A26883:670
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.
405. If Mr. Perkins, Beza, Gilbie and many other good men had well considered this, they had never made the glorifying of Gods Mercy and Justice in the salvation of some and the damnation of others, Gods ultimate end; Thereby committing many palpable errours. 1. Making quid Creatum vel Creaturae to be formally or properly Gods end, which is but a Means. 2. Making one little parcel of that means, to be the end. 3. Inserting two acts or parts only of that which they themselves confess to be but Means. For what should the names of Salvation and Damnation do in the description of the end? Are they any part of the end? Why is not Redemption, Justification, Sanctification, Preservation, Resurrection, &c. as well put in? Is he not Glorified in them as well as in final salvation or damnation? Yea and in Creation and the fr•me of nature too? Yea why is not the glory of Angels, and all the world put in, as part of the same means to his end?
406. If it be said that it is only Gods Glory of Mercy and Justice in men• salvation and damnation which is the end of Redemption, Conversion, Preaching, Ordinances, Sanctification, Adoption, &c. 1. I deny it: His Power, Wisdom and Goodness, and his forementioned subordinate attributes are thereby Glorified also. 2. It is an injury to God unworthy of a Divine, to make God to have as many distinct ultimate ends, as they think there are particular aptitudes or tendencies in the means.
407. For undoubtedly we must feign in God no more ultimate ends than one. And undoubtedly the means consisting of innumerable parts, make up one perfect whole, in which Gods Glory shineth so, as it doth not in any part alone. And he that will cut Gods frame into scraps and shreds, and set up the parts as so many wholes, will more dishonour him than he that would so mangle a Picture, or a Watch, or Clock, or House, or the pipes of an Organ, or the strings of a Lute, and tell you of their beauty and Harmony only distinctly. Well therefore did Dr. Twice reduce all the Decrees de mediis to one: But they are one in their apt composition for one end: And the Glory of Sun, and Stars, and Angels, and the whole Creation is a part, and the Glory of our salvation and damnation is but another part.