Covenant PAg. 42. The next general head by him laid down to prove is That Circumcision is no covenant of grace but of works called a covenant in the flesh Gen. 17.13 but before he comes to his Arguments he opens the meaning of the word everlasting which is to be understood of the ever of the Law especially when it comprehends with it their seed in their generations and this he lays down as a maxim to prove which he brings Lev. 16. Num. 25.13 Exod. 40.15 ch 30.20 21. all which places speak of the Levitical Priesthood either of the line in which it should run or the way by which they were instated into their office by anointing or the manner by which they approacht constantly into the Tabernacle or of the manner of their atonement for the people all which should remain as an everlasting statute in their generations A. That by everlasting we are to understand the ever of the Law onely is no sound maxim for though it be so to be understood in the places quoted because it related to the Priesthood and Tabernacle worship yet if that covenant in Gen. 17. Which Circumcision sealed then upon which God promised the Land of Canaan as a type of heaven remains still as an everlasting covenant then his maxim is broken see therefore that parallel Text Psal 105.6 to Gen. 17. O ye seed of â—braham his servant he is the Lord our God he hath remembred his covenant for ever the word which he commanded to a thousand generations which covenant he made with Abraham and his oath with Isaac and confirmed the same to Jacob for a Law and to Israel for an everlasting covenant saying To thee will I give the Land of Canaan c. From which it appear that the word everlasting is to be understood to a thousand generations i. e. to the worlds end because the giving Israel Canaan was a type of heaven and from Abrahams days to Christ was but forty two Generations Therefore this difference is to be observed that when he speaks of statutes everlasting to be observed in their generations 'T is meant of those Statute Laws that God gave to Israel for worship and so as Mr Patient observes it is to be understood for the ever of the Law But when the Holy Ghost speaks of a covenant everlasting as in Gen. 1â— 15 'T is such a covenant that is to continue so long as the heavens and earth shall continue so Paul calls it Heb. 13.20 The blood of the everlasting covenant And this in Gal. 3.17 was that covenant that Christ confirmed to Abraham and his seed 430 yeers before the Law and called everlasting in that place of Genesis befo e quoted which everlasting covenant â—oâ—k in an everlasting seed and is called a Gospel-preaching to Abraham Gal. 3.8 and by John Rev. 14.6 is also explained to be an eveâ—lasting Gospel from hence also it is that Paul in Heb. 6. when â—e speaks of Gods blessing Abraham and multiplying his seed which he c lls â—he hâ—rs of promise calls it his immutable Counsel as relating to both the covenant and the seed of the covenant Now if there be an everlastingness in the covenant which takes in such a seed as it did to Abraham then must it continue longer then the Law or else there must be a mutability So again if the persons row covenant ng were changed i. e. If God were not the same to believers and their seed now as â—e was tâ—en or if believers should now covenant onely for themselves and leave out their seed then there is a mutation of the covenant therefore David in Psal 102.26 27 28. before quoted speaking of the infant seed of the Church tells us that though the heavens and earth should wax old and perish as a garment which words are quâ—ted by Paul Heb. â— 1 to a Gospel-â—h rch yet that Church sâ—ed should continue so also Psal 103.17 18. from everlasting to everlasting and that by vertue of t at everlasting covenant therefore what feeble maxin s this new Doctor teacheth and how ill he compares Texts we may here see Pag 4â— The next thing he opens is these words I will be thy God and thy seeds God and that two ways the oâ—e b a covenant of Grace the other by a covâ—nant of Works the first absolute the second conditional and so God gave himself to be Abrahams God by a conditional câ—vâ—nant of Works A. That this is strange Divinity that God should be a peoples God by a Covenant of Works since the fall I doubt not but it will appear to sound Ch istians from what hath been already said I shall therefore pass it to come to his confused Arguments some of which I have contracted into form to take the better prospect thereof P. Hâ—s first Argument runs thus That covenant that runs upon conditions is a covenant of Works but so doth Circumcision therefore A. To which I answer The first proposition is denyed and dâ—sproved and it is by him confest that faith and repentance is a condition of the covenant So that by this he affirms pro and con and may as well say plainly that the covenant of grace is a covenant of works because it hath conditions therefore his foundation is too weak and rotten for such a building P. In pag. 45. he would prove the land of Canaan to be given to Abraham and his seed by a covenant of works and so would be their God and then his Argument runs thus If God gâ—ve the Land of Canaan to Abraham and his seed upon the condition of Circumcision and keeping the Law then he gave the land of Canaan by a covenant of works but God gave the land to Abraham upon condition he would circumcise his seed Therefore A. This hath been already cleared that circumcision and keepâ—ng of the law was mans part of the covenant of Grace in which the Church was to walk with God being bound up to visible duties then as it is now and that Canaan was not g ven Israel by works my answer to the preceding head makes clear to which I refer the Readâ—r yea it is directly against these Scriptures before quoted Deut. 9.4 5 6 7 8 ch 10 11 12 13 16. Exod. 3.24 Heb 3.18 ch 4.1 2. ch 11. 8 9 10. yea so to affirm is to put an affront upon God himself and to make him ashamed of that title of being Abrahams God Heb. 11.16 See also the twelve Scripture-considerations before mentioned P. In pag 45 46. he brings several Scriptures to prove that Circumcision bound to the keeping of the Law But not one of all those places by him quoted speaks that they were bound to keep it as a covenant of works but as the Law of Christ and so Israels Gospel in which Justification was conveyed and therefore when we read of the Primitive revoltings from Gospel-Ordinances to Circumcision and the works of the law as the Church at Rome and Galatia
must needs be a covenant of works for if it had been a covenant of Grace it would have administred Justification with it This is the full sense as neer as I can collect out of such stragling discourses Though the Scriptures he brings in these pages to prove what he asserts were before omitted yet I shall here take them in as most fit in this place because the running over things so often would otherwise make the Answer so bulkish and therefore A. Though he saith Justification by faith was not given by Circumcision i. e. by the act done as neither is it now given by Baptism yet Justification was given in that Covenant of Grace which Circumcision sealed and so the Elect did obtain it Rom. 4.11 He received the sign of Circumcision a seal of the righteousness of Faith that he might be the Father of all that believe though they be not Circumcised So that Circumcision was the covenants seal and not the seal of his faith out of which the Gentile Nations were excluded till that Jewish Church was cast off so that the Jews were neerer then Pagans and Heathens notwithstanding any thing he affirms because the one was under the call of the Gospel and the tenders of Grace when the other was a far off Aliens and strangers Eph. 2.11 12 13. But when the Gospel came amongst them also then they were made nigh by the blood of Christ The Heathens in New England will any sober understanding Christian say they are as neer to a state of Justification as those that are born and bred up and dwell under the sound of the Gospel yea Mr. P. himself doth contradict what he in this affirms in acknowledging that the Jews were priviledged before other Nations in