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A70556
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A briefe or generall reply, unto Mr. Knuttons answers unto the VII. questions, about the controversie betwen the Church of England, and the separatist and anabaptist briefly discussed. By John Mabbatt.
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Mabbatt, John.
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1645
(1645)
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Wing M112; ESTC R223722
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35,933
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39
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lesse then two or three Matt. 18.20 3. Beleevers living in severall distinct parts of this Kingdom neither acquainted one with another nor have any thing to doe each with another in the matters pertaining to a Church yet by vertue of their Faith in Christ may have that forme or constituting Cause of a Church hee alledgeth that brings it into relation unto Christ yet none will say they are Christs visible Church as the Apostle meaned when hee writ saying unto the Church of God at Corinth and unto the Church of Galatia and if any will say any thing of them it must be in the words of the Apostle Peter in his first Epistle first Chapter first Vers unto the strangers that dwell here and there throughout Pontus Galatia Capadocia Assia and Bithynia F. Because the Church of England hath the essentiall notes and markes of a true Church 1. The Word of God purely and powerfully Preach't profest and maintained which alwayes gather a People to the Lord being so taught 2. The lawfull Administration of the two Sacraments according to Christs Institution Matt. 28.19 20. 3. True obedience to the Word of God a right following Christ voice and conforming to his will 4. The Vnion with God by his Spirit and Faith and with his Saints by love R. As he could not make it good in the matter and forme of a true Church neither will these Notes and Markes be found in her to be a true Church but will prove like unto the Nethinims who came of the Gibeonites who pretended that they were of the Levites and sought their writing of the Genealogies but it was not found therefore they were put from the Priesthood Josh 9.3.4.9.27 Ezra 2.43.62 Nehem. 7.60.64 65. Laodicean saith I am rich and increased with goods and have need of nothing But the answer of God is and knowest not how thou art wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked Revel 3.17 To the first note for pure preaching of the Word of God it is purely when it is without mixture with humane rites or humane Tradition or Authority of humane Authours But the Church of England in stead of being like unto the House of God the Church of the living God the pillar and ground of truth 1 Tim. 3.15 to hold up and forth pure truth Doth she not hold out Truth mixt with humane rites and Traditions in the Authority of humane Authors witnesse the doctrine of Infants Baptisme which to doe Christ saith you worship me in vaine teaching for Doctrine mens Preceps 2. The Word is purely Preach'd when it is in the simple purity of the Word it self and not to be wise above what is written holding out nothing in matter of Faith and Worship then the pure Word of God holds out so to be which only is sufficient to make the man of God absolute and perfect to all good Workes 2 Tim. 3.15 16 17. But this is not a pure Preaching to affirme that the Scripture is not Sufficient to make the man of God perfect to every good worke Witnesse no man is able to preach the Gospel except he have humane Learning and the knowledge of Tongues 3. Thirdly then is the Word purely Preached when the whole Counsell of God is preached Act. 20.20.27 Now where any part of Gods Counsell is withstood there is no pure preaching of his Word but as it was said conserning the Pharisees and the expounders of the Law in the hearing of Christ preach'd in refusing to have heard to one part of Gods Truth in poynt of Johns Baptisme they were so farre from purely hearing the Word that they are said to despise the Counsell of God Luk. 7.30 so may it be said in the other respect to preach a part and not the whole Counsell of God made known is but to despise the Counsell of God Christs Prerogative Royall peculiar and alone King and Lawgiver to his Church is to be preach'd up and maintained Psal 2.6 Isaiah 9.6 Revel 19.16 and not to pretend to hold up Christs Prerogative in word only to spoile him of his Prerogative Royall which is so done when Christ hath said in his Word thus and thus shall ye preach my Word my will and my Commands But to contradict and say