The Doctrine and Practice of Paedobaptism, Treatise 4
Verſ. 15.
Verily I ſay unto you, whoſoever ſhall not receive the kingdome of God as a little childe, he ſhall not enter therein.
Our Saviours Reaſon amplified.COme wee now to looke upon this our Saviours reaſon as it is illuſtrated and amplified in the verſe following; viz. by an Argument a majori Piſcat. Anal. in loc.(ſo Piſcator conceives of it;) an Argument from the greater to the leſſe. As if he had ſaid: Wonder not at this that I have ſaid▪ that the kingdome of God belongeth to Infants. I tell you more; whoſoever would enter into this Kingdome muſt become an Infant, an Infant by way of reſemblance; imitating, and being made like unto ſuch a one in ſome imitable and obſervable qualities. Otherwiſe hee never ſhall, he never can enter into this Kingdome. [Whoſoever, &c.]
The wordes make up but one entire propoſition, or concluſion. In effect the ſame with that which we meet with Matth. 18. 3. Where our Saviour (upon an other occaſion) taking a little childe, and ſetting him in the midſt of his diſciples, hee propounds him Mat. 18. 3. Obſerv. All that would enter into Gods Kingdome muſt be come as little children.to them as a patterne for their imitation; telling them. [Verily I ſay unto you, except yee be converted, and become as little children, yee ſhall not enter into the Kingdome of God.]
Behold here then a patterne for every one of us. As many of us as would enter into Gods Kingdome (his Kingdome of grace and glory,) we muſt become as little children.
Explic. Ioh. 3. Reſembling Children in ſome imitable qualities.Q. As little children? How ſhall this be? What muſt aged perſons (according to Nicodemus his conceite of the doctrine of Regeneration) repueraſcere, turne children againe?
A. Yes. This aged perſons oft-times doe in a naturall way. Bis pueri ſenes. Old men are twice children. And all Chriſtians muſt doe it in a ſupernaturall and ſpirituall way. They muſt be twice children. As once by nature▪ ſo once by grace: and that by the imitation of children in ſome of their imitable qualities.
Q. But what qualities are theſe? Wherein muſt Chriſtians be like unto children?
A. To ſingle out ſome particulars, ſome of the chiefe.
1. Without malice.1. A firſt is that which the Apoſtle himſelfe propounds to, and preſſeth upon his Corinthians, 1 Cor. 14. Where hee ſheweth them both wherein they ſhould not be like unto children, and wherein they ſhould. Non mentibus, ſed moribus: wherein not. Not in underſtanding. Herein he would have 1 Cor. 14. 20.them not children, but men. [Brethren, be not children in underſtanding, &c. But in underſtanding bee men,] foreign, Perfecti, perfect, Adul…, of ripe age. Wherein then? why in malice. [How …e it in malice …e ye children.] Children they are free from malice, and envie; there is not ſo much as a ſparke of this fire in thoſe breaſts. Herein a patterne for Chriſtians, even for all that would enter into the Kingdome of God. Let them in this become as children, laying aſide malice. 1 Pet. …. 1.So St. Peter preſſeth it, [Wherefore laying aſide all malice, &c. As new borne babes deſire the ſincere milk of the word.] New borne babes are voyd of malice. So ſhould all Chriſtians bee. Not ſeeking, not wiſhing evill to any; wiſhing, and doing what good they can to all, but hurt to none. As children concerning malice.2. Without Guile.
Secondly, as children concerning guile. So the Apoſtle Peter there goeth on. [Laying aſide malice, guile.] Such are infants, foreign; there is no guile, no fraud, no deceit, no hypocriſie in them. They doe not pretend one thing, and intend another. They doe not goe about to over-reach, or circumvent others; but in all their actions there is a plainehearted Matth. 10. 16 foreign ▪ ab foreign & foreign, Cui nihil eſt admixtum. Rom. 16. 19. foreign. …. In their actions. 1 Theſ. 4. 6.ſimplicitie. And ſuch ſhould Chriſtians be. foreign, Simple as doves. So our Saviour preſſeth it upon his Diſciples. I, ſimple as children, [Simple concerning evill, (as Paul explaines it) without guile, and that;
1. In their actions; not circumventing, defrauding others. So the Apoſtle preſſeth it upon his Theſſalonians, 1▪ Theſ. 4. That no man goe beyond, or defraud his brother in any matter.] As, viz. in buying and ſelling, and bargaining, &c.
