Anti-Paedobaptism Part 3, Section 98

Anti-Paedobaptism Part 3 · Section 98

p. 882SECT. XCVIII. The testimonies of Cyprian, Augustin, and other Latin Fathers for Infant Baptism, are shewed to have come from their mistakes; and the evidences why the antiquity of Infant Baptism should not be deemed such as is pretended, are vindicated.

I Now return to the examination of the Testimonies brought out of the rest of the Latin Fathers besides Tertullian for infant Baptism, whereof Cyprian was the chief, and his testimony is thus urged by Dr. Hammond Defence of infant Baptism, chap. 4. sect. 2. p. 99. In the midst of this third Age, An. Chr. 248. was S. Cyprian made Bp. of Carthage, and ten years after he suffered martyrdome, i. e. 158 years after the Age of the Apostles. In the year 257 he sate in Councel with 66 Bishops (see Justellus in his preface to the African Canons p. 21.) and their Decrees by way of Synodical Epistle are to be seen in his Ep. 58. ad Fidum fratrem, which is now among his works, …amel. edit. p. 80. The Councel was in answer to some questions about Baptism, and accordingly he there sets down his own opinion, together with the Decrees of that Councel of 66 Bishops which were assembled with him; And so this, as it is an ancient, so it is more then a single testimony, that of a whole Councel added to it; and yet farther to encrease the authority of it, … cites this Epistle more then once, and sets it down almost entire … a testimony of great weight against hereticks; and so 'tis …ed by S. Hierom also, l. 3. dial. cont. Pelag. In this Epistle the question being proposed by Fidus, whether infants might be baptized the second or third day, or whether as in Circumcision the eighth day were not to be expected, he answers in the name p. 883of the Councel, universi judicavimus, 'twas the resolution or sentence of all, nulli hominum nato misericordiam Dei & gratiam denigandam, that the mercy and grace of God was not to be denied to any human birth, to any child, though never so young (by that phrase [mercy and grace of God] evidently meaning Baptism, the right of conveying them to the baptized) adding, that 'tis not to be thought that this grace which is given to the baptized, is given to them in a greater or less degree in respect of the age of the receivers; and that God as he accepts not the person, so nor the age of any, confirming this by the words of S. Peter Act. 10. that none was to be called common or unclean, and that if any were to be kep… from Baptism, it should rather be those of full age, who have committed the greater sins, and that seeing men when they come to the faith are not prohibited baptism, how much more ought not the infant to be forbidden, who being new born, hath no sin upon him, but that which by his birth from Adam he hath contracted as soon as he was born, who therefore should more easily bee admitted to pardon, because they are not his own but others sins which are then remitted to him, concluding that as none were by the decree of that Councel to be refused baptism, so this was the rather to be observed, and retained about infants and new-born children. Thus much and more was the sentence of that ancient Father, and that Councel, and as the occasion of that determination was not any Antipaedobaptist doctrine (there had no such then so much as lookt into the Church, that we can hear of) but a conceit of one, that it should be deferr'd to the eigth day, which was as much infancy as the first (and so both parties were e…ually contrary to the Anti…aedobaptists interests, the condemned, as well as the Judges) so that it is no new doctrine that was then decreed, or peculiar to S. Cyprian (who had one singular opinion in the matter of baptism) appears also by the concurrence of the whole Councel that convened with him, and by the express words of St. August. Ep. 28. ad Hieronym. Blessed Cyprian not making any new decree, but keeping the faith of the Church most firm, decreed with a set number of his fellow Bishops, that a child new born might fitly be baptized. Which shews it the resolution of that Father also, that baptizing of infants was the faith of the Church before Cyprians time, not onelyonly the opinion, but the …aith, which gives it the authority of Christ and his Apostles.

Answ. I have been willing to set down these words at large sith none urgeth this authority more fully, though Mr. M. Dr. H. Mr. B, &c. do all alledge it, and it is the chiefest of all the testimonies Augustin produced for infant Baptism, and therefore was translated by me into English, and printed at the end of my praecursor. Concerning which act, Mr. B. praefest. mor. p. 401. saith thus, It seems to me God ordered Mr. T. to translate Cyprians Epistle to the disgrace of his cause with the vulgar themselves. For none can be so blinde as not to see in it the antiquity of infant Baptism, which is all that we urge it for. But if the cause I maintain be disgraced by translating that Epistle, I shall take it as a sign that a spirit of dotage is faln on men, so as to be enamouted on the blemishes p. 884of the ancient: Sure me thinks none of the vulgar, much less the learned, should be so blinde as not to discern, that infant Baptism was an errour, which was maintained by the prime assertors, upon such vain reasons as are in that Epistle, which are not excused by what Mr. B. saith, That the arguments are onelyonly for confutation of the objection concerning infants uncleanness before the eighth day, and not to give the grounds that warranted infant Baptism; For the truth is, both are done together, and the best grounds they had for it are set down by them, which will appear to be so frivolous by examination of them, that notwithstanding all the credit Dr. Hammond endeavours to gain to it, yet men of mean understandings, I doubt not, will by reading of it discern how ill that Councel did in that determination. Nor doth it any whit be…ter the matter to say, that it was not Cyprian alone, but also a whole Councel of 66 Bishops which did thus agree with him. For in like manner did the same Cyprian, with a more famous Councel [See Epist. to Jubaia. ponep. Quir. Janu. Steph.] at the same place, determine the rebaptizing of the baptized by Hereticks, with better shew of Scripture and reason then in his Epistle to Fidus, and alledged Apostolical authority as much as in this, and yet he is deserted therein not onelyonly by the Bishops of Rome that were then, but also by Augustin, and the African, and other Churches. Besides his maintaining the perfusion of the Clinici, in his Epistle to Magnus l. 4. Epist. 7. his maintaining the necessity of water with the wine in the Lords Supper, as the Lords tradition, l. 2. Epist. 3. ad Caecilium, with other things, do sufficiently discover the weakness of Cyprian, and the Bishops of those times in their determinations, and the slightiness of their reasons, which no intelligent Divine should now urge, and therefore me thinks should not adhere to their practise or tenents, grounded on such frivolous reasons. Nor in this matter is Augustins or Hieroms authority such, as that we should relye upon their approbations and speeches, their corruptions in this point, and in other points shewing their mistakes both in matters of doctrine, and fact, some whereof are before noted section 88. and more will bee in that which followes.

