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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A47391	The ax laid to the root, or, One blow more at the foundation of infant baptism, and church-membership. Part I containing an exposition of that metaphorical text of Holy Scripture, Mat. 3. 10. : being the substance of two sermons lately preached, with some additions, wherein is shewed that God made a two-fold covenant with Abraham, and that circumcision appertained not to the covenant of grace, but to the legal and external covenant God made with Abraham's natural seed, as such : together with an answer to Mr. John Flavel's last grand arguments in his Vindiciarum Vindex, in his last reply to Mr. Philip Cary, also to Mr. Rothwell's Pædo-baptisms vindicatur, as to what seems most material / by Benjamin Keach ...	Keach, Benjamin, 1640-1704.; Rothwell, Edward, d. 1731. Paedobaptismus vindicatus.	1693 (1693)	Wing K47; ESTC R39052	37,123	40

to require a Condition of a Covenant of one that we know hath no Strength to perform it If a Rich Man should offer an Estate of 1000 l. a Year to a poor Man that he knew was not worth a Groat provided he fetched him 20 l. of his own Money this Act would be reckoned a mocking and ridiculing this poor Wretch God did not require that small Condition of Adam but that he actually had strength to perform it you will say God will give him ability to perform So he did to Adam previous to the Covenant c. See his farther Answer p. 130. God will in due time bring down and abase the Pride of Man O what a Doctrine do some Men preach 't is time indeed now to lay aside our lesser Differences and make Head against such capital Errors The Foundation seems now to be struck at Reader since I preached these Sermons I met with Reverend Mr. Cotton on the Covenant who confirms the same thing concerning the Ax being laid to the Root of the Trees Speaking of that Text Mal. 4. 1. The Day cometh that shall leave them neither Root nor Branch There are two Things in the Root saith he 1st The First is the Root of Abraham 's Covenant which this People much trusted upon and that is it of which John the Baptist speaks Now is the Ax is laid to the Root of the Trees c. This is spoken in Mat. 3. 9. after he had said Think not to say within your selves we have Abraham to our Father ver 8. So that all their Confidence they had in Abraham 's Covenant Temple and Tabernacle and such Things is burnt up and so they have no Root left them to stand upon But 2dly There is something more in it for with this Spirit of burning the Lord by the Power of this Spirit doth cut us off from any Power of our own natural or spiritual Gifts whereby we thought to lay hold on Jesus Christ and we are cut off hereby from all Confidence that we have in our own sufficiency c. For there is an usual Confidence that we have in our own state tho' the Lord hath cut us off from the righteousness of our Parents and from boasting of his Ordinance yet we think there is some Power left in us Cotton 's Treaty of the Cov. p. 177 178. Again he saith It is spoken of the Ministry of John the Baptist which did burn as an Oven and left them neither the Root of Abraham 's Covenant nor the Branches of their own good Works He cutteth them off from the Covenant of Abraham and so by cutting them off from the Root he leaveth them no ground to trust to Pag. 21 22. I hope if this Text be well considered and our Arguments in the ensuing Treatise no wise and impartial Person will find there is any ground for Men to plead for Infant Baptism from the Covenant God made with Abraham I shall say no more but leave what I have said to the Blessing of the God of Truth who is coming forth to shake all false Foundations and States yea both Heaven and Earth that that which cannot be shaken may remain and rest thy Servant in the work of the Gospel From my House near Horsly-down Southwark this 6th of March 1693. BENJAMIN KEACH Reader My Answer to Mr. Flavel and Mr. Rothwell I find will not come into the first Part but the Second is going to the Press where you will have it THE Ax laid to the Root c. OR One BLOW more at the Foundation of Infant Baptism and Church-Membership MAT. III. 10. And now also the Ax is laid to the Root of the Trees every Tree therefore that bringeth not forth good Fruit is hewn down and cast into the Fire THIS Text is metaphorical there is no great difference between a Metaphor and an express Similitude and for the better understanding the Mind of God therein I shall 1. Open the Scope and Coherence thereof 2. Explain the Parts and Terms therein contained 3. I shall observe some Points of Doctrine reducable there-from 4. Shall improve the Whole by way of Application First From the Scope and Coherence of the Place 't is evident that John Baptist endeavours to take off the Jews particularly the Pharisees and Sadduces from the external and legal Covenant God made with Abraham and his Fleshly-seed or Off-spring See vers 7. