weep in secret for your pride and that God may not resist reject you as a generation of his wrath Oh that the Lord would pour out a spirit of Humiliation Repentance upon all the younger sort in the Country yea upon elder too for our neglects from Dan to Beersheba Oh that we might meet at Bochim because so many Canaanues of unsubdued yea growing corruptions are found among us Let it not be said that when the first best generation in New-England were gathered to their fathers there arose another generation after them that knew not the Lord. Behold the Lord had a delight in your fathers to love them and he hath chosen you their seed after them to enjoy these Liberties Opportunities as it is this day Circumcise therefore the fore-skin of your hearts and be no more stiff-necked but yield your selves to the Lord and to the Order of His Sanctuary to seek him and wait on him in all his wayes with holy fear and trembling for the Lord your God is gracious and merciful and will not turn away his face from you if you return unto him if you seek him he will be found of you but if you forsake him he will cast you off for ever We shall conclude when we have given the Reader a short account of the Work ensuing The Propositions in Answer to the first Question were after much discussion and consideration from the Word of God Voted and Concluded by the Assembly in the particular terms as they are here expressed The Arguments then used for their Confirmation being drawn up by some deputed thereunto after they had been several times read and considered in the Assembly were Voted and Consented to as to the summe and substance thereof The Answer to the second Question is here given with great brevity partly because so much is already said there-about in the foresaid Platform of Discipline and partly by reason of great straits of time But what is here presented was the joynt conclusion of the Synod A Preface was desired by the Assembly to be prefixed by some appointed thereunto which is here accordingly by them performed Now the God of truth peace guide us all his people in the wayes give us the fruits thereof help us to feed his flock and his lambs to be fed by him as the sheep of his pasture that when the chief-Shepherd shall appear we may receive together a Crown of glory that fadeth not away may enter into the joy of our Lord as those that have neither despised his little ones nor denied to be our Brother's keeper But having faithfully endevoured to promote the continuation of his Kingdom Communion of his people may Rest Reign with all Saints in the kingdom of his glory Unto whom be glory in the Church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages world without end THE ANSWER OF THE ELDERS AND OTHER MESSENGERS of the Churches Assembled at Boston in the Year 1662. TO The Questions Propounded to them by ORDER of the Honoured GENERAL COURT Quest 1. WHo are the Subjects of Baptism Answ The Answer may be given in the following propositions briefly confirmed from the Scriptures 1 They that according to Scripture are Members of the Visible Church are the subjects of Baptisme 2 The Members of the Visible Church according to scripture are Confederate visible Believers in particular Churches and their infant-seed i. e. children in minority whose next parents one or both are in Covenant 3 The Infant-seed of confederate visible Believers are members of the same Church with their parents and when grown up are personally under the watch discipline and Government of that Church 4 These Adult persons are not therefore to be admitted to full Communion meerly because they are and continue members without such further qualifications as the Word of God requireth therunto 5 church-Church-members who were admitted in minority understanding the Doctrine of Faith and publickly professing their assent thereto not scandalous in life and solemnly owning the Covenant before the Church wherin they give up themselves and their children to the Lord and subject themselves to the Government of Christ in the Church their children are to be Baptised 6 Such Church-members who either by death or some other extraordinary Providence have been inevitably hindred from publick acting as aforesaid yet have given the Church cause in judgment of charity to look at them as so qualified and such as had they been called thereunto would have so acted their children are to be Baptised 7 The members of Orthodox Churches being found in the Faith and not scandalous in life and presenting due testimony thereof these occasionally comming from one Church to another may have their children Baptised in the church wither they come by virtue of communion of churches but if they remove their habitation they ought orderly to covenant and subject themselves to the Government of Christ in the church where they settle their abode and so their children to be Baptised It being the churches duty to receive such unto communion so farr as they are regularly fit for the same The Confirmation of these Propositions from the Scripture followeth Proposition First They that according to Scripture are members of the visible Church are the subjects of Baptisme The trueth hereof may appear by the following evidences from the word of God 1. When Christ saith Go ye therefore and teach or as the Greek is disciple