A80622:389
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.
There is indeed an holiness of the flesh, that is opposite to the uncleanness of the flesh: but there is no holiness of the flesh,1 that proceedeth from marriage; For though an unlawful marriage may pollute both flesh and Spirit, yet a lawful marriage doth not make either of them holy: In that place of Ezra the marriage of the Jews with strangers was an unclean and an unholy marriage, as polluting the Covenant of their God, Mal. 2.11. Yet that marriage of the Jews with their own Nation did not make them holy: much less did the marriage of strangers with strangers ⟨p. 112⟩make them holy, though their marriage was lawful. Though nothing that is holy is unclean: yet all things that are not unclean, are not forthwith holy. For not only that which is unholy is unclean, but also that which is unrighteous, or any way unlawful, is unclean also. Stolen goods are unclean: but yet goods well gotten, are not holy. The opposition therefore that is between uncleanness and holiness, is not that opposition which is between immediate contraries, that whatsoever is not unclean, the same should be holy: or as if it were enough to make a thing holy, because it is not unclean; Or as if because the marriage of the Jews with the strangers was unclean, and their seed unclean and accursed, therefore their marriage among themselves was holy. It is true, marriage is honourable amongst all, and in regard of Gods institution, holy: It is true also, that the seed which the Jews had in a way of lawful marriage were called an holy seed. Ezra 9.2. But yet that holiness of their seed, did not proceed from the holiness of their marriage: (for then to this day the children of married Jews were an holy seed still) but from the holiness of the Covenant between God, & them.
There is indeed an holinesse of the flesh, that is opposite to the uncleannesse of the flesh: but there is no holinesse of the flesh,1 that proceedeth from marriage; For though an unlawfull marriage may pollute both flesh and Spirit, yet a lawfull marriage doth not make either of them holy: In that place of Ezra the marriage of the Jews with strangers was an uncleane and an unholy marriage, as polluting the Covenant of their God,