A26923:1101
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.
§. 29. 9. Yet is it the antecedent Teaching of Christ (by Nature, by the Word, or Spirit, or all) by which we now come to know God to be God, and that he is to be believed and obeyed. Therefore Christ is mens Teacher, and thereby bringeth them to believe first in God, before he is known to be their Teacher, and believed on himself. As the Sunbeams before its rising give some Light to the Earth.
§. 30. 10. God hath commanded men that hear not of Christ, the use of some means, which Mercy hath (through Christ) afforded them, which have a tendency to their Salvation, and should be used to that end. And his bare Command to use such means (much more as seconded with abundance of Mercies) tell us, that he bids not men use them in vain, or without any hope of good success (of which before).
§. 31. 11. He that heareth of Christ and believeth not, or believeth uneffectually, and is not a converted sound Believer, is under God's Command to use certain means allowed him, to procure Faith and true Conversion, and that not without all hope of good success.
§. 32. 12. It is God's ordinary way to give his first special converting Grace, to predisposed Subjects, prepared by his commoner Grace; in which Preparation some Acts of Man have their part: And the unprepared and undisposed cannot equally expect it.