A26886:352
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.
Object. But Paul was afraid of them, lest he bestowed upon them labour in vain.
Answ. 1. It appeareth by what is said, that it was not such a fear as made him take them for ungodly.
2. This confirmeth what I maintain; that the Apostles judgement of them proceeded according to the Evidences of probability: He took himself bound to believe their Profession so far as they contradicted it not; and according to the prevalency of their Errors which were against it, he was jealous of their condition: and if they had proceeded so far as to have declared themselves certainly ungodly, Paul would have denominated them a Church no more.
The Church of Ephesus are called Saints, Eph. 1.1. But what Saints? such as were [blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ, chosen before the foundation of the world to be holy and without blemish before him in love, predestinated to the adoption of Children by Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his Grace, wherein he made them accepted in the beloved, in whom they had redemption through his blood, the remission of sins, and have obtained an Inheritance, being predestinated, &c. Who trusted in Christ, and were sealed with the Holy Spirit of Promise, which is the earnest of their Inheritance: they were such as believed in the Lord Jesus, and loved all the saints, and were quickened, who had been dead in trespasses and sins, & were raised up together, and made to sit in heavenly places.] If Mr. Blake, while he abhorreth the name of a Saint or Church equivocally so called, would not make all words equivocal that in