not so as the Word requires but thus and thus according to such and a humane Tradition of the Fathers this is to spoile Christ of his Prerogative as a King and to make void his Commands to his Church which he hath enjoyned them to observe unto the end of the World Mat. 28.20 And where any such things as these be are contrary to pure Doctrine there is not the Word purely preached Further not only purely but powerfully preach'd when according to the power of God subjecting people to the pure word of God that obedience that is from the heart unto the forme of the doctrine of Christ's Word to the truth as the truth is in Jesus not only to one Truth but every Truth of Christ teaching them to observe all that I command you Mat. 28.20 And the Word in such purity and power as the Apostles preach'd it calling and bringing home people unto God this they did in severall places and all this while not a note or marke of a true Church gathered for after this they planted Churches and of these Converts were joyned unto Churches and this may be out of a Church calling and conversion as the hand of the Lord was with divers after the scattering of the Church for the persecution about Stephen Act. 11.19 20 21. 2. F. Note But in the Church of England is the lawfull administration of the two Sacraments according to Christs Institution Mat. 28.19 20. R. By this note or marke of a true Church hee cannot make it good First the two Sacraments must be lawfully Administred and then lawfully when done according to Christs Institution Matt. 28.19 20. Goe teach all Nations baptizing them in the Name of the Father and the Sonne and the holy Ghost In the Institution is plainly laid downe First Teach and then Baptize hee must so teach as the party be instructed by teaching teaching implies a Schollar learning Goe Teach all Nations that is Disciples all Nations Baptizing them Now how lawfully hath this Sacrament been by Mr. Knution or those his aspersion pleads for administred lawfully hath he taught or were they taught Disciples they administred Baptisme upon if not then not lawfully administred as the Institution is given by Christ to be observed Children cannot be the lawfull subjects of this Sacrament for they are not capable of teaching Christ Institutes and commands one thing you say and doe another thing he saith Teach and Baptize you say no Baptise without Teaching yea the untaught and such uncapable of teaching Is this a lawfull administration of this Sacrament and one will not serve without the other if that were lawfully administred for he enjoynes teaching to observe all that he commands vers the 20. F. 3. Note
12. 1. And whosoever hold Regeneration by Baptisme holds a Popish Doctrine 2. If Baptisme did produce it it should doe it to all that partake of it QVESTION V. Whether is it lawfull to rebaptize or not F. I Answer that if one were baptized in the Name of God in generall without particular explication and recitation of the Three Persons be not mentioned but omitted in baptisme it is not right and lawfull baptisme or if one was baptized of those Hereticks who delivered not the right Doctrine of the Trinity such as were the Marcionites Arrians and Pueamatomachi it 's not right and lawfull baptisme because the essentiall forme of Baptisme is not observed which according to Christ's Institution must be In the Name of the Father Sonne and holy Ghost but if it be rightly Administred according to the Institution of Christ and the forme prescribed of him then rebaptizing is unlawfull R. But now whether the baptisme of Infants have been right and lawfull baptisme according to the Institution of Christ examine if not right and lawfull according to Christs Institution they may be baptized againe he implies For whoever is baptized not rightly and lawfully according to Christs Institution as some may be having not the true forme of Words or be baptized by those deliver not the right Doctrine of the Trinity And for the forme of Words saith hee it must be with a particular explication or recitation of the Father and Sonne and holy Ghost now this particular explication or recitation must be in referrence either to himself or to the party baptized to himself it cannot be for hee must understand to explaine and explicate and if he understand what need any explication to himself but then it must be a particular explication or recitation in respect of the party to be baptized and that is proper according to what goes in resolution unto the Apostles Question to those in Act 19.3 unto what were you baptized unto which according to their own knowledge they could give an answer and it is apparent it is to be in referrence unto the party baptized