Object. 10. Infants were once Church members, and we do not find them cut off. Answ. Touching Infants interest in the Covenant I have said a little already, I shall add a word or two more to something that is here said, Math. 3.9, 10. think not to say we have Abraham a Believer for your Father. Answ. They made a carnal confident use of their parental Covenant, as also they did, Joh. 8. and other places, though they were of ripe years, and should have improved the Covenant by laying hold on it, unto their sanctification, yet they did not so, they lived in gross sin, and yet plead their paternal Covenant, alas it profits not in that case. It is now with us in our infancy and minority, our parental Covenant alone is of great Efficacy, but when we are up-grown, we must take hold on the Covenant our selves, and improve both our own, and our parental Covenant, for our mortification and holiness of life, and think not to say Abraham a believer ⟨p. 23⟩is our Father, upon any other Terms, especially if they cloak over a vile conversation, with Abraham is our Father, Abraham will not own such Children, and ••rther John showeth them that by reason of their carnal abuse of their paternal Covenant, God was about to break them off through their unbelief, to which end, the Axe is laid to the Root of the Tree, &c. the Tree is the Nation of the Jews, the Root is their Ecclesiastical state, in the Covenant of Abraham, the Axe is the Roman, whom the Jews themselves did whet and sharpen to do thorough Execution upon them, and therefore he exhorts them to be penitent and fruitful believers.
Object. 10. Infants were once Church members, and we do not find them cut off. Answ. Touching Infants interest in the Covenant I have said a little already, I shall add a word or two more to something that is here said, Math. 3.9, 10. think not to say we have Abraham a Believer for your Father. Answ. They made a carnal confident use of their parental Covenant, as also they did, Joh. 8. and other places, though they were of ripe years, and should have improved the Covenant by laying hold on it, unto their sanctification, yet they did not so, they lived in gross sin, and yet plead their paternal Covenant, alass it profits not in that case. It is now with us in our infancy and minority, our parental Covenant alone is of great Efficacy, but when we are up-grown, we must take hold on the Covenant our selves, and improve both our own, and our parental Covenant, for our mortification and holiness of life, and think not to say Abraham a believer ⟨p. 23⟩is our Father, upon any other Terms, especially if they cloak over a vile conversation, with Abraham is our Father, Abraham will not own such Children, and ••rther Iohn sheweth them that by reason of their carnal abuse of their paternal Covenant, God was about to break them off through their unbelief, to which end, the Axe is laid to the Root of the Tree, &c. the Tree is the Nation of the Jews, the Root is their Ecclesiastical state, in the Covenant of Abraham, the Axe is the Roman, whom the Jews themselves did whet and sharpen to do thorough Execution upon them, and therefore he exhorts them to be penitent and fruitful believers.
