COnsiderynge the manifold and lamentable errours wherwt not the ignorant people onlye , but also the learned ( as they seme ) haue bene seduced long as touchynge the blessed Sacramente of Baptisme . I thought it expedient therein to wryte my mynd . Trusting by that meanes to brynge agayne the blynd hertes of many vnto the ryght waye , and I doubt not but that the elect and chosen of God that know theyr shepeherdes voice , Iohn . x . i . Corhin . ii . and haue the spirite to iudge all thynges : shal easely perceyue whether this be comformable to theyr maisters voice , & shal hereby be monished to leaue theyr wanderyng in the darke and lothsome wayes whiche leadeth vnto deathe and to walke wythout stumblynge in the comfortable light whiche bryngeth theyr consciences to reste , Pha . iiii . and suche peace that passeth all vnderstandyng .

¶ One erroure is thys they put so greate confidence in the outward signe that wyth out discretion they condempne the Infantes , whiche dye or they be Baptised vnto euerlastynge payne , an other is this . They cleaue so stronglye vnto the weake Cerimonyes that they thynke yf a dronken Prieste leaue out a worde as Volo say ye , or Cre●o saye ye forgette to putte ●pyttell or salte in the chyldes mouthe that the Chylde is not christened , yea so much giue they there vnto the beggerlye salte , that they wyll saye spyll not the salte , for it is oure christendome , and vse also to swere by it . Sayinge by thys salte that is my christendome . Alas what blyndenesse is thys , these two erroures are the principall that I dooe entende at thys tyme to confute . For when they are fallen : the other that are grounded on these muste neades decaye . Fyrste we muste marke three thynges in euery Sacrament to be considered the signe , the signification and the fayth , whiche is gyuen vnto the wordes of God The signe in Baptisme is the ploungyng downe in the materiall water and lyftyng vp agayne by the which as by an outwarde badge we are knowen to be of the numbre of them whiche professe Christe to be redemer and Sauiour .

¶ This outwarde signe doth neyther geue vs the spirite of God : neyther yet grace that is the fauoure of God . For if thorowe the washynge in the water the spirite or grace were geuen : then shoulde it folowe that who so euer were baptised in water shoulde receyue thys precious gyfte , but that is not so , wherefore I muste neades conclude that this outwarde signe by any power or influence that it hath , bryngeth not the spirite or fauour of God . That euery man receyueth not thys treasure in baptisme is euident , for be it in case that a Iewe or an infidel should saye that he dyd beleue and beleued not in dede , and vpon his wordes were baptised in dede ( for no man can iudge what his herte is , but we muste receiue hym vnto baptisme if he confesse oure fayth with his mouth al be it his herte be farre from thence ) thys miscreant nowe thus baptised hath receyued this outwarde signe and Sacrament , aswel as the mooste faythfull man beleauynge .

Howe be it he neyther receyueth the spirite of God , neyther yet anye grace but rather condempnation . Wherfore it is euident that the exterior signe gyueth not thys gyfte whyche is also as certaine in al other Sacramentes , Note . yea in the Sacramente of the altare whyche maye be called a double Sacramente . For it is not onelye a remembraunce that the natuall body of Christe was broken and his bloude shedde for oure redemption as the Euangeliste do testifie , but also it is his spiritual bodye whiche is the congregation of the faythful as S. Paul testifieth : saying the bread which we breake is it not the partaking ( that is to saye we that are partakers ) of the body of Christ ? For we ( saith he ) thoughe we be many yet are we one bread & one body , but for al that , the receyuynge of thys Sacramente giueth vs not the spirite of God neither yet his fauour : for the wicked receiueth it as wel as thou good . Howe be it that receiuyng is to there dampnation . Wherfore it foloweth that the outward signe giueth no man any grace . Moreouer if the spirite of God & his grace were bound vnto the sacramentes , thē where the Sacramentes were ministred there must the spirite of grace wayte on & where they were not ministred should be neither spirite nor grace . But that is false , for Cornelius & al his housholde receyued the holy gooste before they were baptised . Actes .x. In so much that Peter sayed maye any man forbidde that these shoulde be baptised wyth water whiche haue receyued the holy gooste as wel as we . And so he commaunded thē to be baptised , in the name of the Lorde , here maye we se that as the spirite of God lighteth where he wyl , neyther is he bounde to any thyng . Yea and thys ensample doeth well declare vnto vs that the Sacramentes are geuen to be an outwarde wytnesse vnto all the comgregation of that grace which is gyuen before priuatly vnto euery man .

