A41334:239
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.
For Aquinas, he may enjoy his opinion, yet I think Chummier (of whom ⟨p. 35⟩anon) is not full for him. For my needless exception, you mention, it is well if nothing needless have come from you.
For Aquina•, he may enjoy his opinion, yet I think Ch•mier (of whom ⟨p. 35⟩anon) is not full for him. For my needlesse exception, you mention, it is well if nothing needlesse have come from you.
Then you tell me I renew my plea,1 which is this [who shall educate this child? the Ignorant person cannot, the Scandalous teach it how to break the Covenant, Predecessors are dead, &c.] Here first you tell me of a Law of the Land, which bath taken care for the education of Papists Children, and Orphans, providing Schools and Hospitals. Hence first I gather, you do not care whether the Grandfather be living or dead, which in another place you express otherwise; here the immediate grossly ignorant and scandalous persons give title: but for what you say, I pray pardon my ignorance of the Laws that have been so many years out of England; I did not know the State had made such a Law, That if an Ignorant or Scandalous Parent have a child baptised, then those who are knowing and godly men (at least sober men, conversation comely) should take the child, and bring it up, and instruct it in the Covenant of grace, which must be the answer or nothing; this were woeful trouble, if good People or visible Saints should be thus charged with all the children of persons who are as the question mentions: As for the other part, you say, The Church should take care, as in case both the Parents dye whilst they are little Children: and then you give a nip to the Congregational Churches: you say right for the Churches care, but how shall we do whilst these parents live and keep them at home, and teach them to break Covenant, and though they are entreated to send their children to catechising, yet will not, as I have too bad experience? For the children of Church members, the parents dying whilst they are young, I wish I could see as good examples of your parochial Congregations taking care for the Christian education of such, as I could give you in the Congregational Churches in New England, but then the title was not questioned, there was that ease, and we did not know but those godly parents might live to educate them.