violence is offered to this Text to destroy that federal holiness that shines forth in it The Anabaptists one would think are put greatly to their shifts in shifting off the force of this Text from them when all that they will allow Believers from this Text is that if one Parent be but a Believer then they will free their Children from the foul charge and scandalous imputation of being Bastards Thus they comment upon the words else were your Children Bastards but now they be Legitimate lawfully begotten what must be the consequence of this but that the Children of those Parents neither of which is a Believer must tho' they be never so lawfully Married and live never so chastly together be Bastards what a multitude of the off-spring of this our Nation must after this interpretation be illegitimate and a spurious bastardly Brood This hath been so often confuted that I will say no more to it the very naming of it may be a sufficient confutation of it 2. A peculiar people a people set a part from others the Covenant is for an enclosure and so for a separation of some from the rest of the World to be distinct and peculiar from others Deut. 14.2 For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God and the Lord hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself above all the nations that are upon the earth The Lord hath a visible people that are to him a peculiar people they are his Church those that are in a peculiar Covenant-appropriation unto Him We have this Title and that before of Holy ascribed to those that are under the Administration of the Covenant in new Testament times 1 Pet. 2.9 But ye are a chosen generation a royal Priesthood an holy Nation a peculiar people 3 They be called Gods Houshold or Family the worship of God and the blessing of the Covenant first took place in Families and those were the Families of the Lord since the more open publick and diffusive dispencing of the Covenant those that are the Lords Covenant ones retain still the Title of a Family and Houshold and so this is brought down unto the time of the Gospel Gal. 6.10 As we have therefore opportunity let us do good unto all men especially unto them who are of the houshold of faith Viz. Gods Covenant-houshold Eph. 2.19 Now therefore we are no more strangers and foreiners but fellow Citizens and of the houshold of God those Gentiles that were not in Covenant and so not of the Houshold of God Now saith the Apostle you are made partakers of the Covenant which was the peculiar Blessing of the Jews and ye are become now of the Houshold of Faith and of God or of the Houshold of Faith and so of God you are grafted into the Olive and this is some of the sweet and precious fat and juice of it 4. Such be called Gods Vineyard or the garden of the Lords surely it is a Singular Priviledge to be planted in the Lords Vineyard and not to have a standing without in the Wilderness of the World which the Lord hath little regard for or care of Isa 5.1 7. Now I will sing to my well beloved a song of my beloved touching his Vineyard My well beloved hath a Vineyard in a very fruitful hill For the Vineyard of the Lord of Hosts is the house of Israel and the men of Judah his pleasant plant The Church of God in Covenant with Him is by the Lord Jesus the Husband and Bridegroom of it delightfully called a garden it being the sweetest the most pleasant and fertilest spot in all the World Cant. 4.12 16. A garden enclosed is my Sister my Spouse Awake Oh north-wind and come thou south and blow upon my garden that the spices thereof may flow out Cant. 5.1 I am come into my garden my Sister my Spouse Cant. 6.2 My beloved is gone down into his garden to the beds of spices to feed in the gardens and to gather Lilies Thus was the Church of the Jews that was the Lords Covenant-inclosure stiled Zach. 2.5 Thereâ—ore particular Churches that make up the Church Catholick are called golden Candlesticks Rev. 1.20 The mystery of the seven Stars which thou sawest in my right hand and the seven golden Candlesticks are the seven Churches The Lord Jesus walks in the midst of them they are the place of his feet and his delightful walks Rev. 2.1 He walketh in the midst of the seven golden Candlesticks to shew his delight that he hath in them the peculiar watch of his Providence about them and his plentiful and his inexhaustible supplying of them Oh how good is it to dwell where Christ hath his continual residence and his perpetual walks 't is a comfortable thing to have the Lord of infinite grace to walk constantly to and fro by ones door how soon may he open the door and come in and bring his Blessed retinue of peace mercy grace and love along with him 6. The Church of Christ involv'd in this Covenant is called Heaven this is Heaven upon Earth where the Throne of the blessed God is fixt when the Lord takes Believers and their Children into Covenant with himself he takes them into Heaven those that be out