In many modern editions of 2LCF, chapter 10:3 begins simply ‘infants dying in infancy . . . .’ Other texts read ‘elect infants dying in infancy . . . . ‘ Which text is correct according to the original printings? This question is simple to answer.
In consulting all of the 17th century editions (1677, 1688, 1699), the word ‘elect’ appears in all of the original editions, and thus the text properly reads ‘elect infants dying in infancy . . . ‘
When did it change? While I have not investigated this in detail, my best guess is that Charles Spurgeon dropped the word ‘elect’ from his published edition in the 19th century. CHS believed that all infants dying in infancy are ‘regenerated and saved by Christ through the Spirit.’ But one could believe this, even with the word ‘elect’ in the Confession’s statement!
James M. Renihan, Dean The Institute of Reformed Baptist Studies www.reformedbaptistinstitute.org
Some of you may be interested in an exposition LBCF 10:3 on the subject of the eternal destiny of infants dying in infancy. Here is a series if four messages I did on the subject.
http://www.sermonaudio.com/search.asp?speakerWithinSource=&subsetCat=series&subsetItem=Infant+Salvation&mediatype=&includekeywords=&keyword=Max%5EDoner&keyworddesc=Max+Doner&currsection=sermonsspeaker&AudioOnly=false&SpeakerOnly=trueon
If you want to listen you can cut and paste this URL into your browser.
Sorry. The correct URL is http://www.sermonaudio.com/search.asp?speakerWithinSource=&subsetCat=&subsetItem=&mediatype=&includekeywords=&keyword=infant+salvation&keyworddesc=infant+salvation&currsection=&AudioOnly=false&speakerwithin=max+doner&x=20&y=13