A Small Treatise of Baptism or Dipping, Title page – Preface

A Small Treatise of Baptism or Dipping · Title page – Preface

A Small Treatiſe of BAPTISME, OR, DIPPING.

VVHEREIN Is Cleerely ſhewed that the Lord CHRIST Ordained Dipping for thoſe only that profeſſe Repentance and FAITH.

1. Proved by Scriptures.

2. By Arguments.

3. A Paralell betwixt Circumciſion and Dipping.

4. An Anſwere to ſome Objections by P. B. Pſal. 119. 130.

By EDVVARD BARBER.

Printed in the Yeere. 1641.

The Preface.

To all that love the Lord Jeſus Chriſt in ſincerity, and his Appearing. Ephe. 6. 24. 1 Gal. 8. 9. Matth. 24. 30. 1 Revel, 7. 1 Cor. 9. 18. & 2. 11. 4.

BEloved Reader, it may ſeeme ſtrange, that in theſe times, when ſuch abundance of Knowledge of the Goſpell is profeſſed in the World, there ſhould notwithſtanding be generally ſuch ignorance, eſpecially in and amongſt thoſe that profeſſe themſelves Miniſters thereof, of that glorious principle, True Baptiſme or Dipping, Ephe. 4. 5. Inſtituted by the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, which a… that look for life and Salvation by him ought to be partakers of, it being that onelyonly which was received by the Apoſtles and Primitive Churches, and for a long time unviolably kept and practiſed by the miniſterie of the Goſpel in the planting of the firſt Churches, & that the Lord ſhould amongſt ſome others, raiſe up mee, a poore Tradeſman, to devlge this glorious Truth, to the worlds cenſuring, but firſt, inaſmuch as the Lord, notwithſtanding, my own unworthineſſe, hath in his Son accepted, and counted worthy to ſuffer for his Name; It being alſo by the Providence of God, ſo much in queſtion at this time, we are therefore imboldened thereunto.

2. The Lords uſuall dealing, it being to bring mighty things to paſſe by weake meanes, as in Joſh. 6. 3. 4▪ 5, 20. & 1. 1. where the walls of Jerecho fell downe by the blaſts of Rams hornes: 1 Sam. 16. 11. Amos 7. 14. And Judg. 7. The Lord gave that great deliverance to Gideon, and 300. which he would not doe to him with 32000. verſe 2. 7. And 1 Cor. 1. 27. 28. Chuſing the fooliſh things of the world, to confound the wiſe, and weake things to confound the mighty, Jer 49. 20. & 50. 44. And baſe things, and things deſpiſed hath God choſen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to naught things that are. Zach. 4. 10. there…ore looking only at the glory of God, and love to the Truth, for which being impriſoned 11. Moneths, by meanes whereof, I being taken off my Calling, had the more opportunitie to ſearch the Scriptures daily, to ſee whether thoſe things were ſo, not as they delivered by Paul, but practiſed by the Prieſtes and Prelates ſo our times, for Paul delivered no ſuch things, as by them is practiſed in many particulars, as is cleerly ſhowne in the following diſcourſe.

3. The reports of ſome, who notwithſtanding, they never ſaw our faces, and ſo by diſcourſe, trie the Spirits, as John adviſeth, 1 Joh. 4. 1. yet behind our backs, have reproached us, and ſo as Saint Jude ſaith, Speake evill of things they know not, and as Jere. ſaith, ſpeak a viſion of their heart, and not from the mouth of the Lord, Jer. 23. 16. 30, 31. 32. I am againſt the Propheſies, ſaith the Lord, that ſteale my words every one from his neighbour, I am againſt the Prophets, ſaith, the Lord, that uſe their tongues, and ſay he ſaith, Behold I am againſt them that propheſie falſe dreames, ſaith the Lord, and doe tell them, and cauſe my people to erre by their lies, and by their lightneſſe, yet I ſent them not, nor commanded them, therefore they ſhall not profit this people at all, ſaith the Lord.