having such precious tenders of the Gospel p. 49. so that we see he doth not stick fast to his own judgement in any thing But wherein these precious priviledges should lye or how the Gâ—spel should be tendred if they were not visible under the covenant of Grace and so neerer then Heathens I cannot see nor I am sure he himself for had not Justification run in the Jewish Ordinances more freely then it did to the Gentiles that had them not they had instead of being priviledged been more in bondage and slavery then any Nation in the world 2. There is not any one place or Text or syllable in the 2 3. or 4 to Rom. or in 12 15 17 18 22. of Gen. or 3 4 5. Gal. that saith Justification by faith was not given in the covenant of Circumcision or that Justification by faith is opposed to Circumcision or that because Abraham was Justified before circumcised therefore Circumcision is a covenant of Works But this the Texts say that justification is to be had in the covenant of Circumcision which were it a covenant of works would not there be found Rom. 3.1 2 3 30. But 3. And because he tells us in pag. 55. That there is no Text in all the Scripture more cleer to prove the covenant of Circumcision to be a covenant of works then this 4. Rom. setting Faith and Circumcision in opposition shewing that Abrahams spiritual seed had their justification in another covenant and not in circumcision I have therefore taken it into this place because one answer will serve both To cleer this place therefore from this cloud of error cast upon it I shall stay some time to search into it The words are these What shall we say then that Abraham our Father as appertaining to the flesh hath found For if Abraham was justified by works He hath whereof to glory but not before God but Abraham believed God c. And how was it then reckoned when he was in Circumcision or in uncircumcision not in Circumcision c. A. By comparing this with the preceding chapter as also with ch 5 6 7 8. we finde the Roman Church that had imbraced the Ordinances of the Gospel were then falling back into the works of the Law and those legal Ordinances in them to gain justification And therefore they would be listening after those false Teachers that preacht up Circumcision after the manner of Moses which was the prevailing error in that Church and is at this day it being so fallen that they maintain good works do justifie Now the Apostle to bring them off from this error bids them look upon Abraham whom they acknowledged to be the father of the faithful and see how the case stood with him how he was justifyed secretly implying that if he that was the Father of all believers was not justifyed by works then it would be unreasonable in his children to think that they were and therefore it was their duty to follow him by which we see Abraham is held forth as a publick person in the Gospel to which Gospel-Churches are to have recourse to rectifie errors in doctrines of Faith and if upon search they found that Abraham was justifyed in urcircumcision then they should not think that Circumcision was of absolute necessity to justification and therefore tells them it was their mistake the Law was never intended by God to justifie any but ch 3.9 both Jew and Gentile are all under sin and ver 20. therefore by the deeds of the Law no flesh can be justifyed for all have sinned and are therefore justifyed freely by his Grace without the deeds of the Law ver 28. upon which the Romans make this Objection Rom. 4.1 What benefit or advantage then hath Abraham found to whom the covenant was made The meaning is because Abraham had not his justification by circumcision therefore they could not see any Gospel-benefit that came by that Ordinance at all so much is implyed in the words the like also ch 3. what profit then is there of Circumcision and it is the same objection in effect that M. P. makes onely a little changed For thus his runs If Abraham was not justified in the covenant of Circumcision then is Circumcision a covenant of works both which the Apostle answers that though Abraham and his seed were not justifyed by the Law as a law or covenant of works yet there was a considerable advantage the Jews had by circumcision and chiefly because unto them were câ—mmitted the oracles of God and ch 9.4 who are Israelites i. e a peculiar Nation inclosed by God himself from all the Nations of the world to them appertains the adoption and the Glory and the Covenants and the giving of the Law and the service of God and the Promises whose are the Fathers and of whom concerning the flesh Christ came As if he had said all this heap and bundle of benefits came in to the Jews and that Nation which no Nation under heaven had besides and yet for all this there were many that did not believe ch 3.3 For what though some did not believe shall their unbelief make the Faith of God without effect God forbid as if he had said The end for which
be sanctifyed in the husband and the husband in the wife a strange word to be used amongst heathens that every marryed couple were sanctifyed one to another so likewise to put the word Holy in opposition to uncleanness of birth is too high a tearm and such a way of speaking as is not to be found in Scripture Adding this likewise that the holy Ghost would have spoken so as not to be guilty of tautology for then the words must have run thus Else were your children bastards and there it would have broken off because the next words had been superfluous but now they are holy so that by this we see what an unseemly unbecoming interpretation he gives and what indignities he puts upon the spirit of God whereas if we look upon the words in that other sense wherein is implyed a federal holiness by Abrahams covenant which ever hath taken in Parent and childe it is a strong Argument inducing to imbrace the Gospel and carries with it a full sail of comfort to godly parents Else were your children unclean but now they are holy Thus also this place stands immoveable notwithstanding any thing he hath said or can say to the contrary If therefore children are holy by vertue of Abrahams covenant then you that are believers get into the fold of Christ that your children may receive the seal of the covenant baptism which is the mark of the flock CHAP. XVI Rom. 11. vindicated from false glossings Pag. 110. THe next place he opens is Rom. 11.16 17. but with what evidence of truth will be seen when it hath undergone the Test If the first fruits be holy the lump is also holy if the root be holy so are the branches P. He grants that by root is meant Abraham but yet in a double capacity Abraham as considered in the covenant of works And so working Abraham is the root of all the natural branches and so legally holy as Abraham was who was the first-fruits and the natural lump was all Israel so holy till that covenant of works was abolisht by the death of Christ and then this covenant being put an end to it must needs be that such branches who were onely natural must be broken off 2 Abraham is to be understood a root considered as believing Abraham in a spiritual covenant and so in this sense holy and thus onely the spiritual branches are said to be holy and by lump also must be understood all the spiritual seed in this spiritual covenant these distinctions duly noted will inlighten the soul to understand the place Rep. These are wild notional distinctions and not to be found in Scripture it hath been already proved that Abraham as a believer had never two covenants made with him nor is there the least word of two covenants in the chapter any farther then that gross mistake of the Romans who were looking after a justification by works as thinking the Law had been given by God to make men righteous legally these distinctions therefore of believing Abraham and working Abraham a spi itual root a carnal root Abraham in a covenant of works Abraham in a covenant of Grace a carnal and spiritual lump instead of inlightening the soul to understand the place rise like a dark smoak out of the pit of error that the truth is not to be seen in them therefore I may say of him as it was said of Reuben Thou art the first-born unstable as water thou shalt not excel the vanity of such stuff will appear by this that follows 1 If Abraham in a covenant of works be the root from whence the natural branches are broken off then the Gentiles that are ingraffed are put into a covenant of works because the Apostle cleers it that such who are ingraffed are put into the same stock from which the other were taken ver 17. and calls it a graffing in amongst them So ver 19. they were broken off that we mâ—ght be ingraffed 2 Then also when God shall re-ingraff the Jews they must be put into Abraham considered in a covenant of works and so the covenant of works must continue till this day because there cannot be an ingr ffiâ—g where there is no stock ver 24. 