A47535:618
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 14: Proving Baptism a great and glorious Ordinance, and that 'tis initiating or an In-let i…
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.
I might write a Book of things of this Nature, as touching the Sentiments of worthy Writers, being generally all of the same Belief and Practice; howsoever in other things they ⟨p. 179⟩may differ from us, and one from another; nor will those of the Church of England, Presbyterians, or Independents, admit any as Members into their Communions, as to partake of the Lord's Supper, except they have been baptized in their sense, they calling Sprinkling, or Pouring, Baptizing; which we deny to be the Ordinance.
I might write a Book of things of this Nature, as touching the Sentiments of worthy Writers, being generally all of the same Belief and Practice; howsoever in other things they ⟨p. 179⟩may differ from us, and one from another; nor will those of the Church of England, Presbyterians, or Independants, admit any as Members into their Communions, as to partake of the Lord's Supper, except they have been baptized in their sense, they calling Sprinkling, or Pouring, Baptizing; which we deny to be the Ordinance.
Object. How dare you deny a Man admittance into the Church, who is truly Godly, and hath a lively Faith? If he hath a right to Christ, who is signified in the Lord's Supper, may be be denied the Sign, because he is not baptized?
Answ. How dares any Man, who fears God, attempt to do any thing contrary to the Holy Pattern left in Christ's New Testament? If Baptism was appointed to be an Initiating Ordinance into God's House, 'tis not only a Man's Piety that will serve the turn, he must come into the Church at the Door Christ hath ordained, or not come in at all. If Lot should have offered himself to come into Abraham's Family, (which was then God's Church) do you think Abraham would have admitted him, (though he was a Righteous Man) unless he would first consent to be Circumcised (which was an Initiating Ordinance at that time)? Certainly, no; though he should say he was not convinced of Circumcision, yet that would not have excused him: God's Laws are not to be dispensed with to gratify the Ignorance of Men. 'Tis a Question whether Uzzah knew he ought not to put forth his Hand to support the Ark: Yet for doing that thing, God smote him with Death. Ignorance will not be a sufficient Plea for doing God's Work,