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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A78133	A discourse tending to prove the baptisme in, or under the defection of Antichrist to be the ordinance of Jesus Christ. As also that the baptisme of infants or children is warrantable, and agreeable to the word of God. Where the perpetuity of the estate of Christs Church in the world, and the everlastingnesse of the covenant of Almighty God to Abraham are set forth as maine grounds, and sundry other particular things are controverted and discussed. By P.B.	Barbon, Praisegod, 1596?-1679.	1642 (1642)	Wing B750; Thomason E138_23; ESTC R7333	22,862	40

gather any such conclusion as if I held the Church of Rome a tru Church for indeed I am farre from any such thoughts holding that State to be the Mother of Fornications the great where Sodom Egypt spiritually according to the account of the Scripture Now for this Discourse sent forth if it shall come into the hands of the Learned I desire they would take no exception at any Tottologie or want of Art they shall finde in it for the Author professeth it not and did applie himselfe to weaker capacities and so went over things the ofter that they might the lesse mistake or mis-construe his meaning If it shall come into the hands of those that minde the things as truths which this Discourse opposeth I pray them to consider the whole and one thing with another before they give judgement and if it shall please any to make Answere whereat I shall be nothing offended I desire they would please to measure such measure as I have measured to them whom I trust I have not in the least wronged And if in Answere they can discover any error I shall be content to lose so the truth may gaine If any shall meet with this that are like to Gallio I only counsell them not to increase their bonds by mocking Act. 18. 17. and if they will not be warned let them mock on If any moderate and indifferent affected shall read this Discourse and gaine any knowledge by it let them give the praise to God And so forbearing to trouble thee Courteous Reader with any thing further I leave thee to the perusing of it and the blessing of God to cause thee to profit and rest Thine in the service of Love P. B. A DISCOURSE TENDING TO PROVE the Baptisme in the defection of Antichrist to be the Ordinance of JESUS CHRIST THE holy Scriptures doe very fully and clearly hold forth the perpetuity and continuation of the estate of the visible or externall Church of Christ in the world a plant of his own planting not to be rooted out for ever This having continued from Abraham to Moses from Moses to our Lord Christ and from Him to continue till he shall come and deliver it up to his Father that God may be all in all The perpetuitie and abidingnesse of 1 Cor. 15. this last period of the Church under the New Testament it was foretold by Prophesie Esay 9. 7. 59. 21. Dan. 7. witnessed very fully Luke 1. 33. Acts 5. 29. Heb. 12. 29. and it is confirmed by Promise in the 16. Math. 18. 28. 20. these promises as all other are yea and Amen stable and true for ever and so to be accounted by all the Saints To all which places that give in witnesse to this we might adde that in the 13. Hebr. 8. Jesus Christ yesterday and to day and the same for ever as in other considerations so the Head and Husband of his Church his Spouse his Body Certainly Jesus Christ was never a Widower or Head without a body be that farre from any to think which should be if at any time his Church seased to be or died out of the world This estate of Christs visible Church being thus to abide and abiding and continuing in the world It hath abode and continued under the defection of Antichrists usurpation or otherwise it hath abode and continued somwhere else in the world as from under that defection for some where remaining it must be of necessity The defection and falling away under Antichrist was very generall and marvelous universall as appeareth by what is written Rev. 13. 8. 16. And unlesse the defection had bin so how should those be the first fruits unto God that first appeared in the dawne of the day commonly accounted and that not untruly as I judge the Waldenses if there had bin any that had remained pure and undefiled as in a Church way Indeed the Greeks did not alwayes subject to the Roman power yet were very little short in defection I suppose according to the measure whereby the Romanist in defection are measured they will stand or fall together Truly it will be a piece of speciall service to the godly and very thankfully accepted if any could make it appeare such a continuance of the Church estate elsewhere in the world then as aforesaid it would tend to the settling of things very much and for my part I should blesse God for their discovery If none be foundable to make it appeare as to have continued elsewhere as I beleeve they cannot then it wil be more then probable that it hath continued under the defection of Antichrist according to that of the 2 Thess 2. 