Chap, 4 r of the æue of Beleevers. 35 o fciples to forbid their coming, can fcarce be doubted. They faw men refortingto Chrift either moved by his Doctrine , or his Miracles, either to be inftruted, or cured ; neither of thefe could be in their thoughts that prefented thefe 1iztle ones, They were uncapable of his teaching, being Infants ; and that they needed not his dire , being not difeafed , and therefore they rebuked thofe that came to tender them. Now to come to a clear under ftanding of the words , we (hall lay firft fome Pofitions concern- ing thefe Infans admifíion, and afterwards come to the confide ration of the reafon. Firft, That thefe 'we-e Infants, or as Infants in an incapacity to learne ought from Chrift , and fo s astalf y to imbrace Chrift , or rnt er Covenant themfelves with him. Which does appeare T. In that they are called little ones , Bg Vin. 2. They were brought, and came not on their own accord. 3. In that Chrift took them up in his armes, 4. Had they been capable by age of inftru &ion with what . colour could any have denied them ? Why might not they come as well as thofe multitudes that flocked to him? 5. Why were not the children themfelves (poke to, to forbear to.come, rather then thofe that brought them, not to bring them? If they were capable of inftru&ion, they were capable of rebuke. 6. Why is there no word of inftruCtion fpoken to them? The young -man that came to Chrift, was inftruCted by Chrift in the fame Chapter. So fhould thefe have been iriftruded as well as bleft, had they been in a capacity for inftruRion. Maltet Tom &es brought his reafons againft this to have nipt all in the bud; but thofe he hath quit , and is brought to confef a that he contra - dieted himfelf in them , and bath not a word to excufe his fal:fe Qiotation out of P1 #rk, concerning fcandalizing. only excufing himfelf,that he delivered himfelf doubtfully in.thern,4.pol. p. 149. Secondly, Ai they were in an incapacity by reafon of age to be taught, fo they were not .(as w u faid) difeafed to have :need ofcure. This the Difciples well knew,that this was dual( with Chrift .to -cure.thofe that laboured under infirmities of all, ages,, and;: therefore would never have had it in their thoughts to have rebuked tho e that brought thefe and the Evangelift.would never have-concealed this reafon, and mentioned another. Such a thing as this is ven- ed in a Manufcript, but I know :not that ever any print bath ,.maintained it. Thirdly Why they wcre forbiddèn by the L`ifciples. Poitions tenc'd-, ing ro clear. ri fis adnnif, lion of their. ...
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=