all Nations Baptising them Mat. 28.19 he expresseth the adequate subject of Baptisme to be disciples or discipled ones But disciples there is the same with members of the visible church For the visible Church is Christs school wherein all the members stand related and subjected to him as their Master and Teacher and so are his scholars or disciples and under his teaching as verse 20. And it is that visible spiritual Kingdome of Christ which he there from his Kingly power ver 18. sendeth them to set up and administer in ver 19. the subjects whereof are under his Lawes and Government verse 20. Which subjects or members of that Kingdome i.e. of the visible church are termed disciples verse 19. Also in the Acts of the Apostles the story of their accomplishment of that commission disciples are usually put for members of the visible church Acts 1.15 In the mids of the disciples who with others added to them are called the church Acts 2 47 The members whereof are again called disciples Acts 6 1 2. Acts 9 1 against the disciples of the Lord i. e against the church of God 1 Cor. 15 9 Gal. 1.13 Acts 9 26 He assayed to joyn himself to the disciples The disciples at Lystra Iconiem and Antioch Acts 14 21 22 are called the church in each of those places verse 23 So the church verse 27 the disciples verse 28. Acts 18.22 the church at Cesarea Acts 21.16 the disciples of Cesarea So Acts 18 23 with chap. 15.41 and Gal. 1.2 Acts 18.27 and
exclude the least in age from the good of that promise Heb 8 11 they being sometimes pointed to by that phrase from the least to the greatest Jer. 44.12 with verse 7. no more then the least in other respects compare Isa 54.13 In Acts 2.39 at the passing of those Jews into New Testament Church estate the Lord is so far from repealing the Covenant-interest that was granted unto children in the former Testament or from making the children there losers by their Parents faith that he doth expresly renew the old grant and tells them that the promise or covenant for the promise and the covenant are terms that do mutually infer each other compare Acts 3.25 Gal. 3.16 17 18 29. Rom. 4.16 Heb. 6 17 is to them and to their children and the same is asserted to be the appointed portion of the far off Gentiles when they should be called By all which it appeareth that the covenant of Abraham Gen. 17.7 whereby God is the God of the faithfull and their seed continues under the Gospel Now if the seed of the faithful be still in the covenant of Abraham then they are members of the visible Church 1. Because that covenant of Abraham Gen. 17.7 was properly church-covenant or the covenant which God makes with his visible church i. e. the covenant of grace considered in the external dispensation of it and in the promises and priviledges that belong to that dispensation For many were taken into that covenant that were never of the invisible church and by that covenant the family of Abraham as also by the renewing thereof the house of Israel afterward were established the visible church of God Gen. 17. and Deut. 29 12 13. and from that covenant men might be broken off Gen. 17 14. Rom. 11.17 19. and to that covenant Circumcision the badg of church-membership was annexed Therefore the covenantees therein were are church-members 2. Because in that covenant the seed are spoken of in terms describing or inferring church-membership as well as their parents for they have God for their God and are his people as well as the parents Gen. 17 7 8. with Deut 29 11 13. They have the covenant made with them Deut 29 14 15. and the covenant is said to be between God them between me thee and between thy seed after thee so the Hebrew runs Gen 17 7. They are also in that covenant appointed to be the subjects of the initiatory seal of the covenant the seal of membership Gen. 17 9 10 11. Therefore the seed are according to that covenant members of the visible church as well as their parents Such seed or children are federally holy 1 Cor. 7.14 Argum 2 The word holy as applied to any sort of persons is never in Scripture used in a lower sense than for federal or covenant-holiness the covenant-holiness of the visible Church but very often in that sense Ezra 9 2. Deut 7 6. 14 2 21 26 19 28 9 Exod 19 6 Dan 8 24 12 7 Rom 11 16 So that to say they are holy in this sense viz. by covenant-relation and separation to God in his Church is as much as to say they are in the covenant of the visible church or members of it From Mark 10 14 15 16 Mat 19 14 Argum 3 childrens membership in the visible Church is either the next and immediate sense of those words of Christ Of such is the kingdome of heaven and so the kingdome of heaver or of God is not rarely used in other Scriptures to express the visible church or church-estate Mat. 25 1 21 43 8.11 12 or it evidently follows from any other sense that can rationally be given of the words For those may not be denied a place and portion in the visible church whom Christ affirms to have a portion in the kingdome either of invisible grace or of eternal glory Nor do any in ordinary course pass into the Kingdome of Glory hereafter but through the Kingdome of Grace in the visible Church here Adde also that Christ there graciously invites and calls little children to him is greatly displeased with those that would hinder them asserts