God's Covenant with His People - Publisher's Note
Rev. Miles Doolittle, D.D., son of Rev. Giles Doolittle, was raised in Utica, New York with his brother in the early 1800’s during the exploration, colonization and establishment of the United States.
Rev. Doolittle, following in his father’s footsteps, was called to the ministry at the age of thirty. He served a number of Presbyterian pastorates throughout western New York, but also served in northern Pennsylvania and eastern Iowa. Rev. Doolittle was married to Almira (Morse), the daughter of hotelkeeper William Morse. The Doolittle’s had five children, three sons and two daughters; one son dying very young, and only two of whom outlived him. Rev. Doolittle faithfully served in the ministry for over thirty years until his death at age sixty-eight.
The Doolittle line most likely descended from a line of Doolittles who fled England to America shortly after the Mayflower landed in 1620 due to persecution that came from faithfully living out their Puritan faith.
Not much is known about Rev. Doolittle’s ministry other than what you now hold in your hands. However, from this work, we can be sure that he faithfully taught God’s word from the historic, Biblical, Reformed, and Christ-centered perspective. This perspective rightly sees God’s word through the lens of the covenant – the everlasting covenant of grace.
Before the reader endeavors to read this work, they should note a few literary clarifications: when the author refers to Pedobaptists, he is referring to those who believe and teach that infant dedication continues into the new covenant administration, and by dedication, he includes the initiatory rite and sacrament of baptism – the holy ordinance ordained by God, given by Christ to the Church, wherein, not only are the benefits and privileges of Christ represented, they are sealed and applied to believers.
Rev. Doolittle taught, in this work, that baptism comes with a promise just as Paul and Silas taught when a pagan Roman soldier asked them, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” Paul responded, saying, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” (Acts, xvi. 3o-31, ESV) We are then told that after Paul and Silas instructed him and his household in God’s word, “he and all his family were baptized.” Then, “he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God.” (Acts, xvi. 34) Paul and Silas were teaching this Roman gentile that God’s promise of salvation was not only being given to him individually, it was also graciously being extended to his entire household if hebelieved.
Christ Jesus himself points to the covenant promise during a divine appointment with one of his own, a Jewish man named Zacchaeus. After Zacchaeus expressed his faith, Jesus directs him back to the Abrahamic covenant promise of salvation, telling him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham.” (Luke, xix. 9, ESV) Jesus was teaching, once again, the ancient covenant truth, "And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you.” (Genesis, xvii. 7, ESV)
Rev. Doolittle did not teach the Scriptures as many teach them today. He taught that God’s people continue to have the duty and privilege of bringing their children into covenant relation with God, baptizing them into the visible Church and admitting them to its membership, obligations and privileges. In the New Testament, the children of believers are to be added as members of the covenant community by way of the sacrament of admission that God has ordained – receiving the sign and seal of God’s covenant promise, just as circumcision was in the Old Testament. God’s people, his covenant community, as members of his Church, are to devote themselves to their children’s education – according to God’s ways – nurturing, training, exhorting and instructing them to righteousness – repenting and believing in Jesus Christ their Lord. He taught that this is all done for the sake of God’s honor and glory. Just as the children in Abraham’s day were included in the covenant community and were extended the privileges of the covenant, so too our children should also be extended that same membership in the new administration of the covenant of grace, with all the privileges afforded to them – that they may be converted!
Rev. Doolittle taught God’s truth, as his faithful forefathers taught. Of Baptism, they confessed:
“Baptism is a sacrament of the New Testament, ordained by Jesus Christ, notonly
for the solemn admission of the party baptized into the visible Church, but also to
be unto him a sign and seal of the covenant of grace, of his ingraftinginto Christ,
of regeneration, of remission of sins, and of his giving up unto God, through Jesus
Christ, to walk in newness of life: which sacrament is, by Christ's own appointment,
to be continued in his Church until the end of the world."
–Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter xxviii. 1. (1646)
Pastor Doolittle taught that our Heavenly Father has not abrogated his merciful and gracious covenant promise to you and to your children. Rather, he has sent his only begotten Son to shed his blood for it – to fulfill it – to secure it – and to establish it. According to Hebrews, vii. 22 (NKJV), Jesus has become “the surety of a better covenant.” Christ Jesus did not come to remove the privilege of bringing our children into his covenant community of grace nor did he come to remove the duties and obligations of his covenant people to their children. Christ came neither to revoke the parent/child relationship nor to abandon the design of the covenant family – he came as the confirmation and the guarantee of his covenant promises to them.
