reference to that time renews the old charter of Abrâ—hams Cevenant to be a God to them In which promâ—… he includeth their children they being also together wâ—… their Parents scattered among the heathen and to be gâ—thered under Christ as their Prince and Head which gâ—thering and conversion of theirs shall be by vertue of tâ—… Covenant made with their fathers so that the childâ—… belong to the Covenant and the Covenant belongs to thâ—… before they actually believe Seventhly Consider the great absurdities and evil coâ—sequences which must needs follow from the denying 〈◊〉 believers Infants visible right to the Covenant of graâ—… and their visible Church-membership 1. It excluâ—… them all from the ordinary way and means of Salvationâ—… being neither in the visible Church of Christ out of whiâ—… ordinarily there is no salvation nor in the Covenant 〈◊〉 grace so much as externally in respect of Gods visible â—…pensation In this case what ordinary means is left 〈◊〉 their salvation the promises of God we know are maâ—… to the Church and God hath appointed and ordered 〈◊〉 spiritual good things to be conveyed to us and ours iâ—… Covenant way and by virtue of the Covenant 1 Sam. â—… 5. Ephes 3.8,9 Isai 42 6. Isai 49.6.7,8 Zach. â—… 11. Christ himself is the Mediator of the new Covenâ—… 〈◊〉 Testament Heb. 9.15 Heb. 12.24 If therefore Beâ—…ers Infants have no visible interest in this Covenant 〈◊〉 they have no visible interest in Christ as Mediator for 〈◊〉 is Mediator of no other Covenant but this the business â—…ich he transacts as Mediator is to confirm this Covenant 〈◊〉 and in the behalf of all those for whom he is Mediator 〈◊〉 9.24 Rom. 15 8. Nor can any partake of the spiâ—… of God and influence thereof but by and from the â—…enant of grace 2 Pet. 1.4 Nor of a glorious reâ—…ection and blessed estate but by vertue of the Covenant â—…ll be their God Luk. 20 36.37,38 Heb. 11.16 â—cts 26.6.7 Now if this sort of persons I mean the â—…cies of Infants be excluded from a visible interest in 〈◊〉 Covenant and promises truly then there is no visible 〈◊〉 nor means left for their Salvation 2. If only adult 〈◊〉 Gentiles who actually believe and are converted â—…ade nigh by the blood of Christ in respect of Coveâ—…t and Ecclesiastical holiness it will argue that that sort 〈◊〉 persons only were actually strangers before and not 〈◊〉 seed with them whether individually or specifiâ—…y considered Eph. 2.11 12,13 Nay this supposeth 〈◊〉 Christ took down the partition wall as it stood only â—…een grown Jews and adult Gentiles but as for the â—…dren of believing Gentiles it argues that either there 〈◊〉 no such partition wall betwixt them and the Infants 〈◊〉 the Jews or that it remains untaken down to this day 〈◊〉 thus to suppose what is it else but a vain imagination â—…rary to the word of God 3. To deny the Covenant-â—…st of believers Infants implyeth that there are two â—…ct Covenants of grace besides the subservient Coveâ—… on mount Sinai one Covenant made with the faith-â—…d their seed of old another with us excluding our 〈◊〉 seed and these two Covenants essentially different 〈◊〉 from the other But this were absurd to imagine â—…ist being the substance of the Covenant of Grace both â—…er the old and new administration thereof The new 〈◊〉 of sealing the Covenant by Baptism when first instiâ—…d was precisely with respect to the Jews Gods peoâ—… old Joh. 1.33 Matth. 3.1 John 4.1 compared with Matth. 10.5.6 to shew us that no other Covenâ—… in substance is now sealed by Baptism than what was maâ—… formerly with Abraham and his posterity Luk. 1 5â— 55,68.69,70,71,72,73 Acts. 2.38,39 Now if 〈◊〉 was one and the same Covenant in substance it will tâ—… unavoidably follow that either the Infants of the Jeâ—… were not in Gods Covenant together with their pareâ—… whereas it is evidently proved that they were or tâ—… their being in Covenant was meerly ceremonial and tyâ—…cal and so is abolished But grant that the way of sealâ—… the Covenant to them was ceremonial yet what ceremâ—… could there be in this great promise I will be a God 〈◊〉 thee and to thy seed after thee in their generations Doâ—…less this contains a principal substantial part of 〈◊〉 Covenant it self Or else it will follow that the Infantâ—… believing Gentiles are now in Gods Covenant and meâ—bers of his visible Church together with their Pareâ—… the Covenant being still one and the same in substaâ—… 4. If the Infants of believers now have no visible righâ—… the Covenant and Church of God will not God heâ—… be made a respecter of persons looking at the Jews 〈◊〉 their children in the times of the old Testament as beâ—… in Covenant with him but not so regarding the Infantâ—… the Covenanting believing Gentiles in the times of the 〈◊〉 Testament And whereas he is said to be a God to all 〈◊〉 families of his people Jer. 31.1 according to this â—…nion he is not a God in Covenant to any more than partâ—…lar persons actually believing and professing their faith 〈◊〉 not so much as by outward