A26883:4241
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,…
Richard Baxter's Catholic theology plain, pure, peaceable, for pacification of the dogmatical word-warriors who, 1. by contending about things unrevealed or not understood, 2. and by taking verbal differences for real,Richard Baxter's Catholick theologie plain, pure, peaceable, for pacification of the dogmatical word-warriours who, 1. by contending about things unrevealed or not understood, 2. and by taking verbal differences for real,
London: printed by Robert White for Nevill Simmons, 1675
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
though the unprofitable servant be da••ned, Mat•h. 25. 30. in another sense; that is, who improveth not his Masters stock to the benefit of himself and others, and the pleasing of his Ruler. VII. Mans Duty therefore meriteth only in point of Governing distributive Justice: And not every way neither in respect of that; For Governing Justice is distinguished according to the Law that governeth us: ⟨p. 231⟩which is either 1. The Law of Innocency, or 2. The Law of Grace: And no man since the fall can Merit of God according to the Justice of the Law of Innocency, which exacteth personal perfection. VIII. The Law of Grace is in its first notion, a free gift of Christ, Pardon and Right to Life Eternal by Adoption, to all that will Accept it believingly as it is offered, that is, according to the nature of the Gift. And this Gift or Conditional promise and pardon no man can merit: For Christs perfect Righteousness and Sacrifice hath already merited it for us; and so hath left us no such work to do: Nor is there the least place for any humane Merit or Rewardableness from God, but on supposition of 1. Christs Merits and Meritorious Righteousness, 2. And of this free gift or Act of Oblivion and Life, already made to us without our desert. IX. But yet this is not a mere Gift, but also a true Law: God is still our God and Governor, and Christ is Lord of all, Rom. 14. 9. He that is a King and Ruler hath his Laws and Judgement: That which is a Gift in the first respect, hath 1. Its condition, 2. Many commanded duties, and so is a Law of Grace in other respects. And it is only in respect to this Law of Grace that man is Rewardable, or can Merit. X. The Gift is from God as Benefactor, considered as Good and in it self. But it is from God as Sapiential Rector quoad ordin•m conferendi, as to the Order and Reason why one man rather than another receiveth it. So that we Merit not of God as Benefactor nor as Rector by the Law of Innocency or Works; nor yet as to the Value or Goodness of the Benefit, which is a free Gift: But only of God as Rector by the Law of Grace, which regulateth the Reception of his free gifts, merited by the perfect Righteousness of Christ, and so only as to the Order and Reason why one more than another receiveth that free gift.