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

Argu. 11. If Baptism be the solemnizing of the mystical marriage between Christ and the baptized, then true justifying Faith is of God required thereto: but the Antecedent is true; therefore.

Therefore is it said that we are baptized into Christ, and into one body. And the Church hath ever held the Antecedent to be true. The consequence is evident; in that no man but the sound believer, can truly take Christ as a Husband and Head; for so to do, is justifying Faith. It is Christ himself first in order, and then his benefits that are offered in the Sacraments. The main business of them is to exhibit Christ himself to be received by a marriage Covenanting. The signs are but means and instruments, as a twig and turf and Key in giving possession; When the minister in Christs name saith, Take, Eat, &c. it is not only bread that he bids men take, but first and principally Christ by Faith. Joahimus Vadianus (Aphorism▪ de Eucharist. li. 3. pag. 82.) much commendeth a saying of Chrysostoms, viz. If thou hadst no body, then Christ would have delivered thee all these gifts nakedly (or immediately): but because thy Soul is conjoined with a body, he hath delivered them in and with these sensible things. It is one of the greatest errors that can be committed in the Sacraments, to overlook Christ himself who is offered, and to look only either to the signs or to his other gifts. We receive him first as our Saviour, our Sovereign, Redeemer, our Head, our Husband, our Captain and Guide. He therefore that comes to these ordinances, doth pretend thus to receive Christ: and doubtless to receive him thus sincerely, is true jus••••ing saying Faith: and therefore it is saving Faith that is called for to the due Receiving of the Sacraments. And doubtless God means a sincere, and not a seeming, dissembled, nominal Faith, in his command.

Therefore is it said that we are baptized into Christ, and into one body. And the Church hath ever held the Antecedent to be true. The consequence is evident; in that no man but the sound believer, can truly take Christ as a Husband and Head; for so to do, is justifying Faith. It is Christ himself first in order, and then his benefits that are offered in the Sacraments. The main business of them is to exhibite Christ himself to be received by a marriage Covenanting. The signs are but means and instruments, as a twig and turfe and Key in giving possession; When the minister in Christs name saith, Take, Eat, &c. it is not only bread that he bids men take, but first and principally Christ by Faith. Joahimus Vadianus (Aphorism de Eucharist. li. 3. pag. 82.) much commendeth a saying of Chrysostoms, viz. If thou hadst no body, then Christ would have delivered thee all these gifts nakedly (or immediately): but because thy Soul is conjoyned with a body, he hath delivered them in and with these sensible things. It is one of the greatest errors that can be committed in the Sacraments, to overlook Chirst himself who is offered, and to look only either to the signs or to his other gifts. We receive him first as our Saviour, our Soveraign, Redeemer, our Head, our Husband, our Captain and Guide. He therefore that comes to these ordinances, doth pretend thus to receive Christ: and doubtless to receive him thus sincerely, is true jusing saying Faith: and therefore it is saving Faith that is called for to the due Receiving of the Sacraments. And doubtless God means a sincere, and not a seeming, dissembled, nominal Faith, in his command.