ecclesiastical administratioâ—… the children of his people which are the choicest part 〈◊〉 p op of their families whereby the Lord God buildetâ—… their families 5. This will also abolish and take 〈◊〉 that distinction which all along hath been observed in 〈◊〉 throughout the holy Scriptures for by this mean◠〈◊〉 seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent in the yâ—…lings and branches thereof will be mingled and confoâ—…ed together There will be no distinction of the Sâ—… God and of men of the seed of Isaac and Ishmael iâ—… Infant part thereof no Church distinction of chilâ—… clean and unclean which the blessed Apostle counts an absurd thing 1 Cor. 7.14 Else your children were unclean i. e. like the children of Pagans and infidels in no better case than they but now they are holy All mens children by nature are children of wrath one as well as another And therefore if we take away the distinction between Infants and Infants in respect of their Covenant-interest and Church-membership then they are mingled and confounded together I mean the Infants of Turks Pagans and Christians one as well as another as having their actual standing in the visible kingdom of Satan Consider I humbly beseech you in the bowels of Christ what hath been seriously written unto you and the Lord give you much of that wisdom which is pure and peaceable easie to be intreated and without partiality I will now condude this paper with two or three inferences or confectaries which may be genuinely deduced from the foregoing considerations First Hence we have cause greatly to admire the riâ—hes of Gods grace in the Covenant as extending not only â—o us but to our children also O the tender mercy and â—ompassion of God towards our little babes O what hoâ—our hath God put upon his saints thus to entayl the visible â—dministration of his grace on them and theirs He hath â—ot so dealt with Pagans and unbelievers what advantage â—ath visible believers and their Infants above others much â—…ery way to them are committed the Oracles of God â—hey have visible right to and interest in the Covenant and â—romises of God Rom. 3.1.2,3 As the Infant-children â—f heathen and wicked men do visibly belong to the kingâ—om of Satan so the Infant-children of the godly do visibly â—elong to the kingdom of Christ Luk. 18.16 II. Let believers therefore duly and constantly plead and â—…prove the Covenant of grace in the new dispensation of it 〈◊〉 only for themselves but for their little ones for as the Covenant is held forth in scripture in this large and comâ—rehensive manner so accordingly we should plead it with God in the exercise of our faith and prayers And if Chriâ—…ans would believe more and dispute less Idoubt not but it would contribute much to the silencing of this and thâ—… controversies among the Saints Lord thou hast made a gâ—…cious Covenant not only with me but with my poor babâ—… remember thy promise and make it effectual to their soâ—… let them not only partake of the outward administration 〈◊〉 of the inward saving grace of the covenant although 〈◊〉 house be not so with God as it ought to be yet Lord remâ—…ber thy gracious Covenant for me and mine III. Christian parents should be hence encouraged to 〈◊〉 vote their children to the Lord and to educate train tâ—… up in the fear and nurture of the Lord Eph. 6.4 seeing 〈◊〉 are taken into Christs school and family and are owned 〈◊〉 him as members of his visible kingdom O let not parâ—… suffer their children to take Gods name in vain to proâ—… the Lords day to abuse and revile his servants I know sâ—… the Lord that Abraham will command his children and 〈◊〉 houshold after him to keep the way of the Lord. Gen. 18 â—… chuse you this day saith Joshua whom ye will serve but aâ—… me and mine house we will serve the Lord Jos 24.15 〈◊〉 should be our resolution and accordingly we should teâ—… our children the fear of the Lord and instruct them concâ—…ing the nature properties privileges and duties of the â—…venant of grace and the feals thereof Baptism and the Lâ—… supper as the Jews instructed their children touching 〈◊〉 institution use and end of the passover Exod 13.14 IV. and lastly We should hence be admonished to â—…ware of and avoid those doctrines that straiten and cut sâ—… the Saints privileges under the new Testament adminiâ—…tion and exclude and shut out our Infants from a visiblâ—â—…terest in the covenant of grace and so leave us withoâ—…â—ny visible ground of hope from Gods revealed will iâ—… Scriptures touching their salvation if they happen tâ—… in their Infancy for what visible ground of hope can tâ—… be in reference to them if they have no visible right tâ—… Covenant and promises of God But blessed be the namâ—… the Lord who has not left us without visible ground of 〈◊〉 touching our poor Infants Nor should we mourn for 〈◊〉 so dying as those mourn that are without hope FINIS
