A26923:731
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.
§. 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 This I proved before: (Though I was long ignorant how far that Covenant was repealed, till Mr.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 ma•st live:] For no man is a Subject capable of such a Command or Promise, being already a Sinner.
§. 13. If any should think that they are under the bare preceptive part of the Law of Innocency, with the penal part, without any Promise, or premiant part, or hope of life, this is certainly a mistake.
Because, 1. God hath no such Law, nor never had, which hath no Promise, or premiant part; and is not in a Covenant-form, what he doth by the Devils, belongeth not to our Question; but as to Men, they must be under a Covenant of Works, or of Grace. And it were a hard Conceit to think, that the far greatest part of Mankind had never any means to use for their Salvation, nor any thing to do for it, but were under a mere Sentence of Despair and Damnation, as the Devils are, without any offer of Help or Hope; and consequently that none of them all are guilty of refusing any such Mercy, or neglecting any such Means and Duty.
Because, 1. God hath no such Law, nor never had, which hath no Promise, or premiant part; and is not in a Covenant-form, what he doth by the Devils, belongeth not to our Question; but as to Men, they must be under a Covenant of Works, or of Grace. And it were a hard Conceit to think, that the far greatest part of Mankind had never any means to use for their Salvation, nor any thing to do for it, but were under a meer Sentence of Despair and Damnation, as the Devils are, without any offer of Help or Hope; and consequently that none of them all are guilty of refusing any such Mercy, or neglecting any such Means and Duty.