by_o the_o righteousness_n of_o christ_n impute_v to_o they_o a_o answer_v no_o doubt_n please_v to_o the_o ignorant_a sort_n that_o will_v swallow_v down_o any_o thing_n true_a or_o false_a that_o have_v but_o the_o name_n of_o christ_n or_o the_o righteousness_n of_o christ_n annex_v to_o it_o but_o sure_o this_o bold_a asserter_n have_v forget_v that_o text_n isa_n 8.20_o to_o the_o law_n and_o to_o the_o testimony_n if_o any_o man_n a_o anabaptist_n not_o except_v walk_v not_o according_a to_o this_o rule_n it_o be_v because_o there_o be_v no_o light_n in_o he_o or_o rather_o i_o have_v reason_n to_o judge_v he_o be_v resolve_v his_o own_o fancy_n shall_v guide_v he_o in_o this_o matter_n now_o i_o will_v fain_o know_v where_o this_o author_n can_v prove_v from_o scripture_n any_o imputation_n of_o christ_n righteousness_n to_o any_o but_o believer_n i_o be_o sure_a he_o can_v and_o till_o he_o can_v however_o fond_a he_o or_o his_o brethren_n may_v be_v of_o his_o notion_n it_o not_o agree_v with_o the_o rule_n in_o god_n word_n we_o be_v bind_v to_o look_v upon_o it_o as_o arise_v from_o the_o darkness_n his_o own_o delude_a fancy_n since_o i_o have_v be_v a_o student_n in_o divinity_n i_o have_v be_v teach_v both_o out_o of_o god_n word_n and_o from_o our_o most_o worthy_a author_n that_o the_o imputation_n of_o the_o righteousness_n of_o christ_n have_v respect_n to_o the_o removal_n of_o our_o gild_n and_o that_o it_o be_v the_o work_n of_o the_o spirit_n within_o we_o to_o remove_v the_o filth_n and_o destroy_v the_o power_n of_o sin_n tit._n 3.5_o by_o the_o wash_n of_o regeneration_n and_o renewing_n of_o the_o hely_n ghost_n hence_o we_o be_v say_v to_o be_v bear_v of_o the_o spirit_n justification_n and_o sanctification_n though_o inseparable_a yet_o be_v wide_o distinguish_v by_o all_o but_o papist_n and_o such_o as_o do_v adhere_v to_o they_o sure_o this_o gentleman_n have_v strange_o forget_v the_o great_a difference_n between_o our_o title_n to_o heaven_n and_o our_o meetness_n for_o heaven_n unless_o he_o look_v upon_o our_o claim_n to_o rise_v from_o our_o meetness_n the_o righteousness_n of_o christ_n though_o it_o give_v we_o a_o title_n to_o heaven_n as_o we_o do_v apprehend_v the_o person_n of_o christ_n by_o faith_n yet_o it_o do_v not_o take_v away_o our_o filth_n any_o other_o way_n than_o by_o way_n of_o purchase_n it_o be_v the_o spirit_n of_o god_n in_o we_o that_o be_v the_o efficient_a and_o that_o be_v the_o thing_n we_o be_v inquire_v into_o why_o then_o do_v this_o author_n thus_o beguile_v his_o unwary_a reader_n when_o he_o be_v inquire_v how_o sin_n come_v to_o be_v subdue_v he_o tell_v he_o how_o sin_n come_v to_o be_v pardon_v as_o if_o a_o pardon_n to_o a_o malefactor_n will_v change_v his_o heart_n or_o as_o if_o that_o promise_n of_o a_o new_a heart_n add_v to_o forgiveness_n be_v a_o promise_n of_o little_a worth_n i_o know_v not_o what_o it_o be_v to_o he_o i_o be_o sure_a it_o be_v precious_a to_o all_o saint_n what_o do_v this_o imply_v but_o that_o the_o righteousness_n of_o christ_n be_v impute_v to_o infant_n to_o the_o end_n they_o may_v go_v to_o heaven_n reek_v in_o sin_n and_o that_o they_o may_v be_v exempt_v from_o regeneration_n but_o to_o put_v all_o out_o of_o doubt_n i_o come_v now_o to_o prove_v there_o be_v a_o necessity_n for_o infant_n to_o have_v faith_n in_o the_o sense_n aforesaid_a if_o ever_o they_o get_v to_o heaven_n whatever_o such_o bold_a