A26923:748
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.
§. 26. The same I say of Joh. 14. 6. No man cometh to the Father, but by me. 1. No man is reconciled ⟨p. 198⟩to God, and pardoned, and hath right to life (in all Ages of the World) but for the sake of the meritorious Sacrifice and Righteousness of Christ, as promised, Gen. 3. 1. before, and performed after: But this was the part of God and our Redeemer, which he promised in his part of the Covenant, and performed: For God was in Christ reconciling the World to himself, not imputing to them their sins, (so far forgiving them, as to make an Act of Grace and Pardon, which he committed to his Ministers to proclaim,) 2 Cor. 5. 19. But, 2. on mans part it is not the knowledge and belief of this Jesus incarnate personally, that was made necessary to all before his coming, and therefore not to all after. No man ever came to the Father, but by the Son's Merit and Spirit; nor without a consenting Belief and Affiance in God's redeeming or recovering, pardoning, saving Mercy, and true Repentance, and a sanctified Soul, which is in love with God and goodness: And whatever was absolutely necessary in the terms of the first Edition of the Covenant of Grace, even to all the World before Christ's Incarnation. But Christ never meant, that no man before his Incarnation (or since, that heard not of him) did come to the Father without believing that which the Apostles themselves long believed not, after they followed Christ.
§. 26. The same I say of Ioh. 14. 6. No man cometh to the Father, but by me. 1. No man is reconciled ⟨p. 198⟩to God, and pardoned, and hath right to life (in all Ages of the World) but for the sake of the meritorious Sacrifice and Righteousness of Christ, as promised, Gen. 3. 1. before, and performed after: But this was the part of God and our Redeemer, which he promised in his part of the Covenant, and performed: For God was in Christ reconciling the World to himself, not imputing to them their sins, (so far forgiving them, as to make an Act of Grace and Pardon, which he committed to his Ministers to proclaim,)