Rich. Baxters apology against the modest exceptions of Mr. T. Blake and the digression…

2. Who knows whether you mean that [none of those acts, Heb. 11. are acts of Justification] or [not all of them] The proper importance of your words is for the former. But that is a dangerous untruth: for vers. 13. is judged by our Divines to contain a proper description of justifying faith [they saw the promises (i. e. the good promised) a far off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, &c.] But which soever you mean, you should have proved your assertion. It will be easily acknowledged that many there mentioned, were not the great and principal act which is the Condition of Justification, as begun: But yet they may be lesser acts which are secondary parts of the condition of continuing their Justification. I do not think but that act [by which Noah became the heir of the righteousness which is by faith,] v. 7. had a hand in continuing his Justification, though it were the preparing the Ark, being moved with fear. I think that act by which Abel obtained witness that he was righteous, and that by which Enoch pleased God, and without which it is impossible to please him, had some hand in Justification: I think these four great acts mentioned, v. 6. are part of the condition of Justification. 1. To believe that God is (viz. that he is God, the Chief Good, the first and last, the principal efficient and Ultimate End, &c.) 2. The diligent seeking of him. 3. Believing that he is a rewarder of them that do so. 4. Coming to him. (If this be distinct from the second.) When the holy Ghost doth of purpose in the whole Chapter set forth the glory and excellency of faith, I dare not be one that shall imagine that he speaks all this of a lower sort of faith, and quite left out the noblest part which justifieth, from his praises.

2. Who knows whether you mean that [none of those acts, Heb. 11. are acts of Justification] or [not all of them] The proper importance of your words is for the former. But that is a dangerous untruth: for vers. 13. is judged by our Divines to contain a proper description of justifying faith [they saw the promises (i. e. the good promised) a farre off, and were perswaded of them, and embraced them, &c.] But which soever you mean, you should have proved your assertion. It will be easily acknowledged that many there mentioned, were not the great and principall act which is the Condition of Justification, as begun: But yet they may be lesser acts which are secondary parts of the condition of continuing their Justification. I do not think but that act [by which Noah became the heir of the righteousness which is by faith,] v. 7. had a hand in continuing his Justification, though it were the preparing the Ark, being moved with fear. I think that act by which Abel obtained witnesse that he was righteous, and that by which Enoch pleased God, and without which it is impossible to please him, had some hand in Justification: I think these four great acts mentioned, v. 6. are part of the condition of Justification. 1. To beleeve that God is (viz. that he is God, the Chief Good, the first and last, the principal efficient and Ultimate End, &c.) 2. The diligent seeking of him. 3. Beleeving that he is a rewarder of them that do so. 4. Coming to him. (If this be distinct from the second.) When the holy Ghost doth of purpose in the whole Chapter set forth the glory and excellency of faith, I dare not be one that shall imagine that he speaks all this of a lower sort of faith, and quite left out the noblest part which justifieth, from his praises.