A47605:456
The rector rectified and corrected, or, Infant-baptism unlawful being a sober answer to a…
The rector rectified and corrected, or, Infant-baptism unlawful being a sober answer to a late pamphlet entitled An argumentative and practical discourse of infant-baptism, published by Mr. William Burkit, rector of Mildin in Suffolk : wherein all his arguments for pedo-baptism are refuted and the necessity of immersion, i.e. dipping, is evidenced, and the people falsely called Anabaptists are cleared from those unjust reproaches and calumnies cast upon them : together with a reply to the Athenian gazette added to their 5th volume about infant-baptism : with some remarks upon Mr. John Flavel's last book in answer to Mr. Philip Cary / by Benjamin Keach.The rector rectified and corrected, or, Infant-baptism unlawful being a sober answer to a late pamphlet entituled An argumentative and practical discourse of infant-baptism, published by Mr. William Burkit, rector of Mildin in Suffolk : wherein all his arguments for pedo-baptism are refuted and the necessity of immersion, i.e. dipping, is evidenced, and the people falsly called Anabaptists are cleared from those unjust reproaches and calumnies cast upon them : together with a reply to the Athenian gazette added to their 5th volume about infant-baptism : with some remarks upon Mr. John Flavel's last book in answer to Mr. Philip Cary / by Benjamin Keach.
London: printed by John Harris, 1692
Title page typeset from the transcription.
THE Rector Rectified, and Corrected: OR, Infant-Baptism Unlawful. › Chapter 4
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.
1But you in the next place put us upon searching the Scripture to prove a Negative, i. e. that there were none baptized in Infancy; you might as well bid us search and see if we can find there were not one Infant who broke Bread, or were not ordained an Elder or Pastor of a Church. How can we prove they did not make use of Honey or Oil in Baptism, which some of the Ancient Fathers used, as Mr. Perkins notes; or Salt and Spittle, which Practice is still (as I said before) in the Romish Church? Where is the extreme Unction forbid,2 or Auricular Confession, or to use Beads in Prayer, and a hundred more such Romish Popperies? may these things be therefore done? Because we read not they are forbid, I thought adding to God's Word was forbidden, Rev. 22. But we will repeat your Words to see the Strength of your Argument. Search the Scripture, and produce me, say you, one Instance if you can, from the time St. John the Baptist, to the Death of St. John the Evangelist, which was more than threescore Years, during which time many thousands of Infants were grown up to Maturity, and make it appear they were not baptized in their Infancy, or that their Baptism was deferred till riper Years; or that there is any Divine Command for the delaying the Baptism of Children of Christian Parents until they are grown up, and I will frankly yield the Cause. Bravely spoken!
1But you in the next place put us upon searching the Scripture to prove a Negative, i. e. that there were none baptized in Infancy; you might as well bid us search and see if we can find there were not one Infant who broke Bread, or were not ordained an Elder or Pastor of a Church. How can we prove they did not make use of Honey or Oil in Baptism, which some of the Ancient Fathers used, as Mr. Perkins notes; or Salt and Spittle, which Practice is still (as I said before) in the Romish Church? Where is the extream Ʋnction forbid,2 or Auricular Confession, or to use Beads in Prayer, and a hundred more such Romish Popperies? may these things be therefore done? Because we read not they are forbid, I thought adding to God's Word was forbidden,