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

Answ. And so Kingdoms and all Societies that Infants are members of, are accordingly defined, as is aforesaid. You cannot deny it. And was not the Church before Christs incarnation a society of faithful men, when yet you confess that Infants were visible parts of is?

Mr. T. 3. I argue, They are no visible members of the Christian Church, to whom no note whereby a visible Christian Church or Church-membership is discernible, doth agree: But, &c. ergo—

Mr. T. 3. I argue, They are no visible members of the Christian Church, to whom no note whereby a visible Christian Church or Church-membership is discernable, doth agree: But, &c. ergo—

Answ. When a man thinks only what to say for his cause, and never thinks what can be said against it, his judgement is of little value. 1. All that agreeth to Infants which was requisite to a visible Infant member before Christs coming; And do you not confess that they were members then among the Jews? 2. Did nothing in Christ himself in Infancy agree with visible membership? Yes; the open Revelations of God as to a visible person: You confess before as much as I need. 3. The essentiating qualification of a Church-member, is Covenant-consent, such as God according to the sense of his offered Covenant will accept as such: But Infants have this Covenant-consent, seeing they consent by their Parents who are entrusted to do it for them, as if they were parts of themselves: As the Jews Infants did. Mutual consent of God and themselves by their Parents is it that maketh them members. I have oft wondered to read in orthodox Divines, that the Word purely preached, Sacraments and Discipline, are the marks of the true Church. No doubt but Heart-consent to the Baptismal Covenant of Grace maketh a sincere member of the true Church (which the Infant doth by the Parent,) and professed consent to the same Covenant maketh a visible member (which regularly must be by Baptism for investiture.) But a true Church may long by persecution be hindered from public assemblies, Preaching, Sacraments and Discipline; And may have much corruption in all these.

Answ. When a man thinks only what to say for his cause, and never thinks what can be said against it, his judgement is of little value. 1. All that agreeth to Infants which was requisite to a visible Infant member before Christs coming; And do you not confess that they were members then among the Jews? 2. Did nothing in Christ himself in Infancy agree with visible membership? Yes; the open Revelations of God as to a visible person: You confess before as much as I need. 3. The essentiating qualification of a Church-member, is Covenant-consent, such as God according to the sense of his offered Covenant will accept as such: But Infants have this Covenant-consent, seeing they consent by their Parents who are entrusted to do it for them, as if they were parts of themselves: As the Jews Infants did. Mutual consent of God and themselves by their Parents is it that maketh them members. I have oft wondered to read in orthodox Divines, that the Word purely preached, Sacraments and Discipline, are the marks of the true Church. No doubt but Heart-consent to the Baptismal Covenant of Grace maketh a sincere member of the true Church (which the Infant doth by the Parent,) and professed consent to the same Covenant maketh a visible member (which regularly must be by Baptism for investiture.) But a true Church may long by persecution be hindred from publick assemblies, Preaching, Sacraments and Discipline; And may have much corruption in all these.

Answ. Neither the Princes consent alone, nor the Subjects alone maketh a Common-wealth: Neither the Husbands consent alone, or the Wives maketh a marriage; but both conjunct: So here: Mutual consent maketh a Church-member: But so, that Gods Consent is the Donative efficient cause, and mans consent is the receptive cause, which is conditio sine qua non. They that will not impartially think of plain cases cannot understand them. Your unthankful denying that God hath made any such Promise, Covenant or Consent, is elsewhere confuted: And if I shall say with Davenant and the Synod of Dort that this Covenant being the same that is made with Parents themselves, giveth the Children the same Right to Pardon and Life eternal according to their capacity, so that faithful Parents should not doubt of the Salvation of their Children dying in Infancy (ut Synod. Dort. Art. 1. c. 17.) I could better with them bear the consequence (of the loss of Gratia Infantilis in some at age) than the consequents of […] turning them all out of the visible Church. The former I know no Christian that ever opposed for many and many hundred years after Christ; and the latter the universal Church as long opposed: And yet I will not subscribe that [It is certain by the word of God that baptized Infants dying before actual sin, are certainly saved,] without excepting the Infants of Heathens or Infidels, wrongfully baptized.

