JO. But I will prove it after this manner It is so far, that the gospel should: reject & cast back the children, that it doth rather bring them unto Christ. Now the doctrine is greater then baptism .i. Cor. i. cha. If the, which is greater, that is to say, the gospel ⟨image 33⟩is the children's, that then, which is less that is to say, baptism shall be theirs, Ergo, the apostles did baptise the children
1The second argument may be made and gathered upon the nature of him, to whom baptism is due, and which is able too receive baptism. As many as god doth reckon among the fideles or faithful, they are fideles, or faithful. For Peter did hear this saying of the Lord. That god hath purified or made clean, call thou it not common or unclean. Acts. x. chapter. He doth put the children in the number of the faithful: Ergo, the children are of the number of the fideles or faithful, and ought to be counted & reputed of us among the fideles, or faithful, onlesse we will repugn against god and be stronger then he. Now it is most certain, that the apostles did baptise all them that Christ commanded them to baptise. Christ commanded them too baptise the faithful (as ye your selves do grant and confess) Ergo, the Apostles did baptise the children. The second proposition (which is, that the children are of the number of the faithful) is known well enough.
⟨image 33⟩2The third argument is gathered upon the fact of Peter, which is peculiar, but yet in it the public administration of baptism is touched. He could not forbid them the water of baptism, that had received the holy ghost, but sealed them as the people of god. Ergo, he could not deny baptism unto the children, sith that he had learned in the gospel that the children be of god, & that the kingdom of heaven is theirs. Who would think, that any man is mete for the kingdom of heaven, without the holy spirit?
3We do make & gather the fourth argument upon the strength & force of circumcision, in stead whereof, baptism is in the church of Christ. As many as were the servants of god, did afore all things, labour & endeavour themselves, to circumcise their children. Josu. v. Exo. iiii. The Apostles were the most faithful ministers of god: Then did not they omit or leave the thing, that was not brought in, in stead of the circumcision, Ergo, they did baptise, not only them that were of age, but also children.
IO. But I wil proue it after this maner It is so farre, yt the gospel shuld: reiecte & cast backe the chyldren, yt it dothe rather bring thē vnto Christ. Now the doctrine is greater then baptisme .i. Cor. i. cha. If ye, which is greater, yt is to say, the gospel ⟨image 33⟩is the chyldrens, that then, which is lasse that is to say, baptisme shal be theirs, Ergo, the apostles dyd baptise the chyldren
1The seconde argument may be made and gathered vpon the nature of him, to whome baptysme is due, and whyche is able too receyue baptisme. As manye as god doth recken emong ye fideles or faithfull, they are fideles, or faithfull. For Peter dyd heare this sayinge of the Lorde. That god hath purifyed or made cleane, call thou it not common or vncleane. Actes. x. chapter. He doth put the chyldren in the number of the faithfull: Ergo, the children are of the number of the fideles or faithfull, and oughte to be compted & reputed of vs emong the fideles, or faithfull, onlesse we will repugne against god and be stronger then he. Now it is most certayne, that the apostles did baptise all them that Chryst commaunded them to baptyse. Christe commaunded them too baptyse the faythfull (as ye youre selues do graunt and confesse) Ergo, the Apostles did baptyse the chyldren. The seconde proposition (which is, that the children are of the number of the faythfull) is knowen well ynough.
⟨image 33⟩2The thyrd argument is gathered vpon ye fact of Peter, which is peculier, but yet in it ye publike administraction of baptism is touched. He coulde not forbyd theym the water of baptisme, yt had receyued the holy ghost, but sealed them as the people of god. Ergo, he could not deny baptisme vnto ye children, syth yt he had learned in the gospel yt the chyldren be of god, & that the kyngdom of heauen is theyrs. Who woulde thynke, yt any man is mete for the kyngdom of heauen, wtout ye holy spiryt?
3We do make & gather the fourth argument vpon the strength & force of circumcision, in stede wherof, baptisme is in the church of Christ. As many as were ye seruātes of god, did afore al thinges, labour & endeuour thēselues, to circumcise theyr childrē. Iosu. v. Exo. iiii. The Apostles were the most faithfull ministers of god: Thē did not thei omit or leaue ye thinge, yt was not brought in, in stede of ye circumcision, Ergo, thei did baptise, not onli thē that were of age, but also children.
- 1ij
- 2iii.
- 3iiii.
