A80622:506
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 is to no purpose to ask us (as you do) what can be more natural, then begetting and bringing forth of the Infant, before feeding of it at the Mothers breasts? Is it not sacrilege to press such upon the Paps of the Wife of Christ (his Church) with whom she never travelled, or bare of her body?
It is to no purpose to ask us (as you doe) what can bee more naturall, then begetting and bringing forth of the Infant, before feeding of it at the Mothers brests? Is it not sacriledge to presse such upon the Pappes of the Wife of Christ (his Church) with whom shee never travelled, or bare of her body?
For we do not look at the Sacraments, neither doth the Scripture take them, as the breasts, or Paps of the Church; The wit of man can make an Image to it self, and then play before it, as the Israelites did before the golden Calf. Twice doth the Scripture mention the breasts of the Church, and never meaneth them for the Sacraments, but for the Ministers of the Church, full of the sincere milk of the Word, equal in Office (as the breasts hoin bigness) and such as do themselves feed among Lilies, Cant. 4.5. and 7.3. and 8.10. You must strain your wit far, to make the breasts of the Church agree to the Sacraments, Baptism is rather the Navel of the Church, whereby the Infant hath nourishment derived to it before it be born, Cant. 7.2. And as for the Lords Supper, if it be the other of the two breasts of the Church, the oldest and strongest Christians had still need to suck of that breast; and so must become again babes in Christ. Yea Baptism it self, though it be a seal of Regeneration whether past, or to come, yet it sealeth up also such deliverance from afflictions, and persecutions, (1 Pet. 3 21.) and such sanctification, and cleansing from all sin, to present us to Christ without spot or wrinkle (