358 'the ,Birth- Priviledge and Covenant- holine f Ch.4 2 power to convey to them. There are thofe things indeed which are perfonally inherent in men, and proper to them, fo that they cannot convey them to their iffue; there is no clerking of them to others by fucceflion, As I. Individuali accidents of the body, wounds, fcarres,or come- line:& of feature, thefe are fo in the Parent, that they are not conveyed to their children. 2. Habits, or proper gifts ; whether acquired ,by paines or infufed. The fon of a learned man inherits not his fathers gifts; The fon of an Artificer is no fuch Artift; The fon of a Prophet bath not by vertue of birth the gift of prophecies nor is the fon of a regenerate man endowed with faving grace for that reafon. There are on the contrary thofe things that paffe from Parent to Childe, which the Parent by nature or fpeciall priviledge bath power to convey, As i. The effential or integral part of a Species with the natural properties that do accompany it ; fo oue brute bealt brings forth another, one bird brings forth another, and man brings forth one of man- rinde. 2. The priviledges or burdens, which in Family or Nation are hereditary, they are conveyed from Parents to Pofterity , from Anceftours to their Iffue ; As is theFather, fo is the Childe, as re- fpe Ling thefe particulars. This none have queftioned, and thefe things in hand being of the fame nature it is a faire probable ground of it felf (if evidence to the contrary from Scripture be not cleare) that they are thus ftill tranfmitted Secondly, It is fo in Kingdomes, Common - wealths , Cities, in Corporations, Families i The fon of a Noble -man, is Noble, of a Free -man, is Free, Ails 22, 28. As the fon of a bond- man ( where by the Law of Nations they are bond-men) is a. bond -man likewife, Exod. 21 . 4. Now we know that in Scri- pture the Church of God is frequently (tiled by thefe names; By the molt honourable of them, Matth. S. 11, 12. itth. 21. 43. Ephef. 2,19. Lieb, 12. 22, Ephef. 3 r c. to letusunderftand,that r as Cities, Kingdomes, Families , have their priviledges ; fo the people ofGod in Covenant have theirs 1ikewife. But faith cvlaíter Tombes to Matter Marfhal , You do very car - nallyimaaine the Church of God to be li%t,, citiill Corporations, a if perfons,Were admitted to it by birth; where& in this all is done by free Like privi- ledges do de- 'fcand in King- dones, Coin rnon-wealcs, Cities, &c. Objeti.
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