The second thing that I would answer you, is, that all the places which you allege to prove, that the privileges of the Kingdom of Christ do belong only unto believers, they only speak of saving privileges flowing from faith: All which we readily grant you, (as a point out of controversy) do all of them belong to believers, and not immediately to the children of believers, till they come on themselves to believe likewise. But this we further claim in the behalf of the children of believers (which we have proved before, though you are willing to take no notice of it) that the children of believers do come on themselves to believe, by reason of the Covenant of grace which God hath made with believers and their seed, for by that Covenant he hath promised to write the law of faith (as of all other saving graces) in their hearts, that they also may come in Gods time and way to enjoy all the other saving privileges of the Covenant, as did their Fathers before them. To take a short survey of the places, which you quote, that Text in Gal. 3.22. holdeth forth that the promise (to wit, the promise of eternal life, of which he spake in the next verse before) is given by faith to them that believe. So is also the righteousness of faith given to them that believe, as the other places you quote, show, Rom. 4.11, 12. Gal. 3.6, 7. So likewise the inheritance of glory is given to sons, even the regenerate sons of God, who have received the spirit of adoption, as your other place showeth, Rom. 8.17. But what doth all this prove? That no Legacies of the New Testament, no privileges of the Covenant of grace, no blessing of Abraham belongeth to the children of believers. It proveth indeed that the righteousness of faith and eternal life and glory, do belong to believers, and to ⟨p. 138⟩such as are regenerate by the spirit of adoption. But what think you of faith it self, and the spirit of adoption? Are they not also Legacies of the New Testament? Are they not the Privileges of the Covenant, and of the blessing of Abraham? And these when they are first given, they are not given to believers, who have them already; but to such as have them not: And therefore the children of believers are capable of these Legacies and privileges, by the blessing of Abraham in the new Covenant.
The second thing that I would answer you, is, that all the places which you alledge to prove, that the priviledges of the Kingdom of Christ doe belong only unto believers, they onely speake of saving priviledges flowing from faith: All which wee readily grant you, (as a point out of controversie) doe all of them belong to believers, and not immediately to the children of believers, till they come on themselves to believe likewise. But this wee further claime in the behalfe of the children of believers (which wee have proved before, though you are willing to take no notice of it) that the children of believers doe come on themselves to believe, by reason of the Covenant of grace which God hath made with believers and their seed, for by that Covenant hee hath promised to write the law of faith (as of all other saving graces) in their hearts, that they also may come in Gods time and way to enjoy all the other saving priviledges of the Covenant, as did their Fathers before them. To take a short survey of the places, which you quote, that Text in Gal. 3.22. holdeth forth that the promise (to wit, the promise of eternall life, of which he spake in the next verse before) is given by faith to them that believe. So is also the righteousnesse of faith given to them that believe, as the other places you quote, shew, Rom. 4.11, 12. Gal. 3.6, 7. So likewise the inheritance of glory is given to sonnes, even the regenerate sonnes of God, who have received the spirit of adoption, as your other place sheweth, Rom. 8.17. But what doth all this prove? That no Legacies of the New Testament, no priviledges of the Covenant of grace, no blessing of Abraham belongeth to the children of believers. It proveth indeed that the righteousnesse of faith and eternall life and glory, doe belong to believers, and to ⟨p. 138⟩such as are regenerate by the spirit of adoption. But what thinke you of faith it selfe, and the spirit of adoption? Are they not also Legacies of the New Testament? Are they not the Priviledges of the Covenant, and of the blessing of Abraham? And these when they are first given, they are not given to believers, who have them already; but to such as have them not: And therefore the children of believers are capable of these Legacies and priviledges, by the blessing of Abraham in the new Covenant.
