: , .if-' 'm ^ i 1 ••=r ro .? 1 <^ -»*-* IE ^5 »-s Q- X^ ■> j,_j ^ !zi o ♦S -\ $ -.; 1 C^ fe • ^-* o bl) rs tH ? CD C r ^ r to 1 -t^ d: 1= Mi i TWO BRIEF DISCOURSES: One coDcerning Infant -^B apt i/m ; And the other concerning the CHILDREN OF HOLY PARENTS. ^^t Second <£oitfoii. By the late Keverend Mr. N. TAT LOR. Ld N D O N: Printed for li^ Fordy at the Angel In the Poultry, 171 8. f .HO ;| J ; The P U B^ l^HvE R^^"^ rothe RlgA^iBkjg^; ^iOHere is no need of faying any Thing in L£ commendation of the foUowrng Dif purfes^ which have already been TubJifody \'ith fever al Sermons of the fame Author § nd have met mth general and deferved \ icceftance^ and are now Reprinted by them^ i 'J- for the Benefit of younger Perfons^ and- f more diffufive Vfefulnefs, I . .^he great, degeyieracy of the frefent Age^ i .h in Friricifle and FraBice^ f articular ly mong too many of the defendants of Holy : zrents ♦, maketh it needful to ufe all Endea- wsp^ffihle to reclaim them, and tofreferve ihersfro?n following their evil Example : To ohich happy end thefe Bifcourfes feem pecu- iarly adapted. For it may he the great Ignorance or For- \etfidnefs of many concerning the Covenant' Privileges, and Obligations ^they were by weir Baptifm early invefied in and brought- pider.'^. and their carelefs if not Prop hane pgleft' to renew their Covenant when they \~ A z are The Publifher to the Reader. itre grown ttp^ particularly at the Lord's Ta- ble y hath been one great cajife of their own Jfickednefs^ and hath contributed to the difcredit of'Gofpel Injiitutions, M^hereas^ if Infant-Baftifm {which is\ here proved to be a Duty) was more feriouf ly and folemnly Adminijired, than fome- times it is ^^and were the Engagements there- of duly conjidered, it would be no hard Thing to anfwer thofe who objeB againji it^ us vai?i andufelejS: And if the Children of Holy Tarents in particular^ were more care- ful to renew their Covenant Vows^ and to live more fuitable to their Privileges and Ob- ligations^ they themfelves would reap the greatefl advantage ^ ayid many Prejudices a* gainfi Religion and Religions Ordinances would be happily removd, Thefe Difcourjes therefore^ are earnejlly recommended to the perufal of thofe ^ efpeci-] ally who are more immediately concern di And Tarents are de fired to put them into their Chtldrens hands for that end. And that\ this with other Pious endeavours for the good in particular of the riftng Generation^ may be fucceeded by the Divine Blejfmg^ is andJhalL h the Prayer of li The Publifhenf A Brief ^'^ /6> t>ISCOURlfe iDelivered'i'f jtfc' P^i^foV4 Baptifm of ■ an LN-FAt^T, 1 .V. AT )^ I N G S T ON U£on T H A M E S| June 25, 1700, Beloved in our Lord, Ir^ElNG deiired to Baptize the Child of my |p^ Friend and your Paftor ^ before I do fo, 1 ftiall P— ^ fpeak fomewhat as briefly and as clearly as I ijin for the j unifying our Praftice oi hif ant Baptifmt Yhich I fhall do in the four- following Heads or Con^ iderations. 1 ^1 - VdnfiCi- ^ A Brief Difcourfe Confideration I. No Man pretends, that 'tis written in fo mdny^ Words in the Scripture, that the Infants of Believer^ are to be Baptized. All that we fay in the Caie isl this, yi%. We can prove by jujl Confe^itence from die Scriptures, that 'tis tlie Mind and Will of Chrift, that their Infants (hould be Baptized. And this wq think to be fufficient for thefe Two Reafons. Reafon i . Becaufe Chrift himfelf thought this to be fufficient, for the Proof of a Matter of greater Moment than Infant- Bappifm ; viz. A Fundamental Artide of Faith, the EejurreSlion of the.jj^fl and unjaft-, whichi as you will find in Mat. 21. 51,32. he doth not prove againft the S adduces who denied it, by produ-| Cing any Text of Scripture, wherein it was written in fo many Words or Syllables, that there {hall be a Refur- reSlion: He goes another way to work. He proves it ty Confequerxe from that Sci iptiire, Exod. 5. 6. / am the God of Abraham, the God ofjfaac, and the God of Jacob, How many Confequentes are neceflfary, to! prove the Refurreftion of all Men from thefq Words? yiz. (i.) That the Souls of Abraham,, and Ifaac, and fac^b, are yer in Beings becaufe hei does nor fa]', I wot, bat I am their God. (2.) That! tliis Fxpredion of being their God, doth imply, hisi being engaged to manifeft himftlf fome time ori o:her, to be their BenefaH-or in an Eminent Manner ;; tnac he will do fomething for them, far better| than for any other Men. (9.) That he did not fully manifeft himfelf to be {o very great a Benefaftoi to them, while they were in this World. As to Temporal B.<-:aingp m^ny others exceeded them; Pharoah for l.iftance. All that he did for them, fell; VafJy (hort of wrat that Br^ Expreuion, I am their Cod, doth import. (4.) Ji\at therefore he will fill; oj Infant-Baptijfff, y t up in another ftate, which is yet to corns. (^.} That in order thereunto, they Ihall rife from the 4ead, that they may be compleatly happy in Body and )oui. For he is a God not of a Piece only, but of :heir whole Perfons-, and therefore their VVjioIe Man, ,'3ody as well as Soul, (hall be made exceedingly hap- by. (6.) If Abraham^ Ifaac, and ^acob rife again; fo ftiall other Men, to whom alfo the Mofl High is I peculiarly related as their God. (j-) IftheRighte- [|ous rife again, fo Ihall tlie liicked. And therefore i,diere fhall be a Refui-reft ion of the juft and unjuft. li All thefe Confequences muft be drawn, to make jgood our Saviours Proof of 2l Vundamental Article jof Riith. We don't need fo long a Train of Confe- quences to prove the Lawfulnefs and Duty of B»ap- :,'tizing our Infants fas you (hall fee by and by) though lif we did, we have the Warrant of our Saviour's Ex- iample, who took this Method for Eftablilhing a Point fof much greater Concern. , j ■ Eeafon 2. Oar Adverfaries themfelves do the 'fame, when they Offpjfe Infant-Baptirm^ as we do, : when we contend for it. They don't pretend to i bring any place of Scripture, wherein 'tis written in ; juft fo many iVords and Syllables^ tliat Infants are ! wot to be Baptized: Bat' they endeavour to prove i it by Confequence : Or elfe tliere could be no Argu- I ing or Difpute about the matter. I'c they argue from I Confequences rf^rt/w/^ Infant-Baptilm-, we muft not I be blamed for doing the fame for it. The Method and Way of Proceeding is the fame on Their Side and Ours. This may fuffice for the firfi Confideru" tion. I proceed to Cortfideratlon II. The turning Point of this Controverfie lies here, yiz>, Are our infants witiiin the Covenant, are they ' " the 8 A Brief Bifcourfe^ the vifible Members of Chrift's Church or Kingdom,;. Yea, or No? And I bereech you to take fpecial No-] tlce of this 5 whether we are not able to make good thefe Two Things. 1. That our Infants are within the Covenant, are vifible Members of Chrifl^s Church or Kingdom. And, 2. That IF they are, tlien they have a Right to \ Baptifm. I. That our Infants are within the Covenant, and are the Vifible Members of Chrift's Church or King- dom. That the Infants of Believers were fo of Old, is not denied. That thofe were Privileges cannot be queftion'd. None has ever yet produced any Scrip- ture to prove, that they are repealed. Yea, on the contrary, there are many Paflages in the New Teftament; whence it will appear, that thefe Ancient Privileges are continued to Us and Ours. To name a Few, Luke 1 8. 15, 16. They brought unto him InfantSj that he would touch them : But when his Vifciples fav9 it, they rebuked them. But ^eftts called them unto him, and f aid, puffer Little Children to come unfit me, and forbid them not: Tor of fuch if the Kingdom ef God. 3y the Kingdom of God, muft be meant one of thefe two Things. Either. ( 1,) The Gofpel-Church : In which Senfe, that Expreffion is often to be taken. Or, (2.) The Future State of Glory. Now let any take which of ihefe two he pleafes ; if the Tirfi, viz. The Gofpel-Church -, then we have what we are pleading for, Infants belong to theGof- pcl-Church. If the Second, viz. The Future State of Glory ^ thence it will follow, that our Mants are within the of Infant' Baptiftn, 9 ;.lie Covenant, and belong to the Church and King- lorn of Chria here on Earth ; for elfe they can t tenter into Heaven. Had it been quite contrary to •Jiis ; h:id it been written, that Chrifl was very an- '\Try with thofe, who brought little Children to him; y?, The Apoftle faith, only that fomt of i^e Branches, i. e. of fer^s were broken 'iff; and that it was-for Unbelief. The Be- Ver. if, ilieving Jews therefore were not broken off, ^^r. ao. ibut retained their Ancient Standing in the jChurch. And fo did their Infants, For if their In- fants were broken off, it muft be for Unbelief-, which is the only caufe affigned by tl'.e Apoftle. If they iwere broken off for Unbelief, it muff be for their •own Unbelief; or, for that of their Varents. For .their own Unbelief it could not be, becaufe by reafojj iof their tender Age, they were not capable of com- imitting the Sin of Rejefting Jefus Chrift. For itheir :BaYents Unbelief it could not be, becaufe we fpeak only of the Children of fuch Jews, whofe Pa- rents did believe on Chrifl j when he was Preached to them. I Now if the Infants of the believing Jews, were Continued Members of the Chriftian Church; our I Infants are Members of it too. For there is no ^Difference under the Gofpel, between Jew and \Centiie- Secondly, We Gentiles are gr affed in among the \ Natural Branehes, and with thm fartake of the Root \nndUmefs of the Oliyc-Tree: i- e. Believers under ! - "^ the 12 A Brief Bifcourfe ! the New Teftament, do as amply and fully partake of Covenant Bleffings and Piivile|;es, as Believers under the Old Teftament did; of which this was one very valuable One, that their Children were Members of the Vifible Church, were within the Covenant ; the Moft High promifed (and a great Promife it is) 1 wiR be a God to thee, and to thy feed. Gen. 1 7. 