The Doctrine and Practice of Paedobaptism, Treatise 5
Verſ. 16.
And taking them up in his Armes, hee layd his hands on them, and bleſſed them.
Chriſts act towards theſe Infants, three-fold.COme we now to the laſt branch of this Story, which informes us what our bleſſed Saviour did to theſe Infants. Herein we may take notice of a three-fold act; the two former introductory to the latter. 1. His S…ſception. 2ly, His Impoſition of hands. 3ly, His Benediction. [1. He tooke them up in his Arms. 2ly, Hee layd his hands upon them. 3ly, And bleſſed them.]
Thus doe theſe Petitioners receive what they deſired, and more. That which was deſired for theſe children, was onelyonly a touch of our Saviours hands. So the 13th ver. of this Chapter expreſſeth it. [They brought children unto Chriſt, foreign, that he ſhould [touch] them.] Now this he doth for them, and more. [Hee embraced them in his Armes, layed his hands upon them, and bleſſed them.]
Obſer. God ſometimes doth for his people above their deſires. Epheſ. 3. 20.Thus God is pleaſed ſome-times, often-times to doe for his people above their deſires. This hee can doe. [Now unto him that is able to doe exceeding abundantly above all that we aske or thinke; (ſaith the Apoſtle.) God can doe for his people exceeding abundantly above their deſires, or thoughts. There being in him abundance Malac. 2. 15.of Spirit, as the Prophet Malachi hath it. [Did not he make one? yet he had abundance of Spirit. (So the Geneva readeth it, Reſiduum Spiritus (ſaith Montanus) a reſidue (as our new tranſlation hath it) an overplus of ſpirit, that is, of power and vertue to have done more then he did. Whereas God at the firſt made but one woman for one man, it was not for want of power; hee could have made more if hee had pleaſed. He hath no meaſure of his power, but his will▪ [If thou wilt, thou canſt,] ſaith the leaper to our Matth. 8. 2.Saviour. So as out of this plenitude, and abundance of power God is able to ſupply all the wants of his people; …o doe for them above their deſires: which alſo ſometimes he doth. Solomon having his choice to aske what hee would, hee begs wiſdome from God; [Lord give me an underſtanding heart.] 1 King. 3. 12, 13.God giveth him that and more, viz▪ riches, and honour: [I have alſo given thee that whic… thou haſt not asked.] The poor Paralytick in the Goſpel is brought unto Chriſt for a bodily cure: Chriſt doth that for him, and more; ſending him away with a double cure; the one of his bodie, the other of his Soule. [Sonne, thy ſinnes are forgiven thee: Take up thy bed and Matth. 9. v. … ▪ v. 6.walke.] Thus Chriſt dealt with others; and thus ordinarily he dealeth by all that come unto him: doing for them above their deſires, and thoughts.
The ground whereof is, his abundant merciemercy. That Reaſon. He is abundant in mercy▪ 1 Pet. 1. 3.is the epethite St. Peter giveth it: [According to his abundant merciemercy.▪] Rich merciemercy: So the Apoſtle St. Paul, [God who is rich in merciemercy.] God is rich, as Epheſ. 2. 4.in power, ſo in merciemercy. The one maketh him able, the other willing to doe for his people above their defires. As a man having a large purſe, and a large heart, he giveth to a poore beggar more then he askes: He askes a penny, hee gives him two. Thus God dealeth with poore ſuppliants that come unto him in the ſenſe of their wants ſuing for merciemercy. He often doth for them what they deſire, and more. Being, as rich in himſelfe, ſo rich unto them. [God is rich unto Rom. 10. 12.them that call upon him,] (ſaith the Apoſtle.) God is rich; having an abundant fulneſſe of all goodneſſe Luk. 12. 21.of himſelfe. And hee is rich not to himſelfe, (as the covetous …iſer is,) but unto others: Being ready and-willing to communicate, and let out his goodneſſe unto all that ſeek it, (even as the fountaine that is ready to communicate of its water to all that come for it, and bring veſſels to receive Iames 1. 5. 1 Tim. 6. 17.it.) And that not ſparingly, (ſaith St. James.) He giveth us richly all things to enjoy (ſaith the Apoſtle.)
