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,…

And the world knoweth that the famosius significatum here is a Law ut signum voluntatis imperantis constituens debitum, as an instrument of Government; And that Sanctity of heart is the effect of the doctrine, and a disposition to obey; and is called a Law but in tropical sense. But indeed Paul oft describeth the Gospel as in the heart, and the Law as a thing; But that contradicts not what I say: but it was because the New Testament was not then much of it, if any, written and received in the Churches as Gods Law: But Baptism expounded by word of mouth (in the three Articles) was the Christianity which Paul bid Timothy keep and commit to faithful men that might teach it. The Christian Religion was by word committed to mens memory first, and so to their hearts before it was put in writing: But yet it was primarily and properly a Law, ut signum obligans, and but metonymically as the soul was holy by it. The Law was one thing, even in the mind and memory, and the Love of God and it another, though called a Law. But from this notion (that the old Law was a writing, and the new Law was the spirit in us) no wonder if Aquinas gathered, that the word Justify chiefly signified to make us Good and holy persons; and that our Holiness being our real aptitude for our Glorifying and pleasing God, and so for our Happiness therein, was to be called our merit; meaning thereby but that same fitness for the End o• Reward, which Scripture calleth worthiness, and all religious Preachers and people among us zealously ⟨p. 273⟩defend in other notions, where the Papists are forgotten.

And the world knoweth that the famosius significatum here is a Law ut signum voluntatis imperantis constituens debitum, as an instrument of Government; And that Sanctity of heart is the effect of the doctrine, and a disposition to obey; and is called a Law but in tropical sense. But indeed Paul oft describeth the Gospel as in the heart, and the Law as a thing; But that contradicts not what I say: but it was because the New Testament was not then much of it, if any, written and received in the Churches as Gods Law: But Baptism expounded by word of mouth (in the three Articles) was the Christianity which Paul bid Timothy keep and commit to faithful men that might teach it. The Christian Religion was by word committed to mens memory first, and so to their hearts before it was put in writing: But yet it was primarily and properly a Law, ut signum obligans, and but metonymically as the soul was holy by it. The Law was one thing, even in the mind and memory, and the Love of God and it another, though called a Law. But from this notion (that the old Law was a writing, and the new Law was the spirit in us) no wonder if Aquinas gathered, that the word Justifie chiefly signified to make us Good and holy persons; and that our Holiness being our real aptitude for our Glorifying and pleasing God, and so for our Happiness therein, was to be called our merit; meaning thereby but that same fitness for the End o Reward, which Scripture calleth worthiness, and all religious Preachers and people among us zealously