According to the Apostle Paul, Galatians, iii. 14-17, Christ, by his death, redeems us from the curse of the law in order that we might receive the promise. The promise, which was given to Abraham and his family, as contained in the covenant of grace, is being renewed and sealed by the Spirit who applies Christ’s atoning work through faith. God, through Paul, is teaching us that faith is the instrument, not the substance, of salvation. Christ is the substance. “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians, ii. 8-10, ESV)
Rev. Doolittle taught that the Abrahamic covenant was entirely separate and distinct from the Adamic, Noahic, Mosaic, and Davidic covenants, which is true; however, he did not take the time to discuss the essential unity and continuity that exists between them. We can only assume that Rev. Doolittle understood and held to his Reformed theological perspective, which teaches that although the covenants are separate and distinct, they are also closely related and are essentially one covenant with various administrations. However, Rev. Doolittle clearly taught, in this work, that unity and continuity of redemptive history exists between the Testaments and that God’s covenant promises are all anchored in his eternal (everlasting) covenant of grace. The covenant promises announced soon after Adam's disobedience (Genesis iii. 15), formally established with Abraham and his family (Genesis xvii. 7), renewed in Israel through Moses (Deuteronomy xxix. 10-13), David (Psalm lxxxix. 3-4), and the prophets, and brought to maturity by the fulfillment in the establishment of the new covenant in Christ Jesus (Acts ii. 38-39) have all perpetually included children.
It is this progressive unfolding and unified set of covenants that has come to be known as The Covenant of Grace, which is God's sovereign way of accomplishing his eternal plan for the redemption of his elect people. These promises are the eternal, immutable council of God, and are therefore absolutely reliable because he himself accomplishes them. As it is written, Hebrews x. 23, “for he is faithful that promised.”
As with all works of mortal men, apart from the inspired, inerrant, infallible Word of God, this is not a perfect work, and while some of God’s people may quibble over nuances within this work, the whole of it is indeed a blessing and we are indebted to Rev. Doolittle for his faithful labor preaching and teaching God’s eternal holy word.
May the Lord use the truth contained in this little book as his instrument to open the eyes of his covenant people to his covenant truth, in order to bring about the obedience of faith. To God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.
Steven M. Ward
Spring 2011
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Rev. Doolittle, following in his father’s footsteps, was called to the ministry at the age of thirty. He served a number of Presbyterian pastorates throughout western New York, but also served in northern Pennsylvania and eastern Iowa. Rev. Doolittle was married to Almira (Morse), the daughter of hotelkeeper William Morse. The Doolittle’s had five children, three sons and two daughters; one son dying very young, and only two of whom outlived him. Rev. Doolittle faithfully served in the ministry for over thirty years until his death at age sixty-eight.
The Doolittle line most likely descended from a line of Doolittles who fled England to America shortly after the Mayflower landed in 1620 due to persecution that came from faithfully living out their Puritan faith.
Not much is known about Rev. Doolittle’s ministry other than what you now hold in your hands. However, from this work, we can be sure that he faithfully taught God’s word from the historic, Biblical, Reformed, and Christ-centered perspective. This perspective rightly sees God’s word through the lens of the covenant – the everlasting covenant of grace.
Before the reader endeavors to read this work, they should note a few literary clarifications: when the author refers to Pedobaptists, he is referring to those who believe and teach that infant dedication continues into the new covenant administration, and by dedication, he includes the initiatory rite and sacrament of baptism – the holy ordinance ordained by God, given by Christ to the Church, wherein, not only are the benefits and privileges of Christ represented, they are sealed and applied to believers.
Rev. Doolittle taught, in this work, that baptism comes with a promise just as Paul and Silas taught when a pagan Roman soldier asked them, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” Paul responded, saying, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” (Acts, xvi. 3o-31, ESV) We are then told that after Paul and Silas instructed him and his household in God’s word, “he and all his family were baptized.” Then, “he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God.” (Acts, xvi. 34) Paul and Silas were teaching this Roman gentile that God’s promise of salvation was not only being given to him individually, it was also graciously being extended to his entire household if hebelieved.
