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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A96442	An ansvver to Mr. Francis Cornvvells positions & inferences, concerning dipping, anabaptisme, antipædobaptisme, tythes, and consecrated churches. Wherein the English Ministry is vindicated from the Anti-Christianisme, so deeply by him charged upon them. Published in speciall reference to the good of Mr Cornwells misled congregation. / By Robert Whittle, minister of the word of God at East-Malling in Kent. Whereunto are annexed, the fore-mentioned positions of Mr Francis Cornvvell, entituled, the Nevv Testament ratified with the blood of the Lord Jesus, is the Magna Charta of Beleevers in Jesus the Christ dipped; by which they are justified to be no hereticks.	Whittle, Robert, 1597 or 8-1679.; Cornwell, Francis. New testament ratified with the blood of the Lord Jesus.	1647 (1647)	Wing W2046; Thomason E516_1; ESTC R206141	27,828	25

AN ANSVVER TO Mr Francis Cornvvells POSITIONS INFERENCES Concerning Dipping Anabaptisme Antipaedobaptisme Tythes and Consecrated Churches Wherein the English Ministry is vindicated from Anti-Christianisme so deeply by him Charged upon them Published in speciall reference to the good of Mr Cornwell 's misled Congregation By Robert Whittle Minister of the Word of God at East-Malling in KENT Whereunto are annexed The fore-mentioned Positions of Mr Francis Cornvvell ENTITVLED THE NEVV TESTAMENT Ratified with the Blood of the Lord Iesus is the Magna Charta of Beleevers in Jesus the Christ dipped by which they are justified to be no Heretickes London Printed for W. H. and are to be sold by George Badger in S. Dunstans Churchyard in Fleetstreet 1646. An Answer to Mr. Francis Cornwell 's Positions and Inferences c. IT is an ordinarie fault amongst carnall man that when they have begotten children in their owne Image by their over-doating upon them they make Idolls of them and that from selfe-love and selfe-seeking because they are perswaded their children are like them and themselves hope to be perpetuated in them And certainly this over-doating is more ordinarie upon the Brats of mens owne Braines in which though never so meane whilest men out of an over-weening esteeme please themselves they set them up for others also If this were not true in these our clayes of so much spurious braine-brood why should Mr. Cornwell have set up these lines so like himselfe in print against me and my brethren the English Ministerie He is not such a stranger or so far distant from any of us by him named but that a private letter might easily have passed been sufficient if not to have satisfied each other yet to have expressed any of our parts especially his or mine but he over-runs himselfe into print and calls me after him I must needs follow to look upon and trie according to his desire what he hath set up Concerning this subject whereof I am now to treat there hath been so much already spoken even in these our times by learned men so every way satisfactory to unprejudiced Readers that it may bee accounted presumption and folly in me so every way conscious to my selfe of mine owne weaknesse to thinke of putting pen to Paper But that Master Cornwell defying the Host of Israel the English Ministerie which are the Chariots and Horsemen thereof steps forth and warily makes choice of one of the weakest to Combate with I must answer the Challenge as being particularly ingaged to satisfie the expectation and setrle the mindes of my people and if possible to deliver a silly Lambe or twain from the paw of the Beare or the jawes of the she though not subtile Fox who goes about seeking whom he may beguile Thus then trusting that I am girded with the girdle of truth and that God hath committed to mee with my Brethren the Sword of the Spirit which is mighty in Operation Vincat veritas By the superscription hee seemes onely to desire to justifie himselfe and those of his Sect from being Hereticks but in the sequell flies upon and condemnes the whole English Ministerie for Antichristian and denying Christ two hard taskes for his weak hands to undertake yet hee addes fearefull denunciations against us and his best perswasions to draw us to them As for the name of Heretick whether or no it belong to Master Francis Cornwell and those of his Sect must be tryed for hence is the quarrell because I refused and disswaded others from his company upon this ground because he was an Heretick And yet surely that is the Scriptures rule Tit. 3. 10. A man that is an Heretick after the first and second admoniti●● reject or avoid I am ●●re Mr. Cornwell hath had his first and second admon●ion both verball by the Tongues and Pens of the learned Masters of the Assemblies Doctor Featly and others whose words cannot but bee as Goads and Nailes fastened in him Eccles 12. 