A26883:851
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.
562. 6. And Reason telleth us (what the Schoolmen oft say) that God who showeth us that he delighteth in wonderful variety of his creatures, doth very fitly thus beautify the Universe by a middle rank of creatures, that stand between Confirmed Angels, and the Brutes, viz. Intellectual-free-agents, left to a natural Power of free choosing or refusing, without necessitation, in the midst of various objects, to prepare them by trial for a better state.
562. 6. And Reason telleth us (what the Schoolmen oft say) that God who sheweth us that he delighteth in wonderful variety of his creatures, doth very fitly thus beautifie the Universe by a middle rank of creatures, that stand between Confirmed Angels, and the Brutes, viz. Intellectual-free-agents, left to a natural Power of free choosing or refusing, without necessitation, in the midst of various objects, to prepare them by tryal for a better state.
563. 7. And note too, that we say not that Gods predetermination of mans will destroyeth its best Liberty: God can predetermine the will to Good as he doth the Angels, as a great blessing and felicity: To predetermine the will physically, is to end that Liberty to that particular act, which consisted partly in being undetermined: But that Liberty which consisteth in deliverance from all true evil, is increased by such a Gracious predetermination: And therefore Jansenius pleadeth only for the necessity of predetermination to Good by medicinal Grace, and not to Evil, or mere Natural actions. Yet we say, that even to Good, God can procure the will to determine it self, by moral means, which infinite Wisdom can sufficiently improve. But it is only 1. A natural power to act without predetermination from God or Others, 2. And a Liberty of Condition, from all predetermination ab extra, to evil (from God or Creatures) which I here assert and plead for in this cause.
563. 7. And note too, that we say not that Gods predetermination of mans will destroyeth its best Liberty: God can predetermine the will to Good as he doth the Angels, as a great blessing and felicity: To predetermine the will physically, is to end that Liberty to that particular act, which consisted partly in being undertermined: But that Liberty which consisteth in deliverance from all true evil, is increased by such a Gracious predetermination: And therefore Jansenius pleadeth only for the necessity of predetermination to Good by medicinal Grace, and not to Evil, or meer Natural actions. Yet we say, that even to Good, God can procure the will to determine it self, by moral means, which infinite Wisdom can sufficiently improve. But it is only 1. A natural power to act without predetermination from God or Others, 2. And a Liberty of Condition, from all predetermination ab extra, to evil (from God or Creatures) which I here assert and plead for in this cause.