Applica. Come unto God and Ieſus Chriſt. 1. By prayer.A meditation which may ſerve as a forcible motive, and inducement to make us come unto God, and to Jeſus Chriſt. VntoUnto God by prayer: VntoUnto Ieſus Chriſt by faith. … ▪ Come we to th… throne of Grace for a ſupply of our wants▪ what we aske, Ioh. 16. 23.being fit for us, wee ſhall receive. [Whatſoever yee ſhall aske the Father in my name, it ſhall be given you, Matth. 7▪ 7(ſaith our Saviour.) [Aske, and it ſhall be given you;] It, what you aske, and more: God giveth, and he giveth not ſparingly▪ but liberally[: Therefore come wee, and come boldly. [:If any man l…k wiſdome, let Iames 1. 5.him aske it of God▪ (ſaith St. James;) why? For he giveth to all men liberally.]
2. By faith.2. Come wee unto Jeſus Chriſt by faith▪ …e ſhall ſinde more in him, and from him, then ever wee thought of So did theſe mothers (or whoever) that brought theſe their children unto Chriſt. They found more tenderneſſe, more love, more affection in him, then they could have expected. They come for a touch; he embraceth, bleſſeth them. Such over▪flowings of merciemercy there are in God▪ and in Jeſus Chriſt towards poore ſinners. The prodigall coming to his father, little did he dreame of ſuch affection, ſuch entertainement as he met with. His thoughts were, if he might but get a roome in his fathers houſe, to eate bread with his ſervants, that was all he could looke for, and more then he was worthy of. But ſee what he found: No ſooner doth his father ſee him a farre off, but he runs to meet him, Luk. 15. 20▪ 22.Jils upon his neck, and kiſſeth him, bringeth farth the beſt …oabe▪ and killeth th… fatted calfe for him. Such over▪flowings of unexpected, undeſerved merciemercy and compaſſion there are in our God towards poor penitent ſinners. VponUpon there returning and coming home to God they ſhall finde abundant mercy, abundant compaſſion, more then ever they could have promiſed to themſelves▪ conſidering their own unworth…neſſe of the leaſt merciemercy. And therefore come we unto God, and come we unto Jeſus Chriſt. But this I take up by the way, from the joynt conſideration of the words.
Come we now to looke upon particulars▪ And therein begin with the firſt act. viz. The act of ſuſception; The firſt act, viz. Suception.[Hee tooke them up in his armes.] foreign, Complexans …os, (ſaith the vulgar latine) Imbracing Piſcator ſchol▪ ad locum.them. But the word (by Piſcators leave) in proper ſignification importeth more. Not any kind of embracement, but an embracement peculiar to children; whom others uſe to take in their armes. Thus Simeon embraced our Saviour, when his Parents came to preſent him in the Temple, Simeon tooke Luk 2. 28.him up in his armes; foreign, Which is but a periphraſis, of the word in the text, giving us the true ſenſe and meaning of it. Surely even as Simeon there embraced our Saviour, ſo d…d our Saviour here embrace theſe children: In ulnas ſuſcepit. Hee tooke them in his armes.]
Theſe children were Infants.From whence (by the way) it is rightly concluded againſt the Anapabtiſts, that theſe children which were brought unto Chriſt, they were young Suidae.children; not children capable of Inſtruction, but Infants, foreign, Little children, ſuch as were brought in the armes of their parents unto him, and by him taken into his armes. But letting that paſſe, Obſer. Chriſts ſingular affection to Infants.…n That which we ſhall here take notice of, is, the ſingular affection of Ieſus Chriſt towards theſe Infants; which he expreſſeth by this act of his: Takeing them into his armes,] that ſo hee might (as it were) lav them in his boſome, nigh to his heart; Chemnit. Har. ad loc.t…nquam chariſtima▪ foreign (as Chemnitius gloſſeth upon it) as a deare and choice treaſure which he made ſpeciall account, and reckoning of. Thus doe foreign. Zenoph. Pad. 7.tender mothers (not knowing how better to doe it▪) expreſſe their affection to their babes; taking and carrying them in their armes, as neere their heart as may be; embracing, and hugging them. And how could Chriſt have expreſſed greater affection to theſe babes then he did?
