A80622:456
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.
It troubleth me to hear you call such plain points both in Religion, and Nature, Mysteries,1 whereby you mean dark Riddles above your capacity. It was a sad speech of our Saviour concerning such as to whom it was not given to know the mysteries of God, Matth. 13.11. The Lord give you understanding in his heavenly Mysteries. When you make it a mystery, how persons can be fit and capable of union in a state, and yet not be fit and capable of Communion in the Ordinances of the same state: You know we esteem infants fit and capable Persons of the Covenant, and of the seal of it, Baptism. If you think otherwise, then you do expressly make Infants unfit and uncapable of Union with Christ, or with his Church, and so uncapable of the Kingdom of Heaven: Which sometime you disclaim. But if you speak of (all) Ordinances, you speak against common sense, and experience. Infants are members of the Common-wealth, and so are they also of the family: and accordingly fit and capable of Union with both estates. And yet they are neither capable of the Ordinance of Government, nor of the Ordinance of obedience to the Laws and orders in either state.
It troubleth mee to hear you call such plain points both in Religion, and Nature, Mysteries,1 whereby you mean dark Riddles above your capacity. It was a sad speech of our Saviour concerning such as to whom it was not given to know the mysteries of God, Matth. 13.11. The Lord give you understanding in his heavenly Mysteries. When you make it a mystery, how persons can bee fit and capable of union in a state, and yet not bee fit and capable of Communion in the Ordinances of the same state: You know wee esteeme infants fit and capable Persons of the Covenant, and of the seale of it, Baptisme. If you thinke otherwise, then you doe expresly make Infants unfit and uncapable of Union with Christ, or with his Church, and so uncapable of the Kingdom of Heaven: Which sometime you disclaime. But if you speak of (all) Ordinances, you speak against common sense, and experience. Infants are members of the Common-wealth, and so are they also of the family: and accordingly fit and capable of Union with both estates. And yet they are neither capable of the Ordinance of Goverment, nor of the Ordinance of obedience to the Laws and orders in either state.