A47591:500
Light broke forth in Wales, expelling darkness, or, The Englishman's love to the ancient…Light broke forth in Wales, expelling darkness, or, The Englishman's love to the antient…
Light broke forth in Wales, expelling darkness, or, The Englishman's love to the ancient Britons [sic] being an answer to a book, intituled [sic] Children's baptism from Heaven, published in the Welsh tongue by Mr. James Owen / by Benjamin Keach.Light broke forth in Wales, expelling darkness, or, The Englishman's love to the antient Britains [sic] being an answer to a book, iutituled [sic] Children's baptism from Heaven, published in the Welsh tongue by Mr. James Owen / by Benjamin Keach.
London: printed by William Marshall, 1696
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.
Answ. Did this stumble them in the Apostolical Days, who were told that Circumcision availed nothing, nor Uncircumcision? The truth is, if Circumcision availed nothing, but was a Yoke of Bondage, then why should that stumble them? It might be a greater Stumbling-block in their way, to tell them their Church-state, and all their Privileges are now gone, and now they must not look upon themselves better than the Gentiles; no more Sceptre in Judah, no Land of Canaan, no Temple, no High-Priest, the Levites Sons, as such, now no more Ministers, no Succession of Priesthood: What of all this, when they hear of better Privileges for them? and that their Infants who die may go to Heaven, tho not circumcised, nor baptized? And if they live to be Men and Women, and do believe, (or God please to call them) the Promise of Pardon of Sin, and of the Holy Spirit is to them, and that they shall be saved Act. 2. 39. Are not they and all others told, that old things are passed away, and all things are become new? &c. 2 Cor. 5. 16. Wherefore henceforth we know no Man after the Flesh. It seems then that heretofore there had been a knowledge of Persons after the Flesh, and 'tis plain there was, because the Jews were of the Natural or Fleshly Seed of Abraham, and were therefore all of them admitted to the Privilege of external Church-Membership, while others were exempted: But we see the Apostle resolves henceforth to disclaim any such Value, Esteem, Preference, or Knowledge of them, or any others upon the account of mere fleshly Descent: And to this very purpose immediately subjoins in the following Verse, Therefore if any Man b• in Christ, he is a new Creature: old things now are past away, and all things are become new: the old Church and old Church-Membership, Privileges, Rites and Ordinances; and a new Church-state, new Ordinances, new Rites, a new Seed, and a new way of Introduction unto the Participation of Gospel-Privileges and Church-Membership; and if this should stumble them, who can help it? we know they have stumbled upon as bad a Rock as this.
Answ. Did this stumble them in the Apostolical Days, who were told that Circumcision availed nothing, nor Uncircumcision? The truth is, if Circumcision availed nothing, but was a Yoke of Bondage, then why should that stumble them? It might be a greater Stumbling-block in their way, to tell them their Church-state, and all their Privileges are now gone, and now they must not look upon themselves better than the Gentiles; no more Scepter in Judah, no Land of Canaan, no Temple, no High-Priest, the Levites Sons, as such, now no more Ministers, no Succession of Priesthood: What of all this, when they hear of better Privileges for them? and that their Infants who die may go to Heaven, tho not circumcised, nor baptized? And if they live to be Men and Women, and do believe, (or God please to call them) the Promise of Pardon of Sin, and of the Holy Spirit is to them, and that they shall be saved