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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A47391	The ax laid to the root, or, One blow more at the foundation of infant baptism, and church-membership. Part I containing an exposition of that metaphorical text of Holy Scripture, Mat. 3. 10. : being the substance of two sermons lately preached, with some additions, wherein is shewed that God made a two-fold covenant with Abraham, and that circumcision appertained not to the covenant of grace, but to the legal and external covenant God made with Abraham's natural seed, as such : together with an answer to Mr. John Flavel's last grand arguments in his Vindiciarum Vindex, in his last reply to Mr. Philip Cary, also to Mr. Rothwell's Pædo-baptisms vindicatur, as to what seems most material / by Benjamin Keach ...	Keach, Benjamin, 1640-1704.; Rothwell, Edward, d. 1731. Paedobaptismus vindicatus.	1693 (1693)	Wing K47; ESTC R39052	37,123	40

to require a Condition of a Covenant of one that we know hath no Strength to perform it If a Rich Man should offer an Estate of 1000 l. a Year to a poor Man that he knew was not worth a Groat provided he fetched him 20 l. of his own Money this Act would be reckoned a mocking and ridiculing this poor Wretch God did not require that small Condition of Adam but that he actually had strength to perform it you will say God will give him ability to perform So he did to Adam previous to the Covenant c. See his farther Answer p. 130. God will in due time bring down and abase the Pride of Man O what a Doctrine do some Men preach 't is time indeed now to lay aside our lesser Differences and make Head against such capital Errors The Foundation seems now to be struck at Reader since I preached these Sermons I met with Reverend Mr. Cotton on the Covenant who confirms the same thing concerning the Ax being laid to the Root of the Trees Speaking of that Text Mal. 4. 1. The Day cometh that shall leave them neither Root nor Branch There are two Things in the Root saith he 1st The First is the Root of Abraham 's Covenant which this People much trusted upon and that is it of which John the Baptist speaks Now is the Ax is laid to the Root of the Trees c. This is spoken in Mat. 3. 9. after he had said Think not to say within your selves we have Abraham to our Father ver 8. So that all their Confidence they had in Abraham 's Covenant Temple and Tabernacle and such Things is burnt up and so they have no Root left them to stand upon But 2dly There is something more in it for with this Spirit of burning the Lord by the Power of this Spirit doth cut us off from any Power of our own natural or spiritual Gifts whereby we thought to lay hold on Jesus Christ and we are cut off hereby from all Confidence that we have in our own sufficiency c. For there is an usual Confidence that we have in our own state tho' the Lord hath cut us off from the righteousness of our Parents and from boasting of his Ordinance yet we think there is some Power left in us Cotton 's Treaty of the Cov. p. 177 178. Again he saith It is spoken of the Ministry of John the Baptist which did burn as an Oven and left them neither the Root of Abraham 's Covenant nor the Branches of their own good Works He cutteth them off from the Covenant of Abraham and so by cutting them off from the Root he leaveth them no ground to trust to Pag. 21 22. I hope if this Text be well considered and our Arguments in the ensuing Treatise no wise and impartial Person will find there is any ground for Men to plead for Infant Baptism from the Covenant God made with Abraham I shall say no more but leave what I have said to the Blessing of the God of Truth who is coming forth to shake all false Foundations and States yea both Heaven and Earth that that which cannot be shaken may remain and rest thy Servant in the work of the Gospel From my House near Horsly-down Southwark this 6th of March 1693. BENJAMIN KEACH Reader My Answer to Mr. Flavel and Mr. Rothwell I find will not come into the first Part but the Second is going to the Press where you will have it THE Ax laid to the Root c. OR One BLOW more at the Foundation of Infant Baptism and Church-Membership MAT. III. 10. And now also the Ax is laid to the Root of the Trees every Tree therefore that bringeth not forth good Fruit is hewn down and cast into the Fire THIS Text is metaphorical there is no great difference between a Metaphor and an express Similitude and for the better understanding the Mind of God therein I shall 1. Open the Scope and Coherence thereof 2. Explain the Parts and Terms therein contained 3. I shall observe some Points of Doctrine reducable there-from 4. Shall improve the Whole by way of Application First From the Scope and Coherence of the Place 't is evident that John Baptist endeavours to take off the Jews particularly the Pharisees and Sadduces from the external and legal Covenant God made with Abraham and his Fleshly-seed or Off-spring See vers 7. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadduces come to his Baptism he said unto them O generation of Vipers who hath warned you to flee from the Wrath to come Historians tell us That there were Three more eminent Religious Sects amongst the Jews the First were called Essenes of whom we do not read in the Holy Scripture their main Doctrine was Fate they say our Annotators ascribed all Things to it Secondly The Sadduces were directly opposite to the Essenes they ascribed nothing to Fate but asserted the Liberty and Power of Man's Will in the most largest Sence or in the extravagant Height they denied the Immortality of the Soul of Man the Resurrection Angels c. All which the Pharisees owned See Act. 23. 