejl for ^^i^ufsouX Ila. 30. 21. This h the Way, vpJk in it. I Cor, II. I- Bejef^lLr^,,, of mc, .s i ^.n of Chnfl, Mat. 3. 20. ^nd vohen Jefus -^as BuPii^cd or Dht be cumc up out of the Water. tfa.y* 3°- /^!**^be rhurifca und Lu^vyer.^ r^iecfcd Printed for Ii^//;a;« and>/^;;^afc%..:;, at tne h,bk in K^vj^atcjirnit^ i'^Z2, f '— ~ fc— -1_! i *^^'^/.. To All that Love the LpR^ JESUS CHRIST, And His Holy Ordinances in the Truth;, Grace, Mercy^ and Peace be Multiply'd. T>early Beloved I S the Lord Jefus Chriit is moft pretious to your Souls, his Name being ^s Oyntment poured fourth ' and His Love better than lVine\ ^ong i. 2, j. So hath every Truth of his, a due Value and Efteem with you, Wiiatfocver hath the Bi- vinClmprefs upon it, yet readily em- A 2 brace; brdcc 5 but not that, which is but a Tradition of Man. Hecncc it is, that ye arc for a Church of Chrifis own Erection^ for ^Minifiry of his aijiln Callings and for Ordinances of his ^wn Appointing, Tis both your Dc- lirc and Endeavours to follow Chrift fully, and therefore cannot admit of any thing in Dodrine, or Worfhip, that is not exaftly jconfonant to his revealed will. Ye are fo tender of Chrift's Honour, which fhincs in all his Commands, that ye cannot .de- viate knoi£;ingly the kali title from a- ny one of them. O whut an Awe Chrijl's Authority carries with it I Ye are the fhcep that hear his Voice, and fervants that do his will, and the People that are obedient in the Day of his Power. Blejfed are ye that make his word your Ruky and refol- ^uedly dopraEiife according thereunto ! The Author of this Shprt and Plain Difcourfc, was a True Lover of our Lord J efus, and his Holy Ap- pointments, he Stccr'd his whole courfc, ®fie (Spittle J^eDfraf o^^r* courfe, by the Compafs of the Word, making Scripture-Precept, or Exam- ple, his CQiiftant Rule in Matters of Religion ; Other Mens Opinions or Interpretations were not the Stan^ dard by which he went , but through the Affiftance of the Holy Spirit, he laboured to find out what the Lord himfelf had faid in his Word. And therefore throughout thisLittleBook, he ftill keeps clofe to the Scriptures, Vouching on Authority for what he delivers, but from thence. What Approbation this Piece hath found, may appear from hence 5 that fkicc the Firft Edition of it here in England^ it hath been Reprinted iir— Holland^ was alfo lately Tranflatcd into tVeip)^ and now growing fcarce, and much asked for, the Bookfeller hath been Advifed to give it another Imprellion. In which there are few material Alterations or Additions, the Author's own Phrafe, and Me- thod being generally preferved. A 3 • The The Lord, who is able to give feed to the So'wer, and to blefs the feed Sown Profper this Plain Difcourfc to everyfoul that Ihall read it, which is the hearty Defire of, Tours in the Lordy William KiflEn. IVe whofe Name r are Under -Writ - ten J Recommend this Book to otpr Churches, Banferd: KnoUys. Wiliiam ColUos, Hercules Collins, Robert Steed, Benjamin Keach, Andrew GifTord, Thomas Winnell. John Ball, John Tomkins, Toby Willes, James Webb, William Hankins, Samuel Ewer. To * A ^ r-b .^ ^?s5» ^ A =?3 ^ ?V5^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ * ^ ^d* s^ « ^ * sj^d^ ^- Si? Si* * ^* v{? > To his Truly Beloved Friends rcams were fulfilled; and tho the j4rchers fhotjorely at him^ and greived him yet his Bow abode inflreangth: Oh how good it is to he upig/jt with the Lord! It is one of the fad evils of the Times ^ Brethren ftioot at Brethren : Butthiswillhea Mercy lyideed V indeed^ if all our Aim might be more to enioy ^ and be conformable to Chrijl; one^art of Conformity to our Lord ^efuSj is Obedience to the Trecious Ordinance of B^^tHm^judgiiigjou are fuch as frefs after Chrijl your Headytogether with a Tejlimonial of my unfeigned Love to you^ I have frefented thefe feu) thoughts to your ferious Confideration. I have read of T^wo Loving Friends^ who having f^ent a great fart of the day in a matter of T)iffcrence between themy cmldnot be reconciled^ and fo farted: One of them bethinkirig himfelf of that Te^t^ Eph. 4. a 6. ran to the other ^ faying^ Tht^un is going down, by whkh they were both im* mediately reconciled. My Brethren^ our Sun is going down^ Eternity is in anti about Wappin-^ o* u£on us J andJhaU we not conjidcr the IVork isje have to do for the Lord ? I hefeechjou be like the No^ Ue Bereans^ /c'o^tZ? whether thefe things he foy and if you find thefe things not mine^ but the Lords ^ then give him the glory due to his N.am.e. Beloved^ as I have ^ fa I Jhall yet a^^eal in the Ears of the Lord of Sabbaothy like Elijah ; Lord God of^iraham^Ifaac^ and of Ifraely let it be feen this day that thou art God in Ifracl^'dud that I am thy fervant, and that I have done all thefe things at thy Word, i Kings i8. 36. I\low Lord let Fire come dcz^n jrom Heaven on this Sacrifice^ that may drink u£ all the waters offirife : And that you may all cry y I'he. Lord Coitus fmnii0, &c. Lord he is God, the Lord he is God ver. 39. JVhich « the un- feigned dejire of him that is mwor^ thy toferveyou'j yet your loving Brother in Jefus Chrifi, John Norcott. The Contents of the Boole. rheIntrodu£lion . Page i. CHAX|. Chrift was Baptized in the River of 11. Of the great Commiflion for Believers' Baj)- VI. Baptifm is dipping or covering under Wa- ter. P» i7» V. Proving Water-Baptifra to continue till the fecond coming of JefusCh rift. p. 21. VI. That no Mea lures of grace or of the Spi- rit are a fufficient ground to keep any from Water-Baptifm. P'-^3« VII. Believers Baptifm a great Ordinance. P. 2-^, Vllf. Anfwers to the common Objections. P. 2:8, IX. Believers Baptifm and Infant-Baptifm Com- pared, p. 43, X. Plain Scriptitres concerning Baptifm withoui any Human Confequence from man's Wifdom p. 47 XI. Confliderations by way of Conclufron, p. 50 An Appendix. p. 57 ^^»^ r'*;5 *5^*S ^-^^ ^:^^ /*^*;>K >>4^PfeC5 Baptifm Difcovcred. T^e IntroduEiion. W^^ HEN thou by reading goeft to Uv P ^arch out the mind of God, let ^^^k thy Cry be, Lord anoint mine eyes ^^^^ witkeye-falve^that 1 may fee ^ and f it hach been the day of Gods Power with :hy foul, I fear not but thou wilt bid Truth velcome, in whatever drels it comes \ and Tiore think on what is comprized in the Letter^ than be affrighted at the poor ::ioathing of the Mefenger-^ elpecially, mowing It comes from one whole Name s the great God. Therefore in handling ^'^'^'"!!''^''^' Believers Baptifm, as it vas pradifed by Chrift and the Primitive churches, my great Requeft to thee, is, 1 hat thou wilt read what is laid without jrejudics. And whatever thou findeft ac- :or(iing to Truth, receive as that which s more precious then thy Life, and judge of z 5&aptifm piainlr of it according to the Koly Scriptures , for when all is laid that can bcj thc7 mufi be Judge ill all Coatroverlies of Relii^ioj;^ : And as Chrift is the foundatiotiy i Cor. 2.