A26974:1116
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.
4. To that of the sense of Gal. 3.12.23. about the largest extent of the word Faith, it being as I said, of so small moment, I intend not to insist on it. My meaning is but this; that some other Graces are intended reductively, and the chief named for all. But by your answer I understand, 1. That you take not faith to be the whole fulfilling of the condition of the New Covenant: which concession shall satisfy me, what ever you think of the sense of the Word, of these Texts. 2. but the rest of your Ans. I am unsatisfied in. You say [by Faith only the condition of the Covenant concerning Justification in this Life is fulfilled: not concerning every benefit of the New Covenant: Repentance is the condition of Remission of sins: forgiving others, doing good to the Saints, of entering into Life.] Repl. 1. You know that not Wotton and many great Divines of England only, but of the most famous Transmarine, do take ⟨p. 371⟩Justification and Remission to be one and the same thing. I have received Animadversions from divers learned Divines lately on these Aphorisms, and three or four of them blame me for making any difference between Justification and Remission; though I make as little as may be. And can you think then that Remission and Justification have several conditions? If they are not wholly the same, yet doubtless the difference is exceeding small, and rather notional then real. The same Commination of the Law doth both condemn and oblige to punishment. Remission is a discharge from the Obligation to Punishment; and Justification is a discharge from the condemnation. So much then as that Obligation to Punishment, differs from the Laws condemnation, (which is nothing, or so little as it is not obvious to be discerned,) so much doth Remission differ from Justification. Yea even those Divines that in pleading for the interest of the active Righteousness to Justification, do to that end make Justification to have two parts; yet one of them, they say, is Remission of sin; as the other is the Imputation of Righteousness. And I pray how then can these two parts of the same Justification have two divers conditions, so as one is appropriated to one, and excluded from the other? I remember no reformed Divines, but they either make Justification and Remission to be all one;