intended under the name of every creature and that of them God doth require actual believing as of as great or greater necessity to Salvation then to Baptism The words are not He that believeth not shall not be baptized but shall be damned And are you as confident that all Infants are damned as you are that none of them should be baptized I wonder you dare urge this Text against Infant-Baptism which your own heart tells you is as much or more against their Salvation then against their Baptism For my part I conceive Infants are not to be scrued up to that proportion which God requireth of adult persons The Lord will take vengeance on them that know not God that obey not his Gospel 2 Thess 1.8 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down c. Mat. 3.10 Must therefore Infants either know God obey the Gospel and bring forth fruit or he damned May we not feed and clothe Infants because the Word saith He that will not labor must not eat 2 Thess 3.10 Might not the Jews admit Infants into the visible Church because the Psalmist describes the Citizen of Sion you say a Church-member Walking uprightly working righteousness speaking the truth in love contemning vile persons c. Psal 15.1 2 c. The application is easie ANABAPT CAT. Q. What atker grounds have you against Infant-Baptism A. Infants are not fit subjects for Baptism because they do not believe they have not reason to discern between good and evil Deut. 1.39 Faith is an act of the understanding which cometh by hearing as well as an act of the Will and it is unlawful to baptize persons without they believe Acts 8.37 if thou believest it is lawful Act. 10.47 8.12 18.8 ALL the Textt you now produce have been answered before in the first Chapter Examinat Cap. 3. §. 1. save Acts 10.47 from which you may collect That those that had the gift of the Holy Ghost as it is called v. 45. and could speak with tongues v. 46. were to be baptized but sure you will not infer thence That those that have not the said gifts are not to be baptized If you do you will deny all Baptism that is now adays and turn Seeker But as by your Principles you hold Confession of Faith and Repentance sufficient to Baptism without those gifts so you should shew that the foresaid gift and speaking with tongues was in stead of their believing and repenting or else confess that you impertinently alledg this Text. I must now ask you once for all §. 2. what you mean by Believers whether such only as have a true justifying Faith or all that make profession of Faith whether indeed and in truth they have a true justifying Faith or no The first is requisite in foro Dei conscientiae ex parte baptizati that our Baptism may be acceptable to God and comfortable to us 1 Pet. 3.21 So the Eunuch desiring Baptism with the saving benefit thereof and asking not What doth hinder thee from baptizing me but What doth hinder me was answered If thou believest with all thy heart thou mayst But in soro Ecclesiae ex parte baptizantis the latter sufficeth for admission your self being judg No Scripture-rule was transgressed when Judas Simon Magus Ananias and Sapphira were baptized The Eunuch's profession That he believed Jesus Christ to be the Son of God sufficed to present admission of him to Baptism And surely not the inward and spiritual qualifications but the outward and visible estate of persons to be baptized is to be looked at and we should descend to the lowest personal profession of Faith and Repentance being the highest degree of visibility Suppose a Minister had a spirit to discern the inward estate of men as certainly as Christ did of Judas and possibly the Apostles did of some which they baptized yet were he not to withhold from any for want of inward grace the priviledges which they have right and title to by virtue of their visible estate Saint Augustin and others think Judas was admitted to the Lords Supper though he but received panem Domini not panem Dominum and Mr Cartwright also so judgeth from that connection Luk. 22.19 20 21. Certainly he was admitted to the Passover by virtue of his visible estate Ishmael and Esau were regularly circumcised though Abraham knew that the one and Rebecca that the other was not the Elect seed of the Covenant Gen. 17.19 20. with 23. 25.23 Rom. 9 12. We can but charitably judg not infallible know who are Believers and though Infants do not actually believe yet by the judgment of charity if that he our rule we ought to judg that Infants born of Christian Parents are regenerate and have faith habitual or the principle or seed of it so much as is absolutely necessary to their participation of Christ and Salvation by him and that they dying in Infancy are saved see Chap. 5. For though they cannot actually believe or at least not make a profession of their Faith yet they are not to be doomed Infidels no more then they are to be judged irrational or dumb because they cannot actually reason or speak and therefore they unless you can reduce them to a third party which will much strengthen the Popish conceit of a third place for them when they dye Limbus Infantum are to be counted Believers and so methinks Christ accounteth of them Mat. 18.6 with 4. Ever since God gathered a distinct number our of the World to be his Church visible Kingdom City and Houshold §. 