man_n may_v say_v to_o the_o contrary_a who_o care_v not_o how_o much_o they_o say_v and_o how_o little_a they_o prove_v let_v god_n be_v true_a though_o all_o such_o be_v find_v liar_n now_o there_o be_v a_o twofold_a necessity_n for_o infant_n to_o have_v faith_n in_o order_n to_o their_o get_n to_o heaven_n one_o arise_v from_o god_n ordination_n and_o appointment_n the_o other_o from_o the_o corruption_n of_o our_o nature_n as_o we_o come_v into_o the_o world_n first_o from_o god_n appointment_n and_o ordination_n he_o have_v make_v this_o the_o way_n and_o the_o only_a way_n to_o heaven_n mark_v 16.16_o he_o that_o believe_v not_o shall_v be_v damn_v i_o think_v that_o be_v plain_a scripture_n since_o it_o be_v so_o desire_v by_o the_o anabaptist_n and_o the_o expression_n be_v indefinite_a be_v equivolent_a to_o a_o universe_n he_o that_o be_v any_o he_o high_a or_o low_a rich_a or_o poor_a adult_n or_o infant_n so_o john_n 3.3,5_o very_o very_o i_o say_v unto_o thou_o except_o a_o man_n be_v bear_v again_o he_o can_v see_v the_o kingdom_n of_o god_n and_o then_o add_v by_o way_n of_o explanation_n except_o a_o man_n be_v bear_v of_o water_n and_o of_o the_o spirit_n he_o can_v enter_v into_o the_o kingdom_n of_o god_n now_o regeneration_n be_v a_o infuse_v the_o principle_n of_o all_o grace_n into_o the_o soul_n as_o the_o learned_a pemble_n observe_v one_o grace_n not_o be_v the_o cause_n of_o another_o and_o if_o of_o all_o grace_n then_o of_o faith_n for_o that_o be_v a_o grace_n but_o perhaps_o the_o anabaptist_n may_v object_v that_o by_o the_o word_n man_n we_o be_v to_o understand_v adult_n only_o yet_o at_o best_a this_o be_v but_o a_o bare_a conjecture_n which_o in_o other_o case_n be_v contemn_v by_o they_o and_o therefore_o with_o their_o leave_n or_o without_o it_o i_o shall_v tie_v they_o up_o to_o the_o same_o measure_n for_o it_o seem_v unreasonable_a to_o contemn_v this_o in_o other_o which_o we_o allow_v in_o ourselves_o especial_o in_o matter_n of_o religion_n may_v we_o not_o by_o the_o same_o rule_n exclude_v woman_n and_o then_o i_o know_v no_o scripture_n to_o prove_v a_o necessity_n for_o they_o to_o be_v regenerate_v but_o lest_o this_o shall_v not_o suffice_v for_o by_o this_o time_n i_o may_v suppose_v the_o anabaptist_n to_o be_v like_o a_o man_n drown_v that_o catch_v hold_v of_o every_o straw_n to_o keep_v he_o from_o sink_a i_o shall_v therefore_o prove_v from_o scripture_n that_o the_o word_n man_n oft_o take_v in_o woman_n and_o child_n without_o distinction_n of_o age_n or_o sex_n and_o to_o this_o end_n i_o may_v multiply_v text_n but_o i_o shall_v only_o give_v you_o two_o for_o many_o the_o first_o be_v gen._n 6.7_o i_o will_v destroy_v man._n now_o it_o be_v well_o know_v that_o all_o the_o old_a world_n be_v destroy_v both_o man_n woman_n and_o child_n except_v those_o few_o in_o the_o ark_n and_o yet_o only_a man_n be_v mention_v so_o john_n 16.21_o a_o woman_n when_o she_o be_v in_o travail_n have_v sorrow_n because_o her_o hour_n be_v come_v but_o as_o soon_o as_o she_o be_v deliver_v of_o the_o child_n she_o remember_v no_o more_o her_o anguish_n for_o joy_n that_o a_o man_n be_v bear_v mind_n that_o which_o in_o the_o beginning_n be_v call_v a_o child_n be_v after_o call_v a_o man_n nor_o can_v we_o once_o suppose_v that_o we_o come_v grow_v man_n immediate_o out_o of_o the_o womb_n and_o yet_o this_o may_v be_v as_o easy_o prove_v as_o the_o former_a and_o as_o the_o