1. This Opinion has a direct tendency to invalidate, or indeed, quite throw out of doors, and discontinue the use of a Foundation Ordinance, or Principle of the Gospel of Christ, Heb. 6.2. For if Unbaptized Persons may be admitted to all Church Privileges, does not such a practice plainly suppose that it is unnecessary? 1for to what purpose is it to be Baptized (may one Reason with himself) if he may enjoy all Church Privileges without it? The Baptists (if once such a belief prevails,) would be easily tempted to lay aside that reproached Practice, ⟨p. 14⟩(which Envious Men have unjustly derided and aspersed,) of being dipped, that is Baptized, and challenge their Church Communion by virtue of their Faith only; and such as Baptized Infants would be satisfied to discontinue the practice, when one they are persuaded, that their Children may be Regular Church-Members without it; for if it be superfluous, discreet and thrifty People would willingly be rid of the trouble of Christening-Feasts, (as they call them) and all the appurtenances thereto belonging: so that in a short time we should have neither old nor young baptized, and by consequence be in a likely condition to lose one of the Sacraments, which would easily make way for the loss of the other, both having an equal Sanction in Scripture; and the Arguments that disannul the one, will destroy the other, and consequently all Ordinances,⟨p. 15⟩and Modes of Worship, and lastly, Religion it self. For if a thing expressly commanded, and practised by Christ, be looked upon as unnecessary, every man will conclude, that 'tis all one, whether he takes or leaves it, and will, if he can choose, rather leave it, since the taking it up, is something troublesome and of no use, (as is supposed) which begets an Opinion, That Christs Laws may be dispensed withal by men, and so lessens that Reverence and Esteem which persons ought to have for Christ: and when such do once make a Breach in those Boundaries & Limits, which they are enjoined not to pass, they seldom stop in that extravagant Career till they run beyond all Religion into Atheism, or pretended Enthusiasm. So that (at best) this Opinion tends to encourage persons in the neglect or contempt of Religious Duty, or to ⟨p. 16⟩the loss thereof quite and clean; which is, no less, than to be, not only an Accessary, but (in a great measure) the Cause of that sin.
1. This Opinion has a direct tendency to invalidate, or indeed, quite throw out of doors, and discontinue the use of a Foundation Ordinance, or Principle of the Gospel of Christ, Heb. 6.2. For if Unbaptized Persons may be admitted to all Church Priviledges, does not such a practice plainly suppose that it is unnecessary? 1for to what purpose is it to be Baptized (may one Reason with himself) if he may enjoy all Church Priviledges without it? The Baptists (if once such a belief prevails,) would be easily tempted to lay aside that reproached Practice, ⟨p. 14⟩(which Envious Men have unjustly derided and aspersed,) of being dipt, that is Baptized, and challenge their Church Communion by vertue of their Faith only; and such as Baptized Infants would be satisfied to discontinue the practice, when one they are perswaded, that their Children may be Regular Church-Members without it; for if it be superfluous, discreet and thrifty People would willingly be rid of the trouble of Christning-Feasts, (as they call them) and all the appurtenances thereto belonging: so that in a short time we should have neither old nor young baptized, and by consequence be in a likely condition to lose one of the Sacraments, which would easily make way for the loss of the other, both having an equal Sanction in Scripture; and the Arguments that disanul the one, will destroy the other, and consequently all Ordinances,⟨p. 15⟩and Modes of Worship, and lastly, Religion it self. For if a thing expresly commanded, and practised by Christ, be lookt upon as unnecessary, every man will conclude, that 'tis all one, whether he takes or leaves it, and will, if he can choose, rather leave it, since the taking it up, is somthing troublesome and of no use, (as is supposed) which begets an Opinion, That Christs Laws may be dispens'd withal by men, and so lessens that Reverence and Esteem which persons ought to have for Christ: and when such do once make a Breach in those Boundaries & Limits, which they are enjoyned not to pass, they seldom stop in that extravagant Career till they run beyond all Religion into Atheism, or pretended Enthusiasm. So that (at best) this Opinion tends to encourage persons in the neglect or contempt of Religious Duty, or to ⟨p. 16⟩the loss thereof quite and clean; which is, no less, than to be, not only an Accessary, but (in a great measure) the Cause of that sin.
- 1Supra sic per plura quod sieri potest perp•ciora.
