for they grant that no children save only beleevers Children are in the Covenant or have right to baptisme then most of themselves had no right to baptisme then most of themselves had no right to baptisme their Parents by their own acknowledgement being ungodly whence it will follow that they themselves being baptized in their Infancy had not the baptisme of Christ and so by consequence are yet unbaptized persons thus is their own baptisme clearely made voyd even from their own grounds and how then can their children be now baptised in the right of such Parents who are yet unbaptised themselves But the grounds which SEPARATISTS and others do urge for the baptising of INFANTS shall be further examined and answered if God will in another Treatise And if any shall thinke it strange and unlikely that all the godâ—iest Divines and best Churches should be thus deceived in this point of baptisme for so many yeares together Let them consider that all Christendome except here and there one or some few or no considerable number was swallowed up in grosse Popery for many hundred yeares before Luthers time which was not untill about 100 yeares agone Let them also consider how long the whole nations of England and Scotland have bin deceived in the point of the Hierarchy untill of late and yet they now for the most part do see it to be Antichristian and abominable and why may they not like wise be deceived in this point of the Baptisme of Infants especially seeing that the Hierarchy hath asmuch warrant from Scripture as this and the Baptisme of Infants as little as that Yea and much lesse in the judgement of Bishop Hall who Episc Jure divino par 2. p. 127. in this point expresses himselfe in these words viz. Jam for my part so confident of the Divine Institution of the Majority of Bishops above Presbyters that I dare boldly say that there are waighty points of faith which have not so strong evidence in holy Scripture and then he instanceth in two particulars The power by sacred orders given to the Ministers alone for the Consecration and distribution of the holy Eucharist and the receiving of Infants to holy Baptisme which saith he is a matter of so high consequence that wee justly brand the Catabaptists with Heresie for denying it yet let me with good assurance say that the evidences of this truth come farre short of that which the Scriptures have afforded us for the superiority of some Church Governors over those who otherwise indeed in a sole respect of their Ministeriall Function are equall and then he shuts up the point in these very words vizâ— He therefore that would upon pretence of want of Scriptures quarrell at the Divine institution of Bishops might with much better colour cavell at these blessed Ordinances of God And after in an other booke he challengeth his opposites to try their skill by entring into a serious contestation with Answ to Smectymnuus pa. 98. him to see if they could produce more clearer evidence from Scripture for the Baptizing of Infants then he could for the Hierarchie which challenge of his may easily be maintained for indeed and in truth the Scripture ownes neither of them And as one of note not long since in defence of the Hierarthy c. alledging altogether hymane authority and being urged by me either to make good his position by Scripture or else to say nothing â—e replyed to me thus If you will beleeve nothing in Religion but what may be proved by Scripture then must you renounce your Christendome and turne Turke for you cannot prove your own Baptisme not the baptisme of Infants by Scripture wherein the man spake nothing but reason for if I will beleeve one point in Divinity upon the authority of mâ—n or tradition of the Church why not another and another and so to multiply them beyond number upon one and the same reason and authority 3. And let them likewise consider that there is no marvaile at all in this seeing there is nothing nor more herein then was foretold by the Spirit of God should come to passe in the world vizt That men should depart from the Faith and give heed to the Spirit of error 2 Thessa 2. 3. 1 Tim. 4. 1. That all the world should wonder follow after and worship the Beast Rev. 13. 3. 4. 15 16. And that the Inhabitants of the earth should be made drunke with the wine of the fornication of the whore Rev. 17. 2. And in no place it is told us of any one Nation that should cleave to the truth before the calling of the Iewes but that untill then this only was and is to be looked for that all that will live Godly in Jesus Christ must suffer persecution 2. Tim. 3. 12. be brought before Kings and Rulers yea to the losse of their liberties and lives for his cause and truth Mat. 10. 17 18. 24 9. And that all the rise of all our glory and happinesse in the world to come is from our being made conformable to him in his death and sufferings in this world Mat. 5. 