A27009:296
The right method for a settled peace of conscience, and spiritual comfort in 32…
The right method for a settled peace of conscience, and spiritual comfort in 32 directions : written for the use of a troubled friend / and now published by Richard Baxter ...
London: printed for T. Underhil, 1653
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.
That you may not misunderstand me in this, observe 1. That I do not say Perseverance is a thing uncertain in it self: 2. Nor that it is uncertain to all Christians: 3. But that it is uncertain to many even strong and self-knowing Christians. Divines use to distinguish of the Certainty of the Object, and of the Subject: and the former is either of the Object of Gods Knowledge, ⟨p. 161⟩or of mans. I doubt not but God knows Certainly who shall be saved, which with his Decree doth cause that which we call Certainty of the Object, as to mans understanding: But men themselves do not always know it.
THat you may not misunderstand me in this, observe 1. That I do not say Perseverance is a thing uncertain in it self: 2. Nor that it is uncertain to all Christians: 3. But that it is uncertain to many even strong and self-knowing Christians. Divines use to distinguish of the Certainty of the Object, and of the Subject: and the former is either of the Object of Gods Knowledge, ⟨p. 161⟩or of mans. I doubt not but God knows Certainly who shall be saved, which with his Decree doth cause that which we call Certainty of the Object, as to mans understanding: But men themselves do not alwaies know it.
If a man have the fullest Certainty in the world that he is Gods child, yet if he be uncertain whether he shall so continue to the end, it is impossible that he should have a Certainty of his Salvation. For it's he only that endureth to the end that shall be saved.
Now that many eminent Christians of great knowledge and much zeal and obedience are uncertain of their Perseverance, is proved by two Infallible Arguments. 1. By experience: If any should be so censorious as to think that none of all those Nations and Churches abroad that deny the Doctrine of Certain Perseverance of all Believers, have any strong Christians among them, yet we have had the knowledge of such at home. 2. Besides the Difficulty of the Subject is a clear Argument that a strong Christian may be uncertain of it God hath made all those points plain in Scripture, which must be Believed as of Necessity to Salvation: But the Certainty of all Believers Perseverance, is not a Point