no Gospel Covenant But let us hearken to Christ the best Expositor and applyer of Scripture who is the Substance and infallible Oracle of all divine truths Mat. 22.31 32. But saith he touching the Resurrection of the dead have ye not read what was spoken unto you by God saying I am the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob God is not the God of the dead but the God of the living where our Saviour affirms that the present glorification of Abraham's Isaac's and Jacob's Spirits and the future Resurrection of their bodies to live with God both Soul and body for ever to be included in that Promise and the very accomplishment of that promise I am the God of Abraham c. Hence this clearly appears to be a Covenant of grace of Spiritual and eternal Blessings 2. The promise of the Spirit is made to the Children of those Parents that be in Covenant therefore they must be also in Covenant Such unto whom God promiseth his own Spirit their's is the promise and Covenant of grace for that is a Covenant of promise Ezek. 36.26 A new heart will I give you and a new Spirit will I put within you ver 27. And I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in my ways The promise of the Spirit is one of the most gracious promises that the Covenant of grace is inriched withall Christ and the Spirit are the two Emphatical promises When Christ was upon the earth and hastning towards his ascension this was the great promise that he made to be left behind him and this is the promise that by the gracious gift of God doth appertain to the Children of those that are in Covenant with the Lord Isa 44.3 For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty and flouds upon the dry ground I will pour my Spirit upon thy Seed and my blessing upon thy off-spring Little Children that spring like little twigs from their parents that be graffed into the Covenant Chap. 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 into 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 Here is a blessed Promise to the Parents and the Children of this rare Priviledge of the Spirit with a perpetual Entail Acts. 2.38 39. Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of the Lord Jesus for the remission of sins and ye shall receive the gift of the holy Ghost For the promise is unto you and to your children Viz. The Promise of Remission of Sin and of the Holy Ghost The Truth is Dying Infants without this promise could never be saved 3. The Promise of Regeneration belongs to such Children Such to whom the Lord promiseth Regeneration and Renovation must needs be in covenant to them doth belong the Promise and Covenant of Grace for that is a Blessing of the Covenant of Grace Ezek. 36.26 A new heart also will I give unto you and a new spirit will I put within you and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh and I will give you an heart of flesh This doth expresly set forth the Work of the Holy Spirit in renewing and sanctifying and regenerating the Hearts of the Elect this is that which is promised to the Off-spring of those in covenant with the Lord therefore they themselves must also be in covenant Deut. 30.6 And the Lord thy God will circumcise thy heart and the heart of thy seed to love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul The Seal of Circumcision the Token of the Covenant did eminently signifie and Assure this to all the Elect Infants that were in covenant therefore Regeneration and Sanctification are oftentimes set forth by Circumcision and when the Lord calls for them he doth it under the Name and Notion of Circumcision This might have been evidenced by many place 〈◊〉 Without this Promise and the accomplishment of it in the Hearts of dying Infants they can never be saved for those Scriptures that exclude all unsanctified Persons out of the Kingdo◠of Heaven are as applicable to the young Children as to those that are the most Adult I need not stand to call in here any of those many Scriptures that have set an unmovable Barre before the Gate of Heaven against all unsanctified Sinners 4. The Promise of being taught of God is an Excellent Promise of the Covenant of Grace those that do partake of a Standing in this Covenant this is one of the Evangelical Promises that they are entituled unto those shall have a greater Teacher than Man viz. they shall be taught of God and by his Spirit This is the Promise that is made with such Infants that are in covenant with their Parents though some do scornfully say What can they learn Or what are they capable to be taught Let such know that they have reasonable Souls and God by his Spirit can easily teach them and they be under the promise of being taught of God Jer. 31.34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour and every man his brother saying Know the Lord for they shall all know me from the least of them unto the greatest God can teach the least Infant to know him Isa 54.13 And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord. Let us consider can any but those that be taught of God be admitted unto the Eternal Injoyment of God He will take no ignorant Sinner into the company of the Glorifi'd It is said of Timothy that from a Child he knew the holy Scriptures 2 Tim. 3.15 Every one of you I presume will readily grant that his Knowledge was saving and that he was effectually taught of God and I must tell you that he was very little when first he was taught and this will appear if we consider the Word in the Text And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from his infancy Some that be learned and critical do tell us 〈◊〉 the Word doth signifie the very Embryo 〈◊〉 the Womb. God is able to teach and to sanctifie there propriè dicitur de partu recèns edito a Child so soon as brought forth of the Womb. It is an easie matter for God to fulfil the Excellent Promises of the Covenant and to cause the Babe that falls out of the Womb to fall into the Arms of Grace and he that sucks on the Breast to draw in the Heavenly Knowledge of Christ otherwise how can many be taken from the Breast and the Womb to Heaven as doubtless a Multitude of Coverant-Babes are 5. The Promise of Justification and the Remission of Sin is an Excellent Promise of the Covenant of Grace The Blood of Christ is assured
