^i^ ----■-"- i.:_~-T*"" > 15 u> PEINCETON, N. J. Presented by Mr. Samuel Agnew of Philadelphia, Pa. Agueiv Coll. oil Baptism, No. js:\ .. -^"t scB OR, ^^^' A SURVEY of the Controverted Points : Ci. Infant'Baptifme. RoHCtrmmK^. Pretended Uecajfity of Dipinp Together » With a particular Anfwer to all " that is alleadged in favour of the Aitahnpip, by Dr. Jer. tayhr, in his Book, called, I 'the Ubeny of "Frophefyin^. By lohft^^eadmgyh.Dr. and fometimes^^ Student of Magdalcft'Ball in Oxford. ^rioted for rhomas Johnfon.^t tHe GbldCflKe/tlO? Saint M$ CJmHE^> ^ ^ 5 5' To the Right Worlliipful SkWlLLlAM ^WCKMJ^ K N I G H T j And to his truly vcrtuous Lady The Lady ANNE BKOCKMAN^ HIS Aniiphraflkal age perverting tcfins to con- trary meanings , calling Truth Falfhood , Falf- hood TruthjVfTcue yice, ^_^^_.^__^ and Vice Vertue, &c. not only minds us oiEphefian Wolvss and ipe- kersof ^per'verfe things^ but evidently . loved City and Tents of the Saints with all his Legions of errours drawn up into one body : of all .which none more infeft or hinder our work, then thofe Moabiussmd Ammenites '^ fwho contrary to Godsotdi-i'J^eut.zs^i, nance, have intruded into the work of the Temple, pretending to build with us , fay- ing with thofe enemies of Ifrael^q ^^fi^Kq Ezm,*. your Codas ye do. Now the noon-tide Devil is on the Stage in his laft fcene, whofe part is (if it ^-were poffible^ to decei*ve the *uety r Mat;24.24. E/tfS. To which no ordinary drefs can now fit him or his Minifters \ it muft be (and fo is) fome clofc femblance of fandi- mony,in which the Saints dclightjwithouc which Satan could not eafily take them, ilZi::::^ with which he often doth ; whilft /incau- '^ '^ ^r ^'' , fy . , - nos putabant. tioully creduldus, they are deceived by -^^"«j/^^^^. thofe whom they efteemed ^good. The dv-LT/^ t'b- hunters oi Oftriches ufed to drefs them- i°^7f J^^t felves up with their feathers , imitate their ^f^^I'^^^- motions, and fcatter grains of feeds before ?A«^ft«4®e#' them i To th^falfe^Apoftles, deceitful w or- fS/.f/.' J^rs^ feduce by transforming themfelves ",5.^*"'" '^' into The E F 1 S T L e D 1 D I C A T O R ! E. into Afo^lesofCbri^MinMersofrigbti'^ 0ufmfs\ Icattering out of their delightful ba^^s, feeds of dangerous Herefies and Schif«i8. Why I undertook this polemical task, you know who were prefentat my firft imbarquing in this controverfie; asalfo' many of my reverend brethren, who af- terwards importuned me to the firft part hereof. If any ask, why it comes out fo Tsfrip^^s! late to publikc view? let the falfe «Z£- ^^' irf^i-anfweri I can conje&urc but not re- folve i it is now about two years fince it was much dcfired, fairly promifed, and accordingly fent to one Prefs j Where the xVi^K&zii Xf;hilclren "Were cowe to the birth and ther^ was noftrengtb to bring forth. Why I write after fo many 5fo much more able to defend the truth, might poflSbly put me to the . . Qratours anare-y What is kft for me to do? m m^iP^m,but new adveriariesariung, giving treih ^L^^JIe/'aflauks, and impudently affronting and ^'^'° ''''• chailenging me in my publike charge to anfwerthem, what could Ihavcanfwer- ed the Lord , if feeing the Wolf coming iiitothe fold, I had withdrawn or betrayed the The E F 1 S T L 1 D E D I C A T O R I «. the fouls of myf Auditors ; who might ppf- iibly have thought our caufe deferted, for which none durft plead. All lovers of truth oweitrefpe I am far from oculify (^mn pleading univerfality for defence, or multi. T„f "'^^* tudes for Patronage of truth .• let our ad- ciuiemlm, verfaries reckon themfclves many, and'^ think that jJl^j T>tftnditmmru4^]un^^uumbom Fbtilanges .• They have many Writers j but if the caufe be weighed by Scripture and folid reafon, then as ^ Eltjha faid, they are more with us ^ « King. 6.16. then with them: yet I heartily wiih that many more would fliew thcmfelves on our part, and neither betray the truth by their filence,who can fcafonably and ably fpeak in its defence, nor encourage the adverfa- rics thereof by fuch a LaodiceaA'ike luke- warmnefs as (hews a dangerous fymptome . _^. . 01 ncutralitie. For my part I cannot but""^^^^/5«^°/^- beconfciousofmuch difabilitie, yet dare «t,.tr^^ not but endeavour to defend the ^ truth: ff '"^* ^"^' for The Epistle Dedicator ie; for this, let whofo will condemn or acquit me> God is all-iufficient. ^uchasthefe endeavours are, I fubmit to the Judgment c I Tim.g. 1 5. of the cChurch ofGod.the piUar oftmth.^nd dedicate them to you who love the truths a. Pet. 2. 1., ^^j ^y (.^jg affiftance ^ will not be negli- gem to put yon alvpayes in rmemhrance of the fe things, though you kmtpthemy and be eaabliJJjediHtheprefenttruth- yeajthink^ il meet, oi long ds I am in this Tabernacle, * ' cor.g.6,7. ^^j j^j^j^^ gives the ' encreafe^ To him be j Luc.2.14. f i^ry in the highe Si.and on earth peace, good tfiU towards menv to you and yours^ con< ftancie in the truth, and happinefs tempo- i ral and etern^^l ; which is the daily prayer of 1653- Tour faithful and affeSii6natt Servant in the Lord Jefus ] O. R E A D I N O, The Preface to the Chriftiaii and Candid Reader. Good Reader know, that as F wasaddreisingmy lelfto dil- FifheYztFoh' charge a publike Engagment, ^Zi^oX. for writing fomethingin an- fwer to certain ObjeSions made againft Pafdobaptifm, there came to my hand from a friend, a Treatife under this Title , eE.OAOriA EKVEKTIKH, Tfce Liberty ofProphefyingy&^c.in the i8 fefii- on whereof, I {indcy A particular coftftdcr" ation of the opinion of the Anabaptifls , In which part of this F lor elegie fit flowers and feleSied points of Divinity^ are notonely fome ftingy cxprefsions, but alfo fuch a wilful or incautious colle6):ion of wildc Vines,as may eaqfc the children of the Pro- a phets Ta the Reader. ti^i'!^ 4 3^'40 phcts not unjuftly to cry. Mors eft in oUa It was truly reported by fome juiiicious Di- vines, who had perufedthefame,that there arc many dangerous ftumbling- blocks^ tQ wcakChriftians, and fubtij argiiment* for defence and animation of the Jm- /;^pf/ffi',beingcloathed with fo much wit, fophiftry and learning^as indeed mate the F/ereavery flirewd Bug-bear^ formidable to many ^ yet in truth 'tis not much unlike that CumanbeS-y which going up W^ downin ^ Lions 6kin,frighted many,wfei^ being puUed ofF,the filly Animd appeared^ more ridiculous then dangerous. Beiti^ therefore exhorted by fundryofmy reve- rend, brethren, to anfwer tb^ Arguments herein Uid down by way of fkii (l hope rather tentatively, then dogmatically Jaad beirtg perfwadedjthatin fo doing I might in a great part fjtisfiemy engagemeot, the learned Author having faid omch more,or in more plaufiWe terms, then ever the AnahapPiMs , for; ought that I have evet feea or heard ba,ye ytt alkdged for th^is own opinion,! have adventured fo to do* jHdg.2,16. Aiidjnowco0ceiaingmykamedAnta- gonift, To the Reader. gonift, although I hope he let fall thefc things, SisBoav:* Reapers J on purpofethat fomc might for good advantage to the truth of Chrift glean after him j yet feeing he hath fo (harply and ftrenuoufly pleaded againft the famej that Religion may fay of her hurts on fomclefs armed parts, Tfe^^^^c*'?^- ^as Iwenndedin the houfe of my friends : And we may (ay in thefc giddy times, as Joflma to him whom he fpied with his drawn fword by Jericho^ Art thou far HS,or ^"i^-s's- forour ad^erfaries P and feeing that they who for private ends and interefts carry arms and ammunition to any known and profeffcd enemies, are juftly made lawful prize, at leaft, if taken- we muftlay by all perfonal interefts, with zmagis dmica Veritas ; and he ought to be patient if he .meet with any more rough and unplea- fing language then he ufcth to rcccive,or I love to give. ltd carpath. Concerning this whole peece, I have no ;;;^^;j^f |^; more to fay, then that oU^enerable Beda, ^^fjf^^^^^^^^ concerning the Book of Bilhop Jnliati to tetur <(^ eiigat; the Reader, let hira io gather tnc grapes, T;itenn^ro/. that he may beware of the thorn? that is,let e^./i w°r^. a 2 him To the Reader. Mm in his fayings, fearch and choofe out the wholfom fenfc, fo as with no lefs care he may avoid the unwholfom. He doth but plead, and fo pretend to a lawfulnefs of biting us, fiom the priviledge of cuftom ; andloin rcafon muft expeS: the like re- turns: IfhethatdrelTeth himfelfup in a Bears skin,to make others or himfclf fport, be fcrioufly baited, whom hath he to blame but himfelf ? What this Authours councel was^thas to write that which himr felf condemns 5 and of which he faith, it I, i23.i^.2. js J DoBrwe JHftly condemned by the moU forts ofCbriftians- — I know not h but do heartily wi(h, that if he have not yet re- pented of digging this pit, whereinto di- vers are fallen, not without great and ap- parent hazard to their fouls, he timely may j if he have come to feme fccond bet- ter thoughts, he may do commendably to cover it with feme feafonable endeavour , that no more may fall by the ftumbling- block which he hath laid before them: 1 ^ffvmwe. wirti be would revife his own writings with %iT^'^' feme judiciary feverity, zsSt. AHgnUim fpeaks, fo that thofe things which his fcif ^ likcth To the Reader. Jikcth not 'in his pica, he might mark and cenfurcrhe need not be informed^but may be remembred,that true repentance is infe- parably unitedtoafincere defire,& hkh- iul endeavor co fatisfic and make amends ; neither is he to learn what that great light of the Weftern Church faith: -No man , , (faith hc)that^s xplfe^wiU thtrefers prefnms T^iiq^mmft torepre'veme^ becaHje I reprehend my own quia mea ma. erroHTS : but if he fhaU fay, I ought not /^ ^^ffi?;,, ha'vefaid fuch things which fh mid after- ttlorJtbt •warde*uen difpleafe my felf^ he faith true 4':^^^^'nt did, ana aotb as I ao'-yfor he reprehends thofe ife- ^^'^^ difpike- ry things which lalfo do-^for neither ought lllT,'^m7um' ti? reprove them^if I ought t&ha've [aid them: S;;"^^. What he did in his RetraSations, many ^^^f '//";;"'" good and learned men have done, becaufe ™'^'* 'f^^ - tney Joved Oods truth and honour more rm^tdkere then their own reputations ; and whofb- ^^Ji^' ever can truly fay with S ¥eter,Thou know- efithatl lovethee^ ought no more to be afliamed of the fruits of Repentance, then Feter was: It is no dishonor to amend, and turn to better^ and therefore it cannot but be fafe to give God his due honour, and: fecurity to thofe foulsvvho have ftrayed, been To the R E A D E R. beenmifledjOrfcandalcdbythisPatronagc of untruth, by acknowledging the truth, . anddifavowing a known errour. He de- ny cth ChriftjWho is filcnt for fear or favor of men,when and where he ought to Ipeak - in defence of his truth j how much more he that doth omnes nerves intendere^ in the oppofitioa thereof ? poffibly the Authour had fome better intention and aim then appears to the Vulgar^but 'tis truc,/^ skjl- AtquT nihil in- igfi^ ^^^ ^jffj -^hat itttentton 0m doth that tereli quo animo - , t J U« facias, quodfe- which fs evHy and Ought not to be done , be- S^t'^aufefaSsare {een, but themindcis not. r^C"" Let the good Reader take notice, thatm L.ta./.3.c.jji^gconclufionof this Plea, the advocate ^ "'" faith, That men have difputed againji them (the Anabaptifts) mtb fo mnchweah^efs and confidence, that they have been encou- raged in their errour wore by the accidental advantages rve have given t hew by our rveak^ arguings, then by any truth of their caufe, or excellency of their wit; And I conceive that he will think with me, that it fhould be a motive to him, to whom God hath given more excellency of art and nature to de- fend the truth which he hath oppofed, left orberwife To the Reader. atherwife he facrilegioufly eclipfe Gods honour,by a kinde of Interpofition of that body which fliincth by no other light then that which God lent. If he that hid hi^ Mafters talent, fo that it did neither good nor harm, yet neard his <^^^« 7ror)?pg^ what ("except in cafeoftinitly repencance)may they expeS:/ who with thofe many talents which thcirMafter entrufted to them,havc aflifted and furnifhed the known enemj witharms againft their Mafter P Confider what I fay, and the Lord give you a right underftanding in all things. Laftly,! have to entreat the weli-affe£i:cdReader,notto mifdeem fome repetitions of the fame things (in cafes of fuch confli^is unavoid- able) wherein the adverfaries oft^nflri- king at the fame parts, requires the fame or the like wards for defence of the truth: And mtp the God efaUgrace^ vpho hath cal- led us into his eternal glory by Chrijt Jsfm" make you perfeSiy HabliJh^Jirengtben^ fettle yoHi to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. A N Antidote againft Anabaptifme: OR, Animadverfions on that part of the liberty of Prof he- eying which fea;.i8.pag.223.bearcth this Title, A particnlar Con ft deration of the opinion of the Anabaptis ts: -Their denying Baptifme to Infants, although it he a Bo- j^^^'^^g. Rrinejufilj condemned hy the monfm of Chrlftians, upn ' great grounds 9f Kea[on'\ E fay. That denying Baptifm to Ih- - fanes, is juftly condemned by all true Chriflians; we cannot underftand them to he fuch, who renounce their Saviour Chrift by a preten-ded Bap- tifme in their rebaptizing never war- ranted by precept, or example in ho- ^wmmmaas^-^-'^ ly Scripture ; or thofe who by their Dod:nne annull &i\6 make void their Baptifme by a kind of felf-excommunication. . •' . S ^ Again, ^ lAh Antidote againjl Again we fay, That toconalemnc the Do(5lrine df Md' hapti/lffiPOfiire.ttgroHndxofRedfcH, fcems to lay too nar- row a ground, and poflibly toounfound a foundation for our profeflion ; fpecially, if we confider what is_ here faid, rage 1^5. Se^ i o.iV^w. i.concerning the pretended authority of Rea-- fon ^n^folUvinghisgHidef9 f^rMhU Reafon goes along \)ptth ij" Or^yfhich is aS one.he thatfollom his own Reaf0n,&c. y»hich guidance hj TUvine ReveUtion.tnd I know not what other good means he meaneth, he faith , hath great advanta- ■^rcguli ra ^ _ j>^^^ ^^ j^^ye ambiguities of words.and confulion ot ctt'orJr We fenfes ; we atfirm. That the word of God is our ground and TeltlTnJf' guide in matters of Faith and Religion (which even the notanonfK^re- greateft pretenders to humane authority, and underva uers guU nobn non ^^ ^^. Scriptures, do acknowledge in their foberer fits; and ^f i'Sir that the Spirit of God iUuminateth the eleft whom he caU tlLlnt. Icth, guidetb,and enableth to obedience, againft the dictates 3 qiure of carnall reafon, and the corrupt afifedions of flcfli and cm [Aaa Sen- ^^^^^ jf ^^ ^^^^ ^ny Other ipivine Revelation then that K.Sc.r- which is confonant to the known and invariable Rule of r#n/, ^«r;jjz- Gods word, I know not what greater advantage Satan could mar. fitjanw dcfifc for leading beguiled fouls to hell bhndtold , jnen t© pojtno non e- ^^^ ^^^^ following their own reafon, and putting their fa - afm^'^ vations upon pretended revelations; our faith is on Gods rerni/kre U'J^ truth, not humane Reafon ; which, in this life, is not fo ab- cis,(^iemper foiutelv purged from the contagion of fin , ignorance and incntrAdiao ^^^^^ fmce the Apoftles being furnifhed with infallibility iTtuL. of Spirit, bat that it is fubjea to fome errors : and therefore fjm.i.deverb.though we difdaim all blind obedience to man in adts of Eei,l.i.c.2. Religion, yetwefubmit to God in believing every thing ... fdei nonpo. which he faith ; adoring his Truth, which we cannot by any teft [ubejfe ali- ftrength of humane Reafon examine. Moreover we fay, ^""fi'^l'dt feeing that only may, and can be the ground of our Faith IJirL/tt which eannoteire,or be falfe; and feeing that we are Wr utidmnji qua tiponthefoHndatmnofthe.Afofiles and Prophets f ejus Chrtjt iftinjiUMa: ^. rjr ^^- ,jt^ ^j^;,^ Ccrner-ftont , Sphef, 2. ao. WC %TA^'' cannot confent to be taken offfrom that inf*";^^^"^^^ V^ fl&.,. and t^ be fet upon the moveable and joofe fand of a a. tncly GreAtironnds of Re^fcn, or any thing leffe known. A 14 A B A P T I S Mr 3 certaift,and infalUblc thenthe holy word of God,wliich we Know cannot deceive us. It wili neither he mfleafant nor nnfrofltabU to dra'^ a fhort p . Scheme of pie^fer each party, the reftilt of which pofdly ^^^^^^' fffdj h^that though tl^ej be deceived^ jet thej havg Jo great excufe on their fide^&c.~\ Surely unpleafing to God it is to make fporc with matters of fo high Goncernment,and to play with holy things ( for fo this plea muft be, except you arc in earned for the Ana- baptifts) or for fear or favour of men , fo to temporize , as thereby f endanger (as much as you can) the Caufe and Truth of Chrift. And how it can be either pleafing to any good Ghriftian, which difpleafeth God, or profitable which eaufeth any tocrre from the truth in pleading for that which you acknowledge to be a Dodrine juftly condemned ~ I confefTe I underftand not. Poflibly pajh would here have replied to fucb a fliort Scheme of plea, mil je plead Ju^g ^- 3 ^ • ^ for Baalf . That theSr error ii not impudent or vincible.'