Defense of the Lawfulness of Baptizing Infants, Title page – Table of contents
A DEFENCE OF THE LAVVFVLNESSE OF Baptizing Infants. As alſo of the preſent Baptiſme, as it hath continued in the ſeverall ages of the world, from John Baptiſt the firſt beginner thereof: In way of Anſwer to ſomething written by IOHN SPILSBERIE againſt the ſame.
1 Theſ. 5. 12.
Try all things, hold faſt that which is good.
Pſal. 105. 8.
He hath remembred his Covenant for ever, the word which he commanded to a thouſand generations.
Deut. 30. 6.
And the Lord thy God will circumcize thy heart, and the heart of thy ſeed, &c.
LONDON, Printed by M. Bell for Benjamin Allen, and are to be ſold at his ſhop in Popes head Alley at the ſigne of the Crowne. 1645.
To the Reader.
THe holy Scriptures do inform us of two ſeverall perſecutions raiſed by Satan againſt that innocent part of the Church (to wit, Infants) beſide the perſecutions which incluſively they at ſeverall times have ſuffered with the reſt of the Church. The firſt was by Pharaoh, that ſore oppreſſour of Iſrael, that held them in ſuch cruell bondage. The ſecond was by bloody Herod. Our Lord himſelfe in this latter was perſonally concerned, he then being an Infant, and Rachels Infants ſuffering for him. In both which it is conſiderable the time when: In the firſt, it was when the Iſraelites were neere deliverance from Egypts bondage. The ſecond was when the Deliverer was come to Sion, and deliverance it was neere at hand. In like kinde now in this laſt age; now God is delivering of his Church from the long and ſore bondage of ſpirituall Babylon (called Sodom and Egypt) he returning to her as in the dayes of old. There is even now alſo a ſore perſecution againſt this innocent part of the Church, which is ſo much the more ſad and grievous in theſe three reſpects: Firſt, in that it is raiſed and carried on by ſuch as pretend to be friends and lovers of Sion the Church of God; if it were by open and profeſſed enemies, it were more eaſie to be borne. Secondly, in that they pretend to the glory of God this their perſecuting and caſting out a part of his heritage; as did of old thoſe that caſt out their brethren, and ſaid, Let the Lord be glorified, Eſay 66. by which meanes many are deceived. Thirdly, in that their oppoſition is againſt them in a ſpirituall regard, it being againſt their relation to God, to his Church, to his gracious Covenant, or Covenant of grace: from all which they ſeclude them, driving them out of Gods heritage, that they may goe ſerve other gods, ſpoiling them of all their externall rights and priviledges, and ſo leaving them among the dead; to wit, in treſpaſſes and ſinnes.
Pharaoh endeavoured to deſtroy, and Herod killed a part of this part of the Church. But theſe in a ſpirituall ſenſe have deſtroyed all this part of the Church; not one left alive, in way of relation to God, or intereſſed externally in Jeſus Chriſt.
But this hard and injurious dealing Jehovah that is mighty, and Jeſus Chriſt that is gracious, who manifeſted much tender reſpect unto theſe, will plead their cauſe and right their wrong againſt ſuch as riſe up againſt them as he did of old, for he taketh it as done againſt himſelfe.
Courteous Reader, in the behalfe of theſe innocent Saints, to whom the grace of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt is moſt free, they having nothing to bring unto him (no not ſo much as good words) I doe make defence in their cauſe, as touching their right in the Covenant of grace, and part in the Church of God, to whom they having relation as to a father, and are therein bleſſed, as ſuch are whoſe God is the Lord.
Now I have thought good to offer it to thy view, in regard that a great part of what I have ſaid for them, and againſt their oppoſers, runneth in another line ſomething different from what is uſually pleaded in their behalfe; that it might be conſidered of, together with an anſwer to ſome things controvertable in that way, about the raiſing of Baptiſme pretended to be loſt, but indeed continued by the power of God under the defilements of Antichriſt. The exceptions againſt the ſaid continuance I have made anſwer unto, as alſo ſome other particulars handled; all which I have referred to thy judgement, forbearing ſuch confident expreſſions of proofe and full proofe (as is to be found not in a few of this way and others alſo) that in the judgement of the Reader have made proofe of nothing at all. Indeed ſuch confident praiſing of a mans own work is a certaine ſigne of the weakneſſe of it. Uſe thy rightfull liberty (good Reader) in the conſideration of what is ſaid, and be impartiall, ſeeing thou art free.
Now for my particular Opponent, I profeſſe as much reſpect and tender of love to him as to any of that way, and therefore deſire that nothing may be miſconſtrued in regard of the manner of any proceed, nor of any phraſes; wherein I intend no hurt, but to quicken the Reader, and to make the matter more plauſible to ſome that are dull. If any aſke, why I anſwer only a part, and not the whole book publiſhed by my oppoſite: I anſwer, firſt, that a great part of it was an anſwer to ſome others, to whom I leave it to make reply if they pleaſe. Secondly, in regard that ſome other part of the Booke is in way of oppoſall of their opinion that hold not alike the truth of the Church and Baptiſme in the defection, but hold the truth of Baptiſme only. I might doe them wrong, for want of ability, to manage and make out the matter, therefore I have forborn and left it to themſelves, if they pleaſe to make defence.
In regard ſome part of this Conteſt is of perſonall Reformation and proceed from corrupt wayes; to ſerve God purely, the maine worke of this preſent age, I ſhall take the boldneſſe to forewarne in love and ſobriety all perſons to take heed to their ſetting out at the firſt; for want whereof this and other errours have been fallen into by not a few. A perſon miſſing his way at the firſt ſetting out, the further he goeth the further out and to ſeeke; even ſo it is in this, one errour begetteth another, and another; and there is no end till men ſit down in darkneſſe.
That perſon that caſt away the truth of his relation to God, to Chriſt, externally, becauſe of defilements, will never be able to make out his relation in a way of purity. Other foundation can none lay then that which is laid already, no not ingard of outward Religion and the ſervice of God. It is ſafeſt keeping to this, leſt men make their eaſe like thoſe that comming from captivity ſought their diſcent and could not finde it, and ſo might not be admitted to ſpeciall Ordinances, but by Ʋrim, &c. Eſra 2. 62. 63. Their labour is to be pitied that know not the way to the City; how ſhall ſuch be ever ſtayed in their courſe, or ſetled in their way, or free from errour and changes from one to another, that hold not the truth of Gods holy Ordinances to have continued in the world, but to be ceaſed by meanes of the defilements that have attended them. Conſider of it, courteous Reader, and of the whole inſuing matter, which I commend to thy conſideration and the bleſſing of God, to cauſe thee to profit, which if in any thing thou ſhalt doe I have my deſire, and ſo reſt
Thine in the ſervice of love P. B.
The Contents.
CHAP. I. COntaining an Anſwer to nine Reaſons againſt the baptizing of Infants. fol. 1
CHAP. II. Containing a diſcovery of the vaine pretence of finding Baptiſme loſt, and fallen out of the world, in the holy Scriptures of God. fol. 17
CHAP. III. Containing a defence of the judgement of ſuch as hold that Baptiſme hath continued the Ordinance of God under the defilements of Antichriſt. fol. 32
CHAP. IV. Containing a defence of their judgement, that hold no right, or orderly miniſteriall Church, without or before Baptiſme. fol. 57