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. XLIX. Point VI. The Laity denied Baptism, who refuse the foresaid way of Godfathers, as it excludeth the Parents as unlawful. (Book 49)

M.

VI. I Hope you will not say it is lawful to be unchristened, or to have their Children unbaptized: And you cannot say it is lawful to obey the Canon and Rubrick about Godfathers, against ones Conscience.

L.

An erroneous Conscience must be rectified.

M.

Is it meerly at Command? Can you do it? Or can any do it when they will? There is no Man without Error: why do not all the Clergy rectifie their own judgment, and presently free them∣selves from Error? If you can teach them this Art of rectifying Con∣science, it's best do it before they go to the University, or before they spend much time and labour in study. How many years study, and reading might this Art save them? Presently rectifie all your erroneous opinions, and save the labour.

L.

But when men have sufficient help, they are unexcusable if they go on in Error.

M.

Then either no Man living hath sufficient help, or else all Men are unexcusable: For it's most certain that all Men go on in a multitude of Errors.

L.

But every Error hindereth not Mens right to Baptism.

M.

And do you think this doth? will you try now and prove to me that I may be unexcuseable, 1. That Children have right to Baptism meerly upon the presentation of a Neighbour or Stran∣ger that never owned them.

2. That it is not the Parents Duty to dedicate them solemnly to Christ, and to be the Person (as having power of them) that must Covenant for them.

3. That it is lawful for Neighbours or Strangers, to undertake and Vow that for the Child's Education, which they are neither able to perform, nor ever intended it?

4. That it is lawful for Parents either to give up their Children to such Sponsors for to Educate them, or to seek or accept such to Vow and Covenant, that which the Parents know they never meant to do, and which if asked, [Do you seriously intend to do all this for my Child?] they will say, No: Is it lawful thus

to Suborn Men, and put them on so great a Sin? Cure these Errors in me if you can.

L.

I told you before that they may agree to speak as in your Name.

M.

And I told you, so many do: but that's nothing to Confor∣mity, it being none of the sence of the Church, as I proved.

Was this any of the conditions of Baptism of Christ's making? was this necessary when Philip said to the Eunuch, If thou believe with all thy heart, thou maist be baptized? Or when Paul said, Else were your Children unclean, but now are they holy? 1 Cor. 7. 14.

L.

But your Child shall not be unbaptized for this: The Church will constrain the Baptizing of it.

M.

Whom will they constrain? 1. Not the Minister: He is not to Baptize it unless it be brought and desired. 2. Not the Godfathers: For none can compel any to be a Godfather, nor ever do. 3. But it is the Parent that is compelled? How? Those that hold it lawful will do it without Compulsion, the Baptizing of their Child being desirable to them. But those that think it a Sin, will rather be Excommunicate and lie in Jail; and so they cannot compel them. And the Anabaptists Children are mostly unbaptized for all their Compulsion. But the usual way of Nonconformists is to elude the Canon, and to agree privately with the Godfathers to be but Witnesses or Se∣conds, and that the Parent himself will be there present, and when the Questions are put to the Godfathers, will shew his con∣sent by bowing, tho' he may not speak.

But such shifts to avoid the Evil of Conformity, is no Justi∣fication of Conformity or the Canon, nor of any that will deny Baptism for an unnecessary if not an ungodly device of Man; and that when themselves seem to make Baptism necessary to Salvation; and do clearly make it a means that ascertaineth Sal∣vation to Infants.