¶ So is baptisme giuen before the congregacion vnto him whiche before he receyue it hath other professed the religion of Christ , or els hath the word of promise , Note . by the which promesse he is knowen to be of the sensible congregacion of Christ & for this cause when we baptise one that is come vnto thage of descrecion we axe of him whether he beleue if he answere yea & desire baptisme then is he baptised so that we requier faith in him before he be baptised which is the gifte of God and comyth of grace and so it is an outwarde signe of hys inuisible fayth whyche before was gyuen hym of God . If an infant be brought vnto baptisme whome hys frendes offer vp willynge to sanctifye and fulfil the comaundement and ordinaunce of God we enquyre of his frendes before the congregacion whether they wyll that theyr chylde be baptised and when they haue answered yea , then receiueth he baptisme . Here also went before the promise of God that he of his grace reputeth oure infantes no lesse of the congregation then the Infantes of the Hebrewes & thorowe baptisme doeth the congregacion receyue hym whiche was first receyued thorowe grace of the promyse , thus may we se that baptisme bringyth not grace but doeth testifye vnto the congregacion that he whiche is baptised had suche grace geuen hym before , so is baptisme a Sacrament , that is , the signe of an holye thynge euen a token of the grace and free mercye whyche was before gyuen hym a visible ensample of inuisible grace which is done and giuen throwe the gentilnesse of God . By thys maye we perceiue how grosse theyr ignoraunce is whyche without discresion condempne the infantes that departe out of thys worlde not baptysed in oure materiall water . For if that water gyue no grace as I haue sufficienly prouid , why should they condempne more before that washynge thē after . Beside that the election of God is fre & foloweth not oure fayth but fayth foloweth the election as it is writen . And there beleued as were ordeined vnto euerlasting life for they that are chosen from the begynnyng are no doubte chosen before they had fayeth , Actes .xiii. we ought not therfore to geue suche vnaduised iudgemente on these chyldren whiche by theyr age haue not yet harde our fayth , seinge Goddes election is hidde from our eyes .

¶ The children of Israel were a people whiche God had chosen from amonge al the nacions of the worlde and gaue thē circunsition for a token and memorial of that election , whiche circumsition was a figure of our baptisme & they thought that the gentiles whiche were not carnallye circumsisid had ben al comdempned . But theyr opinion deceyued them , for there were also of the gentiles whiche althoughe they were not circumsisid outwardelye were electe of God and were spirituallye circunsisid whiche onely is the thynge that God regardeth as Paul testifieth seing he is not a Iewe which is a Iewe outwarde , Roma . ii . neyther is that circumsision any thyng which is outward in the flesh But he is a Iewe whiche is hidde wythin the circunsition of the herte , which is the cuttynge of , of carnal desyres is the trewe circumcision , this circumcision was in pryce wyth God with the whiche the gentilles , as Iob were circumcised , and in lyke maner may we say of oure baptisme he is not a Christen man which is washed with water nether is that baptisme whiche is outward in the flesh , but that is the very baptisme whiche God aloweth to be baptised spiritually in the herte that is to subdewe and wede out the braches of synne that it raygne not in youre mortall bodyes and brynge them into bondage vnder it , of the whiche oure baptisme is but a signe and there are many I doubte not whiche are thus spiritually baptised al though theyr bodyes toutche no water as there were gentils thus spiritually circumcised and yet neuer cut of the fore skynne of there priuye members

