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

4. It must be a Profession not prevalently contradicted by word or deed: Otherwise, still it is an apparent or notorious lie, which no man can be bound to believe. If a man say in one breath, [that he believeth in Christ] and in the next will say [that he doth not believe in him,] he nulleth his own profession by a revocation: and if he revoke it in the direct sense, it is all one as if he did it in the same terms: As if he say that he believeth in Christ, but withal, that he believeth him to be but a man, or a Prophet, or not to have died to ransom us from our sins, &c. so if he should say [I am a Christian [but yet] I love the world and the flesh more then Christ] the same must be said of a Practical contradiction, which is effectual to invalidate a Verbal Profession. If a man should profess to the Prince, that he honoureth him, and when he hath done, should spurn at him, or spit in his face: or if a man should profess that he loveth you, and desireth your safety, and withal shall discharge a Pistol at you, or run at you with his sword; I leave it to your selves whether he be to be believed.

4. It must be a Profession not prevalently contradicted by word or deed: Otherwise, still it is an apparent or notorious lie, which no man can be bound to believe. If a man say in one breath, [that he believeth in Christ] and in the next will say [that he doth not believe in him,] he nulleth his own profession by a revocation: and if he revoke it in the direct sense, it is all one as if he did it in the same terms: As if he say that he believeth in Christ, but withall, that he believeth him to be but a man, or a Prophet, or not to have died to ransom us from our sins, &c. so if he should say [I am a Christian [but yet] I love the world and the flesh more then Christ] the same must be said of a Practical contradiction, which is effectual to invalidate a Verbal Profession. If a man should profess to the Prince, that he honoureth him, and when he hath done, should spurn at him, or spit in his face: or if a man should profess that he loveth you, and desireth your safety, and withall shall discharge a Pistol at you, or run at you with his sword; I leave it to your selves whether he be to be believed.

Yet some Contradiction there may be, which may not nullify a Profession: As when the terms of Contradiction seem not to be understood by him that useth them, or not to be meant in the contradicting sense; or when he seem's not to discern the