I hope you are both well reconciled to the death of your child. I cannot be sorry for the death of infants. How many storms do they escape! Nor can I doubt, in my private judgment, that they are included in the election of grace.
Article 17: The Salvation of the Infants of Believers Since we must make judgments about God's will from his Word, which testifies that the children of believers are holy, not by nature but by virtue of the gracious covenant in which they together with their parents are included, godly parents ought not to doubt the election and salvation of their children whom God calls out of this life in infancy.
On September 29, 1861, the great Baptist pastor, Charles Spurgeon, preached a message entitled “Infant Salvation.” In that message he chastened some critics who had “. . . wickedly, lyingly, and slanderously said of Calvinists that we believe that some little children perish.” Similar rumblings have been heard in some Baptist circles of late. Spurgeon affirmed that God saved little ones without limitation and without exception. He, then, as was his manner, turned to conclude the message with an evangelistic appeal to parents who might be lost. Listen to his plea:Westminster Confession of Faith, Ch. X, para 3:Many of you are parents who have children in heaven. Is it not a desirable thing that you should go there too? And yet, have I not in these galleries and in this area some, perhaps many, who have no hope hereafter? . . . . Mother, unconverted mother, from the battlements of heaven your child beckons you to Paradise. Father, ungodly, impenitent father, the little eyes that once looked joyously on you, look down upon you now and the lips which had scarcely learned to call you “Father” ere they were sealed by the silence of death, may be heard as with a still, small voice, saying to you this morning, “Father, must we be forever divided by the great gulf which no man can pass?” If you wilt, think of these matters, perhaps the heart will begin to move, and the eyes may begin to flow and then may the Holy Spirit put before thine eyes the cross of the Savior . . . if thou wilt turn thine eye to Him, thou shalt live . . .
Elect infants, dying in infancy, are regenerated, and saved by Christ, through the Spirit, who works when, and where, and how He pleases: so also are all other elect persons who are incapable of being outwardly called by the ministry of the WordLondon Baptist Confession, Ch. X, para 3:
Elect infants dying in infancy are regenerated and saved by Christ through the Spirit; who worketh when, and where, and how he pleases; so also are all elect persons, who are incapable of being outwardly called by the ministry of the Word. ( John 3:3, 5, 6; John 3:8 )
Why? Where in Scripture does it say all dead infants are elect? Please don't quote other calvinists--that's just opinion. Back it up with Scripture like the Reformed are fond of claiming they do.
The Confession seems to imply that there is such a thing as an "un-elect" infant. It certainly does not claim that all babies who die are elect, but that only the "elect" infants will be saved. The implication is clear that the WCF does not endorse the idea that all children who die are going to escape eternal hell, but only the "elect infants", whoever they are.
Can you show me a Calvinistic Confession that categorically states that God elects or has elected all children who die before a certain age?
If not, then maybe you can explain to me how a Reformed Pastor can assure a grieving parent that her child is now in the arms of Jesus. If a Reformed Pastor is true to his Calvinism, he must state that it is quite possible that their child was created as a "vessel of wrath, fitted for destruction."
Am I wrong?
Educate me.
The more I read of Spurgeon, the less I respect him. At best, all we can actually say about the fate of babies is “We don’t know”, and , “God is just”.
There is NO unequivocal scriptural teaching either way.