A26959:460
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. 3. They were no members of the visible Church, who were left out of the number of the whole Church, all the Believers, the multitude of the Disciples, &c. But Infants are left out of the number in all places in the New Testament, Ergo: —
Answ. 1. Many texts speak of all that were present only; and many speak only of such as the present matter did concern: And it is most usual to denominate All or the Body from the Noblest and Greatest part. If you were to describe a Kingdom, would you not say that it is a Civil Society of rational creatures (or men) consenting to the mutual Relations of King and Subjects ⟨p. 165⟩and the duties of each for the common welfare? You would so define it as that Reason, Consent and Intention should be in the definition. Infants have none of these in act, and yet who doubteth but Infants are members of the Kingdom (of every Kingdom under Heaven that I have read of?) So you know that we take Infants to be members of our Churches now: And yet is it not usual with us to say that all the Church met to hear, or to do this or that? When yet the Infants and many others might be absent.