4. Others affirming, there was no plaine text of the Dipping of any VVoman, by the which they diſcover much ignorance of, or malice againſt the Truth, ſtriving to uphold the Traditions of men, in ſtead of the glorions Inſtitutions of Jeſus Christ for the word ſaith, Acts 8. 12. that when they beleeved Philip preaching the things concerning the things concerning the Kingdome of God, and the Name of Jeſus Chriſt, they were dipt, both men and Women: and Acts 16. 14. 15. Lidia a ſeller of purple, with her houſhold, being judged faithfull, was Dipped. And Gal. 3. 28. Male and female one in Chriſt.

5. Conſidering the great burden this State and Kingdome lately lay under, chiefly by thoſe that pretended to be the heads of the Church, as hath been manifeſtly proved by divers that were none of their Clergy, to their eternal fame in that moſt honorable high Court of Parliament.

6. Others that pretend to come neerer in witneſſing againſt the Prelates, yet durſt not Moſes-like ſtand to it, Exod. 23. 32. who deſired his owne ruine, rather then the deſtruction of the people. But theſe ſeeing the Wolfe comming, hid themſelves, or fled beyond the Seas, not ſtanding up in the gap to make up the hedge for the houſe of Iſrael, ſo as they might juſtly be compared to the Foxes of the Deſarts, Ezek. 13. 4, 5. ſo that if the Lord ſhould have ſought for one to make up the hedge, and ſtand in the gap for the Land that it ſhould not be diſtroyed, they were gone beyond the Seas, or …id themſelves when. If ever the Kingdome ſtood in need; but herein they diſcovered themſelves to be hirelings, and not true Shepheards, John 10. 12, 13. or as much as in them is, giving Chriſt the lye, who ſaith his Deſciples ſhall be brought before Kings and Governours for his ſake, whereas the fearefull and unbeleeving are ſet in the forefront of wicked ones, Revel. 21. 8. But the true Shepheard layeth downe his life for his Flocke, and Nehimia, the 6. 11. being in danger, and perſwaded by Sanballet to goe into the Temdl…, ſaith, ſhould ſuch a manas I flye; and who is he that being as I am, would goe into the Temple to ſave his life, I will not goe in; then he perceived that God had not ſent him, and Acts 4. 18, 19. 20. The Apoſtles being command ſilence by Authority, durſt not obey, but anſwereth, whether it bee right in the fight of God, to hearken to you more then unto God, judge yee, for wee cannot but ſpeake the things wee have ſeene and heard. And Matthew. 16. 25, 26. Chriſt ſaith whoſoever will ſave his life, ſhall loſe it; and hee that ſhall loſe his life for my ſake, ſhall find it. This we ſee fulfilled in theſe daies, for ſome forſaking the cauſe of Chriſt, have loſt eſtates and lives, whereas others who have ſtood boldly to it, have ſaved both. And if Meroz with the Inhabitants thereof, was curſed with a bitter Curſe, Judges 5. 23. Becauſe they came not forth to the helpe of the Lord; And Paul thought not good to take Marke with him, becauſe he went not with them to the worke, what may wee think of thoſe that run from it. And if by the Law a Souldeir that leaves his Colours, is to dye the death. What may bee thought of thoſe that leaves their Countries, leaving the cauſe of Chriſt, thinking thereby to ſhun the croſſe: When if ever the Kingdome ſtood in need of helpe. But at this time, which is to bee noted, the Lord raiſed up divers Gentlemen, Laymen, as they call them, to ſtand moſt boldly to the truth in reſpect of Church and Common-Wealth. And as John ſaith, Revella. 12. 11. loved not their lives unto the death. And Paul-like, Acts 21. 13. was not only ready to bee bound, but to ſuffer for the Name of Chriſt.