7. ; Thirdly^ The Jews upon their Converfionj (hall be . ^raffed in again Into their own Oltye-Tree. How can that be, if their Church-flate then, fhall be fo very different from what it formerly was; their Children being then to be left out, who were foimeiiy lakeu in? In fliort, the unbelieving Jews TLnd their- Children; were broken off^ when the Jews Oiall be Converted, they and their Children ftiall be taken in again. Believing yews and their Children kept their Anci- ent Standings and Believing Gentiles and their Chil- dren are taken in among them 5 fhare in the Privi- leges which the one are continued in, and which the other loft ; i. e. They and their Chil- dren are Church- Members, and within the Co- v-enant. Which is further proved from that known Paffage, I Cor. 7. 1 4. Life were your Children unclean^ hut now 4tre they Rely. Which can t be underftood of a Holi^ nefs by real "Regeneration^ or the Infulion of Gracious Principles. Alas/ Too many Children, that are defcended from Pious Parents, give plain Evi- dence that they are not Born of God. Nor can it be meant of Matrimonial Holinefs, as the Oppolers of Infant-Bapiifm fpeak ; and fo they make this to be the Senfe of the Place ^ yiz. Elfe were your Chi I- dren unclean ; i. e. fay they, they were Bafiards : But now are they Holy 5 /. e. fay they, are Lawfully be- gotten, Tliis of Infant'Baptifm. i^ I .' "this Expofition can't be righci for this would be 'to ma'-e the Apoflle fay, thac if at leaft One of the Parct'.ts be not a Chriitian, then all the Ciiildren are Baftards : U^hich is not //^6. 13 J4, |n:ue. For Marriage is Honourable a- nong ALL, Heathens as well as Chriftians. And ;,f the Parents are Married, whether tiiey be Believers )r no, their Children are Legitimate, and can't be aid to be bafely born. It mult therefore be meanc ;)f a Foederal or Covenant-Hoiinefs. I Thefe are fome (and but a few; of the Arguments Imr Divines produce. But then Obferve what 'tis 'hey are brought for 5 "^ouo ^vove Immediately^ that ■nrants are to be Baptized. Thefe Arguments Imme^ 'lately and Bireaiy^xovQ no more than this, thacoui? bfants are within the Coyenant-, Holy by a Coyenant* lolinefs, as the whole Nation of the Jerffs were- fe- :arated to be the Vifible People of God, Subjefts o£ lis Kingdom, Members of his Houfe and Famil7 Jovi tliis being proved in the Virfi :Blace, Hence our j)ivines argue by juft Confequence in the , Setond :Place, That IF our Infants are thus with- j. the Covenant, and are Vifible Members of Chrift's hurchand Kingdom; (which hath been proved) Hence it follows, they have a Right to Baptifm. Circumcifion, while it was the Initiating Sign oi e Covenant, was /or t/?^^ Ke^/ow applied Infants. Now Baptifm doth fucceed in cdof. z, le room of Circumciiion, and fhould be ii, '12I j plied to our Infants, if they are within 'e Covenant (as it hath been proved they are.) Go and Teach, (or i-ather, as the Word by the con-^ jit of all Parties doth fignifie, and fhouid be Tran- .ted) Go and DifcipU all Nations, Baptizing them, c Mat, 28. 19. If our Infants are Vifcipll they (ift thereupon be Baptized. B If 14 A Brief Difconrfe If they are Chriffs SoMiers, they muft by thii^ Ordinance be lifted under him as their Captain. If they are his Sabjefts, they muft be declared to be fuch by Baptifm, which is the External diftinguifhing Badge between his Subjefts, and thofe who are not fo. ACii 2. 58, 39. Be bapti7,ed eyery one nf you: Por the Vromtfe i* ro you and to your Children. The l Parents are required to be Bipcized for this Reafon j hecaufe the Fromife is to them -^ but the Promife * reaches to the Children too ; and therefore they alfo are to be Baptized. And 'tis Obfervable, the Apoftle don't fay the Promife W AS^ but the Promife IS to I'ou and to your Children. So much for that S^coni Confideration, that the Turning-Toint of this Contro- verfie lies here, yiz. Are our Infants within the Co- venant, are they the Vifible Members of Chrift s Church or Kingdom -, Yea, or No ? JBe fure you mind and confider this. Conjtderation III. Diftinguifh between a Nation that never had the Gofpel Preached to 'em, having always been Hea- thens; and a Nation to whom the Gofpel hath for many Ages been Preached, the Inhabitants having for fcveral Generations been profeffed Chriftians. Between a People who have never yet owned Clirift; and a People that have owned him. In the former cafe (which was the cafe of thofe to whom the Apoftles firft Preached) We would exhort Per- fons to Repent and Believe, and upon their ProfelFi- on of borh'thefe, we would Baptize them. But then we would alfo Baptize their Intants. Requiring this Profeffion of the Parents before Baptifm, doih not prov: that WE would not Baptize their Infants. T. erefore neither did the Apoftles requiring this Profeffion, prove They were againft Infant-Baptifm. ^ TJiey of Infant'BaptifrfU i ^ jPhey Preacli'd to the Jews^ who had not yet owQtd Chrifi- and to Hcatl?enSy who had not heard of liint k'foi-e ; and to Perfons grown up ^ and therefore we ■ead of Believing put before Baptizing. But Chrift iiath- been known, owned and profeffed in En^lanct 5or many Ages. Our Parents before we had a Being '/erej Difciples, and We were Born Vifc'.fUs by the '^'oyenant^ and fohad a Right to the Seal of that Co- venant which is Holy Baptifm^ without any fore-go* \ng Teaching. The Time vihen^ the Manner Horv^ jv^ecome to be Difciples, is not material: Whether '•y the Fore-going Teaching, of a Minifler, or by jod's fpecial and peculiar Vouch fafement. Ananias ■jiding Taut a Vifciple, he Biptized him, tho' no Man |iad by Teaching made him To. : In ler. 25,41, 42. ^od calls Children his Seft»- ;ants. If Cliiidren are God's Servants, though for jhe prefenr, they can't do any Work ; why may they \oi he Difciples -^ though for the prefent they can'c .earn any Lejfon > \ Now this Wovk o^DifcipUng the Infants of Pro- sified. Chrii^lans being done to our Hands, w&. (reat them as Difciples, and lay a further Engage- lent on them to be fiich; firft by Baptizing them 5, nd afterwards as they grow up, and are capable fit, by Teaching them: And fo we keep clofoi- to- be Commiffion in Mat. 28. 19. than they who op- jofe Infant- Baptifm ; for v/e obferve the very Order, f the Words, which they do not. . i Canf deration IV. I The other Ohjeftions againfl Jnfant-Baptifm have !o Weight with them, becaufe of one of thefe Tw©. t'aults in 'em. Either, 1 (i.) They would have held as well againft Infant- nrfumcifion, B.2 Os J 6 A Brief Difcourfs Or elfe, (2 J They will as well hold againft Infant" s-SaU 'pat ion. (i.) They would have held as well againft Infant- Clrcumdjion. Such as thefe. Why do you Baptize Infants, They don't hnow tphafs done to them} To which 'tis replied, our Infants when they are Baptized, are not more ignorant what's done to them, than the Infants of the ^ews were, wlien they were Circumcifed. Again, fay they, Baptifm is the Sign and Seal of the Covenant ^ why do you Baptize Infants who cant zinderfiand the Co-venant-i much tefs confent to it? To which 'tis i :plied, Circumcifion was Jtflwj. 4; the Sign and Seal of the Covenant alfp 5 *J- and the Jevpiff) Children could no more underftand or confent to the Covenant than Ours; and yet they were Circumcifed; and our Children may be Baptized for any thing in this Ob- jection. Not to add, that the Confent of the Parent goesr for that of the Infant. How often do Men in their Xeafes and Covenants, bind their Children, who nei- ther do know, nor are capable at that time of know- ing any thing of the Matter? In Beut. 29. ic, 1 r, 12. [Their LittleOnes areentred into Covenant with God. Again, fay they, the End of Baptifm is, thai Gofpel- Duties, Privileges and Myfteries, might be reprefen- ted by that Figure to the Eye, yiz. Dying to Sin, and riling to Ncwnefs of Obedience ; 'tis a Sign of Kepentance, and Regeneration, and Faith. Why then do you Baptize Infants, who cant underftand the mean- ing of that Sign-, or what is reprefented by Baptizing? uindgiye no proofs of their Repentance, or Regeneration^ tr Faith ? To of hifant-Baptifnh 17 To this 'tis replied, that Circumcifion reprefented Regeneration, Mortification and Purity of Heart (whence Sanftification is fee forth by Circumaifing 'Lhe Heart.) And the Jewifl) Infants did no more tm* 'derftand, what was fignified and reprefented by Cir- camcifion, than our Infants, do what is reprefented ;b.y B^ptifmj and gave no more Proofs of Mortificati- on and Regeneration than our Infants do ^ yec the Jev9i Infants were on other Accounts Circumcifed, and ;fo may ours be Biptized for all that. \ Though B^ptifm be not aftually a Teaching Sigi* i for the prefent to our Infants, no more than Circum- ciiion was to the Infants of the /ew^; yet Baptifm is at prefent a Dlftlnguljhing Sign, and an Engaging One; whereby they are diftinguifh'd from the Children of Heatliens, and obliged.to the Duties of the Covenant; and may be of great Ufe to them, when they come- to. Years of Underiianding. As Circumcifion was a iDiftinguifhing and Engaging Sign to the Infants of- the Jews ; and of great Service to them when they were grown up. (2.) Other Obje(f>ions againft Infant-Baptilhi, if. they have not this Fault, that they would as well hold again{> Infant-Circumcifion, they have another as bad and worfe^ t/z. They would as well hold a- gainft Infant i-Sdyation. Take for Inflance that Ob- jection, about v/hich io great a Noife is made; ylz,. 