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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
ground_n	believe_v	church_n	faith_n	6,736	5	6.2916	4	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A76800	The storming of Antichrist, in his two last and strongest garrisons; of compulsion of conscience, and infants babptisme [sic]. Wherein is set down a way and manner for cburch [sic] constitution; together with markes to know right constituted churches, from all other societies in the world. Also the cruelty inequality and injustice of compulsion for conscience, by 29. arguments is opened; with an answer to 26. objections brought for the same. Also 12. arguments against the baptizing of infants; with an answer to 26. objections brought for the same. Wherein is displayed to the view of all, from the testimonies of Scriptures, Fathers, councels; the mischiefs, uncertainties, novelties, and absudities [sic] that do attend the same. Wherein is answered the most valid arguments brought by St. Martiall, in his sermon preached in the Abbey Church at Westminister, for the defence hereof. With an answer to Mr. Blake his arguments, in his book cald Birth-priviledge; and to the arguments of divers others. As also a catechisme, wherein is cleerely opened the doctrine of baptisme, together with a resolution of divers questions and cases of conscience, about baptisme. Written by Ch. Blackwood, out of his earnest desire he hath to a thorow reformation, having formerly seen the mischiefs of half reformations.	Blackwood, Christopher.	1644 (1644)	Wing B3103; Thomason E22_15; ESTC R7842	101,204	126

heard or else if they refused then banishment and imprisonment followed or some such punishment witnesse the banishment of Molerus from Wittemburge and Zanch● from Strasburge and many others 5 There is no promise that all the Protestant churches shall be kept from errour from the time of Luther or Calvin or that they shall come into a state of perfection all at once either in point of doctrine or discipline we tax it as a brand of Roome to hold the church cannot erre and we by the same position shall cast our selves upon a desperate rock of never amending what is amisse Object 26. There are many mischiefes goe along with it and therefore we ought to abandon this Doctrine of not baptizing infants 1 There will be a wide doore set open to heathenisme for a great part of the world will in time become heathens seeing many that goe for Christians pertake of nothing in christianitie but their baptisme Answ 1. This will be no damage but benefit to christianity in that many that live the lives of heathens under the name of Christians will be discovered and seeme as they are so the name of God will be kept from blaspheming by these whose infant baptisme saith they are Christians when they are only artificiall christians 2 This will overthrow parishes or Parochiall churches Answ True and I thinke it comes neerer the Apostolicall institutions wherein calling out of the world by beleeving and repenting did make a person capable of baptisme Tho●ndi●e of the primit●v gov●●nment of c●u●c●es pag. 16. 17 and so to become a member of a church not onely the Apostles but after them Apost●licall men went to chiefe cities and preacht there and those in the city and in the adjoyning parts that came to heare having their hearts opened became a church It s plaine saith one the Apostles could not bestow their paines on all places hence reason required they should labour most to plant the faith in the most populous places and common sence and the least knowledge of times will serve to show that from thence it was propagated through the countries that lay to those cities halfe the citie of Rome were not christians in Cyprians time which was long after the Apostles For the division of parishes it is but of late standing in the depth of Antichrists mists in which blinde times it s very improbable that the multitude of men and women were fit matter for a Church I fear me this parochiall constitution and the large tithes that doe accompany it are one of the greatest objectons that hinder the passage of this truth 3 Though this were truth yet it s now unseasonable when there are so many divisions Answ It is most seasonable now had it come at any other time an Episcopall or presbiteriall power might have crushed it there were never more times of likelihood then when men are upon such a generall enquiry for truth and each man gives his reasons for his dissent from others practise truth is never unseasonable I will conclude this with a saying of A ●brose ad Theodosium Augustum lib. 5. epist. 29. tom 3. pag. 109 nihil in sacerdote c. There is nothing in a priest or presbiter so dangerous with God so filthy with men then not freely to speake what he thinks seeing that it is written I spake of thy testimonies before Kings and was not confounded 4 That such persons as hold this are going into deeper errours and that this is but the entrance and that God gives up such persons every where to dangerous opinions Answ This is but one of Satans old juglings no disparagement to our accusers I know most that I have been acquainted with are as sound in the faith as our accusers free from Socinianisme familisme Popery Arminianisme or any other doctrine which is unsound as our accusers that do accuse us and shall be ready to give a confession of our faith if we shall be duely called thereunto wherein we shall confesse what we hold in opposition to the fore named errours 5 It is against charity in making schisme in the Church Answ How is it possible ever to recover the soules of men out of this will worship but by dividing