<blockquote><font size=1>In reply to:</font><hr>[color:"blue"]William...This is most unfortunate. Those outside the covenant are not saved, and therefore, taking this understanding, all children would perish. I uphold a familial covenant, not an egalitarian one. I can no more know who is trully elect than you can, but can rightfully bring my children into the visible church. This is the dilemma I presented at General Baptist college; what are your children? Gonna-be christians? Wanna-be Christians? In answer, I again return to the fact we don't know who the elect are, but ca surely know who is part of the visible Church. My cbildren will be brought up not knowing to be anything else.</font><hr></blockquote><p><br><br>My post to Jason goes into a more detailed response. Suffice it to say, as I mention in my other post, I draw a sharp distinction between unknowingly allowing a hypocrite reprobate into baptism and membership, rather than willing allowing it when the Bible doesn't warrant it. I take it that you allow your children to partake in the Lord's table as well? If not, why?<br>It seems as though you assume that as a baptist I don't speak to my son about salvation or expose him to godliness or the things of the church? Of course I do. My children will be brought up knowing nothing else as well. The issue is whether or not they are truly members of Christ's New Covenant. That is something God does with his saving grace. Why you think your questions posed to the General Baptist college folks is a dilemma is beyond me. I pray for my son, and ask God to save him like I would any other unsaved person outside the covenant. The difference is that I get a hands on opportunity to raise my boy in the way God would have him to go. He in return reaps the benefit of hearing the gospel, being held accountable to truth, knowing God's way from the world and being protected from lots of foolishness that would otherwise harden him in sin. Whether or not he actually is saved is up to the Lord. <br>Now, you made one comment in your response I found interesting. You stated that those children outside the covenant are not saved, and that would mean that all children would perish. What do you base this upon? Are only Christian children saved? Then, are only sprinkled children saved? Or would the children of baptists, who unwittingly refuse to sprinkle their children, due to their rejection of Reformed, covenantal hermeneutics, perish also? <br><br>Fred<br>


"Ah, sitting - the great leveler of men. From the mightest of pharaohs to the lowest of peasants, who doesn't enjoy a good sit?" M. Burns