'Tis written-, He that belieyeth and is baptized,. Maik J 6. J 6. Now fay they, Infants can t belieye :^ there- fore they ought not to bs Baptized. To this 'tis replied, read the Verfe our, He thathe- Ueyeth and is ba^tized^ fiaU be fayed -^ but he that.be=> Ueyeth not fhall be damned. Now if there be any thing in their Arguing, Infants can t believe, and therefore they fhould not be Biptized ; it would as well follow, Infants can't Beli§ye, and therefore they ■ (fi^ll not bs faysd, B 3 " A i8 A DISCOURS E Concerning the Children of Holy Parents. CHAP. I. The Children of Holy Parents receive Temporal Blef- fings for their fak^es^ andfiand fair efl for Spri^ tual ones, Thrs latter of end in Six Things, THAT 'tis a very great and valuable Privilege to be Born of Holy Parents, will appear from thefe Two Confiderations. I. God frequently beftows many Temporal Bleffings on them for their Father's fakes. II. They ftandfaireft for Spiritual and Eternal ones. - I. God frequently bellows many Temporal Blef-. iings on them for their Father s fakes. The Curfe of God, like the Air of a Pefiilence, en- tej-s invifibly into the Families of the Wicked : And the BleiTing of God breaks in like the Light of Hea- yen, filently and without noife, on the t^bitation of the Juft. He hath threatned that he will vific ihe Ini- ^uiiies of the Fathers on their Children to the third and fourth Generation; but he hath more amply pro- mifed Mercy to thoufands of the Generations of them that love and fear him. The fweet and gentle Streams of his Mercy towards the one run a much greater way,fevcral hundreds of Miles 5 when the bitter ones of his Wrath reach but three or four at the furtheft. *Tis true indeed, both the Threatning and the Pro- mife do imply thisp that the Children do tread in the A D'jjcourfe concerning^ Sec. 19 Steps of their Parents 5 and particularly that the Po- ftericy of Holy Men do fo, without which God isnot obliged to fhcw favour to them. But yet however ; God many times a£ts according to the higlieft Laws r of Fricndlhip, and fhews a great deal of Kindnefs to '1 the degenerate OfF-fpring, out of refpeft to their pi- : ous Anceftors from whom they defcend. The Bleffing I of God on the Parents, like the anointing Oylpour'd I out on uiarofis Head, flows down to the very Skirts of the Garmenr, the meaneft Member in the Family, I yea even to the uncomely and dijhonourahle parts of j their Body, thofe wicked Children tJiat are indeed t the very jhame and nakednefs of their Father. Ifhmael I had caft himfelf out of the Covenant, and Abraham I had turn'd him out of his Houfe ; but God however 1 doth not wholly caft him out of his care. He takes this unclean^ as well as wandring Bird, that was dri- , ven from his Neft, under the Wings of his fpecial j Providence, and refolves to multiply him into a great 'Nation, for this very Reafon as he told j1- hraham, bccaufe he is thy Seed. For his Gen. 21, 'Servant Day id ? fake he continued the whole 1 3. /Kingdom en ire all his days to Solomon, tho' he Was turned an Idolator, and Idolatry in Canaan was no lefs than High Treafon againfl the Theocra- - cy. Yea on the fame account he fettles. 0«e Yribeon ^.Eehohoam, tho' a mad young Rebel againfl God, and ia wicked Tyrant over his People. He broke |off Ten of the Lamps from thzt branch of j ^. ^ \Gold, but continues One of them to him, that j j. 3^. jfo theiein his Servant Dayid might have a [Light burning always hefdre him. How often did he take up his Ten into his Hand to blot the whole Name oHfrael out of his Book ; But when l:e open'd jit in order thereunto^ he faw the Names 0^ Abraham, '^faac^ and facohj in the beginning of it, and for the i ^ faKe 20 A D'ifcourje concernmg fake of thofe Lett en of Gold, that were in the front of the firft Page, the whole Folume was fparedj though fill'd with many grofs and ioxAErratas. 11 The Children of Holy Pai-ents ftand faireft for Spiritual and Eternal Bleffings. This I will evince by thefe Six following Confiderations, fhewingthe many Advantages they have to this end above the Children of others. f . They have the advantages of a Covenant Rela- tion to God, of being Members of the vifibLe Church, and of having the initiating Seal of the Covenant ap- plied to them in their Infancy. Ijoyn thefe together, becaufe like the Links of a Chain they have a mutual Connexion, and take hold one on the other. All three of them did belong to the natural Pofterity of Abraham till God broke them ofT^ and be- "Rm. II. lieving Gentiles are engraffed into the fame Olive Tree in their room ; and the Grace of tlie Gofpel is not fure narrower, but much larger than it was under the "Legal Difpenfation. 'Tis the whole Scope and Defign of the Apoftle throughout the Third Chapter to the GaUtUns^ to prove, that the Covenant of Abraham is flill in force and being ; and that hU Blefjing is come upon us. Now this was the Bleffing wherewith our father was bleft, and that wherein all his Happinefs was furam'd up, 1 will be a Cod to thee, and to thy Seed after thee. And that there might beno doubt of this matter, he tells us, that the defcending Bleffing which he means, was that great Promife wherein thefe Words are, And to thy Seed. Now there is no other Promife made to him upon Record wherein thofe Words are, but that, Z will be a God to thee and thy Seed, except that other of inhe- riting the Land o£ Canaan, which no one can imagine to be here meant by the Apoftle. f urthex^ that the Privilege of being Members of the the QjiUren of Holy Parents. 21 the vifib'e Church of Chrift doth ftill belong to fuch Cliildren, is evident from the Difcourfe of the fame Apofrle in another Epiftle, where he treats of the reje£lion of the yc«?.<, and calling of Rom', ill the Gentiles. He tells us, that not all, but |on!y fame of the /£«?.« were broken off from' v. tj. the vifible Church: And they were broken off meerly on the account of their pofitlve unbelief or 'reje£^ion of Chrill. Confequently the Infants of the believing Jevvs WQxe not broken off. For if they were fo, it muft be either for their ovpft unbelief, a (Sin Iwhich by reafon of their Age, they are not capable of {being guilty of) or Iz muft be for their Parents unbe- \lief^ which could not be, becaufe we do fuppofethem ,'to have been B-jlievers. Their Children therefore |,did keep their ancient fiandlngj now jn Chrift there; [lis neither Jevp nor Gentile -^'^ the natural Poilerity of I' Believers, vvhether of the Grcunacifion or Uncircuna- Icifion fland on even ground. • Again ^ That Churdi-ftato which the unbelieving Jewi wei-e broken off from, they fhall on their Con- ; veruon, be reftored to afrefh : For then they fhall be ig^raffed into their own Olive Tree. Now in the i Judgment of our Adverfaries themfelves, it i would notbe their OWN, but ANOTHER ^, 24; Olive Tree, and ANOTHER Church of a quite diferlno; Conftitution, if their Infants were not included as Members of it. And yet Again, Believing GtntiUszxz graffedinto the SAME. Olive Tree, or the SAME Church flate wherein the believing Jews did remain, and from which the others 'were broken ofF^ for(^v. ij.fome of the Branches were \hroken of^ and thou being a wild Olire Tree wert 'rraf- fed in AMONG them, and WITH them partahft of the :'Root ar.dfatnefs of the Oliye Tree.) And therefore into jfuch a Church as the natural Children of Holy Men Igre included in as Members of it. Far- 22 A Difconrfe concerning Farther, That the Privilege of a Baptifmal Dedi- cation unto God doth belong to them, a? it naturally follows from the Two foregoing Particulars 5 fo it wiir further appear from thofe known Words that have been often urged to this parpofc, Thou flmh keep my Coyenant therefore, thou and thy Seed after thee in, their Generation, Gen. 17.9. This is anuniverfal Com" mand laid on all the Seed oi Abraham, andconfequcntly reaches believing Ge«t/7ef under theGofpel ^ for they are jibraham's Seed. And 'tis infer'd from thePromifeof being a God to him and his, as appears from the Word THEREFORE. Confequently if that Promife belong to Holy Men in thefe Gofpel days, (as was be- fore proved it doth) this Duty Hoth oblige them too. And by the KEEPING of ths Covenant we are in part to underftand the puttiiig the initiating dedicating Sign of tlie Covenant, for the time being, whatfoever it fliouldbe, will appear hence, btcaufe the NOT putting of that Sign upon their Infants is V. H- called a BREAKING of the Covenant. If the not applying that Sign to their Children be in the judgment of God himfeif a brsaking of the Covenant, then the appljing it is in part a keeping of it. And 'tis obfervable, that this is a General- Command', diflinft' from that Particular one of Cir- curacifion, which comes after it in the following Verfe. *Ti?, I lay, a General Command, enjoining the put- ting tlie Sign and Seal of the Covenant on Infants . whatever it fliould be, which once was Circuraclfiony^ but now is Holy Baptifm. So that here is an exprefs Command to all the Seed oi Abraham (and believing Gentiles are his Seedj for the Biptizing their Infants^ tho' not in the particular terra of Baptifm, yet under this general Notion of the token of the Covenant, and. peeping of it. Now all thefe three things are very confiderable ad«i the Children of Holy Farems. 23 advantages and helps to fach Children. For if they ftand in a Covenant Relation to God, if they are Mem^ hers of the Vifible Church, and have the Sign and Seal of the CorenaHt on them, then they are a People nigh i unto God 5 whereas others are afar of. Their very 1 1 Names are in the B^nd. They are parts of that So- j'ciety to which the Pixjniifes are made; Members of jithatBody whereof Chrift is the Head and Saviour 5 I have a fpecial Intei-eft in the Prayers of all God's People, who tho' they intercede for all the World, yet do fo in a particular manner for thofe that belong to the fame Society with themfelves ; aud they are : under the fpecial providential Careof Chrift, who is ;the Lord and Ruler of the World indeed, but the |Head over all Things to his Church. Hereby God's Right to us is fignified ; v/e are in the beginning of 'our days pre-engaged to him ; his Mark is upon us, we are his Sons and his Daugh- Eze{. 1$,] tei-s ; he hath a fpecial Intereft in us 5 we are net unclean, but foederally holy to God. ' ^*^» 7s ' jSuch Children are born in and belong to ^** |t?iofe Houfes, to whom Salvation in an e- fpecial manner doth belong. For fo faid Chrift to jZrt<^«*, Thif day is Sahation come to tJjy Houfe, Luke 19. p. becaufe he the Mafter of it was a Child of \Ahraham. And faith St. Taul to the Jaylor, Believe m the Lord Jefut Chrift^ and thou fhait be faved^ thou and tljy Houfe, Acts i6. 