A27008:52
Rich. Baxter's review of the state of Christian's infants whether they should be entered…
Rich. Baxter's review of the state of Christian's infants whether they should be entered in covenant with God by baptism ... or whether Christ, the Saviour of the world, hath shut all mankind out of his visible kingdom ... 'till they come of age? : occasioned by the importunity of Mr. E. Hutchinson (and of Mr. Danvers and Mr. Tombs) who called him to this review in order to his retractation [sic] ...Rich. Baxter's review of the state of Christian's infants whether they should be entered in covenant with God by baptism ... or whether Christ, the Saviour of the world, hath shut all mankind out of his visible kingdom ... 'till they come of age? : occasioned by the importunity of Mr. E. Hutchinson (and of Mr. Danvers and Mr. Tombes) who called him to this review in order to his retractation [sic] ...
London: printed for Nevil Simons, 1676
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Shall not all that are judged, be judged by Gods Law? (the Law which they were under?) And what Law shall Infants then be judged by? If they are under no Covenant of Promise that giveth them title to life, how can they have title by it, or be judged by it?
Are they Justified or not Justified? If not Justified, they are condemned certainly; and shall not be glorified; for it is the Justified that are glorified, Rom. 8. 30. But if they are Justified, either it is by some Justifying Promise and Covenant, or without: If without, 1. Do you not give hope also to all Heathens and Wicked men, that though they are condemned by the Law of Innocency, and not justified by any Covenant of Grace, yet they may be justified without? 2. And by what means is it? by any or none? If by any, by what? If ⟨p. 14⟩by none, how know you it? But if it be by any Covenant-Grant that they are justified, it must be by that of Grace which I am pleading for or none. For we will not now receive another Gospel.
To talk therefore of mere Election, is nothing to any of this that I have said. Election Justifieth not, nor dissolveth the condemning Sentence of the Law. God judgeth not men merely on the grounds of his unrevealed Election, but by his Word, which is the Rule. And were it otherwise if unrevealed, none can prove it, and therefore must not affirm it: And were it revealed that God will save some that he promiseth not to save, nor giveth them any antecedent right to it; yet 1. No man could know by this, whether any one in England or Europe, or in the World in his age shall so be saved: nor whether it be many or few, or more than a dozen in the world. 2. And no one can know who any of these be? and so can have no notice of comfort for any of his own. 3. Nor that Christians Infants shall be saved any more than the Heathens.