Church Membership of Children and their Right to Baptism, Title page – Epigraph
THE CHURCH MEMBERSHIP OF CHILDREN, AND THEIR RIGHT TO BAPTISME, According to that holy and everlasting COVENANT of GOD, established between Himself, and the Faithfull and their Seed after them, in their Generations: Cleared up in a Letter, sent unto a worthy Friend of the AVTHOR, and many Yeares agoe written touching that subject; By THOMAS SHEPARD, somtimes Pastor of the Church of Christ at Cambridg in New-England. Published … the earnest request of many: for the Consolation and Encouragement, both of Parents and Children in the Lord.
Genesis 17.7.
And I will establish my Covenant between Me and the… and thy … Generations, for an Everlasting …venant, to be a GOD unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.
Mark. 16.16.
He that Believeth, and is Baptized, shall be saved.
Acts. 2.39.
For the Promise is unto you, and to your Children, and to all that are a…r… off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
1 Cor. 7.14.
Else were your Children unclean, but now are they Holy.
CAMBRIDG Printed by Samuel Green. 1663.
CHEMNITIVS, that eminent light in the Church of God in those elaborate workes of his against the Papists (Exam: part 2. can: 14. de Baptismo) hath this memorable saying, viz.
IT is not to be left free, to the choice of those who have been Baptized in Infancy, when they come to be Adult, whether or no they will have that confirmed, which was done in their Baptisme; as though the Covenant of grace, & Testament of peace, which is offered and sealed up to little Children in Baptisme, should then first begin to be established, when the consent of their will, when Adult, is added thereunto: for from this wicked foundation, the Anabaptists simply have taken away, and Condemned Paedobaptisme; but such Baptized little ones are to be admonished, as they grow up, what a Covenant of Grace, and Testament of peace it is, which God hath entred into with them in Baptisme: and by what promise of gratitude they have likewise obliged themselve … Obedience to God, with the renouncing of the Devil; and they are … to be exhorted, that they render thanks to God for that wonderful great Benefit, that they abide in that Covenant of peace, and endeavour to fullfil that obligation, by mortifying sin, and setting upon newness of life, and that they do this freely, and sincerely: or if they shall, through unthankfullness, depart from that▪ Covenant, and ingagement, that then they repent, and return to the Covenant, and subject themselves again to that stipulated Obedience. But us for them that shall do otherwise, the most severe comminations of the wrath and Indignation of God are to be heap't up, and set before them; unto which [saith he] excommunication is to be added, for these are the weapons of our warfare. 2. Cor. 10.