A26959:241
More proofs of infants church-membership and consequently their right to baptism, or, A second…
More proofs of infants church-membership and consequently their right to baptism, or, A second defence of our infant rights and mercies in three parts ... / by Richard Baxter.
London: printed for N. Simmons and J. Robinson, 1675
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.
Reply. That one little [and] was cunningly put in to bring you off; by taking visibility and exercise conjunctly: But are your followers so critical as to discern the knack? 1. Neither do we say that Infants are learners in actu exercito; and so what is this to the matter? 2. But Reader I can prove to thee if thou be impartial, though not to Mr. T. that it is neither vile nor false that Christ in Infancy was the Prophet of his Church visibly, (though not in actu exercito:)
That which was declared by Angels from Heaven, and by revelation to Mary, Zachary, Anna, Simeon, and by Prophecy by them to others, is to be called visible: But that Christ was the Head and Prophet of the Church, (habitually and by designation as Mr. T. calls it) was thus declared — Ergo —
That which was declared by Angels from Heaven, and by revelation to Mary, Zacchary, Anna, Symeon, and by Prophecie by them to others, is to be called visible: But that Christ was the Head and Prophet of the Church, (habitually and by designation as Mr. T. calls it) was thus declared — Ergo —
Mr. T. And for his inference, If an Infant may be the chief Prophet of the Church, then no doubt but Infants may be Disciples, I grant both: and yet deny that Christ was visibly, audibly, in actu exercito, in his infancy in his humane nature the Prophet of his Church, or that any Infants are actually Disciples visibly, till they hear the Gospel and profess the faith: Nor am I ashamed to aver that he is no Prophet that prophesieth not, that they are no Disciples that learn not.
Mr. T. And for his inference, If an Infant may be the chief Prophet of the Church, then no doubt but Infants may be Disciples, I grant both: and yet deny that Christ was visibly, audibly, in actu exercito, in his infancy in his humane nature the Prophet of his Church, or that any Infants are actually Disciples visibly, till they hear the Gospel and profess the faith: Nor am I ahamed to aver that he is no Prophet that prophesieth not, that they are no Disciples that learn not.