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,…

B. I must still call you to difference the question de re from that de nomine. Whether all should be called the Church is one question? And how really they stand related to Christ, is another. To that de re I say, 1. It is past doubt that Christ the Mediator, is the Owner and Ruler of all the world de jure, even jure Redemptionis, as all are given to him of the Father. 2. It is doubtless that all are under his foresaid Law of Grace, as that which is in force to oblige them, and to punish them if they break it, and to reward them if they keep it. For they are not Lawless nor hopeless. 3. It is doubtless that all are possessed of many and great Mercies, as well as obliged to many duties, as tending to their recovery and salvation. ⟨p. 189⟩And thus they are so far the Kingdoms of Christ. But yet de nomine they are not to be called the Church; because the Church is Regnum peculiaritatis. As the Israelites had the foedus peculiaritatis, and were Regnum peculiar before Christs coming, and yet not the only people in the world that were under a Law of Grace (for that was universal). So is it now with the Christian Churches and much more. Briefly, Christ hath three sorts of Subjects in the world; 1. Subjects quoad obligationem; and so all the world are his Subjects (because first his beneficiaries). 2. Subjects by professed Consent, which is, 1. A half consent, as many without the Church. 2. A full consent by Baptism: and these are the Church visible. 3. By sincere Heart-consent; and this is the Church mystical or regenerate that shall be saved. In this I think we are agreed.

B. I must still call you to difference the question de re from that de nomine. Whether all should be called the Church is one question? And how really they stand related to Christ, is another. To that de re I say, 1. It is past doubt that Christ the Mediator, is the Owner and Ruler of all the world de jure, even jure Redemptionis, as all are given to him of the Father. 2. It is doubtless that all are under his foresaid Law of Grace, as that which is in force to oblige them, and to punish them if they break it, and to reward them if they keep it. For they are not Lawless nor hopeless. 3. It is doubtless that all are possessed of many and great Mercies, as well as obliged to many duties, as tending to their recovery and salvation. ⟨p. 189⟩And thus they are so far the Kingdoms of Christ. But yet de nomine they are not to be called the Church; because the Church is Regnum peculiaritatis. As the Israelites had the foedus peculiaritatis, and were Regnum peculiare before Christs coming, and yet not the only people in the world that were under a Law of Grace (for that was universal). So is it now with the Christian Churches and much more. Briefly, Christ hath three sorts of Subjects in the world; 1. Subjects quoad obligationem; and so all the world are his Subjects (because first his beneficiaries). 2. Subjects by professed Consent, which is, 1. A half consent, as many without the Church. 2. A full consent by Baptism: and these are the Church visible. 3. By sincere Heart-consent; and this is the Church mystical or regenerate that shall be saved. In this I think we are agreed.