• Home
  • About
  • Links
  • The Book
  • The Project
  • Works

HerculesCollins.com

The Online Home for a 17th Century British Particular Baptist Pastor

Feeds:
Posts
Comments
« Christmas 1679: A Collection for Benjamin Keach
The Evangelistic Fervor of a 17th Century Particular Baptist »

Defending Hercules

July 26, 2013 by Steve Weaver

A couple of weeks ago (July 12, 2013) on the exceptional blog “Particular Voices,” a quote from Hercules Collins was posted that on the surface appears to be a quite silly argument for believer’s baptism.

francis-mence-vindiciae-129

The citation on the blog was actually from a book by an opponent of Collins named Francis Mence. In his Vindiciae Foederis (a paedo-baptist critique of Collins’ writings on baptism), Mence poked fun at Collins statement. Given that Mence was known for misrepresenting Collins (once falsely charging him with believing in the damnation of all children), I decided to see if Collins had indeed said what Mence accused him of. He had. The context of the quotation, however, puts a slightly different light upon the matter.

The original quote was from Believers Baptism from Heaven, published in 1691 (p. 88). It occurs in the midst of a 14 page chapter that contrasts infant and believers baptism in parallel columns.

In context it is one of many examples listed showing that infants can’t do what believers in the New Testament are commanded, implied, or assumed to do when baptized. The select quotation cited by Mence was in contrast to the statement: “Believers rejoice and shew their full Consent when they are baptized, Acts 8.” (see below)

Collins - Believers Baptism 88

Notwithstanding his tongue-in-cheek comment, Collins point remains. Infants do not rejoice and show their full consent when baptized, instead their response is largely weeping. Although Collins left himself wide-open to the wisecrack made by Mence about circumcision, his point stands regarding infants being unable to give consent or rejoice (since rejoicing would imply understanding on their part). In context, I don’t think Collins statement was as foolish as it initially seemed. It was only a small part of a much larger argument.

————————–

This post was originally posted on ConfessingBaptist.com. It is also posted at Thoughts of a Pastor-Historian.

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook

Like this:

Like Loading...

Related

Posted in Baptism, Hercules Collins |

  • Order the Book

    Book I co-edited with Michael Haykin
    "Devoted to the Service of the Temple": Persecution, Piety, and Ministry in the Writings of Hercules Collins



    To order from Amazon.com click here.

    To order from the publisher (RHB) click here.

    To order from Founder's Ministries click here.

    To order from CBD click here.
  • Recent Posts

    • Hercules Collins’ Funeral Sermon
    • The Evangelistic Fervor of a 17th Century Particular Baptist
    • Defending Hercules
    • Christmas 1679: A Collection for Benjamin Keach
    • Christmas 1677
  • Recent Comments

    my bookshelf ~ An Or… on An Old Gospel
    Bill H on Welcome
    Jeremy A. Walker (@j… on Welcome
    Robert B Matheson on An Old Gospel
    David on An Old Gospel
  • Pages

    • About
    • Links
    • The Book
    • The Project
    • Works
  • Archives

    • October 2016
    • July 2013
    • January 2012
    • September 2010
    • May 2010
    • November 2009
    • September 2008
    • February 2008
  • Categories

    • A Voice from Prison
    • Audio
    • Baptism
    • Biographical
    • Church Minutes
    • Evangelism
    • Hercules Collins
    • Orthodox Catechism
    • Sermon Delivery
    • Sermon Preparation
    • The Marrow of Gospel History
    • The Temple Repair'd
    • Uncategorized

Blog at WordPress.com.

WPThemes.


  • Follow Following
    • HerculesCollins.com
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • HerculesCollins.com
    • Customize
    • Follow Following
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Copy shortlink
    • Report this content
    • View post in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
%d bloggers like this: