good What think ye now Friend of all your other Arguments which you say are contained in this one Are they not swallowed up by the Gospel even as Aaron's Rod swallowed up the Rods of Pharaoh's Magicians 4. Saith Mr. K. in pag. 24. The Gospel Covenant ran first to all the Elect that were the natural Off-spring of Abraham and then to the Gentiles and from hence it is said Rom. 11. that when the Jews are called and brought in again they shall be graffed into their own Olive-tree 1. I Answer that if the Jews are to be graffed into their own Olive-tree again as indeed they must then the Covenant which God made with Abraham and his Seed is not Repealed nor Dissolved 2. That the Elect Jews were principally concerned in the Covenant I do own but that none but such were concerned in it I deny for had it been so then none had ever been cast out of Covenant for God never broke Covenant with his Elect nor never will I will produce you not only his Word but also his Oath for it in Psal 89. My covenant will I not break nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David 3. The Covenant which God made with Abraham and his Seed was but one is the very same now in substance to the believing Gentiles their Children though it is under a new Dispensation and the Middle-wall of partition is broken down and taken away and nailed to Christs Cross Eph. 2.11 12 13 14. And the Gentiles are Fellow-heirs and of the same Body and Partakers of his Promise in Christ by the Gospel so that the Covenant is enlarged as to the Priviledges thereof for whereas before the coming in of the Gospel it was restricted to the Jews and their Seed now it is to both Jew and Gentile Acts 2.39 Whereas it was clog'd before with Material costly Sacrifices and burdensome Ceremonies and smarting Ordinances now it is Meliorated and made easier and better all these Shadows are done away which was the taking away the first to establish the second viz. to take away the Ceremonial Law to Establish the Gospel 4. And lastly If none but Elect Jews were in the Covenant God made with Abraham and his Seed at which time the Gentiles were rejected and cast off for in Noah's Time all the New World were in the Covenant of Grace How came the Jews to sin themselves out of it again when the Elect Gentiles and their Seed were taken in Rom. 11.17 For if those Jews had been Elected of God they could never have sinned to such a degree as to provoke God to cast them out of Covenant though they might sin so as to provoke God to punish and chastise them for it Psal 89. 5. And lastly Saith Mr. K. in pag. 27. And farther to prove the Promise of the Covenant of Grace did not belong to Abrham 's Natural Seed as such Paul shews in Gal. 3.16 Now to Abraham and to his seed was the promise made He saith not to seeds as of many but to thy seed which is Christ Friend though you have charged me falsely with abusing the Sacred Scriptures yet give me leave to tell you you have horribly abused this Text by adding unto it and diminishing from it for the Words are these in Gal. 3.16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made He saith not And to seeds as of many but as of one And to thy seed which is Christ Mr. K. hath placed was the promise made which is in the singular instead of were the promises made Friend Was not Christ who is stiled this One here in this Text of the Seed of Abraham And was not the Covenant made with him before the Foundation of the World for all the Elect and their Seed And are not all the Promises Yea and Amen in Christ Which are the Promises in this Text which you call the promise So that this Text intends quite another thing â—hen what you seem to infer from it 2. Let us observe what strange Absurdities to follow 1. Would it not be a very absurd thing that God who is a Covenant-keeping God should keep his Covenant with Believers and their Seed from Adam to the coming of Christ in the Flesh which was about 4000 Years and so often renew and establish it with Believers and their Seed by Repeated Promises and Sacred Oaths and that then God should cast them all off and Repeal and Dissolve the Covenant Pray hear what the Apostle saith to this in Gal. 3.15 Brethren I speak after the manner of men Though it be but a mans covenant yet if it be confirmed no man disanulleth or addeth thereto Viz. Is a Covenant which is made between Man and Man so sacred a thing as that nothing ought to disanul it or make it void and that nothing ought to be added unto it How much more Sacred is Gods Everlasting Covenant and not to be disanulled made void nor added unto by Men 2. Is it not an absurd thing for any Mortals to imagine that the Son of Gods Love John 3.16 and the Gospel of his Grace should bring more Grace to Adult Believers then the Law and at the same time destroy that Grace which their Children enjoyed under the Law John 1.17 For the law was given by Moses but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ 3. If this Doctrine were true then all the Seed of these believing Jews which kept Covenant were all cast out and broken off with the unbelieving Jews and their Seed Rom. 11 17. 4. It will follow that none but Adult believing Gentiles were taken into Covenant and all their Children excluded which is repugnant to Acts 2.39 For the promise is unto you and to your children and to all that are afar off even as many as the Lord our God shall call This Promise here is the same God made with Adam Gen. 3.15 and Noah Gen. 9.9 and Abraham Gen. 17.2 7. which was made to Believers and their Children 5. These Gentlemen that Assert the Dissolution of the Covenant wherein are contained Believers and their Seed never yet undertook to tell us what the personal actual Sin was which these poor Babes did commit against God that did provoke him to cast them all out of Covenant who had been in it Four Thousand Years successively wherefore when you write next about this Subject be so ingenuous as to tell us what the Sin was which these young Infants were guilty of which brought them all under this dreadful condemnation as to be cast out of Gods Favour For unless you can do that all the Arguments you can raise against our Principles will only serve to prove that you are in a very great Errour for the Covenant God made with Adam Noah Abraham and their Seed is an Everlasting Covenant ordered in all things and sure IV. I will by Gods Assistance prove that the
