N00045:247
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. 4. If children be members, then they must come to the Lords Supper, for you know no difference between member and member, in point of privilege, unless they be under some sin.
Object. 4. If children be members, then they must come to the Lords Supper, for you know no difference between member and member, in point of priviledge, unless they be under some sin.
Answ. 1. Yes verily, there is a plain difference between member and member (though professing believers) in point of privilege, though they lie under no sin: for, a man may speak and prophesy in the Church, not Women. A company of Men may make a Church, and so receive in, and cast out of the Church, but not Woman though professing Saints.
Answ. 1. Yes verily, there is a plain difference between member and member (though professing believers) in point of priviledge, though they lie under no sin: for, a man may speak and prophesy in the Church, not Women. A company of Men may make a Church, and so receive in, and cast out of the Church, but not Woman though professing Saints.
2. All grown men are not to be admitted (though professing Believers) to the Lords Supper; my reason is; A man may Believe in Christ, and yet be very ignorant of the nature, use, and ends of the Lords Supper, now such may be Baptized as soon as ever faith appears, Mark 16. 16. but they may not be admitted to the Lords Supper, because they will be guilty of the body and blo•d of the Lord, if they through their ignorance, cannot discern the Lords body. I know no reason but ignorant persons may be as well suspended from the use of this privilege, though they be true believers (for faith may consist with much ignorance) as well as distracted persons, who notwithstanding may be believers also.