that as good testimony may be produced out of the Fathers for the absolute necessity of the Eucharist as for the absolute necessity of Baptism 15. Also that though gemina or duo Sacramenta be sometimes found yet septem Sacramenta or words equivalent to them cannot be found in any ancient Father though they did call by the name of Sacraments not only Ordination Matrimony c. but ablution of the feet sign of the Cross c. which are not properly so called 16. I desire to be satisfied why you so frequently and suspiciously the matter being so mainly controverted do in your allowed Manuals Catechisms c. leave out of the Decalogue all the second Commandment or that large passage prohibiting the worship of Images 17. Also how you can reconcile the two Bibles of Sixtus and Clement between which are so many and material differences or if you cannot reconcile them how you can satisfie your Conscience whether of them is Authentical seeing they have equal Authority from the See Apostolique equal Absolutions from Oaths of admitting any other equal Imprecations and Curses to them which receive them not for Authentical so that either you must use no Bible at all or undergo the curse of Pope Sixtus if you use that of Clement or of Pope Clement if you use the other of Sixtus 18. For as much as Traditions are defined to be the Rule of Faith and equal to the Scriptures and nothing is more necessary for the Chuâ—ch to do then to deliver the Rule of Faith clearly and precisely what is the cause I pray you that no Pope or Councel no not that of Trent hath given an exact Catalogue or List of divine and infallible Traditions is it because you are not fully as yet agreed of them or are they for some politique ends reserved in the Popes Brest 19. This Assertion that the Roman Church is infallible in all her Decrees and Definitions is the Foundation of your Faith and if it fail your Faith fails also yet it is much doubted of yea denyed by some Romanists nor as I suppose was it ever declated decreed or defined by the Church in any General Councel if it was I pray you shew me when where and in what terms 20. Suppose this was so defined and thereupon you be assured that the Church is infallible yet you cannot be infallibly assured what is meant by the Church which some of your Doctors interpret to be the Church essential some the Church representative which as some of them hold is a General Councel though without the Pope others the Councel and the Pope together some the Church virtual the Pope alone which yet are not agreed amongst themselves when where and in what matters the Pope may or may not err 21. If herein you were resolved yet you cannot be infallibly assured that the present Pope is a true and lawful Pope seeing he may be promoted by Simony or his Baptizer or Ordainer or the Baptizers or Ordainers of them or some of them might miss the right intention of Baptizing or Ordaining in which case he cannot be in the sight of God a lawful Pope 22. Put case you hope well of your Pope yet it is possible you may mistake Papal Decrees Definitions c. and not understand them in their true and genuine sence Soto and Catharinus who were present at the Trent Councel could not agree what was the Councels meaning in the Points of Original Sin and Justification but writ Books one against another of that Subject 23. You will say perhaps The Pope is a living Judg to determine these or the like doubts which if it were granted yet still you have no such infallible certainty as you pretend for you never heard the Pope preach propound Truths or resolve Doubts you only hear his Priests and Jesuits whom I hope you will not exempt from a possibility of deceiving or being deceived especially seeing both Priests and Jesuits Dominicans and Franciscans do pretend the Pope to be their Patron and their Tenents though contrary one to another to be the Tenents of the Church 24. Lastly to omit other Observations till further occasion If proof of the Churches Infallibility be demanded of you you will alledg Matth. 16.18 or Luke 22.32 or some other Scripture If again you be demanded what assutance you have that Matth. 16.18 Luk. 22.32 and the other Scriptures are of divine Authority and that they are not corrupted nor mis interpreted you must answer That the Church is infallible which keeps and interprets the Scripture Thus you prove the Infallibility of the Church by the Scriptures and the Infallibility of the Scriptures by the Church which is nothing else but to run round in a circle to beg the Question and in effect to prove the Churches Infallibility by the Infallibility of the Church Imprimatur Edm Calamy March 4. 1652. FINIS