of Covenant do inhabit such darkness as to represent those that are even in Hell I but the Church of God that hath the light of the Word and grace of God shining upon it is Gods heaven below Rev. 12.1 And there appeared a great wonder in heaven a woman cloathed with the Sun This wonder was seen in the Church of God below I but here called Heaven for her trampling upon the World having the righteousness of Christ begirt about her and living in the Starry Region of Evangelical and Divine light Thus I have in some Particulars endeavoured to discover something of the Priviledges of those that be in Covenant with the Lord from this head I come to another Priviledge which is this that many of them that are thus in Covenant shall be saved a multitude of them are Elected for here chiefly lyes the secret Mine of Election where many shall be called and Effectually brought home to God the great Bulk and Mass of the Elect are taken and dug out of the Loins of Believers that are brought under Covenant many of those that be in Covenant shall be sure be to saved therefore surely 't is a great priviledge to have a standing among those that shall be saved how is it the duty of those that do enjoy this mercy to bless the Lord for it and to improve it for their own Childrens advantage 'T is good to have a footing and dwelling in that Body out of which the Lord doth call many to saving grace and glory to be in the best capacity and the most hopeful disposition as to Externals for life and Salvation The Soveraign Grace of God calls whom he pleaseth but most frequently the lot of Salvation falls upon the Children
first-fruit be holy the lump is also holy and if the root be holy so are the branches The Root is Abraham and the Fathers and they may be said to be the First-fruits because they were first consecrated to God and the Branches are denominated from the Root Exod. 19.6 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests and an holy nation Here the whole Nation was called holy How could it be called so Not because all the Individuals of the Nation were personally holy partaking of a saving Work of Holiness upon their Hearts There were but a few such But because as a Nation the Adult and Children were in covenant with the Lord for the Children were no small part of the Nation We have this very Phrase conferred upon the Christian Church in the Times of the Gospel 1 Pet. 2.9 But ye are a chosen generation a royal priesthood a holy nation a peculiar people Believing Gentiles with their Seed were ingrafted into the same Place from whence the Jews were broken off and are become a holy nation unto God 7. Demonst Those unto whom the Promises of the Covenant are made and do appertain they are in Covenant with the Lord Some time the Covenant is exprest by the Promise as in our Text and the Covenant of Promise the gracious promises of the word are the branches of the Covenant of grace Some do stile the Covenant a Collection or bundle of Promises which God hath bound up and conferred through Christ upon his People unto which there are annext the duties of the Covenant unto the performance Of which there is provision made in the same Covenant of grace and divine assistance But the promises of the Covenant are made to the Children of those that are themselves in Covenant as well as to the parents it seems to be very cruel and irrational to turn those out of the Covenant unto whom are assured the gracious promises of it not only Temporal and external but Spiritual and eternal blessings are promised unto the Children of Believers Those that are the opposers of this truth must first Obliterate all the Promises that are comprehended in the Covenant as the inheritance of the Seed of the Parents that themselves are in Covenant with the Lord. As to any common ordinary rule appointed to us belonging to our duties and hopes concerning our off-spring we have nothing as I know to build upon but Covenant promises What an excellent one is our Text unto pious Parents as to their Children and in this it is founded for the Promise is to you and your Children To illustrate and amplifie this I shall in several particulars shew you some of the Ranks of Covenant-Promises that are extended unto such little Ones that are the undoubted Proprietors of them 1. That great and Capital promise of the Lords being their God this comprehends all the rest and is instar omnium Is not this Promise made to the Seed of Believers wrote in Capital Letters in many places in the word of God This is Gods great record in the Covenant of grace and the great foundation the Church of God is built upon viz. this of Gods promising to be the God of his people and of their Seed in every age and generation of time yea to the end of the World usque ad consummationem omnium unto the compleating and fulfilling of all things Thus the blessed constitution and promulgation of the Covenant hath alwayes run this is wrote with