Selected quad for the lemma: nation_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
nation_n	call_v	church_n	national_a	2,044	5	11.4074	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A34433	The font uncover'd for infant-baptisme, or, An answer to the challenges of the Anabaptists of Stafford, never yet reply'd unto, though long since promised wherein the baptisme of all church-members infants is by plain Scripture-proof maintained to be the will of Jesus Christ, and many points about churches and their constitutions are occasionally handled / by William Cook, late minister of the Gospel at Ashby-Delazouch.	Cook, William, Minister of the gospel at Ashby-Delazouch.	1651 (1651)	Wing C6042; ESTC R1614	62,529	56

interest in Christ or the Covenant of grace constitutes a Christian for the joint and orderly profession of faith and interest in that Covenant or Gods owning a people to be his in Covenant is that which constitutes them a Church 2. Baptism is not essential to the constituting of a Church being but adventitious or additional as a sign or pledge of peoples admission into the Church The penitent thief on the Cross was a true Beleever though unbaptized and a multitude of such penitent ones jointly professing Christ should be a true Church Act. 7.38 though they wanted opportunity to be Baptized as that Penitent did The Israelites in the wilderness were a true Church Iosh 5.5 6. though they wanted Circumcision for fourty years 3. This Church or these Churches of England received its or their constitution in or anon after the Primitive times when by the Ministry of the word some were converted from heathenism to Christianity at which time we grant persons of years were Baptized upon their profession of faith or repentance Gen. 12.4 Gen. 15.6 Gen. ●7 1● 3 4 c. 7. and for they and their children received into Covenant As Abraham at the first setting up of a Church with a seal of admittance thereinto in his family was Circumcised when he had professed or declared his repentance faith and obedience and then his children and posterity were Circumcised whiles Infants by vertue of the Covenant into which they were taken with their fathers Now that being the first constitution of a Church in this Land which never yet was overthrown though many waies depraved through Antichrists usurpations of whom it was foretold that he should sit in the Temple of God for a time 2 Thes ● 4 but being after through the rich mercy of God repaired it hath continued still the same Church having been never rased to the foundation and so we need not a new constitution and therefore we deny that our Church was constituted by Infant-baptism any more then the Church of Israel was constituted by Infant-circumcision 2. Whereas you say that National-Churches are constituted by Infant-baptism or sprinkling Ans Ans 1. I know none that you oppose to plead for the constitution of National-Churches by Infant-baptism 2. Though we boast not of National-Churches nor is there any necessity that the mention of National-Churches should come into this dispute yet are we not ashamed of the name of a National-Church But seeing you urge it upon us as odious we desire you with us to consider these things 1. Gen. 22.18 Did not God promise to Abraham that all the Nations of the earth should be blessed in his seed Gen. 12.2 viz. Jesus Christ And how can Nations be blessed but by being made Churches as that one Nation which descended from Abraham was blessed by being a Church and people of God Psal 2.8 Hath not God promised to give to Christ the Nations for his inheritance and utmost parts of the earth for his possession Psa 22.27 28. and that all the ends of the earth and kindreds of the Nations shall turn to the Lord and worship before him Isa 49.23 That Kings shall be nursing fathers Queens nursing mothers to the Church And that Christ Jesus whose visage and form was marred with his bloud trickling down the same Isa 52.14 15. when crowned with thorns nailed to the Crosse and pierced into the heart shall sprinkle many Nations Mat. 28.19 Did not Christ bid his Apostles go into all Nations make Disciples and Baptize Rev. 11.15 Was it not foretold that the Kingdoms of the world should become the Kingdoms of God and his Christ and that the saved Nations should walk in the light of the New-Jerusalem Rev. 21.24 26. and that the Kings of the earth should bring their light to it and should bring the glory and honour of the Nations to it Why then should the name of National-Church be so odious 2. And surely if 1. A company of Beleevers in one house have been justly called a Church domestical Rom. 16.15 1 Cor. 16.19 Col. 4.15 Phil. 2.2 And if the number of Beleevers in a smal Village or Town may be called a Church Congregational Rom. 16.1 3. And the multitude of Beleevers in one City imbracing the truth in so great number that no one room or place could contain them all at once for the ordinary orderly edifying administration of Gods Ordinances may be called the Church of a City or Classicall 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as the Church of Jerusalem which increased into many thousand yea many ten thousand and yet was but one Church Act. 2.44.47 Act. 5.14 15. 