More proofs of infants church-membership and consequently their right to baptism, or, A second…

SECT. XVIII.

R. B. TO the fourth question I assert that [1. There was a Law or Precept of God obliging the Parents to enter their children into Covenant with God, by accepting his favour, and re-engaging and devoting them to God, and so entering them solemnly Church-members.] And [2. there was a Covenant, promise or grant of God, by which he offered the Church-membership of some Infants and actually conferred it, where his offer was accepted.] I should have mentioned this first, and therefore will begin with the proof of this. By these terms Covenant, promise, grant, or deed of gift, &c. we understand that which is common to all these, viz. [A sign of Gods will conferring or confirming a right to or in some benefit] such as we commonly call a Civil act of Collation as distinct from a mere Physical act of disposal. I call it [a sign of Gods will de jure] because •hat is the general nature of all his legal moral acts: they are all signal determinations de debito, •f some due. 2. I say conferring or confirming •ight to some benefit] to difference it from precepts which only determine what shall be due from us to God, and from threatenings, which determine what punishment shall be due from God to us.

R. B. TO the fourth question I assert that [1. There was a Law or Precept of God obliging the Parents to enter their children into Covenant with God, by accepting his favour, and re-ingaging and devoting them to God, and so entring them solemnly Church-members.] And [2. there was a Covenant, promise or grant of God, by which he offered the Church-membership of some Infants and actually conferred it, where his offer was accepted.] I should have mentioned this first, and therefore will begin with the proof of this. By these terms Covenant, promise, grant, or deed of gift, &c. we understand that which is common to all these, viz. [A sign of Gods will conferring or confirming a right to or in some benefit] such as we commonly call a Civil act of Collation as distinct from a mere Physical act of disposal. I call it [a sign of Gods will de jure] because hat is the general nature of all his legal moral acts: they are all signal determinations de debito, f some due. 2. I say conferring or confirming ight to some benefit] to difference it from preepts which only determine what shall be due from us to God, and from threatnings, which determine what punishment shall be due from God to us.