A47535:268
Gold refined, or, Baptism in its primitive purity proving baptism in water an holy…Gold refin'd, or, Baptism in its primitive purity proving baptism in water an holy…
Gold refined, or, Baptism in its primitive purity proving baptism in water an holy institution of Jesus Christ ... : wherein it is clearly evinced that baptism ... is immersion, or dipping the whole body, &c : also that believers are only the true subjects (and not infants) of that holy sacrament : likewise Mr. Smithies arguments for infant-baptism in his late book entitled, The non-communicant ... fully answered / by Benj. Keach ...Gold refin'd, or, Baptism in its primitive purity proving baptism in water an holy institution of Jesus Christ ... : wherein it is clearly evinced that baptism ... is immersion, or dipping the whole body, &c : also that believers are only the true subjects (and not infants) of that holy sacrament : likewise Mr. Smythies arguments for infant-baptism in his late book entitled, The non-communicant ... fully answered / by Benj. Keach ...
London : Printed for the author, and are to be sold by Nathaniel Crouch ..., 1689
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Chapter 7: Proving Believers to be the only true Subjects of Baptism, from the Apostles Doctrine,…
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.
Answ. To which I answer, where are such things as Crossings, Salt, Spittle, and Sureties, &c. forbid? At this Door what Inventions and Innovations may not come in, or be admitted, of such a dangerous Consequence is this, that it would undo us all!
Object. But say you at that time, i. e. at the first preaching the Gospel and planting Churches, Adult Persons were baptized only because they were before they believed either Jews or Heathens; but when they believed and were baptized, their Children had a right to Baptism likewise.
Answ. This is soon said, but hardly, nay not at all to be proved. For it cannot be their Children's right without Authority or Command from Christ: for if we should grant all our Brethren say concerning Abraham's Seed, and of their Children's being in Covenant, this will not justify their Practice of baptizing them, if they argue thus till Dooms-day, except Christ hath left them a Precept, or his Church a Precedent so to do; for Abraham's Seed, though they were such a thousand times over, had no right to Circumcision until he received the word of Command to circumcise them from the great God. Nor had Lot, and other godly Men in that day, any right to that Ceremony who were not of Abraham's Family, because God limited his Command to himself, his Sons, and Servants, or such who were bought with Money, and so came into his House.
Answ. This is soon said, but hardly, nay not at all to be proved. For it cannot be their Childrens right without Authority or Command from Christ: for if we should grant all our Brethren say concerning Abraham's Seed, and of their Childrens being in Covenant, this will not justify their Practice of baptizing them, if they argue thus till Dooms-day, except Christ hath left them a Precept, or his Church a Precedent so to do; for Abraham's Seed, though they were such a thousand times over, had no right to Circumcision until he received the word of Command to circumcise them from the great God. Nor had Lot, and other godly Men in that day, any right to that Ceremony who were not of Abraham's Family, because God limited his Command to himself, his Sons, and Servants, or such who were bought with Mony, and so came into his House.