The Virtue and Value of Baptism, Sermon (2 of 3)

The Virtue and Value of Baptism · Sermon (2 of 3)

p. 93We ſee then, that if we will be guided in our drawing nigh, God by the way of Chriſt, his appearance to his Church, p. 94or approach to his Father as a Mediator, or if we obſerve the ſucceſſion of Baptiſme to Circumciſion, or nature of Baptiſme as an Ordinance of confaederation with God, conſecration to God, conjunction to the Church of God, we muſt needs be convinced that Baptiſme or the body waſhed with pure water is an eſpeciall qualification that fits us for acceſſe to God. And now we proceed to the application of the Doctrine.

The firſt uſe then that we ſhould make of this point is of information, and that teacheth us this Leſſon, Baptiſme is an Ordinance of exceeding dign…y and abſolute neceſſity to be purſued and highly prized by the people of God that will draw nigh unto him, for it is p. 95the eſpeciall qualification that fits us with confidence to draw nigh unto him, as it is an Ordinance of God, it is the object of reverence and eſteem and indiſpenſably neceſſary by reaſon of Divine command, no… to be ſleighted by ſuch as pr…feſſe ſubjection to him: but of much more value when conſidered as the Ordinance of incorporation into Chriſts body, matriculation into the houſhold of faith, and conſecration unto an holy God, and ſo it doth not onelyonly call for affection, eſteem honour and reverence: but alſo it preſents it ſelfe unto our reaſon, and impoſeth it ſelfe on our conſcience as uſefull and indiſpenſably neceſſary, whilſt it appeares not onelyonly as an act of worſhip, but Organ of Grace and inſtrument of much good unto p. 96the ſoule, the which though it doth doth not conferre, opere operato by meer application as by any Phyſiciall power in it ſelfe, yet it is a morall inſtrument offering matter to the rationall argumentations and diſcourſes of a believing ſoule, either to the encouragement of his faith or enforcement of duty, and is by divine inſtitution Gods method and inſtrument whereby he hath graciouſly confirmed theſe priviledges, and ſo it is neceſſary not onelyonly ratione precepti, a commanded duty: but alſo medii as a morall meanes to be managed by meditation and Divine method preſcribed by the Lord, as that whereby we may claime his promiſe and conclude a relation to and fitneſſe for Communion with him, and without p. 97which we cannot ordinarily expect his bleſſing, and be accounted his people; and what he doth in extraordinary caſes where he providentially ſuperſedeth an Ordinance, as by untimely death, and the like, doth no way abate the dignity or abſtract from the neceſſity of waſhing the body with pure water by the Sacrament of Baptiſme; the conviction of this truth will call for a conſtant and reverent attendance on Baptiſme and conſcientious uſe of it in all covenient opportunitie that God ſhall give us, and check the contempt and profane negle…t thereof that is not a little abounded (to our ſhame and with grief of heart be it ſpoken) in the midſt of us: were men but rightly affected with the nature of Baptiſme, they would p. 98ſee in it beauty, and of it a great neceſſity. Was not waſhing of the fleſh neceſſary and the holy Garment glorious in Iſrael becauſe they fitted for approach to God and entrance into the holy place? if men were but really convinced that the body waſhed with pure water was a ground of aſſurance, becauſe a qualification of acceſs to God, that B…ptiſme is the onelyonly band of union and doore of admiſſion into the Church, the formall conſecration to the ſervice of the living God, what an eſteem of Baptiſme muſt needs poſſeſſe their hearts, and make them not content without, but carefull to purſue it, as ſeeing into Gods preſence there is no approach to ſuch as are not ſanctified by the waſhing of water through the Word? but a preſſing unto p. 99Gods Ordinances, not thus prepared, muſt be a preſumption no leſs then damnable; nay how would the ſence of Baptiſme affect the heart with joy, whilſt thereby we are made Members of Gods Church (an higher priviledg then the Coronation of a King C.) and made fit for the worſhip of an holy God, the ground of all alacrity and boldneſſe in the uſe of his Ordinances? How muſt ſuch a ſoule ſay what a happy condition am I now in, who through Grace have my body waſhed with pure water, and joyned to the houſhold of faith, and ſanctified for the ſervice of that conſuming fire and Holy God, whom to approach unto, it's the greateſt happineſſe man can enjoy? whilſt others are a far off, debarred the Holy things p. 100of Grace, and dare not intermeddle with the Holy things of God, nor draw nigh unto his Holy place; I come with freedome into his Sanctuary, and claim the liberty and priviledges thereof by virtue of Baptiſm, that Covenant of God which is upon my fleſh, in this therefore I will rejoyce before the Lord. Nay, the ſenſe of Baptiſme as a qualification for acceſſe to God would ſet our hearts into a reverent uſe and dreadfull attendance on the adminiſtration of it to others; whileſt the Element is weak and ſimple, its uſe and end muſt make it glorious and powerful; whilſt common waſhing is contemptible, a bathing the fleſh at the door of the Tabernacle in order to an entrance into the Holy place, p. 101and appearance before God is dreadful; …gh Wax and parchment a… poor, and viile, & baſe, and common Commodities moſt Shops afford Commodities much higher prized, yet theſe conjoyned by the hand of Majeſty to make a Patent, Deed or Magna Charta to ſecure ſome Grant, priviledge or great revenue, is of much more worth and value, and received with more reverence and eſteem: if we look on water, we ſee it is an Element as low as common; as me…n in our eſteem, as ordinary in men… uſe; and this is ready to raiſe in our hearts contemptible thoughts, and make us ſay, what a beggerly Element and baſe Adminiſtration is this? What profit can be in the Application of an handfull of water? But when we ſhall conſider p. 102that water is applyed by vertue of Gods Command, as a moſt ſacred Ordinance, to ſignifie the blood of Chriſt whereby we are cleanſed from all ſin; to ſeale unto us the Covenant of Grace and all its priviledges of Salvation, to ſet us in union with the Church to the enjoyment of all Goſpel Ordinances, and Sanctifie us as a peculiar people, that may and muſt draw nigh to God in aſſurance of faith; what luſtre doth there appear in the Ordinance? what reverence doth then raiſe our Spirits? what high and honourable regard doe we then ſee we ow unto this common and contemptible act of Baptiſme? oh what prayers for efficacy? what prayſes for enjoyment, what pleaſure in adminiſtration? muſt the conſecrating, p. 103qualifying and ſoule-encouraging aſſuring nature of Baptiſme, effect in all ſuch as are ſeriouſly affected with Gods Holineſs and the order of approach to him? unto all ſuch Baptiſme is no carnall beggarly and unprofitable Element, but a Glorious Spirituall Evangelicall Adminiſtration of exceeding dignity; no Church complement and matter of indifferency that may or may not be uſed without any damage, but a compleat duty by reaſon of Divine command and its own due nature, diſpoſing man into ſuch a devout relation to God, and ſo of indiſpenſable neceſſity.

