A26974:1103
Of justification four disputations clearing and amicably defending the truth against the unnecessary oppositions…
Of justification four disputations clearing and amicably defending the truth against the unnecessary oppositions of divers learned and reverend brethren / by Richard Baxter ...
London: printed by R.W. for Nevil Simmons, 1658
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.
7. If you acknowledge that other Graces receive Christ as well as Faith, and receiving of Christ doth make him ours, and so justify; then you must acknowledge that other Graces justify as well as faith; (yea not secondarily only, but as Principally as Faith:) But that you will be loth to do. The consequence will not be avoided, but by showing that there is a twofold receiving of Christ, and that one justifieth, and the other not: which when you have proved from Scripture, I will yield: but then at least I shall gain this, that receiving Christ justifies not properly ex natura actus, sed ex voluntate Ordinantis: and if I get that, I get the main part of the cause in controversy.
7. If you acknowledge that other Graces receive Christ as well as Faith, and receiving of Christ doth make him ours, and so justifie; then you must acknowledge that other Graces justifie as well as faith; (yea not secondarily only, but as Principally as Faith:) But that you will be loth to do. The consequence will not be avoided, but by shewing that there is a twofold receiving of Christ, and that one justifieth, and the other not: which when you have proved from Scripture, I will yield: but then at least I shall gain this, that receiving Christ justifies not properly ex natura actus, sed ex voluntate Ordinantis: and if I get that, I get the main part of the cause in controversie.
8. Affiance is judged by Divines to be an Act of the Will: But Affiance is judged by the same Divines to be the justifying Act: Therefore they judge that the justifying Act (and consequently the Reception of Christ) belongs to the Will.
9. The Veil or Elicit act of the Will which I insist on, is the very first Act, and goes before Affiance (as it denotes any other Act of the Will:) Therefore either this Veil must be the justifying Faith and Reception of Christ, or else they must say that there is a saving reception of Christ that goes before the justifying or Reception: which sure they will not grant, that make that Faith the actus primas vitae spiritualis.