A27004:1020
The reasons of the Christian religion the first part, of godliness, proving by natural…
The reasons of the Christian religion the first part, of godliness, proving by natural evidence the being of God ... : the second part, of Christianity, proving by evidence supernatural and natural, the certain truth of the Christian belief ... / by Richard Baxter ... ; also an appendix defending the soul's immortality against the Somatists or Epicureans and other pseudo-philosophers.
London: printed by R. White for Fran. Titon, 1667
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.
To remit or forgive the Punishment is so far to forgive the sin; for forgiveness as to execution, is but non punire proceeding from commiseration or mercy. And it is certain by all the Mercy bestowed on them, that God remitteth something of the punishment, which in Law and Justice he might inflict. Though this be not a total pardon, it is not therefore none at all.
§. 4. The Goodness of Gods Nature, with this universal Experience of the World, possesseth all mens minds with this apprehension of God, that he is gracious, merciful, long-suffering, and ready to forgive a capable subject, upon terms consistent with his truth and honour, and the common good.
§. 4. The Goodness of Gods Nature, with this universal Experience of the World, possesseth all mens minds with this apprehension of God, that he is gracious, mercifull, long-suffering, and ready to forgive a capable subject, upon terms consistent with his truth and honour, and the common good.
1Its true, that self-love and self-flattery doth cause men to think of the Mercy of God, as indulgent to their lusts, and suitable to their fleshly desires; and therefore their conceits are none of the measure of his mercy: But yet it may be perceived, that this foresaid conception of God as Merciful and ready to forgive a capable subject, is warranted by the soberest Reason,2 and is not bred by sin and error: For the wise and better, and less sinful any is, the more he is inclined to such thoughts of God as of a part of his Perfection.