Thirdly it may be alleged, that infants have no faith of their own. I answer, there be three opinions touching Infants faith. The first, that infants have actual faith wrought in them by the holy Ghost: because it is said, Mat. 18.6. Whosoever offendeth one of these little ones that believes in me. But this opinion seems ⟨p. 89⟩to be an untruth: because faith presupposeth understā ding and knowledge, which infants want. Again, if infants received to believe when they are young, they would, no doubt, show it when they come to be of years: but faith they show none, unless they attain unto it afterward by diligent teaching and instruction. And the place in Matthew may be understood of men of years, who if they have contrite and humbled hearts, are little ones believing in Christ. Again, children after some years by good education and instruction, may attain to some knowledge and consequently to faith. Thus Timothy was brought ⟨p. 90⟩up in the Scripture of a child. The second opinion is, that all places of Scripture entreating of faith are to be understood of men of years, and that children are saved by some other unknown and unspeakable way without faith. I somewhat doubt of this:1 because it is said, Whosoever believeth not is already condemned. Again, Without faith it is impossible to please God. The third opinion is, that children have faith after a sort: because the parents according to the tenor of the covenant, I will be thy God, and the God of thy seed, believe for themselves and their children; and therefore their faith is not only theirs but also the faith of their children. ⟨p. 99⟩Hence it is that the Scripture saith, If the root be holy, the branches are holy: and,2 If ye believe, 3your children are holy. According to humane law, the father and his heirs are but one person, the father covenanting for himself and his children: what then should hinder, that the father might not believe for his child, and the child by the parents faith have title to the covenant, and the benefits thereof. It is alleged,a that by this means children shall be borne believers, and so be conceived and borne without original sin. I answer: Believing parents sustain two persons: one, whereby they are men: and thus they bring forth children having ⟨p. 92⟩mans nature with all the corruptions of nature. The other, as they are holy men and believers:
Thirdly it may be alleadged, that infants haue no faith of their owne. I answer, there be three opinions touching Infants faith. The first, that infants haue actuall faith wrought in them by the holy Ghost: because it is said, Mat. 18.6. Whosoeuer offendeth one of these little ones that beleeues in me. But this opinion seemes ⟨p. 89⟩to be an vntruth: because faith presupposeth vnderstā ding and knowledge, which infants want. Againe, if infants receiued to beleeue when they are young, they would, no doubt, shew it when they come to be of yeares: but faith they shew none, vnlesse they attaine vnto it afterward by diligent teaching and instruction. And the place in Matthew may be vnderstood of men of yeares, who if they haue contrite and humbled hearts, are little ones beleeuing in Christ. Againe, children after some yeares by good education and instruction, may attaine to some knowledge and consequently to faith. Thus Timothie was brought ⟨p. 90⟩vp in the Scripture of a childe. The second opinion is, that all places of Scripture intreating of faith are to be vnderstood of men of yeares, and that children are saued by some other vnknown and vnspeakeable way without faith. I somewhat doubt of this:1 because it is said, VVhosoeuer beleeueth not is alreadie condemned. Againe, VVithout faith it is impossible to please God. The third opinion is, that children haue faith after a sort: because the parents according to the tenour of the couenant, I will be thy God, and the God of thy seede, beleeue for themselues and their children; and therefore their faith is not onely theirs but also the faith of their children. ⟨p. 99⟩Hence it is that the Scripture saith, If the roote be holy, the branches are holy: and,2 If ye beleeue, 3your children are holy. According to humane law, the father and his heires are but one person, the father couenanting for himselfe and his children: what then should hinder, that the father might not beleeue for his child, and the child by the parents faith haue title to the couenant, and the benefits thereof. It is alleadged,a that by this meanes children shall be borne beleeuers, and so be conceiued and borne without originall sinne. I answer: Beleeuing parents sustaine two persons: one, whereby they are men: and thus they bring forth children hauing
- 1Muk. 16.16
- 2Rom. 12.
- 31. Cor. 7.1•.
- aBella•. l. 1, de bapt▪ c 4.
