these two Object If children be compleat and immediate members as their parents are then they shall immediately have all Church-priviledges as their parents have without any further act or qualification Ans It followeth not All priviledges that belong to members as such do belong to the children as well as the parents But all Church-priviledges do not so A member as such or all members may not partake of all priviledges but they are to make progress both in memberly duties and priviledges as their age capacity and qualifications do fit them for the same 3. That their membership still continues in adult age and ceaseth not with their infancy appears 1. Because in Scripture persons are broken off onely for notorious sin or incorrigible impenitency and unbelief not for growing up to adult age Rom. 11.20 2. The Jew children circumcised did not cease to be members by growing up but continued in the Church and were by virtue of their membership received in infancy bound unto various duties and in special unto those solemn personal professions that pertained to adult members not as then entring into a new membership but as making a progress in memberly duties Deut. 26 2-10 16.16 17 with Gal. 5.3 3. Those relations of born-servants and subjects which the Scripture makes use of to set forth the state of children in the Church by Lev. 25 41 42. Ezek 37.25 do not as all men know cease with infancy but continue in adult age Whence also it follows that one special end of membership received in infancy is to leave persons under engagement to service and subjection to Christ in his Church when grown up when they are fittest for it and have most need of it 4. There is no ordinary way of cessation of membership but by Death Dismission Excommunication or Dissolution of the Society none of which is the case of the persons in question 5. Either they are when adult members or non-members if non-members then a person admiteed a member and sealed by Baptism not cast out nor deserving so to be may the Church whereof he was still remaining become a non-member and out of the Church and of the unclean world which the Scripture acknowledgeth not Now if the parent stand member of the Church the childe is a member also For now the root is holy therefore so are the branches Rom. 11.16 1 Cor. 7.14 The parent is in covenant therefore so is the childe Gen. 17.7 and if the childe be a member of the visible Church then he is a subject of Baptism according to Propos 1. Proposition 6 t. Such Church-members who either by death or some other extraordinary Providence have been inevitably hindred from publick acting as aforesaid yet have given the Church cause in judgment of charity to look at them as so qualified and such as had they been called thereunto would have so acted their children are to be Baptized This is manifest 1. Because the main foundation of the right of the childe to priviledge remains viz Gods institution and the force of his covenant carrying it to the generations of such as continue keepers of the covenant i. e. not visibly breakers of it By virtue of which institution and covenant the children in question are members and their membership being distinct from the parents membership ceaseth not but continues notwithstanding the parents decease or necessary absence and if members then subjects of Baptism 2. Because the parents not doing what is required in the fifth Proposition is through want of oppotunity which is not to be imputed as their guilt so as to be a barre to the childes priviledge 3. God reckoneth that is done in his service to which there was manifest desire and endeavour albeit the acting of it were hindred as in David to build the Temple 1 Kings8 18 19 in Abraham to sacrifice his Son Heb. 11. 17. according to that in 2 Cor. 8.12 Where there is a willing minde it is accepted according to what a man hath and not according to what he hath not which is true of this Church-duty as well as of that of Alms. It is an usual phrase with the Ancients to style such and such Martyrs in voto and baptized in voto because there was no want of desire that way though their desire was not actually accomplished 4. The terms of the Proposition import that in charity that is here done interpretatively which is mentioned to be done in the fifth proposition expresly Proposition 7 th The members of Orthodox Churches being sound in the Faith and not scandalous in life and presenting due testimony thereof these occasionally comming from one Church to another may have their children Baptized in the church whither they come by virtue of Communion of Churches but if they remove their habitation they ought orderly to covenant and subject themselves to the Government of Christ in the Church where they settle their abode and so their children to be Baptized It being the churches duty to receive such unto comminion so farre as they are regularly fit for the same 1. Such members of other Churches as are here described occasionally coming from one Church to another their children are to be baptized in the Church whither they come by virtue of Communion of Churches 1. Because he that is regularly a member of a true particular Church is a subject of Baptism according to Propos 1 st 2 d. But the children of the parents here described are such according to Proposition 5 th 6 th therefore they