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…

Thirdly, from the consideration of that which the Jews refused, and the Gentiles received, which was Christ aforesaid. Therefore it is Christ in his mystical Order and Government amongst his Saints, that is here the root and olive tree with his Spirit in his Ordinances issuing forth sap, and fatness of life ⟨p. 85⟩and comfort into every believing heart, as a branch of the same.

Thirdly, from the consideration of that which the Jewes refused, and the Gentiles received, which was Christ aforesaid. Therefore it is Christ in his mysticall Order and Government amongst his Saints, that is here the root and olive tree with his Spirit in his Ordinances issuing forth sap, and fatnesse of life ⟨p. 85⟩and comfort into every believing heart, as a branch of the same.

This will yet more clearly appear, if we consider what was the Jews own natural root and olive tree, whereof they were natural branches only by faith, as the Apostle so declares them. Vers. 20, 21, 24. which was union and communion only with God in all his Divine Ordinances and Worship, which in the Old Testament was Mosaical and typical, in which respect the Jews were the first that ever God took in communion with himself in such an holy way of Worship, and therefore called the first fruits of his love, and natural branches, which order and manner of Worship (but not the matter) was changed at the coming of Christ in the flesh, and a new form and order set up by him, called the Gospel or New Testament; which order the Jews opposed, and were rejected: Christ the sure foundation laid in Zion, becoming a stumbling stone, and rock of offence to the Jews, the Kingdom of God was taken from them; that is, they were cast out of fellowship and communion with God, in respect of his Worship, for their unbelief: and the Gentiles that did submit to the Gospel, were taken in by faith in Christ, to be his worshippers and heirs both of grace ••d glory. And when God pleaseth to call the Jews by the Gospel to believe in his Son, and to submit to him, as he is the Mediator of the New Testament, then shall they be received in again into their old fellowship and communion with God according to the order of Moses. And thus the Apostle proves their first estate to be holy, as the first fruits of that holy and blessed relation wherein they stood towards God by faith. From which they for their unbelief are cut off; and the Gentiles by faith admitted in, of mere grace, and not to boast. And yet there is a remnant of them to be called as the Lump, and a second fruit, which are also holy in reference to the same holy root as aforesaid. And as the root is holy, so shall these branches be when they come to be grafted in again to their own root and olive tree, as at the first, which is union and communion with God in his holy way of Worship. And so much of the root or olive tree, which must be understood of Christ mystically considered; and not of believing Parents, as aforesaid. Now a word of the branches, which being holy, are believers only in the Apostles sense.