3 If the covenant of works be made the root or Abraham in that covenant then the casting off the Jews from that covenant could never be called the reconciling of the world because the world could not be reconciled by a covenant of works and that the world was reconciled by that covenant is cleer ver 11. 4 If the covenant of works now be câ—ast since Christs coming as he implyes the Gentiles could not be ingraffed into the spiritual part of the covenant till that was taken away which indeed he having confest in page 114. doth hereby contradict himself in what he hath before affirmed pag. 91. with many other places that Job and Jobs friends were all in the sâ—iritual covenant which was made as well to all nations as the Jews and they had as much benefit thereby as had the Jews 5 If the ingraffing of the Gentiles be to be understood onely of the spiritual lump as he saith then also is that spiritual lump ingâ—affed into a covenant of works from whence the naturâ—l branâ—hes were cut off For none of that spiritual lump of Israel were ever câ—â—â—ff as himself confess th thus we may briefly see what exâ—crable stuff he introduceth by such wild notional d stinctions P. In pag. 15 he explâ—ins Isai â—5 23 They are the seed of the blessed of the Lord and their off spring with them which saitâ— M. 〈◊〉 meâ—nt one y of the righteous off-spring i. e. such as are in the â—piritual covenant A. It is strange that a man should be so wilfully ignorant to gâ—ve a sense of Scripture so directly contrary to the Scope and Anaâ—ysis thereof For by off-spring is to be understood Inâ—ants as wi l aâ—pear by viewing the scope of the place which speaks of the conversion of Israel into that Gospel-state that shall be called the new Heavens and new Earth when they shall be brought to re-inhabit their own land under the Messias and enjoy the fruit of their labours And gives this as the reason why they should rejoyce with God and God with them Because they are the seed of the blessed of the Lord and their off-spring with them As if he had said though you and your off-spring have been discovenanted and cast off from being a people scattered upon the face of the earth yet as you and your off-spring were the seed of the blessed of the L. i. e. of Abr. to whom all blessings were given so you and your off-spring shal be as much ingraffed in all the blessings of Abraham as you were before For they are the seed of the blessed of the Lord and their off-spring with them which place doth fully parallel Rom. 11. when God shall ingraff the Jews again as natural branches into their own Olive-Tree P.
well as an Isaac Isaac had Esau as well as Jacob and so through the Scripture God brings forth a generation of wicked from the godly and a generation of godly from the wicked indefinitely A. That we have good grounds to judge their parents godly hath before been made appear but if this were all the difference methinks a sober is more becoming then a censorious judgement By kingdom of God we are to understand the visible Church most properly of such is the kingdom For otherwise it had not been a suitable reproof for their offence in that it lyed in their not suffering children to be brought to him to receive an outward favor and blessing They could not have hindered them from the kingdom of glory but from the visible Church they might therefore Christ takes them up roughly Suffer them to come unto me and forbid them not In which there is a double command implying much heat of spirit against such an action and much love and tender affection to the babes as if he had said do you that are my disciples reject them because they are children I would have you know for time to come they are as capable of blessings as your selves For of such is the kingdom of God my church kingdom is made up of such as well as of men and women Methinks Christ here looks with a chiding countenance upon the Anabaptists of our times who are guilty of the same offence II. P. But how wide is that which remains from the business where he saith the greatest number of believers seed never belonged to Gods kingdom when as we know the very instances by him cited do sufficiently prove that the seed of believers though they have proved vile and wicked yet they did belong to the visible Church and kingdom till by casting out they were discovenanted Did not Cain belong to the Church as well as Abel see Gen. 4.3 4 5. Heb. 11.4 So in Noahs Family were not Ham and Japhet as well baptized in the Ark and so members as well as Shem was not Ishmael as well a Church-member in Abrahams family as Isaac so Esau the like as well as Jacob These are his own examples by which we see from the very first preaching of the Gospel the seed of believers have ever had a visible right of Church-membership till cast out and of such was the kingdom and saith Christ of such is the kingdom so that if the kingdom was of such and is of such then for shame acknowledge them to be subjects P. If children be admitted into the kingdom of God by vertue of a covenant of life made by faith and generation then this crosseth the doctrine of the New-birth Joh. 3.5 A. The contrary hath been already proved for if that were true how came that doctrine of the New-birth to be taught in Israel by the place cited and yet their seed were then admitted Church-members as now I refer the Reader to my former Answer to the third fundamental As for the making a covenant of life by birth we abhor it as hath been often said it is onely a visible right we plead for and that which they ever had P. p. 135. The place before cited is explained by Mat. 18.3 4 5 6. He that offends one of these little ones that believe in mâ— where it is spoken of children in grace and whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall not enter therein that is such like in grace as these in nature A. That the words are spoken of Infants is cleer for Christ took a little child and set in the midst of the disciples and tells them that such did believe 2 The resemblance cannot hold for children are pettish cross and froward by nature therefore that example had been very unsuitable but Christ shews the right such little ones had to the kingdom because they had faith And whosoever receives not the kingdâ—m of God as a little child that is as a little child receives it cleerly implying that such children are capable of receiving admission into the kingdom Therefore it doth not at all relate to a parity P. And whereas he afterwards tells us to expound it of believers adult is most agreeable to the Analogy of saith and that the whole Word of the Lord disclaims the contrary as destructive to Gods truth A. The Analogy of faith hath ever taken in children into the Church and kingdom therefore his high language is but like a flash of lightning and fitter to take with children and boys then with men of Reason and Conscience What he hath said hitherto hath been examined and not a word in Gods book makes against it But the whole tenor of Scripture with much pleasant harmony doth agree to give believers seed a name in Gods house And whereas he saith such a practice destroys the truth of God it hath been also sifted and it pleads to his Charge Not guilty CHAP. XIX The Word Administration carpt at by M. P. justifyed and Gal. 4. answered and cleered Obj. p. 137. BVt this which you call a covenant of Works consisting of temporal Promises Laws