A80622:176
The grounds and ends of the baptism of the children of the faithful. Opened…The grounds and ends of the baptisme of the children of the faithfull. Opened…
The grounds and ends of the baptism of the children of the faithful. Opened in a familiar discourse by way of a dialogue, or brotherly conference. / By the learned and faithful minister of Christ, John Cotton, teacher of the Church of Boston in New-England.The grounds and ends of the baptisme of the children of the faithfull. Opened in a familiar discourse by way of a dialogue, or brotherly conference. / By the learned and faithfull minister of Christ, John Cotton, teacher of the Church of Boston in New-England.
London: printed by R.C. for Andrew Crooke, 1646
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.
1What if that were granted you which you say (which yet many good Divines will not admit) that the Covenant of God with Abraham was a Covenant of grace only to him and to his faithful seed, and to them Circumcision was a seal of the same Covenant: but to the carnal seed, the Covenant was a Covenant of works, and circumcision a seal of the Covenant of works? Though all this were granted, yet still it remaineth good, that all the seed of Abraham (spiritual and carnal) were in Covenant with God, one Covenant or other, either of works or grace; and were all partakers of the seal of the Covenant, to wit, circumcision, though in a different respect. But then it will unavoidably follow, that if the Covenant given to Abraham and his seed be given to believers and our seed; then as all the seed of Abraham (whether carnal or spiritual) were in Covenant with God, and so circumcised: so all the seed of believers are in Covenant with God, and should now be baptized. If you say, then Baptism shall be a seal of the Covenant of works to the carnal seed of believers, and that were an absurdity now in the days of the new Testament.
1What if that were granted you which you say (which yet many good Divines will not admit) that the Covenant of God with Abraham was a Covenant of grace onely to him and to his faithfull seed, and to them Circumcision was a seale of the same Covenant: but to the carnal seed, the Covenant was a Covenant of works, and circumcision a seale of the Covenant of works? Though all this were granted, yet still it remaineth good, that all the seed of Abraham (spirituall and carnall) were in Covenant with God, one Covenant or other, either of works or grace; and were all partakers of the seale of the Covenant, to wit, circumcision, though in a different respect. But then it will unavoydably follow, that if the Covenant given to Abraham and his seed be given to beleevers and our seed; then as all the seed of Abraham (whether carnall or spirituall) were in Covenant with God, and so circumcised: so all the seed of believers are in Covenant with God, and should now be baptized. If you say, then Baptisme shall be a seale of the Covenant of works to the carnall seed of believers, and that were an absurdity now in the dayes of the new Testament.
- 1Silvanus.