This work by Burgess was written to prove and declare the Scriptural position of Presumptive Regeneration in administering the covenant sign on infants of believers. Burgess' thesis is, "That it is most agreeable to the institution of Christ, that all elect infants that are baptized (unless in some extraordinary cases) ordinarily receive the Spirit from Christ in baptism, for their first solemn initiation into Christ; and for their future actual renovation, in God’s good time, if they live to years of discretion, and enjoy the other ordinary means of grace appointed of God to this end." It also serves to separate the Reformed Doctrine from the Scripturally deviant positions of the Anabaptists, Arminians and the Roman Catholic Church. Burgess teaches through a careful study of Scriptural doctrine and application, that the benefits of the Covenant of Grace are only efficaciously conferred by the Holy Spirit to the elect, which include infants. This laver of regeneration (Titus 3) is found opened to us in baptism, and that infants of believers receive the same benefits in the sacrament as any others. This topic was debated thoroughly at the time Burgess was writing, and his work serves as a Reformed polemic to those who would take exception to the Reformed Confessions of the 16th and 17th century, as well as from various divines such as the early church fathers like Cyprian, Athanasius and Augustine, Reformers like Calvin, Bucer and Beza, Reformed Confessions like the Helvetica and Belgica, as well as English divines of his day like Bishop Jewel, Dr. Whitaker, Dr. Fulke, Dr. Davenant, Bishop of Salisbury, Dr. White, Bishop of Norwich, Dr. Daniel Featly, Dr. William Ames, and many others. This work is not a scan or facsimile, has been carefully transcribed by hand being made easy to read in modern English, and has an active table of contents for electronic versions.

Cornelius Burgess (1589-1665) was an active and zealous puritan, a member of the Westminster Assembly, and esteemed as a very learned and judicious divine. This work by Burgess was written to prove and declare the Scriptural position of Presumptive Regeneration in administering the covenant sign on infants of believers. Burgess' thesis is, "That it is most agreeable to the institution of Christ, that all elect infants that are baptized (unless in some extraordinary cases) ordinarily receive the Spirit from Christ in baptism, for their first solemn initiation into Christ; and for their future actual renovation, in God's good time, if they live to years of discretion, and enjoy the other ordinary means of grace appointed of God to this end." It also serves to separate the Reformed Doctrine from the Scripturally deviant positions of the Anabaptists, Arminians and the Roman Catholic Church.Burgess teaches through a careful study of Scriptural doctrine and application, that the benefits of the Covenant of Grace are only efficaciously conferred by the Holy Spirit to the elect, which include infants. This laver of regeneration (Titus 3) is found opened to us in baptism, and that infants of believers receive the same benefits in the sacrament as any others. This topic was debated thoroughly at the time Burgess was writing, and his work serves as a Reformed polemic to those who would take exception to the Reformed Confessions of the 16th and 17th century, as well as from various divines such as the early church fathers like Cyprian, Athanasius and Augustine, Reformers like Calvin, Bucer and Beza, Reformed Confessions like the Helvetica and Belgica, as well as English divines of his day like Bishop Jewel, Dr. Whitaker, Dr. Fulke, Dr. Davenant, Bishop of Salisbury, Dr. White, Bishop of Norwich, Dr. Daniel Featly, Dr. William Ames, and many others.

Frank A. James III describes this classic volume as "an apology for the Calvinist conviction that the children of Christian parents properly belong to the church and therefore ought to be admitted to its visible membership through the sacrament of baptism." "Schenck's passion and insight inspire us to discard our empty view of baptism with its sentimental, sleepy, and perfunctory notions of children," writes James in the introduction. "Instead, he would have us praise God for the wonderful grace extended to our covenant children." Schenck seeks to protect and preserve parents' responsibility to nurture their children spiritually. The Presbyterian Doctrine of Children in the Covenant was first published in 1940. Lewis Bevens Schenck (1989-1985) was a professor at Davidson College for forty years. Book jacket.