The Character of the Beast, To the reader – Debate 1
THE CHARACTER OF THE BEAST OR THE FALSE CONSTITVTION OF THE CHVRCH.Diſcovered IN CERTAYNE PASSAGES BETWIXT Mr. R. CLIFTON & Iohn Smyth, concerning true Chriſtian baptiſme of New Creatures, or New borne Babes in Chriſt: &nd falſe Baptiſme of infants borne after the flesh.
Referred to two Propoſitions.
1. That infants are not to bee Baptized.
2. That Antichriſtians converted are to bee admitted into the true Church by baptiſme.
Revelat. 13.16. And he made all both ſmall & great, rich & poore, free and bond, to receave a mark in their right hand or in their foreheads.
Revelat. 14.9.10. If any man receave the mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the ſame shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God.
Revelat. 21.5. And he that ſate vppon the Throne ſaid: behold: & make all things new.
Printed. 160….
TO EVERY ONE THAT LOVETH THE Truth in ſincerity Salutations.
It may be thought moſt ſtraung, that a man should oft tymes chandg his Religiō: & it cannot be accounted a commendable quality in any man to make many alterations & chandges in ſuch weighty matters, as are the caſes of conſcience: but if conſtancy be commēdable in any thing, it is moſt cōmendable in the beſt things which is Religion: & it inconſtancy be worthy reproof in matters of inferior eſtimation, it is much more blameable in matters of Salvatiō: In reſpect wherof the wiſeſt & moſt Religions men have been alwayes moſt conſtant in ther profeſſion & faith: & inconſtant perſons cannot eſcape the deſerved imputatiō of folly or weaknes of judgment therein.
This muſt needs be true, (& we confeſſe it) if one condition be admitted, that the Religon which a man chandgeth be the truth: For otherwiſe to chandge a falſe Religion is commendable, & to retaine a falſe Religion is damnable. For a man of a Turk to become a Iew, of a Iew to become a Papiſt, of a Papiſt to become a Proteſtant are al commendable chandges though they al of them befal one & the ſame perſon in one yeere, nay, if it were in one month: So that not to chandg Religion is evil ſimply: & therfor that we should fal from the profeſſion of Puritaniſme to Browniſme, & from Browniſme to true Chriſtian baptiſme, is not ſimply evil or reprovable in it ſelf, except it be proved that we have fallen from true Religion: If wee therfor being formerly deceaved in the way of Pedobaptiſtry, now doe embrace the truth in the true Chriſtian Apoſtolique baptiſme: Then let no mā impute this as a fault vntounto vsus: This therfor is the queſtion: whither the baptiſme of infants be lawful, yea or nay: & whither perſons baptized being infants muſt not renounce that falſe baptiſme, & aſſume the true baptiſme of Chr: which is to be adminiſtred vppon perſons confeſſing their faith & their ſinnes: This being the controverſy now betwixt vsus, & the Seperation commonly called Browniſts: For the glory of God, the manifeſting of the truth to our own nation, & the deſtruction of the man of ſinne, wee have thought good to publish this preſent treatiſe, wherin the whole cauſe is handled: Let the indifferent reader jud… of the whole & give ſentence without partiality: & I doubt not but he shalbe conſt…ayned to give glory to God in acknowledging the error of baptiſing infants, to have been a cheef point of Antichriſtianiſme, & the very eſſence & conſtitution of the falſe Church, as is cleerly diſcovered in this treatiſe: Now happily ſome man wil wish that the controverſy had been with the Rabbyes of the Seperation, & not with Mr. Clifton whom thy calūniate to be a weake man, vnable to deale in ſo great a controverſy wel, let the Reader take notice, that although it be Mr. Cliftons p…n, yet it is not only Mr. Cliftons cauſe & defence, but his allegations & reaſons are the beſt p…ea of the greateſt Rabbyes themſelves: & if they think that they can ſay better they may now ſpeake, for by publishing an…wer to their reaſons: we do challendg al the Seperation in ſpecial to the combat. Be it knowne therfor to all the Seperation that we account them in reſpect of their conſtitution to bee as very an h…ot as either her Mother England, or her grandmother Rome is, out of whoſe loynes she came: & although once in our ignorance we have acknowledged her a true Chu. yet now being better informed we revoke that our erroneous judgment & proteſt againſt her, aswel for her falſe conſtitution, as for her falſe miniſtery, worship, & government: The true conſtitution of the Chu. is of a new creature baptized into the Father, the Sonne, & the holy Ghoſt: The falſe conſtitution is of infants baptized: we profeſſe therfor that al thoſe Churches that baptiſe infants are of the ſame falſe conſtitution: & al thoſe Chu. that baptize the new creature, thoſe that are made Diſciples by teaching, men conſe…ing their faith & their ſinnes, are of one true conſtitution: & therfor the Chu. of the Seperation being of the ſame conſtitution with England & Rome, is a moſt vnnatural daughter to her mother England, & her grandmother Rome, who being of the ſelf fame genealogie & generation, (that of the prophet being true of her, as is the Mother ſo is the daughter) she dare notwithſtanding moſt impudently wipe her own mouth, & cal her mother & grandmother adultereſſes. Hee in