The Grounds and Ends of the Baptism of the Children of the Faithful, To the reader 2 – Preface
To the READER.
THe due Application of Baptiſm to all thoſe Perſons Chriſt would have it adminiſtred unto, cannot but be apprehended, by all that have any inſight into the Controverſies of theſe times, to be of a very high importance; whether we reſpect the Ordinance it ſelfe, the Perſons right, or the Conſciences of thoſe in Errour about it. For the Ordinance it ſelfe; as it was one of the firſt of thoſe inſtitutions of the Goſpell, ſo in reſpect of the things ſealed up therein, it is the Greateſt: our firſt Union with Chriſt, the great promiſe of the Spirit, (the foundation of all grace and glory.) Our repreſentation by, and communion with Chriſt in his death & reſurrection, being hereby at once ſealed up by God to the perſons that partake thereof as belonging to them, and to have all theſe m…ſplaced, to perſons not capable, through want of divine warrant, of any benefit thereby, cannot but be eſteemed a great prophaning of it: As on the other ſide, the withholding it from ſuch as Chriſt hath bequeathed this Legacy unto, would bee found as highly derogatory to the great goodneſſe and rich grace of the Teſtator. And ſo withall an injury unto the Perſons of Infants having right therunto, in thoſe whom Chriſt hath made Adminiſtrators of theſe his Myſteries. Great alſo is the moment thereof to the Conſciences of many good ſoules, as in the conſequents of the contrary Opinion of denying Infants Baptiſme, is in ſome (I muſt not ſay of all) too apparent. The vindication therefore of this great Truth, doth deſerve and challenge the choiceſt abilities of the Divines of this age: it being in the dayes of this ſecond Reformation with us, afreſh, if not as much controverted, as in the times of the firſt Reformation it was in Germany. And it is more light and leſs violence (though in truths taken generally for granted) that muſt end this and all other controverſies of this elevation that are amongſt us. And it will ſurely be rewarded by Chriſt at the latter day, as a worke of more then ordinary Charity, to have pleaded and maintained the right of theſe poore members of his, who want a tongue to ſpeake for themſelves.
In a manner half the Church of God, and that, puriſſima pars Eccleſiae, the pureſt part of it, elect Infants, dye, (as well-nigh halfe the reſt of mankind) in their bud and infancy, and grow not up to partake of the dewes and influence of any other outward Ordinance; and were they deprived of this, ſhould goe out of this world, (into which God onelyonly ſent them to receive that which ſhould make them meet for the common inheritance of the Saints) without any outward owning them, or viſible way of bleſsing from him, that hath bleſſed them and us with his choiceſt heavenly bleſsings in Chriſt. Yea, and the other half of thoſe that grow up to glorifie God in their riper years, whereof many are alſo holy even from the womb, theſe alſo ſhould during their yeares of nonage want an outward badge, and any outward acknowledgment of what they are, even fellow heires of the Kingdom with their brethren, which even in the infancy of the world it ſelfe, whilſt all were under Tutors and Governours, was their priviledge. To cleare therefore their evidences, and ſet right their title to this Kingdome, and to ſhew forth a writ and warrant for their enſtallment and admiſsion into it, by Baptiſm, is an act of the greateſt Juſtice as of charity.
Theſe and the l…ke weighty conſiderations have ſtirred up the Spirit of this learned, grave and holy Man, (though full of other labours and employments, and now therewith of yeares) to bring forth of his rich Treaſury things both new and old for the aſſerting this ſo important truth. Of the Author himſelf, what is ſaid of Ezra his ſearch into the Ordinances of the Law, that his heart was prepared to ſeek the Law of the Lord, and to doe it, and to teach in Iſrael Statutes and Judgements: The ſame I may ſay of him concerning the Inſtitutions (thoſe heavenly things, Heb 7.…3.as in compariſon of the other, the Apoſtle ſpeakes) of the Goſpel. Much of his thoughts and attention have been ſpent thereon, both to ſever them from the additions and inventions of men, and to preſerve them in their Dignity from the diſregard of others. And he was a choſen inſtrument of God to hold forth the purity thereof in a great meaſure, well-nigh from the firſt of his ſetled Miniſtry, with much conſtancy and integrity, and with an eminent bleſſing both of protection and ſucceſſe upon his Miniſtry in thoſe evill times, which ſince hath been further crowned with further light herein. Who continues ſtill to eſteem the clearing any part or portion thereof, a ſufficient reward of his choiceſt paines. And yet he hath not made thoſe leſſer, and more outward things of the Goſpel, the chiefeſt or firſt born of his ſtrength, but in a due proportion the greater matters of Faith, and of the common ſalvation: which hee hath more univerſally traverſed, even the whole circle of Theologie, and in his Miniſtery gone over; beſides many ſelect Bookes of Scripture opened by him therein, then moſt Divines alive.
I ſhall adde nothing for the preſent about the ſubject matter of this Treatiſe, I having already in my publique Miniſtry at large delivered my ſelf of what I have to ſay in this Argument, which though I have been provoked enough to make more publike, yet hitherto through many, what more urgent diverſions, what perſonall infirmities to deale in many things at once, I have been hindered from caſting that worthleſſe Mite into the publike Treaſury.
Tho. Goodwin.
The Grounds and Ends of Baptiſme of the Children of the Faithfull. Opened in a Familiar Diſcourſe by way of a Dialogue or Brotherly Conference. PREFACE.
Silvanus.BRother Silveſter, for the love I beare to you, and your godly Parents, I have been much provok…d in Spirit, to endeavour the pulling you forth of that error into which you are ſo deeply plunged. I doubt not your Elders and others of your Brethren have not been wanting to uſe the meanes for your conviction and ſatisfaction. But if the Lord eſpyed an Idol ſet up in your heart, he might juſtly leave you to ſee nothing but according to your Idol. If the heart be once taken with the love of an Error, it is all one (if not worſe) as not to be taken with the love of truth. And in ſuch a caſ…, God is wont to give up the ſoule to ſtrong deluſions to beleeve lies, 2 Theſſ. 2.10, 11. But (beſides your owne Elders and Brethren) you wanted not other friends (the Elders and Brethren of ſome other Churches) whom you have bin wont to conſult withall in leſſe matters, and them you acquainted not with your ſcruples, which whether it were out of loathneſſe to grieve them, or out of loathneſſe to be removed from your way, I doe not know.
Silveſter.I am not ſo wedded to my way, but I am willing to heare counſell from the word of God: And therefore neither am I unwilling to acquaint your ſelfe with my ſcruples in this point,