N00045:226
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.
Argum: 2. If it was the curse of Gentiles, to be strangers to the Covenants of promise (made with the Jews) before they became the Churches of God; then by being Churches, this Curse is removed; and hence Ephe. 2. 12, 13. The Apostle saith they were strangers to the Covenant, and Common-wealth of Israel, but are not so now. If you say that the Ephesians were in Covenant, but not their seed, and so they were not strangers? I Answer that the Apostle doth not set out their cursed estate merely because they were without any Covenant, but because they were strangers to that Covenant of promise which the Israelites had; for if their children had it not, they were then as without Covenant▪ so without God, and without hope, as Pagans are, which is notoriously cross to the current of all Scripture, as may afterward appear.
Argum: 2. If it was the curse of Gentiles, to be strangers to the Covenants of promise (made with the Jews) before they became the Churches of God; then by being Churches, this Curse is removed; and hence Ephe. 2. 12, 13. The Apostle saith they were strangers to the Covenant, and Common-wealth of Israel, but are not so now. If you say that the Ephesians were in Covenant, but not their seed, and so they were not strangers? I Answer that the Apostle doth not set out their cursed estate meerly because they were without any Covenant, but because they were strangers to that Covenant of promise which the Israelites had; for if their children had it not, they were then as without Covenant▪ so without God, and without hope, as Pagans are, which is notoriously cross to the current of all Scripture, as may afterward appear.
Argum: 3. The Apostle expressly saith [Your children are holy] 1 Cor. 7 14. and if severally holy, then of the Church, [for real holiness cannot be here meant] and in the Covenant of its even as 'tis said