Antidote Against Quakerism, Part 4
Touching Baptiſm with water, whether it be an Ordinance of Chriſt, binding us?
OBſerve the Queſtion between us and them, is not Whether Infants or perſons at age ſhall be Baptized? but, Whether any are to be Baptized? The Queſtion is not, Whether Presbyterians or Anabaptiſts, &c. are to Baptize? but, Whether any, whether true Miniſters of Jeſus Chriſt, whoever they be, are to Baptize? For, if any Miniſters whatſoever are to baptize any perſons whatſoever with water, then their Doctrine is falſe; then the Queſtion in hand muſt be yielded up, that Baptiſm with water is an Ordinance of Chriſt binding us. To prove the point:
Arg. 1. What God hath inſtituted for his Church, and not repealed, is ſtill binding: But God hath inſtituted Baptiſm with water for his Church, and not repealed it: Therefore Baptiſm with water is ſtill binding.
Obj. Againſt the Major Propoſition they object; No Dictate binds, but what proceeds from the Light within; for, p. 13. We are to worſhip God in newneſs of Spirit.
Anſw. As if we could not worſhip God in newneſs of Spirit, when we obey the Dictates of God himſelf in the Scripture, Pſal. 119.4, 5. Thou haſt commanded us to keep thy Precepts. O that my wayes were directed to keep thy Statntes. A gracious ſoul keeping Gods Statutes in Scripture, and Gods Commands to keep them, can from Faith and Love heartily, and with longing deſire embrace and cloſe with them. Thoſe therefore that care not to obey Gods Voice or Inſtitutions in Scripture, have reaſon to ſuſpect themſelves ſtrangers to this newneſs of Spirit. But the Major is evident from the binding power of the Scripture. The Minor hath three parts. That Baptiſm was inſtituted of God. That it was inſtituted for the Church. That it was never repealed. I prove them ſingly.
1. Baptiſm with water hath been inſtituted of God. Firſt God gave John Commiſſion to baptize with water, John 1.33. He that ſent me to baptize with water. The Inſtitution was after confirmed by Chriſt, Mat. 28.19. Go, teach all Nations, baptizing them.
Obj. Saith G. W. Here is no mention of water. It is ſpiritual Baptiſm we are to underſtand.
Anſw. That we are to underſtand Baptiſm with water, theſe Arguments.
Arg. 1. Chriſt commands them their Duty. But though it be their duty to endeavour to baptize ſpiritually or convert men; yet it is not their duty to convert men; for ſuppoſing their diligence, 'tis not their ſin if perſons be not converted, or ſpiritually baptized. God never gave them power thus to change mens hearts. Their work is one, the Holy Ghoſts another.
Arg. 2. If teaching be external, baptizing is external. You may as well ſay, they are to do the Spirits Office in teaching internally, as the Spirits Office in baptizing internally. Its evident, they are enjoyned a work in their power, and a work diſtinct from the work of the Spirit, in that his preſence to do his work is promiſed, whilſt they do theirs.
Arg. 3. Paul would not have thanked God he baptized ſo few, 1 Cor. 1.14. if baptizing ſpiritually had been his work.
Arg. 4. If we are to underſtand ſpiritual baptiſm, then as many as the Apoſtles baptized, were certainly ſanctified: but what was Simon Magus? Acts 8.13.
Arg. 5. If this be Chriſts meaning, and there be no other Baptiſm in the Church than ſpiritual; then every Believer and ſanctified perſon is already baptized; and no more is to be done to him, as ſignified by this word. But Chriſt requires that even Believers be baptized, Mark 16.16. Cornelius was a devout man, ſanctified already, and the Holy Ghoſt fell on him; yet after all this, he is baptized, Acts …0. Criſpus and many Corinthians believed, yet were alſo baptized, Acts 18.8. Nay, therefore baptized, becauſe Believers.
Arg. 6. If the Apoſtle did afterwards baptize with water, then we are to underſtand Chriſt as commanding Baptiſm with water: but they did. This was denied in the Diſpute. proved from Acts 8.36. See, here is water, what doth binder me to be baptized. And, Chap. 10.47. Can any man forbid water, that theſe ſhould not be baptized? I asked, how can we aſſure our Conſciences better of the meaning of Chriſt, than by the practice of the Apoſtles? It was anſwered, The Apoſtles knew not the mind of Chriſt. Here Robert Ludgater's Impudence called for pity. Here's a Fellow, ſaid I, takes upon him to know the mind of Chriſt better than the Apoſtles. Upon which, he was blank'd, and neither he, nor any of the reſt attempted to give any Anſwer to this Argument.
2. Baptiſm with water was inſtituted for the Church, Mat. 28. Teach all Nations, baptizing them. It was not inſtituted for one or ſeveral perſons by name, but all Nations, Acts 8.5. In the City of Samaria, Philip baptized both men and women. Acts 18.8. Many Corinthians believed, and were baptized. So the Eunuch was baptized with water; Cornelius alſo, and his Company, Acts 8.36. & 10.47. already mentioned. The extent both of the Inſtitution and of the Practice, prove, it was inſtituted for the Church.
