is viz. that it lays a foundation to Ignorance and Profaneness and how much more justly that charge may be laid upon the contrary judgment and practice We see Paedo-Baptists are under vastly greater obligations to a diligent use of means and performance of duty in order to the conversion of their Children and their personal imbracement of the Covenant than the contrary-minded can according to their judgment look upon themselves as under and have vastly more ground to expect that their use of means and performance of duty shall be successful than they have But let that suffice for the reasons of Gods appointing the Application of the Token of the Covenant to the Infant-seed of his People as they respect the Parents to whose Seed that Application is to be made 3. The reasons respecting the Children themselves to whom the Token of the Covenant is to be applyed and thus the great reason is their good benefit and advantage But that brings me to the second grand enquiry From what hath been said we may evidently see that the rationality of this Institution is not only secured to us by the infinit wisdom of God instituting but sufficient reason for it lyes obvious to all serious considerate minds CHAP. III. The second Question proposed A brief Introduction to the Answer of it The first benefit that the Seed of Believers receive by the Application of the Token of the Covenant to them declared viz. They have thereby a solemn admission into and Membership in the visible Church Kingdom or Family of Christ An Objection answered The good redounding to them by that their admission and Membership shewed in two Instances 1. They are comprehended in and have an equal benefit with the rest of the Members of the Church by all these prayers put up for the Church in general 2. They are under that special providential care that Christ exerciseth over his Church 3. Questions relating thereunto resolved Quest 2. WHat are the Benefits and advantages arising to the Infant-feed of Believers from the Application of the Tokens of the Covenant to them or what good do they receive thereby Answ That all Ordinances of Divine Original are a signification and signal expression of the good will of God unto men and consequently aim at and tend to the good and benefit of those that are the due and proper subjects of them hath been intimated already and may be alike infallibly concluded from the goodness as their rationality from the wisdom of the Institutor As for that special Ordinance under our present consideration the Apostles answer to much the same question put with respect to Circumcision is applicable to and may be given as a more general solution of the question now put respective to both Circumcision and Baptism as applyed to Infants the advantage they have thereby is much and that every way What that good and advantage is and wherein it doth consist is now to be inquired into and in general or as to the sum and substance of it it 's threefold 1. First They thereby are solemnly admitted into and incorporated in the visible Church Kingdom or Family of Christ and thereupon become to use the Aposltes phrase Fellow-citizens of the Saints and of the Houshold of God That Baptism now is as Circumcision of old was a solemn right for the initiation and admission of all those that are rightful Subjects of it into the visible Church or body of Christ is agreed on on all hands which that the Infants we now speak of are hath been already proved and is now taken for granted which being granted that they have this good and benefit by it will receive a ready acknowledgment from all and indeed that to have a Membership in the Church or to be Fellow-citizens with the Saints and of the Houshold of God is a good or advantage unto men cannot be rationally questioned by any though wherein the good and advantage of it in the case of Infants does consist is not obvious unto all And therefore must now be more throughly searched into and declared But before I proceed to that one objection must be removed out of our way which seems in the judgment of some strongly to oppose Infants injoyment of that priviledge and consequently their right to that Ordinance appointed for the solemn admission of men into it And it is this Object It may be said that it may seem that Infants as such cannot rightfully be admitted into or incorporated in the visible Church or body of Christ or be of his Houshold and Family as visible and that for this reason Because membership in the visible Church Body or Kingdom of Christ does presuppose membership in his invisible Body seeing to be a member of his visible Body is nothing else but visibly to appear to be a real member of his invisible Body that distinction of visible and invisible not being distinctio rei sed tantum nominis only a distinction of one and the same Church à duplici modo unionis communionis cum Christo capite still interno externo so that the Church by these terms of visible and invisible is only distinguished of in regard of a certain adjunct viz. The manner or kind of union and communion that the several members it is constituted of have with Christ the head viz. internal and real or only external or appearing Hence all that are or ought to be received as members of the visible Church they are and ought to be such as visibly appear to have real internal Union and Communion with Christ Now it will be said that Infants as such seem incapable of any such Union and Communion with him or suppose them simply or absolutly capable yet whether any actually have especially which of them in particular have such a Union and Communion with Chist is wholly unknown to us and then how can they be said visibly to appear members of the invisible Body of Christ which they must do in case they have a right to membership in his visible Body Answ In answer to this Objection I would say these three or four things 1. First That the difficulty of resolving some doubts that may arise with reference to persons right to or injoyment of Gospel-priviledges ought not to be pleased for the overthrowing or disanulling their right to them when God hath evidently declared them in his Word to have such a right to or to have had by his own approbation the actual possession and injoyment of them God may have plainly revealed their right and yet more darkly revealed many things relating to that their right Instances would not be wanting would I insist upon them of Gospel-priviledges that the Scriptures evidently declare persons so and so qualified to have a real right to and to have the actual possession and injoyment of and yet doubts of no easie resolution may be raised with reference to their right to them and the way and manner of their coming
