A41334:228
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.
2. You say this promise [I will be the God of thee and thy Seed] reached not only to the next Children, but their posterity in a second or third generation: then you make an &c. that is true as I have said before, and it troubles not me: but now under the Gospel to how many generations will this extend, that the Grandfather shall give title to Baptism? you name the third and then add, &c. How many do you include in & coetera: thus you have spoken in another place, and there another &c.1 It is indeed usual to put an &c. when mens minds are clearly known, and there is no matter of consequence attended upon it, so spare our writing, and the Printer; but if any matter of consequence depends, then it is very poor to put in & coetera, you know &c. in the Bishops Oath was an untoward thing, and here it is a troublesome thing; if to the third, why not to the 103 generation? & coetera will go further. But say you p. 11. this is their common Objection, [his head is very shallow that should not reach but you have fully answered it elsewhere: Come on then Sir, since you say you have fully answered it, I will turn to your Diatribae, and there look for it, supposing that a man of your parts who doth slight so extremely other mens arguments, calling them very weak, &c. when you say you answer fully, you have done so indeed; in p. 212. I see you have it there to answer. I perceive you find it a troublesome objection, and there recite the opinions of some men, whom I honour as much as your self, if there were nothing but an opinion of a man to be desi•ed: you sum up their opinions, and it amounts to this; It seems that the Children of Christians known or presumed to be such, whether living or dead, may be baptised. then you give us an allusion from those who could not prove their Genealogy. Ezra 2.62: Whether you will stand to this as your answer I know not: but then you add, But all the Children of known Believers, Christians, Orthodox and yet living, whether next or remoter may seem to challenge a right to Baptism: this is the full answer;
2. You say this promise [I will be the God of thee and thy Seed] reached not onely to the next Children, but their posterity in a second or third generation: then you make an &c. that is true as I have said before, and it troubles not me: but now under the Gospel to how many generations will this extend, that the Grandfather shall give title to Baptisme? you name the third and then adde, &c. How many doe you include in & coetera: thus you have spoken in another place, and there another &c.