In dealing with his Children about their spiritual State, he took hold of them very much by the handle of their Infant-Baptism, and frequently inculcated that upon them, that they were born in God's House, and were betimes dedicated and given up to him, and therefore were obliged to be his Servants, Psal. 116. 16. I am thy Servant, because the Son of thy handmaid. This he was wont to illustrate to them by the comparison of taking a Lease of a fair Estate for a Child in the Cradle, and putting his Life into it; The Child then knows nothing of the matter, nor is he capable of consenting; however, then he is maintained out of it, and and hath an Interest in it; And when he grows up and becomes able to choose, and refuse for himself, if he go to his Landlord, and claim the Benefit of the Lease, ⟨p. 92⟩and promise to pay the Rent, and do the services well and good, he hath the Benefit of it, if otherwise, it is at his Peril. Now Children (would he say) our great Landlord was willing that your Lives should be put into the Lease of Heaven and Happiness, and it was done accordingly, by your Baptism, which is the Seal of the Righteousness that is by Faith; and by that it was assured to you that if you would pay the Rent and do the Service, that is, live a Life of Faith and Repentance, and sincere Obedience, you shall never be turned off the Tenement; but if now you dislike the Terms, and refuse to pay this Rent (this chief Rent, so he would call it, for it's no Rack) you forfeit the Lease; However you cannot but say, that you had a Kindness done you, to have your lives put into it. Thus did he frequently deal with his Children, and even Travel in Birth again to see Christ formed in them, and from this Topic he generally Argued, and he would often say, If Infant Baptism were more improved, it would be less disputed.
In dealing with his Children about their spiritual State, he took hold of them very much by the handle of their Infant-Baptism, and frequently inculcated that upon them, that they were born in God's House, and were betimes dedicated and given up to him, and therefore were oblig'd to be his Servants, Psal. 116. 16. I am thy Servant, because the Son of thy handmaid. This he was wont to illustrate to them by the comparison of taking a Lease of a fair Estate for a Child in the Cradle, and putting his Life into it; The Child then knows nothing of the matter, nor is he capable of consenting; however, then he is maintained out of it, and and hath an Interest in it; And when he grows up and becomes able to chuse, and refuse for himself, if he go to his Landlord, and claim the Benefit of the Lease, ⟨p. 92⟩and promise to pay the Rent, and do the services well and good, he hath the Benefit of it, if otherwise, it is at his Peril. Now Children (would he say) our great Landlord was willing that your Lives should be put into the Lease of Heaven and Happiness, and it was done accordingly, by your Baptism, which is the Seal of the Righteousness that is by Faith; and by that it was assur'd to you that if you would pay the Rent and do the Service, that is, live a Life of Faith and Repentance, and sincere Obedience, you shall never be turn'd off the Tenement; but if now you dislike the Terms, and refuse to pay this Rent (this chief Rent, so he would call it, for it's no Rack) you forfeit the Lease; However you cannot but say, that you had a Kindness done you, to have your lives put into it. Thus did he frequently deal with his Children, and even Travel in Birth again to see Christ formed in them, and from this Topick he generally Argued, and he would often say, If Infant Baptism were more improved, it would be less disputed.
