A26924:240
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.
M. Alas none are forwarder than these to receive the Sacrament, and laugh at it, and say they will obey the Church. Yet I doubt not but a faithful Parent may be present if he will, and may tell the Godfathers in private, that his presence shall signify his devoting act; and when the Priest speaketh to the Godfathers, he may bow his head whether the Priest will or not, to signify that act of his. But this is nothing to the sense of the Church, nor to our Assent and Consent to their exclusion of the Parent.
M. Alas none are forwarder than these to receive the Sacrament, and laugh at it, and say they will obey the Church. Yet I doubt not but a faithful Parent may be present if he will, and may tell the Godfathers in private, that his presence shall signifie his devoting act; and when the Priest speaketh to the Godfathers, he may bow his head whether the Priest will or not, to signifie that act of his. But this is nothing to the sense of the Church, nor to our Assent and Consent to their exclusion of the Parent.
L. I confess it sounds to me as unnatural. But what is your other reason against our sort of Godfathers?
M. I•. My second Reason is, that it is a profanation of this great and sacred Ordinance, to invest those in the visible state Christianity (and Salvation pretendedly) that have no right to such investiture, so they have but Godfathers they are to baptize the children of any Jews, or Heathens, or open enemies to Christ, as well as of Christians; which is a manifest profanation.
M. I•. My second Reason is, that it is a prophanation of this great and sacred Ordinance, to invest those in the visible state Christianity (and Salvation pretendedly) that have no right to such investiture, so they have but Godfathers they are to baptize the children of any Jews, or Heathens, or open enemies to Christ, as well as of Christians; which is a manifest prophanation.