A26886:564
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.
ARGUMENT II.
Mr, Blake. Those that are a People by Gods gracious dispensation nigh to God, comparative to others, have right in the sight of God to visible admittance to this more near relation. This I think is clear; men have right to be admitted to their right. But those that come short of Justifying faith, are a people by Gods gracious dispensations nigh unto God, comparative to others; this is plain in the whole visible Nation of the Jews, as appears, Deut. 4 7. Psal. 147.19. and 148.14. Those therefore that are short of Justifying faith, have right in the sight of God to admission to this nearer relation.
ANSWER.
The Jews were nigher to God than other people. 1. In that they had the offers of Grace which other people had not. 2. And many great Deliverances and temporal privileges, which others had not. Both these Infidels and Heathens may now have; and therefore they prove no Right to Baptism. 3. They were nigher by some promises peculiar to that Nation, which is nothing to us. 4. They were nigher by their Consent to the offers of Grace, and the Covenant of the Lord; which was proper (in sincerity) to the sanctified. 5. And by their profession of Consent, and external engaging themselves to the Lord (whether they had inwardly faith or not.) Now to the Major, I grant it: but add, that the three first sorts of Nearness give not right to Baptism: All admission to near Relation, comparatively to others, is not by Circumcision or Baptism. But it is only a Nearness in the two last senses that are questionable as to this. And I have before showed, in what sense true Consent to the