find one word or sylâ—…ble in the Scriptures that makes for the repeal â—…d abrogation of the Covenant-right and Church-membership of Believers children 3. Christ came not to put Believers and their chilâ—ren in a worse condition than they were before â—e that would not accuse the woman taken in â—dultery but asked her where her accusers â—ere John 8.10.11 Will he who is so comâ—…ssionate and tender-hearted cast all Infants â—…t of his visible Kingdom without accusation â—oubtless it is a far worse condition to be out of â—…e visible Church of God than in it For orâ—…narily what God may do in an extraordinary â—…y I question not there is no salvation to be had â—…tin the visible Church of Christ This is the family of Christ this is the house of God â—… Tim. 3.15 And the Lord is said to add to the Church such as should be saved Acts 2.47 And they that do not belong to Christs visible Kingdom are said to be Aliens and Strangers from thâ— Common-wealth of Israel and the Covenants 〈◊〉 promise having no hope and without God in thâ— world Ephes 2.12 4. The Kingdoms of thâ—… world shall become the Kingdoms of the Lord anâ— of his Christ Rev. 11.15 Which undoubtedly is meant of the visible Church of Christ in respect of visible Church-membership Ordinanceâ—… and Privileges and if so how can we otherwiâ—… think but that this Kingdom will include anâ— take in the Species of Infants as members thereof It is also prophesied Dan. 2.34.35 Thaâ— the little stone cut out without hands which 〈◊〉 meant of the visible Kingdom of Christ thougâ— it be small at first yet in the later days it shall become a great Mountain and fill the whole earth which certainly will comprehend the Infants 〈◊〉 Believers Yea and when the Jews are re-ingrafteâ— into the Olive tree their children shall be re-iâ—grafted with them and shall be as aforetime Roâ— 11.24.25 Jer. 30.20 By what I have alreadâ— said it is evident that the Covenant interest anâ— Church-membership of Infants is not abrogateâ— 5. If the children of Believers now should 〈◊〉 excluded from visible Church-membership anâ— interest in the Covenant they would be in â— worse condition than the very children of tâ—… Gentiles were before the coming of Chriâ—… For in the times of the Old Testament if aâ—… Gentile or stranger did accept the Covenanâ— and own the God of Israel not only he but his children also were admitted members of the Church and reckoned to belong to the Covenant and Kingdom of God But according to the opinion of our dissenting Brethren if now the Parent accept the Covenant he himself indeed shall be admitted but his Infant-seed shall not be admitted to a visible member-ship of the Church of Christ so that we are in a worse case in this respect than the Gentile Proselytes were in the time of the Old Testament 6. The Lord hath said Exod. 20. That he will shew mercy to thousands of them that love and obey him which certainly extends to the children of the Faithful so far as to admit and entitle them to a visible Member-ship of his Church Doth God take care of Oxen are the very hairs of our head numbered by him and will he not think you visibly own and bless the poor Infants of his people who are so dear to him 7. There are Gospel Prophecies and promises which relate to the children and Seed of the godly The Psalmist tells us that the Seed of the righteous are blessed Psal 37.26 I will pour out my Spirit saith the Lord upon thy Seed and my Blessing upon thine Offspring and they shall spring up as among the Grass Isaiah 44.3,4 The Lord speaking of his people in Gospel times saith that he will make an everlasting Covenant with them and their Seed shall be known among the Gentiles and their Offspring among the people all that see them shall acknowledge them that they are the Seed which the Lord hath blessed Isaiah 61.8.9 And again Chapter 65.17,18,19,20 The The Lord saith there shall be no more an Infant of days nor an old man that hath not filled his days for the child shall die an hundred years old but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed and verse 23. These are the seed of the blessed of the Lord and their off-spring with them It is also prophecied Isai 49.22 of the times of the Gospel how God will lift up his hand to the Gentiles and set up his standard to the people and they shall bring their sons in their Arms and their daughters shall be carried on their shoulders And is it not evident from these and the like Prophetical expressions in the holy Scriptures that there are external visible priviledges of the Covenant and Gospel of Christ belonging to the seed of the Godly which do not belong to others Thirdly Let us consider that whosoever denies the visible Church-membership and Covenant-interest of Believers Infants and holds that the Covenant of Grace doth not visibly belong to such Infants leaves Parents without any visible ground of hope touching the justification and salvation of their Children that die in Infancy I say visible ground of hope As for Gods eternal election or the will of his purpose this is a secret thing and secret things belong to