are meet and lawful subjects of Baptism or have right to be baptized And Communion of Churches infers such acts as this is viz to baptize a fit subject of Baptism though a member of another Church when the same is orderly desired See Platform of Discipline chap. 15. sect 4. For look as every Church hath a double consideration viz. 1. Of its own constitution and communion within it self 2. Of that communion which it holds and ought to maintain with other Churches So the Officer the Pastor or Teacher thereof is there set 1. To administer to this Church constantly 2. To do acts of Communion occasionally viz such as belong to his Office as Baptizing doth respecting the members of other Churches with whom this Church holds or ought to hold communion 2. To refuse communion with a true Church in lawfull and pious actions is unlawful and justly accounted Schismatical For if the Church be true Christ holdeth some communion with it therefore so must we but if we will not have communion with it in those acts that are good and pious then in none at all Total separation from a true Church is unlawful But to deny communion in good actions is to make a total separation Now to baptize a fit subject as is the childe in question is a lawfull and pious action and therefore by virtue of Communion of Churches in the case mentioned to be attended And if Baptism lawfully administred may and
ought to be received by us for our children in another true Church where Providence so casts us as that we cannot have it in our own as doubtless it may and ought to be then also we may and ought in like case to dispense Baptism when desired to a man and lawfull subject being a member of another Church To deny or refuse either of these would be an unjustifiable refusing of Communion of Churches and tending to sinful separation 2. Such as remove their habitation ought orderly to covenant and subject themselves to the Government of Christ in the Church where they setlle their abode and so their children to be baptized 1. Because the regularly baptized are disciples and under the Discipline and Government of Christ But they that are absolutely removed from the Church whereof they were so as to be uncapable of being under Discipline there shall be under it no where if not in the Church where they inhabit They that would have Church-priviledges ought to be under Church-power But these will be under no Church-power but as lambs in a large place if not under it there where their setled abode is 2. Every Christian ought to covenant for himself and his children or professedly to give up himself and his to the Lord and than in the way of his Ordinances Deut. 26 17. 12.5 and explicite covenanting is a duty especially where we are called to it and have opportunity for it nor can they well be said to covenant implicitely that do explicitely refuse a professed covenanting when called thereunto And especially this covenanting is a duty when we would partake of such a Church-priviledge as Baptism for our children is But the parents in question will now be professed covenanters no where if not in the Church where their fixed habitation is Therefore they ought orderly to covenant there and so their children to be baptized 3. To refuse covenanting and subjection to Christ's Government in the Church where they live being so removed as to be utterly uncapable of it elswhere would be a walking disorderly and would too much favour of profaneness and separation and hence to administer Baptism to the children of such as stand in that way would be to administer Christ's Ordinances to such as are in a way of sin and disorder which ought not to be 2 Thess 3.6 1 Chron. 15.13 and would be contrary to that Rule 1 Cor. 14.40 Let all things be done decently and in order Quest II. VVHether according to the Word of God there ought to be a Consociation of Churches and what should be the manner of it Answ The Answer may be briefly given in the Propositions following 1. Every Church or particular Congregation of visible Saints in Gospel-order being furnished with a Presbytery at least with a Teaching Elder and walking together in truth and peace hath received from the Lord Jesus full power and authority Ecclesiastical within it self regularly to administer all the Ordinances of Christ and is not under any other Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction whatsoever For to such a Church Christ hath given the Keyes of the Kingdome of Heaven that what they binde or loose on earth shall be bound or loosed in heaven Matt. 16.19 18.17 18. Elders are ordained in every Church Acts 14.23 Tit. 1.5 and are therein authorized officially to administer in the Word Prayer Sacraments and Censures Mat. 28 19 20. Acts 6.4 1 Cor. 4.1 5.4 12. Acts 20.28 1 Tim. 5.17 3.5 The reproving of the Church of Corinth and of the Asian Churches severally imports they had power each of them within themselves to reform the abuses that were amongst them 1 Cor. 5. Rev. 2 14 20. Hence it follows that Consociation of Churches is not to hinder the exercise of this power but by counsel from the Word of God to direct and strengthen the same upon all just occasions 2. The Churches of Christ do stand in a sisterly relation each to other Cant. 8.8 being united in the same Faith and Order Eph. 4.5 Col. 2.5 to walk by the same Rule Phil. 3.16 in the exercise of the same Ordinances for the same ends Eph. 4 11 12 13. 