11 1â— Lu 6. 22 23. Phil. 3 10. 2 Tim. 2. 12. And if any shall thinke that any of the Expressions concerning the Ministry in this Treatise be too harsh seeing many in that Office are Godly and worthy men 1. Let them know that I esteeme not lesse of divers of them their worth and honesty being well known to me yet never the lesse the Office and ministry which these men have is no whit the truer for their worth or honesty for the honesty of a man in a false Office cannot make the Office any truer or lawfuller then it is in it selfe 2. Let them also consider that I speake not against any goodnesse in any man but against the evill and against the unlawfulnesse of the Office wherein he is for this being derived from one and the same power in one and the same manner to one and the same end unto them all must needs be one and the same Office and no better or lawfuller then the power from whence it is derived for no man can convey unto another any better or truer right or power then he hath in himselfe besides if I should speake evill of the vertues of any man in that Office for that Office sake I should then be as foolishly ignorant and as liable to the curse of God as he is that speakes good of that Office being evill for the goodnesse or sake of the man in that office for both these are abhominable and alike accursed in the sight of God Isa 5. 12. 3. Let them likewise consider that if the Godliest and best Minister upon Earth were made Arch Bishop of Canterbury or Yorke yet that Office would still be the same and as bad as before and in some respects far worse then if a worse man had it for an evill Office gets credit by the goodnesse of the man in it and thereby deceives and keepes the people in blindnesse and error the more and puts them the further off from seeing their sinfulnesse in submitting to it And hence is the proverbe verified viz. The better the man the worse the Bishop the very same is the case of the Ministry and Priesthood here treated of Jer. 23 11. Both Prophet and Prlest do wickedly yea in my House have I found their wickednesse saith the Lord. Jer. 5. 31. The Prophets prophecy lies and the Priests beare rule by their meanes and my people love to have it so 2 Thess 2. 11. 12. Wherefore God shall send them strong delusions that they should beleeve lies that they all might be damned who beleeve not the truth FINIS ERRATA PAg 8. line 23 for apecteathesan read apectanthesan and for romiraja read romphaja and line 35. for ebaaptisthe read ebaptisthe
signifie with but the word Baptizo doth signifie to dip Ergo the word En must signifie in and not with as is proved very clearely and denied by none who are not ignorant of the language for the Greeke Authors account bapto and baptizo to signifie that for which the Latines use mergere immergere tingere immergendo that is to say to dâ—p to plunge to douse over head or under water As is proved by Christs own baptisme Mar 1. 9. kai ebaaptist he hupo Ioannon eis ton Jordaneâ— Aâ—d 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he was baptized of John into the Jordan but it is not the water of Jordan was put upon him as in sprinkling the water is put upon the party And by Plut. Lib. de Superst verbis utitur Baptison seauton bis Thalassan baptise thy selfe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 into the Sea which if bapto or baptizo signifie to sprinkle is to be Englished sprinkle thy selfe into the Sea and Lu. 1. 9. he was sprinkled of John into the Jordan but that is very false and without all sense and therefore without all dispute therefore the word En as used after this word baptizo must signifie in and not with Furthermore your Translators themselves as is to bee seene openly give it to Dip Mat. 26 23. O embapsas 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he that dippeth Mark 14. 20. O embaptomenos that dippeth Luke 16. 24. hinabapse that he may dip Ioh. 13. 26. ho ego bapsas to whom when I have dipped Rev. 19. 13. Himation bebamenon dipt unlesse they will make a different signification of baptizo from bapto which they can never do either cut of the Greeke Authors or the Scriptures written by the Apostles in that language but Mar. 7. 4. Baptismous Poteriâ—n lotiones peculorum Ben Ar. Montan the strictest Translator makes Lotiones Poculorum that is the washing of cups not the sprinkling of cups for the washing of cups is a putting of the cups into the water and not a putting or infusing water upon the cups Therefore it is very plaine that the use of the water in baptisme was not sprinkling the Subject with water or as I may say an imposing of water upon the Subject to be baptized but a putting or demersion of the Subject into the water The truth of this will further appeare from the consideration of these Scriptures Ioh. 3. 