word_n man_n sometime_o be_v of_o this_o extent_n so_o it_o be_v most_o evident_a it_o be_v so_o here_o for_o the_o word_n 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d in_o the_o greek_a signify_v any_o one_o beza_n render_v it_o aliquis_fw-la any_o body_n or_o any_o one_o but_o notwithstandstand_v all_o that_o have_v be_v say_v i_o late_o see_v a_o piece_n put_v out_o by_o one_o of_o the_o able_a of_o the_o anabaptist_n in_o which_o he_o will_v prove_v that_o christ_n in_o that_o place_n mean_v adult_v only_o and_o he_o prove_v it_o thus_o it_o must_v be_v so_o because_o nicodemus_n understand_v he_o so_o but_o to_o i_o it_o seem_v strange_a that_o any_o unless_o one_o as_o ignorant_a as_o nicodemus_n of_o the_o new_a birth_n shall_v think_v such_o a_o blind_a idiot_n as_o he_o a_o meet_a judge_n of_o christ_n mean_v and_o infallible_o to_o conclude_v it_o must_v be_v so_o because_o he_o understand_v he_o so_o as_o if_o nicedomus_n be_v a_o infallible_a judge_n of_o this_o matter_n that_o nicedomus_n understand_v he_o so_o i_o can_v deny_v but_o if_o that_o must_v be_v his_o meaning_n because_o he_o understand_v he_o so_o than_o we_o must_v conclude_v christ_n mean_v a_o natural_a birth_n also_o for_o so_o nicodemus_n understand_v he_o verse_n 4._o can_v he_o enter_v the_o second_o time_n into_o his_o mother_n womb_n and_o be_v bear_v which_o be_v a_o gross_a mistake_n as_o be_v clear_a from_o verse_n 5._o which_o word_n be_v a_o reproof_n of_o his_o ignorance_n and_o carnal_a conception_n and_o a_o interpretation_n of_o christ_n own_o word_n and_o may_v he_o not_o mistake_v as_o to_o the_o subject_a as_o well_o as_o concern_v the_o nature_n of_o the_o thing_n sure_o i_o be_o that_o cause_n
prove_v thus_o from_o this_o follow_a argument_n and_o it_o seem_v cogent_a argument_n 2._o those_o that_o the_o scripture_n give_v we_o good_a ground_n to_o hope_n be_v believer_n may_v and_o aught_o to_o be_v baptise_a but_o the_o infant_n seed_n of_o believer_n be_v such_o as_o we_o have_v good_a ground_n from_o scripture_n to_o hope_n be_v believer_n therefore_o such_o may_v and_o aught_o to_o be_v baptise_a all_o that_o i_o can_v conceive_v can_v be_v say_v against_o my_o major_a proposition_n be_v to_o deny_v that_o we_o be_v to_o baptise_v any_o upon_o hope_n that_o they_o be_v believer_n and_o to_o affirm_v that_o we_o ought_v to_o baptise_v none_o but_o such_o as_o we_o be_v sure_o have_v true_a justify_v faith_n but_o sure_o i_o be_o such_o a_o objection_n savour_v of_o high_a presumption_n since_o this_o be_v to_o pretend_v to_o be_v wise_a than_o the_o apostle_n and_o as_o wise_a as_o god_n himself_o first_o wise_a than_o the_o bless_a apostle_n as_o you_o may_v see_v by_o compare_v act_n 8.13_o with_o 22.23_o where_o you_o read_v of_o one_o baptise_a that_n be_v in_o the_o gall_n of_o bitterness_n and_o bond_n of_o iniquity_n and_o yet_o we_o can_v be_v so_o uncharitable_a as_o to_o think_v they_o have_v no_o hope_n of_o he_o when_o they_o baptise_a he_o but_o if_o any_o shall_v so_o judge_v it_o make_v the_o more_o for_o i_o for_o if_o the_o apostle_n themselves_o baptise_a such_o as_o they_o have_v no_o hope_n have_v true_a faith_n then_o sure_o we_o may_v baptise_v such_o 〈◊〉_d we_o have_v good_a ground_n to_o hope_v 〈◊〉_d faith_n but_o if_o they_o have_v hope_n it_o be_v evident_a it_o be_v but_o hope_n unless_o he_o can_v lose_v his_o faith_n or_o have_v faith_n and_o at_o the_o same_o time_n be_v