A26923:1105
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.
§. 33. 13. Faith and Repentance are Acts of Man, and pre-requisite to Justification: Therefore as Acts and Works are words of the same sense, so Works, even Works of Special Grace are pre-requisite to Justification.
§. 33. 13. Faith and Repentance are Acts of Man, and pre-requisite to Justification: Therefore as Acts and Works are words of the same sence, so Works, even Works of Special Grace are pre-requisite to Justification.
Obj. But not as Acts, but for the Object?
Answ. That's a contradiction. Christ is Christ whether we believe in him or not; and it's one thing to say Christ is necessary, and another thing to say, Believing in him is necessary: It is not necessary merely as an Act in genere, but as this Act in specie; and it is specified (as is aforesaid) by its Object. Not only Christ believed in, but Believing in Christ is pre-requisite as a moral disposition to Justification: And in that sense a Work or Act of Man.
Answ. That's a contradiction. Christ is Christ whether we believe in him or not; and it's one thing to say Christ is necessary, and another thing to say, Believing in him is necessary: It is not necessary meerly as an Act in genere, but as this Act in specie; and it is specified (as is aforesaid) by its Object. Not only Christ believed in, but Believing in Christ is pre-requisite as a moral disposition to Justification: And in that sence a Work or Act of Man.