A26892:1660
A Christian Directory
A Christian directory, or, A sum of practical theology and cases of conscience directing Christians how to use their knowledge and faith, how to improve all helps and means, and to perform all duties, how to overcome temptations, and to escape or mortify every sin : in four parts ... / by Richard Baxter.A Christian directory, or, A summ of practical theologie and cases of conscience directing Christians how to use their knowledge and faith, how to improve all helps and means, and to perform all duties, how to overcome temptations, and to escape or mortifie every sin : in four parts ... / by Richard Baxter.
London: printed by Robert White for Nevill Simmons, 1673
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
Object. But at least it will follow, that in this or that person as the Devils, God loveth the substance better than Holiness: For what he Willeth he Loveth: But he Willeth the substance without the Holiness: Therefore he Loveth the substance without the holiness.
Answ. It is answered already. Moreover 1. God willed that Holiness should be the Duty of all men and Devils, though he willed not insuperably and absolutely to effect it. 2. The word [without] meaneth either an Exclusion or a meer non-inclusion. God willeth not the Person excluding the Holiness. For he excludeth it not by will or work; but only he willeth the Person, not including the Holiness, as to any absolute will. And so God loveth the person without the Holiness; but not so much as he would love him if he were holy.
Object. But you intimate, that it is best as to the beauty of the Universe, that there be sin, and unholiness, and damnation: And God loveth that which is Good as to the Universe, yea, that is a Higher Good than personal Good, as the subject is more noble; and therefore more to be loved of us as it is of God.
Answ. 1. I know Augustine is oft alleged as saying, Bonum est ut malum fiat. But sin and punishment must be distinguished: It is true of Punishment presupposing sin, that it is Good and Lovely, in respect to public Ends, though hurtful to the person suffering: And therefore as God willeth it as Good, so should we not only be patient, but be pleased in it as it is the demonstration of the Justice and Holiness of God, and as it is Good, though not as it is our hurt. But sin (or unholiness privative) is not Good in it self, nor to the Universe: Nor is it a true saying, that It is good that there be sin: Nor is it willed of God. (Though not nilled with an absolute effective