Richard Baxter's Catholic theology plain, pure, peaceable, for pacification of the dogmatical word-warriors who,…Richard Baxter's Catholick theologie plain, pure, peaceable, for pacification of the dogmatical word-warriours who,…

B. Answer this series of connected Theses. 1. No one falleth away from a state of Justification (that's your Ground). 2. Many Baptized in Infancy prove wicked at Age. 3. Therefore none of those were justified in or before Baptism. 4. Therefore the Justifying Covenant was not sealed to them as to consenting persons (by themselves or Parents) who have a present right to this benefit (else Gods Covenant should be false or fail.) 5. Therefore they received not Christian Baptism: For, 1. Christ never instituted a Baptism, to seal any other Covenant, but that which giveth pardon and Justification. 2. Christ never instituted Baptism, to give only a future pardon to future consenters; but only to invest Sacramently present Consenters (or Covenanters, by themselves or Parents) with present pardon. These two are certain verities, easily proved, whatever some talk of future pardon by Baptism. 6. Therefore they are to be rebaptized. I think I can loose the links of this chain, or confute the last conclusion: But I leave you to your proper work. Davenant and Ward thought it must be done by denying your first Thesis. I assure you the trifling distinctions, of an outward and an inward Covenant, and of the benefit of Church Privileges sealed to all, and Salvation only to the Elect, or of present and future Justification sealed] will not do this difficult business. You must do better, or be Anabaptists. 2. Either it is quoad Nomen or quoad rem that they infer a second Regeneration, not as to the Name: For they so deny it. As to the Thing, 1. Some hold that men indeed may totally fall from special Grace; but that no such are ever recovered: Though other Gross Sins, which are not such a total Apostasy may be pardoned. These cannot be said