Parents and are Members with them Dout 29. 14 15. 3. Children born before their Parents covenanting yet if in their minority when their Parents enter into covenant do covenant with them and are Church-members Gen. 17. 25. The whole houshold of Lydia the Jailor and others were baptized therefore some children in minority which were born before except we shall deny so much as one child in minority then alive in all those houses 4. There is no sufficient reason at least ordinarily to conclude a child of seven ten or twelve years old to be incorrigible because a child at the ages mentioned is infans in foro Ecclesie i. e. He hath no voice nor is capable of being heard in a Church way therefore not incorrigible as to the Church Their obstinacy at the years mentioned is not capital By Gods Law Deut. 21. 18. There is still place for hope Prov. 19. 18. 22. 15. 5. Their desiring or not desiring in their own persons during the ages forementioned is not to be attended as the ground of proceeding in this case because the ground thereof is the covenant founded upon Divine Institution and in-depending upon such childrens desires Quest 3. Till what age shall they enter into Covenant with their Parents whether sixteen twenty one or sixty Ans. As long as in respect of age or capacity they cannot according to ordinary account be supposed able to act in a matter of this nature for themselves so long they shall enter in by means of their Parents covenant because whilst they are children and in their minority they are not otherwise capable of covenanting When adult they are to covenant in their own persons If a precise and certain age may here be prescribed surely it is safe to go at least so far as may answer the example Gen. 17. 25. Where Ishmael is admitted to the Seal by his Fathers covenant at thirteen years of age Howbeit the bounding of adult and in-adult age depending upon the judgment of prudence much is to be left unto the discretion of Officers and Churches in this case Quest 4. What Discipline a child is subject to from seven to sixteen years old Ans 1. Church Discipline is taken either more largely for the act of a Church-member dispensed to a Church-member as such by way of Spiritual watch rebuke c. Luke 17. 3 4. Mat. 18. 15. Or more strictly for the act of the whole Church dispensed by a Member thereof as in case of publick rebuke admonition excommunication Mat. 18. 17. 2 Cor. 2. 3. 1 Tim. 1. 20. In the first sense children in their minority are subject to Church Discipline immediately but not in the second 2. It is the Duty of the Elders and Church to call upon Parents to bring up their children in the narture and admonition of the Lord and to see as much as in them lieth that it be effectually done Eph. 6. 4. Officers and Churches respectively succeed Apostles in matters of ordinary practise 3. Besides their subjection to Ecclesiastical Discipline they are also subject to civil Discipline respectively according to their capacity whether Domesticall Scholasticall or Magistraticall Quest 5. Whether a Father may twice Covenant for his Children in Minority in several Churches Ans. 1. When a Parent is called to remove from one Church to another he is also called to enter into covenant in that Church to which he removes Paul was first baptized and in communion at Damascus Act. 9. 29. Afterwards removed unto Ierusalem and joyned to the Church there v. 26. This the very nature of order calleth for because otherwise he can neither do all the duties nor enjoy all the priviledges of a Member in the one Church or in the other not in the former because now he dwelleth not with them nor in the other because though dwelling amongst them he joyneth not with them in covenant 2. When the Parent thus removing entreth into covenant his children then in minority covenant in him The child and the power of Government over the child must go together Prov. 29. 15. 3. Hence it is the duty of Churches when they give Letters dimissory unto Parents to insert the dismission of the children then in minority with them 4. Adult children yet under the power of the Parents and removing with them are to give their personal consent unto this translation of their Membership and so to be orderly dismissed and received with their Parents otherwise they remain Members of the Church of which they were before Quest 6. Whether the end of a Deputy Covenant be not to supply personall incapacity or whether Children ripe for personall Covenanting in regard of age should Covenant by a Deputy as others that are unable thereunto Ans. 1. Children in their minority whose immediate Parents are in Church-Covenant do covenant in their Parents see the proof hereof in answer to Question 1. 