1There is a broad difference between these two; who are the true approved subjects of this Covenant; and who are approved to be the true subjects of this Covenant. For it is certain (and your self admitted it above) that God approved all the seed of Abraham (even his carnal seed) to be admitted as subjects of the covenant and of the seal thereof. But it as certain, that God never approved such true subjects of the Covenant, whom himself never elected, nor themselves ever received the gift of faith, without which it is impossible to please God. Many are truly called to the fellowship of the Covenant, and of the seal thereof, who were never elected nor approved in their spiritual estate as heirs of salvation. It is in the same sense, that Paul speaketh (Rom. 2.28, 29.) He is not a Jew, which is one without, neither is that Circumcision, which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and Circumcision is that of the heart in the Spirit, ⟨p. 67⟩whose praise (or which is all one, whose approbation) is not of men, but of God. But dare any man therefore infer, that God did not approve it, that any should be admitted unto the Covenant of Abraham, or unto the seal thereof (Circumcision:) unless he were a Jew, or Israelite within, and circumcised with the circumcision of the heart? To what purpose then are all the texts of Scripture alleged by you? which prove no more then we acknowledge, that by natural generation all men are carnal; that without faith it is impossible to please God; that whom God electeth he calleth; that the election obtaineth what they seek for; that the elect are chosen to be holy, and partakers of the sprinkling of the blood of Christ; that the elect are brought on to faith. But what is all this to prove that such as are carnal by natural generation, cannot be holy by the grace of the covenant? or that it may not please God to admit them to the outward dispensation of his Covenant, whose inward spiritual estate he is not pleased with?
1There is a broad difference between these two; who are the true approved subjects of this Covenant; and who are approved to be the true subjects of this Covenant. For it is certain (and your selfe admitted it above) that God approved all the seed of Abraham (even his carnall seed) to be admitted as subjects of the covenant and of the seale thereof. But it as certain, that God never approved such true subjects of the Covenant, whom himselfe never elected, nor themselves ever received the gift of faith, without which it is impossible to please God. Many are truly called to the fellowship of the Covenant, and of the seale thereof, who were never elected nor approved in their spirituall estate as heires of salvation. It is in the same sense, that Paul speaketh (Rom. 2.28, 29.) He is not a Jew, which is one without, neither is that Circumcision, which is outward in the flesh; but hee is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and Circumcision is that of the heart in the Spirit, ⟨p. 67⟩whose praise (or which is all one, whose approbation) is not of men, but of God. But dare any man therefore inferre, that God did not approve it, that any should bee admitted unto the Covenant of Abraham, or unto the seale thereof (Circumcision:) unlesse he were a Jew, or Israelite within, and circumcised with the circumcision of the heart? To what purpose then are all the texts of Scripture alledged by you? which prove no more then wee acknowledge, that by naturall generation all men are carnall; that without faith it is impossible to please God; that whom God electeth hee calleth; that the election obtaineth what they seeke for; that the elect are chosen to be holy, and partakers of the sprinkling of the blood of Christ; that the elect are brought on to faith. But what is all this to prove that such as are carnall by naturall generation, cannot be holy by the grace of the covenant? or that it may not please God to admit them to the outward dispensation of his Covenant, whose inward spirituall estate hee is not pleased with?
- 1Silvanus.
