A27009:503
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.
Cannot he make a Law that shall change its Moral Action according to the change of the actions or inclinations of sinners? and this without any change in God? And so, If it should so be, that a Justified man should fall from God, from Christ, from sincere Faith or Obedience, the Law would Condemn him again, and the Law of ⟨p. 379⟩Grace would Justify him no more (in that state) and all this without any change in God. 3. If this Antinomian Argument would prove any thing, it would prove Justification before and so without Christs satisfaction, because there is no change in God. 4. The very point, That no justified man shall ever fall from Christ, is not so clear and fully revealed in Scripture, and past all doubt from the assault of Objections, as that a poor soul in such a Relapsed estate should venture his everlasting salvation wholly on this, supposing that he were Certain that he was once sincere. For my own part, I am persuaded that no Rooted Believer, that is Habitually and Groundedly Resolved for Christ, and hath crucified the flesh and the world (as all have that are throughly Christs) do ever fall quite away from him afterwards. But I dare not lay my salvation on this. And, if I were no surer of my salvation, then I am of the truth of this my Judgement, to speak freely, my soul would be in a very sad Condition. 5. But suppose it as certain and plain as any word in the Gospel, (that a Justified man is never quite Unjustified) Yet as every new sin brings a new obligation to punishment (or else they could not be pardoned, as needing no pardon) so must every sin have its particular pardon, (and consequently, the sinner a particular ⟨p. 380⟩Justification from the Guilt of that sin) besides his first general pardon (and Justification:) (For to pardon sin before it is committed, is to pardon sin that is no sin, which is a Contradiction, and Impossibility.) Now, though for daily unavoidable Infirmities, there be a pardon of Course, upon the Title of our Habitual Faith and Repentance; yet whether in case of Gross sin, or more notable Defection, this will prove a sufficient Title to particular pardon, without the addition of actual Repentance;
Cannot he make a Law that shall change its Moral Action according to the change of the actions or inclinations of sinners? and this without any change in God? And so, If it should so be, that a Justified man should fall from God, from Christ, from sincere Faith or Obedience, the Law would Condemn him again, and the Law of