An answer, to a little book call'd Protestancy to be embrac'd or, A new and infallible method to reduce Romanists from popery to Protestancy

SECT. III. We have security for the Salvation of a Child dying immediately after Baptism, Prote∣stants have None.

HAving retorted the Difficulty of the Intention the R. Church requires in Baptism upon the Intention our Adversaery himself requires, and must require of applying the Words and Wa∣ter, for 'tis a humane Action.

And having shown how Catholick Doctors bring both him and us handsomly and solidly off by a Virtual Intention.

I shall make appear now that we have in this case of Baptism security for our Salvation, and they have none, we standing to our Tenets, and they to theirs.

Take me a Protestants Child validly Baptiz'd by a Minister (as we grant they can) let the Child dye afore the use of reason, what becomes of him according to the Catholick Tenet, we hold it goes straight to Heaven. What becomes of him according to the Protestant Tenet? They say it may be he's sav'd, viz. if he was one of the Elect and consequently the Parents were of the Faithful; and it may be he's damn'd, if the Parents were not of the Faithful, to wit, Spiritual

Children of Abraham or the Child, tho' of Faithful Parents, was not of the Elect; for I hope they will not say that Faithful Parents have never a Wicked or a Reprobat Child.

And how shall I know Faithful Parents but by their Fruits or Works, and how shall I know that their Works are good? Since many wicked People have had seeming good Works. Nay how shall I know a man to have Faith by Works that are all damnable and worthy of Death, as Calvin speaks, Inst. l. 3. cap. 12. n. 4. Sins, as Beza terms them, and Works of the Devil, v. Bez. Tom. 1. operum. pag. 665. and Works of Darkness, as Luther calls them, Tom 1. operum fol. 196. Edit. Wittemb. shall abominations in a Man be marks to me of a supernatural gift of kindness given by God to him?

Next, suppose that the Parents be of the Faithful, who told you the Child is one of the Elect? To us his Baptism is a sure mark of his Election. You have no such, see you then how in this case we have security and you have none? The other Motive he brings to a Protestant, is that Protestants are sav'd more easily. If he means only that Pro∣testants in their way to Salvation, trouble themselves not with taking so much pains as good R. Catholicks do freeing themselves from any Obligations and Mor∣tifications of the Flesh we take upon us, grounded in the Holy Scripture, I grant 'tis so? but this easie way is woful, since the Word of God warns all to strive to enter by the narrow way, Matth. 7.13. Enter by the narrow Gate, for wide is the gate and broad is the way which leads to Perdition.