Baby-baptism meer babism, or, An answer to nobody in five words to every-body who finds himself concern'd in't by Samuel Fisher.

Re-Review.

This first part or Praeambulary approach to the battel gives big words, but no blowes, it only vapours, and vaunts, carries the colours, and flourishes them, advancing with a company of broad bragges of what Innumer•…•…e forces your cause hath at command from Scriptures, and from Reason, and from Churches practise, and authority, and from Authors of Renown Calvin, Vrsin, Dr. Feat∣ley, whereby, fearing least they should forgo it upon sight of your own apparent slenderness, and that unthorough provision your Disputation presented in proof thereof, to flatter your followers.

First, into a false faith of more full and thorough furniture, c•…•…mming in from all quarters toward its defence, and so to a secure continuance in your crazy cause and to keep close still to the Clergy and their colours, in order thereunto also, highly inhauncing the price of three following forlorn-hope highway Hacksters and Hachny Arguments as not the last, nor least, though not the first three among the worthies that are engaged in it.

Whereas that poor, blind, Implicit-opinion'd p•…•…ople, and Clergy-claw'd christen'd creatures may no longer, to their utter erring from the way of Christs truth, and their own peace, trust in the lying words of their Prophets, that pro∣fit themselves more then them by their traditionary doctrine,

I do here in the name of the great King Jesus, who gave commission Mat. 28. 18 to make persons disciples, and to teach them first, and then to baptize them, proclaim it aloud to the whole earth, that all these are either clearly against you, or (all things considered) nothing for you.

First, the whole region of Scripture in every coast and quarter thereof is up in armes against you, neither is there any one part or place throughout it, wherein you ever find that way of infant baptism (much lesse your way of infant-rantism) so much as probably to have been practised: or the war you wage for it promoted by so much as one piece of a precept, that such a thing should be done, or inch of instance that ere it was done at all: yea in all places where ever baptism was dis∣pensed you find it done onely and downrightly in that despised way, wherein we do at this day i. e. of dipping persons immediately after, but never before conver∣ted and discipled; all they of Ierusalem, and Iudaea, and Galil•…•…e that were bap∣tized by Iohn in Iordan, and by Christs disciples in his presence, and by his ap∣pointment, confessed their sins 3. Mat. were first taught and instructed, or made disciples Mat. 28. 18. Iohn 3. 22. Iohn 4. 1. 2. 3. all they who were bapti∣zed by Peter and others after his serm•…•…n at Ierusalem, to the number of 3000. did first gladly receive the word Act. 2. 41. all they that were baptized by Phil∣lip at Samaria, and betwen Ierusalem and Gaza were men and women that be∣lieved the things spoken by Phillip concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Iesus Acts 8. 12. 36. 37. all they that were commanded to be baptized by Peter in the name of the Lord at Cesarea were such as were converted at the hea∣ring of the word Act. 10. 44. 48. all that were baptized at Corinth by Paul, Silas, Timotheus, were such as believed Act. 18. 8. all they that were bapti∣zed by Apollos, or any other at Ephesus before Paul came thither, which were about 12. were every one of them adult believers, Act. 19. 1. 2. &c. All that ever we find A•…•…anias baptized at Damascus, though there were other disciples there besides himself, with whom Paul walkt a while, was Paul that was bapti∣zed calling on the name of the Lord. All they of the Church of Rome (to every one of whom Paul writes his Epistle Rom 1. 6.) that were baptized into Jesus Christ, and buried with him by baptism into his death, were such as had former∣ly lived in sin, and actually obeyed it in the lusts thereof, and yielded themselves up as servants to it, and had now visibly obeyed from the heart that form of do∣ctrine which was delivered unto them Rom. 6. 3. 4. 12. 16. 17. 19. 21. which things I take him to be little better then an infant in understanding, that judges they were performed by any infants. All they at Galatia, who were baptized into Christ, were such as had received and imbraced the Gospel, and had put on the Lord Iesus Christ, and such who through ignorance of God had done service to such as by nature were no gods, but now had attained to know God, by the preaching of the Gospel to them, which things that are spoken to all the Churches of Galatia, cannot be said of any infants Gal. 1. 9. 3. 27. 4. 8. 9. 13. verses, among all which this is most notable in that he saith, As many of you as have bin baptized into Christ have put one Christ, we see all along throughout the whole bo∣dy of the new testament, It was not the rule of Christ, nor the practise of the primi∣tive times to baptize persons, till they had had first preached the Gospel to them, and according to the commission converted them, or made them disciples, in∣deed so soon as ever they were thus discipled or made disciples (that no infants can be so in infancy is shewed above, as simply as Mr. Bazter seems to suppose belie∣vers infants are so from the very womb) I agree with Mr. Baxter, that their bap∣tism was not to be delayed, and forasmuch as he abundantly proves the period of time, wherein persons we•…•… ever baptized in the primitive times by the will of Christ to be immediately after they were converted and made disciples, he consequen•…•…ly agrees as much with me as I desire him, insomuch that in confirmation of this that I say, I mean to declare this truth viz. that persons are not to be baptized till

they are first made disciples, in the same words wherein he himself declares it to us by the space of well nigh a whole page together, in order to the making of his matter to serve our turn against himself, and all you that baptize infants, but e∣specially against his fellow souldier Mr. Marshal, and his critical observations, out of which he tells us that infants are not disciples before, but are made disciples by baptizing, I shall frame this argument viz.