¶ Furthermore the chi●dren of the vncircumcision are of the people & congregacion of God aswell as the Hebrewes children vnder the lawe were members of there congregacion I take the congregacion of God in this place euen somewhat largely that is for al thē that are thought or counted to be members of Christ as it is taken mathewe .xiii. Mat . xiii . where Christ compareth it vnto a nette whyche receyueth bothe good fishe and euil and againe Math . xxv . Math . xxv . where he likeneth the kyngdom of heauen that is to say the congregacion of God vnto .x. virgens of the whyche .v. were wyse & v. folyshe but I speke not in this place of the electe sanctifyed and inuisible congregacion , whiche is without spotte and wrinkyl and onelye knowen vnto God whyche hath chosen her before the foundacions of the worlde were layed neyther is it to be estemed but the God is as mercyfull vnto vs which are of the spiritual Israel , as he was vnto carnal Israel . S. Iohn , saynt Paule , and such other were they not beinge infantes of the congregacion of God electe in Christe Iesu before the creacion of the worlde , howebeit in theyr infancy thei nether had faith nor yet knewe any thinge of this election , Mathew , zacheus , & the thefe and marye magdalen were they not lyke wise so chosen yet they them selues knewe it not vntill they were lightened of the holy gost and drawen vnto Christe by the heauenly father nether knoweth anye man of an others election but euerye man may knowe his owne thorowe his fayth and wil that he hath to fulfil the law of god . Of this sensible congregacion of Christ was Iudas , yea & al the other which after forsoke Christ , nether wiste the apostles but the Iudas had bene of the electe sanctitifyed and inuisible congregacion of Christ aswell as Peter or Iohn so that oure iudgement recounteth al faythful & chosen that seme to be , but christ knoweth them that are hys and them that shall forsake hym .

¶ Nowe is theyr an opinion rysen among certeine whiche affirme that children mai not be baptised vntill they come vnto a perfecte age , and that because they haue no faithe but verely me thynketh that they are farre frome the mekenes of Christ and his spirite whyche when chyldren were broughte vnto hym receyued thē louingly & imbrased them in his armes Mathew .ix. Mat . ix . & when his disciples blamed the bryngers he cauiled them vnto hym sayeng , suffer children to come vnto me and forbed them not , for of suche is the kingdome of heauen luke .xviii. Luke .xviii. And albeit they haue no faith but are onely of that Inuisible congregacion that is with oute spotte or wrinkyll : yet as I haue said they haue a promise aswell as the children of the Hebrewes , by the which they are of the uisible congregacion whiche thing only is testifyed in theyr baptisme . So it appeareth that these men are ignoraunte what baptisme is . For oure baptisme dothe not testyfy that we are of that pure congregacion whiche were chosen & sanctifyed in Christe before the worlde began which haue theyr names written in the boke of lyfe of the which it is not possible that one shoulde perishe for then were it false testimonie : seing many which are baptised fal afterward into perilous heresies and vtter disperacion whiche bryngeth thē vnto death euerlastynge . And as for fayth if they haue none when they are baptysed let thē pray vnto God togyue it thē afterwarde for the lacke of fayth hurteth not the sacrament but the sacrament maye be aswel ministred vnto a miscreaunt as to a faithful , if he say that he hath fayth or haue any promyse of God but thys mater will I passe ouer for I truste the englishe vnto whome I wryte this haue no suche opinions . Now will I proceade with the seconde poynte of this sacrament whiche is the signification . The significacion of baptisme is discribed of Paul in the .vi. of the Romaynes . Roma . vi . that as we are plounged bodily into the water . Euen so we are deade and buried with Christ from synne and as we are lyfted agayne oute of the water . Euen so are we rysen with Christ from oure synnes that we might hereafter walke in an newe conuersacion of lyfe , so that these two thinges , that is to be plunged in the water and lifte vp agayne , do signifie and represent the whole pithe and effecte of baptisme that is the mortificacion of oure olde Adam and the rysynge vpe of our● newe man . What is the old● Adam ? verely euen that by natural inheritaunce is plante● thorow Adams fal in vs as t● be vnfaythful angry enuiou● couetous , slouthful prowde 〈◇〉 vngodlye these & suche othe● vses , where with oure natur● is venimed , oughte we wit● al diligence to cute of and m●tifye that we maye daylye 〈◇〉 more pacient liberal and m●●cyful accordinge to that ou● baptisme doth signifie In s● moche that a Christen ma● life is no thinge els saue a continual baptisme , which is begonne when we are dipped in the water & is put in continual vre & exercise as longe as the infection of sinne remayneth in our bodies whiche is neuer vtterly vanquished vntyll the houre of death , and there is the greate Golias slayne wyth his owne swerd , that is death , whiche is the power of synne , & the gate of euerlastyng lyfe openeth vnto vs , and this is Paule to be vnderstande . Galathians .iii. Gala . iii . where he saith . Al ye that are baptised haue put Christe on you , that is you haue promised to dye wyth Christe as toutchyng your synnes and worldly desyres passed and to be come a newe man or creature or membre of Christe , this haue we al promised vnto the comgregation and is represented in oure baptisme . But alas there are but fewe which in dede fulfyll that they promyse or rather that the Sacrament promiseth for them . And for thys cause it is called of Paule the fountayne of the new byrth and regeneration . Tite . iii . Tite . iii . bycause it signifieth that we wyll in dede renounce and vtterly forsake our olde lyfe and pourge our membres from the workes of iniquitie thorowe the vertue of the holy gooste , whiche as the water or fyre doth clense the bodye : Euen so doth it purifie the hert from al vncleannesse , yea it is a comon phrase in scripture to call the holye goste water and fyre , because these two elementes expresse so liuely his purging operation .

