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

R. B. The law of nature bindeth Parents in love to their children to enter them into the most honourable and profitable society, if they have but leave so to do: But here Parents have leave to enter them into the Church, which is the most honourable and profitable society. Ergo. That they have leave, is proved, 1. God never forbade any man in the world to do this sincerely, (the wicked and unbelievers cannot do it sincerely;) and a not forbidding is to be interpreted as leave in case of such participation of benefits: As all laws of men in doubtful cases are to be interpreted [Greek or Hebrew], in the most favourable sense. So hath Christ taught us to interpret his own: When they speak of duty to God, they must be interpreted in the strictest sense: When they speak of benefits to man, they must be interpreted in the most favourable sense that they will bear.

R. B. THe law of nature bindeth Parents in love to their children to enter them into the most honourable and profitable society, if they have but leave so to do: But here Parents have leave to enter them into the Church, which is the most honourable and profitable society. Ergo. That they have leave, is proved, 1. God never forbad any man in the world to do this sincerely, (the wicked and unbelievers cannot do it sincerely;) and a not forbidding is to be interpreted as leave in case of such participation of benefits: As all laws of men in doubtful cases are to be interpreted 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, in the most favourable sense. So hath Christ taught us to interpret his own: When they speak of duty to God, they must be interpreted in the strictest sense: When they speak of benefits to man, they must be interpreted in the most favourable sense that they will bear.

2. It is the more evident, that a not forbidding in such cases is to be taken for leave, because ⟨p. 110⟩God hath put the principle of self-preservation, and desiring our own welfare, and the welfare of our Children so deeply in humane nature, that he can no more lay it by than he can cease to be a reasonable creature. And therefore he may lawfully actuate or exercise this natural necessary principle of seeking his own or children's real happiness, where-ever God doth not restrain or prohibit him. We need no positive command to seek our own or children's happiness, but what is in the law of nature it self, and to use this where God forbiddeth not, if good be then to be found, cannot be unlawful.