A59660:62
The church-membership of children, and their right to baptism according to that holy and…The church-membership of children, and their right to baptisme according to that holy and…
The church-membership of children, and their right to baptism according to that holy and everlasting covenant of God, established between Himself and the faithful ... cleared up in a letter, sent unto a worthy friend of the author ... / by Thomas Shepard ...The church-membership of children, and their right to baptisme according to that holy and everlasting covenant of God, established between Himself and the faithfull ... cleared up in a letter, sent unto a worthy friend of the author ... / by Thomas Shepard ...
Cambridge: printed by Samuel Green, 1663Cambridg: printed by Samuel Green, 1663
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
2. That according to the double Seed, viz. 1. Elect Seed. 2. Church-Seed; So there is a double Covenant, 1. External and outward: 2. Internal and inward. And because the Covenant makes the Church, hence there is an inward, and outward Membership, and Church estate: there is an outward Jew, & an inward Jew, Rom. 2.28, 29. All are not Israel (i. e. the elect Seed) that are of Israel (i. e. the Church-Seed of in outward Covenant) to whom the Apostle saith belong's the Adoption, the Covenants, and the promises, that is, the external Adoption whereby God account's them his Children, or the Children of his house, and family, the Children of the Church; and accordingly have the promises belonging to them in respect of outward dispensation, although they be not Children by internal Adoption, to whom belongs the promises by effectual and special communication of saving Grace: It is clearer then the day, that many who are inwardly, or in respect of inward Covenant, the Children ⟨p. 2⟩of the Devil, are outwardly, or in respect of outward Covenant, the Children of God, Isay. 1.2. I have brought up Children, and yet Rebellions; and in the next verse they are called [my People] (i. e. by outward Covenant) and yet worse then the Ox, or Ass: Deut. 32.19, 20. they are called Sons, and yet provoking God to revengeful Wrath; and Children ▪ and yet without Faith. And look, as some may be externally Dogs, and yet internally Believers: (as the woman of Canaan, whom, in respect of outward Covenant, Christ calls a Dog: and the Jews, who yet rejected him, Children Mat. 15.26) so many may be externally Children, in respect of external Covenant, and yet internally Dogs, and evil men, and we see that the purest Churches of Christ are called Saints, and faithful, & Children of God and yet many among them Hypocrites, and unbelievers; because they that in respect of Church estate, and outward Covenant, and profession, are outwardly, or federally Saints; are many times inwardly, and really unsound: