A59660:118
The church-membership of children, and their right to baptism according to that holy and…The church-membership of children, and their right to baptisme according to that holy and…
The church-membership of children, and their right to baptism according to that holy and everlasting covenant of God, established between Himself and the faithful ... cleared up in a letter, sent unto a worthy friend of the author ... / by Thomas Shepard ...The church-membership of children, and their right to baptisme according to that holy and everlasting covenant of God, established between Himself and the faithfull ... cleared up in a letter, sent unto a worthy friend of the author ... / by Thomas Shepard ...
Cambridge: printed by Samuel Green, 1663Cambridg: printed by Samuel Green, 1663
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
Answ. 1. I do think it's true, that poor Children may be▪ and are looked upon with too too many dejected thoughts of unbelief, despising of them as Children of wrath by nature, and not with such high ⟨p. 19⟩thoughts of Faith, as Children, and Sons of God by promise, as I have shown. And I think herein is our great sin, as it was in Christ's own disciples, who were the first, that we read of, that would not have little Children brought unto him, for which he rebuked them, showing their privilege; and for want of which faith in Gods promise about our children, certainly God smites, and forsakes many of our children.
Answ. 1. I do think it's true, that poor Children may be▪ and are look't upon with too too many dejected thoughts of unbelief, •espising of them as Children of wrath by nature, and not with such high ⟨p. 19⟩thoughts of Faith, as Children, and Sons of God by promise, as I have shewn. And I think herein is our great sin, as it was in Christ's own disciples, who were the first, that we read of, that would not have little Children brought unto him, for which he rebuked them, shewing their priviledge; and for want of which faith in Gods promise about our children, certainly God smites, and forsakes many of our children.
2. If therefore you think that Church-members must consist only of saints by calling; so that your meaning is, such saints as are so by outward and personal profession, from the call of the Gospel, are only to be Church-members; this is an error: For, 1. You know that they who define a Church to be a number of visible saints, they usually put this phrase in, [and their s•ed] who may not profess faith perhaps as their Fathers do: and you shall find that the Israel of God under the old Testament, are all of them said to be adopted,