In 1644, Particular Baptist, Christopher Blackwood, wrote the highly controversial work, The Storming of Antichrist, in his two last and strongest Garrisons; of Compulsion of Conscience, and Infant Baptisme. At the close of his work, Blackwood adds A briefe Catechism Concering Baptisme, in which he gives nine reasons why a Baptist is not permitted to attend an infant baptism or sprinkling ceremony.
If only contemporary Baptists would heed the counsel of Blackwood.
Here is his argument.
Quest. Whether is it lawfull for a person that is convicted of the unlawfullnesse of Infants baptisme, doubteth thereof, to be present at it?
Answ. No, in no wise, for these reasons.
1. Because the inward man and outward man must not bee divided in worship, 1Cor. 6.20, Glorifie God both with body and spirit, which are his. Its grosse hypocrisie, when the outward man is at a worship which the heart doth not love.
2. Because by our presence at such a worship, we strengthen and embolden others at a false worship, wiles they look on us, as those that worship the same kinde of worship, 1Cor. 8.10. If any man see thee which hast knowledge, sit at meat in the Idols temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be imbouldened to eat those things which are offred to Idols?
3. Because the person that is present at such a worship, is not able to make any apologie to God, why hee or she is present at such a worship in bodily presence, though he or she reserve their hearts to God: As a mans wife that is taken in an adulterous bed with another man, can give no excuse for her presenting her body there, though she say she keep her heart and affection to her husband.
4. Because in false worship we are not so much as to touch the unclean thing: 2Cor. 6.17. Come out from among them, and touch not the unclean thing. Now this being an unclean thing in my conscience, I cannot not must not touch it any way, neither with my affections nor with my bodily presence; but that as soon as any preacher begins to pray for any such thing, I must instantly depart, though it be in his prayer after his sermon.
5. Because the Martyrs would not give their bodily presence at any such worship as they disallowed; they might have put and end to their sufferings would they have done so, but they durst not: But one of them being at such a worship, cried out; If there be any of the servants of God here, bear me witnesse at the day of judgement, that I do not worship at this idolatrous service. Or words to this effect.
6. Its unlawfull for any Christian, either to allow himself in that which condemnes, or to condemne himself in that which he allowes: Rom. 14.2. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that things which he alloweth. But by my presence at such a worship, I condemn myself in that which I allow; my bodily presence allowes that which my conscience condemnes, and my conscience condemnes that which my bodily presence allowes.
7. The end and scope of Christian actions, should be spirituall edification, and not the destruction of any; but herein I do not edifie, but cast a stumbling block and an occasion of falling, in my brothers way; condemned Rom. 14.13.
8. The actions of Christians ought to be done in faith, that what they do, they may have good grounds that it is pleasing unto God; but to be present at such worship, cannot be done in faith, but with a doubting conscience; contrary to Rom. 14.23. Nay which is worse, with a condemning conscience, therefore its unlawfull.
9. In all worship, we must be able to answer that question, Esa.1. Who hath required these things at your hands? But in this worship we must acknowledge that Antichrist or humane traditions, not any precept nor example of Gods word, hath required this: Therefore its unlawfull for us to be present at it.