2. Children adult ought to covenant in their own Persons To covenant in our own persons according to the sense of this Question is nothing else but an orderly and Church profession of our Faith or a personall publick and solemn avouching of God in an Ecclesiasticall way to be our God according to the covenant of his Grace the great duty of the people of God throughout all generations both in the times of the Law and Gospel Pregnant and Illustrious examples whereof we have in the time of Moses Deut. 26. 17 18 19. 29. 10 11 c. And of Ioshua Iosh. 24. 18 27. Of Asa 2 Chron. 15. 12. Of Iosiah 2 Chron. 34. 31 32. So Ier. 50 5. A considerable part of which Prophesie for it extends it self also to the ages after Christ we have accomplished Nehem 9. ult. 10. 28 29. The Priests and Levites and many others there named and their wives and their sons and their daughters every one that had knowledge and that had understanding did cleave unto their Brethren their Nobles and entred into a covenant and an Oath to walk in Gods Law so of the times under the Law Concerning the times under the Gospel in Isa. 62. 5. 41. 3 4 5. We read of the seed and off-spring of Iacob and Israel that when they should be sprung and grown up h. e. become adults they should both by word and writing by saying and subscribing with their hands engage themselves unto the Lord It is a part of instituted Gospel Worship The same reason which called the Fathers to confession before calleth the son also when adult It went for good reason among the Iews He is of age he shall speak for himself Ioh. 9. 21. What more meet than that the confession of our Faith should be made with our own mouths when we are able God avoucheth them in the same day when they avouch him It is a special engagement of the adult person to perform his covenant Psal. 119. 106. I have sworn and will perform Lastly It is a duty compared with others especially commended in the
Scriptures from the subject thereof viz. A Believer Rom. 10. 10. Every believer is a confessor From the matter the greatest Truth i. e. The Doctrine of Christ Jesus Heb. 3. 1. The Apostle of our confession From the manner others not being excluded as we are called thereunto 1 Pet. 3. 15. In a Church way Mat. 16. 16 19. Paul 2 Cor. 9. 13. in a special manner commends the subjection of the obedience of the Church astipulation of the Corinthians From its excellency a good Profession 1 Tim. 6. 12. A good confession v. 13. It s giving glory unto God 2 Cor. 9. 13. It s victorious exemplarinesse in respect of men Rev. 12. 11. The blessing upon the sincere performance thereof Heb. 11. 13 16. Mat. 10. 32. With the heart man believeth unto righteousnesse and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation Quest 7. Whether as large Qualifications be not required of a Members child to the participation of the Lords Supper and the priviledges of votes and censures as were requirable of his Parents at their first entrance Ans. The holding forth of Faith and Repentance with an ability to examine themselves by way of confession to the judgment of Charity were all requirable in the Parent for admission into the Church to full communion and the same is requisite for the regular admission of the Parents child being grown adult unto his full communion with the Church For the clearing of this Proposition two things are to be proved 1. That they are to have Faith and Repentance 2. That this Faith and Repentance must appear to others First They are to have Faith Repentance 1. Because Examination is the duty and Faith and Repentance are the matter of their Examination without both the being and exercise of which they cannot come worthily to the Lords Supper which is the end of their examination 2. From the end of the Lords Supper which is instituted not for regeneration but for nourishment and confirmation 'T is a Supper and a Seal That their Faith and Repentance ought to appear to others is manifest thus The Officers ought to be wise and faithful stewards now to such it belongs not only to dispense a portion in reason but to see also that those to whom it is dispensed are meet to receive their portion Luke 12. 42. 1 Cor. 4. 2. The Lords Supper cannot regularly be administred to any receiver concerning whom personally according to Truth in the judgment of charity the Minister cannot say Take and eat this is the body of the Lord Jesus which was given for you But this the Minister cannot say with good Conscience to any one upon his meer having of Faith and Repentance without a visible holding forth of the same to others in their own persons because both the exercise of reason and the exercise of Grace are requisite to the taking and eating here required As this proves the assertion concerning the Officers so 1 Cor. 10. 