eternal life to themselves as the Psalmist Psalm 16. so Psalm 37.24 So the Apostle 2 Tim. 4.8 So again eternal lite is laid hold on by ardency of affection and desire by possessing our selves of the first fruits of it c. Now to lay hold on eternal life these or the like ways puts lise into Believers endeavours so to fight this good fight of Faith as thereby to come to the full injoyment of that life in Heaven When a man hath got any hold of any good for himself or his he will strive and tug hard rather than part with it Now I say Believers have some hold of the Grace and blessings of the Covenant for their Children they see their Children have some hold through the extent of the Covenant to them hence they must needs be more effectually ingaged and provoked to greater diligence in the use of means that their Children may come to the actual injoyment of that Grace those blessings and priviledges than they would be had not either themselves or Children any such hold of that Grace and those blessings and benefits 4. There is the goodness love and kindness of God in extending his Covenant to their Seed and vouchsafing the ratification and confirmation of it by the Application of the Token thereof unto them as a strong obligation upon and motive to Parents to use their utmost diligence in order to their Childrens imbracement of the Covenant and giving up themselves to God as his People as thereby the Kingdom of Christ may be inlarged and his Interest promoted in the World The love and kindness of God how or which way soever exprest either towards themselves or theirs is greatly obliging to sincere Believers to endeavour to their utmost power the promotion of the Interest and inlargement of the Kingdom of Christ in the World Love is of a constraining nature it hath a compulsive force and power in it We love him because he loved us first saith John Love begets and excites love and love is industrious and laborious hence we read of the labour of love 1 Thess 1.3 The Apostle gives it as the great reason of their so zealous preaching the Gospel that to some they seemed to be beside themselves viz. because the love of Christ did constrain them 2 Cor. 5.14 15. It is true the love that God hath exprest towards a Believer in the things he hath done for and the good he hath vouchsafed to himself as personally considered in and by Christ may and ought to have a constraining force upon him to live to him and answerably to endeavour to his utmost power according to the capacity wherein he stands to promote the Interest and Kingdom of Christ in the World But yet God's extending his Covenant to their Seed and confirming it by the Application of the Token thereof unto them must rationally greatly add to the compulsive force and efficacy that his love hath upon them and that for a twofold reason 1. Because his love to themselves is greatly heightned thereby To all he hath done for and vouchsafed to themselves there is the addition of that Grace vouchsafed unto theirs and the greater the love of God is and appears to be to a Believer the areater efficacy and power it hath to excite his love unto God and constrain him to lay out himself for the advantage of the Interest and Kingdom of Christ in the World 2. Because God's making the Seed of Believers partakers of the same Grace and Goodness vouchsafed to them makes it alike reasonable that they as they grow up to years of maturity should live to him as they themselves desire to do There is a meetness and fitness that those that partake of the Grace and Goodness of God should live to him And Parents seeing their Children made partakers of the same Grace and Goodness of God that themselves do partake of have the same Covenant extended to them that is entred with themselves and that ratified and confirmed to them the same way as it is ratified and confirmed to themselves they must needs judge it alike reasonable and meet that theirs should live unto God as well as themselves Hence they must needs be more effectually stirred up and provokt to use their utmost endeavours that they may so do So that I say the Love Grace and Good ness of God in extending his Covenant to the Seed of his People and ratifying and confirming it by the Application of the Token thereof to them is a very great obligation upon and may and ought to be improved as a powerful motive by them to provoke and ingage themselves to the utmost diligence in using all means that their Children may personally imbrace the Covenant and give up themselves to God as his People as they grow up to years of maturity as thereby the Interest of Christ is promoted and his Kingdom inlarged And yet further there are three things the consideration of which may and will still heighten and increase the constraining efficacy and force that the Love Grace and Goodness of God hath upon the hearts of believing Parents to move and provoke them to the afore-mentioned diligence 1. That it is the Interest of their Redeemer that is promoted and his Kingdom that is inlarged thereby 2. That God hath extended his Covenant and appointed the Application of the Token thereof the Seed of Believers with reference to this very end viz. the increase and inlargement of the Kingdom of Christ in the World and that in pursuance of that promise made to him that he should have the Heathen for his Inheritance and the utmost ends of the earth for his Possession 3. That they are their own Children those that came out of their own bowels towards whom they are to use the means in order to the ends mentioned The Love and Goodness of God hath a constraining power upon the hearts of Believers to do his will however revealed or whatever reference their doing of it hath But when the things whereabout his will is revealed relate to the promotion of the Interest and inlargement of the Kingdom of their Lord and Redeemer Jesus Christ and the increase and inlargement of his Kingdom was designed by his expressing his love and goodness to them in the ways he hath done and they are their Children the fruit of their own bodies that are the objects of their duty which in obedience to the will of God they are to perrorm surely now the Love Grace and Goodness of God must needs have the greatest efficacy and power in it to engage yea constrain them to a vigorous and diligent performance of that their duty 5. There is the aggravation that the sin of the Seed of Believers in not accepting of the Covenant and performing the conditions of it receives from their precedent Covenant-state further to oblige and provoke Parents who own that their Covenant-state and have applyed the Token of the Covenant on the account thereof to
Paedo-Baptists in care and diligence in iustructing their Children or using the means subserving their conversion and taking hold of the Covenant as they grow to years of materity Let us then set aside the mistakes of some and wilful neglects of others on the one and on the other side and inquire whether the Doctrine and Practice maintained by us or by them as truly stated may be more deservedly charged with the mischief aforementioned And here two things offer themselves to our enquiry 1. Whether Paedo-Baptists or Anti-Paedo-Baptists according to their respective Judgments and Practices ly under the greater obligations and have the more effectual motives to provoke and stir them up to the diligent use of all means and faithful performance of all duties subserving their Childrens conversion and personal embracement of the Covenant as they grow up to years of maturity 2. Whether have they greater and surer ground of hope or are under a greater probability that their use of means and performance of duty shall be effectual to the ends mentioned That it is the duty of all men to endeavour the conversion of their Children and use of all means in order thereunto and that the success and efficacy of all end eavours of that nature and use of means for that end depend upon the blessing of God is at present taken for granted Our only enouiries are whether Parents of the one or the other perswafion have the stronger obligations and more effectual motives to provoke and stir them up to the use of means and performance of their duties subserving the forementioned ends and whether have the greater ground to hope for success therein and consequently whether the one or the other's use of means and performance of duty may be rationally concluded to be ordinarily more effectual and successful To begin with the 1. First Which how it ought to be refolved will easily appear by