A47591:701
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.
You say, that Paul calleth the Christians in his Epistles to the Churches of the Gentiles, Saints, Rom. 1. 7. a Cor. 1. 1. because they were separated by Covenant, and the Obligation of Baptism to be the Lord's; and not only the believing Parents, but the Children also are Saints: and for this you cite this Text, 1 Cor. 7. 14. But now are they holy.
Answ. Prove that the Infants of Believers were comprehended amongst the Saints Paul wrote unto, and that they were Church-Members; we utterly deny it, and must People believe it on your bare Testimony? In whose Authority and Power then must stand their Faith in this matter? Sir, you bring the Text in Controversy only to prove your Assertion. Is this to act like a wise and learned Man? If the Holiness in the Text renders Infants to be Saints, prove your Exposition from some other Scripture, which if you cannot do, give up the Point, and confess your Mistake and Ignorance; for no Scripture is of any private Interpretation, i. e. but that it may be confirmed by some other place or places of sacred Scripture.
And now because Mr. Burkitt, a learned Pedo-baptist, in his late Book for Infant-Baptism, argues from this Text as you do, and I have fully in answering him answered you both, I shall here repeat his Arguments, and my Reply: he says, Paul in these words answers the Corinthians Scruple; you say the Apostle in these words answers a Question proposed by the believing Corinthians, viz. Whether such as had Heathen and Infidel Wives ought to put them away with their Children, as in the days of Ezra? The Apostle resolves them that they ought not: For, saith he, the unbelieving Wife is sanctified by the believing Husband. How sanctified? Not in her Name, but in her Use, says Mr. Burkitt, so as that they might lawfully cohabit and converse together. And for your Children they are holy, not with an Inherent, Internal, Personal Holiness; for the holiest Man-child is born in Sin, and by Nature a Child of Wrath; but with an External, Relative, Federal Holiness, they are not common and unclean, like the Children of Infidels, but fit to be partakers of the Privileges of the Church, which the Children of Infidels are not. Thus Mr. Barkitt.