The English nonconformity as under King Charles II and King James II truly stated and argued by Richard Baxter ; who earnestly beseecheth rulers and clergy not to divide and destroy the land and cast their own souls on the dreadful guilt and punishment of national perjury ...

CHAP. XI. Point VIII. Of refusing to Baptize without such Godfathers.

L.

YOV have been long on this Point, I pray you be shorter on the next.

M.

It needs not many words it is so gross. We dare not

Assent and Consent to deny Baptism to all Children of godly Parents that have not such Godfathers and Godmothers, while the Parent offereth to do his own part, professing his faith, and dedi∣cating his Child to God, and promising a faithful education.

L.

How prove you that you must put away all such.

M.

1. Did you ever know any baptized otherwise in the Church. 2. The words of the Rubrick are [There shall be for every Male Child to be baptized, two Godfathers, and one Godmo∣ther; and for every Female one Godfather and two Godmothers.] 3. The Godfathers and Godmothers only are to speak and covenant; without which it is no Baptism: Meer washing without Covenanting is no Christian Baptism, so that the Church of England doth make Godfathers essential to it. And what it is to add to the Essentials of so great an Ordinance of God as was instituted by Christ's own mouth, for so high an use as our Espousal to himself; judge you. 4. The Canon to which all must subscribe, saith [that he himself will use the form in the said Book prescribed in publick prayer and administration of the Sacrament, and no other. 5. The Act of Conventicles maketh it 20 l. the first time and, 40 l. every time after for above four to meet to worship God otherwise than according to the Liturgy, and practice of the Church of England. And to baptize without Godfathers is otherwise. 6. And then the Oxford Act banisheth them five miles from Corporations. Is not here sufficient proof.

L.

And why should any scruple so small a matter?

M.

1. Did I not before tell you why? 2. Suppose they scrupled it through mistake? shall every mistake or errour of Parents deprive the child of Baptism? I'll tell you why I dare no more Assent and Consent to this, than I dare consent to cut off a hand or foot of every such child.

1. Baptising is Christening, and dare I causelessly deprive a Soul of visible Christianity?

2. They themselves make it an Ascertaining means of Salva∣tion, as the forementioned Rubrick sheweth. And would they have us shut Infants from Salvation for nothing? yea they seem to confine Salvation only to the baptized, while they conclude that they are saved as baptized ones, and except the unbaptized from Christian Burial: The best can be but

to leave them as without any promise of life from Christ: And how can we believe that God will give them that which he never promised them. And shall I damn souls for want of a humane unnecessary, if not corrupt invention.

3. It is against the interest of Christ and the Church? shall I make a Covenant to rob Christ and the Church of visible Members for nothing? Murthering Infants is death by God's Laws and mans? And Innocents day is one of the Christmas Holy days. And is it a thing indifferent for me and all the Ministers of the National Church, to make a solemn bargain that we Assent and Consent to keep out all from the Church and from the Covenant (and in their sense the hope) of Sal∣vation on such an account as this.

L.

The thing were dismal and unexcusable if it were as you make it: But how can you say that they shut them out when they force all Parents to bring them in, and to submit to their way? when did you ever know any child refused on this account.

M.

Many a hundred in my time. The Law refuseth them, and it is in vain for the Parents to send them to a Minister who they know hath solemnly covenanted to reject them. Hundreds have been baptized by Nonconformists, because the Church refuseth them.

2. And as to their compelling men to get Godfathers I an∣swer, 1. Those that think it a sin will not obey that com∣pulsion, but rather suffer. 2. If any yield against conscience to escape suffering, such compulsion doth but drive them to∣wards damnation. 3. But those that yield to it by compul∣sion, do but seem to do it, and do it not: For they agree before hand with the Godfathers, to represent them, and speak in their names, and to be themselves no undertakers. Though all this is very hard shifting.

L.

I confess this is a case so distant from things indifferent, that were there but this one reason, I will no more persuade any to As∣sent and Consent to all things contained and prescribed, even to the use.

M.

And what think you if the same men that made these Canons and subscribe to all this, are the sharp condemners of Schism and Anabaptistry. 1. What is Schism, if this be not, causelessly to keep out so many from the Church? And have

not the Anabaptists a far more excusable pretence to deny the baptizing of Infants, than this in question is: The case is of great difficulty to them, and it is Christ's will that they doubt of. But here is no difficulty? And these men set the will and devise of man against Christ, who said Forbid them not, and was Angry with those that forbad them to come to him.