A26862:480
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.
Object. But some would evade thus: It is (say they) a Passive Instrument not an Active.
To which I Answer. 1 Even Passive Instruments are said to help the Action of the principal Agent, (Keckerm. Logic pag. 131.) He that saith, Faith doth so, in my judgement, gives too much to it. 2. It is past my capacity to conceive of a Passive Moral Instrument. 3. How can the Act of Believing (which hath no other being, but to be an Act) be possibly a Passive Instrument? Doth this Act effect by suffering? Or can wise men have a grosser conceit of this. 4. I believe with Schibler, that there is no such thing at all as a passive Instrument. The examples that some produce (as Burgersdicius his Cultor & gladius) belong to Active Instrument. And the Examples that others bring, (as Keckerman's Jurus instrumentum fabricationis, mensa & scamnum accubitus, terra ambulationis) are no Instruments: except you will call every Patient or Object, the Instrument of the Agent. The Instrument is an Efficient Cause. All efficiency is by action; and that which doth not Act, doth not effect▪ Indeed, as some extend the use of ⟨p. 141⟩the word instrument, you may call, almost, any thing an Instrument, which is any way conducible to the production of the Effect under the chief Cause; And so you may call Faith an Instrument.
To which I Answer. 1 Even Passive Instruments are said to help the Action of the principall Agent, (Keckerm. Logick pag. 131.) He that saith, Faith doth so, in my judgement, gives too much to it. 2. It is past my capacity to conceive of a Passive Morall Instrument. 3. How can the Act of Believing (which hath no other being, but to be an Act) be possibly a Passive Instrument? Doth this Act effect by suffering? Or can wise men have a grosser conceit of this. 4. I believe with Schibler, that there is no such thing at all as a passive Instrument. The examples that some produce (as Burgersdicius his Cultor & gladius) belong to Active Instrument. And the Examples that others bring, (as Keckermans Iurus instrumentum fabricationis, mensa & scamnum accubitus, terra ambulationis) are no Instruments: except you will call every Patient or Object, the Instrument of the Agent. The Instrument is an Efficient Cause. All efficiencie is by action; and that which doth not Act, doth not effect Indeed, as some extend the use of