Christ Jesus himself points to the covenant promise during a divine appointment with one of his own, a Jewish man named Zacchaeus. After Zacchaeus expressed his faith, Jesus directs him back to the Abrahamic covenant promise of salvation, telling him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham.” (Luke, xix. 9, ESV) Jesus was teaching, once again, the ancient covenant truth, "And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you.” (Genesis, xvii. 7, ESV)
Rev. Doolittle did not teach the Scriptures as many teach them today. He taught that God’s people continue to have the duty and privilege of bringing their children into covenant relation with God, baptizing them into the visible Church and admitting them to its membership, obligations and privileges. In the New Testament, the children of believers are to be added as members of the covenant community by way of the sacrament of admission that God has ordained – receiving the sign and seal of God’s covenant promise, just as circumcision was in the Old Testament. God’s people, his covenant community, as members of his Church, are to devote themselves to their children’s education – according to God’s ways – nurturing, training, exhorting and instructing them to righteousness – repenting and believing in Jesus Christ their Lord. He taught that this is all done for the sake of God’s honor and glory. Just as the children in Abraham’s day were included in the covenant community and were extended the privileges of the covenant, so too our children should also be extended that same membership in the new administration of the covenant of grace, with all the privileges afforded to them – that they may be converted!
Rev. Doolittle taught God’s truth, as his faithful forefathers taught. Of Baptism, they confessed:
“Baptism is a sacrament of the New Testament, ordained by Jesus Christ, notonly
for the solemn admission of the party baptized into the visible Church, but also to
be unto him a sign and seal of the covenant of grace, of his ingraftinginto Christ,
of regeneration, of remission of sins, and of his giving up unto God, through Jesus
Christ, to walk in newness of life: which sacrament is, by Christ's own appointment,
to be continued in his Church until the end of the world."
–Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter xxviii. 1. (1646)
Pastor Doolittle taught that our Heavenly Father has not abrogated his merciful and gracious covenant promise to you and to your children. Rather, he has sent his only begotten Son to shed his blood for it – to fulfill it – to secure it – and to establish it. According to Hebrews, vii. 22 (NKJV), Jesus has become “the surety of a better covenant.” Christ Jesus did not come to remove the privilege of bringing our children into his covenant community of grace nor did he come to remove the duties and obligations of his covenant people to their children. Christ came neither to revoke the parent/child relationship nor to abandon the design of the covenant family – he came as the confirmation and the guarantee of his covenant promises to them.
According to the Apostle Paul, Galatians, iii. 14-17, Christ, by his death, redeems us from the curse of the law in order that we might receive the promise. The promise, which was given to Abraham and his family, as contained in the covenant of grace, is being renewed and sealed by the Spirit who applies Christ’s atoning work through faith. God, through Paul, is teaching us that faith is the instrument, not the substance, of salvation. Christ is the substance. “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians, ii. 8-10, ESV)
Rev. Doolittle taught that the Abrahamic covenant was entirely separate and distinct from the Adamic, Noahic, Mosaic, and Davidic covenants, which is true; however, he did not take the time to discuss the essential unity and continuity that exists between them. We can only assume that Rev. Doolittle understood and held to his Reformed theological perspective, which teaches that although the covenants are separate and distinct, they are also closely related and are essentially one covenant with various administrations. However, Rev. Doolittle clearly taught, in this work, that unity and continuity of redemptive history exists between the Testaments and that God’s covenant promises are all anchored in his eternal (everlasting) covenant of grace. The covenant promises announced soon after Adam's disobedience (Genesis iii. 15), formally established with Abraham and his family (Genesis xvii. 7), renewed in Israel through Moses (Deuteronomy xxix. 10-13), David (Psalm lxxxix. 3-4), and the prophets, and brought to maturity by the fulfillment in the establishment of the new covenant in Christ Jesus (Acts ii. 38-39) have all perpetually included children.
It is this progressive unfolding and unified set of covenants that has come to be known as The Covenant of Grace, which is God's sovereign way of accomplishing his eternal plan for the redemption of his elect people. These promises are the eternal, immutable council of God, and are therefore absolutely reliable because he himself accomplishes them. As it is written, Hebrews x. 23, “for he is faithful that promised.”
As with all works of mortal men, apart from the inspired, inerrant, infallible Word of God, this is not a perfect work, and while some of God’s people may quibble over nuances within this work, the whole of it is indeed a blessing and we are indebted to Rev. Doolittle for his faithful labor preaching and teaching God’s eternal holy word.
May the Lord use the truth contained in this little book as his instrument to open the eyes of his covenant people to his covenant truth, in order to bring about the obedience of faith. To God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.
Steven M. Ward
Spring 2011
<< Back to Home