7 It hath been before opened, that no Parent is permitted to be Godfather to his own Child; or to speak one word at his baptizing, to enter him into the Covenant of God, or dedicate him to him, nor to promise in his name, nor to undertake any part of his Christian education, nor so much as to be urged to be present. Nor is there a word to intimate that the Godfathers represent the Parent, or speak in his name or stead, but the contrary is implied. [Though the Parents are to procure these God fathers. 2. It hath also been before showed how great a Controversy it is, whether Infants Right to Gods promises and Church state, be not by that Covenant [I will be thy God and the God of thy seed;] implied in 1. Cor. 7. 14. [else were your Children unclean but now are they holy.] And so whether Infants have any right upon a Godfathers words there, who never took them for, ⟨p. 168⟩his own; if on the Parents account they have no right. And whether such Godfathers act be truly the Child's in Gods account; 3. And it was before enquired, In what sense this Godfather doth (not promise only that the Child shall believe at age, but) in the Child's name profess that he doth at present believe: And whether it be not enough [and much more necessary then the Godfathers faith) that he be the Child of a believing Parent, dedicating him to God. 4. And it hath been showed that Godfathers promise themselves partly to teach the Child, and partly to provide that he be taught all that a Christian should learn as necessary to his souls health. 5. And that these Godfathers never ordinarily, give the Parents the least reason to believe that they have any purpose to do any such thing as they undertake: Which is perfidiousness in the weightiest business: And 6. also that (as such) they are no adopters or owners of the Child. 7. And also how hard it is for any Parents ever to get better, seeing wiser and better will not undertake it in the foresaid conformable sense. 8. The sense and use of Godfathers is partly known by the Practise of Princes and great men, (who must be supposed to know best, and be most righteous and exemplary) who usually by a Proxy are Godfathers to the Children of Foreign Princes, or Great men, (perhaps Papists) whom they never saw nor ever are like to see their Children. 9.
7 It hath been before opened, that no Parent is permitted to be Godfather to his own Child; or to speak one word at his baptizing, to enter him into the Covenant of God, or dedicate him to him, nor to promise in his name, nor to undertake any part of his Christian education, nor so much as to be urged to be present. Nor is there a word to intimate that the Godfathers represent the Parent, or speak in his name or stead, but the contrary is implyed. [Though the Parents are to procure these God fathers. 2. It hath also been before shewed how great a Controversie it is, whether Infants Right to Gods promises and Church state, be not by that Covenant [I will be thy God and the God of thy seed;] implyed in 1. Cor. 7. 14. [els were your Children unclean but now are they holy.] And so whether Infants have any right upon a Godfathers words there, who never took them for, ⟨p. 168⟩his own; if on the Parents account they have no right. And whether such Godfathers act be truly the Childs in Gods account; 3. And it was before enquired, In what sense this Godfather doth (not promise only that the Child shall believe at age, but) in the Childs name profess that he doth at present believe: And whether it be not enough [and much more necessary then the Godfathers faith) that he be the Child of a believing Parent, dedicating him to God. 4. And it hath been shewed that Godfathers promise themselves partly to teach the Child, and partly to provide that he be taught all that a Christian should learn as necessary to his souls health. 5. And that these Godfathers never ordinarily, give the Parents the least reason to believe that they have any purpose to do any such thing as they undertake: Which is perfidiousness in the weightiest business: And 6. also that (as such) they are no adopters or owners of the Child. 7. And also how hard it is for any Parents ever to get better, seeing wiser and better will not undertake it in the foresaid conformable sence. 8. The sence and use of Godfathers is partly known by the Practise of Princes and great men, (who must be supposed to know best, and be most righteous and exemplary) who usually by a Proxie are Godfathers to the Children of Foreign Princes, or Great men, (perhaps Papists) whom they never saw nor ever are like to see their Children. 9.