^ See Jab . Clop . To fay an impudent error^ is but an ctw^ohcyU^ and impro- V^nhurg.Gan- pricty of fpeecb, which in more exad expreflion I fuppofe gf^""^^""'^' you would render, they are not impudent in defence of their error ; If fo, I onely appeale to experience. As for that which you fay — They have fo great excufe on their ftde, that their error U not-— vincible^ feems a contradidioa in the Ad)eB\ who believes any error to be invincible, who beli€- \ahthzt Chrifi (the Truth, fohn 14. 6.) hath fufficiently delivered that heavenly light in the Gofpel, which (though God permit it fometimes to be dowded) (ball ihinc clear, and the gates of Hell (hall not prevail againft itj but it (hall put to flight and overcome every darknefs of error, -fpecially in things pernitious, and about the foundation. I fay not, to thefenfcofthofewhomGod juftly givcth over to ftrong delufions, that they may perifli who receive not the love of thetruth that they might be faved; but to the Gojhen and //rrff/ of God, appointed to falvaiion : How elfe fhould it be, that our faith (hould be the Vifforj that oi;ercometh the s Joh. 5. 4. tvorldy ej^cept it be in the invincible truth and faith in him B 2 wJS?o ^ xAk Antidote againfi '^hoUthovercmethe Wo-lif John \6. n- I'^^rSy iVorli^ Chrift here meaneth and connrcbenJcth all that which is- contrary CO chi falvarion of che E'ev^l, fpecially thofe falfc- hoodsaa4 errors, vv'iich Satan hv any means hroachcch to corrupt and overchrovr the true Faith. Sec Helf, 1 1 . i > &c. ^^M6 8. ?f ge 22 J. 7 ^f Biptifrne of Ufantf refit wholly on this Difcottyje.J If that w'sre true, your plea for it.ibApnfis were Iciffe coridemnable; but the contrary will appearc in due place. Page 924. BmW'hether they hAveorlgiytaU fin orn9 — ] Hum. $.' Indeed the pcUgians{ir\ old Sed of Ht'mir^j)denied chat Infants were bv^rn in ofiginall fin : And (^elcfiius ariSrmed, r j^ ^,. That J Jaws fin hurt onely himfelf, bat not mankind. And caLOcntJtb.y. others, that Infants arc born in the fame ftate in which A- s^gant ^.^^ was before his tranfgrcflron : But the holy Scripture C. 2 2. lirvulos traoc- pig^j^iy condemnes this Herefie. See Job \^. 4- Tfalm 5 t . s. Z-cl!^mne^ ?^^«3- 5- I C^^' 15 50. Rom. arummfefmes,ut videre eft 4-. Seif.Iifarmojifa.&C' Andr. Rivet. Sum. Controverf.q.'i p-i2.y ^ vh CurinAdm omn'tf hotno mtritHY ft originnltspeicati vmculu non ttnem. Oreg.iw.'j, bm i An a b a p t I s m, 5 InfantSjWho beeame an infant that he might alfo favc them j isarecrecaikaowiC'> ti-! and cherei-ore I do neither anxi- oufty cnquire,norrafh!y dptcrmm*. ThiC men ofreaf^)n ini choycc nav promote their hope ©f falvuionby ««f/'o/ f^ertue aniSU^lon^ nwfl: caucioufly beunderftooJ; feen^^chjy neither can do any thing here- to, as they have rcafon oreleftion ; bo:h which are narurail, and fo corrupted, that they are utterly inadiveti any moral good^ vvichoLic cheheJp of G >ds preventing and q'jicknmg grac^fupervenient. TheScr pture is ex pre He : Ifeu h.ith he quicl^ed who \'^tre dead, in treffa^es and fins, ■ "and were hj nature the childrerj of Strath, even as others ^C^c. It is nei- p . ther of him thaf^dlcth^rior of him th.it runneth^ but vf Qod ' that fhexveth mcrcj . — And where he faid. Work-out, oi fimjh i^o^. o id your Uhation^ — we may not think it dependcth on our ^/^tt^j^c^i,^.' works, or of our own abihty ; for, faith he, it is goA which ^tvc/o num a work/th inyoH hth to wil and to do/f his good pieaffsre. Lcfl "'/y* opsnoa we ihould think our fclvcs excufed from our uttermoft ende- ^a"^ ''/ ui7i,"o vour,whom he hath made voluntary ager and in fome part idquidem, i^c. repaired in our regeneration,he reqaireth that wework., that Bex. in Phihi, we receive not that grace in vain^ that we fo run that we may ^2»'5' attain ; yet that we may not think that this is, or can be by any choice or abiHty of our own, he telieth us prcfently, it is God which worketh in Hf, Q.\\ which he requireth of US; ani fo good works which follow the juftified perf©n,being fruits of our calling and eledion, give us a comfortable iiope thereof. Yet is it mofl true that God alone according to his abundant mercy fnot our merit) bath begotten m again to a lively h'pe, I Tet. i. j.andthat */\V^^a the/e things, ^e Jhall never fall. <■ ., aPet.i.io. You fay igSiin^T hit God re fuires nothing e» mans part^but Pag. 2,2$. that its efficacy he not hindred. ] Num. 6 . This Propoiition , though piaulible, yet is unfound , as may appear by that which hath been faid : to which I add ; It is indeed required, that we do not ponere obicem^hy un- beliefs impenitency, contempt of Gods ordinanee,&c. htit he that faith, (^eafe to do fz//7/,faith zX^o^Lsarn to do -well. So ^^ ^ \6 \-.- th€ Apoftle exhortcth —— 7>^/7;# all ding£m( t9 m^^"^ i(^ftr 2 Per, t. ic;^ ■ 6 An Antidote againfi €AlitHg andeletiionfure :fof ifje do thefe things jejhaii never fail. And indeed this is the end of our implantation into Rom. (5. 4. Chriftby Baptifm.that we (hoold rva/k.irt rewn^fs 9f life; •nd no doubt 'but God requireth of his Jfrael, that they (hould not ijuencJo the Spirit^ or penerc obicem^ in that he faia, Circumeife therefore the foreskin of jour heartland harden jtur^ fieckj no more, "Dem. 10. 16. Yet he requireth them to fear the Litrd their God, to rvalkjn all his \Vait;j\ but the contempt of the Sacrament condsmneth • of which i.i.c.4. Infants cannot be guilty. Soihatiffyou clearly mean a nc 4 cejjjtatem medii in tefpe^ of the externall miniftry of man, your Propofition is not true, nor owned by us : but if you mean a neccflity in refpcd of our duty m baptizing infants, or their fpirituall baptifme by regeneration , we fo farre confenc; burthen wc cannot excufe your medittm for an homottomia^which concludeth not an abfolute exdufion of all perfons unbaptizedj is apparently falf, in the example of the penitent Thiefe, favcd but not baptized, and in charity to be concluded fo,in eled children dymg before they are bapti- zed : fo thai if our Arguments for baptizing children were notetter, you might confidently fay as you do in the £pi- Fag. M ?. /ej)»» of your plea , Thej have hen enconraged in their error more Num. 8. Anabaptism. 7 more hy - — our vfeAk.argulngs,then hj anytvmh of their CAufe^ 9r excellency of their "^it. You fay — Jftternsll (means of bringing them to an eter- Page 2*6, nail happinefsj they have mne : for grace being An improve- "'" ment and height ni»g the faculties »/ TS^ature^in »rder to an heightnedandf/tpernaturall end, grace hath no influence^ or efficacy upon their faculties^ who can do no natural! aBs of un- der flanding — 3 What aclls of underftanding e!e(^ Infants dying have, I cannot determine,but I am confident all confidering Readers will abominate and loath this bold and uncharitable cenfure. Who admitted you into the fecret ofGodscouncel, concer- ning theftaie of Infanrs,whom either he preferveth to age,or taketh away before they could be baptizedMt is better rcfol- ved, toa worfe eHd,by your felf,p. 131. Nttm 1 6, Many thon- fand ways there are by which CJod can bring any reafonable foul unto himfelf — ^ And here in the very next place you affirm. That God hath mah a promife of the holy qhoj} to Infants 04 well as to men. — Reconcile thefe two^ and your felf to your k\f:^ if you can. Firft, you fay, — Grace hath no in- fiuence or efficacy upon their faculties , Voho can do no naturall aEls of under fi an ding : And next you affirm, that God hath made a promife of the holy Cjhoft to Infants xs well as to men- I demand , Doth God perform every one of his promifes? Do you mean by the Holy qhoft:, the gifts and graces of Gods holy Spirit regenerating the eled to the Kingdome of Heaven? Can any be faved without fuch grace ? can the holy Ghofl be ina(flive , and without effeftuall influence in any foul? Doth God give in his good time,and meafure,his grace of Regeneration to all the eledl, that is,a powerful influence on them to regenerate, fandifie, and finally favethem? Doth God fave any Infants? Thefe things being concluded oa, I would fain learn how it can be true, that children have no internall means of falvation : or that Gods Spirit hath no in- fluence upon their faculties ? Doth the reafonablc foul of an Infant cxprefs an admirable influence on the bodily faculties, by a naturall inftin(5l for its prcfervation ; and (hall not the Creator, the Spirit of Almighty God , have much more adive 8 An Anti'^dte againfl , a^t'ive influence on the foul of the ele^fofave it,thoDgIi there appear none, or very (lender ads of underftanding t» the Judgetnent and fenfe of man. This your Propofition will appear falfe, if we conGder infants circumcilion ; thofe could do as few &d$ of under- ftanding, as infants now can : neither can any man without high impiety affirm, that Gee's grajce had no l^'fiuence or ef- ficacy on them whom he did not in vam command to be fea- jed mto his covenant. It is well bbferved by our party, that the Sacraments are not bare refemblances, or memorials of things part , neither naked fignesor teftimonies of grace re- Vifm CAtech. ccived; but alfo Canales gratir^ whereby God ordinarily de- pirt.2.de 3.ip. rlveth to us thofe Riven efliviri^fVater^foh. 7. 3 /■. and both Coiicluf.g. delivereth and fealeth unro us the grace which they repre- fcnt; fo that thefe holy fignes are not empty, void of , or without the things fignified, although the things are recei- ved after one manner, and the fignes after another; one is given by God alone, without theobfervation and knowledge of man,ind the other onely by the miniftry of man, and bc- ' fore men : As at fii ft John Baptifi baptized with water, and Chrift baptized with tht holy Ghoft^ though he baptized not with warer, but his Difciples and fubftirutes ; neither did fohn baptize with the holy Ghoft, but Chrift ; So is it now, ( hrift baptizeth eled infants by the fecret irflucnce of his holy Spirit, the fruits whereof appear in their feafon, and his Minifters, according to his appointment, baptize with water. Pc!g.2i8. Xo all this (you fay J the Anabapifts givea [oft and gentle Num.12. anftver.^ Sure you do bur, herein, Uptdando prtecipere. and by faying they do fo, rather (hew them what they fhould do, then us, whatrheydo. lA.Fifher'm his Pofition at the Df mutation 2ii Afhfordxn Kent ^ ftiled the maintainers of Pedobapcifnfi, ^ ' an ez' ill and adulter 6Ui generation , this \s one of their foft and gentle anfwers. Mr. FramUCornweH in his Sermon ac (^ramhreok^\r\ Kerlt^ called Vidkohi'^iiimTin nAn'tichrifiian Preface p. I. Jnnm'aticsg ^ a humane Tradition &c. Mv.Cha. 'Blackyfttd, Title-page^ calleth'his iamphiet agaiiilt us. The fterming of Antichrijt. fulj 27. M. p USbliT concern' A N A B A FT IS Antichrifl, John Spisibury calleth Pedobaptifm , Baptifm 7 ^pUsbury aJminiftred and received in afalfe ^ntichrlfiian tjiate, and '''"fcorce hjthepS>fferefAmichrifi. Edward Barber calleth it Ar.ti-'2f^'^[f^-^ chrifiianand abominable. And before he faith, concerning p.ji-^ '"*' Marl^ i-o. 1 4. ThM place u put in to be read at the Cprinkli'^ ^^- Barber, of children, for the fVhore hathf'^eet "^ords, &c. Is this,as you T^g^o. and fay for your Clients, to give a fuft and gentle avfwer ? or a ^'^^' Boyilh manner of conteft, to call i^'hore^ and all ill names, where they have not other power to prevail ? Let all judge who have any fenfcof humanity, whether this be a foft and gentle anfwer , to call his mother fVhore , and the worft of ibch, Antichriftian : whereas in fpight of calumnies, with o- ther reformed Churches, the Church of England hath ex- cluded Popery, and what (he could, banifhed that myfiicali Whore out of her communion. But this is their 0.^? c^.tto ^m-xdivn;, to conclude their Scene where they have no eviding 'DeMewachini rcafon againft that which they diflike to pronounce it Anti- ^da^/ch'M^^^'^' chrifiian. And who isfo ready to call this odious Livery up- tenf.i ' '^' on others, as the moft Antichriftian ? I might hereto add ^Bawfmm many more the like inftanccs of Railers at Infant-bapcifm, infanJn"^e calling it IdoUtroM^ofthe 'Dragon and BeaJ},nonQ other then idolatricuin a ceremony of Autichriji, a Satanicall Infiitution, &c'. but ~ — '^^^ J^ that we have too much of our own at home. It is the quali- mu'nualhd ty of the Heart to open hii month unto blafphemj againJi G»d, qmm urmom. to bUfpheme hi^ T^me and his Tabernacle, and them that d^ell ^'" ^utichrifii. in Heaven : But wc like not our caufe the worfe, becaufe '^^T® ^'"^' fuch rail at it ; but wifh them to confidcr where the Railers '^7' ^°' ^°* placelhallbe, I Cf the RiihuoMfmfsefFAitlt, then thtymte who lived under the Law ? But you fay further, Sftppofiftg a eorref^ondeuee 9f AnMltgie iit^en Circtim' eifi9n and Baftifm, jet thtre km c«rrtf^nde«ce »f d- "f. 22I. Identitie. This 'BhU dcfcrves fotne baiting, were wc not treating of facred things; therefore I onely fay. If c^rreffndence im- foitanfwering unto^ in feme fimilitudc and likenefs, thera can be no cm-efpondettce «f tdgmity, for no like is identically the fame with that to which it is like. F»r ^JthoHglt it y^cre granted that both of them {Circumcifi' ^^^^^ on and Bapti/m) did c«nftgn the Covenant of Faith. '^ Speak you this as a flatter doubtfuU ? Is not the Scripture evident } Do you alfo call the truth thereof in queftion ? See Ro»9, 4. 1 1 . There is nothing in thi circHmflance of childrens heinicir^ ibitJ. euntcifed , that fo concerns that my fiery ^ but that it might very yttU be given t* children , and yet baf' tifm to men of reafon^ This Argument isachildifb caption .- We fay that Baptifm FaStcU sm- fucceeded Circum'eifion in fubftanee, not in circumftance; in dentif, the end and ufe, as fcath been faid, and whereof we (hall fay more anon : To whatpurpofc do you argue from the cir- cufliftance? But you fay, CircHmcifion left aCharaHeriuthepfi.Vfhich being im- Ib.Paj. 2*1. printed up*n Infants , did it yrerkjtfon them ^ben they came to age?"] Wc anfwcr/ i.That the word CharaBer may be taken for t- ^^^ cbar^^ff^k ny fign, or note diftinguifhing one thing from another : fo ^^^^^ ^^^-^^ ^, Baptifm may be alfo faid to be a charader, diftinguifhing qnnlibet nttt. Chriftians from unbclievers,not as an abfolute quality,but as vdfigno rem a relative thing : as a teffera militaris by which God wH own J"'^ f J;"' his who fight under the Banner of Chrift, and by which the indrjiiva, baptized have a comfortable affurance that they arc narked sxm.Cmtrav, for the children of God when they believe in Chrift, ac^or- traa.^.q.e. ding as it is written, In whom alf* after that ye beleeved^ye Eph.i.ij, 14. were fealtd with that h^ly Spirit efpremife-, which is the earnefk »f4ur I»htritKnfi.- — a. Y©ui? inftanc^ iwpQIJCth onely* C 2 cirfittoa- 1 2 cAn Antidote dgainfi cireumftandalljnot a fubftantiall difference: Now the varle- £y of fignes vary not the thine fignifiei : It is the fame Chrift, the fame Faith,under the Gofpel and under the Law; though the Sacraments by God appointed for the one and for the other, were much different ; And the ends of Cir- cumcifion and Baptifm are the fame ; to implant us into Chrifls vifible Chnrch • to be an in-let and door to the fame; to feal up the admitted to faith , repentance, mortification, and newncfs of life: which work is as truly done to the baptized Chriflian when he Cometh to age as it was to the Ifraelitecircumcifed , tewit, to and in them that belie- ved and repented ; toothers, the work \^as fo fane from being done , that that very feal of Gods Covenant which they bare in their flefh , fervedfora witnelTe againft: the foul of the Covenant-breaker to his greater condemna- tion : and fo it is proportionably with the baptized Apoftate: which may be a warning to your Clients,to repent before it be too lace. You fay again, Pag. 2:0. ^^ ^ reqmfite that the ferfons baptiz^edfootiU be capable of Reafon,that they may be capable beth of the Word of the Sacrament, and the imprefs made upon the Spirit.^ Weanfwcr.- i. This weakly follows from unfound pre- mifes ; TVOi there no word added to Circumcifion ? How doth that appear? Was there not a word of Inllitution? Genef. 17. 10, 11,12. Was not the reafon of the Covenant de- SecGcn.i*. cVivcd to A brahatt^ ? Did not he, and others, preach the If- fame to all of age to be circumcifed, as Profelytes , and to the circumcifed infants when they came to age capable of Dodrine.'' fo doe we to the baptized: bat to perfons of years we preach the Gofpel firft, and then baptize them; in- fants we baptiz? firfl,and inftrud there when they come to be capable, 2. That it i^ recjfiijtte that the perfons baptized ptpuld be capable of Reafon ^ that they may be capable both of the word, (^c.