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…

Answ. This Exposition of this Text there is no ground to admit of; the Apostle speaks of the Power or Virtue of Christ's Circumcision: His Design is to show we are complete in Christ, and have him on; he mentions Faith as well as Baptism, or such a Faith that should always attend Baptism; and therefore Infant-Baptism from hence cannot be proved, or inferred, nor the least ground for such a bold Conclusion from hence, viz. That Baptism came in the room of Circumcision.

Answ. This Exposition of this Text there is no ground to admit of; the Apostle speaks of the Power or Virtue of Christ's Circumcision: His Design is to shew we are compleat in Christ, and have him on; he mentions Faith as well as Baptism, or such a Faith that should always attend Baptism; and therefore Infant-Baptism from hence cannot be proved, or inferred, nor the least ground for such a bold Conclusion from hence, viz. That Baptism came in the room of Circumcision.

1. For first, the Apostle 'tis true excludes Circumcision, but 'tis upon another account, viz. by showing Circumcision was a Figure of the Circumcision of the Heart, as Rom. 2. 28, 29. Phil. 3. 3. and since they had the same signified thereby, the Rite or Sign ceased. And as I have formerly replied in Answer to this Text, so I must say to you, all that can well be asserted from this Scripture, where the Apostle brings in Baptism, is no more than this, viz. That where Baptism is rightly administered, upon a proper Subject, it represents the Spiritual and Mystical Circumcision of the Heart, i. e. That the Soul is dead to Sin, or hath put off the Body of the Sins of the Flesh, by the Circumcision of Christ; which may refer to the Power of his Death in the blessed Effects thereof, by the effectual Sin-killing Operations of the Spirit on the Heart. And as being dead to ⟨p. 90⟩Sin, we are buried with Christ in Baptism, both in Sign and Token of Christ's Burial, i. e. covered all over in the Water, which is a clear Symbol of his Burial; also in Signification, i. e. that we being dead, and buried with Christ in Baptism, so are to rise with him by the Faith of the Operation of God; and both these are held forth in true Baptism. The Apostle doth not mention Baptism to come in the room of Circumcision, but to show that these believing Colossians had through Christ by the Spirit obtained the Antitype thereof, or thing figured out in the Circumcision of the Flesh, which Baptism did clearly represent. But since this is so strenuously urged afresh, tho so often answered, I will be at the trouble to transcribe once more what Dr. Taylor, late Bishop of Down, hath said to this Argument of yours, and others before you, about Circumcision, viz. That Baptism is the Antitype of it, or that it came in the room thereof.