Selected quad for the lemma: life_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
life_n	believe_v	faith_n	scripture_n	6,265	5	6.0885	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A52394	Baptism discovered plainly & faithfully according to the word of God. Wherein is set forth the glorious pattern of our blessed saviour Jesus Christ, the pattern of all believers in his subjection to baptism. Together, with the example of thousands who were baptized after they believed. By John Norcott, late servant of Jesus Christ, and of his church. The third edition, corrected by Will. Kiffin, and Rich. Claridge. With an appendix by another hand.	Norcott, John, d. 1676.; Claridge, Richard, 1649-1723.; Kiffin, William, 1649-1723.	1694 (1694)	Wing N1227A; ESTC R213780	25,797	77

Covenant promises were made to Abraham and his spiritual seed that is Believers for they are the children of God and Heirs according to the promise Therefore saith the Apostle He said not and to seeds as of many but as of one and to thy seed which is Christ Gal. 3.16 Many Temporal promises were made to all the seed of Abraham natural and spiritual but his spiritual seed only that is Believers are intitled to the promises of the new Covenant For those promises being made to Christ namely to Christ first and then to all that are in Christ none can have an Interest in them but as they are considered in him because he is the great point or centre of the promises in whom they me●● and are established Object 3. 3. But the Infants of Believers are to be baptized because they have Habitual Faith I Answer If by Habitual Faith our Adversarys understand an Infused Habit of Believing and that all the Infants of Believers have this Infused Habit then let them produce some Argument either from plain Scripture good Consequence or rectified Reason for their Opinion For to tell us of Habitual Faith in Infants without any manner of Proof either Scriptural or Philosophical is meer begging of the Question But if by Habitual Faith they mean a Potentiality in the soul to believe this will no more qualify their Infants for Baptism than the Infants of Heathens because there may be a Potentiality in the one as well as the other to believe And seeing it is but a Potentiality they speak of I demand how they come to know that their Infants have this Power is it by Revelation or by Observation If by Revelation then surely they have some Text for it If by Observation then their Infants do demonstrate it by some Act or other of Believing but if neither of these ways then not at all Further we may not Baptize Infants upon a meer supposed power of believing because a bare supposition or Presumption is a groundless bottom to go upon For the Scriptures do no where countenance such a practice We do indeed baptize Grown Persons upon presumption that they are Believers they making to us a profession of their Faith in Christ and giving Testimonials of amendment in their Lives but Infants being not capable of professing Faith in Christ or testifying of Repentance from D●ad Works we must not baptize them upon a supposition that as Believers Children they have a potentiality to believe which others have not Object 4. Infants of Believers are capable of having the Seal of the Covenant of Grace which is Baptism applyed unto them I Answer Baptism is no Seal of the Covenant of Grace Christ is the Great Blessing of the Covenant and the Holy Spirit Sealeth him to the Souls of the Faithful In whom after that ye believed ye were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise Eph. 1.13 And grieve not the holy spirit whereby ye are sealed to the Day of Redemption 4.30 And as the Holy Spirit sealeth Christ to the Soul so Faith the fruit thereof sealeth the Soul to Christ He that hath received his Testimony hath set to his Seal that God is true John 3.33 But granting for Argument sake that Bapism is a Seal of the Covenant of Grace how come Infants to be capable of it Is there any Word of God in the New Testament for the Baptizing of them There is none How then are they capable of Baptism Why the Devisers of Will Worship have created them a Title to it against the Express Revelation of God FINIS 〈◊〉 lately Printed 〈◊〉 Will. Marshal at the Bible i● Newgate-street MR. Bunyans Works Printed in Folio price bound 14 s. Mr. Knowls his Exposition on the whole Book of the Revelations price bound 2 s. 6 d. Mr. Collin's Vindication of Believers Baptism price 4 d. How 's Spiritual Teaching price 6 d. Mr. Keeches Childs Delight containing a Scripture Catechism wherein all the chief Principles of Christian Religion are clearly though briefly opened necessary to establish young People in Gods Truths in Opposition to Popery in perillous Times together with many other things both pleasant and useful for the Christian Education of Youth with Letters to Parents Adorned with several Copper Cuts teaching to Spell Read and casting Accounts fitted for the use of Schools and very useful for all Families price bound 6 d.