say that what I have here put into your Hands to read in the following Sermons is wrote and designed for the Honour of God the Grace of his Covenant to interpose a little between our poor Children and Little Ones and that Soul-amazing Doom that is pronounced against them to reprove the rash and furious Zeal of our Adversary to Answer the vehement Importunities and longing Expectations of many of my good Friends to commode all that hear me in instructing them in this great and comfortable Truth of the Gospel that I contend for to give a check to that Lying Spirit that is got loose among us to satisfie any that are stumbling and doubting about Baptism and to reduce if the God of Peace shall see good this poor troubled Place to a peaceable tranquil Composure Oh! cry to God that this my Vndertaking sincerely prostituted to the good of Souls may meet with some suitable Blessing thereunto and that all my poor Labours in the Work of the Gospel may obtain good success The Lord be with you and bless you and cause his gracious Face to shine upon you guiding you into the Way of Truth and conducting you to his Eternal Glory My Hearts desire and prayer for you all is that you may be saved I am Your Affectionate Servant in Christ Fran. Mence A Vindication of the Interest of the Children of Believers in the Covenant of Grace c. ACTS ii 39. For the promise is to you and to your children IN this Chapter we have one of the first Sermons that was preached after the Ascension of Christ The very first that we read of unless we take Peter his divine Oration in the Chapter before concerning the apostacy of Judas and the choosing of another in his room to fill up the Number of the Disciples to be the first This indeed is a most excellent Sermon and of divine inspiration in which the holy Scriptures refering to that case were elegantly and opportunely explicated and applyed and the Auditory that he directed himself unto sweetly composed and instructed in the Election of another Apostle to fill up the room of him that betrayed his Lord and Master who through the insufferable anguish of his own Conscience was a most execrable Executioner of himself and by the just judgment of God had his bowels burst out Acts 1.15 c. We come unto the Chapter which my Text is part of in which we may observe four general parts First The Mission of the Holy Ghost upon the Apostles who according to the promise and command of Christ were to wait at Jerusalem for the accomplishment of that rare and necessary blessing to fit them for that great and difficult undertaking of preaching and planting the Gospel they were commissionated unto who were to go together and not enter upon this great work until the Spirit did rest upon them Ver. 1 c. we have their obedience to their Lords command chap. 1.13 14. There is one thing very observable that when the Apostles and those that were with them were with one accord waiting for the fulfilling of the promise they did not sit dumb and silent together but they did pour out prayer and supplications to God they did not keep such a silent meeting waiting for the Spirit as the Quakers pretend to do They were not only waiting but praying it may be well supposed that they were making supplications to God for the obtaining that promised mercy they were under the expectation of Secondly The Sermon that Peter by divine assistance did deliver to the Congregation that was about him His Auditory was very great no wonder it was so partly because of the time of it Here was a great Season that might contract a numerous Assembly it was in the time of Penlecost when there was a great resort of people from many places and also because of that wonder that was then wrought in the descent of the Holy Ghost upon the Apostles which enabled them to speak in various languages ver 4 5. When this extraordinary thing was noised abroad it brought the Multitude together some were confounded others were amazed and there were those that mocked they thought the Apostles were full of New Wine as if their speaking through the Gift of the holy Spirit so miraculously poured upon them was only the fruit and effect of their excessive drinking Thus we may observe how Satan doth instigate those that be under his conduct and influence to blaspheme the most wonderful and obvious Works of God ver 6 7 8 c. In this Sermon the Apostle Peter undertakes two things 1. To wipe off that foul Aspersion that was cast upon them of being filled with New Wine It was very needful for him so to do otherwise this might be a means to obstruct the good success of his Sermon We may see in many Verses the way the Apostle takes to clear them of this Diabolical Accusation from ver 14 to 22. 2. He comes to the peculiar Subject the Spirit of Christ did lead him unto viz. To set home upon the Consciences of the Jews their great and sanguinary Sin in their cruel and malicious crucifying and murdering the Lord Jesus the Prince of life the only Messiah and Saviour of the World Many of those that heard him were guilty of it as we may see by the round and positive charge he draws up against and fastens upon them verse 22 23. Here we may apprehend how fully and emphatically the Apostle doth fix this Crime upon his Hearers as to him that was barbarously murdered and crucified therefore he called him Jesus of Nazareth to shew that he was the true Messiah promised by all the Prophets and that they might readily understand that he spake of that very Jesus whom they in scorn and contempt called Jesus of Nazareth and upon whose Cross they fixed that Title the Apostle to make the charge the more full he adds that it was that Jesus of Nazareth that was a Man approved of God among them by Miracles Wonders and Signs which God did by him and that in the midst of them as they themselves well knew It was him that they did take and by wicked hands did crucifie and slay It is to be observed that this terrible Accusation is exhibited against all the Auditory of Peter when he saith unto all that heard him Ye have taken and by wicked hands have crucified and slain he might deliver himself thus unto them all because in so great a company many were present that actually poured out the blood of Christ Moreover the whole People cried out at the Tribunal crucifie him crucifie him and imprecated that his blood might be upon them and their posterity viz. the guilt of his blood and the direful fruits of it What a wonderful Spirit of Zeal and Courage was the Lord pleased to fill this Apostle withal Even him who out of fear sometime before had denied his Lord and Master he was now full of
the Spirit of the Lord which is a Spirit of might and strength that did animate and support him One would think that this bloody Congress that were skilful in and scarce cool from the effusion of blood yea of the best of blood would immediately have dispatched him and emptied his Veins That the Apostle might fasten their execrable sin upon their consciences in murdering the Messiah he doth from the Word of God prove him to be so He did not only propound his assertion but he proved it that so he might involve his hearers into a full and through conviction This doth evidently instruct those that take upon them to preach the truths of Christ to prove them and to be able to defend them The Suitable mediums and arguments the Apostle insists upon to prove this his Doctrine concerning Christ as how God raised him from the dead and concerning David a tipe of him I must not stand to shew but must come to the next general part I observe in this Chapter Thirdly The good effects and gracious fruits of this the Apostles Sermon After he had fixed the charge he drew up against the Jews for murdering the Messiah whom he proved to be so then he comes with a sharp arrow of application and strikes it deep by the efficacy of the holy Spirit into the hearts of his sinful Auditors ver 36. therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God hath made the same Jesus whom ye have crucified both Lord and Christ He told them how eminently he was exalted by God whom they had vilified and abased unto the greatest contempt and shame and had put him to the most painful shameful and cursed death that ever could be Oh! to deal thus with the Son of God the Lord of all the only Messiah so highly exalted at the right hand of the Majesty on high and made both Lord and Christ what a cut might this be to those that