15 16 17. proveth the same concerning the whole body because in a regular celebration of the Lords Supper the whole Church doth judge all the partakers thereof to have spiritual communion with Christ crucified and one with another as one body in him It is the duty of the Church and Officers respectively as the keepers of the holy things so to discern between the holy and prophane the clean and the unclean as that the Sacrament may onely be administred unto worthy receivers Ezek. 44. 7 8 23. But this cannot be except the premised essentiall requisites be made appear to them in judgment of Charity Concerning the power of voting it is not rational that they should exercise a Church-power as to the administration of Church-Ordinances which voting implies who themselves are unfit for all Ordinances They who are thus unfit will abuse the Ordinances themselves and admit and retain unworthy Officers and Members and discourage the worthy and therefore power in the hands of such is not for edification but for destruction contrary to the mind of Christ 2 Cor. 10. 8. Quest 8. Whether by Covenant seed is meant the seed of immediate Parents onely or of remote also Ans. The Gospel by Covenant seed intends only the seed of immediate Parents in Church Covenant as appears from 1 Cor. 7. 14. The Parents there spoken of are immediate Parents their Progenitors were Heathens The Gospel extends not the external Covenant beyond the immediate Parents If neither of the immediate Parents be in Covenant their children are unclean see the Text The next Parent may bring in his seed though his Progenitors be unbelievers and the next Parents may cut off their seed though the progenitors be believers witnesse the instances of Ishmael and Esau Ier. 9. 25 26. Ezek. 32. 29. Psal. 83. 6. Mal. 1. 4. Gen. 21. 10. Otherwise there can no generation be given where the Covenant Interest of posterity can expediently be bounded Depinge ubi sistam Shew us where we shall make our stand The contrary exposeth the Churches to inevitable and intollerable impurities Quest 9. Whether adopted Children and bond servants be Covenant-seed Ans. Adopted children and Infant-servants regularly and absolutely subjected to the Government and dispose of such heads of Families as are in Church-covenant though they cannot be said to be their natural seed yet in regard the Scriptures according to the judgment of many Godly Learned extend to them the same Covenant priviledges with their natural seed we judge not any Churches who are like-minded with them for their practise herein All which notwithstanding yet we desire at present to leave this Question without all prejudice on our parts to after free disquisition Quest 10. Whether the child admitted by his Fathers Covenant be also a Deputy for his seed without or before personal Covenanting or without before like personal qualifications in kind as his Father was to enjoy when he became a Deputy Ans. The meaning of this Question in other terms we conceive to be this whether the child of a person joyned in Church-Covenant by means of his or her immediate Parents Covenant though such a Parent be not admitted to nor qualified for full communion nor have covenanted in their own person whether we say the child of such a person is to be baptized Whereunto we answer in these following propositions Propos. 1. Infants either of whose immediate Parents are in church-Church-Covenant do confaederate with their Parents and are therefore Church-members with them See Ans. to Quest 1. Propos. 2. It is the duty of those Infants when grown up to years of discretion though not yet fit for the Lords Supper to own the Covenant they made with their Parents by entring thereinto in their own persons and it is the duty of the Church to call upon them for the performance thereof as appeareth by Scripture examples of persons both called to and entring into Covenant many of whom could not be looked upon as personally Gracious and therefore not fit for
A DISPUTATION CONCERNING Church-Members AND THEIR CHILDREN IN ANSWER TO XXI QUESTIONS Wherein the State of such Children when Adult Together with their Duty towards the Church And the Churches Duty towards them is DISCUSSED BY AN ASSEMBLY of DIVINES meeting at BOSTON in NEW ENGLAND Iune 4th 1657. Now Published by a Lover of Truth London Printed by I. Hayes for Samuel Thomson at the Bishops Head in Pauls Church-yard 1659. To the READER IT is justly accounted one of the glories of the English Nation that God hath honoured them with special light in some momentous Truths above what he hath other Protestant Churches round about them The morality of the Christian Sabbath deep and spiritual insight into those secret transactions between the Lord and the soules of his elect at their first conversion also in their after walking in communion with God are usually observed as instances hereof And of the same kind though perhaps