^1*. upon which whoever buildeth, ihall never be confounded. I Ilia 11 therefore take a few Obfei vations cpnceriiiiig ChriftJ>is be- ing bapt'zed vandherein you may take no- tice how exad the Holy Scriptures are, to ftt down theCircumftances of his Baptifm. CHAP. I. Chrifi was Ba^tlz^ed in the River i?/ Jordan. Concerning the Baptifin o^Jefus Chrifi you may read it at large, Maf- 3* ^S- &c. Then cometh Jefus frcm Galilee to Jor* dan unto John to be baftiz^ed of him. Every word hath Emphafis (then) before he en- tred upon his publick Miniftry, as you lee iirAi at, 4. 17. From that time Jefus began to preachy (cometh) he might have com- manded John to have attended himv but in token of his fubjeftion he cometh (from Galilee) many MileSjand'cis likely on foot^ every ftep we take for God is acceptabe, and one day ihall have a Glorious Re- ward (to Jordan) \vhere theie was a "Ri- ver ana Uitf)tullv mtcount^* j ver were Thoufands had been Bajidzed, and was a fuitable place for Joh?7 ta dip Chrift in, as will be leen hereafter. Now 1 ftiall take notice of eight things concern- ing the Baptifm of Chrift. Firfi, Concerning his Age, 'tis ikidyLuh 3. 21. Jefus being ha^ti^€d^ ver. 23. began to be about thirty years of Age \ here you lee that Chrift himfelf was baptized at Gronn Tears ^ if any might be baptized in Infancy, why not Chrift? Chriflians be not alha- tned, your taptain is gone before you he was Thirty years old when baptized. Chrift is not afhamed to call you Bre- thren, Heb* I. n. Secondly^ Another thing to be obferved in the Baptifm of Chrift, is the Admini- ilrator of this holy Ordinance, John, who confefleth of himfelf he was not worthy to unloole the latches of his fhooes,i^^rJ^, 1 . 7. Now if Chrift would receive Bap- tifm from fuch an unworthy Inftrument ; never flight the Ordinance, becaule of the unvvorthiiiefs of the Adminiftrators, let your eye be on Chrift your Example. Thirdly^ Note the Repulle, John for- bad him ^ M^t. 3. 14. Difficultly in duty muft be no excufe ^ we muft take no de- nyal in following God, Strive to enter in AX the ftrait gatCj Mat. 7. 1 3. B Fourthlx 4 ^aptitmal plainly Fourthly y Note, Johns Argument, Mat. 3. 14. I have need to he haptiTicd of thee-, and comefl 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 neceility to falva- ,tion ? Is this like your Lord and mafter? Was not he a perfed Saviour ? Was not the Spirit poured on him without meajfure? JEie had no fin to be waihed away , wherefore iee your example, he doth it not of need, but of obedience to his Farthers will. Fifthly^ Note the excellent Terms he gives to this Ordinance of Baptifm. i. He c2iViS it Righteoufnefsy Matth. 3. 15. 'Js righteous and juft thr(t I ihould be about my Fathers bufmels. 2. It is a comely thing , it becomes us : Oh it is a very comely thing in God's Children, to have? reipefttoall the Commandments of God. 3. The Conjunftion (us) thee and me, and all my Followers, John 1 2. 26. if any mm ferve me^ let him follow me \ and where I am^ there (Ijall alfo myfervant he. 4. A Comple- tion, it is a fulfilling, iCor. 10.4. The wea- fons of our warfare are not carnal hutfpiritu- aly ver. 5. bringing every thought into capte^ vity to the obedience of Chrifi. ver. 6. having in readinefs to revenge all difobedience, when your obedience Jhall be fulfilled. Obedience mufi ana (aitf^fullv Mtcohtxtt). > nuil be fulfilled. 5. The univerfal term* all) Baptilm is one of the alL Chrift ekons it iOy Thou canfi not walk in all the 'Jomands^ if this' he omitted, 6. Note, Concerning Chrift Baptifln he form of Adminiftracionj Mat* 3. And haitway he went up out of the water {firait^ pay) becaule Baptifm is oace Di^png\ (up") lad he not been dowh, 'tvv^ould not have )een laid he went up ^ (he went) was not :arryed in Arms as infants, are, (out) if he vent out of the water then he had been in: iSle never fay one goes out of the houlc vhen he never was in» So Chrift could lOt be laid to come out of the water, had le not been in ^ (he went up out) had a lit- :le water been brought to him in a Bafbiij le had not been laid to go up out (of the wa- ■er) this water was the Jliver of Jordan : thrift ftoops to fmall things becaule an Drdinance. 7. Note, Concerning Chriffs Baptilm, :he Father's Acceptance, Af^t. 3. t 6, 1 7. (the Heavens were opened : ( Some of Chrift's Followers have found glorious openings of Heaven in Baptilm *, (the ffirlt defcended) Lhe very fame that is promifed to Belie- vers in their Baptifm, AT. 2. 3 8. Eefent and be Baptixjed every one of you, and youfljallre- ceive the Holy Ghofi. Obj. But doth every B 2 one 6 ceapttfm plaitilv one receive the Holy Gofi that is baptized? Anf. The defeat lies not in Baptifnij but in Faith and Repentance *, whithout which no Ordinance is effectual : (^And lo^ ^ voice from Heaveriy T'his is my beloved Son") Chrifl as Head was fealed, and in Baptiffn is held forth the Sonfhip of his Members ( in him I amiv'erfleafed) not Only in all he hath and doth do, but in this very A£t of Bap- tifin, as an A£l: of Obedience to my glo- rious Will, I am well plea fed, and lo is the Lord wellplealed,in the Ad: of Obedience, Xfhex em from the heart we obey the form of DoBrine delivered to kj^ Ro. 6. 17. The fame Voice the blelfed Son of God hath in the Mount, Luh 9. 35. T'his is My beloved Son'-) hear him. Hear him in his Commands and Appointments \ hear him now in his 1 Baptifm : Oh, faith Chrift, thus it becom-l eth us*, you that have my Father for your Father, your that have my God for your God: Thus it becometh us to be baptized and to fulfil all righteouflieis ^ Oh he is a beloved Son, hear him. 8. Note, How in Chrifts Baptifm the Tri- nity doth as it were meet ^ the Father with a voice,theSoQ baptized in Ferfon,the Ho- ly Goft decends like a Dove : And furely it is one Keafon, why Baptifm in (pedal is t:o be adminiftred in the Name of the Fa- ther :her, Son, & Holy Ghoft ;, becaufe he wha loth fmcerely beiievCjand is baptized,the vhole Trinity, the Father, Son and Spirit !s his portion-, and that glorious Union of :he Trinity, in Chrift's Baptifm, is in eve- \:y Believers Baptifm commemorated, CHAP. II. Of the great Commijfton for Believers Boftifm. AS you have heard ibmething con- cerning your great Pattern, the Lord Jefus : fb now I fhall fhew Ibme- thing concerning his Command, Mat. 28. I p.. And I pray not what is faid of our Lord Jefus ^^. i. i. Chrift is laid both to do and teach ;, 'tis good for Teachers to imitate their Lord both to do and teach*, and 'yer. 2. He was taken ap, after that he through the Spirit had given Commandments to his Afafiles *, of which CommandmentSjthis of Believers Baptifm is certainly one *, and as you fee mMat^ 28. 