Yea, let me demand a further Question, What if a man were baptized at as ripe years as the Treasurer of Candace, Acts 8. who saw himself baptized by Philip? What hath such a man to build the faith of his Baptism upon, and to satisfy himself and others therein, but only the testimony of his own eyes, and sense of f•eling? but neither a mans eyes, nor his sense of feeling are any •hitmore the Divine testimony of the Word of God, then the ⟨p. 167⟩testimony by word of mouth of many score• of witnesse•: yea, put the case a little further, (and no more then possible) what if a man of grown years (suppose a Pagan) were converted to the faith by the hearing of the Word, and yet had been blind from his mothers womb? If he shall come to be baptized, he will want the testimony of his eyes to see himself baptized. And though he may hear the words of him that baptizeth them, yet he hath it only by the words of men, that he that baptizeth him i• a Minister. For himself did neither see him elected nor ordained; which is also the case of any man, though of grown years, that cometh to be baptized of such a Minister who was ordained to his Office before himself was borne; must such a mans faith think you be built upon the word of man for the truth of his baptism? But be willing to call to mind, the Lord Jesus upbraided his eleven Apostles with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen from the dead, Mar. 6 14. And yet some of them mentioned in the former part of the Chapter were but women▪ and others of them were private disciples, neither sort of them were Apostles. The truth is, if one Proposition in a Syllogism be found in the Word of God, and the other Proposition be found certain and evident by sense or reason, the conclusion is a conclusion of faith. As for example, it is a proposition found in Scriptur•; That the City which reigned over the Kings of the earth •n Johns time, is that woman, the great Whore Babylon, which shall be destroyed, Revel. 17.18. But Rome is that City which reigned over the Kings of the earth in Johns time. This proposition we have by certain and evident testimony of the histories of those times. Therefore Rome is that woman, the great whore Babylon, which shall be destroyed.
Yea, let me demand a further Question, What if a man were baptized at as ripe yeares as the Treasurer of Candace, Acts 8. who saw himselfe baptized by Philip? What hath such a man to build the faith of his Baptisme upon, and to satisfie himselfe and others th•rein, but onely the testimony of his owne eyes, and sense of f•eling? but neither a mans eyes, nor his sense of feeling are any •hitmore the Divine testimony of the Word of God, then the ⟨p. 167⟩testimony by word of mouth of many score• of witnesse•: yea, put the case a little further, (and no more then possible) what if a man of grown yeares (suppose a Pagan) were converted to the faith by the hearing of the Word, and yet had been blinde from his mothers wombe? If hee shall come to be baptized, he will want the testimony of his eyes to see himselfe baptized. And though he may heare the words of him that baptizeth them, yet hee hath it onely by the words of men, that he that baptizeth him i• a Minister. For himself did neither see him elected nor ordained; which is also the case of any man, though of growne yeares, that commeth to be baptized of such a Minister who was ordained to his Office before himselfe was borne; must such a mans faith think you be built upon the word of man for the truth of his baptisme? But be willing to call to mind, the Lord Jesus upbraided his eleven Apostles with their unbelief and hardnesse of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after hee was risen from the dead, Mar. 6 14. And yet some of them mentioned in the former part of the Chapter were but women▪ and others of them were private disciples, neither sort of them were Apostles. The truth is, if one Proposition in a Syllogisme be found in the Word of God, and the other Proposition be found certaine and evident by sense or reason, the conclusion is a conclusion of faith. As for example, it is a proposition found in Scriptur•; Th•t the City which raigned over the Kings of the earth •n Iohns time, is that woman, the great Whore Babylon, which shall bee destroyed,
