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 ...…

2. But when man consenteth and covenanteth with God, then Gods conditional gift becomes actual and efficacious, the man being a capable Recipient, and not before: and in this it is the Contract that is the Fundamentum Relationis; but a single Promise is not a mutual Covenant or Contract.

So that it is no wiser Divinity to say, Gods Covenant and not mans consent, Covenant or Contract with God, doth make Christians, and the universal Church; than it is sober Reason to say, That Gods Institution of Marriage or Magistracy only doth make the Relation of Husband and Wife, without their covenanting consent, or doth make Common-wealths, without the consent or Covenant of Sovereign and Subjects. Did this Doctor think that Voluntariness is not as necessary to the Relation of Christianity as to the Relation of Prince and Subjects; yea, or of Husband and Wife? if he do, he is shamefully mistaken. Baptism delivereth men possession of Pardon, Grace and right to Glory; and can men have this against their wills? One would think by the Doctrine and course of some men, that they could force men to Pardon and Salvation! if I believed that their force could accomplish this, I would never call it Persecution. If they can force men to be true Christians, they may force them to be justified and saved; and then they are very uncharitable if they do not: Let them then cease preaching and disputing us to their Opinion, but bring us all to Heaven whether we will or not.

So that it is no wiser Divinity to say, Gods Covenant and not mans consent, Covenant or Contract with God, doth make Christians, and the universal Church; than it is sober Reason to say, That Gods Institution of Marriage or Magistracie only doth make the Relation of Husband and Wife, without their covenanting consent, or doth make Common-wealths, without the consent or Covenant of Sovereign and Subjects. Did this Doctor think that Voluntariness is not as necessary to the Relation of Christianity as to the Relation of Prince and Subjects; yea, or of Husband and Wife? if he do, he is shamefully mistaken. Baptism delivereth men possession of Pardon, Grace and right to Glory; and can men have this against their wills? One would think by the Doctrine and course of some men, that they could force men to Pardon and Salvation! if I believed that their force could accomplish this, I would never call it Persecution. If they can force men to be true Christians, they may force them to be justifyed and saved; and then they are very uncharitable if they do not: Let them then cease preaching and disputing us to their Opinion, but bring us all to Heaven whether we will or not.