Truth prevailing against the fiercest opposition, or, An answer to Mr. Iohn Goodwins Water-dipping no firm footing for church communion wherein the invalidity of his twenty three considerations against withdrawing from those societies that want baptisme by the bodies burial in water is manifested, and the separation from such societies justified by the word of God : together with the discovery of his great mistakes in the exposition of eight chief Scriptures, wherewith he fighteth to overthrow Mr. Allens answer to his forty queries about church communion / by Thomas Lambe.

Title

Truth prevailing against the fiercest opposition, or, An answer to Mr. Iohn Goodwins Water-dipping no firm footing for church communion wherein the invalidity of his twenty three considerations against withdrawing from those societies that want baptisme by the bodies burial in water is manifested, and the separation from such societies justified by the word of God : together with the discovery of his great mistakes in the exposition of eight chief Scriptures, wherewith he fighteth to overthrow Mr. Allens answer to his forty queries about church communion / by Thomas Lambe.

Author

Lamb, Thomas, d. 1686.

Publication

London :: Printed by G. Dawson, and are to be sold by Francis Smith,

1655.

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Subject terms

Goodwin, John, -- 1594?-1665. -- Water-dipping no firm footing for church communion.

Baptists -- Great Britain -- Apologetic works.

Link to this Item

https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A48462.0001.001 content_copy

Cite this Item

"Truth prevailing against the fiercest opposition, or, An answer to Mr. Iohn Goodwins Water-dipping no firm footing for church communion wherein the invalidity of his twenty three considerations against withdrawing from those societies that want baptisme by the bodies burial in water is manifested, and the separation from such societies justified by the word of God : together with the discovery of his great mistakes in the exposition of eight chief Scriptures, wherewith he fighteth to overthrow Mr. Allens answer to his forty queries about church communion / by Thomas Lambe." In the digital collection Early English Books Online 2. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A48462.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed May 5, 2024. content_copy