1 8, 1 9, 20. The great <}od gave him to be a Commander and Leader to his People y lia. 55.4. Chrift is a Gift as a Commander -^ Oh what Mercy it is to have fuch a wile Commander, whofe Commandments to Believeis.arenotgrievours^ in keeping his B3 Comr 8 T&aptitw pUinlv TH^ndmets there is graet reward, Pfal. 19. II. Now in this Command there are Eight Things very notable. Vlr[t^ Note whence Chrifl came, why ? He came out of the G^ave, A Rilen Jefus \ And God raifcd him from the dead, and fent him to hlefs z/j, Aft. 3.26. Surely this blefTed Jefuswould not appoint any thing butwhat is good for his People *, he is a blefTed Je- fus, and he gives blefTed Commands •, Blef- fed. are they that do his Commandment Sy that they may have a right to the Tree of Life, and may enter in through the Gates into the City, Rev. 22. 14. Secondly ^'^otCjChxiik appeared and came to them ^ now iliould an Angel appear and command men to be baptized, who would jftand agalnft it ? But here you have the glorious Son of God in his own Perfbn ap- pearing, and faith, Go teach and baptiz^e. Thirdly, '^ote what Authority he comej with, Mat. 28. 18. All power in Heven anc. Earth is given to.me\ all Power to com- mand both in Heaven and Earth is givei to rne *, all power to difpofe of Heavei and Earth, all power to proteft. Ihavi Angels and Men at my Command ^ I art able to proteft you, to ftand by you, an< t;o be with you both in the Fire and in th Water anti tamUMv MtcoUvtn. 9 Water: 1 have all power. Go therefore^ teach and baptiz,e '^ fear no enemies. Go Teach and baftize* Fourthly, Note the Command it felf, M^it, 28. 19. faith Chrift, Go therefore teach and hapiz,e, Ghrift laid but to Legion^ ^(7, Mat. 8. 32- and they ran violently, and fhall not Believers be as willing Peo- ple la the day of his 'power ? The Cen- turion did but iay Go, to his fervants, and they did go \ and he did but fay Come, and they cam ^ & he did but fay. Do this and the did it : And fhall Chrif^s fervants be worfe to him than the Ceriturions fer- vants were ? 'Ts Chrift faith, Go. Go teach andbaftlz^e. Fifthly, Note, what is precedent to Bap* tlfm : Goteachythexe muftbe teaching ^ God isfSpirit,and he feeks fuch to worfliip him, that worfhip him in Ipirit and truth,Joh.^. 24. therefore there mufl go Teaching before Ba^tifm, or elfe they will never worfhip ^ him in fpirit and truth. Go teach and baf- tlze. I confefs many men do fay the word Teach in the Greek,is,Make dilciples,an4 1 dare not fay againft it ^ for I find it the •/very pradice of Jefus Chrlfl, he did firft make Difciples, and then baptized them, Joh. 4.1. Jcfuf made and battized more dif" ' &fles than John j here was firfi: a making 5 4 Dit ix> TSaptitttt plainly Difciples and then a baptizing them ; but how many poor Ibuls Jgnorantly baftize thofe who never were made Dilciples, but, Chrift faith, teach and haptiz^e them* Sixthly^ Note, The extent of the Com- mand, Teach alt Nations and haftiz^e them* Go into all Nations, wether it be a hot or a coldClimate^ Jews and G entile s^ Male and Female-^ when you have taught them, then baptize them. Now the middle Wall of Partition is broken down. Now God is no Relpeder of Peribns, now let none think to boaft that they have Abraham for their Father *, No, no, gointo all Nations, Pub^ lifh the glad tydings of the Golpel to eve- ry Creature. Marh i<^- 1 5, 16. He that be- lieveth and is baptized^ fliall he faved\ Go^ teach all Nations^ baptizJng them *, when you have taught them, then baptize thei|^^ Seventhly^ Note the words oflnftitutioji, Mat. 2%* 19. Baptizing them in the Name of the Father y fuch as receive the Lord Je- fus on Gofpel terms, God will be a Fa- ther to them, 2 Cor. 6. 1 7^ 1 8. Go give them a Call \ come out from amongfl Vnbelievers, &c. and befeperat€y and I will be a Father to youy and youfitallbemy fons and daughters: Stand a while, and wonder here you that make nothing of the BlefTed Ordinance of Baptifiii.j here below things done in the King's King's Name, carries power , but her's the Great God's Name : Yea, her's the Name of the Myfterious Trinity, Father^ Son and Holy Gofi, and doft thou think Baptifm hath nothing in it, that hath that glorious Name to be adored and admired? Go, baptize them in the glorious Name of the Father^ Son, and HolyGhofl. Eightlyy Note the glorious promife an- nexen. Go baptlz^e^and Iwill be with you j Chrift ish good Companion, you that love his Company, feek it where he promiiech it^ Ask for the old and the good wayy and walk therein, and you jh all find refi fir your fouls : Is there any Soul reft ihort of Chrift? No, no, in his prefince is fulnefs of joy : would you have his pre fence, do like Zacheus^ Get into the way. Believe and be baptized, for he comes this way, (baptiz.e') and I will be with you always to the end of the World, (Amen) an Amen follows, they are the fa re w el words of the beft Friend, JBaptiz^ey I will he with you, Amen. C H A P. I 1 1. EXAMPLES, OF many thauiands who were bapti- zed in Rivers, all of them Perlbns who profeiTed, Faich and Repentance ^ and 12 TdaptifmpUinlv and were of years able to anfvver for them- lelves. Firft Ezample : Thofe that Chrift is laid to baptize, Job. 4. i, 2. it is laid. He made them Difciples^ and haptlz,ed them : Firft, they are Diiciples, then baptized v they are made Difciples, not born Diici- ples (that is) they are made Difciplesy by the Preaching of God's Word, and then they were baptized. Second Example : You heave an Exam- ]p\e^ A^. 2. 41. Then they who gladly re^ ceived his Word were bapalz^ed \ the occa- fion of this you have, -y^r. 37. They were pricked at the hearty they hnern not what to do j the lenl« of fin lay heavy upon them. The Apoftle tells them, That they Jhould repetit and be bapttz^edy then they fhould re^ ceive the Holy Ghofi ^ then they who glad^ ly received the Word were baptiz,ed, Mercy is iweet to a wounded Ibul, and fuch a Ibul flicks at no duty, now he can be plunged in water at Chrift's Command, wr. ^i,j4nd • the fame day there were added unto them about three thoufands fouls. Third Example : another Example you have, u4tl. 8. 1 2. But when they belived Philip, preaching the things concerning the fCtngdomof Gody and the Name of Jefuy^J Chrifiy they were baptized b^th Men and\ Women Women : When they believed, ver. 5. They oi' Samaria, and for ought we know, lome of thole whom the Difdples would a little^vhile a go have called for fire from Heaven u^on J Luke » 9. 52, 54. yet when theie helievedy they were baptiz.ed both Men 4nd Women. Oh, if never ^o near Hell, yet believe and be baptized, ther's Mercy for tliee. Fourth Example :You have another E- axmple of the baptizing of believers in AB:. 8. 