in_o the_o gall_n of_o bitterness_n and_o bond_n of_o iniquity_n neither_o of_o which_o can_v be_v second_o this_o be_v to_o pretend_v to_o be_v as_o wise_a as_o god_n at_o least_o in_o this_o point_n since_o he_o only_o that_o work_v faith_n can_v infallible_o judge_v where_o it_o be_v it_o be_v peculiar_a to_o god_n to_o search_v the_o heart_n where_o faith_n be_v seat_v the_o lord_n only_o know_v who_o be_v he_o we_o see_v the_o best_a of_o church_n have_v be_v mistake_v in_o take_v in_o of_o member_n the_o apostle_n do_v not_o know_v judas_n to_o be_v a_o hypocrite_n till_o he_o betray_v his_o lord_n unless_o we_o can_v suppose_v they_o will_v take_v in_o know_a hypocrite_n and_o i_o will_v ask_v my_o friend_n the_o anabaptist_n if_o they_o themselves_o have_v not_o baptise_a some_o as_o believer_n who_o have_v afterward_o discover_v themselves_o to_o be_v in_o the_o gall_n of_o bitterness_n so_o that_o in_o a_o word_n if_o we_o must_v baptise_v none_o but_o such_o as_o we_o be_v sure_o have_v true_a justify_v faith_n we_o must_v baptise_v none_o in_o this_o world_n for_o though_o many_o have_v such_o a_o faith_n yet_o no_o man_n can_v infallible_o tell_v the_o anabaptist_n themselves_o not_o except_v who_o they_o be_v this_o be_v that_o new_a name_n which_o none_o know_v but_o god_n and_o they_o that_o have_v it_o so_o that_o i_o think_v it_o needless_a to_o add_v any_o more_o to_o confirm_v the_o former_a part_n of_o my_o argument_n viz._n that_o we_o can_v only_o hope_v that_o this_o or_o the_o other_o person_n have_v true_a faith_n minor_a proposition_n but_o the_o infant_n seed_n of_o believer_n be_v such_o as_o we_o have_v good_a ground_n from_o scripture_n to_o hope_n be_v believer_n now_o if_o any_o thing_n of_o force_n be_v object_v it_o must_v be_v against_o this_o and_o therefore_o i_o shall_v labour_v the_o more_o to_o confirm_v it_o but_o before_o i_o come_v to_o the_o proof_n i_o must_v add_v a_o caution_n that_o when_o i_o speak_v of_o faith_n in_o infant_n i_o mean_v habitual_a faith_n for_o though_o it_o can_v on_o good_a ground_n be_v deny_v but_o that_o some_o infant_n may_v actual_o believe_v since_o god_n be_v able_a to_o cause_v they_o so_o to_o do_v and_o have_v no_o where_n in_o his_o word_n declare_v he_o will_v not_o yet_o it_o may_v easy_o be_v prove_v that_o some_o infant_n have_v habitual_a faith_n and_o that_o will_v render_v one_o as_o true_o a_o believer_n as_o the_o act._n he_o that_o have_v the_o habit_n of_o faith_n be_v a_o believer_n though_o asleep_o and_o so_o as_o uncapable_a of_o act_v faith_n as_o a_o infant_n have_v during_o that_o time_n no_o more_o use_v of_o reason_n than_o a_o child_n at_o the_o breast_n nor_o perhaps_o so_o much_o for_o a_o infant_n have_v so_o much_o sense_n as_o to_o know_v when_o it_o be_v hungry_a or_o to_o cry_v for_o food_n and_o if_o it_o be_v in_o pain_n but_o let_v a_o man_n be_v never_o so_o hungry_a or_o in_o pain_n yet_o when_o asleep_a he_o be_v unsensible_a of_o either_o and_o yet_o such_o may_v be_v believer_n in_o the_o mean_a time_n they_o have_v the_o habit_n of_o faith_n now_o by_o the_o habit_n of_o faith_n in_o infant_n i_o mean_v a_o principle_n of_o grace_n or_o internal_a renovation_n which_o be_v wrought_v in_o regeneration_n for_o regeneration_n be_v a_o infuse_v the_o seed_n of_o all_o grace_n into_o the_o soul_n and_o consequent_o of_o faith_n this_o be_v premise_v i_o come_v to_o lay_v down_o a_o proposition_n for_o