A25294:819
The substance of Christian religion, or, A plain and easy draught of the Christian…The substance of Christian religion, or, A plain and easie draught of the Christian…
The substance of Christian religion, or, A plain and easy draught of the Christian catechism in LII lectures on chosen texts of Scripture, for each Lords-day of the year, learnedly and perspicuously illustrated with doctrines, reasons, and uses / by that reverend and worthy labourer in the Lord's vineyard, William Ames ...The substance of Christian religion, or, A plain and easie draught of the Christian catechisme in LII lectures on chosen texts of Scripture, for each Lords-day of the year, learnedly and perspicuously illustrated with doctrines, reasons, and uses / by that reverend and worthy laborer in the Lord's vineyard, William Ames ...
London: printed by T. Mabb for Thomas Davies, 1659
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
A Question here ariseth about Infants; Whether they are to be baptized, or not, seeing they cannot be taught, or instructed about faith?
I Answer, That the Children, or Infants of believers ought to be Baptized, because while they are yet Infants, as to the external privileges of the Covenant with God, they are accounted both persons and parties of, or belonging to their parents; and therefore they are of the family of Christ, or of the number of his Disciples. For if the Covenant made with Abraham be the same for substance; by which we are saved, and belongeth as much to us, and to our children, as it did to Abraham, and his posterity; then not only we, but our children also ought to be partakers of the seal of this Covenant. But the first is true, as appeareth by Rom. 4. and other places; and therefore the latter also is true. Furthermore, it makes to this purpose, that the grace of this Covenant after Christ's coming, is no way more straitened, or made narrow, than it was before his coming; but in many sorts made wider, larger, an• more extended. What is objected about faith, which is required of such, as are to be baptized, it […] no more the Baptism of Infants, than of old it […] the Circumcision of them, which required faith […] well as baptism, because it was by its institution […] seal of the righteousness of faith, Rom. 4. 11▪ As ther• fore in Circumcision, distinct knowledge, […] faith, and profession of it, were not necessary for […] fants; but the state of faith, and of its profession where•n (by means of their parents profession they were born, did suffice; so it is also in […]
I Answer, That the Children, or Infants of believers ought to be Baptized, because while they are yet Infants, as to the external priviledges of the Covenant with God, they are accounted both persons and parties of, or belonging to their parents; and therefore they are of the family of Christ, or of the number of his Disciples. For if the Covenant made with Abraham be the same for substance; by which we are saved, and belongeth as much to us, and to our children, as it did to Abraham, and his posterity; then not only we, but our children also ought to be partakers of the seal of this Covenant. But the first is true, as appeareth by