The Proposition (at least so far as it concerns persons Adult] is yielded on all hands. Yea, even those that do mistake, and so pervert this principle, yet acknowledge that where there is faith, there ought to be Baptism. But that Faith which giveth right to Baptism [in foro Ecclesie.] as to us is not invisible faith. But the visibility of faith is that which we must proceed upon as to the Administration of this Ordinance. It is said that Simon Magus believed & was baptized, Acts 8. 13. he was not baptized upon the account of an invisible and saying faith whereof he was destitute, but because he was a visible believer. And the like may be said concerning many thousands, that were baptized by John Baptist & the Apostles: We proceed then to the Assumption, which is thus demonstrated. The persons in Question are either visible believer, or Infidels, The Scripture acknowledgeth no medium between these two, but men are either believers or Infidels, the Greek word [Greek or Hebrew] used throughout the New Testament, for unbeliever & for• Infidel is the same, That word which in some places is translated unbeliever, is elsewhere rendered Infidel. I Confess that some men who pretend to be of the Christian belief, have not right to Baptism, because they are Infidels in practice, and those are the worst, of Infidels, 1 Tim 5. 8. But when a man is not an Infidel neither as to his Profession nor as to his practice, the Scripture calls him a Believer, or non-Infidel. Now can any say concerning the persons in Question that they are Infidels, or that they are in the same condition with the unbelieving Jews, or Turks, or other Heathens. How harsh, yea, how horrid is that affirmation which asserteth all the Children in Question to be in the same state with the Children of Turks, Tartars, or Cannibals, yet if they be not visible ⟨p. 10⟩believers, or if they have not right to Baptism they are in the same Condition with Jews and Turks, and such like Heathenish Infidels, In a word to deny them right to Baptism (the Gospel Circumcision) is to make them to be not Israelites, but Egyptians, Josh. 5. 9. The Hebrew Doctors (j)say of those two Rites of Circumcision and Baptism that whosoever shall neglect either of them is not to be accounted a Proselyte.
The Proposition (at least so far as it concerns persons Adult] is yielded on all hands. Yea, even those that do mistake, and so pervert this principle, yet acknowledge that where there is faith, there ought to be Baptisme. But that Faith which giveth right to Baptisme [in foro Ecclesie.] as to us is not invisible faith. But the visibility of faith is that which we must proceed upon as to the Administration of this Ordinance. It is said that Simon Magus believed & was baptized, Acts 8. 13. he was not baptized upon the account of an invisible and saying faith whereof he was destitute, but because he was a visible believer. And the like may be said concerning many thousands, that were baptized by John Baptis & the Apostles: We proceed then to the Assumption, which is thus demonstrated. The persons in Question are either visible believer, or Infidels, The Scripture acknowledgeth no medium between these two, but men are either believers or Infidels, the Greek word 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 used throughout the New Testament, for unbeliever & for• Infidel is the same, That word which in some places is translated unbeliever, is elsewhere rendred Infidel. I Confess that some men who pretend to be of the Christian belief, have not right to Baptisme, because they are Infidels in practice, and those are the worst, of Infidels, 1 Tim 5. 8. But when a man is not an Infidel neither as to his Profession nor as to his practice, the Scripture calls him a Believer, or non-Infidel. Now can any say concerning the persons in Question that they are Infidels, or that they are in the same condition with the unbelieving Jews, or Turks, or other Heathens. How harsh, yea, how horrid is that affirmation which asserteth all the Children in Question to be in the same state with the Children of Turks, Tartars, or Cannabals, yet if they be not visible ⟨p. 10⟩believers, or if they have not right to Baptisme they are in the same Condition with Jews and Turks, and such like Heathenish Infidels, In a word to deny them right to Baptisme (the Gospel Circumcision) is to make them to be not Israelites, but Egyptians, Josh. 5. 9. The Hebrew Doctors (j)say of those two Rites of Circumcision and Baptisme that whosoever shall neglect either of them is not to be accounted a Proselite.
- (j)Buxtorf Lexi•. Talmud. p. 407.Buxtorf Lexi•. T•almud. p. 407.
