A41329:223
The plea of the children of believing-parents for their interest in Abraham's covenant, their…
The plea of the children of believing-parents for their interest in Abraham's covenant, their right to church-member-ship with their parents, and consequently their title to baptism. The cause of publishing this discourse after so many learned men have laboured in this province, is declared in the preface to the reader. By Giles Firmin.
London: printed for Tho. Simons, 1683
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.
There were several Promises made to Abraham, some concerned him alone, some concerned himself and his Seed, according to the Flesh alone; The Gentiles had nothing to do with them: That all Nations should be Blessed in Abraham's Seed; This belongs to the Gentiles, as well as the Jews, This is one Promise. But we must have Promises in the Plural Number made to Abraham, that belong to the Gentiles, if you take away this, I will be the God of thee and thy Seed, I know not how to make the Text true.
There were several Promises made to Abraham, some concerned him alone, some concerned himself and his Seed, according to the Flesh alone; The Gentiles had nothing to do with them: That all Nations should be Bless'd in Abraham's Seed; This belongs to the Gentiles, as well as the Jews, This is one Promise. But we must have Promises in the Plural Number made to Abraham, that belong to the Gentiles, if you take away this, I will be the God of thee and thy Seed, I know not how to make the Text true.
But if this be granted, then this Verse and the fourteenth Verse are both true; now the Blessing of Abraham is come upon the Gentiles through Jesus Christ.
I have insisted long upon this Branch, ⟨p. 74⟩because the pinch of the Controversy lies here, and these Grounds are to me so strong, that unless the Anabaptists bring Texts as strong as an express Scripture for the Repeal, I shall not regard them: nor am I come yet to the Texts in the New Testament, to prove the Church-Membership of Infants, though it may be inferred from some I have named already.
I have insisted long upon this Branch, ⟨p. 74⟩