A26886:332
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.
The Antecedent Mr. Blake confesseth. And I shall prove it by parts. The consequence is that which lieth chiefly on me to prove; and I shall do both together.
The Apostle in the beginning of his Epistle to the Corinthians and in may other places calls the whole Church Saints, 1 Cor 6.11. He saith to them, [But ye are washed, ye are sanctified, &c,] That part of the Antecedent then is certain. The consequence I prove thus. There are none called Saints in all the new Testament, but only such as where in heart Devoted to Christ by a saving faith; or Professed so much: therefore the word Saints in this case must signify only such. If any will prove a third sort ⟨p. 101⟩of Saints, viz. such as profess a faith not saving, they must do that which I never yet saw done.
The Apostle in the beginning of his Epistle to the Corinthians and in may other places calls the whole Church Saints, 1 Cor 6.11. He saith to them, [But ye are washed, ye are sanctified, &c,] That part of the Antecedent then is certain. The consequence I prove thus. There are none called Saints in all the new Testament, but only such as where in heart Devoted to Christ by a saving faith; or Professed so much: therefore the word Saints in this case must signifie only such. If any will prove a third sort ⟨p. 101⟩of Saints, viz. such as profess a faith not saving, they must do that which I never yet saw done.
2. The first and most famous signification of the word Saints or Sanctified in the new Testament, is only of them that are in heart devoted to Christ by true faith: therefore the borrowed or Analogical, or less proper signification (call it what you list) must be of that which hath the likeness or appearance of this; and that is only the profession of it, and not the profession of another thing.