A26862:695
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.
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.
3 Qu. Whether this doctrine doth not tend to drive Obedience out of the world? For if men do once beleeve, 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 meer 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 thankfull; 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.
4 Qu. Doth it not much confirm the world in their soul-cozening Faith? Sure that Faith which is by many thought to justify, is it that our people do all most easily embrace, that is, the receiving of Christ for their Saviour, and expecting Pardon and Salvation by him, but not withal receiving him for their Lord and King, nor delivering up themselves to be ruled by him. I meet not with one, but is resolved in such a Faith, till it be overthrown by teaching them better. They would all trust Christ for the saving of their souls, and that without dissembling, for ought any man can discern: Are all these men justified? You will say, They do it not sincerely. Ans. There is evident a sincerity opposite to dissimulation: But a Moral or Theological sincerity there is not; Why is that? but because they take but half of Christ. Let any Minister but try his ungodly people, whether they