A26886:477
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 Consequence is good: For Christianity is as truly and necessarily in the will as in the understanding; consent is as essential an Act of covenanting as any. So that I may conclude, that as he is no Christian that professeth not to believe that Christ is the Priest, Prophet and King; so he is no Christian that professeth not to consent and accept him for his Priest, Prophet and King: But so doth not Mr. Blake's Professor of another faith: therefore he is no Christian, nor to be baptized.
The 14th. Argument is this: If we must baptize men that profess not saving faith and repentance, then is it no aggravation of such mens sins, that they either plaid the hypocrites in such Professions, or fell from them, or walked contrary to them. (For no man can walk contrary to a Profession which was never made:) But the Consequent is false, therefore so is the Antecedent.
The 14th. Argument is this: If we must baptize men that profess not saving faith and repentance, then is it no aggravation of such mens sins, that they either plaid the hypocrites in such Professions, or fell from them, or walkt contrary to them. (For no man can walk contrary to a Profession which was never made:) But the Consequent is false, therefore so is the Antecedent.
Our Divines ordinarily charge wicked men with contradicting of Profession which they made with God, either in Baptism or the Lords Supper. And they expound many places of Scripture which the Arminians take as favouring their Cause, to be meant according to the Profession of wicked men. Now it seems to me, that Mr. Blake by his Doctrine doth undertake to justify all these wicked men, from this aggravation of their sin, and to take them off from repentance and humiliation for it: For if they made no such Profession in baptism (if at age) or in the Lords Supper, then it can be no aggravation of their sin that they walk contrary to it: But I dare not undertake to secure them from the punishment.