A26923:368
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
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.
§. 9. They that think •o evade this Evidence by the difference of Predetermination and Inspiration, and say God inspireth no Lies though he predetermine all by physical Premotion, do labour in vain: For, 1. No man can ever prove that any Inspiration doth interest God more in the Act or Lye, than physical Predetermination doth: For how can God be more the Author of any Act than by effectual premoving the Creature to act it, and that by immediate physical Predetermination? What doth Inspiration do, but so move the Mind, Will and Tongue of a Prophet? No man can name more that Man is capable of. 2. But if there were a difference, we are not capable of understanding that difference so well, as to prove that God can cause all the Lies in the World by predetermining Premotion, and yet can cause none ⟨p. 85⟩by Inspiration; shall none believe him that know not this difference? 3. And were it intelligible, it would be only to inspired men themselves. So that I am past doubt that we must part with all Certainty of Christianity, and of all Divine Belief, if we receive this Doctrine of Predetermination, because the objectum formals fidei is then gone.
§. 9. They that think •o evade this Evidence by the difference of Predetermination and Inspiration, and say God inspireth no Lyes though he predetermine all by physical Premotion, do labour in vain: For, 1. No man can ever prove that any Inspiration doth interest God more in the Act or Lye, than physical Predetermination doth: For how can God be more the Author of any Act than by effectual premoving the Creature to act it, and that by immediate physical Predetermination? What doth Inspiration do, but so move the Mind, Will and Tongue of a Prophet? No man can name more that Man is capable of. 2. But if there were a difference, we are not capable of understanding that difference so well, as to prove that God can cause all the Lyes in the World by predetermining Premotion, and yet can cause none ⟨p. 85⟩by Inspiration; shall none believe him that know not this difference? 3. And were it intelligible, it would be only to inspired men themselves. So that I am past doubt that we must part with all Certainty of Christianity, and of all Divine Belief, if we receive this Doctrine of Predetermination, because the objectum formals fidei is then gone.