of their adoption as the people and family of God, and on their
parts professed their entire subjection to Him, and, therefore, was
their first entrance into the Church; so now we are initiated into
the Church of God by baptism, are numbered among His people, and
profess to devote ourselves to his service.... How delightful is it
to pious minds, not only to have verbal assurances, but even
occular proof, of their standing so high in the favour of their
heavenly Father, that their posterity also are the objects of his
care! This is evidently the reason why Satan makes such great
exertions in opposition to infant baptism: that the removal of this
testimony of the grace of God may cause the promise which it
exhibits before our eyes gradually to disappear, and at length to
be forgotten. The consequence of this would be an impious
ingratitude to the mercy of God, and negligence of the instruction
of our children in the principles of piety. For it is no small
stimulus to our education of them in the serious fear of God, and
the observance of His law, to reflect, that they are considered and
acknowledged by Him as His children as soon as they are born.
Wherefore, unless we are obstinately determined to reject the
goodness of God, let us present to Him our children, to whom He
assigns a place in His family, that is, among the members of His
church.

Richard Watson, the great expounder of Wesleyan Christian doctrine,
treats this subject elaborately in the third chapter of the fourth part
of his Theological Institutes. I will only quote the following
sentences:--

Infant children are declared by Christ to be members of His Church.
That they were members of God's Church, in the family of Abraham,
and among the Jews, cannot be denied.... The membership of the Jews
comprehended both children and adults; and the grafting-in of the
Gentiles, so as to partake of the same "root and fatness," will,
therefore, include a right to put their children also into the
covenant, so that they, as well as adults, may become members of
Christ's Church, have God to be their God, and be acknowledged by
Him, in the special sense of the terms of the covenant, to be His
people.... "Whosoever (says Christ) shall receive this child in my
name, receiveth me;" but such an identity of Christ with