God but revealed things belong to us and our Children Deut. 29.29 If we hold not that the species of Infants do visibly belong to the Covenant and Church of God It will then follow that there is no visible ground of hope concerning them No man woman or child doth or can appear to us to be a member of the invisible Church and mystical body of Christ unless it be declared by God in his word or else by the visible profession and conversation of the party that he or she belongs to the visible Church of Christ In the prosecution of this three things may be noted 1 That sound hope and charity are regulated and guided by Judgment they must be grounded upon the Rule of Gods word and our judgment must have some Scripture evidence to proceed on or else it is but rash and blind Now where there is not so much as an outward appearance or visibility of Church-membership there is no evidence for us to build upon and consequently no right judgment or well grounded hope If therefore the Infants of Believers do not so much as visibly and externally belong to the Covenant and Kingdom of God then they are not visibly in a state of Grace and Salvation and so there is no visible ground of our hope touching their salvation 2 Our hope must rely on a word of promise or else it is but vain hope it must have a word from God to bottom upon as you may see in these Scriptures Rom. 15.4.13 Eph. 2.12 2 Thess 2.16 1 Tim. 1.1 Heb. 6.18,19 1 Pet. 3.15 Rom. 4.18.20 Now take away the visible Church-membership and Covenant-interest of Believers Infants and there is no
the Church of Christ And the mountains of the Lords house shall be established in the top of the mountains and exalted above the hills Isaiah 2.2,3 Parents then shall not only offer up and dedicate themselves but their children to the Lord And shall not only plead the Covenant for themselves but for their children also before the Lord. Propos 3. This being the true Gospel in the full latitude and extent of it our Blessed Saviour did accordingly command his Disciples to preach and publish it to the Nations They must go and teach all nations Baptizing them Matth. 28.19 Compared with Mark 16.15 Gal. 3.8,9 Rom. 1.16,17 They were to open and declare the whole Covenant in the largeness and extensiveness of it Namely the Covenant that was made with Abraham whereof this was the chief branch I will be a God to thee and to thy seed after thee And this they were to teach all nations whereas before the Church was limited to one nation now their Commission was extended to all nations teaching and baptizing them whoever in the Gentile nations shall take hold on the Covenant they and their children ought to be admitted members of the visible Church of Christ and baptized In the times of the Old Testament only one nation of the Jews were visibly the people of God in Covenant with him but now other nations are taken in likewise according to that Gospel promise Isaiah 19.23,24,25 And indeed in every nation the children make a considerable part of the nation and are always included under every Administration to the nation whether Promises or Threatnings Privileges or Burthens Mercies or Judgments unless they be particularly excepted Children were included and taken in with their Parents under the former Administration as hath been clearly demonstrated And there is no Scripture which proves that the Infants of Believers are excepted or left out in the New Administration of the Covenant nay it appears from divers Texts of Scripture that the Infants of Believers do visibly belong to the Kingdom School and Family of Christ And whereas some of our dissenting Brethren object that it behoved the Lord to give a Precept for putting Infants into the New Administration of the Covenant if he had intended they should have been included it may be easily answered that they always had a right to be reputed as belonging to the visible Church and Kingdom of God and therefore there needs no new putting in by any new Grant seeing there is no Barr made in Scripture against their visible Church membership Once they were in and where find we that ever they were put out or excluded Propos 4. As Christ commanded the Gospel or New Covenant to be thus preached as extending to Believers and their Seed So it was accordingly preached and held forth by the Apostles in their Ministry The New Covenant being good news and glad Tydings not only to the Believer touching himself but touching his children also As it was glad tydings to David not only that God had promised mercy to himself but to his House also for a great while to come 2 Sam. 7.19 That the Gospel was thus preached by Christ and his Apostles doth plainly appear when Zacheus was become a child of Abraham to wit by Faith the Lord Jesus promised Salvation to him and his House Luke 19.9 This day Salvation is to this house So it may be rendred And the Apostle Peter Acts 2.38.39 Exhorts his hearers to repent and be baptized and makes use of an Argument to perswade them thereunto