Againe, others who pretend to come neereſt in that way in ſeparating, yet hold the baptiſme they there received, though on no ground; for i… they were truely baptiſed into that Church I conceive with ſubmiſſion to better judgements, they ought to continue, and to ſeparate for corruptions, as is clearly proved by B. Hall, in his Apology againſt the Browniſts, ſhewing that either they muſt goe forward to baptiſme, or come backe againe to the Biſhops and Church.

7. Conſidering the great wrong done in putting out ſome Scripture, as in the 14. Acts 23. where Election is left out, by which meanes people are kept from knowing, muchleſſe injoying their priviledge put chaſed by the blood of Chriſt: the cauſers thereof for ſo doing lying under the reproofe, which the Lord ſpeakes of in the 13. Chapter of Ezekiel. Secondly, ſome words left untranſlated, as in the 28. of Mat. 19. where the word may as well be Dipping, as in Luke the 16. 29. And this is acknowledged by the Clergy in the booke of Common Prayer, where the Miniſter is commanded to dip the child.

8. There being now a yeare of Jubi…e, ſuch an Aſſembly as that moſt Honourable high Court of Parliament, whoſe eares God hath opened to heare what ever by any ſhall be ſpoken for Gods glory, and the good of this State, Gamaliel-like, Acts 5. 34. 35. weighing, and conſidering things, leaſt otherwiſe they ſhould be found fighters againſt God, therefore with Eſter, 4. 16. deſire to venture, if I periſh, I periſh: conceiving if ſome ſhould not now ſpeake, the ſtones of the ſtreet might cry; wee having lately taken the Oath of Proteſtat…on, againſt Popery, and Popiſh innovation, injoyned upon all the Kingdome ingenerall. And ſprinkling of children being an invention of men, brought in neere three hundered yeares after Chriſt; therefore in obedience to God, and love to our native Country, we deſire to publiſh what truth the Lord betruſts us withall, hoping that God will effect his pleaſure by this weake meanes, or make it a motive to ſtir up ſome of more ability, who will, as in Nehemia's time, ſearch the Regeſter, and thoſe that found not their Genealogy, were as polluted, put from the Prieſthood, and as Chriſt commands, ſearch the Scriptures, John 5. 39. and ſo returne to his inſtitutions.

9. The great cauſe we have to admire the goodneſſe and love of God to this Nation, in King Edward the ſixts daies, for the great light that then broke forth; and they imploying that talent, they received for Gods glory, yet now the light ſpringing forth forth in ſuch abundance, according to the VVord of the Lord, Iſai. 11. 9. we having received more talents, or a greater meaſure of knowledge, it cannot be but the Lord requires an anſwerable obedience, according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not, 2 Cor. 8. 12. for he that had one talent was not blamed, becauſe he did not imploy two, but becauſe he imployed not that hee had: ſo likewiſe, had hee that received five beene guilty of the ſame reproofe, had he imployed but one, Matth. 25. 15. to the 30. looking at the Camelion-like diſpotion of the Miniſters of late times, in King Henry the Eights dayes Papiſts, in King Edward the Six dayes Proteſtants, in Queen Maries daies Papiſts, in Queen Elizabeths Proteſtants, when the Biſhops were in power and authoritie, ſubmit, flie their Countries, or hide their heads, now that by the Providence of God, they are in diſgrace & in part down, oppoſe them with all their might, whereas the true Miniſters of Chriſt were ever the ſame, not variable or changing, Eph. 4. 11. 12. 13. 14. which times and eſtate Government, looking only to God for direction from that great Prophet, the Lord Jeſus Chriſt. Deut. 18. 15. Acts 3. 21. 22. 23. Heb. 1. 1 2 3. Revel. 5. 5.

