A47399:156
[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 containing an exposition of that metaphorical text of Holy Scripture, Mat. 3, 10].[The ax laid to the root, or, One blow more at the foundation of infant baptism and church-membership containing an exposition of that metaphorical text of Holy Scripture, Mat. 3, 10].
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.
2. The Law therefore, of which the Apostle speaks, is that Ministration of the Law given to Israel, of which Circumcision was part, and so ⟨p. 28⟩of the like Nature and Quality with it; and both contra-distinguished to the Covenant of Grace, or to the Righteousness of Faith.
And that the Law here is put strictly for the pure Law of Nature, is wholly without Reason, Proof▪ or Demonstration; what Law doth the Apostle speak of in the preceding Chapters, and also in this, see chap. 3.1, 2. is it not that he calls the Oracles of God, or Lively Oracles, Act. 7.38. given on Mount Sinai? The Law of Nature, and the written Law contained in the two Tables▪ are all one and the same Law; as to the Substance of them, they are materially the same, tho' not formally; both convinced of Sin, both bring Sinners under Guilt and Condemnation, and so that all Mouths may be stopped, and all the World become guilty before God, Rom. 3 19. both are a Rule to walk by, both Witnesses for God, but neither of them can give Life, nor justify the Sinner in the sight of God, v. 20. Therefore neither of them are any part of the Covenant of Grace, for if one of them is a part of it, both of them are; if the Law of Nature be not so, the Law written in the Tables of Stone was not so: yet the Jews had the Advantage of the Gentiles, because their Law was wrote in far more legible Characters than the dimm Law of Nature, Rom. 3.2. as well as in many other respects.
And that the Law here is put strictly for the pure Law of Nature, is wholly without Reason, Proof▪ or Demonstration; what Law doth the Apostle speak of in the preceding Chapters, and also in this, see chap. 3.1, 2. is it not that he calls the Oracles of God, or Lively Oracles,