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadduces come to his Baptism he said unto them O generation of Vipers who hath warned you to flee from the Wrath to come Historians tell us That there were Three more eminent Religious Sects amongst the Jews the First were called Essenes of whom we do not read in the Holy Scripture their main Doctrine was Fate they say our Annotators ascribed all Things to it Secondly The Sadduces were directly opposite to the Essenes they ascribed nothing to Fate but asserted the Liberty and Power of Man's Will in the most largest Sence or in the extravagant Height they denied the Immortality of the Soul of Man the Resurrection Angels c. All which the Pharisees owned See Act. 23. 8. The Pharisees were outwardly a very Zealous sort of People and tho' they were tainted with that false Opinion of the Freedom of Man's Will to do Good yet they ascribed much to the Providence and Grace of God they were Interpreters of the Law and separated themselves from others they spent much time in Fasting and Prayer 1. They held nevertheless a Righteousness by the Works of the Law by which they thought they were justified and accepted of God and so stumbled at the Stumbling-Stone Rom. 9. 32. 2. They gave a very corrupt Interpretation of the Law 3. They held many un-written Traditions of equal force with the Law of God by which means they made void the Commandments of God 4. They were a mere Hypocritical sort of Men in their Practices being very strict and zealous for the smaller Matters of the Law and neglected the weightier Things thereof Whether these Pharisees and Sadduces came with an intention to be Baptized or only out of Curiosity is hard to be resolved since 't is said They rejected the Counsel of God against themselves being not Baptized by John John however sharply treates them both calling them a Generation of Vipers a sort of Serpents of whom 't is said they make way into the World through the Bowels of their Dam. It may be upon this Account he gave them that Name or so called them who thought through the Bowels as I may so say of their Ancestors or being the Seed of Abraham or the Off-spring of Godly Progenitours to come to Heaven who hath warned you to flee from the Wrath to come What is the Reason that you come to my Baptism Whereas some of you think there is no Resurrection no Heaven no Hell no Angels nor no Spirits or you who think you are so Righteous as you need no Repentance

to hew and square some Persons for God's spiritual Building and to cut down others also as Trees that are Rotten and bear no good Fruit Therefore saith the Lord I have hewn them by the Prophets and what follows mark it I have slain them by the words of my Mouth Hos. 6 5. The Word of God either kills or cures 't is either a saviour of Life unto Life or the saviour of Death unto Death 2. Cor. 2. 16. Like as Sweet-Meats are to some Pleasant and Comfortable and to others Pernicious and Deadly The Abuse of Gospel Grace cut the Jews down and so it will all others who slight and contemn it the Word either softens or hardens like as the Sun who shining on the Wax it softens that but shining on the Clay it hardens that When the Word comes in Judgment then 't is like an Ax in the Hand of God's Justice I find one Learned Man speaking thus on this Place viz. The Word of God which is a spiritual Ax cutteth down spiritually Wicked Men and Hypocrites like rotten and barren Trees This is it which is elsewhere meant by plucking up destroying hardening c. Some saith he expound this not of spiritual Judgments threatned in his Word against impenitent Sinners but of the Power of the Romans which were the Instruments of God to destroy utterly the unfaithful and wicked Generation of the Jews The former is saith he the best Exposition but I conceive it may referr to both 3. The Ax may refer to Men whom God makes use of as Instruments in his Hand to cut down and destroy a Wicked and God-provoking People Hence wicked Rulers and Kings whom God raises up as Instruments in his Hand to chastise and cut down a rebellious People are called His Sword and the Rod of his Wrath and Indignation Psal. 17. 14. Arise O Lord disappoint him cast him down deliver my Soul from the wicked which is thy Sword And thus the Assyrian were an Ax in God's Hand to use as he pleased and the Romans afterwards to the Jews likewise Moreover God's Israel is called his Ax Thou art my Battel-Ax and Weapons of War with thee I will break in pieces the Nations and with thee will I destroy Kingdoms God's People in the last Days which are now very near shall be his Ax by whom as Instruments in his Hand he will destroy Babylon Jer. 51. 