8. The Pharisees were outwardly a very Zealous sort of People and tho' they were tainted with that false Opinion of the Freedom of Man's Will to do Good yet they ascribed much to the Providence and Grace of God they were Interpreters of the Law and separated themselves from others they spent much time in Fasting and Prayer 1. They held nevertheless a Righteousness by the Works of the Law by which they thought they were justified and accepted of God and so stumbled at the Stumbling-Stone Rom. 9. 32. 2. They gave a very corrupt Interpretation of the Law 3. They held many un-written Traditions of equal force with the Law of God by which means they made void the Commandments of God 4. They were a mere Hypocritical sort of Men in their Practices being very strict and zealous for the smaller Matters of the Law and neglected the weightier Things thereof Whether these Pharisees and Sadduces came with an intention to be Baptized or only out of Curiosity is hard to be resolved since 't is said They rejected the Counsel of God against themselves being not Baptized by John John however sharply treates them both calling them a Generation of Vipers a sort of Serpents of whom 't is said they make way into the World through the Bowels of their Dam. It may be upon this Account he gave them that Name or so called them who thought through the Bowels as I may so say of their Ancestors or being the Seed of Abraham or the Off-spring of Godly Progenitours to come to Heaven who hath warned you to flee from the Wrath to come What is the Reason that you come to my Baptism Whereas some of you think there is no Resurrection no Heaven no Hell no Angels nor no Spirits or you who think you are so Righteous as you need no Repentance

and so need fear no wrath to come From whence comes this to pass that you seem to fear or to be afraid of future Wrath and the Vengeance of an angry God Bring forth therefore Fruits meet for Repentance ver 8. O come now and put your selves among the crowd of Poor Sinners and Godly Penitent Persons Repent of your false Doctrines you have taught Repent of the corrupt and wicked Notions and Opinions you hold and of the Vain and Hypocritical Lives you have led and think not that a bear Profession of this will do neither for you must bring forth Fruits of true Repentance Fruits of true Holiness from a thorough change of Heart that must be wrought in you But as if he should say I know your Thoughts I have heard what a Belief you are of you think you are in Covenant with God and so are faedorally Holy and in a saved and safe Condition because you have Abraham to your Father you conclude that Covenant God made with Abraham and his natural or fleshly Seed was the Covenant of Grace and so the Promise is sure to you And therefore he adds ver 7. And think not to say within your selves we have Abraham to our Father For I say unto you that God is able of these Stones to raise up Children to Abraham You promise good to your selves because you are the natural Off-spring of believing Abraham you rest upon your Descent from him The very same Plea we find they made to our blessed Saviour Joh. 8. 33. We be Abraham 's seed and were never in Bondage to any Man How sayest thou yee shall be made Free We were never under the Bondage of Sin as others are that Covenant made with Abraham being the Covenant of Grace we are thereby set at Liberty and no Man shall by his Doctrine make us believe the contrary we are a free People in respect of our Souls and spiritual Privileges for they could not mean otherwise because they had often been in Bondage to Men in respect of external Liberty and Freedom First to Pharaoh King of Egypt and then to Nebuchadnezzar and now were so in Bondage under the Romans I know saith our Saviour that ye are Abraham's Seed according to the Flesh They were his Off-spring but that was no spiritual Advantage to them tho' it did give them Right to legal Privileges and Ordinances under the Law yet it signify'd nothing now it would not profit them under the Gospel Dispensation they must be the spiritual Seed of Abraham and do the Works of Abraham and walk in his Steps which they did not and therefore the Lord Jesus told them vers 44. Ye are of your Father the Devil and the Lusts of your Father you will do John Baptist intimates the same thing when he called them a Generation of Vipers tho' they intituled themselves to the Covenant of Grace like as some do now a-days upon that in Gen. 17. extended to Abraham's Seed as well as to himself and concluded they were Members of God's Church then on Earth and could not therefore be deny'd any Privilege or Ordinance that of Right belonged to Covenant Children But this great Prophet knew how blind and deceived they were not understanding that there were two Covenants made with Abraham and also a Two-fold Seed viz. a Carnal or Natural and a Spiritual Seed they thought that Promise of God made with Abraham must be made of none Effect if they should not be owned or allowed to be the Seed of