A26923:868
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.
§. 22. The Essentials of our objective Christian Faith constitute the Essence of our active Saving Faith; and the Integrals of it constitute the Integrity.
§. 23. And it is of great importance to distinguish here (as to the Word and Objects) between 1. the signa or words, 2. the signification or sense, 3. the things, matter or incomplex objects, as distinct from words and sense, viz. God, Christ, Grace, Heaven, Goodness, Justice, Men, &c. And to hold, 1. That the words are not necessary1 for themselves, but for the sense; and therefore Translations, or any words which give us the same sense, may serve to the being of Saving Faith. 2. That the sense it self is not necessary for it self ultimately, as if Holiness lay in notions, but for the things which that sense revealeth, viz. God to be loved and obeyed, Christ to be received, the Holy Ghost to be received and obeyed, Holiness and all Grace to be received, loved, used, increased; our Brethren to be loved, Heaven to be desired, &c. All sense will not bring us to the reception of the things; for all is not apt; but any that doth this (which must be divine and apt) will constitute us true Believers.
§. 23. And it is of great importance to distinguish here (as to the Word and Objects) between 1. the signa or words, 2. the signification or sence, 3. the things, matter or incomplex objects, as distinct from words and sence, viz. God, Christ, Grace, Heaven, Goodness, Iustice, Men, &c. And to hold, 1. That the words are not necessary1 for themselves, but for the sence; and therefore Translations, or any words which give us the same sence, may serve to the being of Saving Faith. 2. That the sence it self is not necessary for it self ultimately, as if Holiness lay in notions, but for the things which that sence revealeth, viz. God to be loved and obeyed, Christ to be received, the Holy Ghost to be received and obeyed, Holiness and all Grace to be received, loved, used, encreased; our Brethren to be loved, Heaven to be desired, &c. All sence will not bring us to the reception of the things; for all is not apt; but any that doth this (which must be divine and apt) will constitute us true Believers.