heard the Apostle being guilty of so great sin of such Scarlet impieties Tunc ingens est stimulus quo Petrus mirâ libertate et sinceritate pupugit corda Judaeorum See and behold what wickedness ye have committed the guilt of what blood you have contracted what maliciously and cruelly to murder the Lord Jesus the Saviour of the world who is the Lord of all who is over all God blessed for over This had by the blessing of the most high gracious effects and fruits upon those that heard him First They were pricked at the heart they were troubled and grieved at their heart because of their horrid sin they had committed in their detestable murder of Christ Doluerunt animis quod crucifixissent Christum Pisca Ver. 37. Secondly They ask Peter and the rest of the Apostles what they should do ver 37. Now they were brought into a miserable plunge the bloudy colour of their sin and their Consciences boiling hot within them pronouncing fiery Sentences against them the very sting of the damned was crucifying them this might well make them as amazed and confounded rebels to cry out what shall we do what course shall we take to get free from the charge of this crying sin no sooner were these poor wretches convinced and begged councell of the Apostles as to their escaping that dreadful wrath that was due unto them for their greatly meritorious sin but Peter gives them suitable advice directing them how they might obtain eternal Salvation by the bloud of him whom they had wickedly crucified and slain as in ver 38. he doth exhort and direct them to repent to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ that they might receive remission of sin and the gift of the holy Ghost then they may be well assured that through him whom they crucified they should obtain a discharge from their foul-confounding guilt and eternal Salvation I shall proceed no further in the parts of this Chapter neither shall I add any thing more as to the happy effects and events of the Apostle's most excellent Sermon in the hearts and lives of these wonderful converts that heard him who though never so wicked before were the prinitiae evangelij shewing the glorious efficacy of the sufferings of Christ that those that were his inveterate enemies and did so insatiably thirst for his pure and spotless bloud that nothing could satisfie but their washing their hands in the same by a violent effusion should partake of the first fruits of it The Apostle discerning what a miserable condition they saw themselves to be in and into what a direful abiss of divine wrath they apprehended themselves to be swallowed up he does not only nakedly call upon them to repent and turn to God and to fly unto him for mercy but gives unto them one of the most gracious Motives and incouragements thereunto telling them the promise is unto them and their Children He did well understand that their horrible sin did not only extend unto them but also unto their off-spring for they had not only poured out the sacred bloud of Christ themselves but also had involved their Children in the guilt of it Mat. 27.25 When Pilate had said I am innocent of the bloud of this Person see ye to it then answered all the people and said his bloud be on us and our Children Surely a lively sense of this made a deep wound in their Consciences To relieve and support them in this miserable plunge when they could not but see the wrath of a just revenging God ready to invade both them and their Children they could not but be in a deplorable case saying we have eternally destroyed and ruined both our selves and posterity The Apostle presents them with a Plaister broad enough for their Sore q. d. well though your sin be so grievous and damnable as to your selves and little ones yet repent and turn to God and it shall be happy both with you and your Children also for said he the promise is to both and will reach you and your dying infants you shall not be cast out of Covenant but you and your little ones shall continue in the same that you were in before the actual exhibition and death of your Saviour whom ye did impiously crucifie and slay Oh what a full breast of consolation was here from the infinite grace of God exposed for these miserable creatures to suck and hang upon the very marrow and quintessence of the Gospel is proposed to them for their effectual inducement to repent and believe Here was the fountain opened for sin and for uncleanness in which these poor trembling sinners might wash and bathe their guilty and filthy Souls these were those that now look upon him whom they had pierced and did mourn over him as one mourneth for his only Son and they were in bitterness for him as one that is in bitterness for his first born Zech. 12.10 Peter gave them such a Cordial that could not but greatly refresh and comfort them here he
them off then draw them on let any impartial person judge Was this a probable way to comfort and support these self-condemned finners to deliver such a heavy message unto them as to wrest from out of their bosoms and to rend all their Children out of the Covenant of grace and turn them into the herd of those that are afar off that were out of Covenant without God and having remaining in that condition no hope in the world Eph. 2.12 This would be but to add affliction to the afflicted and to cast a wonderful stumbling Block in the way of these Jews But the true and sound Interpretation gives them choice relief and removes all impediments out of their way leaving them no remora to obstruct or retard the Apostles exhortation unto them The Promise is already to you and to your Children as you are Jews which Promise shall be confirmed to you and your Children if you now believe I the Apostle that he might give them the highest incouragements tells them furthermore that the Promise shall be extended to those that are afar off even to so many as the Lord in any part of the world shall call and they and their Children shall partake of the Covenant made with them Here is the full breast of the Gospel laid open for to hang upon to suck and be satisfied here is the fountain opened and not only the Parents but the Children also invited unto it It is a good observation that a learned Man here observes saith he hic enim Judaei aliis praeferuntur quia sunt velut primogeniti in Dei familia imo singulari privilegio Segregati tunc erant a reliquis omnibus ergo legitimum ordinem Petrus observat quin Judaeis assignat priores honoris partes Quod illis filios adjungit pendet ex verbis promissionis Ero Deus tuus et seminis tui post te Gen. 17.17 Having spoke thus much to clear up my way for a Doctrine I come to propound that great truth that is obviously comprehended in this text for our comfort and improvement There be indeed two eminet doctrines in the text I shall name both but fix only upon one First Doctrine That the Children of believing Parents as such are taken into Covenant with God with their Parents Second Doctrine the Covenant being made with Believers and their Children is a very great obligation and inducement to repent and to accept of the new Administration of the Covenant This the Apostle doth strongly and aptly urge upon the convinced Jews unto this great duty But I shall not stand upon this truth my business is with the other This is the Doctrine I would by the help of God treat of That