N00045:260
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.
Answ. 1. I do think it's true, that poor Children may be and are […] upon with […], any […] bought •f unbelief, […] of them as Children of wrath by […], and not with such high ⟨p. 19⟩thought• of Faith, as Children, and Sons of God by promise, as I have shown. And I think herein is out great sin, as it was in Christ's own disciples, who were the first▪ that we read of that would not have little Children brought unto him, for which he rebuked them, showing their privilege; and for want of which faith in Gods promise about our children, certainly God smites, and forsakes many of our children.
Answ. 1. I do think it's true, that poor Children may be and are 〈…〉 upon with 〈…〉, any 〈…〉 bought •f unbelief, 〈…〉 of them as Children of wrath by 〈…〉, and not with such high ⟨p. 19⟩thought• of Faith, as Children, and Sons of God by promise, as I have shewn. And I think herein is out great sin, as it was in Christ's own disciples, who were the first▪ that we read of that would not have little Children brought unto him, for which he rebuked them, shewing their priviledge; and for want of which faith in Gods promise about our children, certainly God smites, and forsakes many of our children.
2. If therefore you think that Church-members must consist only of saints by calling; so that your meaning is, such saints as are so by outward and personal profession, from the call of the Gospel, are only to be Church-members; this is an error: For, 1. You know that they who define a Church to be a number of visible saints, they usually put this phrase in, [and their seen] who may not profess faith perhaps as their Fathers do: and you shall find that the Israel of God under the old Testament, are all of them said to be adopted,