Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	faith_n	holy_a	jesus_n	7,332	5	5.7358	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A45681	Infant baptism God's ordinance, or, Clear proof that all the children of believing parents are in the covenant of grace and have as much a right to baptism the now seal of the covenant, as the infant seed of the Jewes had to circumcision, the then seal of the covenant / by Michael Harrison ...	Harrison, Michael, Minister at Potters-Pury.	1694 (1694)	Wing H905; ESTC R9581	26,416	65

Covenant that he should condescend to make a Second Covenant a Covenant of Grace with lost Sinners 2. Ex parte Abrahami Abraham and his Seed stand on the other side of the Covenant with thee and thy seed after thee This Seed of Abraham is to be limited according to Scripture not in Ishmael nor his Seed by Ketura but in Isaac shall thy seed be called Gen. 21.12 Abraham had a two-fold Seed 1. A Natural Seed by Generation which are Abraham's Seed by promise Rom. 9.7 8. Neither because they are the Seed of Abraham are they all Children but in Isaac shall thy seed be called 2. A Spiritual Seed and these were either the Proselited Gentiles under the Law who did believe in and worshipped the God of Abraham and so were by Circumcision the then Seal of the Covenant taken into Abraham's Family or else all Believers under the Gospel who though they are not of Abraham's Natural Posterity are yet Abraham's Spiritual Seed Rom. 4.16 Therefore it is of faith that the promise might be sure to all the seed not only that which is of the law viz. the Jews but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham who is the father of us all i. e. the Gentile Believers So Gal. 3.29 By both which places the Apostle assureth the Gentiles That if they are by faith transplanted into Christ then were they Abraham's seed and might claim all the Promises and Priviledges of the Covenant made with Abraham as if they had been Abraham's Natural Seed by Generation from Isaac 2. Here is the duration of this Covenant an everlasting a perpetual or an eternal Covenant a Covenant to last for evermore so the Hebrew word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gnolam properly signifies This Covenant was not to be taken down by Moses no nor by Christ but was that everlasting Covenant which was ratified and sealed with the Blood of Christ Heb. 13.20 3. Here are the Conditions of this Covenant on God's part I will be to thee a God which carries in it all manner of Temporal Spiritual and Eternal Blessings as Pardon Sanctification and Eternal Life Psal 144.14 15. And on Abraham's part he and his Seed were to be the Lord 's peculiar People to walk before God in holiness and sincere obedience Gen. 15.1.17.8 9 10. Doct. That Covenant of Grace which God made with Abraham of which Circumcision then was and Baptism now is the Seal is a Covenant in which all Believers and their Children are comprehended In speaking to this Doctrine I shall by Divine assistance do these five things 1. Briefly shew you the nature of the Covenant of Grace 2. Prove this Covenant made with Abraham to be a Covenant of Grace 3. That Circumcision then was and Baptism now is a Seal of this Covenant 4. All Believers are in it 5. That all the Infants of Believing Parents are in this Covenant and have as much a right to the now Seal of the Covenant which is Baptism as the Infants of the Jews had to the then Seal of the Covenant which was Circumcision 1. The nature of the Covenant of Grace The Covenant of Grace is God's gracious Promise of delivering from a state of Sin and Death and bringing into a state of Salvation by Jesus Christ all that by faith fly to and lay hold on him In which Covenant we may take notice 1. The Parties in covenant God is on the one part of the Covenant and Believers and their Children on the other part as has been proved 2. That on our part Christ is the principal Head and Representative in this Covenant for this Covenant was made with Christ as the Second Adam and in him with all the Elect as his Seed Gal. 3.16 Rom. 5.15 to the end Isa 53.10 11. 3. Jesus Christ is the Mediator of this Covenant 2 Tim. 2.5 4. Herein God promises Life and Salvation to all Believers 1 John 5.11 12. 