A26886:327
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.
2. All the Baptized are said to have put on Christ, therefore they are supposed to profess that faith by which Christ is put on: But that is only justifying faith. 3. All that are duly Baptized are baptized into Christ: therefore they are supposed to profess that faith by which men are united or engrafted into Christ; but that is only justifying faith. But the rest of the Arguments here will be further touched on anon.
2. All the Baptized are said to have put on Christ, therefore they are supposed to profess that faith by which Christ is put on: But that is only justifying faith. 3. All that are duly Baptized are baptized into Christ: therefore they are supposed to profess that faith by which men are united or ingraffed into Christ; but that is only justifying faith. But the rest of the Arguments here will be further touched on anon.
Mr. Blake saith p. 152. [Whether all union with Christ imply Regeneration, let John 15.2. be consulted, where an union with Christ is clearly held out: Yet Mr. Baxter brings that text among, others to prove that there are some saints that shall never be saved] Answ. 1. But I told you that by Saints I meant only those that profess an Acceptance of Christ, and not your Saints that only profess a lower faith. In this you do by me as you use. 1. Union with Christ in the primary and proper sense is proper to the sound believer; or else no Title or benefit on earth is proper to him. But as those are believers in profession that are not so in heart, so those are united to or engrafted into the Church, and so to Christ, by an outward Profession, who are not so in heart. And this is called a Union, because they profess that inward Union which they have not, which is the famosius significatum. Whether these be only equivocally said to be united to Christ, we shall enquire in season. But tell me where any man was ever said in scripture to be united to Christ without saving faith, or the Profession of it? 3. I suppose you know how many of our Divines do expound John 15, of a saving Union, and take the cautions about unfruitfulness and Apostasy to be de rebus nunquam futuris, purposely given that they might not be future: But this I stick not on.