20 24. And I will render unto Babylon c. all the evil they have done to Sion in your sight saith the Lord. Reward her as she hath rewarded you double to her double Rev. 18. 6. Give her Blood to drink for she is worthy The Stone cut out of the Mountains without Hands shall break to pieces all the Powers of the Earth that oppose Christ's Kingdom or that stand in the way of its Establishment Dan. 3. 34. 44. 4. By the Ax may in the general be meant God's Wrath however it is or may be executed or upon whom Wrath will sooner or later cut down all the Ungodly both false Churches and tyrannical Powers of the Earth and all who continue in Unbelief and in Rebellion against God The laying the Ax to the Root discovers the final Fall and Ruin of Sinners whether considered as a Church or as particular Persons dig up or cut down the Root and down falls the Body and all the Branches of the Tree Fifthly and Lastly Therefore every Tree that bringeth not forth good Fruit shall be hewn down and cast into the Fire Now he draws a necessary Inferrence and Conclusion from the Premisses Every Tree that is every Man and Woman or every Corrupt Church be they who they will either Jew or Gentile Babylonian or Christian if not Plants of God's planting if not Fruitful to God if they Answer not his Design and End if they bring not forth good Fruit they shall be hewn down and cast into the Fire of external and eternal Wrath a Fire saith the Lord is kindled in my anger and it shall burn to the lowest Hell Wrath ceases and shall cease on them here but at last they shall be cast into Hell-fire where the worm dies not and the fire is not quenched Mark 9. 46. 1. The Words being thus opened and explained I shall take notice of two or three Points of Doctrine 1. Doct. Now the Dispensation is changed to be of the natural Root or of the National Church of the Jews or the Seed of Abraham according to the Flesh as such is no Ground of Church-Membership or 't is no Argument to be admitted into the Gospel Church or to Gospel-Baptism 2. Doct. Now in the times of the Gospel God is and will be severe with all ungodly unbelieving and impenitent Sinners he strikes at their Root at the Root of all their Hopes false Faith or fleshly Confidence whatsoever 'T is the first of these Propositions I shall in the first place insist upon and as I may be enabled explain and prosecute amongst you but the Time being near gone let me now with a brief word or two conclude at this Season 1. Caution Take heed on what you build your Hopes of Justification and Salvation what is that which bears up your Spirits for if you are Trees that grow not out of the true root Jesus Christ and the Covenant of Grace if you have not Union with the Lord Jesus or are not built on that Foundation or Corner-stone God hath laid in Sion down you fall for now the ax is laid to the Root of the Trees 2. Enquiry Is not Morality a civil and honest Life Doing to all as you would be done unto the Ground or Foundation of your Hopes Do you build upon this if it be so tremble remember Christ saith Except a man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God Joh. 3. 3. If you have no other Ground of Hope but from your own Moral Righteousness when Death comes with his Ax down you will go and be cast into the Fire 3. Consider All you prophane and ungodly Ones what is that which bears your Hopes up what do you build upon is it not on the mere Mercy of God or Death of Christ God say you is gracious slow to anger and we therefore have Hopes and do trust to that Christ dyed for Sinners c. You say right God is mercifull but what then will you therefore presumptuously go on in ungodly and wicked Courses oh know he is just as well as gracious and will in no wise clear the guilty Exod. 34. 7. Except ye repent therefore ye shall all likewise perish Luk. 13. 3. 5. Shall the Goodness of God which should lead you to Repentance be thus evilly improved i. e. to strengthen your Hands and encourage you to sin against him and provoke him 'T is I fear with you as Solomon speaks Eccl. 8. 11. Because Sentance against an evil Work is not executed speedily therefore the hearts of the sons of men are fully set in them to do