and Statutes is to be understood of a form of administration of the covenant of Grace and not a distinct covenant of Works P. I know this Objection some bring but if it be well weighed it is inconsistent with their own Arguments for if that be true then was there no covenant made with Abrahams seed but onely the administration of a covenant therefore ill do they affirm that the covenant was made with them therefore the Administration This Objection is false and groundless as appears by several express Texts of Scripture which do evidently prove it two distinct covenants A. He here quarrels with the word administration because he understands it not for though it be so cald by reason the spiritual part runs therein yet it loseth not the name of a covenant because it is mans part of the covenant and called Gods covenant and yet it is Gods administration to man For his grand mistake is in that he thinks the covenant of grace hath no conditions but absolute the contrary to which is before proved The Rainbow in the clouds is called Gods covenant Gen. 9. As here circumcision is called his covenant but surely M P. will not deny but it is an administration wherein Gods favor to the world is manifested how else can it be called a token of the covenant and a sign thereof as a so is circumcision called a sign and seal and token of the covenant And when God saith this is my covenant he means not a distinct covenant from the other but that part of the other which related to mans duty And so it was Gods Administration Office to the world I need not stand much upon this because it is so fully spoken to before in proving circumcision no covenant of works For the leprosie that overspreads all his book ariseth from that I
Sacraments although it be but for a day this is lookt upon as a sufficient warrant to make such a person fit for the work and thus the practice thereof shall run in the vein of Discipleship one baptising the other which is expresly against the very nature of the Ordinance and all Scripture examples and presidents Look upon John the Baptist a Prophet a man sent by God the Disciples of Christ all by himself called and Commissioned and so they were to administer baptism in a way of Office to the end of the world and not onely the Apostles but their successors also Pastors Teachers Which are as well given to the Church as the Apostles Prophers Evangelists Eph. 4.11 and do and shall continue so long as the Commission remains till the worlds end had it been given equally alike to all the Church Disciples he would not have singled out persons in Office so Philip an Evangelist called by a voice from Heaven Ananias called by a vision from God Act 9. Obj. But Baptism is an Ordinance that belongs to the Church and it is in their power to give the keys as they shall judge fit Answ The Church can do nothing against the truth but for the truth nothing without the rule If granted that all the males have their votes yet the administration of the keys lies in the Office or Angels power for administration of the Seals Rev. 21.12 Ezek. 44.5 11. Thirdly Consider yet further how shall we know who is enabled to bring down God to the soul and the soul up to God Conversion is an act of Grace and not in the Creatures power and though a Minister may be truly called to the work by God and man yet we know the word may not work for many years but like seed may lie hid in the ground yet must not this man baptize any by this rule though converted by others because the success of his own labour lies hid so as that he is not able to say he hath been instrumental in that kind to the souls of his hearers In pag. 7. He strikes down our Ministry at a blow and indeed opposeth diametrically what before he affirmed That though a Minister do preach so as to convert and bring down God to the soul yet if he be ignorant of this practice of dippping which he calls the true way of dispensing the Ordinance and a fundamental he is no justifiable Minister that in stead of dipping shall sprinkle carnal ignorant Children By which we may see that the foundation of a true Ministry in his sense lies more in the water then in conversion For he denies any true Gospel Ministry but those of his own stamp So that when the Apostle Paul affiâ—ms the truth of his Ministry was evidenced by that Seal the seal of my Apostleship are ye in the Lord 1 Cor. 9.2 This Author would have it run The seal of a justifiable Minister are ye in the water and thus he destroys not onely the present Ministry of Christ in this world but also that of the Apostles themselves For as I shall afterwards prove they were all strangers to this practice of dipping their manner being by pouring water on the subject If Jesus Christ shall then justifie our present Ministry in sealing their labors it is too bold an act for a man of such a feeble practice to condemn them Thus the Reader may see his result on both hands when the Argument is brought against our practice then no man is a lustifiable Minister except he know how to plunge and doth so practice when he comes to shew what a lawful administrator is in his sense then he that can bring down the soul to God so that we may from hence see what a Babel Ministry this man of contradictions would set up in the world If I should here ask the Author of this new Baptism under what Ministry he was converted no doubt but his answer would be very favourable to those whom he here opposeth Remember then your third Doctrine That 't is the disposition of such that have the beginning of saving light to desire more and that from them whom God hath spoken to their souls by Or else you may question whether you have any light at all But because 't is to speak a word for the truth in opposing error let me therefore return him Talion Law 1. He that takes the Covenant of Grace for a Covenant of Works can be no Gospel Minister because ignorant of the Gospel in the fundamentals thereof 2. He that affirms a Believer at one time may be under two Covenants of Works and Grace he is no Minister of the Gospel 3. He that denies the extent of the Covenant of Grace to be as large and compleat under the Gospel as it was under the Law can be no Minister of the Gospel 4. He that is not lawfully Ordained to the work of the Ministry he can be no lawfull Minister because like the false Prophets he runs before sent 5. He that shall by his Doctrine and Practice put greater burthen and yoaks upon the necks of Christians then ever the false Teachers did by Circumcision Acts the 15. he is no warrantable Minister But such a one is this Author of the Doctrine of Baptisms ergo The Minor I shall make appear through this whole discourse given in as an Answer to his Book Lastly as to that contempt and reproach which he casts upon the seed of Believers who are Abrahams children calliâ—g them carnal ignorant as though they were uncapable of any good Let him that rails know that he that casts off Abrahams seed when infants as not fit matter for worship doth keep them out as an unclean thing And so though God hath separated them to a holy use they are made unholy and kept off as execrable and so accursed Which the Lord no doubt foresaw when he gave Abraham that promise Gen. 12. I will curse him that curseth thee I say this this word of the Lord will at last reach such and pull them down if their â—est were built as high as the stars of heaven Therefore hear and fear and do no more so wickedly all ye that hope for the blessing of Abrahams Covenant CHAP. III. His second Essential relating to the manner of Baptisme by Dipping answered THe second Essential he so calls in this Doctrine of Baptismes is the manner thereof by Dipping not sprinkling To prove which though he say the word is rendred to Dip Dous Drown or Plunge in this he speaketh with a hood-wink'd understanding and must shake hands with the Roman Tribe that acts from an implicite faith believing as learned men tels him though yet he can hardly afford them a good word or charitable censure As for the place he brings 2 Kings 5.14 where the Prophet bids Naaman go wash in Jordan seven times and he dipt himself Answer Though washing is sometimes by dipping yet not alwaies yea but seldom A man may properly be
