Fides Catholica, or, The doctrine of the Catholick Church in eighteen grand ordinances referring to the Word, sacraments and prayer, in purity, number and nature, catholically maintained, and publickly taught against hereticks of all sorts : with the solutions of many proper and profitable questions sutable to to [sic] the nature of each ordinance treated of / by Wil. Annand ...

Quest. 4. Whether witnesses at baptisme accord∣ing to the Law of the Church of England be to be approved?

N cases of indifferency people are not to Question the reason of a Law given them by their superiours, their wisdom in such things consisting in yielding surable obedience; yet because this Law is spoken against by some it is not amiss for others to speak for it,* 1.1 witnesses or Godfathers may be approved.

1. From their unspotted Antiquity, the Iews used them at their Circumcision, and held the child to be cut in their arms, we read of witnesses, at the naming of the Prophets Son Mahershalalhash-baz, Isa. 8.2. whence learned men have concluded ••the rise of God∣fathers.

And since that have they continued in the Church without check from the best of men.

2. From the occasion of their further settlement. The primitive Christians seeing themselves in Jeopardy every hour of pain, death and torture, had other witnesses and Trustees besides the Pa∣rent, who undertook the education of the child in the true religi∣on, in case the death of the Parent or otherwise; new how soon the like case may befall this age, none can predict, especially when they know there was ••o great tract of time between King Edward the sixth of gloriou•• memory, and Queen Mary; in such cases God∣fathers may be as necessary in England, as they were in the Primi∣tive persecution, which is one ground of the Law.

* 1.23. From that love Unity and Concord that by this practice may be preserved among neighbours and believers. It is experi∣mentally known that it hath been a quench-fire oftentimes amongst hot spirits; may the very n••me of a Godfather hath a power in it to work obedience in another, and create peace.

4. From that harmless profit that hath accrewed to many by that, this is so well known that it needs no inlargement; a Godfa∣thers; or a Godmothers gift is an ordinarly memorial.

If it be here said that the charge is great that is undertaken by the witnesses, &c. It must be known, that the Parent is not at all disobliged from his duty, the witnesses being but asistants to him. The particulars of the Churches charge are these.

• * 1.31. To call upon the infant to hear Sermons, as soon as capable of admonition.
• 2. To learn the Creed, the Lords prayers, and the Commande∣ments.
• 3. With all other things which a Christian ought to know for his souls health, for his vertuous bringing up, so that when he is brought up in these things, the witnesses have done their duty, and are absolutely discharged, either at confirmation, of which by and by, or at furthest, at the day of marriage.

It is true it seems to be usually objected, that even children were admitted to be witnesses for children;* 1.4 but let not the Church of England, be blamed for that abuse; for she hath appointed that

No Person be admitted Godfather or Godmother, to any childe as

Christening, or Confirmation, before the said Person so undertaking hath received the Holy Communion.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Atque ex hoc vitu, •• &c. Jun. & Trem. An∣not. in loc. God aut lib. 6.215.
• * 1.2

  It was sad times when the Prophet seek his witnesses.
• * 1.3

  ••b. Lit.
• * 1.4

  Can. 29. of the Church so England