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

If they may be so admitted, then let us see the consequence. By [taking to that party which is for Christ,] either you mean, 1. That they profess themselves to be of those that are sincerely Christians: or 2. That they profess themselves willing to be under Church Rulers and Ordinances (as Bellarmine speaks;) or 3. That they will take part with Christians, in pleading, defending, &c. If the first be your meaning, then they profess themselves true Christians, and so to have saving faith. For there is but two sorts of Christians; Those that are really so, having saving faith: and those that are Analogically Christians, professing saving faith, when they have it not. 2. If you mean the second with the Papists, then consider that it is not into the Pope, nor Church Rulers, nor Ordinances that we are baptized, but into the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. And suppose that a man truly understand on what terms Christ is offered in the Gospel, that man may say [I am content to be in the Church under teaching, and to receive the Sacraments, and to accompany Christians and fight for them; but yet I will not yet be a Christian my self; For I am not willing that Christ should sanctify me, and save me from my sins. [And who that dependeth on the mouth of Christ would baptize this man? It is no more than belongeth to a Seeker or a Catechumen to be willing to hear. And God never made it a Title to Sacraments, merely to be willing to receive them. Else all may receive them that will. At least, I must profess that I can hardly believe, but that all that will receive them, must profess that they receive them to the ends which they are appointed to. And that no man can do, that doth not eodem actu profess himself a true believer. If the third be your sense, then no doubt but many Christians in the Indies have had Moors and Indian servants, who were willing to associate with Christians, and loved them, and would live and die with them, that yet were no Christians themselves.

If they may be so admitted, then let us see the consequence. By [taking to that party which is for Christ,] either you mean, 1. That they profess themselves to be of those that are sincerely Christians: or 2. That they profess themselves willing to be under Church Rulers and Ordinances (as Bellarmine speaks;) or 3. That they will take part with Christians, in pleading, defending, &c. If the first be your meaning, then they profess themselves true Christians, and so to have saving faith. For there is but two sorts of Christians; Those that are really so, having saving faith: and those that are Analogically Christians, professing saving faith, when they have it not. 2. If you mean the second with the Papists, then consider that it is not into the Pope, nor Church Rulers, nor Ordinances that we are baptized, but into the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. And suppose that a man truly understand on what terms Christ is offered in the Gospel, that man may say [I am content to be in the Church under teaching, and to receive the Sacraments, and to accompany Christians and fight for them; but yet I will not yet be a Christian my self; For I am not willing that Christ should sanctifie me, and save me from my sins. [And who that dependeth on the mouth of Christ would baptize this man? It is no more than belongeth to a Seeker or a Catechumne to be willing to hear. And God never made it a Title to Sacraments, meerly to bee willing to receive them. Else all may receive them that will. At least, I must profess that I can hardly believe, but that all that will receive them, must profess that they receive them to the ends which they are appointed to. And that no man can do, that doth not eodem actu profess himself a true believer. If the third be your sense, then no doubt but many Christians in the Indies have had Moors and Indian servats, who were willing to associate with Christians, and loved them, and would live and die with them, that yet were no Christians themselves.