2. Without guile in their words? This is the character which Peter gives of his Maſter. [Who did no 2. In words. 1 Pet. 2. 22.ſinne, neither was there guile found in his mouth.] So ſhould it be with Chriſtians; there ſhould be no guiles in their mouthes, in their words, in their promiſes, teſtimonies, &c. So Paul chargeth it upon his Epheſians. [Therefore putting away lying, ſpeak the Epheſ. 4. 25.truth every man to his neighbour.] Truth is the Chriſtians girdle. [The girdle of truth.] And in this ſenſe Epheſ. 6. 14.the Proverbe holdeth true. Vngirt, unbleſt.
3. Without guile in their hearts and ſpirits. It In heart, Pſal. 32. 2.is one branch of Davids deſcription of a bleſſed man. [Bleſſed is the man in whoſe ſpirit there is no guile.] Such is the ſpirit of a childe. There is no guile, no hypocriſie in it. It is ſuch a one as it ſeemeth to be. And O that it were ſo with all Chriſtians! That they were in this reſpect as children. As children for ſinceritie; without guile. Here is the ſecond of theſe properties.
Children for humility. Mat. 18. 4.3. A third followes. As children concerning pride. Children for humilitie. This I take from our Saviour himſelfe in the place forenamed. Whoſoever ſhall humble himſelfe as this little childe, &c.] Children, we ſee how humble, how lowly they are. Their ſpirits are not haughtie, high minded. There are no proud, ambitious, vaine glorious, aſpiring thoughts in them. They are as well content with their rags, as with their robs; with a cottage as a pallace; A childe ſitting in the duſt, an Embleme of humility and contentation.often ſitting in the duſt. An embleme of humilitîe. A childe ſitting in the duſt, and as well contented there as if it were a throne. Such ſhould Chriſtians be; of humble and lowly ſpirits. Such a frame of ſpirit we finde in the man after Gods own Pſal. 131. 1. 2heart [Lord, mine heart is not haughtie, &c. Surely I have behaved my ſelfe as a childe, &c.] It is not for Chriſtians to have haughtie hearts, or lofty eyes; ſo as to have high thoughts of themſelves, Iere. 45. laſt.or▪ ſeek high things for themſelves. [And ſeekeſt thou great things for thy ſelfe? (Saith the Lord to … ſeek them not.] This will not children, this ſhould not Chriſtians doe. Their ſpirits ſhould lye low, ſo as they may be willing to embrace the Duſt, if God ſhall bring them thither. This carnall wicked men ſometimes do by conſtraint. So ſhall Babylon do. [Come downe and ſit in the duſt, O Virgin daughter of Iſa. 47. 1.Babylon.] Babylon a Virgin; (So called, becauſe then not deflowred by the enemy. Even as Cities that were never ſacked nor conquered, but have enjoyed a long continued peace, they are called Virgin, Mayden-Townes; as Venice in Italy, Dordrecht in Holland: ſo Babylon there, in that reſpect is called a Virgin;) She ſhall ſit in the duſt, ſaith the Prophet (which is long ſince accompliſhed in typicall, and ere long ſhall be in myſticall Babylon.) And this Gods own ſometimes doe, [They which were brought up in Skarlet, embrace Lam. 4. 5.dung-hills;] It is ſayd of the precious ſonnes of Sion, the Nobles of Iſrael, Lam. 4.) and this they ought to do willingly, when God calls them to it. In this (as I ſayd) like children, who if their Parents ſet them in the duſt, they are willing withall. Is it ſo, that God is pleaſed at any time to bring any of his children from high eſtates, to meane and low conditions, to ſet them in the duſt; I, ſuppoſe with Job upon the dung-hill, yet ſhould they herein ſubmit to the will of their heavenly Father: Ever having their ſpirits as low as their conditions. Herein again ſhould Chriſtians Col. 3. 12.be as children: Children in humility, putting 1 Pet. 5. 5.on this as a robe, being clothed with it, as the Apoſtles both Peter, and Paul preſſe the exhortation.
