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

2. And might not right have been falsely pleaded or usurped by a counterfeit Jew? Or the children of such? Or the children of Apostates? who yet were born of Abraham's seed, and in that Land? Whatsoever they were that Nehemiah used ⟨p. 38⟩severely, I am sure Achans children, and the Infants of the Cities that were to be consumed for Idolatry, lost their right to life and Church-membership at once by their Parents sin: And God might if he had pleased, have continued the Life of Apostates children, without continuing their Church-right; Or Apostates might (and no doubt multitudes did) escape the justice of the Law through the fault of Magistrates or people, and yet have no true Legal Right to Church-membership for themselves or Infants (born after): For he that hath lost his right to life, hath lost his right (or may do) to the privileges and benefits of it.

2. And might not right have been falsly pleadded or usurped by a counterfeit Jew? Or the children of such? Or the children of Apostates? who yet were born of Abrahams seed, and in that Land? Whatsoever they were that Nehemiah used ⟨p. 38⟩severely, I am sure Achans children, and the Infants of the Cities that were to be consumed for Idolatry, lost their right to life and Church-membership at once by their Parents sin: And God might if he had pleased, have continued the Life of Apostates children, without continuing their Church-right; Or Apostates might (and no doubt multitudes did) escape the justice of the Law through the fault of Magistrates or people, and yet have no true Legal Right to Church-membership for themselves or Infants (born after): For he that hath lost his right to life, hath lost his right (or may do) to the priviledges and benefits of it.

He addeth [yet I grant, they had a right in it, that is, that they had it by Gods donation.]