The defence of the nonconformists plea for peace, or, An account of the matter…

3. Or one that consenteth not, and knoweth not whether he do or not.

(4. For, as for all true Consenters that know not that they do it sincerely, they are Converted Persons, and not those in Question: And a true Consenter that doubteth of his truth, but upon his best self-trial, thinks that he truly consenteth to have God for his God, and Christ for his Saviour, and the Holy Ghost for his Sanctifier, must go without certainty upon the best judgment that he make of himself.)

I. Now for the Person that consenteth not, and knoweth it, to come and demand the Sacrament for his Conversion, is all one as to say, that [It is God's Ordinance, that he is not willing after all persuasions, to give up himself to God, as his Father, Saviour, and Sanctifier, and therefore hath no right to Pardon and Life, shall solemnly profess that he doth consent to the Covenant when he doth not, and that he doth presently by Vow give up himself to ⟨p. 150⟩God, as his God and Father, Saviour and Sanctifier, when he doth not; that this may convert them to do that which lyingly he saith he doth: And he shall take the investing pardoning Sign and Act, when he hath no right to Pardon.] Deceive not your self, or others: Giving and Taking, Eating and Drinking, are as Speaking (significant Actions) essentially to the Sacrament: And he never received the Sacrament essentially as that Sacrament, that did not thereby interpretatively solemnly profess, q. d. [I now consent to the Covenant of Christ, and take God in Christ for my Father, Saviour and Sanctifier, and here give up my self to him in these Relations.] And therefore all the Ancients taught, that the Baptized were all certainly presently pardoned; supposing that they really consented to the Baptismal Covenant, as every adult Baptized Person did, and must profess.