Answ. Neither the Princes consent alone, nor the Subjects alone maketh a Common-wealth: Neither the Husbands consent alone, or the Wives maketh a marriage; but both conjunct: So here: Mutual consent maketh a Church-member: But so, that Gods Consent is the Donative efficient cause, and mans consent is the receptive cause, which is conditio sine qua non. They that will not impartially think of plain cases cannot understand them. Your unthankful denying that God hath made any such Promise, Covenant or Consent, is elsewhere confuted: And if I shall say with Davenant and the Synod of Dort that this Covenant being the same that is made with Parents themselves, giveth the Children the same Right to Pardon and Life eternal according to their capacity, so that faithful Parents should not doubt of the Salvation of their Children dying in Infancy (ut Synod. Dort. Art. 1. c. 17.) I could better with them bear the consequence (of the loss of Gratia Infantilis in some at age) than the consequents of 〈…〉 turning them all out of the visible Church. The former I know no Christian that ever opposed for many and many hundred years after Christ; and the latter the universal Church as long opposed: And yet I will not subscribe that [It is certain by the word of God that baptized Infants dying before actual sin, are certainly saved,] without excepting the Infants of Heathens or Infidels, wrongfully baptized.

Mr. T. 4. I argue: They who have not the form constituting and denominating a visible ⟨p. 171⟩Church-member, are not visible Church-members. But. Ergo. Profession of faith is the form constituting, &c.

Answ. 1. Covenant Consent is the form constituting ex parte Recipientis, and this they have reputatively in their Parents, whose will is as theirs.

2. The Jews Infants had the form constituting a visible member as you confess. And that was not circumcision; For the uncircumcised females, and males too in the wilderness were visible members: Nor was it to be born of Jews; For apostate Jews forfeited it, and Proselytes of other Nations obtained it: But it was by consent to Gods Covenant.

3. And Christ was a visible member by Divine Revelation. His arguings would make against Christs Righteousness Imputed to believers, and Adams or the Parents sins imputed to them.

Mr. T. 5. If Infants be visible Christian Church-members, then there may be a visible Church-Christian which consists only of Infants of believers— But this is absurd: Ergo.

Mr. T. 5. If Infants be visible Christian Church-members, then there may be a visible Church-Christian which consists only of Infants of believers— But this is •bsurd: Ergo.

Answ. Such quibbles seem something when the Will giveth them their force. 1. Infants are members of all Kingdoms under Heaven: And yet there neither is nor can be a Kingdom of Infants only. 2. Members are Essential or Integral. Because the exercise of the faculties of the Pars Imperans and Pars subdita is the intended means to the Common Good, which is the End of Government, therefore there can be no Governed Society, Kingdom or other proper Policy ⟨p. 172⟩of which men that have the use of Reason are not members: that there be some such to be the Active part is Essential to the Society: But yet Infants that are yet but virtually such, are Integral members.

Mr. T. 6. I argue: If Infants be visible Church-members, there is some Cause of it: But there is no Cause: Ergo —

Answ. The Cause efficient is Gods Revealed Donation and Covenant Consent: The Cause Receptive or the Condition of Reception, is That this be the Child of a Consenting believer.

Mr. T. To this 1. Mr. T. denieth any such Covenant of grace to the faithful and their seed (which is soon said.)

Mr. T. To this 1. Mr. T. denyeth any such Covenant of grace to the faithful and their seed (which is soon said.)

2. He saith the Conditional Covenant promiseth Justification, Salvation, on Condition of faith, and not visible Church-membership, and so belongs to all as Mr. B. &c.

Answ. 1. It giveth both Justification and visible membership; that is, Right to both and many other Covenant benefits. 2. It belongeth Conditionally to all, and Conditionally gives union with Christ and his Church, and Pardon and life to all: But actually to none, till the condition be performed; which is a believing Parents consent, and regularly his Baptismal dedication.