3. in opposition to the rest of the World which is the visible Kingdom City or Houshold of Satan God would have the Infants of all who are taken into Covenant to be accounted his and to belong to his Church and Family and not to the Devils If Adam had kept the Covenant of Works his Infant seed had been righteous Adam breaking that Covenant his Infant seed was guilty of that breach and became sinners against the Law though they knew not what the Law or sin against it was Adam being within the Covenant of Grace his Infant seed was so judged likewise For by seed of the woman Genes 3.15 is meant Christ in his minority as well as in his grown years who dyed for Infants as well as others neither are infants to be excluded from the benefit of that Promise The Infants of Noah Abraham and the Jews were members of the same Church with their Parents As Infants of Jews Turks and Pagans though uncapable of those Opinions or Practises are esteemed Jews Turks Pagans so the Infants of Christians though as the children of men they are born in sin Psal 51.5 dead in it Ephes 2.1 3. yet as children of the Church they are visibly Christians not Insidels Jews Turks or Pagans Though a Noble-man a Free-man of a Corporation a visible church-Church-member do beget children as men not as a person of Honor a
Parents be Christian partus sequitur meliorem partem the children are not Infidels but Christian But §. 3. say you there is no command for baptizing such and you call it Will-worship forbidden Lev. 10.1 A tradition and ground-work for more traditions others call it the mark of the beast one of the strongest holds of Antichrist and what not To all which I answer 1. If Nadah and Abihu's offering strange fire fire unsanctified or not taken off the Altar Was Will-worship though the Scripture doth not call it so yet Paedobaptism suppose it be not warranted by the Word cannot be will-worship because it is not an introduction of a new Worship or Ordinance but the misapplication of an old and unquestionable Ordinance of God or if you put on it the worst name you can with any shew of reason the Profanation of an Ordinance as your self call it some of your party which have in derision and contempt of Infant-Baptism baptized Horses Cats or Dogs have been unquestionably guilty of horrible Profanation but not of will-worship 2. Infant-Baptism is grounded on and warranted by the Word of God and therefore is far enough from being a Profanation or so much as the misapplication of an Ordinance That it is so grounded and warranted needs no other proof then what hath already been produced in this Examination upon occasion of the Scriptures and Reasons brought against it 1. They that are Disciples in Scripture-sence are expressed in Christs Commission about Baptism and are to be baptized But Infants of the Church are Disciples in Scripture-sence Therefore they are to be baptized See Chap. 2. Sect. 3. 2. They that are Abrahams seed are to be baptized as you confess But such Infants are the seed of Abraham Therefore they are to the baptized See Chap. 7. 3. They that are visibly Within the Covenant of Grace are to be baptized as you acknowledg But such Infants are visibly Within the Covenant of Grace Therefore they are to be baptized See Chap. 8. 4. They that are to be judged Church-members are to be baptized But such Infants of the Church or born of members of the Church are to be judged Church members Therefore c. 5. They of Whom the Kingdom of God is are to partake of the privileges of the Kingdom of God But of Infants is the Kingdom of God Therefore c. 6. They that are Saints and holy are to be baptized But such Infants are Saints and holy Therefore 7. Christ knew that Baptism was an ancient Ceremony of initiation into the Church and applyed to the Infants of the Church as well as to adult Proselytes yet he took up that Ceremony and advanced it as he did the Postcoenium of the Passover to be a Sacrament of the New Testament without prohibition of Infants from it and therefore he did at least approve it should be administred to Infants See Cap. 2. § 1. In these alone to omit others conscientious enquirers into the mind of the Lord Jesus may find satisfactory grounds of Infant-Baptism especially when they are compared with the grounds of the contrary Opinion and Practice You cannot shew any precept at all §. 