A26974:929
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.
3. Had I but delivered such a Doctrine as this, what should I have heard? Justifying faith hath three Parts, ASSENT, CONSENT, and AFFIANCE, (which also have several acts or parts, according to the divers essential parts of the Object.) ASSENT is but Initial and introductory to the rest, as all acts of the Intellect are to those of the Will. CONSENT is the same which we here call ACCEPTING, which is but the mere VOLITION denominated from its respect to the offer and thing offered. This, as it is in the will, the commanding Faculty, so is it as it were the Heart of Faith; the first act being but to lead in this, and AFFIANCE the third, being commanded much by this, or depending on it: For as it is seated in the Affections, so far it is distinct from this Veil or CONSENT. Now when ever we name Faith by any one of these three acts (as the Scripture doth from every one) we include them all, though to avoid tediousness we stand not to name all the parts, when ever by one word we express the whole. And all these Acts have whole ⟨p. 303⟩Christ in all the essentials of his Person and office for their object. Now that this faith in Christ as Lord, or accepting him, should be said, and that by a Christian Divine, and that in the Reformed Church, to be no faith at all, (to say nothing of his denying it to be obedience;) is no matter of honour or comfort to us. How oft doth the Scripture expressly mention faith in our Lord Jesus Christ? Receiving Christ Jesus the Lord, Col 2.6. with other equipollent terms. But I will not offer to trouble any Christian Reader with Arguments for such a Truth.
3. Had I but delivered such a Doctrine as this, what should I have heard? Justifying faith hath three Parts, ASSENT, CONSENT, and AFFIANCE, (which also have several acts or parts, according to the divers essential parts of the Object.) ASSENT is but Initial and introductory to the rest, as all acts of the Intellect are to those of the Will. CONSENT is the same which we here call ACCEPTING, which is but the meer VOLITION denominated from its respect to the offer and thing offered. This, as it is in the will, the commanding Faculty, so is it as it were the Heart of Faith; the first act being but to lead in this, and AFFIANCE the third, being commanded much by this, or depending on it: For as it is seated in the Affections, so far it is distinct from this Velle or CONSENT. Now when ever we name Faith by any one of these three acts (as the Scripture doth from every one) we include them all, though to avoid tediousness we stand not to name all the parts, when ever by one word we express the whole. And all these Acts have whole