A47591:78
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.
4. But is it so indeed, Are none in the inward part of the Covenant of Grace, or in the inward Dispensation of the the Gospel, but the Elect; then I infer that the Children of the Faithful, as such, are not in the Covenant of Grace, i. e. the Spiritual Blessings or Fatness of that Covenant doth not belong to them, as such, but only to such of them as are elected, or who do believe, or are brought under special Vocation by the Holy Spirit. And these things being so, to what purpose is it for this Man, and other Pedo-Baptists, to make such a Noise about the Children of Believers, as such, being in the Covenant of Grace? whereas he confesseth none are indeed in it but the Elect. I cannot see it is any thing he and others contend for, in pleading for Infant-Baptism, but only a Christian-Name, or some outward thing, the inward Grace not belonging to any but to the Elect only; and who they are cannot be known till each Person comes to Age, and is called by the Lord: For it is only by effectual Calling that the Election of Persons is known to themselves or others.
But to conclude, Let me add a word or two to you Pedo-Baptists that are sound in the Doctrine of Free Grace, and Free Justification by Christ's Righteousness alone.
First, May it not be worth your most serious Thoughts, to consider how the Doctrine of Pedo-Baptism is a direct Violation of that Holy Precept of our Blessed Saviour, Mar. 5. 33, 34. It hath been said of them of old Time, Thou shalt not forswear thy self, but shall perform to the Lord thine Oaths. But I say unto you, swear not at all, &c. All voluntary and promissory Oaths and Vows, and Religious Covenants, (as well ⟨p. xvii⟩as vain Swearing) is directly thereby forbid, and therefore sinful. Now tho we grant that the true Baptismal Covenant is of Divine Institution, yet since that only obligeth those that are the true Subjects thereof, viz. Believers: It followeth that that Vow or Covenant you bring your poor Babes under, being wholly without Divine Authority, it is therefore voluntary, and so forbid, and sinful.