The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1867-02-27
FoR THE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN,

1. As baptism is a covenant seal,
should it be applied to all embraced In
the covenant who are capable of receiv-
ing it?
2. Who only of those who have ar
rived at years of intelligence are EN-
braced in the covenant, and have a right
to its promises? John iii: 16, Is. To
whom only then of such is baptism to be
administered? Mark xvi: 10. Acts
viii: 81.
8. Does not the connection show that
these last passages apply only to those
who are capable of hearing, and receiy-
ing, or rejecting the Gospel? 1t made
to include infants, does not Mark XVI: 10
positively exclude them from salvation
4. Do infants need the blessings signi-
fed by baptism, and are they capable Of
receiving them, if they are at all capable
of salvation? Ps. Ii; 5. Eph. ii: 3.
5. As in baptism the subject is always
necessarily passive, and the thing signi-
fed Gods work, is there anything in the
outward sign not perfectly appropriate to
infants? And does it signify the same
thing in the case of infants as of adults,
the same need, the same blessings, and
the same claims? Eph. iv: 5.
6. Does union with Christ so make us
the seedof Abraham thatwe are included
in his covenant, and become heirs of all
its blessings and privileges? Gal, iii {:
%. Compare verses 9, IA. 81. Rom.
iv: 11-l6.
I. Is the infant seed of believers en-
braeed in that covenant, and was its orr
ginal seal applied to them? Gen. xvii:
Z, 1912. Do not these promises thus
sealed express as fully as language can
the most comprehensive spi1ltaal bless
ings? Compare Deut. XXX: 6. Was
not Canaan and its inheritance mere
type, and means to these? Gal. iii /:
s, II, 1919.
s. Is there any intimation, that the
change of dispensation and in the seals
of the covenant, See Lesson XLIII,
effected any other change in covenant
rights than what is implied in the great
err extension of its blessings, and the re-
mOval of old distiuctionsl Gal. iii %.
8. Havechildren been soincludedin every
covenant that God has ever made with
man as to make their fate more or less
dependent on the faith and obedience of
their parents? Gen. ii: II; iii: IS;
vii: l TX: 9; xviii: 10. Deut. xxx ::
lois; xxx: 10.
10. Is there anything peculiar or ar
bitrary in this, or is it according to the
very constitution of our nature, that
children should always be included in
their parents so as to share their condi-
ton, relations, and liabilities?
IL. As it was confessedly so in the
covenant with Adam which brought death,
would it not be very strange, if it had not
been so in the covenant with the second
Adam which brings life;-if in other
words, the relation of parent had been
made to transmit the curse, but ineapa-
bic of transmitting the blessing? Rom.
v: 20, 81; compare verse IA. Elk. XXX;
5, So thousands, i.e. of generations.
y. What does the language and bless
ing Of Christ, in regard to those children
whom their parents had brought to him
to secure his blessing, prove? See Matt.
xix: 1915.
Is. If the children of believers have
no share in the covenant, must he not
regard them as in the same condition,
and holding to him and his kingdom the
same relation as children Of unbelievers ?
Does not his special love to his people
imply,-ard l Cor. vii: IA declare, the
very opposite? Can "holy" mean any
thing else than covenant separation to
God?
II. Is this the most natural way to
account for the mention so often of
household baptism2
10. What benefits are thus sealed to
infants? Deut. vi: 7. Eph. vi: 4.
John xxi: 6. Prov. Xxx: 9.
16. When sinner is conseerated to
God, is it not required of him that he
eonseerate oil he has, not only his per-
son aud property, but his children also?
/ Cor. vi: 10, 20. l Sam. i; p, %.
Prov. xxi: 6. VIII God require con-
secration he will not accept? If accepted
does it not secure to the child the same
inheritance with the parent, of covenant
blessings and duties, and give him right
to the same seal?
i. Is it not the privilege and duty of
the parent, by faith, to commit his chill
dren to Christ and trus6s his grace for
them, Just as he commits his own soul to
Christ and trusts that grace for himself?
Gen. xxi: Z.
IS. What does the relation of the be-
lever to Christ as in covenant and living
union with him, warrant him to expect
from his own loving Saviour for his own
children whom that Saviour has given
him, and required to be thus dedicated
to him? John xy:5 5, 7, 8; xvi: 1921;
xvii: %.
70. As, in regard to himself, his actual
experience of spiritual blessings will be
in proportion to his faith,-must it not
be the same in regard to his children ?
Is his faith the indispensable condition ?
20. VIII not his prayers and the dill
gence, correctness, and spirituality of his
training be in proportion to his faith in
regard TO them, just as in regard to him
self? Can he claim the promises if he
do not fulfil the conditions? Compare
Gen. xviii: 10.
q. Does it not follow that in all their
training believers should regard their
children as infant Christians, members OF