An appeal to the learned. Being a vindication of the right of visible saints…

A Nation that is in Covenant with God is a National Church, a Nation that are in Covenant with God are the People of God, bound jointly and severally to keep Covenant with him. God is one party in the Covenant, and they are the other, and being bound together to keep Covenant, the whole must have power over the parts, to rectify all Mal-administrations, and to see the Covenant kept: it need not seem strange to any to hear of a National Church in the time of the New-Testament, considering how it was foretold by Isaiah: Isai. 19.24, 25. In that day Israel shall be the third with Egypt, and with Assyria, whom the, Lord of hosts shall bless, saying, blessed be Egypt my People, Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel my inheritance. And how it was foretold by Christ: Matt. 13.33. The kingdom of Heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of Meal till the whole was leavened. Though few entertain the Gospel at first, yet the whole Country in a while are brought to entertain it. What is a National Church but a Professing Nation jointly bound to keep Covenant with God.

2. Exception. Though Gospel mysteries were typified by the Passover, yet it was instituted in special, to be a commemoration of the deliverance out of Egypt, and so the whole Nation were to partake of it.

2. Exception. Though Gospel mysteries were typifyed by the Possover, yet it was instituted in special, to be a commemoration of the deliverance out of Egypt, and so the whole Nation were to partake of it.

Answ. If when he saith, it was in special to be a commemoration of the deliverance out of Egypt, he intends no more. 1. Then this, that beside its typifying Gospel mysteries, it had a particular respect to the deliverance out of Egypt; there is no force at all in the exception, if it had some respect to that, that hindered not the Sacredness of the Ordinance, neither could it be a reason why Unsanctified persons should come to that Ordinance, more than to any now in the time of the New-Testament; the respect is had to the deliverance out of Egypt, does not destroy the respect it had to the Redemption by Christ: its being a Memorial of the deliverance from Egypt, don't hinder it from being a Seal of the righteousness of faith, nor make it fit to be attended by such as may not attend the Lords Supper. 2. If when he saith, it was in special to be a commemoration of the deliverance from Egypt, he means that it was especially, or principally instituted for that end, to be a Memorial