VINDICATION OF THE Sentiments and Practice OF THOSE, WHO BELIEVE IN GOD'S EVERLASTING COVENANT, AND APPLY THE SEAL TO THEIR INFANT OFFSPRING; IN SIX SERMONS, ON ROMANS, iv. 11-12. BY JOHN SMITH, a. m. EXETER: PRINTED BY C. NORRIS & Co. NEW-HAMPSHIRE DISTRICT, ss. BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the fourth day of July, in the thirty-seventh year of the Independence of the United States of America, JOHN SMITH, A. M. Pastor of the church in Salem, New-Hampshire, hath deposited in this Office, the title of a book, the right whereof he claims as Author, in the following words, to wit: "A vindication of the Sentiments and Practice of those, who believe in God's everlasting covenant, and apply the seal to their Infant Offspring; in Six Sermons, on Romans, iv. 11—12.” In conformity to the Act of the Congress of the United States, entitled, “an Act for the encouragement of learning by securing copies of Maps, Charts, and other Books to the Authors and Proprietors therein mentioned," and also "an Act for the encouragement of learning, by securing copies of Maps, Charts, and other Books to the Authors and Proprietors therein mentioned, and extending the benefits thereof to the Arts of designing, engraving, and etching Historical and other Prints." A copy of Record. R. CUTTS SHANNON, Clerk of New-Hampshire District. R. CUTTS SHANNON, Clerk. ADVERTISEMENT. my charge. THE substance of the following discourses was delivered to the people of After the publication of them was contemplated, and proposals issued, I made some alterations and additions, partly in consequence of suggestions from respected friends. Moreover Mr. Daniel Hardy, jun. whom I requested to inspect the sermons with particular attentions, made considerable alterations, and large additions, which I thought proper to adopt. There are many more pages, than were mentioned in the proposals. The discourses are submitted to the candour of the publick, with a desire, that, through divine grace, they may be a mean of promoting the Redeemer's kingdom. SERMON I. ROMANS, IV. 11-12. And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith, which he had, being yet uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also; And the father of circumcision to them, who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had, being yet uncircumcised. FOR the salvation of lost men, Christ was constituted Mediator before the foundation of the world. After the fall, the covenant of grace was revealed, in which God offers eternal life to sinners through Christ. In pursuance of his gracious purpose, God made a covenant with Abraham, of peculiar importance to the world. For the promotion of the grand design of the Abrahamic covenant, the Sinai covenant was given. "When the fulness of time was come, God sent forth his Son," to suffer upon the cross, "that repentance and remission of sins might be preached in his name among all nations." |