A Christian Plea, Treatise 1 · Chapter 2 – Chapter 3
CHAPTER II. Touching Originall ſinne in Children.
…He Anabaptiſts doe not onelyonly deny Baptiſme to children, but are … driuen vvithall (for the more ſtrengthning of their errour therein) to deny that children hauehave originall ſinne, or that it is damnable in the… Which is alſo another notable errour, contrarie to the Scripture & wor… of God.
1. Becauſe the Scriptures teach, that man being made at the firſt, in th… image and likeneſſe of God, that is, in holynes and righteouſnes of truth Gen. 1, 26, 27. with Eccleſ. 7, 29. and Epheſ. 4, 24. Col. 3, 10. became ſinfull an… corrupt by his fall and tranſgreſſion: Gen. 3, 1 — 7. with Rom. 3, 23. and 5, 1… 18, 19. ſo as aftervvard he begate his children in his ovvne likeneſſe, afte… his ovvne image, that is, unholy and unrighteous, defiled vvith iniquity and ſubject to vvrath. Gen. 5, 3. with Pſal. 51, 5. 1 Cor. 15, 49. Epheſ. 2, 3. An… here Moſes ſpeach, uſing the terme of begetting, and of Adams begetting ſonne in his owne likeneſſe, is vvell to be obſerved: as plainely shevving, th… vve are corrupted and ſinfull from our very birth and generation, & th… alſo ever ſince the fall and tranſgreſſion of Adam. Gen. 5, 3. Beſides th… vve vvere then in the loynes of our firſt parents, and ſo in them alſo vv… hauehave all ſinned, Rom. 5, 12, 19. To vvhichwhich purpoſe, the Apoſtles ſpeach i… another caſe may be obſerved, vvhere he ſaith, that Levi payed tithes i… Abraham, becauſe he vvas in the loynes of Abraham his father vvhe… Melchiſedec mette him: though he vvas not borne yet ſome generation after that time, Hebr. 7, 9, 10.
2. Moreover the Lords appointing of circumciſion to be had in the in fancy; and in the foreskin of the flesh, in the part of generation; & tha… alſo with blood: teacheth likevviſe, that children are defiled vvith ſinn euen from the birth, being conceived and borne vvith iniquity; and ha… need to be clenſed therefrom by the blood of Chriſt. Gen. 17, 11, 12. Exo. 4, 25, 26. Lev. 12, 2, 3, 4. with Pſal. 51, 5. Ezech. 16, 6. with Joh. 1, 29. and 1 Ioh. 1, The ſame is taught and implyed, by the purification of vvomen in Iſrae… after childbirth. Lev. 12 chap. Whereabout note vvithall, that*Mark wel the words, how upon conceiving ſeed, and bringing forth a child, God ſaid, Shee ſhalbe uncleane. if a vvoma… conceived ſeed, and bare a man-child (vvho vvas to be circumcized i… his ovvne perſon) the vvoman vvas uncleane ſeuen dayes, & was to co… tinevv in the blood of her purifying three and thirty dayes, Lev. 12, 2, 3. But if she bare a mayd-child, (vvho vvas not to be circumciſed in he… ovvne perſon, but included in the males) then the time of her uncleanne and purification vvas doubled, she vvas uncleaue tvvo vveeks, & vvas continevv in the blood of her purifying three-ſcore and ſix dayes. ver. And after thoſe dayes fulfilled (vvhether it vvere a ſonne, or a daughte… she vvas to bring to the Prieſt, a lambe & a pigeon, or tvvo turtle doue… for a burnt offring, and a ſinne offring. ver. 6, 7, 8. Which shadovves ſign… fied, both the corruption of nature from the vvombe, & our redemptio… by grace through the mercy of God in Chriſt.