Applic. Papiſts and Anabaptiſts, herein unlike unto Chriſt.And did he ſhew ſuch affection to them? How then dare any ſhew ſuch diſ-affection towards them, as to ſhut them out of the Church, whether triumphant, or militant? Triumphant; So doth the Papiſt all children dying without Baptiſme. Militant: So doth the Anabaptiſt, who denies Baptiſme unto Infants, becauſe (as they would have it) they are no members of the Church. And what rigour? What unwarrantable, uncharitable, and unchriſtian rigour is this? What is this, but even (as it were) to pull Infants out of the armes of Jeſus Chriſt? Surely, he who tooke theſe Infants into his armes upon earth, doth as much to ſome of them being now in heaven, and will doe the like to ſuch as are tendred to him as theſe were; viz. brought to him in the armes of their Parents faith. He will receive them, embrace them, take them into the armes of his merciemercy. And there let believing Parents leave them (I meane, their Infants deceaſed) in a comfortable hope, and perſwaſion of finding them there another day. I ſhall goe to him, but he ſhall not returne to 2 Sam. 12. 23.me (ſaith David of his childe.) This for the dead. As for the living, take heed how we ſhut them out of the Church: Seing we here find them in Chriſts boſome, take heed how wee caſt them out of the Churches boſome, by denying unto them the Churches priviledge, the badge and ſeale of their Chriſtianity. This for Infants.Ʋſe 2. Be incouraged to come unto Chriſt.
As for our ſelves, be we all encouraged to come unto Jeſus Chriſt. He that had armes to receive theſe poore Infants being brought … him, he will have armes to receive us coming unto him. [Him Ioh. 6. 37.that cometh unto me I will in no wiſe caſt out.] Hee v. 40.that [cometh] unto me, that is, [believeth] on me; coming to me as a Saviour, and a Lord▪ to be ſaved and governed by me, [I will not caſt him ou….] There is a me…ſis in the phraſe, leſſe ſaid, but more intended. I will not caſt him out, that is, I will receive, I will embrace him. Surely Ieſus Chriſt hath loſt none of his affection, none of his compaſsion▪ What he had, he hath: hee carried his …wels, and his armes to heaven with him. And therefore come wee unto him.
Q How ſhall we come. A. Not by any power of our owne. Ioh. 6. 44.Q. How ſhall w…e come▪ A. 1. Not by any power of our owne. Thus none can come unto Chriſt. [No … cometh unto me, except my Father which hath ſent me draw him.] Even as theſe children could not have come unto Chriſt, had not their Parents brought them. Thus unleſſe our heavenly Father bring us, lead us, draw its, (that is, effectually perſwade our hearts to believe on him, working upon them by his word and ſpirit) wee will never come▪ can never come unto Chriſt; being of our ſelves both unwilling, and unable.
2. Not in any confidence of ſelfe-worthineſſe.2. Not yet (ſecondly) in any confidence of any worthineſſe in our ſelves, as if we ſhould be the rather received and embraced of Chriſt for any thing that we… bring with us. No, this alſo wee doctrinally renounce, and that as clearly, as firmly, as any … whatever; averring that he which …ill come unto Chriſt, muſt come emptie-handed, bringing with him nothing of his owne. So ſay they, and ſo ſay wee▪ Nothing ſave onelyonly an eye, and a hand, (which yet are not our own neither.) An eye to looke up unto Chriſt, a hand to receive him, both which are done by faith.