them notwithstanding their infancy to be exemplary in receiving the kingdome of God embraceth them in his arms and blesseth them all which shews Christ's dear affection to and owning of the children of the Church as a part of his kingdome whom we therefore may not disown lest we incurre his displeasure as the Disciples did Such seed or children are disciples according to Mat 28 19 Argum 4 as appears 1. Because subjects of Christ's Kingdome are equivalent with disciples there as the frame of that Text shews verse 18 19 20. but such children are subjects of Christ's Kingdome or of the kingdome of heaven Mat 19 14 In the discipling of all Nations intended in Mat. 28.19 the kingdome of God which had been the portion of the Jews was communicated to the Gentiles according to Mat. 21.43 But in the kingdome of God these children have an interest or portion Mark 10.14 2. The Apostles in accomplishing that commission Mat. 28.19 did disciple some children viz. the children of discipled parents Acts 2.39 15.10 They are there called and accounted disciples whom the false teachers would have brought under the yoke of circumcision after the manner of Moses verse 1 5. But many of those were children Exod. 12.48 Acts 21.21 Lydia and her houshold the Jaylor and all his were discipled and baptized Acts 16.15 31 33. Paul at Corinth took in the children into the holy school of Christ 1 Cor 7.14 3. Such children belong to Christ for he calls them to him as his to receive his blessing Mark 10 13-16 They are to be received in his Name Mark 9.37 Luke 9 48. They have a part in the Lord Jost 22.24.25 therefore they are disciples for to belong to Christ is to be a disciple of Christ Mark 9.41 with Mat. 10.42 Now if they be disciples then they are members of the visible church as from the equivalency of those terms was before shewed The whole current and harmony of Scripture shews Argum 5 that ever since there was a visible church on earth the children thereof have by the Lords appointment been a part of it So it was in the Old and it is and shall be so in the New Testament Eve the mother of all living hath a promise made Gen. 3.15 not only of Christ the head-seed but through him also of a Church-seed to proceed from her in a continued lineal succession which should continually be at visible enmity with and stand at a distance or be separated from the seed of the Serpent Under that promise made to Eve and her seed the children of Adam are born and are a part of the Church in Adam's family even Cain was so Gen. 4.1 3. till cast out of the presence of God therein verse 14. being now manifestly one of the seed of the Serpent 1
Discourses he asserteth That as they are Members in their infancy so they continue Members when they are grown up till for their wickedness they be cast out and that they being Members their seed successively are Members also until by Dissolution or Excommunication they be unchurched That though they are Members it follows not that they must come to the Lords Supper but they must first appear able to examine themselves and discern the Lords Body That the children of godly parents though they do not manifest faith in the Gospel yet they are to be accounted of Gods Church until they positively reject the Gospel Rom. 11. That this Membership of children hath no tendency in it to pollute the Church no more then in the Old Testament but is a means rather of the contrary And that there is as much danger if not more of the degenerating and apostatizing of Churches gathered of professing Believers as of those that rise out of the seed of such Mr. Prudden in a Letter to a friend written in the year 1651. doth plainly express it to be his judgement That the children of church-Church-members are Members and so have right to have their children baptized though themselves be not yet admitted to the Lords Supper His words are these Touching the desire of such Members chidren as desire to have their children baptized it is a thing that I do not yet hear practised in any of our Churches But for my own part I am inclined to think that it cannot justly be denied because their next Parents however not admitted to the Lords Supper stand as compleat Members of the Church within the Church Covenant and so acknowledged that they might have right to Baptism Now they being in Covenant and standing Members their Children also are Members by virtue of their Parents Covenant and Membership as well as they themselves were by virtue of their Parents Covenant and Membership And they have not renounced that Covenant nor are justly censured for breach of that Covenant but do own it and profess it and by virtue of it claim the priviledge of it to their Children Then he puts this his Argument into form thus Those Children who are within the Covenant of the Curch and so Membeâ—s of it Baptism cannot be denied unto But the Câ—iâ—dren in question are within the Covenant of the Church and so Members of it Therefore Baptism cannot be denied unto them The Assumption is proved thus The Children of such Parents as are within the Covenant of the Church and so Members of the Church are themselves within the Covenant of the Church and so Members of it But the Children in question are Children of such Parents as are in Covenant and so Members of the Church Therefore they are so