If any object, that Chriſt himſelf vvas circumciſed, vvho yet vvas vvithout ſinne: and that Mary the Mother of Chriſt conceiving by the ove… shadovving of the holy Ghoſt, and ſo not defiled by his birth, yet kept alſo the lavv of purification after childbirth: vve are to obſerue, that the… vvere divers reaſons of uſing theſe ceremonies of the lavv, beſides the …nifications aforeſaid, and other the like. As namely this alſo for one, … for obedience of the lavv of God, vvho gaue them to his people. And … this reſpect, both Chriſt himſelf*Gal. 4, 4. being borne of a vvoman under the …avv, and his mother being her ſelf an Iſraelite, they vvere both of them …ound to keep theſe lavves of God, vvhichwhich vvere giuen unto Iſraell: and …uen alſo generally, ſo as in the one there was no exception of any male child that vvas eight dayes old, nor in the other of any vvoman, that …rought forth children. Gen. 17, 12. and Lev. 12 chap. And this very reaſon of the obſervation of the law of God therein) is in ſome particulars expreſſed by the Euangeliſt himſelf, Luk. 2, 21 — 24. Beſides that othervviſe the like objection might be made touching Chriſts baptiſme; vvhichwhich he alſo received (not for that he vvas himſelf defiled vvith ſinne, and needed to be clenſed therefrom, but) becauſe he would thus fulfill all righteouſnes: as he did himſelf shevve to Iohn the Baptiſt, vvhenas Iohn made exception thereabout, conſidering his perſon and eſtate. Matt. 3, 13, 14, 15.
3. But to proceed vvith the point in hand, David a Prophet and man of God expreſſely profeſſeth of himſelf, that he vvas brought forth in iniquity, and that in ſinne his mother conceived him. Pſal. 51, 5. Which is alſo the more to …e mynded, becauſe in another Pſalme he ſtyleth himſelf the ſonne of Gods handmaid, being an Iſraelite, borne of beleeving parents, under the covenant of grace: Pſal. 86, 16. and yet ſo acknovvledgeth his naturall corruption, as is aforeſaid. And the argument of the Pſame doeth yet the more confirme it, in that ſpeaking there, of actual ſinnes, and particularly of his adulterie vvith Bathsheba, he noteth the fountaine thereof to hauehave ben the originall corruption that was in him, defiling the vvhole man. Pſal. 51, 4. compared with the title of the Pſalme, and ver. 1, 2, &c. Thus teaching us (by his example) alvvay to look, not at our actuall ſinnes alone, but at our naturall corruption alſo, as being the bitter fountaine & originall thereof: that ſo we may aright diſcerne and acknowledge how corrupt and ſinful we are: and be truly humbled in our ſelues, and giuegive glorie to God in al his judging of us. ver. 3, 4, 5. Which els we doe not attaine unto aright, as vve should. Whereupon in the next verſe after, he calleth it wiſdome, to know this corruption of our nature, and to acknovvledge it, & be truly humbled thereby and caſt downe in our ſelues before God. Pſal. 51, 6.
4. And the Apoſtle Paul teacheth the ſame, when he ſaith that al, euen the Iewes as vvell as the Gentiles, are by nature the children of wrath. Eph. …, 3. He ſaith not (by imitation) as ſome would colour it, for more confirmation of their error: but by nature (ſaith he) are we al the children of wrath: that we may know this is naturall and from the birth. Whereupon again otherwhere he calleth our naturall corruption, the old man; and the law of ſinne that is in our members; and the ſinne that dwelleth in us; and ſo eaſily and rea…ly beſettes us about, hanging faſt upon us; alſo, the body of ſinne; the body of …ath, &c. Rom. 6, 6. and 7, 17, 23, 24. Hebr. 12, 1.
5. And Chriſt himſelf alſo teacheth, that that which is borne of the fleſh, is …ſh. Ioh. 3, 6. And Iob ſaith, Who can bring a cleane thing out of an uncleane? Not one Iob 14, 4. Eyther therefore they muſt ſay that children are not borne of the flesh, nor that their parents by nature are uncleane: or els they muſt grant children alſo to be flesh, and uncleane, by natural generation.
6. Neyther els should Chriſt onelyonly be exempt from ſinne, being conceived of the Virgin, by the overshadowing of the holy Ghoſt. Luk. 1, 31.35. with Hebr. 4, 15. and 7.26. For by their opinion, all children should be borne without ſinne, as well as Chriſt. And what priviledge then had Chriſt by his birth after that ſort? What then needed it in this behalf, that Chriſt should be borne of a virgin, & conceived by the holy Ghoſt comming upon her, & the power of the moſt high overshadowing her? And why are theſe things ſo ſpecially noted, and were ſo done, concerning Chriſt, to free him from ſinne, and to exempt him from all others: if their opinion were true, that children are not corrupted with originall ſinne?
