A80622:346
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.
Secondly, say you, it appeareth, Christ here to be meant the root, in that the Apostle chargeth the Gentiles, that if they boast in themselves against the Jews; Thou bearest not the root, but the root thee, v. 18. that is, say you, thou appearest not to have the truth of grace, and so not to have the true nature of the root and life of Christ in thy heart, but only an outward form of th• profession of him, Job. 15.2.
Secondly, say you, it appeareth, Christ here to bee meant the root, in that the Apostle chargeth the Gentiles, that if they boast in themselves against the Jewes; Thou bearest not the root, but the root thee, v. 18. that is, say you, thou appearest not to have the truth of grace, and so not to have the true nature of the root and life of Christ in thy heart, but onely an outward form of th• ••ofession of him, Job. 15.2.
Answ. This interpretation the words of the Text will not bear; for if this were the meaning of the Apostles words, Thou bearest not the root, but the root thee; that is, thou appearest not to have the truth of grace, and so not the true nature of the root, and life of Christ in thine heart: Then it will follow, that if the Gentiles did not boast, but had indeed the truth of grace, and life of Christ in their hearts, then it might be said to the Gentile, the root beareth not thee, but thou bearest the root: which is indeed contrary to the truth of Religion, yea, to the principles of grace. The absurdity of this interpretation may give good light to show, that indeed Christ is not properly meant to be the root here spoken of. For if Christ were here intended to be the Root, the Apostle would not apply this as a check to the arrogancy of the boasting Gentile, the root beareth thee. For it is no check, but a comfort, yea, the greatest comfort and safety of a true and humble believer, not so much that he beareth Christ, as that Christ beareth him. But take the Apostle to mean Abraham to be the root of the Jews (as the context carrieth it) and then his admonition is grave and weighty against the arrogancy of the