A47535:395
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 10: Wherein the great Arguments, and pretended Scripture-Proofs for Infant-Baptism, concern…
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.
And as Circumcision figures Baptism, so also the Adjuncts of the Circumcision, shall signify something spiritual in the Adherences of Baptism; and therefore as Infants were circumcised, so spiritual Infants shall be baptized, which is spiritual Circumcision; for therefore Babes had the Ministry of the Type, to signify that we must, when we give our Names to Christ, become Children in Malice, and then the Type is made complete, &c. Thus far the Doctor.
And as Circumcision figures Baptism, so also the Adjuncts of the Circumcision, shall signifie something spiritual in the Adherences of Baptism; and therefore as Infants were circumcised, so spiritual Infants shall be baptized, which is spiritual Circumcision; for therefore Babes had the Ministry of the Type, to signify that we must, when we give our Names to Christ, become Children in Malice, and then the Type is made compleat, &c. Thus far the Doctor.
Quest. But why may •ot Infants be baptized now as well as Children were circumcised heretofore?
Answ. 1You may as well ask, why Nadab and Abihu might not have offered strange Fire, or ⟨p. 112⟩why might not the Priest? carry the Ark in a Cart.—The Reason why they ought to do neither of those things were, because God commanded them not so to do. In like manner, say we, Children must not be baptized, because God hath given no Command to do it. Circumcision was expressly commanded, both as to the Subject, Time, Age and Sex, which was as you have heard, the Male Children at eight days old,2