7. How alſo then is it true, which the Scripture ſo often teacheth, that all hauehave ſinned, and come short of the glorie of God? Rom. 3, 23. that the Imagination of mans heart is evill from his youth. Gen. 8, 21. that vve are not ſufficient of our ſelues to thinke any thing as of our ſelues. 2 Cor. 3, 5. that we are dead in treſpaſſes and ſinnes. Epheſ. 2, 1. that we are inſnared, and taken captiue by the Divel at his vvil. 2 Tim. 2, 26. & by nature vvalk in the luſts of our flesh, fulfilling the deſires of the flesh and of the mynd: Epheſ. 2, 3. whereupon moreover our corrupt inclinations, affections, and actions (being fruits of our originall corruption) are called the works of the flesh. Gal. 5, 17, 19, 20, 21, 24, 26. & our mouth, lips, tongues, throat, eyes, hands, feet, and all our members are polluted vvith ſinne and iniquity. Pſal. 5, 9. and 10, 7. and 14, 2, 3. Eſa. 59 3 — 8. Rom. 3, 10— 18. And this taught by the Apoſtle to be the caſe both of Iewes, and Gentiles; that every mouth may be ſtopped, & all the world become guilty before God. Rom. 3, 9 — 19.
8. Finally, how is it that children dye, if they hauehave no ſinne: ſeeing death entred into the world by ſinne, and is the wages thereof? Rom. 5, 12, 21. and 6, 23. And when God brought in the flood upon the world of the ungodly, and none vvere ſaved but eight perſons: shall vve think there were no children in the world, or that the death which came upon them by the flood, was no punishment of ſinne? Gen. 6, and 7 chap. with 2 Pet. 2, 5. Likewiſe at the deſtruction of Sodome and Gomorrah, vvhen God rayned fire and brimſtone from heauen, upon all in thoſe cities. Gen. 19 chap. And at the conſpiracy of Corah, Dathan, and Abiram, when (beſides the fyer, which conſumed the two hundred & fiftie men that offred incenſe the earth opened and ſwallowed up Dathan, & covered the company of Abiram, their wiues, their ſonnes, their litle children, and all that appertayned unto them, Num. 16. chap. with Pſal. 106, 17, 18. where there is mention of litle children in particular, Numb. 16, 27. Like as there is alſo, at the ſlaughter made in Ieruſalem, for the abominations done in the midſt thereof. Ezec. 9, 1 — 6. And to conclude, if children vvere not through ſinne ſubject to death, yea and to eternall death & condemnation, then should …ey need no Saviour: and why then needed Chriſt (in reſpect of them) …take part with children of flesh and blood, that through death he might deſtroy …n that had the power of death, that is the Divell: as the Apoſtle teacheth. Heb. … 14. And thus much (by this occaſion) touching Originall ſinne in children.
CHAPTER III. Wheher the Baptiſme that is received in the apoſtaticall Churches of Christians, as in the Church of Rome, and the like, is to be renounced & a new to be repeated again, or not.
ANother great errour alſo it is, to think that the baptiſme had in the Church of Rome, or other apoſtate Churches, is not to be regarded, but to be renounced, and another to be received anevv. Which opinion, vvhereupon ſoever it ariſe (whether upon the denying of baptiſme to children vvhichwhich is uſed in the Churches aforeſaid; or upon other erroneous perſwaſions touching apoſtate Churches, or the baptiſme thereof) certaine it is, and evident by the Scriptures, to be againſt the vvord and vvill of God, and therefore to be ſinfull ſo to hold or practiſe.
I.
Which firſt may appeare by this, that there is neyther precept, not example, nor other ground in all the Scriptures, either in the Old or Nevv Teſtament, for renouncing, repeating, nevv requiring or admitting thereof. And therefore ſuch perſwaſions & new baptiſmes are not from heauen, but of men. Contrary to the baptiſme of Iohn and the Apoſtles, vvhichwhich was from the Lord. Matt. 21, 25. and 28, 18, 19, 20. Joh. 1, 25 — 33. with Act. 15, 24. Gal. 5, 7, 8.
II.
Secondly, there is one Baptiſme, as there was one Circumciſion. And Baptiſme had in the apoſtate churches of Chriſtians, is anſwerable to circumciſion retayned in Iſraels apoſtaſie. Now circumciſion being once received in the apoſtaſie of Iſraell, was not repeated again at their returning to the Lord and leaving of their idolatrous vvayes to ſerue him according to his word: but they that vvere ſo circumciſed, were (vvithout any new circumciſion of the flesh) accepted at Ieruſalem, and admitted to the Paſſeover, of vvhichwhich none might eat that was uncircumciſed. In like maner alſo, Baptiſme being once received in the apoſtaticall churches of Chriſtians, is not to be repeated agayn when any ſo baptiſed returne unto the Lord, and forſake their idolatries, ſubmitting themſelues to the truth of the Goſpel: but they are (without any new baptizing vvith water to be received of the Churches of Chriſt and admitted to the Lords ſupper, vvhereof none may eat being unbaptized. For theſe examples of Iſraell, as all other things in the Scriptures written aforetyme, are aforevvritten for our inſtruction and comfort. Eph. 4, 5. with Gen. 17, 10— 13. Ez… 12, 48, 49. 2 Chron. 30 chap. Jer. 9, 26. Hoſ. 1, 2. Ier. 50, 4, 5, 19, 20. and 51, 5. with Ezech. 16 and 23 chap. Ezr. 6, 19, 20, 21. with Rom. 15, 4.
