A26883:2515
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.
XVI. Christs grace is necessary only to Love God sincerely in every act of obedience, and only this Love and Suavity is Christs grace, whatever other graces or acts as to the name it is found in. li. 5. c. 1. For nothing is good that is done only by Fear, and not in Love of Justice. The Justice Loved is not any habit or act of the soul, but God the Eternal Justice. c. 2. and the Justice of his Precepts. Virtue is nothing but the Love of God. c. 3. The four Cardinal Virtues are fourfold Love of God: And so all others. c. 4, 5.
XVII. By the Love of God is not meant only that degree by which we Love him above all, but true sincere Love of God for himself, and not ullius creaturae intuitu: which is either Imperfect, not Loving him so well as the creature, (but only to an uneffectual Velleity) which yet how remiss and small soever, is the true and chaste fruit of the Love of God, even amoris amicitiae: or more perfect, which justifieth. The first is quaedam dilectio justitiae quasi simplex ejus complacentia, quae non eo usque increverit, ut adversantia isti bonae voluntati valeat superare. This goeth usually first, and sinners find a good will to goodness, and like it, and many years perhaps are wishing and purposing to leave their sins for it, and turn to God, till at last Love prevaileth. And this though imperfect, is true sincere Love, not from a perfect habit, but from the excitation of the Holy Ghost: It hath the same object as perfect Love, that is, Justice for Justice, or God for God, not loved on consideration of any other reward: which proveth it sincere Love. Such wish to live chastely, temperately, justly, but cannot come to it. Out of this imperfect love, springs faith; faith may be habitually many years before Justification: Justification is the grace of perfect Love to God above all: Hope and Perfect Love also come from this initial Love. c. 7, 8, 9.