The plea of the children of believing-parents for their interest in Abraham's covenant, their…

3ly, As to Parents, be they never so godly, what grief must it needs be to them, if their children die out of the Covenant and visible Church; what hopes can they have of their Salvation, more than an Indian hath of his being both in the same state? An Indian-child may be Elected as well as a sound Believer. 2ly, nor can a believing Parent pray for his children upon any grounds more than an Indian: the Covenant and Promises scattered in the World to the Godly and their Seed, they cannot plead upon them. 3ly, Whereas the Covenant and the Engagement of the children to God in Baptism, is the Infant's Circumcision, might be Arguments to whet upon their children, and encourage them: now no such Arguments are in date. 4ly, The Jews before Christ came, in the day of their circumcising their Infants, did use to give thanks to God, and bless him for Abraham's Covenant, and his Ordinance of Circumcision, the Seal of his Covenant: but when the Jews believe Christ's come, now Thanksgiving and blessing of God cease; for the Govenant is nulled, children cast out of the Church.

3ly, As to Parents, be they never so godly, what grief must it needs be to them, if their children die out of the Covenant and visible Church; what hopes can they have of their Salvation, more than an Indian hath of his being both in the same state? An Indian-child may be Elected as well as a sound Believer. 2ly, nor can a believing Parent pray for his children upon any grounds more than an Indian: the Covenant and Promisies scattered in the World to the Godly and their Seed, they cannot plead upon them. 3ly, Whereas the Covenant and the Engagement of the children to God in Baptism, is the Infant's Circumcision, might be Arguments to whet upon their children, and encourage them: now no such Arguments are in date. 4ly, The Jews before Christ came, in the day of their circumcising their Infants, did use to give thanks to God, and bless him for Abraham's Covenant, and his Ordinance of Circumcision, the Seal of his Covenant: but when the Jews believe Christ's come, now Thanksgiving and blessing of God cease; for the Govenant is nulled, children cast out of the Church.

4ly, As for the Children of believing Parents, if they come to years of discretion, and ⟨p. 63⟩God bless Parents instructions so as to keep Conscience awake, though they play the wretches, and have cause to be humbled all their days; yet I say, if Conscience be kept awake, and God begin to open their Eyes more, and make them in earnest to mind the Salvation of their Souls, then they will understand what a wretched Doctrine, this Doctrine of the Anabaptists is, by denying that to them by which they may take hold of God in the time of their fears. Quare patet non prorsus vanum esse atque inane ex pio genere nasci, saith Peter Martyn, [Hoc Com. p. 8.] It is not a vain empty thing to be born of godly Parents: this is true which he saith.

Here, tho' it was far from my thoughts to speak, much less to write what benefit I have experimentally found from a Parental-Covenant, and Infant-Baptism; yet because the Lord's Providence hath engaged me in this Controversy, which I never intended, and because it may be a help to others, Children of good Parents, I shall declare.

Here, tho' it was far from my thoughts to speak, much less to write what benefit I have experimentally found from a Parental-Covenant, and Infant-Baptism; yet because the Lord's Providence hath engaged me in this Controversie, which I never intended, and because it may be a help to others, Children of good Parents, I shall declare.

While I was thus troubled about making out these qualifications, there comes a motion into my mind; What say you to your Father's Covenant? You know your Parents were godly, and God promised to be the God of Abraham and his seed; will you stand to your Father's Covenant, and choose your Father's God for your God? I began to think of it, my heart answered, Yes, I will stand to my Father's Covenant: But how do you take your Father's God to be your God? I answered, As he was my Father's God. My teaching •od, my heart-humbling ⟨p. 65⟩God, my reconciled God, my justifying God, my sanctifying God, my God to lead me all my days; for thus he was my Father's God. Here my qualification was the choice of my Father's God, who was mine before by an external Covenant-administration; but now to have him my God, my portion, by an internal Covenant and efficacy? Here now I was pent up; Will you choose him, or refuse him? Blessed be God who gave me this advantage to lay hold upon him, by virtue of this Parental-Covenant.

Further, to clear my meaning, I do not by this Discourse about Qualifications of Promises, intend that Christians should not regard them. I am far from that: if they be sound Christians, I'll warrant them they shall regard them. Nor do I think but Christians reflecting upon themselves, the good Spirit assisting, may find them certainly wrought.