23. It is said of Iohn that he baptized in Aenon beside Salim because there were many waters there that is much deepe or great water as Rev. 1. 15. which reason of the Spirit of God because there were many waters there should be rendred in vaine if a little water had bin sufficient for Iohn to have baptized the people withall for we know that any little Font as you use would have yeelded him water enough to have taken thereof by handfulls to have sprinkled the whole world withall but there were manie waters not waters only Againe Acts 8. 38 39. It is said of Philip and the Eunuch that they went downe both of them into the water which they would not have done if washing or sprinkling of the face had bin the appointment of the Lord and would have served the turne it was also said of Christ That hee was baptized or dipped by John Matth. 3. 16. Mar. 1. 10. and that he came out of the water which implies his going in the water which had bin likewise needlesse if sprinkling would have served And in Colo. 2. 12. buried with him in Baptisme wherein you are also risen with him c. Againe Rom 6. 4. 5. it is said we are buried with him by Baptisme into his death And if we have bin planted together in the likenesse of his death we shall also in the likenesse of his Resurrection And in 1 Cor. 15. 29. Saint Paul amongst other arguments to prove the Resurrection hath these words what shall they doe which are Baptized for dead if the dead rise not at all why them are they Baptized for dead Now let any man that is not quite fallen out with his reason judge whether washing or sprinkling the face with water or dipping the whole man into water and rising again out of the water doth answere all these Texts of Scripture he must needs conclude that dipping the whole man into water doth answere them all and sprinkling or washing without dipping not at all for what similitude hath sprinkling with death burying rising againe none at all but dipping is a full resemblance of all and holds out unto us our profession selfe-deniall and our forsaking of all for Christs sake without which we cannot be his Disciples Luk. 14. 26 33. Now then if we well consider these Texts we shall finde that they used the water by putting the party into the water that is dipping him and not by putting infusing or sprinkling which are all one the water upon the party Therefore dipping and not sprinkling or washing without dipping must needs be the truth of that institution and the proper sense of the Holy Ghost in the Scripture dialect For as a learned and approved Author hath noted the Greeke wants not words to expresse any other act aswell as â—â—pping If the institution could beare it Casaub upon Mat. 3. 11. for the Greeke to sprinkle is rantizo much 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 humanâ— authority both ancient and moderne might be produced herein all which would be needlesse seeing the Scripture it selfe is so cleere in the point as is before already declared Nor can it be proved That Baptisme was administred any other way then by dipping for at least a thousand yeares after Christ To conclude then this point if to Baptise be to dip as is proved then whosoever is not dipped is not Baptized and he that is only sprinkled or hath water only imposed upon him is not dipped whence this consequence clearely results That all those that have the administration of Baptisme either by sprinkling or by any washing without dipping have not the Baptisme of the New-testament and by consequence are un-baptized persons Repent yee therefore and be Baptized every one of you into the name of the Lord Iesus for the remission of sinnes Acts 2. 38. And now why tarriest thou arise and be Baptized and wash away thy sinnes calling on the name of the Lord Acts 22. 16. For rebellion is as the sinne of witch-craft and stubbornnesse as iniquity and Idolatry 1 Sam. 15. 23. Thirdly The power authority and office of the ministry 3. by which it is there administred is received from the Bishops who received their power from the Antichristian State of Rome That the Bishops received their power from Rome is manifest and also confessed by themselves in their book of Ordination dedicated to Arch-Bishop Abbot by Francis Mason and printed by authority Anno Dom. 1613. Lib. 1. cap. 2. fol. 11. That this is so and that the office of the ministry there exercised is received from the Bishop is a