that can beleeve yet it may be applyed without in those that cannot beleeve else how could any Infants be saved IF you know nothing of their Salvation Chap. 5. Christ doth Mark 10.14 Of such saith he is the Kingdom of Heaven He means not only those that are meek humble harmless like little children for he would not have blamed those that would have kept little children from him nor have blessed them when they came if they were only meer emblems of such as are blessed as a Lamb or a Dove may be but little children themselves David judged that his child though adulterously begotten and whom God took away in his wrath was saved else he would not have eaten and drunk and rejoyced that he should go to it 2 Sam. 12.20 If any affirm That all Infants of Christians dying in Infancy are certainly saved I know no Scripture against it and if there be no place punctually proving it we are bound to encline to the more charitable opinion Mat. 7.1 especially when we speak of this or that particular Infant You say they may be saved without Baptism true there is a possibility of it so if Infants of the Jews had not been circumcised the eight day and had dyed uncircumcised they might also have been saved their parents or governors being guilty of the contempt or neglect of the Ordinance not they and why should their Salvation or Damnation depend upon others doing or not doing their duty That phrase of cutting off Gen. 17.14 either concerns grown men only or threatens only excommunication or death not eternal damnation God had mercy on the penitent thief yet it is presumption in us to defer repentance till death or to neglect Baptism God can bring a child into the world without a midwife shall we therefore neglect the means Parents when their children are baptized before they dye may not only be comforted in the performance of their duty but also have more grounded hopes of their childrens Salvation Your Antipoedobaptistical Doctrines do take away all or most of the grounds of hope which Christian parents have of the Salvation of their dying Infants ANABAPT CAT. Q. Whether do you think it were better for persons to have Baptism deferred till they be able to make a profession of faith A. Yes it would be far better for hereby the Churches would have right matter i.e. Saints in profession and persons would be careful to get knowledg and holiness whereas now they are careless of hoth Infant-haptism brings many mischiefs besides that it fills the Church with rotten members confounds the Church and the world together and is a groundwork for more tradition and doth so darken the Doctrine of Baptism that we cannot know the true meaning of it when we read it in Scripture THe many mischiefs of Infant-Baptism and the benefis of such delaying of it Examinat Cap. 6. § 1. were unknown to the Apostolique Primitive Church else sure they would have left us some Precept or President of their delaying the Baptism of the children of Christian parents The Jewish Church had Child Circumcision and Child Baptism too as Rites of Initiation had it been better they had been deferred was not the Jewish Church to be freed from mischiefs as you call them as well as the Christian Church If Childrens admission did not bring such mischiefs upon the Jewish how comes it to be so mischievous to the Christian Church We have a Command for Child-baptism not indeed such a direct express Command as they had for Circumcision but a virtual implicite and consequential Command as you shall hear anon Chap. 10. and this is abundantly sufficient to clear it from being a cause of it self of any mischief at all You hold and pretend to prove § 2. that John Baptist and the Disciples of Christ did not baptize Infants but were no rotten members baptized when Jerusalem all Iudea and all the rigion round about Iordan came and were baptized Mat. 3. Mark 1. yea that people or multitude whom or some of whom he called Generation of Vipers Luk. 3.7 with 21. Mr Cobbet a New-England Divine saith Iohn Baptist did and might lawfully baptize those multitudes albeit in the general he knew that many yea most of them would prove false and frothy Mr Nyes another of them saith The Apostles for the baptizing of three thousand expected no testimonies nor a day much less a month or years experience nor could they in so short time make any inquisitions or hear any perswasive relations When all the Samaritans very lately bewitched by Simon Magus Act. 8.9 10. were baptized vers 12. was there then no rotten members Suppose all London Middlesex and all the region round about Thames or Trent should be Jews or Heathens and surely you account them now much better and should presently upon hearing of a Sermon make some profession of faith or confession of sins and be baptized would you judg all these right matter Saints and that there is no rotten member amongst them What became of those multitudes and Myriads of baptized ones when Christ suffered or afterwards if they were not rotten members Were not Judas Ananias Saphira Himeneus Philetus and many others rotten members Were there not amongst the Corinthians though called Saints a parte meliore as we call a Whe it-field a Corn-field though we see many tares and thistles in it known carnal Schismatiques Fornicaters Idolaters some that sacrificed to Devils drunken Communicants Heretiques denying the Resurrection Despisers of Paul Admirers of the false Teachers Men as Paul feared that had not repented of the uncleanness fornication and lasciviousness they had committed amongst whom were debates envyings wraths strifes backbitings whisperings swelling tumults c. were none of these rotten members It is the work of the Ministry to convince rotten members of their rottenness and by the blessing of God to convert them and make them sound 1 Cor. 5. 