Contentation.Fourthly, to this (in the fourth place) let me joyn another quality not much different from the former, and that is Contentation. A quality very obſervable in young children. If they have but enough to ſuffice nature, how contented ſhall we ſee them. If they have but cloathes to keepe them warme, be they rich, or meane. If they have but food to ſatisfie their hunger, and drinke to allay their thirſt, how quiet are they. What their Parents give them, they receive it, and are contented with it. Oftentimes put to bed with a little. In this again ſhould Chriſtians be as children, Content with their heavenly Fathers portion, whatever it bee; be it much, be it little. It is the Apoſtles Phil. 4. 11.leſſon; A leſſon which himſelfe had taken out. [I have learnt in whatſoever ſtate I am, therewithall to bee … Tim 6. 8.contented.] And a leſſon which he reads others. [Having food and rayment, let us therewith bee content.] A leſſon which very nature can teach, and ſometimes hath learnt. Natura paucis. Nature is content with a little. Meere naturall men how contented doe wee finde them oftentimes in their meane conditions? And ſhall not grace doe it much more?
Innocency.Fifthly, Againe, children are Innocent, harmleſſe creatures. So we uſe to call them. [Innocents.] And it is no other language, than what the Spirit it ſelfe is Iere. 2. 34.pleaſed ſometimes to make uſe of. [In thy skirts is found the bloud of the poore innocents.] So it is charged upon Hieruſalem, Jer. 2. And who were theſe poore Innocents? Calvin and ſome others, underſtand it of the Prophets of God, whom they had ſlaine cruelly, and cauſleſſely. But it may ſeeme rather to be meant of Infants. So the ſame Prophet elſe where ſeemeth to expound himſelfe; chap. 19. where charging upon Iere. 19. 4. Verſ. 5. Diodat. ad locHieruſalem the ſame ſinne, [They have filled this place (ſaith he) with the bloud of Innocents.] And who were they? The next verſe explaines it, viz. little children whom they offered up unto Mo…ech: Theſe were the Innocents, with whoſe bloud they had filled the valley of Gehinnon. Such are children, and ſuch ſhould Chriſtians bee. Innocents, though not to Godward, (which yet they muſt endeavour) yet to manward. Heb. 7. 27.Harmleſſe; So was our heavenly patterne. Holy, harmleſſe, &c. In this ſhould Chriſtians labour to reſemble him; being innocent as Doves, (ſo our Saviour Mat. 10. 16. foreign, ab foreign & foreign, ſine cornibus. Scap.preſſeth it in the place forenamed.) I, innocent as children: Having innocent hands, and innocent tongues. Two properties of a man that ſhall aſcend the hill of the Lord. So David maketh them. [Who ſhall aſcend into thy Hill? Pſal. 24. He that hath cleane Pſal. 24. 4.(or innocent hands.) verſ. 4.] Who ſhall abide in thy Tabernacle, who ſhall dwell in thy holy hill? Pſal. 15.] Pſal. 15. 3.He that back-biteth not with his tongue, &c. verſ. 3.] Such hands, ſuch tongues have Infants, both innocent. And ſuch ſhould the hands and tongues of Chriſtians bee.
Forgiving & forgetting injuries.Sixthly, To theſe I might yet adde many more. Children are apt to forgive and forget injuries. If they be angry, yet they hold it not, they are eaſily appeaſed and reconciled. And in this reſpect againe, ſhould Chriſtians be as children, viz. apt and ready to forgive, and forget wrongs and injuries. A leſſon which our bleſſed Saviour frequently inculcates upon his diſciples. [If thy brother treſpaſſe againſt thee, forgive him; and if he treſpaſſe ſeven times in a day, yet forgive him.] Luke 17. 3, …In this ſhould Chriſtians Patrizare, reſemble their heavenly Father. Being ready to forgive; ſo is hee. [Thou O Lord ar… good, and ready to forgive, Pſal. 86.] Pſal. 86. 5▪Not retaining their anger. So doth not hee. [He will not alwayes chide, neither will he keepe his anger for ever, Pſal. 103. 9.Pſal. 103.] Anger reſts not in Gods boſome againſt his children; Let it not reſt in ours againſt our brethren. Eph. 4. 26.Let not the Sun go downe upon your wrath, (ſaith the Apoſtle) Ephe. 4.] In this be like unto children.