qualifications make a Minister as some vainely imagine but only makes him fit to be chosen into Office by the Church for if gifts or qualifications were a call to the Ministry then should Judges Counsellors Lawyers and others in the Land be reputed to be Ministers because many of these have abilities to be Ministers yet not called of God to be Ministers no more then an able Citizen is called to be the Major of the Citie by his abilities without his being lawfully chosen and placed into that Office by the Citizens and therefore qualification is no such inward call of God as is dreamt of for the call and choice of the Church of Christ by the authority given unto it by Christ is now the only ordinary true call of God to this Office and Ministry and yet not debarring the exercise of any other mans gifts either within or without the Church Object But some may object That surely these Ministers issued not from the Bishops for if they did then would they plead for their authority and not against it as most of our good Ministers now doe Answ Surely these issued from the Bishops for if they did not then would they have pleaded against their authority and not for it as most of our good Ministers did but two yeares agone and therefore seeing that their authority was unlawfull then as now and these Ministers the very same men and as learned wise and Godly then as now and the Gospell the same eternall and unchangeable Truth then as now whence then cometh this great change in these great Clerks but only from the change of the times as the reasonable motion doth informe us wherefore it is most reasonable for all men to be no longer deluded by relying and tying their Faith upon the judgements of these or any other men in the world nor upon ought else save only upon the naked truth of Gods word seene and apprehended by their own eyes and judgements and not by others nor to follow any man not Paul himselfe any further then they or he follow Christ but to accompt all the holiest men upon earth holyest Angels in heaven to be accursed if they teach any thing to be beleeved or practised in the worship of God but that which may clearely be proved by the word of God or if they go about to detain the in any false way of worship or debar them from trying all things conducing to their finding out of the truth or enjoying the just liberty purchased them by Iesus Christ 1 Cor. 7. 23. 1 Pet. 1. 18. Gala. 5. 1. If it be objected that they being no Masse-Priests are not Object Antichristian I answer they have the same Office as Masse-priests Answ though reformed in many things and this both the doctrine and practise of the Church of England pleading for succession from Rome as the Booke of Ordination and place formerly quoted doth evidently confirmeâ— All the Masse-priests in Queene Maries dayes for that purpose were upon their submitting to the Service booke continued Ministers in their severall Congregations in Queene Elizabeths dayes by vertue of their former Ordination and so are such Masse-priests at this day although Ordained at Rome received and continued in the Church of England upon the aforesaid conditions without any new Ordination And seeing it is their own constant affirmation that Ordination as they terme it makes a Minister it must follow that no new Oâ—dination no new Minister but they remaine still the old Masse-priests only reformed from that kinde of Massing and therefore Antichristian But all are not so made Ministers because some are chosen by Object the parish Assemblies 1. There be very few so chosen Answ 2. The Parish Assemblies are not such Churches to whom the power of Christ is committed Acts 2. 41. 44 47. 1 Cor. 1. 2 Rom. 1. 7 8. Philip. 1. 7. 3. These are Ministers before the choyce and after their leaving the Parish nor can the Parish choose any but such as are Ministers ordained by the Bishops and are not therefore made Ministers by their choyce Object But these seeke that all Episcopall power and Antichristian Lording it over the Faith and consciences of any might be utterly taken away that none other of like natur might be set up to compell men to any forme of worship prescribed by the variable Lawes and precepts of men but that the just liberty of conscience herein might be enjoyed and that the sole authority and insallible rule of lesus Christ already set up and established by his own blood might take place Answ That this is their intentions is too good to be true and too true I feare to be thought good by them But is not this rather their aymes they having bin long kept in servitude and bondage under their Fathers and now desiring a freedome would only like undutifull Sonnes be rid of their Fathers that they might divide the Inheritance and dominion amongst themselves and to set out the same power in nature only in another edition and character Object But ought not we being Lay-men and unlearned beleeve our learned and Godly Divines and relie upon their judgements in divine matters and worship before our own private opinions Ans We are herein neither to relie upon our own private opinions nor upon the judgements of all the most Godly man in the world no not though they should all concurre in one but only upon Gods word alone and this I will prove first by Scripture secondly by the Doctrine of the Church of England Thirdly by reason First by Scripture we are not to relie upon men for our bodily much lesse for our spirituall safety he is pronounced blessed that trusteth only in God Ier. 17. 