N00149:54
A discourse concerning the subject of baptism wherein the present controversies, that are agitated…A discourse concerning the subject of baptisme wherein the present controversies, that are agitated…
A discourse concerning the subject of baptism wherein the present controversies, that are agitated in the New English churches are from Scripture and reason modestly enquired into / by Increase Mather, teacher of a church in Boston in New-England. ; [Sixteen lines of quotations]A discourse concerning the subject of baptisme wherein the present controversies, that are agitated in the New English churches are from Scripture and reason modestly enquired into / by Increase Mather, teacher of a church in Boston in New-England. ; [Sixteen lines of quotations]
printed by Samuel Green, 1675
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.
5. Not only the Hebrews, but the Arabians (of whom it was said Zipporah was) are wont to call a (r)newly Circumcised person by the Name of Chathan. This• Interpretation is followed by Ouk•los, Elijah in Tishbi, Abenezra, and other Jewish Expositors; And by Drusins Mede, Obr. Cartwright, &c. Hence is that Job. 1. 12. we are born [not of blood] but of God, &c. b. c. (s)our being Circumcised and reckoned amongst the Children of God, is not enough except we partake of a Divine and spiritual Regeneration. This may be the Reason why Circumcised persons are styled the Children of God. The Hebrews were wont to call those that were peculiarly devoted to this or that, the Children of that which they were devoted unto. Hence are those phrases of the Son of perdition, Child of death, Children of the Bridegroom, &c. Beza in Mat. 8. 12. The Sum is, in Circumcision there is a solemn Consecration of the Soul to the true God. Therefore is that phrase, Jer. 4. 4. Circumcise your selves. i. e. give your selves as every true penitent doth to the Lord, so that Circumcision noteth Consecration to the Lord. Hence a mans hired Servants were not Circumcised, but only his Children, or his bought Servants, the Reason was because he had not an absolute Power over those, as he had over these, to dedicate them to the use and Service of the true God. But thus it is in Baptism, the baptizate is given, Consecrated, and espoused to Christ, yea, a Christian is one who is (t)offered, i. e. dedicated to the Lord, Rom 12 2. From the abuse of this Truth hath sprung that Superstition of baptizing Alters, Bells, Churches so called, thereby to signify their Consecration and dedication to the Service of the Lord. Now as by the Straw and Stubble we may gather what kind of grain was in the Field, so even those Superstitions show that Consecration to the Service of Christ is the thing signified by Baptism.