neither would I that the baptism of little children should be received as good, except I can prove that God's will is that so it should be, but in the mean while let us hold fast this thing which I have already proved: which is, that it is as much, as to reason against god, when we will always have, that the verity should precede the sign. Touching the rest, we must prove that it is according with the word of God, that we do baptise little children, which thing shall be easy to all mens understanding, without long process to declare the same: if we do know the grace and mercy which our Lord Jesus hath done unto us at his coming. Afore that, God promised unto the Jews that the would be the God of their children: and in witness thereof he sealed them with the Sacrament of his covenant. Now as sayeth saint Paul, the Lord Jesus is come, for to ratify his promises made unto the Jews, ⟨image 12⟩and to shed forth into all the world the mercy of God. Yea, as it is evident in another text, he hath broken down the wall which stood between both, to separate the one from the other: and this hath he done, that there should be no more difference between them: but that we all together, should have one manner of privilege, to be the children of God. Wherefore, whosoever will make the grace of God less towards us & our children, than it was towards the people of the Jews, doth great injury unto our saviour Jesus Christ, and blasphemeth him. But some will say, that the grace of God is not made less towards us, in that our children are not received to Baptism: so that we deny not, that God hath showed unto them like mercy, as unto the children of the Jews I answer, yes. For we must esteem the grace of God, principally by the declaration which he hath made unto us, aswell by his word as by his sacraments. Seeing now, that Baptism at this day, is ordained to seal in our bodies the promise of salvation: as of old time Circumcision was unto the people of the Jews: we should take from the Christians a singular consolation, if we take from their children that confirmation, the which the faithful have always had: that is, a visible sign, by which our Lord declareth unto them, that he accepteth their children into the communion of his Church.
neyther would I that the baptisme of little chyldren should be receyued as good, excepte I canne proue that Goddes wyll is that so it shoulde be, but in the meane while let vs holde faste this thing whyche I haue alreadye proued: whyche is, that it is as much, as to reason agaynst god, when we wyll alwayes haue, that the veriritie should precede the signe. Touching the rest, we must proue that it is according with the worde of God, that we do baptise lyttle chyldren, whyche thynge shall be easye to all mens vnderstandynge, wythoute longe processe to declare the same: if we do knowe the grace and mercy whyche oure Lorde Iesus hath done vnto vs at hys commynge. Afore that, God promised vnto the Iewes that the woulde be the God of their chyldren: and in wytnes therof he sealed them wyth the Sacrament of hys couenaunt. Nowe as sayeth saynt Paul, the Lorde Iesus is come, for to ratifie hys promises made vnto the Iewes, ⟨image 12⟩and to shedde furthe into all the worlde the mercye of God. Yea, as it is euident in another texte, he hath broken downe the walle whych stode betwene bothe, to seperate the one from the other: and this hath he doone, that there shoulde bee no more difference betwene them: but that we al together, shoulde haue one maner of priuiledge, to be the chyldren of God. Wherefore, whosoeuer wyll make the grace of God lesse towardes vs & our chyldren, than it was towardes the people of the Iewes, doth great iniury vnto our sauiour Iesus Christ, and blasphemeth him. But some wyl say, yt the grace of God is not made lesse towardes vs, in that our chyldren are not receyued to Baptisme: so that we denye not, that God hath shewed vnto them lyke mercy, as vnto the chyldren of ye Iewes I answer, yesse. For we must esteme ye grace of God, pryncipally by the declaratiō which he hath made vnto vs, aswell by hys worde as by his sacramentes. Seynge nowe, that Baptisme at this daye, is ordayned to seale in our bodies the promes of saluation: as of olde tyme Circumsicion was vnto the people of the Iewes: we shoulde take from the Christiās a synguler consolation, if we take from their chyldren that confirmation, the whych the faythful haue alwayes had: that is, a visible sygne, by whych our Lord declareth vnto theym, that he accepteth their chyldren into the communion of his Church.