Covenant was no Covenant of works but that part of the Covenant of Grace that related to mans duty therefore Gen. 17.14 t is called Gods Covenant and the neglect of mans duty in that Covenant was a breach thereof Q. But if that place Jer. 31.32 with Heb. â— 6 7. be to be understood of a Covenant of Grace and not of works then how may it be said that Israel brake that Covenant Can a Covenant of Grace be broken The Answer to this upon what is laid down in the Analysis of Abrahams Covenant is plain for there is no Covenant of Grace but hath Conditions which bind man to his duty it was so under the Law faith and repentance was the condition of the Covenant then as t is now and because faith without works is dead being alone Jam. 2.17 therefore God hath given Oâ—dinances and the Laws Moral to his people to keep faith alive and man may break his part of the Covenant so it was with Israel Rom. 4. when the Question was put What advantage then hath the Jew Much eâ—â—â—y way because to them as to all Israel was committed the Oracles and the Covenant c. Here was the Covenant of Grace externally administred to all but yet there was but a remnant saved and the greatest part of Israel were Covenant-breakers and the like we have now and is and must be acknowledged by all our dissenting friends of the dipt Societies an external and internal administration of the Covenant For their confidence is not so high as to say that all they dip are really within the Covenant for we see many of them turn Apostates from every thing that is good and prove carnal wretches as did Simon Magus Judas Hymeneus Philetus Ananias and Saphira who were all within the Covenant visibly If they say they baptize not upon the account of the Covenant at all but upon the profession of Faith I answer either they baptize as visible believers or real if visible then as visibly within the Covenant if as real then really within the Covenant so that still the Covenant lies at bottom and there is as much falling from Grace and breach of the Covenant upon their own principles as is pleaded for The like answer also is to be given to that other clause of Gods being a husband to them for the whole Nation of Israel was ingaged to God as a spouse Jer. 3.14 and so under the Law of marriage and therefore when they were divorced the whole Nation was cast off yet one of a City and two of a family were taken to Zion I such as were spiritually within the Covenant they had still communion with God v 14. so now the whole Church is visibly under a Covenant of Marriage to Christ believers and their seed and are therefore the children of the kingdom but yet we know the greatest part of a Church may be hypocrites and so the children of the kingdom may be cast out so that it is most clear a Covenâ—nt of Gâ—ace in this sense may be broken in the visib e pâ—rt thereof by the vâ—sible memâ—ers of it P. The nâ—xt I find his piece driving at is to prove the Covenant of Grace not to be made upon conditions but absolute to prove it he takes up many pages though to little purpose for what he in one place denyes in another place he affirms as in pag. 35. where he confesseth Faith and Repentance the condition of the Covenant Answ If it be the condition of the covenant then the covenant is not made without conditions For indeed to speak of a covenant absolute without conditions is to speak of that which cannot be for if it hath no conditions it is no covenant but only a tender of grace And here lyes much of Mr. Patients great mistake to take the tender of Grace for the covenant and thus he falls into the Antinomian Doctrine and therefore as faith and repentance is the condition so the covenant is not concluded betwixt God and the soul till those qualifications are wrought therefore the veins of free-grace are full of riches because as God tenders so he gives secretly the qualifications that lay hold upon the tender so he did to our first Parents 2. But besides if the covenant hath no conditions why then doth not Mr. Patient baptize all that come but they must give such a strict account of their faith as before he speaks of or why are any cast out that prove rotten will they make conditions themselves when God hath made none For the very ground of administring all Ordinances is from the covenant as it is conditional and if it be not conditional then is it made with a drunkard as a drunkard and with a whoremaster as a whoremaster with a blasphemer and Sabbath breaker as such and then to no purpose is that of Paul 2 Cor. 6.14 15. What fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness light with darkness Christ and Belial together that place Jer. 32.40 had such conditions as God requires For his fear was wrought in their hearts that they should not depart from him the like also Ezek. 16.59 Thus saith the Lord I will even deal with thee as thou hast done which hast despised the oath in breaking the covenantâ— and because he afterward speaks of my covenant thy covenant therfore M P. concludes here were two covenants the one broken which was mans the other kept which was Gods But in this also there was but one covenant which had two parts Gods part and mans which was their manner of covenanting with God to make an oath to walk in his ways and when they had broken this oath they had broken the covenant second their part of the covenant see that place also Neh. 10.29 They entred into a curse to walk in the laws of God that were given by Moses the servant of the Lord The Law given was the terms God bound them to in a way of Grace and Mercy and their oath or curse declared their owning thereof so that when the oath was broken the covenant was broken therefore the deduction that Mr. Patient makes from these Texts that there are two covenants is unsound and rotten and savours of too ignorant a spirit in the covenant of Grace The like also Ezek. 36.25 26 27. I will sprinkle clean water upon you I will take away the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh c. And ver 37. I will yet for all this be enquired of by the house of Israel is not here a condition whereas therefore Mr. Patient tells us if Gods people sin He binds himself to pardon their sins and to remember their sins no more and therefore it is impossible for a soul once in this covenant to miscarry Answ Such an application as this is fitter for a Synagogue of Libertines then a Church of Christ God never pardons the sin of a people but he makes them holy And before he pa dâ—ns their sin
seed and what God therefore sealed to Abraham he sealed also to his seed All which was to shew the immutability of his Counsel to the heirs of Promise not only to such as were heirs under the Law but to the worlds end as the Apostle tells us before in the place quoted II. His next reason or Argument why it sealed onely to Abraham is because it is said he received it that he might be the Father of all that believe Which could not be said of Isaac because he was but a child A. Though Abraham was made the Father of the faithful by having that seal given him yet he could not have been such a father without such a son because they are relatives not onely in the natural relation but in the promise for though Ishmael was born thirteen yeers before Isaac was promised yet had God given him circumcision then Abraham had not been the Father of the faithful because Ishmael was not a faithful child So that that which was required to make Abraham a father of a faithful son was required in Isaac to make him such a son of a faithful Father Therefore that seal that was given to Abraham as a father was given to Isaac as a son III. His third Argument to prove it a seal onely to Abraham is Here is the spirit of God affirming the sealing use of Circumcision to Abraham onely upon a reason special to him therefore where the Scripture hath not a mouth to speak we must not have an ear to hear A. The spirit of God speaks no such thing but the spirit of M. P. for where is it said it was a seal to him onely no such Text is to be sound in all the Scriptures for as is before said what