A treatise of the nature of a minister in all its offices to which is annexed an answer to Doctor Forbes concerning the necessity of bishops to ordain, which is an answer to a question, proposed in these late unhappy times, to the author, What is a minister?

SECT. III. Whether these, and these only were Commissio∣ned for Baptism?

THE next thing to be looked upon, is, Whether these and these onely had the power of baptizing? No doubt we may say of this, that they had the Duty only, none other obli∣ged to either, but they; and when I have named the Duty, I think I may justly adde the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, The right and Authority will go along, for it seems to be a branch, and a main one, of that Great Commission, Mat. 28. and, without doubt, a great piece of the Power of the Keyes, John 20. Now then, they and they only, that we read of, had from Christ this Commission; those Questions come not to be handled, whether Bishops, Priests, or Deacons have this power? there was yet no such distinction of them, as I find, but whether the Apostles only or no, I do not find any other; the Seventy had a Commission to baptize among the Hebrews, as well as they, their Commission of prea∣ching and baptizing, equal, but what that was I know not; but here all the power is granted to the Apostles. In whom and whom alone, I can discern all the Ministerial power belonging to mens Souls; so that they, or men sent by them, have this power or none; I know there is a great dispute, whether Laymen can baptize? and the Church of Rome is mightily offended with Calvin, for saying they cannot; but I do not find the least Ar∣gument out of Scripture to confute him, and certainly this place of Mat. 28. seems exceeding strong for his Cause, and they themselves grant, that the ordinary Minister of Baptism is Sa∣cerdos, by which word they understand Bishop and Priest, that in their Absence a Deacon may, and so go on to the little Or∣ders, but in extremity a Layman: For my part, I grant for cer∣tain, that the Apostles were the only men Ordained for it. I conclude, that baptism is necessary, and that it is a great Mercy of God to the Children of believing parents, that they are ca∣pable of it; that baptism is necessary, is evident out of the Dia∣logue

betwixt our Saviour and Nicodemus, John 3. 3. Except a man be born agai•• he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God, vers. 5. Except a man be born of Water and the Spirit, he cannot, &c. vers. 6. A reason is given, That which is born of the Flesh is Flesh, as if he should s••y, nothing can work ultra sphaeram; Flesh there ore cannot inherit more than Flesh, nor be in a better than •• ••eshly estate, and that is not the State of Heaven; there∣fore there must be some way by which that which is flesh and blood may become Spiritual, which alone is by baptism. That which Calvin most ••••g••niously urgeth, That Children which dye uncircum••ised are not to be judged damned, may thus be Answered, That their bond of Circumcision was dated the eighth d••y, and therefore nor due before the date; but ours of baptism, being without da••e, is due presently; So that then ours is like the State of those who were not Circumcised the eighth day, when Circumcision was due, not of those before the eighth day, when it was not due: Now upon this reason, the Care of the Church layd a mighty Charge upon all preachers, to be diligent, to preach all dangers which might surprise Children before they come to do their Duty. Now although I place such a necessity as that we see no ordinate means, without it, of As∣surance of Heaven, yet I will not despair of Gods mercy to such, who adde not evil of their own Acting which should hinder the Effect of Christs Death, and the daily prayers of the Church for all men: And therefore, with Calvin, I think it a rash adven∣ture of any man to open the Gate of Heaven, who hath not the key committed to him, which was not given to him; yet I questi∣on, if he hath turned the key in the Lock, whether it do not open the door, although he hath not the legal power, which Calvin cannot deny, but that it hath been an universal Opinion of the Church; and for all •• see, in his 18th Section of his 4th. Book of his Institutes, he doth not deny but it is valid; and I believe he would not allow to re••b••ptize such a Child which he knew had true b••ptism according to matter and form; but I am confident, no man ever had ••his power given him from God, but the Apo∣stles, and therefore it must needs be a mighty presumption in that Man, who without Authority ••ven him, should dare ••o put Gods Seal to any Article or Covenant, by which he might be obliged to any Duty.