a double consideration 1. That whatever obligations Anti-Paedo-Baptists can plead or pretend themselves to ly under or whatever motives they can according to their judgment and practice rationally improve to provlke and stir up themselves to the diligent use of means and performance of their duty in order to the conversion of their Children the same obligations ly upon and the same motives may as rationally be improved by Paedo-Baptists for the provoking and stirring up themselves to alike diligent use of means and performance of their duties in order to the conversion of their Children I can at present call to mind only two things that can with any shew of reason be pretended to ly as obligations upon and be improved as Motives by Anti-Paedo-Baptists for the purposes mentioned beyond what confessedly ly upon or may be improved by Paedo-Baptists The 1. Is their professed owning and acknowledging their Children as such to have no interest in the Covenant or right to the Token thereof Now it may be said those that professedly disclaim their Childrens having an interest in the Covenant and right to the Seal thereof and answerably apprehend them to be in the same condition with the rest of Mankind who are yet strangers to the Covenants of Promise must rationally be under a stronger obligation to endeavour their conversion that so they may come regularly to an interest in both the Covenant and token thereof than those who take their Children to be already in the Covenant and answerably have applyed the Token of the Covenant to them Can a man that conveives his Children to be already in Covenant with God and hath answerably applyed the Token of the Covenant to them apprehend himself under such an obligation to instruct them and use the means for their conversion as a man must needs apprehend himself to be that utterly disclaims any present interest that they havei in it and anserably suspends the Application of the Token to them But to that I answer It is true the judgment and praactice of Auti-Pedo-Baptists lays no small obligation upon them to use their utmost endeavours after the early conversion of their Children Those that suppose their children to have no interest in or benefit by the Covenant as descended from them sure are greatly concerned to use all means the Scriptures direct them to whereby they may be brought into Covenant with God through their own personal performance of the conditions of it themselves And it is well if the men of that perswasion would seriously consider the obligations they are under and how they acquit themselves with reference thereunto But let it be observed that to endeavour the conversion of their Children and that they do personally take hold of the Covenant equally concerns Paedo-Baptists as it doth Anti-Paedo-Baptists though not with reference to one and the same end Anti-Paedo-Baptists are to endeavour the conversion of their Children and their personal imbracement of the Covenant that they may come under the benefits and blessings of it Paedo-Baptists are to endeavour the conversion of their Children and their personal imbracement of the Covenant that their Covenant-state may be continued to them and consequently that they may enjoy the blessings and benefits of the Covenant So that both are equally obliged to seek and endeavour their childrens personal imbracement of the Covenant only the one in order to their coming into the other in order to the continuance of their Covenant-state It 's true in the imagination of the late Author it is a contradiction to hold the Doctrine of Perseverance to baptize the Children of Believers as including them in the Covevenant of Grace and yet after teach them conversion to keep to his phrase But this imagination ariseth merely from ignorance about the Covenant as entred with the Seed of Believers Their Covenant-state simply and absolutely of it self infallibly secures not their Regeneration or a saving work of Grace upon their hearts during their pure Infant-state The condition of their Covenant-interest is wholly without them viz. in their Parents but as they come to years of maturity it is devolved upon themselves and there is a necessity of a saving close with Christ and sincere resignation of themselves to God in him as his on their parts in order to the continuance of their Covenant-state which that they may do their Parents are to endeavour in the use of all means God hath directed them to And the necessity hereof is an equal obligation upon Parents to use those means in order thereunto that the necessity of such a close with Christ is upon those who disclaim their present interest in the Covenant to use the means in order to that their closing in with Christ that they may be brought into Covenant with God So that I say both Paedo-Baptists and Anti-Paedo-Baptists are equally obliged to seek and endeavour the conversion of their Children or to bring them to a saving personal close with Christ though the one doth it that his Children may have an interest in the Covenant which before he apprehended
endeavour to the utmost of their power that they may accept of and perform the conditions of it Not to accept of the Covenant but on the other hand to reject it is a greater sin in those that have a precedent interest in it than in those that have no such interest It was a greater sin in Esan to despise his Birth-right and Blessing then the bare not taking hold of the Covenant was to those that had no such birth-priviledg To despise or reject a good granted is more than the bare not receiving any good offered Now Parents considering how greatly the sin of their Children will be aggravated in case they perform not the conditions of but on the other hand reject the Covenant and consequently that their condemnation will be greater than the condemnation of others must needs strongly oblige and more effectually provoke them to greater diligence in the discharge of their duty towards them in order to the preventing their rejection and on the other hand in order to their accepting and performing the conditions of the Covenant 6. There is the reference that Parents faithful discharge of their duty towards their Children hath to their Childrens preservation in their Covenant-state and consequenly injoying the full good and benefit thereof as they grow up to years of maturity as a farther obligation upon and motive to provoke them thereunto God hath taken the Seed of Believers into Covenant with himself as they are their Seed and continues their Covenant-state during their Infancy on the account of their Parents Faith But when they grow up to years of maturity the condition of their continuance in that Covenant-state and consequently in joying the blessings of the Covenant is devolved upon themselves they must in their own persons imbrace and take hold of the Covenant and perform the conditions of it which that they may do God requires their Parents to teach them his way and command them to walk in it which duty of Parents in teaching and commanding their Children is the first and most proper means appointed of God in order to their personal imbracement and taking hold of his Covenant and hence in case Parents fail in the discharge of their duty their Children are deprived of the first and most proper means subservient to their prefervation in their Covenant-state And though it may seem hard to say that God will not vouchsafe other means and bless them to the attaining of that end yet this I must say there is more depending upon Parents discharge of their duty than most are aware of and that God will vouchsafe other means and bless them