A Christian Plea, Treatise 1 · Chapter 3 · Objection 1
OBJECTION I.
But†The Anabaptiſts. M. A. &c Animad. p. 68 — 72, 71 — 75. the Baptiſme had in the Church of Rome, is not true baptiſme, … an Idol, and lying ſigne; a deteſtable and curſed ſacrament; a fiction & … true Chriſtian baptiſme;‡M. Cl. no better then when we waſh our own face wi… water dayly. Of which ſort alſo the Baptiſme of the Church of England … And Circumciſion, that was kept in the apoſtaſie of Iſraell heretofore.
ANSWER.
Aſſertions notably erroneous (if not indeed hereticall and blaſph… mous) and ſuch as are not peculiar to the Anabaptiſts alone, but are ſo… of them affirmed, and ſome of them alſo published by others: ſome ſa… ing one thing, ſome another; ſome ſpeaking of one church, ſome of an… ther; ſome to one purpoſe, ſome to another; ſometimes more plainly directly, ſometimes vvith shifts & pretences, more deceiving the ſimpl… and bevvraying their ovvne iniquity. Which is the more lamentable, … as much as theſe being maine grounds of Anabaptiſtrie, they shou… therefore be convinced and reſiſted, not coloured or pleaded for by as meanes. For if the former aſſertions vvere true, then would it neceſſarie follovv, that the Baptiſme received in the Churches aforeſaid, is not … ordinance of God, not to be reteyned, but utterly to be rejected, & … baptiſme to be received, both for obedience of the commandement … God, and for our ovvne comfort.
Reaſons ſhewing, That if the Baptiſme of the Church of Rome & England were an Idol and lying ſigne, &c. then it ought to be renounced, and another to be receyved.
I. Becauſe Idols and lying ſignes and fictions are not of God, but the Divell, who is a lyar, and a Father thereof. Ioh. 8, 44. Rom. 3, 4.
II. Neyther can an Idoll and lying ſigne, or ſuch a baptiſme as is more then a dayly vvashing of our owne faces, be the ſigne and ſeale… Gods true and everlaſting covenant, of the righteouſnes of faith, and …ashing avvay of our ſinnes in the blood of Chriſt. 2 Cor. 6, 14, 15, 16. ….2, 18. 1 Cor. 8, 4. with Rom. 4, 11. and 6, 3, 4.
III. The ſigne in a Sacrament alſo is that which is outward & viſible. … …h in Baptiſme, is the vvashing with water, in the Name of the Lord. … if this be a fiction, and lying ſigne, in the Churches aforeſaid, then is not the Lords: And they which are there baptized, hauehave not then the outvvard viſible ſigne, vvhichwhich the Lord hath ordeyned to be had of his people: and therefore are bound to gette it unto them, where it may be …ad Rom. 4, 11. and 6, 3, 4. Act. 10, 47, 48. Matt. 3, 11. and 28, 18, 19. with Gen. 1…, 11, 12, 13. and 21, 4.
IV. And that alſo is to be done without delay, and before they may come to the Lords Supper: ſeing the neglect of Baptiſme is ſinne, as was the neglect of circumciſion: and no unbaptized perſon may eat of the Lords ſupper, as no uncircumciſed perſon might eate of the paſſeover. Epheſ. 4, 4, 5. and Luke 7, 29, 30. with 1 Cor. 10, 16, 17, 18. Exo. 4, 24, 25, 26. and 12, 43, …, 48.
V. And if any that reteyne an Idoll baptiſme, & lying ſigne and fiction, and hauehave not the Lords ſigne of the vvashing away of their ſinnes in the blood of Chriſt; will ſo preſume to come to the Table of the Lord, they doe highly prophane it, and eat judgment unto themſelues. 2 Cor. 6, 14, 1…, 16. with 1 Cor. 11, 27, 28, 29. and Mal. 1, 7. 2 King. 23, 21. with ver. 4, &c. E… 16, 19, 20, 21. Eſa. 44, 20. Zach. 10, 2.