6. 10. Gal. 4.19 And if so be they remain incurable and after much means pains and patiences are not reclaimed the Church may cut them off Though the draw-net doth take in both good and bad yet the bad afterward may be cast away Matth. 13.47.48 Are there not also amongst the Anabaptists notwithstanding their rejection of Infant-Baptism many rotten members §. 3. Heretiques Blasphemers such as deny the Trinity the Divinity or Humanity of Jesus Christ the Immortality of the Soul the Morality of the Sabbath Authority of the Scriptures the guilt of original sin the necessity yea very being of the Ministry Officers and Ordinances Assertors of the whole Body of Arminianism of immediate Revelations and Enthusiasms of Antinomianism of Poligamy perfection of grace Who more then the Anabaptists I had almost said who but they have been given up by God to those strong and strange delusions to those damnable Opinions and abominable Practices mentioned in the late Act Where is there a more wicked and wretched Sect then the Ranters But
nor example nor good warrant for your contrary opinions and practices what clearer command can we shew for that then for Infant-Baptism Women were not admitted to both the Sacraments of the Old Testament Christ did not admit women no not his own Mother to the Supper There is express uncontroverted mention in the New Testament of women being baptized but not so of women communicating If you alledg that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a name common to women as well as mâ—n ought to communicate 1 Cor. 11.28 it is early evaded by saying that the Apostle confines it to the Male by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 v. 28 29. and the same word is used of Circumcision of which the Male only was capable Joh 7.22 General terms of Disciples Church-members persons in Covenant will carry it for Infants Baptism as well as womens communicating If you alledg That such and such Assemblies in which there were women did break bread you know it may be yea it is doubted by some sober spirits whether that breaking of bread was Sacramental or no and it may be said that the company is said to do it because the Males did it as the whole house of Israel is said to be circumcised and called Circumcision though the Females thereof were not circumcised If you should tell us of housholds admited to the Supper though I know not any such instance in Scripture I might as well say there was no women there or they were excluded as you say there was no Infants in such or such an houshold or if there were they were excluded Lastly If men should bend their strength that way they might as plausibly except against your admission of women usually the forwardest part of your Societies to the Supper as you do or I believe can do against Paedobaptism Oh that our good God would in mercy to this distracted Church and to the deluded Souls therein remove prejudice out of our hearts ANABAPT CAT. Q. Whether do you think Baptism administred in Infancy to be a lawful Baptism and sufficient A. To me it is not for I think it to be a Profanation of an Ordinance for these Reasons 1. Because it is taught by the precepts of men Isai 29.13 not by God Jerem. 7.22 23. YOu hold Exam. Chap. 11. it seems that it is neither lawful nor sufficient and in plain English it is null voyd no Baptism at all But consider I pray you could you prove the nullity of Infant-Baptism as you have a great mind to do what sad consequences would ensue 1. That the people of God for the space of 1600 years using Paedobaptism were destitute of one if not by consequence of both the Sacraments 2. That the Churches in England Scotland France Denmark Sweden Germany Geneva Holland New England c. which have usually no other Baptism but Child-Baptism are no Churches the members thereof being not so much as Christians outwardly nor Sacramentally initiated into the Church in doing whereof you dishonor God and do Satan great service Gods work being to disciple and enchirch the Nations of the World Matt. 28.19 Mark 16.16 2 Cor. 5.19 and Satan's to undesciple and Heâ—thenize the Church either in realty or in reputation for the advancement of his own Kingdom 3. That these and all others must for ever as the case stands want the Sacrament of Baptism except a special and particular warrant come from Heaven as to John Baptist for the setting up of this Ordinance for no man who is both unseparated to the work of the Ministry and unbaptized his Paedobaptism being a nullity and ununited to the Church of Christ can warrantably baptize himself or any other any more then Saul might sacrifice Vzzah stay the Ark Vzziah offer Incense a Midwife Turk Jew or Pagan administer the Sacraments of Christs Church for if Paedobaptism be a nullity because of default in the subject this also will be a nullity for want of commission for you can shew neither precept president nor good warrant for the Word for any man that is unbaptized having no special Commission from God to baptize himself or to baptize any other or for any man to accept of Baptism from such an one which is indeed no Baptism at all John as he had commission from God for his baptizing so he affirms that a man can receive nothing viz. no authority to baptize as he did except it be given him from Heaven John 3. 