Reasons Against Two Errors of the Anabaptists

To the Reader.

AMong the many trials and troubles of the Churches of Christ, it is one of the greatest, when schisms and heresies arise among themselves. All other opposition and persecution of any adversaries without, is little or nothing unto it: neither bringing such hindrance to the truth, nor being so heavy to the Church. But thus will the Lord exercise his people, and accomplish his own work. And this have the Apostles foretold, that it should be the case and estate of the Church, here on earth. Act. 20.28.29.30. 1 Cor. 11.18.19. 2 Pet. 2.1. 1 John. 2.18, 19.

Of which commune lot and wonted condition of the CHURCH, we for our part have had our portion and experience, many times and sundry ways: And now of late (as sometimes also heretofore) by that which hath fallen out among us, in such as have forsaken the truth of Christ, and are seduced with the error of the Anabaptists. A case woeful and lamentable, in many respects: yet such as the Lord (I trust) who worketh all things for the best to them that love him, will turn to great good, both for the truth itself, in the further clearing of it; & for the Churches of Christ, in the more freing of us from the imputation of Anabaptistry, which hath most unjustly been laid upon us. And for a beginnning, behold the late Anabaptists thenselves have now published some writings: which already clear us and the truth witnessed by us, and are like to cause further manifestation of these & other things by divers of us.

Wherefore (leaving the answer of the books which they have set forth, to such as are specially interested and employed therein) I have thought good now to publish this treatise following: wherein are contained some grounds and reasons, written heretofore, against their errors about Baptism. Wherevnto if he that challengeth all, shall make answer directly to the reasons and confirmations here set down, I shall have occasion (as others already have) to write further and more particularly hereof, and by the assistance of God, to maintain this saith once given to the Saints, against any opposition or delusion he can bring thereabout.

In the mean time, let one point concerning them be well observed, which themselves in their writings make manifest enough to the judicious and indifferent Reader: namely, that the grounds and assertions of their opinions are such, as pervert the Gospel of Jesus Christ; bereave the Church of the grace and favors of God to young and old; take away the comfort of Christian families; deprive kingdoms and commune wealths of having Christian Kings Judges and Magistrates (whatsoever they pretend to the contrary): & do indeed very greatly impeach the good of all estates, domestical, civil, and ecclesiastical. The more strange it is, that yet notwithstanding they would write and carry themselves in such sort as they do, not fearing to fil their mouths and pens with falsehood and blasphemy; with perverting the Scriptures, and abusing the people of God; with reproaching, and challenging of all such as stand against their errors and heresies: as if he that set forth such writings and proclaimed such challenges, would show himself to be another Goljath defying Israel, and provoking all to battle and combat.

Which things J wish they may lay to heart, and fear before the Lord, who will cut off all the horns of the wicked, and make the horns of the righteous to be exalted. Examples whereof we have many, not only in Goljath & others throughout the Scriptures, but in heathen stories and records also. As may be seen for a memorable particular, in that very Tyrant, with whose wish this adversary patterns his own. Concerning whom it is recorded, that he reigned but a few years, and then was killed, and they which were present at his death, calling to mind how he had wished that all the people had but one neck, shown him that himself had but one neck, & they had many hands. For God resisteth the proud, & giveth grace to the humble. Prov. 3.34. I am. 4.5.6. 1 Pet. 5.5.

Good therefore it were for these men, to consider their ways in their hearts, to be low in their own eyes, to humble themselves under the mighty hand of God, to turn their feet into the Lord's testimonies which they have forsaken, and not to be carried about with every wynd of doctrine by the deceit of men, but to be more constant in the truth of Christ then hitherto they have been. The consideratiō whereof I leave unto themselves, and them unto the Lord, who knoweth and will accomplish his own work in all, to his own glory and praise in the end.

Now for the treatise ensuing, which is but short, and printed for thy use, Christian Reader, let me exhort thee to ponder the reasons alleged with thyself, and to examine them by the Scriptures: and the Lord give thee understanding in all things. Christ alone is to all his, the way, the truth, & the life. The Lord stablish thee in the faith of his Gospel, that being rooted and built in him, with assurance that this is the true grace of God wherein we stand, thou mayest grow up in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, in whom the nations & families of the earth are blessed, & unto whom be glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

SOME GROUNDS and reasons, showing 1. That Baptism is to be administered to infants, being the children of the faithful.

The second point. 2. That Baptism received in the apostatical Churches of Christians, as of Rome and the like, is not to be renounced and a new to be repeated again.

The Conclusion.

To conclude, let the Reader concerning the Anabaptists, in the two points aforesaid, observe also these things: First, how in the one they add to the word of God, and in the other take from it: They add, in their repeating or new receiving of Baptism, which God hath not appointed to be done; And they take away, in their denying of Baptism to children to whō God hath ordained the seal of his covenant to be given, as before hath been shown. Both which the Lord hath often & straitly forbidden, Deut. 4.2. and 12.32. Josh. 1. 7. Prov. 30.6. Gal. 1. 6-9. Rev. 22.18.19.

Secondly, how by their opinions & practice they bring themselves to be in the estate of persons unbaptized: in as much as the former baptism which they had received, is by them renounced altogether; & their latter washing of themselves is not Baptism approved of God in his word, but a vain observation of their own, taken up by the will and invention of man. Mar. 7.4.7. with Exod. 20.4-7.

Thirdly, how by excluding the children of believers out of the covenant of God, & separating those whō God hath joined together therein, they show their own want of faith in God's promise, and put themselves from under God's covenant, which joineth the children with the parents in the same covenant of grace; and is made & confirmed in Christ, to all his people, both Jews and Gentiles. Gen. 17, 7, Act. 2, 39, and 3, 25. and 16, 31. Gal. 3. chap. Ephes. 2, chap. & 3, 6. with Mar. 10.9.

THus are they injurious to God and his word; to Christ and his Church; to all nations and families of the earth, whether Jews or Gentiles; and in special to themselves and their children, whom they make together with themselves to be as heathens in the world, aliens from the commune-wealth of Israel, & strangers from the covenaunts of promise: not only putting from them the grace of God & blessing of Abraham which is come upon the Gentiles; but also making them subject to the wrath of God and curse of the Law, which seizeth and abideth upon all that are not under the promise & covenant of God, which Christ hath confirmed by his death, for salvation to all that are his, whether old or young. The Lord reclayme them, if it be his will: & keep all his people, that they be not by any means removed from the truth of the Gospel, but may stand confirmed & comforted therein by the grace of Christ, unto the end. Amen.