The first we think is writ with the beams of the Sun, for it is evident, that neither the Lord in the Old Testament, Exod. 19. or in the New Testament, Acts▪ 2. and in other like Scriptures, did call for a profession of the Doctrine of faith only, but especially of the work of faith; for when the Lord promised to be a God to his people, Exd. 19. Deut. 29. it was not with this condition, if they did believe his word to be true, &c. but if they will hear his voice, and keep his Covenant, which (in a prepared people) is a manifestation of a work of grace. So when the Apostles were required to go preach to all Nations, and baptize them and teach them, look as they did require such a faith as was saving, (he that believeth shall be saved) so upon the▪ profession thereof they did receive them, as also appears, Acts 2. 38. (which therefore could not be of the doctrine of faith, for that the devils do, and tremble, and profane men of much knowledge, may do, and yet unfit to be received, and therefore it was of the work of faith, and therefore Act. 8. 37. Philip not only requires faith, but a believing with all the heart of the Eunuch, and upon such a profession baptized him: and hence the Churches erected by the Apostles at Corinth, Coloss, Ephesus, &c. are called Saints, and sanctified of God in Christ Jesus, &c. How! was it because debito and de jure onely, they should be so? then all who hear the Gospel (though they reject it) might be called a Church, for de jure, they ought to be so; Or was it because there were some that were truly such amongst them, and so in concreto, are called a Church and body of Christ? not only so, for there may be some visible Churches of visible Saints, and yet none among them of the invisible Church, unless any will think, that to be of the Church invisible is essential to the being and title of a visible Church: and therefore it was from their profession of saving faith which they maintained ⟨p. 191⟩being a Church, as it was required to the gathering into a Church: John Baptist also, (though he baptized none into a new Church, (and therefore might require the less) yet as he really promised remission of sins by the Messiah, so he required that very faith and repentance which might make them partakers of this heavenly benefit;
The first wee thinke is writ with the beames of the Sunne, for it is evident, that neither the Lord in the Old Testament, Exod. 19. or in the New Testament, Acts▪ 2. and in other like Scriptures, did call for a profession of the Doctrine of faith onely, but especially of the worke of faith; for when the Lord promised to be a God to his people, Exd. 19. Deut. 29. it was not with this condition, if they did beleeve his word to bee true, &c. but if they will heare his voyce, and keepe his Covenant, which (in a prepared people) is a manifestation of a worke of grace. So when the Apostles were required to goe preach to all Nations, and baptize them and teach them, looke as they did require such a faith as was saving, (he that beleeveth shall bee saved) so upon the▪ profession thereof they did receive them, as also appeares, Acts 2. 38. (which therefore could not bee of the doctrine of faith, for that the devils doe, and tremble, and profane men of much knowledge, may doe, and yet unfit to bee received, and therefore it was of the worke of faith, and therefore Act. 8. 37. Philip not onely requires faith, but a beleeving with all the heart of the Eunuch, and upon such a profession baptized him: and hence the Churches erected by the Apostles at Corinth, Colosse, Ephesus, &c. are called Saints, and sanctified of God in Christ Jesus, &c. How! was it because debito and de jure onely, they should be so? then all who heare the Gospell (though they reject it) might bee called a Church, for de jure, they ought to be so; Or was it because there were some that were truely such amongst them, and so in concreto, are called a Church and body of Christ? not onely so, for there may be some visible Churches of visible Saints, and yet none among them of the invisible Church, unlesse any will thinke, that to bee of the Church invisible is essentiall to the beeing and title of a visible Church: and therefore it was from their profession of saving faith which they maintained ⟨p. 191⟩being a Church, as it was required to the gathering into a Church: John Baptist also, (though hee baptized none into a new Church, (and therefore might require the lesse) yet as he really promised remission of sinnes by the Messiah, so hee required that very faith and repentance which might make them partakers of this heavenly benefit;