11. making him condemne him himselfe Titus 3 11. As also hee hath had his admonition by the hand of Justice and yet persists in his obstinacy even to the seducing and sub 〈…〉 soules creeping into houses and leading captive silly women laden 〈…〉 ed away with divers lusts c Paul foretells of such before the 〈…〉 now they are come we should not thinke it strange 2 Tim. 3. 1. 6. This word Heretick I finde but once named in Scripture and here we see it is with a charge of avoiding him those therefore that use the company and frequenc● the Congregations of Hereticks either out of unselednesse or curiosity walk contrary to the Scriptures rule and doe like the Gnat play with the flame and thrust their finger into the fire for as w●e shall finde all Heresie to bee a fire so this of Anabaptisme Wilde-fire doing much mischiefe and not easily quenched I should be glad to heare that Master Cornwell and his followers would prove themselves no Hereticks their onely way to make it appeare is by reno●●●cing Anabaptisme and Antipaedobaptisime how then should we embrace you as the returned Prodigall after your mispent Talents and as the found sheep after your so farre wandrings But you have no cause to be angrie with mee for calling Anabaptists Hereticks I gave them not that name but onely called them by that name by which they are called and knowne to those that write of them as Musculus and others I might tell you also how they are called by Caloin who was not meane instrument in the Church of God fanatici phrenetici mad and frantick as all other Hereticks are 1 Tim. 3. 9. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 But I forbeare and will see what Master Cornwell can say for himselfe I passe over his Super●cription wherein hee thrusts himselfe into such a mist that I can scarce see him but we shall afterwards more plainly discover him First he layes down two Positions as the foundation of his ensuing discourse and from thence to conclude that he and his Sect are no Hereticks as if Hereticks could not professe two knowne truths and yet be Hereticks in respect of other truths For the first That there is no salvation for any save in the Lord Jesur Christ onely He is rather an Insidell then an Heretick that being of understanding will not professe to believe it For the second That the new Testament is the last Will and Testament of Jesus the Christ ratified with his owne bloud and given to the Church of Beleevers in Jesus the Christ dipped together with all the Promises Ordinances Priviledges and the inheritance therein bequeathed the Testator J●sus being dead is now in force to all Beleevers in Jesus Christs dipped And no men nor powers by what name or title soever distinguished under the penalty of Anathema Maranatha for not loving the Lord Jesus Christ may adde to it or detract from it lest they disannull the everlasting Testament of the Lord Jesus which is to continue untill Christs

ordained a Law that Children should be within the Covenant and have the initiall Seale of the Covenant Gen. 17. let them shew where the Law is repeal'd that Children may not have the initiall Seale as well now under the Gospell as under the Law unlesse Children be by the comming of Christ debarred from some manifestation of Gods grace to them which before they were partakers of as to be members of the Church and to have the initiall Seale of the Covenant which Baptisme is to us as Circumcision was to them even a Seale of the righteousnesse of faith Rom 4. 11. Baptisme succeeding in stead of Circumcision Col. 2. 11 12. where the Apostle tells them they are compleat in Christ not wanting Circumcision being Baptized as is to be collected from that place As also Children belong to the kingdom of God Luk. 18. 16. how can we let them come to Christ but by Baptisme So likewise the children of Beleevers are holy 1 Cor. 7. 14. and the promise belongs to them Acts 2. 39. and they were Typically baptized in the Cloud and in the red sea 1 Cor. 10. 2. and we have Christs command for Baptizing all Nations Matth. 28. 