Presumption no proof, or, Mr. Petto's arguments for infant-baptism considered and answered and infants interest in the convenant of grace without baptism asserted and maintained : whereunto is prefixed an answer to two questions propounded by Mr. Firmin about infants church-membership and baptism / by Thomas Grantham.

To the READER.

IT appears by Mr. Pett's Epistle to the Reader, that he took hold of a very slight occasion to write against the Baptized Believers; it was, because one (without acquainting him with it) came over to their Communion.

I could wish he had been more patient under so small a trial, and thereby saved me this labour: which whether it will end here I know not; that may be as he pleases.

I hold it no convenient time for Dissenters to write one against another; Friendly Conferences might do much better. But I have found Men of Mr. Pett's Principles very averse to that, when it has been offered.

I have not answered each particular Page in Mr. Pett's Book, for that one and the same thing is very often repeated. I have chiefly dealt with his two main Arguments, on which his whole Discourse depends.

What he says about the mode of Sprinkling, I have not med∣dled with, nor is it needful. For we see that generally, such as are seriously convinced of their Duty in the case of Baptism, will not, if they might, receive it but in the way of Immersion. They are presently apprehensive that no way can be so safe for them, as to follow Christ himself, who it's certain was baptised so: For it is granted by the Learned, that Mark 1. 9. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, may be truly read, And was dipped of John into Jordan. This account of our Saviour's Baptism is sufficient to decide this Controversy, about the manner of Bap∣tism, if the highest and most perfect Example that ever was be of any force at all.

What I have offered on behalf of Infants Interest in the Covenant of Grace, may perhaps seem too full of Charity in the

Judgment of Mr. Petto and some others. But if that offend thee, do but consider from whom this Doctrine of Infants Dam∣nation has proceeded, it's either of God or Man. I have sear∣ched the Scriptures, but could never find his Word (that is Truth it self) declare such a dreadful Sentence against any one Infant, much less that the greatest part of dying Infants are damn'd.

Could Men be satisfied of the certainty of the Salvation of their dying Infants, the Controversy about baptising them would come to an End; for as far as I could ever learn, it came into the World upon this Mistake, that they could not be sav'd without it.

And tho Mr. Petto seems to dislike Cyprian's Judgment here∣in, yet what does he say less himself in p. 1. where he insinuates that those who deny the Baptism of Infants, exclude millions out of the great Charter of Heaven. But this may perhaps be found their Fault, who exclude all but the Infants of such as they count Believers, when the reckoning comes to be truly stated.

I never saw Mr. Firmin 's Book till I had answered Mr. Petto. And at the request of some, as also for that his Questions may seem to be serious and considerable, I thought it needful to give a serious and Christian Answer to them, which I hope I have done. And as I must commend Christians in their Enquiry, what Evi∣dence of God's Love we have concerning Infants, and therein be an Enquirer as much as any, having Children of my own; so I think it needful to caution my self and others, that we set not up our own Devices for such Evidences, lest our Hope be thereby les∣sened, seeing our imposing that upon Infants which God has not required at our hands, is no sign of his Love to them at all.

Tho. Grantham.