A41334:150
A sober reply to the sober answer of Reverend Mr. Cawdrey, to A serious…
A sober reply to the sober answer of Reverend Mr. Cawdrey, to A serious question propounded viz. whether the ministers of England are bound by the word of God to baptise the children of all such parents, which say they believe in Jesus Christ, but are grossly ignorant, scandalous in their conversations, scoffers at godliness, and refuse to submit to church discipline ... : also, the question of Reverend Mr. Hooker concerning the baptism of infants : with a post-script to Reverend Mr. Blake / by G.I. Firmin ...A sober reply to the sober answer of Reverend Mr. Cawdrey, to A serious question propounded viz. whether the ministers of England are bound by the word of God to baptise the children of all such parents, which say they believe in Jesus Christ, but are grosly ignorant, scandalous in their conversations, scoffers at godliness, and refuse to submit to church dicipline ... : also, the question of Reverend Mr. Hooker concerning the baptisme of infants : with a post-script to Reverend Mr. Blake / by G.I. Firmin ...
London: printed by J.G., 1653
A SOBER REPLY TO A SOBER ANSWER, &c.A SOBER REPLY TO A SOBER ANSVVER, &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.
That passage shall clear me from making no Churches but where there is an explicit Covenant; I saw in some Congregations where there were both visible and real Saints (as we may judge) when the Lords Supper was to be administered, some professors would not join in the Ordinance for want of that (so far as I could learn) supposing they were not in a right Church-way. Now this I could not approve of since there were so many Christians to depart from the Ordinance upon such a ground.
That passage shall cleare me from making no Churches but where there is an explicite Covenant; I saw in some Congregations where there were both visible and reall Saints (as we may judge) when the Lords Supper was to be administred, some professours would not joyne in the Ordinance for want of that (so farre as I could learne) supposing they were not in a right Church-way. Now this I could not approve of since there were so many Christians to depart from the Ordinance upon such a ground.
In my own Congregation I thus practise; Some of other Parishes have desired to join with us at the Lords Supper, if we have not known them ⟨p. 22⟩well, I have desired them to bring a Testimony from their Minister, and they have done so: Others whom we knew well I have not desired it, but admitted these to the Lords Supper, yet they were under no explicit Covenant, but an implicit Covenant (I knew they closed with their Pastors) in their Churches. If need had been I would have baptized their children, had they brought them to me. I hope now you are convinced.
In my owne Congregation I thus practise; Some of other Parishes have desired to joyne with us at the Lords Supper, if we have not knowne them ⟨p. 22⟩well, I have desired them to bring a Testimony from their Minister, and they have done so: Others whom we knew well I have not desired it, but admitted these to the Lords Supper, yet they were under no explicite Covenant, but an implicite Covenant (I knew they closed with their Pastors) in their Churches. If need had beene I would have baptized their children, had they brought them to me. I hope now you are convinced.