Infant-Seed of Believers are the proper Subjects of Baptism not to exclude Adult Proselytes and in proving this I shall Answer all Mr. B. K's Twenty Seven Arguments as fully and effectually as if I had confuted them one by one for the Ground of all his Arguments is to prove that all Children are excluded the Ordinance of Water-baptism in their Infancy And to effect my Purpose I shall take this Method viz. 1. I shall prove from the Sacred Scriptures that there is a Command from our Saviour Christ for the baptizing young Infants 2. There are undeniable Examples for it 3. I shall prove it from the peculiar Promises that are made to the Seed of Believers 4. From the Renowned Titles that are given unto them 5. From their being under the care conduct and Ministry of the blessed Angels 6. And Lastly From the tender care and sweet condescending Carriage and Behaviour of our blessed Redeemer to the Children of Believers above all other Mens Children in the World 1. There is a positive Command for the baptizing of Infants as well as of others in Christs Commission in Mat. 28.19 20. Go and disciple all nations that is Baptize them for if you observe Teaching comes after Go and disciple all nations make them disciples by baptism Now either Children are no part of a Nation or else there were no Children in all these Nations to whom Christ sent his Apostles and Ministers to preach the Gospel or else Children are every whit as much concerned in the Commission with a respect to Baptism as the Adult But Children are a great part of a Nation and for any to imagine that there were no Children in all these Nations is ridiculous and therefore Children are included in this Commission of our Lords and so they come under the Power and Authority of Christs positive Command to be baptized 2. They Object Children must be taught before they ought to be baptized and Children are not capable of being taught and therefore not capable of baptism Pray hear what God saith in Isa 59.21 As for me this is my covenant with them saith the Lord My spirit that is upon thee and my words which I have put in thy mouth shall not depart out of thy mouth nor out of the mouth of thy seed nor out of the mouth of thy seeds seed saith the Lord from henceforth and for ever Isa 54.13 And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord and great shall be the peace of thy children Heb. 8.11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbour and every man his brother saying Know the Lord for all shall know me from the least to the greatest This Teaching of God proceeds from his Covenant Love as appears by the aforesaid Scriptures 2. In Mark 16.15 there is Christs positive Command to preach the Gospel to every creature that is to some of all Ages and Sects of the Rational Being therefore Children are concerned in this Command as being a very great part of the Rational Being and they have a great benefit by the Ministry of the Gospel which benefit lyeth principally in their Parents being so disciplined and taught as to be made Believers at which Instant their Children are also initiated and planted into the Covenant of Grace and are holy Children in Gods account 1 Cor. 7.14 and so have a Right to the holy Discipline viz. Water-baptism the Initiating Seal of the Covenant 3. And Lastly There is a Command for Children to hear the Word of the Lord as well as Adult Persons in Jer. 2.4 Even as Moses summoned all Israel Man Woman and Child to appear before God and renew their Covenant with him in Deut. 29.9 to 13. Thus I have proved A Command for the baptizing all the Infant-Seed of Believers 2. I will prove Infant-Baptism from clear Examples First From the Example of John the Baptist Mat. 3. Then went out to him Jerusalem and all Judea and all the regions round about Jordan And were baptized of him in Jordan confessing their sins But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism he said unto them O generation of vipers who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come c. John baptized all the Natural Seed of Abraham that came to his Baptism he refused none though at the same time he exhorted them to Repentance and not to rely upon their Covenant-Relation to Abraham Ver. 11. I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance c. So that it doth not appear that John baptized none but them which were truly penitent 1. Here you see all the Jews Men Women and Children that came unto John were baptized by him for all came to his Baptism for Children were a great part of Jerusalem and of all Judea c. And therefore Children were not excluded but were baptized 2. The Ordinance of Baptism was first Instituted among the Jews and their Seed before it was among the Gentiles and theirs many Years for the Gentiles must first be proselyted and taken visibly into Covenant by Discipline 3. And Lastly If John had not baptized all Children how could it be said that Jerusalem and all Judea and all the Region round about Jordan went out to him and were baptized of him Therefore it is plain that all were baptized by him Now if I should say All my Houshold are baptized and yet none of my Children are baptized who are almost double in number the rest of my Family How could that be true So that it is very plain from the Example of John the Baptist we have unquestionable Authority to baptize all our Children in their Infancy 2. There are Examples of Infant-baptism from the Apostles practice for they baptized whole Housholds wherefore if there had been but one Child in all these Housholds that was not baptized it could not properly have been said that the whole Houshold were baptized for children are the principal Upholders of the House for where there are no children that House is but of short duration and it is plain that believing Parents and their children make a holy House a sanctified Husband or a sanctified Wife and holy children make one Body and therefore they ought to be baptized 1 Cor. 12.13 For by one spirit are we all baptized into one body c. 3. Here are whole Housholds that were baptized by the Apostles Acts 18.8 Acts 16.14 15. and ver 30 31 33. and some others and also whole Housholds that were Believers which we read nothing at all of their Baptism 3. That Children are a great part of the Houshold is very clear for by our Saviours Words Parents and their children onely make the Houshold Mat. 10. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father and the daughter against her mother c. And a mans foes shall be they of his own houshold These were Parents and Children not one Servant mentioned And the Widow of Zarephath 1 King 17.15