26 27. as if he would professedly caution the Church against such courses 4. That the Societies of the Independents and Separatists notwithstanding their separation from us do yet except they also turn Anabaptists live within one of the strongest holds of Antichrist are guilty of observing traditions and precepts of men of will-worship of profanation of Gods holy Ordinance of filling the Church with rotten members of confounding the Church and the World together yea say some of you they have the mark of the Beast in their soreheads and by consequence are in the high way to eternal damnation And what worse can you say of any Your Texts prove that God hates hypocrisie and over much regard of the commandments of men and that God did command Obedience rather then Sacrisice as 1 Sam. 15.22 for God did command Sacrifices and Offerings Levit. chap. 1. 2.3 c. What is this to Paedobaptism Will you acknowledg that God hath commanded it to us as he did burnt-offerings and sacrifices to the Jews we our selves say no more for it But if your Texts do forbid all humane inventions in the Worship of God Paedobaptism is yet safe enough for it hath been proved in the foregoing Chapter to have as good warrant from the Word as some other by your self acknowledged Ordinances of God have and better then your opposite Opinion and Practicas ANABAPT CAT. A. Paedobaptism is done in a Wrong manner by sprinkling in stead of Dipping THis exception you begin your Catechisun with telling us that Baptism signifies Dipping Examinat Chap. 12. By Dipping is never signified Sprinkling whence you would infer That Baptism should be by Dipping only and that it is done in a Wrong manner When it is done by Sprinkling wherein you much mistake For. 1. Should the original signification of other Scriptures words be so much squeezed then because the holy Communion is callâ—d a Supper 1 Cor. 11.20 the word signifying a whole meal and the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Cor. 14. Ephes 5. signifies not simply to sing but to sing to a musical Instrument and the original words for the gesture at the Supper signifie lying or leaning on a bed you might with as good reason collect That the holy Communion should be a whole meal That there should be instrumental musick in Churches as well as vocal That men ought to lie or lean on beds at the receiving of the Supper or else the Ordinances are dons in a Wrong manner 2 The word Baptism by
least it is the profanation of the Ordinance Who you are I know not but the general Opinion of your party is that any Disciple especially a teaching Disciple may baptize See Confession of the seven Churches Art 41. And doth Ordination by a Bishop and other Ministers make voyd such Discipleship and make him that he cannot be so much as a private Christian yea make his Baptism Antichristian We receive from God the Old Testament by the hands of the Jews and the whole Bible by the hands of Papists most Scriptures have some time or other been abused must we therefore disuse them If a Bishop should baptize one at full age making profession of faith and repentance yea suppose a Jesuite pretending to be a gifted Brother or a teaching Disciple as it is lawful for the Jesuites to say or do any thing that may tend to the weakening the true Reformed Religion and should dip many would his dipping be null and voyd and to be reiterated This I dare say Whatsoever is rational or religious cannot be made irrational or irreligious whosoever useth or hath used it And if multitudes of persons should cast away all that they have received by the Bishops and Ministers ordained by them they should with those things irrecoverably cast their Souls into Hell When Antichrist most reigned and raged and the woman fled into the Wilderness God did preserve some Fundamental Doctrines and the essence of Baptism and the essence of a true Ministry dispensing it and they that is her Pastors did feed her there Revel 12.6 14. 