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

For the explication of the terms; 1. By Infant we mean Children not yet come to the use of Reason; so that as they are not sui Juris, but at another's dispose; so they are uncapable naturally in any Contract to dispose of themselves, being unfit to give consent, through a natural defect of that understanding which is pre-requisite. By [a natural Defect] I mean of nature in it self considered, and not as corrupted by sin, nor as neglected sinfully by our selves or others. So that I see not but that Idiots are in the same condition as Infant children. But of that let every one think as they see cause. In Law homo primae aetatis is an Infant, even after he can speak; though as to the Etymology he be called an Infant, quia fari nescit, i. e. loqui non potest, ut Isidor. lib. 11.2.

For the explication of the terms; 1. By Infant we mean Children not yet come to the use of Reason; so that as they are not sui Juris, but at anothers dispose; so they are uncapable naturally in any Contract to dispose of themselves, being unfit to give consent, through a natural defect of that understanding which is pre-requisite. By [a natural Defect] I mean of nature in it self considered, and not as corrupted by sin, nor as neglected sinfully by our selves or others. So that I see not but that Ideots are in the same condition as Infant children. But of that let every one think as they see cause. In Law homo primae aetatis is an Infant, even after he can speak; though as to the Etymologie he be called an Infant, quia fari nescit, i. e. loqui non potest, ut Isidor. lib. 11.2.

2. By Parents we mean principally Natural Parents, those who begat those Infants; but secondarily also (as I suppose) those that have Adopted them, or bought them, or received them as given or delivered to them, so that they any way become Their Own, and they have the dispose of them, and are enabled to enter them into Covenant, so as to oblige them on the highest terms; Though I know it is not properly that these are called Parents; The word [Parent] is primarily applicable to the Mother only, as not being à Parendo, but à Pariendo, and thence to the Father also, because of the Relation between Gigno & Pario; and so [Greek or Hebrew] is sometime used for Genero. And though the word [Parens] be not usually applied to those that Adopt, yet Pater is: And not unfitly, if, as some suppose, the word [Greek or Hebrew] came from [Greek or Hebrew], alo, to nourish; for so men may do by children that are any way their own. But it is only the immediate Parents that we here mean; though Festus saith, that Juris prudentes avos & proavos, avias & proavias parentum nomine appellari dicunt. And though the word Parens be sometime taken pro Consanguineo: And Hierom saith advers. Ruffin. lib. 2. That militari vulgaríque consuetudine cognati & assines nominantur Parents. But of this more anon.