Page:A Treatise of the Covenant of Grace (John Ball).djvu/63

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first entred the Covenant as Purchaser, Maker, Confirmer, and upon whose person it was setled for us all by Abraham. Againe, by Abrahams seed are meant all that receive this Covenant from him, whether by outward administration only, or internall force and vertue also. In the eye of God and Scripture all beleeving Gentiles are the seed of Abraham, which may be called the Christian seed. In thee shall all Nations of the earth be blessed: which must needs be understood of the Gentiles which should beleeve, and is plainly so interpreted by the Apostle: ''Therefore it is by faith, that it might be by grace, to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed, not to that only which is of the Law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the Father of us all; As it is written, I have made thee a Father of many Nations. That he might be the Father of them that beleeve, though they be not circumcised, that righteousnesse might be imputed to them also. And if ye be Christs, then are ye Abrahams seed, and heires by Promise. All beleeving Jewes and Proselytes are comprehended under the seed of Abraham'', and may be called the spirituall seed, in opposition to the carnall or naturall seed only. This distinction of Abrahams seed spirituall and naturall the Apostle plainly specifieth; ''Neither because they are the seed of Abraham are they all children: but in Isaac shall thy seed be called: that is, they which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted for the seed. Besides, all that descend from the loynes of Abraham'', and all that were borne in his house, and bought with his money are counted for the seed, though indeed many of them were wicked and profane. Therefore Abraham is commanded to circumcise every man-child, both him that is borne in his house, or bought with money of the stranger, which is not of his seed. Thus Ishmael, Esau, and others were circumcised, counted Abrahams seed, and under Covenant, untill they fell away, and discovenanted themselves: but their posterity are not counted for the seed, because they utterly fell away, and departed from the faith. The whole Nation of the Jewes descending from Jacob, was accounted the seed of Abraham, untill the time of Reformation, though many amongst them were wicked, and oft-times fell away. I know (saith our Saviour to the Pharisees) ye are Abrahams seed, but yee seeke to kill me, so did not Abraham. In respect of the externall administration of the Covenant they were counted the seed: but