More proofs of infants church-membership and consequently their right to baptism, or, A second defence of our infant rights and mercies in three parts ... / by Richard Baxter.

Postscript.

§. 1. SInce the writing of this, I have perused Smaragdus, Peter Abbas Cluniacensis, and Bernard, which were not before at hand. And I shall give you a true account of their testimo∣nies.

I. As for Smaragdus, I never before read him, but on this occasion getting his exposition on the Epistles and Gospels I find that there is a great agreement indeed among Mr. Danvers witnesses, that in his citations he is still like him∣self.

§. 2. Smaragdus on 1 Pet. 2. in oct. Pasch. fol. 87. saith, [Sinite parvulos venire ad me, talium enim est regnum coelorum: Hanc enim san∣ctam, puram & innocentem infantiam, per bap∣tismi gratiam casta mater gignit Ecclesia] That is [suffer little children to come to me, for of such is the Kingdom of God;

For this ho∣ly

pure and innocent Infancie, the Church their chast Mother doth by the grace of Ba∣ptism beget.]

§. 3. And on Mar. 16. in Ascens. fol. 101. [Cum autem dicatur, Qui vero non crediderit condemnabitur, quid hic dicimus de parvulis, qui per aetatem adhuc credere non valent? Nam de majoribus nulla quaestio est: In Ecclesia ergo salvatoris per alios parvuli credunt, sicut ex ali∣is ea quae illis in baptismo remittuntur peccata traxerunt.] That is, [He that believeth and is Baptized shall be saved, &c. But when it is said, But he that believeth not shall be condemned, what say we here to little ones who by their age are not yet able to believe? For of the elder there is no question. Therefore in the Church of our Saviour, little ones believe by others, as from others they have drawn those sins which in Ba∣ptism are forgiven to them.

§. 4. And in sab. Pentecost. in Act. 19. fol. 103, 104. having at large opened how Cate∣chumens were instructed before Baptism, and described approvedly their Ceremonies, of crossing, breathing on them, exorcizing, salt, the Creed to be recited and understood, he addeth, [Quia ergo Parvuli, necdum ratione utentes, haec minime capere possunt, oportet ut cum ad imtelligibilem aetatem pervenerint, doceantur & fidei sacramenta & confessionis mysteria, ut ve∣raciter credant, & diligenti cura custodiant confessionem suam. Plane diximus; quia quam∣vis illi necdum loqui possunt, pro illis & con∣fitentur

& loquuntur qui eos de lavacro fontia suscipiunt. Nec immerito: dignum est ut qui alio∣rum peccatis obnoxii sunt, aliorum etiam confes∣sione, per ministerium baptismatis, remissionem originalium percipiant peccatorum.] That is [But seeing little ones that have not yet the use of reason, cannot receive these things, it is meet that when they come to age of understanding they be taught both the Sacraments of faith and the mystery of confession, that they may truly believe, and by diligent care may keep their confession: And not undeservedly: It is meet (or worthy) that they who are obnoxious to (or by) others sins, by others confession also should by the mystery of Baptism, receive the pardon of original sins.]

§. 5. Yet it's true that this same Author doth oft call for confession from the adult, and per∣swade men not to trust to meer outward bapti∣zing, as may be seen on 1 Cor. 9. fol. 30. &c. But he could reconcile this to Infant-Baptism, though Mr. D. cannot. See him further fol. 85. c. in Math. 28. and fol. 85. in 1 Pet. 3. & fol. 84. & fol. 19. in Isa. 60.

§. 6. II. As to Pet. Cluniacensis (another Abbot near the same time, and contemporary with Bernard) he is the most plausible of all Mr. D.'s witnesses, as against two men, Pet. Bruis, and Henry: But, 1. Fol. 1. Epist, 1. he writeth Twenty years after Peters sowing his doctrine. 2. And though Henry lived in his time, yet fol. 2. he saith, [Sed quia eum ita sentire vel praedicare, nondum mihi plene fides facta est, differo responsionem quousque & horum

quae dicuntur indubitatam habeant certitudinem] that is, (having called Henry the heir of Peters wickedness, who rather changed than mended his Devillish doctrine)

But because I have not yet testimony fully credible (or am not sure) that he so thinketh, and preacheth, I delay my answer till I can have undoubted cer∣tainty of the things reported].

By which it is plain that he knew neither of them, but went by that same, which commonly then slandered them.

§. 7. 3. And in his first Proposal fol. 7. (of Hoffmeisters Edit.) he reciteth the words supposed to be theirs, in which they deny as much the Salvation as the Baptism of all In∣fants. Ex his domini verbis Mar. 16. aperte monstrant, nullum nisi crediderit, & baptiza∣tus fuerit, hoc est, nisi Christianam fidem ha∣buerit & baptismum perceperit, posse salvari: Nam non alterum horum, sed utrumque pariter salvat: Ʋnde Infantes, licet à vobis baptizen∣tur, quia tamen credere, obstante aetate, non possunt, nequaquam salvantur.] So that it is the salvation of any Infants that they principal∣ly here deny; accounting Baptism needful to salvation.

§. 8.

