I. CHAP. XI, Considerations by way of Conclusion. ONSIDER that when Souls have been made ashamed of their Iniquities, then they are to be shewn the Ordinances and forms of the Lord's House, Ezek. 43. 11. And if they be ashamed of all that they have done, shew them the form of the house, and the fashion thereof, and the goings out thereof, and the comings in thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the laws thereof: and write it in their sight, that they may keep the whole form thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and do them. Surely the Ordinances of the Gospel Church are worthy both to be known and kept. Wilt thou not search them out and keep them? 2. Consider when God gives any Man a new heart, it is to fit him for God's Ordinances, Ezek. 11. 19, 20. I will give them a new spirit, and I will take away the heart of Stone, and give them a heart of Flesh, that they may walk in my Statutes, and keep my Ordinances and do them. Hast thou a new heart, and dost thou delay to keep the Lord's command? 3. Consider what a danger it is to resist an Ordinance of God even of the lower kind; read Rom. 13. 2. How much more when it concerns a Spiritual Ordinance ! 4. Consider what Judgments have attended the changing of God's Ordinances, Isa. 24. I. Behold, the Lord maketh the Earth empty, and turneth it upside down; there's a change by way of judgment; but why is it sent? ver. 5. They have changed the Ordinance. When Christ commands men to Believe and be Baptized; and Men baptize Infants who do not believe; whether this be, or be not, a Change of the Ordinance, judge ye! 5. Consider, what fell on Nadab and Abihu the Sons of Aaron, Lev. 10. 1, 2. They offered what the Lord commanded not: it was not at that time expressly forbidden, but it was not commanded, and the Lord judged them for outrunning the command. Infant-Baptism is not forbidden, but the Lord commandeth it not. 6. Consider, if what thou didst receive in thy Infancy was no Baptism, and thou hast not been baptized since, then thou livest in the Neglect of a great Gospel Ordinance. Wilt thou call that Obedience which was not thy Act, and had not thy Consent, nor even thy Knowledge, which thou canst not remember as to when it was done, and in which thou hadst no faith? Wilt thou call that Baptism that was not of thy willing obedience, but of thy Parents' will? If then thou art not yet baptized, wilt thou not bestir thyself and say with David, "I will keep thy statutes"? 7. Consider, that the Ordinances must be kept as they were delivered, I Cor. II. 2. But Baptism was delivered to Believers and not to Infants. God did indeed deliver Circumcision to Infants, but he never did deliver Baptism to Infants. Who then may dare to alter the Ordinances of the Lord? 8. Consider, that many who have not been. baptized since they believed do Deny Baptism to their Children. Let me ask such, how can they think that their own Infant-Baptism is sufficient for themselves since they Deny it to their Children? Why do they doubt for their Children concerning a matter which they reckon sufficient for themselves? Such persons are not true to the light they have received. How long halt ye between two Opinions? 9. Consider, that beyond all doubt Believers were baptized, Acts 8. 12. The baptizing of Infants (at the best) is but a doubtful question. Infant-Baptism hath been often disputed? But as to Believers' Baptism it is in so many words, expressed in Scripture. They believed and were baptized. Now is it not better to go in an Undoubted way, than in a Questionable way? 10. Consider, there are multitudes of Examples of Believers'-Baptism; see page 15. of this Book; but there's not one clear or undoubted Example of Infant-Baptism. II. Consider, if the Salvation of thy Soul did lie upon this Question, Whether were Believers baptized, or were Infants baptized? wouldst thou not say, Surely Believers ? Therefore thou knowest which is true. heed that thou Do as thou knowest. Take 12. Consider, as Birth-right gave a right to Circumcision under the Law, so Birth-right gave a right to the Priesthood. Now you would entail Baptism without a word to the Believer's seed, why then will you not entail the Ministry unto the seed of Ministers? Would it not be strange Logic, to say the Preacher's seed Do you under the Gospel have less Privilege than the Priest's under the Law, unless every Minister's son shall be made a minister also. reply that Ministers are not Priests? We gladly grant it; for we desire not to be so esteemed; but that same Church which first invented Infant-Baptism has also made a Priesthood out of Ministers, and the one Invention is as good, or rather, as bad as the other. 13. Consider, that we are not to think of any above what is written, I Cor. 4. 6. Now, if Infant-Baptism be not written as an Ordinance, do not judge it to be an Ordinance. 14. Consider that Christ was faithful in all his House, Heb. 3. 5, 6. If it had been his Father's Will that Infants should have been baptized, surely he would have been so faithful as to have left us Certain Directions concerning it. Yet hath he not said One Word in the whole of his Ministry, nor left us a Line in all the Scriptures concerning it. 15. Consider, Moses the servant of the Lord did all according to the Pattern showed him in the Mount, Exod. 25. 40, and shall not the Servants of the Lord do all according to the Pattern he hath showed to us in the New Testament? The Pattern left on record is, They believed and were baptized, |