Chap. 3 t. The Old and New Covenant. 223 Baptifme their right to Church fellowfhip in any vifible Church - lociety, I fhould finde the Scriptures abundairtly to favour it , of fo many thoufands myriads of thoufands of converts, Acis 21. 20. which were added to the Church, and received by Baptifine,. (baptized the fame day for a great part fometimes as appears the very houre of their converfion ) there is not one, that we reade, refuted, but all received ; yea not a fcruple railed, fave of oneonely,asl remember, which was Saul, when he offered himfelf into Church- fellowfhip and that not upon this ac- count that we are now upon , but good flnania4 fearing that he came not to joyne with them, but to feize upon them, know- ing that at that time, he had Authority from the cheif Priefls, to binde all that call on Chrifts name as .ties 9. 14. If the corospetentet,as they are failed (viz. men that offered them felves for Church-fellowíhip) had then entred at fo (trait a doore, as now in tome places they are put to paffe ( where a glib tongue is in a farre fairer way to take , then an upright heart) we fhotild have heard of no fmall buftle about it ; when we finde murmurings of 9recians againff. the Hebrews, becaufe their wi- dowes were negl'eded in the dayly Miniftration, f1Es 6. I. ive Mould lure have heard of it, had they been negle &ed in Church-feliowfhip and communion;, but when no Inch thing can be found in the practice of the Church , after the holy Ghoft was given (which is called by way of eminence the King- dome of Ch rift, or the Kìngdome of heaven;) yet they think they finde exceptions- taken, and Tome refuted by the forerunner of Chrift, ?ohn Baptilt. Reverend Matter Norton laying down this prop fition, a ! hat men feeking admiou into the Church, are not to be received With.ut farther fatisfat? ion. Anfwer to fpolloni.sss pog, 4., gives inftance in no other but John Baptift, and . faiths The Baptift did not admit all that fought it unto Baptifine, and proves it from no text either of Matthew or Luke which give us the narrative, but by the Authority of Pariau ; b The Pharifees (faith he) did Peek Baptifine, but john did not ad- mit them, being unworthy; to whom he addes , æ (retit -,,who faies,`I"hej fought Baptifine but be feemes to thinh,(Saith Matter Morton) that they Were not by any meanes baptizf,. But how e- minent (Dever their authorities are, their reafons are very weak. The Baptiit reproved. them , called,. them to repentance, and there. a Cotnpetcrt s rto,x font admit- tendi in cccleft- arn,gtata compc tuntflre ulteri- o%e fati,fatïL- one, b Pharifees baptifmum pe, tenter, ad. ha- ptifinum inclig- nos non aloni fit, iítquit Paræms. cBaptifmom pe. t-erunt,i,z2uit Aretim, at baptiKatos ie:atibo modo videturjszrlica- re;.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=