As for what Mr. B. saith, That the antiquity of infant Baptisme is all that he with others urge Cyprian for, I reply, he and others need not to have done that, sith I acknowledge it to have been as ancient as Cyprian, not as it is now; but 1. in the practise, used onelyonly in case of imagined necessity, to save an infant in apparent danger of imminent death from perishing, as the words of Tertullian de bapt. c. 18. and Greg. Nazianz. orat. 40. de sanct. bapt. and sundry relations shew to have been the practise. Now in this if Pro…estant divines have rejected antiquity, and deny such infant Baptism as they practised, determining that there is not such a necessity of baptizing infants for that reason, nor that they are to be baptized with private Baptism upon such a fear, and accordingly declining it as superstitious, they thereby justifie us from their crimination of innovation in deserting the Fathers, when they themselves do it in the same thing as well as we. And if Mr. Baxter (as hee doth plain Script. proof. l. 2. c. 15. p. 153.) except against Tertullians reasons as poor, and p. 885therefore reject his advice, why should not we reject Cyprians and his Collegues determination, which was built on as poor, if not poorer reasons then Tertullians.

2. In the Doctrines taught: For they taught, that by Baptism the grace and mercy of God was given, that without Baptism infants must perish, that every one that is born of mankind is to be baptized, in which Mr. Baxter and other Protestants do dissert them: Now if they disclaim their Doctrine in that which led them to their infant Baptism, we have no reason to be bound to their authority. Nor is the Doctrine the least matter to be considered, or the reasons of their determination impertinent to a right judgement of their practise. For as in other controversies between us and Papists, as about Menkish profession, Lent fast, Prayer for the dead, &c. the main thing considered, is, how far the Ancients practised these, and upon what grounds, as may be seen in ushers answer to the Jesuites challenge, and other learned Protestants writings, so it is in this: By whieh we may discern, that the Fathers practise of infant Baptism was upon the same grounds with those of the Papists, which we reject; and therefore the Fathers testimonies do indeed disgrace the cause of infant Baptism, and plainly shew upon what erroneous opinions it came in; and if prejudice did not dazle their eys, learned and godly Protestants would rather suspect and judge infant Baptism a corruption, then alledge their determination for their justification. And for what is alledged, that August. Ep. 28. ad Hierony. said, that Cyprian did not make any new decree, but kept the faith of the Church most firm, it is manifest, that the faith Augustine means was that infants had original sin, and without Baptism must perish, which in like manner he taught about the Lords Supper (which was given to infants in Cyprians time, as his Sermon de lapsis shews) l. 1. de pecc. merit. & remis. c. 24. l. 1. adv. Julian. c. 2. contra 2 Epist. Pelag. l. 4. c▪ 4. Now as we and the Romanists have rejected infant Communion, though as ancient as infant Baptism, or very near as ancient, so should infant Baptism be rejected as upon the like mistake brought into the Church. The like might be said of the exorcising, or exuffiation, that is, blowing away or puffing out the Devil, of which Augustine speaks so much as used with Baptism to infants, the anointing with oyl, giving milk and honey, cloathing with white garments mentioned by Tertullian as common in his time before Cyprian, which yet are left by us notwithstanding he make them in his l. 1. against Marcion, lib. de Corona militis, Apostolical traditions. Out of which and many more instances this may bee collected, that the Fathers testimony of the use of their time, or of Apostolical traditions, is not to be received without examining their reasons, to which in this thing how little credit or heed is to be given, will appear by the exceptions I have made in my Examen, and shall now vindicate from what Mr. Ms. friend, and Dr. Homes say to them.

The first was, that in Tertullians time infant Baptism was not defined, sith he disswades it, De Bapt. c. 18. Scult. med. patr. part 1. l. 7. c. 42. Tertullianus l▪ de Bapt. …os duntaxat baptizandos censet, qui Christum nosse potuerunt. The answers are, 1. that he was for infant Baptism, as appears p. 886by his book De anima, c. 39. But this is refelled before. 2. That he mentions it as then in use. Ref. It is true, but not allowed. 3. That he allowed it in case of necessity. Ref. This is against those that deny the use of it for that reason in that case. 4. That he disswaded onelyonly the Baptism of infants of infidels, sith they onelyonly were in need of sureties, and likely to sail in answering the engagement for them. Ref. This is not likely. 1. It…s not likely such were brought in the times of persecution, nor that there were any Christians who would become sureties for them. 2. It was usual then, as the custome hath been since, to have sureties at Baptism of infan…s of believers, and also at the Baptism of the aged, as is gathered out of Tertul. de corona militis, Inde suscepti, which is spoken of the …ged. 3. The words of Tertullian shew he argued a…ainst the Baptism of any little ones in respect of their age. 4. His reasons (be they what they will) …re agai…st the Baptism of any little ones, wi…h express direction for them to come not till they were of age to understand▪ Venient ergo dum adol…scunt, veniant dum discunt, dum quo veniant docentur, fi…nt Christiani, cum Christum nosse pot…erint. That is, Let them come t…erefore when they be grown up, let them come when they learn, when they are taught wherefore they come, let them he made Christians when they shall be able to know Christ. Which makes it certain he meant this even of believers infants, whom he presumed would be taught to know Christ, and that An…i…adobaptist doctrine had then lookt into the Church, though Dr. Hammond say otherwise.

…he …d. Exception was, …ugustines and Hieroms relying on this Councel, shewed their darkness.

Answ. Mr. M. p. 38. of his Defence▪ Though Augustine approved Cyprians judgement, yet he relied not u…on his reasons to make good infant Baptism; this to him is no new doctrine, he had another eye upon the constant and sure faith of the Church, which in that point be followed faithfully.

Ref. It appears by the words of Augustine, ep. 28. ad Hieron…m. where he alledgeth this very thing for infant Baptism [that Cyprian said not that the flesh▪ but the soul unbaptized should be lost] that he relied on his rea…ons; and the like is apparent, where he and Hierome set down his words, and argue from them▪ tom. 7. l. 3. de pecc. mer. & remis. c 6 contra Julian. l. 1. c. where Augustine hath these words, Sed Cyprianus dicit peri…e parvulum nisi fuerit baptiza…us, quam vis ei non propria demittantur, sed …liena pec…ata. But Cyprian saith, a little one perisheth unless he be baptized, although not his own but anothers sins are forgiven him.

My 3d. Excep…ion was, That Fidus started the question out of a Judaizing conceit, that the law of Circumcision which was not to be till the …th day, was to be considered, and that the footstep of an infant being in the first days of his birth is not clean; which shew a relique of Judaism in him.

To this it is said, 1. That Cyprian did not concur with him, nor the Councel.

Refut. 1. However it appears that the Baptism of infants was then practised upon the superstitious conceit as if we were to do in Baptism p. 887as the Jews did in Circumcision. 2. Nor doth Cyprian appear by hi… Ep. 7. l. 4. and elsewhere to be free from thinking the ceremonial Law to direct us about Baptism.

2. That other learned men, as Athanasius, Nazianz. August. Chrysostome, reasoned from Circumcision to Baptism.

Refut. No doubt of it, for as in the controversie about Easter, so in other things they appeared too much to imitate the Jewish ceremonies, by which the simplicity of the Christian service was altered.

My 4th. Exception was, That the resolution of this Counc…l was the spring-head of infant Baptism.

Answ. Before that time Baptism of infants was in use.