4. for some way and some where it must continue And as the Church that great Instituted Ordinance is to continue and hath continued so likewise the Ordinance of Baptisme by which the matter of the Church is differenced Now if what is before said concerning the perpetuity of the visible Church shall be found a truth and so esteemed then that must needs be found an errour and so accounted that supposeth or taketh that for a ground which is the direct contrary and flat deniall of this truth to wit That the Church hath leased at some time and bin utterly extingu●sht and Christ a Widdower for a good season till by themselves or some others it was revived and so came to live againe Such as take this for a ground of their practise they must needs erre and build upon the sands But the way of new Baptizing la●ely began to be practised by some supposing themselves and so others not to have bin Baptized with the Baptisme of Christ hath no grou●d for i●s practise but the sesa●ion of the Church and Baptisme with it as not remaining in the world That they are utterly seased where Antichrist prevail●d to exalt himselfe their practise doth ●ully declare and that it is so they take for granted and indeed so had they need for to prove it they cannot let that be minded 2 Thess 2. 4. Math. 16. 18. If it were so that under the defection the Ordinance of the Church and Baptisme ceased yet that it no where remayneth in the world may not be thought for the reverence of Gods Word before declared But till this also be beleeved that the estate of Christs Church and Baptisme by which the matter is differenced is no where else to be found remaining in the world there is no ground for this practise of raising Baptisme by persons Baptizing themselves But rather there would be a seeking out the Church where she were to be found and there receiving the holy Ordinance of Christs Baptisme as in a right line and so be added to the Church and from thence conveying the truth into these parts againe where Acts 2. 47. Psalm 133. it had ceased In Sion of old God appointed the blessing and life for ever and thither from the utmost parts of the earth the godly repair'd as

A DISCOURSE TENDING TO PROVE THE BAPTISME IN OR UNDER The Defection of ANTICHRIST to be the Ordinance of Jesus Christ. AS ALSO That the Baptisme of Infants or Children is warrantable and agreeable to the word of GOD. Where the perpetuity of the estate of Christs Church in the world and the everlastingnesse of the Covenant of Almighty GOD to Abraham are set forth as maine Grounds and sundry other particular things are controverted and discussed By P. B. Stand in the way aske for the old way which is the good way walke therein and you shall finde rest to your Soules Jer. 6. 16. If it be of God yee cannot destroy it lest you become fighters against God Acts 5. 38. Stand fast Brethren and keepe the Ordinances or Traditions you have bin taught by word or by Epistle 2 Thes 2. 15. LONDON Printed by R Oulton G. Dexter and are to be sold by Benjamine Allen over against the signe of the Angell in Popes-head Ally 1642. The Epistle to the READER Courteous READER IT seemeth to be the worke of this present age to be upon the measuring of the Temple the Altar and them that worship Rev. 11. 1. therin about the measuring of which things though the truth and true measure be but one yet the persons measuring are very various and much differing not only concerning the right understanding of the measure but also concerning the things measured hence it is that diversitie of opinions and practises are found amongst persons concerning matt●●s of Religion and Godlinesse amongst which the matter of this Discourse is not the least but rather ou● of the greatest differences in outward Religion so as it both on the one side and on the other is as a Foundation to be built upon in regard of many things which must needs follow according as persons shall hold and beleeve one way or other and so great a difference and distance doth it lead men into that it admitteth of no healing for till men be agreed about the matter of a thing that being first essentiall how should they ●ossibly agree about the thing it selfe The things held forth and maintained to wit the Baptisme under the defection to be the Ordinance of Christ and the Baptisme of the seed of Beleevers to be Gods will and appointment as also the things opposed namely rebaptizing or the new way of Baptisme taken up by some and the refusing or denying the Baptisme of Infants are in this Discourse argued and discussed not by way of Schoole learning but by plaine inferences and such necessary consequences as are not to be denyed The opposite part in regard of this Discourse are commonly called by a Nic-name put upon them An●baptists some of which are my loving friends and acquaintance whom I would not displease but rather please whom I envy not but love but the truth is to be loved above all being most deare and precious Indeed these seeme to have the zeale of GOD if it were according to right knowledge they seeke after truth and thinke they have found it when they imbrace an error which the further they goe on in the further out of the way which appeareth in that summe they misse it only in the point of Baptisme c. whereas others as by an Honourable Person was lately observed erre in points of an higher Nature as namely in holding Free-will fall●ng from Grace conditionall Election and denying Originall sinne opinions accounted as destructive to the truth by the Godly Indeed I have had great reasoning within me whether I should conceale this Discourse and keepe it for private use or make it publike but minding what great distraction