A80622:662
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…
The grounds and ends of the baptism of the children of the faithful. Opened in a familiar discourse by way of a dialogue, or brotherly conference. / By the learned and faithful minister of Christ, John Cotton, teacher of the Church of Boston in New-England.The grounds and ends of the baptisme of the children of the faithfull. Opened in a familiar discourse by way of a dialogue, or brotherly conference. / By the learned and faithfull minister of Christ, John Cotton, teacher of the Church of Boston in New-England.
London: printed by R.C. for Andrew Crooke, 1646
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.
Furthermore, It is a consideration of weight with me, that though the person baptized be said to descend into the water, yet the baptizing lay not in the descending, or dipping of the body into the water, but in the sprinkling, or pouring the water upon the body. For in dipping we apply the body to the water: In sprinkling, or pouring the water, the water is applied to the body: which doth more lively set forth the grace of Christ in the washing away of our sins; which is done, rather by applying Christs blood to us, then by applying our selves to the blood of Christ.
Furthermore, It is a consideration of weight with mee, that though the person baptized bee said to descend into the water, yet the baptizing lay not in the descending, or dipping of the body into the water, but in the sprinkling, or pouring the water upon the body. For in dipping wee apply the body to the water: In sprinkling, or pouring the water, the water is applied to the body: which doth more lively set forth the grace of Christ in the washing away of our sinnes; which is done, rather by applying Christs blood to us, then by applying our selves to the blood of Christ.
Moreover when you stand so much for dipping, I demand, and I pray you answer to me, (or to your self ingenuously) Whether would you have the whole body dipped or part only? If the whole body, whether naked, or clothed? If clothed, then outward baptism is not a washing of the flesh, but of the clothes rather; If naked, how will it stand with civility or modesty to Baptize men and women of grown years, (for children you admit none) in the face of the whole Congregation? No marvel then, if the Sect of the Adamites grow out of your Sect. But if you require but part of the body to be baptized, I demand what part? If the face, that is our usual manner of baptizing in England; but that you implead, as false. If the hands and feet, and head also, that is it indeed which Peter offered in a like case, Joh. 13.9. But Christ answereth him the washing of one part was enough, and would suffice to signify the washing and purifying of the whole man, every whit, v. 10. And in very truth, the whole virtue and efficacy of the death of Christ is as well, and as fully applied in the Act of sprinkling, as of dipping. When Isaiah prophesied the Application of the death of Christ to the Redemption of many Nations,