Refut. Yet it was not determined before, but disswaded, nor was any authority of any Councel which was as a spring head to it, whence it continued a stream afore that, nor doth Augustine in his allegati…ns for it, find any higher spring of it then Cyprian and his Councel▪

My 5th▪ and chief Exception was, T…at the Councel determined the baptizing of infants upon these errours, which are now rejected by Protestants as Popish; 1. That they thought baptizing giving Gods grace, and the denying it denying Gods grace; 2. They thought the souls to be lost, which were not baptized; 3. That therefore not onelyonly infants of believers, but all infants were to be baptized.

Mr. M. acknowledgeth the two first to be rightly gathered from the words of the Epistle, but that he also urged that Baptism comes in stead of Circumcision, and if some arguments were used by the Ancients which were not good, the truth is not to be rejected, when some o…her are.

Ref. 1. The Council determined infant Baptism on no other argument. 2. If infant Baptism could be proved by other arguments, I should yeeld to it; however the credit and authority of this Councel is taken away by reason of the falshood of the grounds of their determination.

2ly. For the 3d. inference, though he lays it down in general terms, that none are to be hindered from comming to Christ: Yet what he saith ought to be understood of the Church, because he speaks of such as God hath cleansed or purified who were common.

Ref. 1. The words are as express as may be, We all judged that the mercy and grace of God is to be denied, (by not baptizing them) nulli hominum nato, to none born of men, as much as in us lies, if it may be, nulla anima pe…denda est, no soul is to be lost for want of Baptism. 2. The very words Mr. M alledgeth for a restriction to the Church are against it, they are thus. Sed putamus omnem omnino hominem admittendum ad gratiam Christi, cum & Petrus in Actibus Apostolorum loquatur & dicat: Dominus mihi dixit neminem communem dicendum & immundum. But we think every man altogether should be admitted to the grace of Christ, when Peter also in the Acts of the Apostles speaks and saith, The Lord hath said to me that no man should be termed common and unclean: Which is meant of all men, not onelyonly of the Church. And this enough to answer Dr. Homes, who in his animadversions, p. 138. finds not that passage in Cyprian, which I alledge, and p. 139. saith, Cyprian doth not say, infants perish if they be not baptized, though Augustine expresly saith the contrary, and p. 13…. p. 888takes on him to defend the sayings of that Councel, as having no errour or hurt to say that Baptism gives grace instrumentally, and that without warrant wittingly to deny Baptism is to deny Gods grace. But Protestant write…s generally (as Austin before) judge the words to have a further sense, and the words of the Epistle plainly shew that they held by the very Baptism infants had remission of sin and were saved, and without it were lost, and to deny them Baptism was to deny them Gods grace. That which he saith of me, …, 139. That I would not have it, that Cyprian doth at all put in original sin among his arguments for baptizing of infants, is not true; I onelyonly denyed that he put it in, in the manner Mr. M. conceived.

What I said of the absurdity and nakedness of that Epistle, hath no more immodesty then is common to Writers Protestant and Papists, who charge Fathers and ancient Councels with errours, blemishes, and of… times with harder censures; if I had given that Epistle a …arter censu…e I had done right, that I spake was soft enough, considering the great hurt which hath come to the Church of God by that Epistle, which determined childrens baptism by childish reasons.

Next to Cyprian of the Latine Fathers, are recited Ambrose and Hierome ▪ and Paulinus by Dr. Hammond, whose words with Augustines, and such Councels as were in their times in the 4th. and 5th. Century, I shall forbear to reci…e, it being acknowledged that in those ages it was practised, and by reason of Augustines esteem Baptism of infants was practised in following Ages almost without controul; and in process of time, that which was before Augustines dayes a rarity, became so frequent, as that it almost swallowed up the right Bap…ism, which appears from the words of Walafridus Strabo, placed by Usher at the year 840. in his Book de rebus Ecclesiasticis, c. 26. who is termed by Mr. George Gillespie in his Aarons rod blossoming, p. 567. a diligent searcher of the ancients which were before him, and of the old Ecclesiastical rites, which with other observations tending to reduce the testimony of Augustine to its just weight, are set down in my Examen, par. 1. sect. 8. and are now to be vindicated by me from what Mr. Marshal and others reply.

Dr. Homes, p. …58. excepts against what I said, that it was Augustines authority that carried infants Baptism in the following Ages almost without control; and 1. he asks, What carried it 300. or 400. years before? For all that time it was frequent.] But this is not true, n…r ever proved by Dr. Homes. Chamier, paustr. cath. tom. 4. l. 5. c. 15. §. 19. saith truly, Who seeth not that the custome of the scrutiny of the baptised was in that time, when scarce the thousandth person was baptised afore he came to age, and was diligently exercised in Catechism. Dr. Hammond in his pract. Catech. l. …. §. 3. p. 23. All men were instructed in the fundamentals of faith anciently before they were permitted to be baptised.

2. …hey that were carried by Augustine, were not carried by the authority of the man, but by the Scriptures and reasons he urged. Which I grant; but those Scriptures and reasons had never carried infant Baptism, if the name of the man had not been more prevalent then his reasons.

p. 8893. It cannot be said that Augustines authority did in his time carry infant Baptism in a manner without control, seeing he had so much bickering with the Pelagians about it, who under some notion did con-against it, as we shewed before.] But by his leave it might be so said, and that truly, …ith in the bickerings against the Pelagians, Augustines authority grew; yea, Hierome in the end of his 3d. Dialogue against Pelagians, in the words cited by Dr. Home…. p. 149. doth himself refer the Reader to Augustines works about baptizing infants, as the chief prop of that custome. However, that which I said is manifestly true, that after his time, in the following Ages, Augustines authority carried the baptism of infants almost without control.

Dr. Homes further excepts against my alledging Walafridus Strabo, and saith, 1. Strabo is against me, 1. in saying in the first times, Baptism was wont to be confirmed by imposition of hands. But the Dr. wrongs me i… saying I deny it Exercit. sect. 14. who onelyonly say it was a part or appendix of Baptism, as Chamier said paustr. cath. tom. 4. l. 4. c. 11. sect 14 &c. not as among the Papists or Prelatists used many years after baptism. But of this enough is said Review part. 2. sect. 23.

2. About Athanasius, that in Athanasius his time, to his knowledge there was baptism of little children. But how is this against mee, who doubted not concerning Athanasius his fact of imitating baptizing when he was a Boy, and of Alexander his approb…tion of it, but said I marvailed I found nothing produced out o… Athanasius works for infant Baptism, if it were so manifest as Mr. M. said. Now this was not in Athanasius his works, and the story doth not at all prove infant Baptism either in use or approved then, but rather the contrary. For that fact was done by Athanasius at play, among boyes at play, and it was approved as baptism, because the baptizer and the baptized used the ordinary actions done at baptism of the aged: which shews that Baptism was then used to and by persons of age, though imitated by boyes at play.