therfor we do acknowledg our error, that we retayning the baptiſme of England which gave vsus our conſtitution, did cal our mother England an harlot, & vppon a falſe ground made our Seperation from her: For although it be neceſſary that we Seperate from England, yet no man can Seperate from England as from a falſe Chu. except he alſo do Seperate from the baptiſme of England, which giveth England her conſtitution: & whoſoever doth retaine the baptiſme of England doth with al retaine the conſtitution of England, & cannot without ſinne cal England an harlot as we have done: & this we deſire may be wel minded of al that Seperate frō England: For if they retaine the baptiſme of England, viz the baptiſme of infants as true baptiſme, they cannot Seperate from England as from a falſe Chu. though they may Seperate for corruptions▪ & whoſoever doth Seperate from England as from a falſe Church, muſt needs Seperate from the baptiſme of England, as from falſe baptiſme: For the baptiſme of England cannot be true & to be retayned, & the Chu. of England falſe & to de rejected: neither can the Chu. of England poſſibly be falſe except the baptiſme be falſe, vnleſſe a true conſtitution could be in a falſe Chu. which is as impoſſible as for light to have felowship with darknes: It is impoſſible that contraryes or contradictions should be both true: & ſo it is impoſſible that a falſe Chur. should have a true conſtitution or a true baptiſme: To ſay thus:
England hath a falſe conſtitution.
England hath a true baptiſme, is as much as to ſay thus.
England hath a true conſtitution.
England hath a true conſtitution, which is to contradict:
But the Seperation they ſay England hath a falſe conſtitution, & is a falſe Chu. & to be Seperated from: & yet they ſay alſo: England hath a true baptiſme (that is a true conſtitution) which is not to be Seperated from: For a true conſtitution & true baptiſme are one & the ſame: So is a falſe conſtitution & a falſe baptiſme: So that the ſpeeches & actions of the Seperation are cōtradictory in this particular. Finaly, they that defend the baptiſme of infants cannot with any truth or good conſcience Seperate from England as from a falſe Chu. though they may ſeperate for coruptions: & they that do Seperate from England as from a falſe Chu. muſt of ſneceſſity Seperate from the baptiſme of England, & account the baptiſme of England falſe, & ſo account the baptiſme of infants falſe baptiſme: Therfor the Seperation muſt either goe back to England, or go forward to true baptiſme: & al that shal in tyme to come Seperate from England muſt Seperate from the baptiſme of England, & if they wil not Seperate from the baptiſme of England their is no reaſon why they should ſeperate from England as from a falſe Church: & this is more at large proved in the ſecond queſtion of this diſcourſe, whither the Reader is to be referred. Now concerning this point of baptiſing infants we do profeſſe before the L. & before al men in ſincerity & truth that it ſemeth vntounto vsus the moſt vnreaſonable hereſy of al Antichriſtianiſme: for conſidering what baptiſme is, an infāt is no more capable of baptiſme then is any vnreaſonable or inſenſible creature: For baptiſme is not washing with water: but it is the baptiſme of the Spirit, the confeſſion of the mouth, & the washing with water: how then can any mā without great folly wash with water which is the leaſt & laſt of baptiſme, one that is not baptized with the Spirit, & cannot confeſſe with the mouth: or how is it baptiſme if one be ſo washed: Now that an infant cannot be baptized with the Spirit is plaine, 1. Pet. 3:21. wher the Apoſtle ſaith that the baptiſme of the Spirit is the queſtion of a good conſcience into God, & Heb. 10.22. wher the baptiſme which is inward is caled the ſprinkling of the hart from an evil conſciēce: ſeing therfor infants neither have an evil conſcience, nor the queſtion of a good conſcience, nor the purging of the hart, for al theſe are proper to actual ſinners: hence it followeth that infants baptiſme is folly & nothing. Againe: Iohns baptiſme was the baptiſme of repentance: infants have not repentance: & therfor cannot have the baptiſme of repentance. That infants cannot have repentance is evident, ſeing repentāce is knowledg of ſinne by the Law, ſorrow for ſinne by the goſpel, mortification of ſin & new obedience, al which are as much in the baſen of water, as in the infant baptized. Now I confeſſe the Pedobaptiſts have many showes of reaſon for the maintenance of their hereſy, & one man shapeth them into one forme, another man into an other, as every mans wit & learning teacheth him, but indeed they are al built vponupon the ſelf ſame ſandy fondacions, the wreſting of ſome places of Scripture: al which (in a manner) are diſcovered in ſome meaſure in this treatiſe: whereby the reader may perceave the manifeſt perventing of the ſcriptures from their true ſenſe: Now bicauſe men cal for antiquity, & except they ſee antiquity they wil not beleve, though the Scriptures be the moſt auncient, I have thought good therefore to propound two pregnant teſtimonyes of Antiquity (beſides that which is alledged in the pag. 30. & 31. of this treatiſe) againſt baptiſme of infants: that men may know that this truth alſo hath her footſteps among the Fathers.
