Selected quad for the lemma: faith_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
faith_n	circumcision_n	covenant_n	seal_n	7,337	5	9.8059	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A31663	An impartial account of the Portsmouth disputation with some just reflections on Dr. Russel's pretended narrative : with an abrigdment of those discourses that were the innocent occasion of that disputation / by Samuel Chandler, William Leigh, Benjamin Robinson.	Chandler, Samuel.; Leigh, William.; Robinson, Benjamin, 1666-1724.	1699 (1699)	Wing C1933; ESTC R24745	96,620	125

have more Reason to hope the promises will be made good to them than others The vein of Election frequently runs in the Channel of Believing Parents and their seed 5. They are put into a new Covenant Relation As Abraham receiv'd the sign of Circumcision as a Seal of the Righteousness of Faith to himself and seed Rom. 4.11 So this ordinance of Baptism shall be a Seal of the Righteousness of Faith to Believers and their seed 6. If they dye during their Infant State they shall be saved Our Saviour useth this Argument for the proof of the Resurrection I am the God of Abraham Mat. 22.32 Now for God to be the God of any is to distinguish them from others by his rewards he did not do thus for Abraham and his Family in this World therefore there is another Heb. 11.16 Now when God is said to be a God to Believers and their seed the meaning is he will be a rewarder of them therefore if they dy in their Infant State they have a promise to rely on that God will receive them to Salvation Whereas others must leave their Children to the unfathomable depths of Divine Mercy as they do the Heathen World 3. The Practical uses of Infant Baptism beyond that of Years This I do the rather to take off the Common Objection that Infant Baptism is an useless Ordinance 1. By Baptizing our Infants we practically own our Original Pollution Those Baptiz'd at R●per Years own themselves Sinners by Practice but do not necessarily own that there is a Fountain of Sin within But when we offer our Children to be Baptiz'd we acknowledg that we have been Instruments of conveying polluted Natures to our Infants and that they need washing by the Blood and Spirit of Christ. Thus the Prophet sets forth our sinful State by the Pollutions of a new born Infant Ezek. 16.4 2. Hereby we practically acknowledg the Necessity of Gods free Grace in order to our recovery As an Infant cannot contribute to his Baptism but is purely passive So we can contribute nothing by any Work or Merit of our own towards obtaining the Grace of God and Regenerating Influences of his Spirit It is not in him that willeth nor in him that runneth but in God that sheweth Mercy Rom. 9.16 3. Hereby we practically own Christs universal Headship that he is Lord of all of all Ages Sexes and Conditions Those that deny their Children to be in Covenant with God hereby deny them to be Visible Members of Christ And thus rob him of a great part of his Subjects and indeed rob themselves of that comfort they might enjoy they look upon their Infants as in the same case and State with the Heathen World If Christ save them it is by a Prerogative of Mercy and not as his Members or Covenant Children but for this cause Christ both Died ●●d Rose and reviv'd that he might be the Lord of the Dead and Living Rom. 14.9 and as Christ whilst an Infant himself was head of the Church so he is pleas'd to admit of Infant Members in Covenant with him 4. Infant Baptism lays stronger Obligations on Parents to train up their Children for God Certainly t is a mighty Obligation on a Parent to consider 1. I have Solemnly devoted my Child to God Solemnly promis'd before the Minister and in the Face of a great Congregation that I will Endeavour by hearty Prayers Serious Instructions and a Religious Example to train up my Child for God the vows of the Lord are upon me and I shall add perjury to the rest of my Sins if I Neglect them The Prophet makes it a great Agravation of the Israelites Sin that they had taken their Sons and Daughters that they had Born unto God and Sacrafic'd them to Idols Ezek. 16.21 and it follows Thou hast slain my Children God calls them his Children as born in his Family and Solemnly devoted to him So the sin of Christians will be highly aggravated if they bring up their Children for the destroyer and Neglect those Parental Instructions they have oblig'd themselves to 5. Infant Baptism Engages Children to acquaint themselves with the Terms and Tenour of the Covenant When Children are told by their Parents how Solemnly they were enter'd into Covenant with God this engages them to enquire betimes what they are by Nature what they may be by Grace and to understand all the Principles of Religion in order to that end 6. Infant Baptism Engages us against Sin Betimes We are prepossess'd with a happy Prejudice against Sin in our Early Years and this is a great advantage When Hannibal was but 9 years Old his Father made him la● his hand upon the Altar and Swear that he would be an Irreconcilable Enemy to the Romans And this was the Reason he would never admit of any Peace with them My Friends we were Engaged for God against Sin and the Devil as our Irreconcilable Enemies not at 9 Years Old but in our Infant State and this obliges us to maintain a constant Enmity against them for ever 7. Infant Baptism is a great Encouragement for Faith in Prayer with Respect to our Children Those that have dedicated their Children to God in Baptism may pray to God with larger Measures of Faith and Hope than such as have Neglected this Duty They may say Lord I have resign'd them up unto thee Brought them to thine Authoriz'd Representative to be listed into thy Family consented for them to the claims of thy Covenant and the token of thy Covenant hath been apply'd to them let the Promises of thy Covenant be made good to them They are call'd by thy Name do thou receive them They are Visible Members of thy Church Oh give them the Favours that belong to thy Children A Visible Relation to God is a good Encouragement for Faith in Prayer We are call'd by thy Name Thou bearest not Rule over them Ier. 14.9 Those that have not thus dedicated their Children to God can only say Lord be Merciful to them tho' they are not call'd by thy Name and make them thine But we have a better Plea and can say Lord they are call'd by thy Name 8. Infant Baptism adds to the Parents comfort They may comfortably hope as to their living seed that if they are Faithful in training them up for God he will according to his promise Is. 44.3 pour out his Spirit and Blessing upon them and as to those that die in an Infant State they have Reason to Believe and hope that they are happy because God hath promis'd to be a God to them and to their seed Whereas those that Neglect this ordinance have no more Reason to hope for the Salvation of their Infants than the Heathens must only leave them to the unfathomable depths of Gods Goodness having no promise to rely upon 4. I shall answer some Principal Objections against this Truth 1. There is no Precept nor Example for Infant Baptism in all the New Testament This is