Mr. K. One that read Mr. Shute 's Book observed and told me he hath writ near 20 Leaves to no purpose to prove that which No body denies viz. That the Covenant of Grace God promised to Abraham is not Dissolved c. This looks as if Mr. K. had not read my Book himself but did answer it by hear-say because he saith that one told him so Indeed Mr. H. C. did say so in his half-sheet he printed against me and my Answer to him shall serve for an Answer to you which was as followeth Mr. C. saith That I spent 20 Leaves in proving that which No body denies c. These 20 Leaves they speak of begin at pag. 74. which I spent in proving that all the Infant-Seed of Believers now under the Gospel are all in the same Covenant with their Parents which God made with Abraham and his Seed both spiritual and carnal in Gen. 17.7 And therefore they have a Right to the Ordinance of Baptism Now if No body denies this How comes it to pass that there is any such thing as an Anabaptist in England So that Anabaptism it self hath resigned up the ghost and this may serve for its Funeral Sermon As in pag. 20. of my Replication to Mr. H. C's half sheet 4. Saith Mr. K. Mr. Shute hath lest part of the Words in some Texts and added words in other he hath quoted See pag. 120. where he mentions the words of that Text 1 Cor. 15.22 For as in Adam all die so in Christ shall all be made alive he has wrote thus For as in Adam all the Elect die so in Christ they shall all be made alive I have not mentioned the Text at all in that place but I said by way of deduction thus For as in Adam all the Elect died and not die as he saith so in Christ they shall all be made alive These were my words exactly no more nor no less Now let any Man of Sence judge whether this be any addition to or detraction from the Text when I did not so much as name it nor intend any perversion of the Sence of it for will any Man say that all the Elect did not die in the first Adam And will any one deny that they shall not all be made alive in Christ Jesus the second Adam Did I say that none but the Elect died in Adam and that none but such shall be raised up at the Day of Judgment This is a most unworthy Prevarication 5. Saith Mr. K. in pag. 37 So in pag. 133. mentioning Mark 16.16 viz. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved but he that believeth not shall be damned He hath wrote it thus viz. He that believeth shall be saved but he that believeth not shall be damned Pray Reader mark He said I mentioned Mark 16.16 which is abominable false also I refer you to my Book and pag. 133. aforesaid where you will find it thus written viz. 15th That there were two Covenants from Adam to the coming of Christ and from thence to the Conversion of the Jews at Christs Second Coming and to the End of the World I do own and they are the same from the making of them as with Adam only that of Works was then broken though they have passed through various Dispensations and Declarations but the State of both is the same He that believeth shall be saved but he that believeth not shall be damned So it was from Adam to this Day and ever will be to the End of the World These were my very words without mentioning any Text at all for it had been Non-sence for me to mention Baptism in the first Declaration of the Covenant with Adam 4000 Years before that Ordinance was Instituted 6. In pag. 30. saith Mr. K. I promised to forbear hard words but a man that argueth thus should be severely dealt with one way or another It is well for me that this Man hath not an Inquisition at his beck and command for if he had I could promise my self but little favour at his hands Pray Sir give me leave to tell you you have broken your promise over and over many times already in these few things instead of many that I have here cited for if Calumnies are not hard words I do not know what are 7. Saith Mr. K. quoting part of my words in pag. 4. viz. I will not render Railing for Railing c. I shall labour to declare in the Spirit of meekness c. Hath he been as good as his word c. I have been as good as my word but it is a very great fault in you that you quote Authors so as to pervert the sense of their Words And therefore I will lay down the words fairly as they lie in my Book in their full Latitude and Extent which had a Reference to Mr. H. C's abusive opprobrious Language which is in his Book against me Pag. 4 5. But I bless God I can bear all your Reproaches and Calumnies chearfully and it shall no ways discourage me nor hinder me from vindicating the Truth and contending earnestly for the Faith once delivered to the Saints and I will not render Railing for Railing but what I have to offer in Vindication of Infants Baptism and the Everlasting Covenant God declared and made with Abraham I shall labour to declare in the Spirit of Meekness only sometimes you must expect a gentle Touch to put you in mind how grosly you have abused me and in some things where it cannot be avoided but I must grate a little smartly upon you there you must bear with me although I should accost you in the most sensible parts because otherwise I cannot Vindicate the Honour and Glory of the Grace of God nor my own Credit and Reputation Now let any Man read Mr. Collins's Book and mine also and see if I have not been as good as my word 8. And Lastly Whereas it is said in the Preface of Mr. H. C's Book viz. Here thou hast the Cavils and Objections of the Adversary answered 2. Infants or little children proved to have no Habitual Faith 3. The Dissolution of the Old Covenant-State demonstrated 4. And the Infants of Believers to have no right as the Seed of such to holy Baptism The Cavils and Objections of the Adversary are placed to my Account by Mr. K. which is very unfair Thus you see by these Eight unkind Steps what kind of Spirit this man is of and you may measure not only Hercules but also Benjamin by his Foot Thus having premised and taken a view of these things I now proceed to the matter in hand And in the first place I shall begin with the Mode of Baptism Mr. B. K. hath spent his first Chapter wholly in labouring to prove That Baptism is onely by Dipping or Immersion of the Subject all under Water and that any other Mode is no Baptism and to prove it to be so he hath quoted several Eminent Paedobaptists
