N00045:266
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.
Quest. 1. What good (say you) is it, either for a wicked, or an elect Child, till he be converted, to be in the Church? or what good may any have by being in the Church, till they can profit by what they enjoy?
Answ. 1 The Apostle put's the like case, and gives you an Answer Rom. 3. 1, 2. what advantage hath the Jew, and what profit is there of Circumcision? what use or profit could the Infants then make of their Church-Covenant, Membership, or Seal, who understood none of these things? do you think the Lord exposed his holy ordinances then unto contempt? and is more careful that they may be profitably used now? was there no good by Circumcision? yea saith the Apostle, much every way.
Answ. 1 The Apostle put's the like case, and gives you an Answer Rom. 3. 1, 2. what advantage hath the Jew, and what profit is there of Circumcision? what use or profit could the Infants then make of their Church-Covenant, Membership, or Seal, who understood none of these things? do you think the Lord exposed his holy ordinances then unto contempt? and is more carefull that they may be profitably used now? was there no good by Circumcision? yea saith the Apostle, much every way.
2. What profit is it to persons grown up to years, and yet secretly hypocrites, who enter into the Church by profession of the faith? you will say there is good and profit in respect of the privileges themselves, but they abusing them they had, in this respect, better have been without them, because they bring hereby upon themselves greater condemnation. The same say I of children, whom God receives into his ⟨p. 21⟩