1 Cor. 16.1 under one and the same political Head the Lord Jesus Christ Eph. 1.22 23. 4.5 Rev. 2.1 Which Union infers a Communion sutable thereunto 3. Communion of Churches is the faithfull improvement of the gifts of Christ bestowed upon them for his service and glory and their mutuall good and edification according to capacity and opportunity 1 Pet. 4.10 11. 1 Cor. 12.4 7. 10.24 1 Cor. 3.21 22. Cantic 8.9 Rom 1.15 Gal. 6.10 4. Acts of Communion of Churches are such as these 1. Hearty Care and Prayer one for another 2 Cor. 11.28 Cant. 8.8 Rom. 1.9 Coloss 1.9 Eph. 6.18 2. To afford Relief by communication of their Gifts in Temporal or Spiritual necessities Rom. 15.26 27. Acts 11.22 29. 2 Cor. 8.1 4 14. 3. To maintain Vnity and Peace by giving account one to another of their publick actions when it is orderly desired Acts 11.2 3 4-18 Josh 22.13 21 30. 1 Cor. 10 32. and to strengthen one another in their regular Administrations as in special by a concurrent testimony against persons justly censured Acts 15.41 16.4 5. 2 Tim. 4.15 2 Thess 3.14 4. To seek and accept Help from and give Help unto each other 1. In case of Divisions and Contentions whereby the peace of any Church is disturbed Acts 15.2 2. In matters of more then ordinary importance Prov. 24.6 15.22 as Ordination Translation and Deposition of Elders and such like 1 Tim. 5.22 3 In doubtful and difficult Questions and Controversies Doctrinal or Practical that may arise Acts 15 2 6. 4. For the rectifying of mal-Administrations and healing of Errours and Scandals that are unhealed among themselves 3 John ver 9 10. 2 Cor. 2 6-11 1 Cor. 15. Rev 2 14 15 16. 2 Cor. 12.20 21. 13 2. Churches now have need of help in like cases as well as Churches then Christ's care is still for whole Churches as well as for particular persons and Apostles being now ceased there remains the duty of brotherly love and mutual care and helpfulness incumbent upon Churches especially Elders for that end 5. In love and faithfulness to take notice of the Troubles and Difficulties Errours and Scandals of another Church and to administer help when the case manifestly calls for it though they should so neglect their own good and duty as not to seek it Exod. 23.4 5. Prov. 24.11 12. 6. To Admonish one another when there is need and cause for it and ofter due means with patience used to withdraw from a Church or peccant party therein obstinately persisting in Errour or Scandal as in the Platform of Discipline chap. 15. sect 2. partic 3. is more at large declared Gal. 2 11-14 2 Thess 3.6 Rom. 16.17 5. Consociation of Churches is their mutual and solemn Agreement to exercise communion in such acts as aforesaid amongst themselves with special reference to those Churches which by providence are planted in a convenient vicinity though with liberty reserved without offence to make use of others as the nature of the case or the advantage of opportunity may lead thereunto 6. The Churches of Christ in this Countrey having so good opportunity for it it is meet to be commended to them as their duty thus to consociate For 1. Communion of Churches being commanded and Consociation being but an Agreement to practise it this must needs be a duty also Psal 119.106 Nehem. â—0 28 29. 2. Paul an Apostle sought with much labour the conference concurrence and right hand of fellowship of other Apostles and ordinary Elders and Churches have not less need each of other to prevent their running in vain Gal. 2.2 6 9. 3. Those general Scripture-rules touching the need and use of counsel and help in weighty cases concern all Societies and Polities Ecclesiastical as well as Civil Prov. 11.14 15.22 20 18. 24.6 Eccles 4.9 10 12. 4. The pattern in Acts 15 holds forth a warrant for Councils which may be greater or lesser as the matter shall require 5. Concurrence and Communion of Churches in Gospel times is not obscurely held forth in Isa 19.23 24 25. Zeph 3.9 1 Cor. 11.16 14.32 36. 6. There hath constantly been in these Churches a profession of Communion in giving the right hand of fellowship at the gathering of Churches and Ordination of Elders Which importeth a Consociation and obligeth to the practice thereof Without which we should also want an expedient and sufficient Cure for emergent Church-difficulties and Differences with the want whereof our Way is charged but unjustly if this part of the Doctrine thereof were duely practised 7. The manner of the Churches agreement herein or entring into this Consociation may be by each Church's open consenting unto the things here declared in Answer to this 2 d. Question as also to what is said thereabout in chap. 15. 16. of the Platform of Discipline with reference to other Churches in this Colony Countrey as in Propos 5 th is before expressed 8. The manner of exercising and practising that Communion which this consent or agreement specially tendeth unto may be by making use occasionally of Elders or able Brethren of other Churches or by the more solemn Meetings of both Elders and Messengers in lesser or greater Councils as the matter shall require FINIS