it sealed to him as a father it sealed to Isaac as a son of that Father for the covenant related to posterity I may therefore say of him as the Prophet said of the false Prophets who said the Lord saith it as here M P. doth when indeed the Lord hath not spoken therefore the Scripture hath a mouth to speak if he had an understanding heart to know when and what it speaks let such therefore who have ears to hear hear what the spirit speaks to the Churches IV. P. A fourth ground or reason he gives that Circumcision sealed onely to Abraham is drawn from Rom. 4.13 The promise that he should be the heir of the world was not to him and his seed through the Law i. e. saith M. P. through the covenant of Circumcision But through the righteousness of Faith For if they that be of the Law be heirs then Faith is made void A. 1. He here again supposes that which is denyed and the contrary proved i. e. That Circumcision was not a covenant of works 2. When it is said the promise of his being the heir of the world was not made to Abraham through the Law The Apostle means that it was not to be confined and shut up to the generations of the Law onely and so it was not to his seed through the Law onely but through the righteousness of Faith that is his Patrimony came upon such high tearms as would reach to a thousand generations Psal â—05 even to the Gentiles under the Gospel to the worlds end and that this is his meaning is clear by the following words For if they which are of the Law be heirs i. e. They and they onely but heirs they were Faith is made void That is the faith which Abraham had by which he did believe the multiplying of his seed in all Nations upon the grounds of the Promise that faith is quite frustrated because it went no further then the generations of the Law And therefore it is of faith that it might be by Grace to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed and then he fully explains what he said before Not sure to that seed onely which were of the Law where the word onely doth suppose it was sure to the legal seed therefore it cannot be meant of a covenant of works for so the promise was never sure to any from the Creation to this day or ever shall be 3. If the place were to be understood in his sense namely of a covenant of works Then it confutes in direct terms wâ—at he hath so much pleaded for in his book As that Canaan should be given by a covenant of works For the promise that he should be the heir of the world in which that land was included was not to him and his seed through the Law i e. saith Mr P not by the covenant of Circumcision but through the righteousness of faith And if the Apostle saith not by that covenant then why doth Mr P. so often affirm elsewhere it was Thus we see there is nothing in all he hath said that proves Ciâ—cumcision either a covenant of works or seal to Abraham onely but enough to prove it a seal to all the heirs of promise even whilst they are infants All ye therefore that belong to the covenant of Grace fear not to give your infant-seed that Ordinance which now is the seal of the covenant P. The last Scripture he here brings to prove Circumcision a covenant of works is Gal. 4. latter end where the Apostle compa es the two covenants to Sarah and Hagar the covenant of Circumcision is held forth to be the bondwoman ch 5.1.2 3. ch 6.13 whâ—ch place doth prove the covenant made in the fleshly line of Abraham is a covenant of Works And that which the Gospel is set in opposition to For the covenant of Grace is I will put my Law in their hearts but the covenant of Circumcision is not in the heart but in the flesh A. The diligent Reader may easily observe the palpable contradictions that are here to be found Hagar types out the covenant of works Sarah types out the covenant of grace and the flâ—shly covenant of Circumcision as he calls it which is typed out by Hagar is made in the fleshly line of Abraham which must be Ishmael And then he contradicts what he hath been all this while maintaining i e. that the fleshly line is Isaac and Jacob in which the covenant of Circumcision was to run and so also he opposeth the Apostle Gal. 4 23 But he that was born of the bondwoman was born after the flesh but he of the free-woman was by Promise so that what Paul calls the children by promise he calls the children of the flesh Thus men leaving truth making wise God leaves them to publish their own folly That place Gal. 1.2 3. is already answered they were such that were falling back from Grace to be justified by works through their gross mistake thinking as Mr P. doth that the Law had been given for a covenant of works Lastly Though God hath promised to write the new covenant in the heart yet the seals of that covenant are written in the flesh so it was then
covenant of Grace as those hypocrites had so often mentioned So in their own P. So he quotes Joh. 16. that Christ calls the unbelievers in the national Church of the Jews the world I have chosen you out of the world and their being circumcised freed them not from being justly so called A. The answer is The words are directed to the Disciples as a people that acknowledged Christ exhibited and so were Gospel worshippers And the unbelievers amongst the Anabaptists may as well be called the world if the comparison relates to one that truely believes as the Jews were called the world when Christs words related to his real believing Disciples For the denying of Christ to be the Messias was that which distinguisht because such a denyal led them to keep up a form of worship that did directly oppose the Gospel P. Another Scripture Rom. 4.16 It is of faith that it might be by grace but if the covenant was made to the seed it could not be of faith and so not of grace A. Here is sad work made in his interpretations was it not of Faith to Abraham that it might be by Grace to him and his seed for shame abuse not the Scripture so grosly It was of Faith that it might be by grace to the end the Promise might be sure to all the seed and who this seed was he tells us little children if we may draw it from Isaacs being a child in Isaac shall thy seed be called And because the Gentiles shall know that the word seed reaches them therefore he adds not to that onely which is of the Law c. So that as it was to Abraham by faith that it might be of Grace to his seed So is it now of Faith to a believer that it might be of Grace to his seed So also he quotes Act. 15.4 He put no difference between us and them purifying their hearts by faith A. If God put no difference how durst he do it then P. So Gal. 3.2 4. we are all one in Christ Jesus A. How then can he answer it before God to make us twain For as Abraham and his seed through the Law were in covenant so are believers and their seed now or else we are not all one in Christ but two seeds P. As for that opposition he gives page 99. That a temporal election into a temporal covenant was a type of the spiritual election into a spiritual covenant A. It is a whimsey of his own brain that can never be made good and therefore it shews a giddy spirit after notions P. Again Heb. 11.6 without faith it is impossible to please God therefore none can be in a covenant of Grace but such as believe So Abel A. We please God by Faith now as those worthies in that chap. mentioned did then for therefore the Apostle brings in them for an example so the answer is still the same Look how Abraham our Father pleased God in circumcising his seed as in the covenant in which there was an act of Faith and how the contrary in Moses neglecting the seal displeased God so are believers to please God by sealing their seed and the neglect hereof provokes the wrath of God as it is evident from this example by which we see that if we would please God as Abraham did we must then walk in the steps of Abraham and it is agreeable and not opposite to faith or grace to seal our Infants Thus Christian Reader thou maist see all the Scriptures by himself quoted to maintain his opinions they do like the stars of heaven in their courses fight against this Sisera P. The last place is Rev. 21.8 The fearful and unbelieving shall have their