Selected quad for the lemma: work_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
work_n	evil_a	good_a	tree_n	33,809	5	11.7409	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A47399	[The ax laid to the root, or, One blow more at the foundation of infant baptism and church-membership containing an exposition of that metaphorical text of Holy Scripture, Mat. 3, 10].	Keach, Benjamin, 1640-1704.	1693 (1693)	Wing K48_pt2; ESTC R20690	57,342	56

Ierusalem c. then how was the Ax laid to the Root of the Tree and how was the Chaff sanned-away out of the Floor 'T is evident his Ministry was to separate or sever the Wheat from the Chaff the good from the bad the carnal Seed from the spiritual and not to continue them together for his Ministry and the Ministry of Christ was the same tho' Christ had the Precedency or the far greater Glory yet the design of Iohn's Ministry was the same with the Ministry of Jesus Christ. Obj. But saith Mr. Exell it can be intended of no other Confession than what would consist with John's excluding or casting of none cut or purging of none out of 〈◊〉 Floor or cutting of no Tree down for that he did not that but threatned them with Christ's doing of it Mat. 3.9 10.12 speaking of that Confession the People made to Iohn Answ. This Man would have us believe that the Doctrine and Work of Christ and that of Iohn's were not consistent or of one and the same Nature but directly or repugnant contrary one to the other viz. Iohn receives all baptized all both good and bad and lets every Tree stand and grow as it will on its own natural and evil Root he gathered all into the Garner even both the Wheat and the Chaff too but Christ quite overthrew and destroyed when he came all this that Iohn did i. e. Christ lays the Ax at the Root and cuts Sinners down all must be true Penitent all must believe or Christ will receive them not baptize them not and he so purges his Floor that no Chaff must be received into his Garner i. e. into his Gospel Church for this the Man's Words implies Let the Paedo-Baptists view the Strength of this Champion Doth not Iohn tell the People when they came to his Baptism now the Ax is laid to the Root of Trees his Doctrine is laid to the Root and tended to purge out the Chaff as palpably as did the Ministry and Doctrine of Christ tho' 't is true 't is Christ's Work to make all Iohn Preached or any other Minister effectual Iohn Preached saying repent c. Christ Preached the same Doctrine saying repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand John is the voice of one crying in the Wilderness prepare ye the way of the Lord make his paths streight Mark 1.3 The Jews had made the way to Heaven broad and easie but Iohn strives to undeceive them and to shew the Way was narrow and the Gate streight like as Christ himself speaks because streight is the Gate and narrow is the way that leadeth unto Life and few there be that find it Mat. 7.14 but this Man intimates that Iohn Preached not this Doctrine but one quite different he makes the way so broad that all Ierusalem Iudea and all the Multitudes round about might come and walk in it which if so instead of prepairing of Christ's Way he obstructed and hindered Christ in his way and made him more work to do even to undoe all that Iohn had been a doing But pray be pleased to take his Answer to one of our Arguments brought against what he affirms that Iohn baptized Infants viz. All those that Iohn baptized confessed their Sins but Infants could not confess their Sins Ergo Iohn did not baptise Infants Obj. Says he We are not to believe any other Confession here intended than what was consistent with the Promise and Covenant made with Abraham c. so that if it must give no Right to the participation of the Ordinance that is a Confession must give no Right for then saith he the Promise and Covenant must be put an end to and they must have no Right by them p 37. Answ. 1. Doth not Iohn positively deny that the Covenant made with Abraham's natural Seed as such did give them a Right to his Baptism for this we have proved to be the proper Purport of that Expression of his Think not to say within your selves we have Abraham to our Father and Mr. Cotton asserts the same as I have shewed 2. We have also proved that the Legal Covenant made with Abraham's Natural Seed as such is put an end to by the Establishment of the Gospel Dispensation Obj. 2. It is not to be taken as intended of any other Confession than what would consist with the Capacity of them that were represented to John to be the Objects of his Ministry which were Parents and Children Mat. 4.6 Luk. 1.17 If there should have been any other Confession than what would consist with these how should John turn them to the Lord unless they might be as well turned without a Confession and without baptism as with it p. 37. Answ. 1. If the Confession consisted with the Capacity of those that heard his Ministry then Infants were excluded because they were not capable to make any Confession at all but 't was so Ergo 2. What tho' 't is said Iohn was to turn the People to the Lord and the Hearts of Children to the Fathers was he able to change the Hearts of Infants or were Infants Hearts turned from their Fathers that they need whilst Iufants to have their Hearts turned to them Are not my Sons and Daughters my Children when they are 20 30 or 40 Years Old as well as they were my Children when but Two days Old Obj. 3. It cannot be taken to be any other Confession than what would consist with all the People being then the visible Church of God c. p. 38. Answ. Then it appears by this Man all the whole Church of the Jews both Parents and Children were by Iohn Baptist to be taken into the Gospel Church by Baptism For else saith he all the whole Church must be overturned And so I have proved it is even the whole Jewish Church and Church-Membership Obj. 4. No such Confession can be intended as would exalt natural Strength or number of Years or acquired Abilities as Necessary Qualifications for this is contrary to Scripture 1 Cor. 1.27 p. 41. Answ. If it be a Confession of Sin it must be made by such who are at such an Age as are able to confess Sin and without natural Abilities what Person is able to make such a Confession can an Infant consess Sin 2. Tho' all boasting is excluded by the Gospel i. e. of our own natural or acquir'd Parts and Abilities yet we may glory in the Lord and in his rich Grace bestowed upon us will this Man say gracious Abilities to confess Sin are excluded then all Confession of Sin is excluded Obj. 5. No other Confession can be intended than what would consi●● with all the Regions Jerusalem all Judea all the People and all the Multitudes Answ. That is I suppose all the People one or another who could speak or say they were Sinners might be baptized and upon that Confession their Children also who could make no Confession at all If so all the World by this Argument may