Abraham but saith the Baptists God is able of these Stones to raise up Children to Abraham If he should turn Stones into Men and Women who have Abraham's Faith they would be certainly the true Seed of Abraham and not such as they were tho' they naturally proceeded from his Loins according to the Flesh or God could of the Gentiles raise up Children to Abraham and so make good his Promise to him who said In thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed And now farther to convince them and so to take away for ever all their Hope and Pretences of Right to Gospel-Ordinances and Church-Membership by vertue of the Covenant made with Abraham or from the Consideration of their being his natural or fleshly Seed he in the words I first read to you says And now also the Ax is laid to the Root of the Trees therefore every Tree which bringeth forth not good Fruit is hewn down and cast into the Fire vers 10. Now this now referrs to the time here in this Place sometimes it referrs to the Matter or Occasion of what is spoken Now the Ax is laid to the Root of the Trees whatever is meant by the Root of the Trees this is certain the Ax was not till now or until this time so laid or thus laid to the Root We cannot understand what the Holy Ghost intends hereby unless we observe and well consider the Scope and Coherence of the Text which do's clearly unfold the whole drift and purport of the Baptists He shew'd them before in the Context that their Plea to Gospel Baptism was not good nor pleadable i. e. We are Abraham's Seed they might Object and say Obj. All the seed of Abraham were taken into covenant with God and all that sprang from his loins were members of the visible Church and had right to the external rites ordinances and privileges thereof Ans. This John Baptist seems to grant i. e. That it was so from Abraham's Time untill these Days or under the Law or old Covenant-Dispensation they had he denies not a Right to Jewish Church-Membership and Legal Ordinances But what of that Now the Ax is laid to the Root of the Trees that is as Abraham was the Root or common Covenanting-Father as concerning the Flesh out of which Root all the Jews his natural Off-spring sprang and upon which Foundation they and their natural Church-State was founded Yet now the Ax is laid to this Root i. e. To this Covenant i. e. The legal or external Covenant made with Abraham and down must the Building fall when the Foundation is removed down goes the Trees when the Root out of which they grew is cut down So much as to the Scope and Coherence of the Words Secondly I shall explain the Terms and Parts of the Text 1. Shew farther what is meant by the Root 2. What is intended by the Trees 3. What is meant by the Ax. 4. What by laying the Ax to the Root of the Trees and by cutting down 5. What by the Fire and casting into the Fire First By the Root is meant that which bears up the Branches and on which the Tree and Branches stand and grow and 't is from hence from this Allusion the Baptists makes use of these Words and Expressions Now the Root whereof he speaks as I conceive was that Covenant God made with Abraham and his natural Seed or Off-spring which Covenant did in a mystical Sence as clearly

to hew and square some Persons for God's spiritual Building and to cut down others also as Trees that are Rotten and bear no good Fruit Therefore saith the Lord I have hewn them by the Prophets and what follows mark it I have slain them by the words of my Mouth Hos. 6 5. The Word of God either kills or cures 't is either a saviour of Life unto Life or the saviour of Death unto Death 2. Cor. 2. 16. Like as Sweet-Meats are to some Pleasant and Comfortable and to others Pernicious and Deadly The Abuse of Gospel Grace cut the Jews down and so it will all others who slight and contemn it the Word either softens or hardens like as the Sun who shining on the Wax it softens that but shining on the Clay it hardens that When the Word comes in Judgment then 't is like an Ax in the Hand of God's Justice I find one Learned Man speaking thus on this Place viz. The Word of God which is a spiritual Ax cutteth down spiritually Wicked Men and Hypocrites like rotten and barren Trees This is it which is elsewhere meant by plucking up destroying hardening c. Some saith he expound this not of spiritual Judgments threatned in his Word against impenitent Sinners but of the Power of the Romans which were the Instruments of God to destroy utterly the unfaithful and wicked Generation of the Jews The former is saith he the best Exposition but I conceive it may referr to both 3. The Ax may refer to Men whom God makes use of as Instruments in his Hand to cut down and destroy a Wicked and God-provoking People Hence wicked Rulers and Kings whom God raises up as Instruments in his Hand to chastise and cut down a rebellious People are called His Sword and the Rod of his Wrath and Indignation Psal. 17. 14. Arise O Lord disappoint him cast him down deliver my Soul from the wicked which is thy Sword And thus the Assyrian were an Ax in God's Hand to use as he pleased and the Romans afterwards to the Jews likewise Moreover God's Israel is called his Ax Thou art my Battel-Ax and Weapons of War with thee I will break in pieces the Nations and with thee will I destroy Kingdoms God's People in the last Days which are now very near shall be his Ax by whom as Instruments in his Hand he will destroy Babylon Jer. 51. 