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…

It is true, which you say, Christ cometh not short of Nature: but in this, he exceedeth Nature. Nature cannot make a dead plant set in a Vineyard, or grafted in a stock, to grow: But Christ can make a dead plant set in his Church to grow living and fruitful. For else how came John Baptists Ministry to turn the hearts of so many Publicans, soldiers, and other people to bring forth fruits meet for repentance? Luke 3.10. to 14. But otherwise, if Christ make not dead plants set in his Church to grow living and fruitful, he can make them grow up to yield more fuel to the fire of his wrath, and to grow ripe for greater damnation. Mat. 23 14. It is utterly therefore untrue which you say, that Christ admits not of any dead plants to be set in his Vineyard: or that he taketh not to himself a compounded body of living and dead members: or that the Church of God is not a mixed company &c. For who called Judas to the Apostleship? did not the Lord Jesus himself? Did not he plant him in his Vineyard? And doth he not hire and send forth many labourers into his Vineyard, who yet afterwards many of them prove murmurers? Mat. 20.1. to 16. The Church of Christ is often in the Gospel called the Kingdom of Heaven, and in Mat. 25.1. The Kingdom of heaven is given for the stile of such Churches, as are most pure, such as they will be after the destruction of Antichrist, and the calling of the Jews prophesied of in chapter 24. wherein all the members are virgins (none defiled with Antichristian Whoredom:) All servants, none enemies: all as clean beasts, whether sheep or goats, the goats themselves being clean for meat (as chewing the Cud, and dividing the hoof,) and clean also for sacrifice. And yet are there not to be found amongst these Virgin-members of the Church, some wise, some foolish? amongst these servants, some thriving, some unprofitable? amongst these clean beasts, some sheep, some goats, who shall stand accursed at the left hand of Christ? It is true, the Church which is the mystical body of Christ, ought to be suitable unto Christ her head, and to the immortal seed of the word, of which she is begotten, and many times so she is: but not always every member: yea very seldom, every member, if at any time.

It is true, which you say, Christ cometh not short of Nature: but in this, he exceedeth Nature. Nature cannot make a dead plant set in a Vineyard, or graffed in a stock, to grow: But Christ can make a dead plant set in his Church to grow living and fruitful. For else how came John Baptists Ministry to turn the hearts of so many Publicans, souldiers, and other people to bring forth fruits meete for repentance?