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,…

CHAP. VIII. Of Faiths Justifying as an Instrument.

P. VII. And I have said so much in the foresaid Disputations of Justification and other Books, of Faiths Instrumentality and the reason of its Justifying interest, that I cannot persuade my self now to talk it out with you all over again; but only to say, 1. That I have fully oft proved from many plain Scriptures, that pardon and salvation are given (with Christ) in the Covenant of Grace, on Condition of a penitent believing fiducial acceptance. And therefore that it is most certain that faith is a Condition of our Justification; and so to be profest in Baptism. 2. The name of An Instrument given to faith, and its Justifying as an Instrument, are of mens devising, and not in Gods Word. 3. But as to the sense, It is certain that faith is no Instrument of our Justification (Gods or Mans,) if it be meant properly of an Instrumental efficient cause. 4. But if it be taken Metaphorically, for an Act whose Nature or essence is An Acceptance of a free Gift, and so by Instrumentality be meant the [Greek or Hebrew] credere, that is, Faiths very Essence in specie, then no doubt it is what it is. 5. Or if by an Instrument be meant, A Moral aptitude or Disposition of the person to be justified (answerable to the Dispositio Recipientis vel materiae in Physics) then it is such an Instrument. But how well this is worded, and what cause there is to contend for a word both of humane invention and metaphorical, and this as if it were a weighty Doctrine, I leave to sober judgements. 6. But it is certain that the Accepting Act of faith is but its Aptitude to be the condition of the Gift, and therefore that its being made by Christ the Condition is its Moral nearest interest in our Justification.

P. VII. ANd I have said so much in the foresaid Disputations of Justification and other Books, of Faiths Instrumentality and the reason of its Justifying interest, that I cannot perswade my self now to talk it out with you all over again; but only to say, 1. That I have fully oft proved from many plain Scriptures, that pardon and salvation are given (with Christ) in the Covenant of Grace, on Condition of a penitent believing fiducial acceptance. And therefore that it is most certain that faith is a Condition of our Justification; and so to be profest in Baptism. 2. The name of An Instrument given to faith, and its Justifying as an Instrument, are of mens devising, and not in Gods Word. 3. But as to the sense, It is certain that faith is no Instrument of our Justification (Gods or Mans,) if it be meant properly of an Instrumental efficient cause. 4. But if it be taken Metaphorically, for an Act whose Nature or essence is An Acceptance of a free Gift, and so by Instrumentality be meant the credere, that is, Faiths very Essence in specie, then no doubt it is what it is. 5. Or if by an Instrument be meant, A Moral aptitude or Disposition of the person to be justified (answerable to the Dispositio Recipientis vel materiae in Physicks) then it is such an Instrument. But how well this is worded, and what cause there is to contend for a word both of humane invention and metaphorical, and this as if it were a weighty Doctrine, I leave to sober judgements. 6. But it is certain that the Accepting Act of faith is but its Aptitude to be the condition of the Gift, and therefore that its being made by Christ the Condition is its Moral nearest interest in our Justification.