A80622:203
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.
These Scriptures which you have brought to prove that God hath made a Covenant of grace with believers and their seed,1 now in the days of the New Testament, I have heard sundry exceptions made against them. As first touching the place in Gal. 3.16. It is said, that if the place be well considered, it will help forward the truth against the receiving of children non-elect into the Covenant: For the Apostle here speaketh of the Covenant, as comprehending Christ, and the seed in him elect, unto everlasting life. In which sense, the Covenant of grace was not made to Abraham, and to all his seed without exception: for then all his seed must either be saved, (which no man will say) or if they perish, then must they fall out of the Covenant of grace. And if neither, then there were some of the seed of Abraham comprehended in the Covenant in one sense, and admitted to the seal thereof, whom God excepted against in another sense; some ⟨p. 52⟩of which were Ismael and Esau, who in Abraham's generation signified a fleshly seed, as well as Isaac and Jacob a spiritual. Between which seeds God ever held forth a distinction in all generations, from Abraham until Christ, who put an end to the type and the flesh, to all privileges of that nature thereunto belonging, 2 Cor. 5.16. Phil. 3.3, 4, 5. So that now all is laid up in Christ only for such as believe.
These Scriptures which you have brought to prove that God hath made a Covenant of grace with believers and their seed,1 now in the dayes of the New Testament, I have heard sundry exceptions made against them. As first touching the place in Gal. 3.16. It is said, that if the place be well considered, it will helpe forward the truth against the receiving of children non-elect into the Covenant: For the Apostle here speaketh of the Covenant, as comprehending Christ, and the seed in him elect, unto everlasting life. In which sense, the Covenant of grace was not made to Abraham, and to all his seed without exception: for then all his seed must either be saved, (which no man will say) or if they perish, then must they fall out of the Covenant of grace. And if neither, then there were some of the seed of Abraham comprehended in the Covenant in one sense, and admitted to the seale thereof, whom God excepted against in another sense; some