A26923:1071
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 25: Of good Works and Merit, and trusting to any thing of our own.
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.
CHAP. XXV. Of good Works and Merit, and trusting to any thing of our own.
§. 1. Here are several Controversies that trouble our Peace, but few of them that are so great as they are commonly imagined: ⟨p. 283⟩As, 1. What are good Works (which indeed is of great weight, and the chief in which we really differ about Works.) 2. Whether they are necessary to Justification or Salvation. 3. Whether they are meritorious or rewardable. 4. What place they have, and what is their use and necessity. 5. Whether we may trust to them.
§. 1. HEre are several Controversies that trouble our Peace, but few of them that are so great as they are commonly imagined: ⟨p. 283⟩As, 1. What are good Works (which indeed is of great weight, and the chief in which we really differ about Works.) 2. Whether they are necessary to Justification or Salvation. 3. Whether they are meritorious or rewardable. 4. What place they have, and what is their use and necessity. 5. Whether we may trust to them.
§. 2. I. It is one of the Devil's chief Policies in the World, to cast out Christ's Interest by its Counterfeits: To expugn true Wisdom by counterfeit Wisdom, and true Faith by counterfeit Faith, and true Zeal and Piety by counterfeit Zeal and Piety, and true Unity, and Concord, and Peace, by their Counterfeits, and true Worship, Ministry, Discipline, by their Counterfeits; and true Comfort by counterfeit Comfort; and so also it is by counterfeit good Works, that good Works are oft cast off.