1. That the Jews, while they were God's visible Church, were a holy Nation; not only the Parents, but the Children also, all the Branches were holy, because the Root was holy; the Root was Abraham, and others of the Fathers, Rom. 11. 28. Isa. 51. 1, 2. because they were in Abraham's Covenant, the Parents and the Children were holy, being separated a peculiar People unto God: In this sense they were holy; because the first Fruit, even Abraham, was holy, the whole Lump also was holy. Abraham believed and received God's Covenant to him and his Seed, being the first Fruit of the Jews: even as the first Fruits offered to the Lord, Levit. 2. 3, 9, 10, 17. so did the Faith of the first Parents sanctify the whole Nation of the Jews, not with true Holiness in the Heart, for many of them were wicked, but with a federal Holiness, because they and their Seed were separated to the Lord in an external Covenant.
2. You say; They that received the Gospel continued to be holy Branches upon the same holy Root; they and their Seed were in Abraham's Covenant, even as ⟨p. 135⟩before, nor one Branch was cut off, neither small or great, until they refused the Lord Jesus, they that were broken off were cut off by reason of Unbelief, Rom. 11. 20. Because of their Unbelief they were broken off; therefore they that believed in Christ were not cut off, and if they were not cut off, then they were in Union with the Root, as being Partakers of the Fatness of the Root, as before they and their Children were Partakers of their old Privileges, being holy Branches not broken off. The Anti-pedo-baptists do cut off the Branches whom God never cut off, viz. the Seed of the Faithful; they lop off the fruitful Tree in the Vineyard, and lay the Axe upon the Root, and upon the Branches thereof in a presumptuous manner.
3. You say the Jews refused the Grace of God in the Gospel; God refused that Nation, not only the Parents but the Children also. God spared not the Natural Branches, but hath broken them off, Rom. 11. 17. not from the invisible Church, of which the unbelieving were not Members. None are Members of the invisible Church saving the Elect. God refused none of the Parents, Rom. 11. 2. 2 Tim. 2. 9. God hath not cast away his People which he foreknew; the Foundation of God standeth sure:
1. That the Jews, while they were God's visible Church, were a holy Nation; not only the Parents, but the Children also, all the Branches were holy, because the Root was holy; the Root was Abraham, and others of the Fathers, Rom. 11. 28. Isa. 51. 1, 2. because they were in Abraham's Covenant, the Parents and the Children were holy, being separated a peculiar People unto God: In this sense they were holy; because the first Fruit, even Abraham, was holy, the whole Lump also was holy. Abraham believed and received God's Covenant to him and his Seed, being the first Fruit of the Jews: even as the first Fruits offered to the Lord, Levit. 2. 3, 9, 10, 17. so did the Faith of the first Parents sanctify the whole Nation of the Jews, not with true Holiness in the Heart, for many of them were wicked, but with a federal Holiness, because they and their Seed were separated to the Lord in an external Covenant.
2. You say; They that received the Gospel continued to be holy Branches upon the same holy Root; they and their Seed were in Abraham's Covenant, even as ⟨p. 135⟩before, nor one Branch was cut off, neither small or great, until they refused the Lord Jesus, they that were broken off were cut off by reason of Unbelief, Rom. 11. 20. Because of their Unbelief they were broken off; therefore they that believed in Christ were not cut off, and if they were not cut off, then they were in Union with the Root, as being Partakers of the Fatness of the Root, as before they and their Children were Partakers of their old Privileges, being holy Branches not broken off. The Anti-pedo-baptists do cut off the Branches whom God never cut off, viz. the Seed of the Faithful; they lop off the fruitful Tree in the Vineyard, and lay the Ax upon the Root, and upon the Branches thereof in a presumptuous manner.
3. You say the Jews refused the Grace of God in the Gospel; God refused that Nation, not only the Parents but the Children also. God spared not the Natural Branches, but hath broken them off, Rom. 11. 17. not from the invisible Church, of which the unbelieving were not Members. None are Members of the invisible Church saving the Elect. God refused none of the Parents, Rom. 11. 2. 2 Tim. 2. 9