6.1 Act. 21.20 4. And multitudes of Beleevers scattered in many and several countries are still the flock and Church of God and an holy Nation 1 Pet. 2.1 with chap. 2.11 and chap. 5.2 1 Cor. 15.9 5. And if the whole company of the faithfull on earth consisting for the most part of many particular visible Churches may be called the Church Oecumenical Mat. 16.18 1 Cor. 12.28 6. Lastly If all the Beleevers in heaven and earth comprehending the militant and triumphant Church may yet in a more comprehensive sense be called the Church Catholick Heb. 12.23 I think no good reason can be given why men should make it so shy without scorn or reproach to call the faithfull in a whole Nation especially when the whole Nation doth generally profess the truth a national-National-Church 3. The National-Church was not constituted by Infant-baptisme but by the preaching of the Gospel God was pleased to call some in the Primitive times in this land and they became a Church Mat. 13 3● 3● 33. which was the first constitution of this Church Afterward the leaven of the Gospel seasoning the whole lump and that little grain of mustard seed growing up into a great tree and the Primitive Beleevers of this Land increasing into a Nation Ezek. 16.13 as Abrahams family did the Church did grow up into a Nation as was said before National Oecumenical Domestical or Congregational being accidental not essential to a Churches constitution or continuance Thirdly Whereas you say The National Churches of Spain England France and Rome were constituted by sprinkling of Infants I answer 1. This is a poisonous insinuation whereby the Church of England is put by you into the same condition with the Churches of Rome Spain France c. wherein you do not only wrong Gods holy people which have striven and continue striving for Reformation against Antichrist in matching them with the popish rabble and slander those Ministers and Ordinances of Christ amongst us by whose means if you have any knowledge of Christ and his truth you have received the same by equalling them with popish Ministers and superstitions but also blaspheme God himself at whose call and through whose grace we have come out of Babylon have attained some and breath after more Reformation How

should be circumcised at eight daies old did put a yoke on the neck of the disciples so that they are called disciples on whom they urged Circumcision but they urged Circumcision not only on grown Christians but also on their children Therefore their children are disciples 4. In Act. 21.4 5. verses Those of Tyre which are called disciples ver 4. whereof some were endued with the spirit of Prophecie indeed but all are not Prophets and warned Paul of the danger of going to Jerusalem 1 Cor. 12.29 seem to be comprehended under these three heads 1. Men or the husbands and fathers 2. Women 3. Their children who accompanied the Apostle to the sea-shore and most likely the Infants in their mothers arms are here intended who with their parents were taken along when they went to take their last farwell of the Apostle as well to expresse that dear affection and honour that they did owe to him as to obtain not only for themselves but also for their little ones the benefit of the last prayer wherein they were to join in presence with that faithfull Embassadour of Christ The presence of children and sucklings tending much to move the bowels of parents to crave and the Apostle to make affectionate prayers for those Saints and their children whom he should never see more Deut. 19.10 11 12. As Moses before his last farwell to the Israelites would have them stand before God with their little ones and enter into Covenant with him So these at their farwell-taking with the Apostle did present themselves before God with their little ones And as Ezra in that solemn humiliation sought of God a good way not only for the aged but also for the little ones So it seems these pious parents would have Paul to seek unto God for themselves and their little ones Ezr. 8.21 they no lesse belonging to God and being disciples now then in the time of Moses his law and therefore they enjoy the priviledge of disciples or persons in Covenant viz. communion with the Apostle and the other Saints in solemn prayer which undiscipled persons and aliens from the Covenant Ob. were