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

In the end he sums up his Argument thus [Ministers must give the Sacrament so as it may be to edification, and not certainly to destruction: But they must give it to some not yet throughly sanctified: therefore some not throughly sanctified may receive it to edification, and not to destruction.] Answ. 1. Plus est in conclusion, quàm in praemissis. You should only have concluded, [therefore Ministers may give it. &c.) and not [therefore some may Receive it.) For 2. The word (certainly) which you put in the Major (and leave out in the conclusion) refers either to the Certainty of the Object. or Gods subjective Certainty: or the receivers subjective Certainty; and in all these respects its false. For if God or the Receiver were certain that it would prove destructive, yet the Minister may give it, if demanded; but not if he be certain of it himself. But 3. No Minister is required to be certain of the Demanders state, or whether the Sacrament will prove to his edification or destruction, nor whether the person intend rightly in it, but he is bound to give it to a Professor of saving Faith that Demandeth it, and to intend his good in it, which yet he cannot effect, if the Receiver be unmeet.

In the end he sums up his Argument thus [Ministers must give the Sacrament so as it may be to edification, and not certainly to destruction: But they must give it to some not yet throughly sanctified: therefore some not throughly sanctified may receive it to edification, and not to destruction.] Answ. 1. Plus est in conclusione, quàm in praemissis. You should only have concluded, [therefore Ministers may give it. &c.) and not [therefore some may Receive it.) For 2. The word (certainly) which you put in the Major (and leave out in the conclusion) refers either to the Certainty of the Object. or Gods subjective Certainty: or the receivers subjective Certainty; and in all these respects its false. For if God or the Receiver were certain that it would prove destructive, yet the Minister may give it, if demanded; but not if he be certain of it himself. But 3. No Minister is required to be certain of the Demanders state, or whether the Sacrament will prove to his edification or destruction, nor whether the person intend rightly in it, but he is bound to give it to a Professor of saving Faith that Demandeth it, and to intend his good in it, which yet he cannot effect, if the Receiver be unmeet.