35. Philip preached unto the Eunuch JefuSy ver. 35. They came to a certain water and the Eunuch faidyfee^ here is watery what doth hinder me to he baptized 'j and ver. 37. And Phillip faidy if thou believefl with all t'hy heart ythou mayefi: This /f,is the If we fland iipon-,be never Co poor,fb vile,if God once make thee to believe,then thou may eft be baptized ^'t was not his godly Parents 'twas not his reading/twas not his coming to Je- rufalem to worfhip/twas not his vvillingnes to be baptized ^ but if thou believefi thou mayefi : faith the Greek, it is lawful ^ it is according to Ch rifts Law. ver. 3S. They went both down into the water y both Philip and the Eumchy and he ha^tiz^ed him: Oh behold a Man, the great Treafurer of the Queen jof Ethiopia, a rich ' Man, an. Honourable Man, a Religious Man 5 a Man, 'tis like, having 14 Tdaptitm plainlv having many Attendants at his Chariot^ he flops all, Commands all toftand ftill, till he yields obedience to his LordandMa- fter in Water-baptilm •, he can n(fw go down into the water for Him, who had come down from Heaven for him ^ he counts it no difgrace to obeyChrifl by hi#- poor lervant Philip : Oh the condelcention of truly gracious Ibuls : No Argument works like Love^Tloerefore if you love me hep tny Commandments : Here's going down, and coming up. like the glorious ways of Chrift*, he firfl cafls down,then he raileth up^firft brings to theGrave,and then faith. Return ye fons ofmenyvex, 39. And he went on his way rejoycing : Oh what Triumph is in Chrifts ways, in keeping, though not for keeping his Commands f, there is, as well as Ihall be great Reward(fec went on his way) the Righteous fii all hold on in his way^ and he that hath clean hands jhallbe ftr^nger and fhronger. Job. 17. 9. How many have ftuck in their way, wept in their, way,droopt in theirway, but when baptized, have gone on their way rejoycing •, he might have a fad heart, though a rich Treafurer : Riches would not do. Being boftiz^edy he vent on his way rejoycing* The Jaylor being haptizedy rejoycedy believing in Gfd with all hishoufe^ Aftsi^. 33, 34* Fifth 5. Example, The next Example we come to, is the Baptizing of the famous A- ^ poftle raulf ji5hs 22. 1 (5. yH/td new xvhy tar* *^ riift thou^ arife and be hMftiz^ed^ and wajh ^- way thy fins -, wouldeft thou have thy Ibul filled with joy ? wilt thou cake Chrift for thy Lord ? then arife, why tarriefl thou, and be baptized: He that a^f eared to thee in the way when thou wafi a TerfecutoYy and ft-oft thee from going to Hell, when thou wafi runnings hath ftnt tne, faith Ananias, ^5*. 9. 15, I7» J^rtd now why tarrieft thoii ? arifr^ md he baptized. Aft. 22. i5. Thou haft been aPerfecutor, and now 1 muft ihew thee that thou muft be a Preacher, and a Suf- ferer •, as jiBs 9. 15, 5i. And therefore Arifejwhy tarrieft thou ? and be baptized: Oh accept of the terms and tenders of Mer- cy ^ bid Mercy welcome,but do notiput it off a day ; why doft thou tarry ? doft think thy felf unworthy, and therefore tarrieft ? do not let that hinder, I tell thee fi'om th6 Lord thou art a chofen Veflel, jdB, 9. 1 5. Therefore, arife, why tarrieft thou'^^ind be baptized. The Lord is willing to for- give all thy former fins, and to accept oi: thee on Golpel-terms, CHAP. :: s "jBaptifmal plainlv CHAP. VIII. Anfwer to the common OhjiVtions. SUch is the corruption of mans heart, as he will make Objeflrlons againil the cleareft Truth in the biefTed Word of God ^ and which of the Truths of God, yea, hath not God himfelf been objefted againft ? but I may lay of^ Baptilm, as once He laid, 'Thefe things were not done in a Corner : I only give this Scripture- caution, They have clofed their eyes left they pjouldfee ana be converted •i and I Jhould heal >/7^77z ; 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 Conlcience thou defireft latisfaftion, confider the Aiir fwers to the following Objefliions. * >j ' Objea. I. ^ Some Objed where it is laid, Mat> 28. 19, 20. To the end of the Wor Id ^thiit is to the end of that Age» Anfw* I. To which 1 Anfwer, This cannot be the fenfe of the Text : Firft, Becaufe Chrifi bids the Apoftles teach them to obferue aS things whatfoever J have commanded you^ Mat, 28. 20. Now do you think that ail things things the Apoflles were to teach them to obierve, were only to the end of that A gel Chrift Gommands them to repent^ believe to be holy, to be baptized \ and are we to repent, believe and be holy, no longe than to the end of that Age? Secondly, Chriil: promifes his prefence to the end of the .World, Mat* xd. 20. Lo\^ J Am with ycu to the end of the World. Islow hath Chrift pro- miled his Preftnce but to the end of that Age? This would be a dreadful Doctrine, Jofh. r. 5. He hath [aid J I will net fail the c^ nor for fake thee 'j lb that the prom iie of his prefence is to laft in all Ages, as the Word may be rendred ; / will he with ycu tnAges^ or, to the end of the World -^ there- fore obferve, all things to the end of the World. Objea:. 2. 2. But Water-Baptifm was John's Baftlfm* I Anfwer, Was theBaptilm of John from Heaven or of men? John^s Baptifm was from Hea- ven, Afat. 2!. 25. Then further, Johnw^s but to prepare Chrift's way before him, Luke 1. 16. T'hou flj^le go before the faie of the Lordy to prefare his wdy \ Co that Johri did but prepare Chrift's way; This there- fore was Cfirift's way,not John^s way : But further hath not Chrift commanded, and _, D 2 the 30 SSjptffm vHaMv the Churches praftic'd Baptifm after John's Death, and Chrift's Refurreaion ? Did not Chrift fay, Co teach andkaftiz^e'^s and wilt thou % this is John's Baptifm ? Objea 3. 3. But Circumcifion and Vncircumcifon availcth nothings but a new Creature* I Anfxver. Once Circumcifion was ibmething^ when the Lord would have killed Mofes becaufe of the Circumcifion, as Exod, 4. 24, 25, 25. and when the Lord faid, That H^hoever was not circumcifedy he jhould be cut off from the People ^ Gen. 17-14' Now in the Goipel it is nothing, becaufe abolifh- edy GaL 5. 2. If you be circumcifedy Chrift jhaU profit you nothing : But wilt thou fay the Council of God is nothing ? Bapcifiii is the Council of God, Luke 7. 29, 30. And is this nothing ? Baptifm is a Com- mand of the Lord Jelus, Mat. 28. 19. And is his Command nothing ? Objea. 4. 4. / am hapttz,ed with the Spirit^ which is\ the Suhfiancgj Water-Baptifm is hut the' Shadow. 1 Anfxoer. Thou mayefl: as well fay fo of all other Ordinances, they are but Shadows ; the Supper is but a Shadow ; Prayer, Hearing and and Preachii g are but Shadows *, and then whither wilt thou run ?'Then further, the Queftion is not whether it be a Sha- dow '^ is it a Command ? If a Command,. dilputenocChnft's Authority left he be angry. But further, call VVater-Baptifm a Shadow, yet coufider Chrift fubje£l:ed to it, and who art thou, wilt thou be wi- fer than Chrift? And further, J^s lo. 47. Jljey were baptized with the Spirit^ and /pake with Tonguesy and yet were baptized in Water. Remember he that is faithful in the leafiy is faithful in much* Objea. 