A26923:1031
An end of doctrinal controversies which have lately troubled the churches
An end of doctrinal controversies which have lately troubled the churches by reconciling explication without much disputing. Written by Richard Baxter.
London: printed for John Salusbury, 1691
Chapter 23: How Faith justifieth; and how it is imputed to us for Righteousness.
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.
§. 16. 10. Were the Question about physical Receiving, it were true, that a man is justified quatenus, as he receiveth Justification, and adopted as he receiveth Adoption, and sanctified as he receiveth Sanctification, and glorified as he receiveth Glorification, ⟨p. 272⟩and not something else; as he is rich as he receiveth Riches, and honourable as he receiveth Honour, &c. But moral acceptance of one thing is oft made the Condition of our having another thing; and here our acceptance of whole Christ is our undivided Condition-title to him and his Gifts. We are no more justified for or by consenting to be justified, than for or by consenting to be sanctified, and to learn of Christ, and obey him.
§. 17. Yea more; men use to put that into the Condition of something which the Person fain would have, which he is more backward to, and would not else do or have. A Physician useth not to say, Thou shalt be cured if thou consent to be cured; but if thou consent to take my Medicines and follow my Prescript. A Father will not say to the Child, I will give thee this Apple if thou wilt have it; but if thou wilt thank me for it, and do thy Duty: So if we might make a difference in the reason of the thing, we should say, That God saith not only, Thou shalt have Christ's righteousness, or justification by it, if thou wilt have it; no more than [Thou shalt be saved from Hell if thou wilt] (and who would not be forgiven?) But [thou shalt have Christ and Life, Pardon, Grace and Glory, if thou wilt thankfully take them together as they are, or wilt be taught and ruled by Christ, and renounce the World, the Flesh, and the Devil, and take God and Glory for thy all.]
§. 18. Christ's own righteousness being not essentially given to us in it self, but given for us; and to us in the Effects, to say, That the receiving of that which is not given, is the only justifying act of Faith, is to say, That we are not justified by Faith at all. But if they mean the Effects of Christ's Righteousness,