Certain disputations of right to sacraments, and the true nature of visible Christianity defending…

I shall only here add in a word, what I yield about the Sacrament being a converting Ordinance; viz. 1. Some that have no Right to partake of it, may possibly be converted by looking on and hearing the adjoined word. 2. Its not impossible that he that sinfully and without title comes to receive it, may occasionally receive good by it. There is that there declared that hath a tendency to do good. 3. But whatever it may be a means of beyond Divine Appointment through his mere good pleasure, yet it is not Appointed to be demanded or taken by any Impenitent unconverted man for his Conversion. 4, Yet if a Minister know them not to be impenitent, but yet suspecteth it, as he must give it them upon their profession, so he may desire in the managing of the work, that it may be converting to them if they are not converted; that is, that God will bring that truth to the heart which the signs represent to the eyes; and make it an occasion of good to them that are out of their way in demanding it. 5. Yet it is rather the Hearing and Seeing, than the Taking, Eating and Drinking, that we may with any encouragement pray for this Blessing on. 6. I never know or heard of any converted by the Receiving of the Sacrament: but divers I have know converted by the occasion of it. As some that (by other kind of Doctrine than Mr. Blake's) having been brought to apprehend the danger of unworthy receiving, have been awakened so in their preparations for fear of eating damnation to themselves, that it was a means of their conversion; And some that by after-fears, least then did eat unworthily; And perhaps some by the serious ⟨p. 139⟩speeches of the Minister in Prayer and Instruction before and after: but none by receiving it self.

I shall only here add in a word, what I yeild about the Sacrament being a converting Ordina•ce; viz. 1. Some that have no Right to partake of it, may possibly be converted by looking on and hearing the adjoined word. 2. Its not impossible that he that sinfully and without title comes to receive it, may occasionally receive good by it. There is that there declared that hath a tendency to do good. 3. But whatever it may be a means of beyond Divine Appointment through his meer good pleasure, yet it is not Appointed to be demanded or taken by any Impenitent unconverted man for his Conversion. 4, Yet if a Minister know them not to be impenitent, but yet suspecteth it, as he must give it them upon their profession, so he may desire in the managing of the work, that it may be converting to them if they are not converted; that is, that God will bring that truth to the heart which the signs represent to the eyes; and make it an occasion of good to them that are out of their way in demanding it. 5. Yet it is rather the Hearing and Seeing, than the Taking, Eating and Drinking, that we may with any encouragement pray for this Blessing on. 6. I never know or heard of any converted by the Receiving of the Sacrament: but divers I have know converted by the occasion of it. As some that (by other kind of Doctrine than Mr. Blakes) having been brought to apprehend the danger of unworthy receiving, have been awakened so in their preparations for fear of eating damnation to themselves, that it was a means of their conversion; And some that by after-fears, least then did eat unworthily; And perhaps some by the serious