taken from the benefit that should redound to their Posterity for the promise is to you and to your children If the Jews that are near or the Gentiles that are afar off obey the call of God and own the Covenant in the new Administration thereof then the promise is not only made to them but to their children also And thus Paul and Silas did preach the Gospel to the Jaylor Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved and thine house Acts 16.31 And this is the same Gospel in substance which God preached long before to Abraham when he promised to be a God to him and his Seed This was that Covenant which was confirmed of God in Christ long before the giving of the Law on Mount Sinai Gal. 3.16,17 Which Covenant being so confirmed is no other than the Gospel of Christ which is come upon the Believing Gentiles Gal. 3.13,14 Where the Apostle tells us that the Blessing of Abraham which extends to Believers and their Seed is come upon the Gentiles Propos 5. It is therefore a sinful neglect and undervaluing of the Grace and Salvation and great privileges held forth in the Covenant when Christian Parents do not believe the promises that are made not only to themselves but to their Seed That Salvation which the Lord Jesus himself and his Apostles preached and which those neglected Heb. 2.3 It was not barely Salvation it self but the Covenant and Promise holding the same forth for so we find Acts 28.28 That the Salvation to be preached to and heard by the Gentiles was the Gospel-Covenant and Promises which contain and hold forth that Salvation And this is that Mercy Riches and Salvation which is come upon the Gentiles Rom. 11.11,12,17,19,30 Gal. 3.14 So likewise Gods Salvation in Isaiah 51.6,8 Is his Covenant or Promise on which their Salvation doth depend as Calvin observes upon the Text So David speaking of the Covenant in reference not only to himself but to his House saith This is all my Salvation and â—ll my desire though he make it not to grow 2 â—am 23.5 This Covenant contained all his â—alvation which you see referrs not only to â—im but to his House and it hath been the â—…ivilege and practice of the Saints all along â—…us to plead and improve the Covenant which 〈◊〉 the fourth Consideration that I have now done â—…ith Fifthly Consider I beseech you that the Saints priviledges under the new and better administration of the Covenant are many ways augmented and enlarged of what they were in the times of the old Testament whereas the opinion of those brethren who deny the Covenant-interest and Baptism of believers children doth exceedingly straiten and diminish the priviledges of believers It being a great and comfortable priviledge to us that not only we but our children do belong to the visible church and kingdom of God and have a visible right to and interest in the Covenant of Grace whatever is pretended to the contrary let these four things be diligently and impartially weighed by our brethren 1. Would it not have grieved the believing Jews exceedingly to have had their poor babes excluded from the outward priviledgeâ— and administration of the Covenant since the coming of Christ when they were sure that their children had relation to and interest in the covenanâ— and Church of God before the coming of Christ not only themselves in their own persons but theiâ— children also were
but also with reference to their children eyâ—…g the Covenant of Grace as comprehending both â—hemselves and their Infant-seed And accordingâ—… they have improved and pleaded the Covenant â—ith God when they have made their addresses to him this godly parents have formerly done and this we ought to do still For the proof and confirmation of this point take a few instances out of Scripture 1 We find David 2 Sam 23.5 pleading Gods Covenant made with him not only for himself but for his house and children though my house saith he be not so with God yet he hath made with me an everlasting Covenant it being usual in Scripture when housholds are spoken of to intend the children though they be not particularly mentioned Gen. 30.30 Gen. 45.11,18,19 Exod. 4.1 2 Sam. 27.3 Prov. 31.15 Luk. 12.42 Yea the children are chiefly intended by the houshold 1 Sam. 20.15 2 Sam. 9.9 1 Kings 17.12.13.15 Psal 127.1.3 Prov. 12.7 Isai 31.2 Hos 1.4 Hab. 2.9,10 1 Tim 3,4,5 and 1 Tim. 5.4,8,14 compared with 2 Tim. 1.16 children being the ordinary instruments to continue and uphold the house as in natural and civil so in religious and ecclesiastical respects And hence they are builden of the house both ways as the hebrew radix signifies from which the word used for sons and daughters is derived And hence also we have that phrase of Gods building the women houses Exod. 1.21 And here in this instance of David that godly man where he saith although my house be not so with God yet c. he exerciseth faith in the Covenant which was a gracious Covenant with respect unto his house and therefore it is said to be all his salvation and all his desire not only