this Truth viz. Believers Baptism as it was practised by Christ and the Primitive Churches my great Request to thee is That thou wilt read what is said without prejudice And whatever thou findest according to Truth receive as that which is more precious than thy Life and judge of it according to the Holy Scriptures for when all is said that can be they 〈◊〉 be Judge in all Controversies of 〈…〉 And as Christ is the Foundation 1 Cor. 2.11 upon which whoever buildeth shall never be confounded I shall therefore take a few Observations concerning Christ his being baptized and herein you may take notice how exact the Holy Scriptures are to set down the Circumstances of his Baptism CHAP. I. Christ was Baptized in the River of Jordan COncerning the Baptism of Jesus Christ you may read it at large Mat. 3.13 c. Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John to be Baptized of him Every word hath Emphasis then before he entred upon his publick Ministry as you see in Mat. 4.17 From that time Jesus began to preach cometh he might have commanded John to have attended him but in token of his subjection he cometh from Galilee many miles 't is likely on foot every step we take for God is acceptable and one day shall have a Glorious Reward to Jordan where there was a River where Thousands had been Baptized and was a suitable place for John to dip Christ in as will be seen hereafter Now I shall take notice of eight things concern the Baptism of Christ First Concerning his Age 't is said Luk. 3.21 Jesus being baptized ver 23. began to be about thirty years of Age here you see that Christ himself was baptized at Grown Years if any might be baptized in Infancy why not Christ Christians be not ashamed your Captain is gone before you he was thirty years old when baptized Christ is not ashamed to call you Brethren Heb. 2.11 Secondly Another thing to be observed in the Baptism of Christ is the Administrator of this holy Ordinance John who confesseth of himself he was not worthy to unloose the latchets of his shooes Mark 1.7 Now if Christ would receive Baptism from such an unworthy Instrument never slight the Ordinance because of the unworthiness of the Administrators let your eye be on Christ your Example Thirdly Note the Repulse John forbad him Mat. 3.14 Difficultly in duty must be no excuse we must take no denyal in following God Strive to enter in at the strait gate Mat. 7.13 Fourthly Note John's Argument Mat. 3.14 I have need to be baptized of thee 〈◊〉 comest thou to me Some will not be baptized but of need their carnal Argument is May I not go to Heaven though I be not baptized Is it of necessity to salvation Is this like your Lord and Master Was not he a perfect Saviour Was not the Spirit poured on him without measure He had no sin to be washed away wherefore see your example he doth it not of need but of obedience to his Fathers will Fifthly Note the excellent Terms he gives to this Ordinance of Baptism 1. He calls it Righteousness Matth. 3.15 'T is righteous and just that I should be about my Fathers business 2. It is a comely thing it becomes us Oh it is a very comely thing in God's Children to have respect to all the Commandments of God 3. The Conjunction us thee and me and all my Followers John 12.26 If any man serve me let him follow me and where I am there shall also my servant be 4. A Completion it is a fulfilling 2 Cor. 10.4 The weapons of our warfare are not carnal but spiritual ver 5. bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ ver 6. having in readiness to revenge all disobedience when your obedience shall be fulfilled Obedience must be fulfilled 5. The universal Term all Baptism is one of the all Christ reckons it so Thou canst not walk in all the Commands if this be omitted 6. Note Concerning Christs Baptism the form of Administration Mat. 3. And straitway he went up out of the water straitway because Baptism is once Dipping up had he not been down 't would not have been said he went up he went was not carryed in Arms as Infants are out if he went out of the water then he had been in We never say one goes out of the house when he never was in So Christ could not be said to come out of the water had he not been in he went up out had a little water been brought to him in a Bason he had not been said to go up out of the water this water was the River of Jordan