the Children of believing Parents as such are taken into Covenant with their Parents This the Apostle positively and comfortably asserts the Covenant of Promise that is to the Parent is also to the children they be both involved in one and the same gracious Covenant God doth not take in the Parent and exclude the child but he admits both into this blessed holding by the golden rod of his grace This inheritance hath a grant with an irrepealable Intaile upon the Seed and off-spring Believers and their Seed are in the Covenant of grace with God by this the Child holds in capite from him from whom he doth descend This is a Doctrine that is violently opposed by those that venture something boldly to contract and restrain the Covenant into a narrower compass than ever the Grace of God in constituting of it intended by turning what they can covenanted Infants into the same miserable Wild Field with the Seed of Infidels and Pagans But this is very plain to every Eye that will observe the Scriptures that when ever the Lord was pleased to enter into a Covenant of Grace with the Parents he did also with the Children Gen. 12.1 2 3. Now the Lord said unto Abram Get thee out of thy country and from thy kindred and from thy fathers house into a land that I shall shew thee And I will make of thee a great nation and I will bless thee and make thy name great and thou shalt be a blessing And I will bless them that bless thee and curse them that curse thee and in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed Gen. 17.7 And I will establish my covenant betwixt 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 not to last for a time or for an Age only but for ever even to the utmost point of time until the Mediator in whose hands this Covenant is shall perfectly accomplish his Work Ver. 19. And God said Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed and thou shalt call his name Isaac and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant and with his seed after him Acts 3.25 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 children of the earth be blessed viz. All Nations here we see He was not to be a Covenant-Father only to the Nation of the Jews but also to those of the Gentiles all of them that should be called and converted unto God by the preaching of the Gospel they were to be impaled in Abraham's Covenant and he was to be their Father Rom. 11.17 And if some of the branches be broken off and thou being a wild olive-tree wert graffed in among them and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive-tree Here must be a graffing in suitable to the casting out or breaking off that cannot be unless the Gentiles and their Children their Spriggs be graffed in as the Jews and their Children were broken off Gal. 3.14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ that we might receive the promise of the Spirit Viz. The Blessing of Abraham in his Covenant might through Christ be brought over unto the Gentiles The Lord Jesus was the great Seed of the Covenant and the Mediator of it and through the offusion of his Blood this Covenant is conferred upon the Gentiles according to many Evangelical Promises made before the Actual Exhibition and Incarnation of the Son of God our Emmanuel God with us These are a few of that Cloud of Witnesses that might have been brought to prove this Doctrine let them suffice for the present many more will occur in our Discourse In the handling of this Point I would do these things I. Open the Doctrine something more II. Lay down the Demonstrations of it to prove it III. Give some Reasons of it IV. Make a little suitable Vse of it The First General Particular The opening the Doctrine To do this I shall propound some Questions and give the Answers unto them This may tend very much to clear up
Vindiciae Foederis OR A Vindication of the INTEREST that the Children of Believers as such have in the Covenant of Grace with their Parents under the GOSPEL-DISPENSATION BEING The Substance of Two Sermons with Addition Preached to a Congregation in Wapping ALSO Some seasonable Reflections upon various unsound and Cruel Passages Taken forth of two Furious Books of Mr. H. Collins Printed against Infants-Baptism By FRAN. MENCE some time of Pembroke Colledge in Oxford now an unworthy Pastor of a Church of Christ in Wapping near London Magna est veritas praevalebit LONDON Printed for the Author and are to be Sold by John Lawrence at the Angel in the Poultrey by Mrs. Mary Gurnel in Wapping-street near Bell Alley and Mr. William Wingod in King-street in Wapping 1694. The Epistle Dedicatory To a Church of Christ in Wapping near London Grace Mercy and Peace be Multiplied I Could not dearly beloved but judge it my Duty to Dedicate these Sermons unto you partly because you are my peculiar Care and Charge in the Lord unto whom I do ow my Labour and Pains and also by reason of that joint Request you were pleased to Attack me withall viz. that they might be made Publick giving me good assurance that they might be of great use for the good of Christians in this place I have here though it be against my own inclination answered your desire Let this undertaking be attended with your serious and solemn Prayer that your hopes of good may be accomplished What I have wrote in my Epistle to the Readers many of you can testifie you well know what a long time of Silence I have had how desirous I was to live in peace that alwaies being esteemed a Jewel of great price with me hoping that the dust that hath been raised to the darkening of the Air among us might have fallen without any attempt of mine to suppress it but the violent effort of the Pulpit and the furious Reports of the Press have something awakened me from that ease and quiet I should have been glad longer to have solaced my self withall But alas it was time to be something alarmed when the flames were inkindled about us and our little Field in danger of being consumed here is one that hath put this place even into a Conflagration I shall I doubt not fall under the lash of many censuring Tongues for this small endeavour to vindicate this one exploded though precious Truth of Christ You have had experience of my spirit and deportment and cannot from the strictest observations you have made of me but say that so far as may be I have been willing to live in peace with all men and what care I have taken to preserve peace in the midst of and round about you It would be matter of much comfort to me may this little Essay be instrumental to reduce this place into somewhat a more sedate and calm temper My Practice ever since the Lord was plased to call me amongst you hath been to give perpetual demonstrations that I live and can walk with all that are sound in the Faith and of an unblameable Conversation I found you fixed upon that Noble Evangelical Foundation which I have endeavoured to build upon Your laudable Principle is that Union with Christ is the great ground of our Communion one with another let us magnifie God for what we have found of his Gracious Presence and Blessing since we came together and stand in that relation as we do one to the other I do with much importunity request your Prayers that I may daily have a remembrance from you at the Throne of rich Grace Watch against all designs of men that lye in wait to deceive and to disturb