A41329:35
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
THE PLEA OF THE CHILDREN OF Believing-Parents, &c.THE PLEA OF THE CHILDREN OF Beleiving-Parents, &c.
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.
What it was that Woman [a noted Midwife I knew] expected to find at the Lords Supper, I know not, but it seems she found it not: whereupon she forsook the Lords Table, with this blasphemous Speech, A Man may find as much good by a Loaf in the Bakers Shop, as by the Bread in the Lords Supper, for she had been often there and could find no good. Hearing of this Speech, I inquired after her, by those who had been long acquainted with her [I know not whether I saw her after I heard it] they took her always for a civil Woman, but did not think she was acquainted with the work of Regeneration; but that made me to wonder the more, for such persons commonly take up their Priest in the work done, in above partaking of the Ordinance.
What it was that Woman [a noted Midwife I knew] expected to find at the Lords Supper, I know not, but it seems she found it not: whereupon she forsooke the Lords Table, with this blasphemous Speech, A Man may find as much good by a Loaf in the Bakers Shop, as by the Bread in the Lords Supper, for she had been often there and could find no good. Hearing of this Speech, I inquired after her, by those who had been long acquainted with her [I know not whether I saw her after I heard it] they took her alwaies for a civil Woman, but did not think she was acquainted with the work of Regeneration; but that made me to wonder the more, for such persons commonly take up their Priest in the work done, in above partaking of the Ordinance.
If Christians be at this Point, we expect so much from Promises, so much from Ordinances, or we have nothing, then we may do as she did, throw off all Ordinances, and Promises too. Tho' I am far from attaining ⟨p. 9⟩what I have sought and desired, yet I bless God, so much I have attained from my understanding, and improving of Abraham's Covenant, and my Infant-Baptism, that I have but a light esteem of all the Anabaptists Books against them, they signify nothing with me: but of this, more hereafter.
If Christians be at this Point, we expect so much from Promises, so much from Ordinances, or we have nothing, then we may do as she did, throw off all Ordinances, and Promises too. Tho' I am far from attaining