A26923:673
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.
§. 7. Nature and common Grace may cause a man to go as far in Love and Religion, as those whom we call the highest Hypocrites, or almost-Christians may do (which our practical Preachers do frequently tell the People at large in Books and Sermons.
§. 8. Such may have a common sort of Faith in Christ (even formerly to the working of Miracles), and of Repentance, and Reformation, and of good Desires, and love to goodness and good Men; yea, to God himself.
§. 9. For men are not so corrupt by Nature (much less under the Effects of common grace) as to hate all goodness, or to hate all that is in God: They may love God as he is the Almighty Creator, Preserver, and Natural-Orderer of the World, and the Cause of its Being, Motion, Beauty, Harmony, and all natural Good: And they may love him as he is the Giver of life▪ and all natural Blessings to themselves, and as he is the Preserver of them, and their only Security and Help in Danger, and not ⟨p. 175⟩only as his Blessings gratify their Senses, but as all their Hope of everlasting Happiness is in his Power and Love: They may love him as he doth this good to others also, and is the common Benefactor to the World, without whom it could not subsist a moment. And they may love him as he maketh such Laws as preserve their lives, and Properties, and Rights, from Fraud and Violence, and by making other Men conscionable just, and charitable to all, do both gratify themselves, and tend to the common Order, Peace, and Welfare of Societies, and of Mankind.
§. 9. For men are not so corrupt by Nature (much less under the Effects of common grace) as to hate all goodness, or to hate all that is in God: They may love God as he is the Almighty Creator, Preserver, and Natural-Orderer of the World, and the Cause of its Being, Motion, Beauty, Harmony, and all natural Good: And they may love him as he is the Giver of life and all natural Blessings to themselves, and as he is the Preserver of them, and their only Security and Help in Danger, and not