^ » We fay foalfo, they mail be capable of Reafon, ei- ther in ad, that they may prefently underftand thofe things ; ®r in habit, that they may afterward underftand the fame; to AnABAPTISM. i2 «Owhat end e'lfe ftiould we baptize infants, or why were Dmi-W. w nj- they circumcifed into future faith, repentance, and newnefs "^'-^-^ ^-l- "• of life ? We utterly diflike Pdpifti baptizing of Bels, Chur- ^^'^'• me adive or palifive faculty thereof? Whether it be a figure or form ? W hether the Sacraments of the old Teftamcnt made the like imprefs ? &c. In all which, and the like vain fpeculations, we may not unprofitably note the juft judgment of God,gi- ving them over to unfruitfull delufions , who forfaking the true and conftant light of his holy word, give themfclves e. ver to follow the /V«p//^f»oj of their own fancies. I hope you arc not of their fenfe, though you mention this imprefs. Concerning the feal of our implantation into Chrift. I have fpoken a little before ; and oncly add, that we receive grace, andtheobfignation thereof, but are not fenfible of all, untill we receive a greater meafurc, — that ^e mighi k»ew the thhzs that are freely given unto w of God. » * ^^^^g therefore (fay you ) the reafon ofthU paritj dots "Wholly »ge 12^- y.^^.^^ there u nothing left toinferrea necejftty tf com- flying in this circtimfianceof age anymore then in the other annexes of the type ^ It wholly holds in fubftance for ought you have faid to edv Mit the contrary : and therefore your following iuftances arc libA.c.i6.' frivolous. As concerning baptizing the eighth day, we an- fwer, I. That whereas God appointed no fet day for bap- Vrftn. Cat.-part. tifm,'we have the greater liberty to do it at the moft conve- u.di Baptijm. j^jpj^t feafbn,on the firft, fecond, third, fourth, &c. or e<«?464«> werecireumcifcd •• it will follow rather, "That becaafe dii, quid » " Circumcifion was adminiftred to the infant as foon as ^.^^^'^^; ^ ^''* "it was capable thereof, or could receive the Sacriment JJl''j^J^^.^'^^ " without danger, therefore children ought to be baptized rnaxhne pcria *' as foon as conveniently they may. Rut you fay, lofwittrnfunti- The cafe u clear in the Bifljopsqueftion re Cyprian, /or why^^^f- vtxen- fhallmt infants be baptiz^ed in ft upon the eighth day, as SI^^/h'^ well as circmncifed ? If the correfpondence of ihe Rites be bHuHt refo'va- an Argument to inferre one circHw fiance which is iwperz f*<'', ante quc.n CH- Thecafeis asclcar in the Qutiuvju ui j-mn^ niti-itsuytti, vtrg.de mven. (whom you call 'Bijhop) as it is in your objeding ir. Fidtu rcr. 1.4.0.4. made a ^«fr/f,or rather affirmed, that Infants ought not to sjcapud cm- be baptized on the fecond or third day, but that the law of an- K-es,fve infan- cient circumcifion ought to be confidered; fo that he thought t^s, five map. cs fo f^iri- tftaH Infant J fli(iH hebaptiajed &c.] This you think a right nnderftanding of the bufinefs; D after ^g u4ii Antidote a^dinfi after your (huffling together m my (}rini^*imperrinencies, to tell us of baptizing fpirituall Infanrs. To which we an-. (viQt : If you me:\nby Spirituall Irtfafttij(uch asare born a- gain of water and the holy Ghoft , then you would have them twice rcgcnerateor born : If you niean Believers one- ly, ffor in reafon you cannot call an unbeliever or wicked perfon a fpirituall infant) then I would fain learn by what difcerning fpirit you can know when, and whom to baptize, andwhomtoput by J or which infant, according to the fl^fh, is not a fpiritual infant,by the fpirit of regeneration : If you fay that thofe who are of year$,profefs faith and repen- tance, and therefore are to be baptized. It is eafily rejoined ; what ere they profefie they may be hypocrites, and then no more fpirituall Infants then fudM or Simon Magw were. If you fay that in charity you take them for fpiricuall; I an- fwer , That an opinion that may be fo eafily falfe , and in which any man without fpeciall revelation may be deceived, is a very unproportionable ground of fo (harp a controvcrfie, as caufeth your Clients to forfakc the Church of Chrif^. Next, I fay, had you but as much charity towards infants, whom no aftuall fins have yet ftained, you would as freely judge them fpirituall infants, and fo, by your own Principle, to be baptized, as thofe of years,of whom poflibly you may know much evill, without all coHtroverfie they have ma- ny fins to be repented of j and why Iliould you not afford harmlefs Infants who cannot diflemble , as much cha- rity as you do to many hypocrites, ofwhofe fpirituall rege- neration, or being Ipirituall Infants, you cannot be cer- tain? , • ; / Pag. as?. ^«^ thisfeews to have been thefenfe »f the primitive Church, for in 'the age next to the Apojfles^thej gdve to ali baptised ferfonsmilkjindhonej^t9refrefent unto them their dmj^ that though in age of under Jtanding thej were men, jit thej '^ere babes in (%rifi,And children in malice, &c,2 JtidefufceptUla- j^^jge^j ^^ fg^d of fuch a cuftome in Terttt/liant time, but toncordiatnp^iuftarvM. Tcrtul. de Corona mil. e.g. &ib.advcrrf. Marcion.l. i.e. 14. ikcmelliiir kiiii focietatm qmfuos infantat. — --^ Hac citat Pol.Virg.l.^.c./^. Buchol- «r ind. Chrono. AnmChrijii 2QQ,Cbr>ft. HWw«. Tbeatr. Hiflor. p. 91. that A NAB APT I SM- 19 that was two hundred years after Chrift : but I find not the fenfe of the Church therein by him expreffed to your . pur^ofe. And Hierom mcntioneth the fame cuflom , but gi- ^'^ron.in rfai. veth no fuch fenfe as you pretend to; Jt being well known ^J^ qui mos thache wasforlnfant-bapEifm. And it appears not by siny ac typw in ocei • thing you here cite or fay, chat fuch a cuflom proveth any dentif Ecckfm thing againft Baptifm of Infants, for whom milk and ^lony *^^^^ Ifr/^il is fitter nourifhment then for the flrong, i Corinth. ^.2. j^ /„ ^^^^^j^ Hehr. 5. 1'l, 13. Your other conjedure is but feebly groun- vinum^Ucq;tri- ded; yetyoi^fay, buatur\b. id- 's ftt to infer thrftnfe of the Pedo-bftptifts is fo weak^a manner vctl.Fclag.l.g. of arguing, that Augufhne, reho/e device itwai(andnien nfe to to be in love with their own fancies ) at the mofi pre' tended it bnt as probable^ and a meer c>nje^ffre.~\ To which weanfwer, 1. That things which Chrift com- EeatM quidem tnandcd to his Apoftlcs, could not be ayfugHfiines^ or any Qpr'unm mn hnraane invention, but a divine Inrtitution, fuch was bapti- '^^"if°'^ deaetn Zing of Infants, as will appeare in due place. And this is jedEcdefiji Fi- the ground of this whole controverfie, 3. That it was none dem firmiffi. of Augftfiines device or fancy, with which he was 'therefore mam fervans, in love,as being his own, Amnfiine his felf clearly tellifieth. ^^ 'Corrigendum S.Cjprian (faith hs) not compofing any new decree, but ^„f^^ j^;^^^^ holding the moft firm faith of the Church, to corred thtk diem nativita- error, who thought that an infant might not be baptized be- ti^^ non ejfe par- forc he were eight da^s old j he, with certain-his fellow- Bi- '^^J^^^^^^' (hops, was of this fenfe,that a new-born infant mightirightly Yatimrite ?apl he baptized. As for the words ofCjprian,we have cited them ti:(^ari poffe, cum 'a little before. Cjprian with a Conncell of 66. Biftiops, re- [ui< qujbufdam folved fo, not out of any then new-born ©pinion, or decree, ^^^J'A"/'" "«- but maintained that which was of old, the firm faith and do- Augufiinj Hie- drine of the Church which was long before him ; And Cj- ron. ep. 28. prian flourifhed about the year of our Lord 222, and was -comn Eccle- crowned with martyrdom under the perfecuting Emperour ^* fondatiiTi- Valerian.ibout the year 260. And St, Augufiine flourifhed J^^'J^y^n'S^J^b! Hoc Eccleftafeniper habuit, femper tenuity hoc a majorMmfide percepit^ hoc ufque infinempef' [everanter cuftodit. lb. Aug.de verb.Apoltlic.Scr.ia. Cyprian 1* ,3. Epift. 8. Buchulcer. Ind. Chronol. TajfMefifub Valeriana ist Galieno principibw perfecHtionc Oilava. Qiulog. fcrjpc. Ecclef. Hiemnym.tom. r, D 2 about ad «-^« Antidote d^ainjl ^cclefitah ^4- aboQt thcyear4io,and died about the year 4;o. Sa that foftoim tnJitlo- i^jj AHgttfiine (as you fay) devifcd ic.it maft have i^o yearr 7m //rSL'Jl- y^^" ^«''<"'^ AngHfiine was born, been devifed by AHgufiine^ re bAptifnmm. which had been a fingular device indeed. 04gert of whom Orig. com. in you fay Aft^Mftine had this tradition of Baptizing Infants ji.om.6 Vidib. ^pag. 1:^^.1^.2$ )C3.\th, becaufe we are all conceived and born %]rh^Luc '^ndn.ths Chnrch hath received a Tradition from the Apofilef bom 14. toadmimjier Baptifm t» little children. Now Ofigen lived a- bout the fame time with Cyprian. Howyou can reconcile VakrtmTl W^^ ^^^^ ('^^ ^^^^ V®^ ^^^^ ^^""'^ ^^^^ Pedohaptifm Hiejon.catoi was Augufiines device , and yet confcffe that Augfijline jcTtpr. Ecclcf. had it from Ongen^ who died fo many years before AngHfline hen 1.4 c. 14. ^g5 born) I fay not to the truth, but to your fclf, I do net .j..'^h''l?''^' underftand. ^»flin Martyr.whom Tertftdian mentioncth as Omnem £tatm an Anceftor (he lived under the Emperour Antontnus Ptti^) funSFijicans per and /r^»4«^ fpeakcth of Infants baptized in his time. Ire- iJamqu£adjp ^^^ fpcaking of Chrifts Baptifm and entrance into his pub- (Xm fmcs l^q.^^ Miniftery, faith. He fandificd every age by that fimili. tnm vtn'.i pei tude which was to hirafelf, for he came to fave all by hiirrfelf • fcmetjpfum fal- I fay all, who by him are regenerate to God , infants and vare.omnesjn. i^tle ones, boys, youHg men and old : tlierefore pafTed he 'iTmnn%nC through every age, for mfants he became an infant, fandify- in De-AwMan- ing infants, &c. This Irend^u was fo ancient, that he h^To.. testfy-pirxulos, /»f4r/> who was an hearer of fome of the Apoflles ofChrift. (^pHernj,(^ju jj. ^gg therefore none of Aagt^ftinef device. rlfr/i/M peT' 3 -Whether this be true which you affirm,that Afigufiine at omnem vmt£ ihtvnoii pretended it bnt M probable and ameer conjeHnre (to wem,^ jnfan baptize infants, as infants were circumcifed) let AngHfiine tibw infans fa fp^akfot himfelf(who faith)If any man m this thing look for infantes^i^c.lren.l. 2.c.^9- Polycarpui autem ncnfslumab Apifi'^^lis-^-do^as^^ converfatus turn itmltis ex eis^ qui domimm mjlrum videiunt. -^^qtiem (^ ms vidimus in prima nofha dtate, i will not be fo expenfive of time > or fo much entrench upon the Readers patience, as to repeat, Ice him judge of what he hath read. But what other battalions come next up. > You fay, From the a^ien ofchrtfls blejftttg Infants^ to inferre that they are to be baptized, proves nothiyig fo tnuch^ as tbnt there is great \>^ant of better Argffments.~^ A gallant flourifti indeed : but fenouily ; Did Chrifl take them up in his arms,and blefs them; and are they not blefled? Doth not Gods blefling give both end and means that wc may befo.^ Or fpake Chrift onely concerning the carnaU feed of Abrah/im^ and not of the fpirituall wlicn he faid , Of fhch is the Kingdom of Heaven? Surely if Chrift adjudge and give the Kingdom of heaven f which himfelf onely can give, and in which none but the cleA fhall he) to an infant^ it muft be no lefs then impious in man, to abridge, abjudge, and bar him of admiffion into thevifibic Church of Chrift by baptifm,which finfull and ignorant man can adminifter, and which reprobates as wel as the ekd may and do receive. But what follows > Th ^^ An Antiddte again f^ Pag. 250. The conelHJien tvould be ^ith more frohahilitj derived thtu : Chrifi hltfftd children andfo di/mijfed them, but baf- tized them mt^ therefore infants are not to be bdf^ ti^z^d.^ John 4. 1. *Tis a pretty argument wherein both Antecedent and Confe* (jHcnt are lame ; 'tis true and granted, that Chrift in his own perfon baptized them not ; but bow prove you that he bap^ tized them not by fome one of his Difciplcs ? What ; bc- caufe 'tis not written? The Apoftle may give you fatisfa- dion herein, who faith, There arealfo many other things mhich fe/uj did, theVohich if they fhou/d be written evi-ry one^ 1 T !,!!«?* Vi fmpofe that even the world it felf could not contain the books. lonn 21.25. •'.ii-'. ,,. , ».• A ^ r • 1 Howinvahdis the Moderators Agumcnt, <««(?« /cn/jro, ad TtonfaEinm ? Can there be a found conclufion from rotten preraifes ? Chrifi blejfed children and fo difmijfed them, but baftiz.ed them n^t, therefore Infants are not to be baptised. '-^Antoniigladios petuit contemriere,f fie omnia dixiffet. — Would it not as well follow a non fcripto f Jefus granted the Centurions requeft, and cured his fervant, and fo for ought we read difmifled them, but baptized them v\ot^ Alat. 8. 10, 3.Chrifthealed the fick of the palfie and difmiffed him ; but for ought we read baptized him not, Matth. 9. 3, 6,7. Af.frk^i. 1^* 5.11,12. He healed the woman of the bloody ifTuc ; but for ought we read baptized her not. Mat. 9.2^. AUrk.^'.^^. So the Ruler of the Synagogues daugh- ter, ^^rr/?. 9. ^$* Markji* 4', 42. So he difmiffed "the man out of whom he had caft many Divels, Luks 8- 38, 3p. we read not that he baptized him. So he pronounced par- don, accepted the repentance, and difmiffed the penitent fin- nerinpeace,X»^7. 50. It were too long to repeat all. So he cured the lame at Bethefda, John 5.8. Where (though ib neer the convenience of water; we read not that he fo much as once fpakeof Baptifm to him ; neither when finding him . in the Temple he faid to him, — thou art healed, fin no more '^^' lefl a worfe thing come unto thee , can any therefore reafona- bly conclude thofe men and women of years whofe bodies Chriftcureth, whofe repentance he accepteth, whofe faith his felf tedifiech (who cannoc be deceived) were doc, and there- A N A B AP T I SM. 23 therefore are not (though of years) to be baptized ? He thac hiJ his time of doing chofe favours to them, was free to takehistimeof enjoyning their baptifm : And how could you prove thacthefe children were not baptized before or after they were brought to Chrift? Before you cenfare our Arguments as invalid and weak- do your felf the righC to confider your own. • As roe are fare that Cjoci h/ith not commAyided Infants to h ^^^ ^^'^' haftized ]] ' True, God bath not given the command to the Infant himfelf, but toothers whom it concerneth, wearefurehe ^ hath : if you mean the firi>, you trifle j if the fecondjou do, upon the matter,beg the queftion. ^luidegofefiinat innocens atas ad rcmijfionem peccatorum^ nvas the ^uefiien iff Tertullian (Ilk de Bapt.Jhe knew Pag. 230. no fuch danger from their originall guilt, as to drive ^^'^•^^* them to a laver , of >^hich in that age of inn-jcence, thty had no need.oi he conceived.'J Whether infants can make bafte to baptifm, I appeale to pYsfcnbmr experience : W hcthcr they are innocent and have no need of nmmi fme bap- baptifm, as TeUgim affirmed , I appeal to your own con- "/wo competers fcience. Do you think there is no danger from infants ori- ^^j^\^l^^ ginal guilt which maks them ftand in need of the laver of re- pmordia en- generation for the remiflion of their fin ? If you do not,why cumventw »i do you urgeagainft usan authority which your felf conren-i"''^'^'^^f'<">^" teth not unto > To let pafs vnhnTertt^I/iafj meant when ^^l^rlmel' in affirmed fuch a neceflity of baptifm, as that he faid, It i^ mortem datm frefcribedthat nomanjhall he faved "^ithom haftifnt\ which exm^e mum heinferrethfrom j^o^«3. 5. pray teach me what he meant ^^'"** ^^ f"* when he faid; Afan f rem hid beginning circur/f vented ^ ,fo ^ ^^j„ fu^etiam that he ^ould tranCgrefs Gods command^therfore was condemned dmmtionis to deathy thereby he alfo made all mankind^ being infeSied from tuducem fecit. hii feei^ a traduElion (or derivation from one to another) of^^'.^^^-^^ ^^fi- his trvn damnation : Think you damnation no danger? or did TemLdfBm, not Tertttllian know what he wrote ? How he forgat himfelf c. x8. and the truth when he would have children come to Chrift onely then when they could learn and know Chrift, where- as Chrift (iid, Sufer little children to come unto me, and for- ^^'^ « o H^ . bid- 24 "^^ Antidote again fi hid them not ; I can give no better account, then for other his errors ; onely let the Reader note.that in the fame place he atfirmeth, that thtunmarritd alfo are to be deferred, and Kcnminore de not baptized untill they are married, or fetled in concinencv; quts Toalfii. ^"^ ' fparetbis : We look for truth, and (hall be glad to own nind). Teml. *"^ embrace it,in what Author foever we find it ; bat againft q. jiip. the truth we are bound to none : onely we may note, that if Tf^r/ly imputing to his whole pofterity that his ad, whereby he not onely made his own perfon guilty , but alfo corrupted his na- ture : fo are they by regeneration faved in Chrtft, God mer- cifully imputing his merits to them for their juftificatioo : fo thai, as they were coodcmnabic for that they did not in their Anaiattism. 