A26886:647
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.
6 At least, let the heart and light of a godly man and an ungodly be compared, and I will appeal to Mr. Blake's own judgement, whether a Godly man be not as likely to know his sincerity in saving faith, as an ungodly man to know that he ha•h truly a Dogmatical faith, and doth truly engage to believe savingly. I could soon show such disadvantages that a wicked ⟨p. 193⟩man hath to know his own heart, even in this point, that me thinks might easily determine this Controversy, if it were needful to stand upon it.
6 At least, let the heart and light of a godly man and an ungodly be compared, and I will appeal to Mr. Blakes own judgement, whether a Godly man be not as likely to know his sincerity in saving faith, as an ungodly man to know that he ha•h truly a Dogmatical faith, and doth truly engage to believe savingly. I could soon shew such disadvantages that a wicked ⟨p. 193⟩man hath to know his own heart, even in this point, that me thinks might easily determine this Controversie, if it were needfull to stand upon it.
7. It is the duty of the godly to give God thanks for his saving Grace; for converting them, giving them the Holy Ghost, Justifying, Adopting them, &c. Must none perform this duty but they that have attained Assurance of their Conversion, Justification, Adoption, &c? Then it is not many that must perform it. But if others may and must do this, on the same ground they may and must perform the other. It is the duty of every child of God to pray and praise God in the relation of a child, in a special sense, and to call God Father in a special sense, and to plead those Promises with him that are the proper portion of his Children. And must all omit this that have no assurance or subjective Certainty? It it the duty of each member of the mystical body of Christ to love the Saints, and assist them as fellow-members: Must none do this, that is not certain of his own member-ship? If I should instance in all the particulars of Christian Duty that this case extendeth to, you would see that this your principle reduced to practice would make bu unhappy work in the Church and would do much to the extirpation of a very great part (if not the far greatest) of the service of God.