3. About infant Baptism, for which Strabo quotes many▪ authorities and antiquities, as of the Concilium Gerundense; But this is not against me, who deny not, but acknowledge many Councils for it, after and in Augustins time, but know of none but that of Carthage in Cyprians Epistle to Fidus afore, and do judg those Councils weigh no more then one Augustin, whose authority they relied on, and some of them used his very words in their Canons.

2. That Strabo faulters, and is much faulty in the thing he is quoted for. For first, he calls the times of Augustine, who is but of late in comparison of many ancients we have quoted prima tempora, that is, the first times, for Walafridus quotes Augustines practise, that was not baptized till of ripe years, to prove, that in the first times (as Walafridus calls them) men were not baptized till able to know well, and make profession; when as Augustin himself, as we have shewed, and Mr. T. hath confessed, did refer himself to ancienter times a great deal, as to Cyprian that was almost 200 yeares afore him, for the practise of baptizing infants. 2. Walafrid saith, illis solummodo, &c. that is, to them onelyonly the grace of Baptism was wont to bee given, p. 890who were of integrity or ripeness of body and minde, &c. but gives not proofs or reasons, but onelyonly one single instance of Augustine himself for an universal proposition.

Answ. It appears not that Strabo faultered in either of these. He cals the times unto Augustine, not onelyonly Augustines times, prima t…mpora, the first times; and though he knew that Cyprian was alledged by Augustine for proof of infant Baptism, yet Strabo might rightly say (not as Dr. Homes makes him, men were not baptized (but) the grace of Baptism was wont to be given to them onelyonly who might know well and make profession. And for this having set down the ancient custome, he alledgeth the instance of Augustin, not because there were no more, but at that time the thing being well known, and Augustines authority being the chief meanes of making infant Baptism so frequent as it was after his time, it was enough for his purpose to instance in Augustines own example, as sufficient to shew how the state of things was before. Nor is it likely that Walafridus Strabo faultered in the third thing the Dr. objects, but that (not he, but) some of the writers of his Book mistook, and put XXV. for XXXV. And for the 4th. thing that hee confesseth, that religious wise men did baptize infants more frequently after Augustines time, upon the apprehension of danger if they neglected it, it confirms my observation, that infant Baptism grew to be so frequent as it was by Augustines authority, but doth not at all prejudice my allegation of Strabo, For though he being corrupted with the superstition of the age in which he lived, did judge well of the practise of infant Baptism, yet his relation of the ancient use is usefull for me to shew, that it was but an innovation Nor did my mention of his relation of the use of Gossips, and the imagined spiritual kinred contracted by it, either blemish Walafridus or break my shins, but served my turn to shew what superstition crept in by infant Baptism, as arising from the want of the primitive use of the baptized persons own engagement at Baptism, which being not done by infants, was supplied by this vain invention of men, and did (as generally such inventions do) occasion that evil opinion of the spiritual kinred contracted, which superstition turned to a conceit of inc…st between Gossips. This opinion, though it did not necessarily follow on that us… (For there might be Gossips without such opinion, as there might be transubstantiation without adoration) yet as the nature of superstition is to adde one humane invention to another, and the la… ter worse then the former, and the just judgement of God leaves men to err, when their fear of him is taught by the precepts of men, Isa. 20.13, 14. (as I have shewed in my Sermon intituled, The leven of Pharisaical will…worship) so it happened both in Baptism and the Eucharist, infant Baptism brought in Gossips, they were taken for parents, thence conceived to be of such affinity, that their copulation would be incestuous, and so in the Eucharist the opinion of the Lords Supper, as if Christs body were in the bread, begat Transubstan…iation, that kneeling and adoration, which have more connexion then a rope of sand or pebles in a Wyth, notwithstanding Dr. Homes his conceit, and Stra…o's words need better answer then he gives.

p. 891All that Dr. Homes p. 161, 162, 163, 164, 165. saith against my allegation of Cluniacensis, doth not either prove, that Peter de Bruis did not deny infant Baptism, or that Cluniacensis did not alledge Augustine for it, and de Bruis rejected it, and appealed to the Scriptures (though I have acknowledged in my Apology sect. 8. my mistake about the words of the ignorance of Greek, and the mention of the Greek Church and the Council of Arles.) For why should Cluniacensis say, Ecce non de Augustino sed de Evangelio protuli cui cum maxime vos credere dicatis, &c. but that Augustine was wont to be urged against them, but they rejected him and appealed to the Gospel. As for Peter de Bruis and Henricus, their opinions I set them down as I found them reckoned in the argument of Cluniacensis Epistle, not thinking fit to set down all that Cluniacensis chargeth them wi…h, having by Mr. Gatakers Defence of Mr. Wotto… against Mr. Walker concerning Abailardus, learnt how uncertain Bernards charge was against him; and the like perhaps against Peter de …ruis and Henricus by Cluniacensis in some things: yet I have given reasons concerning their denying infant Baptism, in my praecursor sect. 9. to which Mr. Baxter hath no made reply in his praefestin. mor. to avoid them, though he had most unchristianly accused me of impudence and unconscionableness, for alledging them as adve…saries to infant Baptism.

What I said of the Councils that condemned Palagiani…m, and the Drs. who refuted it, that they followed Augustin, I did in some mistake, as in putting Arles for Orange a City near, and perhaps in something else, being at that time without all my ptinted books, which I had read before the year 1642. in which I was plundered of them, and wrote my Examen in London anno 1644. and my Exorcitation anno 1643. But I had some remembrance of my reading to that purpose, which I imagin was by rea…ing the words of Dr. …rideaux in his 3d. Lecture de Gratia universali, which are thus to the same effect. Augustinus (qui praecipuè sudabit in hoc argumento, quomq…e Prosper, Fulgentius, & Scholastici saniores sequuntur, imò ex ejus scriptis decreta Concilii Aransicani 2 contra Pelagianos & Semipelagianos (ut ipse agnoscit Binnius) cont…xuntur) sit vice omnium.

And for Augustins being counted one of the four Doctors of the Church, esteemed like the four Evangelists, the speech (as I remember of Gregory the Great) is so rife, that I presume it unknown to few Students in Divinity Nevertheless I said, I for my part value Augustines judgement just at so much as his proofs and reasons weigh; of which Dr. Homes saith, that's well; but Mr. Marshal saith, I slight him, which is an unjust crimination of me, neither Augustin nor any other writer, being not imediately inspired, requiring or deserving any higher regard; and Protestant writers frequently in their determinations ascribe authentique authority onelyonly to the holy Scripture, Ames Bellarm. enerv. tom. 2 l. 1. c. 3. asser…tur … nobis Episcoporum in concilio sententiam tant…m inquisitionem quandam esse, & dictionem sententiae ministratoriam & limitatam ita ut tant…m valeat decretum concilii, quantùm valeat ejus ratio; which if right, my speech is unblameable. Nor am I to be blamed p. 892for not canvassing every particular testimony alledged out of Augustine, it being not denied he held infant Baptism at that time, and in such a manner as Protestants reject, and how much credit is to bee given to his speeches of Apostolical tradition, is considered before section 88. Protestant writers do often charge Augustin with doting, in this point of infant baptisms necessity (whereof some speeches may be seen in Mr. Gataker de bapt. infant. vi & eff…c. sect. 6. num. 27. sect. …. num. 35.) and for my part I must say, that I judge his reasons so light and his proofs so vain, that the testimonies out of Augustine do very much confirm me, that infant Baptism is an errour, and a very pernicious abuse needfull to be taken away out of the Church of God, the reason of which may in some measure appear by my vindication of my exceptions against Augustines judgement.

