A80622:525
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.
1I did make account, this exception had been prevented above, as well as the rest. For we do not ground the Baptism of Infants merely upon the promise of grace, that God is a God to us and our seed: but upon the Commandment of God, that they to whom God is a God, by Covenant, they should receive the seal of the Covenant. Which Commandment was (as you know) expressly given to Abraham: and thereupon he circumcised himself and his seed, Gen. 17.10, 11. If then the same Covenant be now given to the faithful and our seed, and if Baptism be given to us in stead of Circumcision, then the same Commandment which required Abraham to be circumcised and his seed, requireth us to be baptized and our seed. And indeed upon this very ground the Apostle Peter urgeth every one of them who repented, to be baptized, they and their seed, because the promise was given to them and their seed. The strength of which Commandment of his, lay in the Commandment of God to faithful Abraham, to be circumcised and his seed, and the substitution of Baptism now in the room of Circumcision. And verily there is the same moral equity, and reason of the Commandment, both to faithful Israelites, and faithful Christians. For as the Circumcision of Abraham and his seed, confirmed the faith of Abraham, that God would be a God to him and his seed: And also engaged Abraham, both himself to walk in the obedience of Gods will, ⟨p. 153⟩and to train up his children to walk accordingly; so the faithful of the new Testament stand in the like need to have their faith confirmed, that God will be a God to us and our seed: And we are in like sort engaged both to walk in Gods ways our selves, and to bring up our children in the like holy instruction and information of the Lord.
1I did make account, this exception had been prevented above, as well as the rest. For wee doe not ground the Baptisme of Infants meerly upon the promise of grace, that God is a God to us and our seed: but upon the Commandement of God, that they to whom God is a God, by Covenant, they should receive the seale of the Covenant. Which Commandement was (as you know) expressely given to Abraham: and thereupon hee circumcised himself and his seed,