never admitted to Ob. But the fathers are evidently distinguished by the names of disciples from their children therefore the children were not disciples Ans seeing the name of disciples is appropriated to the men only Ans If this reason were good the wives should be no disciples or beleevers for they are no lesse distinguished from the men to whom the name of disciples is appropriated then the children but no man will deny the wives to be disciples or beleevers for this distinction therefore neither the children 2. But the children and wives did equally partake in the priviledge of disciples viz. communion in the prayer with the Apostles and Saints as well as the men Therefore they were disciples as well as the men 5. They that are so to be received in Christs Name that Christ himself is received in them belong to Christ and are Christs disciples For to shew kindnesse or do service to any in Christs Name and because they belong to Christ and because they are disciples or in the name of disciples or because they are such as beleeve in Christ are all one in Scripture phrase as may appear by comparing these Scriptures Mat. 10.42 Mar. 9.41 42. But the little children of Beleevers or Church-members are so to be received in Christs Name that Christ himself is received in or with them Mat. 18.5 Mat. 18 5. Therefore they are Christs Disciples and belong to him So much concerning the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and hence I argue thus 1. Disciples according to Christs Commission laid down in Scripture are to be baptized But children of the faithfull even whilst Infants are disciples Therefore to be baptized 2. Whereas it is said Make disciples all Nations baptizing them hence I gather Children are not to be excluded 1. Because children are a very considerable and essential part of a Nation 2. As the Jewish Nation had been a Nation of disciples and an holy people so now in the time of the Gospel the Christian Nations were to become Gods people But the Jews were so a Nation of disciples and an holy people as that their children were taken with them into the Covenant 1 Pet. 8.9 and admitted to the seal of entrance so should these for Christians are called an holy Nation now as the Jews heretofore Hence I argue Discipled Nations or Nations made disciples and all their members and considerable integral parts no where excepted are to be baptized For the whole comprehends all the parts and the command that appoints all Nations to be baptized must needs take in the several parts of those Nations which are no where excepted But children of beleeving Nations are members and considerable integral parts of discipled Nations as being more in number for the most part then grown persons the hope of posterity in whom the parents live and by whom States Churches and families are continued being also more free from sin as uncapable of actual rebellion and provocation against God Num. 14.30 31. whom he is pleased sometimes to spare when he punisheth rebellious and Covenant-breaking parents and for whose sake sometimes he spareth flagitious parents neither are children in this Scripture or elswhere excluded out of Christs Commission Ion. 4.11 Therefore they are to be baptized 3. From the order of Christs Commission it may be gathered That discipling and baptizing goeth before teaching Mat. 28.19 20. Thus we reade Going therefore make disciples all Nations Baptizing them into the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy Ghost teaching them to keep all things whatsoever I have commanded you Indeed the Gospel was to be offered to Jews and Infidels and they exhorted to accept Christ and the Covenant of grace before they were baptized but Baptism was not to be deferred nor they rejected as no disciples untill they should have learned the whole Doctrine of Christianity and all the commands of Christ But whosoever on the preaching of the Gospel and offer of Christ should not subbornly refuse him but Idolatry being renounced were dedicated to the worship of God and Christ whether such as had power to dispose of themselves by themselves professedly consenting or such as were at the dispose and under the power of others and by their consent and authority given up to Christ they were to be admitted into Christs school acknowledged his disciples and baptized into his Name and afterward to be instructed in his doctrine and commands Hence I gather thus If Infants of Beleevers are not to be baptized it is because they are not capable of being taught Ministerially in the doctrines and commands of Christ for the present All the arguments of the Anabaptists may be referred to this head They say they cannot repent beleeve enter into Covenant c. Why because say they they are uncapable of