A26923:728
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.
§. 9. And here the first thing to be enquired after, is, What Law of God the World that heareth not of Christ, is now under, as the Rule of Duty and of Judgment. And then, 2. to enquire, Whether they so keep that Law, as to be saved by it? We can say nothing to the second, without the first.
§. 10. And we have here nothing to doubt of, but, 1. Whether they are under any Law or none? 2. If any, Whether it be the Law of Innocency as made to Adam, or the Law of Grace? 3. And if the Law of Grace, whether of the first or second Edition? It must be one of these.
§. 11. And, 1st. It is certain, That they are under a Law (and not only under a Physical Government, as a Ship at Sea, or Brutes are): For else God were not their Ruler, and they his Subjects, so much as by Right and Obligation; and then they were bound to no Duty, nor in hope of any Reward, nor in Danger of any Punishment for ⟨p. 192⟩Disobedience: For where there is no Law, there is no Transgression.
§. 12. It is certain, That they are not under the Rule of the Covenant of Innocency made to Adam, or the Law of Innocency, as containing the Precept, premiant and penal parts, which is the same with the Covenant as offered. This I proved before: (Though I was long ignorant how far that Covenant was repealed, till Mr. Lawson's Papers (which I laboured to confute) did begin to enlighten me.) God now saith to no man [I give thee life on condition thou be personally innocent, and perfectly obedient:] Nor doth he say [I command thee to be perfectly innocent, sinless, and obedient, that thou mast live:] For no man is a Subject capable of such a Command or Promise, being already a Sinner.