A commentary or, exposition upon the divine second epistle general, writtenA commentary or, exposition vpon the diuine second epistle generall, written

Let this comfort parents against that unmerciful doctrine of Rome; teaching that if children dye on earth without baptism, they must dye hereafter without mercy. That infants who cannot speak or do ill, whose flesh is but new quickened in the womb, or bones scarce gristled out of the womb; should pass from the darkness of the womb, to outer darkness for ever; this is the voice of the Dragon gored with blood. The Lamb of God speaks better things, and gives his blood to these little lambs. David grieved for the child sick, but desired not respite of life for circumcision: and though the child dyed on the seventh day, (which had been terrible, if the want of a day had lost it for ever) yet he then ceased mourning.

Let this comfort parents against that unmercifull doctrine of Rome; teaching that if children dye on earth without baptisme, they must dye hereafter without mercy. That infants who cannot speake or doe ill, whose flesh is but new quickned in the wombe, or bones scarce gristled out of the wombe; should passe from the darkenesse of the wombe, to outer darkenesse for ever; this is the voice of the Deagon goared with bloud. The Lambe of God speakes better things, and gives his bloud to these little lambes. David grieved for the child sick, but desired not respite of life for circumcision: and though the child dyed on the seventh day, (which had beene terrible, if the want of a day had lost it for ever) yet hee then ceased mourning.

¹The children of Israel forbore circumcision forty years, during all their journey in the wilderness: will they pronounce damnatory sentence on all them? If not, why then on ours? Hath the state of the Gospel less• mercy and pity than the Law? Goes it harder with the infants under Christ, than under Moses? They had a set day for circumcision, the eight: we have none defined: hath not the Lord in this left it freer? Those infant Martyrs, to whose memory they observe a feast as to Saints; desired nor Baptism, nor their friends for them; much less that baptism of blood; but their hearts rather bled for it: yet are they glorious in heaven. John Baptist seems not to have been baptised himself, by his answer to Christ,