N00045:280
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.
That all of the family & nation in former times, were of the Church: ⟨p. 26⟩this is false, for God never took any […] his Church, but as they were Believers, at le•• […], in that Nation; I say Believers: which either are practised believers: or promised believers; such as by outward Covenant shall have the means to be made believers in […]; and hence you have heard, that the Nation of the Jews […] by Faith, and were broken […] by unbelief, and if any rejected the Covenant: as […] and […], they were […] of that Church, though they did, and might dwell in […] nation, as […].
That all of the family & nation in former times, were of the Church: ⟨p. 26⟩this is false, for God never took any 〈…〉 his Church, but as they were Believers, at le•• 〈…〉, in that Nation; I say Believers: which either are practised believers: or pro•ised believers; such as by outward Covenant shall have the meanes to be made believers in 〈…〉; and hence you have heard, that the Nation of the Jews 〈…〉 by Faith, and were broken 〈…〉 by unbeliefe, and if any rejected the Covenant: as 〈…〉 and 〈…〉, they were 〈…〉 of that Church, though they did, and might dwell in 〈…〉 nation, as 〈…〉.
2. You think that Visible personal Faith only, makes the Church, and members or it; which in error, as may appear from many things already […]: for Children may be in Gods account professors or […] Faith parentally, as well as personally […] the profession of their parents, as well as in their own; And sense you shall had, that the Covenant God entered into with the Parents of Church-members personally, the Children are said, to have that Covenant […] with them many hundred years after; See for this purpose, among hundreds, their […]. Scriptures, […] 2. 5. In Haggai time God is id to make a Covenant with them th then they came […] of Egypt (which was at personally, but parentally) so Haes 12. 4, 5. when od entered into Covenant with Jacob at Bethel; God is said to speak […], who lived many years after; and ence the Children many years […], challenge Gods Covenant with them, which was made with their Fathers for them, […] 7. 19, 20. Hence also […] Children are said to co to Christ (who were not able to […]) but only were brought in the arms of others to Christ. It's […] thing among […], that a Father ay receive a gift, or Legacy given to him, and his heirs, and he, and his heirs are bound […] perform the condition of the Covenant, and promise by which it is conveyed, and that the Child doth this in his Father.