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

Answ. 1. By this it seems the English Protestants and all the rest that take this to be true doctrine, hold a Popish Heresy. 2. Let the Reader peruse Gataker against Davenant of Baptism, ⟨p. 367⟩and he will find almost all the ancient Fathers Latin and Greek of the same judgement: And what a pleasure is this to the Papists to be told that almost all the ancient Writers held their heresy? And then indeed Where was our Church and the Kingdom of Christ before Luther, or rather before those whom he opposed? 3. It is unquestionable true doctrine that as Marriage-consent in private, layeth the first ground of Marriage rights, which by solemn Matrimony are openly and regularly delivered by investiture, which perfecteth the title: even so, the Heart-Consent or Covenanting (of the person, or parents for Infants) doth lay the first ground of Christian right, which is solemnized and perfected regularly by Baptism, which by the way of tradition or public investiture, doth take away all guilt of sin, Sacramentally regenerate, and save, and make us children of God, members of Christ and his Church, and heirs of heaven, who were so before by a Private initial right, of which the Church did take less cognisance: And one would think that no Anabaptist should deny this, (called Heresy) as to the adult.

Answ. 1. By this it seems the English Protestants and all the rest that take this to be true doctrine, hold a Popish Heresie. 2. Let the Reader peruse Gataker against Davenant of Baptism, ⟨p. 367⟩and he will find almost all the ancient Fathers Latine and Greek of the same judgement: And what a pleasure is this to the Papists to be told that almost all the ancient Writers held their heresie? And then indeed Where was our Church and the Kingdom of Christ before Luther, or rather before those whom he opposed? 3. It is unquestionable true doctrine that as Marriage-consent in private, layeth the first ground of Marriage rights, which by solemn Matrimony are openly and regularly delivered by investiture, which perfecteth the title: even so, the Heart-Consent or Covenanting (of the person, or parents for Infants) doth lay the first ground of Christian right, which is solemnized and perfected regularly by Baptism, which by the way of tradition or publick investiture, doth take away all guilt of sin, Sacramentally regenerate, and save, and make us children of God, members of Christ and his Church, and heirs of heaven, who were so before by a Private initial right, of which the Church did take less cognisance: And one would think that no Anabaptist should deny this, (called Heresie) as to the adult.