Ʋſe 2. Is of reproofe, juſtly to blame that diſeſteeme and diſregard of Baptiſme that is to be found among us; our age p. 104of liberty hath ſet us ſo looſe to Goſpell Ordinances that many can be not onelyonly content wi…hout them, but alſo readily run into the contempt of them; how few in the midſt of us underſtand the nature and ſeek the uſe of Baptiſme as a ground of …aith and Ordinance of Conſecration, and ſo of confident acceſs to God; mens principles and practiſe doth proclaim their palpable ignorance of ſuch priviledges poſſeſſed by the body waſhed with pu…e water: How many (to our ſhame and with griefe be it ſpoken) do uſe Baptiſme as a meere Church complement and convenient Ce…emony? to the content of their wives, kinsfolke, friends or neighbours, bring their children to be Baptiſed without any awe of an Ordinance p. 105of God upon their ſpirit or apprehenſion of advantage to be by Baptiſme conferred, or deſign and intention of ſolemne dedication of their children to God and his ſervice, and ſo to have Gods name and Covenant ſtamped upon their fleſh, and them fi…ted for acceſſe to God in the Aſſemblies of his people; and hence it is that they are at coſt and care for the civilities that attend the Baptiſme of their children, but as for the Solemne praiſes of God, for the bleſſing of the Covenant, prayers for a bleſſing on an Ordina…ce, and carefull inſtruction of their Baptized children in the conſecrating nature of Baptiſme, the boldneſſe it creates, and the duty of acceſs to God it impoſeth, theſe come not into his thoughts, coſt p. 106him no care or pains, his friends gone, and work done, he thinks himſelfe well rid of a piece of trouble, and purſues that dayes enjoyments to no more advantage: nay how many ſit ſo luke-warme in minds and affections to Baptiſme that they think it to be a meer Ceremony, and matter of indifferency, if their body be waſhed they are content, but they know no good it hath done them: and if it be not waſhed they are as well pleaſed, they ſee no loſſe they undergoe by the want of it, and they can accompany with the Baptized or unbaptized in the Aſſemblies of Gods people and Adminiſtrations of Grace; they matter not an outward Ceremony, but look after the inward and hidden Man of the heart; true and reall Grace p. 107without any outward Ordinance, ſhall be the ground of their communion; but ſay Circumciſion or Uncircumciſion avails not to them; muſt it not be concluded that theſe men yet need to be informed in the firſt rudiments of the Doctrine of God, even the Doctrine of Baptiſmes? and to be convinced, that the body waſhed with pure water, is the qualification preſcribed by a glorious God, to conſecrate ſuch as with confidence approach before him? and ſo the contempt of it muſt needs be prophane and dangerous; nay, too many in the midſt of us, open their black mouths and give their blaſphemous tongues the liberty of decrying and vilifying this Holy Ordinance, envying againſt it as a carnal, baſe, beggarly Element, p. 108an Excrementious Ordinance, and Antichriſtian Idol, and piece of abomination; ſo horribly profane and impudent do impoſtors grow by liberty, that they will outface God, and ſpeak blaſphemouſly of Divine inſtitution, and the appointed order of acceſſe to God in the aſſemblies of his people. Nay, what ſhall we ſay to the rude receſſion of people from the application of Baptiſm to others? or their irreverent attendance on it, as if it concerned not them, or were no part of Gods worſhip; and of thoſe eminent pretenders unto Saintſhip, who diſown the relation of men Baptized to God, and themſelves (as the people of God) ſtanding at a diſtance from the conſecrated to the Lords ſervice, as if profane and p. 109altogether ſtrangers to the Covenant, and many other profane carriages that are inſuitable to ſo holy an Ordinance: But Generalia non pungunt; not to confine my ſelf to Generals, which will hardly reach the heart and conſciences. Give me leave to take notice of thoſe principles and practiſes that are inconſiſtent with this holy uſe and nature of Baptiſme, and do indeed profanely militate againſt this doctrine that teacheth you, That Baptiſm, or the body waſhed with pure water, is the eſpecial qualification of confidence in approach to God in the aſſemblies of his people: and I ſhall Rank them into this order, and make them known by theſe names:

They are ſuch who,

p. 1101. Dictate to the unbaptized a liberty of acceſſe to God.

2. Diſown and decline their Baptiſm in their approaches to God.

3. Diſregard Baptiſm adminiſtred to others.

4. Diſeſteeme the priviledges conferred by Baptiſm.

5. Declare not to theirs Baptized the dignity and duty of Baptiſm.

6. Deny the Baptized the liberty of acceſſe to God in the aſſemblies of his people and uſe of his Ordinances.

Unto each of theſe this Doctrine doth ſpeak Reproof and Blame, as we ſhall note in the particular conſideration of them. And

Firſt, If the waſhing of the body with pure water or Baptiſm p. 111be the eſpecial qualification of confident approach to God in the aſſemblies of his people, then Generally are they too blame, who do Dictate to the unbaptized a liberty of acceſſe to God. Many in this Remiſſe age of ours, can make Baptiſm a matter of no moment in their Communion; they can hold Communion with baptized or unbaptiſed, and cry out, Circumciſion or uncircumciſion is to them nothing, as if this Ordinance of Baptiſm were rendred indifferent as the nullified Ordinance of Circumciſion. And they themſelves complain of rigor and ſeverity in ſuch as impoſe Baptiſm as the ground of Communion in the Church, and decline the adminiſtration of holy things to the unbaptized; theſe call for inward p. 112grace, the anſwer of a good conſcience. Real love to Jeſus Chriſt, and then they care not whether they ever paſſe under the outward Ordinance or be Baptized. And herein the Lukewarmneſſe of private men is not ſo much to be blamed, for that the leaders of the people cauſe them to erre; ſome that ſtand in the midſt of you as guides, and profeſſe themſelves Miniſters of Jeſus Chriſt, and teachers of the truth, have not been aff…aid (if I may not ſay aſhamed) poſitively to affirm, and (in this Pulpit) plainly to teach as the very mind of God, Tha Baptiſm is not the ground of Church Communion, but real Grace, the anſwer of a good Conſcience, by the Reſurrection of Chriſt from the dead: and therefore did p. 113offer and affirm, That although a man were altogether ignorant of the Doctrine of Baptiſm, and had never paſſed under that outward Ordinance, yet he could own him as a member of the Church, hold Communion with him, and admit him to all the Ordinances of Jeſus Chriſt; and much to this purpoſe, which ſtands in a direct contradiction to this truth, and declared uſe of Baptiſm. For if it be the qualification of acceſſe to God, the door of admiſſion into the aſſemblies of Gods people, and way of conſecration unto Communion in the holy things of God: muſt it not needs be profaneneſſe to adminiſter the holy things of God to ſuch as are not thus qualified? and preſumption to invite ſuch unto the participation p. 114of them? But a little to expoſtulate with the aſſerters of this Baptiſm-ſubverting notion: Will God be worſhipped by outward Ordinaces? and muſt theſe Ordinances be enjoyed in order, ſome preparing for participation to others? Is Baptiſm the firſt Ordinance of the Goſpel? Initiating Seal of the Covenant? Door of admiſſion into the Church? and method of Matriculation into the houſhold of Faith? and way of conſecration unto Communion with God and his people? Is it not reckoned among the firſt principles of the Word of God, to be learned by all Diſciples entred into Chriſt's School? And if ſo, muſt it not be horrid profaneneſs to decry the knowledge of Baptiſm and its Doctrine? p. 115To expoſe communion with God and his people to common hands never ſanctified, and by body waſhing ſeparated from the heap of mankind, on whom Baptiſm never ſtamped holineſſe? and groſſe impiety to fling open the door of Gods houſe that dogs and ſwine may enter at pleaſure, there being no baptiſmal badge of diſtinction between them and the children of God? Is it not great prodigality to offer the priviledges of the Covenant to every hand, not having any Sealed intereſt whereon to claim? Is it not grievous preſumption to decline the directed order of the Goſpel, and diſpence the holy things of God in a way and method contrary to that whereby Chriſt and his Apoſtles either injoyned or p. 116adminiſtred them? Muſt not this needs be Superſtition, Will-worſhip, a laying waſte Divine directions, and running from the Rule of Scripture, and due method of holy things? Muſt not God in his Jealouſie needs ariſe and ſay to ſuch Miniſters as to the keepers of the Sanctuary, Ez…k. 44.7. You have enough of all abominations, ſeeing ye have brought into my houſe the unbaptized in fl…ſh and in ſpirit. To what end do theſe men Baptize any, or urge any to be Baptized? In this aſſertion Baptiſme is proclaimed a matter of indifferency, nay, a meer nullity, an action of no advantage, adminiſtred to no end: for if it confer not outward Priviledges, it will never conveigh inward Grace. And thus the inſtitutions of the Lord p. 117Jeſus ſtands charged with folly and vanity, and the Ordinances of the Goſpel are made Complements, and bootleſſe Ceremonies; but rather the Spirit of ſeduction is evidenced to be prophane, notoriouſly wicked, willingly withſtanding Divine order, and in the name of God expoſing the holy God to irreverent, rude approaches, and his Seals and ſanctifying Ordinance to ſcorn and contempt.

