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. But still our own Righteousness doth but make us such as thankful persons must be for their Justification by Christ, and is no part of that Justification by faith: For if faith it self be that Righteousness, we have not faith by faith, and faith is not imputed to faith, but Christs Righteousness is it that is imputed.

P. Of Imputation in due place; 1. What need you talk against that which none of us assert? Do we not all hold, that our personal Gospel-Righteousness is subordinate to Christs, and is by his Gift, as ou• Wisdom and Sanctification is? Who dreameth that our faith is any part of Christs Righteousness? But why do you waste time in vain cavilling against plain certain truth? Is there any thing in Name or Thing asserted by us that you can deny or question? Quest. 1. Do you deny that Scripture commandeth us to Believe that we may be justified?

P. Of Imputation in due place; 1. What need you talk against that which none of us assert? Do we not all hold, that our personal Gospel-Righteousness is subordinate to Christs, and is by his Gift, as ou• Wisdom and Sanctisication is? Who dreameth that our faith is any part of Christs Righteousness? But why do you waste time in vain cavilling against plain certain truth? Is there any thing in Name or Thing asserted by us that you can deny or question? Quest. 1. Do you deny that Scripture commandeth us to Believe that we may be justified?

Lib. No.

Lib. No.

P. Quest. 3. Date you deny, that life or death eternal dependeth on this as a Condition or Moral means? and that we shall be judged according to it?

Lib. No. I deny it not.

P. Quest. 4. Is it not a Law that thus commandeth us, and by which we must be judged?

Lib. Yes, If it were no Law; there were no duty and sin in belief and unbelief.

P. Quest. 5. Is not a man so far just and justifiable by that Law, as he keepeth it? and justifiable against the charge of being one that must be Damned, by producing the Condition of pardon and life performed?

P. Quest. 5. Is not a man so far just and justifyable by that Law, as he keepeth it? and justifyable against the charge of being one that must be Damned, by producing the Condition of pardon and life performed?

Lib. Yes, I deny it not.

P. Quest. 6. And doth not the same Law virtually justify the performer now, whom it will justify as the Rule of Judgement at last?

P. Quest. 6. And doth not the same Law virtually justifie the performer now, whom it will justifie as the Rule of Judgement at last?

Lib. Yes, no doubt.

P. Quest. 7. And is not the Name of Righteousness many score times given in Scripture to our own actions done by Grace, and measured by the New Covenant?

Lib. Yes, I cannot deny it.

P. Why then while you deny neither Name nor Thing, what wrangle you about? ⟨p. 242⟩And let me plainly tell you, that such men as you by indiscreet overdoing are not the least of Satan's instruments to bring the Gospel under scandal, and harden the world in Infidelity and the scorn of Christ; while you would so describe the Christian Religion, as if this were the very heart and sum of it [Believe that all the Elect have fulfilled perfectly all Gods Law by another, and that Christ did it as personating each of them, and therefore no crime of their own is imputable to them, nor any kind or degree of Goodness or Righteousness in and of themselves, is at least required of God, as any means or condition, of their present or future justification by their Judge, or as having any hand therein.] As if God were become indifferent what we all are, so that Christ be but Righteous▪ for us: when as it was Christs grand design to restore lapsed man to God, which he doth not only by Relative benefits, but by Renewing them to his Image in love and holy obedience.

P. Why then while you deny neither Name nor Thing, what wrangle you about? ⟨p. 242⟩And let me plainly tell you, that such men as you by indiscreet everdoing are not the least of Satans instruments to bring the Gospel under scandal, and harden the world in Infidelity and the scorn of Christ; while you would so describe the Christian Religion, as if this were the very heart and summ of it [Believe that all the Elect have fulfilled perfectly all Gods Law by another, and that Christ did it as personating each of them, and therefore no crime of their own is imputable to them, nor any kind or degree of Goodness or Righteousness in and of themselves, is at least required of God, as any means or condition, of their present or future justification by their Judge, or as having any hand therein.] As if God were become indifferent what we all are, so that Christ be but Righteous▪ for us: when as it was Christs grand design to restore lapsed man to God, which he doth not only by Relative benefits, but by Renewing them to his Image in love and holy obedience.