1. If infant Baptism had been such an universal and Apostolical tradition as Augustine would have it, then the Church would have thought it necessary, that all children of Christians by profession should bee baptized in their infancy, and the custome would have been so used; But that it was not so, appears first from the baptism of Augustine, Adeodatus, Alipius; second, from other observations set down in my Examen. p. 14.

The testimonies Mr. M. brings for universal practise, have been considered before.

Hee adds p. 45. of his Defence, That Epiphanius in the end of his work, relating what was generally observed in the Church, tels us, The baptism administred in the Church in his time, was performed according to the tradition of the Gospel, and the authority of the Apostles, as well as other mysteries then in use, and we know, that in his time Baptism was administred to infants; therefore in his judgement, what the Church did therein, they had authority for it from the Gospel and the Apostles;] But there is more reason to conceive that either he knew no infant Baptism, or that he took it to be an aberration from the Gospel tradition and authority of the Apostles, not onelyonly in that he mentions not infant Baptism, but also in Ancorato where he sets down the use of Baptism he saith, Yee ought not onelyonly to suffer every one instructed in the faith, and willing to come to the holy laver, that he shew himself to your sons that he believes in the Lord, but also, that with uttered words, as the same mother of all your and our Church hath received, he teach and say, I believe in one God the Father Almighty, &c.] Whence the Magdeburgenses cent. 4. c. 6. de ritibus circa Baptismum, say; It is conjectured from these words, that in the Churches of Cyprus, the rite of Confession was usual afore Baptism; where he also saith, that Basil. exhort. ad bapt. writes, that no other then catechized persons were baptized, who were called together at Easter; Although I deny not that there was sometimes infant Baptism, yet by all the instances of the rite of Baptism gathered by those Historians in that place, it appears to have been very rare, and onelyonly in the case of apparent peril of immanent death. And this is very probable to have been the reason why Socrates hist. l. 5.22. relating diversities of several p. 893Churches about persons that had power to baptize, and the time in which Baptism was commonly administred, and Sozom. 7▪ 19. several customes of several Churches neither exclude nor mention infant …aptism, because it was so rare a thing to baptize an infant, and done so obscurely that no instance is apparent of it in any history, in that or the fore…going …ges. And Dr. Homes p. 171. wrongs me in saying, Mr. T. himself chargeth Augustin and Cyprian, that they thought too many infants were to be baptized, namely all that had Christian parents or undertakers, for these latter words are not mine, though I yeeld the former to be true.

To my instance of Augustins lat… Baptism, it is said by Mr. M. defence p. 46. One swallow makes not a spring peradventure some (though born of Christian parents) were not in that age baptized in infancy; yet that is no way prejudicial to the universal practise of the Church in which Paedobaptism was received. But by his leave it is a great evidence, and seemed so to Strabo nearer to those times then we are, that infant Baptism was not so univer…al as Mr. M. makes it, when so …minent a person of so eminently go…ly a mother, did not take care to have him baptized in infancy. But besides, wee have the words of Optatus M…l…vitanus about the same ti…e, in his 4th. b…ok against …armenian the Donatist, thu…; No man is ignorant that every man, who is born though he be born of Christian parents, can be without the spirit of the world; which it is necessary should be excluded and separated from the man before the saving Baptism. This Exorsim does, by which the unclean …irit is driven out, and made to flye into desert …laces. The …ouse is made empty in the breast of the believer; the house is made clean: God enters and dwels as the …postle saith, ye are the Temple of God, and God dwel… in you. Whence it is apparent, that even those who were born of Christian parents were believers afore they were baptized, though I deny not that it was not the common doctrine, that infants should be baptized; nor do I make that inference which Mr M. intima…es I do, from that example of Augustin, that children of Christians by profession in that age were not baptized in their infancy, but that they were seldome so, nor except in case of appa…ent danger of imminent dea…h: Which is manifest by the instance of Augustin.

Mr. M. and Dr. Homes impute the delay of Augustins Ba…ism, either to his Fathers hindering, who was not then a Christian, or to friends permission of him to have his own will, or to persecution. But all these are but mere shifts, his own words con…es. l 1. c. 11. declaring the true state of the thing, whic… are thus: I had heard being a boy, of eternal life promised us by the humility of our Lord God descending to our p…ide, and I was already signed with the signe of his cross, and was s…asoned with his salt already, even from the womb of my mother, who much hoped in thee. Whence it is apparent that she was then a Christian when she bare him in her womb, and dedicated him to Christianity, but did not baptize him. After he goes on, and saith, Thou sawest Lord when I was yet a boy and on a certain day pressed with a pain of the stomack, I was suddenly sick almost about to dye, thou sawest my God, because thou wast my keeper already, with what motion of minde, and with what faith I asked from the piety of my mother, p. 894and thy Church the mo…her of us all, the Baptism of thy Christ my God and Lord. And the m…ther of my flesh was troubled, because also she did bring forth my everlasting salvation with a chast heart in thy faith, now being very hasty, did take care that I might be initiated and washed with saving Sacraments, confessing thee O Lord Jesus, unless I had been presently recreated. Therefore my cleansing was delayed, as if it should bee necessary that I should be defiled if I did live, because to wit, after that washing, greater and more dangerous guilt of sins in filthiness would be. So I did already believe, and she, and all the house except my Father alone, who yet did not overcome in me the right of my mothers piety, that I should not believe in Christ; as he had not yet believed.

Whence it may be easily perceived, 1. That the childe of a godly affectionate Christian, who devoted him to Christ, and educated him for Christ, yet was not baptized then in infancy, nor by the Church re…uired to be bap…ized. 2. That when he was sick and like to die when hee was but a boy, he earnestly required from his mother and the Church baptism. 3. That it was not to have been done without his confession of Christ. 4. That his recovery afore it could be done put it off, and no other reason was thereof, but that living he was likely to be more guilty of sin if baptized so young. 5. That baptism was counted cleansing, and a greater and more dangerous guilt apprehended if he did sin after baptism. 6. That even then he did believe▪ and his mother and all the house excep… his Father, and yet it hindred not his Christianity, not is it l…kely could or would hinder his bap…ism in infancy, if his mother and the Church had thought it meet, or it had been the use out of the case of apparent danger of imminent death. As for Adeod…tus, it is apparent his Father believed before he begate him, and he was br…d up by him in Gods discipline, as he saith, l. 9. confes. c. 6. and though the Father was not baptized, yet the Grandmother was, and yet Adeodatus was not baptized till 15 years old; and for Alipius it is somewhat p…obable hee was born of Christian parentage and bred up so, but not baptized till of age. However that were, the case of Augustin is full to prove what I conc…ived.

