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…

Besides, it is not altogether true, that Circumcision sealed up to them things to come. For both Baptism and Circumcision do seal to both things come, and things to come. Circumcision sealed to Abraham, God to be his God, and the righteousness of Faith: both which were already come to Abraham before he was circumcised. It sealed up also sundry things to come, to him, and his seed, as their deliverance out of Egypt, their inheritance of Canaan, and the coming of the Messiah. But when ⟨p. 144⟩the Israelites came to enjoy Canaan, Circumcision did not then seal to their deliverance out of Egypt, or to their inheritance of Canaan, as things to come, but as to things come, and already done. Circumcision sealed to the children of Israel, that God would circumcise their hearts, and the hearts of their seed, Deut. 30.6. which was a thing to come, to such of them as were unregenerate. But after they were Regenerate, the same Circumcision was a seal of that blessing, which God had already done for them. So is it with Baptism: Now that Christ is come in the flesh, Baptism sealeth that to us, as a thing already done, which to them was a thing to come. And yet the coming of Christ into our hearts, is a thing partly done in the Regenerate, and yet more fully to be done, even to us: and to many of our children, it is a thing to come. To the children of God that walk in darkness, and see no light, (which is the case of many, and at some time or other, of all) the return of the Comforter, is a thing to come, and Baptism is a seal thereof: and yet it is a seal also of the first fruits of the Spirit, which are already come. Baptism is a seal of the Redemption of Christ, which is already wrought for us. And it is a seal of our deliverance from all afflictions, and from all temptations and from all corruptions, and from all enemies, even from death it self, and many of these are yet to come. So that I can but wonder why such a difference as this should be alleged to prove a personal difference of the subjects of Baptism, and the subjects of Circumcision.

Besides, it is not altogether true, that Circumcision sealed up to them things to come. For both Baptisme and Circumcision doe seale to both things come, and things to come. Circumcision sealed to Abraham, God to bee his God, and the righteousnesse of Faith: both which were already come to Abraham before hee was circumcised. It sealed up also sundry things to come, to him, and his seed, as their deliverance out of Egypt, their inheritance of Canaan, and the comming of the Messiah. But when