31. Implying, that fome fpecial Privilege hereby would redound to his Houfe, '.e. his Children, above what the Children of his Neighbours did enjoy. And as a Senfe of all this hath a natural tendency lin it to make deep and awful Impreffions on our (Minds while we are young, and as we grow up ; to iraw forth our love to God and Chrift ; to increafe iur CQnfidence in them 5 to engage us to walk obedi- I ' ♦ entl^ 24 A Difcourfi concerning ently before them that have (hewn fuch tender Mercies towards us in our tender Years, when we were not capable of thinking of them, much lefs of perfortning any aftual Service ro them ; and furnilh us with Wron- ger Pleas to urge them withal in Prayer for renewing Grace than the Children of others can make ufe of : So it lays a mighty and powerful Obligation on Re- ligious Parents to train us up for God by a holy E- ducation, which is the 2d. Advantage of fuch Children. And a-Religioua Education is certainly a very great one. You have been trained up in Knowledge, others in Ignorance. You have had good Examples, and they have had ve- ry bad ones. You have from your Child-hood been nurs'd up in a good Opinion of the truths and ways of God ^ they have had wicked Prejudices a^ainft both inftilled into them betimes, and riveted in them by infenfible degrees; and neither ofthefe aree;i{ily fha- ken off. You have ('tis to be prefumed) many fea- fonable Corrections, Gounfels, Admonitions, Exhor- tations and Prayers which they have wanted. You are kept out of the Road of Temptation, fo are not they. You can't fin at fo eafie a rate ^ Modefty and natural Confcience, Shame and Fear are powerful re- ftraints on you: Whereas they were bred up as they were born, like a wild Affes Colt, and never had this Bridle put into their Mouths. You are brought to fit under the Means of Grace, and the minifiry of the Word, which they are taught to flight, and de- ride, and tui-n their Backs upon. And having all thefe Advantages from a pious Education, hence it follows, 3, Such God ufually begins to work on more early, waits on them longer, follows them with more offers of his Grace than he doth others, and don't ufe to cad them (*ffj till they are wholly defpei-ate. He the Children of Holy Parents, if He begins wore Early with them. Ye are the Children of the Prophets, and of the Covenant which God imde with our Father?, faying unto Abraham, In thy feed (hall all the Nations of the Earth be blejfed^ Afts 5. 25. jAnd then it follows unto you FIRST. God having rai^ fed up hU Son Jefus^ fent him to blefs you in turning 'you away frojn your Iniquities. Our Lord hinafelf in the days of his Flefh, preached not to the Gentiles^ but to the loft Sheep of the Houfe of Ifrael-^ and for- bids his Apoftles going to the former when he fenc them to the latter. And after his Refurreftion, tho" .their Hands had been embrued in his Blood, he com-: [miflions his Servants to go to them in the firfi place^ land they had the refufai of the Gofpel. Thefe he tails Children, and counts the others as Dogs ; offers iBread to the one, but can hardly be perfwaded toi afford a few Crumbs to the other. Indeed the Spi- irit of God is wont to be dealing with the Hearts o£ Tuch young ones very betimes 5 working many a good ilnclination in them, impreffing many a ferious Con- ii'iftion very deep upon them, and notably Hiring up 'their Afleftions, fo that all that know them are ape to conceive very great hopes of tliem. And tho' they break away from under the Spirits jhand, yet he purfues after them, and lays hold on thetir again and agaitfi ^ fhoots many an Arrow ofConvifti- on after theie Birds as they are upon the Wing flying away from him; follows them with many repeated offers of his Grace, many calls of his Gofpel, many motions of his Spirit, and many checks of their owif Confciences, being moft unwilling that thele Meij (hould perifn, becaufe he would not have the anclene Relation between himfelf and the Families whence they fprung, -broken off: And fometimes when he hath taken up his Axe into his hand, as tho' he would fell ihem with one blow, and fo put an end to the z6 A Difcouffe concenmig vclay of tlieir Lives and Grace botli together, Immedi- ately he repents of what he thought to have done, ,iiys tlie fatal Inftrument down, and refolves to wait yet anotlier Year or two. The, patience of God wai- ced on tlie jews after their Crucifying of Chrift, iho' tliat heinous fin feenVd to have fill'd up the Meaiure of tJieir Iniquities, no lefs than 40 > Years, and caufed Ills Gofpel to 'be preached in all their Cities with the expence of the Sweat and Slood of his Mf^fTengers, to lee wJiitlaer at laft they would hearken to it. And if in all that time they would but have fufFer'd them- felves to have been gather'd under his Wing they had teen fafe there, and tlie Roman Eagles had never Icized upon them as their Prey. He could not find iii fiis heart to deftroy them, till he was quite tired and v/ornout, and groan'd under the burden of their Pro- ■ Vocations, and could bear no longer with them. Such God is not wont to give over, till there's no Jiope of doing any good upon them.. Jfl)mael was a fcoffer, which argue-s a very vile and depraved temper of Mind, and Efau a propliane Perfon that defpifed and fold his Bii'th-right for a trifle, kfore God caft them off. Now from hence it follows, as. might rationally fee expefted that, 4f/;/>f, Saving Grace ufes to be bellowed on fuch -more frequently than on the Children of other Men. I don't fay 'tis always given to them. Abraham had an IJhmael • corrupt and rotten Fruit that dropt from a good Tre£. . Nor do I fay 'tis always denied to others. Vile feroboam had zn Abijah, in whom was fome good thing towards God, that fprung from his Loins, like a young green Tree fprouting out of a Stone Wall' By the former God Ihews the foveraignty and liberty of his Grace, i?y ths later the. Riches, and the mighty power of it. But j the Children of Holy Vamits. 1^ " Bdt a little Obfervation will convince you, that generally Religious Families are tlie Nurferies of the Churches of Chrift, which are uph.eld chiefly by a lup- ply of new Members drawn from rhem. Convert?, come in but flowly, then confider, 5. When others are converted, 'tis for this Reafon (among the reft) to fill up the room of thofe ungoe turn to the Gentiles^ Afts 17,. 45. The natural Branches ran quite I wild, and therefore are cut ofF^ and for that rea- I fon other Branches are grafft d in their room and jftead; but 'tis contrary to Nature^ beeaufe God ' will da Miracles but that he will have fome to I bring forth good Fruit. The falling of the Jeia>s was the riches of the Gentiles, V.om.it, i-and through it Salvation came unto them: ^^' '^' j the cailing away of them was the reconci- '^' ^^' C 2 ling: -;i#.-?r- ^ 28 A D^fcourfe concerning ling of the World 5 and the Gentiles ob- v.iol rained Mercy through the jfews Unbelief, And one defign of God in all this, and y- J''' of his Apoflle in infixing fo much on it, *• ^4- was, to provoke thefe ^evfs hereby to Jea- loufie, and to Emulation, that he might fave them. That, faith he to the believing GentUes^ throwh your Mercy they alfo may obtain Mercjy V. gi. 3. e By the Grace of God thewed to you in the Con- verfion of fo many of you, they might be ftirr'd with a holy Indignation at therafelves, feeing the advan- tage you have gotten of them who did once fo far ex- ceed and fo much defpife you, to embrace Chrift and his Gofpel, and recover their dear, but now loft Pri- vileges again. And if by thefe or any other means Abraham., that he will command his Children^ and his Houfljold after hi my And they fiall l^eep the -a ay of the Lord^ that; C 5 the go A Bifcourfe concerning the Lord may bring upon Abraham the thing which he hath fpoken of him. Wherein 'tis neceffarily implied, that if Abraham did not fo do, God would not hold Iiimfeif obliged to make good his part of the Cove- nant. And by his commanding of them by a Synech- doche, we are to underftand all the Branches of a ho- ly Education, riz. Inftruftion, Exhortation, Pi-ayer, good Example, and godly Difcipline. And when the Parent hath thus confcientioufly difcharged his Duty, there is a Condition, 2. On the Children's part when they are grown up to Maturity. And that is perfonally to lay hold on the Covenant, confent to the Terms, and walk ac- cording to the Tenor of it. For when we are Adult, our Infant-title ceafcs, unlefs it be this way continued. Our Parents Will (hall no longer go for OURS, when "We have the ufe of our Judgments and Wills, and are capable of a perfonal Tranfa£tion with God for ourfelves, if we do not furrender and give up our • felves to him, upon his putting in his claim to us. If we will nor do fo, we turn Apoftates 5 we do in effeft abjure and renounce the God of our Fathers, we do reverfe that Dedication whicli they made of us, and by thecourfe of our Lives and Anions fay, that now •we are come to years, and are capable of judging what they did, we think they did not do well when they devo- ted us to God in our Infancy as far as it was in their pow- er : for we will not be for him, but for another. And fo we cut ourfelves off from God, to whom they gave US; we upon deliberation caft ourfelves outof the Co- venant by our own Aft and Deed whereinto they en- tred us, and forfeit all the Bleffings and Privileges of it. Oar Parents own Right and Title to the Promife is Continued to them upon this Condition, as it was to Abraham, provided they walk before God and be ferfetl', othti Wife he wilfnoi; contmuetobe their God. the Children of Holy Varents, 3 r And when we are come to years of Difcretion to •clioofe for oiufelves, we can't reafonably expeft he Ihould continue to be our God, but upon tJie fame Terms. We can't rationally think to have a better Tenure tlian they under whom we hold. Tenants at fecond hand can't hope for better Terms, than the o- riginal ones under whom tliey claim. *Tis enough , that when we come to write Men, we be as our Pa- rents. Day id fureunderftood the Terms of this great Covenant, which was in his dying Hour all his defire and aUhUSdhation : And he exprefly tells Solomon^lf thou forfahe the God of thy Fathers^ he will cafi thee off for eyer. II. This double Condition is notorioufly broken by Multitudes. And I. The Condition on the Parents pait isfo during the Minority of their Children. How little care do the generality of them take to feafon the Hearts of their Children with a faving Knowledge in their tender Years? Many Families e- ven in this our Gojhen that would be accounted reli- gious ones, are like the Houfes of the Egyptians^ co- vered with blacknefs of darknefs, and a palpable Ig- norance in the things of God, wherein not only their Firft-born, but all their other Children to lye dead in a fpiritual Scnfe. Where are the Men that command their Children to keep the way of the Lord, and in that refpeft tread in tJie Steps of their Father Abra- ham 5 that give a Charge to their Children to ihis purpofe, both living and dying ? Where are the daily Counfels, Admonitions, Inftruftions and Exhortati- ons, which God expefts you Ihouid give them when you rife up and when you lye down, in the Houfeand in the Field .' What between a negligent Father on the one hand, and a fond foolifli Mother on the other hand, godly Family Difcipline is almoft loft. Men conteat themielves with a few formal lazy Prayers for 32 A Difcourfe concerning^ for them (and I doubt tliat is more tlian many of tJiem do too) or with putting up a few Bills to defire the Prayers of the Congregation for them; but in the mean time a holy Education of them is wofully neg]e£led Infome one confiderable Branch of it, or it may be in all. And when they themfeives have Mur- dered their own Ciiildren, they bring them to the Prophets of the Lord to pray them to Life again. 