Figure of Baptism it is buried with him in baptism which is the death and burial of Sin 2. Here was the total Abolition of the Ceremonial Law but not of the Moral Law for the substantial part of the Ten Commandments are as much in force and as binding now as ever and likwise of Circumcision the Token of the Everlasting Covenant which is centered in the Ordinance of Baptism 3. This destroys their Argument viz. That Persons do act Grace in their own Baptism For what Analogy can there be in Burial which they make the Pattern for their Mode of Baptism wherein the Subject is wholly passive so as nothing can be more and being active in Baptism here the former part of their Argument contradicts and destroys the latter part thereof 4. The substance of these Scriptures do not only make more for us who do affirm That all the Subjects of Baptism are wholly passive in the Administration thereof but also it points out unto us the very subjects themselves namely Young Infants For such were the subjects of Circumcision 5. And Lastly The Apostle represents the new Birth in these Scriptures in which all the Elect Young and Old are as passive as a Child is in its own natural birth and this Spiritual birth is frequently set forth by sprinkling washing and pouring water as I have proved and let them prove that it is represented by dipping or plunging if they can in all the Book of God 2. Let us hear something of what Mr. John Ollyffe Rector of Almer in the County of Dorset saith in his Brief Defence of Infant-Baptism concerning the Mode or Manner of Baptism First Mr. O. saith in pag. 57. It is to be observed that whenever the Holy Ghost in the New Testament hath occasion to mention the Act of Dipping it is never expressed by this word that signifieth to baptize but by another which we have but four times in the New Testament viz. Luke 16.24 John 13.26 Matth. 26.23 Rev. 19.13 But whenever the Act of Baptizing is exprest it is always exprest by another word The word Baptize is often used to signifie any kind of washing or cleansing by water by the application of water any way to the thing Mark 7.4 The Pharisees eat not except they wash In the Greek it is Except they be baptized Again Luke 11.38 The Pharisees marvelled that our Saviour had not first washed before dinner In the Greek likewise it is That he was not first baptized Secondly In pag. 59. In those Examples which seem to be most express for Dipping and therefore are most commonly urged for the Proof of it there is at most but a bare probability of it and hardly that in some but there is no demonstrative Proof can be made from any of them The first is Mat. 3.13 16. which sets forth the Baptism of our Saviour by John Baptist at Jordan ver 16. Jesus when he was baptized went up straitway out of the water c. But indeed this Text if rightly interpreted doth not so much as prove that our Saviour went into the water at all for in the Greek he came up from the water and not out of it c. And so I have it in my Spanist Testament also viz. Y Jesus Desque Fue Baptizado Subio Luego Del Aqua y heaqui los cielos le Fueron Abiertos y vido Al Espiritu de Dios que Decendia como paloma y venia Sobre el And Jesus when he was baptized came up straightway from the water Subio Luego Del Agua came up from the water and not out of the water Mr. O. saith Another Text that is urged is John 3.23 That John was baptizing in Enon near Salim because there was much water there And because of the numbers of those that went to John to be baptized it was most convenient that it should be in such places where there was plenty of water but can any one prove hence that they were baptized by dipping into it or under it c. In that place it is not said that there was much water together but in the Original it is many waters that is many Streams or Rivulets c. But let that be how it will there is no determinate manner exprest or to be certainly and evidently concluded as ought to have been to build a Consequence of such a nature upon as to infer an obligation to such a determinate manner Thus you hear what this Learned Author saith touching the Mode of Baptism and it is to be observed from Mr. B. K's own words to me in his Book that this Mode of theirs is but a bare Supposition at best because saith he Suppose it be found at the Last Day to be Dipping This looks little especially to lay such a stress upon it as to Assert all other Modes are no Baptism for if he had a clear Command for it why had he not said You shall find it to be Dipping at the Last Day and not Suppose it be found so But say I Suppose it be found at the Last Day to be Sprinkling pouring Water c. For there is a far greater Probability of that then of Dipping as I have sufficiently proved Wherefore this Great Pretended Infallible Mode of Dipping for Baptism is but a bare may be at the best I shall descant a little upon the unseemliness of Immersion of Women and Maids in Baptism 1. If it be a shame for a Woman to be uncovered in the Church and Worship of God because of the Angels how much more abominable in the fight of God Angels and Men is it for Women and Young Maids to be uncovered by being stript out of their ordinary Dress within a little of naked and to be handled about the Back and Breast and have their Heels tript up and flounced over Head and Ears for Baptism This is against the plain written Word in 1 Cor. 11. For Baptism is a part of Gospel Church-Worship 2. Doth not Nature it self teach us that it is a shameful luxurious way thus to baptize Women and Maids For though the Mans Hands do not slip it is a thousand to one but his Heart and Thoughts may for I know of no Saint upon Earth that is so perfectly holy as to be out of the reach of Satans Temptations for David though a Man after Gods own Heart was insnared at the remote sight of a beautiful Bathsheba a washing her self though he was not so near as to handle her 3. All sober modest Women do count it to be a very bold lascivious Action for any Man except their own Husband to attempt to lay his Hands upon her Breasts and looks upon it to be but one degree short of most notorious Impudence And the Caution concerning Womens behaviour and deportment in the Church and worship of God is brought in by the Apostle Argumentativily viz. Because of the Angels for they are strict observators of ALL persons in the Church and worship of God 4.