Old Covenant and the Curse thereof compare this with Gal. 5. 3. For I testifie to every man among you that is circumcised that he is a debtor to do the whole law Not as a late Writer says in his Opinion or in his intention that was Circumcised that he was such a Debtor for it may be justly doubted Whether they so thought or not nay by the Apostle's Words it seems otherwise i. e. They did not think any such thing tho' they might seek to be justified by the Law and Circumcision yet not that they thought themselves obliged to keep the whole Law perfectly but they who were Circumcised were verily obliged by Circumcision to do the whole Law when Circumcision was in Force Whatsoever Mr. John Flavel hath said in his late Book to the contrary notwithstanding in Answer to Mr. Cary And indeed the Annotators agree with us herein thus I find they express themselves Object But did not the Fathers then by being Circumcised acknowledge themselves Debtors to the Law Answ. Yes they did acknowledge themselves bound to the observation of the Law and to endure upon the breaking of it the Curse of it but they were discharged from this Obligation by believing in the Lord Jesus Christ who was made a Curse for them Arg. 10. The Covenant of Circumcision could not belong to the Gospel Covenant because 't is called in express terms a Yoke of Bondage Act. 15. 10. Gal. 5. 1 2. Now therefore why tempt ye God to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear I wonder any should call Circumcision a Privilege the Yoke was Circumcision which those false Teachers would have put on Men who were Believers among the Gentiles see vers 1. If the Jews had any Profit Advantage or Privilege by it it was chiefly because unto them were committed the Oracles of God or Ten Commandments not chiefly because unto them was given the Covenant of Grace for had it been a Gospel Covenant or a Rite thereof as our mistaken Opposers affirm he would have said so see his Words What advantage then hath the Jew and what profit is there in Circumcision Rom. 3. 1. Much every way but chiefly because unto them were committed the oracles of God ver 2. It did not seal to them the Covenant of Grace nor assure them of the Blessings thereof for so a Seal doth all the Blessings and Privileges of that Covenant to which it is prefix'd but the direct contrary i. e. it assur'd them That they should have the Law given to them the Oracles of God i. e. The Sinai Covenant which Law shewed them what a kind of Righteousness it was God did require of all Men that would be justified in God's sight it was not given to them to give Life or Righteousness but to shew the exceeding sinfulness of Sin and to regulate their Lives to put a curb upon their Lusts so hateful to God as also to discover unto them that nothing short of a perfect and compleat Righteousness could justifie the Creature in the sight of God and so the Law through the weakness of the Flesh lay'd all Men under Death and Condemnation exacting hard Service but gave no Strength to perform its Demands it killed but could not give Life And therefore as it was a Covenant of Works do this and live or the man that doth these things shall live in them which Christ abolished it by the Blood of his Cross. And since it appears by what the Apostle says That Circumcision obliged while it was in Force to do all the whole Law which he that did not so do was Cursed by it 't is evident that instead of its being a Covenant of Grace or the Seal thereof it rather sealed the Curses of the Law upon them for their Disobedience and therefore such a yoke of Bondage which they nor their Fathers were able to bear Circumcision it appears then was an Earnest to Abraham's natural Seed of the Sinai Covenant which Law was 't is evident comprehended as a Covenant of Works in Circumcision and so Circumcision was a Part or Branch of it God then and at that time taking his natural Seed into an external Covenant Relation with himself was thereby in his Wisdom obliged to give the said Law in Tables of Stone to them for the Reasons Use and End befo●e mentioned and as 't is by our Apostle frequently in his Epistles hinted the Apostle as a Learned Writer observes doth not here begin a Discourse nor to the number of Privileges and Advantages for he names but one in all but to the quality of this Privilege viz. That it was not an Evangelical or Gospel Privilege but only a Legal or Old Covenant Rite and Privilege this is the Chief of all the Advantages the Jews had by Circumcision i. e. there having thereby an assurance that the Law of God on Mount Sinai should be given to them So much as to the Proof and Demonstration That Circumcision was no Gospel-Precept or Covenant Obj. But perhaps some may Object If Infants as such were not included in the Covenant of Grace God made with Abraham how can dying Infants be saved 1. Answ. I Answer Must Infants of Believers be comprehended in that Covenant God made with Abraham or else Cannot any dying Infants be saved How then were any dying Infants saved before Abraham's Days or before that