VI. Yea, ſeing Baptiſme is the badge of Chriſtianitie, will it not alſo follovv hereupon, that ſuch perſons as hauehave no other outward baptiſme, but an Idoll baptiſme, and lying ſigne and fiction, ſtand outwardly in this behalf Idol and falſe Chriſtians; and the Miniſters among them, Idoll & falſe Miniſters, profaning the holy things which they miniſter? And that therefore the perſons and miniſters vvhichwhich ſo ſpeak and write againſt the baptiſme of the Churches aforeſaid, and yet hauehave no other outvvard baptiſme, but what they received there, are accordingly to be eſteemed themſelues, untill they revoke their ungodly errours? And moreover, … none vvho hauehave but an Idol baptiſme and lying ſigne themſelues, … ſuch eſtate miniſter baptiſme or the Lords ſupper to others, and be accepted or reteyned for the miniſters of Chriſt, without great ſinne and Impietie? 2 Cor. 6, 14, 15, 16. with 2 Chron. 29 and 30 chap. Ezra 2, 61, 62, … and 6, 19, 20, 21. Jer. 10, 8. Pſal. 115, 4 — 8. 1 Cor. 10, 7, 14. Ioh. 5, 21. Rev. 21, 8. and …2, 15. Zach. 10, 2. and 11, 17. Ezech. 44, 6, 7, 8, 9.
VII. Neyther can it be thought, that repentance (vvhichwhich ſtill they ſpeak of) should ever make a lye to be a trueth; an Idoll to be Gods ordinance; a lying and curſed ſigne to be a true and bleſſed ſacrament. For …gh repentance fyndeth mercy vvith God for a lye, yet a lye is a lye … and an Idoll vanitie. Zach. 10, 2. Ier. 10, 8. Ioh. 8, 44. and 14, 6. and 17. … with 2 Cor. 6, 14, 15, 16.
VIII. Nor doe they indeed repent, who ſtill reteyne ſuch baptiſme, … themſelues think to be an Idoll, and lying ſigne and fiction. For true repentance, and our duty to God, leadeth and byndeth us to caſt avvay all Idols, and lying ſignes and fictions farre from us. Hoſ. 14, 8. Ezeck. 2… Eſa. 30, 22. & 44, 20. 1 Cor. 10, 14. 1 Joh. 5, 21. with Rev. 2, 20, 21, 22. and 9, 20. 14, 9 — 12. And this alſo (as I noted before) is religiouſly to be done, afo… ever we offer to come to the Lords ſupper: as they in Iſraell careful purged the Temple that had ben defiled, and brake dovvne the Idols at idolatrous monuments, afore they would celebrate the Paſſeover. 2 Chr 29 and 30 chap. 2 King. 23, 3 — 23. with 2 Chron. 34 and 35 chap.
IX. Whereas therefore they ſay,*Animad. p. 70. We hauehave gotten the Lords Baptiſme comming to the Lord, in true faith and repentance, vvho baptizeth us vvith the h… Ghoſt and vvith fire. As for the outvvard vvaſhing vvhichwhich vve had, it need not be… peated: &c. And afterward ſay,†pag. 72. We hauehave renounced that Romiſh Baptiſme, as… impure idoll in their abuſe, &c. they doe but shift and contradict themſelue… and deceiue others, and ſtill runne into errors (one after another) mo… and more.
For, 1. ſpeaking of the Lords baptiſme, they ſpeake of that vvhichwhich invvard, vvhereas our queſtion is of that which is outvvard.
2. They ſpeake of abuſes in the miniſtration and opinions of the Min… ſters thereof, wheras our queſtion is of the thing it ſelf, not of the abuſ…
3. Their aſſertion implyeth, that they had not the Lords baptiſme, till t… gotte it themſelues by comming to the Lord in true faith and repentance. Which plaine Anabaptiſtrie, and covert Popery, and Arminianiſme. Where… they debaſe Gods grace, and exalt mans works. For when they ſay, th… hauehave gotten the Lords baptiſme by true faith and repentance, it muſt be underſtoo… eyther of the inward, or outward Baptiſme. If of the inward, beſides th… it toucheth not the queſtion (as is aforeſaid) it implyeth Popery: if of t… outvvard, it conteyneth Anabaptiſtry.
