To this I suppose it will be answered (for I know not what else can), that there are two sorts of believing in or on God the Father, Son and holy Ghost: and the Texts mentioned speak of one sort, which is saving, and that which we must necessarily profess in Baptism is another sort, that is, a faith not joined with Charity, or a mere dogmatical faith. To which I answer, 1. Let them that thus distinguish, first clearly explain to us the branches of the distinction, and show us the difference between the two faiths, and prove it from Scripture, and then prove that it is the last only that must needs be professed in Baptism; and then they have done somewhat. 2. It will be found no ordinary thing for Scripture, to call any common faith, a believing on or in Christ. 3. That faith which is said to be in the ungodly, though in respect of sides in genere, it be really faith, yet in respect of sides evangelica in Christum Mediatorem, in specie, required in the Gospel, it is but Equivocally called faith, or because that term to Mr. Blake is so abominable, let it be Analogically a while, till I come to the proof, that it is but equivocally such. The faith that God requireth and maketh his promises on, is only the Faith called Justifying, or Saving; and the other is as a Mole to a Child, or a Monster to a Man, which is so far defective ex errore naturae, non ex intentione generantis, that it doth differ tota specie from a true man: and so doth this Faith differ in sp•cie morally from Evangelical Faith. 4. When Faith is mentioned in a preceptive or promising way, the nature of the thing and the course of Scripture showeth, that we must understand it of that faith which God owneth by precept or promise, and not of that which is but Analogically called faith, ⟨p. 65⟩and ex errore credentis is so monstrous that God never owned such by precept or promise: I can find where this Monster is ascribed to many, as to Simon Magus, and others; but let any show us where it is in hac specie commanded by God, or hath any Promise made to it, in his word. 5. However, it will not I hope be denied, but that saving faith is the famosius analogatum vel significatum, and therefore the Analogum per se positum, must be understood of it, and not of the Analogical Monstrous faith.
To this I suppose it will be answered (for I know not what else can), that there are two sorts of believing in or on God the Father, Son and holy Ghost: and the Texts mentioned speak of one sort, which is saving, and that which we must necessarily profess in Baptism is another sort, that is, a faith not joyned with Charity, or a meer dogmatical faith. To which I answer, 1. Let them that thus distinguish, first clearly explain to us the branches of the distinction, and shew us the difference between the two faiths, and prove it from Scripture, and then prove that it is the last only that must needs be professed in Baptism; and then they have done somewhat. 2. It will be found no ordinary thing for Scripture, to call any common faith, a believing on or in Christ. 3. That faith which is said to be in the ungodly, though in respect of sides in genere, it be really faith, yet in respect of sides evangelica in Christum Mediatorem, in specie, required in the Gospel, it is but Equivocally called faith, or because that term to Mr. Blake is so abominable, let it be Analogically a while, till I come to the proof, that it is but equivocally such. The faith that God requireth and maketh his promises on, is only the Faith called Justifying, or Saving; and the other is as a Mole to a Child, or a Monster to a Man, which is so far defective ex errore naturae, non ex intentione generantis, that it doth differ tota specie from a true man: and so doth this Faith differ in sp•cie morali from Evangelical Faith. 4. When Faith is mentioned in a preceptive or promising way, the nature of the thing and the course of Scripture sheweth, that we must understand it of that faith which God owneth by precept or promise, and not of that which is but Analogically called faith, ⟨p. 65⟩and ex errore credentis is so monstrous that God never owned such by precept or promise: I can find where this Monster is ascribed to many, as to Simon Magus, and others; but let any shew us where it is in hac specie commanded by God, or hath any Promise made to it, in his word. 5. However, it will not I hope be denied, but that saving faith is the famosius analogatum vel significatum, and therefore the Analogum per se positum, must be understood of it, and not of the Analogical Monstrous faith.
