A Body of Practical Divinity

1st Arg. If Children, during their Infancy, are capable of Grace, then they are capable of Baptism: But Children in their Infancy are capable of Grace, therefore they are capable of Baptism. I prove the Minor, That they are capable of Grace, thus: If Children in their Infancy may be saved, then they are capable of Grace; but Children in their Infancy may be saved: Which is proved thus; If the Kingdom of Heaven may belong to them, then they may be saved; but the Kingdom of Heaven may belong to them, as it is clear from Mark 10.14. Of such is the Kingdom of God. Who then can forbid that the Seal of Baptism should be applied to them?

2d Arg. If Infants▪ may be among the Number of God's Servants, then there is no reason why they should be shut out of God's Family: but Infants may be in the Number of God's Servants: That is evident, because God calls them his Servants. Levit. 25.4. He shall depart from thee, and his Children with him, for they are my Servants. Therefore Children in their Infancy being God's Servants, why should they not have Baptism, which is the Tessera, the Mark or Seal which God sets upon his Servants.

3d Arg. Is from 1 Cor. 7.14. But now are your Children holy. Children are not called Holy, as if they were free from Original Sin, but in the Judgment of Charity they are to be esteemed holy and true Members of the Church of God, because their Parents are Believers. Hence that excellent Divine Mr. Heldersam saith, That the Children of the Faithful, as soon as they are born have a Covenant-Holiness, and so a Right and Title to Baptism, which is the Token of the Covenant.