A66098:288
Covenant-keeping the way to blessedness, or, A brief discourse wherein is shown the connection…Covenant-keeping the way to blessedness, or, A brief discourse wherein is shewn the connexion…
Covenant-keeping the way to blessedness, or, A brief discourse wherein is shown the connection which there is between the promise, on God's part; and duty, on our part, in the covenant of grace as it was delivered in several sermons, preached in order to solemn renewing of covenant. By Samuel Willard teacher of a church in Boston in New-England.Covenant-keeping the way to blessedness, or, A brief discourse wherein is shewn the connexion which there is between the promise, on God's part; and duty, on our part, in the covenant of grace as it was delivered in several sermons, preached in order to solemn renewing of covenant. By Samuel Willard teacher of a church in Boston in New-England.
printed by James Glen for Samuel Sewall, 1682
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 they may be made Possessors of the privileges of the Covenant according as they are capable. Doubtless the visible privileges of the Covenant, are not only an Honorarium to the People of God, but they are also (and principally) means appointed and sanctified by God for the begetting and increasing of Faith: And it is one end of God's conferring these privileges upon any of the Children of Men, that His chosen may thereby, in His way, be brought to partake in the invisible. The work of Conversion, since the planting of Churches by Apostles and Apostolical Men, is ordinarily to be expected within, and not out of the visible Church. It is the Church unto whom the Ordinances and Offices are given, 1 Cor. 12. 28. And that for all those ends which are there needful: Nor are we to presume, or thereupon to ground the visible Covenant-Interest of Children, upon a presumption that they are born Converted, or have received saving Grace in the womb; since we know that for the most part it is otherwise, and that God has reserved this work to be ordinarily performed by the means instrumentally in such as live and grow up to years of knowledge: Though we believe He doth it in a secret way for those that die in infancy: God gives ⟨p. 114⟩Men Ordinances, not only because they are converted (though they are also for the perfecting of the Saints, Eph, 4. 12.) but also that they may be converted, Mat. 3. 11, It is therefore our duty to take care that they may want nothing of that which God hath appointed for them for their good. We cannot give saving […] to our Children (that God reserves to […] Work) but the means of Grace we ought to […]. As […] Works, so have […] Children, is to deny them to be […] Kingdom of Christ, for this is […] He hath appointed all His Subjects to wear; and a sign, and token of our initiation into His Kingdom: To exclude them from Church-watch, is to refuse them that help for their spiritual good, which Jesus Christ hath allotted them, and expects we should afford them, as a part of the body. Touching their admission to the Lord's-Table, I know there are (besides their birth-right) such qualifications requisite to be found in them, as may give satisfaction to a well grounded Charity that they are spiritually fit for it, and to thrust, or force them upon it, though without these requisite preparations, were cruel charity. But,