[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…

Answ. 'Tis not once to be supposed, but that the External or Temporal Privileges of the Jews under the Law, were more and larger (as well as Church-Membership) than those we have under the Gospel Dispensation, since their Church was national, and their Promises and Privileges consisting in earthly Blessings: (as they were a People considered in that old Covenant Relation) for the Jewish Teachers or Priests of God had many external Privileges, which no Gospel Minister can once pretend unto.

Answ. 'Tis not once to be supposed, but that the External or Temporal Privileges of the Iews under the Law, were more and larger (as well as Church-Membership) than those we have under the Gospel Dispensation, since their Church was national, and their Promises and Privileges consisting in earthly Blessings: (as they were a People considered in that old Covenant Relation) for the Jewish Teachers or Priests of God had many external Privileges, which no Gospel Minister can once pretend unto.

Minister's Sons had all a Right to the Ministry, they had a Right to the Tenths of all their Brethren's Increase and first Fruits, and a multitude of other Advantages besides, viz. they had a Civil Government of their own, Power to punish Capital Offenders with Death; their Temporal Rulers were among themselves, but Christ hath not set up such a Gospel political Church-State, nor given such Power and such a Government to his Church under the Gospel: what will be in the Kingdom of Christ in the last days we know not.

They had a lovely and fruitful Land given to them for their Inheritance, that flowed with Milk and Honey, they were promised outward Peace, Riches, and gathering of much Wealth, so are not we; they had a glorious external Temple, and what not; also all their natural Off-spring, were born Members of their Church. But none of these Privileges can we lay claim unto; all that are to be admitted into the Gospel-Church, have only a Right by Regeneration (by the second Birth) and not by the first Birth, we are to expect Persecution and trouble in the World, and not Peace and Prosperity; Poverty and Want, and not Riches or earthly Fullness: yet our Privileges are better and greater under the Gospel, than theirs were under the Law, the Gospel Covenant being established upon better Promises: Our Children when grown up, sit under the clear and glorious Light, and Preaching of the Gospel; which they, and theirs had then held forth, but in dark shadows, moreover the Partition Wall being now broken down, the Gospel Church is not confined to