a Noverint universi That which every one under the sound of the Gospel should know and understand yea even those that are but raw and rudely instructed in the very Principles and Rudiments of Religion This gracious promise is the golden Frontis-piece of this Covenant The heart of God was so full of grace and love to the Seed of the faithful that when he called Abraham to establish his Covenant the fountain of his grace did immediately emit this sacred sweet and most refreshing Stream Viz. That I will be thy God and the God of thy Seed and that in all Successions and periods of time unto the utmost bound and period of all read the Scriptures following Gen. 17.7 Jer. 24.7 and 31.33 and 32.38 Ezek. 11.20 and 34.24 31. Chap. 36.28 Chap. 37.27 Mat. 22.27 2 Cor. 6.17 18. These rare promises must be expung'd out of the Book of God before I can unless left by God to fall into error put this Article out of my Creed that the Children of Believers naturally Springing from their Loins are in the Covenant with them I have spoke much already to prove that the Covenant in Gen. 17.7 made unto Abraham did referre to the Covenant of Grace Some may be making of some Query about that because they see what must be the Consequence of granting of it Wherefore I would desire them to return back unto what hath been said upon that Point Only I will add one or two things here 1. In this form run the promises which are acknowledged by all that know any thing of the Gospel-Covenant or Covenant of grace let all the places of Scripture immediately here before mentioned be examined as to the Phrase of them I will be a God to you or your God and you my people which includes Believers and their Seed Now in as much as this in the 17. of Gen. runs in the same Phrase of the Covenant of grace that we see in other places that are allowed to be such we may conclude that such is this also Doctor Ames saith thus against Bellar. Omnia illa quae spectant ad novum foedus eadem phrasi summatim explicantur So that when we are challenged to prove the Covenant with Abraham to be a Covenant of grace and Circumcision to be a Seal of the Covenant of grace Note that in this Point we have to do with our old Adversaries the Papists tho' marching forth under the banner of a People of another Denomination for their Doctrine as to the Covenant made with Abraham in the place mentioned is thus that it was a Covenant of outward blessings this is indeed the Doctrine of the worst of them thus saith Bellar. Legimus Deum promisisse Abrahamo quando illi injunxit Circumcisionem terrena tantùm ad literam i. e. propagationem posteritatis terram palestinae Again Illis verbis ero Deus tuus significat totum promissum peculiaris protectionis Thus we may see that our great disputant doth sweetly lick up the Doctrine of this great Doctor of the Church of Rome tho' to give him his due I believe he is not overmuch versed in him to which Doctor Ames answers Legimus benedictionem illam Abrahamo promissionem fuisse plane eandem cum illâ quâ jam fideles ex gentibus justificabantur Gal. 3. Now when the Holy Ghost testifies in Scripture every where that the Gospel-Covenant runs in that form why should we fall in with the Papists and take their word for it that that is
of Covenant Ones they are the most hopeful to partake of that great blessing of the Covenant of effectual calling and of having the Law of God to be ingraven upon their hearts Isa 54.13 And all thy Children shall be taught of the Lord. Those that are not in Covenant with the Lord as they do not regard so neither are they under such a hopeful expectation of the accomplishment of such a promise as those are that are themselves the Children of the Promise who have good right to approach unto the gracious Throne and plead such a promise with him that sits there with the Rain-bow of the Covenant about his head 10. This is the great ground that is administred unto pious Parents greatly concerned about the external good of the Souls of their little Ones to build their hopes upon godly Parents would cast out the Anchor of hope upon a firm ground such that may hold and this is the great if not the only one those the Lord is pleased to bereave them of and demand out of their tender bosoms this may quiet their hearts about their death and their eternal State So that upon this account a Parent may say more then what one said of a dead Child Ego in illo puero nihil habeo praeter dilectum he may compose and sedate his Spirit with David who while his Child was sick did fast and weep refusing to eat I but when the pleasure of the Lord was signified by his death he could arise wash and eat and go to the house of the Lord and calmly pour out his sincere devotions unto the most high saying unto them that were struck into stupendous admiration of his great change I shall go to him but he shall not return to me Surely David had a further prospect than the grave that prevailed upon