our peace Study much the Covenant of Grace blessed be the Lord that he hath not only ingrafted you but also your Seed into it You that have Children plead the Promises of the Covenant with God for them Take heed of such Principles that do inevitably exclude your dear Babes out of the Kingdom of God and render their Salvation provided they expire in their infancy not only improbable but in any ordinary way impossible Beg the Lord to put a stop and to give a Check to that lying malicious spirit that like a spiteful Ghost walks in this poor disturbed spot I doubt not but what I have here transmitted from the Press will be attended with the same opprobrious Censure it met withal from the Pulpit many ignorant and rash hot-headed Professors did severely judge me and my Sermons that never heard them and so I do expect many will that shall never read them pour out their profound invectives against them I must expect no better quarter than honest Mr. Giles Shute who by many was cast and condemned that never read his Books neither were able to pass a right Judgment upon them I do heartily wish that a greater number of my Anabaptist Neighbours would labour more after the life and power of Religion and Study to know their own hearts better then I promise my self they would not be so prompt and ready to undervalue and condemn others as they be I cannot but admire to see what a change is upon their spirits words and actions in our late times of restraint they could be glad many of them to partake of my poor pains and sometime since but I do not so much wonder at them as at their Teacher who ever since the last breaking forth of our Liberty hath so much inveighed against all that are not of his opinion and hath laid so much stress and weight upon his Notion about Baptism that hath distilled such bitterness into the spirit of many that they be turned very sowre and morose to those that cannot imbibe their Sentiments I bless the Lord that I can say I have not been the Incendiary among us I lay still Six or Seven years till all was from Pulpit and Press by Mr. Collins put into Flames about us It is next to a wonder to me that any should be so impudent as to accuse me to be the Author of all the trouble that doth annoy us notwithstanding my long silence and that little opposition that yet I have made against a turbulent spirit that he might discover the uttermost of his bitterness I must have him several times to pronounce in his Pulpit before all his Congregation an open Challenge against me I do expect that so soon as these Sermons shall have an access to his hands that we shall hear sufficiently of his tumultuous spirit I have made a few remarks as you may see upon his bold and undigested Doctrine rashly and ignorantly thrust forth into the World giving you but a few Gleanings to that Harvest I may if occasion be offered present you withall I make no question but my challenger will quickly fill our Ears with his Answers be it so the Lord I hope will enable us to make our reply I desire that he would
remember the nature of his Challenge that it was a single Duel without propounding any Seconds that he hath engaged me in Stand fast in the Lord my dearly beloved as ye have received the Lord Jesus so walk ye in him as ye have received how ye ought to walk so walk at all times and abound yet more and more while some and that not a few are crying up an Opinion not necessary to Salvation let your Zeal run out after those Truths of the Gospel in the believing and practising whereof you may obtain Salvation and greatly rejoyce in the day of our Lord Jesus Love one another pity and pray one for the other live in peace and love and the God of Love and Peace shall dwell with you Finally my Brethren be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might I commend you to God and the Word of his Grace which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance among all them that are sanctified that he in order thereunto would be pleased to fulfil all the good pleasure of his Goodness within you and the work of Faith with power is the hearty desire of him that is Your Servant for Christ's sake Fran. Mence The EPISTLE To the Candid and Impartial READERS Especially those unto whom the following Sermons were Preached WE live in a day and Age of Wonders in which the Divine Providence produceth many strange things behold here is presented unto your eyes the substance of two poor Sermons with considerable enlargement that are expos'd through great importunity to the open light in the World I have been very averse to contribute to the grieved and groaning Press that is overcharg'd by such Writings which were only fit after they have been utter'd in the Pulpit to be adjudg'd to the perpetual Grave of Oblivion such I readily confess are these Sermons and deserve no better Censure It is a Prodigy to my self that I should be prevail'd upon to suffer these Papers to appear with an open face and to be expos'd to the view of many I sensibly and feelingly find cause every day more and more to bewail and to blush at my own ignorance and incapacity for the work of the Ministry though I have not been vacant of many Solicitations accompany'd with the Tears of serious Christians that I would admit some of my Labours to be Printed But at the same time a cold damp hath seiz'd my Spirits from a deep conviction of my insufficiency for such an undertaking judging it to be my Duty to be like the Deaf Adder not to hearken to such Charms but to be inexorable You may then demand how comes it to pass that these two Sermons have obtain'd more than all the rest ever could I have not only consider'd the Importunity of dear friends I did formerly withstand which of it self could never have prevail'd but am fallen under a Conviction that the providential Call of my Lord and Master doth oblige me by reason of the great dishonour that is brought to his most sacred and pure Name from various infamous Doctrines that have been divulged amongst us and that with such heat and fervor that we are upon this little spot in an Inflammation yea near unto a Conflagration insomuch that out of consciousness of Duty and the importunity of those whose hearts do bleed within them I could forbear no longer but went unto the Sanctuary to fill my shallow Bucket with some of the cooling and quenching waters that issue from under the Threshold thereof Oh! that there might be a blessing attending this my Essay we are so set on fire round about us by a man of a vehement Spirit that seems to threaten all about him opposite to his Principle quickly to be consum'd and reduc'd to ashes God be pleas'd graciously to allay his heat and quench his false fiery Zeal It is well known that for six or seven years I have born with his unparallell'd Confidence in his frequent inveighing against Infants-Baptism with many insufferable reflections upon us that are in judgment and practice different from him He hath besides his frequent Excursions an anniversary day ex proposito to batter us with his Rams to the ground A long time we have made no resistance against him as many of you that attend upon my Ministry well know but have patiently receiv'd the furious fire of his Broad-sides Good Christians have repair'd unto me begging me to lift up the Standard of Gods Word against him but my reply to them was