25 their own perfons commit , fo (hall they be faved by that which Chrift, not they, did freely without the works of the Law : but of what confequence is folemnity ? Would you have our fall in Adam^ and repair in Chrift ran literally pa« rallell,evcn to circumftances ? But what manner of arguing this were, we have often faid. How many ridiculous confe- quences would you thence inferre ? concerning a man^a wo- man, and a Serpent^ and no more in the Scene : a garden, a fruit &c. Butremembring that we arc fpeaking offaered things we rdblve , that a Sacrament which rs infticuted of '^rfm.C4teck. God to this eid, that it maybe a folemn receiving int© the Church, and a fevering, or fign ofdilHnguilhing the whole Churcb,& all her parts,from all other Seds,ought to be mi- niHred folemnly , that othersmay take notice of the fame, and that it may be the drifter bond to the baptized when they come to years, to hold them into faith, obedience, re- nunciation ef the world, impious defires,and carnall aflfedi- onSjinto which condition they were folemnly,and before ma- ny witnefles admitted by bapiifm. And it u Cyou fay) /«« narrd^ a conception of God Almigh. Pag. 231. y, becaufehe hath tiedtu to the obfervation of the (Ce- remonies of his o^n inJHtHti(>ny that therefore he hath tied himfelf to ;>.] We never had that conceit, you miftake the matter : we J^IJI^^"'^^"* fay not that Ged is tied to his own Ordinances , as if he poteft i^firrT" could no otherwife fave any, but that we arc tied to Gods baptifinum non Ordinances , becaufe they are the revealed will of God, # ordinArium which man is bound to obey. And though God be the moft ^^&^"'r'i"'>m free Agent, and not tied, yet it doth not hence follow, that ^7^"^^^^^.'"'' baptifm is not the ordinary means of regeneration, to which gm [umus. we are tied. God hath not in your fenfe tied himfelf to the Joh- Gerhard, baptifm of perfons in years, as may appear in the penitent ^®^^P^'^^ thief, who unbaptized was /avcd, Z»j(e 23.43. It is fo in " "* ^* his other ordinances, — — It f leafed Godby the fooUfhnefs of preaching, t^ fave them that believe, 1 ^or.i. 11,} There- fore ordinarily faith is by hearing the word, Rom. 10, 17. yet God hath not fo abfolutely tied it to preaching, but that he could at his pleafure convert Sanl brcathiog thrcatnings, E A^s ^^ ^ \^n Antidote againji AHs9. Keitber is he tied to the Eftcharift : would you conclude hence that men and women of years are not tied to be baptized, hear the word, or receive the Lords Supper, becaufe God, and his free grace, arc not tied to thcfe extcr- * nail and ordinary means ? If not, what mianeth that your medium (Gei hath m tied himftlf) and what can \t more conclude againft Infants baptifm , then againft^ the bap- tirm,hcaring,recciving the Euchanfl- by perfons of years ? Yet we affirm, that when God madeche promifetOy4- hraham, being wiling more abundantly to (bew to the heirs of promife the immutability of his councclh confirmed it bj AH oath, that hy two immutable things ^in ^hich it was impojfible for Cjod tt lie, we might have a.flrong confoUtion, &c. Heb. 6, 17,18. In which fenfe, God hath bound himfelfc to make good to us, all that which the Seals of his Covenant by him- feif appointed, hold forth unto us. But you add, Many thoufand "^ays there are by \vhich God can bring any reafonable/oulto himfelf.^ inclMjii unm We anfwer; The admitting of the one is not always the ex- nnn eft exclafjo eluding of all Other: and we queftion not Gods power here- Alteuui. Gcdi. - jj^j^,,^,l|.j^prgj,^„;-^„^,^^^,-^^/^^,^/,^. What think you fi'sMV.' of the validity of that Argument which is from Gods pow- er to his will f He can open th« eys of the blind, and convert the hearts of temporizers, and profefled enemies of his C hurch and Truth, I would I were affured that he would now do fo. But fyou fay) nothing is m re mreafonable, then becaufe he hath tied all men of years and difcretion to this vf ay , therefore Uv of our own heads fbal carry infants to him that way with- tut hii dire^ion. Here is again a fallacious arguing: You take the thing in qucftion for your^edium : The queftion is,- Whether bap- iifm or Infants be a divine or hiimane infticutton , upon which dependeth wholly whether we ought or ought not to baptize Infants ? Now you would prove that we ought not - to carry infan's to Chnft by baprifm, becaufe he appointed or diredcd us not fo to do ; but(as you fay) we do it of our own heads ; Nay, but confining facramcnta'lUdmiMrft rations to fuch time, age, or other circumftancc, by Chrifl neveif limited . A N A B A P T t S M. 27 limited or enjoyned. is will-worfhip, and mans invention; This your conceit is fo poor and low, that a puny Sophifter would be aihamedofit Pagea?!. Ondj t..is fyou lay) that CjodhAth at great a care of in- ^^^^^^ ^^^ fanti^ Oi of others ^&c ] — Here is another argument as feeble as the fore-going: What? becaufe God hath as great a care of them as of o- thcrs, therefore wemafl: have no care of them in the applica- tion oUhe ordinary means? fo hath he a care for their bo- dily prefervation and Ibftenance; doth that prove that we ought not to feed or cloath them ? God refpeclively ca- rcth for ail the Creatures, he giveth to the heaB hufood^PfaL Mat.e. 26, li 147 9. Were it good qeorgick^ to fay , Trouble not your felf to todder your cattle, or loofe them from their ftall chat they may drfnk? Who knoweth not that God hath ap- pointed ordinary means, although he can do it without fuch means and though he fay net that he will not othcrwife prefervc them, but leave them to the didates of common reafon to conclude ? God fyou fay ) r^inhj hk o\\>n immediate mercj bring them thither "^here he hath intended them ; but to jay that therefore he^ill do it by an ext email ail and ntini fie- ry, — u no good ArguTncnv,&c.'^- Vrove that one Alfertion,-That God will by his own im- media e nercy fave Infants, and have no me.ns ufed there- to, and you have the Caufe . but Chrift hath appointed bap- tifm for the ordinary means 10 bring people into his vifible Church, that they may be favcd; that he doth ocherwile, that is, by jn immediate ad of mercy fave fome, to whom his all-difp 4ing providence hath n^t given time or means, as in Infants dying before tbey were or could be baptized; this variahnot the Rule, for our queftion is not concerning them, and to % that thcrfore he ^ill do it by an external aB, becaufe he will fave them, or bring them thither whither he hath inrended.them, by his own immediate mercy , is no good ft^r'7»w.*«f,you may lay your lifeon't. Jmmediatly fignifi- erh withoac means, fo that Jmmediate'y by means is a con- tradiuioa in the ad J€«^ ; this were to my fenfe io farre from a E 2 £Ood 28 An Antidote again fl good argument, that I ftiould doubt whether fach a Difpn- tant were awake, or not : Immediatly by an external a(ft and miniftcry ? none of ours ever fo reafoned. And why ranmt C/9iia4well do his mercies to infants now mmedtutij^ m he did before the injiitmion either of cir- cumrijion or btiptifm ? Once a^ain we fay , We queftion not Gods power : truly nor his wilt in many Infants dying before they could be b-ptized ; the queftion is, whether we may or ought, ac- cording to Gods revealed will, baptize them? In which k feemeth to us a very weak qnerie^And ^hj cannot Qod as well do hi6 msrcies to Infants now immediattlj? ^r.] Fag. 23?. Ho-^ever (you fay) thre is no danger that Infants Jhould ^^^■^^' perijh for Vp^nt cfthu extemall mlniflery^ &c. ] NottodifputeCodsfecret counfels, we fay, the danger will bete the defpifer and neglecfler of Gods Ordinance; Qiimm rcM ^^CTeinTertullians Aflcrtion nay ferve for a reafon : Be- eritpcrdh! bo- cau/e ,'faith he) he/ha/l be guilty of a mans defir Elion^ whojhall mnif^ftfKper- omit to do that which hejreelj might have performed. federit prntfla-re^ . o r ^ bapt.c. 17, fg'^-tfif the fame thing ; andby Water is meant the effc^ • of the Spirit^ tleanfmg and purifying the foul &c. ] It is true that Calvin^ OecoLmpadiw^ and fomc others, do not think that Chrjft doth there precifcly fpeak of Baptifm, but that he cither oppofed it to Pharifaicall walhings and purifications ; to which poflibly ISlfcode- mm, with whom he tlen difcourled, might be too much addiAed ; Or, th.-it thofe words are (imply to be J«l?. Mau. a- ^"retprf tfd concerning Regeneration ; but ^ufttn Mar- foi.z'.Ambrof 0'^ 1 Chrjfcftcm'e , Theophtla^l, Cyril, Suthymitu , ^m- de Ahrahm. guFline , RupirtM ^ Bonaventure^ Mujculw , B Aretius, i'^-y^-&^^-B Rolloc, "Pehrgi^^ and others expound thefe words r|^«4. ? JO cj^ncermng Baptifm , the Sacrament of Ref eneracion ; the prefcnt fpeecfa of Chrift beiog concerning Regeneration.- Ana s aft t s m. ap and it is moft probable that rhrift therein rcfpe^ed the common order of the Church, mentioning the Spirit and. Water; to (hew that we muft be baptized if we will be fa- skaaipHnda, vcd; yet 'tis not the water but Gods holy Spirit which wafh- eif,(f?c.iitrefpe- eth away our fins : Neither dorh he fo fimply and necefla- xerit commmem rily tic the grace and efficacy of Gods Spirit to the Sacra- ^ff^l^JJ^t^ll ment of Baptifm , as if none could be faved without Bap- J^^'-^^J'^^^JJ^ tifm, and that God could not extraordinarily and immedi- Deiadftrjxe- ately fave. Whatfoever Papifts fav to the contrary to affert rh facrawenta^ their bloody decree and crucll dodrine concerning Infants fj*! |[/^^'Jj: dying without Baptifm : yet their Schoolmen, and i^^y^'^^ tknenece^a- their more fober fits, confeffe, that God hath not abfolutely rium, Btza lied his grace to the Sacraments. Chnft faith, He that Jhall «« joh.?. 5. helieve and bi hMptiz^ed^fhatl be favedihrn'm the Antithefishe Dew non alii- faith not, Whofoever (hall not be baptized, (hall not be fa- g^vngmiam ved J to (hew us, that faith alone piay fometime be fuffici- j^"^'" J'^^yif"^- cnc to falvation, as in the penitent Thief; but nothing can fuifice without faith; becaufe without it, it isimpoflible M^Cchrijlin) to pleafe God. And becaufe faith one!y apprehendcth &^£^ Chrift, in whom alone there is falvatiorr, Aks 4. 1 2. To con- /j^e exteriore fa- dade, iidoth not appear, that Water and the Spirit in the crawento con- fore-cited place, f^hn 3 s- fignifieoneand the fame thing. f'^^T^e.Aqu'm. Although * hriftsBaptifme with the Spirit, (which gives the ^^-'^'^^ a.^x. cifed of Baptifm) were more excellent then 9oh» Baptifif . ^ewqu^ orany MimftersoftheGofpel: forfoisic flill,andyet notZZt!!'Z Ibber man will deny, that the water in baptilm and the Spi- aUigavit. P. fit, do differ, as the external! fign and inward grace thereby Loaibard./. 4, fignified. You fay further. diaina.4. £. , . ■' • Mark.\6.)6. -'".aute (fy- vigilanter non repetient ( qui vera bapfi^am non fuerh) fed tantim, qui ve^ mu cndiderit comimna!)imr njmirumi.nnAens fdum inicrdmn fiJan fu^cere «d (.lUtcm fi^-r fm" 7/Ja,f-^cen?/j./ Bernard. Ep 77. ^ <^ i - ToH mtjas ^eil conclude, that infants tnufialfo pafe throHgh the fir e^ at threngh the Water^^c.^ This aifertion might better have fuited with the dream of Jacobiun^na- foTnehnmcSiW Jactbite : What will notfuchan advocate fay '/^'^"'/^^ ?>i"^ for his Clients ? I appeal to your own confciencc may "'f"^'f ' /'''^ we as well conclude agaidft Gods word, as for it ? God ex- '^'"' ^-"^'' ''"^^ prcfsly Sedconfitentes Dcutn in con- fcientia fur"i. Tremel. Jfj Antidote a^ahft prefsly faltb, Deut. i8. la. There PjaU not he found amoytg JOH anj yfje that maketh hi^fon or his daughtir to pajfe thropigh the fire ; and it is above all rarionall con:r(>verl!C,tl:at lie in- ftituced baptizing wich water,wbofaid, '£it\)ii<-e ah Nations ^ wi^'hout any exception at all to infants ; this \% a peor trkl^ oF yours to elude Scripture.- And where dorh Peter fny the jame thi»»;.5.i Rom S.i 5,ir«.Sotbat the funi is, chit the outward lign, thev/ater and waOiingof the body in bapcifm, is not furficient to falvacion, if the Spirit of fej^ give not the inward etfed thereof ; and therefore it is danger' us ro live fecurely in fin and u belief, as too many do, in vain confidence that they muft needs be faved, becaufc they have been baptized into the vifible Church o^ Chrift : No, but theexcernall fign availech not where the inward grace thereby hgnified is wanting. So in the.preachini'; ot the Gofpe!, & admin- Aration of the holy Etickirtfi^m,ins mini- (lery can nothing prevail to the receivers ialvanon , wjthout Gods Spirit giving the inward effcd;fo that Pettr brieriy tou- cheth the power &ufe ofbaptifm,recalling us to the teftimo- ny of a good confcience,& chat confidence chcrein which cat! endure the fight of God and hisTribunal,and flyeunto him in all wants through CI rift. But this Scripture is/anatically p I verted by Schmncfeld &others,who would hence cociudc againft- the effed ot the Sacrament in the eled , whereas the Apoftle aftirmerh not, that the inftitution of Chrift for baptizing the body with water, is vain or efifcdlefs j but fe- cretly A NA B A P T I SM. 3 I cretly admonifheth carnall Gofpellers^that they reO- not in theirfecurity, but confulc their own confciences, whether they find there the eff.^d of their baptifm •. fo that he neither faith, that infants may as well pafs through the fire as throngh the water, as you trifle ; nor is this place any thing to the purpofe in this queflion of Infant-baptifm : fo that your fol- lowing cont'ufed Hy^&r/yf/f/ arc of no vslue or ufe, except to puzzle the Reader to find out what you mean, which he hardly fnall: Therefore when you exprefs your felf more orderly and ciearly,we owe you an Anfwer. Thi-s (y<^u ^^y ' ^0 ^'^^^ inferres a necejfity of Infants Bap- t if mjhen the other words of Chrift in f err e a necejfity to give them the holy Communion^ Nifi comcdcritis carnemfilii hominis,&c,]] This is another argument of Anabaptifts a pari: if in. fants (fay they j are to be baptized, they are alfo to be ad- mitted to the Lords Supper. But in this agument there is a Sophifma elenchi : for firft it wants the condition o^u a? ; if P^S- 2^9. we follow your fcnfe concerning fpirituail infants, taking m- fants for fpirituail or rerenerate perfons in the major , and for thofe who are literally infants in the minor : and it wan- teth alfo ii> -mi Ai^fZ y/ovc*. There is noquedion but chat bapri- "^ed infants have right to the holy C6manion,as they have to ftrong meat, but not a capacity as fuch,or while they are in- fants ; and God hath in exprefs terms reftrained the Lords fupper to thofe who can adtially apprehend, remember, ^de- clare forth Chrifts death, iCcr.i 1.26. which becaufe infants cannot do, we give them not the Communion. Secondly, God hath denounced a grievous curfe, or punidiment a- gainft any that fhail preiume without due examination of himfelf,to eatof that bread & drink ofthatcup.- butnotfo concerning Bapiirm,it being the (eal of our new-birth and reception into the vifible Church and Covenant, which hath nofuch condition annexed,as may jufrly exclude Ini-aots in refped of any prefent non-performance thereof. But the Lords Supper is the Seal of our growth in grace, and f^iritu. all (Irength, inftituted for the confirmationof our admit- tance into, and our continuance in the Church of Chnfl, whofe 2^ An Ar^iiflote againfl whofc death and pufii >n for our redemption , we thereby (hew forth and conimemoratc, K>r oui fpiiitjall peife^^ljon^ nourifhment, and rrr€ngtheninginfai':li and oiler gi sCiesof Sc more here- his Spirit, for ourafTurance, that G-d having once rctcived oU^uCobbet us into his favour, will continue his mercy co us in ClinlV; T^aI'. J^age^ By t^cfc difpancies the invalidity of the TleAders Argument i2i,i22.liiit. may appear. And if it were true which he turthti faith, that the Vf/f of -man is not able tojhew a diJfArity in the j..htH' onl &c. yet the wifdom of God is able,' and lath declared this differenee in holy Scripture ; and the fame can (hew more then the wit of man can difcern , ani hathftiewed more then the learned Pleader doth, or will under llaHd,who I conceive, doth not yet know ail that the ^it of »»^'«, or all the v)orldcm\viioimh\m oi 'y but is it not better even for thofe who have been in the Mount with God , to caft the veil of modeft humility over thofe excellencies which they have received , and with which they fliine to others admi- ration , then to ofVent them to the contempt of others? The Apojile of CWiifwas rap't up into the third Heaven, 2Cor.i2.2.. and yet profefled — "wek^tow in party and we prophefie in part^ 1 Or.13. 9. But you further fay, ■ Since the ancient Church did with an e^uall opinion ef necejp^ty, give them the ^emntunionj^c.^ That which you faid a little before, Thej are as /»•- nefi and Oi reafonable that doe neither^ to wit , baptize infants, or give them the Gomunion , as thofe that underftood the Obligation to be Parallel ^ we may very well believe and wifli, that either of them may prove honeft hereafter. But to that which you fay, Tbatf/;^ ancient Church did y^ith an (ijuall opinion of neceffity give them the Communion^ I aniwcr. Id eff D i i ^ ^''^' Tertullian^ That is of the Lord and true, which was cumlr verum' ^"^^ delivered ; but that is extraneous and falfe which is af- q\tod fitpiAi terward received in. And with Cjr/'rMWjWe ought not to traditttiii : jd Aiitem extran?um ;(^ faJfum quod fit pofleriw immifum. Tertul. de Prsefcript. c 31. hon deb':K-ini aitendere, quid aHquU ante nos facjendumputaverit j fed quid qui ante omnes eft ChriJiM jeicfit : nf'i«e snim homink confuetudinem fcqui oportet/fed Dei veritutem. Cypr. l.2.