of minde and unsetlednesse doe attend not a few about this matter and minding that some of the learned doe give in no further concerning Baptisme of Infants or Children then as a Tradition of long and ancient use whereby many take occasion to strengthen themselves and to confirme others against the Baptizing of Children I have adventured for the truths sake to make this common hoping it may tend to some satisfaction and stay of mens mindes in this matter and the truth and true ground of things may be the better wayed and the truth some way furthered and some persons kept from such wonderfull changes and rechanges as are found with them Vnitie or onenesse of minde among the Godly is an excellent thing and greatly to be desired so it be in the truth but GOD that of his Infinite wisdome causeth good to come out of evill causeth much profit to attend the variations of his Servants the truth is the more sought into and discovered and cometh to shine forth more fully afterward The Children of the truth come to be approved 1 Co. 11. 19. so as the matter being so unavoydable in asmuch as the Scripture must needs be true and every part thereof fulfilled It were much to be desired that persons would not be so much offended about the differences and variation that are in the matters of Religion and the service of GOD if they would consider that great darknesse had for a long time attended the world by the prevailing of the man of sinne so as men coming out into the light see men like trees as the Proverb is And againe would minde how great onenesse and agreement there is in those that d●ffer agreeing in the maine points of Beliefe of one GOD one Lord Iesus Christ touching his Natures and Offices as also in the Doctrine of Iustification Redemption Sanctification in the Doctrine of Free-grace and perseverance therein and many more too large to be rehearsed here And then on the otherside would consider how that the differences among the Godly are of inferior kinde being only for the most part about outward worship and the right way of serving GOD wherein if any doe erre he falleth to his own Master and his error cannot reach an other Ro 14 4. in way of prejudice or hurt every one being to give an account unto GOD for himselfe I say if persons did but minde such like things it would greatly abate of the prejudice that many have in their mindes touching this matter and it would take-off the offence of others which without ca●se they have taken against such as seeke after the truth by reason ●● this for indeed it must needs be a great weaknesse of minde and want of judgement ●o be so highly displeased as som are with varietie of judgements among men in matters of Religion And however it is most certaine that it is better there should be differences among men then that grosse ignorance should take place or Papa●l Tyranny beare sway and rule as it hath done and yet doth too much in the world and the same persons that are so offended about differences of opinions take little or noe offence at the same In reading of this following Discourse I shal desire of thee Courteous Reader who ever thou be that thou wouldest not

they very well know But they doe not beleeve such a continuation it is plain and how shall they then seek there to light their Candle they must seek as they doe to doe it some other way To help their belief or make it greater unbelief I pray them to studie that place Heb. 13. 8. and see how they can resolve the case that Christ should not have bin a Widower and a Head without a Body if his visible Church had dyed and left the world till they or other a little sooner came and made him one againe without his appointing or leave or consent asked a very mean opinion unworthy our Lord or any of his followers And whether he will accept of this Spouse they make him or reject her as a Harlot may well be questioned and the rather seeing they have questioned it themselves once and the second time But I well know some are so filled with prejudice that they have no patience to heare or so much as to think of this matter of the Church estate remaining under Antichrists exaltation I doe pray them setting aside prejudice they would be pleased to assigne and set forth the error or absurdity the hurt or dammage that cometh of such an opinion that the Ordinance of the Church and Baptisme have bin in Captivity in Babylon and there preserved by the power of God for a time c. and now by the same power brought out and restored to freedome and purity God returning to build againe his Acts 15. Tabernacle bro●e down and ruined but not destroyed as somtime of old the Church and Vessells of the Lord were in Babylon and from thence returned When it shall please any to set down the Esa 1 7. 8. 9. -11. error or hurt or dammage I doe promise with Gods leave to consider of it and happily it may a●ter my belief in this poynt But now further Baptisme being lost and fallen out of the world and an Idoll and likenesse come in the roome of it the Church being ceased to whom Christ gave his power persons not having the Baptisme of Jesus Christ but being unbaptized all which the opinion and practise of New beginning Baptisme supposeth to be most true and certain and thereupon doe ground their proceedings I inferre hereupon that it is and ever shall be found unlawful● and without warr●nt for any person or persons whatsoever to attempt or goe about the raising erecting or setting up of it againe unlesse Ma● 3. 