4. There are now more Antichrists then ever were before in our or in any other Reformed Church and worse Antichrists by how much Fundamental Errors in Doctrine are greater abominations then Errors only in Discipline All Heretiques in Scripture-language are Antichrist 1 Epist John The Errors Heresies Blasphemies Treacheries Hypocrisies Perjuries sacrilegious seditious Actions Divisions and Subdivisions bitter and bloody Contentions Rebaptizations Ordinations by the people and other meer humane inventions of these Times do justifie the Bishops and all Episcopal men that have kept themselves free from these and the like crimes from being so Antichristian as we do really dishonor the true Reformed Religion delight the truly Antichristian Faction and make way for our reducing not only to Prelacy but to that which all sober men count incomparably more dangerous to Popery yea to the worst edition of it Spanish Jesuited Inquisition-Popery ANABAPT CAT. Paedobaptism is done upon a wrong subject who is not in Christs commission Matt. 28.19 nor Mark 16.16 Believers and Repentants being the subjects therein EXAMINAT You here beg the question what you here alledg hath been answered Chap. 1. and Chap. 2. ANABAPT CAT. All the certainty I can have of such a Baptism is only conjectural not infallible whereas the outward sign of a Sacrament must be visible and infallible as the thing signified is this Infant-Baptism I take only in trust from others THe Infants blessed by Christ could in their riper age have no certainty of their being so blessed by him Examinat Chap. 14. nor had the Jewish Infants any certainty of their Circumcision for the foreskin of circumcised Infants might be and sometimes was so drawn up that when they came to age they could not discern their Circumcision To this Paul alludes 1 Cor. 7.18 If the flesh-mark was alway discernable yet it could not teach them whether a friend or foe had done it whether for sacred or civil ends whether duly or unduly without instruction and information by word or writing and such instruction may assure us of our right Baptism though it was administred in Infancy You may have such assurance of your Baptism as the Priests by the Registers had of their pedigree Ezra 2.62 as Paul had that he was circumcised the eighth day that he was of the stock of Israel an Hebrew of the Hebrews of the tribe of Benjamin Phil. 3.5 Yea you may have as much or more certainty that you were baptized as that such an one was your father such a woman your mother yet sure if you will call that only a conjectural and not infallible testimony you will test so much upon it as to call him your father and her your mother that are testified and reputed to be so and without scruple of conscience honor them as you are bound by the fifth Commandment and also keep that which is generally computed to be the first day of the week or the Lords-Day though you take it but on trust from others Possibly he that is baptized at full age may not infallibly know that he was baptized some have forgotten through sickness the greatest concernments yea their own names must they thereupon be rebaptized Possibly a man or woman as you are dipping them under the water may be so damped that they may not hear or not heed the words used by the Administrator whether he baptize or bless or curse must they be dipped again till they do hear and heed that they may infallibly know themselves to be baptized If a man should herein be deceived and think he was baptized in his Infancy when he was not the Error is not very dangerous Faith in Christ may supply the defect of Baptism and he not neglecting or contemning Baptism nor knowing that he wants it may reap benefit by his supposed Baptism as if it were reâ—l As for his resolution of the case grounded on the suppose unlawfulness of Paedobaptism whether a Christian may with good conscience be present at it I judg it unnecessary for me to discuss it having I hope cleared the lawfulness of Infant-Baptism yet I confess I cannot approve sundry things in it though Paedobaptism were confessed to be unlawful SOME OBSERVATIONS Both Old and New Concerning the pretended Visibility Universality Antiquity Infallibility Unity and Purity of the present Roman Church and Religion Sent to a Gentleman upon his Revolt to Popery and now Published with some few Additions for the Churches good SIR 1. YOu do all confess the affirmative and positive Doctrines of the Church of England and other Reformed Churches to be true and Catholique and to have had visible Professors in all Ages only you superadd certain other Doctrines which you say are necessary to be beleeved unto Salvation For evidence whereof observe 1. Our Churches Doctrine All the Books of the Old and New Testament mentioned in the 39 Articles and in the late Confession of Faith to be holy and Canonical are for such to be received 2. Your Churches Additions The Books of Tobit Judeth Wisdom Maccabees and the rest commonly called Apocrypha are also Canonical The Scripture is the Rule of Faith and Manners Traditions of the Church are of equal Authority with the Scriptures The Originals Hebrew and Greek are Authentical The Vulgar Edition is most pure and Authentical There are two Sacraments of the New Testament Baptism and the Lords Supper There are also five more viz. Confirmation