…. Bring faith with us▪ Hab. 2. 4.3. And this (in the third place▪) every of us muſt bri…g with us. Every one his own faith▪ [The juſt ſhall live by his faith.] Whatever the caſe of Infants be, ſure we are, in perſons of age thus it muſt be. Theſe Infants here they are brought unto Chriſt that he ſhould … them. But the woman with the Matth. 9. 20. 21. Mark 6. 56 c. 3. …0.bloudy iſſue ſhee cometh unto Chriſt that ſhee might touch him, (as alſo other ſicke perſons uſually did.) Whether Infants may bee ſaved by their Parents faith, or no, it is diſputable▪ But as for us▪ it is out of doubt; it is our owne faith muſt benefit us. Even as it is with a childe in the wombe▪ and out of it. In the wombe it is nouriſhed by the meate which the mother eates▪ but not ſo out of the wombe; then it muſt live by the meate which it ſelfe eateth. Whether it be ſo with children in their infancie▪ whether they they live by the faith of their Parents, it is a queſtion which I will not peremptorily dedetermine▪ (I know it was the opinion of the Ancient Church.) But afterwards when they come to yeares of diſcretion▪ then they muſt live by their owne faith. Then they muſt come unto Chriſt (as I may ſay) upon their owne leas, though ſtill led by the hand of another. And thus let us come. So coming, doubt not but …e that had armes to receive theſe Infants being brought to him in the armes of others, will alſo have armes, armes of merciemercy and tender compaſſon▪ to receive, to embrace us, coming unto him, believing on him▪ ſubmitting to him.
Paſſe wee now to the ſecond and third acts, in both which I will be very briefe haſting to a concluſion of this ſubject. [He laid his hands upon them, and bleſſed them▪] Wherein we have, firſt the outward ceremonie or ſigne, Impoſition of hands: [He layd his hands upon them.] Then the thing ſignified, the grace conferred, Benediction: [Hee bleſſed them.] Briefly of each.
Act 2. Impoſition of hands. A ceremonie of ancient uſe in caſe of 1. Benedicti…en. 48. 14.[Hee layd his hands on them▪] A ceremonie of very ancient uſe amongſt the people of God, and that in diverſe caſes: Specially in two.
1. In the caſe of benediction, and bleſſing. Thus the Patriarch Jacob being to bleſſe the ſonnes of Joſeph, Ephraim and Manaſſes, he layd his hands upon their heads, praying for, and pronouncing a bleſſing upon them. And thus our Saviour here bleſſing theſe children, hee layd his hands upon them.
2. Conſecration.2. In caſe of Conſecration. When a perſon, or thing was to be ſet a p…rt to ſome ſpeciall uſe, and ſervice; this was done by impoſition of hands. Thus the ſacrifices under the Law were conſecrated by Exod. 29. 10. Numb. 8. 11.the Prieſts. [Aaron and his ſonnes layd their hands upon the head of the ſacrifice;] which they did (amongſt other ends) in a way of conſecration. Deſtinarunt illud Oſiander ad loc.ut …ieret ſacrifici…m, (ſaith Oſiander upon it;) deſtinating and ſetting a-part that creature to be a ſacrifice. And as their ſacrifices were thus conſecrated, ſo were (at leaſt) ſome of their Church-officers alſo. Numb. 8. 10.So we read that the Levites were to be conſecrated by impoſition of hands, Numb. 8. Thus was it under the Old Teſtament.
And thus we find it under the New. Our bleſſed Saviour (our great high Prieſt) being to conſecrate the Sacrament of the Lords Supper▪ hee Mat. 26. 26. 1 Cor. 11. 23. 24.tooke the Bread, and hee tooke the Cup (ſaith the Text.) Either taking them into his hand, or laying his hand upon them, ſetting them apart from a common, to a ſacred uſe. And in like manner were the officers of the Church, the Miniſters of Acts 6. 6. Acts 13. 3. … Tim. 4. 14.the Goſpell conſecrated; ſet apart to their Miniſteriall Offices, by Impoſition of hands.
A uſefull Ceremony, though not ſimply neceſſary, yet expedient.A uſefull Ceremony in both theſe caſes. Whether neceſſary, or no, it is made a queſtion? Papiſts contend for it as abſolutely neceſſary, making it the outward ſigne in two of their Sacraments, (ſo they call them, and make them) viz. Confirmation, and Ordination. In the latter of theſe (not to ſpeake of the former now, which I have touched upon already,) wee generally allow it, approve it as very convenient▪ not onelyonly warrantable but uſefull, warrantable by the practiſe of the Apoſtles, and the Church of God in all Ages. Vſefull, both in reſpect of the ſolemnity, and ſignificancie of it, ſuting well with the buſineſſe that it is applied to, (Ordination; wherein there is a charge) layd upon the perſon ordained, and the perſon ſet apart unto a ſpeciall uſe and ſervice.