Covenant was made with him 2. I never said no Infants were included in the Covenant of Grace God made with Abraham but not as such No doubt all Elect Persons both Infants and the Adult were included in the Covenant of Grace and had or shall have the Blessings of Christ's Blood and Merits but the Covenant of Grace may be considered Two manner of ways or under a Two-fold Consideration 1st The inward invisible Blessings Grace and Privileges of it 2d The visible and outward Administration or Privileges thereof 1. Now who they be that are comprehended or included in the inward and invisible Blessings Grace and Privileges of it are only known to God not to us But the Gospel or Covenant of Grace as to the outward Administration and Privileges thereof only belong to such who know the Lord or profess Faith in Jesus Christ and therefore all that have a Right to Baptism and Gospel Church Membership must first be made Disciples by being taught by the Word and Spirit of God and so truly believe in the Lord Jesus Christ according to the great Commission of our Saviour Mat. 28. 19 20. and the Practice of Christ himself Joh. 4. 1 2. and of his Apostles Act. 2. 37. Act. 8. 14 c. Act. 10. and Act. 16 c. God hath many ways as Dr. Taylor observes to save dying Infants which we know not he can apply the benefit and merits of Christ's Blood to them in ways we are wholly Ignorant of and ought not to trouble our Selves with it Secret Things belong to God

who are all one in Christ Jesus no difference in that respect under the Gospel-Covenant 4. Circumcision belongeth neither to no Male Children but those born in Abraham's House or such who were bought with his Money c. it did not belong to any other godly Man's Male Children that lived in his days unless they joyned themselves to his Family but Baptism belongs to all the Disciples of Christ or to all true Believers in all Nations Mat. 28. 19. 20. 5. Circumcision was to be done precisely on the Eighth Day not before nor after But Baptism is to be done at any time and is not limited to any precise day 6. Circumcision made a visible Impression on the Body which the Party might perceive when he came to Age of Understanding Baptism leaves no Impression on the Body 7. Circumcision signified the taking away the sins of the Flesh or the Circumcision of the Heart Baptism signifies the Death Burial and Resurrection of Christ which Circumcision did not What Parity or Parallel there is between them I know not unless they say that Circumcision was the initiating Rite under the Law and Baptism is the initiating Rite under the Gospel to which I answer if this should be granted yet it did not initiate any but Male Children the Females were initiated without it and by the same Parity of Reason as Dr. Taylor observes no Female Infant should be baptized because none but Males were Circumcised If they say there is another Parity viz. none were to eat the Passover but those who were Circumcised so none are to partake of the Lord's Supper but such who are first baptized we are all baptized into one Body yet I must tell them all those who are Circumcised had a Right to eat the Passover and why do they not then follow the Paralell and give their Children the Lord's Supper as indeed the First Ancient Fathers did in the declining State of the Church for many Years they gave Children the Lord's Supper abusing that Text in the case of Baptism Joh. 3. 5. Unless a Man be Born again of Water and of the Spirit he cannot enter into the Kingdom of Heaven They taking Water there to be meant of Baptismal Water and thought Baptism did regenerate the Children and wash away Original Sin and accordingly they abused and mistook that Text in Joh. 6. 53. Unless ye eat the flesh of the son of man and drink his blood ye have no life in you and from hence 't was they gave Infants the Lord's Supper thinking as the Papists do that our Saviour intended the Sacrament of the Supper I needed not have repeated these Things and that which follows but that Mr. Roth-well of Sussex in his late Treatise still insists on this Argument you have the same in my Answer to Mr. Burket To this I might add a word or two of a Reverend and Learned Person of our Perswasion in this Matter They suppose Baptism came in or succeeded in the place or room of Circumcision which may saith he be understood many ways as First That those Persons may be Baptized that were heretofore Circumcised by God's Appointment And in this sence the Argument must proceed if it conclude to the purpose but in this sence it is false for Females were not Circumcised which yet were Baptized Act. 8. 12 13 14. and chap. 16. 