in a lower rank are those Truths about the instituted Worship of God which have been now for some years a considerable part of those disquisitions which do also at this day exercise the most searching thoughts and ablest pens that are amongst us And truly the dealing of God in his Providence towards the people of this Land in bringing out the light and glory of these Truths hath been observable and different from the way that he hath walked in to other Churches For whereas they rose up from Antichristian apostasie in Doctrine and Discipline both at once together with his abominations in Faith rejecting also his inventions in Church Order insomuch as neither the Head the Pope nor his Body in the principal Members of it the Arch-Bishops and Bishops with the rest of that Hierarchical frame have at all been to be found exercising the usurpations of the man of sin in most of the Reformed Protestant Churches since the first day of their rejecting Popery In England it was far otherwise the head of Antichrist being indeed here cut off by Henry the eighth who justled him from his usurped supremacy within his Territories but yet as is observed of him he left his body the Hierarchy continuing which for many years not only stood but exercised in a great measure the authority of the Dragon and made an image of the Beast and caused as many as would not worship it to be killed And in this the Lord had doubtlesse a design more fully to lay open the loathsomnesse of the abominations of the mystery of iniquity in this part of it which by his infinite wisdom he effectually carried on all along and hath in a good part accomplished in these daies wherein we live For even from the first Reformation here begun the Lord shone in upon the understandings of some of his precious servants with such an evidence of light in these things as overpowred their Consciences and constrained them to bear a publick testimony against the remainders of Antichrist in the Land Insomuch as from that time till the day of the downfal of all the Hierarchical brood God never suffered himself to be without his witnesses in this cause of his whom he raised up and whose right hand he held to plead and preach and pray and weep and beleeve and print and contend and resist and suffer for the institutions of Christ not only to silencing and reproach but to banishment and blood it self some of them And verily the number of the Martyrs of Iesus Christ who have had his testimony and kept the Word of the patience of the Saints in this Land since the first Reformation will be found not to be few and their sufferings neither few nor light whenever that dying wish of judicious and blessed Ames shall be accomplished as it deserves viz. that a Martyrologie in this cause of Church-Discipline under the Bishops should be compiled and published to the world And hence it is come to passe that amongst the English Divines and Christians there is as was said more light in these points and in sundry of their Church Assemblies and administrations more purity then is so ordinarily to be met withal in others Amongst all that have suffered for and searched into these Truths they of New-England justly deserve and will have a name and a glory as long as the earth shall have any remembrance of an English Nation not only for their sufferings here under the iniquity of those bloody Fathers of the Church as they loved to be stiled the Bishops though they bore as great if not a greater share therein than most of their brethren that staied behind them But more especially will after ages honour them for that great and high adventure of theirs in transporting themselves their wives and little ones upon the rude waves of the vast Ocean into a remote desolate and howling wildernesse and there encountring by Faith and patience with a world of temptations and streights and pressing wants and difficulties and this upon no other inducements but that they might meet with him whom their souls loved in the midst of his Golden Candlesticks and see him as they have there seen-him in his Sanctuary An undertaking hardly to be parallell'd unlesse perhaps by that of their Father Abraham from Ur of the Caldees or that of his seed from the Land of Egypt And these are the men Christian Reader who are the Authors of this disputation now put into thy hands which deserves esteem and acceptance somwhat the rather on this account because it comes from such as it doth and is about such a Subject even from men holy and learned and is about that which they have searched into as seriously impartially and unprejudicedly as any men are ever like to do in this world Besides that being themselves Officers to Instituted Churches of Saints and this work of theirs being nextly and especially for the service of the Churches they did