themselves The Proposition is clear because the Parents Covenant for themselves and for their Children Deut. 29.10 -16. Ezek. 16.8 13. And God accepts both Gen. 17.12 13. the whole Nation is foederally holy Ezra 9.2 they are expresly said to be in Covenant with their fathers Deut 29. not partly or partially in Covenant Rom. 9.3 4. Acts 2.39 and God styles himself their God as well as their fathers Gen. 17.7 8 9. and to have God to be our God is to be in compleat Church Covenant with him The Assumption is evident because else such their Parents had not had right to Baptism the Seal of the Covenant but that they had right unto and so received it and the same right that they had their Children have who are included in their Covenant as they were in their fathers and are not less truely or less compleatly in Covenant Lastly to adde no more Mr. Nath. Rogers in a Letter to a Friend bearing date 18.11 1652. hath these words To the Question concerning the Children of Church-members I have nothing to oppose and I wonder any â—…ould deny them to be Members They are Members in censu Ecclesiastice God so calls them the Church is so to account of them And when they are adultae aetatis though having done no personal act yet are to be in Charity judged Members still and till after due calling upon they shall refuse or neglect to acknowledge and own the Covenant of their Parents and profess their belief of and subjection to the contents thereof â—…ot Practise I confess I account it our great default that we have made no more real distinction between these and others that they have been no more attended as the lambs of the Flock of Christ and whether it be not the cause of the corruption and woeful defaction of our youth disquiri permittimus So that it was the judgement of these Worthies in their time that the children of Church-members are members of the Church as well as their parents and do not cease to be members by becoming adult but do still continue in the Church untill in some way of God they be cast out and that they are subject to Church-discipline even as other members and may have their children baptized before themselves be received to the Lords Supper and yet that in this way there is no tendency to the corrupting of the Church by unworthy members or of the Ordinances by unworthy partakers And in the Synod herd at Cambridge in the year 1648. that particular point of Baptizing the children of such as were admitted members in minority but not yet in full communion was inserted in some of the draughts that were prepared for that Assembly and was then debated and confirmed by the like Arguments as we now use and was generally consented to though because some few dissented and there was not the like urgency of occasion for present practise it was not then put into the Platform that was after Printed We need not mention the Meeting of Elders at Boston upon the Call of the Honoured Court in the year 1657. where in Answer to XXI Questions since Printed this Point is particularly asserted By all which it appeareth that these are not things lately devised or before unheard-of nor can they justly be censured as Innovations or Declensions from the received Doctrine in New-England It is true that in the beginning of these Plantations and the Infancy of these Churches there was not so much said touching these things as there hath been since and the reason is Because then there was not the like occasion as since hath been Few children of Church-members being then adult at least few that were then married and had children Accordingly when a Question was put about the priviledges of Members children when come to years these Churches then having been but of few years standing our Answer was That by reason of the Infancy of these Churches we had then had no occasion to determine what to judge or practise in that matter Answer to the 5 th and 6 th of 32. Questions which may satisfie as the Reason why in our first beginnings there was no more said touching these Questions But afterwards when there was more
ought to be received by us for our children in another true Church where Providence so casts us as that we cannot have it in our own as doubtless it may and ought to be then also we may and ought in like case to dispense Baptism when desired to a man and lawfull subject being a member of another Church To deny or refuse either of these would be an unjustifiable refusing of Communion of Churches and tending to sinful separation 2. Such as remove their habitation ought orderly to covenant and subject themselves to the Government of Christ in the Church where they setlle their abode and so their children to be baptized 1. Because the regularly baptized are disciples and under the Discipline and Government of Christ But they that are absolutely removed from the Church whereof they were so as to be uncapable of being under Discipline there shall be under it no where if not in the Church where they inhabit They that would have Church-priviledges ought to be under Church-power But these will be under no Church-power but as lambs in a large place if not under it there where their setled abode is 2. Every Christian ought to covenant for himself and his children or professedly to give up himself and his to the Lord and than in the way of his Ordinances Deut. 26 17. 