A26886:386
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.
Heb. 6.17. The heirs of Promise have their salvation confirmed by Gods Oath. And Heb. 1.14. They are all called the Heirs of salvation. And Heb. 11.6, 9. It is true Justified Believers that have that Title. And Jam. 25. [they are called Heirs of the Promised Kingdoms.] And 1 Pet. 3.7. they are called [Co-heirs of the same Grace of Life.] So that to be Heirs in the first and proper notion. is to be Sons that have Title to the Inheritance of Glory: and therefore to be Heirs in the second Analogical notion, (for I will ⟨p. 116⟩not yet anger Mr. Blake with the term Equivocal) is to be such as seem such, by Profession of that faith which hath the promise of that Glory: But the Professors of any other faith are none of them.
The last Title that I mentioned in the Argument was [Justified] Paul calleth all the Baptized Church of Corinth Justified: None that profess not a Justifying faith are called Justified; therefore none such should be Baptized.
The Major I proved to Mr. Blake out of 1 Cor. 6.11. [Ye are washed, ye are sanctified, ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.] Mr. Blake doth not at all deny the Major or the sense of the Text alleged to prove it. But darkly in generals Intimateth a denial of the Minor, silently passing over that particular Title [Justified,] as if he durst not be seen to take notice of it. I confess, its sad that good men should be so unfaithful to the Truth, which is so precious and is not their own, and which they should do nothing against, but all they can for it. But in general he saith, pag. 152. Of Sacrament, [Other phrases are there brought, or Titles as proper to the Regenerate, which are well known in Scripture, to be applied to such as have Apostatized, and are brought by Arminians to prove falling away, and are censured by their Adversaries.] Answ. Those other Titles which I proved to be given to the generality of the Baptized, were no other than what we ascribe to them, [to be Heirs, and Justified, quickened and have all trespasses forgiven them, and to be saved.] And if indeed these Titles be so promiscuously used, it will be harder to understand Scripture, than Interpreters have hitherto thought. Why did not Mr. Blake show but one Text (for this one in hand) where any are said to be Justified upon a faith short of Justifying? I think he was loath to name this Title, lest he should have seemed to contradict himself in the terms, or be put to the searching out for a distinction of Justification, which we have not yet heard of that he may tell us in what sense the unregenerate are Justified. If he should say, it is a conditional Justification, so Infidels are justified without any faith at all: but that is no Justification, because not actual. Mr. Hudsons words and Ames (which he annexeth) mention not Justification,