Christianismus primitivus, or, The ancient Christian religion, in its nature, certainty, excellency, and beauty, (internal and external) particularly considered, asserted, and vindicated from the many abuses which have invaded that sacred profession, by humane innovation, or pretended revelation comprehending likewise the general duties of mankind, in their respective relations : and particularly the obedience of all Christians to magistrates, and the necessity of Christian-moderation about things dispensible in matters of religion : with divers cases of conscience discussed and resolved / by Thomas Grantham ...

The Sixth Reason.

The present Papal Church, is generally (if not only at this day) gathered of Persons unregenerate, or not new born, as the Scriptures do require new birth in that case: There∣fore she is not the Church of Christ.

The Sixth Reason maintained.

1. THe Scripture saith, That except a Man (or any one) be born again (so as to be like the Wind that bloweth, and that bloweth in such sort, as the sound thereof is heard) he cannot enter into the Kingdom (or Church) of God: But the many millions of Infants, whereof the Papal Church consist mostly (if not only) in respect of her Members Initiati∣on, are not thus regenerate. So that the Papal Church is gathered (ge∣nerally) of such Persons as are not so regenerate, as Persons ought to be, and must of necessity be, before they be admitted into the Church of Christ. The Seed of the Woman (or Gospel-Church) are all such as have the Faith of Jesus, and keep the Commandments of God, at least in Profession; for that is the thing that is absolutely necessary, in order to any Persons admission into the Church of Christ, John 3. 5, 6. 2 Cor. 5. 16, 17. Rev. 12. ult. Gal. 3. 26, 27, 28.

2. All the Children of the New Covenant, or Church of Christ, do differ from the Church under Moses, so, as that they, each individual, do so know the Lord, as that they need not, in some sort, teach one another, saying, Know the Lord, Heb. 8. Jer. 31. But either all, or the genera∣lity of the Papal Church, differ nothing from the Church under Moses, in respect of their Knowledg, when admitted into their Church; being

such as are not capable of the first, or least degree of the knowledg of him.

3. There appears no more sign of Regeneration, or New-Birth, in the Infants, or Members of the Papal Church, at their admission, than there appears in such as the Papists say are not regenerate. Now where the Spirit of Regeneration is, it is not without some demonstrable operation; for saith Christ, The Wind bloweth, &c. and thou hearest the sound there∣of, &c. So is every one that is born of the Spirit. So that I conclude, That the Infants whom the Papists say they baptize, are not born of the Spirit, unless they can give some demonstrative sign of it.

4. There can be no Regeneration in an ordinary way, without preach∣ing the Doctrine of Christ, Rom. 10. But the Papal Church is generally (if not only) gathered without the Word preached, in order to the re∣generation of the Members, before their admission. Therefore they are not regenerate in an ordinary way. And if they have an extraordi∣nary Regeneration, let them shew it.