20 24. And I will render unto Babylon c. all the evil they have done to Sion in your sight saith the Lord. Reward her as she hath rewarded you double to her double Rev. 18. 6. Give her Blood to drink for she is worthy The Stone cut out of the Mountains without Hands shall break to pieces all the Powers of the Earth that oppose Christ's Kingdom or that stand in the way of its Establishment Dan. 3. 34. 44. 4. By the Ax may in the general be meant God's Wrath however it is or may be executed or upon whom Wrath will sooner or later cut down all the Ungodly both false Churches and tyrannical Powers of the Earth and all who continue in Unbelief and in Rebellion against God The laying the Ax to the Root discovers the final Fall and Ruin of Sinners whether considered as a Church or as particular Persons dig up or cut down the Root and down falls the Body and all the Branches of the Tree Fifthly and Lastly Therefore every Tree that bringeth not forth good Fruit shall be hewn down and cast into the Fire Now he draws a necessary Inferrence and Conclusion from the Premisses Every Tree that is every Man and Woman or every Corrupt Church be they who they will either Jew or Gentile Babylonian or Christian if not Plants of God's planting if not Fruitful to God if they Answer not his Design and End if they bring not forth good Fruit they shall be hewn down and cast into the Fire of external and eternal Wrath a Fire saith the Lord is kindled in my anger and it shall burn to the lowest Hell Wrath ceases and shall cease on them here but at last they shall be cast into Hell-fire where the worm dies not and the fire is not quenched Mark 9. 46. 1. The Words being thus opened and explained I shall take notice of two or three Points of Doctrine 1. Doct. Now the Dispensation is changed to be of the natural Root or of the National Church of the Jews or the Seed of Abraham according to the Flesh as such is no Ground of Church-Membership or 't is no Argument to be admitted into the Gospel Church or to Gospel-Baptism 2. Doct. Now in the times of the Gospel God is and will be severe with all ungodly unbelieving and impenitent Sinners he strikes at their Root at the Root of all their Hopes false Faith or fleshly Confidence whatsoever 'T is the first of these Propositions I shall in the first place insist upon and as I may be enabled explain and prosecute amongst you but the Time being near gone let me now with a brief word or two conclude at this Season 1. Caution Take heed on what you build your Hopes of Justification and Salvation what is that which bears up your Spirits for if you are Trees that grow not out of the true root Jesus Christ and the Covenant of Grace if you have not Union with the Lord Jesus or are not built on that Foundation or Corner-stone God hath laid in Sion down you fall for now the ax is laid to the Root of the Trees 2. Enquiry Is not Morality a civil and honest Life Doing to all as you would be done unto the Ground or Foundation of your Hopes Do you build upon this if it be so tremble remember Christ saith Except a man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God Joh. 3. 3. If you have no other Ground of Hope but from your own Moral Righteousness when Death comes with his Ax down you will go and be cast into the Fire 3. Consider All you prophane and ungodly Ones what is that which bears your Hopes up what do you build upon is it not on the mere Mercy of God or Death of Christ God say you is gracious slow to anger and we therefore have Hopes and do trust to that Christ dyed for Sinners c. You say right God is mercifull but what then will you therefore presumptuously go on in ungodly and wicked Courses oh know he is just as well as gracious and will in no wise clear the guilty Exod. 34. 7. Except ye repent therefore ye shall all likewise perish Luk. 13. 3. 5. Shall the Goodness of God which should lead you to Repentance be thus evilly improved i. e. to strengthen your Hands and encourage you to sin against him and provoke him 'T is I fear with you as Solomon speaks Eccl. 8. 11. Because Sentance against an evil Work is not executed speedily therefore the hearts of the sons of men are fully set in them to do

wickedly Christ 't is true dyed for Sinners but you have no True Faith in him he dyed to save Sinners from their Sins and that they might live to him See my Text now the Ax is laid to the Root of the Trees if you believe not on Christ if you are not made new Creatures 1 Cor. 5. 17. the Ax will cut you down and that with Vengeance and Wrath will at last cast you into the Fire you must learn to know the way of Salvation and how the Mercy of God shines forth in a Mediator Christ hath satisfied his Justice and by him you must come to God out of Christ he is a consuming fire Abused Mercy O Sinner will be turned at last into Fury except you obtain an Interest in Jesus Christ you are undone for the Wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men Rom. 1. 3. Or are you Self-righteous Persons Do you build on your own Righteousness like the Jews and hypocritical Pharises you may be think your States Good because you are not Swearers Drunkards c. may be you read pray and hear Sermons and give to the Poor and do much good but if you build your Hopes of Heaven on these Things down this Ax will cut you also Except your Righteousness exceed the Righteousness of the Scribes and Pharises you shall in no wise enter into the Kingdom of Heaven Matth. 