portion in the lake of fire A. Is not this well applyed to the thing in hand or doth he with one blast of his Nostrils turn all children to hell The Lord rebuke him even the Lord. CHAP. XV. The 2 Act. 3.1 Cor. 7.14 vindicated in answer to his last general head Pag. 101 102. WE are now come to his last head to examine the answer he gives to our Scripture Allegations and accordingly to reply The first Scripture he quarrels with is Act. 2.39 The promise is to you and your children and to all that are afar off even as many as the Lord our God shall call P. To which he saith the promise is just to so many as God shall cal and by Promise he opens the remission of sins and gift of the holy Ghost and then he makes this flourish I pray take notice how evident the Text makes against this error That the covenant of Grace should be made with the fleshly line of believers and to confirm the meaning of the word call in his sense he brings Rom. 8.30 and Heb. 9.15 and 1 Pet. 2.9 All which speaks of an effectual Call Rep. We are here to consider to whom the words were spoken 1. namely to the Jews who were troubled in spirit about their condition such who had crucifyed Jesus Christ that had wisht his blood to be upon them and their children Mat. 27.23 The promise is to you and your children this promise cannot be meant of the gifts of the holy Ghost by tongues and miracles for that would have been no solid cure to a wounded conscience as theirs was Judas had such gifts but they could not mâ—ke his conscience whole who was guilty of the same sin 2 This Promise was to relate to them afar off that is the Gentilâ—s it could not be therefore such Gifts for they ceast in that age and the Gentiles afar off never had them though yet the Gentiles did repent and were baptized therefore by this promise called the promise must be meant such a promise which they well knew and were acquainted with and therefore must be that of Abrahams covenant made to him and his seed So the Apostle Gal. 3. To Abraham and his seed were the promises made ver 16. not seeds as of many but as of one i. e. the Jewish seed and Gentile seed make but one seed i e. Christ mystical in his political body 1 Cor. 12.27 So here again the promise is to you and your seed Quest But what was there in Abrahams promise to cure a wounded Conscience For such were the persons mentioned therefore the salve must be suitable A. All good things were in it that related to Grace or Glory I will be thy God what could be said more what promise will cure a wounded Conscience if this will not T is a salve most proper to the ground of their distemper they had crucifyed God the son And this promise tells them he was theirs notwithstanding For the words I will be thy God imply personal promises so the father saith I wiâ—l be thy God and the Son I will be thy God and the Holy Ghost I will be thy God a promise sufficient enough to bear up a sinking world suitable to Gal. 3.14 explained v. 8. before to be in
within Abrahams covenant for we cannot imagine that all the Apostles baptized were really called for the Sorcerer before mentioned doth sufficiently confute it therefore still he mistakes the question which is thus whether all that are called are really justifyed 2 Neither can it be reasonably thought that there were no hypocrites amongst those three thousand mentioned and that they were all so called as he speaks of but the Apostles intention was to let them know by what way they might get in to Abrahams covenant again from which both they and their seed were cut off Therefore Repent and be baptized for the remission of sin and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost For the promise is to you and your children c. That is remission of sins and the gift of the Spirit comes still in the way of Abrahams Covenant as it did before Gal. 3.14 Therefore if you will get into the way of the Spirits working you must repent and be baptized he doth not say that all baptized do really repent for upon the ground Mr. Patient goes none should be admitted to baptism but such as really Repent and are really called and really justifyed when as yet he forgets his own ignorance That he is not able to discern thâ—m Thus we have sifted all his cavils brought against this Text as not to countenance Infant-Baptism And upon the whole we finde it to be a tender of Abrahams Covenant in all the blessings of it even to children of visible believers either Jews or Gentiles Therefore the seal of that Covenant is their due Right and Priviledge P. The next Text is 1 Cor. 7.14 which he saith we abuse to make it speak for Infant-holiness Else were your children unclean but now they are holy God takes persons into Covenant two ways either by an external typical Covenant of Works as he did Israel and so a people may be said to be holy by separation as the carnal Jew being separated from the world and thus the vessels of the Temple were holy and the Priest were holy 2 Secondly A new-Covenant holiness when God writes his Laws in the heart and sanctifies their Nature and there is no other kinde of holiness that relates to the new Covenant but this Hypocrites may have this in appearance but the Elect onely have it in truth therefore it is impossible that a believers carnal seed should be so holy by Birth And no other sanctification the Scripture speaks of belonging to the new Covenant The other was abolisht by the death of Christ A. Whereas he knows no other holiness belonging to the New Covenant but real holiness it is rather an Argument of his ignorance then any confirmation of the truth of what he saith for that New-Covenant had such a holiness of separation belonging to it from Adam to Christ And it is the sâ—me that we have onely the holy things are changed yet so as that whatever Ordinance God hath given his Church now is holy Israel as separated from the world was a holy people so is the Church of God now Act. 10 13 28. 2 Cor. 6.17 Therefore the Apostle writing to the Churches as separated people calls them Saints or holy ones at Rome Corinth Galatia c. Not that they were all holy by an internal work of sanctifâ—cation for the Romans had many that were fallen to Judaism and Corinth had many profane persons amongst them yet as they were a Chuâ—ch they all carry the denomination of holy ones so that the Church stands upon the same terms of separation now as then from the world Therefore the casting out of the incestuous person was as one polluted and unclean which is opposed to such a holiness as makes a person fit for Church-Communion Thus also it was with Israel when there was either a Moral or Typical uncleanness they were cast out as not fit for Communion thus the bread and wine in tâ—e Lords Supper and water in baptism are holy by vertue of separation or institution thus the function of the Ministery is holy or else every man might preach baptize and administer the Supper alike And notwithstanding ceremonies are abolisht yet a holiness of separation by vertue of divine institution remains still or else the word of God were no more holy then another Book Nor the Gospel-Sabboth more holy then another day thus are the Infants of a believer holy else were your children unclean but now they are holy yea let me add that it is impossible that any man can be found in the faith and amongst the rest Mr Patient for one either to Scripture Sabboths or Gospel-Ordinances except they grant a holiness of separation both in persons and things P. The words are grounded from Ezra 9. and Deut. 7. It being an express Law for a Jew not to marry with a stranger therefore they were to put away their strange wives because not lawfully marryed and the children that were born of them were to be lookt upon as illegitimate The Church upon this writing to the Apostle to be resolved whether such of them aâ— had unbelieving yoak-fellows might dwell together and whether it was not unclean or unlawful To this he ansâ—ers Let them dwell together bâ—cause now there being no Law against it the marriage was therefore justifyable and the unbelieving wife is sanctifyed to the believing husband that is set apart by the Law of marriage