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…

But when you make the Infants opposition of his Baptism to his uttermost ability, a sign of its far distance of being passive in the same.

But when you make the Infants opposition of his Baptisme to his uttermost ability, a signe of its farre distance of being passive in the same.

The truth is by how much the more the Infant opposeth his baptism, by so much the more he is active against it, and therefore being baptized nevertheless, he is so much the more passive under it. Your phrase therefore of a passive subject of Baptism, is ill chosen to express your meaning, you might have more suitably said in plainer terms, None are capable subjects of Baptism, but such as gladly receive it. And for that you might have had some colour from the Word, but that the free and voluntary acts of parents in the matters of the second commandment, are accounted of God for themselves and their children, as was showed above.

The truth is by how much the more the Infant opposeth his baptisme, by so much the more hee is active against it, and therefore being baptized neverthelesse, hee is so much the more passive under it. Your phrase therefore of a passive subject of Baptisme, is ill chosen to expresse your meaning, you might have more suitably said in plainer termes, None are capable subjects of Baptisme, but such as gladly receive it. And for that you might have had some colour from the Word, but that the free and voluntary acts of parents in the matters of the second commandement, are accounted of God for themselves and their children, as was shewed above.

Furthermore, when you exclude Infants from being true passive subjects to receive Baptism, because they are not brought to a free voluntary subjection to receive Baptism: Do but consider a while, what kind of passive subjection is found in mn in their regeneration, whereof Baptism is the sign. The subjects of regeneration, are neither active subjects to receive grace, as the Moon is to receive light from the Sun a (being a lightsome body of it self) or as a beggar is to receive an Ales, that stretcheth out his hand for it: nor passively subject, as the air i to receive light, which though it be dark maketh no opposition against it: but they are forcibly subject, as being neither able nor willing to come to Christ, except they be drawn, and drawn by the same Almighty power, as whereby a dead man is raised to life. Now if men be forcibly subject to receive converting grace in their regeneration, there is in it nothing repugnant to the nature of Baptism in it self (which is a sign of regeneration) to admit Infant to it, though they shall be forcibly subject to i. This forcible opposition to Baptism is of simple Ignorance, not knowing what he Ordinance is: and their opposition is easily overcome by human power. Whereas our opposition in receiving regenerating grace is far more perverse and untractable, not to be overruled but