3. 17. 11. 13. Ma● 9. 12. the said persons have a speciall and particular warrant from heaven and a Commission as John the Baptist had The Jewes though blind could see this that none but a Christ a Moses or Elias or a Prophet from heaven might doe this so as there being ●● 1 15 no such to be found to restore and newly to erect this Ordinance fallen out of the world for any other to goe about the raising of it as some please to term it they shall but raise it from beneath if not out of the bottomlesse pit Commission being wanting in the actors of it it shal be but only earthly ●nd from beneath And it being asked of the●e as the Jo. 3 31. Jewes asked of John his Baptisme whether it were from heaven or of men It must needs be answered of Men for no Commission can any shew to raise Baptisme thus fallen out of the world nor to Baptise themselves Mark 21. 25 or others being themselves unbaptized no more then Nadab and Abihu could shew ●or taking other Fire Levi. 10. or Saul for sacrificing in Samuel's 1 Sam. 13. 8 absence If these should be asked as were those that would cast our Devil● in Jesus name without Commission Iesus we acknowledge and ●aul we know but who are ye whence came you who gave you Acts 19. 15. Co●mission they must need remaine silent Waiting is unavoidable in this case till our Lord come or send some one from heaven to restore and newly to begin this lost Ordi●ance for to doe otherwise 2 Chron. 26. 18 19. were ●o d●● as King V●zia did or as did Saul in offe●●ng sacr●fice in Sa●●el's absence he conceiving himselfe to be in a great streight as indeed they are and may well take themselvs to be that are of such opinion that Baptisme is lost and fallen out of the world and must be by them as of necessitie be gone againe and restored This their attempt it is marvellous that they have not patience and do not waite seeing they or at least some of them beleeve and expect our Lord Christ personally to appeare againe in the world happily he may be angry at ●heir sudden attempt that they did not waite and t●rr● his coming or at least till he had sent the● wit● speciall Commission as he did Iohn the Baptist to prepare his way before him Now if any either have or sha●l adventure to be I●r 23. 21. so hardy and venturous as to run no being sent as of old some Prophets did and shall set about the doing of this without Commission and speciall warrant they shall but produce and bring forth an Idoll or their own begetting which shall be no Ordinance of Iesus Christ at all error according to their owne ground having destroyed and made voyd their former Baptisme a little error shall make voyd this also and they shall still remaine without the true Baptisme of Iesus Christ as default in the subject made voyde th●ir former Baptisme and made them reject it as an Idoll default in power and want of a right Instrument that hath Authority shall make this to be ●o●d also and an Idoll likewise worthy to be rejected for i● a man can receive nothing Ioh. 3. 27. Iam 1. unlesse it be given him from above and if every good gift be from above from the Father of lights This not having Divine Authority in the Instrument and so is not from above from Heaven as Johns Baptisme was but from beneath of men earthly of no value at all If default in the subject make a nullitie an Infant of a Beleever instead of a person of yeares professing Faith and Repentance so is their opinion then in like manner it must needs be that default in power and want of a Commission doth make voyd also That is when an unbaptised person instead of a Baptised doth act it The Commission in the 28 Matt. 19. it is most plaine it is to none but to such as were Baptised receiving it from Iohn that had Commission to do it and so as in a right line An Unbaptised person what hath he to doe with it or the acting of it he may be sure God never required it at his hands what warrant hath any Unbaptised Esa 1. 12. person to Baptise himselfe he may be sure God never spake one word to him about it as for Jer. 7. 22. example there is none in this kinde to be found not

one in all the Scriptures and truly for a man to Baptise himselfe and so to begin Baptisme which he must necessarily thinke is not remaining in the world as before is so singular a course and so differing from the way and practise of the Saints that it discovereth it selfe to be erroneous and not of God The people went to John that had Commission Paul to Ananias Cornelius to Peter the Eunuch to Philip Disciples to such as were Disciples before Mar. 1. 9. them yea our Lord himselfe the King of the Church he went to Iohn If any might take liberty to himselfe sure he might but he minded the fulfilling Mar. 3. 19. of righteousnesse which how these regard it I leave it to be judged by their practise who will thus adventure to do as never any did before namely Baptise themselves and then others when as Baptised persons are in the world which they will not repaire unto as our Lord did to Iohn If they had questioned as I have heard some going over the Sea they may please to minde the example of our Lord that went over Iordan to Iohn but it is likely they question their Baptisme that went before them whether it were true or no it not being lineally descended and indeed so have they cause In like manner others do and well may question theirs as feari●g it is but some Idoll of their owne as before is said But all that can be said availeth not to satisfie some for by no meanes can they see how Baptisme should be Gods Ordinance under the defection of Antichrist I answere it may well be so that they cannot see this nor yet that to be the Temple of God where Antichrist sitteth Thes 2. 