holy Children nay if there be but one of their Parents that is a Believer it intituleth them to this Great Honour and Priviledge of being holy Children 2. All the Children of Israel were called holiness unto the Lord Jer. 2.3 And they are called Gods Son in Exod. 4. And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh Thus saith the Lord Israel is my son even my first born And I say unto thee Let my son go c. 3. Here you see all Israel as one Man are called Gods Son and Holiness to the Lord also and yet it is no breach of Charity to conclude that all Israel were not saved though they were all a part one of another as Members of one Body are so neither will all the Children of Believers be saved though they are a part of their believing Parents as Members of a Body are and called holy Children So that this Argument is clearly pluckt up by the Roots Thus you see I have clearly proved that there is no Justification nor Sanctification nor Salvation for dying Infants without the Grace Habit or Spirit of Faith and also that there is but one way of sanctifying and saving all the Elect of God both Old and Young therefore all the Arguments which are raised against it are utterly destroyed III. In the third place I will prove that the Covenant which God made with Abraham and his Seed in Gen. 17. was but one Covenant and that it was the same God made with Adam after the Fall Gen. 3.15 and with Noah after the Flood Gen. 9. And it is the same now and all Believers and all their Seed both Spiritual and Carnal are in it in the full substantial Latitude of it notwithstanding all that can be said against it But saith Mr. K. in pag. 23. 'T is evident there was two Covenants contained in those Transactings of God with Abraham one peculiar respecting onely his natural Seed or Off-spring as such for the Covenant of Grace promised to him did not peculiarly relate to Abraham's Natural Seed that were Elected Persons but to all the Gentiles also who believed in Christ 1. There is no such declared distinction in the Covenant God made with Abraham in Gen. 17.2 7. For though the Elect Jews and Gentiles are principally intended yet all the Seed of Believers both Spiritual and Carnal are included and ought to partake of the External Benefits and Blessings thereof But it may be objected The Seed of believing Gentiles are not to be circumcised neither have they a Right to the Land of Canaan therefore they cannot be in Abraham's Covenant Pray what Part or Lot had the Seed of Adam and Noah in either of these and yet they were in the same Covenant which God confirmed and ratified with Abraham Nay Multitudes of the Seed of Abraham never saw the Land of Canaan for the Seed of Abraham were not possessed of that till 430. Years after the Covenant was made with Abraham Gal. 3.17 2. The Covenant which God made with Abraham was out one and that is an Everlasting Covenant but if it had been two it should have been Everlasting Covenants therefore I will lay down the Terms of it fairly and let us see if any such Deduction can be made Gen. 17.2 7 10 11. And I will make my covenant between me and thee and will multiply thee exceedingly And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant to be a God unto thee and to thy seed after thee This is my covenant which ye shall keep between me and you and thy seed after thee Every man-child among you shall be cirunmcised And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your fore-skin and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you Here you see it is but one Covenant and Circumcision is only the Token thereof but not the Covenant 2. Saith Mr. K. in pag. 25. Observe also that as these things peculiarly appertained to his Natural Seed as such so Circumcision is expresly called Gods Covenant Gen. 17. If this be so then Ishmael was in the Covenant and yet Mr. K. doth own in his Book that Ishmael was not in the Covenant nor his Seed but if Circumcision be the Covenant then he was in it because he was circumcised Gen. 17.20 21 23. So that this Text with his own Argument do utterly destroy that Notion of his That there were Two Covenants made with Abraham and that one of them was Circumcision because then Ishmael must have been in it Indeed it is expresly called the Token of the Covenant but it is no where expresly called the Covenant in all the Holy Scriptures as I know of and if it be he should have done well to have cited it that others might have seen it as well as himself Thus having premised these things I shall proceed 1. In the first place I will begin with that Text in Acts 2.39 For the promise is unto you and to your children and to all that are afar off even as many as the Lord our God shall call Here in the first part of this Verse the Apostle informs these Jews that had a hand in crucifying our Saviour of their Covenant Priviledge and their Children also for the Promise which the Apostle here speaks of that did belong to them and their Children is no other then that which God made with Abraham and his Seed therefore the Covenant was not repealed at the coming in of the Gospel nor dissolved like an old useless Act of Parliament neither were it two Covenants 2. If we mind the latter part of the Verse we shall find that whatever the Extent of that Promise was to the Jews and all their Children it is the same to all believing Gentiles and all their Children for it is not said To you Jews and your Children and to as many Adult Gentiles which are afar off c. No but the latter part of the Verse is an exact Counterpane to the former part thereof so that whatever the Promise was to the Jews and all their Children is the same to all believing Gentiles and their Children for the latter part of the Verse is to be measured by the former part thereof 2. This Promise is Christ who was first declared and promised unto Adam and his Seed in the new Covenant God made with him when the old one was broken Gen. 3.15 Which Promise or Covenant hath been a Standing-Dish for Believers and all their Seed to feed upon in all Ages and ever will be while the World stands 3. There ever hath and ever will be a gracious Entail in this Covenant unto all Believers and their Seed from Generation to Generation Psal 105.8 He hath remembred his covenant for ever the word which he commanded to a thousand generations It runs in a Line from Parents to Children until any of them sinned themselves out of it personally as Cain and Judas and Multitudes of