Wisdom should rest in the Bosom of some and that I knew not how short-liv'd considering the various Threatnings of a Divine Providence for a multitude of crying Sins that abound among us particularly the animosities and dissentions of the Professors of the Gospel our present enjoyments might be adding that I judg'd the Will of my Lord was that I should improve that little Talent he hath pleas'd to intrust me withal to the utmost of my power in preaching upon the weighty and most necessary Truths of the Gospel whereby through Grace I might save my self and those that hear me 1 Tim. 4.16 Some of his followers waxed bold looking upon what he delivered to proceed out of the mouth of an infallible Oracle crying out of me why doth he not answer Mr. C. and preach up his sprinkling of Infants if he had any thing to say he would not be silent Yea some have been so impudent as to say that what he doth as to the baptizing of Infants is against the light of his own Conscience To such bold Accusers and Boasters I shall only return in the words of the Apostle Rom. 14.4 Who art thou that judgest another mans servant to his own Master he standeth or falleth It is common amongst us for those that understand not the right hand from the left in any great point of the things of God to judge and condemn the most judicious and pious that are not of their Measures about Baptism let but a man renounce his Baby sprinkling as they scornfully call it and pass under the Water he is an excellent Christian If some of their Preachers be never so raw crude â—nd illiterate and can lay about them with abundance of Confidence though mingled with a great quantity of Nonsense yet they are admir'd by them being for dipping without which what is all the Learning Experience Piety Pains and sincere endeavours of faithful Ministers in serving souls It may grieve any one that hath a serious consideration of the worth of Souls and the weightiness of the work of the Ministry upon his Heart to hear how all that those deliver that decry the Baptizing of Infants is magnified as flowing from the Spirit of the Lord though much that is vented is but the apparent proles or off-spring of Pride Ignorance and Confidence Oh! let not my soul enter into their Secrets who is sufficient for these things I wish that there be not only contempt heaped
was like to his blessed Lord and Master the good Samaritan that had compassion on him that fell among thieves and was wounded who went to him and bound up his wounds pouring in oyle and wine that so he might both cleanse and cure Now we come to fix upon the words of our Text That we may see clearly what is intended in them let us observe a few particulars by way of general division that are comprehended in them First To whom this is spoken it was to the Jews who were then met together out of many Nations at the Feast of Pentecost ver 5. and there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews devout men out of every nation under heaven Some of these nay many of them were effectually touched at the heart by the penetrating Sermon of Peter or rather by the irresistible compunction of the Spirit of God cooperating with the preaching of Peter as it was at another time when this excellent Apostle was preaching Acts 10.44 While Peter yet spake these words the holy Ghost fell on all them that heard the word When the holy Ghost doth fall upon the heart and into the heart of those that hear the word then the power and authority of it shall be found and that by the most perverse and obstinate sinner it is he that makes the word to be quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit and of the joints and marrow and to be a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart Heb. 4.12 Secondly By whom they were spoken Viz. by Peter in the name of all the rest of the Apostles It pleased the Lord at this time and upon this occasion to constitute him to be the mouth of all he was great in utterance it is very probable the rest of the Apostles might be willing to chuse him to be their Spokesman However the Spirit of the Lord did order it that it should be so that Peter should be the man that should preach this excellent Sermon all the Apostles were concerned in it and did even speak in and with him ver 14. But Peter standing up with the Eleven lift up his voice and said unto them ye men of Judea and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem be this known unto you and hearken to my words c. Peter spake in the company and in the authority of the rest those awakened sinners judged that in the speaking of Peter all were concerned therefore when they were pricked to the heart they said not only to Peter but to the rest of the Apostles men and brethren what shall we do One Minister of Christ that speaks the word of God preacheth in the same authority that all the Ministers of the Gospel do Thirdly Why these words in the text were spoken and affirmed It was by way of Motive to press on the exhortation we have in ver 38. the Jews had lived under the former administration of the Covenant of grace in the which the Messiah that was to come was exhibited in the promise and shadowed in many Types and Figures by which they were taught to expect and to look for the coming of the Messiah in Person At last in the time appointed he is come to bring and to establish a new and a more glorious administration not to dissolve the Covenant as some would have it but to establish it under a more eminent and excellent dispensation than ever it was before his incarnation suffering and ascension But because he came not with external pomp and state That the carnal Jews expected him in he was by them despised rejected persecuted to death which the infinitely wise God did overule to the accomplishment of his eternal purpose as to the Salvation of the elect yet their sin and wickedness was never the less who took the blessed Son of God the only Messiah and by wicked hands did crucifie and slay him though he was delivered by the determinate councel of God the eternal purpose and councel of the everlasting and infinitely wise God took place in the Jews perpetrating their enmity and malice upon our blessed redeemer Acts 4.27 28. For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus whom thou hast anointed both Herod and Pontius Pilate with the Gentiles and the people of Israel were gathered together for to do whatsoever thy hand and thy councel determined before to be done Though all was managed by the adored wisdom of the eternally wise Jehovah who brought his Son into the world and delivered him up to be crucified yet the wickedness of his implacable murdrers was never the less The Apostle finding some of their hearts to be bleeding relenting and greatly affected at their amazing impiety he labours to set conviction home upon their Consciences to drive the nail up to the head he perswades them to repentance and to submit to Christ his dispensation of the Gospel and to declare their submission by their being baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ Fourthly we are to consider what is here affirmed this is the matter that we are most to be concerned about viz. this promise is to you and your children What this promise is imports the Emphasis of this text there are two acceptations I find to be of these words I will