A41329:159
The plea of the children of believing-parents for their interest in Abraham's covenant, their…
The plea of the children of believing-parents for their interest in Abraham's covenant, their right to church-member-ship with their parents, and consequently their title to baptism. The cause of publishing this discourse after so many learned men have laboured in this province, is declared in the preface to the reader. By Giles Firmin.
London: printed for Tho. Simons, 1683
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.
3ly, What signal Impression is left upon those whom you baptize by Dipping, when Adult, more than upon those who are baptized by pouring of Water upon them when Infants? True, you can remember better you were dipped; but Children, tho' they have but a moral certainty from their Parents and others, and the Testimony of the Book in which they are recorded, yet being taught the meaning of it, and especially if as some Parents who compose short Prayers for their Children, put in that Petition, for the blessing of their Baptism, as some Parents do; Children may keep it in mind, and in time come to make as good use of it, as those who are dipped when Adult; and Experience I hope will prove it.
4ly, If that be true which Mr. Tom••s is willing to believe out of Mr. Selden, that the Jews admitted Proselytes, by Baptism the female kind, the same Author Mr. Selden, and so Baxter tells us, the Children also of the Proselytes were admitted by Baptism; to what purpose saith the Anaba tist, since they understand it not, and there is no Impression left? Let the Jews answer that.
4ly, If that be true which Mr. Tom••s is willing to believe out of Mr. Selden, that the Jews admitted Proselites, by Baptism the female kind, the same Author Mr. Selden, and so Baxter tells us, the Children also of the Proselites were admitted by Baptism; to what purpose saith the Anaba tist, since they understand it not, and there is no Impression left? Let the Jews answer that.
5ly, Abraham's Seed being so numerous as the Stars in the Heavens, how could the Infants circumcised, when they came to riper years, and living only in Canaan, know that there was any Signal Impression made upon their flesh, unless their Parents or others told them: might not they well think al men were as they, or it might be proper to their Nation? If they then were certain by their Parents and others informing them, cannot we be as certain by our Parents Information, that we were baptized?