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THE
Doctrine of Baptism,
AND THE
Distinction of the COVENANTS;
OR
A Plain Christian Treatise, explaining
the Doctrine of Baptism, and the two
Covenants made with Abraham, and
his two-fold Seed.
CHAPTER FIVE
The Foundation for Infant's Baptism
The Papists do hold that the Ordinance
of Baptism does contain very grace by the
very work done, which is so generally confuted by all Protestant Authors,
that I think it not worth my time to speak to that gross Error.
But seeing the main thing usually controverted is about the Subject (whether Infant or Believer) I shall leave what I have said, concluding the administration of baptism upon children as corrupt in all the three foresaid heads as well as in the last, and I shall speak of the last only, viz. that carnal children are not lawful Subjects of baptism. I shall begin to speak to the main argument or ground usually pleaded by all except Papists, for children's baptism, and that is:
Though there be no command nor example,
yet there is a consequence, viz.
the Covenant of Life being made to Believers,
and their seed coming out of their loins,
Baptism, being an Ordinance of the Covenant,
does also belong to them.
Answer
The Covenant of Life is not
made to the seed of Believers as coming
out of their loins, and therefore, the baptism of infants is drawn thence
by a false consequence.
Now I shall endeavor to prove the falseness and erroneousness of this consequence.
Baptism of the Carnal Seed
is opposite to the Express Laws
and Commandments of the New Testament.
Ground One
This does oppose itself to the express
Laws,
and Commands of the New Testament
My first ground is infant's
baptism does oppose itself to the express Laws, and Commands of the New
Testament. Whatsoever consequence men do draw from Scripture that crosses
the plain Commands of God (to be sure) cannot be of God, but such
consequence must needs be (according to Scripture light) of Satan, or at the best,
from the vision of a man's own heart.
This I would have you seriously to take notice of, that baptism of believers is
a solemn ordinance of the New Testament. It is enjoined by diverse special commands,
and encouraged with promises of remission of sins and salvation on the right
performance of the same.
Argument
For any man to force a consequence that shall oppose itself against so solemn an ordinance cannot be of God. God cannot speak that which is contrary to Himself or to His own commands, as for instance:
Example
When Christ began to teach His Disciples
that the Son of man must suffer many things and be rejected of the Elders,
and Chief Priests and Scribes, and be killed, and the third day, rise,
He spoke that saying openly. Peter took Him and began to rebuke Him, but He rebuked Peter,
saying, "Get thee behind me Satan." From whence we may observe:
Whatsoever consequence or argument any man shall seem to enforce (though pretending
Scripture for the same) that oppose themselves against duty, or do hinder the servants
of God therein, I may say of such consequences, and such arguments, "Get thee
behind me Satan, thou art an offense unto me."
It's clear that Christ concludes those arguments and persuasions, whatsoever they be, that
do tend to the hindrance of any solemn duty or Ordinance of God, to be
of the Devil, "Get thee behind me Satan."
Therefore all those books and arguments which are set out for the maintenance
of children's baptism are grounded upon this consequence. They are opposing
themselves against duty, as you have heard, which is, that every penitent
or believing person ought to be baptized.
All Sermons, Arguments and Books Supporting Infant Baptism Are of Satan
The whole tendency of those books
is to oppose the practice of the believer's baptism and to hinder it. I may
say of them as Christ said before, etc. For upon this ground we may conclude
all those discourses not to be of God. I shall therefore leave what is said to you,
seriously to weigh, whether or not this is not an erroneous consequence.
But, in the next place, let us come nearer to examine this consequence, both in itself
and the grounds from whence it is drawn.
The Ground of this Consequence is The Covenant of Circumcision
The ground of this consequence is, that the Covenant of Grace belongs to believers' children. The consequence is therefore, that baptism, being an Ordinance of that Covenant, must needs belong to believers' children. In these two lies our whole business. The Covenant of Circumcision is urged as grounds of this consequence, that Covenant belonging to Abraham and his seed after him in their generation, Gen. 17:7 and 10-14.
Believing Gentiles and Their Seed
From hence it is gathered that the Covenant of Grace, viz. of eternal life, belongs to believers and their seed born of their body. Because the Covenant God made to Abraham and his off-spring, viz. the Covenant of Circumcision belonged to Abraham and his seed in their generation, therefore, circumcision, the sign of the covenant, belonged to the seed. Even so, the New Covenant now belongs to the believing Gentiles and their seed. Baptism, being an ordinance of that Covenant, belongs also to believing Gentiles, and their seed. This is the only and alone foundation ground of all those (except Papists) for their Rantizing or Sprinkling of children.
The Error of This Ground Destroys the Gospel
We shall endeavor to prove this ground (from whence this consequence flows) to be so far from being the truth, that it is an error. Yea it is such an error that if it were maintained with all those errors, that naturally are consequences of this opinion, it would shake the foundations of the Gospel.
INTRODUCTION CHAPTER 1 | CHAPTER 2 | CHAPTER 3 | CHAPTER 4 | CHAPTER 5 | CHAPTER 6
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