A Treatise of Baptism
by Henry Danvers, 1674p. 7
CHAP. 3
Wherein Believers Baptism is proved to be the only Baptism from the example and practice of the prmitive Saints.
Acts 2.41.
Then they that gladly received his word were baptized,Acts 8.12. But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the Kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both Men and Women, verses 37, 38. And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the Eunuch; and he baptized him.
Acts 18. 8. And Crispus, the chief Ruler of the Synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized.
Acts 22. 14. And Ananias said unto Paul, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see the Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth. And now why tarriest thou? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord. Acts 9. 18. And he arose forthwith and was baptized.
Which is also confirmed by the followiong testimonies.
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Luther de Sacrament Tom. 3. fol. 168. saith, That in times past it was thus, that the Sacrament of Baptism was administered to none, except it were to these, that acknowledged and confessed their faith, and know how to rehearse the same, and that it was necessary to be done, because the Sacrament was constituted externally to be used, that the faith be confest and made known to the Church.Bullinger in his House Book, Sermon 48. saith, saith that Baptism hath no prescribed time by the Lord, and therefore it is left to the free choice of the faithful. Those that believed at the Preaching of Peter upon the day of Pentecost, as also the Eunuch, whom Philip baptized. Cornelius the Captain, Paul the Apostle at Damascus, Lydia the seller of Purple, a Woman that feared God, the Keeper of the Prison at Philippi, and other more, as well Women and Men, so soon as they tasted the gifts of Christ, and believed his word, presently desired to be baptized.
Mr. Baxter further in his 16. Argument against Mr. Blake in the aforesaid 2d Disputation p. 149. (saith most significantly) If there can be no example given in Scripture of anyone, 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 proof wherof he produces the several Scripture-examples of Persons that were baptized, which (saith he) might afford us so many several Arguments, but I shall put them together, viz.
First, John, as I have shewed you, required the
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profession of true Repentance, and that his Baptism was for the remission of sin.Secondly, when Christ layeth down the Apostolical Commission, the Nature and Order of the Apostles' work, is first to make them Disciplines, and then Baptize them into the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, as before.
That is was saving faith that was required of the Jews, and professed by them #Acts 2.38 is plain in the Text.
The Samaritans believed and had great Joy, and were baptized into the name of Jesus Christ, Acts. 8.12. whereby it appeareth, that it was both the Understanding and Will that were both changed, and that they had the profession even of a saving Faith, yea, even Simon himself, v. 37.
The Condition upon which the Eunuch must be baptized was, if he believed with all his heart, which he professed to do, and that was the Evidence Philip expected.
Paul was baptized after true Conversion, Acts 9.18.
The Holy Ghost fell on the Gentiles before they were baptized, Acts 10.44.
Lydia's heart was opened before she was baptized; and she was one the Apostles judged faithful to the Lord, and offered to them the Evidence of her Faith, Acts 16.30.
The Example also of the Jaylor is very full to the resolution of the Question in hand. He first asketh, what he shall do to be saved? The Apostle answereth him, Believe in the Lord Jesus, and thou shalt be saved, and thy House. So that it was saving Faith that is here mentioned. He rejoiced, and believed, with all his
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House, and was baptized the same hour of thenight, or straightway.Crispus the chief Ruler of the Synagogue, believed on the Lord, with all his House.
And many of the Corinthians hearing, believed, and were baptized, Acts 18.8
Philip, in Acts 8.37. is determining the Question, and giveth this in as the decision; If thou believeth with all they heart, thou maist. And to say that this is butde Bene esse, meaning that it includes not the Negative, otherwise thou maist not, is to make Philip to have deluded, and not decided, or resolved.
In a word (saith he) 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.
Thus far Mr. Baxter; who to save us the labour hath himself (you see) given such an exact Catalogue of the Examples of the Baptized in the Scriptures; among whom (as he so well observes) there is not one to be found, that answered not Christ's Commission, and the Apostle's Precept in a professed Faith and Repentance: But 'tis said, he mentions only such as were baptized at age. That is very true; and the reason is, because the Scripture affords examples of one other, as he ingenuously confesseth.
For if Philip's Answer was decisive, and not delusive (as he is pleased to tell us all others are excluded. And therefore we may safely conclude in his own words that carry so strong an argument with them) viz. If there can be no example giv'n in Scripture of any one that was baptized without
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the profession of a saving Faith, nor any Precept of so doing, then must we not baptize any without it.==========
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