A26923:443
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.
§. 20. And whereas it is a doubt, seeing the Head is essential to the Church, and the Divine Nature only was Head of the Church before the Incarnation, and the Divine and Humane united was afterward the Head, whether it follow not the Church before the Incarnation and after (and so Faith and Religion) were divers in specie, and not the same? I answer, That while we agree all de re, that so much difference there is, it is not worth our trouble to strive about the Name or Logical Notion of [Sameness of Species.]
§. 21. When God hath chosen to save Man by way of a Mediator, and by his Sacrifice and Merits, as that way in which his Wisdom, Love, Holiness, Mercy and Justice are eminently glorified, it seemeth to me too bold Presumption to dispute, Whether he could not have saved us otherwise, and pardoned Sin without a Saviour? as it would be to dispute, Whether he could not illuminate the Earth without the Sun? He wanteth not Power to do whatsoever is meet for God to do; but all the question is, Whether it be meet, supposing Man's Nature and Sin to be what they are?
§. 22. God did illuminate the World without the Sun, till the Sun was made: But it was the imperfect World, and before the perfecting of his Work: And so God did save Man without an Existent Mediator, (unless God may be called a Mediator between himself and us, which is a harsh Phrase). But it was before the Work of our Salvation was brought to maturity; for the Cure of Man is perfectest at last.