A26923:632
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.
§. 19. Therefore in this sense Christ died for all, but not for all alike or equally; that is, He intended good to all, but not an equal good with an equal intention. Whatever Christ giveth men in time as the fruit of his death, that he decreed from Eternity to give them. And whatever he never giveth ⟨p. 161⟩them, he never decreed to give them. What he giveth them absolutely, he decreed to give them absolutely. And what he giveth them but conditionally, he decreed to give them but conditionally. Therefore being agreed of the fact and event, we must be agreed of the Intention or Decree, and what needs there more?
§. 19. Therefore in this sence Christ died for all, but not for all alike or equally; that is, He intended good to all, but not an equal good with an equal intention. Whatever Christ giveth men in time as the fruit of his death, that he decreed from Eternity to give them. And whatever he never giveth ⟨p. 161⟩them, he never decreed to give them. What he giveth them absolutely, he decreed to give them absolutely. And what he giveth them but conditionally, he decreed to give them but conditionally. Therefore being agreed of the fact and event, we must be agreed of the Intention or Decree, and what needs there more?
And by this time you may answer their Objection that say, Why not a common and conditional Election, as well as a common and conditional Redemption?
Ans. Neither of them are conditional as to the Act of God and Christ: There is no act of ours the Condition of God's decreeing ex parte Dei, but only of the thing decreed; nor of Christ's Death or Intent, but only of the benefit: That a conditional Act of Grace, or Deed of Gift of Christ and Life to all Mankind in common (in the tenor of it) should be made, was both decreed by God and purchased by Christ. But, 1. This is not the whole of God's Decree or Christ's Purchase and Intent. 2. And this is not to be called Election, as it signifieth a choosing of some from among the rest: Common Redemption and the Decree of Common Grace, both antecede that which is properly called Election, in order of Nature in esse objectivo; that is, God decreeth to give Faith and Salvation effectively to some of them that had common Grace.