from the common practise 2. Christ and his disciples were not schismaticks in keeping his passeover two daies different from the received practise of the Jewish Church God commanded Num. 9.3 That it should be kept in the 14. day of the first moneth in the appointed season and the Jewish teachers and people put it off to the 16. day as appears because the day Christ was crucified on was the day after his passeover Mat. 20.19.20 compared with John 18.28 But the day he was crucified on was the day before the passeover as appeares Iohn 18.28.19 14. No more are we Schismatikes keeping to the rule though the generality of men practise otherwise 3. With Luther I say potius quam aliquid discedat gloriae dei oceidat non solem pax sed etiam Coelum terra rather then any thing depart from the glory of God let not onely peace but heaven and earth fall A briefe CATECHISME Concerning BAPTJSME Drawne from the preceding Disputation Question WHat is the English word of Baptisme Answer Dipping or Washing by dipping never doth it signifie Sprinkling Quest. What is this Sacrament of Baptisme or dipping a signe or seal of Answ It is a signe of my death and burying and resurrection with Christ Rom. 6.3 4. of my putting on of Christ Gal. 3.27 and that as by water I put away the filth of my flesh So have I the answer of a good conscience by the death and resurrection of Christ 1 Pet. 3.21 Quest Whether is Baptisme a signe of grace to be wrought in future or of grace already wrought Answ Or both 1. Of grace already wrought Heb. 10.22 Let us draw neer in full assurance having our heart sprinkled from an evill conscience and our bodies washt with pure water Col. 2.12 Buried with him in baptisme wherein you have risen again 2. Of grace to be further wrought Rom. 6.4 That Christ will give us strength to walke in newnesse of life Quest. Who are fit subjects for Baptisme Answ Onely such as beleeve Acts 8.12 37 16 34 18 8. Mat. 28.19 and such as repent Acts 2.38 Mat. 3.6 Quest Why are not infants fit subjects of Baptisme Answ Because they do not beleeve nor can give any church any true grounds upon which the Minister can administer the Ordinance neither are they in Christs Commission and therefore are excluded Quest Whether do you thinke it would be better for persons to have Baptisme deferred till they be able to make profession of their faith Answ Yes it would be far better for hereby the churches would have a right matter that is Saints in profession and persons would be carefull to get knowledge and holinesse whereas now they are carelesse of of both Quest. What mischiefe and hurt comes by infants

that it may be signified and sealed unto them that are baptised that they are taken into the communion of the covenant of grace planted in Christ and his misticall body justified of God for the blood of Christ powred out for us and ● generated by the spirit of Christ and likewise we are bound to worship him in faith and a good conscience and to call upon this God the Father Son c. ●oc 47. ●g 6●7 Bucan saith Baptisme is a seal of the righteousnesse of saith that is of our incorporation with Christ of remission of sins of giving the Holy Ghost and regeneration whereby we are sealed unto Christ incorporated and buried with Christ and die unto sin by the power of the death of Christ and rise to newnesse of life Or it is a mutuall obligation of God testifying that he receives the person baptised into favour and of the person baptised giving his faith to God that he will worship him rightly ●g 612. ●p 81 of ●aptisme Greenham saith Baptisme is a pledge of our washing in Christs blood Acts 2.39 of our justification Gal. 27. of our ingrafting into Christs body Ephes 4.16 of our dying to sin Rom. 6.3 of our resurrection 1 Cor. 15.29 of our unitie of spirit with our brethren ●ontr 12. ●est 1. Willet Synepsis saith we define Baptisme a signe or s●al of regeneration whereby we are assured that as verily by saith in the blood of Christ we are cleansed from sins as our bodies are washed with water in the name of the Father And a little after he saith It is the proper act of faith to regenerate us not of Baptisme the use and end whereof is to strengthen and increase our faith ●oc com ●g 614. Mu●culus saith Baptisme is a Sacrament of regeneration purgation or if you will of washing imitation sanctification and incorporation whereby we repenting and professing faith and Christs religion that being washed from our sins we may walk in newnesse of life are incorporated and sealed to Christ and his church ● 2. Trelcatius saith the primary end of Baptisme is to signifie seal and show Sacramentally the forgivenesse of sins benefit of regeneration and union with Christ I might heap up many assertions of Divines like these alledged but these are enough to show how the practicals jar with these assertions laid down and how unsound divers of them are if affirmed of infants 9 Infants Baptisme produces many absurdities 1 It puts an infant in a state of grace and remission of sins M.F.C. i● his Book of K Iesu p. 5 6 7 8 before calling 2 It makes them visible members of Christs church before calling contrary to 1 Cor. 1.2 3 It upholds a nationall church as Circumcision did the nationall church is but one candlestick the particular churches are seven candlesticks Apoc. 1. 20 4 It intayles grace to generation not to regeneration contrary to Joh. 3.5 6. 