Tertullianus lib. de baptiſmo adverſus Quintillam. hath theſe wordes: Then which nothing is more playne. Itaque pro cujuſque perſonae conditione, diſpoſitione, etiam aetate cunctatio baptiſmi vtilior eſt precipue tamen circa parvulos: Quid enim neceſſe eſt, ſi non tam neceſſe, ſponſores etiam periculo ingeri? qui & ipſi per mortalitatem deſtituere promiſſiones ſuas poſſunt, & proventu malae indolis falli. Ait quidem dominus. Nolite illos pro hibere ad me venire: veniant ergo dum adoleſcunt: veniant, dum diſcunt, dum quo veniant docentur: Fiant Chriſtiani cum Chriſtum noſſe potuerint. Quid feſtinat innocensaetas ad remiſſionē peccatorū. Cautius agitur in ſecularibus vt cui ſubſtantia terrena non creditur, divina credatur. Norint petere ſalutem, vt p…tenti dediſſe videaris.
That is to ſay in English. Therfor to defere & not to haſten baptiſme is more profitable for the condition, diſpoſition & age of every perſon: but eſpecialy as concerning yong children: For what neceſſity is ther to bring ſuertyes into daunger for the baptiſing of infants, if ther be no ſuch neceſſity of haſtning the baptiſing of infants: Seing the ſuerties ofttymes are disabled to performe their promiſe both by reaſon of mortality, & of the evil diſpoſition of ſome children whē they come to yeres, for wh…me they promiſed in baptiſme. Indeed the L. ſaith, forbid them not to come vntounto me: Therfor let them come to Chr. but let them come when they are growne, when they learne, & when they are taught to what they come. Let them by baptiſme be made Chriſtians when they can know Chr. by inſtruction: why doth the innocent age haſten to the remiſſion of ſinnes: we deale more ſafely in worldly matters: Shal we commit heavenly things to yong children vntounto whome we dare not commit our earthly ſubſtance? let thē firſt know how to ask ſalvation that ſo we may ſeem to give to him that asketh.
Euſeb. Eccleſt. Hiſt. Lib. 10. Chap. 15. Athanaſius his baptiſing of children in ſpirit that answered according to the cuſtome of the Catechumeni, is aproved by Alex. lib. of Alexa. & his Clerks: whence it is to be noted that theſe children baptized by Athanaſius were vnbaptized, & yet knew the manner of baptiſme, as being children borne in the Chu. So that by this place & al other places of the Ecleſi. Hiſt. wher like mention is made of the childrē of Chriſtians firſt Catechized & then baptized, it may eaſily be diſcerned that baptiſme of infants was not yet vniverſaly receaved, but by litle & litle prevailed, as other Antich hereſies have done: in reſpect wherof Origen, Auguſt. Cip…ian, & al the Papiſts with one conſent acknowledg it a tradition of the Church.
