An humble inquiry into the rules of the Word of God, concerning the qualifications…

Mr. LOB (in his True Dissenter) tell us, It is the Judgment of all the Nonconformists, that nothing less than the Profession of saving Faith credibly significant of the Thing professed, gives Right to Church-Communion. And this he declares to be the Rule of all Protestants in general. He brings even Mr. HUMPHREY (tho' opposite in Judgment) for his Voucher: Who acknowledges, That the visible Church is defined by a Profession of true regenerate Faith, and of no less than that, according to the most general Opinion of Protestant Divines. He speaks of it as the common Opinion, that a Profession of no less than true Grace or justifying Faith is the Rule of Admission to the Church-Sacraments. And tho' Mr. Humphrey went off from the received Opinion, yet could he not come into Mr. Blake's Notions in this Matter, who also had gone off from it, nor hope for their Vindication: Hence he makes that Challenge, What Man is there, that dares revive Mr. Blake's Cause, and defend it against Mr. Baxter's RIGHT to Sacraments!

Mr. LOB (in his True Dissenter) tell us, It is the Judgment of all the Nonconformists, that nothing less than the Profession of saving Faith credibly significant of the Thing professed, gives Right to Church-Communion. And this he declares to be the Rule of all Protestants in general. He brings even Mr. HUMPHREY (tho' opposite in Judgment) for his Voucher: Who acknowleges, That the visible Church is defined by a Profession of true regenerate Faith, and of no less than that, according to the most general Opinion of Protestant Divines. He speaks of it as the common Opinion, that a Profession of no less than true Grace or justifying Faith is the Rule of Admission to the Church-Sacraments. And tho' Mr. Humphrey went off from the received Opinion, yet could he not come into Mr. Blake's Notions in this Matter, who also had gone off from it, nor hope for their Vindication: Hence he makes that Challenge, What Man is there, that dares revive Mr. Blake's Cause, and defend it against Mr. Baxter's RIGHT to Sacraments!

Mr. BAXTER in this his Book very copiously argues for a Profession of saving Faith, as the Rule of Admission to Sacraments, and much insists on it's being so by the unanimous Consent of judicious Divines. He tells us, Mr. GATAKER in his Books has largely proved this by a Multitude of Quotations from Protestant Writers. And he adds his own Testimony, repeatedly saying, It is indeed their most common Doctrine—It is the common Protestant Doctrine—And again, Certain I am, this is the common Doctrine of Reformed Divines—He subjoins, I must profess, that I don't know of any one Protestant Divine, reputed Orthodox, of the contrary Judgment, before Dr. Ward and Mr. Blake, tho' some Papists and Arminians I knew of that Mind.—And again (beside Sir Henry Vane) he says, All that I know of, since Dr. Ward, is Mr. Blake, Mr. Humphrey, and one John Timson; and John Timson, Mr. Humphrey, and Mr. Blake.—He alleges Mr. VINES, as thus Witnessing in the Case on his Side. To this Purpose all our learned Divines have given their Suffrage; I need not number Authors or Churches. It is so plain a Case, that I wonder, those [of the contrary Opinion] have not taken Notice of it, there is an Army to a Man against them.