Certain disputations of right to sacraments, and the true nature of visible Christianity defending…

3. We are next to consider, what are the Competitors which we now exclude? There are divers qualifications that are pleaded as necessary to those that must be Baptized: and our question is, which of all these is it indeed that may warrant a claim, or warrant our Practice? 1. The condition that some require in all that must be baptized, is Assurance or firm persuasion that they are true Believers, or have their sins pardoned by Christ, by his promise, which they now come to have sealed. 2. Another condition pretended as necessary is not such Assurance it self, because we know it not, but a Profession of such Assurance to the Church. These are both so groundlessly pleaded, and by so few (that are near us) that I think it not meet to trouble you with them any more.

3. We are next to consider, what are the Competitors which we now exclude? There are divers qualifications that are pleadded as necessary to those that must be Baptized: and our question is, which of all these is it indeed that may warrant a claim, or warrant our Practice? 1. The condition that some require in all that must be baptized, is Assurance or firm perswasion that they are true Believers, or have their sins pardoned by Christ, by his promise, which they now come to have sealed. 2. Another condition pretended as necessary is not such Assurance it self, because we know it not, but a Profession of such Assurance to the Chu•ch. These are both so groundlesly pleaded, and by so few (that are neer us) that I think it not meet to trouble you with them any more.

3. A condition pretended to be necessary, is, A true Justifying faith. This also is a mistake: but yet how far it is necessary to a true Right, I shall open anon; none of these three are meant by us in the question: for these are not short of saving faith, though we exclude the necessity of these, as is said.