A26886:225
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.
But I have spoke to this of Dr. Wards already in the Appendix to my Treatise of Baptism. 1. To which of mine Mr. Blake taking exceptions, and publishing them, I published my Defence, and among many more used this Argument from the Necessity of Repentance: but Mr. Blake found it easier to say that of almost forty Arguments few were to the question, and so to pass them by, than to give us a satisfactory answer to them. But yet I find him upon the Point against another Pag. 107, 108. And there I find this Question, Did they (the Apostles) so require it (Repentance) as in reality to precede Baptism, Or were Satisfied with a Profession of it? I answer; If that you yield the last, it is enough to the main Point of difference. Pag. 108. He saith [Faith takes Christ to give Repentance] Answ. Only saving faith is properly called a Taking Christ: And that takes Christ to give more Repentance, but not to give the first Repentance: For Christ gives the first Faith and Repentance, (ut Amesius in medulla. l•b. 1. de Vocat.) before faith take him. But if it were otherwise, yet both are to go before baptism according to the Intention of the Institutor, or the Profession of both.
To that Mat. 3. [They confessed their sins, 1. He saith, some will have it to imply no verbal Confession but virtual, &c. which gloss carrieth a strong Probability, &c.] Answ. 1. Such presumptuous glossing contradicting the Text upon such inconsiderable reasons (as is the multitude of the baptized) deserves no answer.
2. It is so much the stronger against him, if Baptism be in the very reception a virtual Confession: then no man can be Baptized without it. 2. He addeth, [I require more, an Engagement to leave sin, which their taking on them the name of Christ doth Imply] Answ. If the Engagement be only for some distance of time, it is such as God accepteth not, nor must we: If it be an Engagement to forsake sin from that present time forward, it is withal a plain Profession of present true Repentance or conversion, and consent to leave it, yea renunciation of it, & resolution