5 It goes quite contrary to Christs order who first bids make disciples and then baptise after haec ille 6 Hereby the carnall seed is taken and acknowledged to be the spirituall seed of Abram 7 Whereas the Scripture requires onely persons to be baptised who gladly receive the word Acts 2.41 and desire baptisme Acts 8.36 by this infant baptisme all are compelled they and their children to be made Christians whether they will or no. 8 Christ did never ordain the Sacrament of Baptisme any way to concurre towards grace but as it workes in by and upon the understanding for if we go any other way we must say the Sacrament of Baptisme confers faith then is it an absurditie to dispense it where there is no understanding to conceive the history or mystery thereof 10 Infants Baptisme is a foundation for the Arminians to maintain Ane Sy●alia de pe●●ever ●anctor cap. 11. falling from grace If infants be baptised because they are in covenant with God then it seems they after proving wicked are faln away This Argument was urged by the Remonstrants which Doctor Ames was forced to slight because he could not answer 11 Many by infants Baptisme are received into communion of Baptisme who are excluded from the communion in the Lords Supper whereas the communion in both is one and the same which I prove by four reasons 1 One and the same thing is signified and sealed both in Baptisme and the Supper that is to say our partaking in the death and resurrection of Christ therefore the communion is the same 2 The same preparations that are required for a right receiving the Lords Supper are required for a right receiving of Baptisme and the qualifications which doth exclude from the one doth also exclude from the other For example faith and repentance qualifies for the Supper so for Baptisme nay there are plainer places to prove the necessitie of these requisites in Baptisme then in the supper Ex Gr. For repentance a preparation to Baptisme we see Acts 2.37.38.41 Repent and be baptised and they that gladly received the Word were baptised Math. 3 6. They were baptised of Iohn in Iordan confessing their sins hence B●ptisme is called the baptisme of Repentance Luk. 3.3 Because it was administred onely to penitent persons See Mark 4. Acts 13.24 Luk 3.3 How Iohn preached the baptisme of repentance so faith is another prec●ding requisite to baptisme we see Mark 16.16 Whosoever beleev●th and is baptised Acts 8.12 When the Samaritans beleeved Philip they were baptised Acts 8.37 If thou beleevest it is lawfull Acts 10.47 Can any one forbid water that these sh●uld not be baptised that have received the Holy Ghost as well as we Now for preceding requisites to the Supper we see 1 Cor 11.27.29 He that eateth and drinketh unworthily c. This word worthily shows there are certain preceding requisites without which God will not think us worthy receivers these are 1. repentance for which we can hardly bring a plain place the most is 1 Cor. 11.28 Let a man examine himselfe So for faith we have it to be a preparation only by deduction Matth. 26.28 The cup is said to be the Blood of the new Testament shed for the rem ssion of sinnes but this being apprehended no otherwise then by faith faith must be a precedent requisite to right receiving This is the summe of the four Evangelists concerning this matter saving that Luke addes these words Luk. 22.19 This is my body which is given for you which requires faith to beleeve this promise For the sixth of Iohn the best Divines upon undoubted grounds confesse Christ speakes not a word of the Supper Another deduction I onely remember is from 1 Cor. 10.16 Where bread and wine or rather the Cup of blessing are called the Communion of the Body and Blood of Christ that is by faith comming betwixt for by faith onely we have union and communion with Christ To conclude seeing the Scripture doth require the same requisites to precede Baptisme that it doth to precedr

can he be guilded with a spirit of infallibilitie that such a thing is an heresie and much more that he hath infallible grounds for the violence or compulsion he exerciseth towards such persons that he may do it in faith 2 the civil Magistrate is absolutely forbid all such violence and rooting up Mat. 13.30 Let both grow together untill the harvest but in what field is it vers 38. Truely in the field of the World and that by this Command of let both grow together is meant Heretickes Schismatikes appeares because if the Magistrate be busie about plucking up these he will be in danger of plucking up the good wheate that is many a childe of God who is thus stigmatized and who thinks in conscience he is bound to doe that which he doth 5 If Heresie and Truth may have a like permission Truth will get the victory in the understandings of many yea most Object But we see the contrary in popish countries Ans But the cause is not because truth and error are left to fight in mens understanding but because men by inquisitions suppresse the truth from passage in some places where truth and errour have been alike permitted truth hath eaten out errour witnesse Amsterdam not long since most Papists now almost all Protestants Obiect But would you have all sorts of Sects and Scismes tolerated in Christian churches as Iewes Papists or all sorts of Protestants differing in Judgement as Lutherans Arminians c. This would tend to confusion both in Church and state Answ For the Jewes they are tolerable for else how should they ever be taken into us Gentil●s it is not prisons and fines will bring them in but a victory of Evangelicall truths in their understanding for all sorts of protestants they may be ●olerated because no side dare affirme that there adversaries tenents are destructive unto their soules that hold them And for Papists though they are least to be borne of all others because of the uncertainty of their keeping faith with hereticks as they call us and because they may be absolved of securements