While doing some reading for a couple of items, I came across this passage on the covenants in Keach’s Gold Refin’d, a work in which he argues for believer’s baptism. I thought it may be helpful for some.
Object. But it is still objected, that as the Jews and their Children were broken off, so the Gentiles and their Children are ingrafted in their room, as Rom. 11:20. because of Unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by Faith, &c.
Answ. We answer, that the Reason why the Jews and their Children were broken off, was not because they had not believing Parents, for Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were still the Parents of them all, they were Abraham’s Seed, according to the Flesh, when they were broken off as well as before; but the true reason was, because the terms of standing in the Church were now altered: For before the Gospel-Dispensation came, they stood Members of the old Jewish Church, though as much unbelieving for many Generations, as they were when they were broken off; but now Abraham’s Church-state is at an end, and all the Priviledges and Immunities cease, the Jewish Church must give way to the Gospel-Church, the Messiah being come, and about to build him up a new and more glorious and spiritual House, into which none are of right to enter but such as are profest Believers; for the old House or Jewish Church-state was not intended to abide for ever, but only until the time of Reformation, and then the Law must be changed, yea the Covenant changed, which they not believing, nor closing in with, were broken off, they being willing to abide in the old House still, and to remain Church-Members upon the account of a meer fleshly and natural Birth, crying out, Abraham is our Father, and we are his Seed, and are free, and never were in Bondage, wherefore they were broken off, and that whether they would or not, by reason of their Unbelief; that is, because they would not believe Christ was the true Messiah, and that the old Covenant and all the Priviledges thereof were flying away, the Substance and true Antitype of all those Shadows being come, viz. the Lord Jesus Christ.
So that thus they were broken off by Unbelief, and thou and thine, O Gentile Believer, stand by Faith, mark it, thou standest by Faith; not by virtue of any Birth-Priviledg whatsoever, but by Faith, thy standing is by Faith; yet not thy Seed by thy Faith, but thou thy self by thine, and they by their own; Faith is that by which (thou standing and not thy Seed) hast right to stand in the Church, and not they; but if thy Seed have Faith, and thou hast none, they have right in the Church, and thou shalt be excluded.
Most certain it is, that under the Law the natural Seed or Progeny of Abraham, were all holy with an External, Ceremonial, or Typical Holiness, and consequently they were then all admitted to an external Participation of Church Privileges. But remarkable to this purpose is that Passage of the Apostle, 2 Cor. 5:16. Wherefore henceforth know we no Man after the Flesh; it seems then, that heretofore there had been a knowledg taken of Persons after the Flesh; and ’tis as plain there was, that because the Jews were of the natural or fleshly Seed of Abraham, they were therefore all of them admitted to the Priviledg of an external Church-membership, while others were exempted. But we see the Apostle resolves henceforth to disclaim any such cognizance of them, or any others upon the account of a meer fleshly Descent: And to this very purpose immediately subjoyns in the following Verse, Therefore if any Man be in Christ, he is a new Creature: old things are past away, all things are become new; the old Church, and old Church-membership, Rites, Ordinances and Priviledges, and a new Church-state, new Ordinances, a new Seed, and new way of Introduction unto the Participation of the Priviledge of Church-membership now under this new and more glorious Dispensation, viz. the Gospel: Nothing but a new Creature will serve the turn; for God expects that they that worship him, do now worship him in Spirit and in Truth; the Priviledg of being admitted into God’s House, and to stand before his Presence in the actual Celebration of Gospel-Ordinances, being now entailed only upon the Spiritual Seed, even such who as lively Stones are built up a spiritual House, a holy Priesthood to offer up spiritual Sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ; 1 Pet. 2:3, 4, 5. or such at least as make a visible Profession thereof.
And therefore, when this new and more spiritual Dispensation was about to be actually introduced and established, John who was the Harbinger of it gives sufficient notice thereof; and to this purpose deals plainly with the Jews, i. e. the Pharisees and Sadduces that came to be baptized of him, and tells them upon this account, Mat. 3:9, 10. Think not to say within your selves, We have Abraham to our Father: For I say unto you, that God is able of these Stones to raise up Children to Abraham. And now also is the Ax laid unto the root of the Trees: Therefore every Tree that bringeth not forth good Fruit, is hewn down, and cast into the Fire. It cannot be denied but that they had Abraham to their Father as much now as before, only the terms of their standing in that Church was now changed; so that every Tree now of whatsoever natural Stock or external Production, that bringeth not forth good Fruit, must be hewn down; and the reason is rendred for that, Now the Ax is laid to the root of the Trees, mark it, now ’tis so; it was not so before, the Ax was never till now laid thus unto the root of the Trees: which must needs be understood in reference to that Birth and Fleshly Priviledg spoken of before, which they had so long boasted of, as the whole Context shews. But now God is resolved to make other manner of work of it under the Gospel-Dispensation than he did before. Now the root of the Trees are struck at, a Bar put, natural Descent or Extraction from a Religious Root, (i. e. Godly Parents) will not now serve turn, as in time past it did, to give any true Right or Title to Church-Priviledges. Moreover, if God now will not suffer any of the natural Branches to abide on their own natural Stock, viz. Abraham, be sure he will not admit any Gentiles, that are not natural Branches of Abraham, to be grafted into the good Olive, without Faith and Regeneration.
Benjamin Keach, Gold Refin’d, Or, Baptism in Its Primitive Purity (London: Printed for the author, 1689), 115–119.
Reformed. Baptist. Growing. 