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,…

P. If God have no respect to anything in our duties in his reward, tell me, 1. Why are they said so oft to Please him? and we are commanded to do those things that Please him? and 1 Joh. he heareth us because we do those things that Please him. 2. And why then doth he not as well, for Christs merits or Righteousness, reward our sinning, our folly and vanity, our idleness, our dreams, or all our natural indifferent actions, as our Love, and holiness? 3. And why do you and all men regard or reward a loving thankful obedient child, more than one that will scorn you and spit in your face? And why do all Princes and Rulers make any difference between the righteous and the wicked, a rogue and an honest man? And why do Churches so strictly try the Godliness of their members? Why do you make any difference in your Communion? What meaneth Church discipline? And why are you your selves so desirous to be esteemed Godly persons, and differenced from others, if God himself do make no difference? And how is the righteous more excellent than his neighbour? and called Gods jewels and the apple of his eye, his peculiar people, a holy Nation, and his treasure? And why is it made the mark of a faithful man, Psal. 15. 4. that a vile person is contemned in his eyes, but he honoureth them that fear the Lord, if there be nothing in holiness and obedience any more than in sin, for God to reward?

Lib. You delight to make me seem foolish, by your Cavilling! You might easily understand that I did not mean that good works are no more Rewardable than Idleness or Evil: But that they are not rewarded for their proper worthiness, as being faulty and so unjustifiable with God; but it is for the merits of the Righteousness of Christ, imputed to believers.

P. When you understand what you should say, you will speak intelligibly: But be not angry that your confusion is laid open to you. About Merit and Imputation we must speak distinctly afterwards. That no works of ours are Rewardable till their faultiness is pardoned, nor Rewardable according to the Law of Innocency, nor upon any terms but those of the Covenant of Grace, which freely giveth salvation to penitent believing accepters, which free gift, and acceptance of our duties, is purchased by the meritorious righteousness of Christ; all this we hold as fast as you do. We dream not of any access to God but by a Mediator, nor of any acceptance of our selves or our duties, works or righteousness, but on the