4. or president or good warrant in the Word of God that children of believing Parents should be kept from Baptism as you require them to be till they do in their own persons actually believe or make profession of Faith or that any such were baptized in riper years as you would have them now to be Yea I further say that if you can shew me in Scripture any son or daughter of believing Parents baptized I shall shew you that he or she was baptized in Infancy Surely from the time that John Baptist begin his Ministry to the writing of the Apocalyps great multitudes of Infants of Christians grew up to maturity yet amongst them all we read not of one whose Baptism was so delayed nor have we any solid ground to conceive that God at the coming of Christ took away Infants Covenant interest Church membership and Sacramental initiation and made their condition as to this as bad as the Heathen and worse then the Jewish children seeing it cannot be said that God did take these priviledges away in judgment upon occasion of Christs coming from all Infants even Elect children of Elect Parents seeing Infants in the time of the Gospel are not any way more guilty or uncapable then in former times nor can it any way appear that God did it in mercy and sure if it was done it was done either in judgment or mercy for it was a mercy to the Jewish children to have these priviledges and nothing more was conferred upon Infants which lost them then upon adult Christians which did not lose them You cannot shew a precept ' or president for your gathering Churches out of other true Christian Churches for requiring persons before they can be admitted members to give account of the truth of their graces for the Congregations judging whether they have grace or no and consequently whether they were to be admitted or no for a solemn explicite Church-Covenant for the erection of a Church without Officers for the power of such a Church consisting only of unofficed Christians to elect ordain impose hands by one or more of them on their Officers to censure or excommunicate any member yea any or all their Officers when they have them for maintenance of Ministers by Lords Day-Collections formerly urged as an Ordinance of God though of late much waved for a sentence of non-communion with Sister-Churches for Synods only consultative and not decretive for publike ordinary preaching of gifted men not so much as intending the Ministry and their receiving maintenance for their pains and yet these are asserted by men of the Congregational way in which Antipaedobaptists are generally found to be duties priviledges of the Church or Ordinances of God nor can you shew any Church consisting of unbaptized ones such as you account your selves to be your Infant-Baptism being a nullity till you be baptized upon profession und such a Church admitting members commissionating some Disciples to preach and dip nor any precept or president for admission of such which are in your opinion unbaptized to the Lords Supper not for rebaptizing such as were baptized suppose in Infancy in the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost or for renouncing such Baptism nor can you shew any one Text of Scripture in which Infant-Baptism either in express words or in the interpretation of any Apostolick or Primitive Church or Father in the purest Times nor can you shew one visible Church from the beginning of the World to the time when your Opinion was lately broached which was of any long continuance and did neither admit into it nor permit in it any Infant-member Finally §. 5. Should you or I be required a Command for admission of women to the Supper as you require a Command for Infant-Baptism though you can neither shew command
nor example nor good warrant for your contrary opinions and practices what clearer command can we shew for that then for Infant-Baptism Women were not admitted to both the Sacraments of the Old Testament Christ did not admit women no not his own Mother to the Supper There is express uncontroverted mention in the New Testament of women being baptized but not so of women communicating If you alledg that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a name common to women as well as mâ—n ought to communicate 1 Cor. 11.28 it is early evaded by saying that the Apostle confines it to the Male by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 v. 28 29. and the same word is used of Circumcision of which the Male only was capable Joh 7.22 General terms of Disciples Church-members persons in Covenant will carry it for Infants Baptism as well as womens communicating If you alledg That such and such Assemblies in which there were women did break bread you know it may be yea