to supply the defect of Parents duty is as I judge more than they have warrant to expect However the depriving them of the first and most proper means must needs be extremely hazardous and is usually given as a main reason of so many of the Seed of the Righteous proving wicked And did Parents but understand and seriously consider this how great an obligation must it needs be to them faithfully to discharge their duty towards their Children 7. And lastly There is the dishonour redounding unto God by Childrens rejecting the Covenant and falling off to ways of sin and profaneness yet farther to oblige Parents to a faithful discharge of their duty towards them When men hear the Covenant-interest of the Seed of Believers asserted and see the Token thereof applyed to them and yet after see them to run into the same wayes of sin and ungodliness with the Children of others they are apt to reflect upon God and to charge him with unfaithfulness in his promises or deluding the World with a shew of extending more Grace to Believers than indeed he doth And this very thing viz. the frequent apostacies of the Seed of Believers and their walking in the same ways of impiety with the Children of others though wholly groundlessly yet I conceive is no little stumbling-block in the way of those whose judgment and practice lyes opposite to what hath been pleaded for Now the preventing this dishonour redounding unto God and removing this stumbling-block out of the way of the weak is a strong obligation upon Parents to a faithful performance of their duty towards their Children And the laying these and the like obligations upon Parents to a diligent performance of that their duty towards their Children may be one special reason of God's appointing the Application of the Token of the Covenant to them And by what hath been said we may see how much greater obligations are upon Believers who own their Childrens interest in the Covenant and have the Token thereof applyed to them upon that account and how many motives are improveable by them to provoke and stir up themselves to a faithful discharge of their duty towards them than what are upon or improveable by the contrary minded according to their respective judgments and practices 2. The other enquiry is whether Paedo-Baptists or Anti-Paedo-Baptists according to what they respectively hold with reference to their Children have greater and surer ground to hope and expect that the means used or duties performed by them shall be effectual and successful or whether the means used and duties performed by the one or the other be more likely to prove effectual and successful for the accomplishing the ends aimed at Answ Now for this that the advantages ly on the side of the Paedo-Baptists will be undeniably evident by a double consideration which I shall but as it were mention because they must both be more fully insisted upon in a more proper place 1. Consider that Paedo-Baptists according to what they hold with reference to their Children have vastly more means to use in order to their conversion and imbracement of the Covenant and giving themselves up to God according to the tenour of it then Anti-Paedo-Baptists have they have many more motives arguments and incouragements to propose apply to and press upon their Children than the contrary-minded have And where the means are greater and more effectual in themselves their efficacy and success may according to the ordinary way of God's working upon men be expected to be answerable 2. They have many promises both made to themselves with reference to their Children and housholds and to their Children as under the Covenant and of the visible Church and Kingdom of Christ beyond what the contrary-minded can according to their judgments and principles apply to themselves or theirs whâ—â—â— promises though they should not infallibly secure Grace to all the Seed of Believers how careful soever they may be in the use of means and how faithful soever in the discharge of their duty towards them yet they are vastly greater ground to hope for success than there would be supposing no such promises were made either to Parents or Children But these things shall if the Lord will be more cleared up hereafter Now then let all men judge how unrighteous and unreasonable that charge laid upon Paedo-Baptism
sense of any difference between the Seed of Believers and the Seed of unbelievers is no rational ground for any to conclude either that there is no such special care extended to or exercised over the former or that they receive no benefit or advantage thereby The ways of God are in the Seas his paths in the deep Waters as for his footsteps they are not known Psal 77.19 How many glorious designs does our Lord Christ carry on for the good of his Family and the several members thereof when yet neither the time when the first foundation of them was laid nor the various workings of Providence in their accomplishment is discerned or observed either by the men of the World yea or by Saints themselves only when they are brought to their intended perfection they give abundant cause to those who reap the fruit of them to admire and say it was good for them that they ever had a place in that Kingdom or Family over which is the excellency of that God who rideth upon the Heaven of Heavens and whose strength is in the Clouds Who that hath any true knowledg of Christ and hath his senses at all exercised to discern between things that differ would willingly be removed from under this special providential care of Christ though it were to be set over the greatest Empire in the World yea though yet continued under that general providence that extends to the whole Creation of God So that not to descend to particulars to be under the special providence of Christ must be granted to be a singular good by all those that will not disclaim Christianity and avow themselves open Infidels Now I say the Infant-seed of Believers as admitted into the visible Church Kingdom and Family of Christ are under that special providential care he exercises over it but now Parents by disclaiming their Seed's interest in the Covenant and refusing on that account to admit them into the visible Churh by the Application of the Token of the Covenant to them do if not absolutly yet at least what in them lyes deprive them of this priviledge and leave them under only that general and common providence that is exercised over the dark places of the earth that are full of the habitations of cruelty and oh that men yea that Christians should become so cruel to the fruit of their own bodies CHAP. IV. The good redounding to the Infant-seed of Believers from their admission into and membership in the visible Church Kingdom or Family of Christ further opened in a third instance viz. They stand nigher than the rest of Mankind to and are the more especial Objects of the Promises of saving Grace Some of these Promises mentioned The full Good contained in them unfolded That the Seed of Believers as members of the visible Church do stand nigher to them than the rest of Mankind fully proved An exaggeration of Parents evil in rejecting their Childrens Church-membership 3. THirdly and especially the Infant-seed of Believers as members of the visible Church stand nigher than the rest of Mankind do to and answerably are the more especial objects of the Promises of saving Grace The Promises I have reference to are such as these Isa 54.13 Jer. 31.31 That the very first special or saving Grace I mean inherent or renewing Grace whereby the Image of God is renewed in and reinstamped upon the soul is originally from God