248 The Bfrtl.r-Priviledge and Covenant-holine Ch. 34 his purpofe at all to.argue Ifhmael out of Covenant. It was the cafe of Dan and Nepahali, Gad and 4/her , (out of whofe loines a confiderable part of Gods Covenant - people did iffue) as well as Ifhmaels. And could he faften that ignominy on e,lbraham, and 1 fhmael to, make it an illegitimate ilTue ; yet this would not cafthim out of Covenant.- It was the cafe of Pharez, Zarah,. 7ephthah, and yet all in Covenant with God. z. Ye makes ap- plication of this diftin8 ion, and faith , Of the three former IZindes of Abrahams feed the promife recited is meant, but in a different manner thus: That God promifeth he Will be a God to Chrift , im- parting-in Tarn blef ngt to all the Nations of the earth, to the Jpiritu- all fled of Abraham in Evangelical benefits , to the natural feed in heriting in domeftick and political benefits. _ So that it evidently ap- peares, that he calls out all the natural! feed of Abraham ( legi- timate or bafe,as he calls them, inheritingor not inheriting) from any title to that Covenant, fave in domeftick and political be- nefits. Here I fhall underaake a Pofi ion in full oppofition, that that Covenant in thole words expre fi ; I will ef%ablìfh my Cove- nant between me and thee, and thy feed after thee in their generati- ons for an ever fa fling Covenant , to be a God unto thee and to t by feed after thee, Gen. 17. 7. in their fulleft latitude, as they are there f oen, in the large ft comprehenfion ( whrch according to Scripture they can be taken) are entred with all the natural feed of Abraham , by Ifaac and Jacob. But before I come to the confirmation of it (which is a matter of eafe, if any) give me leave, (as well for the help of the Reader, as fatisfaftion of the Adverfary,) to pre- mile force things to avoid all mifunderftandings being neceffitated to it, not only by MafterTombes his trifling cirmftances in his Examen , but his foule mìfcarriage in his flaring of the Que- Rion. Pofitions pre Firft, We take not in all the natural feed of Abraham, as the mild for a Pofition plainly expreffèth , but the feed by Promife which I un- right under- derftand not of the Ele&, or Regenerate feed ; but of that feed itandingofthe which God by miracle (according to romu e gave to 4braham All the naru by Sarah, when the was pall years of childe- bearing. The natu- rail feed of!A- rai poflertty ( which was thebirth by Promife we only under - braham is not fiend ; And ffo the Apoflle explaines it, Rem 9. 7, 8. Neither in Covenant, becaufe they are the feed of Abraham, are they all children ; but but onely the feed by Pro in Mac fhall thy feed be called. That is, they which are the children, mife. of
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