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

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.