A26923:1058
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
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.
§. 2. I. Some pleaded so much for the usefulness of Uncertainty and Doubting, as if it were the safest condition to keep us humble and watchful, as excited Luther and other Reformers to take them for utter Enemies to Christian Comfort. And certainly Assurance is a most desirable thing; it kindleth in us the love of God; it maketh Duty sweet; it maketh Sufferings easy, and Death less terrible, and Heaven more desired, and consequently cureth an earthly Mind, and leadeth man to a heavenly Conversation, and putteth Life into all his Endeavours: Whereas a man that is still utterly in doubt of his state of Salvation, and right to Life, will be loath to die, and therefore love this present World, and have less thankful and loving Thoughts of God and his Redeemer, and so all sin will have advantage, and Holiness a great impediment. An Infidel will confess, that such Assurance is exceeding desirable.
§. 2. I. Some pleaded so much for the usefulness of Uncertainty and Doubting, as if it were the safest condition to keep us humble and watchful, as excited Luther and other Reformers to take them for utter Enemies to Christian Comfort. And certainly Assurance is a most desirable thing; it kindleth in us the love of God; it maketh Duty sweet; it maketh Sufferings easie, and Death less terrible, and Heaven more desired, and consequently cureth an earthly Mind, and leadeth man to a heavenly Conversation, and putteth Life into all his Endeavours: Whereas a man that is still utterly in doubt of his state of Salvation, and right to Life, will be loath to die, and therefore love this present World, and have less thankful and loving Thoughts of God and his Redeemer, and so all sin will have advantage, and Holiness a great impediment. An Infidel will confess, that such Assurance is exceeding desirable.
§. 3. II. And no doubt but a comfortable degree of Assurance is attainable, or else God would never have so fully differenced the Righteous and the Wicked, and commanded all to examine and try themselves, and to make sure: But this I have often elsewhere proved.