that can arise from the just solemne oathes and because of their cruelty against the Protestants in divers countries where they get the upper hand and because they are profest Idolaters yet may they be borne with as I suppose with submission to better judgements in Protestant governments in point of religion 1 Because we have no command to root out any for conscience and lesse then a command will not serve nor have wee any example in the New testament for the same 2 Violent compulsions of them will rather exasperate them against the Protestant religion then win them to a liking thereof 3 In the violent compulsion of Papists nothing but mischief ariseth either to the partie compelled who against his conscience complies to the protestant religion for the saving his estate and so it is made twofold more the childe of hell or else if he do not complie but suffers his innocent children are punished herein 4 It would be a good patterne to Papists in popish countries to bear with protestants and to remove inquisitions But yet with these two cautions may they be borne 1 If the number be so many that they are like to overtop the Protestants or to come neer them in number then the Magistrare giving them leave to sell their estates may command some of them out of the Kingdome because the safety of the people is the highest law and this is according to that principle Every being preserves it selfe 2 For the remaining party to take such securement of them in point of Armes that they may be sure never to make any head In all this I meddle not with delinquent Papists who answering respectively for their acts of hostility against the state the number of Papists will be much fewer and may the more easily be borne if the state see fit 5 Object Why may wee not cut off Heretickes by death or Punish them by banishment imprisont being they go about to destroy other mens soules Answer 1 Because you have no command for it nor no example and lesse then a plaine comand will not serve herein Why do you not cut off persons infected with the Pox Leprosie Pestilence being they hazard other mens lives And why do Princes let them live in their common-weale being they are so destructive to mankind the reason is at hand because they have no command to do it and the persons may recover in time to come so it is here the Magistrate hath no command to cut off the Heretike and also he may recover in time to come Object But the similitude holds not because there is no voluntarinesse in him that is infected with a bodily disease Answ No more is there any voluntarinesse in the Heretickes in the seducing of others for he thinkes that to be truth whereto he perswades the other 2 It s nor possible for the Elect to be seduced so far as to be taken off from their foundation Christ Mat. 24. But it s possible for Heretikes to to come off from the foundation of their Heresie therefore they are to be let alone 3 Few of the controversies among us if any will amount to heresie if we count heresie to be election of a faith by our selves they can at most be called schisme and therefore the persons that hold the tenents cannot come under the forsaid penallties of Banishment impisonment c. 4 It much concurs to murther that there be a murtherous intention but Heretikes have no murtherous but a saving intention in drawing others to their way He that should goe about to destroy other mens soules with an intention to destroy them might be cut off as a murderer But he that doth it accidentally against his will is to have a city of refuge from temporall death as he under the Law had that slew a man against his will which Law was no other then the Law of Nations Objection 6. But if there should be any such toleration we should have a wonderfull confusion parents would go one way children another husbands one way wives another master one way servant another which would be great confusion in Church and State Answer 1 The confusion will not be such as is imagined when every man and woman have joyned themselves with such as are of their owne judgement 2 I answer with the saying of one viz. Whether is it not a greater confusion both before God and men for a hundred men and women of ten severall religions or opinions to assemble together every Sunday in a Parish for fear of imprisonment or fines or else that the same hundred being permitted freely to meet in a peaceable manner at ten severall places according to their different opinions worshipping God according to their light 3 This is no other confusion then is in an Army wherein many that were together in a tumultuous manner repair to their severall Companies and Colours or Citie societies

Ghost from his mothers wombe Answ I answer with Augustine neither do I countenance that which is done in Iohn nor thence do I fasten a rule what should be thought of infants Mirabili●● yea I do wonderfully or miraculously publish ●hat in him because I finde it not in others Aug. Epist 57. 