A41329:162
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.
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.
7ly, Were our Churches in that order they ought to be; and were that laudable Practice [which certainly is our Duty] taken up, viz. That special care b• taken, that Children baptized be diligently Catechized, and when they come to fit years, be called before the Eldership, there to own their Baptismal Covenant, and give an account of their Faith; solemn Prayer made for them, and the Church now to take care of them, and inspection over them, as being their Members; there would be no room for this Objection, and less ground for Anabaptists to cry down Infant-baptism. If we will keep Churches [so far as our Duty can reach] for Christ, it is not preaching a Sermon