19. And the Apostles examples for Baptizing whole Families without any exception of children which are a great part of a Nation and Family and not one word in Scripture against the Baptizing of children therefore I can see no reason why Children should not bee Baptized and whosoever shall despise that Baptisme which they received in their Infancy despise the Bloud of Christ which was therein offered unto them and unlesse they repent of their heinous sinne they may justly feare that God hath given them over to strong delusions and have great need to pray as we shall be ready to pray for them that if it be possible this their wickednesse may be forgiven them that they may returne from their wandrings and come home to that great Shepheard into his owne Fold to hold the unity of the Spirit in the bond of Peace and love to the praise of the glory of Gods Grace The New Testament ratified with the blood of the Lord Iesus is the Magna Charta of beleevers in Iesus the Christ dipped by which they are justified to be no Heretiques Certaine Positions subscribed by Francis Cornwell a beleever in Jesus Christ dipped to be tryed by the Doctrine of Christ whether they be Hereticall yea or nay Position 1. THat there is no salvation for any man or woman save in the Lord Jesus Christ onely Act. 4. 12. There is salvation in none other For there is none other name under Heaven given among men whereby we must be saved 2. That the New Testament is the last Will and Testament of Jesus the Christ ratified with his owne blood and given to the Church of beleevers in Jesus the Christ dipped together with all the promises ordinances priviledges and the inheritance therein bequeathed the Testator Jesus being dead is now in force to all beleevers in Jesus Christ dipped And no men nor powers by what name or title soever distinguished under the pe●●l●ie of an Anathema Marana●ha for not loving the Lord Jesus Christ may adde to is o● 〈◊〉 from it lest they dis-anull the everlasting Testament of the Lord Jesus which is to continue untill Christs second comming to restore all things Rev. 22. 19. Luk. 22. 20. This Cup is the New Testament in my bloodshed for you viz. beleevers in Jesus the Christ dipped These Positions being granted which I cannot see how otherwise under the penaltie of a curse they can be denyed First then it will necessarily follow That no man nor woman according to the Scriptures of the New Testament can be saved except they beleeve in Jesus the Christ and be dipped Mark 16. 16. He that beleeveth in Jesus the Christ and is dipped shall be saved But he that beleeveth not viz. in the Christ is damned because there is salvation in none other Mark 16. 16. Concerning the salvation of the elect whom he will save in mysticall Babylon even in the darkest times of Popery and Superstition we meddle not with because secret things belong to God and revealed things contained in the inspired Scriptures of the New Testament belong to us Secondly no man nor woman is a fit subject to be admitted into the Church of beleevers in Jesus Christ to continue in the Apostles-Doctrine and fellowship in breaking of bread and prayer according to the Scripture-record of the New Testament unlesse he or she beleeve in Jesus the Christ and be baptized or more properly in English dipped Act. 2. 41. They which gladly received his word were dipped and the same day were added to them viz. the congregation of Christ gathered consisting of an 120 persons in one place both of men and women Act. 1. 4 15. about 3000 soules And they continued stedfastly in the Apostles doctrine and fellowship in breaking of bread an● prayer These things being thus premised I hope it will appeare plainly to every loyall English Covena●ter that standeth for a Reformation in England agreeable to the word of the New Testament ratified with the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ That beleevers in Jesus the Christ dipped are no Hereticks as M. Whittle Minister of East-Maling in Kent and his brethren doe affirme in publick they are For these ensuing Reasons 1. The Congregations of beleevers in Jesus the Christ dipped doe confidently affirme in all their teaching that there is no salvation save in the Lord Jesus the Christ onely Act. 4. 12. 2. That Jesus who was crucified dead and risen through whom we that beleeve receive remission of sinnes and are justified from all things from which we could not be justified by the law of Moses Act. 13. 39. even I say that Jesus in whom we beleeve and preach is exalted to be the Christ as holy Paul affirmeth Act. 17. 3. and Peter Act. 2. 36. 1. The Lord Jesus is the Christ in English Annoynted of God to be our high Priest that offered his owne body in sacrifice to take away our sinnes Heb. 10. 10 14. and that ever liveth to make intercession for us Heb. 7. 5. 2. He is the Christ in English Annoynted of God to be our Prophet whom the Father of glory commandeth us to heare Matth. 17. 5. Heare him Peter telleth us the extent how far in all thing whatsoever he shall say unto us Act. 3. 22. Else the danger followeth It shall come to passe that every soule which refuseth to heare that Prophet shall be destroyed from amongst the people Act. 3. 23. He is the Christ in English Annoynted of God to be our King whom the Father of glory hath exalted to be the highest power in heaven and earth Ephesi 2. 20. Matth. 28. 18. 22 Christ himselfe acknowledgeth therefore every soule must be subject in spirituall things to this highest power For whosoever resisteth this power resisteth the ordinance of God and they that resist receive

