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,…

3. And we must needs agree, that the Ignorance of the Apostles before Christs sufferings, of his death, sacrifice, and resurrection, doth show, that the faith of the Godly Jews then, was far more general, and less particular, than the faith now required of Christians.

3. And we must needs agree, that the Ignorance of the Apostles before Christs sufferings, of his death, sacrifice, and resurrection, doth shew, that the faith of the Godly Jews then, was far more general, and less particular, than the faith now required of Christians.

4. And also, that more was required then, to be known particularly by the Jews that had the Scripture and Tradition to acquaint them with the Messiah to come, than of the rest of the world, that had not those distinct discoveries, nor Abraham's promises made known unto them: And how much Gen. 3. 15. might cause them to understand, we may conjecture by the words At least this much was required of all, that they believe that their sin deserveth punishment, and misery, and yet that God of his abundant mercy, by his Wisdom securing his Truth and Justice, will pardon sin and grant salvation to all that truly Believe and Trust in that his Wisdom and Mercy, and repent of their sins, and unfeignedly give up themselves to God as their merciful Redeemer. Thus far we are agreed about the Grace of the Covenant.

II. And as to the second sort of Communicative Grace, that is, The Promulgation of this Law of Grace, and offers of the Covenant-Benefits to man, we are and must be all agreed, 1. That (besides what Tradition sacrificing did intimate,) the first Edition of the Covenant of Grace (as is said) is universally promulgate by Providence. For whereas by the violation of the Law of Innocency, all blessings were forfeited, and all miseries deserved, and no man had any notice by that Law, of any hope or means of his recovery: on the contrary, all the world hath great abundant mercies, and are not punished according to the first Law, and therefore have sensible forgiveness of sin; and all have an inward testimony or conviction, that they are obliged to gratitude for these mercies, and also to the use of certain means (as Repentance, Prayer, &c.) in order to their farther pardon and salvation. And all this fully demonstrateth that God hath so far promulgated the old Edition of the Covenant of Grace, as to make it notorious that the world is not under the mere Law of Innocency. And to believe in a Merciful pardoning God, (as he was