Nor is this guilt thus charged in the leaſt extenuated by the qualifica…ion required and propounded as the ground of Communion; viz. R…al Grace, the anſwer of a go…d conſcience by the Reſu…rect…on of Chriſt from the de…d: for I never yet found this propounded in Scripture as the ground of Church communion; not is p. 118it diſcernable by every eye of every common believer, who are to ſee ſuch ſanctified unto God to whom they do joyn themſelves. Nay, the very Stewards of the myſteries of God have not that Spirit of infallible diſcerning the truth of grace. Groſſe hypocrites have been by the very Apoſtles of Jeſus Chriſt Baptized and admitted into the Church: and ſo will be by all that adminiſter holy things, for Hypocrites void of true Grace, muſt be found in the Church when the Lord Jeſus Chriſt ſhall come to Judgment. And if it could be known, yet by what authority is inward Grace divided from the outward Ordinance and oppoſed thereunto? Thoſe things which God hath joyned together, ſhall any man p. 119dare to divide aſunder? and can true Grace conſiſt with ignorance of the Doctrine of Baptiſm, and neglect and contempt of the leaſt Ordinance of Jeſus Chriſt, and inverſion of the order of the Goſpel? But is not this moſt graceleſſe Chymiſtry ſo to ſpiritualize Goſpel diſpenſation as to Deifie every Miniſter that hath the charge of the Sanctuary? Nay, every believer that muſt hold communion in the Ordinances of the Goſpel, by making them Searchers of the heart, and infallible diſcerners of Real Grace, the ground of Church Communion, and to juſti…e the waſhing of the body which God hath made the ground of confidence in acceſſe to him in the aſſemblies of his people.

p. 120Secondly, The ſecond ſort to be reproved as contradictorie to this conſecrating, faith encouraging Ord…nance of waſhing the body with pure water, are ſuch as Diſown and decline Baptiſm in their drawing nigh to God in the aſſemblies of his pe…ple: Like Prieſt like People; if men that …all themſelves Miniſters …d Teachers ſhall with black mouths blaſpheme Baptiſme, it cannot but meet with people that ſhall pr…fane, contemn, and caſt off that holy Ordinance. If Teachers ſhall dare in the Name of the Lord to declare, That water-baptiſm is not the ground of communion with the Church viſible, no marvel if men do ſl ght Baptiſme in ſeeking ſuch communion; nay, it were a marvel if ſome ſhould not ſinfully reject p. 121and renounce it; for he is a mean man that draweth not ſome Clients after him. A…e there not many in the midſt of us that make their way to God by renouncing their Baptiſm, when once their fancy doth but dictate to them a vanity in that outward Ordinance, and their tongues are filled with vilifying invectives, calling it beggarly Element, carnal Ordinance, outward and groundleſs Ceremony, badg of Antichriſt, Superſtitious adminiſtration; their hearts are as full of joy as they can hold, now they are full of courage, can come with freedom and full aſſurance to God, being as they pretend baptized with the Spirit and fire; now they boldly joyn themſelves to that aſſembly they call the Church of God, p. 122and deſpiſing all outward Ordinances, their formal admiſſion muſt be by a full renunciation of their Baptiſm and all carnal acts of worſhip (as they phraſe it) that they may ſerve God in Spirit.

This generation of men muſt needs appear moſt groſſely ignorant or greatly deluded as to the method of approach to God, and manner of worſhip to be done unto him. Unto them I would demand, If they be guided by Scripture directions (not Enthuſiaſmes, and pretended Inſpirations) whether Scripture doth not declare, That divided man muſt make no aprroach to God? the Spirit of all fleſh will be adored with outward acts of worſh p wh…ch h… himſelf hath ap…ointed. Hath God comm…nded p. 123Baptiſm to no uſe or end? May bodies not conſecrated come nigh to holy Preſence? Muſt not the Lords immediate attendants be diſtinguiſhed from the reſt of the world by ſome Livery that is obvious and to be ſeen by every eye? Can the Spirit and Sacred Ordinances of God ſtand oppoſite one to the other, and not conſiſtent each with other? And muſt ſincere Gra…e ſhare ſtakes with God, giving m…n the Body and God the Spirit? The Divel may be content with the half of man, for he well knows by that means he doth poſſeſſe the whole for God will have all or none: they that will draw nigh to his Sanctuary muſt love him with all their migh…, heart, ſoul and ſtrength: they that will wait on him, muſt worſhip him in p. 124Body and Spirit: They that walk as the redeemed of Chriſt, muſt gloryfie him with Soul and Body, which is their reaſonable ſacrifice, Rom. 12.1. For both were bought with a price, 1 Cor. 6.20. God will part with no part of his purchaſe, and hath therefore preſcribed outward acts of adoration to be bodily performed in the ſincerity of Spirit, and appointed the waſhing of the body with pure water to conſecrate and ſtamp holineſſe on the outward man, as well as the ſprinkling of the heart for the inward: the exerciſe of the body …n the outward acts of worſhip without the Spirit, is plain hypocriſie; and the exerciſe of the Spirit without the Bodies ſubjection to outward Ordinances, is poſitive profaneneſſe; ſuch is the p. 125Souls influence on the Body, that if it awfully apprehend Majeſty it will make the bodily members to expreſſe it. In vain is heart Subjection pretended where the yoke of outward Ordinances is broken from the neck: What likelyhood of Loyalty from ſuch as ſcorne the Livery? Sad is that Sanctity that ſets at enmity Gods Spirit and Sacred Ordinances: Curſed is that cry of holineſs that cryeth down Divine order and Ordinances: Rebellious is that Aſſembly whoſe Incorporation is a renunciation of the matter and method of Gods Worſhip: Dreadful muſt needs be Gods approach to th…t people that draw nigh unto him not duly conſecrated to that end by Baptiſm, and touch the holy things of God in his Aſſembly, p. 126not having the body waſhed with pure water I have loſt my little skill in Scripture-Calcuiation, if ſuch periſh not in the gain ſaying of Korah, and occaſion not a P…rz-vzzah in Iſrael

Whileſt ſome diſown Baptiſme as an outward Ordinance, by the Spirit of Familiſm diſowning all outward adminiſtrations; There are others that will joyn with us in condemning them, and conſent that God muſt be w…rſhipped by bodily acts of Religion yet they find no way of acceſſe to God, but by receding from the baptiſm they had received, and diſowning the conſecrating, Faith-encouraging uſe of the waſhing of their bodies in pure water to which they have been ſubject. Theſe are our Antipaedobaptiſt p. 127become actual Anabaptiſts, who quarrelling at Infants intereſt unto Baptiſm and the Adminiſtrators thereof, do diſown all relation they have had to the Church, and the priviledges they injoyed by their Baptiſm; and diſavowing the holineſſe thereby conferred, they declare themſelves to have been cozened when Chriſtned: and although they have ſometime deemed themſelves the people of God, ſanctified by the waſhing of water, in Covenant with God, and ſweet Communion with his people; Now they declare themſelves to be aliens and ſtrangers to the Commonwealth of Iſrael, without hope, without God, and without Chriſt in the world, and therefore renouncing this b…ptiſm they ſeek another way p. 128of acceſſe to God, and by an imagined Baptiſm of their own creation, they encourage their ſpirits and ſtamp holineſſe upon themſelves, and pretend to joyn themſelves to the aſſemblies of the Lords people, declaring all others to be dogs, and only themſelves the children of the Kingdom; all others to be in the high-wayes and hedges, and themſelves the only Church of Chriſt to whom men muſt be joyned on p…in of Eternal Damnation. When I conſider theſe men, I cannot but conſider the impetuous viole ce of an Erroneous judgment in hurrying to irregular practiſe, and the giddy prepoſterous zeal that is produced by Reaſon-darkning fancy: this carriage doth plainly beſpeak theſe men p. 129to be greatly irrational and groſſely ignorant.