For a further declaration of the practise of infant Baptism, I alledged Grotius his words, who conceived the baptism of infants more frequent in Africa then in Asia or other parts of the world, and he gave his reason of it, because of the mention of it in the African Council at Carthage, not in like manner in other Councils, to which Mr. M. saith, the Councils might not mention it, because none did scruple it; But it is more likely none did scruple i…, because there was no occasion to do so, there being little or no practise of it; which is made very probable from the 6th. Canon of the Council of Neocaesarea anno 315. and the words of Nazianzen before mentioned. As for the constitutions of Clement, in one whereof they are bid baptize their little ones, Mr. M. doth well to confess they are not Clements, and if the compiler of them did relate the ancient customes of the Greek Church, hee did relate later customes also, among which that of baptizing infants is to bee conceived one for the reasons p. 895given. Grotius annot. in Matth. 19.14. saith, And many of the Greeks from every age unto this day, keep the use of deferring the baptism of little ones, till they could make confession of their own faith. But of this before, sect. 89.90. I said that I did not find in Affrica infants baptized but in case of danger of death or for health of body. Dr. Homes saith he hath shewed the contrary out of several antiquities, and particularly out of Cyprian. But neither in Cyprian nor any where else do I find it but the the contrary in Tertullian. And as for Augustine it was not as he …aith, that Augustines sickness whiles young was some occasion of deferring his baptism for that time, but his sickness occasioned the hastning and his recovery ere it was done put it off for that time. Nor doth m… saying that they baptized infants for health of body (which is manifest from Augustines 23d. Epist. to Bonifacius) clash with that which I said of Augustines asserting the necessity of infant baptism to take away original sin, and ascribing salvation to it, for he both might and did conceive it to be done for both ends. My mention of the continued use of catechizing in Augustines time▪ and long after, and the mention of baptizing whole Countries upon the baptizing of their Kings was very pertinent, though not to shew no infants were baptized then, yet to shew how and by what means the ancient custome of baptizing ordinary believers upon profession of faith after catechizing was so strangely changed, that whereas the preface in the common prayer book before the administration of baptism saith, it appeareth by ancient writers that the sacrament of baptism in the old time was not commonly administered but at two times in the year, at Easter and Whitsontide: At which times it was openly ministered in the pre…ence of all the congregation, the persons to be baptized having been before catechized, now it is quite otherwise, so that in most Protestant and popish▪ Countries baptism is ordinary even of inf…nts, at all times in obscure manner, and except of late in these nations, in which God hath begun to restore the right use of baptism, and what Bellarmin in his 2d. book de bonis operibus in particular…. C. 17. saith, that in the City of Rome there is no year in which there are not many baptized at Easter, who were catechised, the baptizing of believers is almost unheard of and counted a hainous thing, and punished in some parts as a crime deserving death or banishment. So great is the enormity of Paedobaptism, and so great the wickedness of Paedobaptists.

The 2d. and main exception I took against Augustines judgement which might move us to examine his reasons, was the ground upon which Augustine, Ambrose, and generally the Popish paedobaptists held and urged infant baptism, to wit the damning of the infant if dying unbaptized, which made Augustine to be termed the hard Father of infants, and affrighted so people in after ages, and doth to this day, that they will have their children by all means, as they count it, baptized, it's no matter by whom it be done nor how, so somewhat be done; else they count them lost.

To this which is of so great moment to shew the abuse of Paedobaptism it is said, that Augustine pressed it upon other grounds, but that doth not appear, he urged it, it is true, from circumcision, but upon the same p. 896ground that the uncircumcised male should be cut off from Gods people; nor did …e so retract his errour, but that he still held infants should be damned although with the mildest damnation of all. How the schoolmen and others do follow Augustine, Mr. Perkins shews in his probleme, and many elsewhere, and the Common Prayer, both in allowing at first Baptism by Midwives, and in their Preface in the administration of Publique Baptism do plainly shew it was the mind of the composers of that book at first; no… is there any thing therein, or any of the Ancients, o… Baptism as belonging to infant… of believers as federally holy. Which is a strong evidence that Augustines judgement was very corrupt in this point, and that the Baptism of infants was introduced, and grew to such an excess upon that errour, and for that reason both Augustines judgement and it are to be suspected as evil, and to be rejected.

A 3d. Exception against Augustines judgement, to shew that he and Cyprian were in these points of Sacraments not to be rest…d on, was▪ That Augustine Epist. 23. relates the story in Cyprian de lapsis about the giving the Wine to a girl with credit to it, and some use of it without dislike of the custome; yea, l. 1. de p…cc. mer▪ & remis. c 20 he makes giving infants the Eucharist necessary to salvation, alledging Jo…. 6.53. for it; and ch. 2. he makes it an ancient and Apostolick tradition to give the Communion to infants, besides what he saith Epis. 106.…07. to the like p…rpose, and he ascribes to John Chrysostome, l. 1. adv. Ju… c. 2, the like; and E…is. 93. Innocentius Bishop of Rome held the like; and this not onelyonly Maldonat on Joh. 6. acknowledged to continue 600. years in the Church, from Cyprians time to Charls the Greats time (as … remember the account is) but also Erasmus Resp ad Arch…ep Hisp. Chamier, paus. cath. tom. 4. l. 1. c. 13. §. 5. Gataker de Bapt. infant. vi. p. 269. say the use of infant Communion was ancient; and to the objection, that this was not defined, Dr. John Rainold, Apolog, thes. §. 10. answers; nor doth Mr. M. or Dr. Homes deny it, but Mr. M. asks What is your argument hence? I answer, There is no reason to rely on Augu…tines judgement concerning the antiquity and necessity of infant Baptism, or to press it on others, who did so fouly mistake about the antiqui…y and necessity of giving the Communion to infants, nor to adhere to the Ancients determinations and use about infant Baptism, who did erre so much about infant Communion. For as Mr. Gataker de Bapt. ins vi. p. 200. saith about Augustins authority conce…ning infant Baptism, it will not seem equal to press the adverse party concerning the other authority of those whose judgement in the other thy self declinest: But how Augustine doted about infant Communion is manifest, therefore it is not reason to urge his testimony about infant Baptism as to be rested on, but we may say as Vorstius adv. Bellarm. tom. 3. contr. 2. thes. 2. rat. 3. The doting of Augustine and some other is ill brought for the consent of the whole Church; and we may make that use of this instance of Augustines, Innocentius, and others errour about infant Communion, which Cameron doth c. …7. of his Examin. of Rom. prejudices, to take away the unjust fore-judging of the refusal of infant Baptism a… unreasonable, by shewing how little the Fathers, particularly Augustine, are to be trusted, and what just reason there is to forsake him in the one as they have done in the other.

p. 897My 4th. Exception was, That Augustine 1. ascribes a certainty of regeneration to children baptiz…d, though they were not brought for spiritual grace, but temporal health. 2. That he justifies this fact, Epist. 23. ad Bonif.