second comming to restore all things Rev. 22. 19. Luke 22. 20 This Cup is the new Testament in my bloud shed for you viz. Beleevers in Jesus the Christ dipped For the new Testament being in ●●rce is not to be questioned amongste us it is the undoubted Doctrine of the Church of England And the Apostle tells us what that Testament is Hebr. 8. 10 11 12. I will put my Lawes in their mind and write them in their hearts and I will be to them a God and they shall be to me a people c. For Testament Covenant here are both one 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or if you speak of the writings of the Evangelists and Apostles which by a Metonymie are commonly knowne by the name of the new Testament we reverence and receive them all we will be farre from adding to them or detracting from them but if you account our receiving the Morall Law and the Prophets any adding to this new Testament there we leave you to the Anabaptists your Brethren who as Polanus tells us are divided into two Sects the modester reject the writings of the old Testament the other reject the whole Scripture both old and new Testament and pretend immediate Revelation you seeme to incline to the former but we doe not make void the Law through faith but we establish the Law Rom. 3. 31. And are built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Jesus Christ himselfe being the chiefe corner-stone Eph. 2. 20. But suppose both your Positions as farre as you speak plaine granted onely with a reservation of something to be said concerning your affected Word Dipped whether you referre it to Christ or Beleevers where you impose a necessity of it to salvation what will follow hereupon That you are no Hereticks Nay in the very first consequence you draw from thence you shew your selfe Hereticall For say you First then it will necessarily follow that no man nor woman according to the Scriptures of the new Testament can be saved except they beleeve in Jesus the Christ and be dipped Mark 16. 6. What a necessity fo Baptisme to salvation So that none can be saved without Baptisme the Text by you alledged doth not prove it what then is this your assertion upon it but an addition to it and so a bringing your selfe under your threatned Anathema the Text threatens indeed Damnation to unbeleevers but not to the unbaptized Neither will your following exception helpe you Corcerning the salvation of the elect whom he will save in mysticall Babylon even in the darkest times of Poperie and Superstition wee meddle not say you But how can you meddle with the Salvation of any if not of the Elect seeing salvation belongeth onely to the elect againe if you except onely the elect whom he will save in mysticall Babylon even in the darkest times of Poperie and superstition what then shall become of the Elect under the light of the Gospel shall not the foundation of God stand sure for these without mans putting to his helping hand to dip them Shall their salvation depend upon that which is in the power of man to give or deny I should thinke it blasphemy in my se●● so to limit the power or restraine the grace of God Againe suppose you should convert one to be and make profession for matter of faith altogether as your selfe and that he should desire to be Dipped if hee should dye as it is possible he might before you could dip him were it unpossible for him to be saved It is an ucomfortable Doctrine to your poore Congregation not any way warrantable by the Word of God you must goe to the Councell of Trent for your Warrant for this your necessity and to Bellarmine for arguments to uphold it and then in pitty to some poore soules set up a Limbu●● or else it will downe The Apostle tells us that we are justified by Faith Rom ● 28. and saved through faith Ephsians 2. 