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,…

Lib. Seeing you like not my explications, tell me fully what you hold your selves, and then I shall better know whether we differ in sense or words only.

P. It's great pity for the Churches sake, but you would have understood that first, before you reviled us as Legal, and not have spoken evil of what you understand not. But it's better now, than not at all. Our judgement is as followeth: I. That God hath three Essential Attributes, which he expresseth and glorifieth in his works; His Vital Power or Activity, his Wisdom, and his Will or Love: That all these are and operate conjunctly; but yet each appeareth in eminency in its special effects: That Gods Power eminently appeareth in the Being and Motion of things; and his Wisdom eminently in the ORDER of things; and his LOVE in the Goodness and Perfection of things: That accordingly he is, 1. The first Efficient, 2. The chief Dirigent, 3. The ultimate Final Cause of all. II. That as to man, he is Related to us, 1. As our Creator, the Cause of our Being, Nature and natural Motion, as the Fountain of Nature: where Power is most Eminent. 2. As our Governor, and the God of ORDER, and the Dirigent Cause; where (all Attributes concur, but) Wisdom is most Eminent: 3. As our most Bounteous Benefactor, and most Amiable Good and End, where Goodness or Love is most eminent. III. That accordingly God is the Author of Nature, Grace and Glory; and since the fall, of Natura, Medela, Sanitas, of our Nature, our ORDER and Gracious Government, and of our Holiness and Happiness; and so is our Creator, Redeemer and Sanctifier. IV. That neither Man, Angel or any Creature can possibly have any good, but by Gods gift, any more than they can make themselves or a World: And this Gift must needs be free, seeing the Creature hath nothing that is good, but what it hath of God, and nothing to give him that can add to him, or but what is absolutely his own. V. God is to us 1. Our OWNER, 2. Our RULER, 3. Our BENEFACTOR antecedently. And no man can Merit of God as he is an Owner or a mere Benefactor; for so he freely disposeth as he pleaseth of his own: But only of God as a Ruler, as is after opened. VI. Therefore it is blasphemy to hold that man or Angel can Merit of God in point of proper Commutative Justice, which giveth in exchange one thing for another, to the benefit of the receiver: For as is said, God cannot Receive any addition to his perfection, nor have we any thing but his own to give him.