4. And that moreover ſo, as if they had dyed themſelues in their i… fancie, they had not then had the Lords baptiſme, nor had ben baptiz… vvith the Holy Ghoſt: And as not themſelues, ſo neyther any other i… fants there baptized.
5. No nor when they were come to yeres, if they had dyed, afore the had left to be members of the church of Rome and England. For ſom… of them left the one, ſome the other, and all of them hauehave left both. A… holding them†Animad. p. 68.70. 72. 75. 82. 93. 96. …uſtiſ. pag. 121, 278, 463. not to be under the covenant of God, nor to hauehave t… Lords baptiſme for a ſigne unto them of his covenant, and a ſeale of t… righteouſnes of faith in Ieſus Chriſt: but that he hath broken the cov… nant euen on his part alſo, and hath giuen them a bill of divorce, & p… them avvay, &c. it vvill follow, that they ſuppoſe they did then come the Lord in true faith and repentance, and (as ſome of them ſpeak it) did the enter into the covenant of God, vvhen they left that eſtate, and came to th… cauſe vvhichwhich now they profeſſe. And ſo either they hauehave no outward b… ptiſme at all (according to their ovvne opinion) confirming the covena… of God, and the righteouſnes of faith unto them in Chriſt: or els the… had it, before they came under the Lords covenant, and in a Church … …ced from the Lord. Let them chuſe, which they vvill: and shew hovv …r ovvne eſtate can be warranted by the vvord of God: and how their …nions and courſes agree with the doctrine of the Scriptures, concer…g the covenant of God; and the eternity thereof; the ſacrament of baptiſme, and the miniſtration thereof; the mediation of Chriſt, and the …nt thereof; both for confirmation of the covenant, and comfort of the Sacraments, vvhichwhich are giuen and continued by the Lord, as ſignes and …des of his covenant and mercy, in Ieſus Chriſt.
6. And furthermore, by their aſſertions it vvill follow, that they which are baptized in thoſe churches, and dye in that eſtate, they hauehave not the Lords baptiſme, being not come to the Lord in true faith & repentance; and withall dye out of the covenant of the Lord, and ſo out of the eſtate of ſalvation, in Churches divorced frō the Lord, which hauehave not baptiſme for a ſigne of Gods covenant unto them, and a ſeale of the righteouſnes of faith in Ieſus Chriſt. Novv into what a vvofull eſtate by this meanes they bring all, that are baptized in thoſe Churches, and ſo dye, not ſeeing and leaving the corruptions thereof: and what grounds beſides they lay of Anabaptiſtrie herein; let ſuch as are vviſe obſerue, and let themſelues better conſider vvith themſelues hereafter, & as carefully renounce their vvicked opinions and courſes, as they hauehave rashly runne into them. And the more, novv that they hauehave ben manifeſted againe and againe: hovv ever hitherto they would not take heed to the inſtructions and vvarning giuen unto them.
7. Finally, vvhereas they ſay, The outward waſhing need not be repeated; and yet ſay alſo, that they hauehave renounced the Romiſh baptiſme, as an impure Idol in their a…ſe, they uſe shifts, and contradict themſelues. For if the outward baptiſme be an Idol, vvhy doe they reteyn it? If it be not an Idol, why hauehave they renounced it? That vvhichwhich they ſpeak of their abuſe, is a shift, & not to the point in queſtiō, as I noted before. Difference is to be put between a…ing that is abuſed, & betvveen the abuſe thereof. The Scriptures are the vvord of God, and not an impure Idol, to be renounced, though they be abuſed by the Papiſts and themſelues. Wine is the good creature of God, and not an impure thing, to be renounced, though it be abuſed by drunkards, &c. But of this (God willing) more hereafter.
