A39697:281
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.
Sir, We never yet deserted the Judgment or Practice of Infants Baptism, and yet have had (blessed be Jesus Christ for it) great and manifold, sweet and signal Proofs and Evidences of his Presence with us: He hath owned and blessed our Ministry to the Conversion of many; and there are some, and those not mean or few, of our Spiritual Children, now in your Societies in England, who have acknowledged us to be the Instruments of their Conversion: The Lord lay it not to their Charge, who now desert ⟨p. 132⟩that Ministry in which they first received Christ. But as for the Departure of his Presence, I assure you, Friend, I am more afraid of the Rents and Divisions you now renew so unseasonably among the Churches of Christ, than of any one thing amongst us beside it. It grieved my Soul to see you Quiet a movere, awake a sleeping Controversy, especially in such a Season, when we are little more than half delivered from our Enemies and Dangers; you take us by the heel, as Jacob did his Brother, whilst but yet in the Birth. Sir, except you return to a more quiet and Christian Temper than you seem here to be in, I am out of hope that ever you and I shall see those blessed days we have so often with pleasure comforted our selves with the hopes of. •wever extend your Charity (if you have any left) so far, as to believe that I am one notwithstanding all this) that am studious of the Churches Peace, and •quisitive into the Rules of Duty, not daring to hold any Truth of God in Unrighteousness; and yet well satisfied I am in the Path of my Duty, wherein, though we cannot walk together, yet I hope to meet you at the end of our way in our ⟨p. 133⟩Fathers House, where perfect Light and Peace dwells.
Sir, We never yet deserted the Judgment or Practice of Infants Baptism, and yet have had (blessed be Jesus Christ for it) great and manifold, sweet and signal Proofs and Evidences of his Presence with us: He hath owned and blessed our Ministry to the Conversion of many; and there are some, and those not mean or few, of our Spiritual Children, now in your Societies in England, who have acknowledged us to be the Instruments of their Conversion: The Lord lay it not to their Charge, who now desert ⟨p. 132⟩