Firſt, They appear to be greatly Irrational, and that becauſe they nullifie Gods Ordinances by miſtaken or miſcarried circumſtances, which no way deſtroy their eſſence: Their ground is, Infants ought not to be Baptized, and they were Baptized in their infancy; their ignorant parents in their ignorance did ſuperſtitiouſly cauſe them to be ſprinkled by ſome unworthy Sir John or other, and hereby they were cozened; but now they thank God they ſee the ſuperſtition of Baby-ſprinkling, and therefore will have their bodies waſhed, and joyn themſelves to the Baptized Saints. Unto this Plea of theirs, I wiſh they had reaſon enough to ſee the irrationality p. 130of it; for preſuppoſe (which is not true) that infants have no right to Baptiſm, it w…ll not thence follow that Infant-baptiſm is ſuperſt…tious, void and null. For Bap… is Gods Ordinance, Chriſts own Inſtitution; Age or Infancy are but circu…ſtances directing the ſubject to whom it is applyed, and is not eſſential to the Ordinance: if Baptiſm be a worſhip according to the mind of Chriſt, then Infant baptiſme is out of all danger or poſſibilty of will-worſhip, in caſe infants were not (as undoubtedly they are) within the Verge, yet their baptiſm can be no Will-worſhip, for we ſet not up the Ordinance we apply to them, but make application of the Ordinance Chriſt inſtituted; ſo that our utmoſt guilt is miſapplication p. 131of worſhip inſtituted by God not deviſing any worſhip o our own heads; ſo that they do irrationally charge the corruption of an Ordinance and miſapplication of an Inſtitution with Superſtition; and this co…ruption in a circumſtan…e they imagine to nullifie the Ordinance, and improve to a nonentit…e of their Baptiſm; moſt irrationally making the Age eſſential to the Ordinance, which God never did ſo appoint in either Old or New Teſtament-times, either in the initiating Seal of Circumciſion or Baptiſm: God did indeed direct Circumciſion to be applyed at the Eighth day, but the direction of the Age is diſtinct from the inſtitution of the Ordinance, and not of the Eſſence thereof, otherwiſe none m…g…t p. 132be Circumcized after the eighth day to have their Circumciſion valid and of force: under the New Teſtament we have neither inſtitution of the Age, nor ſubſequent direction for it, ſave only the qualification of the ſubject, as being made Diſciples, brought into a propriety to the Promiſe, and the like, of what age ſoever, unleſſe our Anabaptiſts will make Chriſt's Baptiſm the inſtitution of the Ordinance and age to which it is to be applyed; and then I do believe their latter Baptiſm will be as void as the former, for I believe they are yonger or elder, very few of the juſt direct age of the Lord Jeſus when Baptized; ſo that the Age can no way be made eſſential to the Ordinance: the corruption circumſtantial will p. 133not bring upon it an nonentitie and neceſſity of rebaptization, though they might have cauſe to bewail the fin of their parents in corruptly miſapplying Gods Seal, but what neceſſity is there of plucking it off, and Cancelling the Covenant of God to them confirmed? I cannot believe that if a Jew had been Circumciſed before the Eighth day, that he would have renounced the Circumciſion becauſe miſapplyed in point of time by his neglective parents: deviations from order may be profaneneſſe to be rebuked, but cannot be deſtructive to the Ordinance that the priviledges thereof ſhould be loſt, and it be reiterated: I do not believe that theſe men will Disfranchiſe themſelves of the priviledges of a Free-man of London though p. 134they were incorporated before the age directed by the Rules of the Chamber for admitting Free-men. Methink… their Reaſon ſhould be a Chancery of more equity then to cut themſelves off from the Congregation of Gods people and caſt off the liber…y of acceſſe, becauſe of their unſeaſon…ble and too early Baptiſm If the Church on ſuch a miſcarryed circumſtance ſhould disfranchize them, or deny their relation to the houſhold of Faith, ſhe were deſervedly cenſured for cruel ſeverity, and h…r ſummum jus muſt needs be deemed ſumma injuri…: the greateſt wrong is to puniſh failed circumſtances with the higheſt ſeverity due to the greateſt crimes. Only blind zeal and irrational folly is cenſorious to themſelves to diſown p. 135their own intereſt on ſuch a ground as will not warrant the Church to deprive them of it. Self-execution under the greateſt guilt, differs little from murther, but muſt needs be ſinfully violent when extended in meaſure beyond the nature of the fault. Self-excommunication on ſo ſlight a ground cannot but be the ſting of an a wakened conſcience apprehenſive of t…e pr…viledges loſt: the out cry of ſuch a conſcience muſt needs be this, Oh wretch! my parents miſapplyed the Seal, and therefore I have caſt off the Covenant by my own will, and deprived my ſelf of thoſe bleſſed enjoyments the hand of juſtice never demanded from me. Oh cruelty! ſelf cruelty. How ju…ly might God ſay Amen to thy ſelf, cenſure and blind thee p. 136under thy loſſe for ever.

But to extenuate this irrationallity in the rejection of their Baptiſm received in infancy they (endeavouring to maſter by number of exceptions under the want of faith) further plead, Why, but we were Baptized by ſome unworthy Miniſter, and in a ſuperſtitious manner, with the Ceremonies of the Church and ſign of the Croſs; and therefore we cannot make that baptiſm a ground of. Faith in the approach to God. And hereby they do but act their irrationality the further; for ſuppoſe ye were Baptized by an unworthy Miniſter, yet he was a Miniſter: though the Eſſence of the Ordinance may depend on the Authority, yet not on the Dignity of the Adminiſtrator. p. 137The wickedneſſe of an Embaſſador maketh not his Embaſſie concluded to be void and vain; the impreſſion of a lawfully Commiſſionated Judge though he be unjuſt, is valid and of force; the Grant of a cruel King and profane Prince will be by theſe men admitted as the ſubſtantial binding Charter of the peoples Priviledges: we read often of the pro…aneneſſe of the Prieſts of Iſrael, but never of a nonentitie brought upon Gods Ordinances in their hand: If they be in Moſes Chair, though we muſt not do as they do, we are bound to the attention and obedience of what they ſay. It is not impoſſible for a man to preach to others, and himſelf be a caſt away. I never read that the Baptiſm of thoſe Baptized by p. 138the unworthy hand of Judas was ever pronounced void or null. A pure Ordinance is unhandſome in a profane hand, but yet its eſſence is not impaired: it is Gods Ordinance effectual to its end. So that if they were Baptized by Miniſters though unworthy (wherein I w…ſh charity be not violated, for that many know not who they were they do cenſure as unworthy; nay, ſome worthy men to themſelves, ſo known, they now call unworthy) it is a corrup…on conſiſtent with the eſſence of the Ordinance, not any way deſtructive to its being. The ſame is to be ſaid for the annexed Ceremonies that they were profanely added but yet did not nullifie the Ord…nance, but it ſtands in full force as a p. 139ground of confidence in acceſs to God.