the faithful and their seed unto a thousand generations if the successive parents do but in the least degree shew themselves to be lovers of God and keepers of his Covenant and Commandments so as that the Lord will never reject them till they reject him Exod 20.6 Deut. 7.9 Psal 105.8 9. Rom. 11 16-22 Hence we dare not with the Antipaedobaptist exclude the Infant-children of the faithful from the Covenant or from Membership in the visible Church and consequently not from Baptism the Seal thereof Neither dare we exclude the same children from Membership or put them out of the Church when they are grown up while they so walk and act as to keep their standing in the Covenant and doe not reject the same God owns them still and they doe in some measure own him God rejects them not and therefore neither may we and consequently their children also are not to be rejected Should we reject or exclude any of these we should shorten and straiten the grace of God's Covenant more then God himself doth and be injurious to the Souls of men by putting them from under those Dispensations of Grace which are stated upon the visible Church whereby the children of God's visible people are successively in their Generations to be trained up for the Kingdome of Heaven whither the Elect number shall still be brought in the way of such means and wherein he hath given unto Officers and Churches a solemn charge to take care of and train up such as a part of his flock to that end saying to them as sometimes to Peter If you love me feed my lambs In obedience to which charge we hope it is the we are willing and desirous though with the inference of no small labour and burthen to our selves to commend these Truths to the Churches of Christ that all the Flock even the Lambs thereof being duly stated under Pastoral Power we might after a faithfull discharge of our Duty to them be able to give up our account another day with joy and not with grief How hard it is to finde and keep the right middle way of Truth in these things is known to all that are ought acquainted with the Controversies there-about As we have learned and believed we have spoken but not without remembrance that we are poor feeble frail men and therefore desire to be conversant herein with much humility and fear before God and men We are not ignorant of variety of judgements concerning this Subject which notwithstanding with all due reverence to Dissenters after Religious search of the Scriptures we have here offered what seems to us to have the fullest Evidence of Light from thence if more may be added and may be found contained in the Word of God this shall be no prejudice thereunto Hence also we are farre from desiring that there should be any rigorous imposition of these things especially as to what is more narrow therein and more controversal among godly men If the Honoured Court see meet so farre to adde their countetenance and concurrence as to commend a serious consideration hereof to the Churches and to secure those that can with clearness of judgement practise accordingly from disturbance that in this case may be sufficient To tolerate or to desire a Toleration of damnable Heresies or of Subverters of the Fundamenta's of Faith or Order were an irreligious inconsistency with the love of true Religion But to bear one with another in lesser differences about matters of a more difficult and controversal nature and more remote from the Foundation and wherein the godly-wise are not like-minded is a Duty necessary to the peace and welfare of Religion while we are in the state of infirmity In such things let not him that practiseth despise him that forbeareth and let not him that forbeareth judge him that practiseth for God hath received him But as we do not thus speak from doubting of the Truth here delivered Paul knows where the Truth lyes and is perswaded of it Rom. 14.14 yet he can lovingly bear a Dissenter and in like manner should we So we do in the bowels of Christ Jesus command the consideration of these things unto our Brethren in the several Churches What is here offered is farre from being any declining from former Principles it is rather a pursuance thereof for it is all included in or deducible from what we unanimously professed and owned in the fore-mentioned Platform of Discipline many years since There it is asserted that Children are Church-members That they have many priviledges which others not church-Church-members have not and that they are under Discipline in the Church chap. 12. sect 7. and that will infer the right of their children they continuing to walk orderly And the other matter of Consociation or exercise of Communion of Churches is largely held forth Chap. 15. 16. It may be an Objection lying in the mindes of some and which many may desire a fuller Answer unto That these things or some of them are Innovations in our Church-wayes and things which the Lord 's Worthies in New-England who are now with God did never teach not hold and therefore why should we now after so many years fall upon new Opinions and Practises Is not this a declining from our first Purity and a blameable Alteration To this Although it were a sufficient Answer to say That in matters of Religion not so much what hath been held or practised as what should be and what the Word of God prescribes ought to be our Enquiry and our Rule The people in Nehemiah's time are commended for doing as they found written in the Law though from the dayes of Joshua the son of Nun unto that day the children of Israel had not done so Nehem. 