be found in the Great Day to be but as Hay Wood Stubble or if possible some more Cumbustible Matter Notwithstanding I have thus clearly stated and proved this to be a Truth from Scripture that none can or ought to come to Christ in their Sins yet I doubt not but many who never were led into the Knowledge of their own Hearts to see their Natural Enmity against Christ and Utter Inability to perform any Duty Spiritually will be so far from setting to their Seal that this is true that they will be but the more exasperated We read in Acts 7.54 that when the Apostle had reproved those Jews for their Sin in Crucifying Christ to the end it might not be their ruin they were cut to the Heart but instead of Blessing God for such a Faithful Reprover 't is said they gnashed on him with their Teeth Man is Naturally prone to set up himself and when he cannot make himself the Purchaser of his Salvation he would have a Hand in the Application and how unwelcome shall a Faithful Minister be to such when they come to beat down their Carnal Confidence and to spoil their Glorying in the Flesh And how hard for a Minister who shuns not to declare the whole Counsel of God and whose design is that Christ alone may be exalted to Preach such Doctrine as this but by and by some will be offended Such Doctrine as this would not be received from Christ himself by some was he now on Earth John 6.65,66 And he said Therefore said I unto you that no Man can come unto me except it were given him of my Father From that time many of his Disciples went back and walked no more with him Mind no sooner had he told them in plain words what I have been proving but from that time many went back and walked no more with him Now if I am judged Erroneous yet I hope such as differ from me in this Point will not judge Christ so yet why Christ should be judged a true Witness and I a false Witness for relating his very Words I see not but if I am yet it more encourages me that Christ is on my side than it shall discourage me though all the Devils in Hell wore against me being fully satisfied that he will be the Judge at the Great Day not only of our Lives but of our Doctrines nor will any Doctrines pass for Truth then if they have not a Divine Stamp upon them and sure I am this Doctrine I oppose hath none I am satisfied if those search the Scripture from Genesis to the Revelation they can find no Text written to prove that Sinners can or ought to come to Christ in their Sins though many Texts prove it the Duty of Sinners to come But to take a review of the forecited Text and to see who they were that forsook Christ for delivering such Doctrine you may see Verse 64. Such as believed not none else Christ turns him to the Twelve Will ye also go away Peter on the behalf of the rest replies Lord to whom shall we go Thou hast the Words of Eternal Life As if he had said Lord dost thou think we are so unacquainted with our own Hearts as to go from thee for delivering that Truth that 〈◊〉 who have but tasted thou art Gracious have experienced These are the Words of Eternal Life and therefore thou mayest as well ask us whether we are willing to miss of Life as forsake thee for these Truths sake Thus you see however contemptible this Doctrine was then to those that believed not or may be to such whose Eyes are not yet opened or at least who see no clearer into Divine Mysteries than he who saw Men as Trees yet this was judged such a Fundamental Truth to the Twelve that it behoved them as they tendred the Salvation of their Souls to receive it In a word and I shall close Tho' those that differ from me in this Point may for my good-will become my Enemies because I tell them the Truth yet in love to their Souls I would have them consider whether this Doctrine they defend doth not exclude the Spirit of God from having any hand in the Application of the Benefits purchased by Christ to the Soul And if it doth I hope you will see it to be an Error indeed Now I think none dare deny but that upon our coming to Christ his Benefits are applied to all Now the Question is how or by what power the Soul is enabled to come Say I as renewed and born of the Spirit Tit. 3.3,5 say they though without one Syllable in Scripture to prove it no the Soul comes wreeking in all his Sins unchanged unrenewed and if so then judge if this is not to exclude the Spirit wholly from having any hand in this Work For if such as come to Christ have the Spirit then they do not come as they are in their Sins Let me close all with a Word to you my Auditors and especially to you my Brethren I chiefly designed what is contained in this Book for you that you may be established in the Truth as it is in Jesus Take you heed of rejecting Sound Doctrine lest God give you over to believe a Lie 'T is the Truth must make you free Stand you therefore and Enquire for the good Old Way and walk therein and you shall find rest to your Souls Contend you earnestly for the Faith once delivered to the Saints Beware of such pretended Lights as do not shine forth in God's Word In a word if I have delivered nothing in this Book but what I have proved from Scripture then I hope you will see it your Duty to receive these Truths 'T is sad when any Love Darkness rather than Light But if any of you after all my Labour for your sakes should reject these Truths I leave this Book not as a Legacy but as a Witness against you at the Great Day FINIS
