'PROPOSITIONS.

1. Every Effential Part of a Divine Pofitive Infti-

tution, is of Equal Obligation and Neceffity, 36

Corollary. Hence no Human Authority can deter-

1

mine one Effential Part of fuch an Inftitution,

to be more Excellent or Neceffary than another, 37

II. If an A (Said to be done in Pursuance of a
Divine Pofitive Inftitution) be wholly Null and

Void, for want of one Effential Part of the

Inftitution; 'tis alfo as much Null and Void,

when it wants but any other One Effential Part

of the fame Inftitution,
ibid.

Corollary. Hence there's no fuch Thing as a but

Partial Invalidity; 'tis entire, for want of any

One Effential Part of a Pofitive Inftitution, 38

III. We have no Reafon to expect the Supernatu

ral Benefits annexed to a Divine Pofitive Infti-

tution, without endeavouring to conform to eve

ry one of its Effential Parts, when we know that

we have not yet conform'd to them,
39

..

The ESSAY.

Of the Nature and Benefits of Chriftian Baptifm, 40

'Tis no other than a Divine Pofitive Inftitution, 41

Confequently, our Obligation to receive it, and from

the Perfons by whom 'tis order'd to be admini-
fter'd, is wholly and only founded upon the Di-
vine Command,
ibid.

Prop. I. That the Divine Authority of the Admi-

niftrator, is an Effential Part of Chriftian

Baptifm,
42

Prov'd,

ift, From God's making the Divine Authority of

the Adminiftrator, to be an Effential Part of his

2 2

own

own Pofitive Inftitutions under the Mofaic Law,

44

2dly, By the Example of our Saviour's not taking

upon him to Minifter in fuch Holy Things, till

he was particularly and externally Commiffion'd

for that Purpofe,
46

3dly, From the Words of Inftitution of Chriftian

Baptifm,
48

4thly, From the Defign and Benefits thereof, бо

thly, From the conftant Practice of the True,

and Pretended Minifters of the Chriftian Church,

;

65

6thly, From the Doctrine and Practice of the

Church of England,
67

Prop. II. That the Divine Authority of the Admi-

niftrator of Baptifm, is as much obliging and

neceffary to us, as the Water and Form of Ad-

miniftring in the Name of the Trinity,
75

Corollary. Hence no Human Authority can difpenfe

with the Omiffion of the Divine Authority of him

who adminifters,
76

Prop. III. Whosoever affirms Baptifm to be wholly

Null and Invalid, for want of either Water,

or the Form of Adminiftring in the Name of

the Trinity; ought (for the fame Reason) to ac-

knowledge Baptifm as much Null and Invalid,

when it wants only the Divine Commiffion of the

Adminiftrator,
77

Corollary. Hence the Invalidity of fuch Baptifms,

as are adminifter'd by Unauthoriz'd Perfons,

cannot be Partial, but Entire,

78

Therefore,

79

Therefore Impofition of the Bishop's Hands, is not

fufficient to make fuch Baptifm Valid,

The Church of England, in her Office of Confirma-

tion, (appointed only for validly Baptiz'd Per-

fons) gives us not the leaft Intimation of any

fuch Efficacy in the Impofition of the Bishop's

Hands,
81

Of the pretended Practice of Antient Churches to
this Purpofe,
ibid.

84

The Unavoidable. Mifchiefs that must follow upon

Allowing the Validity of Lay-Baptifm,

'Twill be then in vain for the True Ministers of

Chrift, to tell the People of the Damning Nature

of Schifm,
85

Prop. IV. He who knows himself to have been in-

validly baptiz'd by one who never had the Di-

vine Commiffion, can have no juft Grounds to

expect the Supernatural Benefits annexed to the

One True Chriftian Baptifm, till he has done his

utmoft for the Obtaining of them, by endeavour-

ing to procure that One Baptifm from the Hands

of a divinely Authoriz'd Minifter,
87

The great Danger they incur, who know themselves

to have been invalidly-baptiz'd by a Layman, in

Oppofition to, and Rebellion against those who

were truly Authoriz'd to baptize,

It highly concerns those who are ignorant of this,

to undeceive themselves, if poffible, that they

may be fure of the Validity of their Baptifm, 89

88

OBJECTIONS Answered.

1

I. Chrift, in the Words of Inflitution, does not,

(in express Terms) confine Baptifm to the Ad-

a 3

miniftration

miniftration of his Apoftles and their Succeffors,
fo as that none can Adminifter True Baptifm but
they, and fuch only as they fhall Authorize, 90

II. This Doctrine confines the Efficacy of the Sacra-

ments to the Divine Authority of the Admini-

ftrator; infomuch, that if an Uncommiffion'd

Perfon Minifters, he Adminifters no Sacraments

at all,

92

III. Who has this Divine Authority is in Dif

pute, and confequently the Foundation of Bap-

tifm is very precarious and uncertain,

: 96

The Diligent and Induftrious, who live in Confcien-
tious Communion with the True Church, need not

be in Sufpenfe about this Difputeurch, need not

and why, ib.

This Divine Right of Adminiftring, is in Epifcopa-

cy only,

98

The Authors who have abundantly prov'd this, re-

ferr'd to,

100

A

IV. 'Tis uncharitable to deny the Validity of the

Baptifm of Foreign Churches, and fome among

our felves,

ibid.

The Author's Charity for fome who are invincibly

Ignorant,
102, 103

V. The Example of Zipporah, Mofes's Wife, who

Circumcis'd her Son,
103

VI. Fieri non debet; factum valet: i. e. It is

not Lawful to be done; yet being done, 'tis Va-

lid,
105

VII. The Council of Eliberis, Anno 305. and the

Church of England at the Beginning of the Re-

formation,

formation, allow'd of Lay-Baptifm in a Cafe

of Neceffity as the Church of Rome does to

this Day,
107

The Church of England faw Reafons afterwards

not to give Liberty for fuch Baptifms; and

therefore now in her Liturgy, requirès Baptifm

(even in Cafes of Neceffity) to be Adminiftred

by a Lawful Minifter,

St. Cyprian, and Bishop Taylor's Opinion, if the
Cuftom of fuch Lay-Baptifm had continued, ib.

110

VIII. Of the Cenfers that were Hallowed by the

Two Hundred and Fifty Princes finful Offering

of Incenfe,

112

The Subject of this Effay, the Author believes to

be a Firft Principle of Chriftianity, 115

The great Danger of not Alerting and Vindicating

it,

ibid.

His fhort Addrefs and Requeft to the Clergy, 116

And Caution to those who endeavour to ufurp the

Sacred Office,
ibid.

His Prayer for the Church and Clergy,

117

APPENDIX.

The Reason for making this Addition in Answer to

Further OBJECTIONS.

IX. Of Unchurching the Foreign Reform'd Church-

es, who are without Epifcopal Ordination, this

the Objector fays is contrary to the Conceffions

of many Epifcopal Divines of the Church of

England,

118