it is doubted by some sober spirits whether that breaking of bread was Sacramental or no and it may be said that the company is said to do it because the Males did it as the whole house of Israel is said to be circumcised and called Circumcision though the Females thereof were not circumcised If you should tell us of housholds admited to the Supper though I know not any such instance in Scripture I might as well say there was no women there or they were excluded as you say there was no Infants in such or such an houshold or if there were they were excluded Lastly If men should bend their strength that way they might as plausibly except against your admission of women usually the forwardest part of your Societies to the Supper as you do or I believe can do against Paedobaptism Oh that our good God would in mercy to this distracted Church and to the deluded Souls therein remove prejudice out of our hearts ANABAPT CAT. Q. Whether do you think Baptism administred in Infancy to be a lawful Baptism and sufficient A. To me it is not for I think it to be a Profanation of an Ordinance for these Reasons 1. Because it is taught by the precepts of men Isai 29.13 not by God Jerem. 7.22 23. YOu hold Exam. Chap. 11. it seems that it is neither lawful nor sufficient and in plain English it is null voyd no Baptism at all But consider I pray you could you prove the nullity of Infant-Baptism as you have a great mind to do what sad consequences would ensue 1. That the people of God for the space of 1600 years using Paedobaptism were destitute of one if not by consequence of both the Sacraments 2. That the Churches in England Scotland France Denmark Sweden Germany Geneva Holland New England c. which have usually no other Baptism but Child-Baptism are no Churches the members thereof being not so much as Christians outwardly nor Sacramentally initiated into the Church in doing whereof you dishonor God and do Satan great service Gods work being to disciple and enchirch the Nations of the World Matt. 28.19 Mark 16.16 2 Cor. 5.19 and Satan's to undesciple and Heâ—thenize the Church either in realty or in reputation for the advancement of his own Kingdom 3. That these and all others must for ever as the case stands want the Sacrament of Baptism except a special and particular warrant come from Heaven as to John Baptist for the setting up of this Ordinance for no man who is both unseparated to the work of the Ministry and unbaptized his Paedobaptism being a nullity and ununited to the Church of Christ can warrantably baptize himself or any other any more then Saul might sacrifice Vzzah stay the Ark Vzziah offer Incense a Midwife Turk Jew or Pagan administer the Sacraments of Christs Church for if Paedobaptism be a nullity because of default in the subject this also will be a nullity for want of commission for you can shew neither precept president nor good warrant for the Word for any man that is unbaptized having no special Commission from God to baptize himself or to baptize any other or for any man to accept of Baptism from such an one which is indeed no Baptism at all John as he had commission from God for his baptizing so he affirms that a man can receive nothing viz. no authority to baptize as he did except it be given him from Heaven John 3. 26 27. as if he would professedly caution the Church against such courses 4. That the Societies of the Independents and Separatists notwithstanding their separation from us do yet except they also turn Anabaptists live within one of the strongest holds of Antichrist are guilty of observing traditions and precepts of men of will-worship of profanation of Gods holy Ordinance of filling the Church with rotten members of confounding the Church and the World together yea say some of you they have the mark of the Beast in their soreheads and by consequence are in the high way to eternal damnation And what worse can you say of any Your Texts prove that God hates hypocrisie and over much regard of the commandments of men and that God did command Obedience rather then Sacrisice as 1 Sam. 15.22 for God did command Sacrifices and Offerings Levit. chap. 1. 