A26883:1626
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,…
Richard Baxter's Catholic theology plain, pure, peaceable, for pacification of the dogmatical word-warriors who, 1. by contending about things unrevealed or not understood, 2. and by taking verbal differences for real,Richard Baxter's Catholick theologie plain, pure, peaceable, for pacification of the dogmatical word-warriours who, 1. by contending about things unrevealed or not understood, 2. and by taking verbal differences for real,
London: printed by Robert White for Nevill Simmons, 1675
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.
259. This historical Truth is useful to be known: From whence I infer, that it is possible for Christians to live in settled peace and comfort, in respect to their heavenly Felicity, without a certainty of perseverance and Salvation. For to think that no Papists, no Greeks, no Arminians, no Protestant Lutherans, nor any of the ancient holy Doctors, nor any of all the Martyrs or other Christians of their judgment, did attain to such holy peace and comfort, is unreasonable, and contrary to all Church-History, and to experience.
259. This historical Truth is useful to be known: From whence I infer, that it is possible for Christians to live in setled peace and comfort, in respect to their heavenly Felicity, without a certainty of perseverance and Salvation. For to think that no Papists, no Greeks, no Arminians, no Protestant Lutherans, nor any of the ancient holy Doctors, nor any of all the Martyrs or other Christians of their judgment, did attain to such holy peace and comfort, is unreasonable, and contrary to all Church-History, and to experience.
260. And though it were a far more joyful state to have proper certainty, yet reason and experience in other cases tell us, that without certainty a man may live a joyful and peaceable life, where probability is strong enough to remove all reasonable cause of fearfulness, though there be a possibility of the worst. As we see that men in youth and health, though they may possibly die, or fall into torments the next hour, yet do not therefore cast off comfort, and live in such trouble as they would do if they had probable cause to expect it. There is no wife living is certain that her own Husband will not murder her the next night; nor no Child certain that the Parents will not cast them off or kill them; nor no Friend certain that his dearest Friend will not do so; And yet few but melancholy people will therefore take up sorrow, and cast ⟨p. 94⟩away all their comfort in life and peace, and in these Friends: Even these persons are their trust and joy. There is no man sure but he may be executed among Malefactors: And yet while there is no reason to expect it, a man may live a comfortable life. There is no man certain that he himself shall not fall into a particular crime of Murder, Theft, Perjury, or the like; And yet we live not therefore uncomfortably. For mens affections follow the powerfullest cause.