But ſecondly, As they appear greatly irrational in inferring more then their premiſes will allow, ſo they are Groſly ignorant; nay, I fear many wilfully ſhutting their eyes may be charged to be groſly obſtinate: They renounce their Baptiſm under the notion of Superſtition, not conſidering they run into the ſin of Sacriledge; charity muſt perſwade us theſe men underſtand not the method and miniſtration of the Covenant of Grace, otherwiſe they could never charge Infant Baptiſm with ſuperſtition, which is the very application of Gods Ordinance to its proper ſubjects, and ſo Sacrilegiouſly rob God, his Church, believing parents, and p. 140their children of thoſe holy duties and Dignities that belong unto them. Have we not before noted, that they who are in Covenant with God ought to be Baptized? and is not this the principle wherein we all agree? And if theſe men know any thing of the method and and miniſtration of the Covenant, muſt they not needs confeſſe, That the natural iſſue of one or both believing Parents are in Covenant? as we have before proved; and ſo fit ſubjects for Baptiſm, that may and muſt be made partakers of the firſt initiating Seal, of which God hath made them capable in their Paſſive age and eſtate. Can any ſtand convinced that ſuch infants are as ſoon as born the Lords Heritage, Pſal. 127.3. The Lords ſervants, p. 141Lev 25.42. Children beg…tten to him, Ezek. 16.20, 21. Holy ones, Rom. 11.16. 1 Cor. 7.14. Children of the Covenant, Act. 4.25. To whom belongs the promiſe, Act. 2.28. Interreſſed in the pr…viledges of the people of God, Mar. 10 14. and withhold the keeper of the Sanctuary and Stewards of Gods houſhold from ſetting of Gods mark in their fleſh, or withſtand their dedication unto God? Muſt not we give Caeſar the things that are Caeſars, and God the things that are Gods? Will not God account it a R…bbery t…at they which are his ſhall be withheld from him? Again, c…n any conſider the iſſue of believing Parents to be the Churches Children, begotten to the Lord Ezek 16.20. an holy ſeed ſcattered for her increaſe, p. 142and yet ſnatch them out of her armes, and caſt them out of her boſome into the wide wilderneſſe of the world. Shall not the Church lament and refuſe to be comforted whileſt ſhe is bereaved of her babes, and as a Bear robed of her whelps Will not ſuch robbery prove her rui…e, and the drying up her ſeed hinder her increaſe and make her b…rren and fruitleſſe? Again, ſhall the children of ſuch believing parents be borne members into th… houſhold of Faith and not be incorporated by Baptiſm? Shall Loyalty be their born duty and not Gods Livery their dignity? Shall the Covenant of Grace be the Charter of their priviledge and the Seals not be applyed to them as t…ey are capable of p. 143receiving them? Shall they be holy in their kind and the badg of diſtinction be denyed them? If any thing would make a new born babe to ſpeak, ſure this Sacriledge would do it: there is reaſon for the real demand that is fabled of one Rumball, Son to an Engliſh King, at Brack…ly in Northhamptonſhire, that as ſoon as he was born he requeſted to be Baptized for that he was a Chriſtian. I… it not a cruel Sacriledge to ſhut out of the Ark of Salvation ſuch whoſe title to entrance cannot be denyed? Yet further, is Baptiſm the only viſible ev…dence God hath given to parents of the extent of the Coven…nt to their children, and ſhall any deprive them of this reaſon of hope, cauſe of p. 142joy, ground of Faith in prayer and ſpur to duty in dedication, to God, and education of their children for God? So that theſe things conſidered, ſuch as on this ground of being Baptized in infancy do renounce th…ir Baptiſm, do out of ignorance of Gods Covenant commit moſt horrid Sacriledge by robbing G…d of his Heritage, the Church of Children, and the be…efits of the adminiſtration of Baptiſm to infants (which by Gods grace I ſhall ſhew to be great) the children of believing parents of their Seal of the Covenant of which they are capable, and their Parents of that ground of Faith the adminiſtration of the Covenant doth award them. And ſo they g ve us cauſe not only to charge them with irrationality in fancrying p. 145Gods holy Ordinance to be ſuperſtition, but in the language of the Apoſtle to ſay, Thou that abhorrest Idols doſt commit Sacriledge, Rom. 2 22. So that not only Groundleſly, but even contrary to Divine method and order, they diſowning the regular waſhing of their body in pure water, do diveſt themſelves of that Seal of Sanctity and ve…ture of holineſſe by which they were fitted for a confident approach to God, and decline the aſſembles of Gods people, in which alone the Lord is to be adored, and joyn themſelves to falſe aſſemblies, where they are conſecrated to, and come before God in a way that is not of his appointment, nor can expect his approvement, how high ſoever falſe hopes and joyes may carry p. 146their ſ…irits. For thoſe to whom they joyn are divided from the Church of Chriſt and void of all commiſſion to adminiſter the holy things of God: if you look at their conſtitution, you ſhall find it is no other then ſe…f-congregation, with the cry of all the Lords people are holy, and invectives againſt Aaron and Moſes as they which take too mu…h upon them; the which I could never yet find warranted in Scripture, but is remarkably condemned in the company of K…rah that were thus conſtituted: Miniſterial authority is no leſſe eſſential to Conſtitute a Church of Chriſt, then Magiſtratical to conſtitute a Corporation or Company: my litt e skill in Politicks could never ſee that ſelf-congregation could conſtitute p. 147any body, but that which is ſeditious or Schi matica? And as Korah ſeems to have been the Counſeller of their Conſtitution; ſo Jeroboam ſeems to be of their Conſecration, for he that will may make himſelf a Prieſt, even the loweſt of the people are Miniſters to the Lord, uncalled and unqualified they preſume to adminiſter holy things; which is a ſhadow and appearance of Divine worſhip, but a real building of Altars beſides the Altar of the L rd; and gives juſt cauſe to the people of God (truly piou… and purſu…ng the truth of his Ordina…c…s) to pray as the Church in Je…obo…m… dayes, Tell me, O thou wh m my Soul loveth where thou feedeſt thy fl ck, where th u m…keſt them to reſt at noon, for why ſh…ld I turn aſide p. 148by the flocks of thy companions? (ſo ſeem and pretend to be) Cant. 1.7. So that the…r exchange of the Baptiſm they renounce for that they now receive, is a profaning of themſelves, who once were an holy people to the Lord, and by falſe wayes of ſanct…ty to ſet themſelves at a greater diſtance from God, and to ſhake, nay to rake up the Found…tions of their Faith; and exchange their aſſurance rightly grounded on their Baptiſm, for a fond preſumption flowing from Sacrilegious notions and falſe worſhip, which muſt at the laſt fall into the h…nds of the living God, and be found as ſtubble before a conſuming fire, becauſe unconſecrated in the preſence of an holy God: for never to be ſanctified and after p. 149to be profa…ed is all one in its event and iſſue; they that contemn and they that caſt off Gods holy Ordinance ſhall fall into the ſame condemnation.

The ſecond ſort to be reproved as carrying Contradictorily to this qualification to confide t approach to God, are ſuch as diſregard the admiſt…ation of Baptiſm unto others: Theſe acknowledge the uſe and benefit of having the body waſhed with pure water, but by the rudeneſſe of the…r behaviour do declare themſelves ignorant or inſenſible of its holy nature and conſecrating uſe. Theſe are ſuch as drive th… Sacrament, in its admi…iſtration i…to corners and continue not in the Congregation in the adminiſtration of it; they p. 150think it is conv…nient children be baptized, but the ſolemnity thereof is to them ſtrange a…d needleſs, they will call ſome few friends together, & call into baptize it any Miniſter that ſlubbers over the act as eaſily as they deſire, and in a way of complement get the work done, never conſidering it is a …hurch Ordinance, and of due belongs to the whole aſſembly, not particular families or perſons, nor with any reverence compoſing themſelves to a ſolemn and Religious act of ded…cation to God, many in this caſe carry toward the Ordinance as a meer Complement; to pleaſe wife, kinsfolk or neighbours they will have their Children Baptized, and the civilities thereunto belonging being paſt they think themſelves well rid of a p. 151piece of trouble, and never devote themſelves to any Religion in the application of this Ordina…ce. Incorporation into the houſhold of Faith, Dedication to an holy God is not in their thoughts, their prayſes proclaim not any ſenſe of a Covenant pri…iledge, nor doth their Prayers purſue God for his bleſſi…g on his own Ordinance, they bre…k not through any d…fficulties to preſent their children to God in the Aſſemblies of his people, they think not the ſilent ſuffrages of the S…ciety of any moment in the incorporation of a Member, or ſupplicat…ons of any virtue to an Ordinance of ſanctification, but as unaffected with theſe things, they get the work done, the child Baptized, they neither care where, how, or by p. 152whom, for when its done they have done.

And others are in this reſpect no leſſe blame-worthy, who turn their backs rudely and irreverently when Baptiſm is adminiſtred; wh leſt the Word, Prayer and other Ord…nances are in hand, they ſit compoſedly in the Congregation, but when Baptiſme comes in hand they poſt out of the Church, as if this were not worth their attendance, or tended any way to their advantage. Unto theſe I would ſay, Is not B…pti m an Ordinance of God & act of worſhip to his people Is it not an Ordinance of Incorporation into the body of th… Church of God, of which thou art a member? oughteſt not thou to take them into ſociety, and by thy preſence to p. 153witneſſe their relation, thou giveſt them little honour who haſt no… patience to attend their ſolemn admiſſion into the ſociety of the Saints. Is not Baptiſm the Seal of the Covenant, the Sanctifying Ordinance of acceſſe to God? Adm…niſtreth it not matter of Meditation concerning Mans Guilt, Gods G…ace, the Covenant of Salvation between God and man, whereby thou mayeſt be edified? Is not the Baptiſm o… a Chriſtian of high concernme …? Doth it not tye the Baptized to great and m…ny engagem…nts? Are they not obnoxious to many t…mptations, to violate the Covenant? Is not Bapt…ſme the Ord…nance of holin…ſſe? Gods bleſſing needful to make it holy and prayers of the Church t…e way to obtain Gods bleſſing, that thou tu neſt p. 154away and followeſt not the Or…ina…ce with thy prayer? Can a conſcience awed by the ſanctity of any Ordinance and affected with the holineſſe of God to be adored, diſpenſe with the neglect and contempt of other Ordinances equally holy, nay, in order the firſt of, and that without which other Ordinances muſt not be uſed?

