Heresiography, Description of sect 1
The Confession of Faith of those Churches which are commonly called Anabaptists, Printed at London in the year of our Lord God, 1644.
Subscribed in the names of 7. Churches in London.
William K…ffen,
Thomas Patience,
John Spilsbery,
George Tipp…ng,
Sam. Richardson,
Thomas Skippard,
Thomas Munday,
Thomas Gunne,
John M…bbat,
John Webbe,
Thomas Killcop,
Paul H…bson,
Thomas Gore,
Joseph …helps,
Edward Heath.
Set downe in 52. Articles. In which Articles you shall finde some Rats bane covered with a great deale of honey.
1. IN the 38. Article, That the due maintenance of the Officers (viz. the Ministers) should be free, &c. their meaning being, that their maintenance should depend upon the voluntary contribution of their people: this their opinion is most impious and sacrilegious, and directly repugnant to Gods Law.
2. In the 39. they affirme Baptisme to be an Ordinance of the new Testament, given by Christ to be dispensed onelyonly upon persons professing faith, or that are Disciples, or taught, who upon a profession of faith ought to be baptized.
By this Article most cruelly they exclude all Infants baptisme from the Sacrament of entrance into the Church, being the only outward meanes of their salvation.
3. In the 40. they making dipping necessary, which Christ never commanded.
4. In the 41. the persons designed by Christ, say they, to dispense this Ordinance: a preaching Disciple, it be…ng tyed to no particular Church▪ officer, nor pe…son.
5. In the 42. Article, that such to whom God hath given gifts may preach. When Muncer a seditious Anabaptist began first to preach, Luther advised the Senate of Mul…us to demand of him what calling he had: and if he should avouch God to be his Authour, then they should require him to prove his extraordinary calling by some evident signe. For whensoever it pleaseth God to change the ordinary course, and to call any man to any office extraordinarily, he declareth that his good will and pleasure by some evident signe: If the Anabaptisticall calling be ordinary, let them prove it by Scripture: if extraordinary, let them prove it by Miracles.
HEre I might adde the summe of a Treatise of Mr. Johnons (who stileth himselfe Pastour of the ex…led English Church at Amsterdam:) written against two errours of the Anabaptists maintained by them at this day. The one concerning the Bap…isme of Children, the other concerning the Anabaptismes of elder people, what specious shewes so ever they make, saith hee,… his Epistle. perverting the Scriptures, filling their mouthes with falshood and blasphemy, abusing the people of God, reproaching and challenging all such as stand against their Errors and Heresies, Goliah like, defying Israel: yet saith my Authour, their opinions are such as pervert the Gospell of Jesus Christ,1. Baptisme to be adm…n…st to the Infants of the faithful…. bereave the Church of the grace and favours of God, to young and old, &c.
First for his grounds and reasons for the Baptisme of Children▪ he alleadged seven.
1. Because it is the Commandement of God to give the1. Reason, Gods command. signe and seale of his Covenant of grace to his people and their seed,Gen 17 7. 12, 13. 14. in their infancy, throughout their generations. Which Ordinance of the Lords hath never been repealed, but abideth stablished upon a certain and perpetuall ground,Exod. 12. 48, 49. Acts 2. 38, 39. & 3. 25. & 16. 31. 15. 8, 9, 10, Gal. 3. 8. 29. Isa 54. 10. Luke 20. 37, 38. Heb. …1. 13—16. & 13. Lu…e …. 54, 55. 72, &c. Rom. 4. 11 16. 17. & 8. 20. Rev. 14. 16. which is, his Promise and Covenant of grace made with the faithfull and their seed for ever.
2. Because Christ hath confirmed the same,2. Confirmed by Christ. when he sent forth his Apostles, and appoynted them to make all the Natitions Disciples,Mat. 28, 18. 19 and to baptize them into the Name of the Father, the Son,Mark 16. 15, 16 and the Holy Ghost. For to make Gentiles Disciples, is by the Gospel, to bring them unto the Covenant of God,Gal▪ 3. 8—29 made with Abraham the Father of many nations,Gen. 12. 3. & 17. 4, 5, 7. for salvatition, through the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Which being a Covenant everlasting,Rom. 4. 9—1… & 11. 13—16. & 15. 8—16. and including the faithfull and their seed, (Baptisme which did now succed and seale it, in stead of Circumcision) was therefore by this appoyntment of Christ,2 Cor. 1. 20. to be administred unto all that should be brought and comprehended under that Covenant of Grace:Esa. 42. 6, 7. & 49. 6. and consequently, both to such as were of yeares,Acts 13▪ 46, 47 coming to the faith of Christ, and to their children, being yet Infants.Ioh 10. 16. Otherwise the Gentiles should not with the Jewes bee made co-heriters, and of the same body,1 Cor. 19. 13. & 12, 13. and joynt-partakers of the Promise of God in Christ,Eph. 2. 1….—22 & 3. 9. as the Scripture teacheth.
