A39697:13
Vindiciæ legis & fœderis
Vindiciæ legis & fœderis: or, A reply to Mr. Philip Cary's Solemn call Wherein he pretends to answer all the arguments of Mr. Allen, Mr. Baxter, Mr. Sydenham, Mr. Sedgwick, Mr. Roberts, and Dr. Burthogge, for the right of believers infants to baptism, by proving the law at Sinai, and the covenant of circumcision with Abraham, were the very same with Adam's covenant of works, and that because the gospel-covenant is absolute. By John Flavel minister of the gospel in Dartmouth
London: printed for M. Wolton, 1690
Preface: A Friendly Preface to the Author of the SOLEMN CALL, and the more discreet and charitab…
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.
I beseech you Brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ] or as you love Jesus Christ, ut quantum ipsum amant, tantum studeant concordiae, saith Calvin. Be as studious of concord, as you are free in professing love to Christ.
That there be no divisions] or rents among you, a [Greek or Hebrew] Schism, or rent in the Church is much the same, and altogether as dangerous as a [Greek or Hebrew] or Sedition in the Common-wealth; and harder to be cured. For as the Lord Verulam truly observes, differences amongst persecuting Enemies and the Church, are like the strivings of the Egyptian with the Israelite; which Moses quickly ended, by knocking down the Egyptian; but dissentions in the Church, are like the striving of one Israelite with another; and all that Moses can do to quiet and part these, is only by fair, and gentle words; and reminding them that they are Brethren.
That there be no divisions] or rents among you, a 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 Schism, or rent in the Church is much the same, and altogether as dangerous as a 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 or Sedition in the Common-wealth; and harder to be cured. For as the Lord Verulam truly observes, differences amongst persecuting Enemies and the Church, are like the strivings of the AEgyptian with the Israelite; which Moses quickly ended, by knocking down the AEgyptian; but dissentions in the Church, are like the striving of one Israelite with another; and all that Moses can do to quiet and part these, is only by fair, and gentle words; and reminding them that they are Brethren.
Great is the mischief of divisions among Christians, and the less the grounds and causes are, the greater always is the sin and mischief of them. In the Primitive Church contentions grew fervent about meats lawful, and unlawful; which did not profit, the