8. Without annexing dipping why then doe you make Dipping necessary to Salva●ion for that without which a thing cannot be done is absolutely necessarie to the doing of the thing and of this kinde you make dipping to Salvation As for your second consequence if you understand it of men and women disting●ished from children we account Faith and Baptisme necessarie for their admission and continuance in the communion of Saints but because you afterward require a ma●ifestation of the beliefe of their hearts by the confession of their lips and would for want of this exclude children from Baptisme and the Communion of Saints we shall hereafter examme that more fully Here you will have Baptized more properly Dipped and so impose upon us a necessity of Dipping which is the maine thing wherewith you trouble ignorant people That their Baptisme was no Baptisme because they were not dipped The Question then is whether Dipping bee necessry in Baptisme which you and your followers much insist upon First the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to Baptize is of a larger signification than that it can be expressed by any one word in any language knowne either to you or me and therefore that word it selfe borrowed from the Greeks is used in most languages It signifies as the Masters of the Greek tongue declare as to Dippe and to dye so to wash and to cleanse by any appliction of water to the thing or the thing to water as sprinkiling or powring on of Water and of a larger extent even in Scripture Phrase than all these and therefore not to be restrained to your one word dipping If so often as th● Word Baptizing is used in Scripture you should render it by dipping you would make it ridiculous to your owne Congregation unlesse you had prepared them to swallow any thing upon your bare word Doe you think that the washing of Tables was by dipping co●ld every house have a place fit to dip a Table in yet it is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Baptisme Mark 7. 4. Let any indifferent reader judge whether it were proper or fit to render that Matth. 3. 11. He shall dippe you with the Holy Ghost and with fire which signified the Holy Ghosts comming upon them Acts 1. 5. 8. being a fulfilling of that Prophefie Joel 2. 28. I will powre out my Spirit upon c. Acts 2. 3 4. Acts 2. 16 17. So that here you see by Bapti●ing is not meant dipping but powring upon and so in Ba●tisme we powre water upon the childe Or that place they were all Baptized to Moses in the Cloud and in the Sea ● 〈◊〉 10. 2. Will you render it dipped When the Scripture tells us that Israel went on drie ground through the middest of the Sea Exod. 14. Or can it be imagined that they were dipped in the Cloud when the Cloud was made a comfortable covering unto them and it cannoto be conceived how they were baptized in it but by the sprinkling drops that fell from it The Apostle tells us

Heb. 9. 10. of divers Washings or different Baptismes yet all be there called Baptismes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 If there be divers and different sorts of Baptismes why doe you restraine the word to one sort and that of Dipping The Apostle tells us speaking of Baptisme Ephes 5. 26. that Christ cleanseth his Church with the washing of Water by the Word so that Baptisme is here called by the generall name of washing which is done other wayes as well as by Dipping by any application of water to the thing or the thing to water The Author of Eclesiasticus who was questionlesse well acquainted with the Ceremonies of the Hebrewes and the language of the Greeks calleth the sprinkling of the waer of Purification upon him that touched the dead 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Baptismes from the dead Ecclus. 34. 25. as Casaubon well observes Yet we know that those Baptismes were by Gods speciall appointment but sprinklings Num. 19. 18. 20. The like manner of Purification had the Heathen both Greeks and Latins So that the word doth not not signifie Dipping onely but any Washing by powring on or sprinklng of water Neither can it be proved by Scripture that ever the Sacrament of Baptisme was administred by Dipping no one word seemeth to make for it although some urge Johns Baptizing of Jesus or Philips Baptizing of the Eunuch as for Johns Baptizing the Phrase Baptizing in Jordan implyes Dipping no more then Baptizing in a Font or Bason implyes Dipping in a Font or Bason and whereas it is said Jesus went up out of the Water the Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is translated out of signifies properly from so that it is went up from the water which he might doe without having been in the Water And as for the Eunuch and Philip they went downe both into the water and they came up out of the water so they might doe for any kinde of washing as to have water powred upon him as well as to be Dipped and it is not probable that being in his journey hee was provided of Cloathes fit to bee dipped in and if hee was to be stripped in the presence of others that may seem an undecent manner of approaching to Gods Ordinances unlesse we will turne Adamites For that instance Acts 2. 