5. and cursed that puts trust in man ver 7. It is the Saints practise and duty to trust only in God Psal 62. 7 8. we are commanded to beleeve God and blamed if we do not Joh. 4. 21. 8. 45 46. And in respect of divine matters no man upon Earth is to be called Father Master or Doctor but Christ only and our Father which is in Heaven Mat. 23 8 9 10. Herein are we not to be servants to any into or men 1 Cor. 7. 23. but to serve God only Mat. 4. 10. And herein are we not to feare any man no not the wrath of Princes Mat. 10. 28. Heb. 11. 26 27. Dan. 3. 16 17 18. Secondly by the Doctrine of the Church of England who 2. will not assume any such authority over the faith of any man as to tie him to beleeve or practise any thing in Religion upon her credit or upon the credit of any man or men in the world in asmuch as she hath declared expressely in the 21 Article of her Doctrine That generall Counsells even these in things ordained by them as necessary to salvation have neither strength nor authority unlesse it may be declared that they be taken out of the Scripture
and an Inheritor of the Kingdome of Heaven but Scripture cited in the former point declares the contrary Object But they will say That the Sureties promise that the Infants shall beleeve and repent and forsake the Divell and all his works so soons as they come to yeares of discretion Ergo c. Answ To this I answere that this is monstrous and to be abhorred for it is no lesse then to cause men to assume and arrogate to themselves the Prerogative of the most high who is the author and finisher of Faith the giver of every spiritrall gift and ability by whom we overcome Satan and all his power and this he giveth to whom hee listeth Ioh. 3. 8. Seeing then that Faith and Repentance is only from him and given to or wrought in whom he listeth how dare any to be so presumptuous as to cause any to promise that another shall beleeve or repent or forsake the Divell and all his works dare they presume to cause any to undertake that which appertaineth only to the Lord this argueth therefore great impiousnesse for they by this either would beare the world in hand that men can worke Faith and Repentance when and in whom they please or else that they have the Lord at their beck to performe their wills or last of all which I rather thinke that they cause that to be promised which they regard not whether ever it be performed or not for this cause let them read Eccles 5. 4. 5. Thus having brought the point to this issue I shall now proceed no further therein having said sufficient to discover the grossenesse of this their only and last shift and if any shall yet assirme that the Faith and Repentance of others may give Infants which have none of their own right to Baptisme they must be such who by their arts and sophistries can clude any truth and colourably justifie any Error though never so grosse and absurd such as this of regenerating Infants by Baptisme grounded upon the Faith and Repentance of Sureties is which though they teach others thus to beleeve I cannot judge them to be so ignorant as to beleeve it themselves for if they did then must I needs admire their great uncharitablenesse and the uncharitablenesse of all Christendome as they call it this 1600 yeares in that they have not in all this time sent two beleeving men and two beleeving women with a Minister or Priest into all the Heathen and Pagan Countries in the world to Baptize and Regenerate their Children Object If it be objected That the Parents being Pagans will was suffer them to Baptize their children Answ I answere though some would not yet in all likelyhood many would Secondly By their converse there in a small time they no doubt might have opportunity to Baptize their Children without the privity of the Parents Object Although this might be done yet afterwards if Christians have not the bringing up of such Children this laber would be lost Ans Not so seeing they are thereby Regenerate made the members of Christ the children of God and the Inheritors of the Kingdome of Heaven And shall any be so wicked as to thinke that Christ would want meanes to save his own members or that God would not finde out meanes to save his own Children God forbid Now then to conclude all seeing the Baptisme whereof we treate is administred to a false end in a false manner by a false power from a false ground and upon a false subject as hath bin proved then the Baptisme it selfe must likewise be false and unlawfull Again for the lawfull administred of every Ordinance of God there must besome institution of God to warrant the same but there is no institution of God to warrant the administration of Baptisme upon Infants therefore the administration of Baptisme upon Infants is unlawfull And againe that administration of Baptisme which hath no expresse command in Scripture and which overthrowes or prevents that administration of Baptisme which is expressely commanded in Scripture is a meer devise of mans braine and no Baptisme of Christs but the administration of Baptisme upon infants hath no expresse command in Scripture and yet it overthrowes of prevents the administration of Baptisms upon Disciples or beleevers which is expresselv commanded in Scripture Matth. 