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

He saith, [The Covenant is the Ground of Baptism, otherwise Church-membership would evince no Title, &c.] Repl. 1. I take Gods precept to be the Ground of Baptism, as it is officium a Duty, both as to the baptizer and the baptized: and his Promise, or his Covenant Grant, to be the Ground of mens Right to it, as it is a Benefit given directly by God: and their own true consent, faith or covenanting (which with me are all one, for all that you say against it) to be the condition of that Right. But then I think that in foro Ecclesiae a dissembler may claim that Right which strictly he hath not, and we must grant him what he claims when he brings a Probable ground of his claim: And in that it is Ministers duty to Baptize such, they may indirectly, and quoad Ecclesiam be said to have Right to be Baptized. I say Indirectly, yea and improperly: for it is not the result of Gods Covenant Grant to them; but of his precept to his Ministers, and his Instructions, whom they ought to Baptize.

He saith, [The Covenant is the Ground of Baptism, otheewise Church-membership would evince no Title, &c.] Repl. 1. I take Gods precept to be the Ground of Baptism, as it is officium a Duty, both as to the baptizer and the baptized: and his Promise, or his Covenant Grant, to be the Ground of mens Right to it, as it is a Benefit given directly by God: and their own true consent, faith or covenanting (which with me are all one, for all that you say against it) to be the condition of that Right. But then I think that in foro Ecclesiae a dissembler may claim that Right which strictly he hath not, and we must grant him what he claims when he brings a Probable ground of his claim: And in that it is Ministers duty to Baptize such, they may indirectly, and quoad Ecclesiam be said to have Right to be Baptized. I say Indirectly, yea and improperly: for it is not the result of Gods Covenant Grant to them; but of his precept to his Ministers, and his Instructions, whom they ought to Baptize.

2. I argued from Right of admission to Church-membership, with Mr. T. and that Right I take the heart-covenant (of Parent or parties themselves) to be the condition of, as to the Invisible Church-state, and the Profession of that Covenant, not alone, but joined with it, to be the condition of true Right before God to Visible-membership; though men are but to use him as one that hath true Right, who by an hypocritical profession seems to have Right.