But yet it cannot be his meaning that a conditional promise ⟨p. 364⟩gives Right to Baptism: At least to men of his inferior faith For he expressly saith, that he [conceits no Promise of these Ordinances made to such a faith]. He doth therefore sure conceive (for all the former words) that there is some other way of giving Title by Gods Covenant, or by God another way than by Covenant. And pag. 124. He expresseth it thus. [But an actual investiture of every such Believer in them]. Surely if we can but understand these words, we have his sense. I would not fall a racking this word Investiture, to make it confess its signification, if I knew where or which way else, besides in this one poor word, in all his two Volumes to find his meaning. But if it must lie in one word, and that not obvious to all understandings, it concerneth us to enquire what that word doth signify. The word Investiture applied to mere Physical subjects, signifieth but a merely Physical alteration, and that can give no Title or Right: and therefore no doubt, that is none of his meaning. When the word is taken in a civil sense, it is usually forma concedendi feudi, but sometime applied to other benefits, and it is commonly distinguished into that which is Ceremonial, Abusive, or Improper, and that which is Natural and Proper. The former is preparatory to Actual Possession of the Benefit: and is said by Lawyers to be equal to, or much like to the Judges Decreeing a mans Possession, which is not a corporal putting him into possession: and the form usually runs thus, Investio te hoc annulo, ense, &c. Here the thing that he is invested by, is the ring, sword, &c. but the thing that he is invested of, is not them, but the Benefit which they signify, and that but preparatorily, as to corporal possession of the thing it self: and this is used to be done in the face of a Court, or some eminent witnesses. This is Investiture, abusivè sic dicta. 2. The latter (Investitura vera & propriè dicta) is the very delivery of Possession of the Benefit it self, which is done (say the Civilians) many ways. As 1. When the foresaid Ceremonial Investiture is not at a distance as before, but in ipso feudo, vel oculis subjecto. 2. Si Dominus propriè investiendo utatur verbo tradendi, potest Vasallus propriâ autoritate ingredi possessionem vacuam. 3. Si Dominus coram paribus Curiae, &c.
But yet it cannot be his meaning that a conditional promise ⟨p. 364⟩gives Right to Baptism: At least to men of his inferior faith For he expresly saith, that he [conceits no Promise of these Ordinances made to such a faith]. He doth therefore sure conceive (for all the former words) that there is some other way of giving Title by Gods Covenant, or by God another way than by Covenant. And pag. 124. He expresseth it thus. [But an actual investiture of every such Believer in them]. Surely if we can but understand these words, we have his sence. I would not fall a racking this word Investiture, to make it confess its signification, if I knew where or which way else, besides in this one poor word, in all his two Volums to find his meaning. But if it must lie in one word, and that not obvious to all understandings, it concerneth us to enquire what that word doth signifie. The word Investiture applyed to meer Physical subjects, signifieth but a meerly Physical alteration, and that can give no Title or Right: and therefore no doubt, that is none of his meaning. When the word is taken in a civil sense, it is usually forma concedendi feudi, but sometime applied to other benefits, and it is commonly distinguished into that which is Ceremonial, Abusive, or Improper, and that which is Natural and Proper. The former is preparatory to Actual Possession of the Benefit: and is said by Lawyers to be equal to, or much like to the Judges Decreeing a mans Possession, which is not a corporal putting him into possession: and the form usually runs thus, Investio te hoc annulo, ense, &c. Here the thing that he is invested by, is the ring, sword, &c. but the thing that he is invested of, is not them, but the Benefit which they signifie, and that but preparatorily, as to corporal possession of the thing it self: and this is used to be done in the face of a Court, or some eminent witnesses. This is Investiture, abusivè sic dicta. 2. The latter (Investitura vera & propriè dicta) is the very delivery of Possession of the Benefit it self, which is done (say the Civilians) many wayes. As 1. When the foresaid Ceremonial Investiture is not at a distance as before, but in ipso feudo, vel oculis subjecto. 2. Si Dominus propriè investiendo utatur verbo tradendi, potest Vasallus propriâ autoritate ingredi possessionem vacuam. 3. Si Dominus coram paribus Curiae, &c.
