A41334:194
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.
If you require it of me,1 then may not the officer demand, do then you choose me as your officer, to whom you will submit under Christ? do you look on this particular church as a true church of Christ, and will you walk with the members of […] according to Christs rule? will you subject to all Christs ordinances? I pray why may I not demand these? Consider what Apollonius, Ames, Mr Hudson have said, the light of nature will carry as much; for if this man will not own me for his officer, if he will not join with the Church, if not submit to Ordinances, what reason have I in particular to baptize his Child, or I and the church in particular to take more care of him then any other Church? if you say by his requiting baptism of me he profess all this; no Sir, by no means, I have answered this already: and he may do as some have done with me, that have required baptism of me, and have confessed to me that Discipline was an Ordinance of God, but to promise subjection to it, and to me with the Church that we in particular should have power over them, they would not do it, and could tell me that I had no power over them without that their consent; and they speak truly, for they had not chosen me for their officer, though they are in the parish, and by their Christianity I could claim no power over them more then another Minister.
If you require it of me,1 then may not the officer demand, doe then you choose me as your officer, to whom you will submit under Christ? doe you looke on this particular church as a true church of Christ, and will you walke with the members of 〈…〉 according to Christs rule? will you subject to all Christs ordinances? I pray why may I not demand these? Consider what Apollonius, Ames, Mr Hudson have said, the light of nature will carry as much; for if this man will not owne me for his officer, if he will not joyne with the Church, if not submit to Ordinances, what reason have I in particular to baptize his Child, or I and the church in particular to take more care of him then any other Church? if you say by his requiting baptism of me he professe all this; no Sir, by no means, I have answered this already: and he may doe as some have done with me, that have required baptism of me, and have confessed to me that Discipline was an Ordinance of God, but to promise subjection to it, and to me with the Church that we in particular should have power over them, they would not do it, and could tell me that I had no power over them without that their consent; and they speak truely, for they had not chosen me for their officer, though they are in the parish, and by their Christianity I could claime no power over them more then another Minister.