41. of three thousand we read not of their going to any River or place of Waters to be Dipped in and it would have been a ha●d matter to have Dipped three thousand in one day according to your manner neither is it probable that the Jaylor who at midnight was Bahtized went forth of his house or had in his house any conveniency for Dipping so that for ought that can be collected from Scripture Baptisme may be administred by any washing of Water Eph. 5. 26. either Dipping or Sprinkling or powring on of water As also the thing signified in Baptisme is as well expressed by other application of water as by Dipping as that the party Baptized is made partaker of the benefit of Christs Bloud-shed The Appostle having shewed Heb. 9. 13 14. That the bloud of Christ which was fore-signified by those Legall Sprinklings purgeth the conscience exhorteth Cap. 10. 22. to draw neare having our hearts sprinkled from an evill conscience and our bodies washed with pure water what sprinkling can this be but of the bloud of Christ and what washing of water can better than sprinkling expresse this sprinkling of Christs bloud which we are Elected unto 1 Pet. 1. 2. Elect unto obedience and sprinkling of the bloud of Jesus Christ So also Christians Heb. 12. 24. are come to Jesus the Mediatour of the New Testament and to the bloud of sprinkling that speaketh better things than that of Abell which cannot be understood but of the bloud of Jesus and because it is called the bloud of sprinkling when he is called the Mediatour of the new Covenant the Sacrament of our admission into this Covenant cannot better signifie and seale unto us that bloud of the Covenant than by sprinkling which also was fore-shewed by those Legall Sprinklings When the people entred into Covenant with God and promised obedience to what was written in the Booke of the Covenant Moses sprinkled the Bloud of the Covenant upon the people Exod. 24. 8. Also when Isaiah prophesied of the conversion of many Nations Isa 52. 15. he setteth it forth under that phrase of Sprinkling He shall sprinkle many Nations and how can they be said to be sprinkled upon their conversion but by the Seale of their admission even Baptisme administred unto them upon their conversion in many Nations by Sprinkling Not that I account Sprinkling necessary or Dipping unlawfull in Baptisme if this were the only difference we should quickly be reconciled any decent manner of applying and washing with water is indifferent to signifie the application of the benefit of Christs bloud to the party baptized And if it could be proved that Baptisme was administred by Dipping in the Apostles time yet it would not follow that the Church were therefore necessarily tyed to that particular in the administration being no Precept for it more than for any other kind of washing bare Example without Precept bindeth not we have Christs example for administring the Communion with unleavened bread after Supper and in a upper Chamber yet none will say we are bound to follow his example in these particulars because there is no Precept for them Thus supposing that Mr Cornewell hath laid a good foundation in his positions yet it appeares by his Hay and Stubble that he hath built upon it that he hath forgotten the Apostles Counsell 1 Cor. 3. 10. Let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon Now he begins to set up something against me and my Brethren to fight against He hopes it will appeare that Beleevers in Jesus the Christ Dipped are no Hereticks as Mr Whittle and his Brethren do affirme in publike they are Certainly his extreame weakenesse cannot but appeare in placing me so weake and unworthy in the front of my so much worthier Brethren but where and when did ever any of us affirme in publike this indefinite proposition thus indefinitely which may beare the force of an Universall which none of us will affirme that all Beleevers are Heretickes but if you will lay it as a particular that some which professe themselves Beleevers in Jesus Christ are Heretickes that will appeare too true there are more Articles of the Christian faith than one or two to be beleeved to keepe us from Heresie I approve of M. Cornwels profession of his faith in Christ as farre as he goeth without making mis-application of it in too much restraining the subject of Baptisme one way of which hereafter and too much enlarging it another way that voice of the Gospell Acts 2. 38. Be baptized in the name of Jesus belongeth as a Precept only to those which have not as yet been baptized but if Mr Corne. shall extend it to those that have been

