N00045:47
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.
4. Because the binding and loosing, mentioned, Mar. 16. the opening and shutting of the doors of the Church by the […] the Kingdom of Heaven, belong to the same power […] subject: hence therefore as none may intrude himself, or can regularly be admitted or let into this or that particular Church without Church-act intervening, so none can be shut out, and deprived of that Membership therein (as abovesaid,) without an act of the same power intervening. Ej•sdem pocesta•s estligare, & solver; cla•dere & […] Mr. Cottons keys cap. 7. pag. 45.
4. Because the binding and loosing, mentioned, Mar. 16. the opening and shutting of the doors of the Church by the 〈…〉 the Kingdom of Heaven, belong to the same power 〈…〉 subject: hence therefore as none may intrude himselfe, or can regularly be admitted or let into this or that particular Church without Church-act intervening, so none can be shut out, and deprived of that Membership therein (as abovesaid,) without an act of the same power intervening. Ej•sdem pocesta•s estligare, & solvere; cla•dere & 〈…〉 Mr. Cottons keyes cap. 7. pag. 45.
5. Taken from Mat. 18, 15, 16, 17, 18. Which command and institution, leaves Churches under a solemn obligation of duty, that when this offending Brother or Church-Member deserveth excommunication that censure be duly inflicted on him; so as that thereby ( viz. the sentence or censure pst against him, in case he will not hear the Church) he must be to the Church as an He then Man, and a Publican. so that it is not a matter of indifferency, [to be observed or not to be observed] but after the steps taken [mentioned in verses 15, 16.] and the brother remain obstinate, 'tis Christ's Charge that then that public process [verse 17.] be attended, whereby the offender become's ecclesiastically bound according to verse 18 Christ therefore requires a Church-act to intervene, as abovesaid, and so the offender is not felo de se.