is like to be lost that hath no better Witness than an ignorant Nicodemus and we may suppose the Anabaptists at a Loss when the ablest and most learned among them are forced to summons in Nicodemus as a Witness for tho' they must own him to be a poor Evidence if they will believe Christ Verse 10. Art thou a Master in Israel and knowest not these things and they that do not know things are unmeet to prove them But either this Person put more Confidence in Nicodemus than Christ or else knowing his Cause was almost gone would rather cite Nicodemus concerning which he knew neither what he said nor whereof he affirmed rather than have no Witness but 't is no wonder to see the most Learned of the Anabaptists run into such gross Absurdities and to be at such a Loss in such Mysteries for if Learning could teach a Man the Mysteries of the Gospel Nicodemus had not been so grosly ignorant of Christ's meaning and I leave it to any Judicious Person to determine whether we have not as good Ground and better to judge that this Objecter was of the same Mind of Nicodemus in understanding it to be a natural Birth then to conclude that because he understood it as spoken of Adult only therefore it must be so for we may suppose had not this Doctor had great Confidence in the Infallibility of Nicodemus he would never have ventured that Cause which was as dear to him as his Life upon his single Evidence and especially in such a Cause wherein he had so many Hundreds opposed him and sure had he judged him in a gross Mistake as to the Nature of that new Birth he would never have put such Confidence in what he said with the same Breath as to the Subject and as we have infallible Ground to conclude from his own Words that this Objecter is far from believing any Necessity or Possibility for Infants to be regenerated so I think I do him no Wrong if I suppose 't is his Judgment that there is no more Necessity for grown Persons to be regenerated for of this Judgment was his trusty and well-beloved Friend Nicodemus for had Nicodemus once supposed that grown Persons any more than Infants must be born again Spiritually he would never have mentioned such a gross Absurdity as to be born again Carnally but taking it for granted that Adult to give the Objecter his Sence could not be born again Spiritually absurdly supposes it to be meant a Carnal Birth and why we may not suppose the Objecter to be of his Judgment in the one as well as the other especially since he puts such Confidence in him I see not and now I leave it to my understanding Reader to judge whether we have not better Ground to believe that under the Word Men Children are comprehended because the Word signifies both than to conclude Christ only meant grown Men because Nicodemus understood him so since it is past all dispute the Word signifies so but whether Nicodemus did rightly understand Christ's meaning may justly admit of a Debate nay it seems almost past all Dispute he did not by his gross Mistake about other Passages relating hereunto Thus I have I hope sufficiently proved a Necessity for Infants to have Faith if they get to Heaven from God's Appointment and what can be more cogent to confirm any Point than the express Mind of God And I am certain had the Anabaptists such-clear Proof that no Infants ought to be Baptized as I have given to prove that all Infants that get to Heaven must have Faith they would soon cry Victory nor should I ever hold up my Weapons against them was it so lest haply by so doing I was found fighting against God himself Secondly There is a Necessity for Faith in Infants if they get to Heaven arising from the Corruption of their Natures Which tho' the Anabaptist may probably deny yet I doubt not but to confirm this also from Scripture When Adam had sinned by eating the Forbidden Fruit he was immediately seized with a Spiritual Death according to the Commination in the Day thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die And Adam being a publick Head and Representative of all Mankind this Spiritual Death is intailed on all his Posterity Hence we are said to bear the Image of the Earthly nor is this true of Adult only but of all his Posterity 1 Cor. 15.22 As in Adam all die Mind all die Infants as well as grown Persons and this I shall further prove from most express Scripture Eph. 2.3 And were by Nature the Children of Wrath even as others Gen. 8.21 For the Imagination of Man's Heart is evil from his Youth The Evil in our Hearts is the Cause of all the Evil in our Lives Hence Foolishness is said to be bound up in the Heart of a Child Prov. 22.15 It is so bound up that for a while it may not discover it self yet is in his Heart See Psal 58.3 The Wicked are estranged from the Womb they go astray as soon as they be born speaking Lies That is they have a straying Principle as soon as born Once more Psal 51.5 Behold I was shapen in Iniquity and in Sin did my Mother conceive me So that by Nature we not only want a Title to Heaven but a Meetness also Col. 1.12 Giving Thanks unto the Father who hath made us meet to be Partakers of that Inheritance of the Saints in Light Implying that by Nature they were unmeet and if Children are not thus corrupt by Nature how came they to die since the Wages of Sin is Death Now if Death reigned as the Apostle saith from Adam to Moses even over them that had not sinned after the Similitude of Adam's Transgression that is Infants that had not sinned actually then it must be because they were Sinners in Adam and had the Seed of Sin in themselves habitually for the Guilt of Adam's Act is not transferred to any of the meer Sons of Men but such as partake of his Image also and I dare be bold to say and can abundantly from Scripture prove that the Seed and Spawn of all our Actual Sins are in our Hearts before we commit one of them for as in Grace there must first be the Habit and then the Act so in Sin the Heart is first Wicked then the Life The Tree is first evil before the Fruit is so Mat. 12.33,35 Now if the Nature of all is so corrupt as I have proved then 't is impossible for any thus corrupt to get to Heaven without an inward Change for what would Heaven be to an unregenerate Soul What would the Works of praising God be to one that hates God Or what would Holy Company be to such as are dead in Trespasses and Sins and to every good Word and Work reprobate But least this should not suffice I shall prove from Scripture that such cannot get to Heaven in an unchanged State 1 Cor. 15.50 Now this I