12.5 and explicite covenanting is a duty especially where we are called to it and have opportunity for it nor can they well be said to covenant implicitely that do explicitely refuse a professed covenanting when called thereunto And especially this covenanting is a duty when we would partake of such a Church-priviledge as Baptism for our children is But the parents in question will now be professed covenanters no where if not in the Church where their fixed habitation is Therefore they ought orderly to covenant there and so their children to be baptized 3. To refuse covenanting and subjection to Christ's Government in the Church where they live being so removed as to be utterly uncapable of it elswhere would be a walking disorderly and would too much favour of profaneness and separation and hence to administer Baptism to the children of such as stand in that way would be to administer Christ's Ordinances to such as are in a way of sin and disorder which ought not to be 2 Thess 3.6 1 Chron. 15.13 and would be contrary to that Rule 1 Cor. 14.40 Let all things be done decently and in order Quest II. VVHether according to the Word of God there ought to be a Consociation of Churches and what should be the manner of it Answ The Answer may be briefly given in the Propositions following 1. Every Church or particular Congregation of visible Saints in Gospel-order being furnished with a Presbytery at least with a Teaching Elder and walking together in truth and peace hath received from the Lord Jesus full power and authority Ecclesiastical within it self regularly to administer all the Ordinances of Christ and is not under any other Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction whatsoever For to such a Church Christ hath given the Keyes of the Kingdome of Heaven that what they binde or loose on earth shall be bound or loosed in heaven Matt. 16.19 18.17 18. Elders are ordained in every Church Acts 14.23 Tit. 1.5 and are therein authorized officially to administer in the Word Prayer Sacraments and Censures Mat. 28 19 20. Acts 6.4 1 Cor. 4.1 5.4 12. Acts 20.28 1 Tim. 5.17 3.5 The reproving of the Church of Corinth and of the Asian Churches severally imports they had power each of them within themselves to reform the abuses that were amongst them 1 Cor. 5. Rev. 2 14 20. Hence it follows that Consociation of Churches is not to hinder the exercise of this power but by counsel from the Word of God to direct and strengthen the same upon all just occasions 2. The Churches of Christ do stand in a sisterly relation each to other Cant. 8.8 being united in the same Faith and Order Eph. 4.5 Col. 2.5 to walk by the same Rule Phil. 3.16 in the exercise of the same Ordinances for the same ends Eph. 4 11 12 13. 1 Cor. 16.1 under one and the same political Head the Lord Jesus Christ Eph. 1.22 23. 4.5 Rev. 2.1 Which Union infers a Communion sutable thereunto 3. Communion of Churches is the faithfull improvement of the gifts of Christ bestowed upon them for his service and glory and their mutuall good and edification according to capacity and opportunity 1 Pet. 4.10 11. 1 Cor. 12.4 7. 10.24 1 Cor. 3.21 22. Cantic 8.9 Rom 1.15 Gal. 6.10 4. Acts of Communion of Churches are such as these 1. Hearty Care and Prayer one for another 2 Cor. 11.28 Cant. 8.8 Rom. 1.9 Coloss 1.9 Eph. 6.18 2. To afford Relief by communication of their Gifts in Temporal or Spiritual necessities Rom. 15.26 27. Acts 11.22 29. 2 Cor. 8.1 4 14. 3. To maintain Vnity and Peace by giving account one to another of their publick actions when it is orderly desired Acts 11.2 3 4-18 Josh 22.13 21 30. 1 Cor. 10 32. and to strengthen one another in their regular Administrations as in special by a concurrent testimony against persons justly censured Acts 15.41 16.4 5. 2 Tim. 4.15 2 Thess 3.14 4. To seek and accept Help from and give Help unto each other 1. In case of Divisions and Contentions whereby the peace of any Church is disturbed Acts 15.2 2. In matters of more then ordinary importance Prov. 24.6 15.22 as Ordination Translation and Deposition of Elders and such like 1 Tim. 5.22 3 In doubtful and difficult Questions and Controversies Doctrinal or Practical that may arise Acts 15 2 6. 4. For the rectifying of mal-Administrations and healing of Errours and Scandals that are unhealed among themselves 3 John ver 9 10. 2 Cor. 2 6-11 1 Cor. 15. Rev 2 14 15 16. 2 Cor. 12.20 21. 13 2. Churches now have need of help in like cases as well as Churches then Christ's care is still for whole Churches as well as for particular persons and Apostles being now ceased there remains the duty of brotherly love and mutual care and helpfulness incumbent upon Churches especially Elders for that end 5. In love and faithfulness to take notice of the Troubles and Difficulties Errours and Scandals of another Church and to administer help when the case manifestly calls for it though they should so neglect their own good and duty as not to seek it Exod. 23.4 5. Prov. 24.11 12. 