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

The Minor is proved from many Scriptures, and is the common Doctrine of all Antipelagians, at least; We are dead in trespasses and sins: and must we baptize and give the Lords Supper to such dead men upon a Promise that they will be alive? Out of Christ we can do nothing: Without faith it is impossible to please God. It is God that giveth to will and to do of his good pleasure. And no wicked man can tell whether God will give him the grace of saving faith: therefore he cannot promise to have it. But I shall speak more to this under the last Argument.

Argum. 16. If there can be no example given in Scripture of any one that was baptized without the Profession of a saving faith, nor any Precept for so doing, then must not we baptize any without it. But the Antecedent is true: therefore so is the Consequent.

What is pretended this way we shall examine anon among the Objections. In the mean time let us review the Scripture examples of Baptism, which might afford us so many several Arguments, but that I shall put them together for brevity. 1. I have already showed that John required the Profession of true Repentance, and that his Baptism was for Remission of sin. 2. When Christ layeth down, in the Apostolical Commission, the Nature and Order of his Apostles work, it is first to make Disciples, and then to Baptize them into the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; And as it is a making Disciples, which is first expressed in Matthew, so Mark expoundeth who these Disciples are (as to the aged) by pu•ting Believing before Baptism: and that we may know that it is Justifying faith that he meaneth, he annexeth first Baptism, and then the Promise of salvation, Matth. 28.19. Mar. 16.16