mention both of them 1. Some would have the Article 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to point at the Promise before-mentioned cited out of the Prophet Joel ver 16 17. But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel and it shall come to pass in the last days saith God I will pour out of my spirit upon all flesh and your sons and your daughters shall prophesie and your young men shall see visions and your old men shall dream dreams This say some doth relate to the extraordinary effusion of the Spirit of God that some should enjoy But I find that there are Expositors that encline not to this I shall lay down two or three Reasons why I judge that the Promise in this Text doth not refer to that of the pouring out of the Spirit in great measure 1. The interposition of a large discourse between the mention of that promise and the Text seems to break off all connection between the discourse concerning the Counsel of God in giving up Christ to death and then to give him a Glorious resurrection revealed at large in the Psalms which had been now accomplished by them tho' with wicked intentions This interposeth so that here the Apostle seems to be upon a new matter altogether distinct from that promise of the extraordinary and plentiful effusion of the Holy Ghost 2. Because they that did believe and were baptized did not receive these extraordinary gifts therefore it is not to be supposed that the Apostle would deceive and delude them in making such a promise unto them which was not to be performed and never to be imparted unto them The holy Preacher did
Prodigy to me that any should Assert that the Covenant that God made with Abraham was a Covenant of Works and yet Circumcision was the Seal of it for so it is expresly commanded of God to be as we have seen Did we ever read of this Seal amx'd to the Covenant of Works No in the perfect state that Man was in when God enter'd into a Covenant of Works there was no need of nor occasion for this Sacrament or Seal Let us but a little consider the Uses and Words of this Seal and we may see that that must be a Covenant of Grace to which it is affix'd as a Seal for either it holds forth our need of Grace or the merciful provision of Grace prepared for us I shall only mention a very few Particulars 1. This doth intimate unto us that vile polluted State of Sin that we were conceived and transmitted into the World in This may give us the knowledge of our undone State by Nature how God may loath and abhor us for ever The cutting off of the Fore-skin of the Flesh discovers the filthiness of our Flesh and how by Sin we have forfeited our selves and all into the hands of Justice that we be filthy and guilty Sinners 2. This sets forth the gracious Purposes and Intentions of a merciful God to wash and to cleanse and to sanctifie us by his Grace and by the Blood of Sprinkling The Blood that did follow the circumcising Instrument did clearly signifie that therefore cleansing and sanctification are set forth by Spiritual Circumcision When God doth graciously promise to wash and to sanctifie he doth promise to circumcise the Heart Deut. 30.6 And the Lord thy God will circumcise thy heart and the heart of thy seed to love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul that thou mayst live Col. 2.11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ viz. By the Sanctification of the Blood and Spirit of Christ Phil. 3.3 For we are the circumcision which worship God in the spirit We have the inward Spiritual Circumcision of the Heart which was graciously signified by that Seal of the Grace of God belonging to that Covenant of Grace the Lord was pleas'd to make with Abraham and his Seed 3. To denote and set forth the need we have of the Blood of Christ to justifie us and that God would justifie us through his Blood And this Abraham had a special eye unto and his Faith was firmly fix'd upon after God had made this Covenant with him and his Seed and fix'd this significant Seal unto it This might be evidenced by many Scriptures Rom. 14.1 2. In many Verses in that Chapter therefore it is that Circumcision is called a seal of the righteousness of faith of that righteousness that is apprehended received and applied by faith certainly then that Covenant that hath such a significant gracious Seal added unto it can be nothing less or else than a Covenant of Grace 7. Reason To prove that this was a Covenant of Grace may be the great Result and Period of it which is no less than Heaven this is obviously implied in the comprehensiveness of this Promise we have here Gen. 17.7 I will be a God unto thee and unto thy seed after thee I will be a God unto thee and all thine Elect Seed for ever I will be a God to love thee to provide for thee to be with thee and with my self eternally to reward thee How vain and frivolous is our Challenger in Asserting that this Covenant made with Abraham was not a Covenant of Grace Because the great Promises of it were outward Blessings and the greatest of all was the Land of Promise Canaan What is not that a greater Promise for God to promise himself to be a God to Abraham and his Seed Is not an Infinitely Glorious and Blessed God better than Canaan than all the Canaans and Paradises in the World yea than thousands of Worlds But further to see the ignorance of this Man in the Scripture and in such Expressions which denote a higher good intended by God than what they themselves may import as this Promise is explained in the New Testament When God did make the Promise of an Earthly Canaan to Abraham and his Seed he did ultimately intend a better Land than this viz. an Heavenly one when the Lord doth promise this Canaan he doth promise Heaven which this was a Type of the main thing and good that the Lord design'd for his People by this Promise was Heaven and that they should be eternally saved Abraham did so understand it and others of the Fathers and so set their Hearts upon and rais'd up an Expectation of that blessed City and Country that was above that what they had here were but dark Shadows and cloudy Representations of what was to come Heb. 11.10 13 14 15 16. 8. Reason To prove that the Covenant made here with Abraham was a Covenant of Grace is viz. Because of that Obedience the Lord did both require and accept at the hands of Abraham in this Covenant There was Obedience and there was Service that the Lord did command and expected from Abraham this will determine whether this be a Covenant of Works or of Grace If it be a Covenant of Works it requires nothing less than perfect Obedience nothing short of it will or can be accepted therein as it was in the Covenant made with Adam Do this and live I but now here in Abraham's Covenant the Lord doth call for and accept of sincere and upright Obedience as in Gen. 17.1 2. And when Abram was ninety years old and nine the Lord appeared to him and said I am the Almighty God walk before me and be thou perfect viz. right or sincere And I will make my covenant betwixt me and thee Every one knows that though Abraham for Grace and walking with and obeying God was an excellent Man yet he was not a sinless perfect Man he had the perfection of sincerity but not a sinless perfection such an one as Adam had in Innocency In this Covenant Abraham did walk before God he did please God and he was accepted by God in vertue of this Covenant which could never have been had it not been a Covenant of Grace that had Christ to be the Mediatour of it in whom he believed and found acceptance Thus Beloved I promise my self that I have given you such Reasons to prove that this Covenant was of Grace which the Lord made with Abraham and his Seed for an Everlasting Covenant as cannot well be denied 2. Quest Whether some only or all the Children of Believers are in this Covenant of Grace with their Parents Whether this Covenant doth inclose and impale them all or not Answ All they that are the Seed of the Faithful the Lord takes into this Covenant with their Parents