3. This Inſtitution of Baptiſm by water for the Church, was never repealed: Shew when.
Obj. John muſt decreaſe, Chriſt muſt increaſe.
Anſw. John's honour muſt. As the Light of the Morning-Star decays by the Riſing of the Sun. Here is no Repeal; and Chriſt confirmed the Ordinance after John's death.
Obj. There is but one Baptiſm.
Anſw. True; but this hath two parts, the Outward, or the Sign, which is water, applied by the Miniſter: the Inward, or thing ſignified, which is the Queſtion of a good Conſcience. This we obtain by the Spirit, rendring the outward means effectual, which is far from repealing it.
Obj. Then 'tis but the outward part of Baptiſm that is contended for.
Anſw. We agree in this, that the queſtion of a good Conſcience is neceſſary. We differ in this, whether the uſe of water, as ſignifying it, be a binding Ordinance?
Obj. There is a diſtinction between Baptiſm of water and of the ſpirit, as between Johns Baptizing with water and Chriſts with the holy Ghoſt and fire.
Anſw. 1. The Scripture calleth ſometimes the work of the Miniſter, ſometimes the work of the ſpirit, Baptiſm: and they differ as much as the ſign and the thing ſignified in one and the ſan e Ordinance.
2. Johns Baptiſm and Chriſts are in ſubſtance the ſame, for when John Baptized with water, the ſpirit of Chriſt was given to purge and ſanctifie; and when Chriſt Baptizeth with the Holy Ghoſt it was in the uſe of water. Eph 5.26. He ſanctifieth the Church with the waſhing of water by the word. Here is nothing yet to prove a Repeal.
Ob. Divin. of Chriſt, Second part, p 49. The ſubſtance come, the ſhadows fly.
Anſw. 1. By the ſubſtance do you mean ſanctifying grace, and the Queſtion of a good Conſcience? [Lord what wilt thou have one to do?] ſince Chriſt ſaith, Go, Teach, Baptizing; had you that ſubſtance, you would ſtand for this Ordinance of Baptiſm with water. When the Eunuch, the three thouſand, Lydia, the Jaylor were converted, they were for it.
2. The true ſubſtance aboliſhing ſhadows, is not Chriſt in us, or his Image drawn over our ſouls in ſanctification; he was thus in the ſanctified when the ſhadows ought to be upheld; but Chriſt in our Nature dying for us. And this ſubſtance Chriſt perſonally conſidered, hath eſtabliſhed Baptiſm with water, as hath been ſhewn. This objection therefore contains Blaſphemy againſt Chriſt, it is as much as to ſay to Chriſt inſtituting this ſhadow, thou forgeteſt thy ſelf: thou knowſt not what thou doeſt; but will men be wiſer then Chriſt? beware
Ob. 1 Pet. 3.21. Baptiſm ſaves, not the putting away the filth of the fleſh.
Anſw. This [not] is not an abſolute Negation, but comparative; and ſignifies [not ſo much] for our Saviour, Mark 16.16. tells us plainly; Baptiſm doth conduce to our ſalvation.
Ob. Paul was not ſent to Baptize.
Anſ. The ſame anſwer ſerves here. Preaching being a more weighty work, Paul committed Baptizing to his Aſſiſtants, as Chriſt did to his Diſciples. The ſame manner of ſpeech we have, Hoſ. 6.6. I will have mercy and not Sacrifice,
Pag. 34, Tis Objected, Being wicked, their Sacrifices were not accepted.
Anſ. But will you ſay, ſacrificing was not their duty, when God gave them Commandment for it? till Chriſts death, God did require it.
Ob. If mercy and knowledge of God had born ſway among them, there had been no need or occaſion for Sacrifices.
Anſ. 1. Since it did not, according to confeſſion there was need of ſacrificing; yet ſaith God I will have mercy and not ſacriſice: The ſenſe then muſt needs be [not ſo much.]
2. Man bringing guilt with him into the world, had he been able all his days to live like an Angel, there had been need of offering ſacrifice for that guilt.
3. Sacrificing being then Gods Inſtitution, Holineſs did not diſoblige men from it; but rendred them the more conſcientious to do their duty.
Ob. The Sacrifices of God are a broken Spirit.
Anſ. And doth a broken Spirit diſoblige him that hath it from obeying Gods Inſtitution? Let it be remembred, nothing but Chriſts death puts an end to the ſacrifices of the Law. Though God valued mercy, and valued a broken Spirit above Sacrifice, yet his Inſtitution could not ceaſe binding to the Jews till the death of Chriſt.
Ob. If Paul bad a command to Baptize, he would not have thanked God for not obeying.
