And, perhaps, when those of us who dissent from some of their propositions, fully understand the limitations which the writers themselves affix to their use of terms, no great discrepancy will be found to exist.
It admits of a question, therefore, in my view, whether the terms _members_ and _membership_, as applied to children, really mean that which these writers themselves intend to convey by them; for certainly they do not mean all which their readers at first suppose.

The terms in question require a great deal of explanation, which a term, if possible, ought never to need.

And, after all has been said, a wrong impression is conveyed to the minds of many, while opponents gain undue advantage in arguing against that which, for substance, all the friends of infant baptism cordially maintain.
If Br.

A.is asked, "In what sense are children members of the church," he resorts, for illustration, to citizenship, and to the sisterhood in the church itself, to show how children and females may be members of the community, and, in the case of females, may belong to the church, while yet their privileges and functions are limited.

So, he says, the children of believers are a component part of God's church, not entitled to the use of all its privileges till they are renewed by the Spirit of God, yet so related by the sovereign appointment of God to those who are members, as to be, in a subordinate sense, a part of the church.
Could the friends of infant baptism agree on some term, which would express their common belief with regard to the relation of believers' children to the church, better than _member_, I think it must have a happy effect in promoting harmony of views and feelings, and take away from others the grounds of several present objections.
It was here agreed that, instead of the question going round to each in turn, the conversation should be free, subject to the rule of the chairman.
Mr.A., the reader, then said that he should be glad to learn from his Br.