Reliquiæ Baxterianæ, or, Mr. Richard Baxters narrative of the most memorable passages of his…

But it is the greatest disorder of all, that every Parishioner shall Communicate at least thrice in the year, whether he be fit or unfit, and be forced to it. In Baptism it is the greatest disorder, that Ministers must be forced, though against their Consciences, to baptize all Children without Exception; the Children of Atheists, Infidels, Heretics, unbaptized Persons, Excommunicate Persons, or Impenitent Fornicators, or such like. ⟨p. 313⟩It is disorderly that the Parents are neither of them required (ordinarily) to be present, and present their Child to Baptism, but it is left to Godfathers and Godmothers, that have no power to consent for them, or enter them into the Covenant, unless it be in the Parents name, or they be Pro-parents, taking the Child as their own. And it frustrateth due Enquiry and Assistance, when the Parents may choose whether they will come before to the Minister to be instructed about the Nature and Use of Baptism; and may choose whether they will let him know of it till the Night or Morning before. The Exhortation before Baptism is very defective, omitting many weighty Points. So are the two Prayers before it: where also it is inconveniently said, That God by Christ's Baptism did sanctify the Flood Jordan, and all other Waters, to the mystical washing away of Sin. The ascribing of the Gift of the Holy Ghost to Infants by their Baptism, as its ordinary Effect and necessary to their Regeneration, is to bring an undetermined uncertain Opinion into our Liturgy. The Arguments for Infant-Baptism are so defectively expressed, as have tempted many into Anabaptism. The third Prayer saith very little, but what was said in one of those foregoing. Sureties that have not the Parents power, are unjustly required to promise in the Infant's Name, or the Infant by them: And so it is a doubt whether many Infants have ever indeed been entered into the Covenant of God, when they cannot be said to Promise or Covenant by Persons, whom neither Nature or Scripture, or any sufficient Authority hath enabled to that Office. The Sureties are unjustly and irregularly required, to profess present Actual Faith in the Infant's name, when it is a thing not requi•ed of the Infant; but only that he be the Child of a Believer, and by the Parent dedicated to God in Baptism, and there engaged in his Covenant, to Believe and Obey when he is capable.

But it is the greatest disorder of all, that every Parishioner shall Communicate at least thrice in the year, whether he be fit or unfit, and be forced to it. In Baptism it is the greatest disorder, that Ministers must be forced, though against their Consciences, to baptize all Children without Exception; the Children of Atheists, Infidels, Hereticks, unbaptized Persons, Excommunicate Persons, or Impenitent Fornicators, or such like.