£p i' heed An a b a p t is m. a 3 ftecd wha-t fome before us have thought was to be Honc; but what Chrifi M4;who was before all: for we ought not to' fol- low the cuftom of men, but the truth of God. 2 Your own rule muft binde you, (chough it cannot others who confent ROt thereto) they ^ho rejeEl tradition When 'tis againB them, n$u(i vet fretend it at all for themy pag. 237. JSlumb. 25.- 3 It is confiderable in that cuftome of che^:hurch,as fome o- therincovenicnces, which v^«^«/?*>raithjtis (raithhe)K)nc Alhi wf ^„,rf thing which we teach, and another which we cndureione docmw^ aLiud thing which we are enjoyned to command, and another '1^,'^^ [Kftinemiu: thing which we are commanded to amend; and untillwe "-^'"^ H^^od pr^. amend , we are compelled to endure it. And again, who is "m moTZ ' eaten with the zeal of Gods houfe? why,he that endeavour- mtniare prxci- ethand dcfirech to amend all that he fees amifTc,- he refteth ?""«'"' ^'^^"'f'f not; if he cannot amend it, he endurech it,he figh's: the grain "^""'^"''^y ^fr isnottoffed out of the floorj it endures the chaff, that it w^uTTt may enter mto the granary when the chaff is winnowed out. contr. Fauft/ 4 We adhere not fo to tradition, that we univcrfally receive ^anich. 1,20. all that which was doneor faid of old : things delivered by "" V' ^1 ?" fome, but not generally received by the Church, we efleem ^rD^rlr but fuperftrudions of particular men, or fuperfeminations, omnia qu^ forte which polfibly may fpread farre,as many pernicious opinions ^^^ ^''^'^ P^- have done; yet no fober man ever took them for Apoftolicali l''^1 ^"^''^'^ ^ or fo much as Scclefianicall traditions: we neither rejed Z"nglri V. any tradition which appeareth to he A p«p/ica/l (ifn»t pe- ^"/^-M/fm^rt- culiar to their times, or fuitcd peculiarly to certain times, ^""^^ ""^ P^^'fy places, or perfons) nor do we raftily receive any tradition for ^'^'^''^' ^^"''^^ fucb except we arc certain that the Scripture determincth TaSir/um- nothing againft ie,or where ftrong confeqaence from thence f"fi'n^t pjeamy juftifieth it. 5 We conceive ^ugn^ines rule herein to be "^ '"^'^" '" ^^'^- good '.Inthofe things {faith he) ccncermng which divine Scri- T^-''"^^ \'^'' fttiredetermtneth nothing certainly, the cuftome of Cjods pcple^ Aug. uln 19.* ortnftitHtionofouranceftorsaretobeheldfor a laVo other- in joh, 2. Tvife^ end/efe contention will arife — alfo we muft beware ^^^** '^'^''^ ^'' that the calm of charity be not clouded by the ftorm of ^-f ^"'t'^ contention. 6 We will not raOily diffent from reverend r^;; scmfr.' aiv,na,inosporHli De2,vel infiituta ma]oTnm, pro lege tancndafunt-memr mmnn^au luBa contention. <^We will not rafhly diffent from reverend "j div,na,inosporHli Dei^vel hftituu majoruw, pro lege tancndafunt-mem interra,^au mcra- Caiuhuoe'^^T f/?«^ f^mpeftate contentmU fcrenhas charuatk obnubilem. Aug. F anti- ^4 An Antidcte agatnji antiquity, wherein it diffenteth not from the triitli: wc love peace with all who hold that in fundamcntalls at leaft, and therefore will follow AHgujims advice, in that he pioufly Xjbi ermemjw (aith concerning his reader — \>fhere f faith he) he kjiovoshU urn cogmjcit^ errottr^ let him return to me ; yvhere mi»e^ let him recall me : ifmuiv'rl our rule b?ing, that of the Apofile, i Cor. 1 1 i . heyref^llo^ rocetme, fee. y^ers of me^even 06 1 alfo am ofChrifi : more no good man Aug. dc triu':t. wiltrequire , nor render leflc to ^^wcr/orj-. 7Laft!yweray 1. 1. c. 2. jj^jjt fhg Scripture whiehyou cite, foh.6.') 3. except je eat the fle/h »f the Son of man^ and drinkJot4 blood , jeu have no life in jo«jisnot fpoken concerning a Sacramentall , butafpiri- * Bdlam. de tuall feeding; and although * fomeof the fefuites and other facr. Euch./.i. Tapifis contend againft us herein, yet ij fome of the moft fo- c. 5. 7. jb. / 2. ^^ of them acknowledge that thofe words are not to be un- c^flnEnchf-^' derftood concerning eating or receiving the Lords fuper ; rid. dc Eucba. which ours generally maintain: you might do your felf right r'lji. Sacr. 7. to joynwith US, and not with the moft eager ^f/«irfj con- Suares. dijp. ^cming the fpirituall feeding of infants to cternall life by the ^'ii^ldolTn^' merit of Chrift applyedto them for their Union with him, Toh. 6 ^Ijabu and falvation in and by him, we willingly accord ; the man- Vafqne'x.. difp. net of effefting by the fccret power of the holy Ghoft , we 179, C.4. enquire Bot after, bccaufe it is not revealed, but for the rea- II ^'Z"'"- 5^- fons aJieaged, we cive them not the communion. q. 0$. 34. i"^- D » a didf i//Hd---f/? inteU'rgendum de fphitualj rranducatione. Sic Per. Lombard, dift.2. D. pi/?. 0. A. B. Janfemuf conard.Evang. c.<,q. Dan. Chmier Fanflrat. To. ^.i\\-c.].i,. Next you fay IfAuabaptifi/hall be a name ofdifgrace^ >i(>hy fhall not fome other name be invented for them that deny t< communicate infants^ Xi'hichfjall be ecjuall) difgracefull, c^c?] That would be a rare invention indeed : but if to call A' nabaptifls Ambaptifts , be jufl, why find you fault with it ? ifevillorunjuft. Why confult you how to imitate it by way of revenge? is it not a (hame to be fuch,as we are or may well be alhamcd to be calledftruely we allow not any^ difgrace- full name or rcviling;but know that the name injureth not where the thing it felf is not difgraceful: fome name we muft diftinguifti them by: if you can invent a more true and pro- per one, we (hall be beholding to you for an invention, and they for a new name. Next you fay, - - - j'y^ Anabaptism. 25 7%itt the difcourfe if S. Teter , yvhichis pref elided for t%e ^>^- 243. intitling infants to the pninife of the holy Gheft , and hy confe. •^^''■•*5« qttenee to (^fiptifme^ rfhich iffuppofed to (?e its inflrum.r'.t ^T?-/ convey Anvc^xs wholly a faftry^ and hath in it nothing of certainty erdemef^ffrationy and n t mnch proLihiHtyr\ Wcanfwer: your words carry a dangerous fhew ofbl^f* phemy but we defire co allow them the faireft interpretation which can be made of them , and fuppofe you meant rrot to fay fas the connexion of your words imports) that S. Teters difcourfeis wholly a fancy, &c. but either that the pretence from thefc words mtitiing infants to the promifecfthe ho/y Ghojl^andfo hy conftquenceto haptifme^otdiS you after affirme, that haptifme is, not the meant s of conveying the holy Ghoft^ Fag, 27,j,, fome of thefe you take to be wholly a fancy. To which wc re- ply; that we neither affirme, nor conceive that thefe words ofi*. Peter had a promife for infants as fuch , to receive the extraordinary,an and why not now ? feeing the promife is as well and fure to us, who f though then farre offj have now by the free mercy of God, been called to the Twing knowledge of the gofpel: for that promife ofGod to J brahanj, did not fo belong to his feed ~ according to the flefh, as that it appertaincs not unto us al- fo; for the ^poj^le clearly teftifieth, that it was not given t» Abraham or hi-sfeedthrongh tbeUw, bm through the righte- cufm^e of faith — and he was the father of all them that be- J, lieve^ though they be not circumcifed^that right coufneffe might G°Tt'V'" ^^ imputed to them alfo — iknd again he {ixth—they which are '^ ' of faith, the fame are the children of Abraltam : fo Cbnft faid Luk. ^c\ 9. tVziZ'^che converted to the fame faith, was that day thefon of Abraham', and indeed the ecernall covenant which God made with Abraham's feed, that he would be their God, is not chiefly verified in his carnall ked, for very few of them forfome hundred years laft part have been Gods people, but rather profeffed enemies to thofe that sre:and therefore that covenant muft be underftood of Abraham's children accord- ing to that promife, which is as fare and well to us who be- lieve ) as ever it was to the Ifraelites: and fo we and our thiU dren are as juftly to be reckoned children of Abraham, and heirs Anabaptism. 3? heirs of that pfomife, as they ever were: and if within the covenant, and heires of thcfame promife, what incapacity barreth oar children from the fame priviledges thereto fub- ordinatc, and from the feal of admittance unto the fame, more then barred the carnallornaturall children of^^>-4- ham from the feal of the covenant , which then was in ufe ? Andfoy the allegation of S. Pa ft I , that infants are holy ifp their parents bef^iithftill , itjtgmfies nothing but that thtj are Numbio, holy bydefignation^juft as premj^ and John Bapttfiwerefan- viifiedin their mothers W6?nb, that IS, thej Were appointed and defignedfor holy minifieries, &c.]] Weanfwer, whether you mean literally by holj mini/lries, the office of pried or prophet; or mynicaily, a royal/ priejl- Jf^^v. i. 6. hood^tO of^iV up fpiritual/facrifice acceptable to Qodbjfefm ^ ^''^^- ^- 5- Chrifi , that which you affirme will appeare very fallc, for many of the children of believers, are neither priefls, pro- phets, nor fo fandified as to offer up fpirituall iacrifice .tfrd>^ ptah/e to (^od: now the Aposllefakh nor, elfe were fame of jour childnn unholy^ but.noW are they WjjWithoiit exception f Co*-, 7.14 of any: fo that his words bcinginfallibly true, there mufl be fome fuch holineffe there intended, as univerfally concernes all that are born of believing parents; which cannot be true in your fenfe of difignation to holy miniflries, nor in thco- ther fenfe concerning fandification by the fpirit of adoption and regeneration peculiar to the eled of God: nor is it to be underftood,as lome think.of a meer political c lean neffe (fee- ing that, out of the Church alfo, there is a difference be- tween the legitimate and fpurious children) it mufl-beun- dcrflood therefore of a federal I, or eccleftafiicall ho\lne{re^ to which reprobates fif born rf believing parents, or at leaf? of either parent being a bel ever, and within the covenant^ may have right as well as thceled: fo had Ifmael, E/au, and millions more, as well as Ifaac k^^nd Jacob, by this federal!; or ecclcfiafticall holineffe they trave right unto the feal of initiation, and admittance into the Church; whereas they who arc born of both parents without the Church,arecoun- ted unclean, that is , Gods promife and the feal thereof ap- pertainc not unto them; neither may they be baptifcd, untill growing ^o An Antidote againji growing up and being intruded, they repent and embrace the faith o\ (^hift, and it is not improbable which fome fay, Jo. Gerhixd. d>: that the form of the Apeflles fpeaking fcemeth derived from 5. Bj|> S 4. the Leviticall law; in which it was ordained, ?hat fome pcr- de p^dobait. f^^g fliould for a time be barred (as unclean J from comming within the tents oflfrael : (0 the children of infidels are un- clean, and not prefently to be admitted into the Church by bapcifm which is the doore and inlet thereto, ever (landing open to the clean: and as under the law, fome beafls were clean and fome unclean,thatis by a Leviticall or ceremonial cleanefle, or undeancfTe , for it was neither fpirituall , nor V>. Mencer. T 0. c'iv'iW'fo the A pofl/e I Cor. J. 14. underftandeth an ecde, 3. difp. 14, fiafticali holineffe, that is,a C/7«rc/;-priviledge, to be admits *'^ 7 Ge^J? '^"^ ted to baptifmc; fo that indeed the T leader ^eakJftfHliakefh «H0/Hp. ^ ' when he concludcth, that juBfo the children of(^hrifiian pA- rents are ftxnBified^ that is^ deftgned to the fervice of feftu Chrift , andthe futnre farticipation of the prowlfet: but hc faith further, Tag. i?4' Atid iti thepromife ofvertaims not {for ought appeares) to Ntmi. 21. ifffants in that capacity and confjlence^ hut onlj hj the title ofthtir being reiffonchk creatures, and when they come tt that aB cf^hich by nature they have the faculty y &c.^ Match. 13. No colour or proportion can appcare to the bhnd,orthofe 14,15. who willfully Ihut their eyes, nor any truth, be it never fo evident to them on whom is the curfe /A*. ^.9, 10. As for that you fay concerning the title of their being reafonable 226 creatures, I referre the reader to that which hath been anfwe- '^" red, Numb. 19, Onely adding here: if the promife of God appertaine to infants onely as they arc reafonable creatures, what was the priviledge of the ^fW, or what profit waa there Rom. 3. 1.2' oic{xc\xmQ\^\or\? x.htJ A B A P T I S M. hoIynefl*e , as being borne of believing parents ^ What mull they be interefled oncJy when they come to that aft of which by nature they have the faculty ? That is the ad of anderftanding , faiih and repentance ? In thofcads, the perfons and children of Turks and Jews have a right in the fame promiies ; you can- not cxcJude any pcrfon from baptifm, who believes in ChriO, repenteth , and defireth baptifm acyour hands : Thus you makethepromifeof God concerning the children of the faithfull, of ne effed , by your tradition and vain opinion. But to amend this, you fay, . £4ftifmi^not the means of conveying the holy Ghofi, ] I fuppofe you mean the ordinary gifts and graces of the holy Ghoft, as faith, love, hope, fandity, &c. if not, there may be a double fallacy in your affcrtion : Firft in thcterra {ctnveying) and next in the terra (holy Cjhofi) both which may be homonymically'mttndtd i and then your difcourfe is meerly caption^; andlo difcover it , is afufficientanfwer .• and indeed by your fiwo wing words. (^(?<^ ^ that miracle Aid give tefiimony^&c) it fecms you mean , that baptifm is not now the ordinary means of conveying the holy Ghoft ^ that is, the gift of miracles unto the baptized: if fo, here is both an homonymia , and an ig»oratio elenchi : Your reafon being reduced to a Syllogifme,you might take thefe words (the ho- ly ^hoft) for the ordinary gifts aad graces of God, necefla- ry to falvation, in the one propofition, and for the extraor- dinary in the other, and fo the queflion were miftaken; which is not whether baptifm be an ordinary means of con-* veying the extraordinary gifts of the holy Ghoft into the baptized, asfpeaking divers unftudied languages, curing the fick,rai{ing the dead, cafting out devils, (^«r. which wc affirm not ; but whether baptifm ( as the word preaehed j be not the external ordinary means by God appointed , to feal us up to a lively hope in Chrift, to beget faith , and to engage us to repentance and newnefs of life ? to which, all that you here trifle concerning impofition of hands, and in- finuation of rite to confirmation, 1$ nothing to purpofe'j neither is the cafe of CsrneliHi and Pettrs argument there- G on. -4t A 2 An Antidote agsinft on, any waics advantagious to you : for, you confefs it a mi- racle ; and how then is it pertinent to our prcfent queftion? You fay, that God by that miracle , did give teftimonj, that the perfoMS of the men ^^ere in great di/pofition to heaven , and therefore were to be admitted to thofe rites , "^hich are theordt- nary inlets into the kingdom of heaven : I then demand , if that argument be good , Are not children of believing pa- rents to be admitted to thofe rites which a^-e the ordinary in- lets into the kingdom of heaven , feeing they are alfo in great difpofition to heaven whom Chrift bleffed , and propofed for paterns to all that (hail enter therein / But we anfwer, I . That the great difpofition which you talk of, was not fo much the gift of miracles, as the perfons inward baptifm by » the fpirit of regeneration and fandification ; for the gift of miracles is not of itfelf, any certain argument of falvationf fee Matth. 7. 22, 2 g . but this was a fufficient warrant to Pe- Hr to baptize them , as being marked out thereby for the vi- fible Church at Jeaft, into which ^^and reprobate may come. 2. Tothem3inwcanfwet,n"hatasby delivennga Bifting.qvto Key, putting in poffeflionof an houfe is not only fignificd, f,jp. dcbapt. Ijjjj gj^^ jiygjy jQjj f^j^n ^ the conveyance and chirogroph^m '"^'' '' are pafTed , confirmed and a^ually made fure : So m bap- tifm by water,the walhing which ii wrought by the blood of Urfio.dc rclig> Chrift,isnot only figurcd,but alfo at laft fulfilled in theeleA chriftian.par. by Chrift. vin a right ufe of theSacramcnts,thc things therby a.conclul.^. fignifi^a arc ever held out and conveyM together with the fignes,which are neither falIacious,empty, nor void of a due effed, or withouE the thing reprefented (becaufe they are of God , who cannot deceive , and is able to give the effed; if the receiver do not ponere obicem t therefore the Sacra- ments are rightly called the Channels or Conduits of grace^ that rs ; the ordinary means to convey the graces of God in- Mithaoluk to the receivers, 4. God confirms his merci«s lousby the lu. 1 6. ' Sacraments, wherein the Minifter , by Gods own dcputati* on, beareth his perfon or place in the Church , as well as in preaching the word, fo that what they doe (who are his Minifters) by hia appointment , he doth , both in re/ped of the inflicution and cff?^. So the Lord is faid to have anoin- ted A N A -B A P T I S M. 45 ttd Sdul, whereas Samnei inoinced him : fo Jdus made i Sam. lo. t* and baptizcdmorcdifciple then JohriiVihcttdii fefm l;aptiz^d ttet.^Mt hU di/cifies,hy hisaflignemenc .