5. 5. Doth not Baptifm come in the Room of Circtancifion ? I Anfwer* No furely, for there"*s not any Word of God for luch a thing, and thou muft: not: be wile above what is written, i Cor. 4. 6". And then confider, Circumcifion concern- ed only the Males ♦, but A^s 8.12. When they believed they were b^ftized^ both Men and Women* GBjea:.^.- 6. 'But are not very Learned Men for In-* fant^Baptifm .? ■ .-.^ lAnfwer*- Luke 7. 29, 30. The Pharifees and Law- yers (the Learned Men of the Times ) D 3 rek)e£l:ed 3z T$&ptitm plaitAt rejefted the Council of God againft them- felves, not being baptized. Do not fay as they iaid. Which of the Rulers have believed in himt Hearken to Chrift's Anfwer, Mau T 1 . 25. Jefus anfivered, I thank thee O Father y Lord of Heaven and Earthy that th$u hafl: hid thefe things from the Wife and Pru- dent^ and hafl revealed them to Babes* And finther, if Learning were an Argument in this Cafe, are ther^ not many Cardinals and Jefuits Learned Men ? Objed. 7. 7. But are not there very Godly Mtn, Ta^ jlors of Churches y that hold Infant^ Ba^tifm ? 1 Anfwer, You are not to follow an Apoftle fiir- ther than he folbweth Chrift, i Cor. 1 1 . i , BHow me J as I follow Chrift. Again, bring I -o Examples of good Men againft an ex- preis Word. You have an exprels Word. ^^s S. II* When they believed they 'Ofcn baptized, both Men and Women. Elias wa? a good Man, he called for Fire frorr Heven ^ but we muft not do fo. Jehofa jfhat was a good King, but the high Place; were not removed ^ follow no Exampl< , againft a Word, i Kings 22. 42, 43. Tho-, Qialt not follow a Multitude to doevil>Ex.l^,2 ObjeaS. 8. But thris ma Word agdnft baptii irjg Infants ?^ " I An I Anfiver, ' JSfadah and Ahihu were burned witb Fire, becaufe they did that the Lord commanded not. Lev* lo. 2, 3, Again, if you mean by a Word, an expreis Word, then where have you a Word, Thou fljudp not y4ftiz.€ Bells J as you read in the Book of Martyrs they did ? Where have you a Word, faying, Thm Jlialt not ufe Spittle j^ Cream^or Salt in Ba^tlfm^^s the Roman Catho" licks do ? But you muft know,lt is enough a-^ gainft Infant-Baptifm it is not commanded.. Gbjea:. 9. 9. But mre there not whole Families b/tf" \:tiz.edr 1 Anfwer* That it is exprefiy laid, They all belie'V^ edy A£ls 1 5. 34. Ht was baptiz^ed and allhif^^ 'ver. 33. He rejoiced J believing in God with all his Houfc^ ver. 34. Cri^us, the chief Ruler y believeA in God with all his Houfe% And many of the Corinthians believed and were baftiz.edf Afts 1 8. 8. hydiiiyand all her Houfe were baptiz,edy Afts i5. 15. Here's no Mention of Husband or Children, whether Ihe was a Maid or a Widow y only they are called Brethren, ver.^o. Objea. 10. 10. Infants were once Church- Member s1 • €nd we do not find they were vut off, t ^ IJnr |4 T&apHtm putiitt I Anfwcr. That the natural Branches were brolcen off by their Unbelief*, and if they come to believe, they may be grafted in again ^ but tin then they are broken off, Rom* ii. 20j 2 1. Again now in the Goipel, the Axe is laid to the Root of the Tree: and every Tree that brings not forth good Fruit, is cut down and caft into the Fire, li^At, 3. p, 10. 'tlo ere fore you mufi not think ta fay you have Abraham^ or a Believer ^ for your Father : This is the lure Word of God. And thus you may fee that the Sad- ducss were reje£ted, when they came for Baptilhi, thinking to lay, They had Abra- ham for their Father ^ Mat. 3. 7, 8, 9. And further, Infants were Members of the Na- tional Church of the Jews : But 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. 12. which are not of thy Seed ; God now in the Golpel leeks luch to worlhip him, who worjluf him in Spirit and in Trtith^ John 4. 23. And further, there was then a middle Wall of Partition ^ but this mid- dle Wall of Partition is broken down, jEpfo. 2. 14. And now God is no Refpe£lor of Perlbns, but in every Nation, iiich as fear fear him and work Righteoufiiefi, are ac- cepted of him, A^s 10. 34, 35. Objeft. II. F I. But is the Privilege of Believers Chil* drefty lefs under the Goffel^ than it ms under the Law ? I Anfxotr. What doft thou mean by Privilege? Was it a Privilege to be under the Law, or is it now a Privilege to be under the Go^l ? Or doft thou mean by Privilege, to have the Promiles which the Apoftle tells us of, Kom^ 9. 8. 'thsy which are C^il'^ dren of the Flejky are not the Children cffro* wife ^ or dott thou mean by Privilege, to partake of the vifible Ordinance of Cir- cumcifioii ? And is this fuch a Privilege which the Apoftle, A^s 15^ 10. calls a Yoke, that neither we nor our Fatheri were able to bear : Is this the Privilege thou meaneft ? Objea. 12. 1 2. But the Seed was in Covenant ? God made a Covenant with Abraham and his Seed. I Anfwer. What doft thou mean by Covenant > Doft thou mean the Covenant that was made on Mount Sinaiy or the Covenant of Works? Doft thou mean the Covenant of ?« mptitm pUMt of Grace, wherein God promifedi to be their God ? And doft thou make this Co- venantor Grace to be Conditional ? And doft thou judge, that Ijlmael^ Sauly and JerohoamyZhe Son ofNchat^ ^ndj4haz,y and all they, were in the Covenant of Grace ?* Or doft thou judge they loft their Inte- reft in the Covenant of Grace, and. fo indeed made it a Covenant of Works ? Therefore confider, God did make a Co- venant 'withuibraham and his naturalSeed,^ to give them the Land ofCanam^Cen. 17. 7, §. but as to the Promise of Life find Salvation, this was made to Abraham and his Spiritual Seed, G^/> 3. i5. Novo to A- \ braham and his Seed were the Promifes made 5 he falthy not unto Seeds^ as of many *, but as ofonej to thy Seed^ which is Chrifi* If you will believe this Text, there's little.Dif- ftculty in theiDbje^lion, Rom. 9. 8. The Children ofVromife are counted for thy Seed* Objeft. 13. 13. But they were fo far in the Coven Anty^ as to give them a Right to the Ordinance ? 1 Anfwer. Circumcifion was entail'd on Abraham and his Seed', and his Servants ^ but where isBaptifin intailed, upon Believers- natural Seed ?: Thai The Prieflhood, by a Covenant, was entailed on the Tribe of Lci^^ and their Seed, as you nriay read, Jo/J;. 18. n^Numh, 25, 13. will you now entail the Miniftry on Preachers and their natural Seed? But a6 to the Point of Baptilm, were there not many that came to be baptized ? and ^ohn laid, T^inh not to fay you have Abra- ham for your Father ^ Mat. ^. 9. clearly itewing that their carnal Right was cut oif by the Goipel. Now the Az,e is laid to the Root, of the Tree ^ every Tree that hrinf' eth not forth good Fruity is hewn down and cafi into the Fire. And note further, A<^ hraham had a Word for to warrant his circumcifing his Seed ? but where is there a Word for baptizing Infants ? Ubjei^. 14. 