5. 20. nay you must be found in the Righteousness of Christ all ours is but dung Phil. 3. 8 9. you must in a word bring forth good fruit every Soul of you or perish and this you cannot do till your Hearts are changed and so you become good Trees make the tree good and then the fruit will be good an evil Tree cannot bring forth good fruit c. all Works of unregenerate Persons yea their Religious Duties are but dead Works not good fruits nor can they bring forth good Fruits unless they are planted by Faith into Jesus Christ nay I must tell you that Gospel-Holiness will not save us it must be the Righteousness of God by Faith Sermon II. MAT. III. 10. And now also the Ax is laid to the Root of the Trees every Tree therefore that bringeth not forth good Fruit is hewn down and cast into the Fire THE Proposition I am to prosecute you may remember is this considering the Context viz. Now the dispensation is changed to be of the natural root or the Seed of Abraham according to the flesh is no ground for Church Membership or no Argument to be admitted into the Gospel Church or to Gospel Baptism You say you have Abraham to your Father or you are the Children of Believers or you have believing Parents Well but what of this as if John should say this will do you no good now this will stand you now in no steed this will give you no Right to Gospel Ordinances nor particularly to Gospel Baptism ' tho' it did to Circumcision and Legal Ordinances and Jewish Church Membership For Hager and her Son are cast out that are the Old Covenant and the Fleshly Seed this old Root and Right now in Gospel Days is struck at The Ax is laid to the Roots of the Trees i. e. To your old standing on the Old Covenant Root as you are the lineal Seed of Abraham The time is come now that the Old Covenant and Covenant Seed are to be rooted up the old House and Constitution pulled down God is now about to build a new Temple and a more spiritual House a spiritual Temple of living Stones and rather then he will want Materials he can of these Stones raise up Children unto believing Abraham and so make good the Covenant of Grace or Gospel Covenant made with him Now you must be united to a living Foundation i. e. Believe in Christ whose way I am come to prepare and make ready fit Matter for this new Building namely the Gospel Church which is not to be by natural descent from Abraham as such but only those who have the Faith of Abraham yea that Faith he had not in Circumcision but in Uncircumcision or before he was Circumcised You must grow out of a spiritual Root i. e. Be Married to Christ your first Husband i. e. The Law or Old Covenant is Just at the point of Death that so ye may bring forth Fruit to God Rom. 7. 4. But to proceed I shall prove this Proposition viz. That the Dispensation is now changed to be of that natural Root or National Church of the Jews or the Seed of Abraham according to the Flesh is no ground for Church Membership no argument for admittance into the Gospel Church or to Gospel Baptism 1. Because 't is positively said that there is a change of the whole Law i. e. The Levitical Priesthood legal Ordinance legal Church and legal Church Membership are changed and gone that so the betterCovenant and more spiritual Church and Church Membership might be established For the Priesthood being changed there is made of necessity a change also of the Law Heb. 7. 12. 'T is so changed as 't is abolished to make way for this as the late Annotators observe the mutation of the Priesthood indispensably requireth the change of the legal Covenant which hereafter I shall prove was not the Covenant of Grace but is directly called the Old Covenant the Covenant of Grace is but one and that never changeth This was made necessary by the Decree of God as they note who determined that both the Priesthood and Law should expire together like say I as an old Will or Testament doth when the Testator hath made and confirmed his Last Will and Testament When Christ the Gospel High-Priest had saith our Annotations in his own Person and Work perfected all of it in Heaven he roots out that Order of Priesthood and demolished the Temple and City to which he confined the Administration and scatters the People which would cleave to it so as all Designs and Endeavours of Jews or of Apostate Christian to repair or restore it hath been ineffectual to this Day What can be more clear Sirs then this that the Old House or Right of Church-Membership is overturned at the very Root for If the Covenant for Incovenanting the Fleshly Seed is changed or abolished and no new Law or new Precept is given forth for the bringing them in again What Ground is there left for any wise seeing and faithful Man to Plead for Infants Church-Membership but it is evident the former is true i. e. that Covenant by virtue of which they had Right to Circumcision and Church Membership or out of which Root that sprang is gone changed and abolished for ever and no new Law or Precept is given forth for the bringing them into the Gospel-Church as such To this Text let me add another which farther confirms it 2. For if that first Covenant had been faultless then should no place have been sought for