Question 99

And doth the silence of scripture concerning others amount to a prohibition?

Yes. Who hath required this at your hand?^b

And had servants the same?

Yes. Abraham circumcised his son and all that were bought with his money the same day,^d

Was this in itself a privilege?

No. For it was a part of that hand writing of ordinances that was against us,^e

And is it now abolished?

Yes. For Christ hath took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross,^f

Had the apostles a fair opportunity to mention such a substitution had it taken place?

Yes. For some said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses ye cannot be saved,^h

And did they mention it?

No. They only made a decree,ⁱ

But as far as it was a covenant of grace, did it not belong to all Abraham’s natural seed?

No. Not because they are the seed of Abraham are they all children,^k

But is it not said for an everlasting covenant to be a God to thee and to thy seed after thee?

Yes. But the children of the promise are counted for the seed,^l

Are all others then, whether infants or adults, excluded?

Yes. For they are, aliens from the commonwealth of Israel,^m

Was it a seal to Abraham?

Yes. And to him only a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised,^o

Are not the children of believers included in the covenant?

No. They which are the children of the flesh, are not the seed of God,^p

Must they therefore be Christ’s in order to be the right seed?

Yes. If ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heir; according to the promise,^q

And does even this appear to have been an unusual thing?

Yes. For the disciples rebuked them,^s

But does not the apostle say, the promise is to you and to your children?

Yes. But he adds, even to as many as the Lord our God shall call,^t

Or in that of the jailer?

No. For he rejoiced, believing in God with all his house,^v

Or in that of Stephanas?

No. For they had addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,^w

Or in that of Lydia?

No. For the apostles entered into the house of Lydia, and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them and departed,^x

May they not be disciples?

No. For we are made and not born disciples,^z*

But are they not said to be holy?

Yes. In the same sense as the unbelieving husband or wife,^aa

Nor that, if the root is holy so also are the branches?

No. For that which is born of the flesh is flesh,^cc

Should we in this and all other controversies be guided by the word of God?

Yes. In all things I have said unto thee be thou circumspect,^dd

And not pay an undue regard to the customs or opinions of men?

No. Walk ye not in the statutes of your fathers, nor observe their judgments. I am the Lord your God,^ee