A47391:39
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.
Ans. This John Baptist seems to grant, i. e. That it was so from Abraham's Time until these Days, or under the Law or old Covenant-Dispensation; they had, he denies not, a Right to Jewish Church-Membership, and Legal Ordinances: But what of that, Now the Axe is laid to the Root of the Trees; that is, as Abraham was the Root, or common Covenanting-Father, as concerning the Flesh, out of which Root, all the Jews, his natural Off-spring, sprang; and, upon which Foundation, they and their natural Church-State was founded: Yet, now the Axe is laid to this Root, i. e. To this Covenant, i. e. The legal, or external Covenant made with Abraham; and down must the Building fall, when the Foundation is removed; down goes the Trees, when the Root (out of which they grew) is cut down. So much as to the Scope and Coherence of the Words.
Ans. This John Baptist seems to grant, i. e. That it was so from Abraham's Time untill these Days, or under the Law or old Covenant-Dispensation; they had, he denies not, a Right to Jewish Church-Membership, and Legal Ordinances: But what of that, Now the Ax is laid to the Root of the Trees; that is, as Abraham was the Root, or common Covenanting-Father, as concerning the Flesh, out of which Root, all the Jews, his natural Off-spring, sprang; and, upon which Foundation, they and their natural Church-State was founded: Yet, now the Ax is laid to this Root, i. e. To this Covenant, i. e. The legal, or external Covenant made with Abraham; and down must the Building fall, when the Foundation is removed; down goes the Trees, when the Root (out of which they grew) is cut down. So much as to the Scope and Coherence of the Words.
Secondly, I shall explain the Terms and Parts of the Text:
1. Show farther what is meant by the Root. 2. What is intended by the Trees. 3. What is meant by the Axe. 4. What by laying the Axe to the Root of the Trees, and by cutting down. 5. What by the Fire, and casting into the Fire.