A26886:535
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.
Mr. Blake is deeply offended with me, for saying that Hypocrites that seem not only to be found Believers, and profess a Justifying faith, when they have it not, are only equivocally or analogically Christians or members of the Church, &c. But I shall say somewhat more concerning those Believers that are ⟨p. 193⟩described by him, who do not so much as profess a saving faith, viz. that they are no members of the Church at all (if notorious,) and are not so much as to be named Christians, nor to be admitted into the visible Church. No man can prove that ever one man was admitted a Church-member in all the New Testament, upon the Profession of any lower kind of faith, than that which is the condition of Justification. Otherwise we should have two distinct Churches specifically different, or two sorts of Christianity and Christians differing totâ specie: because the faith which is here made their qualification, doth specifically differ by a moral specification. When the Jailer, Act. 16 30, 31, 32, 33, 34. was admitted into the Church by Baptism, with his household, it was upon the Professing of such a believing, by which both he and his household might be saved, as is before showed. And so of all others in those times.
Mr. Blake is deeply offended with me, for saying that Hypocrites that seem not only to be found Believers, and profess a Justifying faith, when they have it not, are only equivocally or analogically Christians or members of the Church, &c. But I shall say somewhat more concerning those Believers that are ⟨p. 193⟩described by him, who do not so much as profess a saving faith, viz. that they are no members of the Church at all (if notorious,) and are not so much as to be named Christians, nor to be admitted into the visible Church. No man can prove that ever one man was admitted a Church-member in all the New Testament, upon the Profession of any lower kind of faith, than that which is the condition of Justification. Otherwise we should have two distinct Churches specifically different, or two sorts of Christianity and Christians differing totâ specie: because the faith which is here made their qualification, doth specifically differ by a moral specification. When the Jaylor,