This for the preſent may ſuffice to shew the fraud & impiety of their dealing. In compariſon whereof, the dealing of the Anabaptiſts, vvho …ding it to be an Idoll and lying ſigne, doe therefore indeed renounce it and receiue another; is more conſcionable and religious: though yet …ery deed it be moſt ſinfull and ungodly. For the Baptiſme had in the …urches aforeſaid, vvhichwhich they renounce, is not an Idol and lying ſigne …ction (as they pretend) but is in deed true Baptiſme, & the ordinance … …he Lord, which in mercy he hath giuen to his church for a ſigne of his …enant, & hath ſtil continued it in the churches aforſaid, unto this day. … may appear by the reaſons here alledged before, againſt the renoun… of that Baptiſme, and the receiving of another: and novv alſo by theſe, vvhichwhich here followe agreeably thereunto.
Reaſons ſhewing, That the Baptiſme of the Church of Rome & England is not an Idol and lying ſigne, &c. but the Lords ordinance and true baptiſme: and therefore may not be renounced, or another receyved.
I. Becauſe an Idol, and lying ſigne, and fiction is an invention of man in the worship of God. Exod. 20, 4. Pſal. 106, 36 — 39. Ier. 2, 28. Hoſ. 13, 2. 1 Cor. 8, 4. and 10, 7. Col. 2, 18, 23. Whereas Baptiſme in thoſe Churches is of the holy things of God, a true ſigne of his covenant, & an inſtitution of the Lord which the Church of Rome had in the Apoſtles dayes: when Antichriſt as yet was not ſeated there: & hath reteyned it ever ſince (together with other Churches derived therefrom) notvvithſtanding their Apoſtaſie and great impiety other wayes. Rom. 6, 3, 4. with 1, 7. & 2 Theſ. 2, 4. Rev. 11, 1, 2, 19.
II. Els thoſe Churches & the like, should not hauehave a mixture of Gods ordinances with their owne inventions, and ſo hauehave their thresholds and poſts ſet by the Lords poſts and thresholds among them: but should be utterly deprived of all & every one of Gods ordinances: if the Baptiſme and other like things among them, were all Idols, lying ſignes, & fictions But they hauehave ſuch a mixed eſtate, as is aforeſaid (though ſome far more then other) like as Iſrael alſo had heretofore. As both the Scripture and experience in all ages doeth shew it to be in all ſuch churches. For which ſee the Scriptures aforeſaid, and Ezech. 43, 7, 8. Hoſ. 7, 8. and 13, 2, 4. Amos 2, 11. and 8, 5. 2 King. 7, 3. 1 Tim. 4, 1, 2, 3. Rev. 8, 7, 9, 11, 12. and 11, 1, 2, &c.
III. And if the Baptiſme of ſuch churches were in deed an Idol and lying ſigne and fiction, a deteſtable and curſed ſacrament, then it should be the ſinne of thoſe churches to reteyne that Baptiſme ſtill, and their duty preſently to caſt it away. And we alſo ought to plead with them, utterly to reject it. For ſo both they ought to doe with all Idols, lying ſignes, and inventions of men, brought into the vvorship of God; and we should alſo provoke and ſtirre them up hereunto. Ezech. 20, 7. Eſa. 30, 22. Hoſ. 2, 1, 2. and 13, 2. and 14, 8. 1 Cor. 10, 7, 11, 14. 1 Joh. 5, 21. Rev. 21, 8. Which if either they or we should doe, it would be great ſinne and impiety in us all. 2 Chron. 29, 18, 19. with Ier. 50, 28. and 51, 11. 1 King. 19, 10, 14. Ezech. 43, 8. Amos 5, 14, 15. 1 Theſ. 5, 21. Rev. 11, 1, 2, 19. with Eccleſ. 7, 16, 17. When Iſraell fell into defection, the Prophets that blamed their idolatries, & exhorted them to leaue all their iniquities, did then alſo reproue them, for not obſerving religiouſly ſuch of the ordinances of God, as were ſtill remaining among them. Amos 8, 5. with 2, 8, 11, 12. and 5, 4, 5. Ier. 17, 21 — 27. with 2, 20— 28. & chap. Ezech. 20, 7. with ver. 12, 13. &c. So farre were they from accounting Gods ordinances reteyned in apoſtaſie, to be Idols and deteſtable thing. And vvhen reformation vvas made in Iudah, that they returned to the auncient ſyncerity of the Church: they caſt away onelyonly the filth & lothſome things that were brought into the Temple; and not eyther the …mple it ſelf, or any of the holy things therof that had ben polluted but …ſe they reteyned ſtill, as being the Lords (notwithſtanding al their de…tion) and cleanſed them from the pollutions thereof: and ſuch of the …ſels of the Lord, as had ben caſt away in that apoſtaſie, they alſo pre…red and ſanctified. 2 Chron. 28. with 29, 3 — 12 — 16, 17, 18, 19. Theſe things …e written for our learning: and this preſident may ſerue, both to direct … in the trueth, and to convince the erroneous opinions, and ſinful pra…ſes, vvherein ſo many goe aſtray, ſome on one hand, ſome on another, …ndry vvaies.
