A26853:603
An account of all the proceedings of the commissioners of both persuasions appointedAn accompt of all the proceedings of the commissioners of both persvvasions appointed
An account of all the proceedings of the commissioners of both persuasions appointed by His Sacred Majesty, according to letters patent, for the review of the Book of common prayer, &c.An accompt of all the proceedings of the commissioners of both persvvasions appointed by His Sacred Majesty, according to letters patent, for the review of the Book of common prayer, &c.
London : s.n., 1661
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.
Sect. 3. P. 23.
Ans. [And then the God-fathers, &c.] It is an erroneous doctrine, and the ground of many others, and of many of your Exceptions, that Children have no other right to Baptism, than in •heir Parents right; the Churches primitive practice forbids it to be left to the pleasure of the Parents, whether there shall be other Sureties or no? (St. Aug. Ep. 23.) It is fit we should observe carefully the practice of venerable Antiquity, as they desire, Prop. 18.]
Ans. [And then the God-fathers, &c.] It is an erronious doctrine, and the ground of many others, and of many of your Exc•ptions, that Children have no other right to Baptism, than in •heir Parents right; the Churches primitive practice forbids it to be left to the pleasure of the Parents, whether there shall be other Sureties or no? (St. Aug. Ep. 23.) It is fit we should observe carefully the practice of venerable Antiquity, as they desire, Prop. 18.]
Repl. It seems we differ in Doctrine, though we subscribe the same Articles; we earnestly desire you distinctly to tell us, what is the Infants title to Baptism, if it be not to be found in the Parent? Assign it, and prove it when you have done, as well as we prove their right, as they are (the Seed of Believers, dedicated to them by God) and then we promise to consent. It's strange to us to hear so much of the Churches primitive practice, where so little evidence of it is produced, Aug. Ep. 23. talketh not (of primitive practice) ab initio non fuit sic; was it so in the Apostles days? And afterwards you prove not that it was the judgement of the Catholic Church, that bare Sponsors instead of Parents, Pro-parents or Owners of the Children, might procure to the Children of all Infidels, a title to Baptism and its benefits. Such Suscepters as became the Owners or Adopters of the Children, are to be distinguished from those that proforma, stand by for an hour, during the baptizing of Children, and ever after, leave them to their Parents: who as they have the natural interest in them, and power of their disposal, and the Education of them, so are fittest to covenant in their names.