Further, to clear my meaning, Ido not by this Discourse about Qualifications of Promises, intend that Christians should not regard them. I am far from that: if they be sound Christians, I'le warrant them they shall regard them. Nor do I think but Christians reflecting upon themselves, the good Spirit assisting, may find them certainly wrought.

But this I mean, Young persons brought up under the droppings of good Education, upon whom God works more gradually; that cannot tell the time when, nor the manner how God works; as some Adult persons upon whom God many times breaks in with his Terrors; these use to be much troubled about the making out the qualifications ⟨p. 66⟩of Inviting Promises, because they cannot find them so sensibly as they would, though they have them in truth, but cannot discern it: the question is, Whether now Abraham's Covenant may not do such a Soul a pleasure?

But this I mean, Young persons brought up under the droppings of good Education, upon whom God works more gradually; that cannot tell the time when, nor the manner how God works; as some Adult persons upon whom God many times breaks in with his Terrours; these use to be much troubled about the making out the qualifications ⟨p. 66⟩of Inviting Promises, because they cannot find them so sensibly as they would, though they have them in truth, but cannot discern it: the question is, Whether now Abraham's Covenant may not do such a Soul a pleasure?

Quest. When God made this Covenant with Abraham and his Seed, did not God intend good to Abraham's Seed? If not, it was a vain Covenant? God forbid.

To say, it signifies no more than that, when he gave them his Oracles, Rom. 3.2. Was not that a Privilege, if his Seed would improve them?

To say, it signifies no more than that, when he gave them his Oracles, Rom. 3.2. Was not that a Priviledge, if his Seed would improve them?

But this Covenant was distinct from the Oracles, made before the Oracles were given: and may not Abraham's Seed? ought they not to improve it to their spiritual good and advantage: who will deny it?

God in Isa. 56.4. speaks of taking hold of his Covenant. I say, by this Covenant God puts forth his hand to Abraham's Seed to take hold upon him, so as to become their God for ever.

1. Suppose we two sorts of persons under the Conviction of a miserable state: One sort is under Abraham's Covenant, the other not; There are Inviting Promises to all sorts, whether without, or within the Covenant. They who are within the Covenant, ⟨p. 67⟩can make use of all the Inviting Promises offered to others, and Abraham's Covenant too: But they who are out of the Covenant, cannot make use of, or lay hold upon God by Abraham's Covenant.

2ly, God is nearer to his Covenanted-seed than to others, Psalm 148.14. Israel a people near unto the Lord: Israel is in Covenant with him: God loved their Fathers, Deut. 4.37. By this he puts forth his hand to them to lay hold upon him more immediately, than to others out of Covenant. The choosing of their Father's God for their God in sincerity, is the Condition, and he becomes their God, and his Covenant gives them a ground for the assurance of it.

3ly, This Covenanted-Seed may plead with God in Prayer for many Promises made to the Upright and their Seed, Psal. 112.2. Prov. 20.7. with divers other Promises, fetching the strength of their pleading from the Covenant and Promises, which others out of the Covenant cannot do. And since God hath promised blessing to this Seed; the Seed may choose their blessing, any spiritual blessing in Christ, and have his Promise to warrant it.

3ly, This Covenanted-Seed may plead with God in Prayer for many Promises made to the Ʋpright and their Seed, Psal. 112.2. Prov. 20.7. with divers other Promises, fetching the strength of their pleading from the Covenant and Promises, which others out of the Covenant cannot do. And since God hath promised blessing to this Seed; the Seed may choose their blessing, any spiritual blessing in Christ, and have his Promise to warrant it.

4ly, When their hearts are in fears, troubles, doubts, and cannot make out the qualifications of other Promises, as they ⟨p. 68⟩would, they may come hither: here is no winding out, but answer Catagorice, will you have your Father's God, or refuse him? You see he offers himself, and is in Covenant with you one way already, by an external Covenant-administration; and if you will stand to that Covenant, and take him for your God indeed, and yield up your self to him, he will be your God in a saving manner, and portion for ever.

5ly, Since all the Word and Promises are then efficacious when the Spirit will please to work with them; and it is free for him to make this or that Word efficacious to us: I doubt not to say, Abraham's Covenant, is as fit as any inviting Promise, and it is as rational for the Seed of godly Parents to lay hold upon God by it, as by any other Word.