A26923:724
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
Chapter 16: Of the State of Heathens and others, that have not the Gospel.
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.
§. 5. 3. And lastly, they consider the goodness and mercifulness of God, declared in his Word, and in his great and manifold mercies to all the World, and that he would have a righteous man to be merciful even to his Beast, much more to the Bodies of Men, and most of all to their Souls, and that our Rule and Motive is, Be merciful as your Heavenly Father is merciful.
§. 6. And they think that the contrary-minded, by over-doing, are the greatest Hinderers of the Christian Faith, and Promoters of Infidelity, while they make it seem so contrary to God's own Attributes, and to humane Interest, and to be a Doctrine not of glad but of saddest tidings to Mankind, viz. That none shall be saved that hear not the Gospel, when it is few comparatively that ever heard it or can hear it.
§. 6. And they think that the contrary-minded, by over-doing, are the greatest Hinderers of the Christian Faith, and Promoters of Infidelity, while they make it seem so contrary to God's own Attributes, and to humane Interest, and to be a Doctrine not of glad but of saddest tydings to Mankind, viz. That none shall be saved that hear not the Gospel, when it is few comparatively that ever heard it or can hear it.
§. 7. On the other side it is thought a dangerous undermining of Christianity, to say that it is not absolutely necessary to Salvation, 1and that any besides Christians may be saved: And it seemeth to them to be contrary to Christ's words, that He ⟨p. 191⟩that believeth not, shall be damned; and that He is the way, the truth, and the life, and no man cometh to the Father, but by him. And how shall they call on him on whom they have not believed, &c.? No man knoweth the Father, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him, &c. And it seemeth to confound the Church and the World, to say, That any are saved out of the Church.