But though such are not pardoned, the Church that judgeth by profession, taking Professors for Believers, must accordingly use them and their Seed. 3. But though the Church judge thus charitably, of ⟨p. 66⟩each Professor in particular, till his Hypocrisy be detected, yet doth it understand that Hypocrites there are, and still will be in the Church, though we know them not by name; and that therefore there are many externally baptized, and in Communion, that never had the pardon of sin indeed before God, as not having the condition of the Promise of pardon; such as Simon Magus was: We have less reason to take this Doctrine for false, than that which pronounceth certain pardon and salvation to all baptized Infants whatsoever. And were we of their Judgement, we should think it the most charitable act in the world, to take the Infants of Heathens and baptize them; and if any should then dispatch them all to prevent their lapse, they were all certainly saved. We hope by [some Relics] you mean that which is truly and properly Sin: for our parts, we believe according to the 9th. Article [That Original Sin standeth in the corruption of the nature of every man, whereby man is far gone from original Righteousness, and inclined to evil: And that this infection of nature doth remain in the Regenerate. And though there is no Condemnation against them that believe and are baptized, yet Concupiscence and Lust hath of it self the nature of sin] You say [the Church acknowledgeth such desires, &c.] Devices and desires are Actual sins, and not Original, which consisteth in privation, and corrupt inclination. The next words [There is no Health in us] it seems the Translators that put it into the Liturgy misunderstood; but however you seem here plainly, by your misinterpretation, to misunderstand it. Nulla salus in nobis, is spoken actively, and not possessively, or passively. The plain sense is, there is no Help, Deliverance, or Salvation in our selves; we cannot help our selves out of this misery, but must have a better Saviour. As Christ is oft called our Salvation, so we are denied to be our own: So that yet here is no Confession at all of Original Sin, but of the effects. The two next Sentences, confess a debility and privation, but not that it was ab Origine; but may for any thing that's there said be taken to be since contracted.
But though such are not pardoned, the Church that judgeth by profession, taking Professors for Believers, must accordingly use them and their Seed. 3. But though the Church judge thus charitably, of ⟨p. 66⟩each Professor in particular, till his Hypocrisie be detected, yet doth it understand that Hypocrites there are, and still will be in the Church, though we know them not by name; and that therefore there are many externally baptized, and in Communion, that never had the pardon of sin indeed before God, as not having the condition of the Promise of pardon; such as Simon Magus was: We have less reason to take this Doctrine for false, than that which pronounceth certain pardon and salvation to all baptized Infants whatsoever. And were we of their Judgement, we should think it the most charitable act in the world, to take the Infants of Heathens and baptize them; and if any should then dispatch them all to prevent their lapse, they were all certainly saved. We hope by [some Reliques] you mean that which is truly and properly Sin: for our parts, we believe according to the 9th. Article [That Original Sin standeth in the corruption of the nature of every man, whereby man is far gone from original Righteousness, and inclined to evil: And that this infection of nature doth remain in the Regenerate. And though there is no Condemnation against them that believe and are baptized, yet Concupiscense and Lust hath of it self the nature of sin] You say [the Church acknowledgeth such desires, &c.] Devices and desires are Actual sins, and not Original, which consisteth in privation, and corrupt inclination. The next words [There is no Health in us] it seems the Translators that put it into the Lyturgy misunderstood; but however you seem here plainly, by your misinterpretation, to misunderstand it. Nulla salus in nobis, is spoken actively, and not possessively, or passively. The plain sense is, there is no Help, Deliverance, or Salvation in our selves; we cannot help our selves out of this misery, but must have a better Saviour. As Christ is oft called our Salvation, so we are denyed to be our own: So that yet here is no Confession at all of Original Sin, but of the effects. The two next Sentences, confess a debility and privation, but not that it was ab Origine; but may for any thing that's there said be taken to be since contracted.