- Therefore although J°'^' 4-»»2. • ihcfc figncs neither convey grace, nor confirm any thing to them for good who keep not the Covenant f for God made no promife to them) yet are they, means to convey the gra- ces of God to thofe that do. To conclude, we affirm not that baptifm conveyeth Gods grace to all that are baptized , but to the eled only , as that whereof he hath made a pecu- liar promife to them ; and that fo certain as are thofe things i which God himfelf fealcth, covenantcthfor,and teftifieth in heaven and earth j as 'tis written , There are three that hear rtcord in heaven^ the father, the rvord^ and the holy Cjhojh and there are three that bear witmfs in earth , the fpirit , and the ^ater, and the blood, — Noiiv if we receive the ^itnefs of tmn^ thercitnefs of God u greater. Under the mouth of *^^ ^^•''•^^* two or three witncflcs, every word mufl; be confirmed, and . . taken for furc; how much more when we have by Gods ^-^'j^^^'^^*^ '^" blefling, thefamewitneffesof our faith, who are alfo i\^^ omm veibm^ promifcrs (workers, and fureties of our falvation? ' quanta magif "But from thence (you fay) to argue, that wherever there is a dumhabmui (opacity of receivinig the [awe grace, there alfo the fame figne ^^^ ^eoCdem^lr- ^ f be minifired, and from thence to infer fcede-baptifm, is an bitros jidei, argument very fallacioHi^(^c.~^ quos i^fpon- Qjtis tultrit Gracchos * — ? your difpute is fallacious xx^^f^esfdmu. on your grounds, on which we go not ; and fo all your im- ba^pc".^. ^ pertinent fuperftrudion here falleth together. They that are capable of the fame grace, are not al^aiescM. fable if the fame figne : for "^omen under the law of Mofes, although they were capable of the righttoufnefs «/ faith , yet they rvere not capable ofthejigne of circumcifion,]] | ■> I would gladly be rcfolved , quanta eji ilia propofitio ? is your meaning , Some of them that are capable of the fame grace , are not alwaies capable of the figne thereof ? If fo, altafaxefio'. We fay fotoo; for infants, being capable of the fame grace- which is exhibited and received in the Lords fupper , arcnotalwaics (that is, while they arc chil- dren^ capable of the fame figne , becaofe chfy cannot exa- G a min AjL An Atttidoteagsin^ minthcmfelvcs , nor (hew forth the Lords death : and wo- men not only under the Law , but/iow aifo have and ever will have for ought you can fay, the fame incapacity of cir- c'jmcifion ; what makes this to conclude childrens incapa-* • city of baprifm > this is to argue agenere ad genus, though women had not a capacity of that figne, they have a capaci- ty of baptifm ; infants had then a right to that whereof - they had a capacity ; let them have fo (lill, and the contro- verfie is ended. You further fay, The gift of rhe- holy ghell — ^a(. ordinarily given bj im* fcfition of hands, and that after haftifm.~\ pag.z^S.* By this it appears, that your foregomg argument was fai- Concernin^ lacious , yoa intending the extraordinary gifts of the holy Undl'^fce^^'- Ghoft, which we pretend not to; and wbatisthisdifpute to l^i"cccJ Ani'm- us now, or to the prefent queftion, feeing they are long fmce ;idvcrrions of ceafed ? But beware your lying too near a WJnd , and men- A/ Monies upon rioningfri/»»f,or cenprmatien and fandifying the holy Apo- Mr.Tsmify his ^j difpicafe not your clyents , and you be taken for an- cy.cTcir. about >r j j » ^ rnfant-bapr. ambodexter. but you lay, pag. 59.60. zAfter all this ^ leji thefe arguments /ho ft Id net afcertain i'ag. v^j.Niina. ^j^^^^ f^fitfe^ they fall on complaing againfi God^&:c. ~] ^^- Tell true, and (hamcthe devil : where? to whom? when?- Uffin. de^ ^^i^i^^^ (^f all the reformed Churches ever did fo ? We clear* Chri Vrc;>g. j^ ^>^^^ that God is ever, and alike to be believed, whether * ' ' lryrif;nes^ or by words which figaifk his will; we fay not lh;iiGoddUmt>reforthechildrenoftheJe'i>('s-^\xtlhd.l'^om^tt'- vifhnefs, denying children baptifm, would have it feem fo. Do we then complain againfl God , when we complain of the ^riabaptijis abridging children of that which God" hath allowed them ? How vain and mahtious is this calum- ny ^f yours? But you fay, ' • He made a covenant of fpir it Hal fromifes on hh' part , and fpiritiul andreallfcrvices on >ittrs.~\ ,VVhat are thefe real fervices, and whofc? if of- children-, what can they, as fuch, perform ? but yoa fay , this pertains^ tochUdren ivhen they are capable, but fnadt \vith them af- foon as they are alive ( that is in the mothers womb) what this? this covenant .? fa the words fecsn to import; nay,. but . A N A B A P T I SM. 45 hut undeniably Gods covenant and fpiritual protnifes on- his part , prefently belong to them who (hall be faved, for many of them prefently die *: or mean you byl(thi^) fpiritit^ a! and real fcrvices on ©ur part , belongto children when they are capable ? Surely then they cannot have this cove- nant made with them M/oon as they are horyt, other wife then bybaptifm; becaufc for the prefeiit they can perform no- thingnal: If you mean fpiritual and real fervices of pa- rents, in relation to their covenanted infants, asfuch,they cannot yet reach them ;' they can only prefent them to the [ Church ; that the publick ftal of Gods covenant being fct to them, they may according to their true intercft in her ex- ternal communion, be thereby marked, and known for parts and members of the fame and this indeed pertaineth to cltiL dren when they are capable,ihat is,as foon as they are bgrn. Thit which you infer to (hew a difparity between ChrifiLm infants, and the feWsl^aks, is frivolous -.for tboug there appear lomefhewof difference in circumftance , as the particular promifeof the inheritance of Canaan^ &c. yet for fubflance there is none; there being as real a promife of bleffingsto Chriftians and their children in every kind ; for godlineTs j Tim. 4,8. hath the promife of this life , and that Vphich is to come , and Tic. ^. 5,6.(^r; the prefent feal of faith marketh them for Gods peculiar Tic^-H. feop/e ; the effed wbereof being wrought and pcrfeded by the jpirit of fefm in their regeneration, the work is done in thetn ( and no otherwife was it in the Jews children ) for he is not a few which is one outwardly, neither is that circum- cifioh.'^hich is outward in the fiejh , — but circttntcijion is that 0/ the hearty in the fpirit^ Rom. 2. 2S, 29. Col 2.I I , : !♦ and ihs fe\»pijh children wcvc no otherwlCc fealcd then into the fame faith of fefu4 , nor otherwife faved , then !>y faith in him, neither lefs faved then we and ourchildcen. This (fay you ) // the greatefi vanity in the w6rU~} p 1 g. 1 56. What vanity? you fay , to affirm that unlefs this mercy be "»•. coyiftgned by baptifm, m good not at aR in refpe^ of vu^ becanfe Tve want the comfort of it. This is the vanity — well 1st it befo; and let them own it that will .• I known not whom you mean J I am fu re ther^sappears vanity enough in your following ^6 An Antidote againjl . following affertion, and reafon offered for proof. Shall not (fay you) this premife, this ^ord of God bt effuf. Relent truth, certainty, and efficacy ^ to cau ft comfort ^ unltfs v€ tempt God, and require a jigne of him ?] Yes, Gods promife isof fufficicnt truth,and certaine effi- cacy thereto; therefore we baptize our children : and it had been fuliicient on Gods part, and it muft have been on ours, bad he not fcen good further to confirm us by a feal fet to his promife; or had he not required more of us, as our duty and a condition and feal of his covenant with us & our chil- l,iik.2?.42.4^ dren: for as Augufiine faith, how much available, even with- Quaniwn valet ^^u ^\^q vifible Sacrament of baptifme,is that which the Apo- T,Trl!r^^!t^ i?/^ faith Rom- icio. ^ith the heart man believeth unto rigk- baptifmiyiiuod temjnejjeiand^ttb the month ConjeJJion k made nnto jalva- ait Ap-jiolM, riony was declared in the penitent thicfe: but then it is invi- cordecreduur (-jjjjy fulfiUed.when not any contempt of religion,but a point IrJ^flH^Zl. or moment of neceffity, excludethor preventeth baptifme : fefio jit ad fa- for it might have Icem d much more fuperfluous in CorneUm lutcm\ in il!o and his friends to be baptized, who had already received the latrone deck- gjfj ^f ^^^ j^^jy Ghofi^thcn in the thiefe; yet they were bapti ■ ll^^cmpktur ^^^- ^"^ ^" ^^^^ ^*^' ^^^^ Apofiolicall authority is extant , as jnviftbiifter, alfo the neceflity of obeying God in his ordinance ; now cum }vy fieri hw howchildifti and perverfe is that cavill — ftnlejfe we tempt baptijmi '^o" g,^^ and require a Jigne of him? Do you account obedience 'i^n^f^Jed^ar-' ^o God and his holy ordinapccs, to be a tempting of God ? txulMneceffi- is bringing children to Chrift (which hecommandethjand tatii excludif.r j^at by baptifme (which you confeffe is the ordinary inlet nammulto ma. jnt^ ttig kJna(Jomeof heaven ) to require a ficneofhim, or ^ w amicn »' >tto receive a ngne of him by his own appointment ? and ejw, quam what certainitj of comfort could we concieve , if on the con- ;h /dfroHf, ;4rtrary, we (hould wilfully difobey, negled,and contemn indcri J^P^'^'^ Gods ordinance , as your clients do? were it not rather to eti^^'^jvger'en- tempt God, if (as much as in us lies) we (hould (hut up the m in quibui doore and inlet into his kingdome againft infants ? man jam dotrnm ij>i- ^gn do no more to (hut them our, then by denying thero ^'^''^^^''/['f^baptifme-.'tis true, that God can, and often doth fave them <:o"tnDonac. without our miniftry, as when death preventeth our bapti- ze, c. 22 : fing them: but to neglc^ the ordinary means of our own or others Anabapt I s M. others falvatton, and to put it on the extraordinary power of God, is Co tempt God: if I (hould ask you , why you eat, or feed your infants, feeing God can prcfferve you and them without foodp you would eafily fay, to negled the ordinary means, were to tempt God, fo 'tis here. But you fay. A wicked d" Adtilteroiis geyterAtion feeketh after ajigyie , &C.3 Po(Tib!y,Mr. Fifher at hif (lAJhford-conkrsnce wasbe-^''^^'*^'': wil- holding to you for this opprobrie, and abufe of holy Scri- ^.^'^^r ^"^^"^' pture: but we entreat you ferioully and timely to confider f J;,/^. Pag 2. the feverity of the Judge who hath faid concerning any that take his name in vain, / ^iUmt ho/dhim gftiltlejfe, and whe- Exod. 20, ther pernicious playing with holy Scripture, and willfull perverting the fenfe thereof, fall not under the fentence of felf-deftrudion .- confider the terrors which Chrifl ufeth 2 Pet. 116. Mattb 12. 38, 39. 2,nAMatth. 1 6. 4. the thing which the Scribes & ^harifes requircd,was<")f^«5c, which word, though it fignify divers things, a« may appeare by comparing Mat. ^^^^,y ^^ ^- 14.3.^2^.48. Lnk,,!, 12. Rom. ^.11. z. Thef ^. 17. i^av'i. yetisitmorc then manifeft, that they required a miracle, J^h. 4. 48. and that extraordinary, and above all thofe divine works of ^?^ ^' *^* Chrift, which hitherto they had ever feen, as calling out a^s^^.Jj devilsjaifing the dead, &c. they required a figne/row or out A^s 6.8 . ' ofheave»f Matth.iC, i. Mark. 8. 11. and then Chrift an- Ads 7.:?7.8;c. fwer'ed , a wicked and adult erom generation feeketh after a ^^^^nW/^^o/;.4.48,expreffeth infoiiLyfeu it by a word comming of that vcrbc which fignifieth, to he ^^onflrU .44. ^8 -^w Antidote again ft inlet ifttc the kjft^dome of heaven; and is an ordinary thing a ftgne ox miracle} confider alfo the perfons of whom C)?rr»/? {"pakej they were a wicked and an adulterom geyteratlon'. for though they pretended to be Abrahams children, yec neither heiringhim in faith or works, but degenerating from hiffij, tliey defervedly heard — je are cfj cur father the devil: if this prefent generation be Tiichu confider who makes it fo ; and whether you have any commifllon to Judge them wick- ed who profefie true faith and obedience io fefusChriB^ and his holy gofpcl, in ail things, that any (hall, or can make appeare to us to be the truth? But you fay The truth 'ont is, this argument is nothing but a direEi quar- relling "^ith almighty God,.} The untruth of this affertion is fo evident, that it were bat loft labour to beftow more words to refute it. Pag. 255. Nowjince there is no Strength in the do^rinall part, C^c.^ Numb. 23. I appealeto the judicious reader j let him judge what ftrength hath appeared in your oppofitions, concerning the words which you here multiply to little if any purpofe. I {hall fay no more, but onely marke the ftrength of the plea- ders prefentargument.thefum whereof is; Some y/^o/?#y»f;iZ^ traditions were pro loco c^ temporey^ccommoditc to place and time (as the foremcntioned, love — feafts, falucingwithan holy kilTe, anointing the fick. abdeining from blood, &cc.) therefore no Apofielicall traditions pajfed an engagement upon folloVeing ages.Wt anfwer.- we contend not f«r any fuch tra- ditions aswere;)rfl Uc9 & tempore ,'^tt^ot\\ it not fallow that becaufeall ^;?tes,&cSaid that to thofc only who could fing to God and praife him , and not unto infants of eight-dayes old to be circumcifed ? who know's not, that God commanded fcvcrali things with refped to fe- verall capacities? doth the incapacity in refped of one command, conclude an incapacity of all? women were not cj^pableofcircumcifion, nor of the office of teaching in the congregation, nor of execution of prieftly offices j yet they alfo could and ought to fing to the Lord , and were of that part of nations commanded to praifc the Lord. Pja/.i^S.iz. Pfal. 149. h 5' £x»d. 15. 20, 21. fudg, 5. 1, Infants had* not a capacity of finging praifes to God , they had of cir- cumcifion.and therefore they were then circumcifed,though chey could aoc fing: infants cannot fing now, therefore thac precept, f»g umo the Lord, &c. concerneth them not for prefent ; but they can be baptized as fuch, therefore that precept haptife aH nations , reacheth unto them • you fay more. As for the eonjeBMreconcermngthe family of StefhanM^ at pag. 2^5.227. tht hfi it is but a eoftjefiure, and befides that it is not proved Nurab. 24! that there were children in the family: yet if that "^fere granted, ' Cor. 1. 16. itfo/U^es not^hat they were baptized, becaufe by (yehole fami- lies) in fcripture is meant all perfons of reafon and a^ge mthim the family"^ Admit that to be conjeAural, and we take it for no more,- nnn ^ in^ yet it is no light conjedure.rthe Syriac gives it &filij downs TrJ^A^'^l r;«iejww/,fpeaking of the keeper of the prifon, ^a.ie.^S ) '^^^'i^'^/f that children were baptized with the reft of the family.- fo*f though p there alfo may fignify any.domeftick , yet cer- tainly it fignifieth a child alfo , and cUldren were ufually domefticks: but it can be no more then a light conjedure of Anabaptifts, that there were no infants in this family,or that oi Stephanas which T>aHl baptized; howfoevar it can be no coniedure,butcertainc truth, ths.i\n all nations there ever were and ftill are, a great part infants ; and it is more then conieaurall , that the tApofiles did 2.iQhrifi commanded H them. r(j^ An Antidote againjl them, faying hftiz^ all nations; as for that which yon fay, %n Scripture is medHt all perftrts 9freafons and age within thi fdmily becaufc it ii faid that the ruler at Capernaum belw ved andallhUhoufe: i$ that propofition univerfall? doe you t^tmtlh^ihyyphle families, is ever meant allferfensof afre within the family, and fuch only? if fo, your affcrtion is GcniM. apparently falfc; but if your propofition be particular, it ^^" ' ^ 1*. falleth (hort of our caufc; for what can it hurt it , if by ally hn^'a;p ^^» ov Whole familifs in Scripture , fomctimesis meantallper- 9wnts famtiu fonsofreafon and a^e ? deale ingenuoufly then-, do you teru. no. ^^^^ ^^^^ ^ ^^^^^^ ^^^aH ^ [i^g Scripture doth alwayes , TZ'^^^T^^' m^^nzyperfonsofreafonandage} whatdothGod whenhe Aas 2. ?9- faid to Abraham — and in thee all the famihes of the earth See Lev.2 f . 10 ^^^^ y^ yi^r^^^ . ^Qth he meanc only all perftns of age ? arc ^T''' ^ <^»o children in their nonage excluded from the blemnginC/>ri/?? lid Is It. Nay but the Apof^le faith expresfly , the premife ^ tmto jou, and 3?. 54. and to your children: and fuch Chrifi hleffed , and of fuch is Uvic.2513. thckingdome of heaven. Doth the Scripture, Genef.j.iii Ar''°.*n"' fay»n§ ^^^ fl'J^ ^y^^ — '''^^^■y ^'^^ — "^^^"^ ^"^^^ "^'^ '^''^'*' ^0^4 15. fon and age} were the infants excepted? many places of Scn- and 10. 12. pture may (hew the vanity of this your aflertion : but it and 1 1. 3 >. your propofition be particular, that is , that fometimes the Marth.12.15. scripcureby ^W?/^»>iAV/ nieans perfons of rw/o^ (thatis Lcit!k.s.i» who havetheufeof reafon;rf»^4^f: we can grant it you, 2 Thef. ?. 16. 1 adde;fomtimes, fuperfluous , nor to be believed any other then an Apojioli- lTd7eft"Tql'c cal tradition; the ground hereof is laid down, l.^.c. z^.Con- uu tmd' fupcr- tra Donat. before by us cited , to which I refer the reader • fl^-^ deputanda, the fum is , That whatfoever is univcrfally obferved in all [Jf j'"".