8.14 17. See the like 2 Chron. 30.5 26. 2 Kings 23.21 22. they did not tye themselves to former use and custome but to the Rule of Gods written Word and so should we It was Thyatira's praise that their good works were more at the last then at the first Rev. 2.19 The Lord 's humble and faithfull Servants are not went to be forward to think themselves perfect in their attainments but desirous rather to make a progress in the knowledge and practise of God's holy Will If therefore the things here poopounded concerning the children of Church-members and the Consociation of Churches be a part of the Will of God contained in the Scriptures as we hope the Discourse ensuing will shew them to be that doth sufficiently bespeak their entertainment although they had not formerly been held or heard of amongst us Yet this must not be granted the contrary being the Truth viz. that the Points herein which may be most scrupled by some are known to have been the judgement of the generality of the Elders of these Churches for many years and of those that have been of most eminent esteem among us As besides what was before mentioned from the Platform of Discipline may appear by the
weep in secret for your pride and that God may not resist reject you as a generation of his wrath Oh that the Lord would pour out a spirit of Humiliation Repentance upon all the younger sort in the Country yea upon elder too for our neglects from Dan to Beersheba Oh that we might meet at Bochim because so many Canaanues of unsubdued yea growing corruptions are found among us Let it not be said that when the first best generation in New-England were gathered to their fathers there arose another generation after them that knew not the Lord. Behold the Lord had a delight in your fathers to love them and he hath chosen you their seed after them to enjoy these Liberties Opportunities as it is this day Circumcise therefore the fore-skin of your hearts and be no more stiff-necked but yield your selves to the Lord and to the Order of His Sanctuary to seek him and wait on him in all his wayes with holy fear and trembling for the Lord your God is gracious and merciful and will not turn away his face from you if you return unto him if you seek him he will be found of you but if you forsake him he will cast you off for ever We shall conclude when we have given the Reader a short account of the Work ensuing The Propositions in Answer to the first Question were after much discussion and consideration from the Word of God Voted and Concluded by the Assembly in the particular terms as they are here expressed The Arguments then used for their Confirmation being drawn up by some deputed thereunto after they had been several times read and considered in the Assembly were Voted and Consented to as to the summe and substance thereof The Answer to the second Question is here given with great brevity partly because so much is already said there-about in the foresaid Platform of Discipline and partly by reason of great straits of time But what is here presented was the joynt conclusion of the Synod A Preface was desired by the Assembly to be prefixed by some appointed thereunto which is here accordingly by them performed Now the God of truth peace guide us all his people in the wayes give us the fruits thereof help us to feed his flock and his lambs to be fed by him as the sheep of his pasture that when the chief-Shepherd shall appear we may receive together a Crown of glory that fadeth not away may enter into the joy of our Lord as those that have neither despised his little ones nor denied to be our Brother's keeper But having faithfully endevoured to promote the continuation of his Kingdom Communion of his people may Rest Reign with all Saints in the kingdom of his glory Unto whom be glory in the Church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages world without end THE ANSWER OF THE ELDERS AND OTHER MESSENGERS of the Churches Assembled at Boston in the Year 1662. TO The Questions Propounded to them by ORDER of the Honoured GENERAL COURT Quest 1. WHo are the Subjects of Baptism Answ The Answer may be given in the following propositions briefly confirmed from the Scriptures 1 They that according to Scripture are Members of the Visible Church are the subjects of Baptisme 2 The Members of the Visible Church according to scripture are Confederate visible Believers in particular Churches and their infant-seed i. e. children in minority whose next parents one or both are in Covenant 3 The Infant-seed of confederate visible Believers are members of the same Church with their parents and when grown up are personally under the watch discipline and Government of that Church 4 These Adult persons are not therefore to be admitted to full Communion meerly because they are and continue members without such further qualifications as the Word of God requireth therunto 5 church-Church-members who were admitted in minority understanding the Doctrine of Faith and publickly professing their assent thereto not scandalous in life and solemnly owning the Covenant before the Church wherin they give up themselves and their children to the Lord and subject themselves to the Government of Christ in the Church their children are to be Baptised 6 Such church-Church-members who either by death or some other extraordinary Providence