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…

Argum: 3. The Apostle expressly saith [Your children are holy] 1 Cor. 7.14. and if federally holy, then of the Church, [for real holiness cannot be here meant] and in the Covenant of it: even as 'tis said Deut. 7.6. thou art an Holy people unto the Lord thy God: few of which number were really and savingly holy, but they were all so fed• rally, or by Covenant, and so became Gods special Church or people.

Argum: 3. The Apostle expresly saith [Your children are holy] 1 Cor. 7.14. and if federally holy, then of the Church, [for reall holyness cannot be here meant] and in the Covenant of it: even as 'tis said Deut. 7.6. thou art an Holy people unto the Lord thy God: few of which number were really and savingly holy, but they were all so fed• rally, or by Covenant, and so became Gods special Church or people.

If you say, That this holiness is meant of matrimonial holiness, viz. that your children are not bastards, but legitimate: The answer is easy; for upon this interpretation the Apostle's Answer should be false; for then if one of the parents had not been a Believer, and so by his Believing Sanctified his unbelieving Wife, their Children must have been Bastards, whereas you know that their Children had not been in that sense unclean or illegitimate, although neither of them were Believers: for the Apostle's dispute is plain, viz. that if the ⟨p. 10⟩Believing Husband did not Sanctify his unbelieving Wife, then were your Children unclean, ••e say you Bastards, but it's evident t•at Children may be, in this sense, clean, and yet no Faith in either Parent to Sanctify one another to their particular use: unless you will say, that all Children of heathens are Bastards, because neither of the parents Believe.