the_o clear_n the_o way_n to_o that_o which_o i_o intend_v more_o large_o to_o insist_v upon_o proposition_n that_o infant_n be_v capable_a of_o have_v the_o habit_n of_o faith_n wrought_v in_o they_o and_o though_o we_o can_v from_o hence_o conclude_v that_o all_o such_o have_v it_o yet_o it_o be_v a_o good_a foundation_n for_o my_o follow_a argument_n and_o because_o in_o all_o case_n the_o foundation_n have_v need_n stand_v fast_o i_o shall_v therefore_o confirm_v it_o that_o infant_n be_v capable_a of_o grace_n be_v not_o my_o judgement_n alone_o however_o strange_a a_o doctrine_n it_o may_v seem_v to_o some_o for_o i_o have_v the_o judgement_n of_o all_o the_o church_n of_o england_n on_o my_o side_n their_o word_n after_o baptism_n be_v see_v now_o dear_o belove_a brethren_n that_o this_o child_n be_v by_o baptism_n regenerate_v etc._n etc._n and_o again_o we_o yield_v thou_o most_o hearty_a thanks_o most_o merciful_a father_n that_o it_o have_v please_v thou_o to_o regenerate_v this_o infant_n by_o thy_o holy_a spirit_n etc._n etc._n now_o though_o i_o be_o far_o from_o be_v of_o the_o judgement_n which_o they_o seem_v to_o be_v in_o this_o that_o all_o that_o be_v baptise_a be_v in_o that_o ordinance_n regenerate_v and_o so_o consequent_o many_o fall_n from_o grace_n my_o soul_n abhor_v that_o popish_a doctrine_n that_o baptism_n confer_v grace_n ex_fw-la opere_fw-la operato_fw-la from_o the_o workwrought_a but_o while_o they_o thank_v god_n for_o the_o work_v do_v it_o be_v evident_a they_o suppose_v they_o capable_a of_o have_v that_o work_n wrought_v in_o they_o and_o so_o far_o i_o agree_v with_o they_o but_o because_o the_o very_a cite_n any_o thing_n from_o the_o church_n of_o england_n may_v make_v some_o giddy-headed_a people_n who_o have_v more_o zeal_n than_o sound_a knowledge_n nauseate_n what_o i_o have_v say_v i_o shall_v therefore_o proceed_v to_o prove_v that_o both_o they_o and_o i_o have_v divine_a testimony_n on_o our_o side_n in_o this_o that_o infant_n be_v capable_a of_o grace_n and_o i_o shall_v make_v use_n of_o plain_a scripture_n since_o the_o anabaptist_n pretend_v so_o much_o delight_n in_o it_o and_o i_o shall_v produce_v several_a instance_n that_o in_o the_o mouth_n of_o two_o or_o three_o witness_n this_o truth_n may_v be_v establish_v jer._n 1.5_o before_o thou_o come_v out_o of_o the_o womb_n i_o sanctify_v thou_o and_o luke_n 1.15_o of_o john_n it_o be_v say_v he_o shall_v be_v fill_v with_o the_o holy_a ghost_n even_o from_o his_o mother_n womb_n and_o then_o no_o doubt_n sanctify_v and_o of_o christ_n it_o be_v say_v verse_n 35._o that_o holy_a thing_n that_o shall_v be_v bear_v of_o thou_o etc._n etc._n mind_n bear_v of_o thou_o be_v holy_a when_o bear_v from_o whence_o it_o be_v pass_v all_o dispute_n unless_o we_o dare_v dispute_v with_o god_n that_o infant_n even_o in_o the_o womb_n and_o as_o soon_o as_o bear_v be_v capable_a of_o grace_n nor_o do_v it_o seem_v hard_a to_o i_o to_o conceive_v that_o infant_n shall_v have_v grace_n wrought_v in_o they_o than_o adult_n since_o the_o latter_a be_v pure_o passive_a in_o the_o work_n and_o so_o may_v the_o former_a be_v if_o it_o be_v a_o work_n of_o reason_n or_o perform_v by_o humane_a power_n or_o policy_n something_o may_v be_v say_v but_o it_o be_v not_o eph._n 1.19_o nay_o according_a to_o our_o apprehension_n it_o seem_v hard_a to_o work_v grace_n in_o adult_n than_o in_o infant_n for_o as_o a_o tender_a plant_n