Laſtly, It's not unknowne, that the faithfull ſervants of God, who have indeavored moſt faithfulneſſe, have often gone under reproaches and ſlanders, as Eliah was counted the troubler of Iſrael, 1 King, 18. 17. and Acts 17. 6. Paul and Silas was ſaid to turne the world upſide downe. And Acts 24. 5. Paul was counted a peſtilent fellow, a mover of Sedition amongſt the Jewes, and a Ring-leader of the Nazarites, inſomuch that they were commanded not to preach in the Name of Chriſt, Acts 4. 18. but verſe the 19, 20, they anſwered, Whether it be right in the ſight of God, to ſpeake to you more then unto God, judge yee, For we cannot but ſpeake the things which wee have ſeene and heard, from whence wee may obſerve the miniſters of Chriſt could never have their mouthes ſtopt by men, no not the majeſtrate, much leſſe the Prelates.

In like manner lately, thoſe that profeſſe and practiſe the dipping of Jeſus Chriſt, inſtituted in the Goſpel, are called and reproached with the name of Anabaptiſts, although our practice be no other then what was inſtituted by Chriſt himſelf, withall deſiring, if there be any that from the VVord of God, can ſhew that we walke in a falſe way, or error in denying the dipping of infants, that they would doe it, for wee profeſſe our ſelves ſuch as deſire the glory of God, and eternall life after death, being confident that our deſire or endeavors cannot bring us thither, but only Chriſt, Heb. 10. 14. Coll. 1. 14. in whom wee have Redemption through his blood, and verſe 19. & 23. withall walking …n that only way which leadeth thereunto, by him preſcribed in his VVord, Joh. 14. 6. & 10. 1. Acts 5. 32. Heb. 5. 9. And being made perfect, he became the Author of of eternall ſalvation to all that obey him, and Theſal. 2. 1. 7. 8. when the Lord Jeſus Chriſt ſhalbe revealed from heaven, with his mighty Angels, in flam…ng fire, rendring vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the Goſpell of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, deſiring therefore that theſe Scriptures may be well weighed, & conſidered of all thoſe that feare God, to the end we may be reformed, if we erre in our judgements by miſ-underſtanding the Scr…ptures, and ſo be brought to acknowledge the Truth, which wee ſhall willingly imbrace, if not, though wee walke in the way called hereſie, as Paul did. Acts 24. 14. yet ſo worſhip wee the God of our Fathers, and at the great day, Every man muſt give account for himſelf. Rom. 14. 10. and Matth. 15. 15. Chriſt ſaith, Every plant which my heavenly Father hath not planted, ſhall be rooted up, meane time all is to grow together, though not in the Church, yet in the world, which is the field, expounded by Chriſt himſelf. Matth. 13. 38.

Againe, knowing that God is the ſame, Mala. 3. 6. Secondly Chriſt is the ſame, Heb. 13. 8. having given lawes, to which none are to add or diminiſh. Thirdly his Miniſterie the ſame, 1 Cor. 12. 67. 28. Ephe. 4. 11, 12, 13. Therefore as wee deſire to give to Caeſar the things that are Caeſars, ſo to God the things that are his, Mat. 22. 21. Hee being the Father of Spirits, and ſo the only Author of ſpiritual worſhip, Jo. 4. 24. He. 12 9. Fourthly the Promiſes to Beleevers the ſame Jer. 31. 3. Mat. 28. 20. Rom. 8. 29. 30. 1 Pet. 1. 2. Therefore the Adminiſtration the ſame, ſo long as there remaines any of the members of Chriſt to be gathered on the earth, Rev. 22 18. And if the Q. of Sheba hearing of the fame of Solomon, which when ſhee ſaw, there was no more ſpirit left in her, 1 King. 10. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. how much more are we to admire and reſt ſatisfied to ſee the fulneſſe of Chriſt, and the order left in the Goſpel. Mat. 12. 42. Luke 11. 31. Col. 1. 19.

By Edward Barber, Citizen, and Merchant-Taylor of London; late Priſoner, for denying the ſprinkling of Infants, and requiring tithes now under the Goſpel to be Gods Ordinance.