Light Broke Forth in Wales Expelling Darkness, Chapter 22
CHAP. XXII.
Anſwer to Mr. James Owen's 18th. Chapter, wherein be ſheweth the Duty of Parents to their Children, proving in oppoſition to what he ſays, that Parents ought not to conſecrate their Infants to the Lord by Baptiſm.
YOu ſay, if Parents would perform their Duties towards their Children, and how to make a right uſe of their Baptiſm, there would be more Godlineſs and Sobriety in the Country, and few would be the number of them that deny their Baptiſm, &c.
Anſw. If Parents did generally take more care of their Childrens Souls, and inſtruct them in the Principles of the Chriſtian Religion then they do, no doubt Sobriety and Godlineſs would more abound then now it doth every where.
2. But as to the right uſe of their Baptiſm, you your Selves cannot tell what uſe that can be to them, becauſe 'tis not appointed of God.
3. Did Parents inſtruct their Children according to the word of God, viz. to believe and get Union with Chriſt, and not baptize them till they deſired it, according to the Scripture, Infant Baptiſm would ſoon vanquiſh.
(1.) You ſay look to your own right in the Covenant of God, if God is not a God to you, he is not a God to your Seed, &c.
1. Anſw. Suppoſe then that ſome of thoſe Parents whoſe Children you baptize, ſhould not be in Covenant with God, what right had their Children to Baptiſm, is not that Baptiſm a nullity; it was not thus in the caſe of Circumciſion, if the Parents were Abraham's natural Seed, whether Godly or wicked, they were to Circumciſe their Male Children.
2. Though 'tis true, an adult Perſon hath no right to Baptiſm that is not a true believer, yet if he profeſs Faith in Chriſt, and a Miniſter not knowing his Heart; but ſees no cauſe to doubt of the reality or truth of his Faith, he may baptize ſuch; but you have no Warrant to baptize a Child upon the profeſſion of its Parents Faith, tho' his Faith be ſincere.
2. When they are Born prepare to Preſent and Conſecrate them (ſay you) to the Lord through the Sacred Ordinance of Baptiſm, there are many that baptize all their Children as matter of Ceremony, and meer Cuſtom without looking to the Lord, &c.
Anſw. By whoſe Authority muſt they thus do, viz. As ſoon as their Children are Born, Conſecrate them to the Lord. 'Tis not by the Authority of God's Word, therefore a piece of Will Worſhip. Parents would do well to pray over their Babes, as ſoon as they are Born, but unleſſ required by Chriſt to baptize them, they muſt not do that.
2. Whoever therefore Baptize their Infants, do it only as a Ceremony diviſed by Man tho' not in their intention, their Conſciences being missed.
You ought (ſay you) to be ſerious about their Baptiſm, as we ſhould be about our own baptiſm; that which the Child ought to do, if he had been at Age and Underſtanding, muſt be done by you for them, even as Mothers when their Children be Sick, take Phyſick themſelves, which the Children ought to take, ſo that the Child may have the Medicine in his Mothers Milk, even ſo do ye that which the Child ought to do, if he had been of Age before Baptiſed.
1. Anſw. Some of the Papiſts are very ſerious about their diviſed Ceremonies, but this makes it in no wiſe the more acceptable to God. But
2. Do you not here ſeemingly acknowledge 'tis the Duty of the Child when 'tis at Age to be baptized, but you would have its Parents do it for the Child; but how do you prove that God will accept that at the Hands of the Parent which the Child ought to do when at Age.
I have ſhewed you that in an early Council they would not allow a Woman big with Child to be Baptized leaſt it ſhould be thought the Child was baptized with the Mother.
3. Doth the Mothers Faith and Holineſs avail and profit their Childs Soul, as her Milk may avail and profit the Body of her Child, what kind of Doctrine is this? but it may be ſo if what you ſaid before be true, i. e. that the Child is part of the Patent.
3. Bleſs the Lord for the Covenant of Grace (ſay you) and for Chriſt the Mediator of the Covenant, and for Baptiſm the Seal of that Covenant; Is the extent of the Covenant, a ſmall thing in thy ſight, that the living God bindeth himſelf to thee and thy ſinful Seed? Is it a ſmall thing that he ſhould pitty them when they were polluted in their blood, that he waſhed them and entred into a Covenant with them, Ezek. 16. 5. 6.