have been inevitably hindred from publick acting as aforesaid yet have given the Church cause in judgment of charity to look at them as so qualified and such as had they been called thereunto would have so acted their children are to be Baptised 7 The members of Orthodox Churches being found in the Faith and not scandalous in life and presenting due testimony thereof these occasionally comming from one Church to another may have their children Baptised in the church wither they come by virtue of communion of churches but if they remove their habitation they ought orderly to covenant and subject themselves to the Government of Christ in the church where they settle their abode and so their children to be Baptised It being the churches duty to receive such unto communion so farr as they are regularly fit for the same The Confirmation of these Propositions from the Scripture followeth Proposition First They that according to Scripture are members of the visible Church are the subjects of Baptisme The trueth hereof may appear by the following evidences from the word of God 1. When Christ saith Go ye therefore and teach or as the Greek is disciple all Nations Baptising them Mat. 28.19 he expresseth the adequate subject of Baptisme to be disciples or discipled ones But disciples there is the same with members of the visible church For the visible Church is Christs school wherein all the members stand related and subjected to him as their Master and Teacher and so are his scholars or disciples and under his teaching as verse 20. And it is that visible spiritual Kingdome of Christ which he there from his Kingly power ver 18. sendeth them to set up and administer in ver 19. the subjects whereof are under his Lawes and Government verse 20. Which subjects or members of that Kingdome i.e. of the visible church are termed disciples verse 19. Also in the Acts of the Apostles the story of their accomplishment of that commission disciples are usually put for members of the visible church Acts 1.15 In the mids of the disciples who with others added to them are called the church Acts 2 47 The members whereof are again called disciples Acts 6 1 2. Acts 9 1 against the disciples of the Lord i. e against the church of God 1 Cor. 15 9 Gal. 1.13 Acts 9 26 He assayed to joyn himself to the disciples The disciples at Lystra Iconiem and Antioch Acts 14 21 22 are called the church in each of those places verse 23 So the church verse 27 the disciples verse 28. Acts 18.22 the church at Cesarea Acts 21.16 the disciples of Cesarea So Acts 18 23 with chap. 15.41 and Gal. 1.2 Acts 18.27 and
following Testimonies from sundry Eminent and Worthy Ministers of Christ in New-England who are now with God First Touching the children of Church-members Mr. Cotton hath this saying The Covenant and Blessing of Abraham is that which we plead for which the Apostle saith is come upon us Gentiles Gal. 3.14 which admitteth the faithful and their Infant-seed not during their lives in case their lives should grow up to Apostacy or open Scandal but during their infancy and so long after as they shall continue in a visible profession of the Covenant and Faith and Religion of their fathers otherwise if the children of the faithful grow up to Apostacy or any open Scandal as Ishmael and Esau did as they were then so such like now are to be cast out of the fellowship of the Covenant and of the Seals thereof Grounds and Ends of Baptism of Children p. 106. see also p. â—â— 3â—.34 Again The seed of the Israelites though many of them were not sincerely godly yet whilest they held forth the publick profession of God's people Deut. 26 3-11 and continued under the wing of the Covenant and subjection to the Ordinances they were still accounted an holy seed Ezra 9.2 and so their children were partakers of Circumcision Yea further though themselves were sometimes kept from the Lords Supper the Passeover for some or other uncleanness yet that debarred not their children from Circumcision Against this may it not seem vain to stand upon a difference between the Church of Israel and our Churches of the New-Testament For the same Covenant which God made with the National Church of Israel and their seed it is the very same for substance and none other which the Lord makes with any Congregational Church and our seed Quaery 9th of Accommodation and Communion of Presbyt and Congregal Churches And the same for substance with those Quaeries was delivered by him in 12. Propositions as Mr. Tho Allen witnesseth in Epist to the Reader before Treat of Covenant and those Quaeries Now in the 8th of those Propositions he hath these words The children of Church-members with us though baptized in their infancy yet when they come to age they are not received to the Lords Supper nor admitted to fellowship of Voting in Admissions Elections Censures till they come to profess their Faith and Repentance and to lay hold of the Covenant of their parents before the Church and yet they being not cast out of the Church nor from the Covenant thereof their children as well as themselves being within the Covenant they may be partakers of the first Seal of the Covenant Lastly speaking to that Objection That the Baptism of Infants overthrows and destroys the Body of Christ the holy Temple of God and that in time it will come to consist of natural and