of the iffite nf Beleever,r, 39 Abraham kept Idolaters in his houfe, profeffedly worfhipping a.. falle god , and gave Circumcifion to them in that faith and way of worfhip ; it would prove that a man might have the feale,and not be in Covenant ; but it would not prove that he might be in Covenant , and be denied the Seale and then Infant - Baptifine might be of eater proof. Though they were not in Covenant , Ì though they were not holy , yet they might be baptized. But I will not yield fo much ; I do not beleeve that Abraham carried Circumcifion beyond the line of the.Covenant , and that he had thofe in his houfe which were aliens from God; feeing I finde that Teftimony of the Lord concerning him, Gen. i 8. ¡9. For 1 know him, that he will command his children, and his houfhold after him, and they Jhall keep the way of the Lord to do ju.,ice and judge- ment; that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he bath Token of him And finde that refolution of 7ofbua , That if others would ferve thegods that their fathers ferved that Were on the other fide the flouel, or the gods of the Amorites in whefe land they dwell yet he and his houfe would ferve the Lord, Jofh. 24 14, 15. As it is a private mans duty to ferve the Lord , and not Idols ; fo it is the Matter of the Families duty to fee that the Lord and not Idols beworfhipped in his honk. As I do beleeve that if Mr..Tombes had a profeft Heathen in his Family, he would not keep him there, and not catechize him, and that he would not during his profef- lion of Heathenifme baptize him : So I believe concerning A- braham he catechized all that he took in as Heathens, and did' not circumcife them in their Heathenifine. This Mader Marfhal (he fayes) Wae forced to confeffe in hu Defence, pag. 182. when he granted the formali reafon of the fewer being circumcifed, Was the command , and the Covenant he makes only a motive. I wonder what need there is of an Argument to force fuch a confeffion, The reafon I fay, why Jewes were circumcifed, and Chriftians ba ptized,is the command ; were there a thoufand Covenants , and no inflitution of a figne or feale, fuch a figne or Peale there. could have been no Circumcifion, no Baptifme. The Command is the ground, and the Covenant is the directory to whom appli- cation is to be made. We fay, all Covenant are entitled to the. Seale for admiffion; but we pre fuppofe an inftitution. Mailer T ombes will have all Beleevers , all Difcipies baptized, which he cannot conclude upon their faith and knowledge barely, but
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