Spirit When our Lord and Saviour was in the Flesh he had much to do with such Jews that boasted themselves of their outward Priviledges which were great but neglected the internal part of the Covenant which he did caution them against but did not shut them out of the Covenant but left them as he found them This I know is a distinction though never so solid and sound yet the Anabaptists will not take it down Notwithstanding I know not how they themselves can subsist without it in their Covenant-way They take into the Covenant and affix the Seal of the Covenant to those that be Adult profess their Faith in and Obedience to Christ and their repentance and renouncing their Infant-baptism if they have had any I but here is the Question Are all that do so internally and savingly in covenant with the Lord Dare they be so bold as to say so If they dare I shall offer two things unto them 1. This is against the plain and evident Truth of the Word of God Is not the Visible Church otherwise represented in the Scriptures unto us what are all their Israel of the peculiar Seed of Isaac Is this agreeable to the Parables of the Tares of the Net of the Wedding of the Virgins and of the variety of the Vessels in the Church Visible and in the House of God These things are so well known to all that read and consider what they read that I need not stand upon them The Lord Jesus in his little Church and Family had one Devil They be happy Churches indeed in whom there are no Hypocrites and from which never any do fall off and prove Apostates Oh how many out of the purest Churches shall encrease the number of the Damn'd 2. This is against too great experiences How many have we seen to turn out of the way of Truth into Errour Many that after they have seemed to be washt from their Sins and have escaped the Pollutions that are in the World through Lust by the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ are again intangled and turn'd with the Dog unto the Vomit 2 Pet. 2.20 21 22. How many be there that the unclean Spirit doth but go out of and after returns again and takes a greater possession than ever So that the last end is worse than the beginning Mat. 12.43 44 45. Let me apply my self unto you my Brethren of the Anabaptist Perswasion Have you no Revolters among you None that fall from Truth to Errour from Strictness to Looseness from an outward holy Conversation to Profaneness Have you never any occasion to exert your Authority in Excommunication Have you never any rotten Members to cut off I am misinformed if my good Neighbour be not something good and frequent at this Work after he hath laid his Hands upon his Converts and rebaptized Proselytes no wonder when we consider his numerous and easie Admissions But what I do speak of one that is but the Head of an overgrown Schisme his Church as it is called declared to be so not only by Congegrational but also by Anabaptistical Elders When the Anti-paedobaptists admit any to the Seals of Church and Covenant-Fellowship is it not possible that some false Brethren may creep in unawares Jude 4. Some Wolves get into Sheeps-cloathing and they be lookt upon to be the covenant-People of God this is undeniable and their revolt proves themselves to have none of the saving special Gifts and Graces of the same but at best were only externally in covenant You will not pretend to put Seals to Blanks but you will say They did appear to us to be so and so and to be in the Covenant of Grace For my part I must say though I desire to be very careful in my Admissions yet I have as great a hope and as much confidence about the Salvation of Infants in covenant with God dying in their Infancy as I have in any that I do admit Here I may retoâ—â—… upon my Brethren because many of your Members that you have taken into covenant unto whom you have affixed the Seal do fall off Do you hold falling from Grace So that this may be as well objected against you in your Adult Persons as against us in our Infants 4. Quest If it be granted That Children with their Parents be taken into covenant even the natural Seed of believing Parents yet you say they are but External Priviledges and Benefits that many of them do partake of and a great number of them fall short of the Spiritual and Eternal Advantages of the same Therefore what do they obtain thereby seeing he is not a Jew that is one outwardly c. What profit did Cain reap by being circumcised or Ishmael For as the Apostle saith circumcision verily profiteth if thou keep the law but if thou be a breaker of the law thy circumcision is made uncircumcision Rom. 2.25 Behold the days come saith the Lord that I will punish all them which are circumcised with the uncircumcised Isa 9.25 Answ They have great Advantages more than others have that are not so much as externally in covenant I will refer you to the Apostle who propounded and answered this Question for us Rom. 3.1 2 c. He had said in the close of the Chapter before to cut off the vain confidence of those that did securely repose themselves in their External Priviledges that he was not a Jew that was one outwardly c. He was very sensible what Objection some would make at that time therefore he propounds this Question and returns a free Answer What advantage then hath the Jew or what profit is there of circumcision I Answer with the Apostle first generally Much every way and then particularly chiefly because unto them were committed the oracles of God c. Thus say some You stand stifly to this that Children be in covenant with their Parents and God hath taken them into covenant with them but what are they the better for it What advantage doth accrue unto them from thence I Answer Much every way Methinks the Spirit of God foreseeing how the Covenant and the Infant-right in it would be infringed and invaded in the Times of the Gospel did inspire the Apostle here to contradict and oppose those bold Usurpers that should attempt to make Breaches upon the Lords sacred Inclosure I could shew in many particulars the wonderful advantage that those have that are but externally in covenant above those that are not and what an inestimable Favour and Blessing it is to be within the Pale of the Covenant I shall mention some of the chief Priviledges that such do enjoy 1. They have the Excellent Oracles of God reposited among them and committed unto them this was the Priviledge of the Jews in propatulo and their great advantage which did distinguish them from the rest of the World and represented them to all Nations to be a peculiarly happy and dignified People Rom. 3.2 Much every way
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-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