3. Because is was the Apostles practice,3. The Apostles practise at the publishing of the Gospell through the world, to baptize both the house-holders themselves that believed,Acts 16. 15. 33 …. 16 Gen. 15, … & 17… 26 27▪ & …1. 4. and their housholds also: Like as Abraham himselfe first believed, and then was circumcis…d; & all his family with him: and as the strangers of the Gentiles, which received the faith of the Jewes,Ex. 12. 48, 49. House implyeth children therein. Gen. 30. 30 & 45, 18, 19—46. 5, 6, 7. Num. 3…5, &c. Psal. 115. …, 13, 14. 1 Tim. 5. 8. was circumcised likewise, with all the males that were his.
4. Because Children of beleevers are holy,4. The Children o… Beleevers ore holy. and are Abrahams seed and heires by promise of the Kingdom of heaven. And who can then with-hold the Baptisme of water from them, to whom God vouchsafeth the baptisme of his Spirit,1… or 7… 4 Rom. 11. 16 A…s 3. 25 Gal 3. 29 Esa 46. 3, 4. Psalme 21. 10. 30. & 71▪ 6. & 115. 12, 13, 14, 15. Luk 1. 41. 4▪ Acts 10. 47. and the blessing of Abraham to an inheri…ance everlasting.
5. Because Baptisme is the Lords signe of his washing away5. Signe of wash…ng away of sin. of our sins, receiving of us into the Church, and incorporating of us into Christ,Ro… 6. 3… & 5. 14, 15▪ Z…ch 13, 1. 1 Cor 1. 13—16 & 2, 13 Acts 4 12 16. 0, 31, 32, 33, 34. for salvation by his death and resurrection. Whereof the children of Believers are partakers, as wel as they which be of yeares; and therefore can no more be deprived of Baptisme▪ then of remission of sins, entrance into the Church, ingraffing into Christ, and salvation by his meanes.
6. Because there is one Ba…tisme,6. One Baptisme Eph. 4. 4, 5 6. as there is one Body, and one Mediator, and confirmer of our covenant of Grace to the faithfull,1 Cor. 12. 13. & 0. 1, 2. and their seed in all ages, so as therefore one and the same Baptisme pertaineth to the children of the faithfull, together with the Parents themselves, as they ere also one and the same body with them,Exod. 12. 37. having one and the same Mediator and ra…ifier of Gods Covenant of grace unto them,1 Pet. 3. 20 21 even Jesus Christ the head and Saviour of his Church,Gen 7. 1 Gal… 1. 8. …7, 28, 29. which is his body, the fulnesse of him that filleth all in all things.1 T…m. 25. …oh. …6 16▪ A…ts …, 38, 39
7. Because else the grace of God to his people is now…sal▪ 1…0. 3. 5. since Christs comming in the flesh lessened and straitned more then before:7. Go…s grace not lessened since Christs comming which to affirme, is highly to derogate from the grace of God, the fulnesse of Christ and his Gospel, the comfort of Christians, and contrary to that which is written,1 Cor. …. 17 & 8—12. Rom, 4. 11. 25. & 11. 11—36. & 15. 4. Gen. 10. 1.—4. Luke 7. 1. 1 Pet. 3. 18.—22. 19. 9. Esa 49. 6 Acts 15. 1.—31 & 16. 15. 33. & 26. 6, 7. 22. 2…. Gal. 1. 6. 9. Col. 2▪
2. That Baptisme received in the Apostaticall Churches of Christians, as in Rome, and the like, is not to be renounced; and a new to be repeated again.
1. Because there is no precept nor example for,Mar. …. 25. & 28. 18, 19, 20. and therefore not from heaven.
2. Because there is one Baptisme,Eph. 4. 5. as, one Circumcision:Gen. 17. 12, 11, 12, 13. as in the apostasie of Israel Circumcision was not repeated again, they returning. In like manner Baptisme being once received in the Apostaticall Churches of Christians is not to be repeated.
3. Because the Covenant of Gods grace in Christ is an everlastingGen 17. 7. Covenant.Gal. 3. 8. 29.
4. Because Christ dyed for sin once and being raised from the dead dyeth no more;Rom. 6. 8, 9, 10, 11. and we are buried with him by Baptisme into his death, to be graf…ed with him in the similitude of his resurrection:Acts 13. 34▪ wherefore all that are once Baptized into his name▪ ought still to retaine it, and not repeat it any more.
5. Because the Church of Rome was espoused to Christ in the Covenant of Grace by the Gospell of salvation,Rom. …, 7. & 6. 3. 4 having Baptisme and the rest of Christs Ordinances in the Apostles dayes, and have ever since retained it,Rev. 17▪ with other grounds of Christian Religion, notwithstanding all her adulteries and apostasies whereinto she is falne.
6. Because God hath his people in the Romish Babylon: and when he calleth them out from thence,Rev 18 4 doth not enjoyne them to leave whatsoever is there had, but requireth of them to have no communion with their sins. Now Baptisme is not of her adulteriesHos. 2. 2 & 4. 15. but of Christs O…dinance.
7. Because else men might by the same reason also not retain the Articles of faith: the learning of Scripture,Deut. …. 32 or the translations thereof; and also be perswaded to d…ssolve such marriages which have been had by their Ministerie,Luke 16 29. with other as strange consequences; which to admit were unlawfull.
Now howsoever the Brownists comply with the Anabaptists in many things, as you shall …ee afterwards; yet in these poynts Mr. Iohnson, and some other of them disagree from them, counting these their opinions abominable.