The character of the beast, or, The false constitution of the church discovered in certayne passages betwixt Mr. R. Clifton & Iohn Smyth, concerning true Christian baptisme of new creatures, or new borne babes in Christ, &nd false baptisme of infants borne after the flesh : referred to two propositions, 1. That infants are not to bee baptized, 2. That antichristians converted are to bee admitted into the true church by baptisme.

Iohn Smyth.

Your second argument followeth which is this in effect.

As the Babilonians abuse of the vessels of the L. howse did not make a nullity of them, but they were vsed after the captivity, Ezra. 1.11. so the Antichristian abuse of baptisme cannot disanul it, but it may bee retayned when men come to the Fayth: & it needeth not to be reiterated, no more then the vessels of the howse of the Lord be new cast,

I answer many things: First, this arg. is an excellent arg. for the retayning of idoll Temples, the worship, government, ministery of the ecclesiastical assemblies of Eng∣land: if it be said they were never apointed by God, so say••, that baptisme of theirs was never apointed by God: but is the devise of Antichrist.

Secondly, I answer, that the vessels of the Lords howse were his owne ordināces, & therfor need not to be new cast: but the baptisme of Antichr. is not the L. owne ordinance who never ordeyned it: for you must distinguish them thus: The vessels of the L. howse were substances framed by art into particular shapes at the L. apoin∣tement but the baptisme of the L. is a compound or concrete ordinance or action li∣mited in certaine essential particulars: not being a substance but an accident in defini¦tion now if Antic had retained the essential parts of baptisme, I confesse it needed not to be repeated, no more then the vessels of the L, house need to be new cast after the abuse of the Babilonians: but seing baptisme in popery & Antichristianisme, is not the L. ordinance in the definition of it, but Antich. invention: Therefor though the vessels of the L. howse may be retayned, yet baptisme may not: That baptisme is Antichr. invention in the definition of it, I manifest thus: The matter of baptisme, & the forme of baptisme is invented by Antich. go: it is an invention of antichrist in the definition: The matter of antichristian baptisme is a carnal infant: The forme is, washing one into the covenant that cannot consent to the covenant: or baptising without a contract & sealing the covenāts on both parts for the L. doth not seale to the infant, and the infant cannot seale to the Lord: As I have manifested already in the answer to the former argum. of yours: Therefore the baptisme of antichr. is in the definition of it the meer devise of antichr. For the Scripture descri∣beth true baptisme which is the Lords owne ordinance thus: The matter must bee one that confesseth his Fayth & his sinnes, one that is regenerate & borne againe: The forme must bee a voluntary delivering vp of the party baptized into the Name of the Father, Sonne, & Holy Spirit, by washing with water, Mat. 28.19. Mat. 3.6. Iohn. ••.1. Act. 2.41. & 8.36.37. compared with Roman 6.17. & Mat. 28.

20. & 18.20. & Gal. 3.27. & Roman. 6.2-6. VVherein ther must be a mutual consent of both persons contracting together: & that this is so, the forme of bap∣tisme retayned in popery yet, teacheth plainly: wher they say. Credis? Credo: Abre∣nunti••s? abrenuntio: which other persons speak for the infant that cannot speak, therby declaring that ther must needs bee a mutual contract of both the parties con¦tracting: This ordinance of the L. therfor is abolished both in the matter & forme, & an other straunge invention of man is in the rome therof substituted, which is not the L. & therfor a nullity, & as if the Babylonians should have framed a Temple altar, arck, or candlestick, after their devise, & given them to the people of the Iewes, they could not have retayned them & vsed them to VVorship God with∣all: So cannot true Christians retayne Antichristian baptisme which is devised in the definition of it.

Thirdly, I answer, that if the Antichristians had baptized persons confessing their sinnes & their Faith into the name of the Sonne of God, & the Trinity, it had then been true baptisme though in the hands of the Antichristians, as the vessels of the L. howse, in the hands or the Caldees, & therfor needed no repetition, as these ves∣sels needed no new casting: Therfor we keep the Scriptures still though they abuse them, & the Church, ministery, worship, & government taught in the Scriptures though they have poluted thē: but their devised word, that is their Apocrypha wri∣tings & false doctrine, & their devised church consisting of carnal infants & persons vnbaptized, & their devised worship of the masse, & their devised ministery of the sacrificing Preisthood, & their devised government of the Prelacy we abhorre, & vt¦terly reject, as the very devised Idols of antic. & we wil no more retaine thē thē the Shrines of Diana, then the Iews would the wedg of Achā: so say we of his baptisme.

And heer you answer two objections.

First, that though the Antichristians that administer baptisme bee Idolaters, yet it may bee true baptisme aswel as circumcision true by the Israelites that were Ido∣laters: & that the efficacy of the word & Sacraments dependeth not vpon the worth of the minister: as circumcision by Zipporah declareth, Exod. 4-5. I answer: First, what say you to Ciprian the auncient Fathers, & all the counsel of leaned Bbs. who concluded that the baptisme of Heretiques was a nullity & decreed re∣baptising.

Secondly I say that the Israelites circumcision was in a true church & antich. bap∣tisme is in a false Church & that is a dissimilitude.

Thirdly, I know nothing ••o the contrary, but Zipporah might circumcise her Sonne, her husband commaunding her (for where is it said in al the Old Testament that a woman shal not circumcise) for Moses indeed did circumcise though Zippo∣rah was the hand of Moses in the action, as it is the Kings action if the L. Chauncel∣lor of the judg of an assise do it. Fourthly I yee'd that the Minister shal not preju∣dice baptisme, if the baptisme bee the Lords owne ordinance, that is, if a per∣son bee invested with baptisme true in the definition: & yet you know that the bap∣tiswe of weomen is strongly questioned, & I beleeve it would trouble you to satisfie a doubt made of a midwifes baptisme in England, that it ought not to bee repeated, or of a Child baptising others as Athanasius did in sport, (which

Alexander Bb. of Alexandria with his Clerkes did approve) whither it ought to bee repeated yea or nay: but I leave this point as being but off small importance.

The second objection you answer is, that although baptisme be administred in a false Church of Antichrist vppon an vnfit subject, yet it shal not be repeated, no more then circumcision in the dayes of Ieroboam & Ahab, it being administred vppon an vnfit subject: I say, as I have said divers tymes, that the Israelites infants in their de∣fection were the subject that God commaunded to be circumcised, viz: the seed of Abrah. males of 8. dayes age. So are not the infants in Antichristianisme, both for that they are 1. infants, 2. members of a false Church, 3. The seed of vnbelevers which by your owne confession have no title to baptisme: & whereas you say that the co∣venant of Abrah. in respect of Chr. did as truly belong to the Gentils after the com∣ming of Chr. as it did to the Israelites though both in defection: I deny it: For the carnal covenant belonged to the Israelites the carnal seed of Abrah. even in their pa∣rents Apostacy, & the Spiritual covenant made with Abrah. in respect of Chr. did never aperteyne to the 1. Apostate parents, 2. much lesse to the infants of them in their Apostacy, 3. no nor to the infants of the faithful as I have already proved, & Gal. 2.14. is not to be vnderstood of the blessing of Abrah. to come vpon any of the Gentils in their Apostacy, but only being in Christ, as the words are, also vs. 7. & 9. but the externall Covenant was made with Abraham & the carnall Israelites onely vppon the condition of circumcision carnally vppon the males of eigt dayes old, Gen. 17.10.