The Character of the Beast, Debate 2 · Richard Clifton 19
Mr. Rich. Clifton.
Thus having ſet downe ſome reaſons to prove that Apoſtates or Antichriſtians converted are not to be rebaptized, let vsus come to the examination of the reaſons alledged to the contrary, the firſt wherof is this.
1. Bicauſe Churches are to bee conſtituted now after the defection of Antichriſt, as they were firſt erected by the Apoſtles:
But in the conſtitution off Churches the Apoſtles receaved in the members by baptiſme.
Ergo, ſo muſt wee doe now.
Anſwere.
1. The eſtate & condition of people now is not alike to the eſtate of the Gentiles or Iewes in the Apoſtles tymes, they differ in divers reſpects: Firſt, all the people then both of Iewes & Gentiles never had bene themſelves, nor were ever of the poſterity of thoſe that had bene members of the Church of Chriſt vnderunder the goſpel, ſeing then was the firſt planting of Evangelical Churches▪ but we are now the poſterity of ſuch parents as were members of the Chu. planted by the Apo. els could we not have Apoſtated.
Secondly, that people, which the Apo. gathered in to Churches were never baptized, & baptiſme comming in the ſteed of circumciſion, & being a ſeale of our entring into Gods covenant, it was fit, that they which beleved & became the ſeed of Abrahā should ſo enter into the covenāt, they & their ſeed, as he & his ſeed entred, that is, as he & his were receaved in by circumciſion: So they & thers should be receved in by baptiſme, Act. 2.38.41, & 8.38. but we are a people that are already baptized, & the ſeed of thē that wer baptized, & had receved the goſpel, & (although through Antichr. deceaveablenes, both we & they were tainted with many corruptions) yet had they or might have in that Apoſtacy, (& ſo we alſo) ſo much faith, as thereby both we & they might become the people of God, Apoc. 18.4.
And concerning the conſtitution of the Churches, here it is to be noted, that the conſtitution of Churches ſet downe by the Apoſtles was by the immediate directiō of the Holy Ghoſt, & ſo ſerveth for a continual rule of eſtablishing Churches to the end of the world, which forme or frame layed downe by them, no man hath power to alter or change, 1. Cor. 4.14. 1. Tim 3.11. But the conſtituting of Chur. now after the defection of Antich. may more properly be called a repayring, then a conſtituting of Churches, which through Apoſtacy have bene ruinated, or a gathering together of the diſperſed, hepe of Iſraell into ſuch formes or shapes of viſible Churches (the pate…ne whereof is shewed vntounto vsus in the word) for (as before hath bene noted) our ſtate is not as theirs was that were the firſt conſtituted Churches, & ſo it wil not follow (as it is alledged) that the receiving in of members into our Churches neceſſarily muſt be by baptiſme, as in the p…imitive tyme it was, except onelyonly of ſuch perſons as have not bene baptized before.
And herein I take it, lyeth the deceyte of this arg. that it putteth no difference between the people of God comming out of Babylon, & them that came to the faith from amongſt the Gentils, equaliſing Antichriſtianiſme with Gentiliſme, the one being an Apoſtate Church, the other no Church: The one partaker of the word & Sacram: (though with much coruptiō) the other partaker of neither at all, the one profeſſing Chriſt & Teaching many truths of God, & ſo many as the elect therby might come to faith, Apoc. 18.4. The other neither profeſſing Chriſt, nor teaching any truth of God, wherby any might be converted to Chriſt, & become Gods people in the eſtate of Gentiliſme.
And thus having made plaine the different eſtate of the firſt planted Churches & ours in Apoſtacy. I answere fi ſt: That Churches now are to be conſtituted (if repairing be not a fitter ſpe…ch) as in the Apoſtles tymes, & that al ſuch as are recea…ed in as members, being vnbaptized, muſt be receaved in by baptiſme, but for ſuch as were baptized in Apoſtate Chu…che, their repentance is ſufficient without rebaptiſatiō, as it was to the Apoſtate Iſraelites, who vppon their repentance & returning to Ieruſalem were receaved of the Church without any new circumciſion, & therfore to adde a ſecond baptiſme, with the Anabaptiſts, is to Apoſtate from Chr. & not to enter into his covenant.
And in that the Apoſtles receaved in members by baptiſme, they could doe no otherwiſe, ſeing the whole world was vnbaptized, but if they had met with any that before had bene baptized into the name of Chr. as they that receaved the baptiſme of Iohn, & as we are, I make no queſtion, they did not, nor would not have rebaptized them, & the…for the concluſion wil not follow, that we are now to receave in by baptiſme, them that are already baptized.