Richard Baxter's Catholic theology plain, pure, peaceable, for pacification of the dogmatical word-warriors who,…Richard Baxter's Catholick theologie plain, pure, peaceable, for pacification of the dogmatical word-warriours who,…

193. This Comparative Merit, is but such, as a thankful Child hath towards his Father who giveth him a purse of Gold on condition th•• he put off his hat, and say, I thank you, who deserveth it in Comparison of his Brother, who disdainfully or neglectfully refuseth it. This last being absolutely said to Deserve to be without it; but the former only comparatively said to deserve to have it as a free gift.

194. And those that reject the saying of some Papists who in thi• sense, say that Christ merited that we might merit, placing our Evangelical merit in a mere subordination to Christs, do but show what prejudice and partiality can do, and harden those who perceive their errors.

194. And those that reject the saying of some Papists who in thi• sence, say that Christ merited that we might merit, placing our Evangelical merit in a meer subordination to Christs, do but shew what prejudice and partiality can do, and harden those who perceive their errors.

195. Some man may think that the high things required in the Gospel, self-denial, forsaking all, running, striving, working, loving, overcoming, ¹&c. are more than the mere Receiving of a free Gift. But, 1. If it were so, yet our first faith would be no more, by which we are Justified from all the sins of our unregeneracy. 2. But upon consideration, it will all appear to be no more materially: For, 1. When we say that it is the Receiving of the free Gift, we must mean According to the Nature and to the use of that Gift. As if you be required to take food, the meaning is, to Eat it, and not to throw it away: If you be required to take such a man to be your King, your Master, your Tutor, your Husband, your Physician, &c. the meaning is, As such, to the use of his proper office. And so Accept of God as God, that is, our Absolute Owner, Ruler, and End, and Christ as our Saviour, Prophet, Priest and King, and the Holy Ghost as our Sanctifier to Illuminate, quicken and renew us, is the su of all the Positives of the Gospel. 2. For this very Acceptance of them in this Nature, and to this Use, includeth the using of them after accordingly: And if we do not so use them, we thereby reject them, and lose our own benefit of them; as he that eateth not his meat, refuseth and loseth it; and he that weareth not his Clothes; and he that learneth not of his Teacher. 3. And then Self-denial, and forsaking contraries,