A80622:496
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 though the infants themselves be not (it may be) then actually believers, when their Parents are baptized, and themselves with them; yet God who calleth things that are not, as though they were Rom 4.17. He accepteth them into his Covenant by the faith of their Parents, and so they are no longer Pagans and infidels, but the children of the faithful and holy, in whom God hath covenanted to work faith, and the grace of the new birth in the elect seed, and to offer it, and the means thereof unto all the seed, till they utterly reject it: And requireth therefore of the Parents by his Covenant, to neglect no means of grace for the holy institution of their children. And for this end the seal of the Covenant is administered to the Infants to confirm the same to their children on both parts.
For though the infants themselves be not (it may be) then actually believers, when their Parents are baptized, and themselves with them; yet God who calleth things that are not, as though they were Rom 4.17. He accepteth them into his Covenant by the faith of their Parents, and so they are no longer Pagans and infidells, but the children of the faithfull and holy, in whom God hath covenanted to worke faith, and the grace of the new birth in the elect seed, and to offer it, and the meanes thereof unto all the seed, till they utterly reject it: And requireth therefore of the Parents by his Covenant, to neglect no meanes of grace for the holy institution of their children. And for this end the seale of the Covenant is administred to the Infants to confirme the same to their children on both parts.
If therefore we delighted in returning reproaches for reproaches, as you say to us, give the baptizing of believers to Christ, and the baptizing of infants unto Antichrist, so might we more truly and justly return it to you: Give the baptizing of believers and their seed unto Christ; (For the Covenant of Christ is to believers and their seed, and the seal of the Covenant is due, where the faith of either Parent is fit to receive it to their holy seed;) but give the denial of baptism of Infants to Infidels only, and outlaws from the Church, where neither of their Parents being believers, ⟨p. 147⟩