Seventhly, Againe, children being wronged and Making uſe of cries and teares for their weapons▪ Exod. 2. 6.injured by others, what are their weapons? Why, their cryes, and their tears. This was Moſes his Rhetoricke, wherewith he tooke Phara…hs daughter▪ when ſhe opened the Arke; [Loe the Babe wept.] In this ſhould Chriſtians bee as children in all their ſtraights and difficulties, making uſe of theſe weapons, their prayers, and their teares, crying to their Heavenly Father. But paſſing by this, name but one more.
Eighthly, And that is a very obſerveable one, Obedience to their heavenly Father.viz. their obedience; Obedience to their Parents, to whom they ſubmit, and ſubject themſelves to be ordered by their commands, being afraid of their threatnings, ſtanding in awe of their frownes, readily believing, and firmly building upon their promiſes. And herein ſhould Chriſtians bee as children; yeelding ſuch an abſolute obedience to their heavenly Father. Submitting to his commands, trembling at his threats, awed by his frownes, readily believing, and confidently reſting upon his promiſes. All this, without any Ifs and Ands; without diſputing about them, or demurring upon them. This is that which our Saviour here principally driveth at in the Text. [Whoſoever ſhall not receive the Kingdome of God as a little childe.] viz. receive the myſteries of this Kingdom; yeelding an humble and ſubmiſſe obedience to the will of God revealed in his Word. Therein making more uſe of Faith, than either of ſenſe, or reaſon. So doe children, they believe what is told them, what is promiſed them, ſpecially if it be by their Parents; therein (as I may ſay) making more uſe of their beliefe, then their reaſon. And this muſt Chriſtians doe, in apprehending heavenly myſteries; they muſt captivate ſenſe and reaſon, bringing them both to the obedience of faith; yeelding an abſolute and univerſall▪ both credence, and obedience unto God, in what ever hee ſhall make knowne to them, to be according to his will. In all theſe (beſides many other qualities, for the Argument is very fruitfull, would we follow it ſo farre as we might,) ought Chriſtians to imitate and reſemble children.
Applica. Enquire whether wee be ſuch.But do we thus reſemble them? Let that be the firſt uſe that we make of it. Bring we it home to our ſelves; enquiring whether we be all like children, in all the forenamed particulars, viz. without malice as children; without guile as children; hand-guile, tongue-guile, heart-guile. Without pride, as children; innocent and harmleſſe as children, apt and ready to forgive and forget injuries as children; ready to poure forth cryes and tears into the boſome of our Father, as children; as ready to yeeld obedience to our heavenly Father; as children to their naturall Parents. Are we ſuch? O that every of our hearts could now Eccho backe againe, and ſay, ſuch we are. Such in our meaſure, ſuch at leaſt in unfeigned deſire, and ſerious endeavour. But, alas, is it not far otherwiſe with ſome amongſt us? Are there not ſome whoſe hearts are full fraught with rancour, malice, envy? their hearts, hands, tongues full of guile, full of deceitfulneſſe, full of hypocriſie? Is there not a ſpirit of pride in ſome of us, filling their hearts with ambitious, vaine-glorious thoughts; making them thinke highly of themſelves, and meanly of others; puffing them up, and exalting them above meaſure? Is there not in ſome of us a ſpirit of diſcontent, ſo as we are not contented with Gods diſpenſations and dealings; but upon all occaſions, if we have not what wee would have, our hearts are ready to repine and murmure? Are there not ſome amongſt us, who care not what wrong, what injury they do to others, ſo they may but benefit and advantage themſelves? Are there not others of an implacable ſpirit? Being once offended, once provoked, they will never be reconciled; never forgive, much leſſe forget injuries? Are there not ſome who do not know what it is to un-load their cares, their fears, their ſorrowes into the boſome of their heavenly Father, by powring forth their ſoules before him? And are there not others who walk ſtubbornly againſt God, not regarding either precepts, or promiſes, or threatnings; Iſa. 48. 4.no, they are obſtinate: Their necke is an iron ſinew, and their browbraſſe; (as the Lord complaines againſt the people of the Jewes.) Surely, ſuch there are, ſome of every of theſe ſorts to bee found amongſt us.
