A80622:480
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.
For Nicodemus did not scruple his Church estate, nor enquire how he might enter into the visible Church, but how he might be saved, and inherit the Kingdom of Glory. And therefore Christ directeth him to Regeneration, and to believe in his Name, that he might attain unto everlasting life. Joh. 3.5.14, 15, 16. And though he speak of water, as co-working with the Spirit in Regeneration, (ver. 5.) yet by water may either be understood the Spirit it self (as washing the soul like water, in Regeneration:) or, if Baptism be understood, yet it is not there considered, as a necessary ingredient to Church-fellowship, but as a necessary instrument of the Spirit, unto the sealing up of Regeneration, the careless neglect and contempt whereof, would exclude from salvation, Luk. 7.30.
For Nicodemus did not scruple his Church estate, nor enquire how hee might enter into the visible Church, but how hee might bee saved, and inherit the Kingdome of Glory. And therefore Christ directeth him to Regeneration, and to beleeve in his Name, that hee might attain unto everlasting life. Joh. 3.5.14, 15, 16. And though hee speak of water, as co-working with the Spirit in Regeneration, (ver. 5.) yet by water may either bee understood the Spirit it self (as washing the soule like water, in Regeneration:) or, if Baptisme bee understood, yet it is not there considered, as a necessary ingredient to Church-fellowship, but as a necessary instrument of the Spirit, unto the sealing up of Regeneration, the carelesse neglect and contempt whereof, would exclude from salvation, Luk. 7.30.
It would therefore seem a more reasonable matter,1 to administer Baptism to a person, when the spirit is in hand with his Regeneration. But to what end shall Baptism be administered to Infants, when we do not discern that the Spirit is about any such work as the Regeneration of them?