A59660:119
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.
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, Rom. 9.4. chosen and called, Isay 41.8, 9. and faithful, Isai. 1.21. and yet we know they were not all so by personal profession, but in respect of their joint federation, and the outward Covenant of God with them. 2. The outward Covenant is not all way first entered into by personal profession of faith, but by Gods Covenant of promise to work, or to use the means to work faith: Hence it undeniably follows; that as many may be in Church-covenant before they profess faith personally, so many may be members of the Church without this profession of faith; for this Covenant of working faith (as hath been formerly explained) doth not only belong to the Jews, but to Gentile Churches also, and Believers; as hath been proved, and might further be confirmed.
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 errour: 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, Rom. 9.4. chosen and called, Isay 41.8, 9. and faithfull, Isai. 1.21. and yet we know they were not all so by personal profession, but in respect of their joynt federation, and the outward Covenant of God with them. 2. The outward Covenant is not all way first entred into by personal profession of faith, but by Gods Covenant of promise to work, or to use the meanes to work faith: Hence it undeniably follows; that as many may be in Church-covenant before they profess faith personally, so many may be members of the Church without this profession of faith; for this Covenant of working faith (as hath been formerly explained) doth not only belong to the Jews, but to Gentile Churches also, and Believers; as hath been proved, and might further be confirmed.