A Precept for the Baptism of Infants, To the reader 2 – Table of contents
The Epiſtle to the READER.
Courteous Reader.
BEfore I come to the diſcourſe it ſelf, it ſhall not be unprofitable to ſhew the cauſe that firſt moved me to enterpriſe this buſineſſe, and the ſeverall ſteps by which I have been carried on. For the cauſe (alas is too manifest!) many people among us, and ſome of good hope, have been drawen aſide to follow the way of the ſeparation. Things ſtanding thus, I could not but as a private Chriſtian, by the band of love; but more eſpecially as a Miniſter of the word, by relation of office; I could not (I ſay) but riſe, and look after ſuch neighbours and friends of mine, who (in my aprehenſion at leaſt) were as ſheeep gone aſtray. Therefore about the end of January laſt, I took occaſion to go to Earles-Shilton, a neighbouring town in Leiceſter-ſhire, where the Maſters of Diviſion have played their principall game: My purpoſe was by conference with them to know the reaſons of their departure from us. When a competent number of that way were gathered together, ſome pleaded errors in our Doctrine, others corruptions in our Ministery, and a third ſort faulted our Churches conſtitution. But in concluſion of that days diſcourſe, I found that the point which they did bind very much upon, was this; That there word was no word of command for the Baptiſme of Infants in the New Teſtament. I found that this principally moved them to renounce the old, and to take up a new Baptiſme; to leave the old, and to joyn themſelves to a new Church. Hereupon I told them, that however others look to the ancient uſe of the Church in the Baptiſme of Infants, I was perſwaded that there was a word of institution: and had I time more fully to ſtudy the point, I hoped I ſhould make it appear. They deſired me to take time; and our agreement was that before my next coming I ſhould give them a weeks warning: which I did accordingly, and appointed the 27th. of March for the particular day of our conference. I deſired that ſome of their more ſolid and principal men would be there, for the tryal of truth: and this I ſignified by letter a week before. But when I came, I did not find the men I looked for. Whether they were abſent on ſet purpoſe, or whether there was a real cauſe of their abſence, I cannot tell. Therefore I did publickly, according to that light I had, Preach a Precept for the Baptiſme of Infants before the People: and when I had done, I did leave one brief Argument behind me in writing, for the freinds of the ſeparation to conſider of. Since that time I acknowledge that I have received two anſwers, the one upon the firſt of May, and the other upon the fifth of September, And I could wiſh that the laſt Anſwerer (which was one Mr. Robert Everard) had not been ſo haſtie to put his Anſwer in Print: but rather that he and I had gone on in the way we were in, to try the matter by writing each to other. Sure I am, by this friendly and private way of enquiry, he and I might have gained very much, at leaſt the one might have come forth more ripe for the publick veiw. What his ſecret reaſons were, I know not; His way of life being itinerary from place to place, it is a queſtion whether ſuch a narrow and ſet diſquiſition of truth would not have fixed him too long to one place; Or whether (according to the title of his book) he did inwardly beleeve that he had given a totall rout to the Baptiſme of Infants: Or whether it were to eaſe his own ſhoulders of the burden, and to call in more of the party to his aſſiſtance. For my own part, I beleeve the matter being now brought into Print, I am not now to deal with this or that particular man, but with the whole nation of them that are againſt a Precept for the Baptiſme of Infants: And this I take to be no ſmall number. For I beleeve the piety of former times (as they then called it) was not greater to ſet up high altars, then it is now to divide into new Churches. And therefore to a man who maketh it one of his cheif deſignes to ſet up a new Church, to erect a new Ministery, and to cast all into a new mould, what better principle can he have to begin withall then a new Baptiſme? I do expect therefore when I go about to ſhew a Command for the Baptiſme of Infants, that I ſhall not want exceptions againſt me, both from principles of conſcience, and from principles of intereſt. However, I am reſolved, (being caſt upon it) to put the matter now (by the Lords aſſiſtance) unto publick triall. One member of the disjunctive muſt needs be true; either there is a Precept for the Baptiſme of Infants, or there is not. For my part I beleeve there is; and therefore I ſhall be the more willing to ſhew the grounds on which I build. If any one be of opinion that the world is too full of books in this kinde, and that little more can be ſaid then hath been already; I would intreat ſuch a one to look upon the doubts that are in the Conſciences of godly men every where, and to conſider the preſent neceſſities and diviſions of the Church: And I beleeve when he hath done ſo, he will have ſmall reaſon to complain of too much water, ſeeing all is on fire. For that ſpeech of the wiſe man, The thing that hath been, it is that which ſhall be, and there is no new thing under the Sunne, Eccleſ. 1.8. I acknowledge that there is a truth in it, yet not as it is too ordinarily applyed. For I can avouch by experience (and I ſpeak the words of truth and ſoberneſſe) that in many hidden Propheſies, and in ſome ſubtill controverſies, when I have read all on both ſides, the truth hath not ſo clearly appeared unto me as when I came to canvaſſe the Scriptures, to dive into the ſenſe of them by meditation, and to compare Scripture with Scripture. This hath ſome way happened in the preſent controverſie. It may be then that which hath been to mine own, may (by the bleſſing of God) be ſatisfactory to the conſcience of another man. Reader, thou haſt now the reaſons that moved me to this work. Thus deſiring the help of thy prayers, that the thing I labour in, may tend both to the clearing of the truth, and (as much as may be) in theſe times of diviſion to the preſerving of the peace of the Church. I reſt
Thine in the Lord, NATHANIEL STEPHENS. Fennie Drayton Novemb. 19. 1650.
