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general, but the promise of the Spirit in particular, which he had before cited from Joel ii. 28—32,[1] and which includes the extraordinary gifts which were peculiar to the first age of the gospel. This promise began to be accomplished on the day of Pentecost, as the Apostle shows, verse 16, 33, and was made in the first place to the Jews and their children. The children to whom this promise is made must of necessity be the very same that are mentioned in the promise itself, and who are there termed "your sons and your daughters;" and therefore cannot signify infant children, for they are such as should prophesy upon receiving the Spirit, as we see was actually the case. [2] [3] [4] [5]
The Apostle says, "For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean, but now are they holy." [6] The argument from this is, That as the children even of one believing parent are holy, as being in covenant with God; therefore they ought to have the seal of that covenant in baptism.
- ↑ Acts ii, 16—32
- ↑ Acts ii. 4. x. 46 xix. 6. and xxi. 9., 1 Cor. xii. 8—12.
- ↑ Had this promise respected infant children, and been understood a warrant for their baptism, then they must have been immediately baptized with their parents: but we read of none receiving baptism on this occasion, but such as gladly received Peter's word, were the same day added to the church, and continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship and in breaking of bread, and in prayers; even as the multitude baptized in Samaria are expressly declared to be believing men and women. It is extremity of folly and perverseness to argue against plain facts.
- ↑ (Acts ii. 41, 42)
- ↑ (Chap viii 12.)
- ↑ 1 Cor. xii. 8—12.
