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…

Answ. 1. I answer; It is granted by us that the Children of the Jews, whether they were believing Jews, or unbelieving Jews, godly Persons or ungodly Persons, they were in that external Covenant God made with Abraham's Natural Seed, as such, or with the whole House of Israel under the Old Testament, or old Covenant: But the Promises and that Covenant then ran not to the Seed of believing Jews only, but if they were Abraham's Seed, I mean his Natural Seed, whether Believers or Unbelievers. Circumcision belonged to the Male-Infants, as such, and all other external Privileges, but the Covenant of Grace made with Abraham ran only then as it runs now, viz. to all the Elect only, not to their Carnal Seed, as such, but to their Spiritual Seed. If you are a Believer, you are in the Covenant of Grace; and if your Child in Infancy be one of God's Elect, that decretively is in the same Covenant of Grace, but not actually until it doth believe, and has actual Union with Christ by Faith, and partakes of the holy Spirit, which is the Bond of that Union, and Seal of the Covenant of Grace. No external Rite can be the Seal of the Spiritual Covenant. If therefore Circumcision was a Seal of any Covenant, it was the External and Legal Covenant: tho Abraham, 'tis true, received it as the Seal of the Righteousness of his Faith, even of that Faith he had being uncircumcised; and in that sense it could be a Seal to no other Person but to Abraham only: for who besides him had the Righteousness of Faith before they were circumcised, and that they should be Fathers to all ⟨p. 76⟩that believed, not only of believing Jews, but believing Gentiles also? for so ran the Covenant of the Righteousness of Faith God made with Abraham. And has God made such a Covenant with you, or with any Believer now? Or, is there any such Covenant-Head under the Gospel, save Jesus Christ alone? Abraham was but a Typical Father; the Covenant made with him and his Natural Seed, as such, typified Christ, and all his Spiritual Seed.

2. We have proved in the Legal or Old Covenant, there were many other external Privileges besides Circumcision, and external visible Church-Membership, several of which we have mentioned; to which we may add, they had a right to the Land of Canaan, and to a Civil Government and Governors among themselves, or a Political Commonwealth, as also a right to a glorious external Temple. But, Sir, is the Gospel Covenant worse than that Legal Covenant, because we and our Children have not such Promises and external Privileges? Certainly if God pleases to open your Eyes, you will soon see and confess your Mistake. Besides, the Apostle calling it a better Covenant, and better Promises, clearly shows they are not external Privileges, but spiritual: and so in that sense I have proved the Privileges and Promises of the Covenant of Grace, do far exceed the Privileges the Jews had then; and our Children's Privileges are greater also, tho not to be received as Members into the Gospel-Church till they do believe.