And fol. 8. He addeth their next charge that fama vulgavit, fame reported, that they wholly believed not Christ, Prophets, or Apostles, the Old or New Testament.

Sed quia fallaci rumorum monstro non facile assensum praebere debeo (maxime cum quidam vos totum

divinum Canonem abjecisse affirment, alii quae∣dam ex ipso vos suscepisse contendant) culpare vos de incertis nolo]: Where he fully confesseth that he knew them not, but went by fame, and that he suspected himself this fame to be false, calling it a Monster, and proving it contrary to it self, and professing that he ought not to be∣lieve it: But yet lest it should be true, he goeth on to prove the truth of the Scriptures, as he doth Infants salvation and Baptism.

§. 9. Now I leave it to the Reader, among many uncertainties, which of these he will believe most probable: 1. That all the parties were slande∣red: 2. Or that Peter and Henry were slan∣dered by occasion of the mixed Manichees, or by the vulgar lying levity or Popish malice. 3. Or whether Peter and Henry were guilty as some now, though the rest were not. 4. Or whether they and the Albigenses and Walden∣ses, really denyed all Infants salvation and Ba∣ptism (their very pretended words being cited.) 5. Or whether they were slandered as to In∣fant-salvation, and not as to their Baptism. 6. Or whether all this rose not from their denying the salvation of the children of all the wicked, as ex opere operato, by the Baptism of the Priest, and their refusing to bring their own children to be Baptized by such Priests, and their telling the wicked at age, that their Infant-Baptism would not save them. Believe which of these you find most cause.

§. 10. III. As for Bernard, 1. Though a holy man, yet his conceit that Papal unity was necessary, and that the Dissenters caused confusion, transported him with such prejudice against them, as we have now against the vilest Sects. 2. He was acquainted with Cluniacensis and might be∣lieve him. 3. He took things on trust as he did. 4. He chargeth even the secret hereticks that he writes against, as holding it unlawful to swear, and yet lawful to forswear, rather than reveal their case: Serm. 65. 5. And that in secret they are reported to commit filthy wickedness, not to be named. 6. That he heareth that some of them reject Pauls writings, and the Old Testament. 7. That they lived scandalously with Women: and he talketh as if it were impossi∣ble for men and women to dwell together, and yet to be chast. 8. Yet sheweth that he most un∣charitably suspected them, saying, [Si fidem in∣terroges, nihil Christianius; si conversationem, ni∣hil irreprehensibilius; & quae loquitur, factis pro∣bat: Videas hominem in testimonium suae fidei frequentare Ecclesiam, honorare presbyteros, of∣ferre munus suum, confessionem facere, sacra∣mentis communicare (and did they deny Infant-Baptism then?) Quid fidelius? Jam quod ad vi∣tam moresque spectat, neminem concutit, neminem circumvenit, neminem supergreditur, pallent ora jejuniis, panem non comedit otiosus; operatur manibus quibus vitam sustentat: Ʋbi jam Vul∣pos?] And what's the proof against them, [Vi∣nearum

demolitio testatur vulpem: Mulieres re∣lictis viris, & viri dismissis uxoribus, ad istos se conferunt: clerici & sacerdotes populis Ec∣clesiisque relictis intonsi & barbati apud eos, in∣de textores & textrices plerumque inventi sunt. Annon gravis demolitio ista? Annon opera vulpi∣um haec?] And the way he appoints for their purgation is to put women out of their houses. 9. Serm. 66. he chargeth them for being against Marriage, yea that they took filthiness to be only in having Wives. 10. And with for∣bidding to Marry, they joyned abstaining from meats: and so holding devilish doctrine: But that some allowed Marriage only to Virgins, but not second Marriages: That they abhorred Milk, and all that was made of it, and all that was procreated by generation, and that (de in∣sania Manichaei.) That they held themselves on∣ly to be the Church, and derided them that Baptized Infants: (yet he himself writes large∣ly Ep. ad Hug. de Sancto Victore, for the sal∣vation of persons that have faith, and die unba∣ptized through necessity; alledging Ambrose, Austin, Cyprian; And concludeth Infants saved by others faith, as they were guilty by others sin.) 11. In Epist. ad Hildefonsum he saith, of Henry by name, that he was an Apostate, that made a trade of preaching, to live by in ne∣cessity, and what money he could get of simple peo∣ple and women more than found him food, he spent in playing at dice, or other more filthy uses: that after his daies applause by the people he was

found at night with whores: that he thus left every where such a stink behind him, that he could come but once to a place, naming many Cities.

Now let the Reader judge if Bernard be to be believed what a man this was: If not, what his testimony is worth.

AS I am writing this, the Hawkers are cry∣ing under my window, Mr. Baxters Ar∣guments for Believers, &c. The men that cite Authors at this rate, cite me against my self, with the like confidence: Because I have prov∣ed in my Treat. of Confirmation, the necessity of personal Profession in the Adult: And he that will think that such dealing as this doth need an answer, and that if the Adult must make an intel∣ligent profession, Infants must not be Baptized, let him be ignorant; for I have not time to sa∣tisfie him.

FINIS.