Reasons Against Two Errors of the Anabaptists, Part 2 – Conclusion
The second point. 2. That Baptisme received in the apostatical Churches of Christians, as of Rome and the like, is not to be renounced and a new to be repeated againe.
I.
BEcause there is neither precept nor exāple nor other ground in all the Scriptures, either in the Old or New Testament, for such renouncing, repeating, new requiring or admitting therof. And therefore such perswasions and new baptismes are not from heaven, but of men. Contrary to the baptisme of Iohn and the Apostles, which was from the Lord. Mat. 21.25. & 28.18.19.20. Ioh. 1.25-33. with Act. 15.24. Gal. 5.7.8.
II.
Because there is one Baptisme, as there was one Circumcision. And circumcisiō being once received in the apostasie of Israell, was not repeated againe at their returning to the Lord & leaving of their idolatrous wayes to serve him according to his word: but they that were so circūcised, were (without any new circumcision of the flesh) accepted at Ierusalem and admitted to the Passeover, of which none might eat that was vncircimcised. In like maner also, Baptisme being once received in the apostatical Churches of Christians, is not to be repeated agayne when any so baptized returne vntounto the Lord and forsake their idolatries, submitting themselves to the truth of the Gospel: but they are (without any new baptising with water) to be received of the Churches of Christ and admitted to the Lords supper, whereof none may eat being vnbaptized. For these examples of Israel, as all other things in the Scriptures written aforetyme, are aforewritten for our instruction & comfort. Ephes. 4.5. with Gen. 17.10.11.12.13. Exod. 12.48.49. 2 Chron. 30. chap. with Rom. 15.4.22.
III.
Because the covenant of Gods grace in Christ is an everlasting covenant: into which it pleased God to take vsus with Abraham our father, when he made that covenant with him and his seede for ever. And as the Lord himself, who knoweth his workes from the beginning, hath regard vntounto it in his mercifull dealing concerning his people, even when they are as yet in apostatical Churches; so ought we also our selves carefully to have respect therevnto, in the consideration of baptisme thus received, as in all other things, according to the word of God, & manifold occasiōs ministred frō the Lord. Gen. 17.7. Gal. 3.8.29. Heb. 13.8.20. with Deut. 4.30.31. and 29.10-15. and 30. chap. Rom. 11.15.16.28.29. 2 Chron. 15.3.4. and 30.6.7.8.9. Ezech. 16. chap. Col. 2.10.11.12.13. Rev. 18.4.
IIII.
Because Christ dyed to sinne once, and being raysed from the dead, dyeth no more, but liveth to God. And we areburyed with him by baptisme into his death, to be grafted with him also to the similitude of his resurrection. Wherefore all that are once baptized into his name, ought still to reteyne it for continuall vse and comfort, and not agayne to repeat it, any more then there is repetition of Christs death and sacrifice once offered to take away sinne. Rom. 6.8.9.10.11. with ver. 3.4.5. and Act. 13.34. Heb. 7.27. & 9.25-29. and 10.10-14. 1 Pet. 3.18. Rev. 1.18. with Mat. 28.19.20. Act. 2.38.39.41.42. and 10.48. 1 Cor. 1.13. and 6.11 and 12.13. Gal. 3.27.28.29. 1 Pet. 3.21.22. Rev. 1.5.6.
V
Because the Church of Rome was espoused to Christ in the covenant of grace by the Gospell of salvation, having Baptisme with the rest of Christs ordinances, in the Apostles dayes: and hath ever synce reteyned it with other grounds of Christian religiō, notwithstanding all her adulteries & apostasie whereinto she is fallen. As may be seen both in that Church it self, & all other Churches which are the daughters thereof in their constitution. And herevnto, in all cases and questions of this nature, due respect is alway to be had: as may appeare by these Scriptures, Rom. 1.7. and 6.3.4. with Rev. 17. chap. Ezech. 16.44. Hos. 2. chap. 2 Chron. 30 6.7.8.9. with 15.3.4. Lev. 26.14.-45. Deut. 4.25-31. and 29.10-15. and 30. chap. with Rom. 11.15.16. Heb 7.9.10.