5. The Condition of the Covenant on our part is Faith Mark 16.16 6. Herein the Holy Spirit is absolutely promised to work Faith and all other Graces in us Prov. 1.22 Ezek. 36.27 and the first graces of Conversion is absolutely promised us without any respect to the will of man Ezek. 36.25 26. This Covenant God made with Abraham was a Covenant of Grace it must either be a Covenant of Works or a Covenant of Grace but a Covenant of Works it is not for that requires personal perfect Obedience from all and in case of sin lays the Sinner under an curse Gal. 3.10 12. Rom. 10.5 It is a Covenant of Grace as is evident 1. This Phrase I will be thy God and you shall be my people is never found but in a promise of the Covenant of Grace as Gen. 15.1 Exod. 29.45 Jer. 24.7.31.33.32.37 38 39. Ezek. 11.18 19 20.34.22 23 24 25.37.23 Zech. 8.8 2 Cor. 6.16 Rev. 21.3 2. It was the Covenant of Grace for it 's an Everlasting Covenant which is a property of the Covenant of Grace 2 Sam. 23.5 Heb. 13.20 3. It 's a Covenant of Grace for we find that in all After-discoveries and Repetitions of the Covenant of Grace the Spirit of God hath respect to this as Deut. 29.10 11 12. Psal 105.42 Acts 2.39 4. It was a Covenant of Grace for Circumcision the Seal of it was a Gospel-ordinance Rom. 4.11 it was a Sign and Seal of the Righteousness of Faith i. e. of Christ 5. It 's a Covenant of Grace for that Phrase I will be to thee a God contains all Gospel-blessings in it Heb. 11.9 10 13 14. Gal. 3.18 6. Many Scriptures testify it was so Micha 7.19 20. Luke 1.72 73 74. 3. That Circumcision then was and Baptism now is the Seal of this Covenant That Circumcision then was a Seal is evident Gen. 17.10 Rom. 4.11 Whoever would be a visible Church-member must be circumcised Circumcision is now abolished by Christ Eph. 2.15 1 Cor. 7.19 And Baptism now serves to the same purpose whoever will be a Member of the Christian Church must be baptised there 's no change in the Covenant only the Rite of admitting Members is changed Matth. 28.18 19. Acts 2.41 Col. 2.10 11 12. 4. All Believers are in this Covenant this is abundantly evident Rom. 4.11 12 13 14 15. Gal. 3.29 The Covenant was made with Abraham as a Believer and with all Believers as well as him Persons may be said to be in covenant in a twofold respect 1. Internally and invisibly as united to Christ living Branches knit to Christ by a vital union and thus only the Elect are in covenant The Covenant thus considered is not the ground of Baptism if we must baptize none but such as are vitally in Christ then must we baptize none because tho we see the outward profession we do not know who belong to the Election of Grace 2. Persons are externally and visibly in covenant Deut. 29.10 11 12 13. Thus all who profess Christ Tares and Wheat wise Virgins and foolish Matth.

their Children Here is then a Fourfould use to be made of it 1. Of Information 2. Examination 3. Exhortation 4. Consolation 1. Use shall be of Information in three things 1. This informs us of the infinite Condescention and Goodness of God that when the first Covenant of Works was violated and the way to Heaven for ever barr'd up against the Sinner there being no possibility of ever getting to Heaven that way it should please the Lord to make a new Covenant a Covenant of Grace a new and living way to the Father O what love and grace is this John 3.14 15 16. Now the infinite Grace of God in this second Covenant appears in these two things 1. That herein God doth not stand on the old terms do this and live the Law required perfect personal Obedience but now in this new Covenant God is pleased to accept of the Obedience and Righteousness of another in our stead even Jesus Christ 2 Cor. 5.21 He hath made him to be sin for us who knew no sin that we might be made the righteousness of God in him 2. That God doth not only command few and easie things as the condition of this New Covenant viz. Repentance towards God and Faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ Acts 20.21 but doth freely promise his holy Spirit to work these and all other Covenant-qualifications in us Ezek. 36.25 26 27. 2. This informs us of the infinite Mercy of God to us that we live under the New Covenant that God should offer Christ and Salvation in a Covenant-way to us O let us admire Grace What are we that God should Reveal himself to us and not to the world Matt. 11.25 26. I thank thee O Father that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent and hast revealed them to babes even so Father for so it seemed good in thy sight 3. This informs us what a fearful Condemnation will befall those who refuse to accept of Christ and Salvation on Covenant-terms Heb. 10.28 29. He that despised Moses law dyed without mercy of how much sorer punishment shall he be thought worthy who hath trodden under foot the Son of God and counted the blood of the covenant wherewith he was sanctified an unholy thing and hath done despite to the spirit of grace 2. Use of Examination Is there a Covenant of Grace Then examine your selves what interest you have in it if you are in this Covenant you are a happy People then every Promise in the Covenant belongs to you but if you are out of this Covenant your case is dreadful Quest How may I know whether I am in Covenant or no Ans 1. Have you done all those things that are necessary to an external visible Covenanting with Jesus Christ And these are 1. Knowledg in and acquaintance with the Gospel-covenant you can never