Christ stoops to small things because an Ordinance 7. Note Concerning Christ's Baptism the Father's Acceptance Mat. 3.16 17. the Heavens were opened Some of Christ's Followers have found glorious openings of Heaven in Baptism the spirit descended the very same that is promised to Believers in their Baptism Act. 2.38 Repent and be Baptized every one of you and you shall receive the Holy Ghost Obj. But doth every one receive the Holy Ghost that is bapt●●●● Ans The defect lies not in Baptism ●●t in Faith and Repentance without which no Ordinance is effectual And lo a voice from Heaven This is my beloved Son Christ as Head was sealed and in Baptism is held forth the Sonship of his Members in him I am well pleased not only in all he hath and doth do but in this very Act of Baptism as an Act of Obedience to my glorious Will I am well pleased and so is the Lord well pleased in the Act of Obedience wherein from the heart we obey the form of Doctrine delivered to us Rom. 6.17 The same Voice the blessed Son of God hath in the Mount Luk. 9.35 This is my beloved Son hear him Hear him in his Commands and Appointments hear him now in his Baptism Oh saith Christ thus it becometh us you that have my Father for your Father you that have my God for your God Thus it becometh us to be baptized and to fulfil all righteousness Oh he is a beloved Son hear him 8. Note How in Christs Baptism the Trinity doth as it were meet the Father with a Voice the Son baptized in Person the Holy Ghost descends like a Dove And surely it is one Reason why Baptism in special is is to be administred in the Name of the Father Son Holy Ghost because he who doth sincerely believe and is baptized the whole Trinity the Father Son and Spirit is his portion and that glorious Union of the Trinity in Christ's Baptism is in every Believers Baptism commemorated CHAP. II. Of the great Commission for Believers Baptism AS you have heard something concerning your great Pattern the Lord Jesus so now I shall shew something concerning his Command Mat. 28.19 And I pray note what is said of our Lord Jesus Act. 1.1 Christ is said both to do teach 't

and to your Children and to all that are ● far off even as many as the Lord our G●● shall call Here you see it is to such as are called Now if you say this word Call relates not to the Children but to them that are afar off I Answer it must needs relate to the Children and their Parents and all afar off because it is the Promise ver 16 17. this is that which is spoken of by Joel the Prophet I will pour out of my Spirit on all flesh on your Sons and Daughters Joel 2.28 on the Remnant whom the Lord shall call ver 32. Now if the Promise of the Spirit be to Children though not called then either the Promise doth fail and that 's a fearful thing to think or else all the Children of Believers do partake of this glorious Spirit but the contrary dayly experience shews that many of Believers Children are Carnal not having the Spirit and it is fulfilld only to such whom the Lord our God shall call Object 16. 16. But I have been Baptized in my Infancy therefore what need I be Baptized again I Answer As one saith of Marriage It is not the ●ed that makes Marriage for then forni●ation is Marriage but a lawful consent by Covenant that makes Marriage So I say of Baptism it is not Water thrown on the face that makes Baptism but it is a free consent and subjection to Christ according to the Rule that makes Baptism Now when thou wast an Infant thou gavest no consent thou canst not tell of any such thing but by report thou knowest not when it was thou hadst no Faith in the Act. And what ever is not of Faith is sin so that thou art not yet baptized Again consider what defects have been in thy Infant-Baptism First there was no Rule to baptize thee while an Infant Then thou wast not a right subject for thou oughtst to believe and be baptized then thou wast only sprinkled not buried in baptism as Christ was and hath commanded Now wilt thou call that baptism which was only a Tradition received from thy Fore-Fathers when the Lord Jesus did shed his most precious blood to redeem thee from the Tradition of thy Fore-Fathers 1 Pet. 1.18 19 Object 17. 17. But many lay so much stress on Baptism as makes us more backward to it I Answer Is there more stress laid by any than Christ who said they rejected the Counc●● of God against themselves not being baptized Luk. 7.29 30. And is it not our duty to contend for the faith once delivered to the Saints Object 18. 