therein lie under as direct and full an influence of the Spirit of Christ and were on all accounts as compleatly wrapt within the promise for their guidance as men can on this side Heaven Yea 't is about those Truths which they have and at this day do suffer for and therefore they are as likely as most others to be the instruments in the hand of Christ by whom he will communicate further light in these points God is never behind hand with men and as some special exercise of any particular Grace strengthens and encreaseth it and establisheth the heart in it and with it so the obedience and faithfulnesse of his servants to any truth of Christ especially if in an eminent degree and manner engageth God to make known more of his counsel and will in that truth to such persons and as under such an engagement the Lord looks upon himself It is true indeed the Civil Magistrates of that Jurisdiction of the English in New-England that lies upon the River Connectiquot sent these Questions to the Magistrates of the Massachusets and they mutually
Because the foundation of the covenant membership of the child is Divine Institution which imputes the Covenant Act only and not any other Act of the Parents to the child Quest 13. Whether a Members Childs unfitness for seals disableth not his seed for Membership or Baptism Ans. This question agreeing in scope with Quest 10. We refer thither for Answer thereunto Quest 14. Whether a Members Child be censurable for any thing but scandalous actions and not also for ignorance and inexperience Ans. A Members child like as it is with all other members is censurable only for scandalous sins Mat. 18. 15 18. 1 Cor. 5. 11. Consequently for ignorance and inexperience when scandalous for all ignorance and inexperience though blameable is not scandalous Rom. 14. 1. Heb 5. 12. Luke 9. 55. Quest 15. Whether a Members Child must only examine himself and may not be examined by others of his fitnesse for seals Ans. It is a duty of a Members child to examine himself and yet he is also subject to the examination of others 1. Because the Elders are to give an account which necessarily presupposeth that God hath given them power in some respects to take an account Heb. 13. 17. Acts 8. 37. 2. It pertaineth to them to see that the holy things be not defiled by the accesse of any unclean and unworthy person Ezek. 44. 23. Mal. 1. 6 7 9. 2. 1. 3. To teach by question and answer in the most profitable way for the instruction and edification of the younger sort and is commended occasionally to the practise of the Churches Gal. 6. 6. Quest 16. Whether only Officers must examine in private or else publike before the Church Ans. Concerning their examination by the Elders in private the former reasons conclude affirmatively whereunto may be added occasionally that Iames and the Elders contrive and prepare in private for the more orderly and quiet transactions of things in publick Acts 21. 22 23. 'T is spiritual wisdom by preparing the stones beforehand to prevent after noise in the building 1 Kin. 7. 6. Publick examination we also conceive to be regular edification or due satisfaction of the Church calling thereunto yet alwaies orderly that is by approbation of the Presbytery and the immediate proposal of the questions by them to the examinate Rev. 2. 2. 1 Cor. 14. 40. Quest 17. Whether the same grown Members Child must not be examined of his Charitable experience before Baptism as well as before the Lords Supper Ans. We think the Elders do well to take an account of children concerning the Principles of Religion according to their capacity before they be baptized If the children spoken of in the question be yet in their minority their right unto Baptism being founded consequently upon the Covenant made in their Parents this Examination is to be looked at as conducing to the better application but not to the being of their Baptism But if they be adult they are to give an account of their Faith and Repentance in their own persons before they be baptized Acts 8. 36 37. Mat 3. 6. See Ans. to Quest 6th Quest 18. Whether baptized Children sent away from the Church for settlement and not intending return are continually to be accounted Members Ans. Baptized children though locally removed from the Church unto which they belong are to be accounted Members until dismission death or censure dissolve that Relation because Christ the Institutor of this Relation onely by these waies dissolveth the same Quest 19. Whether Historical Faith and a blamelesse life fit a Members Child for all Ordinances and Priviledges and he must be examined only about them Ans. Not only historical Faith i. e. The meer knowledge of the fundamental Doctrine of Faith and a blamelesse life but also such an holding forth of Faith and Repentance as unto judgment of Charity sheweth an ability to examine themselves and to discern the Lords body is requisite to fit a Members child for all Ordinances and Priviledges and his blamelesse life notwithstanding a Members child is to be examined concerning the other qualifications That both the having and holding forth of Faith and Repentance are requisite to fit for all Ordinances see Ans. to Quest 7th That a meer Historical Faith and every blamelesse life is not sufficient to hold forth these qualifications appears 1. An Historical Faith as meerly such is insufficient Iam. 2. 