14. But Chrlfifaldy fu^er little Children to come to me , for of fuch is the Kingdom of \He avert. I Anfwer. The Text tells you plainly, they were liot brought tO; be baptized, but that Chrift might lay his Hands on them^ and fray for them^ Mat. 1 9. 1 3. Mark 10. 1 5. Here's nothing of Baptilrn. Objea. 15. -i 5. But 'tis faid, AUs 2. 39. l^e Pro- mifc is to you and to your Children. I An^ I Anfwer, Do ib much Juftice to thy own Soul as to read the whole Text ^ and you ihall find, tliat it is laid, The Promife is to y^u and to your Children, and to all that are afar off^ even as many as the Lord our God jhall call: Here you lee it is to fuch as are call^ Now if you lay this Word Call relates nS to the Children, but to them that are a- far off, 1 Anfwer^ it muft needs relate to Che Children and their Parents, and all afiir off, becaufe it is the Promile, ^ver, 1 6, 17. This is that which is Ipoken ,by ^o^/ the Prophet, J mil pur out of my Spirit on all Flejhy on your Sons and Daughter Sy Joel 2, aS. on the Remnant whom the Lordfhall call^ ver. 32. Now if the Promile of the Spi- rit be to Children, though not called then either the Promile doth fail 5 and that's a fearlul thing to think ^ or elle all the Children of Believers do partake of this glorious Spirit; but the contrary daily Experience ihews, that many of Believers Children are Carnal, not hav- ing the Spirit ; and it is fulfilled only to luch whom the Lord our God ihall call. Objea. i5. I ^. But I have been baftiz^ed in my In" fancy ^ therefore v^hat need I be baptized a^ gdnl ^ j I ^«- I Anfvper. As one laich of Marriage, It is not the Bed that makes Marriage, for then For- nication is Marrige ^ but a lawful Con- lent by Covenant, that makes Marriage. So, I fay of Baptifm, it is not Water thrown on the Face that makes Baptifin ^ but it is a free Conlent and Subjefiion to Chrift according to the Rule, that makes Baptifm ^ Now when thou waft an Infant thou gaveft no Conlent, thou canft not tell of any fuch thing but by Report 9 thou knoweft not when it was, thou hadft no Faith in the kVc. And whatever ts not of Faith is Sifjy fo that thou art not yet bap- tized. Again, confider what Defers have been in thy Infant- Baptilm ? Firft, there was no Rule to baptize thee while an Infant. Then thou waft not a right Subject, for thou oughteft to believe and be baptized: Then thou waft only Iprink- led, not buried in Baptifin, as Chrift was and hath commanded : Now wilt thou :all that Baptifin which was only a Tra- dition received from thy Fore-Fathers, vhen the Lord Jelus did Ihed his moft pre- :ious Blood to redeem thee from theTra- lition of thy Forefathers, i Pet, i . 1 8, i o. ObjeO:. 17- 17. But many layfo much Strefs on Bap- E tifm^ yA-o idaptitmal pUinlv tlfm , as makes us more backward to iK 1 Anfwer. Is there more Strefs laid by any than by Chrift ? who faid they rejected the Council of God againft themlelves, not being baptized,, Luke 7. 29, 30. And is it not our Duty to contehd for the Faith once delivered to the Saints ? Objea.18.. iS. But the Children of Believers are hc' ly^ therefore they ought to be baptiz^ed. 1 Anfwer. As it is faid the Children are holy, lb it is faid the unbelieving Husband is holy, or fandified by the believing Wife. This Holinefs is wholly to the Ufe of X Marriage, for the Apoflle is in that Place ( T Cor. 7.3 fpealiing of Marriage, and whe- ther thole who have»believed ihould live with unbelieving Husbands, or put them away, as i Cor, 7. 13. So that the Holi- nefs here Ipoken cf^ it is wholly to their ufe *, it is faid, Zach. 1 4. 20. There fliall be Holinefs on the Horfcs Bells ^ and every Bet in the horde's Houfe fiall be holy. Now do you think this was a fuiiicient Warrant to bap- tize Bells,' as you may read they did in the Bock of Martyrs ? But there is a Be- ing holy for the ule of the Believer, as every Creature is S^n5iified by the Word of Gcd mn taitl^fullv mtcoUvti). 4 1 God and Prayer, i Tifti. 3. 4, 5. j^rid to the Ture, all things are Pure, Ttt. i. 15. That is, to their ufe; Thus Children are holy, and unbelieving Husbands are iandifiecl to their uie : But if you think, Believers Children are inherently holy, doth not your experience tell you the contrary ? do not we fee good Men have ungodly Chil* dren, and bad Men have only Children ? fo that they are only holy for their, ufe^ they are not born in uncleannefi. Objea. 19. I p. When they were formerly circumclfcd^ Mejmof years were circumcifed\ but after- warns Infants were circumcifed ^ fo in the J Gofpel, when Baptifm was firfi ^dnsinifiredp Men and Women were baptized^ but after" wards Infants were bapiz,cd» I Anfwer* When God firft commanded Circumci- fion he commanded that it fliould be Admi- niftred to Children, Ge?7, 17. 10. e^'ery- Man-Child j but when Chrift comm'^nded Bap'i(m,hecommandedchatperfonsfhould be taught,and that they fhould believe and be baptized ^ and never gave a Command to baptize Children. Thei confider we have the Lives and Ads of the Apoftles and Primitive Churches for divers years, and not one Infant baptized. Paul was E 2 converted 7 converted Ibmetime after Chrift Aicenii% on, and was fourteen years in Chrift, 2 Cor, 1 2. 2. In thele fourten years lurely Ibme Children were born, yet not one baptized that we read of. Objeft. 20. 20. They mre Heathens that were baf^ fizzed in the Afojtles days. i Anfmr. Was the Lord Jefus a Heathen? he was baptized. The Eunuch a Worlhip- per of the true God. CGrnsliusy a Man whole Prayers and Alms came to God for a Memorial, were thefe Heathens? ^ay, do not thofe who baptize Infants, b^ize Heathens ? £p^. 2. 3, We are the Children of wrath by Nature : It is you that plead for the baptizing Heathens, we plead for the baptizing Believers. Objeft. 21. 21. But ?2iM\ faith^ 1 Cor. I. 71. Chrifi fent me not to baptize but to f reach, I Jlnfwer, That ?aul did baptize, i Cor. i. 14, 15. He baptized Crifpus and Gaius^ and the Houihold of Stefhanus^ and divers others. Now what he did, he did by Commi/fion or Prefumption ^ but he did it not by Pre- lumtion, therefore he did it by Commif- fion j he was fent to Preach. Baptifin fell ill mJ^taiti)fullvMtcoUnii. 45 in as a part ot his Preaching OiEce ^ Phi- lif was choien a Deacon, yfet he baptized the Eunuch, Baptifm felf in as part of his work, Jtls 8. 10 that he that is called to be a Preacher, needs no call to baptize, the other falls in as his work. Object. 22. 22. But there were three thoufand haftiz^ed in one day^ how tvuld all thcfe be dlpfed in one day ? they mighp he firinkUdy bik not dipped* I Avfwcr. They might well be dipped, for there were twelve Apoftles, and feventy Difci- ples, as Zi/ie 10. I. that is eighty two^ ■ theie might well baptize three thoufand in a day. CHAP. IX. Believer S'Baptifm and Infant s-B apt ifm compared. 2, I. Believers Baptifm hath a Command, A'fat. 28.. 