A41329:65
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.
And here I cannot but observe the judgment of God [I can call it no other] That two great Corporations I know, where there were great Assemblies of Anabaptists, [It is the same in many other places in England] the greatest number of them turned Quakers, the Anabaptists Society dwindle almost to nothing. Thus they who threw off Infant-Baptism, throw off ⟨p. 18⟩the Ordinance of Baptism it self, the Lord's Supper, and the great Gospel-truth, setting up Self, and a Heathenish morality, being now fallen into the Mare mortuum, from which few or none return.
Sixthly, Another thing which hath prevailed to draw away some honest meaning persons, not able to judge, have been, the great stress and absolute necessity the Anabaptists put upon Baptism, and their Baptism, for so they style themselves the Baptized Congregations, and none baptized but themselves, which strikes divers good Christians with fear; and what great good things they may expect who do come into their way, being Rebaptized, from Mark 16. This Text Peter de Bruis a Waldensian [in great esteem with my Author, for his judgment against Infant-Baptism; though herein, as in other things charged upon him, by his railing Popish Adversary, who took them up by Report from others, he confesseth, it is thought he is abused,] makes great use of, 1and tells us, Not one of these alone doth save, but jointly; not Baptism without our own proper Faith; nor our own proper Faith without Baptism, is able to do any thing; neither of them without the other saveth. Therefore though Infants ⟨p. 19⟩be baptized by you, yet because by the hinderance of their, they cannot believe, by no means are they saved. With other strange Tenets, not worthy the Transcribing. If my Author be not of the same Opinion with this De Bran, [if he be not abused] why doth he so much glory of him in his Book, and in his Title-page? And if this be true, That sound Faith in Christ cannot save without persons be of age, and Doused over Head and Ears; no wonder though they who believe it, yield to Dipping.