The Estate of Children of Church Members and their Right to Baptism, Treatise · Part 3 · Chapter 11
CHAP. XI.
Ʋſe 1.
TO winde up all in a word of Uſe to all; 1. in way of inſtruction. 1. See the riches of Gods grace which thus is enlarged to all the ſorts of the ſons of men younger and elder; if God would amplifie grace hee ſets it out as extended to his people, as in the caſe of an helpleſſe and deſpicable babe, Eſay 49. 14, 15. Hoſ. 10. 1. 3. eſpecially Ezek. 16. 6, 7, 8. and what hath Satan here to object, Pſal. 8. 1. 2. when even that ſort of perſons are made preſidents not onelyonly of electing but calling (in way of Covenant and promiſe) grace? Rom. 9. 7, 8, 9, 10. To all hee is rich, and free, hence all enterers into the kingdome, muſt here take patterne, Luke. 18. 17. how plentifull is that ſap that fills ſuch twigs, that liquor that fills all ſort of veſſells of greater and leſſer capacitie? how ſtrong is that pin on whom all are hung?
2. See what honour God puts on his Saints thus to intaile the viſible ordinary adminiſtration of his grace on them, and theirs, 2 Sam. 23. 4, 5.
3. See how cruell unbeleevers are to themſelves and theirs in excluding themſelves and theirs of the ordinary meanes of their welfare even covenant grace adminiſtred.
4. See their deſperate ingratitude that being children of ſuch hopes, deſpiſe, and ſell their birthright with Eſau; theſe doe vex their father moſt, Deut. 32. 19, 20.
5. See the danger and deteſtableneſſe of Anabaptiſticall tenents, giving God and Chriſt (in part) the lie, vayling the glory of his preventing grace of Covenant, Numb. 11. 18. (giving ſuch a Covenant call before we knew, or ſought it, Eſay 65. 1, 2.) framing a Covenant of God with beleeving parents which hee never made, ſcil. a Covenant not reſpecting their children; denying the ordinary diſpenſation of the fruit of Chriſts death to the Infant part of his Church, Epheſ. 5. 25, 26. making the Churches oppoſite to Chriſt in their adminiſtrations to thoſe of his, in their charitie to that of his; as if hee were looſer in his charitie to owne ſuch babes as of his kingdome which his Church will not, may not doe; condemning the judgement and practiſe of former Churches, Jewes and Gentiles, Act. 2. 38. 39. Rom. 5. 14, 15. and 11. 16, 17, 18, 19. Epheſ. 2. 11, 12, 13. 1 Cor. 7. 14. and 10. 1, 2. as preached all over Mark. 16. 15 Rom. 10. 6, 7, 8. and Deut. 29. 29. with 30. 6. 10. 12, 13, 14. compared, ſee Auſtin l. 4. contr. Don. cap. 23, 24. undermining the validitie of all which God hath done by vertue of his Covenant to babes, or to any of the Saints occaſioning from the initiatory ſeale thereof, Epheſ. 5. 26. evacuating all that Red-Sea-like triumphant Incouragement thence unto Gods baptized Iſrael againſt their ſpirituall Aegyptian enemies purſuit of them; and that Cloud-like Influence of their baptiſme in ſcorching temptations — and Arke-like ſuccour thereof in drowning times. David did not more effectually make uſe of his circumciſion which hee long before received (even when an Infant) againſt that inſulting Philiſtim — (whence that 1 Sam. 17. — this uncircumciſed Philiſtim is come, &c.) then many of Gods faithfull ones have of that preventing grace of God ſealed to them in baptiſme when very babes, in their ſpirituall conflicts. But all ſuch ſpirituall workings either in parents or in the Churches of the Saints (where children have beene offered to baptiſme) which have beene occaſioned by the adminiſtration of Baptiſme to Infants, are made here by deluſions; God not uſing in ſuch ſort ſo generally, commonly and conſtantly to breath in Antichriſtian inventions. Yea all their prayers are thereby made ſo many profanations of Gods name and taking the ſame in vaine as oft as powred out upon occaſion of baptizing of Infants, whence that prophane trick of ſome, to turne their back upon the Churches at ſuch time, as if all their perſons, and prayers, and fellowſhip were uncleane, whence the ſtiling of it Antichriſtian, &c. what is this but to blaſpheme the name and tabernacle and Saints of God, Rev. 13. And how doth ſuch doctrine undermine all the Churches of the Saints which differ from them? witneſſe their new foundings of their Churches in renouncing their former baptiſme as antichriſtian and receiving another baptiſme; yea how doe ſuch caſt ſtumbling blocks unto the comming of the Jewes by undermining of Abrahams Covenant in the latitude of it and the binding force of the old Teſtament, which they ſtick to, as if all were invalid unleſſe come over againe in the new Teſtament, which they reject, and when ever dealt withall doubtleſſe old Teſtament principles will bee the choyce inſtrumentall wayes and meanes of getting within them.
Ʋſe 2.
Second Uſe of direction, 1 To Church Officers; to looke after the Churches children being children of ſuch hopes. 2 To gracious parents; 1 Admire much at the bounty of God who is not content to ingage his grace to you, but to yours with you; you and yours are all Traytors, yet his royall word is for your and their acceptance. If that called for a Behold! Pſal. 128. 3, 4, 5. and if that cauſed in him ſuch holy wondring, 2 Sam. 7. 18, 19, 20. may not this alſo doe the like, 2 Renue your faith in Gods Covenant in the latitude of it upon occaſion of the baptiſme of others, or your owne children in ſpeciall ſort. 3 Acquaint your children with, & urge Gods mind of grace upon them as they are capable of Inſtruction, Pſal. 78. 4, 4, 5, 6, 7. 4 To children of pious parents; looke you doe not by abuſe or contempt forfeit and reject your owne mercy, as they did, Matth. 8. 11. 12. And ſuch as now feel & finde the force of Gods ingaged grace, for ever do you adore and admire his preventing mercy and truth.
Ʋſe 3.
Third Uſe of comfort to beleeving parents; 1 If God overflow thus in grace to yours, will hee not extend grace to your ſelves? Conclude it, that hee will aſſuredly, againſt all gaineſayings of Satan and unbeleefe. 2 Bee incouraged to ſet faith on worke for your children, as they did, Pſal. 102. laſt; yea albeit at preſent vile enough; ſince the force of Gods covenant is ſuch, as it can fetch them in, even when farre removed by ſinne from the Lord, witneſſe that Ezek. 16 60. 61, 62, &c. 3 You need not feare then touching divine protection of, and proviſions for them ſutably and ſeaſonably, Pſal. 25. 12. Prov. 20. 7. 4 When you are to die and leave them fatherleſſe and friendleſſe otherwiſe, yet here is a Covnant Father and friend to whom you may comfortably leave them, Gen. 48. 15, 16.
Tri-uni Deo ſit laus in Eccleſia.
FINIS.
End of the text · Thomas Cobbet, The Estate of Children of Church Members and their Right to Baptism (1648)