A26974:892
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.
Another Argument is. [If faith be a total cause or condition of producing the effect of Justification, then there's no want of obedience for its assistance.] Answer 1. Faith or obedience are no causes of pardon. 2. I will not trouble the Reader to open the shame of that Philosophy which you make such ostentation of. Only I would remember you, that causes total in suo genere, may have others under them. And that it followeth not, that the sun shineth not, or the fire heateth not, or that you understand not, and wrote not these words, though I suppose you will say that God is Causa totalis of all these act: nor yet that God doth use his creatures because of an insufficiency in himself. 3. Faith taken for our [becoming Believers, Disciples, Christians] is the total condition of our first Receiving Justification. 2. Faith taken more narrowly for our accepting Christs Righteousness, is not the total Condition of our first Receiving of Justification. 3. Obedience is part of the condition of the continuance of it, and of our sentential Justification. And whereas you talk over and over of [Total causes, and particular causes.] I tell you again they are no causes.
He adds that then [Obedience doth nihil agere, or actum agere.] Answer. It doth nihil efficere. But besides, [nihil] and [factum] there's two things oft mentioned, Justification at Judgement, and the non-amission of it here.
3. He insipidly gain disputes that [If an effect doth totally proceed from any cause, then it totally depends on it.] And what then? Therefore it solely dependeth on it: And if these things were true, what are they to our question? But saith he, [When good works, the fruit of faith are interrupted, yet our Justification abides by the single influence of faith only as a total cause of its being and conservation.] Answer. 1. Alas! What would such Disputants do with the Church, if Gods mercy did not hinder them! By your own Argument now, neither God, nor Christ, nor the Gospel are any causes of our Justification.