N00045:206
The church-membership of children, and their right to baptism, according to that holy and…The church-membership of children, and their right to baptisme, according to that holy and…
The church-membership of children, and their right to baptism, according to that holy and everlasting covenant of God, established between himself, and the faithful and their seed after them, in their generations: cleared up in a letter, sent unto a worthy friend of the author, and many years ago written touching that subject; / by Thomas Shepard, sometimes Pastor of the Church of Christ at Cambridge in New-England. ; Published at the earnest request of many: for the consolidation and encouragement [sic], both of parents and children in the Lord. ; [Twelve lines of Scripture texts]The church-membership of children, and their right to baptisme, according to that holy and everlasting covenant of God, established between himself, and the faithfull and their seed after them, in their generations: cleared up in a letter, sent unto a worthy friend of the author, and many yeares agoe written touching that subject; / by Thomas Shepard, sometimes Pastor of the Church of Christ at Cambridg in New-England. ; Published at the earnest request of many: for the consolidation and encouragemenr [sic], both of parents and children in the Lord. ; [Twelve lines of Scripture texts]
printed by Samuel Green, 1663
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
These things being clear, I the rather make mention of them, to undermine divers usual objections against the Membership, and Covenant-Interest of Children; as, that they have no saving Grace many times; and that they make no actual profession of any grace; and that many of them degenerate, and prove corrupt, and wicked &c. for suppose all these, yet God may take them into outward Covenant (which is sufficient to make them the Church-Seed or Members of the Church) although he doth not receive them into inward Covenant, in bestowing upon them saving Grace, or Power to profess it, nay though they degenerate, and grow very corrupt afterward.
These things being clear, I the rather make mention of them, to undermine d•vers usual objections against the Membership, and Covenant-Interest of Children; as, that they have no saving Grace many times; and that they make no actuall profession of any grace; and that many of them degenerate, and prove corrupt, and wicked &c. for suppose all these, yet God may take them into outward Covenant (which is sufficient to make them the Church-Seed or Members of the Church) although he doth not receive them into inward Covenant, in bestowing upon them saving Grace, or Power to profess it, nay though they degenerate, and grow very corrupt afterward.
3. Because you may question what this outward Covenant i•, to which the seals are annexed; and under which we shall prove, ⟨p. 3⟩Children are comprehended; and because the Knowledge of it is exceeding useful and very pleasant, I shall therefore […] a short taste of it, as a light to our after-discourse, especially as it is considered in the largest extent of it. This outward covenant therefore consists chiefly of these three branches, or special promises:
3. Because you may question what this outward Covenant i•, to which the seales are annexed; and under which we shall prove,