¶ Now haue we expounded the signification of baptisme whiche signification we may obtayne onely by fayth , for if thou be baptised a thousande tymes wyth water and haue no fayeth it auayleth the no more towardes God , then it doth a gose when she ducketh her selfe vnder the water . Therfore if thou wylt obtayne the profit of baptisme thou muste haue faith , that is , thou must be surely persuaded that thou art newly borne again not by water onli but by water & the holy gost , Iohn . iii . Iohn . iii . & thou art become the child of god thy sinnes not imputed to the , but for geuen thorow the bloud & passion of Christ according vnto the promise of god . This faith haue neyther the deuyls neither yet the wycked . For the wicked can not beleue the remission of their synnes , but fal vnto vtter desperation & make God alyer as much as in thē is . For they beleue not the testimony which he gaue his sonne , & this is that testimonie , that al which beleaue on him haue euerlasting lyfe Iohn . v. Iohn . v. And the deuils can not beleue it , for they haue no promise made vnto them . Thus thorow Christes bloud , wher of oure baptisme hath his ful strength & vigour , are we regenerate & made at one with the father . For by oure first & natural birth , we are the children of wrath . Cphes . ii . & the enemies of God . Ro . vi . Roma . v.

Finally baptisme is an ordinaunce institute of god ( & no practise of mans imaginacion ) put in vse in Christes tyme & after his resurrection commaunded to be ministred vnto al that beleue , whether thei were Iewes or gentils . Mathews the last . For Christ saith to his apostles . Go ye & teach al nacions baptising them in the name of the father , Math . xi viii . and of the sonne , and the holy gooste . Wherfore althoughe it seame neuer so exterior a thinge , yet oughte it to be had in greate price and much reuerence because it was commaunded of God to be done . Beside that it is an outwarde signe or wytnesse vnto the comgregation of the inuisible promise geuen before by grace vnto euery priuate man and by it doeth the cogregation receyue hym openly to be counted one of thē whiche was firste receiued by faith or thorow the grace of the promise it putteth vs also in remembraunce that we aduertisyng the kindines of God & our promise in baptisme maye learne to dye and mortifie oure rebellyng members otherwise , gyueth it no greace nether hath any secret vertue as we haue sufficiently proued and therfore is he sore to blame that so vnaduysydly condempneth these Infantes iudgynge hys bro : ther whiche is in Gods hande yea & peraduenture baptised in Christes bloud for Goddes election is vnknowne to man . Now wil I endeuour my self to ouer throwe and vtterlye putte out the seconde erroure which hath longe reigned and seduced manye and that is of them whiche so stronglye steke vnto the weke ceremonyes . Concerning the ceremonies of baptisme ye and all other , we muste behaue oure selues wysely as charite teacheth vs sekynge the profytte of manye that they maye be saued we muste consyder that we haue oure conuersacion with men in this world of the which the moste parte knowe not God . Some are yonge some weke , some peruerse and some styffe necked and obdurat vnto the yonge ceremonies , whiche althoughe they bee not noysome vnto the fayth nor contrarye to the worde of God , yet wyll it be harde to fynde suche . They are good & expedient ( as milke ) to leade the yong tenderly into the more perfite knowledge of god . The seconde sort are the weke vnto whom in al thinges it behoueth vs to haue respecte and beare theyr infirmities by charite for their sake actes . xv . Actes . xvi . dyd Paule circumcise timothe yea and for theyr sake he had lyuer to captyue his liberty & neuer eate fleshe nor drynke wyne thē to offende one of them , the thride kynde of men are perfitte I meane not so perfyt that they are cleane with out sinne hauing no rennauntes of olde Adam assaylynge them for suche are there none but only Christe but I cal thē perfit which haue perfit knowledge in the vse of thinges which know , that what soeuer entreth into the bealy defileth not the man , Math . xv . which knowe that al such thynges be pure vnto them that are pure Tite i . Tite . i . which know that if we eate we are noting the better or if we eate not we are nothing the worse .i. Corhinthi . viii . 1. Corhi . viii . these are fre betwne God and theyr conscience & may vse althinges howbeit they are yet bounde as concerninge theyr neighboure which is weke and hath not the knowledge , yea bounde vnder the payne of synne to abstayne from woundinge of their conscience for he sinneth agaynst God that woundeth another mans conscience .i. Corinth . viii . i . Cor . vii . the fourthe kynde are selfe willed and obstinate which put confidence in such indifferent thynges . For I thynke them not nedefull vnto our saluacion . Thē ought we to resist in the face & no● to yelde an yenche vnto them as Paule giueth vs ensample which wold not for theyr pleasure circumcyse Titum but vtterlye resisted theyr obdurate ignoraunce . If thou make this deuision , thou shalt know howe to be haue thy selfe towardes al men , but now it is mete that we shewe the which are the ceremonies of baptisme ¶ The Ceremonies of baptisme are easlye expressed if thou knowe whate the substaunce of it is and howe the apostles ministred it & where maye we haue that better expressed then actes . viii . Actes . viii . where Philip baptised the Eunuch chamberlaine to the quene of Candace , this Eunuch did knowledge that Iesus was the sonne of God whiche is the signe of our fayth and desired baptisme and Philipp at the next water they came to , washed him in the name of the father and of the sonne and of the holy goste there wyl no man deny but that , that baptysme was as full and as good as oures and yet was there ne . ther fonte nor holy water , candell , Creame , oyle , salt , godfather , or Godmothers , or any other , popatrie . Wherfore we maye conclude that al these thynges are but ceremonyes that is to saye exterior thynges whiche make baptisme nether the better nor worse of a myte , thus saye I not to haue these cerimonies that want iudgement , disanulled whiche are not noysome to oure fayeth , for feare of offending the weake but onelye that thou mayest knowe howe to vse them , as indifferent and to put no confidence in thē . For thē should they hurte and vnquiet oure conscience , if thorowe negligence or other wise any thing were vndone , and so shoulde they be an occasion to plucke vs from Christe , whiche were institute for a meane to bring vs vnto him . Therfore the Seniours and ministers of the congregations oughte to instructe theyr flockes to take these thinges indifferent , which neyther saue nor dampne whether they be done or vndone .

