A39697:254
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 affirm by the Authority of this Text, that all the Jewish Nation was not broken off, but only a part of it: So the 17th. ver. plainly declares; And if some of the branches be broken off, &c. Not all, but some. For many of them were converted to Christ. We read of Three Thousand at one Sermon, Acts 2. And multitudes more at other times; all these converted Jews stood in the Apostles time, as branches in the true Olive, still enjoying all their privileges: And that which brake off them that were broken off, was nothing else but their own unbelief, ver. 20. Well then, because of unbelief they were broken off. For at the promulgation of the Gospel, a new Article was added to their Creed; namely, that this same Jesus whom they had crucified, is the promised and true Messiah. This some believed, and so stood by Faith, still enjoying all their ancient privileges of the Covenant: others believed not, and their unbelief broke them off.
(3) We affirm by the Authority of this Text, that all the Jewish Nation was not broken off, but only a part of it: So the 17th. ver. plainly declares; And if some of the branches be broken off, &c. Not all, but some. For many of them were converted to Christ. We read of Three Thousand at one Sermon, Acts 2. And multitudes more at other times; all these converted Jews stood in the Apostles time, as branches in the true Olive, still enjoying all their priviledges: And that which brake off them that were broken off, was nothing else but their own unbelief, ver. 20. Well then, because of unbelief they were broken off. For at the promulgation of the Gospel, a new Article was added to their Creed; namely, that this same Jesus whom they had crucifyed, is the promised and true Messiah. This some believed, and so stood by Faith, still enjoying all their ancient priviledges of the Covenant: others believed not, and their unbelief broke them off.
(4.) We find in this place two sorts of Branches growing upon this Root Abraham; some natural Branches, namely Jews by Nature, embracing Christ by Faith; others wild and foreign Branches, viz. Gentiles by Nature, but ingrafted by Faith, and by their Ingrafture growing among the natural Branches, and with them partaking of the Root and Fatness of the Olive-tree, vers. 17. that is, the rich Privileges of the Covenant, and Promise to Abraham,