Another essay for investigation of the truth, in answer to two questions, concerning I.…

Reply. 1. Notwithstanding what is said in the Proposition, Parents may put a bar to hinder their children from being baptized regularly. A man may do and be all that is there required, yet have no Faith in Christ, but be an unregenerate person; and that will put a bar to hinder himself and his infant-seed from entering into the Kingdom of God, Joh. 3. 3,5. and, by consequence, from the Seal of entrance. 2. Nor can they prove that all adult persons, whom they admit into personal and immediate Membership, are such as the Proposition describeth. For, I demand, Do they all understand the Doctrine of Faith? What course do they take to know it? If they do not, their publicly professing their assent thereunto, is a mere mockery. A Pa••e•-like saying the Doctrine of Faith, and an ignorant assent thereunto, may justly be a bar of gross Ignorance, Atheism, and Infidelity, and Hypocrisy. P••lip brought the Eunuch to understand what he read, before it could become a word of faith to him, Acts 8. 2. Nor is literal understanding what they assent to, sufficient to remove all bars: These the Devils do, Jam. 2. 19. A right manner of knowing and assenting, must be added. Such a manner of knowing, whereby the Church may judge that Christ is let into the Soul. As Reverend Mr. Hooker was wont to say, Such a professed Assent, as hath a professed Consent joined with it, Isa. 1. 19. Such a manner of knowing and consenting, as produceth Obedience flowing from Faith: which is the next end of the Ministry of the Gospel, Rom. 1. 5. & 16. 26. Else, they are defiled, and unbelieving, to whom nothing is pure, but even their mind and conscience is defiled, who profess that they know God, but in their works they deny him, Tit 1. 15. 16. 3. And though they are not scandalous in life, but solemnly own the Covenant before the Church, wherein they give up themselves and their children to the Lord, and subject themselves to the Government of Christ in […] Church; Yet all these may be affirmed of many who have a for of godliness, but deny the power thereof: From such, Pa (who taught him how he ought […] behave himself in the House of […] which is the Church of the living God, the pillar and ground of Truth,