A26923:1189
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 26: Of Confirmation, Perseverance, and Danger of falling away.
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.
§. 25. And we see in all things that men are affected according to what is predominant; and he that hath far more Hope than fear and doubting, will have more joy than sorrow, though he be not certain, but some doubting do remain.
§. 26. It is certain in it self, that God's Promises in the Gospel are all true: But every one that truly believeth it, is not properly certain of it, past all doubt: And he that hath the least doubt of the truth of the Gospel, must needs doubt as much of that Salvation which is expected on the Gospel-Promise: And yet such Believers may have Peace and Joy according to the measure of their Faith and Hope.
§. 27. We see among men no Wife is certain one day or night that her Husband will not forsake or murder her; no Child is certain that his Father will not kill him; nor any one of his dearest Friend: And yet we can have Love, Peace and Comfort in our Relations, without such certainty: For it's melancholy folly to live in fears of things utterly unlikely, and to cast away the Comforts of great probability.
§. 28. Yea, no godly man is certain that he shall not fall into such heinous Sin as Noah, Lot, David, Peter did; or that he shall not kill his dearest Friend, or himself: And yet when a man is conscious that his Nature, his Reason, his Experience, and his Resolution, do all make him hate such a wicked act, and that there is no probable cause to move him to it, and when we know God is ready with his Grace to help us, how few lose