A41329:253
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.
Our Question is not who are the true Children of God, that have that Inheritance prepared for them, but who are to be Reputed the Children of God, in foro Ecclesiastico, Visibly; so that they are Members of a Visible Church, and have Right to a Visible Ordinance, in the Visible Church. The Dross, the Chaff, the Canaanites, the false Israelites, which you tell us, are in your Baptized Congregations, are none of the Children of God, in a saving Sense; but your Baptists did judge them to be Believers Actually in Christ, if so, then Children of God, then you admitted them Members of your Churches, and so Baptized them by Dipping. They ⟨p. 80⟩were looked upon as Abraham's Seed, when you admitted them.
Our Question is not who are the true Children of God, that have that Inheritance prepared for them, but who are to be Reputed the Children of God, in foro Ecclesiastico, Visibly; so that they are Members of a Visible Church, and have Right to a Visible Ordinance, in the Visible Church. The Dross, the Chaff, the Canaanites, the false Israelites, which you tell us, are in your Baptized Congregations, are none of the Children of God, in a saving Sense; but your Baptists did judge them to be Believers Actually in Christ, if so, then Children of God, then you admited them Members of your Churches, and so Baptized them by Dipping. They ⟨p. 80⟩were looked upon as Abraham's Seed, when you admitted them.
The next thing he falls upon is, Act. 2.39. of which after.
I could go no further, the Book was sent for, nor did I intend to make any large Discourse, though it had continued with me: by these four Arguments we have a taste of the Man's strength.