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,…

A. I. I have known my self some fall to Socinianism, Arianism, yea Infidelity, denying Christ, or his Godhead, (which is his chief Essence) and the Scriptures, (and therefore sure had no saving Grace then, and died so) who had forty years lived in as eminent Piety, Humility, diligence in all religious Duties, charity to others, neglect of the World, and patient suffering for their Religion oft times, as almost any men that ever I knew. And that they did not dissemble, not only their constancy, suffering and whole Conversation showed, but my own intimacy with them assured me, by which I knew the very thoughts of their hearts. Some of them were not of judgments clear and strong enough to discern the fallacies of Deceivers: Others of them were naturally too hasty in judging; And some were carried away by the advantages of the constant company of extraordinary able and insinuating Seducers. But divers of them, even after they apostatized, did continue so much strictness of life and charity to all men, and religiousness in their Theism, and Infidel way, and neglect of the World, as convinced me, that it was more the insufficiency of their judgments, than the hypocrisy of their hearts, which was the cause of their Apostasy. Now by the Calvinists Doctrine, none of these men were ever in a state of Grace: And of the strictest Professors round about us, there is not one of many hundreds that goeth so far as they did. And all these must be left uncertain of their Justification, till they are certain that they went beyond them all? yea and certain that they are unjustified, while they are certain that they came short of any one of them.

A. I. I have known my self some fall to Socinianism, Arrianism, yea Infidelity, denying Christ, or his Godhead, (which is his chief Essence) and the Scriptures, (and therefore sure had no saving Grace then, and died so) who had forty years lived in as eminent Piety, Humility, diligence in all religious Duties, charity to others, neglect of the World, and patient suffering for their Religion oft times, as almost any men that ever I knew. And that they did not dissemble, not only their constancy, suffering and whole Conversation shewed, but my own intimacy with them assured me, by which I knew the very thoughts of their hearts. Some of them were not of judgments clear and strong enough to discern the fallacies of Deceivers: Others of them were naturally too hasty in judging; And some were carried away by the advantages of the constant company of extraordinary able and insinuating Seducers. But divers of them, even after they apostatized, did continue so much strictness of life and charity to all men, and religiousness in their Theism, and Infidel way, and neglect of the World, as convinced me, that it was more the insufficiency of their judgments, than the hypocrisie of their hearts, which was the cause of their Apostacy. Now by the Calvinists Doctrine, none of these men were ever in a state of Grace: And of the strictest Professors round about us, there is not one of many hundreds that goeth so far as they did. And all these must be left uncertain of their Justification, till they are certain that they went beyond them all? yea and certain that they are unjustified, while they are certain that they came short of any one of them.