6. To Admonish one another when there is need and cause for it and ofter due means with patience used to withdraw from a Church or peccant party therein obstinately persisting in Errour or Scandal as in the Platform of Discipline chap. 15. sect 2. partic 3. is more at large declared Gal. 2 11-14 2 Thess 3.6 Rom. 16.17 5. Consociation of Churches is their mutual and solemn Agreement to exercise communion in such acts as aforesaid amongst themselves with special reference to those Churches which by providence are planted in a convenient vicinity though with liberty reserved without offence to make use of others as the nature of the case or the advantage of opportunity may lead thereunto 6. The Churches of Christ in this Countrey having so good opportunity for it it is meet to be commended to them as their duty thus to consociate For 1. Communion of Churches being commanded and Consociation being but an Agreement to practise it this must needs be a duty also Psal 119.106 Nehem. â—0 28 29. 2. Paul an Apostle sought with much labour the conference concurrence and right hand of fellowship of other Apostles and ordinary Elders and Churches have not less need each of other to prevent their running in vain Gal. 2.2 6 9. 3. Those general Scripture-rules touching the need and use of counsel and help in weighty cases concern all Societies and Polities Ecclesiastical as well as Civil Prov. 11.14 15.22 20 18. 24.6 Eccles 4.9 10 12. 4. The pattern in Acts 15 holds forth a warrant for Councils which may be greater or lesser as the matter shall require 5. Concurrence and Communion of Churches in Gospel times is not obscurely held forth in Isa 19.23 24 25. Zeph 3.9 1 Cor. 11.16 14.32 36. 6. There hath constantly been in these Churches a profession of Communion in giving the right hand of fellowship at the gathering of Churches and Ordination of Elders Which importeth a Consociation and obligeth to the practice thereof Without which we should also want an expedient and sufficient Cure for emergent Church-difficulties and Differences with the want whereof our Way is charged but unjustly if this part of the Doctrine thereof were duely practised 7. The manner of the Churches agreement herein or entring into this Consociation may be by each Church's open consenting unto the things here declared in Answer to this 2 d. Question as also to what is said thereabout in chap. 15. 16. of the Platform of Discipline with reference to other Churches in this Colony Countrey as in Propos 5 th is before expressed 8. The manner of exercising and practising that Communion which this consent or agreement specially tendeth unto may be by making use occasionally of Elders or able Brethren of other Churches or by the more solemn Meetings of both Elders and Messengers in lesser or greater Councils as the matter shall require FINIS
PROPOSITIONS CONCERNING THE SUBJECT of BAPTISM AND CONSOCIATION of CHVRCHES Collected and Confirmed out of the WORD of GOD BY A SYNOD of ELDERS AND MESSENGERS of the CHURCHES in Massachusets-Colony in New-England Assembled at BOSTON according to Appointment of the Honoured GENERAL COVRT In the Year 1662. At a GENERAL COURT held at Boston in New-England the 8 th of October 1662. THe Court having Read over this Result of the Synod judge meet to Commend the same unto the Consideration of all the Churches and People of this Jurisdiction And for that end doe Order the Printing thereof By the Court Edward Rawson Secret ' CAMBRIDGE Printed by S. G. for Hezekiah Vsher at Boston in New-England 1662. THE PREFACE TO THE CHRISTIAN READER And especially to the Churches of Massachusets-Colony in NEW-ENGLAND THat one end designed by God's All-disposing Providence in leading so many of his poor people into this Wilderness was to lead them unto a distinct discerning and practise of all the Wayes and Ordinances of his House according to Scripture-pattern may seem an Observation not to be despised That we are fit or able for so great a service the sense of our own feebleness forbids us to think But that we have large and great opportunity for it none will deny For besides the useful Labours and Contemplations of many of the Lords Worthies in other places and in former times contributing to our Help and shewing our Principles to be neither novell nor singular the advantage of Experience and Practise and the occasion thereby given for daily searching into the Rule is considerable And He that hath made the path of the just as the shining light is wont still to give unto them further light as the progress of their path requires further practise making his Word a Lanthorn to their feet to shew them their way from step to step though haply sometimes they may not see far before them It is matter of humbling to us that we have made no better improvement of our opportunities this way but some Fruits God hath given and is to be praised for In former years and while sundry of the Lords eminent Servants now at rest from their labours were yet with us A Platform of Church-Discipline comprizing the brief summe thereof especially in reference to the Constitution of Churches which was our first work when we came into this Wilderness was agreed upon by a Synod held at Cambridge and published to the world From which as to the substance thereof we yet see no cause to recede Some few particulars referring to the Continuation and Combination of Churches needed yet a more explicite stating and reducing unto practise For though the Principles thereof were included in what is already published yet that there hath been a defect in practise especially since of late years there was more occasion for it is too too