A80622:182
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.
For all the blessings were promised to all the seed in the Covenant. To the spiritual seed, both spiritual and outward blessings were promised and given effectually: To the carnal seed, ⟨p. 45⟩not carnal blessings only, but spiritual also were promised, and offered: So as that their falling short of the grace of God, was not from the defect of the Covenant, but from their profane refusal of it, and of the means of grace offered in it. For it is an evident and confessed Truth, and the Text is clear for it, That in the Covenant, God offered himself to be a God to all the seed. Now God is not an outward or carnal blessing: but as himself is a Spirit, so is he also a spiritual blessing to whomsoever he is dispensed.
For all the blessings were promised to all the seede in the Covenant. To the spirituall seede, both spirituall and outward blessings were promised and given effectually: To the carnall seede, ⟨p. 45⟩not carnall blessings onely, but spirituall also were promised, and offered: So as that their falling short of the grace of God, was not from the defect of the Covenant, but from their prophane refusall of it, and of the meanes of grace offered in it. For it is an evident and confessed Truth, and the Text is cleare for it, That in the Covenant, God offered himselfe to be a God to all the seede. Now God is not an outward or carnall blessing: but as himselfe is a Spirit, so is he also a spirituall blessing to whomsoever he is dispensed.
Well then,1 though it be granted that the Covenant which God made with Abraham and with his seed, is a Covenant of grace, and that circumcision was given as a seal of that Covenant unto his seed; yet still, this is not proved, that God hath made a Covenant of grace now in the new Testament with the seed of believers, especially our natural and carnal seed: Or that our Baptism is given to us of God in stead of circumcision, to confirm such a Covenant with such a seed.