The covenant of life opened, or, A treatise of the covenant of grace

5. Its against the whole current of the Text, that Paul spake abstractly of the only invisible body really sanctified, and not of the visible body. For 1. The body invisible is an elect seed that cannot fall away; But the body that here he speaks of are such, of which a part are hardened and blinded,¹ and under the spirit of slumber, and a part elect and chosen. 7. The election have obtained, the rest are hardened, and of such a body, compared with the body in the time of Elijah, of which multitudes fell away, slew the Prophets, digged down the Altars, and a good number were believers, that bowed not their knee to Baal, and so is the body now, saith Paul, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. [Greek or Hebrew], which is a mixed body. 3. He speaks of the body that is fallen and stumbled, v. 11. and these whom he preaches unto, to provoke them to a holy emulation, to come in to Christ, by the incoming of the Gentiles, v. 13, 14. which is sure a visible body, and which shall be engrafted in again, v. 23. which includes a visible body of diverse generations. 4. Yea he must speak of a National election and external calling, as Deut. 7.7, 8, 9. Deut. 10.15. Psal. 132.13. Isai. 41.2. Not ⟨p. 115⟩of a personal election of some certain persons who fell, were blinded, rejected fully and totally in their persons, and received in and engrafted as sound believers again▪ for the Scripture speaks of no such boating in and out, but of a huge numerous body of which some fell, some stand and includes diverse generations. 5. The collective visible body of Jews and Gentiles are such as Paul preacheth unto, v. 13, 14. such as are engrafted in in the room of the Jews, and engrafted into the Olive of the visible Body, and partake of the fatness of Ordinances, Baptism▪ Covenant-comforts, promises.²