Ratio disciplinae fratrum Nov-Anglorum. A faithful account of the discipline professed and practised; in…

But it has been said, — The Offspring of These. — The First Planters of New-England, having their Eye very much upon the Welfare of their Offspring, it can't be wondered at, if the Churches are for having their Offspring brought with them into the Covenant of their GOD. They find the Covenant of Grace under the Old Testament, extended unto the Offspring of the Faithful: And they have not yet seen any Scripture in the New to cut them off, or shut them out. No; But the Infants of the Faithful are there called, Holy Ones; And they think, Holy Ones ought to be Baptised, and come under a Baptismal Consecration. They do not know, That our Gracious GOD ever ⟨p. 70⟩took a People into His Covenant, but He took their Offspring with them.

But it has been said, — The Offspring of These. — The First Planters of New-England, having their Eye very much upon the Welfare of their Offspring, it can't be wondred at, if the Churches are for having their Offspring brought with them into the Covenant of their GOD. They find the Covenant of Grace under the Old Testament, extended unto the Offspring of the Faithful: And they have not yet seen any Scripture in the New to cut them off, or shut them out. No; But the Infants of the Faithful are there called, Holy Ones; And they think, Holy Ones ought to be Baptised, and come under a Baptismal Consecration. They do not know, That our Gracious GOD ever ⟨p. 70⟩took a People into His Covenant, but He took their Offspring with them.

Wherefore,

The BAPTISM of the Lord, is administered in the Churches, not only unto those who actually and publicly give their Consent unto the Covenant of Grace, but also to the Infants of such Visible Believers. They do not think, that in thus practising of Infant Baptism, they can be charged with departing from the Practise of the Primitive Churches. Origen expressly says, Parvuli baptizantur in Remissionem Peccatorum; Little Children are baptized; Even such as he supposes to be, under three or four Years old. The Testimonies of Irenaeus and Cyprian, for Infant Baptism are well known. And it is well known that an African Council whereat Threescore and Six Bishops were present, A. C. 254. Considering the Case, Whether Infants might be baptised, before the second or third, or eighth Day, determined the Baptism of Infants to be performed as soon as it was possible to be expected: Baptism they would have observed, Magis circa Infantes ipsos et Recens Natos, rather for new born Infants than for any.