The grounds and ends of the baptisme of the children of the faithfull. Opened in a familiar discourse by way of a dialogue, or brotherly conference. / By the learned and faithfull minister of Christ, John Cotton, teacher of the Church of Boston in New-England.

PREFACE: Shewing the occasion of the Conference.

BRother Silvester, I feele your losse at my heart, for the love I beare to you, as to your godly Parents before you; I heare God hath lately burnt your house over your head, and most part of your goods with it. And it troubleth me the more for your sake, because I feare this hand of God is gone out against you, to visit upon you and your family, your breach of Covenant with the Lord and his People. For though I know that all outward things fall alike to all (the Sheepe and Servants of Job were burnt as well as your house: and many a godly man hath been struck with sicknesse for his tryall, as well as Moses for neglect of an Ordinance) yet whilst Moses lay under the neglect of an Ordinance, in suffering his child to lye by him uncircumcised, it had been no rash judgement in others, nor want of holy wise∣dome in himselfe to think, that God by making a breach upon his health, did visit upon him his breach of Covenant with the Lord, in delaying and neglecting, (though it may bee for his wives sake) to bring his child under the Seale of the Covenant. Wee may in brotherly love well conceive, that God hath made this B••each in your estate, to try your faith and patience, as

hee did Jobs. But surely it will be your wisest and safest course so to construe Gods meaning, That your breach of Covenant with God, did kindle a fire in his wrath, which brake forth up∣on your house, and burnt up so great a part of your Estate. For even our God (the God of the New Testament) is a Con∣suming fire, as well to Christians now, as to Jewes of old. And when doth the Iealousy of God most kindle, but against the Violation of his Ordinances? which being delivered to us in the 2. Commandement, are ratified by a Sanction from the Iea∣lousy of the Lord our God. Exod. 20.5. You saw, not long before, a like fire of Gods wrath breaking forth in burning the houses of others of your brethren and neighbours, who had a while before turned aside into the way same of error with your self; which when you tooke no warning by, the same fire burst for that last upon your selfe. How wise and righteous was the hand of the Lord, that when water was neglected to Baptize your child, water should be wanting to quench the fire that con∣sumed your house?

I cannot think, that the delay of my childs Baptisme could kindle that fire, that burnt up my house. For (if I know mine owne heart) I was very ready even at that time, to heare Coun∣sell, and to receive conviction from our Elders and other brethren, if they could shew me any errour in this way.

I doubt not your Elders and other brethren have not been wanting to use the meanes for your conviction, and satisfaction. But if the Lord espied an Idoll set up in your heart, then he in his just displeasure would leave you to see nothing, but accor∣ding to y••ur Idoll. If the heart be once taken with the love of an Errour, it is all one (if not worse) as not to be taken with the love of t••uth. And in such a case, God is wont to the give up the soule ••o strong delusions to beleeve lies, 2 Thes. 2.10, 11. But (besides your owne Elders and brethren) you wanted not other friends (the Eders and brethren of some other Chuches) whom you have been wont to consult withall in lesse matters, and them you acquainted not with your scruples, which whether: it were out of loathnesse to grieve them, or out of lothnesse to be removed from your way, I doe not know.

I am not so wedded to my way, but I am willing to heare counsell from the word of God: And therefore neither am I unwilling to acquaint your selfe with my scruples in this point

which I have gathered out of some bookes, chiefely out of those which seeme to me most orthodoxall. For they doe not (as some others of that way doe) deny Magistrates, nor Predesti∣nation, nor Originall Sinne: Nor doe they maintaine Free∣will in conversion, nor Apostasie from Grace: but onely deny the lawfull use of the Baptisme of children; because it want∣eth a word both of Commandement and Example from the Scripture.

It is well that any of that way doe condescend so farre unto the truth, in these controversies, which doe so nearely concerne the grace of Christ and power of Godlinesse and Publike peace. And I am bound in Christian love to beleeve, that they who yeeld so farre, doe it out of conscience, as following herein the Example of the Apostle, who professed of himselfe, and his followers, We can doe nothing against the truth, but for the truth. But yet I beleeve withall, that it is not out of love to the truth, that Satan yeeldeth so much to the Truth, but ra∣ther out of another ground, and (as his manner is) for a worse end. He knoweth the times, that now (by the good and strong hand of God) they are set upon purity and Reformation. And now to plead against the Baptisme of children upon any of those Armi∣nian and Popish grounds, which be so grosly ungratious, as those above-named, Satan knoweth, and seeth they would utter∣ly be reject••d. He chooseth therefore, rather to play Small Game (as they say) then to lose all. He now relinquisheth all those grosse and ungratious tenents, whereby he was wont to plead against childrens Baptisme, and now pleadeth no other Ar∣gments in these stirring times of Reformation then may be urged from a maine Principle of Purity and Reformation, to wit,

That no Duty of Gods Worship, nor any Ordinance of Re∣ligion is to be administred in the Church, but such as hath just warrant from the word of God.

And by urging this Argument against the Baptisme of children, Satan transformeth himselfe into an Angell of light: and the Spirit of Error and Pro∣phanenesse into a Minister of Truth and Righteousnesse. And so he hopeth to prevaile, either with those men who doe believe the lawfull and holy use of childrens Baptisme to renounce that Principle, and so to renounce also all Reformation brought in by it: or else, (if they stick to that Principle) then to renounce the Baptisme of children: And so the Reformation begun, will nei∣ther

spread farre, nor continue long. For if Godly Parents doe withdraw their children from the Covenant, and from the Seale of the Covenant, they doe make void (as much in as them lyeth) the Covenant both to themselves, and to their children also. And then will the Lord cut off such soules from his People. Gen. 17.14 And so the Reformation begun with a Blessing, will end in a curse, and in a cutting Separation either of Parents or of chil∣dren, or of both from the Lord, and his People.

That place in Gen. (17.14) speaketh not of Baptisme, but of Circumcision: Between which though there may be some Resem∣blance in regard of their common Nature, and use, yet this diffe∣rence between them chiefely sticketh with me, That Abraham and his naturall Posterity had an expresse Commandment and word of Institution from God, for the circumcising of them∣selves and their Infant seed; But the Beleevers of the New Testa∣ment, though they have a Commandment from God to be Bap∣tized themselves, yet they have neither Commandment, nor Ex∣ample for the Baptisme of their Infant seed.

It is a Tempting of God, even limiting of the Holy one of Israel, to put upon him to deliver his will onely by Commandment or Example, or not at all; As if God might not deliver his will, by promise or threatning, by Proportion, or deduction, by Con∣sequence, as well as by expresse Commandment, or Example. What Commandment or Example is their for women to partake of the Lords Supper? yet the Proportion of the Lords Supper with the Passeover, and Deduction from such Scriptures as put no difference between male and female, make it to be received as the will and Ordinance of Christ, That women able to examine and judge themselves should partake of the Lords Supper, as well as the men: Every shred of Gold hammered, or drawne out of the wedge of Gold, is as well Gold, as the whole lumpe and wedge. Whatsoever is drawn out of the Scripture by just con∣sequence and deduction, is as well the word of God, as that which is an expresse Commandment or Example in Scripture. But to helpe you (if the Lord will) over this stumbling block (which you stick at) the Baptisme of children is not without a Commandment, and word of Institution from Scripture as may ap∣peare two or three wayes.

Shew me any Commandment, or word of Institution for the Bap∣tisme of children, and it sufficeth me.

Notes

• Silvanus.
• Silvester.
• Silvanus.
• Silvester.
• Silvanus.
• Silvester.
• Silvanus.
• Silvester.