and not from Man himself needs no other proof than the bare recital of those Scriptures that affirm it John 3.3 7. compared with John 1.13 Ephes 2.8 10. James 1.17 18. c. That the Promises aforementioned and unto which I have reference do contain and hold forth saving Grace and at least that Isai 54.13 the very first special or saving Grace is sufficiently evident from the words themselves so from the application our Lord Christ makes of that Promise in John 6.44 45. where we see our Lord Christ applyes these teachings of God to those effectual teachings and drawings of the Father whereby sinners are brought to him and which whosoever do injoy do actually come to him and shal be raised up by him at the last day that is unto Life and Glory And yet farther that these Promises I now reser unto have their accomplishment in New-Testament-times and that during the present administration is undeniably secured both by our Lord Christ and the Apostles interpretation and application of them compare those forecited Texts with John 6.44 45. Heb. 8.11 So that as all special or saving Grace especially that first whereby the soul is drawn and united unto Christ is originally from God so these Promises do hold forth and assure that Grace unto some in New-Testament-times during the present administration of the Covenant of Grace Now I say the Infant-seed of Believers as incorporated into the visible Church by the Application of the Token of the Covenant to them do stand nigher to these Promises than the rest of Mankind do and are the more especial Objects of them and consequently they have and were Parents saithful in the discharge of their duty would more abundantly have their accomplishment especially among them But that we may more clearly see how great a good and advantage the Seed of Believers in this respect have by their membership in the visible Church I shall do two things 1. First shew more particularly what is the good that is contained in these Promises and 2. Secondly prove that the Seed of Believers do stand nigher to them than the rest of Mankind To begin with the first viz. What the good contained in these Promises is and that is twofold the former implyed and presupposed the latter more plainly expressed First the good contained in these Promises is the vouchsafement of such outward means as are ape and sufficient according to the ordinary dealings of God with and his ordinary wayes of working Grace in Men instrumentally to convey Grace to and work it in the heart these means in the general are the outward communication or publication of the Doctrine of Redemption and Salvation by Christ The Doctrine of the Gospel declaring the way of Redemption and Salvation by Christ as some ways communicated to the understanding and applyed to the soul is the means by and through which God does ordinarily work Grace in those whose Salvation he intends I mean it of such whose capacities admit of their reception of Grace that way Now when God promises Grace he implicitely promises the means by which it may according to the ordinary way of his dealings with men be wrought in those intended in the Promises But before I proceed it may not be altogether unuseful to remove one objection that may possibly arise in the minds at least of some men Obj. Possibly it may be said These Promises seem rather to exclude than include any external means for it is expressly said when these Promises come to have their accomplishment men shall not teach every
People and their Seed successively from one generation to another To those that consider the nature of these Promises or that they are tobe interpreted and understood not in a definite but in an indefinite notion and do impartially observe the way of God's procedure in the dispensation of his Grace towards men any endeavours to vindicate the Faithfulness of God in their performance would be needless and superfluous for though some have contemned that observation that others have made viz. that that Seed that God hath reserved out of the posterity of fallen man to serve him is in a considerable measure raised out of the Families of the Faithful yet it is indeed of great weight and so evident to unbyassed Observers that it may be no little confirmation of the sense and meaning now given of these Promises and is an abundant vindication of the Truth and Faithfulness of God in them And as it hath in all ages past given so still gives him the just Name and Repute of a God keeping Covenant and Mercy for ever But to put a close to this third Benefit that the Seed of Believers have by their Membership in the visible Church I say they are thereby brought nigher to the Promises of saving Grace than the rest of Mankind are they are os that Collective Body or Society of men unto whom these Promises do in the general appertain and not only so but are that special part of or species of Members in that Body or Society to whom these Promises in a more especial manner do belong they are nigh to the Promises as they are of the visible Church but they are yet nigher as they are specified and pointed out to be the Persons peculiarly intended in them and according to their nignness to these Promises so especially when Parents are faithful in their duty towards them is their injoyment of the good â—romised How rarely is it found when Parents with Abraham are faithful in instructing and commanding their Children to walk in way of the Lord but if not all yet some though sometimes more sometimes sewer according to the number they are blessed with are found through the blessing of God accompanying of those instructions walking in these ways yea how many instances might be given of Parents so performing their duty who can walk in the World as in a strange land with comfortable hopes that all theirs are heirs with them of the same Promises Now then how strange is it that believing Parents should have their understandings so far darkened and their Judgments so far blinded to make that which sometimes was the Gentiles and is now the Jewes misery viz. to be far from God and strangers to the Covenants of Promise their choice though not for themselves yet for theirs and should what in them lies set them at the utmost distance from those Promises that are the great grounds of hope to fallen Man that he may Obrain an exchange of his Sin and Misery for Grace and Glory and leave them to take their Lot among those that are afar off We may well call to the Heavens to be astonished at this and to the Earth to be moved out of its place But to pass from this first Head of Benefies accruing to the Seed of Believers From the application of the token of the Covenant to them they have admission into and become Members of the Church visible and God by commanding the Application of the Token of the Covenant to the Seed of his People speaks to them with respect to their Seed as Jacob to Joseph with reference to his two Sons Bring your Children near to me that I may bless them bring them into my House and Family and as they then shall have an interest in all the Prayers put up for it so they shall have the special providential care of my Son over them he shall give his Angels a charge concerning them they shall come into a nigher capacity to injoy Grace promised than the rest of Mankind and be you faithful in your duties and I will be faithful in my Promises Now shall any reject such a Gracious Invitation how justly may Children cnrse the day they were ever brought forth by such Parents CHAP. V. The second Good or Benefit accruing to the Seed of Believers by the Application of the Token of the Covenant proposed viz. They have