A47535:426
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 11: Wherein many other pretended Scripture-Poofs and Arguments for the baptizing of Infants…
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. 1. That the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to little Children we have no cause to doubt: But that they have a right to Baptism therefore, is denied; May not our Brethren infer from the greater to the lesser thus as well, viz. Infants belong to the Kingdom of Heaven, which is the greater; therefore to them belongeth the Lord's Supper, which is the lesser: and sure we are, that those who are fit Subjects of Baptism ought not to be ⟨p. 126⟩denied the Sacrament of Bread and Wine. How often must we tell you that Baptism wholly depends, as to Subject, Time, End, and manner of Administration, on the words of Institution? 'tis a positive Law, we must go to the Pleasure, and Will, and Design of the Law-maker: what may not Men infer after this sort?
Answ. 1. That the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to little Children we have no cause to doubt: But that they have a right to Baptism therefore, is deny'd; May not our Brethren infer from the greater to the lesser thus as well, viz. Infants belong to the Kingdom of Heaven, which is the greater; thererefore to them belongeth the Lord's Supper, which is the lesser: and sure we are, that those who are fit Subjects of Baptism ought not to be ⟨p. 126⟩deny'd the Sacrament of Bread and Wine. How often must we tell you that Baptism wholly depends, as to Subject, Time, End, and manner of Administration, on the words of Institution? 'tis a positive Law, we must go to the Pleasure, and Will, and Design of the Law-maker: what may not Men infer after this sort?
2. Were these little Children be ye sure the Children of Believers? If you can't prove this, what signifies all you say? and how this can be made appear I see not; for though Christ was then in the Coast of Judea, yet that they were Children of Godly Parents is a great Question.