Another essay for investigation of the truth in answer to two questions concerning I.…

2. That the Parents in question do not put a bar to h nder their children from Baptism, they say, is plain from the words of the Proposition, &c.

2. That the Parents in question do not put a barre to h nder their ch•ldren from Baptism, they say, is plain from the words of the Proposition, &c.

Reply. 1. Notwithstanding what is said in the Proposition, Parents may put a bar to hinder their children from being baptized regularly. A man may do and be all that is there required, yet have not Faith in Christ, but be an unregenerate person; and that will put a bar to hinder himself and his infant-seed from entering into the Kingdom of God, Joh. 3.3, 5. and, by consequence, from the Seal of entrance. 2. Nor can they prove that all adult persons, whom they admit into personal and immediate Membership, are such as the Proposition describeth. For, I demand, Doth y all understand the Doctrine of Faith? What course do they take to know it? If they do not, their publicly professing their assent thereunto, is a mere mockery. A Parrot-like saying the Doctrine of Faith, and an ignorant assent thereunto, may justly be a bar of gross Ignorance, Atheism, and Infidelity, and Hypocrisy. P•t•• b•ought the Eunuch to understand what he read, before it could become a word of faith to him, •ct• 8. 2. Nor is literal understanding what they assent to, sufficient to remove all bars: These the Devils do, Jan. 2.19. Arig•• m•n•er f knowing and assenting, must be added. Such a manner of knowing, whereby the Church may judge that Christ is let into t•e Soul. As Reverend Mr. Hooker was wont to say, Such […] profess d Assent, as hath a professed Consent joined with it,