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…

But Christ came of Abraham, and of Isaac, as well as of Judah (the father of the Jews:) and yet that did not admit all the Nations which sprang of them to the outward Privileges, as you call them (though very absurdly (if you mean (as you seem to do) the Covenant, and the seal thereof. For the Covenant whereby we and our seed have God for our God is not a mere outward Privilege, but a spiritual and heavenly Privilege to such as know the worth of it.

But Christ came of Abraham, and of Isaae, as well as of Judah (the father of the Jews:) and yet that did not admit all the Nations which sprang of them to the outward Priviledges, as you call them (though very absurdly (if you meane (as you seeme to doe) the Covenant, and the seale thereof. For the Covenant whereby wee and our seed have God for our God is not a meere outward Priviledge, but a spirituall and heavenly Priviledge to such as know the worth of it.

Besides, many Tribes of Israel were admitted (they and their seed) to the Privilege of the Covenant, and to the seal thereof, of whom yet it was evident, that Christ was not to spring of any of of them. The Jews who descended all of them of Judah, they were but one tribe of twelve. And why should all the other eleven Tribes be circumcised as well as the Jews, in respect of their bringing forth their promised seed, when yet old Jacob had limited the bringing forth of the Messiah to the Tribe of Judah? Gen. 49.10. Were all the children of the eleven Tribes figures of the Messiah as well as the children of the Jews? Besides, in Davids time, there was a promise given to him, that the Messiah should come out of his loins, 2 Sam. 7. Why then should any other families of the Jews enjoy such a Privilege that all their infants should be circumcised with the Seal of the Covenant? Doth any word of Scripture make all the Infants of all the Jews, yea of all Israel, figures of the Messiah? And if no word of Scripture so do, shall any man forge such an imagination of his own brain, and be guiltless? what though a fruitful womb was counted a great blessing among the Jews? So it was also among the other Tribes, who yet could not expect the Messiah to spring from them. It was a cause just enough to account a fruitful womb a great blessing, not only because it was a blessing to the family, but also because it was an enlargement of the Church. In which respect the Elders and Peoples of Bethlehem blessed Ruth (Chap. 4.11.) and Boaz with her, The Lord make this young Woman,