Anſ. If Chriſts inſtitution had been only a ſpiritual Baptiſin, and not a Baptiſm with water, he would not have thanked God that he Baptized ſo few. He had a command to Baptize, but if his Aſſiſtant did it, he was not obliged to do it over again. He only thanks God it was done by other hands, not his own, leaſt they ſhould have taken occaſion, had he baptized them, to ſay he did it in his own name.
That Paul had a command to baptize is evident. 1. From that general precept, [Go, Teach, Baptize.] He being a Miniſter of Chriſt, and an Apoſtle, and the inſtitution of Chriſt not ceaſing in his days, it muſt needs be that Paul was included in that Commiſſion. 2. Had he not command, he had ſinned in baptizing any, 1 Cor. 1.14, 16. Lydia, the Goaler, running without being ſent; had not John (greatly ſinned if he had baptized, and had not been ſent of God? ſo had Paul. 3. Baptiſm is Goſpel. Paul had a Commiſſion to diſpenſe the Goſpel. 1 Cor. 9.17. A diſpenſation of the Goſpel is committed to me. Therefore he had a Commiſſion to diſpenſe Baptiſm. It was ſaid Baptiſm is not Goſpel. And anſwered what is inſtituted by Chriſt after his death muſt needs be Goſpel, but Baptiſm was inſtituted by Chriſt after his death. Here they had no more to ſay; and the thing is plain, either it is a Legal, or it is an Evangelical inſtitution. What is appointed to ſignifie Chriſt already come, is in a moſt proper ſenſe Evangelical.
Pag. 34. It is now objected, The Goſpel is everlaſting.
Anſ. Baptiſm with Water is to laſt to the end of the world, and the benefit and fruit of it, to the choſen, to all eternity. So the Preaching of the Goſpel is to laſt to the end of the World, and the benefit and fruit of it to the choſen for evermore. Thus it appears they cannot prove that the Ordinance of Baptiſm with Water is repealed. And indeed being no part of the Ceremonial Law which was put an end to by Chriſts death, nor of the Judicial Law, which was but temporary; ſince it was appointed to continue after his death, how fond muſt it needs be to imagine a repeale.
Arg. 2. What is inſtituted to continue to the end of the world binds ſtill. Baptiſm with water was inſtituted to continue to the end of the world. Go, preach, baptizing, I am with you always to the end of the world.
1. The command was given to them, not as Apoſtles, but as Miniſters; for ſo was the command of preaching; it being a matter not requiring any extraordinary call or qualification for it. But Miniſters are to continue to the end of the world, Eph. 4.11.13. Therefore all Miniſters are concerned in the command, and muſt obey it as long as Chriſt continues then.
2. When Mtathew uſeth the expreſſion, foreign, in other places of Scripture, he underſtands according to our tranſlation here, the end of the world. Mat, 13.39, 40, 49. The Harveſt is the end of this world. At the end of the world the Angels ſhall ſever the wicked. Therefore, by this expreſſion here, Mat. 28.20. he underſtands the end of the world, and not of that preſent age. As long as this world laſts Chriſt will be with his Miniſters to bleſs this Ordinance adminiſtred by them. Now let the World judge whether thoſe that teach among the Quakers be not Rebels againſt Chriſt, as I called them; Chriſt ſaith, Go, Baptize; the language of their practice is (if they have been baptized) I renouace my Baptiſm, if any of them were born Quakers, (for Quakers is but of yeſterday) I never was, never will be baptized, I neither will baptize, nor ſuffer others to be baptized. If allowed rebellion doth not conſtitute a Rebel, what doth? yet I am far from looking on the Adminiſtration of Baptiſm as the duty of any of theſe men, becauſe they are no true Miniſters of Chriſt; herein they are rebellious only, in that they take themſelves to be Miniſters of Chriſt, and yet refuſe the Adminiſtration, The point being clear that Baptiſm with water is Gods Ordinance binding us: is it not our wiſdom to ſubmit to it? Chriſt ſanctifieth his Church by the waſhing with water; promiſeth, he that believeth and is baptized ſhall be ſaved. Are we not enemies to our ſelves and children, if we reject a means of Sanctification, a means of Salvation? Is not God a Jealous God in matters of his worſhip? Hath he not ſaid, curſed is he that diminiſheth? and who can be guilty of diminiſhing if he be not, who pulls down where God hath not pulled down, but hath ſet up? Had it not well nigh coſt Moſes his life, that he neglected the Circumciſion of his child? And when God had inſtituted Circumciſion, did he not threaten, the man child not circumciſed the eight day ſhall be cut off, he hath broken my Covenant? Gen. 17.14. Theſe things are written for our example and for our learning; for whom God hath inſtituted Baptiſm to be of that uſe to us, that circumciſion was of to the Jews. The Lord hath ſaid, Call upon me, fear me; the ſame Lord God hath ſaid, Go, teach, Baptizing, The Phariſees rejected the Counſel of God againſt themſelves, not ſubmitting to this Ordinance, Chriſt ſubmitted to it: whether ſhall we choſe to imitate Chriſt or the Phariſees?