A26923:1036
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.
§. 21. II. The second Question I had never troubled the World about so much as I have done, had I not found too many Protestants scandalize the Papists, by laying too much on the Nation of Instrumentality, ill explained. But the judicious are here all in sense of the same mind.
§. 21. II. The second Question I had never troubled the World about so much as I have done, had I not found too many Protestants scandalize the Papists, by laying too much on the Nation of Instrumentality, ill explained. But the judicious are here all in sence of the same mind.
§. 22. For by an Instrument they mean not, 1. an instrumental efficient Cause of Justification: 2. Nor of making Christ's Righteousness ours: For we give it not to our selves. 3. But they take the word Instrument mechanically or less accurately, and tell us, that they mean a receiving Instrument, as a Boy *catcheth a Ball in his Hat: But so as that it is a moral Instrument, that is, both materially a moral act, and the Instrument of a moral not physical reception.
- *Dr. Kendall.Dr. Kendal.
§. 23. But when they have all done, they do but entangle and trouble themselves and others with an unapt Logical notion: For (as it is so easy to ⟨p. 274⟩confute the gross Conceit, That Faith is an instrumental efficient Cause (either God's or Man's) of our Justification; (which I have done so oft, that I will here pretermit it, so) this Notion of a Passive Instrument is unapt, because, 1. The Act of Assent is essential to this justifying Faith, as well as Acceptance; and so is Trust, which yet are no more Instrumental in reception, than many other Acts, even Love, Desire, Hope. 2. Because our Consent to other things, as well as to be justified, and our Faith in God the Father, are as truly the Condition of our Justification, as our Consent to be justified. 3. And because this Metaphorical use of the Word Instrument, leadeth people to dream of proper Instrumentality, and misleadeth them from the apter Notions: The Covenant-Donation is the justifying Instrument.