A37046:811
The law unsealed
The law unsealed: or, A practical exposition of the Ten Commandments With a resolution of several momentous questions and cases of conscience. By the learned, laborious, faithful servant of Jesus Christ, Mr. James Durham, late minister of the Gospel at Glasgow.
Glasgow: printed by Robert Sanders, 1676
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
2. A second is drawn from the nature of Christian Communion amongst Believers, which as it requireth the performing of Christian duties, according as we are in providence called to them, so it requireth the making use of that tie of Family-interest or relation super-added to the former for furtherance and entertaining of that Communion, because there is a special access ministered by such a relation to the attaining of that end; Hence it is we conceive (as is said) that some Christian Families are called Churches, because so many Christians cast together, lived in a Christian discharge of all Family-Ordinances (so to speak.)
2. A second is drawn from the nature of Christian Communion amongst Believers, which as it requireth the performing of Christian duties, according as we are in providence called to them, so it requireth the making use of that tye of Family-interest or relation super-added to the former for furtherance and entertaining of that Communion, because there is a special access ministred by such a relation to the attaining of that end; Hence it is we conceive (as is said) that some Christian Families are called Churches, because so many Christians casten together, lived in a Christian discharge of all Family-Ordinances (so to speak.)
3. The Lord by his Covenant doth especially (though not alway) derive mercies to Families taking them in together, and making promises to them, and conferring privileges on them. So Abraham's whole Family was taken in Covenant, Genes. 17. And in the New Testament whole Families were at once Baptized, which certainly calleth them to a peculiar way of being answerable to such privileges and engagements: And is not this one special and very proper way of being answerable to them, that they worship God together, and join in blessing him for such mercies, and in prayer to him for grace to carry suitably to them?
3. The Lord by his Covenant doth especially (though not alway) derive mercies to Families taking them in together, and making promises to them, and conferring priviledges on them. So Abrahams whole Family was taken in Covenant,