Mr. M confesseth He ascribed too much sometimes to Baptism, yet sometimes he saith of some, that they have the thing of Baptism without the sacrament, and so Ambrose of Valentinian, yet Ambrose as well a… Augustine at other times attributed too much to outward Baptism. To which I reply. It is true, and so did generally the Fathers, as may be seen abundantly in Mr. Gatakers strictures against Bishop Davenants Epist p 52, &c. And this caused great abuses, 1. the allowing of infant Baptism, yea, and much advancing it; 2. the allowing of the Baptism of men that kept their beds by reason of sickness on their beds; 3. the Baptism by wom…n; 4. the Baptism by Athanasius on his play…fellows, which he did in pl…y with them, when but a boy, as sufficicently done for Baptism; 5. the bringing of infants to be baptized for cure of their bodies. But saith Dr. Homes, By all the words Epist. 23. ad Bonifac. I should think Augustine doth no way justifie or excuse their bad intention.] To which I reply, yet he justifies their bad action, saying, by them the necessary service or ministery is celebrated.

My 5th. Exception was, …hat Augustin Ep. 23. ad Bonif. was so tenacious of customes then in use, that he doth defend or excuse from lying the answer of sureties, as if the child to be baptized did believe. In this Mr. M. saith, I scorn Augustines judgement; And I reply, I do not so much as Chamier, paustr. cath. tom. 4. l 5. c. 15. §. 22. where he ter…s it mimical▪ as if it were a play on a stage, rather then the celebrating a Sacrament in the Church, which Augustine defended. But saith D…. Homes, This is impertinent to the question. I reply, it is very pertinent, 1. to shew how vain Augustines judgement was in these things about Baptism and the Lords Supper: 2. To shew what was the primi…ive use of propounding the question of his faith to every baptized person, which Vives, com. in August. de Civit. Dei, l. 1. c …7. thought a good evidence that of old none were baptized but persons grown up and able to answer the questions.

…o this saith Dr. Homes, 1. …e wonder Mr. T. will assert confession of faith in all Ages before all Baptism from witnesses or sureties, when as we know that the first intimation of touching them was not till about 95 years after Christ. And how novel the invention of their confessions is who can justly tell.

I reply, 1. I wonder Dr. Homes will so untruly say I do so assert▪ 2. If sureties were so late an invention, surely infant Baptism was at new, it being never without such sureties.

2. Saith he, I propound it to grave consideration, whether sureties did not confess in relation to themselve…, that they might be reputed fit to stand as a kind of parents to a child of an unbelieving parent to be baptized; even as Abrahams profession of his belief in God, Gen. 15. Gen. 17. made him stand as a parent to all his houshold.

I reply. Upon my consideration it was not so, because Tertull. de …. p. 898c. 18. mentions them as undertakers for the child, and Bonifacius and Augustine that they professed in the childs stead.

My last Exception against Augustines judgement was, That they baptized any infants even of unbelievers, who ever brought them, and what ever were their intention, they counted it a work of charity, and the defect of the faith of the baptized they counted supplied by the faith of the whole Church.

To this saith Mr. M. Neither I in that justifie him: You may take notice that here again you confess the question that infants were baptized.] I reply, this was not the question. But saith Dr. Homes, 1. …oo much doth not overthrow enough.] I reply, it overthrows the imitableness of their practise. 2. This argues against me that infant Baptism hath been anciently more universally practised then adul… Bap…ism.] I reply, if so, more infidels children should be baptized then Christian converts, which is a monstrous fiction refuted by all the remaining monuments of antiquity.

Mr. M. They baptized upon Covenant holiness believers children, infidels children upon the engagement of undertakers to train them up. I reply, the former appears not, the later was of others as well as believers children, as is shewed before. This is enough to shew the invalidity of Augustine and the Latine Fathers testimonies …or infant Baptism as Protestants assert it.

To the recollection of the passages about the Ancients testimonies, Mr. M. answers. 1. To what I said, that that they practised infant Baptism on erroneous grounds, the necessity of it to salvation, the certainty of the remission of original sin by it, denying Gods grace to none, and therefore more likely to be an errour; Mr. M. saith, p. 54. Do not Tertullian, Cyprian, &c. argue from Circumcision unto Baptism … we now do, and others of them from Covenant holiness? I answer, No not one that I know of.

2. To what I said, that it is not proved to have been practised but in case of supposed necessity, he saith, It is otherwise, and an Arminian book termed Censura censu…ae, of which I have made great use in this controversy (which is not true) saith, Augustine first grounded infant Baptism upon necessity. But I answer, this is not true, that which is said before out of Tertullian, Nazianzen, Cyprian, proves it otherwi…e; Yea, long after Augustine, Concilium Ge…undense in the 6th. Century, appointed in the 4th. and 5th. Canon, That ordinarily persons catechized not infirm should be baptized at Easter and Whitsontide, the infirm at other times, and infants if infirm, and desire not the mothers milk if they be offered, the day of their birth; which expresseth it to be a permission in that case, and shews it to be an exception from the ordinary course: Yea, Magdeb. cent. 1…. c. 6. of the rites of Baptism, shew infants then to have been baptised onelyonly out of fear of death.

3. To what I said, that there was a constant course of baptizing believers children at age, he saith I have been been mistaken, and this practise was disavowed by their inveighing against deferring …aptism. I answer, 1. That I have not been mistaken, appears by that which goes p. 899before. 2. They speak not against deferring infants Baptism, but for it, though they speak against the deferring it by the aged.

4. To what I said of their opinion of the necessity of, and practise of infant Communion, he saith, All did not so, though some of the Affricans did. I answer, The chiefest of them, and some of them Europaeans held it. Dr. Field, 3d. book of the Church, ch. 1. saith, According to the old custome used in the primitive Church, the Greeks minister the Sacrament of the Eucharist to children when they baptise them. And Ortelius in his Theat. where he describes the Abissins in Affrica, saith, To all the baptised the same moment they minister the holy Eucharist.

5. …o what … said of their baptizing: infidels children, he saith, It was not their constant and general practise: But it app…ars not but that it was practi…ed and al…owed of as well as the other.

6. To my words, that the ancientest testimony for pr…ctise according to any rule determined is Cyprian, near 300 years after Christ, he saith, he must needs take notice of my overlashing; and I reply, … must needs take notice of his overlashing in again mentioning Justin Mar…yr as a witness, though the book be but suppositio…s; and Irenaeus, when …e saith nothing of it; and Origen ▪ who is d…ubtfull; and Tertullian who is against it; and excepting against my words as overlashing, w…en the first determination of it in any Councel was that of Cyprian with hi… 66. Bishops, which, as Dr. Hammond saith, was anno 257. near 3…0. years after Christ.