2. Had we any extraordinary testimony by an Angel that this or that infant were filled with the holy Ghost from the womb then should we incline the more to baptise them Thirdly all that can be deduced hence is that there is power in God to give the holy Ghost to an infant in a miraculous way yet doth it not appear that Iohn was filled with the holy Ghost by beleeving That he was filled with the holy Ghost from the womb is certain because the word sets it down but for the manner how this was done is uncertain because the word sets it not down We may as well reason that because Enoch and Eliah were translated into heaven other men are so to 3. Object We cannot except any from having faith therefore we baptise all Answ First we except against all from having faith in their infancy because they have not so much as understanding now faith is as well an act of the understanding as of the will 2. In dispensation of this ordinance we must have ground of accepting persons as fit subjects before we can dispence it Acts 8.38 which cannot in an ordinary way be affirmed of infants 3. It appears that all infants wants faith For the proof whereof Downes on Iust●f●cation I will give sundry reasons published long ago by a Divine not interested in this cause who ex professo took upon him to handle this question 1 They have no knowledge of good nor evill Deut. 1.39 Cannot discern betw●xt the right hand and left Jon. 4.11 How then can they understand those things that are above the pitch of nature 2 The dislike that infants have at baptisme testified by their crying and other motion of body had they actuall faith they would endure all with much patience but if in doing so they go against their knowledge the Sacrament is so far from benefitting of them that by their reluctation they contract a further guilt 3 If they have faith why are they not after the imitation by baptisme forthwith ad●itted to the Lords Supper As they were from Augustines time to the times of L●dovious Pitts and Lotharius a matter of 600 years nay why are they not rather admitted then those of riper years for infants ●ave not so much as evill thoughts in them 4 Because not so much as any one of them among so many millions as hav● been in the world when he commeth to riper years giveth any testimony of his faith till he be further taught and instructed If a childe born of christian parents and entered into a visible Church by baptisme shall yet while he is in his tender years fall into the hands of Turkes as many thousand have done the whole band of Janizaries as some say consists of no other doth he not readily receive that religion which is first instild into him without dreaming of the Cristian faith Which yet how it should be having from his first infancie been seasoned and sanctified in the Christian faith cannot easily be conceived or imagined 5 Do all that have received faith in infancy lose it again when they come to be of more years It seemeth so if they received it for otherwise why are they put to their catechisme and taught the Elements of faith again But this were a strange course For how should they lose it unlesse perhaps God secretly steale that from them which in time past he gave them which to say is very derogatory to the bounty of God who never withdrawes favour once given untill man by abusing of it have deserved to lose it Not losing it therefore and yet learning it when they come to yeares of capacitie it is a plain argument they never received it in their infancy 6 All habits whether acquired by custome or infused from above make a man more apt and prone unto their proper actions For example whosoever is possessed of the vertues of Justice Temperance Liberality Fortitude will readily do justly temperately liberally valiantly it being the nature of habits to make easie their actions Are now the children of Christians when they come first to bee instructed are more capable of Christian Relgion or more inclineable to holy actions then the children of Infidels experience tells they are not but are as wax indifferently flexible any way It s absurde therefore and void of reason to place in infants the habit of faith which yet inclines them no more to the acts of faith then those that are without it ●om 10. ● 7. Faith comes by hearing but infants hear not neither by the eare nor by any other way proportionable thereto or if they do they understand not what they heare for did they understand I pr●sume they would hearken more attentively unto what is said then we see they do Wherefore not hearing neither do they beleeve If you say they beleeve by an inward hearing then is that faith wrought either by ordinary or extraordinarie meanes not by extraordinary meanes for it is done every day and hour by ordinary therefore If so then have we a double manner of working faith and both of them ordinary the one by inward hearing in infants onely the other by inward and outward also in those that are adult which is a meere noveltie in the church of God haec ille To conclude the point August contra Donatisas l 4. c. 24. saith Baptised infants cannot as yet believe with the heart unto righteousnesse and confesse with the mouth unto Salvation Also Chemnic Deer Conc. Trid. pars 2. exam Can. 13. p. 89. saith I truely that love simplicity do not understad nor can unfold after what manner that infants that are baptized do beleeve Object But though infants have not actuall faith yet they have Seminall faith Answ This is a vaine distinction For 1. There is but one faith Epes 4. consisting in taking and relying on Christ if we understand justifying faith and one profession of faith which metonimically is called faith and goeth currant for saith in all Ecclesiasticall Dispensations when the profession of life condemnes not the profession of words 1 Pet. 23. Borne again of immortall seed 2. There can be no such thing as Seminall faith in infants because the first feed of faith is illumination of which infants are not capable because voide of understanding This word Seminall doth merely delude men by the Metaphoricall acception to make men think there is a phisickall grouth of faith as in seeds of vegitive bodies when they are sowen when the growth is Metaphisicall and onely in reasonable soules who are fit subjects thereof Obj●ct But if infants have not faith how can they please God and how are they saved Heb.