IV. Baptiſme in the defection of Chriſtian churches, is as circumciſion vvas in the apoſtaſie of Iſraell. But circumciſion in that eſtate was not an Idoll and lying ſigne, a falſe or curſed Sacrament: but the Lords ordinance, a true ſigne, & holy Sacrament, had in Iſrael before their defection, and ſtill continued in the time of their apoſtaſie: as hath alſo come to paſſe in the Chriſtian church, concerning Baptiſme, through the merciful and povverfull work of God. Gen. 17, 7 — 14. and Lev. 12, 2, 3. with 2 King. 13, …. 2 Chron. 30 chap. Jer. 9, 26. Ezech. 23 ch. and 32, 24, 26, 29, 30, 32. Alſo Matt. 28, 18, 19. Rom. 6, 3, 4. with 2 Theſ. 2, 4. Rev. 11, 1, 2, 19. Which we ought therefore with thanks to acknovvledge and obſerue, to the praiſe of God, and our owne comfort: and not to deny ſo gracious a work of God, or any way to oppugne it, to the dishonour of his name, and our ovvn unſpeakable hurt and evill.
V. And the Covenant of God is an everlaſting covenant; which God continueth and reſpecteth, euen in the times of apoſtaſie: yea and when he chaſtiſeth the breach and tranſgreſſion thereof. And therefore in this reſpect alſo ought we accordingly to acknowledge circumciſion and baptiſme, giuen by the Lord to his people before, and continued ſtil in their apoſtaſie, to be the Lords ordinances, and his true ſignes & ſeales: being aſſured, that (notvvithſtanding the iniquities of his people, yet) the Lord in mercy both continueth his covenant, and euen by this meanes ſtil calleth and ſtirreth us up to turne unto him: vvho hath betaken himſelf to be our God, and into vvhoſe Name vve are baptized, and doe baptize. Othervviſe the ground and continuance of Gods covenant and of the ſeale thereof, should depend on Mans work and merit, and not freely and vvholly on Gods grace & mercy. Beſides that if God brake the covenant on his part, when men break it on theirs, then should there ſtill be a new entring into the covenant again between God and man, and a nevv baptiſme dayly received again, as the ſigne & ſeale thereof. Which is clean contrarie to the nature and eternity of the covenant of God, and to the …criptures, and the courſe taken by the Lord, & obſerved by his people, in ſuch caſes, from time to time. Gen. 17, 7 — 13. Deut. 4, 30, 31. & 29, 10— 15. …dg. 2, 11, 16, 19, 20, &c. 2 King. 13, 23. Pſal. 78, 56 — 65, &c. and 89, 30— 34. and 11, 5, 9. Lev. 26, 15, 25, 42, 45. Ezech. 16, 59 — 63. and 20, 37 — 44. 2 King. 9, 6. and …ev. 18, 4. Mat. 16, 16, 17, 18. & 28, 18, 19, 20. Rom. 6, 3, 4. Luk. 1, 54, 55. Heb. 13, 20.