^'''/'^- Churches , and no man can fay by what Councel it wa8 de- /fo" ,^ "e4 ISl termined, or when it began, mufl be thought to have defcen- i/r/o.Aiiguft. ' ded from the tradirionof the Apoftlcs themfclves, and deGenef.ad' therefore we hold it as we are commanded, iThef. 2. 15. ^'t-'-'f^c 2?. and we believe it is neceffary to be held, becaufe'tis fo com- ^''^^ ^^^^'^''''^' manded. That which you fay, that it was not determi^ed^ P^z?. in the (^hurch till in the eighth age after Chrifi, and bm in the year ^iS in the Milevitan Councel , will eafily appear falfe : tor the Councel of Carthage in Cyprians time, who flourifli- ed about the year 250. determined that children might ht baptized, and chat even before the eight day, againft the o- pinion of Fidiu , as was before noted out of Cyprian j but Cyprian. 1. j. you fay that infant-baptifm was not determined in thc'-'P*'^- Church untill the Milevitan Councel. Auguft cp> 2i. 1. 1 demapdjDoth a determination by a fuccecding Coun- cel exclude a determination of the fa me thing by a forego- ing i or doth it conclude a thing to be no Apoftolical tra- dition ? What think you then of our ChriJlianSai>hath> will you fay that the abrogation of the ffW>/i^^^^^f/5;, thac our ^^ An Antidote againfi our Chrlftian Sabbath might fucceed , was not an Apo/l-eli. caltrAdition^ or that it was not fufficicntly determined in V the Church untill about the year 3^4. becaufe then there Cnuphrias. ^ ^^^ g Canon made for the fame in the Councel oi Ltttdicea} i cTh xei?7«tf«f j^ |jy^ fj^g pradice of the Apoftles was a fufficient deter- W^Slv^/" mination thereof: And truly, Ecclefiafikal Cantons (as alfo y^l^^m. Con, municipal Laws and Statutes) may with good reafon be cii.Laodic. made for confirmation of things rightly and long before fuf- Cft«on.2p. ficiently determined , where fome emergent oppofition to tbc former, requireth a due revifal, and further expreflion, interpretation, or confirmation of the fame. 2. I fay, that there needed no determination by a general Councel, before any oppofition was made publickly a^ainft a received cuftome of the Church ; but fo foon as it was queftioned and openly oppofed by the TdagUns , then the fecond Milevitan Councel was called againft P^/^^/w and Ce/eflif(f. It were but a weak argument againft an ny^po- y?o//V^/ tradition, if we (hould find little or no mention thereof in any writer, in fome ages of the Trintitive (^hurch; feeing that befidcs that there were fome of them obfcure, generally without Ecclefiaftkal fVritersi what neceffity canbealleadged, that in every age fome writers muft make particular mention and reherfal of all j4po(i-olical tr^ditioMs or practices of the Church , when an uninterrupted peace thereof fufficed, and no oppofition gave occafion of provi- ding for defence ? Indeed when any turbulent and difobedi- cntfpiritof contradidion brake out to difturb the peace and umty of the Church,then the Minifl-crsdifputed,prcach- cd, or wrote, as need required , or Councels were called, which could not come together from divers Nations with- out much trouble and charge ; and therefoire they were not aflcmbled except in cafe of fome urgent neceflity ; and then their Canons were agreed upon for fupprefling of emergent errors, and that in all reafon ; for what need ar- cekbratum eft j^ing without an enemy ? to make Statutes, provifions,Or- f T//w?r"' '- dinances or famous without forae prefent danger, might pof- mn\d!iT^' fibly ^^^^^ "^^" ^^ offend, or crre , who without fuch occa- Carran^ajum. fion, hadnot minded it at all. l\\t?it^ ArfioUcal Sjnoil , eonci/. .had An abaptism. 55 had an ftpptr Councelof Sphefui (in the reigne of Theodofitu the younger) pylitanum againft 2S(jfiorlm and Calefitpu ; and the Calcedon Councel — - ^" T*'^ was gathered againft the herefie of Eutychu4 and Diofcorns: ^^"T-^ {0 was the Counee/ of gangris agiintt euftathifis : The f.^S^r!' E- firft Councel of Cart hage agilnd the rebaptizing Donatiftsiphefmum^f- the tArelatenfe was occafioncd by their appeal : and the '""'"rf" '?'"' ^'^' fecond Milevitan Councel WHS called againft PeUgim and^^^^jy^"^'^^'^^, Caleftius his great FaAor , denying infants original fin and dJsnfc^' ^-~Tn bapiifm : So that the non determination of a thing for many qw E^tychu ages in the ^hurchj the Church conftantly holding and pra- ^'"^fiorique pra- aifing it , proves nothing , but that no body oppofed it all q^' reprobmn that time; and had PeUgiin*% herefie concerning infant- 1., 7^°^"^^* ^'^^ baptifm, after the Milevitan Councel^ and after the writings Severh. Bin. of Jerome^ Augufiin^ OptatM and others, ftill flept, I know Coneil.To.r, not why any man fhoald now have written , or fpoken a-^'^'''''"^''/""^' gainftit. ^"'''^^ I grant (you fay) it veas praUifed in Africa before that time^ and thej orfome of them thought ^ell of it ; and though that be no argument for tu to think, fo , yet none of them did tver before pretend it to be necejfary, none to have been a precept oftkeCfofpel'. J'f.Auguftin wof the fir Ji that ever preach* d it to be abfolutely necejfary, and that was in his heat and anger again!} Pclagius , who had farmed and chafed him fo in that ^uejiion , that it made him innovate in other doBrines pojfibly of more concernment then thps.~\ You grant the pradice of infant- baptifm in Africa, mi thatfome of them thought well of it. Jt hath been proved that an ancient CounceUhere eftablirtied it, as a cuftome of the Church derived from the practice or tradition of the ApofiUf^ 56 See Rev. i. ii. /l^. 19.10. ^ phan.bacref.40 5(?e d//o iVfr. HomePC. 1?. pag iio.&c. Rom.io i8. Lugdmenfem ^)'iibi*t Tve endeavour t« enflame the hapti^ed either mto virgin tnte- ^mlml^ T^"' grity , or vidnal continencj , er «»fo ^ co«;0^^/ j?^f/;/jr, &c. ba^ti^JoTdh he meant not fuch words to infants. What did vidml con- T-isndo ftude^'. tinency , or conjugal fide I itj concern infants , as fuch ? and 'r^ '^'^cendere , L. Vives words ttninediatciy following intimate the fame - f''^'^'^^'^^'''*- The image ofrfhich thing Cfaith he) we yet fee in our baptising temlJldtn of infants. If this were not his meaning , as it was Augw ^^"<:ntum vi- ^ins , it was frivolous enough , and fuch as I cannot eafily '^''^^'^'"»/?i'<^^^ believe fo learned an Author , and fo well acquakited with -f^" /' ^^i" '"''' Auguftins fenfe,and judgement in this matter could be guii- &c a1/ w ''' * ' ty of ; poflibly his olim , related to the baptifm which was G-D.j.fx.^^^ adminiftred in ecclefik conjiituenda (when the partition wa 1 1 ^^^'^ ''« imt. being broken down , and the natural branches broken off nV "'^^^"'^ '" that others might be graffcd into Chrift) which was, anLZL-n^T' could no otherwife be then by inftruding people in tbcvidemJ T faith of Chrift , and then baptizing them , that their chil- ^'^- Joco cira- dren might afterward be baptized , as being within the co- ?V venant by their fathers privilcdg, and their own , as being Su't" ^u ^" or believing parents, fo that in the conftituting a * ' * Cbriftian Church , the Minifters Brd , and moft general work of adminiftring baptifm , was with perfons of years (by their preachmg to them) converting to the faith, but in fcclefiaconftituta it is much otherwife : our general work ofadminiftration of baptifm is with infants of enchurched parents; we feldom meeting with any r«r/^, ox Pagan, or p^ converted, and defiring baptifra;to conclude,if Z. fives by you cited, had been of your opinion fto fpare the men- tioning the authority oiJrenetu, Cjprian, Augufiin, ferom, &c. or the Afi-ican or other Councels , who much better knew the cuftom of the ancient Churches then Lud. Fives could; we can ballance Fives with Po/jdor Virgil , another iZTl AnZfiZ f^,!>^!*f^^rcumcidebamur, fcapudnosplurimmtapli^^^^^^^^ ifciendHm probat,?olydor. VJrg.dc invent. I.4.C.4. mm^ratmit^we^je I learned ^§ An Antidote againfi learned Author, who faith. As infants among the Jewi were cirtftmcifei the eight day from their nativity , fo are they for themojt part, "^ithw baptised, which yet the Engli(h^i» the very d/iy wherein thry are hrn, that which S. Cyprian hy rnany rcifons proveth may be dofie. But (you fay) l^efides that the tradition cannst be proved to he Apofldical, tve have very good evidence from antiquity, that it was the opinion of the primitive Church, that infants oHght not to be baptized , and this is clear in the fixt Canon of theCouncelofNeocx/area, &c,'2 k is proved to be Apoftolical, and therefore (above con- trovcrfy) it can be proved : You talk of very good evidence frtmantiquity , that it was the opinion of the Primitive Church, that infants ought not to he baptized . and this, you fay, is clear in the fixt Canon of the Councelof 2^oc"■, «f di- excufe him from- being baptized. Add hereto that which \!^„'^/^,'^]'"'*^ fomeobferve, That regeneration bybapcifm, prefuppofeth "^c^oabrid' a precedent natural birth , which the unborn child hiLtb Eydin ^.fent. notj therefore the unborn infant cannot be regenerate in#4'/i- his mothers baptifm : Indeed it gives himaright hereto, ^^^3.^^^,* ,,^. if he have none by the fathers fide, i Cor. 7. 14. So that nafci nif,prms ' if any man lift to think that the Councel fpakc Gofpel; yet nafmur. Gs- it will no more thence foliow , that infants ought not to '"•p^/'^ ^^P* be baptized, becaufe they cannot yet make confeflion of]J„ ^ °^* their faich , then that all that which isfaidof the adfi/ty is -^Quando- precifely to be applyed to infants for prefent, as th^t i.Thef.qmdm mn po- ^. 10. Tbif '^e command y OH , that if any rvoHldmt^^fj"'* ^^"4'^' Tvork.., neither Jhould he eat which concerneth infants "^'/'"'^"j^",*-^'* no otherwife then when they (hould beable; but in theA!enfjs.part.4 mean time would you not have them eat f you know thatdcfacr.bap- though the rule bear a (hew of univerfality, yet ic concern- "<"'« q-8. m 7^ eth pcrfons of age and ability , not infants ; fo here , the ^•^•''^'^• Minifters interrogating perfons of years to be baptized, was fimply neceflary ; for how clfe (hould it have been known whether they were fit to beadmitted into the Church priviledges by baptifm ? that therefore they did not admit infants to baptifm , becaufe they did not examinthem,foL lows not , except you could (hew that they admitted none to baptifm but perfons of years , which is the queftion in hand, and therefore may not be a medium to prove your af- fcrtion by : as for asking them qucftions to be anfwered bySponfors, Godfathers and Godmothers, welhallfpeak anon. And tofnppljf their incapacity hj the anftver of a Godfather ^ is but the fame ttnreafonablenefi ailed ^ith a ^orfe circum' fiance : and there is nofenfible aecount to be given of *>.! I 2 Wc (e 4^ AmidoU againft We fay that by your prefent confcflion, fuchfponfionby God-fathers is but a circumftance ; therefore the fponfors fupply not any incapacity of infants in the refped of the fubftance of bapcifm , which is to be fprinkled , waChed with, or dipped in water , in the name of the Father, the Son, and the holy Ghofl: : for this their own capacity is fulficient (they being born of believing parents, and within the Church) without the fupply of any anfwet of others for them ; which if you grant us , we have the end of our difputc ; as for circumftances, neither commanded nor for. bidden by God in the holy fcriptures, we (hall willingly fiibmit to the authority and pradice of the Church in which we live : If you difpute from the circumftance, or any pre- tended inconvenience therein, totheanullingthefubftance controverted, you know how unreafonable that fallacia ac^ cidentis is j and "^hat fenfble account can be given of it ? But you fay, That which fome imperfeHlj murmur concerning flipulati- tns civil performed by Tutors in the name of their Fufils^is an abfolute vanitj/t &c.~\ Have a care that you be not anfwered mihaturpeefi Dsctori, &c. Do you not vainly argue , that in the ufe of God- fathers, &c, God is tyed , and Chriftian Religion tranfads her myfteries by proportion and compliance with the Law of the i?ow^»j ; concerning which fomething hath Ad num. 1 6. ^^^ anfwered before; I only add here , that God neither l>ag.2gi. commanding nor forbidding God-fathers, it is no vanity to obey authority herein : But to difturb the peace of the Chut€b, and make fchifmesfor things in their own nature ; indifferent , and commended to us by venerable antiquity , is not only vain, but impious : And how is God tyed, where he neither forbids nor commands f To the reft we fay not that Chriftian Religion mufi tranfa^ her mjfteries bj comply ance ^itb Roman Laws , or humane cuftoms j but that in fome things (he may , in things circumftantial , and no waies rcpugri^r^t^to the word of God. You fay /ur- fk»ow Cjod might, if hi yponld, ht^ve appointed Gedjathers. A N A B A P T I S M. 6t to give 4)^w^r in behalf of children^ and to be fideiufforf for thenty but we cannot fina any authority or ground that he h^th I and if he had, then it is to be fuppefed he would have given them commijfioa to have tranfaBed the folemnity ^ith better circumfiances^ and^iven anfwers with more truth. ~] Wcanrwer i. In that you can find no authority or ground for ic , nor againfl it, as we know it can be no other then adiaphorous, or indifferent , and in or for fuch things as are meerly circumftantial , and in their own nature in- different to difTent from antiquity ; difobey the Churches authority , and break the facrcd band of unity , let your own confciences tell you what you do. 2. Whereas you would befpatter this cuftom of imputa- tion of will-worfhipand untruth in the ufers thereof; I fay firl^j That whatfoever God hath commanded or forbidden in holy Scriptures , that is neceffarily to be obfcrved j and this faithful! word we mufl: hold faft, lit. i .p. But thofe things which he hath neither commanded nor forbidden, neither exprefly, nor by neceffary confequence , fall under the general rule belonging to things arbitrary and indiffe- rent, Let all things be done decently and in order, i Cor. 14. 4-^. which then only can be when we unanimoufly and u- niformly do that which a general confent and conftant pradice of the Church warrantcth ; not that which every private fpirit liketh or dilliketh ; There can be no decency without order, nor order in confufion^of pradiccs : there- fore God having left many things circumfVantial , arbitra- ry as to the authority of the Church , we ought to tender' her unity , and reverence her authority ; the contempt whereof hath opened io wide a dorc to fchifm as now troubleth the Chtiflian world- Secondly , there may be falfhood in fome mens anfwers , though no fault in the . order which God will , it being his perfedion that he is fj'fi^'^^'^ ^^^' A'^r'-V'iy'; (d)io(. god that cannot he ^iH. I. i.2im{X.\smt eft^napeccatum inviolable holyncfs of his will, that he will not, neither can ex eo mn eft. will any evil; and i« is certainly true which Fulgentiui^J^lf^'^'^^P^:^- faith , As there it mfm in him Jo there ii noftn of him. ' ff;" ^''"'''* Fn ejfcnt : ex hue autem [imili- tuditie plerumqne etiam ipfarum rerum ncwina accipiunt ; ftcutcrgo fecundum qucndam mo- dhm.facr amentum corporn Chrijii^corpiM Chrifti e/?, facramentum fanguink Chrifii^fangu's Chrifti eil, ita facramentum fdei^jides eli\ nihil autem eft aljud credere, quamfidem habere^ ac per hoc^ cum refp»ndetur parvulum credere^ quifidei nondum habet nffiilum^ refpondetur fi- dem hdbere prdpter fidei facramentum^ 3- «- on of their parents believing , and Ghurch-privi ledge ^l;^^^^}' which is often teftified perfonally by the very parents.y^f^'/j;/;,;;"" Grand -fat hers, Grand-mothers, and fometimes in defed, in ccetuchrifti- or neceffary abfence of fuch,by fomc fellow-believers tefti- (tnorum^qmrum , fying for them, and the childs priviledg and baptifm ; bu6 f^i^^""'"^""? «"" |: youtfenjible account is, that they {^^zkfalfe andridicuhuf- \Tdm^„etd' '' /y; if you can bear the frc^o of your own words, we there- ;[);ftenf«r pml- in anfwer you ; yet for the fober readers fake , wc furtheit""» tanqmm tefies baptifm^, crc. Ich; Gerard de f.baptif.cla(r.4.,] 64. " stdhibentwt velut'i rei gejii teftes.?olydon Virgil.dcinvcnt.l.4.c 4, anfwer.,^ 6 4 An Antidote agdinjl Ncm-i er o vo ^"^^^^ ^Siix Auguflitt, treating oF the fame argument, Ln hifi fufurrat do- *^^ ^^^"^^'^^^ ^° J"^ ci^fj' doElrines \ this the Church ever Ux nds all maty had^ever held^ &c, doubtlefs the cuftom is very ancient; hoc ecdefta Hillories tell u$ of it in the time of Higintu, who wasco- Sm tt'llh' etaneous with P./yr^rp a difciple of S Johns, they lived (T^c.Aug. d' under the reigne of Antonintu Pitu , about the year 140. vcrb.ApoA. fome think it came into the Church from the cuftom af ScTfJ^y- . thofe who were Catechumenifti , who being examined be- . „n«nT'L- ^"^^ ^^*y ^^''^ admitted to baptifm, concerning their faith \cm patrimk7v^ and repentance, were not only to anfwer in their own per- unamque inatri- fons, but to have fponfors as witnefTes of their faith , con- mam baptifmo verfion , and baptifm. It is not improbable which fome ^nimfoslml- ^ere propofe , that As children were baptized when lant qui jnfan. their Chriftian parents had formerly made confcffion ; fo tes tenent, dum fureties confeffcdin relation to themfclves, that they might baptiT^^anturM- befitto (land as a kind of parents, c^c. Seeing therefore j,^^'*x^j'/[/J* this cuftom is nothing repugnant to holy fcripture , nei- carpMi Johan-' '^er hath in it any appearance of evil, but rather of profit' nU Apaftoli di. and edification, though it be not of the effcnceof baptifm, fcipulHi but a ceremonial circumftance, 'tis foolifti and impious to piTLT ^y/' quarrel it, and for it to break unity and difturb the peace of ^ liijn^^^ the Church. But you fay, mentio patri- morumjit apud Dionyf. Areopag.Hjerarch.Ecchfx.2.Tertul.de bapt. c.iZ.Eufeb.l.'j.c.io. vid.Folydor.Virgil.de'mventA.i^.c.iS^.Hitgo de S.VUior. part.6.c,i2. . Mi.Viomtianimadver^Mpon Mr.lQn\htiExerc.c.i\.'pzg»\^\. pag.23 9. The infant is not e arable of believing^ and if be vren, he rverealfo capabkof dijfenting ; and how then dothej kriorr hitf mind ?