A26862:220
Aphorisms of justification, with their explication annexed wherein also is opened the nature of…Aphorismes of justification, with their explication annexed wherein also is opened the nature of…
Aphorisms of justification, with their explication annexed wherein also is opened the nature of the covenants, satisfaction, righteousness, faith, works, &c. : published especially for the use of the church of Kidderminster in Worcestershire / by their unworthy teacher Ri. Baxter.Aphorismes of justification, with their explication annexed wherein also is opened the nature of the covenants, satisfaction, righteousnesse, faith, works, &c. : published especially for the use of the church of Kederminster in Worcestershire / by their unworthy teacher Ri. Baxter.
Hague: printed by Abraham Brown, 1655
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.
EXPLICATION.
When God the absolute Sovereign of the World shall but command, though he expressly threaten no punishment to the disobedient, yet implicitly it may be said to be due; that is, the offence in it self considered, deserveth some punishment in the general: for the Law of Nature containeth some general Threatenings, as well as Precepts, (as I showed before;) Whether this Dueness of punishment, which I call implicit, do arise from the nature of the offence only, or also because of this general threat in the Law of Nature, I will not dispute. But God dealeth with his Creature by way of legal government? and keepeth not their deserved punishment from their knowledge no more then their duty; it being almost as necessary to be known for our incitement, as the Precept for our direction. Gods laws are perfect laws fitted to ⟨p. 55⟩the attainment of all their ends: And by these laws doth he rule the world; and according to them doth he dispose of his rewards and punishments: So that we need not fear that which is not threatened: And in this sense it is that I say, That what no law in force doth threaten, that sin doth not explicitly deserve: Not so deserve as that we need to fear the suffering of it. And upon this ground the three fore-mentioned consequences must needs follow. For the new Covenant threateneth not Death to any sin but final unbelief, or at least, to no sin without final unbelief: And therefore if the old Covenant be abrogated, then no law threateneth it: And consequently, 1 Our Sin doth not deserve it (in the sense expressed.) Nor Christ prevent the wrath deserved, but only the desert of wrath. 3. And therefore not properly doth he pardon any such sin, (as you will see after when I come to open the nature of pardon.) 4 We may plead our non deserving of death for our discharge at judgment. 5. And further, then Christ in satisfying did not bear the punishment due to any sin but Adams first: For that which is not threatened to us, was not executed on him. This is a clear, but an intolerable consequence. 6. Scripture plainly teacheth, That all men (even the Elect) are under the Law till they believe & enter into ⟨p. 56⟩