A26923:646
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.
§. 31. By all this it is evident, that he that disputeth of the sufficiency of Grace, must first distinctly tell us,
1. Whether he mean extrinsic Grace, or intrinsic. 2. If extrinsic, Whether he mean it comprehensively of all extrinsic Grace together, or only of some particular part of sort. 3. If the latter, Whether he speak of the sufficiency of Christ's Death and Righteousness, Sacrifice, Merit, Intercession, &c. or of the sufficiency of the Gospel-Covenant ⟨p. 166⟩or Promise; or of the sufficiency of Preaching, Praying, and other means; or of the Scripture-Records, &c. 4. If he speak of intrinsic Grace, Whether the Question be of Sufficiency ex parte Dei agentis, (which none must question); or ex parte effecti. 5. If the latter, What is the effect whose sufficiency he questioneth? 1. Is it a Grace or Power to do some more common good, use some means, forbear some evil, as the Unregenerate may do? 2. Or is it a Power truly to repent and believe? 3. Or to love God habitually, and live holily? 4. Or to overcome greater Temptations, and persevere? 6. And he must tell you whether he speak, 1. De specie, whether the Grace or Power sufficient to this sort of Acts or Duty be sufficient to another, or to all. 2. Or de gradu, Whether this degree be sufficient against a greater degree or sort of Temptation. 3. Or as men use to distinguish Grace and Help by numerical Acts and Hours, Whether the Grace of this Hour and Act be sufficient for the next, or for all? The sense of all these Questions is distinct. 7. But his last and greatest difficulty will be, to tell you truly and plainly what is that Grace which is the subject of his Question, of its sufficiency in the general nature of it, and as related to the thing which it is called sufficient to.
1. Whether he mean extrinseck Grace, or intrinseck. 2. If extrinseck, Whether he mean it comprehensively of all extrinseck Grace together, or only of some particular part of sort. 3. If the latter, Whether he speak of the sufficiency of Christ's Death and Righteousness, Sacrifice, Merit, Intercession, &c. or of the sufficiency of the Gospel-Covenant ⟨p. 166⟩