'Tis here as in the Pafchal Solemnity of old, the Blood of thefe Lambs of ChriiTs Flock is fprinkled, not on the Pofts of their Doors, but on the Skhts of the Garments of thefe unnatural Parents in whofe Houfes they dwell. But I doubt it will not prove the Lord s PalTover to them ; God awaken them, tliat the de- ftroying Angel do not enter in thereand fiay the wic- ked Authors of fo great a Miicliief And as the Pa- rents are grofly faulty, fo idly^ The other Condition on the Children's part, when they are grown up to Maturity, is maniftftly broken by-multitudes of them. For the proof of this I appeal to the Tears and the Groans of many Holy Parents over their Sons of Belial '^ who may well in- vert tiie Proverb of old, and fay-, Our Children hare e^tenfower Graces, and the TeetJy of us their Farenti are fet on edge. Tis but too plain that tlioufands of the Children of the Covenant have m.ade themfeives the Children of the Devil, for his Works th.ey do, and that openly too. Thsy are like their Father in other things, only they are not as invifible as he is. And tho' 1 hope they are not fo numerous, yet 1 am fure tlieir Name is Legion. IIL God hath no where abfolutely promifed to be- flow fuch a meafure of Grace eitlier on Parents or Children, as infallibly to prevent tlie breach of either of thefe Conditions. This lam fure of, becaufe if lie hadj he would certainly give it 5 fQr he is faithful .and the Children of Holy Varents, 3 ; and cannot break his word. The heart of a godly Pa- rent miy be right as to the main, and yet W. xmy be too negligent in this part of his Duty ^ and tho' in time he may reform, it may be too late before he dotli it to prevent or retrieve the Mifcluefs he hath done hereby to the Soul of his Child. This fatal Negli- gence of his that draws fuch a black Train of fad Confequences after ir, is not through any defeO: on God's part, but purely on his own : Not for want of fufficient Grace to difcharge this part of his Duty, but of a diligent ufe and improvement of it. And if Men will not ftir up the Grace of God that is in them, they can't charge God with a breach of any Promife he hath made to their Pofterity ; nor juftly blame him if he be as carelefs of them as they are; for theydonft do what he hath commanded them, as a means on their part for the entailing Corenant-blefBngs upon them. When they grow up they depart from the good old way inftead of walking in it. But what's the Reafon? They did not train them up in it while they were Children, and direft their Heps into it, tho" God engaged to beftow Grace on tliem on no other terms than tliefe ^ and tho' this was no more than what they had a power and ability thro* Grace to do 5 and were often caird on by his Word, Spirit, Providence and Minifters fo to do, yet they would not. Is God now to be blamed for this ? No furely. For tho' he hath faii, he will Circumcife the Heart of his Ser- vants and their Seed after them ^ yet he expredy re- quires, Beut. 90. 6, 10. That they hearken to the Foiceofthe Lord., and keep his Commandments, and turn to the Lord their God with all their Heart and with aU, their Soul. Hence it follows, IV. That God is at perfeft liberty to rejeft and caft them off if he pleafe. For this is the nature of all Covenants, that when one Party doth not per- form, ;4 A Difcourfe concerning form, but notoriouHy break the Condition whicii he ftood engaged to, the other Party is difcharged, and ifhepleafe, may, without any juft Refleftion, refufe to do what upon that fuppofition only he obliged himfelf unto. And furely we will allow to God, what we fo reafonably claim to ourfelves ^ i.e. tofpeak in a Modern Phrafe, to abdicate them that wilfully hreah the Original Comrafi; and efpecially if they ob- llinately perfift in fo doing. "^ He can't be charg'd witii Injufiice ; for 'tis a righteous thing in him to re- jeft: thofe that in fuch a manner firft of all rejefthim: JNor with want of Truth and Tahhfulnefs to his Word •, for 'tis but the doing what in fuch cafes he hath told and threatned that he would do. 'Tis only Divine Goodnefs that can be called in Qiieflion. It would be too great a Diverfion to fhew that this Attribute doth not oblige God to beftow fpecial, effeftual, faving Grace on this or that Man. For de fafto, 'ti? evident he doth not do it to Multitudes, He never defign'd to reprefent himfelf eitlier in hfs Word, or his Aftions as a Being of meer Grace and Mercy. Divine Goodnefs, as to its Aftings, is under the regulation and conduft of his other Attributes, of Juftice, Holinef?, and Wifdom ; and'tis for the honour of God that it fhould be fo. He is to be conceived by us not only under the Notion of a very gracious Benefaffor^ but alfo under tliat of a Wife, Righteous, Soveraign Kuier over Knt'ional Beinung ones efpecially, of. Holy parents, applied to an tjiii Chapter . FROM what hath been faid in the t«ro foregoing Chapters, I ftiall take an occafion to a^^r^fs my felf to three forts of Perfons. . ^..^Yu.^ («i\c <5a u- I. To Minifters. ■'■:^^ r ■ '-'• >/ II. To Holy Parents. III. To the Children of fudi. I. To Minifters. And I befeech them to fuffer the \ word of Exliortation fvom-one that is more confcioi^s to himfelf, than any other can be of his-great unficnefs in all reipefts to be their Monitor. Bat a Pipe, tho' made of a very ordinary piece qf j Wood, or a Trumpet, tho' a very plain and common one, and a -thing without Life, may fei-ve. to raife the Spirits of a skilful and valiant Soldier, and quicken Mm to the Battle. The thing that I would humbly fiir you up unto by way of remembrance, fpeaks it felf, how little foever I may be capable of faying to St. For 'tis to be imitators of God, and like him to have a fpecial Eye upon and peculiar regard unto the Children of the Covenant in genera], and particularly thofe of them that are the Off-fpring of the Members of thofe feveral Churches of Chrift wherein the Holy Ghoft hath already fettled any of you, or Ihall do fo for the future. Jhisfeeras to me to be the peculiar Province where- ia the Children of Holy Varents, %9 fn young Minilkr.s are nioft lik-ely to ferve their Mi' fter and their Generation. For as- for the old Gi'ey^ Iieaded Sinners they will be too apt to difpife youir Yoiuh. Your Armi^ are too feeble to m^ke the Sword ef the Spirit pierce thro the thick Scales of the over- grown Leviathans. Tiiefe bones are not only dead, bdt have been fo for fo long a time tliat Uiey are evea drv too. And is it likely you lliould Prophecy fo aa to make tliem live? But yet Abba Fathery .all things are poffible unto thee. As for the aged Believers, the main Work was done on them many years, it may be, ere you wer3 born : They were- in Chrift a long time before you were in the World. They whofe Grey Hairs in the way of righteoufnefs, make them look like Ears of Corn ripe for the Harveft, and even ready to be car- ried into the Garner, needlittlecultivating or water- ing from any Hand. As for the Children of ungodly Men, you feldom converfe with them -, and when you do, they will hardly give you the hearing when you offer to fpeak ferioufly to them of the things of God. Thefe are a Generation of Vipers, and will be ready to hifs and" fting that charitable Hand that doth but touch them, tho' never fo gently. Or if you do make any irapref- fions upon them, they are quickly ftifled and blotted out again by the Agents of Satan, among whom they live, and converfe withal. But as for thofe young ones that dwell under the Roof of a holy Abraham^ and fprang from his Loins, you have more opportunities of dealing with them,- and more hopes of prevailing upon them. They are; more fofr and yielding, more capable of and likely to- rcceive impreffons from your hands, here therefore may you moft rationally expeft fome Seals of your Mini- ftry. You- have in them ^me little handle- to take. D 2 hold 40 A Difcourfe concmnhig hold of, fome imperfeft knowledge of the Principles of the Oracles ot God, which their Parents have been dropping into them s and fome good affeftions which the Spirit fometimes ftirs up in them 5 like a few iireaks of Light in the Air befo3-ethe rifmg of the Sun, the happy prefages of a fair day. You have fome little Ihare in their alfe£Vions and efleem 5 they have iearnt from theii* Parents to 0}ew fome refpe£l even |o the meaneft of Chriffs EmbafTadors. Thei-e are many little Arts whereby 'you may eafily Aide and wind and'infinuate yourfelves into their Affeftions for thfcir good, and get within 'em. They will be apt ic may be to fpeak more freely to you, when the gravity of an aged Miniiier will damp and over-awe them. Poffibly they may more readily hearken to you, whea . you fpeak againft youthful Lufts, than they would to elder perfons^ who they may be apt to think do talk againft them becaufe their Age hath mortified them, and made thtm at once uncapable of remembring the former pleafures of Senfe, as well as of tafting them for the future. The Wiidom of God appears in com- mifibonatlng not only Angels to preach the Gofpei to us, but Men like ourfelves, fubjedi to the like PaiTions and Infirmiiies as we are. And if any little begin- ings of a good Work appear as the Fruit of what you fay to them, their iioly Parents under whofe Wings they are, will be ready to cherifh the vital heat thac you have imparted to them -, with joyful Hearts will take up the matter where you left it, and carry it on. 