thereby the Covenant with the Promises thereof appertaining to them ratified sealed and confirmed An Enquiry made whether the Covenant and Promises are entred with and made to the Seed of Believers definitly or only indefinitly The various judgments of Paedo-Baptists about it That they are entred and made definitely proved two wayes First In the instance of Abraham's Seed immediatly proceeding from his own Loyns where two Reasons are offered Secondly It is further proved by three Reasons respecting both Abraham's and all other Believers Seed The forementioned good accruing to the Seed of Believers opened in the resolution of two Questions The former proposed viz. What the Token of the Covenant has reference unto That it has a twofold reference shewed First To the Covenant as abstractly and absolutely considered The thing ratified sealed and confirmed by it as considered in that its reference determined to be their Covenant That the necessary result of which is proved by two Arguments to be their discharge from the guilt and condemning power of Originalsin and that both Originans and Originatum 2. THe second Good or Benefit that the Seed of Believers have by the Application of the Token of the Covenant is this viz. They have thereby the Covenant with the Promises thereof appertaining to them sealed and confirmed to them But before I proceed to a particular unfolding of this Good or Benefit it may not be unuseful but seems necessary that I should give a brief account of the different apprehensions of Poedo-Baptists themselves about the nature of the Covenant and Promises as entred with and made to the Infant-seed of Believers for that they are not all of one mind and judgment about that must be granted And according to their different apprehensions about the nature of the Covenant and Promises they are differently perswaded as to the Good accruing to Infants by their Covenant-interest and their having the Token of the Covenant applyed to them which I shall also briefly take notice of as I go along 1. First Some concerve that the Covenant is entred with the Seed of Believers only indefinitly and anfwerably that the Promises appertaining to them are to be interpreted and understood in an indefinite notion that is as having a respect to them as generally and collectively considered but not made to any of them in particular And of those that go this way some conceive that the Covenant and Promises appertain only to the Elect and secure to them only the future injoyment of all the saving Fruits and Benefits purchased by Christ but do not necessarily convey to or confer
who ruleth well his own house having his Children in subjection with all gravity 1 Tim. 3.4 the same is the duty of all Christian Parents though eminently required in the Ministers of the Gospel Some deal with their Children in soul-affaires as though they were rather in jest than earnest and no wonder though Children are neither serious nor in good earnest in â—â—â—ending to or practising such instructions Parents should labour to carry it so in all their words 〈…〉 as that their Children may perceive the weight and importance of the things they deal with them about Instructing and chastising Children requires the utmost gravity and seriousness 2. Shew as much love to God as also as much affection towards your Children but as little of self and passion as possibly you can the more Children are apprehensive of these things and quickly apprehensive they will be the more weight will instructions have upon their hearts the less of God and the more of self appears in any Instructions Counsels Perswasions or Commands the less will they be attended to and regarded sic vice versâ 3. Exercise Wisdom and Prudence Wisdom and Prudence is required hardly in any thing if in any thing at all more than in the education and bringing up of Children yet I shall not attempt to give any Reles in this case neither is it in the power of any man to give such Rules and Directions as may sufficiently furnish all Parents with that Wisdom and Prudence necessary to the right managing of themselves in the discharge of their duty towards their Children they must have it from God or after all they will be greatly defective therein I shall only intimate some Cases wherein special Wisdom is requried 1. In beginning with such Instructions as those principles connatural to them will subserve their imbracement of to kindle the brand if I may so speak where it hath the greatest disposition to take fire 2. Again Wisdom is required in so repeatîng and inculcating Instructions as that they may be most useful for the inlightning their minds and working upon their affections and yet may not beget tediousness or slightness of spirit 3. Again much Wisdom is required in intermingling such instructions and so administring them as may keep up their love to and delight in Religion with such instructions as may keep up a holy awe and fear in their hearts Godward 4. Again Wisdom is required in keeping up their incouragements and yet preventing their presumption and formality 5. Once again much Wisdom is required in dealing with Children according to their different tempers and constitutions some are more easily wrought upon by love others by fear some by gentle others by more severe means some need more of the rod others less and variety of the like instances might be given This is certain the success of Parents discharge of their duty towards their Children very much depends upon the Wisdom they are indued with and do exercise therein 4. Begin with your Children betimes Chasten thy Child betimes saith Solomon so instruct him betimes Parents should endeavour were it possible to anticipate Satan and put a check to the very first buddings forth of corruption Quò semel est imbuta recens c. 'T is the folly of most Parents to leave themseles only an after-game to play they sow not till the thorns have got such rooting as that they check the seed sowen their Childrens minds are so vitiated that their in structions meet with stronger opposition than otherwise they would do therefore begin with them betimes In the morning sow they seed 'T is applicable to our present purpose Children have ears to hear before they have tongues to speak That may be received by the ear and eye which the tongue cannot express hence Parents should not forbear instructions till their Children are capable of returning answers But 2. The duty of Parents more immediately respects God yet to be performed on the behalf of their Children and thus their great duty is Prayer and two things in the general they are to pray for 1. The bestowment of such endownents upon themselves as may capacifie them for the due performance fo their duty towards their Children And of all gifts and endowments they ought to be peculiarly importunate for Wisdom and Prudence He that gives wisdom to the Husband-man for the casting in the Fetches and scattering the Cummin c. when he hath plowed his ground and made plain the face thereof must teach Parents wisdom to manage their duty aright towards their Children Lower abilities managed with wisdom prove more effectual than greater without it What encouragement parents have to be importunate for this gift the Apostle James shews us Jam. 1.5 2. They are to pray for a blessing upon the performance of their duty towards their Children with the concurrence of the Spirit to make all means used effectual Prayer and Instruction yea Prayer and Correction ought to go together The most faithful diligent and wise discharge of duty will leave Children graceless unless God add his blessing Now though a Covenant-state