And if they perceyue the people cleaue to sore to them , then ought they to seke out a time conuenient , and to abrogate or alter those cerimonies or elles they can not escape the wrathe of God . For they that seke health in suche cerimonies are fallen from grace and treade vnder theyr fote the bloude of Christe : vnto theyr condempnation . But theyr bloude shall be required at your handes , whiche better shoulde haue instructe them . And as concernyng the abrogation or alteration ▪ Ezechi . xxxiii . of ceremonies we haue a Godly ensample of the Sabaoth . The Sabaoth was institute and commaunded of God to be kepte of the chyldren of Israel . Exod . xx . Deut . v. Notwythstanding because it was a signe or a ceremony and did signifie vnto thē that it was God whiche sanctified them wyth his spirite , and not them selues wyth theyr holy workes . Exod . xxxi . And because also that all ceremonies and shadowes ceased when Christ came . So that they might be done or left vndone indifferently . Our forefathers , which were in the begynnyng of the churche , dyd abrogate thys Sabaoth to the entent that men myghte haue an ensample of christen libertie and that they myght knowe that neyther the keepyng of the Saboth nor of any other daye is necessary according to Paule . Gala . iiii . Ye obserue dayes , tymes and monethes I am afrayed of you that I haue laboured in vayne towardes you . Howe be it because it was necessarye that a daye shoulde be reserued in the whiche the people mighte come to gyther to here the worde of God they ordeyned in the stede of the Sabbaoth which was saterday the next day folouing whiche is Sonday and although thei might haue kepe the Saterdaye with the Iewes as a thing indifferent : yet dyd they muche better to ouerset the daye to be a perpetuall memorye that we are fre and not bound to any daye but that we may do all lawful workes to the pleasure of God & profyt of our neighboure and it were at this tyme very expedyent yet ones agayne to ouer set our Sabbaoth which is the Sonday ( because the ignorante people do count it as necessary ) vnto the mondaye or tewysday For we are in maner as supersticious in the Sonday as they were in the Satterdaye , yea , & we are moche madder . For the iewes haue the word of God for theyr Satterdaye sithe it is the Seuenth daye and they were commaunded to keepe the Seuenth daye solempne . And we haue not the word of god for vs but rather against vs for we képe not the seuenth day as the iewes do . But the first whiche is not commaunded by Goddes lawe but Paule byddeh that no man Iudge vs as concernynge holy daye meates and suche other exteryour Lollo . ii . thynges yea and in no wyse wil he that we obserue thē countynge them more holy thē other daies . For they were institute that the people should come to gether to here Goddes worde , receyue the sacramentes and gyue God thankes . That done they maye retorne vnto theyr howses & do their busines aswel as any other daye . He that thinketh that a man synneth which worketh on the holy daye , yf he be weke or ignoraunt ought better to be instruct and so to leaue his holde . But if he be obstinat & perseuer in his sentence , he is not of God , but of the deuill , for he maketh synne in suche as god leaueth fre . According to this ensample wold I that oure ceremonies were altered because as I haue sayed ) the people seke helth in them .

And what vilany can they do more to Christes bloude ?

¶ And as concerning godfathers & godmothers they promise for theyr godchildrē that they shall mortifie the rote of synne which spryngeth in the bodeis and subdewe theyr lustes vnder the lawe of God .

They promise also that they wyll instructe and brynge vp theyr godchyldrē in the fayth of Christe : whiche office perteineth vnto theyr parentes , for they are commaunded of God to teach theyr chyldren . Exod . xiii . Deut . iiii . v. So that the parentes should be other alone , or at the leaste the chiefest Godfather . But now a daies the fathers may not be suffered to knowe any thynge them selues . Howe shoulde they then instructe theyr chyldren . They keepe the scripture and worde of God from you , and beare you in hande that it is herisie . Alas howe longe wyl you lacke vnderstandynge : perceyue you not yet that they would kepe you in darkenes because you shoulde not espye theyr priuy practise and slightly conueyaunce ? Are you so made that this blessed worde which made the euyl good , wyl make the good euyll ? thynke you that thys holsome medicine whiche healeth all infirmities is nowe chaunged into such a nature that it wil poyson you ? Are ye so simple and chyldyshe to surmyse that this godly doctrine whiche discloseth al hipocrisie and confoundeth all heresies shoulde make you to erre and fal into heresies ? I pray God geue you eyes to se , eares to heare , and open your hertes that you may perceyue what his pleasure is . For surely ignorauncie shall not excuse you ( as Ezechiell Ezech . iii . xxx . speakyng in the person of God ) sayth vnto the curates . Thou sonne of man , I haue made thee an ouerseer vnto the house of Israel , thou shalte heare the worde of my mouth and shalt shewe it thē frome me . If I saye vnto the wycked thou shalt suerly dye & thou shew hym not , nor exhort him to turne from his wicked way that he may liue : then he shal dye in his wickednes , but I wyll require his bloude at thy hande . Yea , and if the rightuouse turne from his ryghtuousnes and do iniquitie : he shal die although thou shewe it hym not , he shall dye in his synne , but I wyll require his bloude at thy hande . Take hede you curates vnto your charge , and let no man excuse hym selfe thorowe ignoraunce .