A26862:693
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.
1 Qu. Doth it not needlessly constrain men to wrest most plain and frequent expressions of Scripture?
1 Qu. Doth it not needlesly constrain men to wrest most plain and frequent expressions of Scripture?
2 Qu. Doth it not uphold that dangerous pillar of the Antinomian Doctrine, that we must not work or perform our duties for Life and Salvation; but only from Life and Salvation: That we must not make the attaining of Justification or Salvation an end of our Endeavours, but obey in thankfulness only, because we are saved and justified? A doctrine which I have elsewhere confuted; and if it were reduced to practise by all that hold it, (as I hope it is not,) would undoubtedly damn them: For he that seeks not, and that striveth not to enter, shall never enter. Now if good Works or sincere Obedience to Christ our Lord, be no part of the Condition of our full Justification and Salvation, Who will use them to that end? For how it can procure Justification as a means, and not by way of Condition, I cannot conceive.
3 Qu. Whether this doctrine doth not tend to drive Obedience out of the world? For if men do once believe, that it is not so much as a part of the Condition of their Justification, will it not much tend to relax their diligence? I know mere love and thankfulness should be enough: And so it will, when all our ends are attained in our Ultimate End; then ⟨p. 209⟩we shall act for these ends no more: we shall have nothing to do but to love, and joy, and praise, and be thankful; but that it is not yet. Sure, as God hath given us the affections of Fear, and Desire, and Hope, and so Care, so he would have us use them for the attainment of our great Ends. Therefore he that taketh down but one of all our Motives to Obedience, he helps to destroy Obedience it self, seeing we have need of every Motive that God hath left us.