Certain disputations of right to sacraments, and the true nature of visible Christianity defending…

Object. But it is the Baptism of the Adult that the Church hath generally ascribed so much to; and therefore though they took all the Adult for Regenerate and Justified when baptized, yet they did not judg so of Infants. Answ. I will answer this in Mr. Gatakers words. ibid. pag. 64. [1. Quae de Bapt•smo in genere enunciantur, etiam paedobaptismo conveniant necesse est, quod sub isto comprehendatur. 2. Baptismum unum eundemque agnoscere see profitentur veteres, adultorum parvulorumque; nec diversum in his ab illis effectum ejusdem. 3. Etiam parvulorum Baptismi disertè meminerunt aliquoties, ubi baptismo ista tribuunt. 4. Axioma illud quod ab adversa parte urgetur tantopere de Sacramentorum effectis, ubi obex non ponitur, adversus ipsos cum primis valer.]

Object. But it is the Baptism of the Adult that the Church hath generally ascribed so much to; and therefore though they took all the Adult for Regenerate and Justified when baptized, yet they did not judg so of Infants. Answ. I will answer this in Mr. Gatakers words. ibid. pag. 64. [1. Quae de Bapt•smo in genere enunciantur, etiam paedobaptismo conveniant necesse est, quod sub isto comprehendatur. 2. Baptismum unum eundemque agnoscere se profitentur veteres, adultorum parvulorumque; nec diversum in his ab illis effectum ejusdem. 3. Etiam parvulorum Baptismi disertè meminerunt aliquoties, ubi baptismo ista tribuunt. 4. Axioma illud quod ab adversa parte urgetur tantopere de Sacramentorum effectis, ubi obex non ponitur, adversus ipsos cum primis valer.]

Object. But the Fathers sly to the Parents or pro-Parents ⟨p. 202⟩faith, when they speak of Infants right to Baptism: therefore its plain that they supposed it not in themselves. Answ. True: By which you may discern that Faith was presupposed as the Evidence of their right to Baptism and its effects, that is, to Justification and Sanctification: and therefore it was such a Faith as had the promise of these effects, viz. Justification and Sanctification; and therefore not another kind of faith. And this faith was supposed to be in the Parent for himself and his seed, because the condition or qualification of the Infant is but this, that he be the seed of a Believer. But then you must note, that though they supposed the condition of Right; viz. faith to be in the Parent, and not in the Infant himself, yet they alway affirmed the consequent fruits; viz. Regeneration, and Justification and Adoption to be in the Infant himself and not in the Parent for him. I may answer this therefore in Mr Gatakers words, ibid. pag. 65. [Resp. 1. Aliud est fides ipsa, aliud Regeneratio, seu mentis internae renovatio, quae sine fidei actu ullo consistere potest. 2. Ad fidem Patres alienam adeò confugiunt, ubi de parvulorum salute agunt; quia fidei alienae beneficio foedere continentur, & ab Baptismiritum suscipiendum jus obtinent. Vid. Bellarm. de Bapt. lib. 1. c. 11. Prop. 5.