Answ. There is no pretended Proof for Infant-Baptism brought by the Asserters of it, that I wonder at more than this, especially considering how fully and excellently they are detected by several able Men of their own Party, yet notwithstanding it seems to abide as a standing Doctrine in the National Church, as witness their Catechism—Baptism, wherein I was made a Member of Christ, a Child of God, and an Inheritor of the Kingdom of Heaven. Pray see how excellently the late famous Stephen Charnock detects this Error;1 It is not, saith he, External Baptism (speaking of Regeneration) many Men take Baptism for Regeneration, the Ancients usually give it this term: One calls our Saviour's Baptism his Regeneration—this confers not Grace, but engageth to it: outward Water cannot convey inward Life. How can Water, an external thing, work upon the Soul in a physical manner? Neither can it be proved, that ever the Spirit of God is tied by any Promise, to apply himself to the Soul in a gracious Operation, when Water is applied to the Body. If it were so, that all that were baptized were regenerated, then all that were baptized should be saved, or else the Doctrine of Perseverance falls to the ground. Baptism is a means of conveying this Grace, when the Spirit is pleased to operate with it; but it doth not work as a physical Cause upon the Soul as a ⟨p. 129⟩urge doth upon the Humours of the Body: for 'tis the Sacrament of Regeneration, as the Lord's-Supper is of Nourishment. As a Man cannot be said to be nourished without Faith, so he cannot be said to be a new Creature without Faith: Put the most delicious Meat into the Mouth of a dead Man, you do not nourish him, because he wants a Principle of Life to concoct or digest it. Faith only is the Principle of spiritual Life, and the Principle which draws Nourishment from the Means of God's Appointment. Some indeed say, that Regeneration is conferred in Baptism upon the Elect, and exerts it self afterwards in Conversion; but how so active a Principle as a Spiritual Life, should lie dead and asleep so long, even many Years, which intervene between Baptism and Conversion, is not easily conceivable. Thus far Mr. Charnock: others we find to agree with him herein.
Answ. There is no pretended Proof for Infant-Baptism brought by the Asserters of it, that I wonder at more than this, especially considering how fully and excellently they are detected by several able Men of their own Party, yet notwithstanding it seems to abide as a standing Doctrine in the National Church, as witness their Catechism—Baptism, wherein I was made a Member of Christ, a Child of God, and an Inheritor of the Kingdom of Heaven. Pray see how excellently the late famous Stephen Charnock detects this Error;1 It is not, saith he, External Baptism (speaking of Regeneration) many Men take Baptism for Regeneration, the Ancients usually give it this term: One calls our Saviour's Baptism his Regeneration—this confers not Grace, but engageth to it: outward Water cannot convey inward Life. How can Water, an external thing, work upon the Soul in a physical manner? Neither can it be proved, that ever the Spirit of God is ty'd by any Promise, to apply himself to the Soul in a gracious Operation, when Water is applyed to the Body. If it were so, that all that were baptized were regenerated, then all that were baptized should be saved, or else the Doctrine of Perseverance falls to the ground. Baptism is a means of conveying this Grace, when the Spirit is pleased to operate with it; but it doth not work as a physical Cause upon the Soul as a ⟨p. 129⟩•rge doth upon the Humours of the Body: for 'tis the Sacrament of Regeneration, as the Lord's-Supper is of Nourishment. As a Man cannot be said to be nourished without Faith, so he cannot be said to be a new Creature without Faith: Put the most delicious Meat into the Mouth of a dead Man, you do not nourish him, because he wants a Principle of Life to concoct or digest it. Faith only is the Principle of spiritual Life, and the Principle which draws Nourishment from the Means of God's Appointment. Some indeed say, that Regeneration is conferred in Baptism upon the Elect, and exerts it self afterwards in Conversion; but how so active a Principle as a Spiritual Life, should lie dead and asleep so long, even many Years, which intervene between Baptism and Conversion, is not easily conceivable. Thus far Mr. Charnock: others we find to agree with him herein.
- 1Charnock on Regener. last sol. p. 75.