the Jews did for the Covenant of Grace consists of two parts an Inner Court and an Outer Court So it was under the Law Ezek. 8.16 And so it is under the Gospel Rev. 11.1 2. And it hath Internal and External Members or Worshippers in it Rom. 11.17 John 15.1 2. And there are Spiritual and Temporal Blessings and Priviledges belong unto it Rom. 3.1 2. Mat. 6.33 2. In the second place let us take a View of the Lineal Descent of the Covenant of Grace viz. After our first Parents fell into a State of Sin and Misery by which the first Covenant was broken namely that of Works then God made a Second or New Covenant with Adam and his Seed the Covenant of Grace in Gen. 3.15 But Cain sinned himself out of it and God Excommunicated him with a Curse Gen. 4.10 11 13 14. And God gave Adam Seth in the room of Abel whom Cain slew ver 25 26. 2. The Covenant of Grace continued from Adam to Noah a Preacher of Righteousness 2 Pet. 2.5 that is he was a Gospel Preacher for he preached the Righteousness of Christ for Justification and Salvation and God confirmed and ratified the Covenant with Noah and his Seed before the Flood Gen. 6.18 But with thee will I establish my covenant and thou shalt come into the ark thou and thy sons and thy wife and thy sons wives with thee Now was not this distinguishing peculiar Love and Grace that God should spare and preserve Noah and all his House when all the rest of the World were drowned and utterly destroyed Therefore they were in the Covenant of Grace 2. God renewed his Covenant with Noah and all his Seed after the Flood Gen. 9.9 And I behold I establish my covenant with you and with your seed after you And we have the Token of the Covenant in the 12 and 13 Verses And God said This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you for perpetual generations I do set my bow in the cloud and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth 3. This Covenant was principally made with Noah and his Seed and consisted of special and common Mercies both to Man and Beast 2. The Token of this Covenant is extended to all good and bad Saints and Sinners but chiefly and principally it is for God himself to remember his Covenant Verse 16. And the bow shall be in the cloud and I will look upon it that I may remember the everlasting covenant c. The Rain-bow is a Token that God will never destroy the World by Water again as in ver 11 12 13. and that Token remains as a Witness unto this Day In which Token we may see the Goodness and also Severity of God Goodness to Noah and his Family which is extended unto us for had Noah and his Family been drowned also we had never been and Severity against sin in that he destroyed all the ungodly World From hence I shall make some Observations 1. If the Token of that Covenant had disappeared at the coming in of the Gospel in its Splendor and full Latitude it might have been concluded that the Covenant God made with Noah and Abraham had been Repealed and Dissolved and so the Infant Seed of Believers cast out and in no Covenant at all for that was the Token of the Covenant in the largest Extent both with a respect to God and Man For if we do but observe the Terms and Tenure of the Covenant God made with Noah before the Flood and after the Flood it is much the same with a respect to Noah and his Family and so likewise with Abraham's Covenant to him and his Seed wherefore let us compare them together and also the Tokens Gen. 6.18 But with thee will I establish my covenant and thou shalt come into the ark c. Gen. 9.9 And I behold I establish my covenant with you and with your seed after you 2. Abraham's Covenant runs thus Gen. 17.7 And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee c. 2. For the Tokens of the Covenant Gen. 9.12 And God said This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you for perpetual generations Gen. 17. And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations c. And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your fore-skin and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you Mark that of Noah's Covenant is called The Token but this of Abraham's Covenant is called A Token The first might be called The Token because it was to have no Successor and that of Abraham's might be called A Token because it was to have a Successor namely Baptism for the Token of Noah's Covenant is to perpetual Generations but so is not Circumcision it self though it is said in Gen. 17. And my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant So that when Circumcision was abolished the Covenant remained in the flesh therefore Baptism succeeded Circumcision for no Ordinances but them two have to do with the Flesh in the Covenant in Initiation as Circumcision had and Baptism hath Thus you see the Analogy there was between the Covenant and the Tokens thereof God made with Noah and Abraham 3. Let us bring this Covenant God made with Noah and Abraham down into Gospel-Times 1. Let us observe what that Gospel-Prophet saith in Isa 54.8 In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee saith the Lord thy redeemer Ver. 9. For this is as the waters of Noah unto me for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee nor rebuke thee Ver. 10. For the mountains shall depart and the hills be removed but my kindness shall not depart from thee neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee Ver. 13. And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord and great shall be the peace of thy children This is a Prediction of the conversion of the Jews in Gospel-Times Heb. 8.10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days saith the Lord that is after the days of their Captivity I will put my laws into their mind and write them in their hearts and I will be to them a God and they shall be to me a people Compare to Jer. 31.8 9 27 to 34. and Ezek. 36.22 to 27. 2. Noah's Covenant or the Dispensations of God towards Noah is set forth in the Gospel in a two-fold manner 1. By way of Figurative Allusion 2. By way of clear Expression 1. By Figurative Allusion Rev. 4.2
