A47535:485
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 12: Containing an Answer to several other Arguments brought for Infant-Baptism.
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.
Object. 2. But there is nothing in all the New Testament against Infant-Baptism, saith […] ▪ Smithies. ⟨p. 147⟩If indeed our Saviour had declared that Infants should not be baptized, or if we had read of the Apostles Refusal of them; then, &c. There is no hint from any express word dropped from Christ, saith Mr. Sidenham, or his Apostles, nor any Phrase which doth forbid such an Act.
Object. 2. But there is nothing in all the New T•stament against Infant-Baptism, saith 〈…〉 ▪ Smythies. ⟨p. 147⟩If indeed our Saviour had declared that Infants should not be baptized, or if we had read of the Apostles Refusal of them; then, &c. There is no hint from any express word dropt from Christ, saith Mr. Sidenham, or his Apostles, nor any Phrase which doth forbid such an Act.
Answ. We will answer with Tertullian: For this is a certain Rule, saith he, if it be said 'tis lawful because the Scripture doth not forbid it; it may equally be retorted, it is therefore not lawful, because the Scripture doth not command it. That which is done in the Worship and Service of God without any express Word dropped from Christ or his Apostles, nor any Phrase which doth signify it is his Will and Mind it ought to be done, is unlawful and no better than Will-worship. Must Christ forbid Infant-Baptism? must he declare in plain words they ought not to be baptized, or else may they, ought they to be baptized? Is this good Divinity with Mr. Smithies? Certainly this Man can't long keep out of the Romish Communion: Hath our Saviour declared indeed that you shall not have Crucifixes, Beads, Altars, and that you shall not use Salt, Spittle, Oil, or Chrism in Baptism? that ye shall not go on Pilgrimages, nor pray for the Dead? Hath Christ, I say, or his Apostles, as you read, forbid these things, and many more of like nature? Or, did God forbid Nadab and Abihu to offer strange Fire, who were destroyed for doing it?