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

I yield that God doth give to Heathens, who have but natural light, some helps which have a tendency to their further advancement, and doth appoint them certain means to be used for the obtaining of a higher light, and that he giveth them sufficient encouragement to go on in the cheerful use of those means, in possibilities and probabilities of success; so that they are unexcusable that use them not. These Mr. Cotton calls half promises (as who knows but the Lord may do thus and thus? Pray therefore if perhaps the thoughts of thy heart may be forgiven thee, &c.) But promises properly they are not. God hath thought meet to keep himself disengaged from this sort of men. 3. The very same I yield of men in the visible Church using common grace, as well as they can: that is, that God hath appointed certain means which such men are to use for the getting of special grace: that those that perish, do justly perish, for not using those means so well as they could, and so for not believing: that he hath given them sufficient encouragement to use such means by examples, experiences, the nature of the means, and some half promises of success: but no promise properly so called. 4. I yield that he actually gives saving grace to wicked men: or else none could have it. But this they can plead no right to before they have it.

I yield that God doth give to Heathens, who have but natural light, some helps which have a tendency to their further advancement, and doth appoint them certain means to be used for the obtaining of a higher light, and that he giveth them sufficient encouragement to go on in the chearfull use of those means, in possibilities and probabilities of success; so that they are unexcusable that use them not. These Mr. Cotton cals half promises (as who knows but the Lord may do thus and thus? Pray therefore if perhaps the thoughts of thy heart may be forgiven thee, &c.) But promises properly they are not. God hath thought meet to keep himself disengaged from this sort of men. 3. The very same I yield of men in the visible Church using common grace, as well as they can: that is, that God hath appointed certain means which such men are to use for the getting of special grace: that those that perish, do justly perish, for not using those means so well as they could, and so for not beleeving: that he hath given them sufficient incouragement to use such means by examples, experiences, the nature of the means, and some half promises of success: but no promise properly so called. 4. I yield that he actually gives saving grace to wicked men: or else none could have it. But this they can plead no right to before they have it.