A26923:477
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.
§. 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.
§. 18. Though it be agreed on by most Protestants, That Adam had been an Heir of Death and Hell if he committed the least Sin, even an idle thought or word, though he had not eaten the forbidden Fruit, and so that the Law of Nature made Hell the due punishment of the least Sin, and doth so still if it be not pardoned, yet the Law of Nature in our lapsed state is herein somewhat dark, and the Scripture not so clear for it as some imagine: But thus much methinks Nature it self still speaketh.