A26883:2036
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.
§. 2. If the question be of second causes, and of Gods operation in and by them; I answer, 1. Some things God Giveth and Doth as Rector of the World, by a Law, or according to a Law: And herein God doth equally, till man make a difference (as is aforesaid) viz. in his Legislation (though not in the promulgation) and in his Judgement. 2. Some things God Giveth and Doth, besides, as Owner and free-Benefactor: and here he primarily maketh a difference. So that there is a certain sort and measure of grace given equally, till men make a difference: And there is a sort and measure given unequally, by the mere will of God, as he diversifieth Natural things.
§. 2. If the question be of second causes, and of Gods operation in and by them; I answer, 1. Some things God Giveth and Doth as Rector of the World, by a Law, or according to a Law: And herein God doth equally, till man make a difference (as is aforesaid) viz. in his Legislation (though not in the promulgation) and in his Judgement. 2. Some things God Giveth and Doth, besides, as Owner and free-Benefactor: and here he primarily maketh a difference. So that there is a certain sort and measure of grace given equally, till men make a difference: And there is a sort and measure given unequally, by the meer will of God, as he diversifieth Natural things.
§. 3. But if the question be of the effects on the soul, those effects are, 1. Mans predisposition, 2. The divine Impress, 3. The Acts, 4. The Habits, as is said: And as to the first; God equally disposed man at first: But two Causes have filled the World with very unequal dispositions: ⟨p. 32⟩One is mans sin, corrupting themselves and their posterity more than as they are the seed of Adam (and this God is no Cause of.) The other is Gods free differencing mercy to some of equal ill desert, giving them both Greater outward helps, and Common Grace, and fewer impediments, and so more preparing them for special Grace. But no man by Indisposition is deprived of special Grace, but he that hath contracted more than he had from Adam only. And God doth not equally repair and dispose all that have viciously undisposed themselves: Though while they are here, he giveth such mercy to all, as tendeth to their recovery.