be baptised Acts 22.16 And now why tarriest thou arise and be baptised and wash away thy sins calling on the name of the Lord. 2 Those that defend infants baptisme would think it Will-worship if any Minister should go and baptise the children of Turks or Indians when their parents were not Christians and that upon this ground because they are not fit subjects The like conclude we from the baptising of infants as be●ng not fit subjects as not having faith not so much as in profession 3 It s an essentiall point in worship that the subject be right Pro. 15.8 The prayers of a wicked man for the matter may be better then the prayers of a childe of God But for want of a right subject they are abomination Object 22. To whom the inward grace of Baptisme doth belong Mr. M. pag. 41. to them belongs the outward signe But infants of believers are made pertakers of the inward grace of baptisme of the heavenly and spirituall part as well as grown men Ergo they may and ought to receive the outward signe of baptisme Sol. 1. We deny the proposition for inward grace belonged to the godly Iewish women yet were they not sealed for want of a command 2 The inward grace of baptisme is remission of sins which all the Elect onely pertake of But no church can tell who are elect therefore the outward signe doth not belong to them because many of the Elect cannot make it appear in a visible way that they have right 3 Persons may have an invisible right to ordinances that have not a visible right as an Elect person as the incestuous man was may be justly excommunicate The Proposition may be granted to be true in foro coeli but not in foro Ecclesiae in the court of heaven not in the court of Churches in respect of invisible right yet not in respect of visible and yet it will not be true so For Churches are to dispense Ordinances according to visible right onely and this is but as in courts of men if any one lay claime to estates or lands they must first show their right to them by their evidence before they can have any seale in that Court to authorize them thereto So is it in this case Act. 10.47 Can any man forbid water that these should not be baptized which have received the holy Ghost q. d. Baptisme must be administred upon some visible right 2 To the Assumption viz. That infants are partakers of the inward grace of Baptisme of the heavenly and spirituall part as well as growne men I Answer 1 If we understand it of all infants that live in Protestant Churches it s manifestly false for abundance of them prove wicked 2 If we limit it to all infants of believers it is as false for if all such be partakers of the inward grace of Baptisme and of the heavenly and spirituall part then many of them after proving wicked must needs fall from the inward grace of Baptisme which is putting on of Christ Gal. 3.27 And the fellowship with Christ in his death and buriall Rom. 6.3 4. or else God must fall from his promise in making them our partakers of the heavenly and spirituall part and now taking it from them 3 If we limit it to some infants of beleivers that they are partakers of the inward grace of Baptisme of the heavenly and spirituall part and therefore may and ought to receive the outward signe of Baptisme I answer no Church is able to put a difference betwixt those some that are partakers of the inward grace and those that are not if any man could tell us who they were it were something but this is impossible the right of these persons being invisible it is absurd to put a visible sign thereto 4 These some that are partakers of the inward grace of Baptisme they are only partakers of it in respect of election but not in respect of actuall conversion according to which or the profession thereof the Churches are to dispence Ordinances Mr. M. p. 6. Obj. 23. There are three great mischiefs goe along with denying infants Baptisme as First they reject the observation of the Lords day Answ We deny it and the generality of those that are against infants Baptisme receive it observe it with as due observation as those that accuse them indeed for the Jewish Sabboth over-commanded by God it is put to an end Colos 2.16 else it stands in force yet and that being put to an end we observe the Lords day from the Apostles example and the mortality of the fourth Commandement which requires one day in seven 2 It is objected the teachers of this opinion whereever they prevail take their Proselytes wholy off from the Ministery of the word Answ I know the contrary among many persons that are in Church-way 2 It is not these teachers that take off others so much as the Preachers of infants Baptisme for these by praying and preaching against things which these you call Anabaptists practise they cause them to withdraw themselves unlesse you would have them to be present at such worship as they neither love nor can say Amen unto 3 If you would in your severall Presbyteries consent to forbeare these doubtfull disputations both in your Sermons and prayers the persons you so accuse would not onely be willing to heare you but account it a mercy to pertake of your gifts which wee desire to acknowledge and reverence 3 Object This opinion puts all infants of believers into the same condition wi●h Turks and Indians Answ As the infants of Turks and Christians dying infants are all alike free from actuall sin being onely guilty of originall why may they not pertake of the same benefit of free grace why may we not have charitable thoughts concerning the salvation of Turkish infants seeing we know nothing of their damnation and we read not of any one in Scripture damned meerly for originall sin the innocency of all infants so dying is the same in respect of actuall sin But for the consequences drawne upon us from hence wee deny As First all of them are damned who dye in their infancie being without the Covenant of grace having no part in Christ or all of them are saved having no originall sin Mr M. Ib● For their damnation wee know nothing of it for their salvation wee charitably hope it though they come into the world guilty of originall sin for what hinders but they may bee saved through the presentment of the satisfaction of Christ to the justice of God for originall guilt or some other way unknown to us and whereas for alleadge against this M M 〈…〉 that hereby we carry salvation by Christ out of the Church Answ Where is there any limitation that the free grace of God shall goe no further then visible Churches Obj. 24. There is no expresse command Mr. M. p. 34. 35. no example in the New Testament of womens receiving the Lords

