N00045:237
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.
Object: 2. If Children (say you) be members, then all Children, good and bad, must be received, as Jacob and Esau &c:
Answ. Why not? for if there be any strength in this Argument, it holds as strongly against the admission of professing visible believers: where, though all are externally, and federally holy, yet some, yea many, yea the greatest part of such may be inwardly bad, and as profane in their hearts, as Esau: and must we therefore refuse them to be Church-members because many of them may be inwardly bad? verily there must then never be Churches of God in this world. So 'tis among children, they are all outwardly holy, yet many of them may be inwardly unholy, like Esau, must we not therefore accept them to Membership? It is a miserable mistake to think that inward real holiness is the only ground of admission into Church-Membership, as some Anabaptists dispute, but it is federal holiness, whether externally professed as in grown persons, or graciously promised unto their seed.
Answ. Why not? for if there be any strength in this Argument, it holds as strongly against the admission of professing visible believers: where, though all are externally, and federally holy, yet some, yea many, yea the greatest part of such may be inwardly bad, and as prophane in their hearts, as Esau: and must we therefore refuse them to be Church-members because many of them may be inwardly bad? verily there must then never be Churches of God in this world. So 'tis among children, they are all outwardly holy, yet many of them may be inwardly unholy, like Esau, must we not therfore accept them to Membership? It is a miserable mistake to think that inward reall holyness is the only ground of admission into Church-Membership, as some Anabaptists dispute, but it is federal holyness, whether externally professed as in grown persons, or graciously promised unto their seed.
Reply 1. But you here Reply, If so, then they are of the Church when they are grown up, and profane, until they are cast out: and to take in profane, is sinful,