A26911:147
The defence of the nonconformists plea for peace, or, An account of the matter…
The defence of the nonconformists plea for peace, or, An account of the matter of their nonconformity against Mr. J. Cheney's answer called The conforming nonconformist, and The nonconforming conformist : to which is added the second part in answer to Mr. Cheney's Five undertakings / by Richard Baxter.
London: printed for Benjamin Alsop, 1680
A DEFENCE OF THE NON-CONFORMIST'S Plea for Peace, AGAINST Mr. J. CH… › Chapter 18
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.
CHAP. XVIII.
§ 1. Your seventeenth Section is for the Cross in Baptism. I distinctly proved that the Church imposeth it [As a Symbol of our Christian Profession, and as a consecrating dedicating sign, by which 1. God's part of the Covenant is signified, even the Grace by him given, and the duty by him imposed on us. 2. And the Receiver's part is signified, and by solemn Engagement there professed, even his Faith in Christ crucified, and his resolution and self-obliging Consent or Covenant to be the Lords as dedicated to him, and to perform all the future duties of the Covenant, And that this is the true description of a Sacrament of the Covenant of Grace. The word [Sacrament] larglier taken, may signify no more than man may institute: But a Sacrament strictly taken as thus described, I suppose man may not institute. 1. Because Christ hath instituted two as an act of his Royal Prerogative. And if any Institution be proper to his Kingly and Priestly Power, it must be such: No other can be named excluding this. And if none be proper, what is it for him to be Great and One Law-giver to his Church? If Legislation, the chief part of Supreme Government, be common to him and Bishops, why is not that Royally Common?
§ 1. YOur seventeenth Section is for the Cross in Baptism. I distinctly proved that the Church imposeth it [As a Symbol of our Christian Profession, and as a consecrating dedicating sign, by which 1. God's part of the Covenant is signified, even the Grace by him given, and the duty by him imposed on us. 2. And the Receiver's part is signified, and by solemn Engagement there professed, even his Faith in Christ crucified, and his resolution and self-obliging Consent or Covenant to be the Lords as dedicated to him, and to perform all the future duties of the Covenant, And that this is the true description of a Sacrament of the Covenant of Grace. The word [Sacrament] larglier taken, may signifie no more than man may institute: But a Sacrament strictly taken as thus described, I suppose man may not institute. 1. Because Christ hath instituted two as an act of his Royal Prerogative. And if any Institution be proper to his Kingly and Priestly Power, it must be such: No other can be named excluding this. And if none be proper, what is it for him to be Great and One Law-giver to his Church? If Legislation, the chief part of Supreme Government, be common to him and Bishops, why is not that Royally Common?