The covenant of grace opened

3 It is a practice that doth overthrow the body of Christ, or the Temple of God, and so a Nation may be corrupted, and may make the godly a scorn and contempt. The Argument lies thus, That which destroys the Body or Church of Christ, that is unlawful: But the baptizing of infants does destroy the Body or Church of Christ; and therefore it is unlawful, for it will make a national and carnal Church. He says so, we may say it is not so; and our saying is as good as his. But I say, the first part is true: but that baptizing of infants makes a national Church, that I deny; for it will not follow: but the prerogative of a national Church did belong only to the Jews, and there fore it had national ordinances, they were to meet three times a year before the Lord; and they had national Officers, the High Priest, and all the males were bound to appear three times a year, so all was national: but now it is not so, but they are particular to particular churches, and particular ordinances, and particular officers, the Pastor and Teacher is or ought to be in their own congregation; and though children are baptized, they are made members of a particular congregation. And besides, a National church in it self does not destroy the body of Christ: For that which God hath appointed for his church, that doth not destroy the church; for then God may be said to destroy the church: but that were blasphemy to say so. But now all are in a particular church. And the second part is as false, that it brings in graceless members into the church; for the baptizing of infants is no cause of it, for that does not make them, but seals up the means of grace to them, as God says, they are under his wing. What could I have done more for them? Deut. 6.18. God brings them into manuring, he hath them in his hands as plants of his embracing in the means of grace: if they bring infants into the congregation, they bring them under the means, and God engages himself unto them. The reason ⟨p. 66⟩the Gentiles grew wild, they wanted means, Pagans of Pagans, God takes no care of them. And besides, will any say circumcision of infants was the cause to make graceless members, our baptism is the same.

3 It is a practice that doth overthrow the body of Christ, or the Temple of God, and so a Nation may be corrupted, and may make the godly a scorn and contempt. The Argument lies thus, That which destroyes the Body or Church of Christ, that is unlawfull: But the baptizing of infants does destroy the Body or Church of Christ; and therefore it is unlawfull, for it will make a nationall and carnall Church. He sayes so, we may say it is not so; and our saying is as good as his. But I say, the first part is true: but that baptizing of infants makes a nationall Church, that I deny; for it will not follow: but the prerogative of a nationall Church did belong onely to the Jewes, and there fore it had nationall ordinances, they were to meet three times a yeare before the Lord; and they had nationall Officers, the High Priest, and all the males were bound to appeare three times a yeare, so all was nationall: but now it is not so, but they are particular to particular churches, and particular ordinances, and particular officers, the Pastor and Teacher is or ought to be in their own congregation; and though children are baptized, they are made members of a particular congregation. And besides, a Nationall church in it selfe does not destroy the body of Christ: For that which God hath appointed for his church, that doth not destroy the church; for then God may be said to destroy the church: but that were blasphemy to say so. But now all are in a particular church. And the second part is as false, that it brings in gracelesse members into the church; for the baptizing of infants is no cause of it, for that does not make them, but seales up the meanes of grace to them, as God sayes, they are under his wing. What could I have done more for them?