Rev. 14. 12. cryeth from heaven for vengeance this day against you who now walke in the steps of the high Priest and Pharisees of old who killed the Lord Jesus and their owne Prophets and have persecuted us and please not God and are contrary to all men forbidding us to preach the Gospel to the Nations that they may be saved to fill up their sinne alwayes for the wrath of God is come upon them to the utmost 1 Thess 2. 15 16. But if you have hardened your hearts through the love of money which is the root of all your evill Yet good Lord open the understanding of the multitude of the people that you have so long deceived by your pretended holinesse and humane learning that remaine in mysticall Babylon yea and give them a true knowledge to depart from them and not be partakers of sinne denying the Lord Jesus the Christ Yea and the good Lord convince them that they have beene in the number of them that have persecuted the Lord Jesus in his members that have contended for the faith of Jesus Christ though they did ignorantly through unbeliefe so that they may trembling cry out What shall we doe Oh let thy good Spirit direct them ● to repent of their dead works and be baptized every one of them in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ for remission of their sinnes yea and give them the gift of thy holy Spirit that they may willingly forsake their spirituall Aegypt the pleasures and profits of this world And chuse rather to suffer affliction with the people of God then enjoy the pleasures of sinne for a season yea and esteeme the reproach for Christ to be greater riches then all the treasures of Aegypt knowing there is a reward of glory sayd up for them in the highest heavens Heb. 11. 26. M. Whittle I read in the Scriptures but of two Testaments The first was made by the circumcised people of Israel and ratified with the blood of Calves and Goats c. And Moses sprinkled both the Booke and all the people saying This is the blood of the Covenant that God hath enjoyned you Exod. 24. 6 7 8. compared with Heb. 10. 19 20. This Testament was to continue and to be observed by the circumcised people in their generation without any alteration either by addition or dimunition under the penaltie of a curse untill the time of Reformation Heb. 9. 10. Namely untill Christ the substance of all the shadowes was come and crucified Ephess 2. 14 15. 2. The second or New Testament ratified with the blood of the Lord Jesus with all the Promises Ordinances Priviledges and the Inheritance therein bequeathed the Testator Jesus being dead is now in force to beleevers in Jesus the Christ dipped and is to remaine till Christ commeth againe to restore all things And no man or powers under the penaltie of Anath●ma Maranatha may adde to it or detract from it lest they dis-annull this last Testament Rev. 22. 18 19. These things being thus premised you may God enlightning you easily discerne the vanitie of that distinction that is now in use amongst you of the English Ministery by which you deceive your simple hearers namely that there is one promise belongeth to the gathering of a Church and another promise belongeth to a Church gathered First they say Abraham was called and circumcised and then his seed after him was to be circumcised So say they when God calleth his Church from Jewes and Heathen they must first beleeve and repent before they are baptized But when the Church is gathered then say they the promise belongeth to the beleever and his seed and the seed or infants of beleevers are to be baptized Now that you may see the vanitie of this distinction Moses that was faithfull in all his house as a servant layeth downe the subject matter who should worship God in Israel and keepe the Passe-over and the Ordinances thereof namely the circumcised Israelites Hence the Covenant of circumcision was given at once to Abraham and all borne in his house and bought with his money of any stranger which was not of his seed Every male amongst them must be circumcised the eighth day or else they must be cut off from the people the Covenant was broken And it is said of Abraham that he circumcised himselfe and Ismael his son and all borne in his house and bought with his money the selfe-same day that God commanded him Gen. 17. 9 10 11 12 13 14. So Gen. 17. 23 24 25 26 27. And If a stranger will keepe the Passeover to the Lord let all his Males be circumcised and then let them come neere and keepe it For no uncircumcised person shall ea●e thereof Exod. 12. 48. So that there was not on● way for the admittance of the father and another for the seed but one way for both and it was to be a token in their flesh for an everlasting Covenant namely that 〈◊〉 keeping the Law should have the Land of Canaan for an everlasting possession Gen. 17. 