If Christs Rule be that persons should be baptized when they are first made disciples without delay, or immediately after they are converted and discipled, then persons are not to be baptized before they are converted and disci∣pled.

But Christs Rule is that persons should be baptized when they are first made disciples, or immediately after they are converted and discipled.

Ergo, they are not to be baptized before they are converted or disci∣pled.

The Ma•…•…or is most clear, and consequent, for if it be Christs will that bap∣tizing should immediately follow our discipling persons, or converting them to the faith, then consequently tis his will that baptizing should not go before our disci∣pling, and converting them: if baptism must be immediately subsequent to teach∣ing, or making disciples by Christs commission, then teaching persons, or making them disciples must be Antecedent to baptism, unlesse both these be the mind of Christ in his commission whom and when to baptize, viz. that they should not baptize persons till they are taught and discipled, and yet (to go round again) that they should not teach them till they have baptized them i. e. in Mr. Marshals sense initiated them first to be disciples by baptism, and thereby admitted them to be taught, as for the Minor, which is this viz. That it is Christs rule that persons shall be baptized without delay, when they are first made disciples, or immediately after they are converted, as I have fully proved it already above, both from the commission for baptizing, and from Scripture example explaining that commission, and from the end and use of baptism, so I shall further prove it in Mr. Baxters own words, then which I think there need no other (if they be well weighed) to convince a wise man that by Scripture rule no infants in infancy are to be baptized.

To which purpose he writteth thus p. 126. 127. at large viz.

First, in the commission Mat. 28. 19. 20. Christ adjoineth baptizing im∣mediately to discipling, go disciple all nations baptizing them.

Secondly if any person be so impudent as to say, It is not the meaning of Christ that baptizing should immediately without delay follow discipling, they are con∣futed by the constant example of Scripture; for there is no men•…•…ion that I can find of any one person that was baptized long after their discipling or that ever the Apostles of Christ did delay the baptizing of disciples, John 4. 1. 2. Iesus made and baptized more disciples then John. See how making and baptizing disciples are conjoined, Act. 2. 38. 41. the 3000 were presently baptized the same day that they were made disciples without staying till the morrow, though one would think the number of 3000 might have excused the delay, if they had taken lon∣ger time to do it in; And some would think that their conversion being so sudden the Apostles would have waited for a trial of their sincerity, but this is not the wisdome of God, though it seem to aim at the purity of the Church: Scripture tells us of another way Acts 8. 1. 2. the people of Samiaria when they believed were baptized without delay. And v. 13. 14. Simon Magus was presently baptized, though yet not brought out of the gall of bitternesse o•…•… bond of iniquity, and had no part or fellowship in that business: yea the Samarita•…•…s were general∣ly baptized by Philip, before they had received the holy Ghost: for he was yet fal∣len upon none of them, onely they were baptized in the name of the Lord Iesus verse 16. So Acts 8. 36. 37. 38. the Eunuch was baptized in his journey as

they went, without delaying one day or hour after he professed himself to be a disciple. So was Paul baptized as soon as he rose from his blindnesse upon the words of Ananias, Acts 9. 18. So was Cornelius with his friends baptized immediately without delay, the same day Lydia and her houshold were baptized without delay Acts 16. 15. and the Iaylor the same hour of the night that he was discipled Acts 16. 38. So the Corinthians Acts 18. 8. and Ananias language to Paul repeated Acts 22. 16. is plain, and now why tar∣riest thou? arise and be baptized &c. and of the houshold of Stephanus that Paul baptized, it is implied too; and it is most observable which is said in Iohn 3. 26. of Iesus himself that he baptized (by his disciples) and all men came unto him; where it is undeniable that Iesus baptized without de∣lay, even as fast as they came to him and pr•…•…fessed themselves disciples, and can we have a better example then the Lord Iesus himself?—And thus you see (saith he) that according to all the examples of baptism in the Scripture (not to speak of Johns baptism) there was no delaying, no not a day usually but they were all baptized as soon as they were discipled.

Thus far are the very words of Mr. Baxter, brought by him in proof of infant baptisme, and here brought again by me in proof of the clear contrary viz. that according to all the examples of baptism in the Scripture, c•…•… one infant was ever baptized in the primitive times, but that all that ever were then baptized, did first believe and were converted, were first made disciples by the preaching of the Gospel to them, and did first come and professe themselves disciples, and thereupon were immediately admitted: which things I dare say, twill be out of doubt with all rational considerate impartial Christians, that they were never performed by any infants, and if not, then whether all these examples do not clearly shew rather that no infants were then baptized, then that any were or now ought to be, a child of 7. years old at least may easily decide it: notwith∣standing so childish is Mr. Baxter, as to set down this at large, that he may thence make himself a clearer way (as by the constant example and practise of the primi∣tive time) to prove your present practise of baptizing of infants: which premises and conclusion viz. that men and women of old were baptized without delay, so soon as ever they were converted to the faith, and were discipled and professed themselves disciples, therefore we must baptize the children of Christians in in∣fancy, or else our practise is utterly inconsistent with the rule of Christ, and con∣trary to the practise of the primitive times, and consequently a sinful practise, are as sutable, as

Humano capiti cervicem pictor equinam Iungere Si velit, or as when—Mu•…•…er formosa superne desinat in turpem piscem.

