The new birthThe nevv birth

but •uen of those, that thus make account of the Sacrament of nourishment for themselves, there be, that have made so little account of the Sacrament of begetting again; that they scarce have made one prayer the more for it, or been any whit the more careful to lament their own original corruption, and their child's, which it hath received from them. O how great a blessing is it to a Father, to have his child regenerated even from his infancy! how great a blessing for the child to be borne again, even so soon (almost) as ever he is first borne! Why should not a man cry mightily to God for such a blessing? Hath not the ⟨p. 156⟩Lord bound us to seek to his ordinance, and to bring our children to it? Doubtless Circumcision was no more needful for Jewish Infants, then Baptism for ours. Why then, why do not we seek to it according to the worth of it? and cry to him also to be merciful to them and us, in washing them with his spirit, and with water. Sure God hath given thee good hope that thy child may be regenerate there and then, by calling it to the seal of regeneration; wherefore do thou thy best endeavour to procure that it may be regenerate, by begging the performance of what the seal imports. Set a day (at least some good time) apart to seek the face of God, to find out and confess thy sins, chiefly thine original sin, which thou hast derived to thine infant; lament it in thy self, lament it in and for him; and with the most vehement prayers that thou canst put up, beseech the Lord to accept thee, to accept the fruit of thy body, to bless his own institution to it, to wash it with the holy Ghost, and to beget it to a new life, and to infuse into it that holiness now (by means of Baptism), which he can as easily infuse into an Infant, as into a man of years. I say again, pray for the regeneration of thy child, as well as for thine own nourishing; to obtain the fruit of Baptism for it, as to obtain the fruit of the Lords Supper for thy self. Both are Sacraments, both Gods ordinances; but the efficacy of Baptism is more necessary then that of the Lords supper: for if one be not borne anew he cannot be saved, he may be saved without sensible confirmation. And Baptism cannot be reiterated, as may the Lords Supper;

but •uen of those, that thus make account of the Sacrament of nourishment for themselues, there be, that haue made so little account of the Sacrament of begetting againe; that they scarce haue made one prayer the more for it, or been any whit the more carefull to lament their owne originall corruption, and their childes, which it hath receiued from them. O how great a blessing is it to a Father, to haue his child regenerated euen from his infancy! how great a blessing for the child to be borne againe, euen so soone (almost) as euer he is first borne! Why should not a man cry mightily to God for such a blessing? Hath not the