A26862:698
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.
5. Lastly, Is not this excluding of sincere Obedience from Justification, the great stumbling block of Papists? & that which hath had a great hand in turning many learned men from the Protestant Religion to Popery? When they see the language of Scripture in the forecited places so plain to the contrary: When Illyricus, Gallus, Amsdorfius, &c. shall account it a heresy in George major, to say, That good Works are necessary to Salvation: And when (if Melchior Adamus say true) eo dementiae & impietatis ventum erat, ut non dubitarent quidam haec axiomata propugnare; Bona opera non sunt necessaria ad salutem: Bona opera officiunt saluti: Nova obedientia non est necessaria. When even Melanchthon's credit is blasted, for being too great a friend to good Works, though he ascribe not to them the least part of the Work or Office of Christ: And when to this day many Antinomian Teachers, who are magnified as the only Preachers of Free Grace, do assert & proclaim, That there is no more required to the perfect irrevocable justification of the vilest Murderer or Whoremaster, but to believe that he is justified, or to be persuaded that God loveth him. And when such a Book as that, styled the Marrow of Modern Divinity, have so many applauding Epistles ⟨p. 212⟩of such Divines; when the Doctrine of it is, That we must not Act for justification or salvation; but only in thankfulness for it: contrary to the main drift of the Scripture, which so presseth men to pray for pardon, & to pardon others, that they may receive pardon themselves: and to strive to enter, & run that they may obtain, & do Christ Commandments that they may have right to the Tree of life, & enter in by the gate into the City, Revel. 22. 14. Do these men think that we are perfectly justified and saved already? before the absolving sentence at the great Tribunal; or the possession of the Kingdom, for which we wait in Hope? Indeed when we have that perfect salvation, we shall not need to seek it, or labour to attain it; but must everlastingly be thankful to him that hath purchased it, and to him that hath bestowed it. But in the mean time, he that seeketh not, shall not find, & he that runs not shall not obtain: No, nor all that seek and run neither, Luk. 13. 24. Luk. 12. 31.