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…

Now the lump generally considered comprehends all, both the first fruits and the latter: For except the first fruits were part of ⟨p. 84⟩the lump, it could not give testimony that the lump was holy; which lump is Gods elect in Christ, with reference to their believing in him, and so the approved subjects of Gods gracious Covenant, and heirs apparent to the Kingdom of Christ, as were Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, believing, the first fruits of that lump. They first appearing in the Covenant of grace in a visible way by faith, they were holy. And so that remnant which God had still among them, was holy, with reference to the same estate the first fruits were in. The same consideration is to be had of the lump, with reference to that estate which God in his time shall call them unto by his Gospel, and so are holy also: for this must respect a visible holiness suitable to that in the first fruits, otherwise it maketh nothing to the thing in hand.

Now the lump generally considered comprehends all, both the first fruits and the latter: For except the first fruits were part of ⟨p. 84⟩the lumpe, it could not give testimony that the lumpe was holy; which lumpe is Gods elect in Christ, with reference to their believing in him, and so the approved subjects of Gods gracious Covenant, and heires aprarent to the Kingdome of Christ, as were Abraham, Isaac, and J•cob, believing, the first fruits of that lumpe. They first appearing in the Covenant of grace in a visible way by faith, they were holy. And so that remnant which God had still among them, was holy, with reference to the same estate the first fruits were in. The same consideration is to bee had of the lumpe, with reference to that estate which God in his time shall call them unto by his Gospel, and so are holy also: for this must respect a visible holinesse suitable to that in the first fruits, otherwise it maketh nothing to the thing in hand.

Now a word or two also of the root and branches; the root here, is that from which the Jews were cut off, and the Gentiles grafted in. And that is not only believing Parents, (and so the same with the first fruits) but Christ mystically considered, with reference to the rules of Order, Ordinances, and Government laid down in the New Testament, for all such to believe and submit unto, whom God approveth true subjects of the same. In which respect Christ is called a vine, a root, and the foundation,