386 The Births- Priviledge and Covenant- holinef Th43 ledges of glory , formerly proper to the jewes. To be in Cove- nant was their great priviledge : And this is not conferred on. the Gentiles before all time, but done in time, Ifs. 42.6. Ihava called thee in righteoufne ffe,and NVill hold thine hand,and will /Zeep thee;, andgive thee for a Covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles. When he brings them light, then he brings them into Covenant. That Text, Rom.r 1.26,27. is too notorioufly abufed;A Prophecy of their future call into Covenant, is made a proof that they are already in Covenant upon that account we may make the Reg furralion (if not pall, as the ancient Hereticks Hymenetu and Philettu affirmed, 2 Tim. z, 18. yet) at leafl prefent, There is like promife of the Refurrec`fion ofthe dead, as there is of the call . of the Jewes into Covenant , and refembled to the Refurreciion, as Zzek., 37. fo alto Rom. i r.15. If by vertue of the Text alledged they be already in Covenant, by vertue of like Texts the dead are already railed. All that can be obje&ed is the Covenant made with Abraham and his feed , with Beleevers and their feed ; the feed then not in being are -in Covenant. To which I anfwer. i. Mailer Tombes can make this an Ar- gument barely ad hominem; feeing though we affirme, yet he de- nies any fuch Covenant. 2. I fay as they were in being , fo they were alfo in Covenant; not actually, but potentially, which is nothing to Mailer Tombes his purpofe. A fecond thing which he affirmes, is, That a perlons being an Covenant, cannot be the direftìon to a 1Ninifler , trhom to admit to Raptifine fith it is unknown to him Who be in the Covenant of Grace, who not -; nor is a judgement of charity to be a Miniffers rule whom to baptize ;- but a judgement of Minifleriall- prudence to difcerne.who are Difciples by their profefon according to Chrifls inflitution; nor is there any place for a judgement of charity in Infants Who neither beaknor do any thing Which may fheW themto beBeleevers, rather then unbeleevers. I willingly dole with him,where he (ayes, that the judgement of charity ù -no rule to a Minitier whom to baptize. I finde no exercife of it this way,)n- Scripture : But to the other part I fay , I as well know when any man is in Covenant', as he knowes when he is a.Beleever When any man doth avouch himfelf to be one of the
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