A47535:456
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.
Nor is there the least intimation given of a right to Baptism to them, or their Children, as the Children of Believers, but as an Exhortation to them and theirs, to repent, and be baptized, as their Duty, for their Benefit and Soul-advantage, the Promise being not mentioned; as though of it self it gave a title to Baptism, either to them or their Off-spring, without Repentance. But as a Motive, why both they and their Children should actually repent, and be baptized, i. e. because in so doing, they would be in the way of obtaining Remission of Sin, and receive the Holy Spirit, the two grand Branches of the Promise here mentioned. Which Duty of Repentance little Children being not capable of performing, are not therefore according to this direction of the Apostle the proper Subjects of such an Ordinance.
By Children, here saith, a Learned Man, is not meant their Infants, but the Posterity of the Jews: And so Dr. Hammond grants it, and therefore confesseth this place a very unconcluding Argument for Infant-Baptism.
And, says he, though by Children be here meant the Posterity of the Jews, yet not the natural or carnal Seed neither, but the Spiritual; as appears by the last words in the verse, viz. Even to as many as the Lord our God shall call.