Warrantable and uſefull wee allow it; yet leaving it as an indifferent Ceremony, as not being of the eſſence of Ordination, (much leſſe of Confirmation,) which may be performed without it, viz. by Faſting, and Prayer. And ſo not abſolutely neceſſary, there being no expreſſe precept in Scripture … inforce it. As for that obvious Text in 1 Tim. 5. 22. Vide Piſcator: ſup. Mat. 19. verſ. 15.Timot…y, where the Apoſtle willeth him not to … on hands ſuddenly upon any man. It ſheweth indeed, what the uſuall Rite and Ceremony then was not what of neceſſity it muſt bee. But of this enough.
The ſignification of this Ceremony, viz. the conferring of ſome gift; eitherThe caſe which the Text leadeth us to, is the former of theſe, the caſe of Benediction. And with this the Ceremony ſuteth well. Importing a putting, or conferring▪ of ſome gift upon another; whether by beſtowing of it, or praying for it.
By beſtowing, &c.Firſt, By beſtowing it. Thus our bleſſed … bleſſed theſe children: Not onelyonly praying for, but Thus Chriſt bleſſed.beſtowing a bleſſing upon them. (D… …ene dic…re … be…efacere;) which was in his power, in his hands to doe. And therefore hee layed his hands upon them.
Bleſſed hands, hands full of bleſſing. In… which was, and is committed the diſpenſation of all bleſſings, both heavenly, and earthly▪ This is that which our Saviour ſaith of himſelfe, Mat. Mat. 21. 18.28. (All power is given unto vice, both in heaven, and in earth.) This hee ſpake after his … Not but that he had this power … how …ve… from thence▪forth hee was to exerciſe it more freely than formerly. Before this he had all power in his hands; a power to conferre and beſtow what bleſſings, and where hee pleaſed. Not unfitly then did he lay on hands upon theſe Infants here, being about to bleſſe them; hee having all bleſſings in his hands.
By praying for it, and pronouncing it.Secondly, But ſo have not others, why then ſhould they lay on hands? I anſwer, though they cannot conferre them, yet they may pray for them. I, more. In the name of God pronounce them, and make promiſe of them: And therefore to confirme the perſons in the apprehenſion of obta…ning what is ſo prayed for, ſo pronounced, ſo promiſed; therefore they lay on hands upon them. Thus Jacob in the place forenamed, layd on hands Gen. 48.upon the ſonnes of Joſeph, praying for, and pronouncing a bleſſing upon them. Thus Moſes layed hands upon Joſuah, who thereupon was filled Deut. laſt▪ verſ. 9.with the ſpirit of wiſedome, as you have it, Deut. laſt. Not that Moſes could put his ſpirit upon Joſhuah, but he praying for it, God conferred it. And thus the Apoſtles in their time layed their hands upon divers, who thereupon received the holy Ghoſt, as it is ſaid of thoſe Diſciples, Acts 19. Not Act. 19. 6.that they of themſelves could conferre the holy Ghoſt, but God did it by their Miniſtery. But I promiſed to be briefe.Act. 3. Chriſt bleſſing of theſe Infants.
A word or two of the laſt branch of the Text, and ſo I will diſmiſſe it, and you for the preſent, viz. the thing ſignified by this Ceremony. [Hee layd his hands upon them, and bleſſed them.] He bleſſed them. How? why, by praying for a bleſſing, pronouncing a bleſſing, conferring a bleſſing upon them▪ All this hee could doe, having authority to bleſſe, and having all power in his hands to conferre, not onelyonly temporall, but ſpirituall, and heavenly bleſſings. Ioh. 17. 2.[Thou haſt given him power over all fleſh, that hee ſhould give eternall life to as many as thou haſt given him.]