2.3 c. What is this to Paedobaptism Will you acknowledg that God hath commanded it to us as he did burnt-offerings and sacrifices to the Jews we our selves say no more for it But if your Texts do forbid all humane inventions in the Worship of God Paedobaptism is yet safe enough for it hath been proved in the foregoing Chapter to have as good warrant from the Word as some other by your self acknowledged Ordinances of God have and better then your opposite Opinion and Practicas ANABAPT CAT. A. Paedobaptism is done in a Wrong manner by sprinkling in stead of Dipping THis exception you begin your Catechisun with telling us that Baptism signifies Dipping Examinat Chap. 12. By Dipping is never signified Sprinkling whence you would infer That Baptism should be by Dipping only and that it is done in a Wrong manner When it is done by Sprinkling wherein you much mistake For. 1. Should the original signification of other Scriptures words be so much squeezed then because the holy Communion is callâ—d a Supper 1 Cor. 11.20 the word signifying a whole meal and the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Cor. 14. Ephes 5. signifies not simply to sing but to sing to a musical Instrument and the original words for the gesture at the Supper signifie lying or leaning on a bed you might with as good reason collect That the holy Communion should be a whole meal That there should be instrumental musick in Churches as well as vocal That men ought to lie or lean on beds at the receiving of the Supper or else the Ordinances are dons in a Wrong manner 2 The word Baptism by
possibly you that published this Catechism may be of the strictest Sect of your Religion as the worst of these at their first separating from us seemed also to be and do abhor to have communion not only with these but with Drunkards Adulterers Swearers c. To you I say if there be not amongst you Drunkards Adulterers Swearers c. Satan himself is none of these but are there not seditious schiâ—matical persons that say all the Church is holy sacrilegious persons that devour that which is holy or dedicated to the service of God and his Church not by themselves which was Ananias his sin but by others Are there not Murderers Railers false Accusers Lyars proud boasters covetous traytors heady high minded lovers of themselves despisers of good men having a form of godliness c. Such an one is Satan As for the rotten members in Paedobaptists Congregations they are or should be duly proceeded against and much good is done that way in many Congregations where Government is set up and people help forward the work humane infirmities both in Rulers and ruled ever have been and will be And more good had been done had not the separation of some from us the exemption by the Civil Powers from Church-government of whosoever will not freely own it the unjust clamors of Presbyterian Rigidness and Tyranny together with the Tumults and Troubles of the Times hindred it As for Infant-Baptism §. 4. it is a consecrating of children to God and formally initiates them into the Church which is a great benefit as casting out or excommunicating out of the Church is a great censure it is an outward distinctive sign of Christians children from Pagans signifies their original sin and necessity of regeneration even before the commission of actual sin and the Salvation of Infants as well as grown men by Christ It makes Infants partakers of the Ordinances at least of the Prayers of the Church as members thereof it pre-engageth them to a Christian Course when they have the least prejudice and obstruction against it and as soon as they are capable to receive the nurture and admonition of the Lord to frequent Ordinances to own Jesus Christ by external profession it binds Parents to be more careful and conscientious of their Religions Education it comforts their hearts godly Parents may speak this experimentally to see their Children thus sealed in assurance that God is their God and the God of their seed Yea God doth sometimes yea always as we ought to judg till the contrary appear baptize them inwardly or inâ—use grace or the seed of it into the Soul of the baptized Infant These and the like were counted great benefits in the time of the Law and are they or can they be mischiefs in the time of the Gospel You assert indeed That delaying of Baptism would make men careful to get knowledg and holiness whereas now they viz. they that do not delay Baptism are careless of both But may they not be as conscientiously taught and as careful and apt to learn in Christs School in his visible Kingdom as out of it baptized as unbaptized Are not many grown persons as forgetful and careless of the Promises they make on their sick beds and other occasions as of those which were made in Infancy Are Anabaptists the only men that are careful to get knowledg and holiness Are not multitudes of persons which were baptized in their Infancy as careful to get knowledg and holiness and as good Proficients therein as any others Is it better not to put children into a lease or grant of a priviledg lest they should be secure and careless to pay rent and do homage then to put them in May not deferring of Baptism so long make them despise it when they come to age Satan may more easily keep children when grown up from receiving Christianity then work them to renounce it though he sometimes prevails with Witches and Wizzards to renounce their Baptism