but only VVater supposing that if there was but Water be it more or less there could be no Hindrance why he should not be Baptized on that Account as to the Element Had an Anabaptist been there no doubt but he should have had a sharp Rebuke for his Ignorance thus VVhat hinders VVhy 't is not deep enough but Philip never in the least opposes him but seems rather to answer by way of Concession If thou believest thou may'st as if he had said True indeed if there is but VVater there can be no Hindrance on that Account But some may say This was a deep VVater of which he spake Answer I desire the Anabaptists to prove that But suppose it was so yet here is no mention made of that as not at all material to his present Purpose Now the Eunuch no doubt being inform'd by Philip as well touching the Manner of the Ordinance as the Necessity of it would in all Probability had Dipping been the only way have said See here is VVater enough to be Baptized in but since he only mentions VVater and Philip seems to consent to him I frame an Argument thus If nothing can hinder a Person being Baptized as to the Element where there is Water then Dipping is not absolutely necessary but nothing can hinder where there is Water therefore Dipping is not absolutely necessary the major is most evident for there may be Water where there is not enough to Dip any one in The minor is clear from express Scripture See here is Water what hinders c. Clearly holding forth that the not being deep enough to Dip in could not hinder for tho' it is by way of Interrogation yet it carries in it the Force of an Affirmation So that tho' we see from hence some Water is necessary yet this Scripture gives us not the least Countenance to believe or think that much Water is necessary but doth in Words next to most express Terms prove the contrary unto us Thus I hope I have not only proved from Scripture that some Infants have a Right to Baptism but also have given good Proof that our Way of Baptizing by throwing or pouring Water upon the Face is according to the Mind of God or at least have given as good Proof for that as can be given for Dipping and better and since the Scripture doth as well approve to say no more of our Way of Baptizing as of Dipping doth not the Law of God and Nature direct and excite us to use that Way which may be least hurtful to our Bodies For if God give us but equal Liberty to Baptize by Dipping or some other more safe Way we ought to avoid Dipping especially in our cold Climate since we cannot Dip in the Winter Season especially without endangering our Lives so that of Necessity the Ordinance must sometimes be long deferred and I am sure we have no President for that Lydia and her Houshold the Jaylor and all his were immediately Baptized when those two believed but now if we were to imitate them and should Baptize by Dipping we must extreamly hazard the Lives even of Adult in the Winter and whether of these three we should chuse to Baptize by throwing Water on the Face since the Word of God approves that Way as well as any other or Dip them in the Winter Season when we have no express Precept or President in Scripture so to do and so endanger the Life or sinfully to deferr the Ordinance I leave it to you to judge by long deferring the Ordinance we certainly Sin by Dipping or Plunging the Party under Water may under some Circumstances be in Danger to commit Sin to say no more but to Baptize by pouring on of Water carries no Appearance of Evil in it I have heretofore for some time preached occasionally in Burnham in the Hundreds of Essex where there were many Anabaptists tho' at great Variance among themselves one Party most vehemently accusing another because one Party Baptized any that were Adult if they desired it whether they were Believers or not by reason of which they in a small Village set up Meeting against Meeting whereby I see they are fallible in some things and so may be in others and there I was informed by one that well knew it that some Women being perswaded to be Dipped soon after Childbearing were immediately taken ill and never recovered I hope I have said enough as to the manner how this Ordinance may and ought under our Circumstances to be administred and now desire my Christian Friends the Anabaptists to prove that the Word is never used to any other End than to signifie Dipping or Plunging the whole Body under Water or because they went down into the Water or were where much VVater was that therefore of Necessity they must be dipped but if none of these can be proved as I am most certain they cannot I hope they will no more contend about this Point but will see it their Duty to comply with us in our way of Baptizing since they cannot thus hazard their Lives by Dipping without tempting of God since we may as lawfully use some other way less dangerous to the Body But if I cannot prevail in this yet since we have so much to say in Vindication of our Practice I hope they will suspend their Uncharitable Censures which I find them so prone unto may I judge of some Mens Spirits by their Writings the Poyson of Asps seems to be under their Tongue 'T is not long since I saw a Book put out by one of the most eminent of the Anabaptists who writing against one of ours who for Piety Gravity and Ministerial Ability deserved to be more Honourably treated by him however in that Point differing from him and in that he charges his Antagonist with Railery and Unbecoming Language telling him how unlike such a Spirit is to do good in Controverted Points and Promises by the Grace of God to discover no such Spirit in his Writing against him But this Gentleman had either a Bad Head or a Malicious Revengeful Heart for within a few Pages instead of Confusing him which he hath discovered himself in the Judgment of most to be unable to do he falls into such Scurrilous Filthy Abominable Language as for modesty sake I omit rendring much more of that Nature than ever he had received From whence I have cause to fear that Gentleman was not much influenced by the Grace of God while he no sooner scarce resolves by God's Grace against a known Sin which he pretends to abhor but commits it again and again deliberately and seemingly with the greatest delight and rather than conceal his Wit in making a Jest will commit a Sin to the Dishonour of God and Wrong of his own Soul It would have been well for that Gentleman if he had never Promised by God's Grace unless he had had more Grace to perform his Promise while he like that Disobedient Son said I go but