A41329:161
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.
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?
6ly, May there not be a Conveyance of a great Estate to a Child that lies in the Cradle, and understand nothing many years; but when it comes to ripe years, and see its Name in the Conveyance, and the Witnesses, now it can sue for it. Two things are very desirable, if there were nothing to trouble the Conscience [a thing ⟨p. 50⟩to be lamented] and other things concur. First, That Baptism should ever be administered in the face of the Church. Secondly, The Names of all baptized Recorded; [both which I have known the constant practice in Independent Churches:] By both which, and Parents Education, a Child when it comes to years of understanding, may be as sure of its Baptism, though it makes no Impression as Circumcision did in the flesh, and now sue out the Blessings which there the Lord did signify, and conditionally seal to be mine.
6ly, May there not be a Conveyance of a great Estate to a Child that lies in the Cradle, and understand nothing many years; but when it comes to ripe years, and see its Name in the Conveyance, and the Witnesses, now it can sue for it. Two things are very desirable, if there were nothing to trouble the Conscience [a thing ⟨p. 50⟩to be lamented] and other things concur. First, That Baptism should ever be administred in the face of the Church. Secondly, The Names of all baptized Recorded; [both which I have known the constant practice in Independent Churches:] By both which, and Parents Education, a Child when it comes to years of understanding, may be as sure of its Baptism, though it makes no Impression as Circumcision did in the flesh, and now sue out the Blessings which there the Lord did signifie, and conditionally seal to be mine.