19, 20. Believers Baptifm hath many Exam- ^'es^Jcl-.S.ji.cap. 2. 37,4I>4^>^<^• BeHevers Baptifin is from Heaven, Jf,:t, 21. 25. Infant - Baptifm hath, not a Ccm- mand. Infant - B.'ZpUin^ hath no Examrle, Infant ' Baptifm Is from A fen. . E 3 4. Be-f T^stpUtw pUinlv Infant - Baptifm hath the Ounce I of Men. Infant'Boftifm ne* ver was fealed by God. 44 4. Believers-Baptifm is the Councel of God,Lz/J^e 7.29,30. 5. Believers-Baptifin hath been Glori- oufly lealed Mat- thew 3. €. In Believers-Bap- tifm, the Perlbn baptized ^\fl:s faith. -7, hi Believers- Bap- tifni, the Perfon fubjedls in a8:s of obedience. In Believers-Bap- tifm, the Perlbn knows when he is baptized. Believers remem- ber when they were baptized. 10. Believers ar« bu- ried withChriftby Baptifm, Rom, 6. 4. 11. All Believers that are baptized, are in the Covenant of Grace. 12. All Believers baptized receive 8. ~iiV 6, But in Infant- Baptifm^the Infants aEl no faith. 7. But in Infant- Baptifm^the Infant put forth no Ali- of Obedience. S. But Infants know not any thing of their Baptifm. 9. Infants remember^ not their Baptifm. . 10. Infants are noM buriedythey are on4 ly fprinkled. 11. All Infant S'bap" tiz,ed are net in a Covenant of grace* 12. But all Infants baptiud do not re- remiP »ttiiaft]&Mli?©(fcot)erelr. a-s remiilioii of fins, JSis 2. 37, 38. ' 13. God hath pro- mifed that all that believe and are ba- ptized, fhall be fa- ved, Mark i5. i^. 14. Believers rejoyce when they are bap- tized, J^is 8. 39. and 16. 34. 15. Believers - Bap- tiim hath the plain Word of G O D, Mat, 28. 19. 16. All the World may undeniably af- firm,thatbelievers were baptized by the Apoftle, jiBs 8. 12; 17. All thofe who ba- ptife Infants, do confels believers were baptized. 18. Believers bap- tized, do lawful- ly partake of the Lords Supper. I p. All believers bap- ceive the remijfion of Sins* 13. God hath not frO'^- mifed that all Jw fonts that are bap^ tiTLed jhafl be fa^ ved, 14. Infants do not rejoyce^ but ufually tfel r. when they ar^ jf^rinkled. 15. InfantS'Baptifm hath human confe- quences only* 16. But all the World cannot affirm that- any Infant was bap" tlz.ed by the AfO' files. 17. But all baptiz.ed Believers do deny^ that Infants were baptized, 18. Infants baptisied^ do not lawfnlly par- take of the Lord^S Supper* 19. But all Infants tized, are living ftones fit for Gods houfe, I Pet. 2. 5. 20. Believers bapti- zed jbuildonChrift by their own faith. 2 1 . Such as are bap- tized on their own Faith, fhal! never 22. Believers t;Irpti- zed are convert- ed^and fhall never comeintocondem- nation, Joh. 5. 24. 23. Believers bapti- zed, are not the Children ofwrathj John 3. 35. 24. Believers bapti- zed do knowChrift to be precious, i Pet, 2. 7. 25. Believers Love Chrift, and keep his Ccmmand- inentSj Job. 1 4. i 5 . 16. Believers bapti- ze.d, worfliipGod in Spirit, and in plainlt iz(id^ are not living ftones fit for Gods houfe, 20. But fuch as bap- tize Infants^ bullet on another s faith. 2 1 . But fetch as are baptized on ano^ thers faithmaype' rifh, 21. But Infants bap- tized are not co'a- 'vertedy and many come into Condem- nation. 23. But Infants bap- tized, John 3. 35. may be yet under wrath. 24. But Infants bap- tized, do not know Chrifl to be preci- ous ^ 25. But Infants bap- tized do not Icve Chrifl- and keep his Commn'ddments. 26. But Infants do not know what to iVorfhip. truth truth^&fuchGod feek to Worihip him, y jiot written. CHAP. K. illain Scriptures concerning Baptifm without any hwi^an confequence from Mans Wifdom^ MAT. 3. I 3. Then cometh Jelus to John to be baptized, ver, 15. And. Jefus faid, Suifer it to be fo now, for thus it becometh us to fulfil all RighteouHiefs, ver. 16. And Jefus when he was baptized went up flraitway out of the Water. Mat, 21. 25, The Baptifm of John, whence was it, from Heaven or of Men ? 4S 75aptifm plainlt if .we fay from Heaven, he will fay why did ye not believe in him ? Luke 20. 6, But if we fay of Men, the People will ftone us. Luh^j, 2p. The Publieans juftified God being baptized. ^er, 30. But the Pharifees and Law- yers rejefted the Councel of God againfl themfelves not being baptized. Mat, 28. I p. Go teach all ISIationSjbap- tizingthemin the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Koly Ghoft. ' j4Bs 2. 38. Repent and be baptized e- very one of you in the Name of Tefus Chrift. -^ pr. 41. Then they that gladly re ceived his Word were baptized. Mark 1(5. 1 5. He that believeth and i baptized fhall be faved. ABs 8. 12. And when they believed they were baptized,both men and women. Ver, 35. And the Eunuch laid, here is VX^iter, what dot:h hinder me to be baptized ? ^ ^ Ver. 37. And VUllf laid, if thou be- lieveft thou may ft. Fer. 38. And they went both down into the Water, both Thili^ and the Ei^ nuch, and he baptized him. AUs^ 9. 18. 5^«/ arofe and was daptized John mDfaitmUvmtcouttti. ^9 John 3. 22. After thefe things came Te- fus and his Difciples into the Land of 4- dea, and there he tarried and baptized. John ^. I. Jefus made and baptized inore Dilciples than 5^^/??/. .T, ^^' 'rn'^''^\ ?^" ^"y ^^" ^^^^1^ vvater that thefe /liould not be baptized,that have received the Holy Ghoft as well as we ? rVr. 48. And he commanded theka :o be baptized in the Name of the Lord. ABs 18. 8 And Crif^us the chief Ru- er ot the Synagogue believed on the .ord with all his Houfe, and many of the wmkms hearing, believed and were mptized. Aa 512^6. And now why tarrieft thou > riie and be baptized, and wafl-. away thy tns, calling en the name of the Lord V ^om, 6 4. We are buried with him y^ Baptiiln. i Gd. 3. 27 As many "as have been iptized in Chrift, have put on Chrift. '^iiaptifmdothfliveus. I 9^.^.12. 13. By one Ipirlt we are all pt^zed Hito oAe body. h51' '^' l\ ^''^^^ ^-ook them the T ^""""'f "^^^ "^^^ and waihed their ^Y^. ar.a was baptized, he and all his aign.way. Ver. 34. 5 Tsapmm pmnlv Fer. 34. H^ believing in God with aU his Houfe. Luh 3' ^i* J^fiis being baptized, the Heavens were opened. Ver. 23. And Jeliis himielf being a- bout thirty Years of Age. John 3. 23. John was baptizing in Aenon ue^tSdim^ becaufe there was much Water there. v CHAP. XL Confiderations by way of Conclufwn* i./^Onfider that when fouls are afham'd, V^ then God will fhew them the Ordi- nances and forms of his Houfe, Ez.eh 43. 1 1 . The Gofpel Church hath its forms. 2. Conlider when God gives any foul a new heart, it is to fit him for God's Or- dinances, Bz.eh 1 1, ipj 20. I mil give them a new fpirity and I will take away the heart cf Stone ^ and give them a heart ofFleJhj that they may walk in my Statutes^ and keep my Ordinances and do them. 3. Confider what a danger it is to refift an Ordinance of God *, read Rom. 13. 2. Luke 7. 29j 30. They rejefted the Coun--' eel of God, not being baptized. 