The Doctrine of Baptisms, Chapter 3
CHAP. III.
That the Subjects of Baptism are grown Persons, fitly qualified, and not Infants.
FOr the proof of this particular, we will enquire into the qualifications, that the New Testament requires, to constitute a person a fit Subject for this Ordinance.
First, That they should be, Taught and made Disciples. So in the Institution, Matth. 28. 19. Go Teach all Nations, Baptizing-them, &c.
They should be then, such of all Nations as are first Taught or made Disciples, as the word, foreign is well known and confessed by all to signifie, to wit, to Discipulize, Disciple, or make Disciples. They must be first made Disciples, then Baptiz'd, not before; to do otherwise, is to invert and change the Order of the Commission, which runs thus, Teach and Baptize.
A parallel place in sense with this, we have, Joh. 4. 1 Jesus made and Baptized more Disciples &c. First (according to his own Commission afterwards) he made Disciples, then Baptized them.
So then one qualification the Scripture requires before Baptism, is, first to be Taught, or made Disciples.
Secondly, Faith is another Prerequisite unto Baptism. They must be Believers that are the fit Subjects of Baptism; for this, see Mark 16. 16. He that believeth and is Baptiz'd, &c.
First, Believing, then Baptizing. This place is Parallel in Time with Matt. 28. and is the Commission or Institution of Baptism; Whereas in Matt. is requir'd Discipling, in Mark Believing; It then appears, They must be Believing Disciples.
Baptism was practis'd upon these Terms all along the History of the Acts. So Chapter 8. 12. VVhen they Believed Philip, preaching the things concerning the Kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were Baptized both men and women, not Children and Infants.
So verse 36. The Eunuch asked Philip, what did hinder him to be Baptiz'd? Philip answers, If thou Believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And the Eunuch answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. ver. 37, and ver. 38. They went down both into the VVater, both Philip and the Eunuch: and he Baptiz'd him. So we see that, Philip requires Faith of the Eunuch, before he would Baptize him.
So in the Jaylors case, Acts 16. 31. Paul said to him, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. And then verse 33. 34. He was Baptized, Believing in God.
So also Acts 18. 8. Crispus Believed on the Lord, and many of the Corinthians hearing, Believed and were Baptiz'd.
So them, Faith, and the Profession of it, is to precede Baptism.
Thirdly, Repentance and Confession of sin is requir'd before Baptism.
The first Baptism that ever was administred was upon these tearms. Matt. 3. 2. John the Baptist preacht Repentance to them. Repent ye, So ver. 8. Bring forth fruits meet for Repentance. And verse 6. They were Baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins. Again, verse 11. I indeed Baptize you with Water unto Repentance.
So Peter calls for Repentance before Baptism, Acts 2. 38. Repent and be Baptized.
Hence Baptism is often called the Baptism of Repentance, Mark 1. 4. Luke 3. 3. Acts 13. 24. and 19. 4.
So in Heb. 6. 1, 2. Repentance and Faith are plac'd, as Antecedents unto Baptism. Not laying again the Foundation of Repentance from dead works, and of Faith towards God, of the Doctrines of Baptisms, &c.
Thus we see who are the fit Subjects of Baptism, viz. Disciples persons Taught, and converted to the Faith, Believers, and Penitent persons.
Hence then we conclude, That Infants of eight daies old, cannot be the Subjects of this Ordinance; The Scriptures no where in the least countenancing any such thing, being neither capable to Believe, nor Repent, nor to be Taught, and made Disciples; yet all these constantly required unto Baptism, throughout the New Testament.
Again, Infants are not capable to hear the Word, and to receive it gladly; this also being requir'd unto Baptism, Act. 2. 41. Then they that gladly received his word, were Baptized. And Chap. 18. ver. 8. Many of the Corinthians [Hearing,] Believed, and were Baptized.
Besides Baptism consists in the answer of a good Conscience to Gods Commands. 1 Pet. 3. 21. which Children are not capable to perform.
All these things being considered, we doubt not but it will appear very clearly, that Children are not the Subjects of this Ordinance, but only grown Persons, Men and Women that come up to the forementioned Qualifications.
Besides the Subjects of this Ordinance, are said, to justifie God in their obedience to it, as on the contrary, they are said to reject the Counsel of God, that were disobedient to it: neither of which, are Children capable of. See Luke 7. 29, 30.
Neither indeed can they come up to, or perform those holy Ends this Ordinance engages to. Rom. 6. Colos. 2.
But we think we have said enough in this matter.
We could heap and produce many testimonies on our side in this particular also, but that we lay not much stresse here, yet a few to satisfie the Reader.
Ludovic. Vives de civit. Dei lib. 1. cap. 27. saith, None of old were wont to be Baptiz'd but in a grown Age, and who desir'd it, and understood what it was.
