A26883:4510
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.
L. But when Cassander saith, It is used as not encroaching on grace, I take all merit to encroach upon it and injure it.
R. I ask you, Quest. 1. If you preach that [a Holy Lover of God is fitter for Heaven and Happiness in Gods love, than a wicked man, and hath a promise of it] and another preach, that [the Saints are no fitter for Gods love and happiness than the wicked, but only it's promised them without any fitness;] which would good men more dislike? I think that the first is but the very thing that most of the School Doctors mean: And that we at once abhor their words, and abhor the contrary, as they are variously presented to men. Quest. 2. And I ask you, Whether do you think it a greater Grace or Gift of God, to give a man that Holiness which shall fit him for Heaven (or as they call it Merit it,) or to give him Heaven without such Holy fitness (or merit?)
R. I ask you, Quest. 1. If you preach that [a Holy Lover of God is fitter for Heaven and Happiness in Gods love, than a wicked man, and hath a promise of it] and another preach, that [the Saints are no fitter for Gods love and happiness than the wicked, but only it's promised them without any fitness;] which would good men more dislike? I think that the first is but the very thing that most of the School Doctors mean: And that we at once abhorr their words, and abhorr the contrary, as they are variously presented to men. Quest. 2. And I ask you, Whether do you think it a greater Grace or Gift of God, to give a man that Holiness which shall fit him for Heaven (or as they call it Merit it,) or to give him Heaven without such Holy fitness (or merit?)
L. Heaven without Holiness is a contradiction. But if God could make a beast or bad man Happy without it, doubtless yet both is more than one. I had rather God would make me here fit for Heaven by holiness, than not, and so all Christians. But we all take Merit to signify somewhat which profiteth God and which is our own, and not of his gift and grace: In which I see we are mistaken.