A26923:1204
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 27: Of Repentance; late Repentance; the time of Grace, and of the unpardonable Sin.
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. Yea, it is a great and excellent part of the Law of Grace to give Repentance unto life, and to admit of Repentance after sin, which the Law of Innocency did not admit of.
§. 3. Therefore John and Christ himself did preach the Gospel or Law of Grace, when they preached Repentance; which was a great part, even of Christ's own preaching.
§. 3. Therefore Iohn and Christ himself did preach the Gospel or Law of Grace, when they preached Repentance; which was a great part, even of Christ's own preaching.
§. 4. Therefore the Antinomian Libertines know not what they talk of, when they call it Legal Preaching, and set Repentance as in opposition to Faith, as if Faith were all that the Gospel did command, or Repentance did not belong to Faith.
§. 5. Yet it must be confessed, that of late times many have laid more upon the sorrowing, weeping, and fearing part of Repentance, than was meet, and said too little of the turning of the Soul from worldly and fleshly sinful Pleasures, to the delightful Love and Praises of God, and willing Obedience and Conformity to his Will, which is the principal part of true Repentance. And, I think God permitted the Antinomians to rise up, and cry up Free-Grace, and call the Ministers Legallists, to rebuke our Error in this point, and to call us to preach up his Grace more plentifully, and to consider better that Gospel-obedience doth chiefly consist in Thankfulness, Love and Joy, and in the words of Praise, and Works of Love. I am sure this use we should make of their Abuses.