5. That the Baptism which is appointed for and applied unto infants is not to no purpose. It would be too large a digression here to insert what may be said to make it evident that infant Baptism is a Divine institution, appointed by God to be applied ⟨p. 84⟩to the Infants of his professing people. That they are included in Gods Covenant, and have the qualifications rendering them capable of this Ordinance, hath been so often and substantially made good against all the attempts that have been used to undermine this Doctrine, that I hope duly considerate persons will not call it in question: Now upon the supposition, which I reckon to be sufficiently evident, That these Infants are Baptised by Gods Command, and that this Baptism is a visible seal of the Gospel Covenant unto them, as Circumcision was of the Covenant of Grace under a more legal dispensation of it; certainly then God had some end in this appointment; for we know that he doth nothing, he commands nothing in vain: and this design must have a respect either to the Children, or to the Parents, or to both, mediately; and to the Glory of God ultimately: This very thing must bring some glory or other unto God, either from the one, or the other, or both. In respect of the Children who are made the Subjects of this Ordinance; we cannot readily conceive that it should increase their Condemnation upon the supposition that they die in their Infancy; and the reason is because, as they cannot understand the nature and design of it, so they are incapable of actually abusing it: and how it can possibly have a moral influence ⟨p. 85⟩upon them to draw them unto Christ, is beyond our ability to conceive, in as much as they have not any present knowledge of it: and a physical operation, it can have none at all, it being purely Sacramental: and we have reason to think that the Spirit of God worketh faith and holiness in them, at least habitually, immediately. In the Pa•ents, it hath a very good end and design, viz. not only to lay them under a strong obligation of Duty, but also potently to encourage them to be strenuous in the doing of it, upon the good Hope which they do hence entertain, because it hath pleased God to make them his Sealed Ones, and to appoint that his name should be called upon them;
5. That the Babtism which is appointed for and applied unto infants is not to no purpose. It would be too large a digression here to insert what may be said to make it evident that infant Babtiism is a Divine institution, appointed by God to be applied ⟨p. 84⟩to the Infants of his professing people. That they are included in Gods Covenant, and have the qualifications rendring them capable of this Ordinance, hath been so often and substantially made good against all the attempts that have been used to undermine this Doctrine, that I hope duly considerate persons will not call it in question: Now upon the supposition, which I reckon to be sufficiently evident, That these Infants are Baptised by Gods Command, and that this Baptism is a visible seal of the Gospel Covenant unto them, as Circumcision was of the Covenant of Grace under a more legal dispensation of it; certainly then God had some end in this appointment; for we know that he doth nothing, he commands nothing in vain: and this design must have a respect either to the Children, or to the Parents, or to both, mediately; and to the Glory of God ultimately: This very thing must bring some glory or other unto God, either from the one, or the other, or both. In respect of the Children who are made the Subjects of this Ordinance; we cannot readily conceive that it should encrease their Condemnation upon the supposition that they dy in their Infancy; and the reason is because, as they cannot unders•and the nature and design of it, so they are incapable of actually abusing it: and how it can possibly have a moral influence ⟨p. 85⟩upon them to draw them unto Christ, is beyond our ability to conceive, in as much as they have not any present knowledge of it: and a physical operation, it can have none at all, it being purely Sacramental: and we have reason to think that the Spirit of God worketh faith and holiness in them, at least habitually, immediately. In the Pa•ents, it hath a very good end and design, viz. not only to lay them under a strong obligation of Duty, but also potently to encourage them to be strenuous in the doing of it, upon the good Hope which they do hence entertain, because it hath pleased God to make them his Sealed Ones, and to appoint that his name should be called upon them;