be hereditary yet Grace is not so that 's from God given to whom he pleaseth in a cpmpliance with his eternal Purpose and Decrees But these being secret hid in the breast of God are not to be parents rule in the performance of their duty they are to perform it equally and alike unto all Let me add the more Faith there is in Prayer the more prevalent it will be and how far Faith may be acted with reference to Children may be gathered from what hath been already said Among other things they may believe that the promises of the first Grace do appertain to them indefinitely as members of that Collective Body to which those Promises are made And hence though they cannot positively believe that these Promises shall be made good to every one of their Children yet they may and ought to believe the truth and faithfulness of God and answerably act a dependance upon him with a comfortable hopethat the Good promised shall be givent to each one of their Children I shall only add two or three Motives to press Parents to a faithful discharge of their duty and so pass from this third Question 1. Consider the manifold obligations lying upon you to be faithful consciencious and diligent therein and to pass by all others an account of which I have already given let me only remind you of and a little press upon you that reference and subserviency that your discharge of your duty hath to your Childrens imbracement of the Covenant and consequently to God's bringing upon you in vouchsafing unto them the Good promised That passage of God's concerning Abraham cannot well be too often inculcated upon believing Parents Gen. 18.19 There are two things peculiarly remarkable in this Scripture 1. To mention that in the first place which is set down in the latter part of the Verse the subserviency of Parents faithful
performance of their duty to God's bringing upon them the Good promised viz. with reference to their Children That the Lord may bring upon him what be hath spoken of him as if God could not keeping exactly to the terms of the Covenant vouchsafe the Good promised to Children unless that Parents be faithful in the performance of their duty towards them It seems at least very probable to infer an absolute necessity of Parents performance of their duty in order to God's giving them the Good promised in pursuance of the Promise made to them on the behalf of their Children however this must be said that Childrens forfeiture of their Covenant-state and all the Good annexed thereunto is greatly hazarded by Parents failing therein It 's true God may extend Mercy to them and answerably supply the neglect of Parents by the vouchsafement of tother means as he doth to others born of unbelieving Parents unto whom he is under no obligation by vertue of any peculiar Promise made to them But it may seem that Parents neglect of their duty dischargeth God from that obligation the is under by his Promise made to them on the behalf of their Children and that must needs extremely hazard their ever injoying the Good of the Covenant Now surely if any thing will cause sorrow or allay the joy of believing Parents at that day against which joy is sowen for the Righteous and gladness for the upright in heart this will do it to miss their Children in that day of Triumph and that through their own desault in point of duty towards them Let me say Is all the Good of the Covenant of so small a value as that a sond affectio shall supersede the discharge of your duty towards your Children Or is everlasting separation from the presence of God and the glory of his Power so small a matter as that rather than you will put your selves to a little pains or impose any difficulty upon your Children you will hazard that Will their roaring in Hell be a less evil than their crying under the smart of the Rod Alas what do Parents think of Heaven or Hell that they will hazard their Childrens loss of the one and undergoing the other upon such trivial accounts 2. Consider what excellent incouragements you have to a vigorous faithful and consciencious performance of your duty towards them which is the other thing remarkable in the forementioned Scripture viz. the issue and fruit of the discharge of your duty They shall keep the way of the Lord implying at least the usual concurrence of a blessing from God with the discharge of your duty and concurrence of the Sapirit to make the means used effectual God would not assert the efficacy of the means but upon a supposition of his concurrence with them by his own Spirit and Blessing It may possibly seem strange to some should I say whether ever any of the Seed of the Righteous apostatize from the ways of God and thereby forfeit their Covenant-state but upon a failure in Parents in the due discharge of their duty is a question of more difficult determination than is usually apprehended or appears at the first proposal of it But besides the incouragement you have from this Scripture how much more means have you subserving the conversion of your Children than others who either are unbelievers themselves or deny their Childrens Covenant-interest have how many Motives have you to press upon them what incouragements to preopose to them and consequently what ground have you to hope for success that you shall not labour in vain These things I had sometimes intended to have inlarged upon but for some reasons I shall contract You may be sufficiently furnished with incouragements from what hath been already said And therefore 3. Consider how great a good your Childrens conversion will be to your selves as well as unto them Doth not the comfort of your lives depend much upon the welfare of your Children will it not highly advance your comfort to be able to live in the World as in a strange Land as Heirs your selves and as seeing your Children Joynt-heirs with you of an everlasting ingheritance in Heaven would it not be your joy to see the Kingdom of Christ upheld his Church continued and propagated by those that proceed out of your own loyns Besides converting Grace will make them useful and serviceable unto you both in temporals and spirituals See Philemon 11. Will it not doubly strengthen your weak hands and feeble knees when old age comes to have them strengthned and supported by the gracious words of your own Children And surely seeing Mothers have usually most need of comfort from their Children they should be peculiarly careful to perform their duty towards them CHAP. XI The fourth grand Question proposed The improvement that the Seed of Believers may and ought to make of their Covenant state as ratified by the Application of the Token of the Covenant opened in four particulars That great Question how long the Covenant-state of the Seed of Believers is continued to them upon their Parents account answered so far as is necessary to prevent such fears as either Parents or Children are subject to as to the forfeiture of their Covenant-state in their Child-hood Quest 4. WHat use and improvement may and ought the Seed of Believers make of the Token of the Couenant applyed to them in their Infancy as they grow up to years of Maturity Answ The use and improvement they may and ought to make of it is great and of unspeakable advantage to them To instance in some few particulars 1. They may and ought to improve it as a help to their understandings that they may better and more clearly apprehend and conceive of the means and way through and by which they have the pardon of sin peace with God and must come to the actual injoyment of Salvation which as the Seed of such Parents they were born Heirs unto which are the Blood of Christ as applyed to them for the purging away the guilt of sin and the Spirit of Christ as granted for the renovation of their natures The Sacraments or Seals of the Covenant present to the eye what the Word presents to the ear and they are for the mutual illustration the one of the other Now as this way and these means are considerable under different notions so they are shadowed and represented by different symbols or signs The Blood of Christ as purging away the guilt of sin was represented in Circumsion as to be shed but it is represented in Baptism as already shed and applyed to the party baptized The body of sin was represented in Circumcision under the notion of a superfluity to be amputed and cut off 'T is represented in Baptism under the notion of a defilement or pollution which is removed by washing But the use of the one and the other in general was and is the same namely to represent to the mind that way and