received in Infancy that they may be his vassals and more assured to him Keeping the children of Christians out of the Church is a strange way sure it is none of Gods ways nor is it likely to prevail to make them in love with Christianity If any good can be done by such mediums the warrantable deferring of the Lords Supper alone may do it as well as the unwarrantable delaying of Baptism As for darkening the Doctrine of Baptism experience teacheth us that the Doctrine thereof was clear enough in Scripture and competently understood as well as the Doctrine of the Lords Supper before such opposition hath been made to Infant-Baptism If it be now darkened the darkness is not from Infant-Baptism but from your opposite Opinion and Practice ANABAPT CAT. Q. But may not Infants be baptized if they be Abrahams seed A. Yes But we Gentiles are only Abrahams seed by believing Gal. 3.7 so Rom. 4.16 Gal. 3.29 They that would make the children of Believers to be the seed of Abraham are mistaken for the Scripture speaketh but of three seeds of Abraham viz. Christ Gal. 3.16.2 The carnal seed 3. The Believer Jew or Gentile Gal. 3.28 And they add a fourth seed of Abraham viz. the seed or children of Believers amongst the Gentiles about which the Scripture is silent EIther you do not sufficiently enumerate Exam. Chap. 7. or not rightly understand your enumeration of the Scripture-kinds of Abrahams seed or both For 1. Christ personal is not the whole of Abrahams seed to whom though he be the whole in whom 2 Cor. 1.20 the Promises were made but Christ mystical the whole Church of Christ 1 Cor. 12.12 13. all which whether Jews or Gentiles bond or free I may add young or old are but one in their Head Jesus Christ Gal. 3.28 All that are Christs are Abrahams seed vers 29. and Infants are his as well as grown persons for he became an Infant suffered much in his very Infancy was the Head of the Church while an Infant and therefore might well have Infant-members dyed for Infants as well as for grown men bad his Disciples to suffer little children to come to him if not that he might baptize them for he baptized none at all Infants or others Joh. 4.1 2. yet that he might bless them and said that of such is the Kingdom of Heaven 2. As for the carnal seed of Abraham their fleshly relation was not sufficient to entitle them to Church-priviledges except they had a spiritual relation also Rom 9 6 8. Open Apostates and Revolters though the carnal seed of Abraham were not counted of the Church but as strangers and Heathens as David calls them Psal 54.3 59.5 That Text Exod. 12.48 prohibiting strangers did by the rule of proportion prohibit from the Passover all such Jews as did forsake the Faith The Caldee Paraphrast saith No son of Israel that is an Apostate or fallen from the Faith shall eat of it Cain and his posterity were rejected Gen. 4.15
â—â—ll age which qualifies him for Baptism is not an Hypocrite at this minute and will not be an Apostate the next nor can we know that they are in the Covenant for then we should know they are elected whereas this is a secret known only to God 2 Tim. 2.19 Deut. 29.19 And the little ones of the Church though they make no personal profession as adult persons do yet are as visibly within the Covenant of Grace parents having as much authority and reason to covenant for their children now as Deut. 29.10 with 30 6. and as charitably to be accounted of seeing of adult Christians the weakest can hold forth no more then the least degree of absolute probability and the strongest no more then the highest degree of probability Peter saith § 2. Act. 2.38 39. The promise is to you and to your children Concerning which observe 1. That hereby is not meant Christ is exhibited as some gloss The promise Is id est fulfilled Christ is come for this they had heard before vers 36. and knew to their trouble and therefore were pricked in their hearts and these words are not any where in Scripture so taken nor is Baptism a seal barely to Christ being come in the flesh but to the benefits thereof covenanted and promised not is it a promise of the gifts of the Holy Ghost but the promise 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gospel promise of remission of sin Heb. 8.10 12. signed and sealed in Baptism Act. 3.19 which belongs to Gods people at all times might heal their being pricked in their heart vers 37. and is fitly used as a motive to perswade them to repent and be baptized and is a suitable answer to their question What shall we do to be saved 2. He saith not The promise is to you and to as many as God shall call whether of your children or strangers as he might have said if he would have levelled the children of Christians and Pagans but he saith The promise is to you and to your children and to as