A41329:364
The plea of the children of believing-parents for their interest in Abraham's covenant, their…
The plea of the children of believing-parents for their interest in Abraham's covenant, their right to church-member-ship with their parents, and consequently their title to baptism. The cause of publishing this discourse after so many learned men have laboured in this province, is declared in the preface to the reader. By Giles Firmin.
London: printed for Tho. Simons, 1683
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
As for their Clothes, I hope they do not go in with them, to Baptise, or Wash them. certainly there ought to be an immediate Application of the Sign, [the Water] to the Body; that our Baptism hath a reference to the Ezek. 16.4. I see several Men conclude, and have shown us how this Custom of Washing new born Babes was derived almost to all Nations, but neither then, nor now do our Women put on a Shirt, or any thing upon the Infant, and then wash it, but they apply the Water immediately to the Body; I am sure it should be so in Baptism. Vossius gives us large Testimonies out of Ancient Writers, how that Men, Women, and Children, in those Countries, were all Baptised. [De Baptis. p. 350.] [I wonder the Anabaptists should be so angry with Mr. Baxter] because he saith they Baptise naked, the Women only had a little covering before them, (yea they had a Mystery in the pulling off their Clothes, to show their pulling off the Old Man, some where I have read,) after their Dipping, they were Anointed. ⟨p. 112⟩When a tumult arose in the City about Chrysostom, how the Women that were about Baptising, ran away naked; with other things there we may read.
As for their Clothes, I hope they do not go in with them, to Baptise, or Wash them. certainly there ought to be an immediate Aplication of the Sign, [the Water] to the Body; that our Baptism hath a reference to the Ezek. 16.4. I see several Men conclude, and have shown us how this Custom of Washing new born Babes was derived almost to all Nations, but neither then, nor now do our Women put on a Shirt, or any thing upon the Infant, and then wash it, but they apply the Water immediately to the Body; I am sure it should be so in Baptism. Vossius gives us large Testimonies out of Antient Writers, how that Men, Women, and Children, in those Countries, were all Baptised. [De Baptis. p. 350.] [I wonder the Anabaptists should be so angry with Mr. Baxter] because he saith they Baptise naked, the Women only had a little covering before them, (yea they had a Mystery in the pulling off their Clothes, to shew their pulling off the Old Man, some where I have read,) after their Dipping, they were Annointed. ⟨p. 112⟩When a tumult arose in the City about Chrysolstom, how the Women that were about Baptising, ran away naked; with other things there we may read.