A26923:659
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.
§. 41. But, 2. have all that hear the Gospel sufficient Grace to believe?
Ans. No: many of them are hardened by former sinning, so as to be set at a greater distance and enmity, than many Heathens.
§. 42. But, 3ly. All the World hath Grace (or merciful Help) sufficient to enable them to do less evil, and more good than they do, and to use some means better than they do, which tend to further Grace. And they that do not this, are justly denied further Help.
§. 43. 4. But the sticking difficulty is, Whether any men in the World have Grace sufficient to repent and believe savingly, who do not?
To which I answer, 1. The Question is of less moment than it's commonly made to be; seeing those are unexcusable who use not that Grace which was sufficient to their foresaid use of means, and less resistance to God's Grace: 2. But certainly to answer the question negatively or affirmatively, I cannot; as not knowing any more of Gods working on mens Souls, than he himself hath told us of. 3. But if we may conjecture upon Probabilities, it seemeth to me most likely, that there is such a sufficient Grace or Power to repent and believe savingly in some that use it not, but perish. For, 1. if Angels had, and used such a sort of Grace: 2. And if Alam had such a sort of Grace, and used it a while: 3. And if unregenerate men have such a grace for lower Acts, which tend to Faith: 4. And if the Faithful have such a grace to do more good, and less evil than they do: 5. It seemeth very improbable, that only to the fifth Instance (to repent and believe) none in the World should have such a sufficient grace.