The grounds and ends of the baptism of the children of the faithful. Opened…The grounds and ends of the baptisme of the children of the faithfull. Opened…

But to speak to your argument, do you think that the Circumcision of infants was a matter fundamental? If so, do you think those infants growing up to years, did build their faith in matters fundamental upon humane testimony? And had they no other way to satisfy themselves or others, for their true receiving of so holy an Ordinance of God, but only the word of man, which must stand them in stead of the Word of God?

But to speake to your argument, doe you thinke that the Circumcision of infants was a matter fundamentall? If so, doe you thinke those infants growing up to yeares, did build their faith in matters fundamentall upon humane testimonie? And had they no other way to satisfie themselves or others, for their true receiving of so holy an Ordinance of God, but onely the word of man, which must stand them in stead of the Word of God?

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,