A26924:233
The English nonconformity as under King Charles II and King James II truly stated…
The English nonconformity as under King Charles II and King James II truly stated and argued by Richard Baxter ; who earnestly beseecheth rulers and clergy not to divide and destroy the land and cast their own souls on the dreadful guilt and punishment of national perjury ...
London: printed for Tho. Parkhurst, 1689
Chapter 10: Point VII. Of the English sort of Godfathers at Baptism.
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.
L. What have you against our use of Godfathers in Baptism. M. I. Negatively, we are not at all against the old sort of Patrimi, Susceptors, or Sponsors that were used at Baptism in the ancient Churches; though we think it but a prudential thing, and not of necessity to Baptism.
L. WHat have you against our use of Godfathers in Baptism. M. I. Negatively, we are not at all against the old sort of Patrimi, Susceptors, or Sponsors that were used at Baptism in the ancient Churches; though we think it but a prudential thing, and not of necessity to Baptism.
L. What mean you by the ancient sort? what did they?
M. At first, the adult were themselves Baptized: for their Children had no right till the Parent was a Christian. And for three hundred years Christians were under Heathen persecution; in which some forsook Christ for fear by apostasy, and others died while their Children were in Infancy, who were thereby exposed to desertion, or to Infidel Education. Wherefore to secure the Education of these Infants, the Susceptors that joined with the Parents as their Seconds. 1. Did ⟨p. 58⟩testify their opinions of the Parents, as serious Christians, not like to apostatize. 2. And did promise that if the Parents either die or apostatized, they should undertake the Children's Education. But if the Parents were dead already, they undertook to Educate the Child themselves as their own. But they were Sponsors for no Infidels Child, unless they first adopted him, or took him for their own.
M. At first, the adult were themselves Baptized: for their Children had no right till the Parent was a Christian. And for three hundred years Christians were under Heathen persecution; in which some forsook Christ for fear by apostasie, and others died while their Children were in Infancy, who were thereby exposed to desertion, or to Infidel Education. Wherefore to secure the Education of these Infants, the Susceptors that joyned with the Parents as their Seconds. 1. Did