1. Anſw. We have all cauſe to bleſs the Lord for the Covenant of Grace, and for Chriſt the Mediator, both in reſpect of our ſelves, and for our Children, but you affirm' that which you cannot prove, viz. that baptiſm is the Seal of the Covenant of Grace, for hath the Covenant of Grace any other Seal, that Seals to us all the Bleſſings of that Covenant, ſave the Holy Spirit only, the Spirit of God is called a Seal, Eph. 1. 13, 14. Chap. 4. 30. but ſo is not baptiſm called any where.
2. If all your Children have the Seal of the Covenant of Grace, or all the bleſſings thereof, ſealed up to them, ſhall they not be all ſaved? all know a Seal confirms and gives an aſſurance of all the Priviledges, Bleſſings, and Profits, that are contained in that Covenant, to which it is prefix'd.
3. You falſly alſo apply that Text in Ezek. 16. 5, 6, 7. that is not applicable to our Infants as ſuch, but to God's Iſrael or Believers, who were once like that wretched Infant caſt out in its Blood, but God entered into Covenant with us, and waſhed us, &c. But are all believers Children waſhed in the Blood of Chriſt, no doubt they are in the Covenant of Grace that go to Heaven, that die in Infancy; but the reſt remain polluted, in their Original, and actual pollution until they believe in Chriſt Jeſus, and are negenerated by Divine Grace, tho' they are baptized, for that waſheth them not.
4. Set time a part (ſay you) for earneſt praying, praying to the Lord for to forgive the Sins of your Child to Sanctifie his Nature, and bleſs the Ordinance of Baptiſm unto him, &c.
Anſw. Prayer is good, and a great Duty 'tis to pray for our Children, but take heed how you pray their baptiſm may be bleſſed, ſince Chriſt did not appoint any Baptiſm for them in Infancy; hath he promiſed any bleſſing to that, or will he bleſs an Invention of Men?
5. When the Miniſter doth baptize thy Child, do thou act Faith in God's Covenant, for thy ſelf and thy Child, &c.
Anſ. How can you act Faith in doing that which God hath made no promiſe unto you, or to your Children believers that are baptized may act Faith indeed.
1. Becauſe Chriſt commandeth them to be baptized, Mat. 28. 19, 20. Acts 2. 37.
2. Becauſe he hath promiſed unto them great bleſſings in Baptiſm, Mark. 16. 16. Acts 2. 37, 38. but there is neither a precept for nor promiſe made unto Infants Baptized.
1. Speedily do it, stay not as Moſes did to Circumciſe his Child, Exod. 4. 24. the which had like to coſt him his life, it is true God bindeth us not at this time to the Eighth day as he did the Jews, yet we ought not to delay. Vid. Cypr. Fidem Ep. 59.
Anſw. Make not more ſpeedy haſt then good ſpeed, or more haſt then God directeth you, why not delay, ſince God no where ſaith on the Eighth Day, nor at a year Old nor three years Old, but when they believe, then they ought to riſe indeed and not tarry, and be baptized, but ſince you have no Scripture for this adviſe, you Quote Cyprian, who would not have the Adult delay if he ſpeaks it of Infants, he is no rule for us, the Ordinance was corrupted in his time, where is it written in Gods Word, Moſes had a command to Circumciſe his Son on the Eighth Day, therefore he ought not to delay longer, but what is this to your caſe.
2. Cheerfully as one Marrieth his Child with the Lord Jeſus Chriſt.
Anſw. Cheerfully do it, no do it not at all on your peril. For 'tis as Mr. Baxter ſaith, a ſtrange Marriage where there is nothing of conſent.
3. Publickly (ſay you) before the Congregation.
Anſw. And yet not aſhamed, ſhew your authority firſt.
Your other advice ſeems tolerable good, ſave what you ſpeak concerning your Infant Baptiſm, in Teaching your Children, the knowledge of the Holy Scriptures, and giving them good examples; and in putting them into godly Families; in doing thus you may expect a bleſſing from God, but none of theſe things will add any vertue to their Infant Baptiſm, to make that any ways effectual to them, ſo much only ſhall ſuffice as toy our 18th. Chapter.