The Generall heads contained in this Treatiſe.
HOw the Precept is proved from the words of the Commiſsion, Matth. 28.19. Teach all Nations, baptizing them: How the Children are comprehended under the word (them). pag. 1.
How the Precept is proved from Acts 2.38, 39. For the Promiſe is to you and to your Children: Whether the Argument be of force, the word of Promiſe is to Beleevers and their Children; therefore the word of Command is to baptize Father and Child pag. 13
How the Precept is proved from John 3.5. Except a man be born of Water and of the Spirit, &c. Where it is ſhewed how far forth it is neceſſary for the Children of Beleevers, which are borne in Originall ſinne, to receive Baptiſme the ſeal of Regeneration. pag 18
What the particular Argument was which the Author gave to the partie of the ſeparation to prove a Precept for the Baptiſme of Children. pag. 28
What their firſt anſwer was to the argument. ibid.
How it was renewed again in both the parts, and in the whole ſenſe: becauſe the children of Beleevers have a right to Baptiſme by the word of Promiſe, they muſt have a right by the word of Command. ibid.
How it was particularly renewed in the firſt part by ſhewing the convertibility between the word of Promiſe and the word of Command in the Sacramental action. pag. 29
How it was renewed in the ſecond part, by ſhewing that the Promiſe to Beleevers and their Children is not meant of extraordinary gifts, but of the Covenant of grace. pag. 30
What their ſecond anſwer was to the argument forealledged. pag. 31
How the argument is vindicated from the exceptions of Mr. Everard, the Author of the laſt anſwer. pag. 33
How it is ſhewed to be truly grounded upon the words of the Text. pag. 35
How it is evidenced to be right in the frame of it. pag. 58
How the Children may be ſaid to profeſſe in their Parents that do undertake for them; And therefore there is no danger of tearing the words, be baptized every one of you, Father and Child, from the words Repent and be baptized. pag. 36
How Mr. Everard by denyall of Infant-Baptiſme doth tear the word of Promiſe from the word of Command. pag. 43
Whether Peters hearers were true Beleevers, when he exhorted them, be baptized every one of you; and ſo conſequently whether their Children were capable of the Seal. pag. 46
Of the maine Objection of Mr. Everard, viz. Then the whole nation of the Jewes ought to be baptized, becauſe the Promiſe was made unto them and to their Children. pag. 47
What the anſwer to this Objection is, by ſhewing that not a right to the Promiſe in generall, but a right that Beleevers and their Children have to the Promiſe in the laſt exhibition, doth bring a right to baptiſme. ibid.
What are the three exhibitions of the Promiſe, and how in each exhibition the Promiſe doth ſtill hold to Father and Child. pag. 48
The queſtion is reſolved in ſpeciall, that a true Beleever of the heart that may be ſaved in his own diſpenſation, cannot be capable of another Seal till be hath received the Promiſe in that particular exhibition to which the Seal is annexed. pag. 50
The Appendix of Mr. Swayne, in which he ſhoweth that the Brethren of the Separation have neither precept nor example for their Baptiſme, for want of a true Adminiſtrator. pag. 63