'Tis evidently the grand delign of the Devil and his Inftruments, and which God efpecially calls you to countermine, to leduce and debauch thefe. The roaring I.yonthat goes about feeking whom to devour, longs for. the young Kids and the tender tamhs of Chrift's Flock as the fweeteft Prey tliat he can faften upon. God quicken you, and profper your Endea- vours the Children of Holy Farmts, 41' voiirs to pluck them out of his Jaw who is fwallow- ing them at this day with open Mouth. Notwith- flandingall their Privileges, they will as certainly and more fatally peridi than the Children of other Men if an cfpeci^l care be not taken of them. And where will you employ yourfelves, if not among thefe young and tender Plants, in thofe Houfes that are the Nttrferies of the Church, whence there is the greateftlikeJyhood of a fupply of fit Members for the Plantations of Chrili, when the old Ti-ees are removed? Our Fathers tphcre are they ? lihere> Praifing God in Heaven, and their places oil Earth fhall know them no more. Our ancient Difciples are marching apace after them, wea^ ring away and dropping off one after another. And where, in a few years, fhall Chridhave a Genei^ation to ferv€ him, if you do not from among thefe raife up a fpintual Secdto our Blder Brother. • If we have notfomencw ones to come up in their room (and whence can they be fo reafonably expefted as from fuch Families?) If our Burials -exceed the number of our Births, we cannot long fubfif!^ but the Churches of Chrift which he hath fer you to look after, muft finkg and in a little while come to nothing. ' II. I fhall apply my felf to Holy Parent?, a little to direft and perfw^de them to take a Tpecial care of th© Souls of their Children. And, ' I. Begin betimes, and continue unwearied In a godly Education of them in all the Branches of itj uling all means and helps to make it faccefsfiil. Study their Tempers and Inclinations, that you may the better manage them. Keep them duly to- Family Prayer, and put them upon feeking God apart by themfelves. Bring them to the Pub- lick Worfhip as foon as may be without diftur- bance to the Affembly. Examine them what they jemember of every Sermon they hear, and let them D 3 know 42t -A Difcourfe concerning know you expeft an account. When any affbft- ing Paflages drop from the Mouth of the Preacher, whet them upon their Minds, and make a particular Application of them to their Souls ^ This, O my Child, is thy Duty and Danger as well as mine ^ my eternal Salvation and thine depend on the doing what we have heard this day. Keep them, O keep them from Evil Company y infeftious Boohs^ and places of Temptation and Danger. Maintain your Authority o- ver them, and yet don't deal imperioufly with them, fro-voki'ftg them to Wrath. But efpecially let me recomaiend two Branches of a Holy Education, which I doubt are much neglefted, or at leaft not performed aright. 1. The exercife of a ftri£t Family Difcipline in a prudent and pious manner. Indeed it looks like a piece of ^opijh Penartce for a Man to Correft his own Child I 'ti& to ia(h hrmfelf, and fcourge his own Tlepj. But remember the exprefs Command of God, Chafien thy Son while there is bope^ and let not thy Soul fpare for his trying. Tis better tliey Ihould cry a little un- der your Rod, than roar for want of it for ever in Hell, and be lafhc with Scorpions there to Eternity. Only let this be done prudently, leafonably, calmly, fo- berly, convincing themiirft of their Fault, and your ne- ceifary Duty in chaftifing of them by fome peitinenc Sciipture,and with SokmnPrayer ejthei- before or after, or both, that God would Sanftifie it as his own Or- dinance to the good of their Souls. 2. Catechize and inftru^ them duly both as to Matter ard Manner. As to Matter. See that the foundation of Chrifti- anity be well inlaid in their Souls. For 'lis a lewd Age, wherein many whofe own Souls.are canker'd with Principles of Atheifm andZ»- iideiity^ endeavour by flye Infiuuauons gradually to tainc theChildrenof Holy Parents, 43 taint and corrupt firft the Minds and then the Man- ners of the Youth of this City. And it would make a Man's Heart bleed to think how far they have pre- vail'd on many of them. Tho' they are but thin Coif- vehs that they weave, yet they havebeen ih-ongenough to hold many of thel^ little InfeCls: And when once they have entangled them, they never ceafe inftilling their Venome till they have totally poifon'd andruin'd them. 'Tis wonderful to obferve how foon fome of theie Novices have fet up for Dolors in the Devil's Schools, and Tearing themfelves in the Chair of the Scor- }isrs, C3n deride all revealed Religion, arraign and condemn Chrift as an Impoftor, and befmear jiim a- gaia with their Spittle 5 Burlefque the Holy Scrip- tures, and laugh at immaterial Subftances and ever- lafting Flames. And tho' many of them evidently do not underftand the Atheiftical, Infidel Cavils and Ob- jeftions they have heard, yet they will be hammering at them, and repeat fome what of them, like an Etcho in an empty and hollow place, that reverberates tlie laft words chat were fpoken, but in fuch a broken im- perfeft manner that there is no Senfe to be made of them. But above all to run down the MINISTRY, is at once both the eafieft and the pleafantefl thing of all. And every dull young Fool fancies he can be very fmart and witty upon them. Baalambs Miracle is repeated every day 5 There is no Afs i'o ftupid buc can open his Mouth to rebuke the madnefs uf a Pro" phet. And how can the Servants of Chrifi do any good upon them, when they aredefpifed in tlitir Eyes; and when the very Topicks whence their Arguments of perfwafion are drawn, are not only disbelieved but derided by 'em too. In fiiort, Atheifm, Ungodlinefs and Debauchery lie at the bottom of all this, and therefore efpecialiy for- tifie their Minds againit thenv in their young and ten- der Years. More- 44 ^ Difcoterfe concerning Moreover, give them a cleat underftanding of their Nathe Corruption wherein they were born 5 of the na- ture and neceffity of Regeneration and the influences of the Spirit and Repentance towards God, and Faith on our Lord Jefus Chrid, which are the vital prafticar fundamentals of the Gofpel : The meaning of tlieir Baptifm, and the Coyenant of God whereinto you en- tred them: What adrantages they h2veii\erthy-^ what Obligations and Encouragements per fonaJiy to lay hold on the Coyenant^ and yield up them f elves unto God fully, fincerely and deliberately ; and that their Lives and their Souls, and their eternal Salvation, and their ALL doth depend on their fo doing. And then as for the Manner of your Inflruftion, • let it be frequent, with a becoming Grayity, Seriouf- Ttefs, and a vifible holy vparmth of Soul 5 and mingle with your Teaching the moft pathetical Exhortations, Counfels, Admonitions, Perfwafions and Commands. Not only inform ih€ix judgments^ but apply yourfelves to their jiffeSlions too. The Minifters of God are fain to ftudy Iiow to reach both thefefor the Conver-t- fion of grown Perfons •, and fo muft you as ever you hope to be happy Inftruments in the Convei*/ion of your Children: 'Tis as neceffary, and more eafie to reach their Hearts. Not only ply the Oar, but fill the Sails too, or elfe thefe little Veffels will hardly be moved up the Stream and againfl the Tide. And be fure to add to all the reft: a holy Example 5 there is a Reverence due from you to your Children, as well as from them to you. Do nothing that is unfeemly be- fore them, I.eaft: they learn it of you, and refemble you more in fuch ACllnns than in any of your Features. Worfe Marks and Signatures are hereby made by many Parents on their Children after their Birth, than by fome of them before it. 1 muft not forget, and hope , you will not neither, the offering up daily fervent Prayers co the God of all Grace in their behalf. 11. the Children of Holy Pare?its. 45* II. Follow tliem clofe when at any time you per- ceive them under Convift ions, or any good Affeftion3 firing in them. Then are you moft likely to fucceed, when God and you are workers together. III. Have a care whit Servants you take inrq your Houies. Thefe will be much with them, and it will lye in tbeir power to do tiiem mucli good or hai-iii while they are att<"nding on them. As not only tha Stars, but even the Planets that move in an inferiour Orb, have either a benign or a malignant Influence on this Earth while thf;y are miniftring to it. : IV. Prudently make a vifible diftinftion in the dU ftribuiion of your worldly Goods among them accor* ding to the appearances of ferious Religion in them. When once they fee by your Carriage towards- them, that you are refolv'd to put as few Weapons as well you can, into the Hands of thofe that are the Veyil's Children more than yours^ it may keep them from open wickednefs, bring them to a due attendance on the publick Miniilry, make them a little thoup;htful and qonfidering; and who knows what thebleiTed IlTue of tliat may be in time? God himfelf makes Promifes and Threatnings about things of this natui-e to allurg Men to Religion : The giving or denying temporal Biefiings is one means that he makes ufe of to prevent Sin and to reclaim Men from it. 