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

And if he make two contrary professions, one that he doth believe, and the other that he doth not, if we know one to be certain and undissembled, and the other to be false, the later is Null, and the former to be received. All this being evident, it next followeth, that we show, that no Notorious ungodly man doth make true profession of Christianity: For 1. If it be evident that he useth words not understood, as a Parrot, then is it not a profession: For Ignorantis non est consensus: and so nec Professio: else a Parrot may be a Professor. 2. He maketh openly the contrary Profession; For he doth by words or deeds, or both, profess that he will not be ruled by Christ, that he will not be sanctified or released from his sin: that he will not take God and Glory to come for his chief Good, but the things of this life, and will obey the flesh before God. It it be in plain known sins, which they can find no vain excuse for, some of them will say words of equal force to these: but though most will not do so; yet their Actions openly profess it.

And if he make two contrary professions, one that he doth believe, and the other that he doth not, if we know one to be certain and undissembled, and the other to be false, the later is Null, and the former to be received. All this being evident, it next followeth, that we shew, that no Notorious ungodly man doth make true profession of Christianity: For 1. If it be evident that he useth words not understood, as a Parrat, then is it not a profession: For Ignorantis non est consensus: and so nec Professio: else a Parrat may be a Professor. 2. He maketh openly the contrary Profession; For he doth by words or deeds, or both, profess that he will not be ruled by Christ, that he will not be sanctified or released from his sin: that he will not take God and Glory to come for his chief Good, but the things of this life, and will obey the flesh before God. It it be in plain known sins, which they can find no vain excuse for, some of them will say words of equal force to these: but though most will not do so; yet their Actions openly profess it.

But because this is the thing that will be denied, I add further. 1. Actions are capable of signifying a mans mind as well as words: though not ordinarily so soon, or easily, yet some Actions do; yea, and much more certainly. 2. God plainly tells us of some, that profess that they know God, yet in works they deny him: so that works can speak as plain as words, and deny God, and unsay what a deceitful tongue hath said. 3. If these persons in question do not thus deny Christ by their works, or do not Profess, to be no Christians, then either it is because ungodliness is consistent with Christianity, or doth not comprehend or imply Infidelity, or else because the [Notoriousness] of this ungodliness is no Profession. The first cannot be said: For 1. As Godliness in a Christian sense comprehendeth Christianity,