And is this to be like unto Children. In this to receive the Kingdome of God as little children? Let the All who are not ſuch ſhut out of Gods Kingdome.Conviction take place with thoſe to whom it belongeth; who may here ſee themſelves ſhut out of the Kingdome of God. Marke the Text.] Verily I ſay unto you, whoſoever ſhall not receive the kingdome of God as a little childe, he ſhall not enter therein.] As for ſuch then who are un-like unto children, it may bee every wayes un-like, un-leſſe happily therein, wherein they ought not to reſemble them, viz. in knowledge, and underſtanding. [Brethren, be not children in underſtanding (ſaith the Apoſtle.) Herein happily they are too like unto children, having no more underſtanding in ſpirituall matters, the myſteries of Gods kingdome, then they. But in all other imitable qualities, they are altogether un-like them. Now let not ſuch flatter themſelves with vaine hopes, of ever entring into Gods Kingdome. No, it cannot bee. Hee that Ioh. 14. 6.is Truth it ſelfe here ſpeaketh it; and hee ſpeaketh it both earneſtly, and peremptorily. So much will appeare from a re-view of the words.
Firſt, earneſtly. So much that Aſſeveration, which we meet with in the entrance of the Text, imports. [Verily I ſay unto you.] Amen; which in the beginning of a ſentence hath the force of a vehement Aſſeveration, importing a ſerious and earneſt affirmation, or negation.
Secondly, Peremptorily. [He ſhall not enter.] There is an Emphaſis in the originall, which our Tranſlation here hath not expreſſed. foreign. Two negatives put together, which in the Greeke tongue do vehementius negare, confirme the negation or denyall of a thing (like two witneſſes to a Teſtimony) making it more peremptory, more certaine. [He ſhall not enter.] Nequam ingredietur. He ſhall [in no wiſe] enter. So we finde it tranſlated elſe-where, and ſo it ought to be here. foreign, [In no wiſe] or [by no means.] Ioh. 6. 37.Thus is the Kingdome of God both locked, and boulted againſt all ſuch. Locked, and that by him who R…e. 3. 7.hath the key of David, who ſhutteth and no man openeth. Bolted, and that with a double boult. foreign, He ſhall in no wiſe enter. Thus hath Chriſt put it out of doubt. [Whoſoever ſhall not receive the kingdome of God as a little childe, he ſhall not enter therein.]
Vſe 2. Be we as children.Vſe 2. Let this then (in the ſecond place) bee a motive to every of us, ſetting on this uſefull exhortation, that we would labour to be ſuch. Would we enter into the kingdome of God, of Grace here, of Glory hereafter; Be we as children. It is a Copie (you ſee, which our bleſſed Saviour himſelfe hath ſet before us. Let us write after it; propounding this patterne to our ſelves, ſtudy to imitate it. Bee wee as children. As children without malice, as children without guile, as children for humility, as children for contentation, as children for innocency, forgiving and forgetting injuries as children; upon all occaſions complaining to our heavenly Father as children; Obedient as children Imitate we them in every of theſe.
Specially in the laſt. That the Text leadeth us to more particularly. Receive we the kingdome of God as little Children.
Receive the Kingdom of God as children.The [kingdome of God] (as I told you) is here, his Kingdome of grace, and glory. His kingdome of grace. The government which hee exerciſeth in and over his Elect upon earth, whom he guideth and governeth by his Word, and Spirit. His Kingdome of glory: That bleſſed ſtate which hee hath provided for his Elect hereafter. Now receive we both theſe as little children, viz. humbly, ſubmiſsively.