Covenant with Jesus Christ until you know the terms John 17.3 This is life eternal to know thee the only true God and Jesus Christ 2. Have you entered your selves into this Covenant by Baptism Have you put your hand to the plow and owned Christ in that Seal of the Covenant 3. Do you live in an awful discharge of such external and visible Duties the Covenant requires such as Prayer Eph. 6.18 Sanctifying the Lord's day Attendance on God in all Ordinances c. 2. Have you those internal Graces and do you perform those internal invisible Duties the Covenant requires If you have then you are certainly in Covenant and all the Promises in the Covenant belong to you Isa 57.15 To this man will I look which is of an humble and contrite spirit and trembles at my word John 3.16 Matt. 11.28 Come to me you that labour and are heavy laden Have you that new heart promised Ezek. 36.26 those Graces mentioned Mat. 5.3 4 5 6. if you have these in truth then are you in Covenant 3. Use of Exhortation Is there a Covenant of Grace in which Believers and their Chidren are comprehended then be exhorted 1. To bless and admire Free-grace that hath given you such a Covenant O what Mercy is this to us and our Children that God will call our Children his Children and our Sons and Daughters his Sons and Daughters Ezek. 16.20 21. 2. Live and act as those who are in Covenant Phil. 1.27 Only let your conversation be as becomes the Gospel of Christ 3. Secure your interest in it and be often calling your selves to an account whether or no you have an interest in it 4. Learn to live upon this Covenant fetch all your Comforts and Encouragements from it in all distresses Heb. 13.5 Be content with such things as you have for he hath said I will not leave thee nor forsake thee 5. Are your Children in Covenant then dedicate them to Christ in the Covenant has God taken them in Gen. 17.7 Acts 2.29 then do not you cast them out but do as Hannah did first beg a Child from the Lord and Vow a Vow to dedicate this Child to God 1 Sam. 1.10 11. God calls them his Ezek. 16.20 21. And will you dare to withhold from God his own How will you answer it at his Tribunal another day 6. O Pray down Covenant-mercy on your Children as Hannah did and as Monica Austin's Mother did O Pray hard for your Children 4th Use of Consolation is there a Covenant-grace which comprehends all Believers and all their Actions O Soul art thou in this Covenant then for thy eternal Comfort be it spoken 1. Thou shalt never want any Temporal good thing there is Food and and Raiment Provision and Protection in the Covenant Heb. 13.5 Be content with such things as you have for he hath said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee 2. Thou shalt never finally lose thy Grace or be cast out of Covenant Prov. 8.18 Phil. 1.6 1 Pet. 1.23 Jer. 32.40 And I will make an everlasting Covenant with them that I will not turn away from them to do them good but I will put my fear into their hearts that they may not depart from me 3. Heaven and eternal Glory is thine as sure by this Covenant as if thou wast already in it 1 John 5.11 12. This is the promise he hath promised us eternal life THE END

Gift and Appointment of God not yet repealed some Infants were once to be admitted Members of the visible Church by vertue of the Covenant of Grace then 't is certain some Infants are still to be so admitted but the former is true therefore the latter Two things must here be done to shew 1. That some Infants were once admitted Members of the visible Church 2. That this Church-membership was never repealed 1. Some Infants were once so admitted by vertue of the Covenant of Grace If any deny this thus it is proved 1. Infants were part of them that entered into covenant with the Lord God and into his Oath that he might take them to be a peculiar People to himself Deut 29.10 11 12 13 14 15. Ye stand this day all of you before the Lord your God your captains of your tribes your elders with your officers with all the men of Israel 11. Your little ones your wives c. 12. That thou shouldest enter into covenant with the Lord thy God and into his oath which the Lord thy God maketh with thee this day 13. That he establish thee to day for a people unto himself and that be may be unto thee a God as he hath said unto thee and as he hath sworn unto thy fathers to Abraham to Isaac and to Jacob. 