A47448:717
A counter-antidote, to purge out the malignant effects of a late counterfeit, prepared by…
A counter-antidote, to purge out the malignant effects of a late counterfeit, prepared by Mr. Giles Shute ... being an answer to his vindication of his pretended Antidote to prevent the prevalency of Anabaptism, showing that Mr. Hercules Collins's reply to the said author remains unanswered : wherein the baptism of believers is evinced to be God's ordinance, and the baptized congregations proved true churches of Jesus Christ : with a further detection of the error of pedo-baptism : to which is added, An answer to Mr. Shute's reply to Mr. Collins's half-sheet / by Benjamin Keach.A counter-antidote, to purge out the malignant effects of a late counterfeit, prepared by Mr. Gyles Shute ... being an answer to his vindication of his pretended Antidote to prevent the prevalency of Anabaptism, shewing that Mr. Hercules Collins's reply to the said author remains unanswered : wherein the baptism of believers is evinced to be God's ordinance, and the baptized congregations proved true churches of Jesus Christ : with a further detection of the error of pedo-baptism : to which is added, An answer to Mr. Shute's reply to Mr. Collins's half-sheet / by Benjamin Keach.
London: printed for H. Bernard, 1694
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.
The Minor is clear, because there is no Scripture-ground for it, no Command nor Example for such a Practice in God's Word. And if without Scripture-Authority the Church hath Power to do one thing, she may do another, and so ad infinitum.
Arg. 16. Whatsoever Practice reflects upon the Honour, Wisdom and Care of Jesus Christ, or renders him less faithful than Moses, and the New Testament in one of its great Ordinances, (nay, Sacraments) to lie more obscure in God's Word, than any Law or Precept under the Old Testament, cannot be of God. But the Practice of Infant-Baptism reflects on the Honour, Care and Faithfulness of Jesus Christ, and renders him less faithful than Moses, and a great Ordinance, (nay, Sacrament) of the New Testament, to lie more dark and obscure than any Precept under the Old Testament. Ergo, Infant-Baptism cannot be of God.
The Major cannot be denied.
The Minor is easily proved: For he is bold indeed who shall affirm Infant-Baptism doth not lie obscure in God's Word. One great Party who assert it, say, 'tis not to be found in the Scripture at all, but 'tis an unwritten Apostolical Tradition: others say, it lies not in the Letter of the Scripture, but may be proved by Consequences; and yet some great Asserters of it, as Dr. Hammond and others, say, Those Consequences commonly drawn from divers Texts for it, are without Demonstration, and so prove nothing. I am sure a Man may read the Scripture a hundred times over, and never be thereby convinced; he ought to baptize his Children, tho it is powerful to convince Men of all other Duties.