A26923:476
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 12 › Section 1: Of the Law or Covenant of Innocency made to Adam.
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.
§. 15. Neither doth Nature now tell us, How long Man must have obeyed before he had merited the full Reward of his Perfection. But only that he must conquer all the Temptations that God would try him with, and must persevere till God should please to translate him, not appointing him any determinate time. Nature and Scripture favour this.
§. 16. There are some who confidently conclude (without either natural or Scripture-proof) That had Adam performed but one Act of Obedience to God, before his Sin, he had been confirmed is the Angels, as his Reward: And what a Sinner do they make Adam before he sinned, if he performed not one Act of Love and Obedience to his Maker▪ This Fancy I dismiss.
§. 16. There are some who considently conclude (without either natural or Scripture-proof) That had Adam performed but one Act of Obedience to God, before his Sin, he had been confirmed is the Angels, as his Reward: And what a Sinner do they make Adam before he sinned, if he performed not one Act of Love and Obedience to his Maker▪ This Fancy I dismiss.
§. 17. Others say, That if he had overcome one Temptation he should have been confirmed; but I find no Promise or Proof of it in Nature, nor in Scripture; and I suppose they feign not a secret conditional Will of God.