A47535:486
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.
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? Levit. 10. 1, 2. Did God forbid Abraham to circumcise his Female Children, or forbid him to circumcise his Male Children on the ninth day? and might he therefore do these things—because God did no where tell him he ⟨p. 148⟩should not do so? The like might be said concerning Bowing at the naming of the Name of Jesus, Cross in Baptism, Surplice in reading the Service, Kneeling at the Sacrament, set Forms of Prayer; you do these things because not forbidden, and why not admit of other Rites and Innovations as well as these? Moreover, what express word against Infants receiving the Sacraments? Besides, are Bells forbidden to be baptized? hath Christ said indeed, ye shall not baptize Bells? is it therefore lawful to baptize them? You will object, May be that Bells are not •it nor capable Subjects of such an Ordinance? But why are they not? wherein are they uncapable? Can you not sprinkle a little Water upon a Bell, and use the words of Institution in as solemn a manner as you do when you sprinkle a Child (baptize it as you say)? But are they uncapable because there is no word of Institution, nothing from the Mouth of Christ or his Apostles, to justify such a Practice? We say the same in respect of your baptizing Children;