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…

Reply. I stand amazed at such Ignorance and Folly! Does it follow, because Children are capable to receive a ⟨p. 104⟩Medicine against the Plague, or Bodily Distemper, are they therefore capable of Baptism and the Lord's Supper? If capable of one, say I, of the other also: For as a Man is required to examine himself, and to discern the Lord's Body in the Lord's Supper, so he is required to repent and to believe in Christ that comes to Baptism.

I would know how they prove Baptism to be the Medicine appointed to cure the Soul of the Plague of Sin (or, as Mr. Owen says, for their Salvation)? Is not this to blind the Eyes of the poor People, and make them think that an external Ordinance saves the Soul? if not thus, how can it be Cruelty, yea Murder in Parents to deny the Application of Baptism to their Children (as Mr. Burkit says)? The Ancient Fathers from that in John 6. 53. Unless a Man eat the Flesh of the Son of Man, and drink his Blood, he hath no Life in him, gave Infants the Lord's Supper, thinking our Saviour (like as the Papists do) meant that Sacrament, when indeed he meant only of seeding by Faith on Christ crucified. But however, their Argument for giving Infants one Sacrament, was as good as yours for giving them the other. But when they are as capable to repent and believe, and are helped so to do, as they are, and do eat Bread, or receive a Medicine for a Bodily Distemper, let them have both Baptism and the Lord's-Supper; and till then, if God's Word be the Rule of our Faith and Practice, (and not our own Fancies) they ought to have neither: yet the Remedy or Medicine, which is Christ's Blood, we deny not but dying Infants may be capable of, tho the way of its Application we know not as to them, that is a Secret as to us. You know the Church of England positively affirms, Repentance, whereby a Person for sakes Sin; and Faith, whereby he steadfastly believes the Promise of God made to him in that Sacrament, are required of those that are to be baptized, nay and of little Babes too; therefore the Sureties answer for them, that they do believe and repent, or forsake the Devil and all his Works, &c. the Child answers by Proxy. The Church of England baptizes no Child but as a Believer, and a true Penitent Person. All that are proper Subjects of Baptism are comprehended in the Commission, and must be as such, whether Adult or Infants, who profess Faith and Repentance. But you, it may be, foresaw the Snake in the Grass, viz. That Godfathers and Godmothers is a Tradition, and none of God's Appointment; nor are