A59660:15
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.
And much more of the like nature might be alleged out of many records both ecclesiastical, and other, were it needful: the satanical delusions of those heretical Cataphrygians, and Pep•z•ans of o•d, who were wont to mingle the Eucharist with the blood of an Infant of a year old (of whom Austin speaks, Tom. 6. do haeresibus ad Quodvultde•m) are not unknown. Not here to insist on that Instance of Herod's Infanticide, Mat. 2.16, 17. We need not so much wonder at Hazaels cruelty against the Children of Israel in slaying their young men with th• sword, and dashing their Children, and r•pping up their Women with Child, 2 King. 8.12. seeing Satan hath many times prevailed with those who were Church-Members, and of long standing in the house of God even the pare•• themselves, to murder and sacrifice their Infants and little ones, which were the Lords Children, and born unto the Lord, Ezek. 16, 20, 21. &c. Such an evil eye doth that great adversary of our comfort, and Salvation (seeing himself shut out of the Kingdom of Heaven) bear against these little ones, whom Christ hath taken in to himself, and concerning whom our Saviour professeth, that of such is the Kingdom of God, Luke 18.16. So doth he envy to see them in the arms of Christ and blessed by him, and to have any room in his house, or so much as an external visible interest in the Covenant, with the initiatory seal and livery thereof. Baptism being the seal to all Christianity, 'tis Satan's policy therefore to strike at that, that in cashiering it, he may have ⟨image 3⟩at All; Hereunto tend's his dealing with witches many times, (of which divers have spoken) in cau•ing them when they become first his Proselytes, solemnly to renounce the Trinity (into the name of which they have been Baptised) especially their salvation by Christ, and saith Cooper, in his book entitled, the mysteries of witchcraft discovered. Cap. 6. sec. 1. pag. 91. in token thereof to disclaim their Baptism.