A discourse concerning the subject of baptism wherein the present controversies, that are agitated…A discourse concerning the subject of baptisme wherein the present controversies, that are agitated…

Argument 2. If Children that were received into the Church in their minority may after they be come Adult be cast off, then they continue Members when Adult. For certain it is, that no man can lose that which he hath not, he cannot be cut off from the Relation which he is a stranger to, or be cast out of such as house if he be not within, or cashiered of such a company, if he be not one belonging thereunto; but they that were received into the visible Church when Infants may after they become Adult be cast off, albeit they have no new membership additional to that of their Infant Estate, else why did David say to Solomon, if thou forsake the Lord he will cast thee off for ever, 1 Chron. 28. 9. What was it that Solomon was in danger of being cast off from? surely it was in part that visible Relation, which then being in his ⟨p. 58⟩minority he stood in before the Lord, or his Church-membership: And when was he in danger of being thus cast off? even after his Adult age, therefore Church-membership or visible Relation to God though received in Infancy, doth sometimes continue in Adult age, and vanisheth not with Infancy, did not the Lord himself Denounce and Execute a Dreadful Sentence of Excommunication upon Apostate Israel, Jerem. 3. 8. Now what new Church membership were they deprived of beyond what did in their Infancies appertain to them? yea, and who is able to prove that in the day of their being Cast off by the Lord, they had any better (or near so good) membership or standing in the visible Church, then these have whose Interest we Assert? Moreover, the Author of this Objection acknowledgeth, that members received in Infancy, when they come to be Adult (in Case they break the Covenant) may and ought to be disowned by the Church, now I would know, what is this disowning? either it is an humane device, or it is part of that Discipline which Christ hath appointed in his Church, If it be a humane device, away with it. Let us have nothing in the Church, but what, the Lord Jesus hath Instituted. Especially, let not those who are ready to accuse others with designs of Introducing humane Inventions into the Church, because they would practice that, which upon much study and Enquiry after the mind of Christ, they believe is according to his will, set up an Ordinance which the word speaketh not of.