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,
Richard Baxter 1615–1691London: 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.
in which it is that his glory shineth: And to say that Gods Works and holy Image are not worthy (or Morally fit) to be praised, is to deny God his praise and glory on earth: He that despiseth you, despiseth me (saith Christ) and consequently him that sent me, Luke 10. 10.
Lib. Faith, Love, Holiness, Obedience, Patience are worthy that God should be praised for them, but not Man: for they are worthy as Gods works, but not as ours.
P. 1. They are none of our works as the chief agents, but only second causes under God: And are not second causes to be praised in their places and degree? Will you not praise Sun and Moon and Stars, and all Gods works, that he may be praised for them? Do you not praise a good Servant, a good Horse or Dog, a good House or Land? yea, and your Friend or Teacher? Do you not praise your own party, when you say that they are wiser and better than others?
2. Believe and regard the Word of God. Do none of these Texts following speak of Praise as due to men, in subordination to God? Deut. 26. 18, 19. The Lord hath avouched thee this day to be his peculiar people, and to make thee high above all Nations, in Praise, and in Name, and in Honour, and that thou mayest be an holy people to the Lord thy God. Prov. 27. 21. As is the fining pot for Silver, and the furnace for Gold, so is a man to his praise. Isa. 62. 7. Give him no rest till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth.
. They that by well doing, seek for glory, and honour, and immortality, eternal life: Glory, honour and peace to every man that worketh good. & 9. 21. & 12. 10. & 13. 7.
. Do you believe and regard no one of all these words of God?
P. 1. They are none of our works as the chief agents, but only second causes under God: And are not second causes to be praised in their places and degree? Will you not praise Sun and Moon and Stars, and all Gods works, that he may be praised for them? Do you not praise a good Servant, a good Horse or Dog, a good House or Land? yea, and your Friend or Teacher? Do you not praise your own party, when you say that they are wiser and better than others?
2. Believe and regard the Word of God. Do none of these Texts following speak of Praise as due to men, in subordination to God? Deut. 26. 18, 19. The Lord hath avouched thee this day to be his peculiar people, and to make thee high above all Nations, in Praise, and in Name, and in Honour, and that thou maist be an holy people to the Lord thy God. Prov. 27. 21. As is the fining pot for Silver, and the furnace for Gold, so is a man to his praise. Isa. 62. 7. Give him no rest till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth. Zeph. 3. 19, 20. I will get them praise in every land, &c. I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth. Rom. 2. 29. Whose praise is not of men, but of God. John▪ 12. 43. They loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. 1 Cor. 4. 5. Then shall every man have praise of God. 2 Cor. 8. 18. The brother whose praise is in the Gospel, &c. Phil. 4. 8. If there be any praise, think of these things. 1 Pet. 2. 14. Governours are sent by him for the praise of them that do well. See Prov. 27. 2. & 28. 4. & 31. 30, 31. 1 Cor. 11. 2. Prov. 29. 23. Honour shall uphold the humble in spirit. & 21. 21. He findeth life, righteousness and honour. Psal. 149. 4. This honour have all his Saints. Prov. 3. 16. & 4. 8. & 8. 18. & 15. 33. & 20. 3. & 22. 4. Eccles. 10. 1. John 5. 44. Rom. 2. 7, 10. They that by well doing, seek for glory, and honour, and immortality, eternal life: Glory, honour and peace to every man that worketh good. & 9. 21. & 12. 10. & 13. 7. 1 Tim. 5. 17. The Elders that rule well are accounted worthy of double honour. & 1 Tim. 6. 1. 1 Sam. 2. 30. Them that honour me, I will honour. Psal. 91. 15. John 12. 26. If any man serve me, him will my Father honour. 1 Pet. 2. 17. Prov. 13. 18. Do you believe and regard no one of all these words of God?
P. 1. Have I told you that he himself calleth his servants worthy? and will you contradict Gods Word? 2. Dare you yet deny any thing to be worthy to be called what it indeed is? Is not a Christian worthy to be called a Christian? and a sober man to be called a sober man, and an honest man to be called an honest man? Must humility make us liars? Tell me, Are you worthy your self to be accounted and called an Infidel, a Heathen, an Apostate, a Heretic, a wicked ungodly man, that never repented, nor did good?
P. 1. Have I told you that he himself calleth his servants worthy? and will you contradict Gods Word? 2. Dare you yet deny any thing to be worthy to be called what it indeed is? Is not a Christian worthy to be called a Christian? and a sober man to be called a sober man, and an honest man to be called an honest man? Must humility make us lyars? Tell me, Are you worthy your self to be accounted and called an Infidel, a Heathen, an Apostate, a Heretick, a wicked ungodly man, that never repented, nor did good?
P. Must God and man account you such as you are not fit or worthy to be accounted? And will you go on to accuse and contradict Gods Word? Your fancy hath got some harsh conceit of the sense of the word [Worthy] and that cometh still into your mind, as if it meant a worthiness which supposed not that all that we have is of mercy and grace: when the Scripture meaneth no such worthiness, but such as is that of a loving, dutiful, thankful Child, of the inheritance; A moral fitness.
Lib. Well, suppose that our actions and we are worthy of Praise, that is, to be called as they are; yet they are worthy also of dispraise, that is, to be accounted as menstruous rags, defiled with sin, and deserving Hell; and is not this a pitiful praise?
Lib. Well, suppose that our actions and we are worthy of Praise, that is, to be called as they are; yet they are worthy also of dispraise, that is, to be accounted as menstruous rags, defiled with sin, and deserving Hell; and is not this a pittiful praise?
P. Did you ever hear us deny any of this? Why talk you of that which we are all agreed in? But 1. It is not holiness, but the faulty imperfections of it, and the sin that is contrary to it, which deserveth Hell. 2. And the faults of sincere believers deserve not Hell according to the Law of Grace, by which we are to be judged, so as to be liable to it, but only so as to be accounted condemnable, had we not been pardoned.
P. Did you ever hear us deny any of this? Why talk you of that which we are all agreed in? But 1. It is not holiness, but the faulty imperfections of it, and the sin that is contrary to it, which deserveth Hell. 2. And the faults of sincere believers deserve not Hell according to the Law of Grace, by which we are to be judged, so as to be lyable to it, but only so as to be accounted condemnable, had we not been pardoned.
P. All these words your obstinacy hath put me to use, to convince you that Faith and Holiness is worthy of any thing at all, and that the word [Worthy] which God himself useth of them, is not abused by God, nor false. But what it is that God will account the righteous worthy of, the Scripture must determine; where I have showed you before that the words are plain. They are counted worthy of God, 1 Thess. 2. 12. and of his Kingdom, 2 Thess. 1. 5. Worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection, Luke 20. 35. They shall walk with Christ in white, for they are worthy.
P. All these words your obstinacy hath put me to use, to convince you that Faith and Holiness is worthy of any thing at all, and that the word [Worthy] which God himself useth of them, is not abused by God, nor false. But what it is that God will account the righteous worthy of, the Scripture must determine; where I have shewed you before that the words are plain. They are counted worthy of God, 1 Thess. 2. 12. and of his Kingdom, 2 Thess. 1. 5. Worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection, Luke 20. 35. They shall walk with Christ in white, for they are worthy.
P. To end this tedious talk with one that seemeth loth to understand, say Yea or Nay to these two questions. 1. Do you allow of the use of the word [Worthy]?
