A26883:1863
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.
§. 17. It is certain that Christ is the Political Cause or Head of this spiritual Influx on souls: that is, As Mediator is Authorized to determine of the Persons, measure, time, conditions, of the Communication of the Spirit: But whether he be a Physical Head of this Influx, by proper efficiency giving the Spirit from himself, as the Sun giveth us its Influx, is all that is disputable. That is, Whether the Spirit be first given Inherently to Christ, and pass from his person (as his) unto us, as the Spirits do from the Head to the Members?
§. 18. This question may be put, either of all Natural Being and Motion, or only of Spiritual Motion in the soul of man. Whether Christ be so the Head of Nature, as that all Nature in Heaven and Earth, is sustained and actuated by him as the physical efficient Cause? or whether this be true of this Lower World which was curst for sin? or whether it be true, at least of Humane nature? or whether it be true only of Gracious operations?
§. 19. 1. That Christ hath the Political dispose of the whole Universe (contained in the words Heaven and Earth) the Scripture seemeth to assert. 2. That he hath the Political disposal of humane nature, and of all other creatures that belong to man, so far as they belong to him (Angels, Devils, Sun, Air, Earth, &c. is past dispute. 3. That the real physical effects (acts and habits) of the Spirit on mens souls, are caused by Christs Moral Causation by his Merit, and his Political Mission, is past dispute. 4. That besides all this, the Spirit it self by Baptism is in Covenant with all the members of Christ, and that as they are such, and is in a prior Covenant first Related to Christ himself, and so by this Covenant given us in relation as we are united to Christ, is past dispute. 5. And that Christ himself doth make such Physical changes on our souls by Means, and by the foresaid Political Mission of the Spirit, by which we are made Receptive of more of the Spirits operations, is past dispute. 6. But whether moreover, any Action of Christs own Humane soul glorified do physically reach our souls? or whether the Holy Ghost may in its own essential Virtue (which is every where) be said to be more in Christ than elsewhere and communicated to us as from the root, or the Spirits effects on the soul to come by Reflection from the first effects on Christ, as Light and Heat from the Sun by a Speculum or Burning-glass, are questions not for me to determine.