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

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.

My Parents then looking upon me as being in Covenant, and a Church-member with them, they did Dedicate me to God, and brought me under the Seal of his gracious Covenant in Baptism. And what our Lord said to Peter when he washed his Feet, John 13. 6, 7. What I do thou knowest not now, but thou shalt know hereafter: Was truly verified of me. What the Lord did then, when he poured clean water upon me in my Baptism, I know not, ⟨p. 69⟩but now I do know, and did many years since. What was the opinion of the ancient Fathers, and many Divines now, about the Efficacy of Baptism, I did not then know, nor do I now concern my self about it, to discourse it. But this I took for a Truth, It doth not consist with the Infinite wisdom and holiness of God, to Institute any Ordinance in his House that is of trivial concernment, whatever they seem to be to a carnal heart: they are things of great weight; Where the great God engages himself to a Creature, and therefore to be attended with great reverence, and as diligently improved. Now when I came to reflect upon my Baptism, how God was first with me, before I understood him, he was afore-hand with me, took hold of me, brought me under the Seal of his blessed Covenant; and when I read over the several Texts, which tells us what blessings are there signified and sealed, God was engaged for his part; if I will look to my part, to answer the Condition, then these should be mine; this gave me encouragement. As for my Dedication to him, I was willing to stand to it, I did like it very well: but both for the Condition, and to answer my Dedication, I went to him, whose Covenant it is, and who was first with me, that