A26864:506
Rich. Baxters apology against the modest exceptions of Mr. T. Blake and the digression…
Rich. Baxters apology against the modest exceptions of Mr. T. Blake and the digression of Mr. G. Kendall whereunto is added animadversions on a late dissertation of Ludiomæus Colvinus, aliaà Ludovicus Molinæs̳, M. Dr. Oxon, and an admonition of Mr. W. Eyre of Salisbury : with Mr. Crandon's Anatomy for satisfaction of Mr. Caryl.
London: printed by A.M. for Thomas Underhill, 1654
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
The major is as true, as that God requireth no man to lye and dissemble, and to profess that with his mouth which is not in his heart: nor doth he make lying the condition of his Covenant, (let them call it an outward Covenant, or what they will: if it be Gods Covenant, this can be none of the condition.) For it must first in order be a Duty, before it be made Conditional. And no lye is a Duty. Professing is a Duty to them that have the thing they profess: but to others, immediately and in sensu composito, it is a heinous sin, and no duty: though it be their duty still to get Faith first, and then to profess it.
The major is as true, as that God requireth no man to lye and dissemble, and to profess that with his mouth which is not in his heart: nor doth he make lying the condition of his Covenant, (let them call it an outward Covenant, or what they will: if it be Gods Covenant, this can be none of the condition.) For it must first in order be a Dutie, before it be made Conditional. And no lye is a Dutie. Professing is a Dutie to them that have the thing they profess: but to others, immediately and in sensu composito, it is a hainous sin, and no duty: though it be their duty still to get Faith first, and then to profess it.
The minor is proved already, in the foregoing arguments, and more shall be anon. It is no less then justifying Faith that Christs Church hath ever to this day required the Baptized to profess before the application of the water. To ⟨p. 101⟩believe in God the Father, Son and Holy-Ghost, and profess Repentance for all sins, and to renounce the world, the flesh and Devil, &c. And when Mr. Bl. maketh profession enough to give Right to baptism, I would know whether he mean the profession of Justifying-Faith, or not. If yea, then Justifying Faith is prerequisite, or else the profession of it could not. If not, then the profession of true Christianity is not requisite; but of some part of it. For, as I have showed, it is not the true Christian Faith, but some part of it only, if it be short of that Faith which is justifying. And let men say no more, that profession is it that entitles to Baptism, without the thing professed, when they take even profession it self of true Christianity to be consequential, and not prerequisite.