A39697:185
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
A REPLY TO Mr. Philip Cary's Solemn Call. › Section 3 › Argument 4: Argument IV.
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.
The Sequel of the Major is undeniably clear, for that can never be a Sign or Evidence of an Interest in Christ, which that Interest may be without; yea, and as Dr. Crispe asserts, according to his Antinomian Principles, Christ is ours (saith he) before we 1have gracious Qualifications. Every true Mark and Sign must be inseparable from that it signifies. Now, if the works of the Spirit in us be not so, but an Interest in Christ may be where these are not; then they are no proper Marks or Signs; and if they are not, it cannot be our Duty to make use of them as such; and consequently if we should, they can yield us no Comfort.
- 1Dr. Crispe 2d Vol. of Christ exalted. Serm. 14.
The Minor is plain in Scripture, 1 John 2. 3. Hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his Commandments. The meaning is, we perceive and discern our selves to be sincere Believers, and consequently that Christ is our Propitiation; when Obedience to his Commands is become habitual and easy to us. So 1 John 3. 19. Hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him, (i. e.) by our sincere cordial ⟨p. 76⟩love to Christ and his Members, as v. 18. this shall demonstrate to us, that we are the Children of Truth; and again, 1 John 3. 14. We know that we are passed from death to life; because we love the Brethren. With Multitudes more to the same purpose, which plainly teach Christians to fetch the Evidences of their Justification out of their Sanctification, and to prove their Interest in Christ, by the works of his Spirit found in their own Hearts.