Chapter 14

CHAP. XVI.

¹A Second evil consequence, which I find to be gathered from your doctrine of the Baptism of Infants, is this, that it is a ground of falling from Grace, thus. All that God took into his Covenant of Grace, were in an estate of Grace. But all that God took into his Covenant of Grace, did not therein continue, Ergo, Such fell from an estate of Grace.

¹A Second evill consequence, which I finde to bee gathered from your doctrine of the Baptisme of Infants, is this, that it is a ground of falling from Grace, thus. All that God tooke into his Covenant of Grace, were in an estate of Grace. But all that God tooke into his Covenant of Grace, did not therein continue, Ergo, Such fell from an estate of Grace.

1. 1Sylvester.Silvester.

An easy and common distinction will easily avoid this evil consequence. ⟨p. 177⟩For all that God took into his Covenant of grace,¹ may be said to be in a state of Grace, but what Grace? either of common, or of saving Grace. If your meaning be, all that God took into a Covenant of Grace are in an estate of saving Grace: we deny that Major proposition, as utterly untrue. But if you mean it of common Grace in the carnal seed, and of saving Grace in the Elect seed, then indeed your Major proposition is very true: but no evil consequence will follow upon it. For the Elect and faithful seed that are in an estate of saving Grace, can never fall away. And they who do fall away were only in a state of common Grace: which is no ill consequence nor prejudice to the truth, though they do fall away.