14 15. and Believers out of Abraham's House as Lot Melchisedec Job were not to be Circumcised but believing Gentiles are universally to be Baptized 2. Saith he It may be understood as if the Rite of Baptism then began when the Rite of Circumcision did or was to end but this is not to be said neither for John Baptist and Christ's Disciples Baptized before Circumcision of Right ceased Joh. 4. 1. 2. 3. He Answers That of Baptism succeeding in the Place of Circumcision in Signification which as we have shewed in several Respects it doth not But Secondly as I said if there were such a Parity or Paralell between Circumcision and Baptism as they intimate yet it would not do their Business but thus to argue as the said learned Writer observes may be very pernitious For saith he indeed if this Argument be not warily and restrainedly understood an Egg is laid out of which manifest Judaism may be hatched but if it be taken restrainedly it no more follows thence but Baptism and Circumcision in some things hold forth the same which is more plainly said of Noah's Ark 1. Pet. 3. 22. and the Red Sea and Cloud 1. Cor. 10. 4. and yet we do not say Baptism succeeded into their Place much less do we inferr any Rite to be instituted in their Stead respecting the same Person yea verily it is to be seriously thought on 1. That by such Arguments drawn from Analogies not conceived by the Holy Ghost but drawn out of our Wit a new kind of instituting R●tes to wit from Analogies are brought in besides our Lord's Precepts and the Apostles Examples 2. This being once said by a like Parity of Reason and Arguing it will be lawful to bring into the Church under other Names and Forms the whole Burthen of Jewish Rites yea almost out of what you will to conclude what you will for Who shall put a Bound to Men's feigning Analogies when they go beyond the Lord's Precepts and the Apostles Examples It is well known That the Divine Appointment of Tythes to be paid and many other Things in the Writings of Divines are asserted by this kind of Argument besides the Rule of Christ's Precepts and his Apostles Examples 3. Hereby will the Opinion of the Papists be confirmed who affirm from 1. Cor. 10. 11. the Sacraments of the Jews to be Types of the Sacraments of Christians which is rejected by Divines that dispute against Bellarmine 4. This manner of Arguing will countenance the Arguments of the Papists for an universal Bishop because the Jews had a High-Priest and Justifie a Linnen Garment at Mass because there was such among the Jews and for Holy-Water Purification of Women Easter Penticoast and many more such Ceremonies for which the Papists do in like manner argue as appears out of Durandus's Rationals and other Interpreters Yea What hinders but we may give Children the Lord's-Supper if we argue this way since Samuel Jesus Christ under Age were partakers of the Passover And of Right all Males were thrice in the year to appear before the Lord and therefore it is certain they did eat the Passover c. Least any should take this for a light Suggestion I will add That grave godly and learned Men have often warned That we are to take heed that we do not rashly frame Arguments from Analogies Among others in their Learned Writings in English John Pagit in his Defence of Church-Government Part 1. Chap. 3. Pag. 8. and else-where John Ball in his Reply to The Answer of the New-England Elders Nine Positions Posit 2. p. 14. Lastly saith he It is to be considered again and again how by these Argumentations the Consciences of Men may be freed from the Danger of Will-Worship and polluting so Remarkable an Ordinance of Christ as Baptism is especially this Care lies on them who by Prayers Sermons Writings Covenants and Oaths do deter Christians from humane Invention in God's Worship diligently and 't is to be hoped Sincerely thus far this Reverend Divine I now might proceed to Answer divers others Objections as First Circumcision was a Type of Baptism 2. Infants were once in Covenant and never cast out 3. Circumcision was part of the Ceremonial Law which was Dedicated by Blood therefore no part of the Covenant of Works or Old Covenant 4. In Circumcision God gave himself to Abraham to be his God and the God of his Seed 5. Circumcision was the Seal of the Righteousness of Faith 6. Circumcision was an Everlasting Covenant 7. There is but one Covenant of Works and that was made with Adam 8. Paul Circumcised Timothy therefore Circumcision could not in it self oblige to the keeping of the whole Law 9 The Root is Holy therefore the Branches 10. The Privileges of the Gospel are restrained and narrower then the Privileges of the Law if Children are excluded 11. The denying Infant Baptism hinders the Progress of the Christian Religion Mr. Rothwell p. 2. FINIS The SECOND PART is in the Press