We perceive you will stick with us in more then Ceremonies; To your reasons we Reply, 1. By that reason, all the Children of all Heathens or Infidels in the World should be admitted to Baptism; because they should not be punished for the parents sakes. 2. But we deny that it is (among Christians that believe original Sin) any absurdity to say, that Children are punished for their Parents sakes. 3. But yet we deny this to be any such punishment at all, unless you will call, their non-deliverance a punishment. They are the Children of wrath by nature, and have original Sin; The Covenant of Grace that giveth the saving benefits of Christ, is made to none but the faithful, and their seed; Will you call this a punishing them for their Fathers sakes, that God hath extended his Covenant to no more? Their Parents infidelity doth but leave them in their original Sin, and Misery, and is not further it self imputed to them. If you know of any Covenant or promise of Salvation made to all without condition, or to Infants, or any other condition or qualification, but that they be the seed of the faithful dedicated to God; you should do well to show it us, and not so slightly pass things of so great moment, in which you might much help the World out of darkness, if you can make good what you intimate; If indeed you mean as you seem to speak, That its uncharitableness to punish any Infants for the Parents faults, & that a non-liberation is such a punishment; then you must suppose that all the Infants of Heathens, Jews, & Turks are saved (that die in Infancy), or else Christ is uncharitable; And if they are all saved without Baptism, then Baptism is of no such use, or necessity; as you seem to think: What then is their privilege, of the seed of the faithful, that they are holy, and that the Covenant is made with them, & God will be their God? We fear you will again revive the opinion of the Anabaptists among the people, when they observe that you have no more to say for the Baptizing of the Children of the faithful, then of Infidels, Heathens, & Atheists. To your second Objection we Answer; You will drive many a faithful labourer from the work of Christ, if he may not be in the Ministry, unless he will baptise the Children of Heathens, Infidels, and Excommunicate ones, before […] ⟨p. 122⟩[…] ⟨p. 123⟩[…] ⟨p. 124⟩[…] ⟨p. 125⟩[…] ⟨p. 110⟩[…] ⟨p. 127⟩[…] ⟨p. 128⟩[…] ⟨p. 129⟩⟨p. 130⟩their Parents do repent:
We perceive you will stick with us in more then Ceremonies; To your reasons we Reply, 1. By that reason, all the Children of all Heathens or Infidels in the World should be admitted to Baptism; because they should not be punished for the parents sakes. 2. But we deny that it is (among Christians that believe original Sin) any absurdity to say, that Children are punished for their Parents sakes. 3. But yet we deny this to be any such punishment at all, unless you will call, their non-deliverance a punishment. They are the Children of wrath by nature, and have original Sin; The Covenant of Grace that giveth the saving benefits of Christ, is made to none but the faithfull, and their seed; Will you call this a punishing them for their Fathers sakes, that God hath extended his Covenant to no more? Their Parents infidelity doth but leave them in their original Sin, and Misery, and is not further it self imputed to them. If you know of any Covenant or promise of Salvation made to all without condition, or to Infants, or any other condition or qualification, but that they be the seed of the faithfull dedicated to God; you should do well to shew it us, and not so slightly pass things of so great moment, in which you might much help the World out of darkness, if you can make good what you intimate; If indeed you mean as you seem to speak, That its uncharitableness to punish any Infants for the Parents faults, & that a non-liberation is such a punishment; then you must suppose that all the Infants of Heathens, Jews, & Turks are saved (that die in Infancy), or else Christ is uncharitable; And if they are all saved without Baptism, then Baptism is of no such use, or necessity; as you seem to think: What then is their priviledge, of the seed of the faithfull, that they are holy, and that the Covenant is made with them, & God will be their God? We fear you will again revive the opinion of the Anabaptists among the people, when they observe that you have no more to say for the Baptizing of the Children of the faithfull, then of Infidles, Heathens, & Atheists. To your second Objection we Answer; You will drive many a faithfull labourer from the work of Christ, if he may not be in the Ministry, unless he will baptise the Children of Heathens, Infidels, and Excommunicate ones, before 〈…〉 ⟨p. 122⟩〈…〉 ⟨p. 123⟩〈…〉 ⟨p. 124⟩〈…〉 ⟨p. 125⟩
