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

[4. When Conscience answers not to Sacramental Engagements, in participation of Sacraments, men subscribe to the equity of their own condemnation, and give assent to the sentence of death pronounced against them.] Read also his sect. 6. throughout, showing how many sorts of men do forfeit their Covenant, and the mercies of it: And he concludes of them all [Pag. 404. These are the men ⟨p. 234⟩which Table, subscribe the equity of their own condemnation, and justify the sentence of death pronounced against themselves.]

[4. When Conscience answers not to Sacramental Engagements, in participation of Sacraments, men subscribe to the equity of their own condemnation, and give assent to the sentence of death pronounced against them.] Read also his sect. 6. throughout, shewing how many sorts of men do forfeit their Covenant, and the mercies of it: And he concludes of them all [Pag. 404. These are the men ⟨p. 234⟩which Table, subscribe the equity of their own condemnation, and justifie the sentence of death pronounced against themselves.]

These and many the like passages of Mr. Blake's do seem to me to militate against his own opinions (some of the former Directly, and the later Consequentially.) Yet do I not charge him with Self-contradiction; for its like he understandeth himself better than I do. But even from these last me thinks I have sufficient reason to demand, 1. Whether it be not a mans duty to forbear Baptism or the Lords supper, while he gets a fitter capacity, rather than by the claim of them to subscribe his own condemnation? or whether the necessary order of his duty be not first to believe and repent, and then to claim these ordinances? 2. Whether it be worth the while to write or preach to persuade men to offer such a service to God as doth but condemn themselves? and is no more acceptable to God than the Pharisees washing cups, or than the cutting of their flesh, or the rent in the garment? 3. Seeing that saving faith is of another moral species than all other faith, and cannot be had without a supernatural work of the spirit, even a new creation; Qu. Whether it be not cruelty in me to comply with that mans desires that would have Baptism or the Lords Supper, without making a profession of saving faith, or giving any sign of it himself, and would engage himself to believe savingly the next minute, though he do not now, when I know before hand that he is most likely within one minute to break that engagement; and so within a minute, even before he stir out of the room to become a perjured or treacherous man, that hath plunged himself into deeper misery, and subscribed to the justness of his condemnation? Were it not more wisdom and mercy to stay (as was aforesaid) one hour longer, or a day, and try whether he will believe savingly before hand, rather than engage him to do it the next hour, who doth not so much as pretend to any Ability to perform his own promise, nor can show any promise from God that he will give him that Ability; either Absolute, or Conditional.