many making their children a distinct party as from those that then were so from those that after should be called the words holding out their right are in the Indicative Mood The promise is to you the like is never said to Pagans or to any out of the Church 3. These words are the same in substance with the reason and ground of Circumcision Gen. 17.8 10 11. That Promise and Covenant was a Gospel Covenant In thy seed shal all the Nations of the Earth be blessed and was an everlasting Covenant made four hundred thirty years before the Law and to be fulfilled in a great part of it after the ceasing of Moses Paedagogy and of Circumcision Gal. 3.15 16 17. Rom. 4.12 16 24. Heb. 13.20 Rev. 14.6 and the said everlasting Covenant was not only with actual Beleevers but with the lineal seed of Abraham even before they actually believed till some open revolt did disable them and with the Infant-seed of Proselytes or Gentiles converted to the saith 4. His motion that every one of them should be baptized doth imply they had right to Baptism for he doth not perswade them to be Usurpers of that to which they had no right and he grounds his motion not only upon their bare personal interest in the Promise but their childrens joynt interest with them as in Gen. 17. God doth for Circumcision which latter could not rationally be urged as a motive to perswade the Jews to be baptized and to embrace Christian Religion if the joynt interest of their children with them were not at least fully as great in the Christian as in the Jewish Church Now if a Jew had a child born before his Conversion to Christianity that child was Sacramentally to be initiated but if he had a child after you say it was not but was in the same condition with a Pagans child viz. not to be admitted into the Church till it were called And if so then where is the benefit belonging to the children of Jews converted by virtue of their Christianity If a Landlord should move his Tenants to give up his old Lease or Grant which hath certain immunities and priviledges to him and his children and to take a new one in which his children should have no more priviledges then meer strangers could he rationally perswade him to surrender the old Lease or Grant and to take a new one from the benefit that may accrue to the Tenant and his children by it 5. Here seem to be three ranks and conditions of persons 1. The Jews themselves then present and adult 2. Their children the present issue which already was or should be born of their bodies what ever they were younger or elder Infants not excluded 3. Those that were afar off not in estate for the mystery of the calling of the Gentiles was not fully closed with by Peter till Act. 10. nor could the Jews yet bear that saying but those that were afar off in time 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 we with Piscator may add 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is a different phrase from that used of the Gentiles 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ephes 2.13 17. and fitly may denote the posterity of the Jews in after ages 6. These Jews it 's likely were pricked in their hearts not only for their crucifying of Christ but their cursing their children about two months since Matt. 27.25 which curse did include their very Infants then newly born and others that should be born afterward and therefore if Peter had not included Infants in this Promise the plaister had not been large enough for their sore Lastly The Jews were apt long after this to scruple lesser matters Acts 21.20 and can it be thought that they should not startle and be discontented to have both Circumcision and Baptism taken from their Infants nor enquire whether this seclusion of their Infants was not a fruit of their cursing of them or how it could be justified by the Old Testament there being then no other written Word or by what warrant the Church-membership and Covenant-interest which their children formerly had was repealed and taken from them By all which seriously considered it will appear that the children of Believers are included within the Promise and to be baptized Besideâ— if Infants be not within the Covenant of Grace then they are strangers from it and consequently without God and without hope as Pagans children are and if they dye though in Infancy their Parents may mourn over them as such that have no hope contrary to 1 Thess 4.13 yea while they live they may lament over their children as such whom they have begotten and brought forth to the Devil and not to God in respect of their visible estate ANABAPT CAT. Q. What is Circumcision A. It was an Obligation to keep the whole Law Gal. 5.3 Rom. 2.24 and shewed unto them that it was their duty to circumcise their hearts Jer. 4.4 CIrcumcision in it self