A26886:876
Certain disputations of right to sacraments, and the true nature of visible Christianity defending…
Certain disputations of right to sacraments, and the true nature of visible Christianity defending them against several sorts of opponents, especially against the second assault of that pious, reverend and dear brother Mr. Thomas Blake / by Richard Baxter ...
London: printed by R.W. for Nevil Simmons, 1658
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.
Argum 4. The Threatening to the third and fourth generation is necessary to be understood on supposition, that there be an uninterrupted succession of wicked Progenitors: therefore by proportion so must the Promise be understood, as to a necessary succession of faithful Progenitors.
Argum 4. The Threatning to the third and fourth generation is necessary to be understood on supposition, that there be an uninterrupted succession of wicked Progenitors: therefore by proportion so must the Promise be understood, as to a necessary succession of faithful Progenitors.
Argum. 5. The natural Interest that Ancestors have in such Posterity is not immediate, but mediante Parent proximo: therefore so is the Covenant-Interest; because it proceedeth on supposition ⟨p. 294⟩of the Natural. We receive nothing from a Grandfather but by a Father, but what dependeth on his free will: an intercision therefore preventeth our Privileges. It is here objected, that it is harsh to affirm that the immediate Parents sin depriveth Posterity of the Benefit, though the Ancestors were never so godly; for so the children should suffer for the Parents sin. Ans. 1. the children never had right, therefore never lost it. 2. Its just that they suffer for the Parents sin: when Parents have lost their right, they cannot convey it to others. Object. Paul saith of the Jews, They are beloved for the Fathers sake. Answ. So far beloved, as that God will reclaim them in after-ages, and now convert a remnant: but not so far beloved, as that any child of an unbelieving Jew had right to Baptism for Abraham or any Ancestors sake, and that Love was from a part of the Covenant proper to Abraham's seed. Object. Th•re could not be a higher evidence of Apostasy, than to gi•e their children to a false God; yet this did the children of Israel, and yet their Posterity had right to Circumcision. Answ. I will reserve the answer of this to the end, where we shall have further reason to consider it, and next proceed to the fourth pretended Title of such Infants.