Light Broke Forth in Wales Expelling Darkness, To the reader 2
To all Godly Anti-pedo-baptiſts, eſpecially to them in South and North-Wales; the Author of this Treatiſe wiſhes Grace, Mercy and Peace from God the Father, and our Lord Jeſus Chriſt.
Beloved in our dear Redeemer,
AT your deſire, I have (as the Lord hath helped me) anſwered Mr. James Owen's Book, in which he hath caſt many falſe and ſlanderous Reflections on you and all other Anti-Pedo-Baptiſts; but I have forborn returning Railing for Railing, tho perhaps ſome of my Words may ſeem a little too ſharp, but his way of Writing called for it: I hope the Tranſlators of his Book firſt out of Welch into Engiiſh, and again the Tranſlation of my Anſwer out of Engliſh into Welch is done faithfully, if it be according to the true Senſe and Purport of his Words and Meaning; the different placing of Words he can have no ground to cavil at, but of that I am not capable to judge, becauſe I underſtand not the Welch Tongue.
He ſeems to reflect very ſeverely upon ſome of your Converſations, as if you wanted that true Piety that becomes your Holy Profeſſion, and alſo as if you wanted Charity; but I hope it is his own uncharitable Spirit that led him out thus to write, and that you are People who reſt not on the Form of Godlineſs, without the Power, and that you alſo love all in whom you ſee the Image of Chriſt: The Truth is, he of all Men might have forborn ſuch a Charge, conſidering how ſhort himſelf appears in that reſpect, having laboured to caſt you and all Anti-Pedo-Baptiſts out of the Univerſal Church, and chargeth us who dipp believing Men and Women in the Name, &c. with Adultery and Murder. O that the Lord would open his Eyes and give him true Repentance.
Brethren, this Anſwer hath ſwelled much bigger than you expected, which I am my ſelf troubled at: But pray pardon me in this caſe.
Becauſe this Controverſy was never before printed in the Welch Tongue, as I am informed (as it is here) I was therefore willing the Godly in Wales, or any of the Antient Britains that deſired Information herein, might ſee the main Arguments that other Pedo-Baptiſts have brought for Infant-Baptiſm fully anſwered: The Subſtance therefore of Mr. Burkitt's late Book is in this alſo anſwered, and divers others; nay, there is ſcarcely an Argument that hath been brought for Infant-Baptiſm formerly, or of late, but 'tis here anſwered: Alſo, I have, in following Mr. Owen in his Repetitions, been forced to repeat ſome things often which may add to the Bulk; but they being chiefly ſome of the main Points, I did it on purpoſe, to the end they might have the greater Influence upon the Reader. Moreover, I have ſhewed that moſt of Mr. Owen's Arguments for the baptizing of Children, tend every way as forcibly to prove they ought to partake of the Lord's Supper alſo; which I deſire may be carefully weighed and conſidered: I have often repeated that on purpose.
And now to conclude, Let me deſire you to labour to adorn the Holy Goſpel you profeſs, with a sutable and becoming Converſation; 'tis not an External Ordinance that ſignifies any thing, without true Faith and a Godly Life. You have Lamps, but O ſee you have Oyl in your Veſſels; not that I blame you for your great Zeal for this precious, tho deſpiſed Truth of Chriſt, conſidering what a Glorious and Illuſtrious Inſtitution or Bleſſed Ordinance it is, as appears,
1. By the Obedience of our Bleſſed Saviour himſelf unto it, which puts a great Luſtre and Glory upon it.
2. In that it is called a fulfilling of that Righteouſneſs which the Holy Goſpel calls for; and ſuch who fail herein are imperfect touching their doing the whole Will of God.
3. In that it was ſo gloriouſly owned at the Baptiſm of our Saviour, by the Father, nay by the whole Trinity. By the Father, by a Voice from Heaven: The Son by his actual Obedience to it as our Example, when we believe: The Holy Ghoſt by deſcending like a Dove, in a viſible manner, and reſting upon our Bleſſed Lord; this was the time when he was gloriouſly ſealed, Mat. 3. 16, 17.
4. In that hereby all baptized Believers do ſignify their ſtedfaſt Faith in the Bleſſed Trinity, and do devote themſelves to ſerve and worſhip the Three Perſons in the Godhead, Mat. 28. 19, 20.
5. Becauſe it doth ſo clearly bold forth and confirm us in the ſtedfaſt Belief of the Death, Burial and Reſurrection of Jeſus Chriſt, and of our Reſurrection at the laſt Day, Rom. 6. 3, 4.
6. Alſo conſidering the many great and gracious Promiſes made to ſuch Believers who are baptized, as Mark 16. 16. Acts 2. 37, 38.
7. Conſidering what a ſignificant Ordinance it is, in reſpect had to that Death to Sin and Vivification to a new Life, in all its true and proper Subjects, together with that Obligation it lays them under, Rom. 6. 3, 4. Col. 2. 12, 13.
8. That it is particularly called the Counſel of God, and ſuch who refuſed to be baptized, are left on Sacred Record under that black Odium of rejecting the Counſel of God, Luke 7. 30.
9. 'Tis a great Ordinance, appears in that it is an Initiatory Ordinance into the Viſible Church, Acts 2. 41, 42.
10. In that thoſe who were baptized with the Holy Spirit, were nevertheleſs commanded to be baptized with Water, Acts 10. 48.
The higheſt Gifts of the Spirit cannot exempt Perſons from their Obedience hereunto: Moreover, we have herein alſo Fellowſhip with Chriſt in his Death and Reſurrection. Therefore let none rob you of Chriſt's own Baptiſm; be not cheated with a listle filthy Droſs, of Chriſt's pure Gold, nor endure to ſee your Lord's Wine mixt with filthy Puddle-Water: Yet carry it with all Chriſtian Charity, Love and Humility towards all Godly Chriſtians that differ in this Matter from you, and ſtrive to walk as you are obliged by your Holy Baptiſm to do; then will God have Glory, and you have Peace; to whoſe Holy Care, Bleſſing, and Protection, I ſhall commit you; and remain your unworthy Brother, in the Sacred Bonds of the Goſpel,
Benj. Keach.