carnal Members and the power of Goverment rest in the hands of the wicked He Answers That this puts a fear where no fear is or a causless fear And in prosecution of his Answer he hath these words Let the Primitive Practise be restored to its purity viz. that due care be taken of baptized members of the Church for their fitting for the Lords Table and then there will be no more fear of pestering Churches with a carnal generation of members baptized in their infancy then of admitting a carnal company of hypocrites confessing their Faith and Repentance in the face of the Congregation Either the Lord in the faithfulness of his Covenant will sanctifie the hearts of the baptized Infants to prepare them for his Table or else he will discover their hypocrisie and profaneness in the presence of his Church before men and Angels and so prevent the pollution of the Lords Table and corruption of the Discipline of the Church by their partaking in them Grounds and Ends of Baptism c. p. 161 163. See also Holiness of Church-members p. 41 51 56 57 63 87. Bloody Tenent washed p. 44 78. Mr. Hooker saith Suppose a whole Congregation should consist of such who were children to Parents now deceased who were confederate their children were true members according to the Rules of the Gospel by the profession of their fathers Covenant though they should not make any personal and vocal expression of their engagement as the fathers did Survey part 1. p. 48. Again We maintain according to truth that the believing parent covenants and confesseth for himself and his posterity and this covenanting then and now is the same for the kinde of it Part 3. p. 25. See p. 17 18. part 1. p. 69 76 77. And in the Preface fetting down sundry things wherein he consents with Mr. R. he expresseth this for one that Infants of visible Churches born of wicked parents being members of the Church ought to be baptized In these saith he and several other particulars we fally accord with Mr. R. And Part 3. p. 11. It is not then the Question whether wicked members while they are tolerated sinfully in the Church they and their children may partake of the Priviledges for this is beyond question nor do I know nor yet ever heard it denied by any of ours Mr. Philips speaking of a people made partakers of Gods Covenant and all the priviledges outwardly belonging thereto he saith Themselves and all that ever proceed from them continue in the same state parents and children successively so long as the Lord continues the course of his Dispensation nor can any alteration befall them whereby this estate is dissolved but some apparent act of God breaking them off from him Reply p. 126. Again speaking of that Holiness 1 Cor. 7.14 he saith I take it of foederal holiness whereby the children are with the believing parents taken by God to be his and by him put under his covenant and so they continue when men of years though they never have any further grace wrought in them nor have any other state upon them then what they had when they were born Ibid. p 131. Again a company become or are a Church either by conversion and initial constitution or by continuance of the same constituted Churches successively by propagation of members who all are born in the Church-state and under the covenant of God and belong unto the Church and are a Church successively so long as God shall continue his begun dispensation even as well as fully as the first Ibid. p. 145. Mr. Shepard in Defence of the Nine Positions p 143. hath the expression Concerning the Infants of Church-members they are subject to Censures whensoever they offend the Church as others are though so long as they live innocently they need them not And in the year 1649. not three moneths before his Death he wrots unto a friend a large Letter yet extant under his own Hand concerning the Membership of Children wherein he proveth by sundry Arguments that they are Members and answereth sundry Objections against it and sheweth at large what great good there is in children's Membership In which
cause for it many of the Elders in these Churches both such as are now living and sundry who are now deceased did declare their judgements as aforesaid and this many years ago Secondly Touching Consociation of Churches take these few Testimonies in stead of many more that might be alledged Mr. Cotton Keyes p. 54 55. It is a safe and wholsome and holy Ordinance of Christ for particular Churches to joyn together in holy Covenant or Communion Consociation among themselves to administer all their Church-affairs which are of weighty and difficult and common concernment not without common consultation and consent of other Churches about them And how it is so he there sheweth in all the particulars See also p. 24 25 47 59. Mr. Hooker Survey see part 4. p. 1 2. p. 45. And in the Preface he professeth his consent with Mr. R. That Consociation of Churches is not only lawful but in some cases necessary That when causes are difficult and particular Churches want light and help they should crave the assistance of such a Consociation That Churches so meeting have right to Counsel Rebuke c. as the case doth require And in case any particular Church shall walk pertinaciously either in the profession of Errour or sinful Practise and will not hear their counsel they may and should renounce the right hand of