A trial of the new-church way in New-England and in old ... by that…A tryall of the nevv-church vvay in New-England and in old ... by that…

Reply.

This whole Reason as it is propounded makes only against it self; who ever thought that the Seals of the Covenant were not proper to confederates or the Church of God? But of old all visible Believers under the Covenant of Grace, walking in holiness, were of the visible Church, and in Church Order according to the dispensation of those times, though not joined in external society with the Family of Abraham. And to exclude Melchizedek or Job, because they were no members of the visible Church, when yet they were visible Believers under the Covenant of Grace, and in Church Order as those times required, is well-nigh a contradiction, And so it is to debar known and approved Christians members of our Congregation, and their seed from the Seals, because they be not of the visible Church, for they are members of the Church, and so to be held and esteemed all true Churches and members of the Church, The true & proper meaning of this Consideration, is that as Circumcision and the Passover were not to be dispensed to all visible Believers under the Covenant of Grace, but only to such as were joined to Abraham's Family, or to the people of the God of Abraham, no more may Baptism and the Lords Supper be administered to any Believers now, unless they be joined to some particular Congregation in Church Membership, or unless by solemn Covenant, they be set members of some particular Assemblies.

THis whole Reason as it is propounded makes onely against it selfe; who ever thought that the Seals of the Covenant were not proper to confederates or the Church of God? But of old all visible Believers under the Covenant of Grace, walking in holinesse, were of the visible Church, and in Church Order according to the dispensation of those times, though not joyned in externall society with the Family of Abraham. And to exclude Melchisedeck or Iob, because they were no members of the visible Church, when yet they were visible Believers under the Covenant of Grace, and in Church Order as those times required, is well-nigh a contradiction, And so it is to debar known and approved Christians members of our Congregation, and their seed from the Seals, because they be not of the visible Church, for they are members of the Church, and so to bee held and esteemed all true Churches and members of the Church, The true & proper meaning of this Consideration, is that as Circumcision and the Passeover were not to be dispensed to all visible Believers under the Covenant of Grace, but onely to such as were joyned to Abrahams Family, or to the people of the God of Abraham, no more may Baptisme and the Lords Supper be administred to any Believers now, unlesse they be joyned to some particular Congregation in Church Membership, or unlesse by solemne Covenant, they be set members of some particular Assemblies.