Baptism, Part 2 · Chapter 5
CHAP. V. Wherein you have an account of ſeveral Miſchiefs, Abſurdities, and Contradictions that are juſtly to be charged upon the Practiſe.
I. BY its altering Chriſts Order in the Commiſſion, Mat. 28.19. where in teaching Repentance and Faith, are required always to precede or go before Baptiſme, which this makes to proceed or follow after altogether.
II. By its changing the Subjects of Chriſts appointment, viz. Men and Women of Knowledge and Ʋnderstanding capable to Evidence Faith and Repentance for ignorant unconverted Babe… that know neither good nor evil, their right hand from their left.
III. By fruſtrating all the Holy and Spiritual Ends of the Ordinance which you have before at large, viz. to be a Sign of preſent Regeneration, a dying, burying, and riſing with Chriſt, to be the anſwer of a good Conſcience, to be a mutual ſtipulation or contract then and there entred into betwixt God and the Party, as well as a viſible entrance into the Church, all which as applyed to a poor Ignorant Infant, are but mockſhews, and utterly inſignificant and invalid
IV. By its inverting the Order and manner from dipping the whole Man, into ſprinkling or pouring a little Water upon the Head or Face, contrary to the Sence of the Word, Nature of the Ordinance, and conſtant Ʋſage of the Primitive times, as confeſt by Parties themſelves, obliging thereby the Adminiſtrator to tell a lie in the name of the Lord, ſaying he doth Baptize, when he doth but Rantize.
V. By introducing ſo much Error and falſe Doctrine into the world, viz.
1. That it was to take away Original ſin.
2. To work Grace and Regeneration, and to effect Salvation by the Work done
3. That it was an Apostolical Tradition.
4. That Children have Faith, and are Diſciples of Chriſt.
5. That all Children of Believers are in the Covenant of Grace, and faederally Holy.
VI. By defiling and polluting the Church, viz.
1. By bringing falſe Matter therein, who are no Saints by Calling, being neither capable to perform duties, nor enjoy Priviledges.
2. By laying a foundation of much ignorance and profaneneſs.
3. By confounding World and Church together which Chriſt hath ſeparated, bringing the World into the Church, and turning the Church into the World.
VII. By introducing and eſtabliſhing many Humane Traditions and Inventions of Antichriſt together with it; as Goſſips or Sureties, Biſhoping or Confirmation, Chryſme. Exorciſme, Confignation, &c. prophaning thereby ſo ſolemn an Ordinance, taking Gods name in vain, and making his Commandments void.
VIII. By being ſuch a make-bate, ſuch a Bone of Contention; and that amongſt themſelves too that own it, as well as with thoſe that oppoſe it: For what Diviſions and Sub-diviſions are there amongſt them both, as to Subject, Time, Order, Circumſtances, what endleſs ſtrifes about Womens baptizing, and whether Baſtards, or the Children of Apoſtates, Heathens, or Excommunicated perſons ſhould be baptized.
IX. By being an occaſion to ſtir up much bitter hatred, wrath, ſtrife, enmity and perſecution againſt thoſe that oppoſe it. Oh how have they been loaded with Calumney and Reproaches as the vileſt of Men, and how in all Ages have they been followed with Stripes, Impriſonments, Confiſcations, yea Death it ſelf, as the Hiſtorical Part informeth you.
X. By confirming hereby the whole Antichriſtian Intereſt, as made good in the Preface.
XI. By uſhering in great Abſurdities,Abſurdities. viz.
1. That perſons may have Regeneration and Grace before Calling.
2. That Perſons may be viſible Church-Members before Converſion.
3. That Perſons may Repent, believe, and be Baptized, and ſaved by the Faith of another.
4. That Types and Shadows are profitable, after the Antitype and Sub…tance is come, introducing thereby the Legal Birth-priviledge, the Carnal Seed, the Typical Holineſs, the National Church, &c. to the reviving Judaiſme, and outing Chriſtianity.
5. That the better to exclude believers Baptiſme, new Church-Covenants are invented to enter into the Viſible Church by, inſtead thereof, eſpecially amongſt thoſe that own Infants Baptiſme, yet deny them the right of Church-Memberſhip.
XII. By the manifold Contradictions Contradi…tions:that attend the Practiſe.
1. By aſſerting, that Baptiſme is a Symbol of preſent Regeneration wrought, and yet apply it to ignorant unconverted Babes, ſo uncapable of regeneration, as Jam. 1.18. 1 Pet. 1.23. Joh. 1.12, 13. And as ſo well defin'd by Dr. Owen in his Theo. l. 6. c. 4 p. 480. viz. To be a Renovation, new Creation, Vivification, opening blind Eyes, raiſing from Death to Life, &c.
2. That it truly figures and repreſents a Death, Burial, and Reſurrection, and yet do nothing but ſprinkle or pour a little Water on the Face.
3. That Faith and Repentance is r… quired in Perſons to be baptized, an… that it is ridiculous, yea impious an… prophane to do it without, and yet co… feſs that Children, to whom they apply it, have neither.
4. That it is the declaration of the Spiritual Marriage, the ſtipulation that is mutually entred into betwixt God and the Believer, and yet aſſign it to Subjects as uncapable of either, as Stocks or Stones, Bells or Church-walls, that yet Antichriſt makes capable Subjects thereof, as well as Infants.
5. That the Baptiſmal Covenant enters into the Viſible Church, and yet deny the Church-Members the Priviledges thereof, or ſeperate from them without any warrantable cauſe ſhew'd, or orderly proceeding either againſt them, or they that do own them as ſuch.
6. That ſeperate from Rome as the falſe Church, and yet own their Baptiſme the Foundation Stone thereof: And others that pretend ſeperation from National and Pariſh Churches, and to diſown the baptizing the Children of all, good and bad, with the ſinful Ceremonies attending it, yet if Papiſt or Proteſtant either, upon their Tearms tender to their fellowſhip, they are received without Renouncing their ſinfull Baptiſme and performing it in the way they judge right.
7. That they own the Doctrine of Perſeverance, and d…ſown falling from Grace, yet baptize all the Children of Believers, becauſe they conclude them in the Covenant of Grace, yet afterwards teach them Converſion, and in Caſe of unbelief reject them as Reprobates.
And to all which you may familiarly add by your daily obſervation, which Chapter we ſhall conclude with theſe high expreſſions of Dr. Tayler, Dr. Taylin his Lib. Pro. P. 244. And therefore whoever will pertinaciouſly perſiſt in this opinion of the Paedobaptiſts, and practice it accordingly, they pollute the Blood of the Everlaſting Covenant: They diſhonour and make a Pagentry of the Sacrament: They ineffectually repreſent a Sepulture into the Death of Chriſt, and pleaſe themſelves in a Sign without effect, making Baptiſme like the Fig-Tree in Goſpel, full of Leaves, but no Fruit; and they invocate the Holy Ghoſt in vain, doing as if one ſhould call upon him to illuminate a Stone or a Tree.