A65285:2803
A Body of Practical Divinity
A body of practical divinity consisting of above one hundred seventy six sermons on the lesser catechism composed by the reverend assembly of divines at Westminster : with a supplement of some sermons on several texts of Scripture / by Thomas Watson ...
London: printed for Thomas Parkurst, 1692
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. The Scripture mentions whole Families Baptized: As the Household of Lydia, Crispus, and the Jailer. Acts 16.33. He was baptized, he and all his. Wherein we must rationally imagine that there were some little Children. If it be said, there is no mention there made of Children. I Answer, Neither are Servants named; yet it cannot be supposed but that in so great a Family there were some Servants.
Answ. The Scripture mentions whole Families Baptized: As the Houshold of Lydia, Crispus, and the Iailor. Acts 16.33. He was baptized, he and all his. Wherein we must rationally imagine that there were some little Children. If it be said, there is no mention there made of Children. I Answer, Neither are Servants named; yet it cannot be suppos'd but that in so great a Family there were some Servants.
Obj. 2. But Infants are not capable of the End of Baptism: For Baptism signifies the ⟨p. 450⟩washing away of Sin by the Blood of Christ. Now Infants cannot understand this; therefore what Benefit can Baptism be to them?
Answ. Whereas it is said, Infants cannot understand the Mystery of Baptism, neither could the Child that was to be Circumcised understand Circumcision; yet the Ordinance of Circumcision was not to be omitted or deferred. An Infant, tho it understand not the meaning of Baptism, yet it may partake of the Blessing of Baptism. The little Children that Christ took in his Arms understood not Christ's meaning, but they had Christ's Blessing.