His kingdom of Grace.Firſt, Thus receive we his kingdome of grace. Yeelding up our ſelves (as little children do themſelves to their Parents, and Governours) to bee inſtructed and ordered by him, according to his good will and pleaſure. Reſigning up our underſtandings, and our judgements unto him. So doe little children; they yeeld themſelves as an abratatabula, white paper for To be taught by God.their teachers to write any thing upon, what they pleaſe; receiving their inſtructions quietly, ſubmiſſively, without quarrelling or cavalling. Even thus receive we the Kingdome of God, the myſteries of his Kingdome. Such truths as God hath been pleaſed to reveale unto us in his Word, let us receive them, entertaine them quietly, readily, with a holy ſubmiſſion of our underſtandings, and judgements; not ſtanding to quarrell with, or cavill againſt any truth of God, becauſe we cannot apprehend the reaſon of it. Herein looke upon our patterne. Children do not apprehend the reaſon of things which are taught, and told them; yet they receive them, and believe them. The like do we in the myſteries of Gods Kingdome. 1. Captivating our underſtandings and judgements, yeelding up both unto God, to receive, and believe what To bee ordered by him.ever is held forth unto us in the Word. And then 2ly. In like manner yeeld up our wills and affections. Let Gods will, be our will; to which let us ſtoope and ſubmit, though contrariant, and croſſing to our wills. So doth the childe. Though happily it may be croſſed in what it would have, and doe; yet it ſubmits, it yeelds. Even ſo doe wee. Yeeld wee up our ſelves (as to be inſtructed, ſo) to bee ordered by God; to be in what ſtate and condition he pleaſeth; to doe, and to ſuffer what he will have us to do.
In life.Thus behave we our ſelves in life; even as a child. So did David as himſelfe telleth us, Pſal. 131. [Surely Pſal. 131. 2.I behav'd and quieted my ſelfe as a Childe that is weaned, &c.] A childe in the weaning is froward, and tangle, then nothing will pleaſe it but the breaſt. But being once weaned; then uſually it is quiet, and contented with any thing. In this be we as children; not like children in the weaning, ſo as if we have not what we would have, nothing ſhall pleaſe us. But like children weaned; behaving our ſelves quietly, and contentedly; yeelding up our ſelves to the ordering of our heavenly Father.
In death.And thus behave we our ſelves in death. Therin alſo as children. Children, Infants, as they are ordered by their Mothers, or Nurſes in the day, ſo they are put to bed by them at night, when, and where, and after what manner they pleaſe; for the moſt part falling aſleepe in the Nurſes lap. Even thus do we reſigne up our ſelves unto God our heavenly Father, to be diſpoſed of him, as in life, ſo in death: to bee put to bed, the bed of the grave; when, and where, and after what manner he pleaſeth. Falling a ſleep in 1 Pet. 4. laſthis lap, in his armes, committing our ſoules unto him as to a faithfull Creatour, and mercifull Redeemer. Thus receive we Gods Kingdome of Grace, his government here upon earth.
And ſecondly, Thus receive we his Kingdome of His Kingdom of Glory.Glory. Still as little children. Receiving it in Gods way, and upon his tearmes. Thus do little children take things from their Parents hands, upon their Parents Receiving it upon Gods tearmes. Rom 6. 23.tearmes, and in what way they will have them. And thus receive we this Kingdome of God.
Receive it, firſt upon Gods tearmes, viz. as a free gift; freely beſtowed upon us, without any merit, any deſert of our own. Thus do little children receive every thing at their Parents hands. All of gift. Never dreaming of any merit, any deſert in themſelves.
Secondly, Receive it in Gods way: in what ever way he ſhall in his Providence lay out to bring us to In God s wayheaven by. Even as the Iſraelites, ſo they might but come to Canaan, they care not what way they go; be it through the ſea, or through the wilderneſſe. What if God will lay out unto us the like way to bring us to our heavenly Canaan; a troubleſome and tedious way, yet baulke it not. [I preſſe forwards towards the Phil. 3 11. 14.marke, (ſaith the Apoſtle). foreign, If by any meanes I might attain the Reſurrection of the dead.] Herein yeeld we up our ſelves unto God to be led by him, as ſheep. Pſal. 77. …0.So it is ſayd of Iſrael. [The Lord led them as a flocke, (as a flocke of ſheepe, as the word ſignifieth▪) by the hands of Moſes and Aaron.] Or (to hold to the Text) as Children. Children are led by the hand, or carried in the armes of their Parents, whether they will have them. Even ſo yeeld we up ourſelves to the will of our heavenly Father. So he may but bring us to heaven, let him lead us, and cary us which way he pleaſeth. What ever the tearmes be, what ever the way bee; let us accept of this gift at his hands. Receiving the Kingdome of God as little children. And thus I have done with this Speech of our Saviour to his Diſciples.