18. But the Children of Believers are holy therefore they ought to be baptized I Answer As it is said the Children are holy so it is said the unbelieving Husband is holy or sanctified by the believing Wife This Holiness is wholly to the use of Marriage for the Apostle is in that place 1 Cor. 7. speaking of Marriage and whether those who have believed should live with unbelieving Husbands or put them away as 1 Cor. 7.13 So that the Holiness here spoken of it is wholly to their use it is said Zach. 14.20 There shall be Holiness on the Horses Bells and every Pot in the Lords House sh●ll be Holy Now do you think this was a sufficient warrant to baptize Bells as you ma● read they did in the Book of Martyrs 〈…〉 being holy for the use of the By 〈…〉 Sanctified by 〈…〉 ●●ayer 1 Tim. 3.4 5. And to the Pure all things are Pure Tit. 1.15 That is to their use Thus Children are holy and unbelieving Husbands are sanctified to their use But if you think Believers Children are inherently holy doth not your experience tell you the contrary do not we see good Men have ungodly Children and bad Men have holy Children so that they are only holy for their use they are not born in uncleanness Object 19. 19. When they were formerly circumcised Men of years were circumcised but afterwards Infants were circumcised so in the Gospel when Baptism was first administred Men and Women were baptized but afterwards Infants were Baptized I Answer When God first commanded Circumcision he commanded that it should be administred to Children Gen. 17.10 every Man-child but when Christ commanded Baptism he commanded that persons should be taught and that they should believe and be baptized and never gave a Command to baptize Children Then consider we have the Lives and Acts of the Apostles and Primitive Churches for divers years and not one Infant baptized Paul was converted sometime after Christs Ascension and was fourteen years in Christ Cor. 12.2 In these fourteen years sure some Children were born yet not one baptized that we read of Object 20. 20. They were Heathens that were baptized in the Apostles days I Answer Was the Lord Jesus a Heathen he was baptized The Eunuch a Worshipper of the true God Cornelius a man whose Prayers and Alms came to God for a Memorial were these Heathens Nay do not those who baptize Infants baptize Heathens Eph. 2.3 We are the Children of wrath by Nature It is you that plead for the baptizing Heathens we plead for the baptizing Believers Object 21. 21. But Paul saith 1 Cor. 1.17 Christ sent me not to baptize but to preach I Answer That Paul did baptize 1 Cor. 1.14 15. He baptized Crispus and Gaius and the Houshold of Stephanas and divers others Now what he did he did by Commission or Presumption but he did it not by Presumption therefore he did it by Commission he was sent to preach Baptism fell in as a part of his Preaching Office Philip was chosen a Deacon yet he baptized the Eunuch Baptism fell in as part of his work Acts 8. so that he that is called to be a Preacher needs no call to baptize the other falls in as his work Object 22. 22. But there were three thousand baptized in one day how could all these be dipped in one day they might be sprinkled but not dipped I Answer They might well be dipped for there were twelve Apostles and seventy Disciples as Luke 10.1 that is eighty two these might well baptize three thousand in a day CHAP. IX Believers-Baptism and Infant-Baptism compared 1. Believers Baptism hath a Command Mat. 28.19 20. 1. Infant-Baptism hath not a Command 2. Believers baptism hath many Examples Acts 8.12 cap. 2.37 41 42 c. 2. Infant-baptism hath no Example 3. Believers baptism is from Heaven Mat. 21.25 3. Infant-baptism is from Men. 4. Believers baptism is the Councel of God Luk. 7.29.30 4. Infant baptism hath the Councel of Men. 5. Believers baptism hath been Gloriously sealed Matthew 3. 5. Infant-baptism never was sealed by God 6. In believers baptism the person baptized acts faith 6. But in Infant-baptism the Infant acts no faith 7. In believers baptism the person subjects in acts of obedience 7. But in Infant-baptism the Infant puts forth no Act of Obedience 8. In believers baptism the person knows when he is baptized