VI
Because God hath his people in the Romish Babylon; and when he calleth them out from thence, doth not enjoyne them to leave whatsoever is there had, but requireth of them that they have no communion with her sinnes;Hos. 2.2. but (as the Prophet teacheth) plead with their mother, that she take away her fornicatiōs out of her sight, & her adulteries frō between her breasts. Now Baptisme is not of her adulteries, but of Christs ordinances; it is not a threshold or post which she hath brought into the Temple of God, but was set therin of old by the Lord himself. Neither may we plead with her to take it away, but that she put away the fornications and corruptions that are of her owne addition. Which are the very things that cause the abomination of her estate, and which we are bound to leave and put away, and not all whatsoever is had in such apostaticall Churches. Rev. 18.4. Hos. 2.2. and 4.15. Amos 5.4.5.6.14.15. Ezech. 43.7.8.9. 2 Thess. 2.3-8. Rev. 11. and 14. chap. &c.
VII.
Because els by such like reasons as the baptisme is renounced which is there received, men might also vrge (as some have done) not to reteyne vrge or regard as we should, the articles of faith, the learning of the scripture, or the translations thereof, had and acknowledged in those Churches. And likewise might perswade to the dissolution of such mariages as have bene had by their Ministerie: with other as strange cōsequences that by like maner of reasoning would be inferred therevpon. Which to admit of, were contrarie to Deut. 5.32.33. and 31.9-13. Prov. 4.25.26.27. and 23.23. 2 Chron. 29. and 30. chap. Esa. 8.19.20. and 34.16. Luk. 16.29. Ioh. 5.39. Act. 13.15. and 15.21. and 17.2.3.11. Rom. 15.4. and 16.17. 1 Cor. 4.6. 1 Thes. 5.21. 2 Tim. 3.14.15.16.17. Heb. 13.4.9. Rev. 1.3. 2 Pet. 3.17.18.
The Conclusion.
To conclude, let the Reader concerning the Anabaptists, in the two points aforesaid, observe also these things: First, how in the one they adde to the word of God, and in the other take from it: They adde, in their repeating or new receiving of Baptisme, which God hath not appointed to be done; And they take away, in their denying of Baptisme to children to whō God hath ordeyned the seale of his covenant to be given, as before hath bene shewed. Both which the Lord hath often & straitly forbidden, Deut. 4.2. and 12.32. Iosh. 1.7. Prov. 30.6. Gal. 1.6-9. Rev. 22.18.19.
Secondly, how by their opinions & practise they bring themselves to be in the estate of persons vnbaptized: in as much as the former baptisme which they had received, is by them renounced altogether; & their latter washing of themselves is not Baptisme approved of God in his word, but a vayne observation of their own, taken vp by the will and invention of man. Mar. 7.4.7. with Exod. 20.4-7.
Thirdly, how by excluding the children of beleevers out of the covenant of God, & separating those whō God hath ioyned together therin, they shew their owne want of faith in Gods promise, and put themselves from vnderunder Gods covenant, which joyneth the children with the parents in the same covenant of grace; and is made & confirmed in Christ, to all his people, both Iewes and Gentiles. Gen. 17, 7, Act. 2, 39, and 3, 25. and 16, 31. Gal. 3. chap. Ephes. 2, chap. & 3, 6. with Mar. 10.9.
THus are they injurious to God and his word; to Christ and his Church; to all nations and families of the earth, whether Iewes or Gentiles; and in speciall to themselves and their children, whom they make together with themselves to be as heathens in the world, aliants from the cōmune-wealth of Israel, & straungers from the covenaunts of promise: not onelyonly putting from them the grace of God & blessing of Abraham which is come vponupon the Gentiles; but also making them subiect to the wrath of God and curse of the Law, which seiseth and abideth vponupon all that are not vnderunder the promise & covenant of God, which Christ hath confirmed by his death, for salvation to all that are his, whether old or young. The Lord reclayme them, if it be his will: & keep all his people, that they be not by any meanes removed from the truth of the Gospell, but may stand confirmed & cōforted therein by the grace of Christ, vntounto the end. Amen.
2 Ioh. v. 8-11.
Looke to yourselves, that we lose not the things which we have done, but that we may receive a full reward.
Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Sonne.
Jf any come vntounto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not to house, nor say vntounto him, God speed. For he that sayth vntounto him, God speed, communicateth with his evill deeds.
Rev. 3.11.
Behold, I come quickly: hold-fast that which thou hast, that none take thy crowne.
End of the text · Francis Johnson, Reasons Against Two Errors of the Anabaptists (1609)