Erasmus in his Paraphrase on the Romans saith, that Baptizing of Children, was not in use in Paul's time.
And Bellarmin lib. 4. cap. 9, De verbo Dei, saith, That Tradition is the best Argument to prove Infants Baptism.
Grotius on Mat. 19. 14. says, Ambrose, Gregory, Nazianzen, Chrysostom, Austin, were all Baptized at years. Eusebius says the same of Constantine the great, though Heleua his Mother were a Christian.
We shall conclude this with the Judgement of the Common-Prayer Book, in their Catechism.
Quest. What is required of persons to be Baptized?
Answ. Repentance, whereby they forsake sin, and Faith whereby they stedfastly believe the Promises of God.
Quest. Why then are Infants Baptized, when by reason of their tender age, they cannot perform them?
Yea, why indeed? unlesse it be from Tradition, or to indulge the flesh, as 'tis reported, Pope Innocentius the third establish'd Infants Sprinkling, for the enlargment of Christendom, and the ease of the flesh.
An Appendix (by way of Caution) to this Chapter.
BY way of Caution to what hath been said in this third Chapter; Concerning the Subjects of Baptism, there ought to be such a Profession of Faith, and such a Confession of sin, and manifestation of Repentance, as may give the Baptizer ground to believe, that the person that offers himself to Baptism doth believe with all his heart, and hath a change wrought in his mind, which indeed is Repentance. Not every one that saith he Believes, and Repents, is presently fit for this Ordinance without good ground to judge he indeed does so. We are afraid, too hasty admissions in this kind hath fill'd the Churches with members unworthy to have a place in Christs Body, and hath caus'd so many Apostates in this our day: and we wish it were seriously considered and laid to heart, whether all those sad and di…mall mi…carriages, in and from the Churches, have not arisen and sprung from this bitter root; those Errours, Heresies, Blasphemies, Divisions, Prophaness, Loosness▪ what not? to the dishonour of God, to the grief of the Brethren, to the candal and stumbling of the weak to the offence to all sober Persons, and to the rejoycing of the Adversary, to the opening of their mouths wide against the Truth and waies of God.
John the Baptist seeing the Pharisees come to his Baptism, Mat. 3. rejects them, & calls them Generation of Vipers, ver. 7. and bids them bring forth Fruits meet for Repentance, ver. 8. if they would be Baptiz'd by him; For he tells them plainly that was the terms of his Baptism, ver. 11. I indeed Baptize with Water unto Repentance, not as some would, that he did here Baptize them; a very unlikely matter, that he should Baptize them, whom he had just before call'd a Generation of Vipers. But 'tis a phrase only noting the terms of his Baptism.
Acts 2. Where the 3000 were Baptiz'd, though it were very suddain, and so, little fruit could be manifested; yet the Text saith expresly, that they were pricked in their hearts, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the Apostles, Men and Brethren, what shall we do? meaning, to be saved. ver. 37. compared with Acts 16. 30. And here again the Text saith, They gladly received his Word, verse 41. and were judg'd to be, such as should be sav'd, ver. 47. All this doth evidently demonstrate the Truth of their Repentance, or change wrought in their minds, especially considering these very men that had lately by wickedhands crucified and slain the Lord of life and Glory, ver: 23. 36. now upon Peters preaching, thus to fall down before the Word, crying out, What shall we do?
In like manner Philip requires of the Eunuch Faith with all the heart, before he would Baptize him, Acts 8. 37. according to Rom. 10. 9. If thou shalt confesse with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart.
We note further, That which would serve then to evidence Faith and Repentance, will not now; for then so much as to own Christ to be the Son of God, was, at the least, casting out of the Synagogue; but on the contrary, our whole Nation is brought up, from their Infancy, to own the name of Jesus, and to make some kind of Profession of Him, such as it is; or death will follow.
However, in all Ages there must be a sufficient Evidence given, of the truth of Faith and Repentance, before they can be fit Subjects for so spiritual an Ordinance, carrying in the Bowels of it, mortification and newnesse of life, Rom. 6. Coloss. 2.
Let it be our care therefore to lay living stones, in this spiritual House, that we may be an holy Priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ, that we may be a chosen generation, a peculiar people, to shew forth the praises, and vertues of him, who hath called us out of darknesse into his marvellous light. 1 Pet. 2. 5, 9.
To conclude, 'tis as much besides the Book, to Baptize till born again, as to Baptize when first born: we must be born of the Spirit as well as of Water, John 3. 5. And as little answers the holy ends of Baptism, to Baptize before dead to Sin, as to bury a man before he is dead.
And thus we have done with the third Chapter, concerning the Subjects of Baptism.