A41334:232
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.
You answer 4. ways: 1. From the Jews; which doth not avail with me, there was something peculiar to them in administration of Circumcision, as is clear before, and shall be made clear hereafter.
You answer 4. waies: 1. From the Jewes; which doth not availe with me, there was something peculiar to them in administration of Circumcision, as is cleare before, and shall be made cleare hereafter.
2. Your second is the distinguishing between a persons general state and personal wickedness; his state is a christian, &c.
2. Your second is the distinguishing betweene a persons generall state and personall wickednesse; his state is a christian, &c.
I answer; if you mean by personal wickedness, some particular falls (as you bring in Noah and David strangely afterward) I think so indeed; but if you mean a continued settled course in wickedness, wilful ignorance then I say; such a person hath lost his first right to his own or his child's baptism [you may call him a Christian, but let his Christianity be such as you have said may qualify him for a Church-Member, or else it is not worth a rush.] Such a one I look at as one that ought to be excommunicated, for he deserves it, (we must prove that persons ought to be excommunicated before they are.) Now since he ought, the question is, why he is not? [if he be, the child suffers for his state being a non-Member] in foro Dei he is, and ought to be in foro Ecclesiastico: if the case stand so as through the multitude of such, it cannot conveniently be so, Then yet let the Ministers go as far as they can. I pray Sir let this satisfy to your answers which you give about Excommunication; for you would gather from me, that till Excommunication, Ministers ought to baptise.