The fourth ſort of ſuch whoſe practiſe doth militate with the conſecrating nature of Baptiſme, are ſuch who diſeſteem their own Baptiſme owned and adhaered unto: many have had their bodyes waſhed with pure water, and would not be without their Baptiſm for all the world, but yet as for any great benefit they ever received by it, they know no reaſon they have to eſteem it at ſo high a rate: They never read any thing of p. 155Divine favour in their Baptiſm, nor from it reaped either counſel or comfort; the reflections of duty and dignity are to them ſtrange and unuſuall, Baptiſm having once paſſed on the…r bodies come… no more into their mi…ds. It is not to them engagement to, or encouragement in duty or drawing nigh to God; the which as it expoſeth the O…dinance to contempt not imaginable, ſo it beſpeaks ſuch ſouls to be unſp…akably igno…ant or inſenſible of the nature, uſe and end of the w…ſhing of the body with pure water; for can any ſoul that underſtands and believes Baptiſm to be a pledge of Divine affection, live under it without o…ſervation of Gods peculiar love to them above others who want it? Can any p. 156ſtand convinced, That the Seal of God is in their fleſh, and not lay claim to God by ſo viſible a ground of claim? Can any ſay that by Baptiſm …hey are purg…d from the corruptions that are in the world through luſt, and live in ſin? Can any conſider hereby t…ey are called out of the world and conſecrated to the worſhip of one God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghoſt, and neglect directed acts of Adoration, the holy ſervice that is aſſigned by their Lord and King? much l…ſſe ſh uld ſuch Apoſtatize from the Profeſſion of that N…me, and run into open Rebellion againſt him with whom they ſtand confederated, bound in Covenant? Can any think Baptiſme to be the bond of union and nerve of p. 157incorporation with the Church of Chriſt, and not Sympat…ize with her under all the changes of her condition? much leſſe c…n ſuch make Schiſms in, or ſeparation from her body, and forſake the aſſembling of themſelves together as the manner of ſome is. Much is the advantage Baptiſm once, received may adminiſter to a f…ul all his dayes if by ra…ional… acts of faith it were improved, either as a moral inſtrument or outward ſign exhib…ting matter of meditation, or as a Divine Ordinance and Seal of the r…ghteouſneſſe by Faith, eſtabliſhed to aſſure of the promiſes of Grace and Salvat…on. And yet (to our ſhame be it ſpoken) how little thereof is reaped by regardleſſe we? Baptiſm is a memorial of our miſery, and p. 158Gods mercy; a manifeſt expreſſion of that natural uncleanneſſe which ſets us at a diſtance from God, and eminent act of ſanctifying unto an acceſſe to God; and yet how many make no uſe of it, nor find matter of meditation by it? God hath appointed it an inſtrument of Regeneration and Salvation, how few find theſe effects produced by it? nay, improve it thereunto. It is that Seal that aſſures of intereſt in all the promiſes of Grace, yet when do men propound it to themſelves as a ground of Faith or plead it in prayer? How many live in ſuch profaneneſſe that the Church may charge them to have forgotten that they were purged from their old ſin; and God may complain that they p. 159have broken their Baptiſmal Oath: yet Baptiſm is to them a mean and weak argument of conviction. W…en I conſider the dulneſſe of profane Chriſtians under the enfo…cements of their Baptiſm, even miniſterially urged, I could wiſh according the ſometime cuſtome uſed in the Primitive times of the Church, when men are Baptized they might leave behind them a white garment, as a witneſſe of their Baptiſm, that ſo we might upbraid wicked men, as the Deacon of the Church did Elpid…phorus when revolted from the Faith, ſaying, O, Elpidophorus, I will ke…p this white garm nt as a monument agai…ſt thee to all Eternity. When I conſider the Scripture aggravating guilt with this circumſtance▪ p. 160they have forgotten that they were purged; it dictates to my mind that the condemnation of Chriſtians will be more grievous becauſe of their Baptiſm; If this water quench not Luſt, it will make Wrath burn more vehemently: Though I cannot conſent to the Novatians cruel and groundleſſe concluſion, That ſin after Bap iſm is unpardonable; I dare affirm, That every ſin not reſiſt…d by B…ptiſm will be more then ordinar… y damnable to the Bap ized. What an anſwer to every temptation unto ſin is the ſoul furniſhed withal, that is appre…enſive that in Baptiſm he did renou ce the fleſh the world and the divel, and devote himſelf to a conformity to the death of Chriſt, and ſtands ded…cated to …n holy God, in whoſe preſence p. 161…e may not preſume defiled with ſin. This Argument if …mproved by a Rational act of Faith is of more advantage, becauſe it is plaine and common, ready at hand to refl…ct, and eaſie to be underſtood, and obvious to the eye of men without and within the Church, by which we are lyable to be upbraided by the very enemies of Chriſt: That we are Baptized the whole Church will witneſſe, and ſhall not we have rec urſe unto our Baptiſm as a b…r to our profaneneſſe? Shall Circumciſed Iſrael live in the vileneſſe and vanit… of the uncircumciſed Gentiles? And hath God made Baptiſm a badg of diſt…nction between the holy and prophane, and ſh…ll we not make it a bar of divi on between their unclean Luſts and p. 162our holy Lives? to live without mortification of ſin, and quickning to all holy duties, do h clearly declare we have never yet underſtood the n…ture of Baptiſm, nor uſed it to its end.

As this Deadneſſe in ſin, ſo the Deſpo…den…y of the Spirit in Duty, to which even the beſt of men are ſubject, doth witneſs a diſeſteem and diſre…ard of their Bapt…ſm, of which they can ſometime boaſt, though in it they cannot rejoyce. A rig…t apprehenſion and real ſenſe of Baptiſme as the qualification of confident appro…ch to God would diſſolve many doubts, if but duely urged by Faith. Ordinances of God are given for our encouragements, but rational acts of Faith muſt paſs from us to enforce them to their p. 163end: What is ſaid of the Word is true of Baptiſm, it profits not beca…e not mingled with Faith in them that hear it: many a ſ…d ſoul comes tremblingly in…o Gods preſence and goes more troubled out, and the reaſon is, they do not righty husband Gods Ordinances to the ſoul; they paſſe from O…dinance to Ordinance, but never conſider t…e one entitles to and fits for the enjoyment of another. They ſuck no ſweetneſſe f…om all Sacred adminiſtrations, ſometimes they abſtain from, and ofte…times approach to God in his Ordinances and the diſcharge of holy duties, as afraid they have no right to nor fitneſſe for theſe priviledges, yet are ſanctified by the w…ſhing of water; they complain they ſee no intereſt p. 164in the Covenant, and yet the Seal of the Covenant is in their fleſh; they cry out they are aliens and ſtrangers to the Commonwealth of Iſrael, and yet are Baptiz…d into one body, a…d incorporated into the Congregation of the Saints; they dare not ca…l God Father, yet were ch…ldren begotten unto him, bear his marke, and as ſoon as born were by him owned and pl…ced in the boſome of his Church, and do wear the coat he prepared for his Joſ…ph. They ſee many good things promiſed in the Covenant but know not how to cl…im any of them in Prayer, and they have the Broad-S…al of he…ven to ſecure th…ir title. Unto theſe ſouls let me freely ſay, Shall God give you a ground of encouragement? will you not uſe p. 165it? Shall he call for an a… proach in full aſſurance, for th…t the b…dy is waſhed with pure water, and will you not yield it? D…d God mock you when he gave you the dignity of Baptiſme, or is it not your madneſs that makes it not a check to your g iefs, and curb to your fears? Shall your pr…ctice procl…im the truth of that which the Papiſts h…ve endeavoured to ch…rge on the Reformed Chu…c… es, viz. That …hey make B… tiſm a nudum ſignum, a bare empty ſign of no uſe or advantage to the Soul. Is Gods ſeal in vain, and ſanctification by the waſh…ng of water to no purpoſe? and matriculation into his houſhold a matter of no moment? that thou makeſt them no ground of Faith, nor encouragement to thy ſoul? p. 166Was not Circumciſion of great benefit to the Jewes? d d not God claim them by it when gone aſtr…y from him? and they claim God when deſerting them? Is that an engagement to divine faithfulneſſe, and may not thy Faith make it thy encouragement to appear before him? did God complement when he annexed Baptiſm to the Covenant, and called it. The Seal of the righteouſneſſe of Faith? or doſt not thou rather cozen thy ſelf of the comforts the Ordinance do really and according to divine deſignment exhibit? It is indeed true, Salvation is not conferred op re operato, by the act done and meer application of the water, yet it is thereby aſſured to the Soul, that by acts of Faith ſhall duly argue p. 167its intereſt. The Privy-Seal is the cleareſt token of affection & to be puri…ed, but is the Broad-Seal of no authority or advantage to be retained and improved? The outward Ordinance is not without inward Grace to be depended on as ſufficient to Salvation, but inward grace duly reflects the outward Ordinance as Gods great mercy and the ground of Faith and encouragement to it ſelf. The Moral ſwaſion of any Ordinance is too ſhort to ſanctifie or ſolace any Spirit without ſupernatural Grace: but ſupernatural Grace comes not into any ſoul to convince or comfort but by a moral improvement of every Ordinance by rational meditation of its nature, uſe and end. Many ſit under Gods Ordinances and make moſt ſad complaints p. 168they find no profit in them, when the reaſon is in themſelves; they cry out God muſt do all, work in them to will and to do at his own pleaſure, which is indeed true, but they conſider not Gods method of working grace or comfort in any ſouls; he alwayes deals with men like themſelves as they are r…aſonable creatures, and have a power of diſcourſe, and therefore his Ordinances are moral inſtruments by due diſcourſes to enforce their end. We have reaſon to check ſome under the Ordinances as the Diſciples we…e checked from heaven for their poſture in the Lord his aſcenſion, Ye men of Galilee, why ſtand ye gazing? this Jeſus that is taken from you ſhall ſo come as you have ſeen him go into heaven, Act. 1.11 p. 169As if the voice had ſaid, Conſiderations of his return better become you, than ſilent obſervations of his preſent going. So I ſay, Why doe many enjoy Gods Ordinances, and not goe home and conſider them? muſt we run ſo far from free will, as to run out of our wits? Let ſuch men, as make not their Baptiſm a moral engagement to, and encouragement in their acceſs to God, know, that they appear ignorant or ſinfully inſenſible of its nature, and expoſe it to great contempt. Can any thing more eaſily caſt a ſoul into contempt of an Ordinance, than its unprofitableneſs and unuſefullneſs? The grand cauſe of all the blaſphemie that our age doth belch out againſt Baptiſm, is the little benefit men finde it brings them: not by reaſon of any defect p. 170in the Ordinance, but their own neglect to improve it as a ground of faith, guard againſt ſin, and ſpecial qualification of acceſs to God.