'Tis not-^ in itfelf the beft and the jirongeji Argument, but it may be the moft dieinefs of an interel^ in Chrill, and charge them as e- ver they expeft to, fee God s Face ^nd yours with com- fort, diligently to look after it. The words of a dy- ing Man, efpecially of a dfm;; Vrlend or Tarent, enter deep, come with a great weight and authority, and may be remembred by tliem to very good purpGfes,ir after you yourfelv-es are pafs'd into the Land of for- getfuinefs. . . r- • The taking a fpecialcare of the Souls of their Chil- dren in fuch Inftances as thefe, might be urged with variety of Motives. I will mention but one, and that Is a very affefting one, r/z. the Groans of a godly Pa- rent over a wicked Child. And could webut get near saough^ -we might hear him venting his Paffion m^ fome fuch words as thefe ; yii>. ' Oh tliis ungodly V < Wretch, this Son oiBeliall Ke will break my Heart « fure, and bring down my grey Hairs in forrow Co. « the Grave. 1 trained him up for^ God ^ but he is « refolved to be for the Devil in defpight of God and < me. When he was an Infant, I remember he was a « pleafanr Child : When he v/as a tender Plant, 1 "ho- ' ptd he would one day have flourifht like a Branch * of Righteoufnefs that the Lord had blefs'd. But he i is now a grieving Brier, and a pricking Thorn in « my Eyes, my very Heart and Soul. Alas ! Woe is * me miferable Man that I am^ that ever Hell fhould * be the fuller for me ! That from my Loins ihould f iffue one that is a dilhonour to God, and a feudal * to Religion, the plague and burden of the Earth, 6 and a Fire-brand for eternal Burnings. O my Bow- -' els, my Bowels ! I am pained at the very Heart, «-Now is my Soul exceeding foryowful even unto death 48 A Dffcourje concerning * death. Happy is the Womb that never bai-e, and the * Breafts that never gave fuck. Would to God I had « been written down Childlefsin his Book. Was ever < any forrow like— — —■ And then the fwelling Paflion grows too big to be vented by Words : A Floud of Tears gufhing out ftops the good Man's Speech 5 and he exprefles (as the Egyptians in their Hieroglyphicks did, by things not by wordsj the remainders of his grief in fighs and deep groans, enough to break his own Heart, and the , Heart of any Man that doth but hear him. How fad would it be if this iT]ould be yourcafe ar- nother day • and .how heavy would it lyQ upon you if your own Conference Ihould reproach you. All this hath come to pafs thro' your own fondnefs ncg- leftandfoUy. CHAP IV. AnAddfefs to the Children afE(dy MeninTiye Things^ M Y Difcourfe in this Chapter (hall, like the Di- vine BlefTing, defcend from Holy Parents to their Children. And, there are thefe Five Things.! fhatl propofe to them. ! I. Serioufly bethink yourfelves. Confider each of you in pariicalar in how many Inftances you have bro- ken with GodjTnd (from what hath been faid in the fore-going Chapters^ the greatnefs of your guilt and danger in fo doing. What degenerate Wretches have you been to ftrike in with the avowed Enemy of your father's Houfc, and fo flain the Honour and Glory of it ? How often is it memion'd in Scripture as a migh- ty aggravation of Mens fins, that they forfook the God of their Fathers ? And tliis thou haft done. Is not che Voice of Reafoi. as well as Scripture, Thy own a Friend^ the &jilJren of Holy Varents. 49 ^TrJend^Krtd thy Fathers Friend fo/ fake thou not? Prov.27« 1 I o. God took you into his Family before you were capa- ; ble of doing him any Service ; and fince you have been Capable of ir, you have rebelled againft him tnat wag .your God from youj Mother's Womb, and tb^r f;:- ftain'd you in the Arms oi his merciful Providence \ when you hang upon your Mother's Breifts. Be aito- !,nifht O Heavens, and tremble O Earth! the Lord 'hathnouriflit and brought up Children, and chfeyhave lifted up their Heels ag unit him. You havsbeeaas '3 Beafl before him ; yea morebrutifli than any of them. •For the Ox knows his Owner, and the Afs is not fo ; dull but he knows his Mafler^s Crib. What Iniquity I have you found in the God of your Fathers? Tefiifie jagainft him if you ai e able. Hath he been a dry Land i or a barren Wildernefs to you ? For which of his ^good VVorks have you dealt thus with him ? And for - , what ? For tlie fake of lying and deftruaive Vanities^ ! of which you have caufe to be afcamed, and dread what the ilTue of them may be. Kno-.v tliou that for .all thefe things God will fpeedily bring thee to Jud. Earneftly p^ead the Covenant of God with^ your Fathers for his pardoning and renewing Grace, Alas! It may be, fome of you will fay, God help us, this Advice comes- tOo late to us. For we have many Years neglefted the ratification of it fince we have been" af'Age, ' and fd the time is flip'd and elaps'd. Nay,_. whi'ch is yet worfe, we have notorioufly broken it^. forfeired all our Interefl in it, and can't rationally ex- ped^any benefit by irij bur rather on the contraiy, that E 3L God 5 2 ADifcourfe concexmng God Ihould deal worfe with U3 than with oOiers tliat have been flrangers to the Covenant and the Promifes. A very deep and ferious Senfe of this would do we]]. But be it fo ; This is an Argument indeed that you fhoLiM plead this Covenant with a great deal of Hamiliiy and godly forrow, but ^tis no Argument that you fhould not plead it at all. For if now at laft you are but ferious and in earnef}, you have a gra- cious God to deal with, who is ready to renew his Covenant with you, and you may yet apply yojirfelyes .to him with a greater confidence ilian the Children of others can rationally do, under all your finking fears on the account of the great guilt you have con- traced, tlie great danger you have incurred, and the di!mal wrph you have deferv^d. For after all, you have more to fay for yourfelv.es than the Children of Strangers havej for yqu may apply yourfelves to him iinder fuch a Notion as tiiey canr^otj as yout ratl^ers Cod^ as many Iiave done under the like fears and di- feiles of Confcience, and .found relief hy it. Qo^d was juH on the very point of rooting up the whol^ Kaiion oUfrael 21 once; and of" the two Argumeats Ithat Mofes urges God withal to fpare them, 'thp''a provoking People, this, .as the ftrongeft, is put laftj '^enmvber Ifaac and Ifr^el'thy Seyyants^ fmrn vphom they 'are defcended^ Exod.- 32. 1 §. And this made his Re- pentings 10 kindle fafter tov/ards them, than ever his Anger did againfl: them. What a prodigious Sinner was Maifctjfeh} And yei; when in his great Affliction h^ bcfou^jn the Lord his God, and humh/ed hjm.fe If great' ly before the Cod of hU Fathers^ he vsas, emreatedofhinf^ 2 Chron. 29. 12. ' ':), Ton have played the Harlot, faith God to the ferffs^ v?hh many Layers, Jer. 3. j. And tho' in that caf^ Wen wouJd-give an everlafting Bill of Divorce, yet! return mto me. fahh the Lord. And y. 4. vilt tljou. the Children of Holy Barents, f 3 \\notfrom thh time cry to me my Tatber, thou art the : guide of my youth? Will you not at hft return unto me, who have been fo early efpoufcd to you, and ftood in : a Covenant-relation to your Anceflors when they were . but a fmali handful of People, as the words :' thy youth, are explained eli'ewhere. And Ez^ek,. i6i j then you have the Anfwer which God him- "^2. , felf,by way of Prophefie and Encouragement, ' frames for them, Behold v^e. come unto thee, the Lord ■ our God. q. d. VVe are the Pofterity of thine ancient ; Servants, by Birth related to thee, and that encoura- ges us to come to thee as the Lord our God, tho' we are unworthy to be called thy People. Special Mer- cies in a time of great difcouragements are promifed to them, J fa: 41.8. hecaufe ye are, faith God, the feed of Abraham my Friend. And when they were not only under fore diftrcires,butfaddeclinings too, they had erred from God's Ways, and their Hearts wer© hardened from his Fear ^ they plead this Argument with God for feafonable Relief, We are thine -^ thoune- yer beareft 'Rule oyer them, they were not called by thyt Name,!^. 63. 19. Take therefore to yourfelves word?, and fay, «■ Lord wilt thou not Ihow fpecial favour to us, feeing ' thou haft been an ancient Friend to, and Confede- < rate with our Family? Why, this is an Argument ' that is wont to prevail upon Men, even thofe that * ai^ ill-natur'd, whofe Bowels are but Flints and A- « damants in comparifon of thy tender Compaffions. ' And 'tis a yertuous Difpolition, a thing commenda- ' ble and praife-worthy in the Judgment of all: And ' as fucli 'tis recorded in thy Book in fundry Inftan-^ « ces. 'Tis fo of D^id, 2 Sam. 9.5, 7. That he en- quired whither there were any of the houfe of Saul yet aliye, that be rni^ht fhew the kindnefs of God to him^ * and he ftiewed very confiderable refpe^ to Mefhibo- E 3 * lb€th f 4 A Difcourfe concern wg ' fieth for Jonathan his Fathers fake, becaufe of tlic * ftrift league of Friendfhip that had been between * them. Afa prevailed on Benhadad, tk)' a very wick- < ed and felfifh Man, to joyn with him in his diftrefs, * becaufe there hath been, faid he, a League betn^een tffy Father and my Father. ' And 'tis mentioned as a * Reproach to yoafij, that he remembred not: the kind- ncfjthat jfehoiada the Father had done^ but Jlen^ hU Son. 2 Chron. 24. 22. * And fliall the tame thing be « charg'd on thee ? Far be this from thee, O Lord. * True, indeed, I have neglefted thy Covenant, and ' fadJy broken it. ' But yet thou haft faid to the Chil- * dren of the Covenant, Return ye bachfliding Children. 'Behold^ I return unto thee, heal all my bachjldings^ for thou art the Lord my Cod ; my God from my Mother's Belly : Sare me for I am the Son of thine Hand-maid^ * Apd if thou art afliamed to be known by the Name « of MY God ', yet, O Lord .God of ray FATHERS * and thy Friends^ look upon me, and be grathus un- ' to me, as thou ufeft to be to the returning Pofterity * of thtm that loved and feared thy Name. III. Plead your Holy Baptifm, and the many Promi- fes of God to the Children of holy Men. ' Lord, my Parents have foiemnly dedicated me * to thee in my Infancy. See wli^fe Character and * Superfcription it is that 1 bear upon me. O help a ^ poor Creature that is willing to render unto Cod the * things that are Gods. Save me, for I am thine, and * let not one of thy own perilh eternally for want of ' thy help. For haft thou not faid, I rvHl be a God to 9ny People and their Seed ? That thou wilt Circumcife their Heart., and the Heart of their Seed after them ? That thou wilt pour »ut thy Ble/Jtng on their Of-fpring> * True indeed, thefe are but general indefinite Promi- * fes T cant fay thou hadft a fpecial Eye upon me in * pai ticular, infallibly to make aU this good to me. But theCbHJren of Holy Parents. 