And thus much for the Teſtimonyes of Antiquity which hereafter shalbe produced more plentifully vponupon further occaſion offered: if the Seperation or any other dare adventure the tryal of the matter out of Antiquity: but ther is one, & indeed but one argument which the ſeperation principaly ſtand vponupon, & that is the covenāt which ſay they if it be āswered they muſt ned… yeeld vntounto the truth: now although this Argument be answered in this writing even to the ſatisfaction of every indifferently mynded man that …oveth & ſeke… the knowledg of the truth more then the defence & juſtification of error: yet ſeing many things are variably alledged concerning the covenants made with Abrah. & his feeds, & concerning Abrah. Fatherhood & concerning circumciſion which is called a ſe…le of the righteouſnes of Faith: I have thought God to referre theſe particulars to moreful diſcourſe intertained vponupon occaſion with another of the Mrs. of the ſep…ration, not doubting but very shortly through Gods goodneſſe that treatiſe alſo shalbe published, wherin the reader shal find larger inſtraction & ſatisfaction c…ncerning the forſaid particulars of the covenants or Teſt. & other matters therto aperteyning. In the meane t…me I deſire the reader to make vſe of this writing & to reade without prejudice or pa tiality, & I doubt not but that through Gods mercy much light of truth shal shine in his …art even by this preſent diſcourſe: & for the ſeperation who are the ſti…eſt & moſt obſ…inate adverſaries of this truth of the …. I could wish as the Tyrant wished concerning the people o… Rome, that al their he…ds were joyned into one, & al their ſtrength compriſed into one writing, that with the sword of the Spirit it might bee ſmiten of at once, that ſo we might have an end of this controverſy, & that we might not be troubled & charged with the writing & printing of many books: Howſoever it be, wee profeſſe our readineſſe to imploy our time & coſt for the manifeſtation of the truth, & we deſire the Sep. that they wil not in craftines withdraw from the combat, as hitherto they have done in the mater of the tranſlation, wors. & the Presbitery: but we require them in the feare of the L. that ſeing they have ſuffered ſo much for ſo much truth as they profeſſe, they would not now ſubtily (being guilty in their conſciences of their dishability to defend their errors) draw back, & pretend excuſes as they do: but we require them, nay we chardg them, yea we challendg them to the defence of their errors: Loe: we proteſt againſt thē, to be a falſe Chu. falſely conſtituted in the bap. of infants, & their owne vnbaptized eſtate: we proteſt againſt them to have a falſe wors, of reading books: we proteſt againſt them to have a falſe govern… … proteſt againſt them to have a falſe Miniſt. of Doctor Teachers: Finally, wee proteſt againſt them that ſeing their conſtitution in is falſe, therfor ther is no one ordinance of the L. true among them: Theſe things wee have published, & of theſe things we require answer. For we proclaime againſt them as they proclaime againſt their owne mother England: That the Seperation the yongeſt & the fayreſt daughter of Rome, is an harlot: For as is the mother ſo is the daughter: Now furthermore we deſire the Sepera. & al men that they would not impute vntounto vsus vntruths, & condemne the innocent without cauſe: For we diſclayme the errors commonly, but moſt ſlaunderouſly imputed vntounto vsus: we are indeed traduced by the world as Atheiſts by denying the old Teſtament & the Lords day: as Trayters to Magiſtrates in denying Magiſtracy: & as Heretiques in denying the humanity of Chriſt: Be it knowne therefore to al men, firſt that we deny not the Scriptures of the Old Teſtament, but with the Apo: acknowledg them to bee inſpired of God & that wee have a ſure worde of the Prophets wherevnto wee ought to atend as vntounto a light shining in a dark place: & that whatſoever it written aforetyme is written for our inſtruction, that wee through patience & comfort of the Scriptures might have hope: & that wee ought as Chriſt counſelleth to ſearch the Scriptures of the Old Teſtament, as the men of Berza did, bicauſe that in them wee may find everlaſting life, & that they do teſtifie of Chriſt: This wee beleeve according to theſe Scriptures. Iohn. 5.39. Act. 17.11. Roman. 15.4… 2. Timoth. 3.16. 2. Pet. 1.19. yet nevertheleſſe wee affirme all the ordinances of the Old Teſtament, viz: The Church, Miniſtery, VVorship, & Government of the Old Teſtament, to bee abolished al which were Types & shadowes of Gods things to come, but the body is in Chriſt. Col. 2.14.17.20.
Secondly we acknowledg that according to the preſident of Ch. Diſciples & the primitive Churches, the Saints ought vponupon the firſt day of the weeke which is caled the Lords day, Revel. 1.10. to aſſemble together to pray prophecy, praiſe God, & break bread, and performe other parts of Spiritual Communion for the worship of God, ther owne mutual edification, & the preſervation of true Religion & piety in the Church & that we might be better enabled to the forſaid dutyes we ought to Seperate our ſelves from the labours of our callings which might hinder vsus therto, & that according to theſe Scriptures, Ioh. 20.19. Act. 2.1.41.42. & 20.7. 1. Cor. 16.1.
