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,…

The fifth Crimination.

A. ^*They show exceeding much immodesty, 1. In holding an Opinion which is contrary to the Doctrine of the universal Church, from the Apostles till of late times: neither Orthodox nor Heretic, being ever known to hold it, unless perhaps Jovinian alone, till above a thousand years after Christ. No not Augustine and his Disciples, who were thought by many to run towards an extreme in over-pleading for Grace; so that they were called by some Predestinarian Heretics. 2. And yet they have the face (instead of being ashamed of their own singularity) to revile others as heterodox, if not heretical, who will not be as singular as they, and set as light by the judgement of Christs Church.

A. ^*They shew exceeding much immodesty, 1. In holding an Opinion which is contrary to the Doctrine of the universal Church, from the Apostles till of late times: neither Orthodox nor Heretick, being ever known to hold it, unless perhaps Jovinian alone, till above a thousand years after Christ. No not Augustine and his Disciples, who were thought by many to run towards an extream in over-pleading for Grace; so that they were called by some Predestinarian Hereticks. 2. And yet they have the face (instead of being ashamed of their own singularity) to revile others as heterodox, if not heretical, who will not be as singular as they, and set as light by the judgement of Christs Church.

1. *Even Bradwardine, l. 2. c. 15. who goeth as high against Free-will as Hobs, or any man doth, yet confidently holdeth the Apostasy of Saints, though not of the Elect; and questioning what causeth perseverance in Glory, he consuteth all that lay it on any thing as sufficient but Gods Will, which he calleth his Love, and the Holy Ghost. 1. Them that lay it on the nature of Grace. 2. Or the degree of Grace. 3. Or the sight of God. 4. Or the intenseness of that sight. 5. Or the delight in God. 6. Or the degree of that Delight. 7. Or on uniting adhesion to God. 8. Or the degree of that adhesion. 9. Or on our not seeing any good which we want. 10. Or the fear of misery by sinning. 11. Or that the joy taketh away Free-will. 12. Or on a perfect beatitude in all these: All which he saith are insufficient, and Gods Will is the cause, though using these. And so in this life, men stand or fall, not because God giveth some his inward Grace (for that may be lost) and others not, but because God willeth the persevering and obedience of one, and willeth it not to another]. This is over-doing of the Champion of Grace against Free-will.