Christianismus redivivus Christndom both un-christ'ned and new-christ'ned, or, that good old way of dipping and in-churching of men and women after faith and repentance professed, commonly (but not properly) called Anabaptism, vindicated ... : in five or six several systems containing a general answer ... : not onely a publick disputation for infant baptism managed by many ministers before thousands of people against this author ... : but also Mr. Baxters Scripture proofs are proved Scriptureless ... / by Samuel Fisher ...

Baptist.

So saies Dr. Holmes indeed p. 7. and tis also a common saying among you all but I tell yod if you were not minded more to pervert, then to preach the Gospel, you could not be ignorant, that that inversion Mark 1.4. is such, as altars not the sense so, but that tis in sense, and signification the very same as we contend for out of Mat. 28.19. viz. that preaching is to go before baptizing, for though it be said there Iohn did baptize and preach the baptism of repentance, it must necessarily be understood thus, viz. that he preached baptism to persons be∣fore he practised it to them; for you cannot be so silly sure as to imagin that Iohn first baptized persons when they came to him, before he opened his Mouth to tell them wherefore; yet I know one that being in a streit, did not stick to strein him∣self out by such a simple saying as that, but for all that, if that honest man who said thus (I forbear to name him least I shame him) were as true a Minister of the Gospel, as he supposes himself to be, and should go forth with his Gospel to a Nation as ignorant of the truth of baptisme as himself, and offer but such a small matter as his rantism, much more so worthy, so weighty and burdensome a business to the flesh as the true baptism is, viz. to overwhelm them in water, without declaring to them first for what end, and purpose, either he would shew himself an Egregious and Arrant simpleton in once conceiving they would, or

they themselves but senseless Animals, if they should so suddenly submit to him.

Moreover its apparent to any, but such as are resolved to shift off truth as long as they can, that the same passage of Mark 1.4. as tis recorded Mat. 3.1.5. Luke 3.3.7. shewes that Iohn first came preaching the baptism of repentance for remission of sins, and then and thereupon people came out to him and were bap∣tized of him in Iordan confessing their sins.

Out of that place therefore Mat. 28.19. which is so usually assigned by your selves, as the main Scripture, in which Christ commands infant baptism, though upon examination it is oft asserted to be a place that neither mentions at all, nor once meddles with infants, and that by the self same persons that so as∣sign it, I argue thus in disproof of them who assign it, as Christ precept for in∣fants baptisme, and in proof that its a plain prohibition of such a thing, viz.

If Christ there commissionates and commands his Disciples to baptize none but the very same persons whom he commands them also first to teach, and make disciples by teaching, then that place is a plain prohibition, and not at all a precept to baptize infants; for men cannot teach or disciple in∣fants.

But Christ there commissionates and commands his disciples to baptize none but such as he also commands them first to teach, and make disciples by teach∣ing.

Ergo, that place is a plain prohibition, and not at all a precept to baptize infants.

The Minor, which onely you can rationally require proof of, is so clear, that the blindest of you may see it in the text it self, where the Pronoun them, that is governed by the participle baptizing, can possibly relate to no other sub∣stantive, but to the self same persons that are immediately before commanded to be taught, or made disciples, and whether you will have the substantive to [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] to be [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] understood in the verb 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 (as when it serves your turn, so far as to furnish your selves by comparing this place with Act. 15.10. with matter of proof (prate I should say) for infants discipleship, you will needs have it, for upon this account Mr. Cotton, Mr. Baxter and ma∣ny more seem to proceed) or [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] by the figure Synthesis (as some of you will rather have it) tis much at a pass, yea not a strawes worth of advantage to you, take it which way you will, for still it will amount to this, that whe∣ther you make [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] to agree with [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] or [〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉] the nations, tis not the nations in gross (as Dr. Holmes also tells you p. 7.) for then all must be bap∣tized (saith he and truly too) if the word Nations, universally taken, doth there note the subjects of baptism) but tis the Nations with restriction, the na∣tions discipled, i. e. so many in all Nations as are first made disciples by teaching, and not more, that there are commanded to be baptized: and this Mr. Cotton, and Mr. Baxter, and Dr. Featley, and Dr. Holmes, and wellnigh all your champions are well aware cannot be denyed, and therefore rather then assert such a thing, viz. that any more are here bid to be baptized, then such as are first bid to be discipled, they chuse to take so hard a province upon them, as to proceed to the promotion of their cause by way of proof that infants are disciples.