A26959:258
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.
Mr. T. This I deny, that it includes all Infants, or all Infants of Believers, and that any Infant is made a visible Church-member by that promise as the next cause or sole efficient.]
Reply. It will come to something anon: 1. That all Infants are made Church-members by it, did any of us ever affirm? Though if the Parents dissent had not hindered, and their consent had made them and their Infants capable Recipients, it would have been all.
Reply. It will come to something anon: 1. That all Infants are made Church-members by it, did any of us ever affirm? Though if the Parents dissent had not hindred, and their consent had made them and their Infants capable Recipients, it would have been all.
2. The Covenant or Law of Grace giveth visible Church-membership conditionally to all that hear it. Deny this, and you know not what you do. I first ask you, Doth not the Law of Grace (or Promise) give both mystical and visible Church-membership to all that hear it that are at age and have the use of Reason? (I speak not of membership in a particular Church which some may want opportunity to enjoy, but in the universal.) Deny this, and you deny Christs Gospel. Doth he not say, He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved: whoever believeth shall not perish — whoever will, let him take the water of life freely: He that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out: Go into the high-ways and hedges, and compel them to come in, &c. If ⟨p. 100⟩Gods Law, Covenant, Promise or Donation (call it which you had rather) do contain a conditional Gift of Christ, pardon and life to all the adult, (which it beseemeth none but an Infidel to deny,) ask thy Conscience, Reader, whether this blessed Covenant give no such conditional right to any Infant in the world? Are they all excluded? And why? Are they worse than their Parents? If it give any Right to Infants conditionally as it doth to Parents, it must be on a condition to be performed by the Parents, or such as are so far entrusted.