Once more: Are not children capable of receiving the blessings of the covenant? for our Lord says, " Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not ; for of such is the kingdom of God." And if they are capable of the blessings of the covenant, are they not also of the seal; when that seal is nothing more than a token from God that the blessings shall be theirs?
We have said thus much, not for the sake of stirring up controversy, but of confirming you in the principles, which, as members of the Church of England, you profess.
This only we add, that if Jesus Christ submitted to circum- cision for the good of his enemies, much more should you consult the benefit of your children by dedicating them to God in baptism.]
2. To seek that purity of which circumcision was
an emblem —
[What the true circumcision was, we are abundantly in- formed both by Moses and the prophets"1. Even at that time circumcision, if not accompanied with a suitable course of life, was accounted for uncircumcision : and much more, under our dispensation, must those only be accounted Chris- tians, who are such in deed and in truth11. We will call upon you all then, not to rest in your baptism, as though that made you Christians, but to seek the baptism of the Holy Ghost, and " the answer of a good conscience towards God0." It is remarkable that St. Paul represents this very purification as the thing intended to be produced by the circumcision of Christ. We are (federally) " circumcised in him :" but (personally) we are to " put away the body of the sins of the flesh p." And the very promise which God has given us, is, that " he will circumcise our hearts, to love the Lord our God with all our heart, and with all our soul0-." Look ye to it then, my brethren, that this seal of our covenant be found in you. " Put off the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and put on the new man, which after God is renewed in righteousness and true holiness." It may be painful thus to mortify the flesh ; but it must be done, if you would have any well-founded hope towards God : for, notwithstanding " salvation is bestowed by gi'ace through faith," yet it is an unalterable truth, that " they who are Christ's, have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts."]
m Deut. x. 16. Jer. iv. 4. n Rom. ii. 25, 28, 29.
0 1 Pet. iii. 21. p Col. ii. 10, 11. °- Deut. xxx. 6.