A57966:242
The covenant of life opened, or, A treatise of the covenant of grace
The covenant of life opened, or, A treatise of the covenant of grace containing something of the nature of the covenant of works, the sovereignty of God, the extent of the death of Christ ... the covenant of grace ... of surety or redemption between the by Samuel Rutherford ...The covenant of life opened, or, A treatise of the covenant of grace containing something of the nature of the covenant of works, the soveraignty of God, the extent of the death of Christ ... the covenant of grace ... of surety or redemption between the by Samuel Rutherford ...
Edinburgh: printed by Andro Anderson for Robert Brown, 1655
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.
Q. What is the formal reason and ground that any hath right to Baptism?
Q. What is the formall reason and ground that any hath right to Baptism?
Ans. If we speak of a passive right, if the Eunuch believe, Act. 8. and if such have received the Spirit, Acts 10. they may receive baptism, The Eunuch moves not the Question whether Philip should sin in baptizing him or not. The Eunuch was troubled to make sure his own, not Philips Conversion.1 They who bring that Argument, [Greek or Hebrew] Acts 8. and that, Mark 16. to prove that only such should be baptized, who believe actually and are come to age: They prove that the Church sinneth, if they baptize any, but such as are predestinated to life and really believe. For the faith that Philip asked for, was real, with all the heart, not as the faith of Simon Magus ▪ And the faith, Mark 16.15. is real saving faith, that brings salvation; he that believes is saved. 2. It can not be visible faith only, for that is in Simon Magus, he doth visibly so believe and is baptized. Yet upon that faith he was not saved, being in the gall of bitterness (3.) He that believes not, is damned. The meaning must be, he that believes not savingly is damned: Or then he that believes not visibly, as Magus, and Judas, is damned, but this is most false, for Peter believes not as Judas, and yet he is not damned: Or then the meaning must be, he that believeth both really, savingly, and also professedly and visibly, is saved. And that is true, but it concludes that none are to be baptized, but both real and visible believers. 4. If it be true that none are to be baptized but Covenanted ones, as