apparent For the rectifying whereof a more particular Explication of the Doctrine also about these things is now necessary In order hereunto by the Care and Wisdome of our Honoured General Court calling upon all the Churches of this Colony to send their Elders and Messengers this Synod was assembled who after earnest Supplications for Divine Assistance having consulted the holy Scriptures touching the Questions proposed to them have proceeded to the following Issue hoping that if it might seem meet to the Father of Lights to guide the Churches unto a right Vnderstanding and Practise of his Will in these things also the beauty of Christ's wayes and Spiritual Kingdome among us would be seen in some more compleatness then formerly For that which was the prayer of Epaphras for the Colossians ought to be both the prayer and labour of us all viz. that we might stand perfect and compleat in all the will of God And we trust it is our sincere desire that his Will all his Will and nothing else but his Will might be done among us To the Law and to the Testimony we do wholly referre our selves and if any thing in the following Conclusions be indeed found not to speak according thereunto let it be rejected We are not ignorant that this our Labour will by divers be diversly censured some will account us too strict in the Point of Baptism and others too laxe and large But let the Scriptures be Judge between us all There are two things the Honour whereof is in a special manner dear to God and which He cannot endure to be wronged in viz. His Holiness and His Grace The Scripture is often putting us in minde how much the Lord loveth Holiness and that in his House and in the holy Ordinances thereof and how he abhorreth the contrary Mal 2.11 Psal 93.5 2.6 Lev. 11.44 45. Ezek. 22.26 44.7 8. And hence neither dare we admit those unto the holy Table of the Lord that are short of Scripture-qualifications for it viz. Ability to examine themselves and discern the Lords body Nor yet receive or retain those in Church-estate and own them as a part of the Lords holy People that are visibly and notoriously unholy wicked and prophane such we are bidden to put away from among us 1. Cor. 5.13 and therefore ought not to continue among us Neither may we administer Baptism to those whose parents are not under any Church-power or Government any where To baptize such would be to give the Title and Livery to those that will not bear the yoke of Christs Disciples and to put the holy Name of God upon them touching whom we can have no tolerable security that they will be educated in the wayes of Holiness or in the knowledge and practise of Gods holy Will Baptism which is the Seal of Membership in the Church the Body of Christ and an engaging Sign importing us to be the devoted Subjects of Christ and of all his holy Government is not to be made a common thing nor to be given to those between whom and the God-less licentious world there is no visible difference This would be a provocation and dishonour to the Holy One of Israel On the other hand we finde in Scripture that the Lord is very tender of his Grace that he delighteth to manifest and magnifie the Riches of it and that he cannot endure any straitning or eclipsing whereof which is both deshonourable unto God and injurious unto men Gal. 2.21 Eph. 2.7 3.2 6 8. Rom 11.1 5. Acts 15.10 11. 10.15 20.24 26 27. And in special he is large in the Grace of his Covenant which he maketh with his visible Church and People and tender of having the same straitned Hence when he takes any into Covenant with himself he will not only be their God but the God of their seed after them in their generations Genes 17.7 9. And although the apostate wicked parent that rejecteth God and his Wayes do cut off both himself and his Children after him Exod. 20.5 34.7 Yet the Mercy and Grace of the Covenant is extended to
following Testimonies from sundry Eminent and Worthy Ministers of Christ in New-England who are now with God First Touching the children of Church-members Mr. Cotton hath this saying The Covenant and Blessing of Abraham is that which we plead for which the Apostle saith is come upon us Gentiles Gal. 3.14 which admitteth the faithful and their Infant-seed not during their lives in case their lives should grow up to Apostacy or open Scandal but during their infancy and so long after as they shall continue in a visible profession of the Covenant and Faith and Religion of their fathers otherwise if the children of the faithful grow up to Apostacy or any open Scandal as Ishmael and Esau did as they were then so such like now are to be cast out of the fellowship of the Covenant and of the Seals thereof Grounds and Ends of Baptism of Children p. 106. see also p. â—â— 3â—.34 Again The seed of the Israelites though many of them were not sincerely godly yet whilest they held forth the publick profession of God's people Deut. 26 3-11 and continued under the wing of the Covenant and subjection to the Ordinances they were still accounted an holy seed Ezra 9.2 and so their children were partakers of Circumcision Yea further though themselves were sometimes kept from the Lords Supper the Passeover for some or other uncleanness yet that debarred not their children from Circumcision Against this may it not seem vain to stand upon a difference between