A26864:384
Rich. Baxters apology against the modest exceptions of Mr. T. Blake and the digression…
Rich. Baxters apology against the modest exceptions of Mr. T. Blake and the digression of Mr. G. Kendall whereunto is added animadversions on a late dissertation of Ludiomæus Colvinus, aliaà Ludovicus Molinæs̳, M. Dr. Oxon, and an admonition of Mr. W. Eyre of Salisbury : with Mr. Crandon's Anatomy for satisfaction of Mr. Caryl.
London: printed by A.M. for Thomas Underhill, 1654
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.
So that in the conclusion, I say, that though wicked men have many promises from God, especially the great conditional promise of Life, if they will repent and believe; and though they are also obliged by their own imperfect, equivocal Covenanting with God; yet God remaineth still unobliged to them, and they have no actual right to the benefits of his promise; because they have not performed the condition of their first right, that is, have not Covenanted truly with God, or entered the Covenant which he propounded; having not consented to his terms, ⟨p. 64⟩nor accepted Christ and Life as offered in the Gospel: And therefore it is the most proper language to say, that none but sincere believers are in Covenant with God: For the rest have but equivocally Covenanted with God, and God not actually engaged in Covenant with them (for while the condition is unperformed there is no actual obligation on the promises) and so it is no proper mutual Covenant. And consequently these men in proper strict sense, are no true Christians, but analogically only.
So that in the conclusion, I say, that though wicked men have many promises from God, especially the great conditional promise of Life, if they will repent and believe; and though they are also obliged by their own imperfect, equivocal Covenanting with God; yet God remaineth still unobliged to them, and they have no actual right to the benefits of his promise; because they have not performed the condition of their first right, that is, have not Covenanted truly with God, or entred the Covenant which he propounded; having not consented to his terms, ⟨p. 64⟩nor accepted Christ and Life as offered in the Gospel: And therefore it is the most proper language to say, that none but sincere beleevers are in Covenant with God: For the rest have but equivocally Covenanted with God, and God not actually engaged in Covenant with them (for while the condition is unperformed there is no actual obligation on the promises) and so it is no proper mutual Covenant. And consequently these men in proper strict sense, are no true Christians, but analogically only.