More proofs of infants church-membership and consequently their right to baptism, or, A second…

SECT. XLIX.

R.B. I Come next to prove from other parts of Scripture, That the fundamental promise of Grace is thus to be interpreted as including Infants. 1. If the same Covenant of grace when it is more fully and clearly opened, do expressly comprehend Infants as to be Church-members, then is this fundamental promise so to be understood (or then doth this also comprehend them.) But the antecedent is certain, therefore so is the consequent. The antecedent I prove from the Covenant of grace made to Abraham the Father of the faithful, which comprehended Infants for Church-members: The Covenant made with Abraham comprehending Infants, was the same with this in Gen. 3. but in some things clearlier opened. Which is proved thus: Both these were the Covenant of grace and free justification by faith ⟨p. 98⟩in the Redeemer, therefore they were the same. For there is but one such. If Abraham had some special promises additional to the main Covenant, that makes not the Covenant of free justification by faith to be divers. That this in Gen. 3. is the promise or Covenant of grace and free justification is not denied, that I know of. That the promise to Abraham was the same, is evident from Rom. 4.10, 11, 12, 13, 14. 1. It is there expressly manifest, that the Covenant whereof Circumcision was to Abraham the seal, was the Covenant of free justification by faith; Circumcision it self being a seal of the righteousness of faith which Abraham had, yet being uncircumcised, that he might be the Father of believers, &c. 2. Yea the promise that he should be heir of the world was not made to Abraham or to his seed through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith. Now it is certain that this Covenant sealed by Circumcision and made to Abraham and his seed, did comprehend Infants. The consequence of the major then is evident, that the same promise expressed more concisely, is to be expounded by the same expressed more fully: And it is acknowledged that the Gospel light and grace was to be manifest by certain degrees.