28 19. Mar. 16. 16. Job 4. 1. 2. Act. 2. 38. 8. 37. Therfore the Administratio◠〈◊〉 Baptisme upon Infants is a meere device of mans braine and no â—aptâ—â—â—e oâ— Christ Object If they here object that they hold and maintaine hath the Baptisme of Beleevers and the Baptisme of infants also as in the 27 Articl of the Doctrine of the Church of England is expressed and therefore denie that their Baptizing of Infants doth prevent the Baptisme of beleevers for of any Pagan Tuike or Heathen be converted to the faith they allow them Baptisms Answ I answere first that it is affirmed by the Spirit of Goe that there is but one Lord one faith one baptisme Eph. 4. 5. Now if there be but one Baptisme then either the baptisme of beleevers or the baptisme of Infants destitute or faith must needs be that one true baptisme and not both son to affirme that both is that one true baptisme is a â—â—â—t contradiction Secondly the baptisme of Infants as it is by authority ordained in this Kingdome doth thus farre prevent the baptizâ—ng of beleevers that hereby no native can be baptized upon â—aâ—th seeing all are to be baptized in their Infancy when they are destitute of faith wherefore if all other Kingdomes and Nations did the same then the commandement of Christ for the baptisme of Disciples or beleevers would be quite prevented and destroyed out of the whole world as well as it is out of this Kingdome And therefore notwithstanding this objection it is apparent that herein they have at least so far as in them lies like the Scribes and Pharisees Mat. 15 6. made the commandement of Christ of none effect by their owne traditione And inflany shall here object and say the discovering of the evill of this forme of baptizing is needlesse seeing divers persons see it already to be so frivolous and naught that they much dislike it and will not have their children baptized with Godfathers but upon other grounds namely from the Covenant made with beleevers and their children upon which ground also they of the Separation use to baptize their children wherefore their arguments should have bin likewise answered To which I answere 1 Although some few see this forme of baptisme to be sinfull and naught yet what is this to the rest of the whole Nation who yet make conscience of that Idole to this day 2. Although they of the Separation and some others do mend the matter as they thinke in the baptizing of their Children otherwise and upon other grounds yet what is all this to their own baptisme being naught by their own consession and anullitie also even from their own grounds
thing most evidently knowne whereupon it must needs follow that seeing the power and authority whereby Baptisme is there administred is not from Christ but from an Antichristian Hierarchie that the Baptisme it selfe is not from Christ but from Antichrist likewise The Nonconformists themselves teach us thus to reason for although they approve the Baptisme of Infants when it is administred by themselves of their brethren yet the baptisme administred by the midwife as it was appointed in the book of Common-prayer that they repute to be nothing but a meer prophaning of the name of the Lord Why so did not the mid-wife baptise a right Subject to wit an Infant with a right Element namely with water in a right manner viz by sprinkling water on the face of the Child to a right end that is to say to regenerate the Infant and al this in the name at least as they conceive and to the service of the blessed Trinity Now seeing that in all this the mid-wife was as right as any of them why should not the baptisme administred by the mid-wife be as warrantable and good as if it were administred by any of them Moreover was not the mid-wife a Disciple and a member of the Church aswell as they yea and had she not as lawfull and as true a calling to that Office as any of them for did not the Bishop ordaine her thereunto in one case aswell as authorize them in any other case yet all this availeth nothing with these men to prove this to be the Baptisme of Christ and the reason must needs be this for there can be no other rendred by them because the Lord Jesus Christ hath no where in his word ordained and appointed any women to administer his Baptisme Nor no more hath he any where in his word authorized any men by any false power to administer his baptisme And therefore as the former were none of Christs Ordinance but a humane invention and for that cause by King JAMES justly rejected no more is the latter any of Christs Baptisme but one of Antichrists strong delusions 2 Thessal 2. 