Vindiciæ legis & fœderis

Well then, from hence we have gained two things: (1.) That the Church of the Jews and Gentiles are essentially and substantially the same Church. (2.) That the Jews were not broken off from the invisible Church, or from Faith and Election; for these you truly say are invariable and immovable; and if you had denied it, the Apostle assures us, that the foundation of God stands sure; and that the gifts and callings of God are without ⟨p. 116⟩repentance. But what then was their breaking off, and the Gentiles grafting in, which made this great alteration in the Church? Can it be any thing else but our ingrafting into the Visible Church by the Profession of our Faith, from whence the Jews were broken off from their unbelief? For certainly from the Invisible Church they were not broken off, and into the Invisible Church multitudes of professing Christians are not ingrafted. 'Tis evident therefore, by grafting us into the Olive-tree, he means the Visible Church; and by the Fatness thereof, the Ordinances and Privileges of that Church: Though we deny not but all sincere Professors are Members of the Invisible Church also, and do belong to the Election of Grace; but that's not the breaking off, or grafting in here spoken of. And now having given up Mr. Tombs his Notion of the Invisible Church and Election, you are again put to your Shifts, and must either shuffle, and seek to hide your self in an heap of strange and unintelligible Distinctions, or (which had been much fairer) honestly have yielded the Cause; and where-ever you met with them, I ⟨p. 117⟩find a whole Troop of distinctions rallied together, for this purpose pag. 23, 24.

Well then, from hence we have gained two things: (1.) That the Church of the Jews and Gentiles are essentially and substantially the same Church. (2.) That the Jews were not broken off from the invisible Church, or from Faith and Election; for these you truly say are invariable and immoveable; and if you had deny'd it, the Apostle assures us, that the foundation of God stands sure; and that the gifts and callings of God are without ⟨p. 116⟩repentance. But what then was their breaking off, and the Gentiles grafting in, which made this great alteration in the Church? Can it be any thing else but our ingrafting into the Visible Church by the Profession of our Faith, from whence the Jews were broken off from their unbelief? For certainly from the Invisible Church they were not broken off, and into the Invisible Church multitudes of professing Christians are not ingrafted. 'Tis evident therefore, by grafting us into the Olive-tree, he means the Visible Church; and by the Fatness thereof, the Ordinances and Priviledges of that Church: Though we deny not but all sincere Professors are Members of the Invisible Church also, and do belong to the Election of Grace; but that's not the breaking off, or grafting in here spoken of. And now having given up Mr. Tombes his Notion of the Invisible Church and Election, you are again put to your Shifts, and must either shuffle, and seek to hide your self in an heap of strange and unintelligible Distinctions, or (which had been much fairer) honestly have yielded the Cause; and where-ever you met with them, I