to him onely else were your children bastards but now they are lawfully born A. There is no such thing mentioned in either place that their children were Bastards Then had Moses son by Zipporah the Egyptian been a Bastard yea the contrary is evident because the Scripture calls them wives And is it not a wilde expression to call her whore that Gods word calls a wife And would it not be as strange to think that so many Priests and Levites should be whoremasters which yet must be if such an interpretation were true as Mr. Patient gives But therefore the ground of putting away their strange wives was because Israel was a separated people and so not to have any affinity with strangers And though it was Israels sin to many a stranger yet it was not their sin to match with an Israelite which had it been whoredom the very light of nature would have condemned it besides this scruple did not lye betwixt Jew and Gentile For this was a Gentile Church a people converted from heathenism to profess Christ They had therfore no ground to think that the marriage they had before conversion was unlawful And had the taking in of the believer into communion with the Church made the unbeliever a whore or a whoremaster and the children bastards or had any such ground of scruple been given it had been enough to have frightened the heathens from being Christians It cannot be therefore that any dis-satisfaction shâ—uld rise in their spirits from those Texts by him quoted considering also the nature of the phrase the wife should
Rock and Manna a type of Christ from hence the sense of the Text is drawn plain That as the spiritual disciple or Israelite is baptized into Christ so the temporal Israelite was baptized to Moses in the cloud and sea and they are called spiritual meat and drink by a figure A. He hath no way to put off his false doctrines but by turning all Scriptures into allegorical notions for what exposition he hath here given is as much besides the Text and as unlikely to be true as for me to say the man in the Moon is like M. P. for let us but consider that those Sacraments were spiritual to Israel as Gods Church as the Sacraments of the Gospel were spiritual to the Church of Corinth Now the Apostle in drawing the parallel doth not speak of a spiritual Church in a carnal Church or a spiritual Israelite and a carnal Israelite thereby making onely some to be baptized to Moses but tells as plainly they were all baptized to Moses Whereas this whimsical notion would make us believe there were some of Israel not baptized to Moses and when Paul saith they did all eat the same spiritual meat and did all drink the same spiritual drink M. P. tells us directly contrary You see then with what evidence of truth he speaks when the Authority of an Apostle must vail before him and though he saith the Sacraments are spiritual by a figure yet if he were askt by what figure he must either give a Parrots answer or say nothing albeit he shews his ignorance to be medling and his confidence I am unwilling to call it worse to notionallize the Sacraments themselves as if they were not a spiritual meat and a spiritual drink to the Church of God By which we see rather then he will have any dependance upon the Law he will run beyond the Gospel P. p. 127. Those typical signes and figures then which typed out Christ to come did properly belong to the typical seed the body of Israel that typed out the spiritual seed to come in Gospel-Ordinances instituted since Christ came which are for confirm ng that he is come and these belong only to the spiritual seed in whom Christ is come already dwelling in their hearts by Faith A. Here is such a pack of distinctâ—ons that were not I believe heard of in past ages It seems the spiritual Israel had no need of Ordinances for they did not properly belong to them but to the carnal lump and why then should Abel Noah Abraham and all the seed by promise be sacrificers why then should David cry out after those water brooks and even envy at the happiness of those birds who had their nests neer the Altar 2 If the body of Israel did type out the spiritual seed to come under the Gospel then whom did the spiritual seed of Israel type out either no body or by opposition the carnal Gospellers for the spiritual Israel were types though yet the carnal Israel or the body of Israel it will be hard to prove them types especially in that nature unless they were types of the Roman Apostasie 3 If temporal Israel did then type out the spiritual Israel now then their Apostasie backslidings divorce and casting off must type out the divorce apostasie backslidings and casting off the spiritual seed 4 If the carnal seed in those typical Ordinances did type out none but spiritual seed to be admitted to Gospel-Ordinances then all that are now Church-members must needs be spiritual and so there are no hypocrites now in the Church Let the world judge whether this is not wretched stuffe which yet is the natural consequence of thiâ— unnatural distinction P. 128. It was not necessary that all that were Circumcised should believe and repent and so be first made Disciples but Baptism is a confirmation of our Regeneration and our New-birth and Union with Christ by Faith And therefore belongs to them only that are regenerated and born again of water and the Spirit so the Lords Supper Let a man examine himself c. A. It was necessary that Abraham should be a believer before Israel could be circumcised For had not Abraham believed there had been no such seal given to his family as is already proved 2 To let pass his Tautologies as the least of his offence If baptism belongs onely to such as are regenerated why was Judas Demas Magus and those Act. 20.29 30. baptized or how shall it be known who is new-born or can it confirm Grace where there is none what confirmation was it of the New-birth to Judas and the rest surely his words must admit of a large charity to think that all that are dipt have truth of Grace confirmed in them thereby P. Pag. 130. The carnal Israelite was as capable to perform every Ceremonial Law without Faith as truely as the Believers A. A man had need of a belief of the biggest size also to credit this for the true performance of those typical Sacrifices was not barely in the work done but when the worshippers had an eye to Christ which the true believer then ever had For the main ing edient to make that worship truly performed was Faith then as it is now and he might with as much truth say that he that is formal in Gospel-duties either in prayer hearing receiving doth as truely perform them as he that is a true believer It is to me a most unsavory expression and such loose stuffe that surely if there be any close-walking Friends to the truth they cannot but reprove such loose doctrines P. Ibid. There is no less then a profession of Faith required in the Church of England before baptism and therefore this doth justifie what we hold and condemn what they practice A. He begins now to flye low to seek to streng hen his feeble practice by the Liturgy and Canon of the Church of England who before doth seemingly rejoyce that he is converted both from their doctrines and practice but what if they do hold that profession of Faith and Repentance should precede baptism so do we all And as Faith was to Abraham and is to us the condition by which all our seed is taken into covenant with the Parent so baptism seals the covenant and upon this ground Peter moved his hearers to be baptized he backeth the motion not barely from their own interest in the promise as personal believers but upon the joynt interest of their children with them upon their Parental believing Act. 2.38 39. Repent and be baptized For the promise is to you and your children implying that the covenants sealed should run as largely as the covevenant As it was to the grand covenant Parent of all the heirs of promise i. e. Abraham Thus all Noahs children were bapâ—ized in that typical baptism with their believing parents in the Ark 1 Pet. 1 3 21. Gen. 7.1 which was upon the same covenant-account that Abraham and his seed were circumcised and that a parental covenanting