III.
Alſo the covenant of Gods grace in Chriſt is*Gen. 17, 7. Pſa. 89, 30— 34. and 106, 45. and 111, 5, 9. 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. an everlaſting covenant: into vvhichwhich it pleaſed God to take us vvith Abraham our father, vvhen he made that covenant vvith him & his ſeed for ever. And as the Lord himſelf, vvho knoweth his works from the beginning,†Iudg. 2, 11. &c. 2 King. 13, 23. and 14, 27. 2 Chron. 15, 3, 4. and 30, 6, 7, 8, 9. Jer. 51, 5. Ezech. 16, 2 — 60. &c. and 28, 10, 24, 25, 26. with 32, 24 — 32. Hoſ. 3, 1. and 13, 4, 5. Col. 2, 10— 13. Rev. 18, 4. hath regard unto it in his mercifull dealing concerning his people, in apoſtaticall Churches and eſtate; ſo ought we alſo our ſelues carefully to hauehave reſpect thereunto, in the conſideration of baptiſme thus received, as in all other things, according to the word of God; and manifold occaſions miniſtred from the Lord.
IIII.
And ſeeing Chriſt dyed to ſinne once, & being rayſed from the dead, dyeth no more, but liveth to God: And we are buryed vvith him by baptiſme into his death, to be planted with him likevviſe to the ſimilitude of his reſurrection: therefore alſo all that are once baptized into his name, ought ſtill to reteine it for continuall uſe and comfort, and not agayn to repeat it, any more then there is repetition of Chriſts death and ſacrifice once offered to take avvay ſinne. Rom. 6, 8 — 11. with ver. 3, 4, 5. and Act. 13, 34. Heb. 7, 27. and 9, 25 — 29. and 10, 10— 14. 1 Pet. 3, 18. Revel. 1, 18. with Matth. 28, 19, 20. Act. 2, 38, 39, 41, 42. and 10, 48. 1 Cor. 1, 13. and 6, 11. & 12, 13. Gal. 3, 27, 28, 29. 1 Pet. 3, 21, 22. Rev. 1, 4, 6.
V.
And touching the Church of Rome in particular, it cannot be denyed, but that Church was eſpouſed to Chriſt in the covenant of grace by the Goſpel of ſalvation, having baptiſme with the reſt of Chriſts ordinances, in the Apoſtles dayes: & hath ever ſince reteyned it with other grounds of Chriſtian religion, notwithſtanding all her adulteries and apoſtaſie whereinto she is fallen. As may be ſeen both in that Church it ſelf, & all other churches vvhichwhich are the daughters thereof in their conſtitution, eyther for faith or order, or both, in vvhole or in part. And hereunto (as in Iudahs and Iſraels apoſtaſies heretofore, ſo novv) in all caſes and queſtions of this nature, due reſpect is alvvay to be had: As may appeare by theſe Scriptures, Rom. 7, 1, 8. and 6, 3, 4. with Revel. 17 chap. and 18, 4. Gen. 17, 7 — 14. with Jud. 2, 11, 12. &c. 1 King. 14, 22, 23, 24. 2 Kin. 21, and 24, & 25 chap. Pſal. 89, 30— 34. 2 King. 9, 6. & 13, 23. & 14, 27. Ier. 2 ch. Eze. 16, 2 — 44 — 60, &c. and 20, and 23 chap. Dan. 9. chap. Hoſ. 2 chap. and 3, 1. and 12, 9. & 14, 1. 2 Chro. 30, 6, 7, 8, 9. with 15, 3, 4. Lev. 12, 2, 3. and 26, 14 — 45. Deut. 4, 25 — 31. and 29, 10— 15. and …0 chap. with Rom. 11, 15, 16. Hebr. 7, 9, 10.
VI.
