A59660:63
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.
Hence therefore it is, that when we say, that Children are in Covenant, and so Church-Members, the meaning is, not that they are always in inward Covenant, and inward Church-Members, who enjoy the inward, and saving benefits of the Covenant, but that they are in external, and outward Covenant, and therefore outwardly Church Members, to whom belongs some outward privileges of the Covenant for their inward and eternal good.
Hence therefore it is, that when we say, that Children are in Covenant, and so Church-Members, the meaning is, not that they are alwaies in inward Covenant, and inward Church-Members, who enjoy the inward, and saveing benefits of the Covenant, but that they are in external, and outward Covenant, and therefore outwardly Church Members, to whom belongs some outward priviledges of the Covenant for their inward and eternall good.
These things being clear, I the rather make mention of them, to undermine divers usual objections against the Membership, and Covenant-Interest of Children; as, that they have no saving Grace many times; and that they make no actual profession of any grace; and that many of them degenerate, and prove corrupt, and wicked &c. for suppose all these, yet God may take them into outward Covenant (which is sufficient to make them the Church-Seed, or Members of the Church) although he doth not receive them into inward Covenant, in bestowing upon them saving Grace, or Power to profess it, nay though they degenerate, and grow very corrupt afterward.
These things being clear, I the rather make mention of them, to undermine divers usual objections againts the Membership, and Covenant-Interest of Children; as, that they have no saving Grace many times; and that they make no actuall profession of any grace; and that many of them degenerate, and prove corrupt, and wicked &c. for suppose all these, yet God may take them into outward Covenant (which is sufficient to make them the Church-Seed, or Members of the Church) although he doth not receive them into inward Covenant, in bestowing upon them saving Grace, or Power to profess it, nay though they degenerate, and grow very corrupt afterward.