A26886:1033
Certain disputations of right to sacraments, and the true nature of visible Christianity defending…
Certain disputations of right to sacraments, and the true nature of visible Christianity defending them against several sorts of opponents, especially against the second assault of that pious, reverend and dear brother Mr. Thomas Blake / by Richard Baxter ...
London: printed by R.W. for Nevil Simmons, 1658
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.
14. Note also, that the very examples of Gods Judgements do intimate that Notorious Ungodliness was not so common among them as some imagine. Multitudes are thought very Godly now, that murmur in lesser straits than they were then in, and that are palpably guilty of much unbelief, or less temptations. All Israel was put to the worse for the sake of one Achan, that plundered no man unjustly, but only thought to rescue some desirable treasures from the flames: I wish that no soldiers would now do worse that are reputed extraordinarily Godly, and are never blemished by such actions in their own eyes or any others. I will not stand to add more, because I have been so long.
14. Note also, that the very examples of Gods Judgements do intimate that Notorious Ungodliness was not so common among them as some imagine. Multitudes are thought very Godly now, that murmur in lesser straits than they were then in, and that are palpably guilty of much unbelief, or less temptations. All Israel was put to the worse for the sake of one Achan, that plundred no man unjustly, but only thought to rescue some desirable treasures from the flames: I wish that no soldiers would now do worse that are reputed extraordinarily Godly, and are never blemished by such actions in their own eyes or any others. I will not stand to add more, because I have been so long.
If any man Judge that all this is no sufficient answer to their Argument from Circumcision, I further add. 2. Though this be my own thoughts, yet it is not a few of those Divines that are Godly and Learned, that give one of these two following answers.
1. That External and Ceremonial Purity was then most openly looked at, which was but a Type of the spiritual purity under the Gospel: and therefore no wonder if God that then permitted Polygamy without reproof, permitted the circumcision of all Jews, yea encouraged it, seeing that the Body of that People were Gods visible Heritage, as a Type of the Catholic visible Church now. The Magistrates therefore might compel them as Jews to be Circumcised, but so may not ours compel us as Englishmen.