8 13. But when Israel changed this subject-matter she is called a rebellious house because she brought in strangers uncircumcised in flesh and uncircumcised in heart to eate of his bread and pollute his Sanctuary And God chargeth them to have broken his Covenant Ezek. 44. 6 7. compared with Gen. 17. 14. Exod. 12. 48. So the Lord Jesus that was faithfull in all his House as a Son which house are we beleevers in Jesus Christ dipped Heb. 3. 6. layeth downe how his Church should be gathered out of all Nations namely by preaching the everlasting Gospel and who shall be baptized namely every creature in every Nation that beleeveth in Jesus Christ and repenteth of his dead workes seeing the New Testament holdeth but one Lord Jesus Christ one Gospel-faith and one Baptisme So that a beleever in Jesus Christ dipped is the subject-matter to worship God in his spirituall house of the New Testament and no man under the penaltie of a curse might alter it Gal. 1. 8 9. And as the Prophet was not to shew any of the Israelites that had broken the Covenant in admitting strangers uncircumcised in flesh to come into his Sanctuary Ezek. 44. 6 7. untill they were ashamed of their abominations But if they were ashamed of all they had done then they were to shew them the forme of the house and the fashion thereof the going out thereof and the comming in thereof c. Ezek. 43. 10 11. Neither can you expect O you that are of the English Ministery that the Lord Jesus 〈◊〉 shew you the beautie of his spirituall House and the catring in there at and the O●d 〈…〉 thereof So long as contrary to your Covenant to oppose all Popery and Popish In 〈…〉 and to see a Reformation agreeable to the Word of God you joyne with th● Apostate 〈◊〉 the Priest and the Councell of the 66 Bishops in the dayes of cyprian yet in their time and a long season after they held baptizing of infants as an arbitrary thing untill it was after ratified by ● Decree in the time of Pope Innocentius 3. under the penaltie of E●communication for all N●●●nall Chruches under the Popes Jurisdiction to observe Namely that baptisme of infan●s of beleevers should succeed circumcision And by this Act of Fidus and the Councell of 66 Bishops and the Decree of Innocentius the third the Nationall Churches have ●roden the holy C●●●●● beleevers in Jesus Christ dipped under foot ne●re 42 moneths which reckoning a day 〈◊〉 year may amount to neer 1260 years Rev. 11. 2. unlesse the Lord of his free mercy open your 〈◊〉 with the eye-salve of his Spirit and make you ashamed of all your Traditions of infant-baptisme whereby you have enrighted a wrong subject to the Promises Ordinances Priviled g●● and Inheritance of the Spirituall house of the New Testament And when the Lord by his good Spirit shall convince you of all the evill you have done in Persecuting Christ in his Members 〈◊〉 contend for the Gospel faith and especially for oppos●●g the Lord Jesus in his Kingly and P●●ph●ticall Offices in all his outward administrations in admitting of Members into the spirituall Kingdome of the Lord Jesus Namely by repentance from dead workes confession of faith 〈◊〉 Jesus Christ and baptisme which are the three first principles of the Doctrine of Christ which all the members of the Churches of Judea which were in Christ tooke up and practised before they were added to the spirituall house in breaking of bread and prayer Heb. ● ● Act. 2. 41. So that you trembling cry out What shall we doe The holy Spirit by Peter that sp●●●eth will tell you Repent and be dipped every one of you in the Name of the Lord Iesus Christ for the remission of sinnes and yee shall receive the gift of the holy Spirit Then so many of 〈◊〉 as shall gladly receive his word shall be dipped and shall be added to the Congregation of beleevers in Jesus the Christ to continue in the Doctrine we have received from the Apostles 〈◊〉 in Sain●s fellow-ship that keepe the Commandement of God and the faith of Jesus Rev. 14. ●● and in breaking of bread and prayer Act. 2. 41. 42. and have a right to all the Promises 〈◊〉 ledges and Inheritance that Jesus Christ according to his New Testament hath purchased 〈◊〉 you that obey his Gospel Heb. 5. 8. Yours who is adjudged as Hereticks by you but because he refuseth to keepe the Traditions of the Elders but will rather observe the Commandement of Christ as the Pharisees of old upbraided Christs owne Disciples Matth. 15. 2. yet prayeth that God would open your understandings that you might understand the New Y●stament Christ hath ratified with his owne blood that yee might not sinne against his mercies and his members lest you stay your owne soules Francis Cornewell FINIS