The persecuted minister, in defence of the ministerie, the great ordinance of Jesus Christ.: Setting forth the severall names of Apostles, prophets, &c. [brace] 1. That there is a ministerial office. 2. That the sacrament of baptisme by a lay-person is invalid. 3. That necessity is no plea. 4. That the long omission of the Lords Supper is unwarrantable. With many other things, plainly and methodically handled / by William Langley late of S. Maryes in the city of Lichfield, minister ...

CHAP. VI.

That the Sacrament of Baptism lawfully administred ought not to be reiterated.

OF this judgment is Zanchy. Credimus praeterea, sicut Cir∣cumcisio in carne semel tantùm fiebat: sic Baptismum aqua qui circumcisioni successit, semel ritè ac legitimè susceptum non esse denuò repetendum. Furthermore we believe, that as Circumci∣sion was done onely once in the flesh; So the Baptism of water, which succeeded circumcision, being once rightly and lawfully received, ought not againe to be repeated. Of the same opini∣on is Beza. Jam verò quum quisquis semel Christo verè datus est, quamvis interdum deflectat, nunquam tamen for as ej••ciatur, ac perinde satis sit semel receptum esse, &c. There are Reasons rendred for this:

First, [unspec 1] because there is no commandment for the reiteration of it; Circumcision in whose room Baptism succeeded, was not to be reiterated.

Secondly, [unspec 2] lawfully done by a call'd Minister according to Christs institution, is not to be accounted frustrate.

Thirdly, [unspec 3] as carnall generation is but once, so our Spirituall regeneration or ingrafting into the Church is but once to be performed.

Fourthly, [unspec 4] the signification, force, use, and fruit of Baptisme continues not for a time, but the whole Life of the party bapti∣zed. This is seen by the confession of Reformed Churches. To such as are once truly baptized into the Church of Christ, there ought not to be any reiteration of Baptisme. Now if it be performed by Heretiques that deny the principles of doctrine, and corrupt the essentiall forme of Baptism, as the Arians, Sa∣mosatenians, and others that are not sincere in the doctrine of the Trinity, such ought to be baptized again, the first being of no validity: for the essentiall forme being taken away, the matter it selfe is also taken away, and this is no rebaptization,

but the Administration of the true Baptisme.

If done by some Hereticks, as the Novatians, Donatists, [Quest.] or Papists who erre out of the way of truth in some part of doctrine, and using many needlesse and superstitious ce∣remonies, yet using the publique Ministery, and essentiall forme of the institution, such ought not to be baptized againe. But where it is not done according to the form of Baptism, de∣nying the Trinity, or by a lawfull Minister of the Gospell, such ought to be baptized againe. We have already proved it no Sa∣crament, and therefore Zanchy's rule will follow. Semel ritè ac legitimè susceptum, non esse denuo repetendum. We read not that the Apostles did ever baptize any except those which Paul did baptize, who had not been rightly baptized. For saith he, Non enim intelleximus, qui ritè baptizati fuerant, eos postmodum fuisse rebaptizatos, sed qui vero baptismo praecedente, Scilicet, vera de Deo Patre, Filio, & Spiritu Sancto doctrina baptizati non fue∣rant. For we meant not, that they which were rightly baptized were afterwards baptized againe: but they which were not baptized with true Baptism, where the true doctrine of God the Father, the Sonne and the Holy Ghost went before it, they, after Paul had taught them the true and sound doctrine of Christ, then they tooke true Baptisme; and after Baptisme, by the laying on of hands received the Holy Ghost, and the gifts thereof: and this to speak properly, was indeed not to be rebaptized, but to be truly baptized. Which saith he, is not re∣pugnant to the Analogy of faith, nor bringeth with it any ab∣surdities, because the Fathers doe not speake of a Baptisme rightly administred, and when this is, he renders one Reason as before, when done by a lawfull Minister.

Notes

• fid. de Christ. relig. de Bapt. 6.
• Beza de spir. Sanct. cap. 4.
• Confes. of the Chur. of Belg Ar. 34. of Bapt. Confes of Bob. ch. 12. of Bapt. Beza Quest. & Resp.
• Istos igitur re∣baptizares? Resp. Imò Christi Baptismonan∣quam bapt••z••tos bapt••zarem. sid. de Christ. relig. de Bapt. cap 6.
• Observat. Aph 6.