3. And immediately I was in the spirit and behold a throne was set in heaven and one sat on the throne And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone and there was a rainbow round about the throne in sight like unto an emerald This was Christ whom God gave to be a Light unto the Gentiles and a Covenant of the People Isa 49.8 And the Rain-bow round about the Throne is an Allusion unto the Token of Noah's Covenant which is a Token of Mercy and Grace and the various providential Dispensations of God towards his Covenant-People and the various Gifts and Graces of the Spirit for the full accomplishment of all the Promises of the Covenant both to Jew and Gentile especially about the Latter-day Glory in calling and converting the Jews with the Fulness of the Gentiles when God will set Christ his King upon his Holy Hill in Zion and make all his Enemies his Foot-stool Psal 2.6 Psal 110.1 Which is Typified in that aforesaid Rev. 4.2 3. 2. We have Noah's Covenant recited in the Gospel by way of clear Expression in 1 Pet. 3. when once the long-suffering of God waited in the days of Noah while the ark was a preparing wherein few that is eight souls were saved by water The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us c. Here are Six things to be observed from these Texts aforesaid 1. Here is Noah's Covenant and the Token thereof brought down and joined to the Gospel-Dispensation and the Ordinance of Baptism which is the Initiating Seal of the Covenant in the room of Circumcision is also joined to it 2. As the Waters that drowned the Old World were Waters of Mercy to Noah and his Family because they bore up the Ark and saved them so Christ who is a Lyon of Judgment to the Ungodly is a Lamb of Mercy to his People and is the Ark of God wherein all the Elect of God are which is born up by the Power of God by the Waters of Regeneration unto Salvation of which Water Baptism is a Figure Titus 3.4 5. 3. As the Waters that were aspersed upon the Ark was a Token of Mercy and Grace to Noah and his Seed so is Water-baptism to Believers and all their Seed which is the Figure thereof Now how can this be a like Figure to the Dispensation of God towards Noah and all his Seed if our Children are excluded from Baptism the Figure thereof 4. This also points out unto us the subjects of Baptism as well as the Mode thereof 1. The Subjects of Baptism For as Noah and all his Children were in the Ark so all Believers and their Seed are in Covenant and ought to have the Figure of Noah's Preservation namely Baptism administred unto them in their Infancy For though all Noah's Seed were not eternally saved yet they were all in Covenant until Ham sinned himself out of it neither do I believe that all are saved or shall be saved that are baptized for Judas and Simon Magus and many others were baptized 2. It gives good Authority for sprinkling or pouring Water in Baptism for dipping or plunging is more like a punishment of Criminals than the solemnizing of Gods Holy Ordinance of Baptism It is a nearer Representation or Figure of Gods Wrath upon the Old World than of Grace and Mercy in the Covenant God made with Abraham and his Seed the blessing of which is devolved upon us Gentiles and our Children Gen. 12.3 Acts 3. Ye are the children of the prophets and of the covenant which God made with our fathers saying unto Abraham And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed Vnto you first God having raised up his Son Jesus sent him to bless you in turning away every one of you from his iniquities 5. As the Old ungodly World were all immersed and dipped in Wrath and Judgment so proud Pharaoh and all his Host were plunged and destroyed when he pursued Israel into the Red Sea but Israel passed through safely and were but sprinkled and so were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea 1 Cor. 10.1 2 3 4. 6. And Lastly By all these things God hath plainly demonstrated unto us that his Covenant Love and Grace is the same now as it was ever both to Believers and their Seed it is unchangable even like God himself that made it 3. Mr. K. saith in p. 25. The Covenant of Works was primarily made with Adam yet another Addition or Ministration of it was given on Mount Sinai and to that Covenant I did there prove Circumcision did appertain But how Mr. K. can make these things hang together I know not for Circumcision was Instituted 430 Years before the Ceremonial Law was given upon Mount Sinai and the Moral Law was from Adam's Time for Cain was Excommunicated for breaking the Moral Law But if the Moral Law was abrogated when the Ceremonial Law was then hath Mr. K. gained a Point for he saith the Substance of his other Arguments are in this and to prove it to be a Additional Ministration to the Covenant of Works saith he The Man that doth those things shall live in them Which latter is true in it self for there is no Salvation to be had without Moral Righteousness though not for it and so he lives in it in sincere Obedience though not in perfect Obedience for the latter is in Christs Obedience and tho' a Man in doing these things lives in them yet he is not justified by his own Obedience to the Moral Law but he is justified by Christs personal perfect Obedience both active and passive to the Law and Justice of God but by the Deeds of the Law no Flesh can be Justified in the sight of God Pray mind what the Apostle saith in Gal. 3.17 21. And this I say that the covenant that was confirmed before of God in Christ the law which was four hundred and thirty years after cannot disanul that it should make the promise of none effect 2. Here is to be observed that the Everlasting Covenant God confirmed with Abraham of which Circumcision was a Token is called the Promise and the Sinai Covenant is called the Law but saith the Apostle in ver 21. Is the law then against the promises of God God forbid for if there had been a law given which could have given life verily righteousness should have been by the law Ver. 11. But that no man is justisted the law in the sight of God it is evident for The just shall live by faith 3. The Apostle doth clearly prove that the Sinai Covenant of Obedience to the Moral Law is still in force in Rom. 7.7 12. What shall we say then Is the law sin God forbid Nay I had not known sin but by the law for I had not known lust except the law had said Thou shalt not covet Wherefore the law is holy and the commandment holy and just and