in the latter age of the World Now they will not be able to lay claim to an actual Covenant-relation between God and them for that Covenant was long since broken through their unbelief but they have abode for God and God hath abode for them and as having so abode the one for the other they call him their God and incourage themselves by the consideration of the designation as I may so speak that God hath made of them for himself and of himself to be a God and Husband unto them giving them a kind of incomplete and remote interest in him to return to God Those that God hath kept for himself and for whom he abides he will readily receive when they return to him And this may greatly incourage Patents with reference to their Chirldren as grown up though they do not evidence any saving work of Grace ye they are kept from one or another of the ways whereby the Covenant is broken it may be they abide for God and he abides for them he may keep them out of a desgin yet at last to marry them to himself And as it may incourage Parents in their hopes concerning their Children so it may greatly incourage Children to close in with Christ and thereby renew their Covenant with God So that we may see though it cannot be properly determined how long the Covenant-interest of Children is continued upon their Parents account yet that should be no prejudice to their taking the full incouragement to believe and close in with Christ and seek for that Grace promised to inable them thereunto that their Covenant-state hath an aptitude to yeeld to them They may take all the incouragements afore declared that they have though there be an uncertainty about the precise time when the condition of the Covenant devolves upon themselves To come then to a close I shall only speak a few words to the Children of Believers and let me say to you You now see what a glorious state you are in asunder the Covenant and interested in the Promises thereof Will you now refuse so great Salvation yea will you not only refuse so great Grace when offered but reject it when granted to you by neglecting to take hold of the Covenant already entred with you or seeking unto God for his Spirit through whose assistance your duty will be made easie and delightful to you and this not only when you are under the greatest obligations to accept of the Covenaut but when you have so many incouragements above what the rest of Mankind have to hope for a ready acceptation with God and concurrence of his Spirit and Blessing to assist you in the performance of your duty and succeed all your endeavours for Grace Oh how will you of all Persons appear at the great day of the Lord that is ready to come upon you Where do you think to stand at that day Were you to get into such an estate your incouragements would be less but it is only your continuance in that state that you are to secure God hath as I may so speak brought you again into Paradise and will you again cast your selves out Surely of all Persons in the World you will be least able to relieve your selves under your misery by pleading the necessity of your ruine that it was Adam the first Parent of Mankind that brought it upon you You are discharged from the guilt you were under as in his loyns you are actuall received into the Covenant of Grace The Law cannot condemn you 't is only your rejection of the new Covenant and that when actually entred with you that can be your condemnation And if you say we cannot change our own natures remember you are of that House or Family to which the Promises of saving Grace do appertain yea you are in a peculiar and especial manner in some respects above the rest of that House or Family the Object of these Promises and therefore know your own Mercies and Priviledges and do not wilfully cast your selves out of so glorious an estate nor deprive your selves of such a glorious Inheritance or Inheritance in glory you were born Heirs unto POSTSCRIPT SO great and glorious are those priviledges benefits and advantages that have been assigned to the seed of Believers as received into the Covenant of Grace and having the Covenant with the promises appertaining to them ratified sealed and confirmed to them by the application of the token thereof that it cannot be rationally expected that what hath been said should meet with a ready imbracement by consciencious Christians while either the grounds of that their Covenant Interest and right to the token or the necessary redundancy of these peiviledges benefits and advantages therefrom remain obscure and inevident to them As for the necessary redundancy of these priviledges benefits and advantages from their Covenant-state taken in conjunction with the promises appertaining to them as the one and the other are ratified sealed and confirmed by the application of the token I conceive that is sufficiently evident from the foregoing discourse I shall add no more to that But it seems somewhat necessary that I should a little reflect upon both the grounds laid to their Covenant-Interest and the dueness of the application of the token to them on the account thereof for the establishment of which I have amongst others cast in my mite in a Treatise sometime since published which in the general are these two First the tenour of the Covenant it self both in respect of the promissory and preceptive part of it Secondly the practice of the Church and People of God throughout all ages in appropriating the Covenant with the promises of it and applying the token to their Insant-seed notified to us partly by Scripture and partly by Ecclesiastical History because two late Authots have endeavoured to raise some dust for the obscruing both of them and hiding their evidence from persons of less peircing understandings and weaker Judgment As for the one of them viz. Mr. Danvers his main design being only to hide the latter of these grounds and that as the knowledg of it is conveyed to us by Ecclesiastical History which we stand not much upon it being enough if so be it evidently appear from Scripture that the tenour of the Covenant be such as necessarily infers the Infant-seed of Believers interest in it and right to the token of it and that answerably the practice of the Church and People of God during the times Scripture-records extend unto was to appropriate the Covenant and apply the token of it to their infant Seed Hence I shall add little beyond what I have elsewhere said for the scattering of that dust raised by him partly because the main design he hath seen meet to lay out himself in pursuance of is but of an inferiour importance and more especially because of the little ground there is to fear that what he has done in pursuance of his design should be