A80622:512
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 neither are all the Infants of the faithful Parents still-born (I mean, in respect of spiritual life,) and if they were, yet Baptism is not called in Scripture Gods milk: and if it were resembled to milk, yet it is not milk only, but it serveth for many other uses. It is a seal of that Covenant, whereby God promiseth both to be seed, and milk, and strong meat, and medicine, and all in all, unto believers and their children.
For neither are all the Infants of the faithfull Parents still-born (I mean, in respect of spirituall life,) and if they were, yet Baptisme is not called in Scripture Gods milk: and if it were resembled to milk, yet it is not milk onely, but it serveth for many other uses. It is a seale of that Covenant, whereby God promiseth both to bee seed, and milk, and strong meat, and medicine, and all in all, unto beleevers and their children.
Your next exhortation, to take heed how we set dead twigs in his heavenly and divine stock, or natural branches in his holy and spiritual Vine, it hath received Answer above; you have heard before, that dead persons if in Covenant, are alive to God, Luk. 20.37, 38. And though a twig cannot receive life from the stock unless it bring life with it before it be engrafted: yet Christ can give life to dead branches that are put to him, as well as the dead corps of Elisha could give life to the dead man cast into his grave, 2 King. 13.21.
Your next exhortation, to take heed how wee set dead twigges in his heavenly and divine stock, or naturall branches in his holy and spirituall Vine, it hath received Answer above; you have heard before, that dead persons if in Covenant, are alive to God, Luk. 20.37, 38. And though a twigge cannot receive life from the stock unlesse it bring life with it before it be engraffed: yet Christ can give life to dead branches that are put to him, as well as the dead corps of Elisha could give life to the dead man cast into his grave,