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,…

C. You did well to remember that: For I was offended that you called that Different Grace, Extraordinary.

B. I say again, to conclude, I will earnestly entreat you to take heed of these few errors in your foundation here, that they mislead not your understanding in all the controversy. I. Do not think that God must needs act ad ultimum posse in all his operations: It's certain that as to many possible effects, he doth omnino non agere (as to make more Suns, more Men, more Worlds) And if he can therein totally not act, he can act limitedly or in tantum only as he freely will. II. Do not think these degrees of Operation as various ex parte Dei, for they are but his most simple essence. Nor do not Imagine that there is a certain Vis media called Grace, which is somewhat Causal between the Creator and the Creature. I doubt such a wrong conceit lieth at the bottom of all these disputes; and men think that besides Gods essence, and the effects on the Soul, there is some middle force or cause called Grace, which is neither God, nor a Creature; whose kind and degree they enquire after.^* III. Do not overlook the Glory that God designeth to himself in his SAPIENTIAL Kingdom, Government, and operations, I doubt some think so much of Strength and Power alone, as if they thought God were Glorified by nothing else, or more in an Ox, or Horse than in a Man. And whatever is ascribed to Gods Sapiential operation, they contemptuously call, A Moral Causing, and not a Physical: As if God must move men as he doth the air, the water, or a stone. Remember that though Gods Omnipotent Activity, his Wisdom and his Will, do still inseparably co-operate, yet they have each its eminent Impress, Effect and Glory. And so the frame of Nature is the Glorious Impress of Omnipotency, with Wisdom and Love: The Kingdom of God on earth, especially of Grace, is the Glorious work of the Wisdom of God, directly governing Man as a Moral agent by Moral means: And the Kingdom of Glory, as foretasted on Earth, and perfect in Heaven, is ⟨p. 196⟩the glorious work of Divine Love. Separate not these, nor undervalue or dishonour any one of them; But study the Glory of Gods Sapiential Kingdom and works. And remember that Moral Means, and Moral Operations of God, are not unsuitable to the Government of Moral Agents, in Moral works. IV. Forget not the great difference between the way of operation suitable to such a Moral Rector as such, and to a mere Proprietor or Actor, and Benefactor.