A39697:260
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.
This grafting in (say you) may be either into the visible, or invisible Church; either by Faith, or profession of Faith; or by some outward Ordinance. Children may be either grown Men or Infants. The ingrafting •n, may be either certain, or probable. Certain, either by reason of election, or their natural Birth; being Children of believers. Probable, as being likely; either because frequently, or for the most part it happens so: Though necessary, and so not certain; the thing to be proved is, That the Children of believers are in the Covenant of free grace, in Christ, and by virtue thereof to be Baptized into the communion of the visible Church.
This grafting in (say you) may be either into the visible, or invisible Church; either by Faith, or profession of Faith; or by some outward Ordinance. Children may be either grown Men or Infants. The ingrafting •n, may be either certain, or probable. Certain, either by reason of election, or their natural Birth; being Children of believers. Probable, as being likely; either because frequently, or for the most part it happens so: Though necessary, and so not certain; the thing to be prov'd is, That the Children of believers are in the Covenant of free grace, in Christ, and by vertue thereof to be Baptized into the communion of the visible Church.
Reply. Words enough, and distinctions enough to reduce the Text to an indivisible point. But whither doth all this tend? I will ask you Two or Three plain Questions, and then make what use you please of your distinctions. (1.) Whether the Breaking off of the Jews and the ingrafting of the Gentiles here spoken of, have Relation to the invisible Church by election, or to the visible Church by profession of Faith, and some outward ⟨p. 118⟩Ordinance? (2.) Whether if it were into the visible Church by profession of Faith, that the Gentile believers were grafted in; as doubtless it was (and by relinquishing the former sense you here seem to yield it, saying this ingrafture may be certain upon the account of natural Birth, being Children of believers;) then I would fain know why you so state the Question, as to make the certainty of Believers Children's interest in Christ, to be the only ground of their admission into the Communion of the visible Church? This (say you) must be proved, or no Baptism for them.