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

R.B. 1. TO vindicate my Objections: If it be not sincere Disciples that Christ means in that Text, then no Apostle was bound by that Commission and great Precept to endeavour the making of sincere Disciples (but only counterfeits and half Christians:) But the Antecedent is false, therefore, &c. 2. For your Argument, I grant the Conclusion; and what would you have more? But knew ⟨p. 88⟩you not that it is not the thing in Question? 3. I grant the Minor, taking the word Disciples equivocally, as a Corps is called a man; and I confess it usual so to take the word: but otherwise I deny the Minor. To be Christs Disciple (as to the aged) is to be one that hath unfeignedly taken Christ for his Master, to Teach him and Rule him, renouncing the contrary guidance of the Flesh, the World, and Devil: and it implieth that he hath already learnt his necessity of Christs Guidance, and who Christ is, and what a Master, & to what End it is that we must learn of him, and what are the great conditions on which he receiveth his Disciples. And I think they that do this sincerely, are justified: and they that do not, are but seeming Disciples; but if you will call such Disciples (as we must because they seem so) then you may say, They are Really such (seeming) Disciples. 4. To your confirmation, I deny the Minor: and I say, that it is so new Doctrine to affirm that whole Nations are not capable of being sound Believers, that it deserved one word of proof. Much less should you have hid your Minor, and turned it into à Negatio existentiae, when it should have been but à Negatio Capacitatis. Doth it follow that a Nation is not capable of sound faith, because they have it not? or will not have it? 5. Do you think Preachers yet be not bound to endeavour the saing Conversion of whole Nations? If you say, No: you take them off the work that their master hath set them on. If you say, Yea, then you think they must endeavour to persuade men to that which they have not a capacity of. 6. If there be any Nation uncapable of Faith, then God cannot make them Believers. But that is not true, therefore, &c. 7. You say not well that the whole Universal Visible Church consisteth of Discipled Nations, if you mean [only] as you seem. For then poor scattered Christians in a Heathen Nation, should be no part of the Universal Visible Church. 8. Vocation uneffectual, is common to Pagans.