An humble inquiry into the rules of the Word of God, concerning the qualifications…

The insisting on this Objection would savour of much Stupidity. For the Objection seems to suppose the Country to be full of those that are Unconverted, and so exposed every Moment to eternal Damnation; yet it seems we don't hear such great and general Complaints and lamentable Outcries concerning this. Now why is it looked upon so dreadful, to have great Numbers going without the Name and honourable Badge of Christianity, that there should be loud and general Exclamations concerning such a Calamity; when at the same Time it is no more resented and laid to Heart, that such Multitudes go without the Thing, which is infinitely more dreadful? Why are we so silent about this? What is the Name good for, without the Thing? Can Parents bear to have their Children go about the World in the most odious and dangerous State of Soul, in Reality the Children of the Devil, and condemned to eternal Burnings; when at the same Time they can't bear to have 'em disgraced by going without the Honour of being baptized! An high Honour and Privilege this is; yet how can Parents be contented with the Sign, exclusive of the Thing signified! Why should they covet the external Honour for their Children, while they are so careless about the spiritual Blessing! Don't this argue a Senselessness of their own Misery, as well as of their Children's, in being in a Christless State? If a Man and his Child were both together bitten by a Viper, dreadfully swollen, and like to die, would it not argue Stupidity in the Parent, to be anxiously concerned only about his Child's having on a dirty Garment in such Circumstances, and angry at others for not putting some outward Ornament upon it? But the Difference in this present Case is infinitely greater & more important. Let Parents pity their poor Children, because they are without Baptism; and pity themselves, who are in Danger of everlasting ⟨p. 129⟩Misery, while they have no Interest in the Covenant of Grace, and so have no Right to Covenant-Favours or Honours, for themselves nor Children. No religious Honours, to be obtained in any other Way than by real Religion, are much worth contending for. And in Truth, it is no Honour at all to a Man, to have merely the outward Badges of a Christian, without being a Christian indeed; any more than it would be an Honour to a Man that has no Learning, but is a mere Dunce, to have a Degree at College;

The insisting on this Objection would savour of much Stupidity. For the Objection seems to suppose the Country to be full of those that are Unconverted, and so exposed every Moment to eternal Damnation; yet it seems we don't hear such great and general Complaints and lamentable Outcries concerning this. Now why is it looked upon so dreadful, to have great Numbers going without the Name and honourable Badge of Christianity, that there should be loud and general Exclamations concerning such a Calamity; when at the same Time it is no more resented and laid to Heart, that such Multitudes go without the Thing, which is infinitely more dreadful? Why are we so silent about this? What is the Name good for, without the Thing? Can Parents bear to have their Children go about the World in the most odious and dangerous State of Soul, in Reality the Children of the Devil, and condemned to eternal Burnings; when at the same Time they can't bear to have 'em disgraced by going without the Honour of being baptized! An high Honour and Privilege this is; yet how can Parents be contented with the Sign, exclusive of the Thing signified! Why should they covet the external Honour for their Children, while they are so careless about the spiritual Blessing! Don't this argue a Senselesness of their own Misery, as well as of their Children's, in being in a Christless State? If a Man and his Child were both together bitten by a Viper, dreadfully swollen, and like to die, would it not argue Stupidity in the Parent, to be anxiously concerned only about his Child's having on a dirty Garment in such Circumstances, and angry at others for not putting some outward Ornament upon it? But the Difference in this present Case is infinitely greater & more important. Let Parents pity their poor Children, because they are without Baptism; and pity themselves, who are in Danger of everlasting