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156 146
prosperity of performance in the Minister
performing the
In respect of the moment of conversion tere is doubless Rite: For that Minister being no more than an appointed
one instance when a sould is under wrath and one instant instrument for its performance, his Ministry is sufficient
subsequent when it is pardoned and under grace: A soul if in due form: as if Judas among the apostles had
cannot be semi-pardoned: But, before it is brought to taken by the hand one of the children point to our
the point of pardon a long process of gracious dealing may Lord and brought it to hi ; Christ would not have re-
have - must have - taken place upon it. garded the unfitness of Judas, but the faith of the
Parent or other person whatsoever, who brought the child
to be presented to him.
The manner in which this grace is manifested will doubtless
be various - in some it will appear in earliest youth;
in others its effect will not be visible for years, while
yet God’s grace is working, (baptismal grace) so as to
bring about this effect of conversion; from the moment
of baptism. These children who are not bap tised - or who
are baptised by unbelieving parents are to be c[s]onsidered
as standing towards God in the light of heatens; of whom
we dare not assert either the personal safety or condemna-
tion; but who living in a Christian land, and afterward
receiving knowledge, may doubtless afterwards receive
saving grace: although the difficulties which such will
have to go through will doubtless be greater than if
they had had believing parents But God will then doubt-
less accept the passed rite as a sufficient obedience to
His Will and vouchsafe the Baptismal Geace in answer to
the Baptised persons own prayer.
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[Version 0.05: May 2008]