A47535:285
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 8: Proving Believers the only true Subjects of Baptism from the special ends of this holy…
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.
Now if this be true which Mr. Baxter affirms, and I see no cause to doubt of it; (most worthy Men, as well as Scripture, agreeing in this case with him) how absurd and ridiculous a thing is the Invention of Infant-Baptism, sith all Men know they are not capable to signify their Consent of Marriage with Christ; if any thing in the World cuts in pieces the very Sinews of Infants Baptism 'tis this; for there is a Contract made between both Parties before the Solemnization of Marriage; and how can a Babe of two or ten days old do that? 'tis a strange Marriage if it be not done, though more strange indeed without the other. But may be some will say 'tis a Marriage by Proxy or Sureties, as Princes sometimes are married.
Answ. Sometimes there has been some such like Action done I must confess: But does not the Prince actually consent so to be married? But all this while, who has required any thing of this at our Hands? Are not Sureties in Baptism a mere human Invention? and have not our Brethren cast it away as such?
Answ. Sometimes there has been some such like Action done I must confess: But does not the Prince actually consent so to be married? But all this while, who has required any thing of this at our Hands? Are not Sureties in Baptism a meer human Invention? and have not our Brethren cast it away as such?
The third end of Baptism, as Mr. Perkins observes, is this, viz. 'Tis a Sign to Believers of the Covenant on God's part of the washing away of our Sins in the Blood of Christ; we see, saith lie▪ what is done in Baptism, the Covenant of Grace is solemnized between God and the Party baptized; and in this Covenant something belongs to God, and something to the Party baptized. Are Infants capable thus to covenant with God? though we doubt not but it is so in some good sense between the Almighty and a Believer, who is the only Subject, i. e. there is indeed a mutual Stipulation on both Parties in that Solemnity, but an Infant can do nothing herein.