Catholic communion defended against both extremes, and unnecessary division confuted in five parts ...…Catholick communion defended against both extreams, and unnecessary division confuted in five parts ...…

There is no mention in Scripture of any one that was converted and made a Believer by Baptism or the Lord's Supper. The Adult were all to repent and believe, before they were baptized; and God promised them forgiveness thereupon: He never bid men baptize Infidels, nor graceless men. Baptism was but the public solemnizing of the Covenant, which they consented to before, and the solemn investing them in that relation to which they were before entered: And entering them by Baptism, stated ⟨p. 39⟩them in the Universal Church, before ever they were settled under any particular Pastor in a particular Church, as the case of the Eunuch, Acts 8. shows.

There is no mention in Scripture of any one that was converted and made a Believer by Baptism or the Lord's Supper. The Adult were all to repent and believe, before they were baptized; and God promised them forgiveness thereupon: He never bid men baptize Infidels, nor graceless men. Baptism was but the publick solemnizing of the Covenant, which they consented to before, and the solemn investing them in that relation to which they were before entered: And entring them by Baptism, stated ⟨p. 39⟩them in the Universal Church, before ever they were setled under any particular Pastor in a particular Church, as the case of the Eunuch, Acts 8. shews.

But that which I call his Allay, is, that he copiously tells us, that [Heaven is a supernatural state of happiness, and not the natural reward of an earthly creature, p. 92, 93. It is but an earthly happiness that Nature was made for, and was promised to Adam in Paradise; an immortal life on Earth. An immortal life after death cannot be the natural Reward. Innocent flesh is flesh: Were it not for Heaven, man were not bound to lay any restraint on himself, nor suppress sensual inclinations, nor deny them proper and natural satisfactions. As far as we know, to live always in this world and body, was the Original state of mankind, without any expectations of a more divine and spiritual life, p. 98. Briefly, p. 272. The Divine Spirit is the principle of Immortality in us, which first giveth life to our souls, and will at last raise our bodies.