Baptisme Answ It brings many mischiefes besides that it fils the Churches with rotten Members and confounds the world and the Church together it is a groundworke for more traditions and doth so darken the doctrine of Baptisme that we cannot know the true meaning of it when we read of Baptisme in the Scriptures yea hereby many are taken into communion in baptisme who are excluded from communion in the supper whereas the communion in both is one and the same Quest How do you prove that there is but one Communion in baptisme and in the Supper Answ Because there is the same thing signified in baptisme that there is in the supper that is to say our fellowship with Christ in his death and resurrection So that all that are baptized into one body are all made to drinke into one spirit 1 Cor. 12.13 and the same preparations of faith and repentance that are required for the one are also required for the other and he that is cast out of the one is cast out of the other seeing that by excommunication hee becomes like an Heathen or a Publicane Quest But what if an infant or any other in their childehood should die unbaptized are they not damned Answ We know nothing out of the Scriptures of their salvation or damnation and therefore we must not be too inquisitive yet may such infants so dying be saved through the presentment of the satisfaction of Christ Rom. 5.18 to the justice of God for originall sin which satisfaction though it be applied through beleeving in those that can beleeve yet may it be applied without in those that cannot beleeve for else how could any infants be saved Quest Do you thinke infants have no faith Answ Yes they have not faith for they have not reason to discerne betwixt good and evill Deut. 1.39 If they had faith they were presently to be admitted to the supper Faith is an act of understanding which comme●h by hearing as well as an act of the will Quest What grounds have you against infants baptisme Answ Many but chiefly Christs commission Mat. 28.19 Where the subjects of baptisme are those that are made Disciples and this commission is to last to the worlds end vers 20. and reaches to every creature that is to partake of baptisme Mark 16.15 16. Quest Is it not lawfull to baptize persons without they beleeve Answ No Acts 8.37 If thou beleevest it is lawfull Acts 10.47 and 16.34 and 8.12 and 18.8 Quest But may we not be baptized if we be ABRAMS seed Answ Yes but we gentiles are onely Abrams seed by beleeving Gal. 3.7 Know ye therefore that they which are of the faith are the children of Abraham so Rom. 4.16 Gal. 3.29 Quest But what think you of them that would make the children of beleevers to be the seed of Abraham Answ They are mistaken for the scripture speakes onely of three seedes of Abraham that is Christ Gal. 3.16 He saith not to seeds as of many but as of one and to thy seed which is Christ 2. the carnall Jew 3. the bel●ever of Jew and Gentile Gal. 3.28 and they adde a fourth seed of Abraham viz. The seed or children of beleevers among the Gentiles about which the scripture is silent Quest But are not the children of Godly persons visibly in the covenant of grace Answ No the covenant of grace is an invisible thing and we cannot know who are in it nor have we grounds to judge persons are in it till we see some profession of holy life and profession of faith and repentance which infants cannot make Quest What is circumcision Answ It was an obligation to keep the whole Law Gal. 5.3 Rom. 2.24 and shewed unto them that it was their duties to circumcise their hearts Ier. 4.4 Quest. Whether was it not also a seale of the righteousnesse of faith Rom. 4.11 Answ Yes to Abraham onely and if Abrahams beleeving children among the Gentiles should be baptized as he was circumcised then must it not be till they have the righteosnesse of faith as Abraham here had at least they must have it in profession Quest Whether doth Baptisme succeed Circumcision in the same Office Answ No Circumcision was to every Male though reprobate but baptisme onely to the beleever Mat. 28.19 There being a change of the visible Church and of the Ordinances this cannot succeed in room therof nor hath any dependance thereon Quest Whether may not infants of beleevers be baptized by vertue of a covenant holinesse Answ No for baptisme is not a signe or seal of any such outward holynes which may befall reprobates as well as Elect but it is a signe of death Buriall and Resurrection which the beleever hath with Christ 2. There is no command for baptizing such if the Gentiles were so holy which yet is not proved Quest Whether is infants baptisme forbid in Scripture Answ Yes where will-worship is forbid Levit. 10.1 As they that were not in the Circumcision of Circumcision were excluded because they were not exprest as the males and females of Heathen So is it in Christs Commission about Baptisme they that are not exprest in it are excluded from it But now to answer to questions or cases of conscience about this point Quest WHether is it lawfull for a person that is convicted of the unlawfulnesse of Infants baptisme or doubteth thereof to be present at it Answ No in no wise for these reasons 1 Because the inward man and outward man must not bee divided in worship 1 Cor. 6.20 Glorifie God both with body and spirit which are his It s grosse hypocrisie when the outward man is at a worship which the heart doth not love 2 Because by our presence at such a worship we strengthen and embolden others at a false worship wiles they look on us as those that worship the same kinde of worship 1 Cor. 8.10 If any man see thee which hast knowledge fit at meat in the Idols temple shall not the conscience of him which is weak be imbouldened to eat those things which are offred to Idols 3 Because the person that is present at such a worship is not able to make any apologie to God why hee or she is present at such a worship in bodily presence though he or she reserve their hearts to God As a mans wife that is taken in an adulterous bed with another man can give no excuse for her presenting her body there though she say she keep her heart and affection to her husband 4 Because in false worship we are not so much as to touch the unclean thing 2 Cor. 6.17 Come out from among them and touch not the unclean thing Now this being an unclean thing in my conscience I cannot nor must not touch it any way neither with my affection nor with my bodily presence but that as soon at any preacher begins to pray for any such thing I must instantly depart though it be in his prayer after his Sermon 5 Because

