A47591:1149
Light broke forth in Wales, expelling darkness, or, The Englishman's love to the ancient…Light broke forth in Wales, expelling darkness, or, The Englishman's love to the antient…
Light broke forth in Wales, expelling darkness, or, The Englishman's love to the ancient Britons [sic] being an answer to a book, intituled [sic] Children's baptism from Heaven, published in the Welsh tongue by Mr. James Owen / by Benjamin Keach.Light broke forth in Wales, expelling darkness, or, The Englishman's love to the antient Britains [sic] being an answer to a book, iutituled [sic] Children's baptism from Heaven, published in the Welsh tongue by Mr. James Owen / by Benjamin Keach.
London: printed by William Marshall, 1696
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.
Ans. We may cite Origen against Origen, so little credit is to be given to History in this case about him, and some other of the Fathers, for I find Origen saith, viz. they that are rightly baptized are washed unto Salvation, but so was not Simon Magus, he that is baptized unto Salvation, receives the Water and the Holy Ghost, which Simon did not but Water only, Hom. 6. upon Ezek. •1. 6. v. 4. Mountanus, p. 36. 37. and in his Commentary upon Rom. 6. saith the same Origen, such Baptism that was accompanied with crucifying the Flesh, and rising again to newness of Life, was the approved Baptism; I must confess that Dr. Taylor saith, that Origen and Austin are the only Witnesses that asserted Infant Baptism to be an Apostolical Tradition; but it appears by Erasmus, that Origen's writings were greatly corrupted by Russinus, and made to speak sometimes for Infant Baptism. See Jacob Merci•gus, p. 283. 291. and Montanus p. 29. to 35, 42, 43. Sir, had you proved Infant Baptism from the Scripture, and that the Apostles baptized Infants, you need not go to Humane History that is so uncertain, and no Rule for us.
5. Gregory of Nazianzum, who you say was famous about the year 370, beareth witness for Infant Baptism; saith he, omni aetati Baptisma convenit, Baptism is answerable unto every Age. And again, da infantis custodiam, give Infants the Baptism of the Trinity, and that will be a great and excellent Guard unto them.
Ans. I find a worthy Author that quotes this Gregory speaking quite the contrary thing; in his third Oration, (saith he) the baptized used in the first place to confess their Sins, and to renounce the Devil and all his Works before many Witnesses, and that none were baptized of old, but they that did confess their Sins, and how dangerous it was headlong, and without due Preparation to partake thereof. He therefore adviseth, that the Baptism of Infants be deferred till they did not only make Confession of their Faith, but were to desire the same, see Dr. Taylor, p. 239. Now worthy Britons, what signifieth the citing of such Fathers, when we cannot be certain that we have their true writings; God hath preserved his sacred Word from Corruption,