A80622:529
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 we do also now require the like from Proselytes or converts of grown years, whether Jews or Pagans. But show us any ground from Scripture (either out of the Old or New Testament) whereby infants are excluded either from the Covenant, or from the seal of the Covenant, and then we shall plead no longer for the Baptism of infants from the Analogy of Circumcision.
For we doe also now require the like from Proselytes or converts of grown yeares, whether Jewes or Pagans. But shew us any ground from Scripture (either out of the Old or New Testament) whereby infants are excluded either from the Covenant, or from the seale of the Covenant, and then we shall plead no longer for the Baptisme of infants from the Analogie of Circumcision.
1I will not press again, that which hath been alleged before. But there is something further that sticks with me, which may answer your demand, and give you a ground for the exclusion of Infants, alleged out of Gal. 4.22, 23, 24, 25. Where the two Mothers, Hagar, and Sarah type out the two Testaments; and their two sons, Ishmael, and Isaac, type out the subjects of the same; the one by the bond-woman, born after the flesh; but he of the free-woman was by promise, v. 23. Now as Hagar the mother, signified the old state in general; so Ishmael her son, signified the children of the same state, borne after the flesh, as he was. For though he was the child of Abraham, yet he was no child of promise. Now for Sarah she was the lawful wife of Abraham, and so a free-woman, with whom the Apostle compareth the estate of the Church of the New Testament, the true Spouse and wife of Christ, who is free from all servitude and bondage, and stands only in subjection to Christ her husband, as Sarah did to Abraham; and Isaac her son, signifying the true, holy, and blessed seed. Of this holy stock, according to the Spirit, and so as Isaac was true heir according to promise. For the Gospel approveth of none, as true heirs of the blessing, and so the right seed, and truly in the Covenant, but only such as the promise produceth and brings forth, as it did Isaac. For Isaac came not by ordinary course of nature, but by virtue of the promise of