Rich. Baxters apology against the modest exceptions of Mr. T. Blake and the digression…

R. B. 1. Had you first proved any such honour due to faith, and so to man, as to be the instrument of Justification, yea and more fitly then the Gospel, so to be called, then you might fairly have thus concluded. But I like not Arguments that have but one part, being all Conclusion. I will say more for the Gospels instrumentality. Signum voluntatis Donatoris constituens jus ad beneficium Donatum (etsi in diem vel sub conditione) est Donatoris instrumentum maximè proprium: Sed Testamentum Christi est signum voluntatis divi•• jus nostrum ad Christum ⟨p. 37⟩& Justificationem passivam constituens, (viz. sub conditione, & actualiter quando praestatur conditio:) Ergo Testamentum Christi est instrumentum hujus donationis, maximè proprium. For the major, examine it by all the qualifications of an instrument, and it will appear undoubted. 1. Subservit causae principally, scilicet voluntati donatoris. 2. Actio ejus & principalis sunt eadem actio: scilicet Donatio, vel constituere debitum beneficii. 3. The true definition of an instrument agrees to it: Instrumentum est quod ex directione alterius principalis agentis influit ad produceudum effectum se nobiliorem: Vel, per quod causa alia operatur, sic, ut hoc elevetur ad effectum se nobiliorem, seu ultra perfectionem & suam & actionis suae. 4. Yea it is the most perfect instrument; for instrumentum eo melius est quanto magis est fini proportionatum: ut Aquin. 1.2 ae. q. 188. a. 7. But Gods Legal grant is most perfectly proportioned to the conveyance of right to Christ, and his benefits. Prove this much of faith, as to Justification, before you again tell the world that faith is more fitly called an instrument of Justification.

R. B. 1. HAd you first proved any such honour due to faith, and so to man, as to be the instrument of Justification, yea and more fitly then the Gospel, so to be called, then you might fairly have thus concluded. But I like not Arguments that have but one part, being all Conclusion. I will say more for the Gospels instrumentality. Signum voluntatis Donatoris constituens jus ad beneficium Donatum (etsi in diem vel sub conditione) est Donatoris instrumentum maximè proprium: Sed Testamentum Christi est signum voluntatis divi•• jus nostrum ad Christum ⟨p. 37⟩& Justificationem passivam constituens, (viz. sub conditione, & actualiter quando praestatur conditio:) Ergo Testamentum Christi est instrumentum hujus donationis, maximè proprium. For the major, examine it by all the qualifications of an instrument, and it will appear undoubted. 1. Subservit causae principali, scilicet voluntati donatoris. 2. Actio ejus & principalis sunt eadem actio: scilicet Donatio, vel constituere debitum beneficii. 3. The true definition of an instrument agrees to it: Instrumentum est quod ex directione alterius principalis agentis influit ad produceudum effectum se nobiliorem: Vel, per quod causa alia operatur, sic, ut hoc elevetur ad effectum se nobiliorem, seu ultra perfectionem & suam & actionis suae. 4. Yea it is the most perfect instrument; for instrumentum eo melius est quanto magis est fini proportionatum: ut Aquin. 1.2 ae. q. 188. a. 7. But Gods Legal grant is most perfectly proportioned to the conveyance of right to Christ, and his benefits. Prove this much of faith, as to Justification, before you again tell the world that faith is more fitly called an instrument of Justification.