Contents

• title page
• TO THE READER
• To my Worthy Friends and Bre∣thren, of like pretious faith, walking with Mr. Iohn Goodwin in the right Faith, though not in the right order of the GOSPEL.
• ERRATA.
• An Answer to Mr. Iohn Goodwins Considerations, against forsaking the embodied Societies of Beleivers: Notwithstanding the want of true Baptisme.
  • His first Consideration for substance this: THat the Morall Law hath a super∣intendency over the Law of Institu∣tions; so that whilst the positive Law of Christ cannot be practised without breaking the Morrall Law; In such case, the Law of Institutions must give place: which he proveth by many Scriptures.
  • His second Consideration for sub∣stance this: THat supposing our way to be the sole Baptisme Ordinance of Christ, the Churches which are not actually baptised with our very Baptisme, are yet according to the estimate of God, baptized our way with our very Baptisme, and ought so to be estemed by us, because they have a wil∣ling mind so to be.
  • Your third Consideration for substance this: THat by faith Men become the Sons of God, That Christ owneth all true Beleivers for brethren: Therefore such of the Be∣leivers, who are in the right order of the Gospel, ought to receive them into the full Communion of the Church, upon that account simply.
  • Your fourth Consideration being of one heart and soul with the third, I shall have the lesse to say to it, it is for substance this: THat persons that have fellowship and Communion with God, are thereby im∣mediately fittted for communion with the Church, without Baptisme, otherwise it is not against us.
  • Your fifth Consideration for substance this: THat learned men are not agreed about the exact signification of the word BAP∣TIZO, whether it be to dip or not, therefore not fit for any, much less such illiterate ones, to determine it, and build so great a matter up∣on it.
  • Your seventh Consideration for sub∣stance this: THat in the 6. of Hebr. 2. the word Baptismes, which is there reckoned amongst the foundations, or beginning doctrines of Christ, being in the plurall number, it is not easie to determine, whether by it be not meant variety of formes in baptising, or a variety of subjects of Bap∣tisme, rather than a variety of Baptismes.
  • Your eighth Consideration for sub∣stance this: THat with-drawing upon this accompt, is a schismatical practise, and a sin of a high nature.
  • Your ninth Consideration is: THat it is but a carnal Ceremony, and so acknowledged by Mr. Lawrence, now Lord President, whom you stile one of the gravest Authors of the Antipaed baptisticall faith.
  • Your tenth Consideration for sub∣stance this: IGnorance in some things concerning the mystery of Christ, found either in a Church, or particular persons, hindreth not their lawful communion in a Church way, for then there would be none fit, be∣cause the best know but in part, therefore not to be looked for that they should be practised in full.
  • Your eleventh Consideration followeth, and for substance this: THat Baptisme is no constituting principle of a true Church, yea probably, no part of Churchship, or the visibility thereof, and that the Apostles did not so look upon it as being ei∣ther. 1. Because in his inscription to the Churches, be mentioneth their sanctification, calling to be Saints, &c. but not their Baptisme. 2. It is not menti∣oned by way of commendation, either of Church or person, more than the observance of other Ordi∣nances.
  • Your twelfth Consideration for sub∣stance this: VVHen the Apostle Paul instructeth Christian Churches, what manner of persons they are, who are unmeet for Christian communion, he mentioneth fornicators, covetous, railers, and the like, but never unbaptised persons.
  • Your thirteenth Consideration for sub∣stance this: BAptisme is at some seasons offensive, bur∣thensome and grievous to the flesh, and that for Men and Women, especially being weak and tender of constitution, to submit to it in winter and cold seasons, is as expresse a tempting of God, as passing through the fire would be.
  • Your fourteenth Consideration for sub∣stance this: THat for persons to mistake in the matter of Baptisme, so as to judge they have no need to be baptised after beleiving, because they judge themselves sufficiently baptised in infancy, is a mistake of a veniall nature (because almost all the judicious, learned and grave, all the zealous, faithful and best conscienced Christians and Servants of God, throughout the world, Fathers, Martyrs, Re∣formers and others, for sixteen Generations together, even from the dayes of the Apostles, until now) have been so mistaken.
  • Your fifteenth Consideration follow∣eth. THat Baptisme how duly soever admini∣stred, is no Church-maker, and that it doth not commend us to God or Men more than other Ordinances.
  • Your sixteenth Consideration for sub∣stance this: THat you have no need of Baptisme after Repentance and Faith (which you call new Baptisme) because your old sprink∣ling in infancy is as effectual to all ends and purpo∣ses of Baptisme, which you reduce to three heads: 1. For declaring persons the professed Disciples of Christ.2. For obliging persons to be the loyall Di∣sciples of Christ, in which they covenant so to be.3. For matter of edification and comfort to the inner man.
  • Your seventeenth Consideration for sub∣stance this: IT doth not appear from Scripture, that any Church of Christ, or embodied Society of Be∣leivers was commanded by Christ, or the Apostles to be dipt, nor yet threatned or reproved for the non-practise of dipping.
  • Your eighteenth Consideration for sub∣stance this: THat it is more than any of us will be ever able to prove, that there is any precept of Christ, whereby it is made sinful for any person whatsoever not to be baptised in one form or other.
  • Your twentieth Consideration for sub∣stance this: PEter being questioned for holding communi∣on with Cornelius and his Company, by the Brethren of Jerusalem, he justifieth it, by telling them, they had received the holy Ghost, as a testimony of their faith, and doth not so much as hint any thing of their Baptisme in his justification, and with that account they were satisfied.
  • Your twenty one Consideration for sub∣stance this: THat Pastors and Teachers were given by Christ, that all Saints, one or other should be perfected by them, and the whole body of Christ edified, then certainly they have all right to Church-fellowship, inasmuch as they have their cal∣lings onely by and resident in Churches, neither are they in any probable way of perfecting them, but onely when and whilst they are incorporated with them in their Churches respectively, Eph. 4.8, 11, 12.
  • Your two and twentieth Consideration hath many parts, and for substance thus:
  • Your three and twentieth Considerati∣on is: THat there is no substantiall Argument produced to justifie such a practise, nor you beleive ever will be.
• POSTSCRIPT.