5-5 « But then on the other hand, 1 can't fay tlie con'tra- * ry. Nay, I have good hopes thro' Grace, that I ' was particularly intended by tlice, becaufe thou haft < put ic into tli6 Heart of tliy Servant to pray this ' Prayer before tneetlii 5 day. Thou ufeft to be found ' of thofe that feek thee. They that hung ' v and third ' after fpiritual good things, are not wont to be fenc « empty away, but to be liberally filled. O let my * Fleece alfo be wet with the Dew of Heaven. If thou ' i.aft no regard to me a dead Dog, yet have fome * refped to that word of tJiine wherein thou hail made ' me to hope. Let Heaven fay ^wewrothe Requefrs, ' wiiicii if I know myfelf, in the fincerity of my own ' Heart, I offer up here on Earth. IV. Add hei-eunto a peifonal folemn Dedication, and furrcnder of yourfelves to God as his Covenant- Sei-vants with your whole Heart and Soul. Nothing of reafon can be urged againft this; a great deal ot* reafon may be urged for it. Being now come to years of underflanding, you are capable of fuch a Tranfa- Ction, Your Parents dedication of you will pafs fbi- notliing, if you don't ratifie and confirm it by your own Ati and Deed. God by thefe Papers at tliis lime puts in his claim to you. If you don't comply, he may take it for a flat denial. Have you not ma- nifeftly broken Covenant with him ; and is it not high tiraetorenev/it? How exprefs, punftuai, and ferious are you in all your Contrafts with i\1en in Matters of an infinitely lower nature and concern? And why fhould you not be the fame when you are to tranfadt with the great God, and give up yourfelves Body and Soul to be his for ever? Such a Covenanting v/ith God would llrike a mighty awe into your Breafts 5 fix your volatile Spirits; leave a grateful re 11 fh and favour on your Souls ; comfort you under fears, help to clear up your doubts j check you when you be^in to 5(5 A Difcourfe cmcerning to wander.; recover you when you are fallen, if re- lieved on ; quicken you to the difcharge of your du- ty ^ foriifieyou againft Temptations; the making and the keeping of it will be life to you in the hour of death. When a Man is brought to this in (incerity, this is faving Converfion ; and fomewhat of tliis win follow upon tliat great Change. If there be indeed any thing of tlie renewing Grace of God v/ithin you, that will naturally incline you to it, and there will not need much perfwafion. The divine Flame in any Soul will of itfelf point upward, and its natural ten- dency is toward that Heaven from whence it came. O that the Divine Spirit would breathe upon you -, theri Would you readily fay, ' Lord, I here return to thee" « a poor wandring Creature, even niy own Soul: I * reftore to thee that which I hav€ robbed th.ee of. * Now in the Name of thy Son, and by the Spirit of « thy Grace, I yield up myfelf to thee, to be thine, to ' be ruled as well as to be faved by thee. V. Laftly, having done all t}"iis, joyn yourfelves as Members to fome particular Church of Chrift or other; For the better edification of his Body, our Saviour hath appointed the erefting of particular Churches: And wherever a fufficient number ofperfons were cal- led, it was the conftantpraftice of the primitive times to unite in fuch Socir,^ties as ftated Members of them, under the guidance and conduct of thofe Paftors and Teachers, which with their own confent, tlie Holy GhoU had fct over tliem to rule and feed them. Tliis is a Conftitution of Chrift which is direftly tliwart- ed and oppofed by a Generation of loofe and rambling Chriftians, tliat content tAemfelves with bare Hf^r/w^-, and That too in a very odd way. For they are a fore of volatile Auditors, perpetually frisking too and fro, andean fix no where. Were all Men of this humour, there could be no fuch thing as paitieular ^hurches, ; which the Children of Holy "Parents, 57 which Chrift hath appointed for the edifying of his Members. And how they can rationally expeiV to floLirini eitlicr in Grace or Peace, while tltey iive in a diredl: oppofirion to a niani[c;fl Inftltution of our Lord Jefus, which was not more an effeiTt: of his Au- tho)ity than of his Wifdom and Goodneis, I wifn Men would ferioufly confider. Are any of you fo feif-fuf- ficient, that ,you need no Pallor, nor the afTifiance of your fellow Chriftians co wa:ch over, admoniih, ,re- tuke, exhort, comfort, ftrengthen, andcounfel you? Are there none of the Churches of Chrift that are pure enough? None of ihem tliat have Uthude^Qv ftriClners enough for you ? None of them worthy enough for you tojoyn yomfelves unto? When our Lord haili ^ven fuch variety of Gifts to his Miniflers, is there none oftliem whofe Abilities foic you, an,d pkaie.ypu^ curious Palates, that by fettling under them'youmay be edified ? 1 may fay to fuch Perfons as- Cmflmtme once did to fuch 2 felf-conceited Man, Talic a ladder, and^ climh up to Heayen by thyfelf alone. In Ihort, a Society of Believers walking together in Gofpel Or». der, is ake the excellent compofure of Syllables, Words^ aiid Sentences, that have a great deal of Seme an^ .Sigpificatipn in them. "But a feparated and divided, Ghriftian, that will join hirafelf :o no Church, is like a fingU Letter, or a. disJowf,ed Syllable that isperfed^ Nonfenfe. * FINIS. BOOKS Prmted for John Lawrence, af the Angel in ibeVoultry, \ l^ ■ -' ■ Folio. ' r MR. B4A-fc>'*s Praaical Works in 4 Vol. . ,] My. Pool's Englifh Annotations on t?ie Bibl$ in 2 Vol. -,..,• Mr. Stephen CharnocFs Works in, 2 Vol.' •-' V.i Mr. Matthew Henrys Expofuioc^cjft tll^. ^ Scriptiiies in 5 Vol. ■ . . "*' ""/ "* '^ .■,"'?, A Mr. Burkitt on the JVe«y Tepdment^ ' ''* Quarto. An Account of the Government of the' Church of Scotland as ii: is eftablifhU by the Liw, and of the Difcipline and Worfhip at prefent pra£tis'd by that ' Church 5 to which is added .the Form of Procefs ia the fevei-al Judicatories thei-cof with relation' to Scandal and Cenfures, ^c. with a Poftfcript concernr ing the Epifcopal Diffenters. Mi\ Daniel Mayo's Thankfgiving-Sermon, February "17. l~o8. :i\. Kingflon. An Effort againft Biggotry, and for Chriflian Ca* tholicifm. B," Mr. Henry Chandler of Bath. Mr. Nath anae I Taylors S.ti-mon^- ^l the Funeral of Mr. TJathanael Fincent. The Young Accomptant'& Atliffant, Containing va- rious Forms of Acquittances for Money received 5 Retailers Bills of Parcels ^ Workmens Bills ^ Bills on Book Debts; Bills of Parcels of Wholefale Traders and Merchants, wi.h Receipts annex'd. For the Ufe of Writing Schools. The Whole to be carefully Cofied. Defign'd to render Writing and Arithmetick both deliglnful and profitable to the Learner. To whicii are added Tables of Qjiantities. By Jofeph Alleim^ Writing Maftei- in Coleman- flreet. OCiayQ. Books Prh/ted for J. Lawrence. I Oftaro. f Mr. Nathanael Taylor's Praflical Difcoiirfes. _ _ his Amwer to Dr. Sher/ccJi's Cafe, and Letter of his Church Communion ^ and the Diffen* -ters vindicated from the Charge of Schifm, ! Dr. ^obft Kdwardis Exercications, Critical, Phy- [ lofophical, HifloricaJ, Theological, on feveral im- portant Places in the Writings of the Old and Nev^ Tejiament. , his Preacher, in 3 Vol. — —his Veritas Redux, Evangelical Truths ref!o- red ; which are all plainly ftated and determined, ac- cording to the Scriptures. ^ — The Dodtrineof Faith and Juftification fee in a true Light, in 3 Parts. Mr. Slaters Earnefi: Call to Family Religion j be- ing the Subftance of Eighteen Sermons. ,— his Difcourie, about. the Precioufnefs of God's Thoughts concerning his People. Mr. William Scoffns Help to true Spelling andjj Reading ^ or, a very eafy Method for the teaching of Children, or elder Perfons, rightly to Spell, and ex- actly to Read Englipi. The Mourners Companion ^ or, Funeral Difcourfes on feveral Texts ; in 2 Parts, by John Sharker, Mr. Addeys Stenograpf?ia : Or, the Art of Shore Writing compleated, in a far more compendious way than any yet extant. Alfo the whole Bible and Sing- ing Pfaims in the fame Short-Hand : Curioufly En- graven OH Copper Plates. Catholicifm without Popery. An "EflTay to render the Church of £»^/^W£^ a Means and Pattern of Uni- on to the Chriftian World. With a Letter to Sir Humphry Machevonh ; occafioned by his late Difcourfe Entituled, Teace at Home^ in Folio. By fohn Hoekf Serjeant at Law, 80. fhorfioi Booh Printed for J. LaM^ence. rhomas^g^maBenm: Or, The ProtefUnt DifTen- ters vindicated from the Charge of Schlfm. In a Let^ tfer from a Fellow of St. John ^ College in CambrUre. to the Reftor of St: >we/s in Co/c/jp^er. '^ A Treatife of Divine Worfhip: Tending to prove that the Ceremonies impofed upon the Minifters'of tne Gofpel in EngUftd, in prefent Controverfy, are m their life unlawful : With a Preface, containing an •Account of the Antiquity, Occafion, and Grounds of Nonconformity, &c. Alfo a Pofifcript in Defence of Thomas againU Bemet. In a Reply to Mr, Bennet's Anfvver thereto. A Sermon preached to the Society for Keforrfiatrdn' of /Manners; at Klngfinne u^^on Thames^ on July iith' 17CO. By D.tnhl Mayo, U. h. The Neceffity of a Regular Million to the Miniflry : Afftrted and Proved, in a Sermon Preached at Chenfe^i', Cehbcr 16: J 705. By Daniel Mayo, M. A. uT TheModefiy, Chanty, and Good Manners oF a High-Church-Man Difplay'ti ; Bdng a CoUeaion of fome Remarkable Paflages out of a Book Entituled, Ordination by meet presbyters, froy'd void and null .' , In a Conference between Thilalethes and Ffeudoihettf. A Letter from fome A^ed Nonconforming Minifiers, to their Chri^ftian Friends, touching the Reafons of their Pra^ice. The Third Edition, Correfted and Enlarged, with fome Pradical Advice. Some Letters concerning the Validity of Ordinati- on by Presbyters ^ between Mr. Jacques, Preacher at the Chappel at Uxbridge^ and Mr. James Waters, Pa- ilor to a DifTenting Congregation there. Publilhed by Mr. Waters, for his neceflary Vindication. Hymns and Spiritual Songs. In three Books. B}i J Watts. Twelves. m