A26883:3098
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.
The first Crimination.
C. *They make Christ to have shed his Blood in vain; even for them that he knew were to perish for ever.
- *These Objections are answered by Dall•us, Amyrald, Camero and Davenant, (Dissert. de Morte Christi) at large. And I have a full disputation on this Subject by it self. Lege Ephrem Syri Sermon. de Passione Salvatoris. Ambros. in Psal. 118. Serm. 8. Sol justitiae omnibus ortus est, omnibus venit, omnibus passus est & omnibus resurrexit: si quis autem non credit in Christum, generali beneficio ipse se fra•dat. Ut si quis clausis fenestris radios solis excludat. Prosper de Vocat. Gent. l. 2. c. 16. Nulla ratio dubitandi est Jesum Christum pro impiis mortuum, • quorum numero si aliquis liber inventus est, non est pro omnibus mortuus Christus: sed prorsus pro omnibus mortuus est Christus.
B. How prove you it to be in vain? and that God can have no end in it, but actual Salvation de eventu to each person for whom Christ died? 1. When the Scripture most clearly telleth us de facto, That Christ died for all, even for them that perish, and that he bought them that denied him; be afraid of blaspheming God, by telling him, [If Christ died for any that perish, he died in vain.] I accuse you not, but ex natura rei warn you. I durst not tell God so. 2. God made man in Adam capable of Salvation, as the very perfection and end of his faculties and nature, and put him under a conditional Covenant accordingly. And will you say that God made Adam in vain in this capacity, and made the first Promise of Life, and the Tree of Life also, in vain; because Adam, and all of us in him, did sin, and come short of the Glory of God? Nay, God made not the Devils in vain in a state of blessedness, or the way thereto, though he knew that they would forsake that state and perish. It is dangerous reproaching the Counsels and unsearchable Works of God. 3. By your own reckoning it is not in vain: For you say that Gods Justice is glorified on Unbelievers, and that this is his end. And what is that Justice, but the punishing of men for rejecting a Christ that died for them, and Grace that was procured and tendered to them? 4. But if you add all the other benefits and ends, you will see that it was not in vain. God demonstrated and so glorified his Love and Mercy to lost Mankind, in the very greatness of the Gift (of Christ, Pardon and Glory,) which the Impenitent do refuse. And Mercy is glorified notwithstanding the refusal. God giveth the Covenant aforesaid, or the conditional Grant of Pardon and Life to the World. He reprieved them, and gave them time of Repentance, and exercised Patience toward them to that end,