A26951:1265
The life of faith in three parts, the first is a sermon on Heb.…
The life of faith in three parts, the first is a sermon on Heb. 11, 1, formerly preached before His Majesty, and published by his command, with another added for the fuller application : the second is instructions for confirming believers in the Christian faith : the third is directions how to live by faith, or how to exercise it upon all occasions / by Richard Baxter.
London: printed by R.W. for Nevil Simmons, 1670
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.
Direct. 6. Remember that all Christians have solemnly professed their own consent, to the threats and punishments of the Gospel.
Though God will punish sinners whether they consent or not; and though none consent to the execution upon themselves, when it comes to it; yet all that profess Christianity do profess their consent to the condemning, as well as to the justifying part of Gods Word. For every Christian professeth his consent to be governed by Christ; and therefore he professeth his consent to be governed by Christs Laws: For if Christ be a King, he must have Laws: and if he govern us at all, he governeth us by Laws. And this is Christs Law; He that believeth, and is baptized, shall be saved; and he that believeth not shall be damned, Mark 16.16. He that professeth to be governed by Christ, professeth his consent to be governed by this very Law: and therefore he professeth his consent to be damned if he believe not. Christ told you that you must consent to both parts, or to neither: and will you grudge at the severity of that Law which you have professed your consent to? The curses of the Covenant (Deut. 29.21.) were to be repeated to the people ⟨p. 303⟩of Israel; and they were expressly to say Amen to each of them. For life and death were set before them; blessings and cursings, Deut. 30.1, 19. and not life and blessings alone. And so the Gospel which we are to believe, containeth though principally and eminently the Promises; yet secondarily also the threatenings of Hell to impenitent unbelievers. And our consent doth speak our approbation.
Though God will punish sinners whether they consent or not; and though none consent to the execution upon themselves, when it comes to it; yet all that profess Christianity do profess their consent to the condemning, as well as to the justifying part of Gods Word. For every Christian professeth his consent to be governed by Christ; and therefore he professeth his consent to be governed by Christs Laws: For if Christ be a King, he must have Laws: and if he govern us at all, he governeth us by Laws. And this is Christs Law; He that believeth, and is baptized, shall be saved; and he that believeth not shall be damned,