the Martyrs would not give their bodily presence at any such worship as they disallowed they might have put an end to their sufferings would they have done so but they durst not But one of them being at such a worship cried out If there be any of the servants of God here bear me witnesse at the day of judgement that I do not worship at this idolatrous service Or words to this effect 6 It s unlawfull for any Christian either to allow himself in that which he condemnes or to condemne himself in that which he allowes Rom. 14 2. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that things which he alloweth But by my presence at such a worship I condemn my self in that which I allow my bodily presence allowes that which my conscience condemnes and my conscience condemnes that which my bodily presence allowes 7 The end and scope of Christian actions should be spirituall edification and not the destruction of any but herein I do not edifie but cast a stumbling block and an occasion of falling in my brothers way condemned Rom. 14.13 8 The actions of Christians ought to be done in faith that what they do they may have good grounds that it is pleasing unto God but to be present at such worship cannot be done in faith but with a doubting conscience contrary to Rom. 14.23 Nay which is worse with a condemning conscience therefore its unlawfull 9 In all worship we must be able to answer that question Esa 1. Who hath required these things at your hands But in this worship we must acknowledge that Antichrist or humane traditions not any precept nor example of Gods word hath required this Therefore its unlawfull for us to be present at it Quest Who hath the power of baptising Answ I will not determine this question now as requiring a tractate by it self which I purpose to handle at large in time to come If God permit Onely for present the persons that lay claime to baptise they are e●●her ordinary Believers or Ministers of the Churches For Believers I will no speak any thing now onely I will cite a saying of T●r●ull cap. 17. de Baptismo ad Quintil. edit la Cerda It remainss to conclude the matter also to warn co●cerning the giving and receiving baptisme the Bishop hath p●wer of giving it then again the Presbyters and Deacons but not without the authority o● the Bish●p for the honour of the Churcb which being safe the peace is safe otherwise the right were in the people For that which is equally received may be equally given Therefore also baptisme being equally Gods tribut● may be ex●rcised of all But how much more doth the discipline of shamefastnesse and modesty lye on the people that they do not take the Bishops Office All things are lawfull but all things are not expedient It s sufficient that thou use it in nec●ssities of time place person because he shall be guilty of the man that is lost if he shall forbear to perform what freely he might This was delivered by him above 1300. yeares ago Or else the persons that baptise are Ministers and these are of two sorts First those that were chosen by the Churches and were never Ministers before Of these I will not say any thing Secondly they are such as are Ministers now and were so before Of these mens power I thus reason Either the power Ministeriall that was in the former Church state is true or false If true then are we Ministers and have the same power to administer all Ordinances as being ordained by a Bishop as well as others if that power were false then the subject that must receive this power must be either wicked men or believers or else Christ hath no subject on earth to receive it but Christ hath a subject and these are not wicked men but believers and these joyning together have power to chuse a Pastor to administer ordinances if a new ordination for such can be had it is expedient but if it cannot be had then election in the beginning of the recovery out of the Apostacy is sufficient provided that the person chosen be guifted and blamelesse My reason is because all Ordinances and Offices do resolve themselves radically into Believers in time of a generall Apostacie Quest Whether do you think Baptisme administred in infancy to be a lawfull Baptisme and sufficient Answ To me it is not For I think it to be a prophanation of an Ordinance for these reasons 1 Because it is taught by the precepts of men Esa 29.13 not by God Jer. 7.39 2 Because it was done in a wrong manner by sprinkling in stead of dipping 3 Because it is done by an Officer where there was 1 A questionable power the ministers being ordained by Bishops deemed Antichristian 2 A wrong matter to which it is a question whether Christ have committed any Ordinances Mat. 18. and therefore cannot be an infallible power in the dispenser 4 Because it is done upon a wrong subject who is not in Christs Commission Mat. 28.19 Nor Mar. 16.16 Beleevers and repentants being the subjects therein 5 Because all the certainty I can have of such a baptisme is onely conjecturall not infallible whereas the outward signe of Sacrament must be visible and infallible as the thing signified is this infant baptisme I take onely in trust from others Quest Whether is it not lawfull to baptize in one water as well as another Answ It appeares by the Eunuchs speech that it s alike lawfull to baptize in one water as well as another See here is water what doth hinder me howbeit we finde it in Scripture administred commonly in rivers or where there were many waters Tertul cap. 4 de Bap. Saith It is all one whether one be washed in a Pond or in the Sea in a River or in a Fontaine in a Lake or in a Channell Neither is there any difference betwixt those whom John Dipt in Iordan and those whom Peter Dipt in Tyber which shewes the Ancients accounted all waters alike fit for Baptisme FJNJS An answer to Mr. BLAKE his Arguments Objection BEleeving Gentiles succeed the Jewes in the Covenant the Jewes being broken off the Gentiles are grafted in by vertue of this insition we are branches of the roote Abraham Sol. The objector is overtaken in a grosse absurditi● to thinke there is some universall visible Church begun in Abraham into which upon the rejection of the Jewes the beleevers among the Gentiles and their seed are to be received for besides the invisible Church the body of Christs misticall there are only particular Churches under the Gospel and much more doth he erre to thinke all the members of the Gentile Churches to be taken into the Jewish and Jewes cast out 2. He erres in thinking there is some Covenant into which the Gentiles are grafted in upon the Jewes rejection of it which should belong to the Gentiles and their seed for there is no other Covenant with