Anabaptism routed: or, a survey of the controverted points: Concerning [brace] 1. Infant-Baptisme. 2. Pretended necessity of dipping. 3. The dangerous practise of re-baptising. Together, with a particular answer to all that is alledged in favour of the Anabaptists, by Dr. Jer. Taylor, in his book, called, the liberty of Prophesying. / By John Reading, B.D. and sometimes student of Magdalen-Hall in Oxford.

We are regenerate, not only by Baptism, but also by the Word, Ephes. 5. 26. 1 Pet. 1. 23. but the Word is often repeated, and therefore so may baptism.

We answer, 1 The word mentioned, Eph. 5. 26. is that, which comming to the element, makes the Sacrament, as Chrysostom wel interpreteth, that he might sanctifie and cleanse it with the washing of water, by the Word. What Word? (saith he) why, this, In the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the holy Ghost: that Word which coming to the element makes the Sacrament, ought not to be more re∣peated then the Sacrament it self, because it is essential thereto.

2 The regeneration of man, is only one, whose principal efficient cause is the holy Ghost: the means or instrumental causes, on Gods part, are the Word and Sacraments; on our part, faith which the holy Ghost begetteth, encreaseth, and confirmeth ordinarily by those external means. There∣fore when they are baptized, who were before regenerate by the Word, as a spiritual feed, they have not need of any other regeneration, nor can they be twice regenerate; but then baptism is to them an obsignation and confirmation of their regeneration. So Abraham first believed (as so, was regenerate) and afterward was sealed. So Cornelius spiri∣tual sanctification preceded in the gift of the holy Ghost, and then he received the Sacrament of regeneration, to con∣firm the same to him. But when the elect, who being bap∣tized,

dye in their infancy, it is certain that they are re∣generate by the Sacrament, without the ministry of the word preached unto them, whereof they are not capable, who yet without regeneration, could not enter into the Kingdom of God, John 3. 5. And if the baptized Infant live to be capable of teaching, and so receive the word, as that it begets in him actual faith, repentance and obedience to God, then that word is as Sincere milk, to nourish and confirm, not to regenerate, but to promote the degrees of regeneration, producing that faith and the fruits thereof sowed in baptism, to a clearer and more evident maturity. So was it in Isaac, who was first regenerate by the seal of the righteousness of faith, which was after he came to years nourished and confirmed by the word preached unto him: So that though the word in the ordinary dispensation thereof, be often repeated, and doth by many degrees promote our regeneration, and cause us to grow to a bet∣ter stature and strength, according to our measure in Christ, of which we have continual need, yet it follows not thence, that baptism may also be iterated; no more, then that a man may be often born into the world, because he is often fed, and groweth up by degrees, and divers accessions to his stature.

Notes

• 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉Chrys. hom. 2. in Eph. 5.
• R••n. 4. II. Vid. Aug. de bapt l. 4. c. 24.