A47391:195
The axe laid to the root, or, One blow more at the foundation of…The ax laid to the root, or, One blow more at the foundation of…
The axe laid to the root, or, One blow more at the foundation of infant baptism, and church-membership. Part I containing an exposition of that metaphorical text of Holy Scripture, Mat. 3. 10. : being the substance of two sermons lately preached, with some additions, wherein is showed that God made a two-fold covenant with Abraham, and that circumcision appertained not to the covenant of grace, but to the legal and external covenant God made with Abraham's natural seed, as such : together with an answer to Mr. John Flavel's last grand arguments in his Vindiciarum Vindex, in his last reply to Mr. Philip Cary, also to Mr. Rothwell's Pædo-baptisms vindicatur, as to what seems most material / by Benjamin Keach ...The ax laid to the root, or, One blow more at the foundation of infant baptism, and church-membership. Part I containing an exposition of that metaphorical text of Holy Scripture, Mat. 3. 10. : being the substance of two sermons lately preached, with some additions, wherein is shewed that God made a two-fold covenant with Abraham, and that circumcision appertained not to the covenant of grace, but to the legal and external covenant God made with Abraham's natural seed, as such : together with an answer to Mr. John Flavel's last grand arguments in his Vindiciarum Vindex, in his last reply to Mr. Philip Cary, also to Mr. Rothwell's Pædo-baptisms vindicatur, as to what seems most material / by Benjamin Keach ...
London : Printed for the author, and are to be sold by John Harris ..., 1693
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.
Lastly, (saith he) It is to be considered, again and again, how by these Argumentations, the Consciences of Men may be freed from the Danger of Will-Worship, and polluting so Remarkable an Ordinance of Christ, as Baptism is; especially this Care lies on them, who by Prayers, Sermons, Writings, Covenants, and Oaths, do deter Christians from humane Invention, in God's Worship diligently, and 'tis to be hoped Sincerely: thus far this Reverend Divine.
I now might proceed to Answer divers others Objections, as
First, Circumcision was a Type of Baptism. [2.] Infants were once in Covenant, and never cast out. [3.] Circumcision was part of the Ceremonial Law, which was Dedicated by Blood; therefore, no part of the Covenant of Works, or Old Covenant. [4.] In Circumcision God gave himself to Abraham, to be his God, and the God of his Seed. [5.] Circumcision was the Seal of the Righteousness of Faith. [6.] Circumcision was an Everlasting Covenant. [7.] There is but one Covenant of Works, and that was made with Adam▪ [8.] Paul Circumcised Timothy, therefore Circumcision could not, in it self, oblige to the keeping of the whole Law. [9] The Root is Holy, therefore the Branches. [10.] The Privileges of the Gospel are restrained, and narrower then the Privileges of the Law, if Children are excluded. [11.] The denying Infant Baptism, hinders the Progress of the Christian Religion, Mr. Rothwell, p. 2.