A47591:1243
Light broke forth in Wales, expelling darkness, or, The Englishman's love to the ancient…Light broke forth in Wales, expelling darkness, or, The Englishman's love to the antient…
Light broke forth in Wales, expelling darkness, or, The Englishman's love to the ancient Britons [sic] being an answer to a book, intituled [sic] Children's baptism from Heaven, published in the Welsh tongue by Mr. James Owen / by Benjamin Keach.Light broke forth in Wales, expelling darkness, or, The Englishman's love to the antient Britains [sic] being an answer to a book, iutituled [sic] Children's baptism from Heaven, published in the Welsh tongue by Mr. James Owen / by Benjamin Keach.
London: printed by William Marshall, 1696
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.
3. Hath not God freely left us and our Children to choose to be his Servants, or to choose our Religion? Are not the Saints to be all Volunteers? Will Christ accept of Prest-Soldiers into his Service? Or have you any power to force, or compel your Children to be of what Persuasion in Religion you please? God, it is true, hath no more left Children now than formerly, to follow their own Fancies; no, God forbid: But he hath commanded them to believe and be baptized; and not to follow the Fancies of their Parents any more than to follow their own Fancies, nor Ministers who teach them contrary Doctrine to that which the Word of God doth.
3. Hath not God freely left us and our Children to choose to be his Servants, or to choose our Religion? Are not the Saints to be all Volunteers? Will Christ accept of Prest-Souldiers into his Service? Or have you any power to force, or compel your Children to be of what Perswasion in Religion you please? God, it is true, hath no more left Children now than formerly, to follow their own Fancies; no, God forbid: But he hath commanded them to believe and be baptized; and not to follow the Fancies of their Parents any more than to follow their own Fancies, nor Ministers who teach them contrary Doctrine to that which the Word of God doth.
4. As to the Corruption of our Nature, 'tis true that is as bad as ever; but your Sprinkling your Children in Infancy hath no Virtue or Power in it to change or purge out that Corruption; your Children receive no benefit by that you call Baptism: Say what you will, I am sure you cannot prove they receive any profit thereby.
5. I affirm God hath not commanded us to bring our Children into the Bond of the Covenant by Baptism until they believe, and you can never disprove us while you live from God's Word.