then in Infants cannot be the subject of this Ordinance according to Christs Institution upon whom cannot passe the forme of words in the Institution in any explication unto them according to Mr. Knuttons own words But let us examine the Institution further in referrence unto Infants whether the Institution meanes them at all to be the subject of baptisme Mat. 28.29 Goe therefore and teach all Nations baptizing them in the Name of the Father Sonne and holy Ghost First is the Commission goe yee and this Commission is grounded upon That all power in Heaven and Earth is Christ Exprest in verse before the Institution enjoyne first Teaching Goe yee Teach all Nations and baptize them first is Teaching which plainely implyes a subject to be taught Infants cannot be here meant in the Institution who are not capable of teaching and so not being made Disciples the Institution is not for them to be baptized Now for any to pretend Baptisme and have not the Truth of its Institution void of the Doctrine of the Truth of Christ no Commission from Christ to preach nor right subject of Baptisme useing not the forme of words in the Institution yet pretends persons to be baptized this may easily be counted none that this is no Baptizme and if possible some called to God had been one amongst such without Question it were it is duty to count it none and readily with all submission imbrace and subject unto Christs Ordinance according to his Institution and ought not to be charged for rebaptization but obedient unto Christ who from the light of the Truth of Christ yeeld obedience unto him Matt. 18.10 And though we are not often or more then once to be baptized as to eate the Lords Supper often yet it must be that one Baptisme rightly and lawfully such as Christ hath instituted it to be Matt. 18.19 20. 1 Thess 4.1 2. 2 Thess 2.15 Epist Jude 3. Then am I saith Christ your Lord and Master when ye doe all that I command you Joh. 13.13 14. Ob. Baptisme is a Sacrament of Regeneration A. But you cannot say Baptisme is a Sacrament of Regeneration unto Infants except you will affirme one of these two things 1. That Children in naturall birth have regeneration from their Parents which is contrary to these Scriptures Psal 51.5 Ephes 2.3 Joh. 3.6 2. Or that Baptisme by water doth regennerate which is a Popish Doctrine who hold the Water of Baptisme doth wash away originall sinne in Infants 3. Or if you will cleere your self of this you must aprove from the Institution Baptisme is a Sacrament of Regeneration to Infants which you cannot doe But concerning Beleevers the word proves this that the vertue of the grace of Mortification and Vivification of the Spirit of God wee have from the vertue of Jesus Christ effectually working in us to which Baptisme is a Signe Rom. 6.3.6 Colos 2.12 13. Ob. Those that are only for Beleevers to be Baptized they grossely erre not knowing the Scriptures nor the Power of God in the Sacrament A. Thus only to doe is according to that knowledge the Scriptures give out unto us Mar. 16.16 and upon such only is the experience of the power of God Signed out by this Ordinance made known unto them Collos 2.12 Act. 24.14 15. Ob. Those that are only for the Baptisme of Beleevers they seek to nullifie and frustrate the sacred Ordinance of Christ viz. Baptisme of Infants Secondly Consequently speake blasphemy horribly taking GODS Name in vaine A. It cannot be proved that Baptisme of Infants is an Ordinance of Christs Institution therefore let it be examined who goe about to nullifie this Ordinance of Christ of Baptisme they that observe it as it is Instituted by Christ or they that observe that for his Ordinances his institution requires not that which agrees with it is according to it but that discends from it is contrary to it and workes to annullity of it to beleeve and be Baptized is accordidg to the Institution Mar. 16.16 but the Institution of Christ in the Gospel saith none ere baptize Infants nor in the Gospel no example for it the Apostle plainly saith for what I received of the Lord I delivered unto you as in that of the Supper 1 Cor. 11.23 but never a word no where in the Gospel for this and where he received no Commission from the Lord to doe or require any thing nothing is required of us pertaining unto his Worship And this is certain if any unwritten Tradition for Gods Worship and Service might be suffered to take place in one Ordinance or any part of Gods Worship under the Gospel it would let in an inroade for all and make void the whole worship of God in his Word laid down unto us Collos 2.8.18 Ob. But the second part of the Objection is and so by Consequence speak blasphemy horribly taking Gods Name in