Thirdly, concerning Magiſtrates, we acknowledg them to be the ordinance of the L. that every ſoule ought to be ſubject vntounto thē: that they are the miniſters of God for our wealth: that we ought to be ſubject vntounto them for conſcience ſake: that they are the miniſters of God to take vengeance on them that do evil: that we ought to pray for thē that are in authority: that we ought not to ſpeake evil of thē that are in dignity: nor to deſpiſe government: but to pay tribute, tol, cuſtome, &c. & that acording to theſe Scriptures, Rom. 13.1-7. 1. Tim. 2.2. 1. Pet. 2.13-15. 2. Pet. 2.10. Iud. vſus. 8. but of Magiſtrates converted to the Faith & admitted into the Chu. by baptiſme, ther may many queſtions be made, which to answer … can … if we would: when ſuch things fal out, the L. we doubt not will direct vsus into the truth concerning that mater, in the meane tyme we are aſſured acording to the Scrip. that the Kings of the Earth shal at the length bring their glory & honor to the viſible Church, Revel. 21, 24.
Finally, concerning the Flesh of Chr. we do beleve that Chr, is the ſeed of Abra…. Iſaac, & Iacob, & of David, according to the Prophecyes of the Scriptures, & that he is the Sonne of Mary his Mother, made of her ſubſtance, the holy Ghoſt over shadowing her: So have other children ther bodyly ſubſtance from their parents: alſo that Chr. is one perſon in two diſtinct natures, the Godhead & manhood, & we deteſtg the cōtrary errors: our grounds of Scripture are theſe: Gen. 22.18. & 26.4. & 28.14. Pſal. 13.2.11. compared with Act. 2.30. Rom. 1.3.4. Heb. 1.8.—10. & 2.11.14.16
Breefly to conclude let the Seperation be advertized: That wheras they do ſo confidently through their ſelf love & ſelf conceipt, fil ther mouths with hereſy & heretiques, as if therby they would feare babes: That herein they tread in the ſteps of all the Antichriſtians their predeceſſors: do not the Papiſts cal the Proteſtants heretiques, & cal for fire & fagot? do not the Proteſtants proclaime the Seperation Schiſmatiques & Heretiques, & judg them worthy the gibbet? not the affirmation of mē without proof, but the evidence of wilful obſtinacy in error maketh men heretiques: And let them take heed that they notwithſtanding their Syrenes ſongs prove ne… cages full of moſt ougly & deformed Antichriſtian Heretiques: Thus deſiring the Seperation not to be wiſe in their owne eyes through pride, but to become fooles that they may be made wiſe through humility, & deſiring the forwardeſt preachers & profeſſors of the English nation wel to weigh what is the true conſtitution of the Church, & what is the ſubject of true Chriſtian baptiſme, & accordingly to meaſure a true & a falſe Church, I ceaſe: wishing the light & love of the truth to every …e that Readeth.
IOHN SMYTH.
CERTAYNE REASONS PROPOVNDED TO Mr. Rich. Clifton: concerning the two propoſitions following.
1. That infants are not to bee baptized.
1. Bicauſe ther is neyther precept nor example in the new Teſtament of any infan…s that were baptized, by Iohn or Chriſts Diſciples: Only they that did confeſſe their ſinnes, & confeſſe their Fayth were baptized. Marc. 1.4.5. Act. 8.37.
2.Bicauſe Chriſt commaundeth to make Diſciples by teaching them: & then to baptize them: Mat. 28, 19. Ion, 4.1. but infants cannot by doctryne become Chriſts Diſciples: & ſo cannot by the rule of Chriſt be baptized.
3. Bicauſe if infants be baptized; the carnal ſeed is baptized: & ſo the ſeale of the covenant is adminiſtred to them vntounto whom the covenāt aperteyneth not. Rom. 9.8. which is a profanation.
2. That Antichriſtians converted are to be admitted into the true Church by Baptiſme.
1. Bicauſe Churches are ſo to be conſtituted now after the defection of Antichriſt, as they were firſt erected by the Apoſtles: But in the conſtitution of Churches the Apoſtles receaved in the members by baptiſme: go: So muſt wee doe now.
2. Bicauſe true baptiſme is but one: but the baptiſme of Antichriſt is not true baptiſme, & ſo not that one baptiſme of Chriſt: but all members of Chriſt muſt have true baptiſme.
3. Bicauſe as the falſe Church is rejected & the true erected: the falſe miniſtery forſaken, & the true receaved: So falſe worship, (& by conſequent baptisme) muſt be renounced, & the true baptisme aſſumed.
Iohn Smyth