They profeſſe Ieſus to be the Chriſt, & to be the ſonne of God mani… in the flesh, that dyed for the ſinnes of the vvorld, that by his ſacri… and death upon the croſſe hath reconciled us unto God, and payed … …ood as a full and ſufficient raunſome for al our ſinnes, Rhem. Annot. … Tim. 2, 5. and 1 Joh. 2, 2. &c. They profeſſe alſo the articles of the Chri… faith, conteyned in the Apoſtles Creed (as it is commonly called) & … the Nicene, and Athanaſius Creed. As appeareth alſo in the Rhemes Teſtament, … their notes at the end of the Acts of the Apoſtles; and in their ſervice booke, &c. … profeſſing this faith, they baptize with water in the Name of the Father, the Sonne, and the holy Ghoſt. Which Chriſt commanded his diſciples to doe. Matth. 28, 16, 19. with Act, 8, 36, 37. Therefore the Baptiſme received among them, is not to be renounced, &c.
VII.
And vvho can deny (vvith any vvarrant from the vvord of God) the Ievves and Pagans, whom they bring to the faith of Chriſt aforeſaid, and baptize into his name: Who can (I ſay) with any good reaſon, deny theſe novv to be Chriſtians, or not to hauehave the Lords ordinance of baptiſme, vvhichwhich is ſtill to be reteyned, and not a nevv to be gotten or repeated agayne? Like as the ſtraungers and Proſelytes of the Gentiles, that came to the faith of Iſraell in the time of their apoſtaſie, and ſo vvere circumciſed, reteyned ſtill their circumciſion, & vvere received in Iudah to eat of the Paſſeover, together vvith the Iſraelites themſelues: Whereof none might eat that were uncircumciſed. 2 Chron. 30, 1 — 11 — 25. with Exod. 12, 48, 49.
VIII.
The Scripture alſo teacheth, that God hath*Rev. 18, 4. … 2, 2. and 3, 1. and 4, 1, 2, 12, 15, 16, 17. Mich. 1, 1 — 5 — 13. &c. Ier. 2, 2, &c. E…. 16, 2 — 60. and 20, 4 — 44. and 22 and 23 chap. his people in the Romiſh Babylon, under his covenant of grace: and vvhen he calleth them out from thence, requireth of them not to be partakers of their ſinnes: but requireth not to leaue whatſoever is had in the church of Rome. But (as the † Prophets taught & dealt with Iſrael of old) the childrē of that church should plead vvith their mother, that ſhee take away her fornications out of her ſight, and her adulteries from between her breaſts. Novv“Matt. 28, 19. Baptiſme is not of her adulteries, but of Chriſts ordinances; it is not a threshold or poſt which Antichriſt hath brought into the Temple of God, but was ſet therein‡Rom. 6, 3, …h 2 Theſ. 2, 3, 4. and Rev. 11 chap. of old by the Lord himſelf. Neyther may vve plead vvith the Church of Rome, to take it avvay, but that shee put avvay the fornications & corruptions that are of her ovvne addition. Which are the very things*Ezech. 43, 7, 8, 9. and 16 chap. Iudg. 2, … Pſal. 106, 35 — 39. Eſa. 8, 11, &c. Amos 5, 4, 5, 6, 14, 15. with Rev. 8, & 9, … & 13, 6, 17, & 14 chap. &c. that cauſe the abomination of her eſtate, and vvhichwhich vve are bound to leaue & put avvay, and not all vvhatſoever is had in ſuch Apoſtaticall Churches.
IX.
Els by ſuch like reaſons as the baptiſme is renounced which is the received, men might alſo urge (as ſome hauehave done) not to reteyne, uſe… regard as vve should, the articles of faith, the learning of the ſcripture… the tranſlations thereof, had and acknovvledged in thoſe Church …ld … likewiſe might perſvvade to the diſſolution of ſuch mariages as hauehave b… had by their Miniſterie: vvith other as ſtrange conſequences that by … maner of reaſoning vvould be inferred thereupon. Which to admitte … vvere contrarie to Deut. 5, 32, 33. and 31, 9 — 13. Prov. 4, 25, 26, 27. and 23, 2 Chro. 29, and 30 chap. Eſa. 8, 19, 20. and 34, 16. Luk. 16, 29. Ioh. 5, 39. Act. 15. and 15, 21. and 17, 2, 3, 11. Rom. 15, 4. & 16, 17. 1 Cor. 4, 6. 1 Theſs, 5, 21. 2 T… 3, 14 — 17. Heb. 13, 4, 9. Rev. 1, 3. 2 Pet. 3, 17, 18.