Calebs Inheritance in Canaan, Chapter 1
CHAP. I. The Doctrine examined, raiſed from 2 Act. 37.
IT is the ſaying of the Holy Ghoſt, 2 Tim. 3. that in the laſt days perilous times ſhould come, and amongſt the liſt of dangerous perſons, he tells us there ſhould be falſe accuſers: deſpiſers of thoſe that were good: and yet they ſhould be ſuch as had a form of godlineſs. And after he hath laid down what they are in themſelves, he alſo gives a further deſcription of them in their actions: what they ſhould do, and who they ſhould be like, Now as Jannes, and Iambres withſtood Moſes, ſo do theſe men reſiſt the Truth, men of corrupt minds, and reprobate concerning the Faith: But becauſe the people of God would be fearful what the iſſue of ſuch things would come to, therefore in ver. 9 he comforts them in this, That they ſhould proceed no further, for their Folly ſhall be manifeſt to all men, as theirs alſo was. As if he had ſaid; the way to put a ſtop to ſuch perſons, is to lay open their folly: and to ſhew the world, that their accuſations are falſe: this courſe did Moſes take with thoſe Egyptian Prieſts.
The perſon with whom I am to deal in this Reply, hath ſhewed himſelf in Print, to come in the number of thoſe falſe accuſers, declaring to the world that our practice of Infant-Baptiſm doth fight againſt and deſtroy, ſeven fundamental points in the Chriſtian Religion; by which we may ſee his Charge mounts very high, and either he muſt make it good, or elſe he will fall under the guilt of his own folly and blindneſs, if not wickedneſs ſo to affirm. And will be alſo thereby brought under that following deſcription to be a reſiſter of the Truth, Co-partner with thoſe falſe Prieſts before mentioned.
I have therefore dealt with him not only in thoſe particulars wherein the accuſation lyes, but have begun and ended with his whole piece: to unvail and diſcover the rottenneſs and deceit thereof, that ſo, ſuch who through weakneſs have been ready to embrace this error in their hearts, may in time diſlodge it.
Theſe are the days wherein men heap to themſelves teachers, having itching ears; for what is writ in this book, called The Doctrine of Baptiſms, is no more then what long ſince he publikely taught, as may be gathered from his own words. But doubtleſs, if a man ſhould deſire an account of his Miniſterial Authority, by which he entitles himſelf a laborer; it would appear to be more from men then God; and that he was never ordained, to ſuch a work: But is rather in the number of Jeroboams Prieſts, who was made of the loweſt of the people, in the fulleſt extent of that word.
In pag. 5. We have the ground-work and foundation of all the enſuing diſcourſe, laid down in this Doctrine. That it is the duty of all that believe and repent to be baptiſed; which though it be truly raiſed, yet 'tis falſly applyed, I ſhall therefore examine this Doctrine in the application of it. For as 'tis true, that he that believes and repents, being converted from Judaiſm or Heatheniſm, ought to be baptized; As ſuch were they to whom the Apoſtle preacht in this Act. 2. from whence this Author takes his Text; I ſay, as the application of this Doctrine is true to ſuch that never yet imbraced the Goſpel, and ſo never practiſed that Ordinance, ſo on the other ſide, to apply it in ſuch univerſal terms to thoſe that have embraced the Goſpel, and have been baptized, is unſound. For though a Doctrine be never ſo truely raiſ…d yet if it be not as truely applyed, it is a wrenching and abuſi…g the Scriptures, which is eaſily done, when we conſider not the diffe…ence a…d nature of the Auditors: to cleer which, let us come to ſome inſtances; ſuppoſe a Church be truely conſtituted, of which, a great part may be hypocrites, ſuch as were Judas, Magus, Ananias and Saphira, Hymeneus, Alexander, Phyletus, mentioned in the Scriptures, all which were never true believers. Theſe, all theſe, or any of theſe becoming true Converts, and ſuch as truely repent of their wicked Hypocriſie; is …his a Doctrine fit to be applyed to them; without doubt ſuch a practice would quickly overturn the Authors dipt Societies: If he be true to the principles of this Doctrine, as by himſelf it is applyed; or elſe his words do imply that ſuch Doctrines of Faith and Repentance is to be preacht onelyonly to ſuch as are without the Church, as if thoſe that …ere within had no need thereof: when as we know they are Doctrines of the Goſpel: which is the kingdoms Goſpel, and belongs to ſuch as are within as well as without the kingdom; were I a Miniſter and ſhould come amongſt maſter Patients people, and preach this Doctrine, and apply it as he doth; would he not think it very much knockt out of joynt in the application, to tell them it is the duty of all, who really repent and believe to be baptized; doubtleſs there is no rational Chriſtian but would ſo judge: If therefore it holds in one, it muſt hold alſo in the other, for it is not perſons being hypocrites, or carnal, that nullifies their baptiſm: no though the Adminiſtrator and manner alſo be circumſtantially corrupted and defective: what if John had baptized onelyonly by pouring out water which he did (as ſhall be after proved) when he ſhould have plunged and dipt them as this Author doth; The Ordinance had not been thereby null and void for want of that circumſtance. So on the other hand, ſhould this Doctor of dipping convert a Heathen or Jew, and plunge him, when he ſhould have onelyonly poured the water on him after the Primitive practice, yet the baptiſm ſtands in force ſtill; yea, though the Author ſo dipping be no true, real, but a pretended Miniſter; as Ziphora's circumciſing ſtood in force though ſhe were a defective Adminiſtrator; and this is the general ſenſe of Proteſtant Authors; that thoſe Children or perſons that receive Popiſh baptiſm by their Prieſts after they are really converted to the Faith of Chriſt, ought not again to be baptized: and yet we ſee they are as ignorant as heathens: by what therefore is ſaid, it is apparent the forementioned Doctrine is not to be extended to all alike, and though it be an undoubted truth amongſt ſuch as preach to the heathens in New-England, or to ſuch amongſt our ſelves as are yet unbaptized, yet it is not therefore a ſutable Doctrine to ſuch as have been before baptized either there or elſewhere. And yet we ſee with what fury, and heighth of Confidence this theam is proſecuted throughout all his book: Tis a like Argument with this When Chriſt ſent his Miniſters to preach and baptize, their Commiſſion was to go into all the World. Therefore he that is a true Miniſter of the Word and Baptiſm muſt be an Itinerary preacher. Auguſtus Caeſar a Tyrant taxt his people; therefore it is lawful for all Magiſtrates to tax their ſubjects: which laſt hath been a Doctrine ſo raiſed by the Author in my hearing.