A19884:571
An apologetical reply to a book called an answer to the unjust complaint of…An apologeticall reply to a booke called an ansvver to the unjust complaint of…
An apologetical reply to a book called an answer to the unjust complaint of VV.B. Also an answer to Mr. I.D. touching his report of some passages. His allegation of Scriptures against the baptising of some kind of infants. His protestation about the publishing of his writings. By John Davenport BD.An apologeticall reply to a booke called an ansvver to the unjust complaint of VV.B. Also an answer to Mr. I.D. touching his report of some passages. His allegation of Scriptures against the baptising of some kind of infants. His protestation about the publishing of his wrightings. By Iohn Davenporte BD.
Rotterdam: printed by Isaac van Waesberghe, 1636Rotterdam: printed by Isaack van Waesberghe, 1636
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
1Secondly. That the grace of Christ is universal, wherein all have interest is an error which these reformed Churches have destroyed, restraining it only to the Elect, to believers, to the Church of God, according to the Scriptures(b): But this practise buildeth it up. For, if the seal appertain to all, why not the Covenant also? Why not the grace? And who will not suspect that the seal doth appertain to all, in their judgement, whose practise is to administer it to those infants, neither of whose parents are in the covenant, so much as externally, and, it may be, were never baptised, or, having been baptised, have, by their infidelity and other sins obstinately persisted in, (being, convicted thereof and cast out of the Church) or by their wilful Apostasy and forsaking the Religion which they professed, with themselves, broken off their seed, externally and actually from the communion of the Church, and holy things thereof. If they say; ⟨p. 147⟩their grandfather was a Christian, or great grandfather. I answer. Where must we stop at last? If not in the next parents, why in the grandfather, or great grandfather, till we come up as high as Noah himself? And so neither the children of Jews, nor Turks, nor heathen or infidels should be denied baptism.
1Secondly. That the grace of Christ is universall, wherein all have interest is an errour which these reformed Churches have destroyed, restrayning it only to the Elect, to beleivers, to the Church of God, according to the Scriptures(b): But this practise buildeth it up. For, if the seale appertaine to all, why not the Covenant also? Why not the grace? And who will not suspect that the seale doth appertaine to all, in theyr judgement, whose practise is to administer it to those infants, neither of whose parents are in the covenant, so much as externally, and, it may be, were never baptised, or, having bene baptised, have, by their infidelity and other sinnes obstinately persisted in, (being, convicted thereof and cast out of the Church) or by their willfull Apostasy and forsaking the Religion which they professed, with themselves, broken off their seed, externally and actually from the communion of the Church, and holy things thereof. Jf they say;