touching himself but his house and children also When he reflected upon the great disorders and miscarriages which were amongst them 2. To go up far highâ—… 〈◊〉 higher than Davids time Our great Grandmother Eve also did thus eye and improve the gracious promise of God as made not only with reference to Adam and her but to their Infant-Church seed Abel being slain and Cain having rejected the grace of the promise when her Infant Seth was born she believed that God had for his coveâ—ant's sake looked graciously upon her in that Inâ—ant of hers and she called his name Seth for saith â—…e God hath appointed me another seed instead â—f Abel whom Cain slew Gen. 4 25. This she spake â—f him not as a meer natural child born accordâ—ng to the course of nature but as of a Covenant â—nd Church-seed and therefore she compares him â—o Abel and not to Cain and calls him by such a â—…me as signified her faith touching the Covenantâ—ate and interest of this Infant nor did she thereâ—… fail of her faith and hope as appears vers 26. â— This was likewise the practice of other parents â—embers of the Church of God Lamech when â—oah was born looking to the promise of God â—…ve his Infant the name of Noah Gen. 5.28.29 â—…lieving that that Child should be as it were a â—…ot to the Church and people of God though the â—…rrupt wicked world should be destroyed 4. â—…s for Abraham the father of the faithful there 〈◊〉 no question to be made but that he exercised â—…th in Gods Covenant both for himself and his â—…d the covenant being expresly renewed with 〈◊〉 and his Infant-seed Gen. 17.7,8 c. Which â—…s an everlasting gracious covenant And this â—…venant did comfort and support Abraham in reâ—…ence to his posterity and made him put up that â—…ly wish and prayer mentioned ver 18. O that Ishmael might live in thy sight But yet long before Abraham was born this was the practice of the servants of God even in dark times when the Covenant and promises were not so clearly revealed and much more ought it to be our practice now 5. It is further evident that the Saints of old did exercise faith touching the Foederal estate or Covenant-interest of their children by comparing Psal 102.25,26,27,28 with Heb 1.10,11,12 which referrs to Jesus Christ the Surety and Mediator of the Covenant in whom they pleaded with God and expected a Blessing from him for their children and that by vertuâ— of Gods Gracious Covenant Nor was it meerly a temporal vanishing good to their children which they looked for and expected but thaâ— their children might be established before Goâ— in the Spiritual Blessings of the Covenant aâ— you may see in that Psalm 102. Verse 25 26 27 28. compared together And there is the liâ—… ground for the exercise of our Faith in the Câ—venant touching our Infants now under tâ—… New Testament Administration For the fuller satisfaction herein I will lâ—… down these five Propositions Propos 1. That children are so comprehendâ—… and involved in their Parents by the dispenâ—…tion of God that the Parents act is counted tâ—… childrens act and the Parents neglect thâ—… neglect as we may plainly see in the case of Câ—…cumcision That Soul shall be cut â—ff that is 〈◊〉 circumcised for he hath broken my Covenant saâ—… the Lord Gen. 17.14 And yet the Infant hiâ—self was not capable of a personal neglect And though our Saviour required personal Faith in grown ones as to their own bodily cure yet as for their children it was accepted when their Parents believed on their behalf John 4.50,51 Mark 9. v. 12. to 18. Matth. 15 22. to 29. Not that the Parents Faith is meritorious only this we say That upon a Believers accepting the Covenant for himself and his Seed there doth result in the sence formerly expressed not only a personal right to a mans self but a parental right also to his children so as to render them capable of some privileges of the Covenant Propos 2. That this is one part or branch of the Gospel of Christ which is to be preached in the extent and latitude of it Namely that the Infants of Believers are Confoederates in and with their Parents being taken into one and the same Covenant together with their Parents What is the Gospel of Christ I pray you but good News Glad Tydings a Joyful Message And is it not good news that God hath made a Gracious Covenant with us and our children And that God owns and hath respect not only to us but also to our little ones As when one conveys or makes over a House or a piece of Land to a man and the Heirs of his Body it is a far greater privilege and more acceptable to the Grantee than if it were only made over to the man himself And in this latitude and extent the Gospel or Covenant of Grace was eyed and improved by the faithful from the beginning of the world as I have shewed And so it shall be in the purer times of the Gospel towards the end of the world when the power of Antichrist is destroyed and when all the Kingdoms of this world are become the Kingdoms of Christ Rev. 11.15 When nations shall flow into