A26886:229
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.
We must baptize no man that first professeth not to believe in God the Father, Son and Holy Ghost: To believe in God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, is saving Faith (if sincerely done) therefore we must Baptize no man that first professeth not saving faith.
The Major is proved from Mat. 28.19. Where this is made the form of the words in baptism, or at least the End, and that which we must insist on. Calvin on the words yields the Anabaptists that faith is put justly before baptism, Nam alioqui Mendax esset, figuraque remissionem peccatorum & Spiritûs donum offeret incredulis, qui nondum essent Christi membra. And that non abs re patris, filii & spiritûs expressa hic fit mentio, quia aliter baptismi vis apprehendi non potest quàm si à gratuita Patris misericordia initium fiat, qui nos per filium sibi reconciliat, deinde in medium prodeat Christus ipse cum mortis suae sacrificio: Et tandem accedat etiā spiritus sanctus, per quem nos abluit & regenerate; Denique suorū omnium bonorum consorts faciat. It appeareth by comparing Mat. 28.19. with Rom. 6 3. and 1 Cor. 1.13, 14, 15 & 10.2. that to be baptized into the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, is not only to be baptized by their Authority, but also to be thus Initiated into the Relation which the Church standeth in to them, and to be consecrated to the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, as Musculus, Diodate, the Assembly of Divines Annotations, and the generality of Expositors do express. See Dr. Hammond Pract. Catech. l. 6. §. 2. And especially on Mat. 28.19. Grotius at large; and that it comprehendeth or presupposeth a Profession of believing in the Father, Son & Holy Ghost. For no man can devote himself solemnly by our Ministry to the holy Trinity that doth not first Profess to believe in them. Therefore the Church ever taught the Ctechueni the Creed first in which they profess to believe in God the Father, Son & Holy Ghost. And before they actually baptized them, they asked them whether they believed