things are bought and sold? In the present state of affairs, what can be a nearer approach to the sin of the mercenary magician ? What can be a more indelible blot on the purity and discipline of any church? 'Pudet hæc opprobria nobis Et dici potuisse, et non potuisse refelli."" See Theron and Aspasio. Mr. Bisset, thus: "I have returned several of my charge, for scandalous immoralities, to the spiritual court; but nothing was done, only some money was squeezed out of them." Plain English, p. 28. Dublin, 1705. An observation of Dr. Owen, respecting pluralities, will here apply. "An evil this, like that of mathematical prognostications at Rome, always condemned, and always retained." Gospel Church and its Government, p. 107. CHAPTER I. Neither Express Precept, nor Plain Example, for Pædobaptism, in the New Testament. Bp. BURNET. "There is no express precept, or rule, given in the New Testament for baptism of infants.' Exposit. of Thirty-nine Articles, art. xxvii. 2. Dr. Wall." Among all the persons that are recorded as baptized by the apostles, there is no express mention of any infant....There is no express mention indeed of any children baptized by him," i. e. John the Baptist. Hist. Inf. Bap. Introduct. p. 1, 55. 3. Mr. Fuller.—"We do freely confess, that there is neither express precept, nor precedent, in the New Testament, for the baptizing of infants....There were many things which Jesus did, which are not written; among which, for aught appears to the contrary, the baptizing of these infants [Luke xviii. 15, 16, 17,] might be one of them." Infant's Advocate, p. 71, 150. 4. Mr. Marshall." I grant, that in so many words it is not found in the New Testament, that they should be baptized; no express example where children were baptized....Express command there is, that they [the apostles] should teach the heathen, and the Jews, and make them disciples, and then baptize them....It is said indeed that they taught and baptized, and no express mention of any other.... Both John and Christ's disciples and apostles did teach before they baptized, because then no other were capable of baptism." In Mr. Tombes's Examen, p. 110, 161; and Antipædobaptism, part ii. p. 84. "It 5. Luther." It cannot he proved by the sacred scripture that infant baptism was instituted by Christ, or begun by the first Christians after the apostles." In A. R.'s Vanity of Inf. Bap. part ii. p. 8. 6. Mr. Baxter." If there can be no example given in scripture, of any one that was baptized without the profession of a saving faith, nor any precept for so doing, then must we not baptize any without it. But the antecedent is true; therefore so is the consequent ....In a word, I know of no one word in scripture, that giveth us the least intimation that ever man was baptized without the profession of a saving faith, or that giveth the least encouragement to baptize any upon another's faith." Disputat. of Right to Sac. p. 149, 151. 7. Mr. Obad. Wills." Christ did many things that were not recorded, and so did the apostles; whereof this was one, for aught we know, the baptizing infants.... Calvin, in his fourth book of Institutes, chap. xvi. confesseth, that it is no where expressly mentioned by the evangelists, that any one child was by the apostles baptized." To the same purpose are Staphilus, Melancthon, and Zuinglius quoted. Inf. Bap. Asserted and Vindicated, part ii. p. 37, 40, 199, 200. 8. Vitringa." That some in the ancient church long ago doubted, and that others now doubt, whether infants ought to be baptized, proceeds principally, I think, from hence; It is not related as a fact, in the Gospels, and in the Acts of the primitive church, that infants were baptized by Christ, or by the apostles." Observat. Sac. 1. ii. c. vi. § 2. 9. Mr. Samuel Palmer." There is nothing in the words of the institution, nor in any after accounts of the administration of this rite, respecting the baptism of infants; there is not a single precept for, nor example of, this practice through the whole New Testament." Answer to Dr. Priestley's Address on the Lord's Sup. p.7. 10. Stapferus." There is not any express command in the holy scripture concerning the baptism of infants." Theolog. Polem. cap. iii. § 1647. |