270 The Birth-Priviledge and Covenant-holine e Ch.37 The text ana- lized, the Apoftles as yet Meld communion being not ahually rejeaed out of a vifible Church.ftate; Repent, and be baptized every one of Twin the name of the Lord7eftu Chris for the remi(on of fnnes, and ye fhall receive the gift of the holy Ghofl. For the promife is unto you and to your children, and to all that are a farre off, even as many as the Lord our God fhall ,call, Arts 2. 3 3, 39. In which words we may obferve. i . An Exhortation, as to repentance for the guilt of the blood of Chrift, of which they had fhewen themfelves con- vinced , fo alto unto Baptifine. 2. A Motive furring them up -to embrace Baptifme in the name of Chrift, drawn from the benefit which they fhall reap, Te fhall receive the gift of the holy Ghog. 3. A farther encouragement to the acceptation of Baptifine drawn from their Covenant- priviledge 3 which is here Pet out in its full latitude and extent (as Calvin rightly upoìi the words oblerveth) i. To the Jewes, I,'or.the promife is unto you. 2. To their children, and to your children. 3. To the Gentiles upon call, and to You that are a f a rr e of, even' as many as the Lord our God fl ali call., which puts them in equipage or like condition with the jewes. Where an effetual call cannot be meant (which the Apoftle calls a call ac- cording to purpofe) proper onely to the eled, fo the vifible Seale would be limited to invifcble members. It is a call unto Inch a Church -Irate as the whole Nation of the Jewes did then enjoy, as the firlt -borne in the family ; from whence this argument may be drawn. Thofe to whom the Covenant of promife appertains have a right to Baptifine But the Covenant of promife appertaines to men in a Church -date and condition, and to their children. The major cannot be denied by any that will not make themfelves the 1 Apoilles oppofites. The minor propofition is now onely to be 1 con dered,That the Covenant of promife to men in a Church - ¡late and condition is in that latitude as to cornprize their chil- dren. For which the words of the ApoRie are full and cleare, To you is the promife made, and to your children, on which Calvin rightly commexts. 'Peter obferves (faith he) a due order when he aJgnes the firll place of honour to the ?ewes, that it takes in children, it depends on the words of the promife, Gen. i 7. 7. 1 will be thy rod and the God of thy feed, where God joynes children with their pa- rents in the pniviledge of adoption, where adoption is taken in the Apoilles fenfe, Rom. 9. 5. to the inheritance of priviledges- belonging to all Church - members; as he after explaines himfelf. But
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