19. 2. A blamelesse life is either taken for such a conformity of the external man to the Letter as exempts from censure Mat. 19. 20. Phil. 3. 6. Or for such a conformity of the whole man as in judgment of Charity commends a person to the Conscience of the beholder as in measure spiritual Phil. 1. 10. 2. 15. A blamelesse life in the first sense is not sufficient to qualifie for all Ordinances but for our fitnesse thereunto the Rule calleth for a blamelesse life in the second sense Matth. 3. 8 9. Iames 2. 21. Besides the holding forth of Faith and Repentance according to the Premises Quest 20. Whether if a Church-Member barely say it repents me though seventy times seven times following he relapse into the same gross evils as lying slander oppression c. He be to be forgiven and not censured Ans. Though we alwaies acknowledge that the Holy One of Israel is not to be limited by man or Angel as to the dispensation of his Grace yet so far as we remember the Scriptures seventy times seven times i. e. 490 relapses into the same grosse sin and repentance is an instance not extant there Without the fruits meet for repentance we are not called to forgive Mat. 3. 8. Luk. 17. 3. Notwithstanding a Brother offends seventy times seven times that is many times a definite number being put for an indefinite yet whilst God enables him to repent it is our duty to forgive 'T is not the number of offences but the holding forth of repentance in the offender that is the measure of our forgivenesse Mat. 18. 22. As God for Christs sake forgave us so ought we to forgive one another Ephes. 4. 32. To say in words I repent and to gainsay it in deeds is according to Scripture not to repent yea rather to continue in impenitency Tit. 1. 16. Iam. 2. 18 26. An ingenuous and solemn profession of repentance nothing appearing to the contrary is to be accepted as true repentance in the judgment of Charity Luk. 17. 3. 1 Cor. 13. 7. Quest 21. Whether a Member under offence and not censured or not with the highest Censure can authoritatively be denied the Lords Supper or other Church-priviledges Ans. 1. None but the Church can Authoritatively deny to the Member his accesse unto the Lords Supper because the power thereof is only delegated to that subject Mat. 18. 17. 2. The Church cannot deny unto a Member his accesse unto the Lords Supper untill she hath regularly judged him to be an offender 3. The censure of admonition is the first act whereby a Church doth judicially declare a Member to be an offender therefore till the censure of admonition be past a Member cannot Authoritatively be denied communion in the Lords Supper or other Church-priviledges because of offence 4. After the sentence of Admonition is past the offender now admonished may be yea thereby is Authoritatively denied to come unto the Lords Supper and to vote in the Church because he is judicially unclean Lev. 22. 3 4. 7. 20 21. Mat. 5. 23 24. Though he be not yet Censured with the Censure of Excommunication 5. All which notwithstanding there are cases wherein a Brother apparently discerned to be in a condition rendring him should he so proceed to the Lords Supper an unworthy Communicant may and ought regularly to be advised to forbear and it is his duty to hearken thereunto 6. Yet two things are here carefully to be attended 1. That Brethren be not many Masters taking upon them to advise and to admonish others to abstain without cause or before the time Iam. 3. 1. 2. That none forbear to come worthily which is their duty because to their private apprehension another is supposed at least to come unworthily which is their sin 7. In case the Church shall see cause to advise a Member to forbear and he shall refuse to hearken thereunto his refusal being also a violation of Church Order addeth contumacy to his offence and thereby ripens the Offender for Censure 19 4th 1657. Boston N. E. ERRATA PAg. 5. l. 1. read Act. 15. 10. p. 6. l. 23. r. Act. 2. 47. p. 14. l. 7. r. 2 Cor. 2. 6. l. 26. r. Act. 9. 19. p. 18. l. 5. for reason r. season p. 23. l. 30. for Church-act r. Covenant-act p. 24. l. 19 20. r. would have so p. 26. l. 20. for in r. is See the platform of Church Discipline cap 12. §. 7. See the platform of Discipline cap. 12. §. 7.