^ If it bt neceffary to baptifm that the baptizer know the mind of the perfon to be baptized , how can you baptize men of years? You will fay they exprefs their minds, and fo we baptize them. I grant you may know their words, their minds you cannotjbecaufe they may diffcmble.If you fay you arc in charity to believe the beO;once more wc fay, Be but as charitable towards infants , of whom you can know no adual evil , nor (hew any Jurt caufe why you ihould fufped it fo* the future. And I pray how could the An a b a p t I sm, ^5 the Prieft under the Law know the minds of children to be circumcifcd ? To conclude, 'cis nothing material whether we know the infants mind, 'cis bchoofull that we know his priviledg, as being born within the Church and Covenant of God, which givethhima fufficient right to tbefeals thereof. But you fay, Tertullian gives advice that haptifm of infants (houldh deferred till they could give accomt of their faith. ] I anfwer, i. Tertntlian fpeaking of deferring baptifm, left they ftiould ralhly give it, as to perfons out of the Co- venant, or unbeHevers, inftanceth fpecially children ; that is, extraneormn.nm feeder atorum^ as the learned Fra. Imi- «/intcrpreteth the fame: fo that this conceraeth not our prefent queftion which is of children of Chriftians. 2.This (hews then that the pradicc of infant-baptifm was none of Augufiins device , as you charge him , feeing it was in ufe in the time of Tertullian. 3. But let us hear the reft of TertHlliam advice; was it only concerning the deferring,^. .w.„ infants baptifm? Let them come when they can learn, ^LJ^^L^ when they are taught whither they come, let them be made ve/i/an^ .^«m ' Chriftians when they ftiall be able to knowChrift^ i^^y difcwn.dum but f refently he faith , For no hfs caufe the unmarried alf^ ^Zur'^'Tnt' are to be delayed , in ^hom the testation is prepared , both in clrfjiUmqmm virgins by their maturity^ and vidows by their going up and Chriftum nojfe de'^n untili they are either married or confirmed in fc;?y?^w-jf5f«e)'7nt — fy Will you follow Tfn«///^wj advice herein? But """ ^^""''^ ^^ what if they never marry, muft they never be baptized ? jr/'J'/rw" If not, give us leave to decline it in the other , or to take iz jimndi, in qui- in the (en(c he meaneth it , as may appear in that he fpeci- bmenmiopm^ fieth widows , who being at that age , are neceflarily to be f'"''^f*.f ^^"^ fuppofcd either baptized after their firft marriage, oroutS'S'' of the Covenant. quamvidui/ donee m nubmt, ant cominmui corroborcatur yScC.\TemUJe bapt. c. 18. And the fame (yon fay) is alfo the Comcel 0/ Gregory Bi- fljop »f Nazianzum, &c. (.^ An AnXidoH againft '^^ . all time tntcnd chy faWatioD, and think chat any time is v*',^io. ^f' ^' J" f Ki^ nr .nnoinccd for baptifm : among other ages of ^, ,,5eT.., ^^<'^f<>"^^'^A^''^r"{'l^^^^^^^ Haft thou an Iflfanc (faith Lpan',/^-^'*- manbemftancethnlntanc). "j\"^ ^^.ifmn let it be U%^^^^ *;.he)letnoc wickednefs take a^^J ^V ^ ? VK!\n;r;r .,;./a.W., «^^ j;^|g,d from its infancy . let it be dedicated to the Sprit ^;.j.. >lJ'- 3i7,,,der years : feareft thou the feal in rcfpedof the ?«9;',Tro. T6), ^"^^"^'^^^ r M,r,,ep ? How poor a fptntcd mother art ^^^:rX ifoHnd: h^'oXlcf^^^^^^^ Lt^Ipromifed.W ; f5^.tc. 'J^nto'the I.o d before he was born, &c. Yoa fay «oncern- oVNazian. "'^^L^^^^ that his reafon taught hrm that which Orar.40..b.p ^"fX/t^ue for he allowed I^^^^^ y^the wai f,s u«g">cul.s was fit , (true r or"^'^ . j, j • ^ g^^^ j^ fpiruu confe, over-born with T"^ T ^ rW rhrv thouoht that cretur. f^^ ^Ifo I conff nt as this relates to ^^^ ,^^^7 .'^^H^t^^ "^^^^ n< <^'- ^-'Z Infants dying without Baptifme,(hould neither be glori- A^:ti ^AO^.^, inrants "y'"b xu.. vvhith vou further fay, although • /.ir. .SAct. ficd nor pumlhed. ^^at wnjcn yo y^ ^^^ ib.Greg.Naz. double confideration ; F'^^»»" "^P^^^^'/'^^^'J^fI^^^^^ ■ nointed for Baptifm in the primitive Church,to pointea rui j -^'- t^^t^e' ll^rnd'^U accident , dif^Ung A N A B A P T I S M. 6j them fo that they cannot receive this grace if tfoey would. True, infants hare neither abihty nor will to come to Bap- tifm; nor can thofe (though of years j who are accidentally dtfablcd : they have not power, though they "have a will to come. What is this to owr deferring Infants Baptifm in the Ru^, which in fomc cafes may reafonibly and law- fully be done. A$ for example, Suppofe an infant neer fome MAhumetein border were found, and the parents not known 1 we may and ought to demur. But what makes this againft baptizing infants of parents known to be with- in the Church ? But you fay, Ti yfhich if we add that the parents of ^. Auguftine,*?. Hic- xom, and St.Amhvo(t,althof4.gl3 they Vrere (^hrifiiaf}, yet did they mt baftiz^ their children before they ^ere 3 o years tfage^ it vpiH be very confiderable in the Ex- amp/e^and of great efeacyfor the defiroying the fup^ pofed necejfity or derivation frem the Apoftles, This may make a formidable noyfe in fome '^^^%'^^^^^\non°]Jfactet 'tis true which Mr. H*w^f/in the Wildcrnefs, and God bare with them' 40 years together, yet they (hould have circumcifed the male children at eight dayes old upon a fevere penalty, g^a. 17. J 4- an inevitable neceflity varieth not the rule. Concerning the.laft inftance in Ambofi, I find that his ^^uhnus vir. Father was Deputy , or Governor of Frmce-, butwhe- ^•^'"^''o^- ther Chriftian or not, I find nothing \x\ Pauli»Hsviho ^ wrote his life , and you avouch no Author for that you p^^l^mlr^' fay. We read that after he was chofcn BKhop ofMi/an^ v^^^ns vemacu^ after Auxentim the Arian , by the joyntfuffrages of the ^^^' ^^^'P^^xr, difcordanr parties; and being Cthough much againfl' his L?!"'"? ^''' own will) confirmed in that charge by r^/.^//^/^;. the 5^,?^;/,,;°-^^"' Emperor, he was baptized; and with the Church held ^ where is any pre- cept obliging to a place? who knows not that thefe and the like things are left under the general ["»«» /f.f things be donedecentlj, an^ in order? W^ich obferved^ they arc not againft the Anahgie of Chrtfts DoBrwe. Again, what think you of the SaSatb , is that which we now dot therein againft the ^»4/.^»>o/ Ckriftsfoarip becaufc we find no exprefs precept or pradice of Chnft or his Di- fciplcs forthetranflationof it? That it is and ought to be the Chriftian Sabbath, is grounded on neceftary con- ftquence, but no exprefs precept, z. It is alfo notorioul- JV falfe that Chrift never gave any exprefs precept to bap- tize all Nations , without any exception to infants within the Covenant ; and who knoweth not that mfants ever were and ate a great part of every Nation j what then ? ANABAPTfSM. J I though he never faid in fo many fyllables.or by naming in- fants go and baptize them alfo, is it not fufficienc to name all Nations without enumeration of particulars? indeed he needed not give fuch an exprefs command concerning children, feeingthat hefcr.-tthem to adminifter this feal of the new Covenant and Sacrament of initiation , who were in the old, their felves fealcd in their infancy by cir- cumcifion, and fo ufed to that Dod^rine of childrens being within the Covenant with believing parents , and the dai- ly pradice of their initiation and reception into the com- munion of a vifible Church, that it might have fecmed ve- ry fuperfluous to fay any more then Go baftisi-e all Nati- ons. There is alfo much difference , Inter ecclefiam csnfii- tHentUm y &cQnfiitutam\ the Apoftlcs bufinefs was ge- nerally to baptize Heathens . and converted unbelievers ; but we have to deal with a Church conflituted ; therefore faith and repentance , were fo often mentioned in the (lo- ry of the Apoflies praAice ; but we living in a fetled Church, have to deal with baptizing infants who cannot yet adually believe or repent : But in that no particulars are mentioned in Chrifts miverfal command to baptize, it (heweth that all within the C hurch-priviledg and Cove, nant of God are included. Again, whereas you require ^Qommzniin termitiii iot baptizing infants, I demand , Where doth he in terminu fay, Baptize men of years, or Kings, peafants, rich, poor, high, low, men, women. Ci- tizens, CoHncrey-men,Fi(her9, Husbandmen, Threfhers, Shoocmakers , Taylors, Shop-keepers, or Mechanicks ? ^irfin.par.z. He commandeth that all be baptized, of what fex,age,con. dition or eftate whatfoever they be , which appertain to any Nation. So in general Prefcripts, Laws, Grants, and See Mr Cobhet F^anchifes, the reherfal of particulars is not requifite ; be- ^™Jf "' caulk fuch things pafs on the whole kind therein contain- rjgi,. f g pjg^ ed, and will that the cenfure or priviledg concern all par- 1,5.7. ticulars within that general , except in cafe of any exemp- tion of fome fpecified particular , or exception made by him who made the Covenant, or granted the Privilcdges. ' We cannot find *^- -r^h'^^^AVi thefe very words in any place of 72 ^f* Antidote agawfl jo.Gcrarci. dc of Scripture, 'Baptize pf^menfirtkdmimRtt the Lords Sup- baptifin-feft.?, per to women, yet from thefe general precepts. Baptize aH de pi-dobapt. j^^jidfff f^^ eatjhu is my body and — drink^ye all Mil' 29 19. f>f^f (now it is — evident that the twelve Apoftles only Mat! r5. 20,27. were then prcfcnt when he inftituted this Sacrament, and that he fpake and adminiftred it unto them only) yet I fay we all, without quarrel about it, baptize women, and re- fpcdively adminiftcr the Lords Supper to them , as in- cluded in the general precepts ; and why arc we not con- tented with a general precept including childrens baptifm, feeing no exception of the Covenant-maker can appear to the contrary ? Laftly we fay again , that the reafon why Chriil gave his Difciples no exprefs or peculiar command concerning baptizing infants , but included them in the general , was becaufe the Apoftles were fo well acquain- ted with childrens reception into the Church-priviledges, and feaiing Into the fame, that they could not reafonably make any queftion of baptizing infants , having a general command to baptize all Nations, infants being under the Cwm Law circumcifed ; and knowing moreover that the gra.ce ^^'^a^n" T of God was not more ftrift or rcftrained in the new Tefta- ili^iftior^inno- meat then in the old ; but contrary wife, morediffufedor t*oqum in V.t. largej and therefore a greater and more difficult queftion lo.Oerard.S.S. might have been concerning the baptifm of woinen, there being neither analogic from circumcifion , nor particular precept to induce them to baptize them ; but that they knew that the general precept was authority fufficient, without fpecifying particulars in terminis. You fay more, All that either he or his Apoflles /aid concerning it , r^. ej Hires fnchpreviopu dijpofitions to baptifm^ of which infants are not capable , and thefe are faith and rcfert' tance.^ Your whole fcope is fiiilacious: form your Argument, Chrifi and his Apoftles in all that he or they f aid concern nlng baptifm, reejuiredfaith and repentance , as previous dilpoiicions to baptifm , but no infant can believe orre- pentj ergo^ infants are not prcvioufly difpofed to, or capa- ble of baptifm , according to that Chrift or his Apoftles ever Anabaptism. cverfaid. i . We fay here is a Taralogifm or fallacy, a diEiofecHndnm cfuU ad dlilum /jm-p/iciter j Your Major is true, ifyoa fpcak of perfons of years co be inftruded; but falfe concerning children , becaufc he never rcquireth any impoflibility. 2. He that appointed Infants baprifm, requires no other previous difpofition to infant-baptifm, butfuch as they are capable of, that is, of being admitted into the vifible Church, and fealed with the externa! Seal thereof into the furare profeflion of faich and repentance. Adde hereto , that children under the Gofpel, are thus ca- pable of the feal of faith, as children were under the Law, although they cannot adually repent or believe, which were and are no lefs previous difpoficions, if we fpeak of perfans of mature years to be baptized ; But if your di- fpute be >&7^ "^^ «t''^o , your igmratio elenchi may not pafs for current reafon, if by previous difpofitions to baptifm of men of years, you would obtrude the fame on infants, concerning whom we fay that adual faith or repentance are no more previota difpofitions to baptifm^ then they were to circuracifion. And fo you fee that I might reafonably anfwer all that you fay herein by rejeding your confe- quence ; but for the prudent Readers further fatisfadon^ I fay, g. A previous difpofition neceffary to the capacity of a thing , is confiderable , either as it is ;;; or of the fubjed. I. A previous difpofition in thefubjecl , wc may under- Hand either as a felf-difpofing by fome intrinfecal and in- ward faculty , or as a being extrinfecally difpofed and fit. ted by fome other power , to a capacity or receptibility of fomething which yet it hath not , neither was capable thereof before fuch a difpofition ; Now this inour pre- fcnt inftance prcfuppofeth, or fpeaks fome change of the mind by illumination, faith, remorfeof confcience, pur- pofe of leading a new life » and defire to be implanted into Chrift and the communion of Saints by baptifm • and fo it is internalj or profefling of that endeavour of know- ing the myfteries of the Gofpel, faith and repentance tefti- fied before men j and fo thefe difpofitions are external, L or 73 An Antidote againji or expreffed to men whom it may concern ; thefe arc nt- ccfTary in perfons of years commg to baptifm 7 there is a previous difpoficion of the fab jed without any prefent change of the mind , which ^ringcch from his relation to fomc other, orfome others ad : So fomeci- tles of honourcomeon childrenmthcir fathers Char- ters without any prefent change of the chiidsmmd; fo Lands and Inheritances, by right of adoption may be fet- Icd on them in their infancy , without their prefcnc c>^an2e orknowledg; fo alfo the beUeving parents pri- vilede and being within Gods Covenant made with them and their children , previouQy difpofcth infants to the feal thereof, to wit, by giving them a certain right there- to and fo was it in circumcifion : But if aProfelyte were to receive the feal of the Covenant, he muft necel- farily be prepared and firft difpofed thereto, by theknow- ledc^of Gods Law and Covenant, faith, repentance , or at lead the profelTion thereof , and thofe other rites which the Law required on that behalf. The infants previous difpofition to circumcifion, was no other then his fathers and his own priviledg , and being within Gods ■ Covenant : Of the child was neither faith nor repen- tance required for the prefent , but future; fomuftwe underftand concerning baptifm , the feal of faith under theGofpel. Jnd not ffay you) to infiance in thofe innumerable places that require faith before thii Sacrament , there needs no more but thU one , He that believeth and « baptized jhallbe faved — ] • I anfwcr i . Deal fairly, difpute ad idem ; and Ihew me one place of Scripture which univerfally rcquireth faith before this Sacrament , and you (hall be excufed for the innumerable places which you fpeak of : We can (hew that the rule holds not univerfally that faith muft Precede the Sacraments : for though Abrahams faith preceded the feal thereof, yet Ifaaks feal preceded his faith • Mr.f^/- vin expreffeth the reafon hereof : " Why (faith he^ doth ** in Abraham the Sacrament follow faith , and in Ijaak.. his Anabaptism. 75 " hisfonit goeth before all nnderftanding ? becaafe it *' is meet that he , which being in full-grown age is recei- *'vedinto fcllowftiipof the Covenant, from which he **'had hitherto been aftrangcr , (hould firft learn the con- ** ditions thereof : bnt an infant begotten of him, need- **€d notfo , which by right of inheritance , according *' to the form of the promife , is even from his mothers " womb contained in the Covensnt. And certainly in thisrefped God calleth the infants of covenanted parents, fons and daughters born unto him, Ez.ek,- 16. 20. & 23. Gen. 17. 7. -^j. be eftecming them his children who are born of A