A26923:614
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.
§. 4. It is not to the Elect only, but for all the World (as to the Tenor of it) that Christ hath purchased, and given a conditional Pardon of sin, and a conditional Donation of Life eternal in the Covenant of Grace, both of the first and second Edition: That is, the conditional Grant is Universal; Whoever believeth shall be saved: Though the Promulgation of it may have many stops.
§. 5. It is not to the Elect only, but to All, that Christ hath commanded his Ministers to proclaim this Law or Covenant, and offer the Benefits, and require their Consent, as far as the said Ministers are able.
§. 6. It is not only to the Elect, but to all Mankind, that many Mercies procured by pardoning and reconciling Grace are actually given, which were forfeited (or not due) by reason of sin against the Law of Innocency.
§. 7. These Mercies given to all Mankind after sin, and contrary to desert, are not given by Gods Mercy alone, without respect to the Blood and Merits of Christ: But his Blood and Merits are the Cause of them, as truly as of the greater Mercies of the Elect. And they that say, That God doth give all these Mercies without a Saviour's Merits, as the Cause, prepare the way for Infidels to infer, That then he might have done so by the Mercies of the Elect.