Baptismal Regeneration of Elect Infants Professed by the Church of England, Title page – Dedication
BAPTISMALL REGENERATION of Elect Infants, Profeſſed by the Church of England, according to the Scriptures, the Primitiue Church, the preſent Reformed Churches, and many particular Divines apart.
By COR: BVRGES, Dr of Divinity, and one of his Maieſties Chapl…ines in Ordinary.
TIT. 3.5. According to his mercy be ſ…ued vsus, by the Laver of regeneration, and renew…g of the Holy Ghoſt.
Aug. vt citatur à P. Lom…. 4. Sen. Diſt. 4 A. Sacramenta in ſ…is electis efficiunt quod figura…t.
AT OXFORD, Printed by I. L. for Henry Curteyn. Ann. Dom. 1629.
TO THE RIGHT HONOVRABLE, FRANCIS, Lord RVSSELL Baron of Thornhaugh, Earle of Bedford, and Lieu-Tenant of Devonſhire.
MY LORD.
IT is a practiſe too commo… in this ſcribling age, vnderunder pretence of reſpect, t… ſend worthleſſe …empty Pamphlets abroad in Gr…a… Mens Liveries. Which comes to paſſe, partly becauſe children of the braine, how deformed ſoeuer, are held ſo precious by the Parents, that they thinke themſelues not ſufficiently graced, vnleſse they procure ſome Noble perſon to be the Godfather; & partly becauſe ſuch ſlimy Comets, although they make a great blaze, cannot moue themſelues, without the helpe of the Moone, or of ſome greater Starre to whirle them about the World, with more eaſe, and hope. This hath brought much diſhonour to many an Honourable Mecaenas; it being like a rich Sumpter Cloath vponupon a Colliers ſack. Hence, wiſe men grow afraid and vnwilling to read their Names in Print; and the beſt deſerving Authors are forced to the irkſome paines of a nauſeous Apology, when they do (with praiſe) performe a Duty,
For my part, I dare not put my ſelfe into the rank of beſt Deſeruers; nor, to boaſt any thing of my preſent performance. Howbeit, thus much I will take vponupon mee to affirme, that mine ayme (next vntounto common benefit) is Your ſervice; and, that the Subject which I here preſent, is not vnworthy of either the beſt mans labour,*Eſt autem ea Quaeſtio cum difficilis & plena controverſiae tum digna quae tractetur, & explicetur diligenter, Whitak de ſacram. controv. de Bapt quaeſt. 4. cap 5. or the Choyceſt Patrone.
The following Treatiſe endeavors to lay open and make good the efficacy of Sacred baptiſme, in reſpect of Regeneration; in which the greateſt ought more to reioice then in the greateſt prerogatiues on Earth. This is that which (if they belong to the Covenant) makes them members of Chriſt, children of God, and heires of that kingdome which is aboue.
The whole, for manner of proſecution, is Polemical:*De Baptiſmo & myſterio ſanctae fidei, vnuſquiſ que Archiepiſcopus ſuos ſuffraganeos diligenter ſtudioſe que admoneat, quatenus per ſtudium ſacrae lectionis imbuti, & de myſterio ſanctae fidei, & de Sacramento baptiſmatis, vnu queſ que illorū, in eropria parochia perfectè ſtudioſe que presbyteras, & vniuerſum populum docere, & inſtruere non n…gligat Concil. Arelat. cap. 3. ſub Car. Mag. A… 813. tom. 3 Con…il. Par. 1. Sect. 2. pag. 188. edit. Biniana, 1618. yet vſefull, and ſuch for ſubſtance, as the Fathers in the Councell of Orleance, vnderunder CHARLES THE GREAT, thought fit to commend to the care of all Miniſters of every degree, as being neceſſary to bee diligently and fully explicated vntounto the people. Therefore, I hope, I ſhal not be cenſured by judicious men to trouble the world with an impertinent diſcourſe, which might, in that regard, diſparage your Lordſhips Name, that it humbly craues leaue to beare.
And to ſay truth, to whom elſe ſhould it repaire, either to doe its firſt homage, or to get vnderunder Covert-Baron, but to your Honour, heretofore the Heyre, now the Maſter of that Ancient, Noble, and much honoured FAMILY, to which I was, and euer will be a faithfull & humble ſeruant; not, in expectation, but only in thankfull acknowledgment of what I hauehave already receaued, and of what other my fellow-ſeruants doe, in your Honourable ſeruice, ſtill enioy.
It cannot be vnknowne to ſuch as knowe Mee, how much I ſtand obliged to your Noble Predeceſſors, the late Earle & Counteſſe of Bedford now with God. Nor can any man bee ſo ignorant as not to ſee cauſe why this publique Teſtimony of my continued gratitude due to that HOVSE, ſhould, by all Rights, bee laid at your Feet, in whom all the perfections and Excellencies of true Nobility doe ſo eminently meet, to make you highly honoured in the Eyes and Hearts of all that are able to value true Deſert, as being one that not onelyonly holds vp the Honour, but addes to the Glory of all your famous Progenitors, who hauehave deriued to You that Illuſtrious Dignity you now poſſeſſe.
The Good Lord who hath brought you hitherto, be with You, your Noble Lady, and your numerous, amiable, and much promiſing Progeny, in all things, alwaies. Hee grant you length of daies, increaſe of all true Honour, the riches of Grace, and the Crowne of Glory. So prayeth ſtill
Your Lordſhips moſt devoted Servant in Chriſt Ieſus COR: BVRGES.