his Book of Election But seeing they are all called holy Children without exception our Duty is to hope well of them all and dedicate them all unto God in the Ordinance of Baptism and believe and pray for them all as if they were all Elected and we did know it as long as we do not know any thing to the contrary But God hath put all the Infant-Seed of Believers in their Infancy now under the Gospel into the Ballance alike with a respect to their Parents knowledge as if they were Elected in the 1 Cor. 7.14 Thus I have proved splendently That the Infant-Seed of Believers are in Covenant and are the proper Subjects of Baptism not excluding Adult Proselytes By which I have fully Answered all the Arguments that ever were raised against it and also Mr. B. K's Book in particular as much as if I had confuted them Argument by Argument V. And Lastly Mr. B. K. hath laboured hard to prove That the Church State under the Law was only a Carnal Legal Church State and that it was dissolved at the Coming of Christ in the Flesh And one of his Topping Arguments to prove it to be so is That they were a Natural Church and the Churches under the Gospel are congregational Therefore my business is to prove the contrary and I shall pursue this Method viz. 1. I shall prove that the Church is of the same Form and Mettle substantially now as it was under the Law 2. That there are the same sort of Members both for Age and Sects 3. And Lastly The Church lives and feeds upon the same spiritual Food now as the Church did under the Law 1. That the Church is of the same Form and Mettle I shall prove first out the Old Testament Zech. 4. And the angel that talked with me came again and waked me as a man that is wakened out of his sleep And said unto me What seest thou And I said I have looked and behold a candlestick all of gold c. Secondly the New Testament Rev. 1.20 The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand and the seven golden candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches Candlesticks are to set up a Light in and they are of the same Mettle viz. Golden Candlesticks What though there was but one under the Law and that was National and now several and they congregational yet the Form Use and Mettle is the same Suppose a Man hath a Tree in his Orchard that hath but one Branch upon it and that is decaying and he cuts that off and graffs several Branches upon the same Stock that doth not destroy the Root or Stock of the Tree Rom. 11.16 For if the first-frruit be holy the lump is also holy and if the root be holy so are the branches The Church-State under the Law was the same as it was in Abraham's Time which was 430 Years before the Law of Moses and it is the same as it was in Adam's Time Gen. 3.15 On this Promise the Foundation or Church-State was laid and as it was in the Beginning so it is now and ever will be to the Worlds End But saith Mr. K. in pag. 9. I also ask you whether the Jewish Church that was sounded upon the Old Covenant is not gone and dissolved If so what doth your arguing prove I Answer The Jewish Church-State was founded on the Covenant of Grace call it what Covenant you please for Abraham had the Gospel preached unto him when God established the Covenant with him Gal. 3.8 And so had Adam Gen. 3.15 And Noah was a Gospel Preacher 2 Pet. 2.5 And the Church-State is the same now as it was before the Dispensation of the Gospel 1. By the Words of our Saviour himself Mat. 21. Therefore I say unto you The kingdom of God shall be taken from you and given to a nation bringing forth the fruit thereof Now if this Kingdom of God was not the Church-State in which all the Jews then were pray tell us what Kingdom of God this was 1. It appears that this Kingdom of God was the Church Militant and not the Church Triumphant 2. That the Church State was mutable and yet indissolvable God might remove it from one Nation to another as he did from the unbelieving Jews unto the believing Gentiles Mat. 21.43 Rom. 11.17 But the State of the Church is the same and is unalterable 3. There were the seven Churches of Asia dissolved but that did not destroy the Church State no more than the Excommunicating Members out of a particular Church doth 2. The Apostle makes it appear plainly that the Church State is the same now as ever it was before the Incarnation of Christ in Eph. 2. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and forreigners but fellow-citizens with the saints and of the houshold of God And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord In whom you also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit Now pray Mr. K. what do you think Was the State of the Jews Church a carnal legal Church State Whereas you hear it was a Habitation for God through the Spirit and Jesus Christ the chief corner Stone Did God dwell in a carnal Church Or was Christ ever the Foundation of a carnal Church Which must necessarily follow as the consequence of this carnal Position 3. In pag. 43. saith Mr. K. I ask whether or no Christ did not remove by the Gospel Dispensation all the Wheat out of the old Barn nay and pull down that Barn c. Christ did not pull down that Barn but he purged the Floor of it neither did he remove the Wheat out of it but he did winnow and fan away all the chaffy Hypocrites the unbelieving Jews and gathered his Elect Gentile-wheat into his Garner Kingdom or Church and John the Baptist's Testimony is sufficient to prove this let any Man deny this if they dare Mat. 3. I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance but he that cometh after me is mightier then I whose shoes I am not worthy to bear he shall baptize you with the holy Ghost and with fire Whose san is in his hand and he will throughly purge his floor and gather his wheat into the garner but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire Here are Two Things to be observed from this Text The Firist is A threatning the Expulsion of the unbelieving Jews and the Second A Prediction of the calling and conversion of the Elect Gentiles which was the taking the Kingdom of God from the Jews and giving it to the Gentiles 2. The Church is the same now in a sense as it was under the Law with a respect to the Members of it for as the Jews and their children were the Members of it under the Law so Believers