The fift ſort, that carrie contradictorily to this conſecrating nature of Baptiſme, are ſuch, who declare not to theirs baptized, the dignity and duty of their Baptiſme. Men doe with much zeal preſent their children to Baptiſm, but never minde to acquaint them of their priviledge, or inſtruct them in the nature of ſo holy an Ordinance: they are carefull to bring them up to ſome Trade or Calling; to acquaint them with all external rights and priviledges, and the paſt ground of claim, to all future injoyments in the world; but education in the fear and nurture of the Lord, is to them p. 171unuſual; and the affecting them with baptiſmal priviledges and Church Rites, or the acquainting them with Covenant intereſt and ground of claim, as to ſpiritual mercies and ſoul enjoyments, is the laſt and leaſt of their endeavors. Well may we obſerve, the men of this world are wiſer in their generations, than the children of the Kingdome. Common prudence, if Scipture were ſilent, would direct a more ſerious inſtruction of our children, in the nature of their Baptiſme: Shall they be begotten to the Lord, and not be made to know whoſe children they are? and how they came by that relation? Shall they be incorporated into the body of the Church, and not know the family and houſhold to which they belong? Shall holyneſs be ſtamped upon p. 172them, and they not be made to know that they are out of the common lump and maſs of mankind? Shall the Covenant of God be in their fl…ſh, and they not know the Charter ſealed, and Conditions to be performed? In a word, Shall they be ſanctified by the waſhing of water, and not made ſenſible, that they ſtand conſecrated unto holy ſervice, and dedicated to the worſhip of an holy God, Father, Sonne, and Holy Ghoſt; and therefore ought not to ſtain themſelves with guilt, but carrie as an holy people peculiar to the Lord? that muſt wait on him, becauſe they wear his livery; and may worſhip in his preſence with confidence, becauſe their bodies have been waſhed with pure water. I did in the laſt branch of this Uſe, blame them p. 173that diſeſteem and diſregard their own Baptiſme, and that was but the effect of this ſin, Our progenitors neglected us, and we neglect our poſterity, as to their inſtruction in the nature of divine Ordinances. How ſhall they eſteem that, wherein they ſee no excellencie; or improve that priviledge, of whoſe nature they are ignorant. How ſhall they claime the promiſes, who neither underſtand what they are, or on what ground to be claimed? What conſcience can they make of dutie who doe not know themſelves under ſacred obligation? What confidence can they have in acceſſe to God, who know not themſelves conſecrated? If men have in them parental affection to their children, and doe care for their future good, we muſt needs conclude p. 174they ſought no more in their B…ptiſme, than friends ſatisfaction, and a Formal Religious complement; and ſo not any ſpecial Soul ſaving priviledges thereby conferred? for charity forbids us to thinke they would bring up their children in the ignorance and incapacity of claiming ſuch high priviledges, and rationally improving ſo holy engagements, if themſelves were affected with them, or they had any ſenſe of duty as to ſuch Religious education, which ſhould indeed ſpur their natural affection to the diſcharge thereof. Little doe men conſider that the ſame God that gave babes the right to the initiating ſeales of the Covenant, did provide catechiſing, as the way to make them know their priviledge. He to whom they are born, hath provided p. 175milk for their nouriſhment, no leſs than meat for ſtronger men, and hath committed them as his lambs, to the care of his Church, and charged it, as the duty of their Parents, to educate them in the feare and nurture of the Lord: So that ſuch Parents who doe not ſeriouſly inſtruct their ſeed in the ſolemn Bond of their relation to God and his Church, the ſuitable qualification by which they are fitted for divine communion, & the ſeal of the Covenant, that aſſureth them of the high priviledges of Salvation, doe not only ſlight this holy Ordinance of Baptiſm, but alſo ſinfully tranſgreſs Gods command, ſhew their natural affection to be diverted from its right channel, cure for the chiefeſt good, and ſet their children under an inevitable neceſſitie of p. 176ſleighting the Ordinance, & ſtarting aſide from God, to whom they know no relation. We finde it our grief, that our children are prophane, when it is no other than the production of our own neglect: We can eaſily complain of their impietie; but where is the man, that as ſoon as his child is ſenſible, doth ſeaſon him with the knowledge of his miſerie by ſin, Gods mercy in the Covenant of Grace, and his ſpecial engagement to holineſs, for that he beares on him the name of God from his very birth, and that imprinted by his Baptiſme, when his body was waſhed with pure water.

