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…

2. That discipline and Government which Christ hath appointed in his Church hath been exercised towards Children [according to their Capacity] even in all Ages of the world, so it was when the Church was domestical, Gen. 4. 16. and 21. 10. and after the Church became National, Gal. 5. 3. This (I take it) is questioned by none, or very few. Now in as much as to be under the wing of Christs Government in his Church, is a very high Privilege, he that shall affirm that although the Children of the Jews were invested with this Privilege, yet that the Children of Christians are divested thereof, had need to have strong Reasons to prove this Assertion, and must show us the Repeal from Scripture, or we cannot believe him. Besides, if due enquiry be made into the Catholic practice of the N. T. Church, it will be found that such persons as we are speaking of, have ever been looked upon, as within the verge of the Churches power and discipline. Clemens […] in his divine Epistle to the Church of ^[b]Corinthians, bids them look well to this. Let (says he) your Children be made partakers of that discipline which is in Christ. This Testimony is the more to be valued, for that this Clemens is thought to be the very same person that we read of in the Scriptures, as one of Pauls ^[c]Fellow Labourers, Phil 4. 3. And that Epistle of his doth wholly Savour of a Primitive and Apostolical Spirit, and thence was most highly valued by the Ancients, being honourably mentioned by ^(d)Irenoeus, ^(e)Hiero•, ^(f)Eusebiu, ^[g]Necophorus &c. And in after times baptized ones (one Question is of such) were kept under a strict discipline, which also was the Reason why some deferred their Baptism, yea, detained their Children from Baptism a long time, so it was with Austin