14. Neither with you only do I make this covenant and this oath but v. 15. with him that standeth here with us this day before the Lord your God but with him that is not here with us this day This was not a new Covenant but a renewing the Covenant made with Abraham as v. 13. Into this Covenant their little ones present were taken and their little ones yet unborn 2. Infants were engaged to God by the Seal of the Covenant which was Circumcision Gen. 17.10 Circumcision was not a meer politick Rite as some Frantick Anabaptists have dreamed but a Seal of the Covenant of Grace Rom. 4.11 He received the Sign of Circumcision as a Seal of the Righteousness of Faith That is Circumcision was 1. a Sign of what of the Circumcision of the heart by the Spirit of Christ of the mortifying and killing the old man of the sad effects of Sin both original and actual and the way of recovery by Jesus Christ 2. It 's a Seal of the Righteousness of Faith that is of the Righteousness of Christ imputed to the Believer and received by faith this is a Periphrasis of the Covenant of Grace wherein righteousness is promised and made over to us in a way of believing 3. Infants were baptized to Moses in the Cloud and in the Sea 1 Cor. 10.1 2 3. And Stephen calls that Assembly whereof they were Members the Church in the Wilderness From hence it is evident beyond rational contradiction that Infants were sometimes taken into the visible Church as visible Church-members by vertue of the Covenant of Grace Secondly That this Infant Church-membership was never repealed For if Infant Church-membership be repealed then that repeal must be either in Mercy or Judgment but it was in neither therefore it was never repealed 1. Infant Church-membership was never repealed in Judgment for God never revokes his Covenant to any People till first that People break covenant with him which Infants never did therefore being once taken into covenant 't is certain God did never cast them out Now it was a mercy to have Infants taken into covenant Deut. 29.10 11 12. therefore if this Privilege be revok'd it must be in Judgment for as it is a great Mercy to be in the visible Church so 't is a sore Judgment to be out of it to be cast out of covenant Now if Infant Church-membership be repeal'd then the Infants of Believers under the Gospel are in a much worse condition than before Christ's Incarnation certainly Christ did not come to make our Children miserable or to put them into a worse condition than they were in before this would make Christ a Destroyer who is the only Saviour But certainly the Church is now in a much better condition and her Privileges more ample and larger than they were before she hath lost none of her Privileges but gained many more Heb. 8.6 A more excellent ministry better promises Rom. 5.15 16 17. 'T is certain Infants are not thrown out of covenant for that would much darken the Grace of God received in the Gospel 2. Nor is Infant Church-membership repeal'd in Mercy for it can be no Mercy to take away a Mercy unless it means to give a greater Mercy in the room of it Now let the Anabaptists shew what greater Mercy God hath given in the room of Infant Church-membership there is none Therefore it was never repealed 2. If that Covenant by vertue whereof Infants were received into the visible Church was the Covenant of Grace then 't is certain it was never repeal'd But that Covenant by vertue whereof they were taken in was the Covenant of Grace therefore it was never repealed But that Covenant by vertue whereof they were taken into the visible Church was the Covenant of Grace as is most evident Deut. 29.10 11 12. And so the Covenant made with Abraham whereof Circumcision was a Seal Gen. 17.7 10. as the Apostle clearly proves Rom. 4.11 Now the Covenant of Grace is an everlasting Covenant 2 Sam. 23.5 never was nor ever will be repeal'd Infant Church-membership was no Ceremony neither was it any part of the Ceremonial Law if any say it was let them shew what it typified under the Gospel If it were a Ceremony then the Materials of the Church would be a Ceremony and so the Church it self which would be very absurb to affirm Neither was it part of the Moral Law the Covenant of Works whatever pains some of the opposite Persuasion have taken to prove it for the Covenant of Works knows no Mercy neither was it any part of the Judicial Law for Church-membership was not a piece of meer Policy the Church is one thing and the Commonwealth another 3. If there be no mention or record of the Repeal of Infant Church-membership in any part of the New Testament then it is most certain it was never repealed But there is no record of any such Repeal in any part of the New Testament therefore it was never repealed if any say it was let them shew where that Repeal is recorded 'T is true Circumcision is ceased because it was a Ceremonial Type but Infant Church-membership being no Type or Ceremony is not ceased Argument 2. If an Infant was Head of the visible Church then an Infant may be a Member of the visible Church But an Infant was Head of the visible Church for who will deny but that Jesus Christ was Head of the visible Church in his infancy what honour was done to Christ in his infancy both by Angels and men Hence it appears 1. That the Nonage of Infants doth not make them uncapable of being Church-members supposing God's will 2.