I found Thomas Patient while researching the
baptismal controversies in seventeenth century England. I transcribed the text
as time allowed in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Some of it was prepared for
B & R Press as their third publications. Other things came in over the last
nine years that have kept me from making this work known to the modern world. I
could say, I had patience in two different senses." But, I won't stoop to
such a paragram.
I've mentioned Patient's (and to some extent
Tombes') views in a number of conversations only to have it dismissed. However,
there is now a ground swell of men who see the simple profundity of his view
and are moving in the right direction. There are many Particular Baptists and
Antipaedobaptists who held to this view --give or take a little nuance.
The gist of the argument is this there are
two covenants which may be called by the titles found in one of two couplets:
The Old and the New or the Covenant of Works and the Covenant of Grace. The Old
is one of works (although the language of mixt covenants is used of some); the
New is one of Grace. Wherever and whenever God's salvific grace is found you
have a manifestation of the Covenant of Grace. This New Covenant is manifest in
the Old at times, however it's full historical manifestation is found in the
New. I'll let Patient say the rest.
So Patient is offered as time and energy
allow. For today, here are introductory materials and the first three chapters
out of 24.
Mike Renihan
Worcester, MA
June 15, 2013
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