fellowship with them And after he sets down this of Consociation of Churches amongst other things wherein he had leave to profess the joynt Judgement of all the Elders upon the River of New-haven Guilford Milford Stratford Fairfield and most of the Elders in the Bay By which it is clear that this point of Consociation of Churches is no new invention of these times but was taught and professed in New-England many years agoe for so it was we see in Mr. Hooker's time and it is now above fifteen years since he departed this life To these of our own Ministers we shall only adde a passage in the Apologetical Narration of Dr. Goodwyn Mr. Nye Mr. Sidrach Simpson Mr. Burroughes and Mr. Bridge wherein besides much more to this purpose touching the Remedy provided in the Congregational-way for mal-Administrations or other miscarriages in Churches p. 16-21 They set it down in p. 27. as their past and present Profession That it is the most to be abhorred Maxime that any Religion hath ever made profession of and therefore of all other the most contradictory and dishonourable unto that of Christianity that a single and particular Society of men professing the Name of Christ and pretending to be endowed with a Power from Christ to judge them that are of the same Body and Society within themselves should further arrogate unto themselves an exemption from giving account or being censurable by any other either Christian Magistrate above them or Neighbour-Churches about them See also Mr. Burroughes Heart-Divis pag 43 47. Brethren bear with us Were it for our own Sakes or Names or Interests we should not be sollicitous to beg Charity of you With us it is a small thing to be judged of man's day But it is for your sakes for your children's sake and for the Lord's sake that we intreat for a charitable candid and considerate Acceptation of our labour herein It is that the Congregations of the Lord might be established before Him in Truth and Peace and that they might have one heart and one way in the fear of God for the good of them and of their children after them Do we herein seek our selves our own advantage ease or glory Surely we feel the contrary What is it we desire but that we might do our utmost to carry your poor Children to Heaven and that we might see these Churches bound up together in the Bonds of Truth and Peace Forgive us this wrong But should the Church-education of your children be by the want of your hearty concurrence rendred either unfeizible or ineffectual should they live as Lambs in a large place for want of your agreement to own them of the Flock we beseech you to consider how uncomfortable the account hereof would be another day We pray with the Apostle that you do no evil not that we should appear approved but that you should do that which is good and right though we be rejected For we can do nothing against the truth but for the truth and this also we wish even your perfection 2 Cor. 13.7 8 9. However we hope after-ages will bear witness that we have been in some measure faithful to the Truth in these things and to this part of Christs Kingdome also in our generation But we may not let pass this opportunity without a word of Caution and Exhortation to the Youth of the Country the children of our Churches whose Interest we have here assorted Be not you puffed up with Priviledges but humbled rather in the awful sense of the Engagement Duty and Danger that doth attend them It is an high favour to have a place in Bethel in the house of God and in the gate of Heaven but it is a Dreadful place God will be sanctified in all that come nigh him A place nigh unto God or among his people who are near to him Ps 148.14 is a place of great fear Psa 89.7 Take heed therefore unto your selves when owned as the people of the Lord your God Deut. 27.9 10. lest there should be among you any root that beareth gall and wormwood Take heed that you do not with a spirit of pride and haughtiness or of vanity and slightness either challenge or use any of your Priviledges Think not to bear the Name of Christians without bearing the Yoke of Christ Remember that all Relations to God and to his people do come loaden with Duty and all Gospel-duty must be done in humility The wayes of the Lord are right and the humble and serious shall walk in them but proud Transgressors shall fall therein Be not sons of Belial that can bear no yoke Learn subjection to Christs holy Government in all the parts and wayes thereof Be subject to your godly Parents Be subject to your spirtiual Fathers and Pastors and to all their instructions Admonitions and Exhortations Be subject unto faithful Brethren and to words of counsel and help from them Ye younger submit your selves unto the elder and to that end be clothed with humility Lye under the Word and Will of Christ as dispensed and conveyed to you by all his appointed Instruments in their respective places Break not in upon the Lord's Table or upon the Priviledges of full Communion without due qualification and orderly admission thereunto lest you eat and drink your own damnation Be ordered and take not upon you to order the affairs of Gods Family that is not the place of those who are yet but in the state of Initiation and Education in the Châ—rch of God Carry it in all things with a spirit of humility modesty sobriety and fear that our soules may not