B20736:306
The way of the churches of Christ in New-England, or, The way of churches…The vvay of the churches of Christ in New-England, or, The vvay of churches…
The way of the churches of Christ in New-England, or, The way of churches walking in brotherly equality, or co-ordination, without subjection of one church to another measured and examined bight golden reed of the sanctuary, containing a full declaration of the church-way in all particulars / by Mr. J. Cotton ...The vvay of the churches of Christ in New-England, or, The vvay of churches walking in brotherly equalitie, or co-ordination, without subjection of one church to another measured and examined bythe golden reed of the sanctuary, containing a full declaration of the church-way in all particulars / by Mr. J. Cotton ...
London: printed by Matthew Simmons, 1645
THE Way of the Churches of Christ in NEW-ENGLAND, Measured by the G… › Chapter 4 › Section 6
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.
Object. Moreover, it is still further objected in behalf of Infants, Command. 2 If the mercy of God enlarge it self to thousands, why should men question whether such Infants belong to the Covenant, and so keep them from the Sacrament of Baptism, which is due to them by the right of their Ancestors?
Object. Moreover, it is still further objected in behalfe of Infants, Command. 2 If the mercy of God enlarge it selfe to thousands, why should men question whether such Infants belong to the Covenant, and so keepe them from the Sacrament of Baptisme, which is due to them by the right of their Ancestors?
Answ. 1. If the extension of Gods mercy to thousands, be a sufficient ground to extend Baptism to the children of Excommunicate persons, in the right of their Ancestors; it may suffice as well to extend it to the children of Turks and Infidels, and Apostates, and so the difference of the one from the other (urged in the last Argument) ⟨p. 87⟩will be taken away. For it is not above 66. Generations from Noah to Christ, as is plain in the Genealogy, Luk. 3.23. to 38. and there have not passed as many more generations from Christs time to the Turks and Infidels of this present age. And then if Gods mercy to a thousand Generations may fetch in the Children of Excommunicate persons, the same promise may fetch in all Turks and Infidels at this day; we dare not therefore improve the large extension of Gods mercy so far as to give a thousand Generations right and title to the Covenant of God with his Church, and to encourage the Ministers of the Gospel to set the seals of the Covenant thereunto.
Answ. 1. If the extension of Gods mercy to thousands, be a sufficient ground to extend Baptisme to the children of Excommunicate persons, in the right of their Ancestors; it may suffice as well to extend it to the children of Turks and Infidels, and Apostates, and so the difference of the one from the other (urged in the last Argument)