him to this Sedate composure and Serenity of mind he did intimate that his heart was at rest as to his felicity above that his Soul that he was most concerned about had made its escape from the sick and painful Body into Abrahams bosom the great Covenant Father he having this heart-supporting promise I will be thy God and the God of thy seed This is Gospel and a man interested in this promise may nay is bound to lay hold upon it and to cast himself upon the promise as well for his little Ones as for himself Wherefore hath the Lord as an Instance of his unsearchable grace given such a promise if not in our great and close afflictions to be choice and suitable food for our faith 〈…〉 but this can support Parents when they see their tender Infants in the bitter bonds of death reclining their heads upon their dissolving Pillows and having their Bowels to be sounding and yearning within them Now this I would humbly demand what they can build their hopes upon to make them readily to comply with Divine Pleasure When the Souls of their Little Ones sit upon their Lips to take their flight into an Eternal Ocean that excludeâ— them out of that Covenant they be confident they themselves be in and upon which they bottom and center all their trust and confidence as to their own Salvation for the ordinary way of Salvation is by and through the Covenant 11. Those that be in covenant thus have many great and temporal Blessings bestow'd upon them which others fall short of they share in the peculiar Providential Care and Watch of God there is the general Providential Care of God which as he is an Omnipresent Majesty filling all Places Persons and Things with his Essential Presence out of which there can be no departing or absconding he doth extend unto all Psal 139.7 8 9 10. But moreover there is the peculiar Transmission of the Providential Care Observation and Tuition of God and this is that which every Moment doth environ and encircle the Church and Covenant-Ones round about and all that are interested in the same stand possest with the free fruition of they are the proper Objects of the peculiar and special Providential Watch of God Psal 121.4 Behold he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep This denotes the careful and the diligent keeping of the Church the Lord is ever in the exercise of as one saith Curam solicitudinem diligentiam connot at nec dormit nec dormitat He neither sleeps nor slumbers The Lord sets a peculiar Fence about his Church Isa 5. â—2 And he fenced it After he planted it he set the Fence of his peculiar Providence round about it to preserve it Isa 27.3 I the Lord do keep it I will water it every moment lest any hurt it I will keep it night and day Thus we see what a peculiar Vigilancy the Divine Eye doth exhibit unto the covenant-Covenant-People This is no small Priviledge to have a Place with those that are thus beautify'd I might have added that such have many outward Favours of Peace Plenty and Prosperity and that People Places and Nations do enjoy many rare Mercies for their sake the Old World sped the better for Noah's sake Sodom for Lot's Pharaoh for Joseph's as Obed-edom for the Arks sake and Laban was greatly blessed for the sake of Jacob. A Nation speeds the better for the Gospels sake most fare the better for the Elect the greatest Body of which descend from Covenant-Ones Temporal Blessings are the Appendices of that Covenant made with Abraham Gen. 17. where the Land of Promise was inserted though a far greater in that was intended as hath been shewn More Priviledges might have been convened unto these but let what hath been said suffice and I think what hath been insisted upon may satisfie as to this Question We have seen that those that are in covenant have advantage and that much every way But before we dismiss this let us a little distinctly apply the Matter suitable to the distinction that I have laid down concerning the way of being in covenant as to those that be Externally and those that be Internally in it Observe heedfully here that the same Promises that are to the Parents are to the Children I will be their God and the God of thy Seed Those that the Lord is pleased to take into covenant with himself some are Elect and some not Elect so amongst the Children some are Elect and some not Elect and here I chiefly mean those that arrive unto the Years of the Adult 1. Those that be the Elect of the Natural Seed they do partake both of the external and internal part of the Covenant for they do partake of the Promise in the extent of it such peculiar salvificable Blessings as Justification Adoption Sanctification c. and Eternal Glorification in a Word they do partake of Temporal Spiritual and External Priviledges 2. The Non-elect they do partake of the external part of the Promises and of the Covenant-Priviledges as have been mentioned which be exceeding great though not saving therefore not to be relied and