Question 95

To whom is not Baptism 〈◊〉 be administred?

It is not to be administred to any that are out of the visible Church.

What mean you by the visible Church?

The visible Church is a company of people called from all false worships and Religions, confessedly to worship the true God according to his Word.^a

How long is Baptism to be withheld from them that are out of the visible Church?

Till they profess their Faith in Christ, and obedience to him. Act. 8. 36, 37.

Doth Baptism disciple, make disciples or members of the visible Church whereof Christ alone is the Head?

Yes.^b

But how do you prove that the Infants of such as are member of the visible Church may and ought to be Baptized?

1. Because to such Infants appertaineth the Covenant and the thing signified.^c 2. Because whole Families were Baptized, and there is pregnant probability, that there were some Infants among them of those House-holds. Acts 16. 14, 15, 33.

But suppose there were no Children in those Families; how then is it required at our hands to Baptize Infants?

Those that plead this, plead their own ignorance; 1. Because in the Jewish Church, this was their custom, when Parents came to be Baptized, Children came be Baptized also, and their whole Family. And secondly, If there were Children in those Families; as that Jewish custom (over-ballancing the others groundless supposition) renders it most probable; be it known to all such unnatural Parents as reject Infant Baptism, that they harden their hearts against their own flesh.

Why so?

Because Children are parts of Parents; and by this contempt of Baptism they reject the Counsel of God against themselves, and their Children.

What other reason have you for Infant Baptism?

3. Children were ever admitted to the sign and Seal of this Covenant, which of old was Circumcision; and Baptism succeeds in the room of Circumcision.

How doth that appear?

1. It appears in that the Apostle of the Circumcision commands Baptism upon the same ground that Circumcision was.^d 2. Because St. Paul in Col. 2. gives to Baptism the very Name of Circumcision, to teach us that it succeeds it. Object. But if Baptism ought to be administred to all those to whom Circumcision was administred, because Baptism succeeds Circumcision; by the same reason the Eucharist ought to be administred to all those who did eat the Paschal Lamb, seeing the Eucharist succeeds the Iewish Passover: But you stay longer before you admit your Children to the Lords Supper, than the Iews did before they admitted their Children to the eating of the Paschal Lamb. A. The Jews admitted their Children to eat of the Paschal Lamb, so soon as they were able to eat flesh, and to ask their Fathers the reason of that legal ceremony; and we defer the admitting of ours to the Lords Supper until they be capable of those dispositions which God requires; and are able to examine themselves according to the command of the Apostle, 1 Cor. 11. Let a man examine himself; and so let him eat of that Bread, and drink of that Cup.