the Church of Israel and our Churches of the New-Testament For the same Covenant which God made with the National Church of Israel and their seed it is the very same for substance and none other which the Lord makes with any Congregational Church and our seed Quaery 9th of Accommodation and Communion of Presbyt and Congregal Churches And the same for substance with those Quaeries was delivered by him in 12. Propositions as Mr. Tho Allen witnesseth in Epist to the Reader before Treat of Covenant and those Quaeries Now in the 8th of those Propositions he hath these words The children of Church-members with us though baptized in their infancy yet when they come to age they are not received to the Lords Supper nor admitted to fellowship of Voting in Admissions Elections Censures till they come to profess their Faith and Repentance and to lay hold of the Covenant of their parents before the Church and yet they being not cast out of the Church nor from the Covenant thereof their children as well as themselves being within the Covenant they may be partakers of the first Seal of the Covenant Lastly speaking to that Objection That the Baptism of Infants overthrows and destroys the Body of Christ the holy Temple of God and that in time it will come to consist of natural and carnal Members and the power of Goverment rest in the hands of the wicked He Answers That this puts a fear where no fear is or a causless fear And in prosecution of his Answer he hath these words Let the Primitive Practise be restored to its purity viz. that due care be taken of baptized members of the Church for their fitting for the Lords Table and then there will be no more fear of pestering Churches with a carnal generation of members baptized in their infancy then of admitting a carnal company of hypocrites confessing their Faith and Repentance in the face of the Congregation Either the Lord in the faithfulness of his Covenant will sanctifie the hearts of the baptized Infants to prepare them for his Table or else he will discover their hypocrisie and profaneness in the presence of his Church before men and Angels and so prevent the pollution of the Lords Table and corruption of the Discipline of the Church by their partaking in them Grounds and Ends of Baptism c. p. 161 163. See also Holiness of Church-members p. 41 51 56 57 63 87. Bloody Tenent washed p. 44 78. Mr. Hooker saith Suppose a whole Congregation should consist of such who were children to Parents now deceased who were confederate their children were true members according to the Rules of the Gospel by the profession of their fathers Covenant though they should not make any personal and vocal expression of their engagement as the fathers did Survey part 1. p. 48. Again We maintain according to truth that the believing parent covenants and confesseth for himself and his posterity and this covenanting then and now is the same for the kinde of it Part 3. p. 25. See p. 17 18. part 1. p. 69 76 77. And in the Preface fetting down sundry things wherein he consents with Mr. R. he expresseth this for one that Infants of visible Churches born of wicked parents being members of the Church ought to be baptized In these saith he and several other particulars we fally accord with Mr. R. And Part 3. p. 11. It is not then the Question whether wicked members while they are tolerated sinfully in the Church they and their children may partake of the Priviledges for this is beyond question nor do I know nor yet ever heard it denied by any of ours Mr. Philips speaking of a people made partakers of Gods Covenant and all the priviledges outwardly belonging thereto he saith Themselves and all that ever proceed from them continue in the same state parents and children successively so long as the Lord continues the course of his Dispensation nor can any alteration befall them whereby this estate is dissolved but some apparent act of God breaking them off from him Reply p. 126. Again speaking of that Holiness 1 Cor. 7.14 he saith I take it of foederal holiness whereby the children are with the believing parents taken by God to be his and by him put under his covenant and so they continue when men of years though they never have any further grace wrought in them nor have any other state upon them then what they had when they were born Ibid. p 131. Again a company become or are a Church either by conversion and initial constitution or by continuance of the same constituted Churches successively by propagation of members who all are born in the Church-state and under the covenant of God and belong unto the Church and are a Church successively so long as God shall continue his begun dispensation even as well as fully as the first Ibid. p. 145. Mr. Shepard in Defence of the Nine Positions p 143. hath the expression Concerning the Infants of Church-members they are subject to Censures whensoever they offend the Church as others are though so long as they live innocently they need them not And in the year 1649. not three moneths before his Death he wrots unto a friend a large Letter yet extant under his own Hand concerning the Membership of Children wherein he proveth by sundry Arguments that they are Members and answereth sundry Objections against it and sheweth at large what great good there is in children's Membership In which