39 The Birth- Priviledge and Covenant- holineJe Ch.4 3 ftvades to Repentance, hen to Baptifine , which Themes Repcntauce to be in order before Baptifine ; to which I anfwer ( as I did before Chap. 37.) that thefe who had crucified Chrifl as a blafphemer, as a fedirious perfon ; an impoflor, muff needs repent before they would accept Baptifme in his name or hope for remiflìon of fin . by him. It had been loft labour for the Apoftle to have preffed thole that had crucified Chrift, and retained their former opinion of him, to become Difciples to him , and to look to befaved by him ; to periwade them to look for remiflion of fins in his blood, who took themfelves to be without fin in thedding of it , and yet notwithftanding this guilt ( of which the Apoftle would have them to repent) he fhewes that they and their feed are under the Promife of God , and puts them into a way in acceptation of Chrift in the Gofpel-tender , in his prefent way of adminiftrati- onto be continued his people Rill in Covenant and that (as is plainly enough fignified) that they might enjoy it in their for- mer latitude,to them and to their children. So that Matter Stephens his Interpretation _(fo much fleighted by Matter Tombes, and re- peated not in his words, but in his own paraphrafe upon them) is indeed the Apollles meaning. TheeXpoflle (faith he. pag.14.). d'ot h /peal¿ to thefe Janes who had crucified Chri fl ; that if they would receive him as the particular Mefliah , the fame promife fhould flill continue to them and their children in the new d¡ípenfation : And on this loth he build the word of Command, to baptize father and childe;., To this the word repent here referres as may be made plaine Firft; By taking into confideration the prefent flare of this people, and that in feveral particulars. z,. As yet they bad the Promifes with them, and were children <. of the Covenant, 6.417s 3.25. Though the Apoftle, Rom. 9.4. do dillinguifh between the Covenants and the Promifes ; yet to have the Promifes here,and to be children of the Covenant, there feemes to be one. If any can diftinguifh them this_people,ye had the honour of both of them; God had not yet call them out of a Church -flare and Covenant- relation. 2. They were in prefent danger to be call off according to what Chrift had fore. -told, Matth. 8. z z. Math. 21. 43. ` Being fo fall , riveted to the ceremonial -Law which now was dead, and prefent- ly grew deadly : God denying any pretence (as hath been.+ laid,
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