VI. If ſuch vvere the baptiſme of the Church in Rome, and other Weſterne churches, as is aforeſaid, then should it be likewiſe in the Eaſt churches, and in all Churches of the vvorld, vvhen they fall into ſinne, breaking the covenant and commandements of God. Yea ſo it should be among the Anabaptiſts themſelues, & al people in all ages, who ſinne dayly, and are continually ſubject to tranſgreſſe againſt the covenant and precepts of the Lord. And then should baptiſme (by their opinion) every vvhere become an Idoll, and a lying ſigne, and deteſtable ſacrament: and men should day after day ſtill be repeating their baptiſme, and taking a nevv one againe and agayn, as vvas noted before. And ſo should now be revived again the hereſie of the Marcionites, Cathariſts, and other hereticks, vvho held that Baptiſme was to be repeated again and again, when men fell into ſinne. Auguſt. de haereſ. &c.
VII. If the Baptiſme had in the churches aforeſaid, were in deed a lying ſigne and fiction, &c. then vvould it alſo follow, that there should be no ſalvation for any members of thoſe churches, reteyning the baptiſme there received. For the ſigne hath reference to the covenant and thing ſignified: and ſo a lying ſigne muſt hauehave reſpect to a lying covenant, and falſe thing ſignified thereby. And by a lying covenant, is no ſalvation to any. Neither is the covenant of God, a lying covenant, but true and everlaſting, and confirmed by the blood of Chriſt: VnderUnder vvhichwhich vvhoſoever are not, they hauehave not God to be their God in Chriſt; and ſo can hauehave no ſalvation in him. Eyther therefore they muſt grant the Churches & people aforeſaid, to be under the true covenant of God in Chriſt, and ſo the baptiſme there had to be the true ſigne & ſeale thereof: or els they muſt deny ſalvation unto them through the covenant of God cōfirmed in the blood of Chriſt. Which were moſt wicked once to think or imagine: and contrarie to the riches of Gods grace, and the vvhole courſe of the Scriptures throughout. Gen. 17, 7 — 13. with Heb. 13.20. and Luk. 1, 54, 55. Pſal. 89, 30— 34. 1 King. 14, 13. and 19.18. with Rom. 11, 1 — 5. 2 King. 9, 6. and 13, 4, 23. Amos 7, 2, 5. Hoſ. 14, 1. Eſa. 60, 3 — 11. Matt. 16, 16, 17, 18. Act. 16, 31. Rom. 5, 8, 9. and 10, 6 — 13. 1 Cor. 15, 3 — 17. Epheſ. 3, 14, 15.
VIII. Finally, the baptiſme of thoſe churches is from heauen, & not of men: and is derived unto us from the Apoſtles of Chriſt, through the loynes of the church of Rome, and other churches, which hauehave from that time reteyned and continued it unto this day. Therefore it is not an Idol and lying ſigne: but the true ſacrament, and ordinance of the Lord. Mat. 21, 21. and 28, 18, 19. with Rom. 6, 3, 4. Heb. 7, 9, 10. 2 Chron. 30 chap. Whereas the other latter washing which the Anabaptiſts take up a new unto them ſelues, is of men, and not from heauen: vvhereof they cannot shew vvarrant out of the Word of God, nor how it hath ben derived unto them from the Apoſtles, whom Chriſt ſent into the world to preach his Goſpel, and baptiſe in his Name. In vvhichwhich regard moreover, all ſuch as being formerly baptized in the churches aforeſaid, hauehave renounced it, and received an other vvashing unto themſelues (whereupon alone they would relye) had need to conſider well in their hearts, vvhether this be … deed a vvay deviſed and miſconceived of themſelues, and in that …ct an Idol of their owne invention, and taken up according to their …e underſtanding. Such things was Iſrael ſubject to fall into. Which …fore Chriſtians now should carefully regard, in this, and other ſuch … of religion. Hoſ. 13, 1, 2. 1 Cor. 10, 7, 11.