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…

Answ. The Church is called an olive tree (as well as a vine) yea and the branches of it are said to be broken off, Jer. 11.16. And when the Axe is said by John Baptist to be laid to the root of the tree•, Mat. 3.10. It is his meaning to threaten the Jews, that God is about to cut them off from the Covenant of their father Abraham, of whom they were the off-spring and the branches. And thereby he confirmeth his admonition to them in the former verse, ⟨p. 96⟩(vers. 9.) think not (saith he) to say with your selves, we have Abraham to our Father, for God is able even of these stones (and so of stony hearted Gentiles) to raise up children unto Abraham. And lest they might object, that themselves were the children of Abraham, rooted in him not only by natural generation, but by an everlasting Covenant, he strengtheneth his admonition with this threatening, verse 10. Now is the Axe laid to the root of the trees, (to wit, to cut off barren branches from the Covenant of Abraham:) every tree therefore that bringeth not forth good fruit, is hewen down, and cast into the fire. And therefore it is proper enough (according to Scripture phrase) to interpret the root to be meant of Abraham; and surely as fitly in this place of Paul, as in that of Matthew; but whether more proper, we shall see anon.

Answ. The Church is called an olive tree (as well as a vine) yea and the branches of it are said to be broken off, Jer. 11.16. And when the Axe is said by John Baptist to bee laid to the root of the tree•, Mat. 3.10. It is his meaning to threaten the Jewes, that God is about to cut them off from the Covenant of their father Abraham, of whom they were the off-spring and the branches. And thereby he confirmeth his admonition to them in the former verse, ⟨p. 96⟩(vers. 9.) thinke not (saith hee) to say with your selves, wee have Abraham to our Father, for God is able even of these stones (and so of stony hearted Gentiles) to raise up children unto Abraham. And lest they might object, that themselves were the children of Abraham, rooted in him not onely by naturall generation, but by an everlasting Covenant, he strengtheneth his admonition with this threatening, verse 10. Now is the Axe laid to the root of the trees, (to wit, to cut off barren branches from the Covenant of Abraham:) every tree therefore that bringeth not forth good fruit, is hewen downe, and cast into the fire. And therefore it is proper enough (according to Scripture phrase) to interpret the root to be meant of Abraham; and surely as fitly in this place of Paul, as in that of Matthew; but whether more proper, wee shall see anon.