A80622:274
The grounds and ends of the baptism of the children of the faithful. Opened…The grounds and ends of the baptisme of the children of the faithfull. Opened…
The grounds and ends of the baptism of the children of the faithful. Opened in a familiar discourse by way of a dialogue, or brotherly conference. / By the learned and faithful minister of Christ, John Cotton, teacher of the Church of Boston in New-England.The grounds and ends of the baptisme of the children of the faithfull. Opened in a familiar discourse by way of a dialogue, or brotherly conference. / By the learned and faithfull minister of Christ, John Cotton, teacher of the Church of Boston in New-England.
London: printed by R.C. for Andrew Crooke, 1646
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.
Secondly, though they who are not begotten and borne of faithful Parents, cannot plead right in the Covenant, by the faith of their Parents: yet they may claim it by their own faith, if God grant it to them. If not, it is no marvel to a Christian heart, that the faith of believing Parents conveyeth a greater blessing to their children, then unbelieving Parents can expect to themselves, or theirs. Doth not obedience to the Law convey a far greater blessing unto a godly man and his seed, even to a thousand generations, then a wicked carnal parent can expect to him and his? Exod. 20.5, 6. And if so, then doubtless the obedience of faith may expect a far greater blessing to a believer and his seed, then an infidel or unbeliever can hope for in his natural and carnal estate and course to himself or his.
Secondly, though they who are not begotten and borne of faithfull Parents, cannot plead right in the Covenant, by the faith of their Parents: yet they may claime it by their owne faith, if God grant it to them. If not, it is no marvaile to a Christian heart, that the faith of believing Parents conveyeth a greater blessing to their children, then unbelieving Parents can expect to themselves, or theirs. Doth not obedience to the Law convey a farre greater blessing unto a godly man and his seed, even to a thousand generations, then a wicked carnall parent can expect to him and his? Exod. 20.5, 6. And if so, then doubtlesse the obedience of faith may expect a far greater blessing to a beleever and his seed, then an infidell or unbeliever can hope for in his naturall and carnall estate and course to himself or his.
1If infants be in the Covenant of grace by virtue of their birth from believing parents, then such infants are borne in a saving state of grace, and were never out of the same. Which doctrine maketh void many heavenly and divine truths, which speak to the contrary: which lay all under sin and curse, till Christ by his blood redeem them, and by his heavenly voice call them, and by his Spirit beget them unto a lively hope: who are therefore said to be borne again from above. For none can be under grace, and under wrath and curse at one and the same time, in the outward dispensation of the same.