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,…

315. 11. That the Inferior sort of Means and Good, appear not always in their worth or necessity to the believer: Besides his Ignorance the remnants of Concupiscence may pervert his Judgment so far as to doubt of some means whether they are absolutely necessary, or at least, mihi hic & nunc. And this failing of the Intellect may embolden the Will to some degrees of negligence, even of known duties. And so we may doubt of some Sins whether they are Sins, and of others whether they are so great as to be inconsistent with Gods love and our Salvation; and by that failing of the Intellect to be emboldened to commit them, while yet we adhere to God and holiness in the main as such. And so small Sins are oftener committed, and with less reluctancy than greater, because we think that their badness and danger is not so great. And though at other times we be more sensible of both, yet in the time of Temptation that apprehension may be altered: For the mind of a Godly man is more mutable about the Means than about the End, and about the smaller sort of Means and Sins, than about the greater. And when the opinion changeth not, yet the practical judgment may change; or when it is not turned, it may be suspended: Or truth may be apprehended with less quickening lively feeling; and then it will not sufficiently work: As a loud call doth suscitate us to action, when a negligent whisper is neglected. And upon some of these accounts known sins when small may more stand with Grace and be oftener committed, and more dully repented of, than greater.

315. 11. That the Inferior sort of Means and Good, appear not always in their worth or necessity to the believer: Besides his Ignorance the remnants of Concupiscence may pervert his Judgment so far as to doubt of some means whether they are absolutely necessary, or at least, mihi hic & nunc. And this failing of the Intellect may embolden the Will to some degrees of negligence, even of known duties. And so we may doubt of some Sins whether they are Sins, and of others whether they are so great as to be inconsistent with Gods love and our Salvation; and by that failing of the Intellect to be emboldened to commit them, while yet we adhere to God and holiness in the main as such. And so small Sins are ofter committed, and with less reluctancy than greater, because we think that their badness and danger is not so great. And though at other times we be more sensible of both, yet in the time of Temptation that apprehension may be altered: For the mind of a Godly man is more mutable about the Means than about the End, and about the smaller sort of Means and Sins, than about the greater. And when the opinion changeth not, yet the practical judgment may change; or when it is not turned, it may be suspended: Or truth may be apprehended with less quickening lively feeling; and then it will not sufficiently work: As a loud call doth suscitate us to action, when a negligent whisper is neglected. And upon some of these accounts known sins when small may more stand with Grace and be ofter committed, and more dully repented of, than greater.