A26923:709
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.
§. 11. Whether you will with Bradwardine and many others say, That it is God's mere Volition that effecteth all things ad extra; or whether you will say with the most, That it is not his Will alone, but his Will as operating by his executive Power, the meaning seemeth to be the ⟨p. 186⟩same, and the difference to be but notional, as is aforesaid: For they that speak in the first manner, mean, That it is not God's Will as in it self immanently considered, but his will as going forth to produce an effect; which emanation or exertion is, from the effect, called by those that speak in the second manner, God's Executive Power.
§. 11. Whether you will with Bradwardine and many others say, That it is God's meer Volition that effecteth all things ad extra; or whether you will say with the most, That it is not his Will alone, but his Will as operating by his executive Power, the meaning seemeth to be the ⟨p. 186⟩same, and the difference to be but notional, as is aforesaid: For they that speak in the first manner, mean, That it is not God's Will as in it self immanently considered, but his will as going forth to produce an effect; which emanation or exertion is, from the effect, called by those that speak in the second manner, God's Executive Power.
§. 12. The prime Reason of the Effect, is God's Wisdom, Will, and Power as the Cause: And so the prime reason why Means and Grace become effectual whenever they are effectual, must be from God the prime Cause.
§. 13. The first Impress on the Soul moving it toward the Act (e. g. Faith) is the first Grace internal (sub ratione effecti): And this God himself worketh on man as on a mere Patient; tho' not antecedently to all former acts of Man, or all preparative dispositions, (usually) yet antecedent to that Act of Man to which it moveth: So that as to this, 1. Man is passive, 2. and the Divine Operation (or the powerful Will of God) is not only sufficient but effectual; for that Impress or Motus is effected.