The ſixth and laſt ſort, whoſe principles and practiſe doe plainly millitate againſt the nature of Baptiſme, and cleerly doe contradict the ſame, are ſuch, who p. 177deny the baptized the libertie of acceſs to God in the aſſemblies of his people. This I well know to relate unto the moſt eminent profeſſors of Goſpel order and pretenders unto pietie, that are among us; and therefore the moſt tender rebuke will ſeem to be railing violence and bitterneſs: But be it what it will, ſin againſt Gods Ordinances muſt not paſs without a zealous and ſerious reproof. Such among us as affect the term of Congregational Brethren, in the gathering of their Churches, run into an extreme as farre wide on the one hand, as the looſe levelling Familiſts and Anabaptiſts are on the other: Theſe dictate a liberty of acceſs to the unbaptized, and thoſe denie it to the baptized. We muſt needs imagine they agree both in one principle, p. 178that Baptiſme is not the ground of communion with the Church viſible, nor qualification of acceſs to God; For if it be otherwiſe, as we have noted, it muſt be prophaneneſs to admit without it; and they have need of good warrant that will acquit themſelves from impietie, in excluding the baptized from theſe priviledges. That ſuch are among us, who debarre the baptized from their priviledges, is ſo obvious to every obſervant eye of the now only cryed up Church way, that I need not much urge demonſtrations thereof. I well know ſome whoſe practice proclaim it, in their principles will diſown it: but it is the property of that congregating way, to couch their principles until their practice have proved their truth and goodneſs, and proclaimed them p. 179to others. But if in the termes charged any ſhall deny this to be acted among us, I ſhall deſire to underſtand why they declare privatly and publiquely men baptized, to be ſtrangers to God and his Covenant? why doe they decline communion with, and a care of baptized ſoules, as members of the Church? and dictate a neceſſitie of their coming into Church-way and fellowſhip? and why doe they direct other wayes for admiſſion of Church members? is there any terms more ordinarie in the mouthes of the congregated ſaints towards thoſe whom they live amongſt, than doggs, without, unbeleevers, not in a Church way? Doe not the paſtors …f theſe private (it may offend if I ſay ſeparate) aſſemblies in their publique miniſtrie, ſpeak unto p. 180their baptized hearers as aliens, ſtrangers, to the Covenant and Common-wealth of Iſrael, men in the High-wayes and Hedges? Doe they not call them into their ſelf congregated and conſtituted Churches, as the only Churches of Jeſus Chriſt? Doe not the particular members of theſe aſſemblies appropriate to themſelves the title of ſaints, beleevers, the people of God, the brethren? If they know or deale with a man profeſſing the ſame God and Chriſt, baptized, and of a Godly converſation, but not in their Church-way, they cannot know him in any Chriſtian relation; but can oppoſe to him a member of their private a…ſembly, by the name of brother ſuch an one —, as if the other were no brother. Nay further, do not they decline communion p. 181with the baptized even ſuch whom they cannot charge with any viſible prophaneneſſe, and againſt whom the Church never proceeded in cenſure? Hence they withdraw themſelves from publique aſſemblies in their ſpeciall adminiſtration of Church priviledges, denominate themſ…lves the Church, and decline all Church actions towards ſuch as come not into their Church-wayes; though their Paſtors will poſſeſſe the places, and make a ſhift to compell the (late cried down) parochial maintenance, yet of the people in common they take no charge: Brethren will not own them as objects of firſt or ſecond admonition; Paſtors will neither admit to the Lords table the unblameable parents, nor baptize or catechize their Children, nor p. 182exerciſe any act of diſcipline towards the diſorderly, in order to their conviction and ſalvation; but in all things ſo demeane themſelves towards the baptized as men without the pale of the Church, meere heathen, for Church miniſtrations are as much reſerved from them, as from ſuch who never yet had holineſſe ſtamped on them: And if any doe incline to aſſociate with them in the holy things of God, they muſt bee admitted Members, and enter at the door of a Church-Covenant or mutuall agreement among themſelves and declaration of the worke of Grace upon their hearts, and their experiences of God, which theſe Congregational-men have ſet up. If this dialect and deportment doe not declare that liberty of acceſſe to God, in p. 183the aſſemblies of his people is denied to the baptized, I know not how to judge it: And how this will conſiſt with the nature, uſe and end of Baptiſme, I cannot diſcern. If by the waſhing of water, we were ſanctified, how were we prophaned and again laid common? I never yet could underſtand any divine rejection; I am ſure it is much contrarie to Gods wonted method and patience, to caſt off a people adhering to him, though ſubject to many aberrations and vile actions towards him; and the extraordinarie pleaſure of God is yet to be manifeſted: And if God count us holy, and continue the libertie of our acceſs to him in his Ordinance, they muſt produce a good commiſſion that ſhall caſt us out, as prophane and unclean, if they expect p. 184we ſhould be therewithall contented. If Baptiſme doe incorporate into the Church of God, doth it not intitle to all the priviledges of the Church, and binde us to uſe them, and the Church to allow us the uſe of them, according to our capacitie? If we are baptized into one bodie, have we not the ſame relation to them that others have? Are we not all of one familie, members of one bodie, and brethren, ſonnes of the ſame father? Ought not all the Church to be the Paſtors charge? Is not the rebuke of the diſorderly his duty, as well as his encouragement of the orderly? Doth not Baptiſme ſo knit us one unto another, that we are bound to watch over one another, and doe all brotherly duties? Why elſe doth the Apoſtle p. 185make it an argument, there is one Baptiſme, Epheſ. 4. we are all baptized into one bodie. I would fain know of what uſe Baptiſme is to them: is it not the ſame to others baptized? To count the baptized dogges, men without, to diſown their brotherhood, and the like, muſt needs denie that Baptiſme is the dore of admiſſion into the Church, and yet this in terms they will not ſay, though they carrie towards them as without, and call them to be members of the Church, who are members of the Church on as good a ground and as cleer a method as themſelves: If this be not a ſoleciſme in Chriſtianitie, I know not how to make any. As for their admiſſion into the Church by Covenant, Agreement, or profeſſion, it is cleerly without Scripture, p. 186preſcription, or primitive preſident, that ever I could yet finde: and I can deem it no other than an inhumane invention (if I may not call ſuperſtition, the countenance of which it bears in my eye, whileſt it ſtands in the place of Baptiſme, & is made the only way of conſecration unto Church communion, whereby it plainly ſupplants Gods Ordinance.) Theſe things I note, but cannot ſtand to debate, intending a reproof, not diſpute, and to let men ſee the ſinfulneſs of this ſacred way of independencie, and gathering of Churches out of Churches, whileſt it ſtands guilty of a contempt of Gods way of acceſs unto him, and admiſſion into his Church of cenſorious uncharitableneſs towards their brethren inveſted with the reaſon of relation to the Lords people, p. 187and conſtitution of Church memberſhip, in a way of meer humane invention. I confeſſe I have heard it often noted, that the difference between Independents and others, is not ſo much as to maintain an irreconcileable diſtance: and I ſay ſo too: I could wiſh they were more friendliely united. As to the ſingle point of Diſcipline, they ſhall have my conſent for a brotherly toleration of its exerciſe, till they are weary of it. But as for their ſeparation from the Churches of Jeſus Chriſt, ſelf congregation into a Church, and ſecluſion of baptized ſouls, from ſacred Ordinances, and the like, they ſeem to me ſo repugnant to truth and order, and ruinous to Gods Church and Ordinances, that I cannot, without ſinne, but ſtand a profeſſed enemie thereunto. p. 188Let not men think that I allow the prophaneneſs of Chriſtians, becauſe I alledge their intereſt in the cōmon adminiſtration of the Covenant; or that I think their enjoyment may not be interrupted, becauſe I cannot conſent their intereſt be denied them. I have learned to diſtinguiſh between right and poſſeſſion; and where the one is cleer, the other may be juſtly ſometimes with held. I well know prophane Chriſtians are unſeemly Saints, yet Saints; ſcandalous Diſciples, yet Diſciples; diſorderly Brethren, yet Brethren; veſſels of diſhonour, yet veſſels in the ſame houſe to the Masters uſe. That Church members be for a time ſuſpended from particular priviledges, may be admitted; but at private brethrens pleaſure to be ſleighted, as no members, is p. 189not to be endured. That obſtinate incurable members be cut off, is the Church her duty; but that the Church be caſt off, is the congregational impietie? Is there baptized perſons in works, denying the God they profeſs? Is there a brother, a drunkard, an adulterer, and the like? Doth not Baptiſme appropriate them to the private admonition of particular brethren, and publique inſpection of Church officers? Is not the delivering them to Satan, for the buffeting of the fleſh, that the ſoul may be ſaved, their priviledge by Baptiſme? If theſe holy men would talk of correcting, caſting out, cutting off diſorderly baptized ſouls, it would ſound well in my …ares; but to talk of gathering Churches, coming into Churchway, admiſſion of members, and p. 190the like, amongſt thoſe that bears holineſs in their fleſh, and have on them the qualification of acceſs to God, ſounds ſo harſhly in my eares, that I cannot but abhor it, as inconſiſtent with the nature of Baptiſme, expoſing it to contempt, making it of no effect, endangering the ſubverſion of the Church, and the uſhering in of Paganiſme, whileſt the baptized finde themſelves rejected, and not looked after, as of any relation to God; they cannot but reſigne up themſelves to their own luſts, & run into an ignorance of, and eſtrangedneſs to God. It ſeems to me a moſt juſt plea, that is made by Chriſtians in common. Were we baptized? why are we diſowned, as to relation to God and his Church, and caſt out of all the care of the p. 191Church, as if we were thereunto ſtrangers? If the ſeal of God be on us, why doe our bre…hren lift up themſelves above us, and engroſs to themſelves the titles, termes, priviledges, that belong in common to all baptized ſouls? If we walk unworthy our relation, we are willing to be corrected; but muſt we needs loſe our intereſt and be thruſt out of our fathers inheritance by our brethren, our forfei…ure never being judicially exacted. Gods Ordinances we could bear, though never ſo croſs to our nature, becauſe thereunto we are bound by our Baptiſm; but the new wayes purſued by our brethren, and to us propoſed, are grievous to us, becauſe we finde them not in the grand Charter of our priviledge; p. 192willingly we would walk with God in duty, and draw nigh to him in the aſſemblies of his people, for that we are thereunto conſecrated; but herein we are debarred, and driven at a diſtance, as if Doggs, not Children, Heathens, not Chriſtians, Aliens to the Covenant, not Heirs of Grace. If we goe aſtray, we think thoſe that are ſet over ought to ſeek us as ſheep, not ſuffer us to wander as goats. We have cauſe to complain, that our Shepheards feed themſelves, not the flock; they feed the flock, and clothe them with the wooll; kill the fat, but feed not the ſheep: The weak they have not ſtrengthned, the ſick they have not healed, nor have they ſought that which was loſt, nor brought again, that which was driven away; but with crueltie p. 193and rigor have they ruled us: We were ſcattered without a ſhepheard; and when we were diſperſed, every beaſt of the field devoured us: We were ſheep, though wandring upon every high hill and mountain: Gods flock, though ſcattered through the earth, and none ſought after us. If the Lord Jeſus ſubſcribe and accept not this complaint as juſt and good, I know nothing of Goſpel method or order.