A26923:796
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.
§. 27. An Hypocrite may be said to have moral Virtue, as he may be said to have Holiness, that is, only secundum quid, yea, but analogically; yea, but equivocally, in that he hath no other sort of Faith and Love and Obedience.
§. 28. An Infidel's moral Virtue, and all unsanctified Heathens or other persons, is of the same sort only with this described of the Hypocrite: ⟨p. 211⟩And they err not that say, They have no true moral Virtue, but analogical.
§. 29. Yet Nature and common Grace do give men that which is truly good (and not only minus malum) and may do much good to others, and some to themselves, and is truly laudable and amiable, considered without the mixture simply in it self: But because the contrary evil is still the predominant part in all the unsanctified, it will not properly denominate them good men, nor the whole action a good action, save equivocally, analogically or secundum quid; because the form denominateth, which is here wanting.
§. 30. But if any one think otherwise, that the name of moral Virtue, yea, or Holiness, is due to the best actions or habits of Heathens, Hypocrites, or any unsanctified men, it is but a Controversie de nomine, and no otherwise to be regarded, while we agree of the things signified by that name.