And howbeit Mr. Baxter in defence hereof tells us p. 128. they who baptize the children of Christians at age (as the Anabaptists do) cannot possibly do it when they are first discipled, I am so amazed at that expression, that I can hardly believe he minded what he said when he pend it, nor do I think the man had his wits well about him when he wrote all the rest that follows in proof therof through out that whole chapter of his, where the further he proceeds, the more he abounds and sinks ore head and ears in absurdities, contradicting himself and his own prin∣ciples, and overthrowing the very thing he there prosecutes the proof of, for

First, so farre is it from being impossible to baptize believers children immedi∣ately after they are discipled, if we forbear them till they come to years, that in∣deed it is impossible that they should be discipled at all till then, in such a way as all those were discipled in, whom he hath produced as examples in this case, for whatever conversion there seems to him to be of all, or at least the most of the children of believers so timely, that neither themselves nor others be can dis∣cipled

when by the preaching of the Gospel they are brought over both to believe, and to be willing to obey the Lord Jesus, and do freely, seriously and (as may seem to us) sincerely professe their faith in him, and their readiness to obey him, and their repentance from those dead works, and waies of the flesh they have for∣merly lived in (unless he suppose it possible that these should live in sin) and their desires to be baptized in the name of Christ for remission of their sins: then (I say) they appear first to be discipled in foro hominum, & Ecclosiae (for whatever they were before in foro Dei is nothing to us) and then and not before to be bap∣tized.

As for us therefore we have a steady rule to go by in the baptizing of persons, according to which we still baptize them as of old they did, when first discipled, yea though they are persons whose parents were Church-members, or in other meer relative only, or reall discipleship, yet they are first made Disciples when they first appear to be converted, witness the three thousand Iewes, whom Mr. Baxter himself doth instance in; who though they, and their parents were all re∣latively holy by birth, and Church-members of the visible Church of old, and as Mr. Baxter is pleased to say most simply p. 20. both disciples and Servants of God by very nature, yet in the Gospel sense they were first made disciples, or dis∣cipled so as thereby to be in right to baptism, when they were by Peter convert∣ed only, and not before: so that if the children of Christians had now either such a Relative discipleship (as he calls it, and as he saies the Iews children had once by birth) and such a real discipleship, or invisible conversion to God in very in∣fancy, as he deeply do•…•…es all such to have so soon as ever they they are born, nei∣ther of which yet they have indeed, yet nevertheless that they may be, and also must be first discipled when they are at years in that sense wherein discipling was in the Commission enjoined in order to baptism, it is evident by Mr. Baxters own alledged Instance of the Iews Acts 2. who though they were (according to Mr. Baxter himself as nigh, and in truth more nigh to God by birth, than the fleshly seed of believing Gentiles are, yet were not for all that their old Church-membership and discipleship (for indeed they were (not in infancy) but when grown up discipled unto Moses) admitted to baptism thereupon, till they were first discipled unto Christ, and had both heard, and gladly received the word of the Gospel: neither were ever any (as appears by all the Examples forecited) of what parents soever descended, though of Abraham himself admitted to baptism in the primitive times, till discipled, i. e. till visibly appearing, and verbal∣ly at least professing to repent, believe and imbrace the Gospel: nor is it possi∣ble for men, to whom Christ gives order to make disciples to him, to do it any other way than by instructing persons till such time as they learn, and receive the things that are taught them.

Moreover to let pass that round he runs p, 127. where after he had shewed so abundantly, that to be Christs disciples gave persons admission immediately to baptism (to go round again) he expresses himself thus lin. 32. that baptism ad∣mitteth them to be his disciples; whereas Mr. Baxter asserts, that we cannot possibly baptize children of Christians at age, immediatly after they are first dis∣cipled, because we cannot possibly know when such children are first discipled, ex∣cept it be in their first infancy, as I have shewed him already what a steady rule, & direct period of time we keep to in baptizing as they did in the primitive times, viz. as soon as they are first discipled, i. e. when first they appear to us truly to be con∣verted, and profess seriously and sincerely (as far as we can judge) to repent from their sins, and believe in Christ, and desire, and profer to be baptized in his name for the remission of sins, so I must return his own proposition upon him' that they who baptize the children of Christians in infancy (as the Anti-baptists do) cannot possibly do it when they are first discipled, and that because they cannot possibly know when such persons are first made disciples, and except they account them to

be first discipled as we do, viz. when professing verbally, and when first appear∣ing visibly and (for ought we can discern) truly to believe and repent from their sins, and desire baptism, which things no infants ever do.

Notes

• ubi vides ibi fides. where we see it is there we say it is.