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.
Giles Firmin 1614–1697London: printed for Tho. Simons, 1683
[8], 119, [1] p. · 26k words · Wing F960 · ESTC R216413
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.
They who desire the Reformation of the Church, do not say every thing must be expressly set down in Scripture; but if it be contained in the Scripture, and by necessary consequence deducted from thence, we are bound to believe, or practise it.
They who desire the Reformation of the Church, do not say every thing must be expresly set down in Scripture; but if it be contained in the Scripture, and by necessary consequence deducted from thence, we are bound to believe, or practise it.
Our Lord taught us this in proving the Resurrection against the Sadducees; A Point of infinite more consequence, then the Baptising of an Infant. For if there be no Resurrection, to what purpose is our Religion? But according to the Anabaptists Argument, ⟨p. 14⟩that Call for an express command to baptise Infants, and therefore reject it, our Lord did not prove the Resurrection.
Our Lord taught us this in proving the Resurrection against the Sadduces; A Point of infinite more consequence, then the Baptising of an Infant. For if there be no Resurrection, to what purpose is our Religion? But according to the Anabaptists Argument, ⟨p. 14⟩that Call for an express command to baptise Infants, and therefore reject it, our Lord did not prove the Resurrection.
I will personate a Sadducee, and take their Argument; the Question is, Shall there be a Resurrection of the Dead? The Sadducee denies it, our Lord affirms it, and proves it from Exod. 3.6
. v. But what is this to the proof of the Question, Doth God say expressly to Moses, there shall be a Resurrection of the Dead? if so, then we will believe it, else not. Thus the Anabaptist, Doth Christ expressly command the Apostles to Baptise Infants? then we will Practise it, else we Condemn it. But tho' God did not expressly say there shall be a Resurrection, yet he said that, which by necessary Consequence will force it. For tho' Jacob, who died last of the three, had been dead two hundred years, when God spake those words, yet he saith, he is their God, but he is not the God of the dead, but of the living;
. The people said, He answered them well, and 22 Matth. 33. They were astonished at it. Yet I may say, the necessity of this Consequence, from that Antecedent, is nothing so obvious and clear to many, even good Christians, as the Consequence of Infants of Believing-Parents, being under Abraham's Covenant,
⟨p. 15⟩
and Church-Members with their Parents. But what mischief this Principle and Practice hath done, and how it hath served the Devils Design, we are sad Witnesses.
I will personate a Sadduce, and take their Argument; the Question is, Shall there be a Resurrection of the Dead? The Sadduce denies it, our Lord affirms it, and proves it from Exod. 3.6. I am the God of Abraham, &c. Matth. 22.29.31. v. But what is this to the proof of the Question, Doth God say expresly to Moses, there shall be a Resurrection of the Dead? if so, then we will believe it, else not. Thus the Anabaptist, Doth Christ expresly command the Apostles to Ba•tise Infants? then we will Practise it, else we Condemn it. But tho' God did not expresly say there shall be a Resurrection, yet he said that, which by necessary Consequence will force it. For tho' Jacob, who died last of the three, had been dead two hundred years, when God spake those words, yet he saith, he is their God, but he is not the God of the dead, but of the living; Mark 12.28. The people said, He answer'd them well, and 22 Matth. 33. They were astonished at it. Yet I may say, the necessity of this Consequence, from that Antecedent, is nothing so obvious and clear to many, even good Christians, as the Consequence of Infants of Believing-Parents, being under Abrahams Covenant, ⟨p. 15⟩and Church-Members with their Parents. But what mischief this Principle and Practice hath done, and how it hath served the Devils Design, we are sad Witnesses.
Fourthly, Tho' I do not put so much stress upon this, because the Argument of the Anabaptist cast out all the Posterity of the soundest Believers, and holy Men, as well as the most wicked out of the Church; yet I believe this hath helped on with the rest, to see what ignorant and debauched persons [because it is the Mode of the Nation] require Baptism for their Children, and it is Administered to them. The Anabaptists Principle is, That Regenerate Persons are the only Subject of Baptism, but how far is this Practice from their Principle? This doth a little confirm me in it; because that Man whom I mentioned in my first Page, with whom we held Communion; when those who are esteemed godly, and he did think so, had Children to be baptized, he desired he might know it, and would be present at the Administration, though he was not clear for Infant-Baptism.
Fourthly, Tho' I do not put so much stress upon this, because the Argument of the Anabaptist cast out all the Posterity of the soundest Believers, and holy Men, as well as the most wicked out of the Church; yet I believe this hath helped on with the rest, to see what ignorant and debauched persons [because it is the Mode of the Nation] require Baptism for their Children, and it is Administred to them. The Anabaptists Principle is, That Regenerate Persons are the only Subject of Baptism, but how far is this Practice from their Principle? This doth a little confirm me in it; because that Man whom I mentioned in my first Page, with whom we held Communion; when those who are esteemed godly, and he did think so, had Children to be baptized, he desired he might know it, and would be present at the Administration, though he was not clear for Infant-Baptism.
This I will say, I had rather baptize the Children of some Heathen, than of many who are called Christians, their Ignorance is not more, nor Conversations worse, and yet these Christians have lived long under Gospel-light: ⟨p. 16⟩Had they but the knowledge required in the Catechism in the Common-Prayer-book, and Conversations as civil as some Indians I have known, it were tolerable; but when men are asked,
What the second was he forgot that stood by, and showed the three last Questions, [the first two were another person's] and professed to my Father-in-law, when he came to have his Child baptized, That he answered him as well as he could. For want of Catechising and good Discipline in Church and State: Into what a miserable condition is this Nation fallen? That this hath helped on among these who are godly Anabaptists, I do not much doubt.
What the second was he forgot that stood by, and shewed the three last Questions, [the first two were another person's] and professed to my Father-in-law, when he came to have his Child baptized, That he answered him as well as he could. For want of Catechising and good Discipline in Church and State: Into what a miserable condition is this Nation fallen? That this hath helped on among these who are godly Anabaptists, I do not much doubt.
