A26886:674
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.
Object. But the Fathers sly to the Parents or pro-Parents ⟨p. 202⟩faith, when they speak of Infants right to Baptism: therefore its plain that they supposed it not in themselves. Answ. True: By which you may discern that Faith was presupposed as the Evidence of their right to Baptism and its effects, that is, to Justification and Sanctification: and therefore it was such a Faith as had the promise of these effects, viz. Justification and Sanctification; and therefore not another kind of faith. And this faith was supposed to be in the Parent for himself and his seed, because the condition or qualification of the Infant is but this, that he be the seed of a Believer. But then you must note, that though they supposed the condition of Right; viz. faith to be in the Parent, and not in the Infant himself, yet they alway affirmed the consequent fruits; viz. Regeneration, and Justification and Adoption to be in the Infant himself and not in the Parent for him. I may answer this therefore in Mr Gatakers words, ibid. pag. 65. [Resp. 1. Aliud est fides ipsa, aliud Regeneratio, seu mentis internae renovatio, quae sine fidei actu ullo consistere potest. 2. Ad fidem Patres alienam adeò confugiunt, ubi de parvulorum salute agunt; quia fidei alienae beneficio foedere continentur, & ab Baptismiritum suscipiendum jus obtinent. Vid. Bellarm. de Bapt. lib. 1. c. 11. Prop. 5.
Object. But is it a likely thing that the Fathers and Catholic Church should be so blind as to take all for truly justified and regenerate that are baptized? Then either they must take all the members of the Visible Church to be such, and so be saved; or else they must suppose them to fall away from saving grace.
Object. But is it a likely thing that the Fathers and Catholick Church should be so blind as to take all for truly justified and regenerate that are baptized? Then either they must take all the members of the Visible Church to be such, and so be saved; or else they must suppose them to fall away from saving grace.