Queſt. But the queſtion is, what bleſsing it Queſt. What bleſſing Chriſt beſtowed on theſe Infants.was that Chriſt here beſtowed upon theſe Infants. Chriſt hath many bleſſings (ſaith the Anabaptiſt,) right-hand, and left-hand bleſſings. In the dayes of his fleſh, hee healed the ſicke, cleanſed the leapers, made the dumbe to ſpeake, the blinde to ſee, &c. And who knoweth (ſay they) but ſome ſuch bleſſing it might bee that Chriſt here beſtowed upon them, ſome temporall bleſſing?
Anſw. Not onelyonly a temporall, but a ſpirituall and eternall bleſſing.Anſw. To this wee anſwer, that poſſibly it might be ſo. Hee might, poſſibly, and probably prav that they might live and grow in ſtature, in wiſedome, and favour, and the like. But ſurely, this bleſſing of his imports more▪ The Text telleth us here, that Chriſt layd his [hands] on them. Not one hand, but both. Chriſts bleſsings when hee was upon earth, ſeldome went ſingle. Seldome did he beſtow a left-hand without a right-hand bleſſing. Seldome did hee cure any in their bodies, but hee cured them alſo in their ſoules. And ſurely ſuch was his bleſſing here. More than a bare temporall bleſſing; chiefly, and principally a ſpirituall▪ and heavenly bleſſing▪ even the bleſſing of Gods Kingdome. This hee had before avowed to belong unto them. [Of ſuch is the Kingdome of God;] and the bleſſing of this Kingdome hee here conferred upon them.
Obſerv. Chriſts bleſſing, the beſt bleſſing.Hee bleſſed them.] And what could hee have done more for them? or for any? This was the beſt thing that Iſaac could doe to, or for his ſonne Jacob, to bleſſe him. And what could Chriſt have done better for theſe Infants▪ Hee bleſſing them, they were bleſſed. I have bleſſed him, and hee ſhall Gen. 27. 33.bee bleſſed, ſaith Iſaac concerning his ſonne. And thoſe whom Chriſt bleſſeth▪ they ſhall bee bleſſed.
Applica. Seeke this bleſſing.Applic. O ſeeke we after this bleſſing, the root of all bleſſings. Seeke it for our ſelves, and ſeeke it for our Children. Without this, our bleſsing of them, our providing for them▪ will be little worth. Let it be our care and endeavour to bring them to Chriſt; to know him, to believe on him, that hee may bleſſe them. If he bleſſe them, they ſhall be bleſſed.
And thus I have (as briefly as I could) run over this portion of Scripture, both in a Doctrinall, and Practicall way; ſhewing you ſtill (by the way) what it maketh for that end to which it hath beene ordinarily made uſe of amongſt us, viz. the Baptiſme of Infants. Such they were that were here brought to Christ. Such they were, whom the Diſciples here (out of no ill intent) attempt to keepe backe from …ming t… Chriſt. Such they were whom Chriſt here inviteth to come unto him; prohibiting his Diſciples, or any other to hinder them. Such they were to whom hee avoweth the Kingdome of God, both of Grace, and Glory, to belong. Such they were whom he here embraceth, luy…h his hands on, bleſſeth.
Object. Chriſt did not Baptize theſe Infants Anſw.Object. But (ſaith the Anabaptiſt) what is all this to the point in hand? All this while wee doe not read that Chriſt Baptized theſe Infants?
Anſw. True. No more did he any others. [Ieſus himſelfe baptized not.] Iohn 4. 2. But yet hee expreſſed a ſingular and peculiar affection to them; Invites them to communion with himſelfe, avowes the Kingdome of God to bee theirs; and conferres upon them the bleſsing of that Kingdome. And hath Chriſt thus honoured ſome of this tender age▪ What ſhall new bee done to them, He…. 6. 6.whom the King of Heaven delighteth to honour? Doth hee invite them to communion with himſelfe▪ Who ſhall keepe them backe, by debarring them of the meanes of that communion? Doth hee avow, and conferre the thing ſignified, who ſhall then deny them the ſigne?
FINIS.
End of the text · John Brinsley, The Doctrine and Practice of Paedobaptism (1645)