1â— and which with him shall one day goe to perdition The truth of this is seene in all Civill States wherin when the Ordinances of the same are administred by such persons as the King or State hath assigned thereunto then are they to be reputed and esteemed as the Ordinances of the State but if a stranger or any other person then such whom the King or State hath so authorized shall attempt to do any such action let him do it never so much like to that which is done by authority as some have bin found too skilfull therein yet notwithstanding he is but a counterfeit and no better then a Traytor against the King and Sâ—ate Apply we this to the present case the Lord Jesus Christ the King of Saints hath instituted and given to his Kingdome which is his Church divers ordinances for the well being thereof and amongst the rest this Ordinance of baptisme and for the administration thereof he hath given rules and precepts to his Church for the authorizing such and such persons to administer the same Now when any such person so authorized shall dip a beleever in water in the Name of the Father Sonne and holy Spirit This is to be esteemed and reputed the baptisme of Christ but when a stranger to the common-wealth of Israel by a false power shall performe any such action let him doe it never so much like and in resemblance to that which is done by the power and authority of the Lord Jesus Christ given unto his Church yet this is but a forgery or a counterfait baptisme and none of the baptisme of Christ That such counterfeits should appeare in the world for the opposing of the truth and deceiving of the people the Lord long since by the Apostle foretold 2 Tim. 3. 9. As Iannes and Iambres saith he to wit the Magicians and Sorcerers of Egypt withstood Moses so shall these withstand the truth Now Iannes and Iambres withstood Moses no otherwise then by their arts counterfaiting and resembling the signes and miracles which Moses and â—â—ron by the power of God wrought before Pharaoh for as Moses cast downe his â—od and it became a Serpent Exod. 7. 10. so likewise the Magicians and Sorcerers cast down every man his rod and they became Serpents also ver 11. 12. And Pharaohs heart was hardened just thus deales Antichrists Ministers who by the Spirit and power of Antichrist resemble and counterfait and thereby resist and oppose the Baptisme of Christ in the hands and ministry of his Servants whereby the hearts and mindes of the people are hardned and prejudiced against the same but as the Magicians Serpent was not the Ordinance of God though like unto the same No more is Antichrists Baptisme the Baptisme of Christ though never so much like thereunto And although notwithstâ—nding by this their jugling and counterfaiting they may for a season dâ—lude the people and harden their hearts agâ—iâ—st the Lord and his truth as the Magicians and Sorcerers did Pharaoh yet saith the Apostle they shall prevaile no further Moses his Serpent devoured the Magicians for their folly shall be made manifest to all men as theirs also was 2 Tim. 3. 9. Object If any object That though they received the Office of Ministry from the Bishops yet they received it from them as Elders and not as they were Lord Bishops Answ If the Bishops be lawfull Elders they must be Elders chosen by a true Church which is a Congregation constituted of Beleevers and Saints by calling Act. 2. 41. 1 Cor. 1. 2. Phil. 1. 7. Rom. 1. 7. 8. As the nineteenth Article of the doctrine of the Church of England doth also witnes whichsaith The visible Church of Christ is a Congregation of faithfull men c. now let them shew where or when such a Church made either the Bishops or any of our Priests to be Ministers or Elders by Election as the Scriptures doth testifie to be done in every Church Act. 14. 23. And as the entrance of all ordinary Offices of which we speake of necessitic presupposeth a Church by whose election they are to enter so their continuance requireth a Church wherin as in a Subject they are to subsist and to which they must minister but the unlawfulnesse of the calling of the Ministry of the Church of England in all these respects is acknowledged by many of themselves who have therefore forsaken and cast off their ministry there received of the Bishops and departed the land and became as Lay-men untill they were authorized a new by the Election and appointment of such a Congregation as they conceived to be a true Church And these were no whit inferior but for most-part did farre exceed any of their fellowes which they left behind them either in learning wisdome or godlinesse or in any other parts or guifts Nor did these men judge that inward