A39697:222
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 5: Argument V.
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.
(3.) We take it for certain, that the Promise here referred to by Peter is that gracious Promise, Gen. 17. 7. I will be a God to thee and thy Seed; the adjoining of their Children to them (saith Calvin (and with him runs the general current of Expositors) depends on the Words of that Promise, Gen. 17. 7. If you be not satisfied with this, but rather will refer it to Joel 2. 28. you are then obliged to answer Mr. Sydenham's Arguments ⟨p. 94⟩a fortiori, from that reference. But you make no Exception at all to this Accommodation of it: And then the Sense must be this, The Promise shall run as before, to you and to your Children.
(3.) We take it for certain, that the Promise here referr'd to by Peter is that gracious Promise, Gen. 17. 7. I will be a God to thee and thy Seed; the adjoyning of their Children to them (saith Calvin (and with him runs the general current of Expositors) depends on the Words of that Promise, Gen. 17. 7. If you be not satisfied with this, but rather will refer it to Joel 2. 28. you are then oblig'd to answer Mr. Sydenham's Arguments ⟨p. 94⟩a fortiori, from that reference. But you make no Exception at all to this Accomodation of it: And then the Sense must be this, The Promise shall run as before, to you and to your Children.
(4.) We say, that except it had had relation to the Covenant with Abraham, there had been no occasion or reason at all here to have mentioned Children, as well as Parents; The promise is to you, and to your Children: It had been enough, if he had only intended the believing Parents, exclusive of their Infant Seed, to have said, The Promise is made to as many as the Lord our God shall call. What reason or occasion was there to bring in their Children at all?