A27028:165
Schism detected in both extremes, or, Two sorts of sinful separation the first part…Schism detected in both extreams, or, Two sorts of sinful separation the first part…
Schism detected in both extremes, or, Two sorts of sinful separation the first part detecteth the schismatical principles of a resolver of three cases about church-communion, the second part confuteth the separation pleaded for in a book famed to be written by Mr. Raphson.Schism detected in both extreams, or, Two sorts of sinful separation the first part detecteth the schismatical principles of a resolver of three cases about church-communion, the second part confuteth the separation pleaded for in a book famed to be written by Mr. Raphson.
London: printed for Tho. Parkhurst, 1684
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.
XI. To be a true Believer or Christian, (or the Infant seed of such) devoted to God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, according to the sense of the Baptismal Covenant, uniteth each Member first to Christ himself directly, and consequently to his Body or Church; and this coram Deo, as soon as it is done by heart consent; and coram Ecclesia, regularly, as soon as he is invested by Baptism; which Baptism, when it may be had so, is regularly to be administered by none but an authorized Minister or Deacon; but if through necessity or mistake it be done by a Lay-man, the Ancient Christians took it not for a nullity, much less if the Baptizer was taken for a Minister by mistake, being in his place; and if no Baptism can be had, open covenanting is valid.
XI. To be a true Believer or Christian, (or the Insant seed of such) devoted to God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, according to the sense of the Baptismal Covenant, uniteth each Member first to Christ himself directly, and consequently to his Body or Church; and this coram Deo, as soon as it is done by heart consent; and coram Ecclesia, regularly, as soon as he is invested by Baptism; which Baptism, when it may be had so, is regularly to be administred by none but an authorized Minister or Deacon; but if through necessity or mistake it be done by a Lay-man, the Ancient Christians took it not for a nullity, much less if the Baptizer was taken for a Minister by mistake, being in his place; and if no Baptism can be had, open covenanting is vallid.
X. The Papists (and their truckling Agents here) have here hampered themselves in a fatal contradiction: To make themselves masters of the World, they would persuade us, that Sacraments only regenerate and sanctify, and that God saveth none (by any known way and grant) but by his Covenant Sealed by the Sacraments; and that he authorizeth none to administer this Covenant but Prelates and their Priests, and none can validly have it from other hands: And so if you will but abate them the proof of many things that stand in the way, Heaven and Hell, Salvation and Damnation are at the will and mercy of such Prelates and Priests. But unhappily they cannot retrieve their old Opinion, but maintain that Lay-men ⟨p. 23⟩