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

§. 11. They that say, God did not save one for the faith or consent of another; must remember, 1. That we are all saved for the meritorious ⟨p. 204⟩Righteousness of Christ, by the way of a free gift, whose condition is but suitable acceptance: And why may not a Parent accept a donation for his Child, who hath no will to accept it for himself? Shall he be certainly shut out unto damnation? Or shall he have that gift absolutely which is conditional to all others? Or is he not concerned in the donation at all? 2. And remember that we have guilt and misery from our Parents; and therefore though life and pardon be by Christ only, yet it is congruous that the mere condition of acceptance may be performed by the Parents.

§. 11. They that say, God did not save one for the faith or consent of another; must remember, 1. That we are all saved for the meritorious ⟨p. 204⟩Righteousness of Christ, by the way of a free gift, whose condition is but suitable acceptance: And why may not a Parent accept a donation for his Child, who hath no will to accept it for himself? Shall he be certainly shut out unto damnation? Or shall he have that gift absolutely which is conditional to all others? Or is he not concerned in the donation at all? 2. And remember that we have guilt and misery from our Parents; and therefore though life and pardon be by Christ only, yet it is congruous that the meer condition of acceptance may be performed by the Parents.

§. 12. Perhaps some will lay all the right of Infants to the pardon of sin, and salvation, upon secret election only; as if all that we knew of Infants Salvation were that God will save some whom he hath elected: but that there is no Promise of grace and salvation to any particular Infant in the world, as under any condition or qualification: And if this be so, then, 1. No Infant hath any Right to pardon, grace and salvation, given him by the Covenant of Grace; No more than any elect person at age hath before faith and regeneration: Election gave Paul (nor any wicked man) no right to pardon or salvation: Else elect Pagans and Infidels are justified; if they have jus ad impunitatem & Regnum Coelorum. 2. And if this be so, we have no assurance that God will save ten or three Infants in all the world: For he hath not told us whether he hath elected so many. 3. And yet we cannot be sure but that they may all or almost all be saved, while the number of the elect is unrevealed.