4. Con-; 4. Confider what Judgments have at- tended the changing of Gods Ordinances, Ifa. 24. I. Beholdy the Lord r/aketh the Earth empty ^ and turneth it uffde down-^ there's a change, but why, 'ver, 5. They have changed the Ordinance \ wh;n Chrir commands to Believe and be baptized-^ '^^ I Men baptize Infants who do not belier ^ whether this be a change of the Ordi nance, judg ye? \ 5. Confider, what fell on Nadab znd 'j4bihu the Sons of j^aron. Lev. 10. i, 2v They offered what the Lord commanded not : it was not forbidden •, but that's not enough, 'twas not commanded ^ Infant- *'Baptilm is not forbidden, but it is what the Lord commanded not. 6. Confider if what thou didft receive in thy Infancy was no Baptifm, and thou /•haft not been baptized fmce, then thou liveft in the negled of a great Gofpel Or- dinance : wilt thou call that Obedience which was not thy Ad, and had not thy con lent, nor thou linoweft not of, nor canft remember when it was done, and thou hadft no faith in ? and wilt thou call that Baptilni that was not of thy obedi- ence, but thy Parents will ? 7. Confider that the Ordinances muft be kept as they v^ere delivered, iCor.11.2. F But/ y 2 jBaptffmal plainlv But Baptkfin was delivered to Believers and not to Infants. God did indeed deli- ver Circtmcifion to infants, but never did delifer Baprifm to ii^faiits. 8. CQjfider, that many who have not , teen baplized fince they believea, do de- ' v;v Jhi^iifm to their Children: I.-et me ask fuch, if their own hifant-Baptifm was iufficient to them^ if they do deny it to their Children? why do they reckon their .own Iiifant-Baptilhi fufficient?, How : long halt ye beWeen two Opinions ? ^ 9. Confider, that it is without all doubt \ Believers were b'^ptized. Aits 8. 12. The !^ baptizing of Iniants (at the beft) is but ' a doubt •, Infant-Baptifm hath been often \ diiputed, but when was Believers-Bap- dim difputed ? It is in very words ex- preft, 7 hey believed and were bafti:Led. > !Now is it not better to go in an undoubt- \ ed way, than in a dark way ? 10. Confider, there are multitudes of ^Examples of Believers-Baptifin ^ fee page II. of this Book ^ but there's not one Example of Infant-Baptifm. , 1 1 . Confider if the Salvation of thy ! Soul did lye upon this Queftion, Whe- j ther were Believers baptized, or were | Infants baptized? wouldft thou not fey,| furely Believers ? \l. Co. 1 2. Confiderjas Birth-i ight gave a right to Circumcifion under the Law, fb Birth- right gave right to the Priefthood. 2>Jow you would entail Baptifm without a word to the ftelievers feed, why then will you not entail the Miniflry unto the ieed of Minifters ? Would it not be ftrange" ^ Logick, to fay the Preachers feed urfder ^ the Gofpel, have lefs previledge than the Prieft's under the Law ? , V ' 13. Conlider, 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 >udge it to bean Ordinance. , 14. Confider that Chrift was faithful in all his Houfdj Heb, $. 5, 6. If it had been his Fathers ^Vill that Infants fhould have been baptized, furely he would have been fo faithful as to have left us one word in his BlefTed Scriptures, 15. Confider, Afi?/^i the Servant of the J^ord did all ac|^rding to thePattern fhew- ed in the Mount, Exod. 25. 40. and ihalT not the Servants of the Lord do all ac- cording to the Pattern he hath fhe^ved to us in the New Teflament ? the Pattern left on record is, They believed and were baptiz,ed, A£ls 8. 12. 16. Confider, whether thofe who do fo F 2 depend ( i 54^ TdapUfm plainly depend on their confequences without a plain Text, will grant Papifts and others the lame coniequences, for Altars,Surpli- ces, &€, feeing all is to be done decent- ^ ly ; And they lay, Surj^ces are decent \ Railes about the Tables are decent, &c? 17. Conlider, that feeing the Scripture is fo exafl:, in letting down the feveral circumftances of Perlons baptized, ^5ts 1^. 13, 14. the time, the Sabbath, the place, hy a Fiver fide *, the Cuftom, Tray- cr was worn to be made ^ the Company, Wo^ men ^ the Name, Lydia \ the Trade, a Seller of Purple \ place of abode, as the CI- ty of Thyatira, her Religion, a Worjhlper of God \ her Action, She heard Gods Word'^ the Lord opened her Heart: The Inftru- ment, words ffoken by Paul. So j4^s 16. 27, 28, 29, 30. fb many circumftances, but not one word in any place exprefled, that ever any Infant was baptized \ why fhould it be left out, were it Gods Will it Ihould be done ? ^ p 1 8. Confider, There is but one Law-giver ivho is able to fave and to defiroy, James 4. 1 2. The Lord is our Judge^ The Lord is our Law-giver ^ lla. 33. 22. Now where hath this Lord given a Law for baptizing hi- tants ? This one Law- giver hath not gi- v-ea one Law for the baptizing Infants. I p. Con- 19. Confider, whether baptizing In- fa:its, God- fathers and God-mothers, the Grois in Baptifm, the Promiles and Vows made for Children, were not all brought in by Humane Invention, at the feme timfe or on the liime Realbns ? • 20. Confider, whether it beiafe tp ad- * mit of Co;il^quence:; againft an exprel^ Rule ? A^at. 28. 1 9. T'each and Baptiz^e. 21 . Confider, whether thole who Bap- tized Infants, will not have it faid to them by the Lord one day ? as in- Ifa. 2. 1 2. Who hath recjuired thefe things at your hands ? 22. Conficier, whether any of the Gi pel-Ordinances hath lb many plain wora as Believe rs-Baptifm ? 23. Confider, whether being baptized be not a juftifying God, and on thy part thou not being baptized, doft not reject the Gouncel of God? Luke 7. 19, 30. 24. Confider, whether luch as hold In- fant-Baptifm do no'; Preach Baptifm to be a Sign of Regeneration, and whether all or any Infants baptized are Regenerated ? 25. Confider, whether thole who have not refpeft to all Gods commands will not one day be afhamed ? Pfal. 119. 6, 16, Confider,, whether Abraham durfl Circumcife his Child without a word of F 3 Com- 56 Tdaptiim pUinlii Command, then how dareft thou Baptize a Child without a word ? 27. Confider, whether we are not to prels after the purky of Ordinances, and \ whether thofe Ordinances which have the expfefs Rule, are not moft Pure ? 28. Confide, whether they and only they ihall not have the Well-done at Chrift's coming, who have done what he hath commanded, .and as he hath commanded Now Jhefeech thee to confider what hath been j [aid in this matter '^ and the glorious G cd'"^^ of Truth give thee the Spirit of Truths which \ may lead thee into all Truth, and may build [ thee upy and give thee an Inheritance a- mwgthem that are fanB-ified^ and as in (incerity, with unfeigned love to God a?id i thy Soul thefe things have been written : So :■■ the very God and Father, of our Lord Je- | fusy fanBifie thee throughcut, in B^/hy, Soul and Spirit^ and give thee a heart to fear ch whether thefe things be fo. 'Afti ^ Ay ^^#^^ M 'fy v.- -rX- ^^miiiBam»i *"::■ ^f'^^V^;