A80622:183
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.
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.
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 seale 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 naturall and carnall seed: Or that our Baptisme is given to us of God in stead of circumcision, to confirm such a Covenant with such a seed.
- 1Sylvester.Silvester.
Both these may be well proved, rightly understood;1 rightly understood I say. For if by carnal seed of believers be meant the children of believers walking after the flesh, and carnally rejecting the Covenant of grace, as Esau sold his birthright for a mess of pottage; and the Jews rejected the righteousness of Christ, to establish their own righteousness, (which are properly called by the Apostle the carnal seed, and Israel after the flesh) then we willingly grant you, that the Covenant of grace is not extended to the carnal seed of believers. Or if by carnal and natural seed, be meant the children of believers begotten of their bodies, and considered as descending from them only by power of nature, and carnal generation, then we consent unto you herein also, that the Covenant of grace doth not extend to the children of believers considered as their natural and carnal seed. For the children of believers, though begotten of their bodies, yet are born under the Covenant, not by any power of nature, or any force of carnal generation: but, by the grace of Christ offering the Covenant to believers and to their seed, and by the faith of believers receiving the Covenant for themselves and for their seed. But that the Covenant of believers begotten of their bodies, are borne under the Covenant of grace, by the grace of Christ offering the Covenant to them, and by the faith of their parents receiving the Covenant