Gold refined, or, Baptism in its primitive purity proving baptism in water an holy…Gold refin'd, or, Baptism in its primitive purity proving baptism in water an holy…

And therefore, when this new and more spiritual Dispensation was about to be actually ⟨p. 118⟩introduced and established, John who was the Harbinger of it gives sufficient notice thereof; and to this purpose deals plainly with the Jews, i. e. the Pharisees and Sadducees that came to be baptized of him, and tells them upon this account, Mat. 3. 9, 10. Think not to say within your selves, We have Abraham to our Father: For I say unto you, that God is able of these Stones to raise up Children to Abraham. And now also is the Axe laid unto the root of the Trees: Therefore every Tree that bringeth not forth good Fruit, is hewn down, and cast into the Fire. It cannot be denied but that they had Abraham to their Father as much now as before, only the terms of their standing in that Church was now changed; so that every Tree now of whatsoever natural Stock or external Production, that bringeth not forth good Fruit, must be hewn down; and the reason is rendered for that, Now the Axe is laid to the root of the Trees, mark it, now 'tis so; it was not so before, the Axe was never till now laid thus unto the root of the Trees: which must needs be understood in reference to that Birth and Fleshly Privilege spoken of before, which they had so long boasted of, as the whole Context shows. But now God is resolved to make other manner of work of it under the Gospel-Dispensation than he did before. Now the root of the Trees are struck at, a Bar put, natural Descent or Extraction from a Religious Root, (i.e. Godly Parents) will not now serve turn, as in time past it did, to give any true Right or Title to Church-Privileges. Moreover, if God now will not suffer any of the natural Branches to abide on their own natural Stock, viz. Abraham, be sure he will not admit any Gentiles, that are not natural Branches of Abraham, to be ⟨p. 119⟩grafted into the good Olive, without Faith and Regeneration.

And therefore, when this new and more spiritual Dispensation was about to be actually ⟨p. 118⟩introduced and established, John who was the Harbinger of it gives sufficient notice thereof; and to this purpose deals plainly with the Jews, i. e. the Pharisees and Sadduces that came to be baptized of him, and tells them upon this account,