A41334:162
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.
The Belgic Churches saw something in it,1 that it was concluded upon in six Synods, that those who came to the Lords Supper, should promise expressly to be subject to Discipline: and had the Churches of England, the godly Officers (especially) made all those who came into their Parishes, and would have either Baptism or Supper, to declare their choice of them for their Officers, and subjection to all Christs Ordinances, they might have had more strength against the Separation: indeed they have strength enough against most of them who have owned the Ministers, and constantly attended, and received the Ordinances from them, of which I have spoken elsewhere.
The Belgick Churches saw something in it,1 that it was concluded upon in sixe Synods, that those who came to the Lords Supper, should promise expresly to be subject to Discipline: and had the Chu•ches of England, the godly Officers (especially) made all those who came into their Parishes, and would have either Baptisme or Supper, to declare their choise of them for their Officers, and subjection to all Christs Ordinances, they might have had more strength against the Separation: indeed they have strength enough against most of them who have owned the Ministers, and constantly attended, and received the Ordinances from them, of which I have spoken elsewhere.
- 1Apol. c. 1. p. 9.
Further, I should much desire that those who oppose the Church-Covenant, would lay down a Church-member in his essential causes, then they teach clearest: as for profession, Christianity [or what you will call this is but the causa materialis of a Church member, for it is not Man quâ sio (for then all) but Man quâ professing, as Saint visible, that is the materialis causa, this then is not the formalis causa, for to have the same thing to be Causa materialis & formalis respectu ejusdem effecti is strange: therefore till I see a better I must say, that this Christians consenting or covenanting with this particular Church, and these Officers in it, to walk according to the Gospel, &c. is the formal cause of this Church-member.