Primitive Baptism and Therein Infant’s and Parent’s Rights

Matthew Sylvester (1636–1708) was a nonconformist divine, a meek and spirited Reformed preacher, and scholarly linguist. Sylvester begins his treatment of baptism and its implications for parents and infants by first setting down a key principle of hermeneutics. Next, Sylvester treats methodically the Hebraisms that are used throughout the New Testament. He responsibly exegetes “house,” “household” and other Hebraic terms that have been outlined in the New Testament referring to those having been baptized, and what those terms literally mean, as well as all their implications. He explains such Scriptures as the account with Lydia, "And when she was baptized, and her household, " (Acts 16:15), as well as the accounts of the Jailor and Crispus, among others. This is not a scan or facsimile, and has been updated in modern English for easy reading. It also has an active table of contents for electronic versions.