A26924:236
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. And what doth our Godfathers differ from this, for which you take them to be sinful, or not approvable.
L. And what doth our Godfathers differ from this, for which you take them to be sinful, or not approveable.
M. The difference is so great, and maketh so great a change in our Christening, as I am loath to name to you. 1. With us godly Christian Parents themselves, are forbidden to be Godfathers with the rest, and to speak one word, much more to profess that they dedicate them in Covenant to Christ: Nor must the Minister urge the Parent to be present: lest his consent seem necessary. 2. The Godfathers and Godmothers are neither tied to bring the Children of Christians only, nor only such as they take for their own; but without difference may bring the Infants of any Atheists, Sadducees, Jews, Infidels, or open enemies of Christ and godliness, without taking them for their own. 3. They personate the Child in promising and professing in his name, without authority so to do. 4. They do not only promise what the Child shall do hereafter but they at present profess that the Child by them, or they personating it, do Believe, renounce sin, and desire Baptism: As if the Child were bound to do this by himself or by another. 5. Godfathers too commonly covenant for the future Education of the Child, themselves to do it or cause it to be done, which they neither ever purposed to perform, or ever made the Parents believe that they intended; and so make Christening a perfidious Vowing, or Covenanting with God: These are not things indifferent, I think.
M. The difference is so great, and maketh so great a change in our Christening, as I am loath to name to you. 1. With us godly Christian Parents themselves, are forbidden to be Godfathers with the rest, and to speak one word, much more to profess that they dedicate them in Covenant to Christ: Nor must the Minister urge the Parent to be present: lest his consent seem necessary. 2. The Godfathers and Godmothers are neither tyed to bring the Children of Christians only, nor only such as they take for their own; but without difference may bring the Infants of any Atheists, Sadducees, Jews, Infidels, or open enemies of Christ and godliness, without taking them for their own. 3. They personate the Child in promising and professing in his name, without authority so to do. 4. They do not only promise what the Child shall do hereafter but they at present profess that the Child by them, or they personating it, do Believe, renounce sin, and desire Baptism: As if the Child were bound to do this by himself or by another. 5. Godfathers too commonly covenant for the future Education of the Child, themselves to do it or cause it to be done, which they neither ever purposed to perform, or ever made the Parents believe that they intended; and so make Christnening a perfidious Vowing, or Covenanting with God: These are not things indifferent, I think.