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 ...

SECT. VI. Of the Commission for the perpetuity of Baptism.

Had Christ only shewed his mind thus, about this holy Ordinance before his death, it might have been less clear in respect of it's perpe∣tual use in his Church. But as in his life, even so after his death he was the same with respect to this truth; and therefore of those few things, which are recounted of the many which he spake after his re∣surrection; and of those fewer yet, which are mentioned in his Com∣mission delivered to the Apostles, Matth. 28. 19, 20. this holy Ordi∣nance of Baptism is one, and given in special command. Go ye therefore teach all Nations Baptizing them, &c. Mark 16. 15, 16. Go ye into all the World, preach the Gospel to every Creature, he that believeth and is Baptized shall be saved.

That by Baptism here is clearly meant, immersion in the Element water in the name, &c. or the Baptism of repentance, for remission of sin is evident, because that Baptism only is delivered preceptively or by command; as also it is such a Baptism as is to be dispenced by Christs Ministers: but no other Baptism save that of water unto re∣pentance, could be, or ever was practised by them. For to Baptize

with the Holy Ghost, was Christs peculiar, he only knowing who are fit for that Heavenly donation, Matth. 3. 11. John 1. 33. The same is he which Baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. Act. 15. 8. And God which knoweth the Hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost. As for the necessity of this ordinance to a true Church-state, there are only a few wild Notionists that deny it, nevertheless, we will give here also some brief demonstration of it.

Some certain standing way or order, is assigned by Christ to unite or embody his people in a Church capacity; But no way is assigned by Christ without this Ordinance, to embody his people in a Church capacity. Ergo, this ordinance is necessary (among other things) to the embodying Christs people or Disciples in a Church capacity.

That no way is assigned by Christ to embody his people in a Church capacity, without this Ordinance appeares, 1. because we find no Church embodyed without it in all the New Testament. 2. we find many Churches embodyed with the use of this Ordinance (as hath been shewed) and that either proves that all the Churches were embodyed after the same manner, or else it will follow that there were diversities of wayes used on this account by the Apostles. And then the he that asserts such a thing must shew, how many ways may lawfully be used in this case, and what be they? if two why not ten, 20. or an hundred wayes, and then where is that one Heart and one way promised to the Church under Christs government.

It is therefore necessary that one only way be asserted, or order ob∣served, for the incorporating persons into the Church of Christ, and then the case is clear for us, because this way or order of adding per∣sons to the Church, upon manifestation of repentance, and Faith in the Lord Jesus, accompanied with the Baptism of repentance, for the remission of their Sins is so plain, that nothing can be plainer. Act. 2. 38, 40. Act. 8. 12. Act. 18. 8. Act. 10. 47, 48.

Again, either Baptism (as aforesaid) is necessary to the incorpo∣rating or embodying Disciples of Christ in a Church capacity, or else it is not necessary at all. For remove it from this place, and then no place can be assign'd for it, nor can any man rationally be blamed for delaying it, if no proper place can be assigned to it, seeing it is but once to be done. And to say this Ordinance is not necessary at all, is all one as to give, 1. a flat contradiction to Christ, who commands it to be ob∣served (as one of the all things which he commanded) to the end of the World. 2. to make that branch of the Commission void, or not obliging to us, is plainly to null the whole Commission, Matth. 28. 19. 28. And so all things which Christ commanded are abrogated, in the abrogation of this command, else let him that can shew when Christ annulled this part, and established the remainder, which I sup∣pose will never be attempted by wise men. Forasmuch then as some certain way and order remains for embodying Christs Disciples in a Church capacity, and no way or order found wherein to do it without holy Baptism, and sith to remove this ordinance out of that place, leaves it no known place, but exposes it to an utter neglect; and sith to deny

it to be of any use at all, contradicts the Lord Jesus, and makes his commands contained in the Commission, Matth. 28. to cease and be void; I say sith these consequences, so exceeding pernicious, can no way be avoided, but by giving this holy Ordinance it's place in the additi∣on of Disciples to the Church of God, hence we further conclude it is of necessity there to be maintained.