2. this is a great difficulty to many but what then may it not be a truth and so indeed in the one and in the other because many cannot see it yes certainly unlesse such as cannot see it had or might be thought to have infallible knowledge and understanding Nicodemus could not see into the truth of the Doctrine John 3. of Regeneration or the new birth our Lord tould him of yet it was a truth and so is this of Baptisme being Gods Ordinance in or under the defection of Antichrist though some do not and others cannot see it so to be let such minde that this is a mystery yea mysteries standing together the mysterie of the Church and the mysterie of Iniquitie these being found standing together no marvaile if they be not so easily perceived particularly especially when persons looke so fiercely upon the one that they altogether loose the sight of the other and cannot see it and so say as Nicodemus how can it be To be able to distinguish aright of things standing th●● together namely Gods posts from mens and mens from Gods is a point of great wisdome which the Lord give men understanding to doe aright Oh but the Baptisme of Infants or Children is such a matter as spoyleth all and maketh voyd Baptisme forthwith where it is practised so as ever since this came into use or practise in the world Baptisme hath there and then ceased so as to be non of Christ Indeed if it doe make it voyd now it did so at the first and so it began to cease and there was a nullity of the Baptisme of many before Christ died or at least before the Apostles left the world for ought any are able to manifest to the contrary I may safely affirme But touching the Baptisme of Children or Infants if it were an error as some suppose and would have it doth it then follow that it is a nullitie and so voyd because an error is in it if it were so then is their Baptisme their Church and all their actions nullities and voyd having error attending them as they will confesse and must doe unlesse they will pleade perfection in their courses which I trust they will not doe so as now the question wi●l not bee concerning error but concerning the nature and degree of error which conduceth to make voyd a matter and so this of Baptisme and with reference to the quality and degree of error it is evident that as great error attends their new Baptisme as the Baptisme of Infants or theirs in infancie let the matter of the estate of defection be added to it So as here is no ground to goe upon but that which leadeth into an endlesse Labyrinth and indeed this some of them have come to see and to confesse and so have rejected their second Baptisme also and taken up a third which in time no doubt when their heate is over and they have more seriously considered of it they will see it to be as faulty as their first or second and that it is to be rejected also But if an error doe not make a nullitie as it is most sure it doth not no though the error should be great then may the Baptisme in and under the defection be and remaine Gods Ordinance notwithstanding all the error or errors that attend it or are in it And indeed so it doth so as there is no need of this new way never heard of in the word of God namely of a persons Baptising of himselfe and so others afterward or others before he himselfe being Unbaptised when as they sayd persons were before partakers of the true Baptisme of Iesus Christ notwithstanding there were some errors attending the administring of it to them for all that the premisses will beare or can be gathered in this matter concerning the subject is but at the most that persons should keepe back their Infants or Children from the Ordinance least they happily should prophane the same by overtimely using and partaking of it and so tarrying till nature had given some ripenesse in speech and utterance and art by Industry in way of Education had done its part also before seaven yeares they might become capable subjects according to these mens ground confessing Faith and professing Repentance when they have never a whit more grace then the● had the first day they came into the world and in this way as I am informed some in the Nether-lands are fully pleased and contented a very empty businesse But now very lately some are mightily taken as having found out a new defect in the Baptisme under the defection which maketh such a nullitie of Baptisme in their conceit that it is none at all and it is concerning the manner of Baptizing wherein they have espyed such default as it maketh an absolute nullity of all persons Baptisme but such as have bin so Baptized according to their new discovery and so partly as before in regard of the subject and partly in regard of so great default in the manner They not only conclude as is before sayd a nullity of their present Baptisme And so but addresse themselves to be Baptized a third time after the true way and manner they have found out which they account a