7. To my words, that infant Baptism was not from the beginning, Austins semper habuit semper tenu…t is opposed, to which how little credit is to be given, is shewed Apol. § 16. he…e, sect. 8…. and in thi… before.

8. …o my alledging the proposal of the questions of repentance and faith to infants as a sign that none but those who answered the …u…stio…s were formerly baptized, it is said, This supposeth these questions to be of as ancient use in the Church of God as Baptism i…self, whi…h certainly you can never prove from Scripture; I have produced testimonies for infant Baptism, afore any you can bring to witness, that those forms of questions and answers had any being in the Church. But I think the question of faith pl…inly proved Act▪ 8.…7. to be an…ecedent to Baptism; and the words of Beza, annot. on 1 Pet. 3 21. are thus▪ Yet to me more nearly now considering the word foreign, it doth se…m better to agree that we interpret it stipulation, and that we say the Apostle had respect to the interrogations of Catechists, in which the ca…echised even then did testifie their more inward Baptism to be confirmed by the outward, as Act. 8.37. to which the whole Apostolick Creed looks, and that from the Baptism of adult persons by a great errour, if we look to infants themselves, translated to the Baptism of infants, Doest thou believe? I do believe. Doest thou renounce? I do renounce. Whence that of Tertullian, which is as if it were in stead of a Commentary on this place in his Book of the Resurrection of the flesh, the soul is not confirmed or sanctified by washing, but by answering. Tertullian de corona militis, Aquam adituri ibidem, sed & aliquanto prius in Ecclesia sub antis…itis manu contestamur nos renunciare Dia…olo & pompae & angelis ejus▪ Dehinc ter inergitamur, amplius aliquid respondentes, p. 900quam Dominus in Evangelio determinavit. Grot. in Mat. 28.19. proves the profession of faith out of Justin Martyr, who saith expresly, Apol. 2. That the baptised did promise to …ve according to the Christian Doctrine; and out of …gnatius, Irenaeus, Tertullian, &c. what they answered who we…e baptise…. In the Councel of Basil in the Oration of the Cardinal of Rag sium it is said, In principio hujus sacramenti baptizabantur solum illi qui per se sciebant fidem interroganti respondere ▪ The testimonies of this kind are so …any that I think it superfluous to alledge them. The very form of Common Prayer in propounding th…se questions as they were in Augustines time to infants, is evidence enough of the antiquity of that custome of propounding questions to the baptized.

9. To what I said of the examples of Greg Nazian Chrysos. Augus. Const▪ the Great to whom I might have added Hierome, of whom Erasmus in his life testifies of his birth of Christian parents, yet not baptized till of age; Mr. M. answers by referring to what is said before: And I intreat the Reader to look back to what I say before, sect. 89, 90. and this.

10. In like manner the evidences against infant Baptism from Tertullians and Gregory Nazianzen, disswasion, the testimony of the Councel of Neocaesaria, the silence of Eusebius, Epiphanius, Athanasius, the constant terming it an Apostolical tradition, are referred to what is before said by Mr. M. and by me to my answers to him and others, in those Sections, and sect. 88.

For Grotius, what reason I had to alledge him, may be easily discerned by those that know his a…ilities Censura censurae was unknown to me as yeelding me any advantage, … Mr. M. here minded me of that book. What Vives speaks he had good evidence for, as in part may be seen in what is said before. Strabo's testimony is such as Vossius his exception doth not weaken, but is sundry ways confirmed here. That I could have brought more testimonies, it hath appea…ed in part by this writing, and in part by my Praecusor, sect. 20 and my answer to Dr. Savage in Latine, sect. 13.

The more I search i… to the point of antiquity, the more I am confirmed in my position, that infant Baptism is not so ancient as is pretended, as now taught is a late innovation. Nor am I alte…ed from the opinion I had, that none before Zuinglius taught infant Baptism as a priviledge of believers children from federal holiness. Tertullians and Athanasius his words serve not turn to prove it, nor Epiphanius, Cyprian, Nazianzen, Augustine, or Chrysostome so taught it from Circumcision as due to them by vertue of the Covenant to a believer and his seed, but in other manner, as is before shewed. Nor do…h the Pelagians acknowledgement serve Mr. Ms. …urn therein. The more testimonies Mr. M. might have added, had added no more weight to the cause then those he alledged have done. I did not charge the Ancients that they held that all who died unbaptised were damned; but that in the case of infants born they taught, that if they died unbaptized they should not enter into the Kingdome of Heaven, but perish, or be damned, though with the mildest damnation: And this is manifest enough from Cyprians Epistle to Fidus, and p. 901very many places of Augustine, Tertullian l. de Bapt. c. 12. C…m verò prascribitur nemini sine Baptismo compe…ere salutem ex illa maximè pronuntiatione Domini qui ait: nisi natus ex aqua quis erit, non habet vitam, &c. However Ambrose and Augustine determine of the salvation of grown persons without Baptism, if they believe, desire to be baptized, be Martyrs, yet both they and many more held both Baptism and the Lords Supper to be necessary for infants unto salvation by an Apostolick tradition, as M. Perkins Demonst. of the probleme in the point of Baptism proves, though perhaps they could not reasonably grant the one and deny the other. That Calvin was a m…n well versed in Antiquity for his time it's not denied, nor that he was a man well acquainted in the Scriptures; yet that in neither he was in this point in the right, is so fully demonstrated before, that I may safely say Calvin was not therein Calvin as he is in his opposition of the Papists. And if Mr. M. or his friend think it not meet to be tied to Calvins judg…ment in the point of the Sabbath and Lords day and Usury notwithstanding his skill in Antiquity and Scripture, the same in equity is to be allowed to us about the point of Baptism. I like Mr. Ms. acknowledgement with Rive…, that tradition is in most points uncertain, and therefore he that will build sure must build on the Scripture, and therefore we must necessarily come to arguments from the Scriptures, which if they evince not the thing we shall in vain call to Tradition. If Mr. M. had not fi…st in his Sermon forestal…ed his hearers and readers with the pretence o… the Churches possession for 1500. years and upwards, and Dr. Hammond resolved all his proof of infant Baptism into his exposition of 1 …or. 7.14. which he had no way to make good but by Tertullian and some of the Ancien…s, I had spared this labour of shewing t…eir and and the Ancien…s mistakes. Tha… Doctrine and practise of Baptism of Infants …hich Austin saith to be according to the sentence of the Gospel, is reject…d by Pro…estants; who i… they would in this, as in other things they have done …, according to Scripture and all their own principles, must baptize no infants till they be made believers; till then they do but prevaricate, and profane the holy Ordinance of Baptism.